Experimental morphological study of the effect of liposomes in CCl4 poisoning

The experiments on white mice have shown CCl4 to induce 24 hours after its injection focal changes in the liver, such as hepatocyte necrotization accompanied by lell organoid destruction, drastic reduction in glycogen content and increased fat content, as well as considerable decline in the activity of aerobic and anaerobic metabolic enzymes. Liposome administration attenuated the lytic effect of poison, promoting the integrity of subcellular hepatocyte structures. Distrophic changes in the latter led to increased glycogen content lower lipid level and intensified bioenergic processes.     

Development of affinity labeling agents based on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: labeling of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug binding site of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) exert their effect by inhibiting the target enzyme cyclooxygenase (prostaglandin H2 synthase); however, little is known about the peptides comprising its NSAID binding site. Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenases also bind NSAIDs, but their NSAID binding sites have not been well characterized. Using existing synthetic strategies, we have incorporated the bromoacetoxy affinity labeling moiety around the perimeter of two potent NSAIDs, indomethacin and mefenamate, a N-phenylanthranilate. The compounds synthesized were 1-(4-(bromoacetamido)benzyl)-5-methoxy-2-methylindole-3-acetic acid (1), 3-(2-(2-bromoacetoxy)ethyl)-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-methoxy-2-methylindole (2), 4-(bromoacetamido)-N-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)anthranilic acid (3), N-(3-(bromoacetamido)phenyl)-anthranilic acid (4), and N-(4-(bromoacetamido)phenyl)anthranilic acid (5). To access whether these compounds have general utility in labeling NSAID binding sites, the compounds were evaluated as affinity labeling agents for 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD) from rat liver cytosol. This enzyme displays 9-, 11-, and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activity, is inhibited potently by NSAIDs, and is homologous to bovine lung prostaglandin F synthase. Compounds 1-5 were shown to affinity label the NSAID binding site of 3 alpha-HSD. They inactivated 3 alpha-HSD through an E.I complex in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with t1/2 values ranging from seconds to hours. Ligands that compete for the active site of 3 alpha-HSD (NAD+ and indomethacin) afforded protection against inactivation, and the inactivators could demonstrate competitive kinetics against 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid substrates by forming an E.NAD+.I complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Biomarkers of oxidative stress study V: Ozone exposure of rats and its effect on lipids,proteins, and DNA in plasma and urine

Ozone exposure effect on free radical-catalyzed oxidation products of lipids, proteins, and DNA in the plasma and urine of rats was studied as a continuation of the international Biomarker of Oxidative Stress Study (BOSS) sponsored by NIEHS/NIH. The goal was to identify a biomarker for ozone-induced oxidative stress and to assess whether inconsistent results often reported in the literature might be due to the limitations of the available methods for measuring the various types of oxidative products. The time- and dose-dependent effects of ozone exposure on rat plasma lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, F₂-isoprostanes, protein carbonyls, methionine oxidation, and tyrosine- and phenylalanine oxidation products, as well as urinary malondialdehyde and F₂-isoprostanes were investigated with various techniques. The criterion used to recognize a marker in the model of ozone exposure was that a significant effect could be identified and measured in a biological fluid seen at both doses at more than one time point. No statistically significant differences between the experimental and the control groups at either ozone dose and time point studied could be identified in this study. Tissue samples were not included. Despite all the work accomplished in the BOSS study of ozone, no available product of oxidation in biological fluid has yet met the required criteria of being a biomarker. The current negative findings as a consequence of ozone exposure are of great importance, because they document that in complex systems, as the present in vivo experiment, the assays used may not provide meaningful data of ozone oxidation, especially in human studies.     

