Study of the indices of antioxidant defense in mental maladaptation

Changes in the balance of the pro- and antioxidant systems were studied in patients with mental maladaptation induced by emotional stress. We found activation of lipid peroxidation associated with accumulation of malondialdehyde in erythrocytes and blood serum of the subjects. The activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes in patients with mental stress increased, whereas the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase significantly decreased as compared to the group of healthy individuals. Comparative chemiluminescent analysis of the blood serum revealed a decrease in general antioxidant properties of the blood in the groups studied after mental stress.     

Effect of mexidol on hemopoietic system in conditions of an emotional stress after exposure to ionizing radiation

The emotional stress after an irradiation can complicate the current of radiative defeats. At an emotional stress developing in early terms after an irradiation in low doses, are reduced adaptive and compensator capabilities of hemopoietic system. The emotional stress after a lethal dose irradiation inhibits the post-radiation recovery of haemopoiesis, aggravates the course of acute radiation disease and decreases the efficiency of the radioprotector--indralin. These disorders are especially pronounced under a prolonged and intensive stress. The use of the mexidol, having anxiolytic and antistress by activity, made it possible to arrest completely disturbances in the development of adaptive reactions to stress in the blood system and to normalize its compensatory potentialities in animals under conditions of combined influence of intensive long-term emotional stress and of low-dose irradiation. In the case of lethally irraiated animals, the treatment of stressed animals with mexidol favorably influenced the course of acute radiation disease, enhanced recovery processes in the blood system. Under these conditions, the use of mexidol completely removes the negative effect of emotional stress in indralin-protected animals. The pharmacological correction by mexidol from displays of an intensive emotional stress, developing after an irradiation in various doses, can be a part in system of medical measures.     

Apha-tocopherol in a complex with dimethyl sulfoxide--an agent possessing highly effective adaptogenic action in chronic emotional-pain stress in rats

Alpha-tocopherol (5 mg/kg) administered perorally with dimethyl sulfoxide (50 mg/kg) in chronic emotional pain stress in rats possesses an effective antistress action, exceeding the effects of these drugs administered separately. Their prophylactic complex administration prevents the hypertension produced by stress, disturbance of reactivity of the vegetative nervous system during functional load, change of the behaviour in the open field. Adaptogenic action of the drugs is accompanied by a reduction of the content of free-radical oxidation products and by raising of superoxide scavenging activity in the brain and blood serum, by raising of phospholipids content, lowering of cholesterol content and of the ratio of cholesterol phospholipids in the brain extracts.     

Superoxide elimination activity and the transferrin-ceruloplasmin antioxidant system in the blood serum in chronic emotional-pain stress and the administration of dimethyl sulfoxide in rats

The influence of emotional painful stress (EPS) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment on ceruloplasmin-transferrin (Cp-Tr) antioxidant system and superoxide dismutase-like activity (SODLA) of the rat serum was studied. No changes in Cp-Tr and SODLA were observed in EPS. On the contrary, DMSO treatment was followed by a decrease in Cp-Tr activity and an increase in SODLA. It is suggested that Cp-Tr and SODLA systems are two interacting antioxidant systems of the serum.     

Antistress effects of vitamin E and dimethylsulfoxide during their combined administration in low doses

Low doses of vitamin E (5 mg/kg body weight) and dimethyl sulfoxide (50 mg/kg) given simultaneously orally to albino rats prevented the disturbances of the behaviour and vegetative functions induced by chronic emotional painful stress. The adaptive effect of vitamin E or dimethyl sulfoxide given alone was much lower or altogether absent. The antioxidant combination used decreased the intensity of lipid peroxidation in the brain and blood serum as well as cholesterol content in brain lipids and activated brain superoxide dismutase and nonenzymatic superoxide scavenging activity of the serum. The results obtained suggest that the combination of vitamin E with dimethyl sulfoxide may be used for the treatment of pathological conditions accompanied by lipid peroxidation syndrome.     

