The interrelation between individual behavioral characteristics and the indices of brain energy metabolism in rats]

In rats with active type of behaviour in "open field" and "forced swimming" tests in response to weak stress (handling) both the rate of local blood flow (RLBF) and free oxygen tension level (pO2) in the brain are increased, and in rats with passive type of behaviour RLBF is increased, but the pO2 level is decreased. The character of pO2 level changes in the brain under stress is significantly (r = -0.74, p less than 0.001) connected with the level of depressiveness (time of passive swimming) and is nonsignificantly connected with the level of the motor activity. Indices of the active type of behaviour (the number of crossed squares, rearings, comings out to the center of the field and the time of extinction of the motor activity) positively correlate with succinate dehydrogenase (SDG) activity and negatively with NADH-dehydrogenase (NADH-DG) activity and the index of the passive type of behaviour (time of passive swimming) positively correlates with NADH-DG activity and negatively--with SDG activity.     

Changes in the combined activity of the thyroid and the fascicular zone of the adrenal cortical substance in the development of subcutaneous connective tissue inflammation during prolactin administration

As demonstrate the experiments performed in white male rats, during development of an inflammatory reaction, some essential fluctuations take place in nicotinamide dinucleotide. H2 (HAD.H2), nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate. H2 (NADPh.H2), glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G-6-PhDH), monoaminoxydase (MAO) activities and in content of ascorbic acid in the fascicular zone of the adrenals and the same enzymes in the thyroid follicular cells. There is a reverse connection between the adrenal fascicular zone and the thyroid gland activity. At inflammation, prolactin increases MAO and G-6-PhDH activity in thyrocytes and adrenocorticocytes of the adrenal fascicular zone, changes correlation between NAD.H2-DG and NADPh.H2-DG activities. At an acute inflammation, prolactin activates the thyroid gland function, and during the reparative period--decreases it. During the inflammation period, prolactin administration decreases contingency of the indices in the thyroid gland-adrenals systems, that is to say produces a dissociative effect; it is, perhaps, connected with certain changes in balance and a mediatory role of biogenic amines.     

Changes in lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the course of muscle alteration]

Changes of outflux, extractability and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDG) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PhDG) of muscles under the action of heating (at 32--44 degrees for 15 min) and urea (1 M during 10 min, 30 min, 2 hr. and 9 hr.) on the skeletal muscles of R. temporaria L. were studied. Under the thermal action not accompanied by contracture and fall of the excitability (32--36 degrees), the increase of outflux of LDG out of muscles into surrounding solutions is observed. G-6-PhDG in the external medium under any heating action was not revealed. Extractibility of LDG and G-6-PhDG did not change. Under the thermal action accompanied by the fall of excitability and by the contracture, along with the prolong increase of outflux of LDG, a decrease of extractability of LDG takes place. The decrease of G-6-PhDG is set at 42 degrees. Under the alteration of muscles by urea in the period of the temporary fall of excitability and contracture (10 and 30 min) an increase of the outflux of LDG out of muscles is observed. G-6PhDG in the surrounding medium was not revealed up to 9 hr. of incubation of muscle. In the period of the recovery of the excitability and relaxation of muscles (2hr.) the outflux of LDG approaches the control level. During the temporary loss and recovery of excitability, the extractability of LDG and G-6-PhDG does not change. In the period of irreversible contracture and loss of the excitability (6--10 hr.) a sharp increase of outflux of LDG out of muscles takes place. The extractability of the examined enzymes, especially of LDG, decreases.     

Structural and ultrastructural differentiation of the thyroid gland during embryogenesis in the grass snake Natrix natrix L. (Lepidosauria, Serpentes)