α-亚麻酸对糖尿病大鼠炎症介质和氧化应激的影响

目的:观察α-亚麻酸(ALA)对糖尿病大鼠体内炎症介质和氧化应激的影响,探讨ALA在糖尿病防治中的作用。方法:雄性SD大鼠高脂饮食喂养4周后,腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(STZ)30 mg/kg建立2型糖尿病(T2DM)模型。将大鼠随机分为3组(n=10):正常对照组、糖尿病模型组和ALA治疗组(500μg/kg.d)。4周后测定大鼠血清中肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)、可溶性P-选择素(sP-selectin)、可溶性细胞间黏附分子(sICAM-1)、一氧化氮(NO)、丙二醛(MDA)的含量以及超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性。结果:与正常对照组相比,糖尿病大鼠血清中炎症介质TNF-α、sP-selectin和sICAM-1的含量增加,血清NO含量下降而MDA升高,同时抗氧化酶SOD和CAT的活性降低;ALA治疗可显著降低糖尿病大鼠血清中TNF-α、sP-selectin和sICAM-1的含量(与STZ+vehicle组相比,P<0.01),增加血清NO水平并减少MDA含量,升高抗氧化酶SOD和CAT的活性(与STZ+vehicle组相比,均P<0.05)。结论:ALA可显著降低糖尿病大鼠血清炎症介质的生成,减轻氧化应激水平,具有抗炎和抗氧化作用。提示ALA对糖尿病及糖尿病并发症的发生发展可能具有一定的防治作用。     

Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the uptake of various cations by lymphoid cells.

Several acidic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) as well as their corresponding alcohol molecules which are known to induce swelling of isolated lymphocytes by changing cell membrane permeability to water, are demonstrated also to induce changes of membrane permeability of lymphoid cells to one divalent cation, calcium, and to three monovalent cations, rubidium, cesium and sodium. According to the cells ionic environment, they increase or decrease the cellular uptake of cation which is itself also closely dependent on the ionic composition of the incubation medium. This drug-effect is very rapid, directly related to the medium NSAID concentration and almost totally reversible except to the most potent drugs such as flufenamic acid. Changes in intracellular ionic balance could have important catalytic effects on the metabolism of normal as well as of pathological cells. This fact could explain side-effects of these drugs as well as some of their therapeutic effects.     

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of Aegle marmelos Correa. against CCl4-induced oxidative stress and early tumor events

The antioxidant properties and inhibitory effect on early tumor promoter markers of A. marmelos (25 and 50 mg/Kg b. wt. orally) have been evaluated. Male Wistar rats were pre-treated for seven consecutive days with A. marmelos prior to CCl4 (1 mL Kg(- 1) body weight p. o., in corn oil [1:1 v/v]) treatment. Pre-treatment with A. marmelos suppressed lipid peroxidation (LPO), xanthine oxidase (XO) and release of serum toxicity marker enzymes viz, SGOT, LDH, SGPT dose-dependently and significantly (p < 0.001). Hepatic antioxidant status viz, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), quinone reductase (QR), catalase (CAT) were concomitantly restored in A. marmelos-treated groups (p < 0.001). In addition, A. marmelos pretreatment also prevented the CCl4-enhanced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and hepatic DNA synthesis significantly (p < 0.001). In conclusion, carbon tetrachloride-induced liver toxicity was strikingly attenuated by A. marmelos treatment and the study gives some insight into the mechanisms involved in diminution of free radical generating toxicants and enhancement of the antioxidant armory, hence preventing further tissue damage, injury and hyperproliferation. Thus, these findings indicate that A. marmelos attenuates CCl4-mediated hepatic oxidative stress, toxicity, tumor promotion and subsequent cell proliferation response in Wistar rats.     