Delta sleep-inducing peptide in the blood and hypothalamus of rats with various resistance to emotional stress

Enzyme immunoassay was used to study delta-sleep peptide content in blood and hypothalamus in rats of Wistar lines under acute emotional stress. It was found that the content of delta-sleep peptide in blood and hypothalamus of stable rats was higher as compared with rats predisposed to emotional stress. After 1.5-hour emotional stress the content of delta-sleep peptide increased in blood and hypothalamus both in stable rats and predisposed ones. After 3-hour stress there was an increase in delta-sleep peptide content in hypothalamus, and contrary to its decrease in blood in both stable and predisposed animals. It is supposed that delta-sleep peptide along with other oligopeptides is one of the factors determining individual animal resistance to emotional stress, which is supported by significant delta-sleep peptide increase in hypothalamus in stable rats.     

Light optical and electron microscopic study of the nodose ganglion neurons in emotional stress

Cell bodies of cardiovascular receptors localized in the ganglion nodosum of rabbits exposed to experimental emotional stress were studied with the light and electron microscope. Two groups of animals were selected for investigation. Under emotional stress rabbits of one group demonstrated almost unchanged arterial pressure and only a small increase in heart rate, while animals of the other group displayed strongly marked disturbances of their blood circulation leading to the lethal outcome at the end of experiment. In the first group rabbits, the microscopic anatomy and ultrastructure of the nodose ganglion neurons indicated an increased activity in the nerve cell. At the same time, morphological evidences of exhaustion were revealed in neurons of the nodose ganglion of the second group rabbits. A possible role of the distortion of the afferent information in pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders under emotional stress is discussed.     

Blood albumin in mechanisms of individual resistance of rats to emotional stress

Serum albumin parametres in the rats with various prognostic resistance against emotional stress in the control and in conditions of experimental emotional stress were investigated. Analysis of action of peptides raising the animals' resistance against emotional stress (DSIP and SEMAX) in rats with different prognostic resistance against emotional stress, on the serum albumin characteristics, was carried out.     

Emotional stress and diabetic control: a postulated model for the effect of emotional distress upon intermediary metabolism in the diabetic

The findings of a number of clinical investigators across a wide variety of situations and using a wide variety of observational procedures agree on the disruptive effects of emotional distress upon diabetic control. An integrative model of coordinated neural and hormonal reactions to emotional stress and their additive and potentiating effects on intermediary metabolism is proposed. The end result of these effects, as part of a general fight/flight or defense-alarm reaction, is a strong energy mobilization response (namely, a sharp rise in blood glucose and free fatty acid levels resulting in increased levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and ketone bodies), which the diabetic cannot readily counterregulate. It is further proposed that increased diabetic control, together with lower insulin requirements, may result from the inclusion of stress management procedures as an adjunct to traditional medical treatment. The findings of a large number of investigators supporting these propositions are presented and discussed.     

Disruptions in the blood system upon exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation depending on duration of emotional stress

In experiments on rats, disturbances in the development of blood system adaptive reactions on emotional stress were found. Under the combined effect of preliminary (before stress) exposure to 0.8 Gy of gamma-radiation and the emotional stress of various duration (2, 4 and 8 days), a compensatory capability of the blood system decreased. The degree of the disturbances directly depended on the duration of the emotional stress.     

Interrelationship of the platelet and plasma coagulating components of the hemostatic system normally and in pathology

The adhesive-aggregative activity of blood platelets and the blood coagulation rate were compared in 125 healthy humans in the reaction of prompt adaptation (circadian rhythm, emotional stress, ACTH load) and 157 patients with cardiovascular diseases over the period of crisis and under acute pharmacological effects. The discovery of differently directed shifts of the blood platelets and plasma coagulative components of hemostasis suggested about the hemostatic function of blood platelets.     