The differentiation of the thyroid primordium of reptilian species is poorly understood. The present study reports on structural and ultrastructural studies of the developing thyroid gland in embryos of the grass snake Natrix natrix L. At the time of oviposition, the thyroid primordium occupied its final position in the embryos. Throughout developmental stages I-IV, the undifferentiated thyroid primordium contained cellular cords, and the plasma membranes of adjacent cells formed junctional complexes. Subsequently, the first follicular lumens started to form. The follicular lumens were of intracellular origin, as in other vertebrate species, but the mechanism of their formation is as yet unclear. At developmental stages V-VI, the thyroid anlage was composed of small follicles with lumens and cellular cords. Cells of the thyroid primordium divided, and follicles were filled with a granular substance. At developmental stage VI, the cells surrounding the follicular lumen were polarized, the apical cytoplasm contained dark granules and the Golgi complex and the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) developed gradually. Resorption of the colloid began at developmental stage VIII. At the end of this stage, the embryonic thyroid gland was surrounded by a definitive capsule. During developmental stages IX-X, the follicular cells contained granules and vesicles of different sizes and electron densities and a well-developed Golgi apparatus and RER. At developmental stage XI, most follicles were outlined by squamous epithelial cells and presented wide lumens filled with a light colloid. The Golgi complex and RER showed changes in their morphology indicating a decrease in the activity of the thyroid gland. At developmental stage XII, the activity of the embryonic thyroid gradually increased, and at the time of hatching, it exhibited the features of a fully active gland.     

Fine structure of the fetal rat thyroid and parathyroid glands at term and during prolonged gestation

Summary The fine structure of the fetal rat thyroid and parathyroid glands was studied at term and during prolonged gestation, which was induced by subcutaneous injections of progesterone to the mothers from gestational days 20 through 24. At term, the follicular and parafollicular cells of the thyroid as well as cells of the parathyroid exhibited well developed cytoplasmic organelles. Morphological changes were not detected in either of the endocrine glands during prolonged gestation. The results are discussed in relationship to 1) thyroid follicular cell activity during stress and 2) the function of thyroid parafollicular and parathyroid cells in calcium homeostasis.Supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada Grant No. MA4740.     

Changes in rat testis glandulocytes under deep hypothermia]

White mongrel rats weighing 180-220 g were daily cooled in water at 4-5 degrees C up to 21-23 degrees C in the rectum. The animals were killed on the 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25th days of experiment. The total amount of glandulocytes counted per a cross section of the tubule did not change throughout the experiment. The total weight of pictures of 100 glandulocytes (taken randomly), obtained through a drawing apparatus on a standard paper was reliably decreased by 28%. By the end of the observation period the amount of degenerating glandulocytes increased 2 times and that of slightly active in a functional respect so-called "small" glandulocytes increased 4 times, while the number of active ("large") glandulocytes diminished approximately 1,5 times. The activity of SDG and ICDG in interstitial cells dropped by 26% and 18%. The activity of LDG was 52% greater. The G-6-PhDG activity was 40% greater while the activity of clue enzyme steroidgenase--3beta-OSD under hypothermia was inhibited by 36%.     

Autoradiographic analysis of proestrous changes in the binding of 125I-labeled prolactin to the hamster ovary

Autoradiographic histochemistry was employed to examine changes in the binding of 125I-labeled prolactin (Prl) to ovaries from proestrous hamsters before (at 1200 h), during (at 1600 h), and after (at 2000 h) the preovulatory gonadotropin surge. In untreated control hamsters, there was a marked and progressive loss of Prl binding, first in the interstitial cells and follicular thecae by 1600 h, and then in the granulosa cells of the preovulatory follicles by 2000 h. When proestrous hamsters were treated with ergocryptine to significantly lower serum Prl, or injected with exogenous Prl, Prl binding to their ovaries did not differ from controls, suggesting that decreased Prl binding was due to neither increased occupancy of binding sites by endogenous Prl nor down regulation of Prl receptors by Prl itself. Conversely, when proestrous hamsters were treated with phenobarbital to block the luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) surge, the loss of Prl binding sites in the ovaries was prevented, suggesting that the LH/FSH surge might initiate a down regulation of Prl receptors in the ovary. Such a down regulation of Prl receptors may serve as a mechanism by which the ability of Prl to affect periovulatory events in the ovary might be regulated.     