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of Aegle marmelos Correa. against CCl4-induced oxidative stress and early tumor events

The antioxidant properties and inhibitory effect on early tumor promoter markers of A. marmelos (25 and 50 mg/Kg b. wt. orally) have been evaluated. Male Wistar rats were pre-treated for seven consecutive days with A. marmelos prior to CCl₄ (1 mL Kg^{? 1} body weight p. o., in corn oil [1:1 v/v]) treatment. Pre-treatment with A. marmelos suppressed lipid peroxidation (LPO), xanthine oxidase (XO) and release of serum toxicity marker enzymes viz, SGOT, LDH, SGPT dose-dependently and significantly (p < 0.001). Hepatic antioxidant status viz, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), quinone reductase (QR), catalase (CAT) were concomitantly restored in A. marmelos-treated groups (p < 0.001). In addition, A. marmelos pretreatment also prevented the CCl₄-enhanced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and hepatic DNA synthesis significantly (p < 0.001). In conclusion, carbon tetrachloride-induced liver toxicity was strikingly attenuated by A. marmelos treatment and the study gives some insight into the mechanisms involved in diminution of free radical generating toxicants and enhancement of the antioxidant armory, hence preventing further tissue damage, injury and hyperproliferation.

Thus, these findings indicate that A. marmelos attenuates CCl₄-mediated hepatic oxidative stress, toxicity, tumor promotion and subsequent cell proliferation response in Wistar rats.     

Effects of ascorbic acid on cadmium-induced oxidative stress and performance of broilers

The effects of cadmium on performance, antioxidant defense system, liver and kidney functions, and cadmium accumulation in selected tissues of broiler chickens were studied. Whether the possible adverse effects of cadmium would reverse with the antioxidant ascorbic acid was also investigated. Hence, 4 treatment groups (3 replicates of 10 chicks each) were designed in the study: control, ascorbic acid, cadmium, and cadmium plus ascorbic acid. Cadmium was given via the drinking water at a concentration of 25 mg/L for 6 wk. Ascorbic acid was added to the basal diet at 200 mg/kg either alone or with cadmium. Cadmium decreased the body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and feed efficiency (FE) significantly at the end of the experiment, wheras its effect on feed consumption (FC) was not significant. Cadmium increased the plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level as an indicator of lipid peroxidation and lowered the activity of blood superoxide dismutase (SOD). Liver function enzymes, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities were not changed by cadmium. Cadmium ingestion did not alter serum creatinine levels. Although the serum cadmium level was not elevated, cadmium mainly accumulated in the kidneys, liver, pancreas, and muscle. Ascorbic acid supplementation resulted in a reduction of MDA level previously increased by cadmium and a restoration in SOD activity. However, ascorbic acid did not ameliorate the growth inhibitory effect of cadmium nor did it prevent accumulation of cadmium in analyzed tissues. These data indicate that oxidative stress, induced by cadmium, plays a role in decreasing the performance of broilers and that dietary supplementation by ascorbic acid might be useful in reversing the lipid peroxidation induced by cadmium and partly alleviating the adverse effect of cadmium on performance of broilers.     

Effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam on energy metabolism in the perfused rat liver

• 1.1. The actions of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal and noncarboxylic anti-inflammatory drug, on the metabolism of the isolated perfused rat liver were investigated. The main purpose was to verify if piroxicam is also active on glycogenolysis and energy metabolism, as demonstrated for several carboxylic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories.
• 2.2. Piroxicam increased oxygen consumption in livers from both fed and fasted rats.
• 3.3. Piroxicam increased glucose release and glycolysis from endogenous glycogen (glycogenolysis).
• 4.4. Gluconeogenesis from lactate plus pyruvate was inhibited.
• 5.5. The action of piroxicam on oxygen consumption was blocked by antimycin A, but not by atractyloside.
• 6.6. The action of piroxicam in the perfused rat liver metabolism seems to be a consequence of its action on mitochondria.
• 7.7. It can be concluded that inhibition of energy metabolism and stimulation of glycogenolysis are not specific properties of carboxylic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

     