Effect of chronic ethanol consumption on emotional stress in the white rat

Chronic pain emotional stress (PES), paired action of the white noise and electric skin stimulation and chronic (during 7 months) ethanol consumption in white rats were shown to act in the same direction. Hypertension, decrease of respiratory rate and increase of Hildebrandt index were observed as a result of PES, ethanol consumption, and especially under PES during ethanol consumption. Ethanol consumption by the animals led to their growth retardation and increase of the spleen and heart mass. Accidental thymus involution was noted both under ethanol consumption and PES. Activation of lipid peroxidation and decrease of superoxide dismutase activity (of its mitochondrial form especially) as well as of Na+,K+-ATP-ase activity were observed in brain homogenates of the rats after PES, while the general ATP-ase activity remained unchanged. An increase of triiodothyronine level and the tendency to thyroxine level increase as well as a decrease of superoxide dismutase activity were observed in the blood serum of these animals. A tendency towards lipid peroxidation level decrease and to brain superoxide dismutase activity increase, as well as blood antioxidation activity increase (evaluated by transferrin and coeruloplasmin contents and by serum superoxide dismutase activity) and a decrease of thyroxine level were observed as a result of ethanol consumption. The mechanisms are discussed of the "anti-stress" action of short-term ethanol consumption and of the action of its chronic consumption, additive to PES.     

Corrective action of an antioxidant in chronic emotional-pain stress in rats

Chronic emotional painful stress (EPS) in rats brought about blood pressure elevation and changes in the time-course of the heart rate under functional load (hypokinesia for 2 h). There was also an increase in the heart mass and activation of cytochromoxidase in the brain cortex and hippocamp. Chronic administration of the antioxidant F-801 for EPS prevented vegetative disorders, heart hypertrophy and elevation of oxidative activity in the brain. The role of lipid peroxidation and hypoxia in the development of abnormalities caused by neurotization is discussed.     

SOD2 gene polymorphism and response of oxidative stress parameters in young wrestlers to a three-month training

The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of Val 16Ala polymorphism in SOD2 gene on oxidative stress parameters and lipid profile of the blood during a three-month wrestling training. The study included 53 Polish young wrestlers. Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the programme and following three months of the training. The list of analysed parameters included erythrocyte and serum activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, total glutathione (tGSH) level, concentration of lipid hydroperoxides (LHs), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and creatine kinase (CK) activity in the serum, as well as lipid profile parameters: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Three-month training resulted in a decrease in CK activity, an increase in serum SOD activity, as well as in unfavourable changes in serum lipid profile: an increase in TC, LDL-C, and TG, and a decrease in HDL-C. Aside from CK activity, all these changes seemed to be associated with presence of Val allele. Prior to the training programme, subjects with Ala/Ala genotype presented with lower levels of LHs, lower whole blood GPx activity, and lower serum concentrations of TC than the individuals with Ala/Val genotype. Both prior to and after three-month training, higher levels of tGSH were observed in Val/Val genotype as compared to Ala/Val genotype carriers. Moreover, multiple regression analysis demonstrated that SOD2 genotype was a significant predictor of pre-training whole blood GPx activity and erythrocyte SOD activity (Val/Val?>?Ala/Val?>?Ala/Ala). Altogether, these findings suggest that Val 16Ala polymorphism in SOD2 gene contributes to individual variability in oxidative stress status and lipid profile of the blood in young wrestlers, and may modulate biochemical response to training.     

Effects of Transport Stress on Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Beagle Dogs

Here, to determine the effects of transport stress on blood parameters in dogs, we investigated the changes in hematologic and serum chemical parameters in healthy beagle dogs transported from Beijing, China, to Osaka, Japan, to obtain the background data. Only the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase increased clearly upon arrival, a change attributed to transport stress, but the activity gradually reduced afterward. No marked changes in levels of other blood parameters were noted. Our findings here suggest that alkaline phosphatase is a useful tool for studying transport stress.     

The functional state of microcirculation and autonomic regulation in young subjects with different levels of subjectively experienced psychological stress

A comprehensive comparative analysis of hemodynamics, microcirculation (the method of laser Doppler flowmetry with an occlusion test and the optical tissue oxymetry), blood circulation neurohumoral regulation (analysis of heart rate variability, HRV) in apparently healthy young subjects with different levels of subjectively experienced emotional stress has been performed. Depending on the degree of everyday stress (acute and/or chronic), the character of the autonomic regulation of blood circulation, as well as the state of the microcirculation and its regulation substantially vary. Moderate stress is accompanied by coactivation of sympathetic-parasympathetic regulatory mechanisms with augmented HRV baroreflex regulation circuits, which compensates for hemodynamic changes and is not accompanied by hypotensive reactions. An increase in the activity of neurogenic and myogenic tones of microhemodynamics in the subjects with moderate stress, which determines a high probability of blood shunting in tested tissue and decrease in relative oxygen extraction, has been discovered. Moderate levels of stress are also associated with an increase in the latency of postocclusive vasoreactive hyperemia, which is considered to be an early sign of the endothelium-mediated dysfunction of microcirculation.     