Succinate dehydrogenase activity of brachial muscle antagonists after decrease in the force load at various times of the day in rats

In 140 male rats of Wistar strain the distal part of one thoracic extremity has been amputated in such a way that places of the brachial muscle fixation remained intact. This resulted in decrease of the force component of muscle contractions (more intensive in the musculus triceps brachii) without essential swing and speed of movements. The operation was performed during one day at three series: at 7 a. m. 3 p. m. and 11 p. m. During following 45 days the muscles developing various contraction force were studied: the medial head of the musculus triceps brachii and brachial muscle. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDG) activity in muscle fibers (MF) was estimated photometrically. In MF initially characterized with various SDG activity, attention was payed to its dynamics and also relation of the fibers number, possessing various level of the enzymatic activity was taken into consideration. SDG activity in MF and relation of various MF change wavy-like, fluctuating from the control meaning and returning to them again. MF with different SDG activity do not similarly react to a sharp decrease of the force loading. Fibers with high enzymatic activity react to changes of the force loading immediately, intensity of the reaction at this stage slightly depends on degree of biomechanical changes; at later stages the response is differentiated: if the loading is decreased considerably (musculus triceps brachii), the process continues developing and increasing uninterruptedly, if it decreases moderately (brachial muscle)--it stabilizes and even has tendency to adaptation and returning towards the control state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Down regulation of prolactin receptors in the hamster ovary by the preovulatory gonadotropin surge

Binding of 125I-prolactin (Prl) to hamster ovarian homogenates was found to decrease markedly at the time of the preovulatory gonadotropin surge (PGS). Saturation analysis revealed that the decrease was due to a reduction in the number of available Prl receptors and not due to a change in binding affinity. Loss of Prl receptors following the PGS was not affected by treatment with ergocryptine to block the release of pituitary Prl, indicating that the reduction in the number of available Prl receptors was not due to increased occupancy by endogenous Prl. Loss of Prl receptors was prevented by treatment with phenobarbital (Phen) to block the normal luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) surge; whereas, an injection of 50 micrograms of LH or 50 micrograms FSH (but not 100 micrograms Prl) induced a marked decrease in Prl receptors in Phen-treated hamsters. To determine whether Prl receptor loss induced by 50 micrograms FSH might be due to LH contamination, Phen-treated hamsters were injected with minimal ovulatory doses of LH and FSH. Injection of 5 micrograms or 2.5 micrograms LH induced a loss of Prl receptors in 90% and 70% of Phen-treated hamsters, respectively. In contrast, injection of 5 micrograms or 2.5 micrograms FSH induced a loss of Prl receptors in 0% and 20% of Phen-treated hamsters, respectively. These results indicate that the PGS causes an acute heterologous down regulation of ovarian Prl receptors and suggest that this down regulation may be due principally to the action of LH.     

乳酸脱氨酶DAB－环己烷反胶束溶液中的活性

研究了兔肌乳酸脱氢酶Ｍ４（ＬＤＨ）在十二胺丁酸盐（ＤＡＢ）－环己反烷胶束溶液中的催化活性。发现ＬＤＨ在ＤＡＢ反胶束中的催化转换数（Ｋｃａｔ）同水溶液中的相近,ＬＤＨ在ＤＡＢ反胶束中的活性随增溶水量的增加而增加,随ＤＡＢ浓度的增加而降低,文中还提出了ＬＤＨ在ＤＡＢ反胶束中的增溶方式。     

Quantitative histoenzymologic characteristics of the human submandibular salivary glands]

Quantitative activity of oxidative-reductive and hydrolytic enzymes obtained during operation was investigated in different parts of the human submandibular salivary glands. Quantitative estimation of enzymic activity was done by photometry of the negatives prepared on MY-phi-6. Comparative examination of enzymatic activity made it possible to state that according to the peculiarities of metabolic processes, the cells of striated and intralobular secreting ducts are similar to the cells of the secreting terminal parts. A high activity of NADP-diaphorase, G-6-PhDG and acid phosphatase in the epithelium of the secreting ducts, and parallelism, stated between histoenzymatic and morphologic criteria of functional activity proved the participation of these structural-functional units in secret-producing processes. A high activity of NAK-diaphorase, LDG and acid phosphatase in all the parts and in the secreting ducts system, in particular, ensures, besides the processes of protein secret formation, an active transport of natrium and potassium, formation of final saliva and its discharge.     

Changes in the activity of the oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes of the animal cerebral cortex in the early periods after gamma irradiation and the use of meksamine and the synthetic analog of prostaglandin F2 alpha-estrofan

In experiments with (CBA x C57B1/6)F1 mice it was shown that LDH activity moderately increased 5 min after exposure of the head to 200 Gy gamma radiation. After 60 min, there was a 24.4 per cent decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity and a 24.3 per cent increase in SDG activity. Injected prior to irradiation meksamine precluded the postirradiation increase in SDH and alleviated the postirradiation decrease in alkaline phosphatase.     