Exendin-4对甲基乙二醛诱导PC12细胞氧化应激的影响

目的：探讨肠促胰岛素类似物（Ex-4）对甲基乙二醛（MG）诱导PC12细胞氧化应激的影响及其机制。方法：传代培养PC12细胞,不同浓度MG（0、0.25、0.50、0.75、1.0、2.0 mmol/l）处理PC12细胞12~48 h,或用不同浓度Ex-4（25、50、100、200 nmol/L）预处理24 h后加用MG（0.75 mmol/L）干预24 h后,MTT比色法检测细胞存活率;荧光探针法检测活性氧（ROS）含量,黄嘌呤氧化酶法检测超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活力。Ex-4（100nmol/L）预处理PC12细胞24h加用MG（0.75 mmol/L）干预1 h后,Western blot检测蛋白P-IκB-α、IκB-α表达情况。结果：随着MG浓度的增加和作用时间的延长,PC12细胞存活率逐渐降低;加用不同浓度Ex-4预处理后,PC12细胞存活率较单独MG处理组逐渐升高。100 nmol/L的Ex-4预处理PC12细胞后,ROS表达量较MG单独处理组下降65.30%（P<0.01）; NAC预处理组（阳性对照）ROS表达量下降107.40%（P<0.01）;Ex-4预处理组SOD活力增加5.30 U/mg prot（P<0.01）;NAC预处理组SOD活力增加8.53 U/mg prot（P<0.01）。Ex-4预处理组P-IκB-α/IκB-α表达比例下降25.50%（P<0.01）; NAC预处理组P-IκB-α/IκB-α表达比例下降35.14%（P<0.01）。结论：Ex-4浓度依赖性地增加MG诱导的PC12细胞的存活率。Ex-4能够减轻MG诱导的PC12细胞的氧化应激,其机制可能涉及抑制蛋白IκB-α的活化。     

Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on biomarkers of oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Increased oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms are important factors in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes mellitus and other oxidant-related diseases. This study was designed to determine whether alpha-lipoic acid, which has been shown to have substantial antioxidant properties, when administered (10 mg/kg ip) once daily for 14 days to normal and diabetic female Sprague-Dawley rats would prevent diabetes-induced changes in biomarkers of oxidative stress in liver, kidney and heart. Serum glucose concentrations, aspartate aminotransferase activity, and glycated hemoglobin levels, which were increased in diabetes, were not significantly altered by alpha-lipoic acid treatment. Normal rats treated with a high dose of alpha-lipoic acid (50 mg/kg) survived but diabetic rats on similar treatment died during the course of the experiment. The activity of glutathione peroxidase was increased in livers of normal rats treated with alpha-lipoic acid, but decreased in diabetic rats after alpha-lipoic acid treatment. Hepatic catalase activity was decreased in both normal and diabetic rats after alpha-lipoic acid treatment. Concentrations of reduced glutathione and glutathione disulfide in liver were increased after alpha-lipoic acid treatment of normal rats, but were not altered in diabetics. In kidney, glutathione peroxidase activity was elevated in diabetic rats, and in both normal and diabetic animals after alpha-lipoic acid treatment. Superoxide dismutase activity in heart was decreased in diabetic rats but normalized after treatment with alpha-lipoic acid; other cardiac enzyme activities were not influenced by either diabetes or antioxidant treatment. These results suggest that after 14 days of treatment with an appropriate pharmacological dose, alpha-lipoic acid may reduce oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats, perhaps by modulating the thiol status of the cells.     

Effects of added dietary taurine on erythrocyte lipids and oxidative stress in rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet

Lipid peroxidation leads to damage of polyunsaturated fatty acids of membrane phospholipids. The contribution of oxidative stress to hypercholesterolemia-induced hemolytic anemia and the effects of addition of taurine on erythrocyte lipid composition, oxidative stress, and hematological data were studied in rabbits fed on a high cholesterol (HC) diet (1%, w/w) for 2 months. The effects of taurine on erythrocyte hemolysis and H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation were investigated in normal rabbit erythrocytes in vitro. The HC diet resulted in increases in plasma lipids and lipid peroxide levels as well as increases in cholesterol levels and the cholesterol:phospholipid ratio in the erythrocytes. This diet caused a hemolytic anemia, but lipid peroxide levels remained unchanged in the erythrocytes of the rabbits. Taurine (2.5%, w/w) added to the food has an ameliorating effect on plasma lipids and lipid peroxide levels in rabbits fed on a HC diet. This treatment also caused decreases in elevated erythrocyte cholesterol levels and cholesterol:phospholipid ratio due to the HC diet, but it did not prevent the hemolytic anemia and did not change erythrocyte lipid peroxide levels. In addition, in an in vitro study, taurine did not protect erythrocytes against H2O2-induced hemolysis or lipid peroxidation. These results show that the HC diet causes hemolytic anemia without any changes in erythrocyte lipid peroxidation, and taurine treatment was not effective against hemolytic anemia caused by the HC diet.     