Effect of hypobaric hypoxia on immune function in albino rats

 The effect of exposure to hypoxia on macrophage activity, lymphocyte function and oxidative stress was investigated. Hypoxia enhanced peritoneal macrophage activity as revealed by enhanced phagocytosis and free radical production. There was no significant change in antibody titres to sheep red blood cells in either serum or spleen during hypoxia. However, there was a considerable reduction in the delayed-type hypersensitivity response to sheep red blood cells, indicating the impairment of T-cell activity. Hypoxia decreased the blood glutathione (reduced) level and increased plasma malondialdehyde by a factor of about 2. It is therefore speculated that hypoxia imposes an oxidative stress leading to decreased T-cell acivity. Received: 1 September 1997 / Accepted: 22 May 1998     

Characteristics of free-radical oxidation and antiradical protection of the brain in adaptation to chronic stress

During the phase of long-lasting adaptation to chronic emotional painful stress three stages have been distinguished on the basis of physiological and neurobiochemical data. The first stage (1 week of stress)--transition from urgent to long-lasting adaptation--corresponds to labilization of vegetative indices, predominance of fear reactions and suppression of research behaviour in rats, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, activation of superoxide scavenging activity, decrease in cholesterol content in brain lipids. The second stage (2 weeks of stress)--long-lasting adaptation--is characterized by normalization of the behaviour, stabilization of high blood pressure, maximum brain antiradical activity and low level of lipid peroxidation. The third stage (3 weeks of stress)--transition from long-lasting adaptation to exhaustion--is characterized by blood pressure lowering, disturbed regulation of vegetative functions, behavioural hyperactivity in the open field, increased lipid peroxidation and decreased phospholipid content.     

Hepatic and renal oxidative stress in acute toxicity of N-nitrosodiethylamine in rats

Nitrosoamines such as N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) produce oxidative stress due to generation of reactive oxygen species and may alter antioxidant defence system in the tissues. NDEA was administered ip as a single dose to rats in LD50 or in lower amounts and the animals were sacrificed after 0-48 hr of treatment. The results showed that lipid peroxidation in liver increased, however no significant increase in kidney LPO was observed after NDEA administration. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH-R) activity increased in liver, however, catalase (CAT) activity in liver was inhibited in NDEA treated rats. Kidney showed an increase in SOD activity after an initial decrease along with increase in GSH-R activity in NDEA treated rats. However, kidney CAT activity was not significantly altered in NDEA intoxicated rats. Serum transaminases, serum alkaline phosphatase blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and scrum proteins were elevated in NDEA treated rats. The results indicate NDEA-induced oxidative stress and alteration in antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidney to neutralise oxidative stress.     

Features of the behavior of the rat with hereditarily determined arterial hypertension

The behaviour of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR strain), rats with inherited stress induced arterial hypertension (ISIAH, a new developed strain), and of their normotensive Wistar progenitors was studied. The open-field arena and a device for measuring the total activity in the home cage were used in the behavioural studies. The SHR were much more active in the open--field and home cage tests than the Wistar and ISIAH rats. The basal locomotor activity of the ISIAH strain was lower than that of the Wistar rats, but the ISIAH strain had an index of behavioural reactivity 2.7 fold higher than the Wistar or SHR strains. These behavioural characteristics corresponded to the hypertension patterns of the strains compared. Enhanced spontaneous locomotion of the SHR rats was associated with spontaneous increase in arterial blood pressure. The ISIAH rats showed low spontaneous locomotor activity, but high behavioural and blood pressure reactivity under conditions of mild emotional stress.