Effect of tuftsin on the activity of energy metabolism enzymes in peritoneal macrophages

Cytochemistry was used to measure the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SOD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) in rat peritoneal macrophages under the action of the endogenous immunostimulant tuftcin (tre-lys-pro-arg) during phagocytosis of latex particles and at rest. Tuftcin did not affect the activity of the study enzymes in non-phagocytic cells. Elevation of the peptide concentration to 0.25 micrograms/ml and higher in phagocytic macrophages activated G-6-PDH and lowered the activity of LDH. Tuftcin did not alter the activity of SOD in phagocytic macrophages.     

Enzymatic activity in crude oil contaminated rats

The activity of enzymes found in the plasma, malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and enzymes from erythrocytes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and catalase, was studied in rats contaminated by crude oil. Crude oil (tube fed) contamination caused a significant increase in MDH and LDH activity 96 hr after contamination while a decrease in activity was noted in 6-6-PDH and catalase. An additional contamination (1 week after the first contamination), measured 96 hr after contamination, caused a relative decrease in MDH and LDH activity while there was a contrasting relative increase in G-6-PDH and catalase activity. After a recovery period of 3 weeks the only significant change was an increase in catalase activity.     

Seasonal changes of parafollicular and follicular cells of the dormouse thyroid (Myoxus glis): an ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study

The follicular epithelium of dormouse thyroid consists of two distinct cellular types, follicular and parafollicular cells. Parafollicular cells can be easily identified by their high cytoplasmic dye-affinity for phloxine, round to ovoid shape, basal arrangement and lack of contact with follicular colloid. The wide cytoplasmic matrix is clear and contains many secretory granules of variable electron density whose contents histochemically appears to be proteic with a lean glucidic component. Furthermore immunocytochemical reactions with antibodies against calcitonin and somatostatin showed that both hormones are co-stored in the secretory granules of all parafollicular cells. Both follicular and parafollicular cells show seasonal morphological variations in their secretory activity. Follicular cell activity is high in summer, reaches a peak in late fall or prehibernation and progressively slows down throughout hibernation. Parafollicular cells exhibit a fair synthetic activity in summer, in fall, and in the animals captured during winter hibernating sleep and killed after 12 days stay in laboratory. In winter sleep, granules with interrupted membrane and cottony contents are prevalent and the ultrastructural aspects suggest an intense discharge of secretion. The results are compared with those from other hibernating mammalians and discussed in the light of blood calcium values and seasonal balances of other metabolisms.     

Effect of tuftsin on enzyme activity in the energy metabolism of lymphocytes

The cytochemical technique was used to measure the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) of peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice and rats given intraperitoneal injections of an endogenous immunostimulant tuftcin (Tre-Lys-Pro-Arg) in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg. A significant decrease of SDH activity was observed both in mice and rats 4 and 6 hours following injection, respectively. In mice, that activity returned to normal in 12, while in rats in 24 hours. An opposite action was produced by tuftcin on G-6-PDH, causing the maximum elevation of the enzyme activity in rat lymphocytes 6 hours after peptide administration. The decrease to the initial level was observed in 24 hours. Tuftcin did not affect the activity of LDH. The data obtained indicate that the immunological effect of tuftcin is coupled with the changes in the activity of Krebs cycle enzymes (SDH) and pentose phosphate cycle enzymes (G-6-PDH).     

Various aspects of dopaminergic function in patients with prolactin-secreting hypophyseal adenoma

Controversial data have been published in these last years on the dopaminergic tonus of tubero infundibular (TIDA) neurons in hyperprolactinemic subjects. Some authors retain that L-Dopa (LD) stimulation test after pretreatment with Carbidopa (CD), a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor substance, may reveal the presence of a central Dopamine (DA) defect in patient with prolactinoma. To elucidate the reason of so different activity of DA central tonus in subjects with prolactinoma, the effects of Nomifensine (NOM), an indirect DA agonist, DOM, Carbidopa/L-Dopa (CD/LD) and LD, were studied in 26 prolactinoma patients, (basal Prl levels 50 to 280 ng/ml). The patients (24-39 years) were characterized by secondary amenorrhea with sella turcica enlargement at hypocicloidal polytomography. The NOM administration resulted unable to reduce Prl plasma levels in all the patients. On the basis of Prl response to CD/LD administration the patients were subdivided in two groups: group A, which showed a significant decrease of Prl plasma levels and group B, who did not show any significant change. LD test induced a significant Prl decrease in all patients with more evident response in these of group A. DOM administration induced a Prl rise in patients of group A, but failed to change significantly Prl levels in group B subjects. These results confirming the high validity of NOM inhibiting test in the diagnosis of tumoural hyperprolactinemic states, reveal contradictory responses to CD/LD, LD and DOM, with sustain the existence of 2 sub-group of Prolactinomas: with or without a maintained DA central tonus supporting the possibility of different etiopathogenetical factors in inducing a tumoural hyperprolactinemic states.     

Pituitary and ovarian function in postpartum beef cows. I. Effect of suckling on serum and follicular fluid hormones and follicular gonadotropin receptors

The effect of suckling on serum and follicular fluid hormones and on follicular gonadotropin receptors was studied. Sixteen anestrous postpartum cows were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: suckled (S) or weaned (W). All calves were allowed to suckle ad libitum from parturition to 21 days postpartum when calves from W cows were weaned. All cows were ovariectomized on Day 25 postpartum. W cows had more (P less than 0.01) pulses of LH during the 96-h period from weaning until ovariectomy than S cows (6.3 vs. 1.3 pulses). Serum concentrations of prolactin (Prl), estrone (E1), estradiol-17 beta (E2) and progesterone (P) were not different (P greater than 0.10) between groups. Furthermore, there were n differences (P greater than 0.10) in follicular in contents of luteinizing hormone (LH), E1, E2 and P between the treatment groups. However, follicular fluid content of Prl was greater (P less than 0.05) in the W cows than in the S cows (123 vs. 65.1 ng/cow). The number of follicular LH receptors was greater (P less than 0.05) in the W cows than in the S cows (71.1 vs. 48.3 fmoles/mg protein) although the number of follicular follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors was not different (P greater than 0.10) between W cows and S cows (1531 vs. 1862 fmoles/mg protein). There were no correlation between serum hormone concentrations and follicular fluid hormone content; however, the numbers of follicular LH receptors and follicular fluid Prl content were highly correlated in the W cows (r = 0.85; P less than 0.05). It is concluded that removal of the suckling stimulus increases pulsatile LH release and the accumulation of Prl in the follicular fluid. These factors, either together or separately, may at least in part be responsible for the increase in follicular LH receptor concentrations that were observed in the W cows.     

Impaired phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and ascorbic acid depletion in lung during lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxaemia in guinea pigs

Recently there has been a moderate resurgence in the use of flax-seed in a variety of ways including bread. The scientific basis of its use is very limited. There is some claim for beneficial effects in cancer and lupus nephritis. These claims could be due to its ability to scavenge oxygen radicals. However, its antioxidant activity is not known. Recently a method has been developed to isolate secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) from defatted flax-seed in large quantity (patent pending). We investigated the ability of SDG to scavenge úOH using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. úOH was generated by photolysis of H2O2 (1.25-10.0 \sgmaelig;moles/ml) with ultraviolet light and was trapped with salicylic acid which is hydroxylated to produce úOH-adduct products 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) and 2,5-DHBA. H2O2 produced a concentration-dependent úOH as estimated by 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. A standard curve was constructed for known concentrations of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA against corresponding area under the peaks which then was used for measurement of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA generated by UV irradiation of H2O2 in the presence of salicylic acid. SDG in the concentration range of 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 2000 \sgmaelig;g/ml (36.4, 72.8, 145.6, 364.0, 728.0, 1092.0, 1456.0 and 2912.0 \sgmaelig;M respectively) produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the formation of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA, the inhibition being 4 and 4.65% respectively with 25 \sgmaelig;g/ml (36.4 \sgmaelig;M) and 82 and 74% respectively with 2000 \sgmaelig;g/ml (2912.0 \sgmaelig;M). The decrease in úOH-adduct products was due to scavenging of úOH not and by scavenging of formed 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. SDG prevented the lipid peroxidation of liver homogenate in a concentration-dependent manner in the concentration range from 319.3-2554.4 \sgmaelig;M. These results suggest that SDG scavenges úOH and therefore has an antioxidant activity.