Arachidonic acid metabolism in isolated pancreatic islets. III. Effects of exogenous lipoxygenase products and inhibitors on insulin secretion

Isolated pancreatic islets from the rat have been demonstrated by stable isotope dilution-mass spectrometric methods to synthesize the 12-lipoxygenase product 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) in amounts of 1.7 to 2.8 ng per 10(3) islets. No detectable amounts of 5-HETE and only trace amounts of 15-HETE could be demonstrated by these methods. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and BW755C have been demonstrated to inhibit islet 12-HETE synthesis and also to inhibit glucose-induced insulin secretion. Inhibition of insulin secretion and of 12-HETE synthesis exhibited similar dependence on the concentration of these compounds. Eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetrynoic acid (ETYA) also inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion, as previously reported, at concentrations which inhibit islet 12-HETE synthesis. Exogenous 12-HETE partially reversed the suppression of glucose-induced insulin secretion by lipoxygenase inhibitors, but exogenous 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE), 15-HPETE, 5-HPETE, 15-HETE, or 5-HETE did not reverse this suppression. These observations argue against the recently suggested hypothesis that islet synthesis of 5-HETE modulates insulin secretion. Suppression of glucose-induced insulin secretion by ETYA, BW755C and NDGA may be due to inhibition of the islet 12-lipoxygenase by these compounds. The possibility that other processes involved in glucose-induced insulin secretion are inhibited by ETYA, BW755C and NDGA cannot yet be excluded.     

注射用丹酚酸A防治肝纤维化的实验研究

目的：探讨注射用丹酚酸A抗肝纤维化的作用,为丹酚酸A的临床应用提供理论依据。方法采用CCl4体外诱导肝细胞损伤,观察丹酚酸A对肝细胞活性及其细胞培养上清液ALT、AST、LDH水平和细胞裂解液中SOD活性和MDA含量的变化;另采用皮下注射CCl4诱导大鼠肝纤维化模型,观察丹酚酸A对肝纤维化大鼠血清LN、HA、SOD和MDA含量的影响以及肝脏组织病理改变情况。结果与模型对照组比,丹酚酸A高、低剂量组和Vit E组的细胞存活率显著提高（P ＜0.01）,丹酚酸A高剂量组ALT、AST和LDH活性显著降低（P ＜0.01）,丹酚酸A高剂量组和Vit E组SOD活性明显升高（P ＜0.05）,MDA含量显著降低（P ＜0.05）;体内试验发现,与模型对照组比,丹酚酸A高剂量组纤维化大鼠的血清LN和HA水平显著降低（P ＜0.05）,高、低剂量组SOD活性显著升高（P ＜0.05, P ＜0.01）,MDA含量显著降低（P ＜0.01, P ＜0.05）,并能改善肝脏病理形态。结论注射用丹酚酸A可通过抗脂质过氧化作用,起到保护肝细胞,减轻肝纤维化的作用。     

Efficacy of Saudi propolis and bee pollen in the reduction of oxidative stress induced with CCl4 in a testis mice model

Low testosterone levels are caused by alcoholism, cigarette smoking, and exposure to toxic chemicals. This work focused on investigating the activities of propolis (PE) and bee pollen (BPE) extracts in reducing the oxidative stress of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in male mice models. The 48 male Swiss Albino mice weighed 27.5 ± 2.5 g and were divided into: Group1: Control (-) received distilled water only through oral intubation; Group 2: Control (- -) received corn oil by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection once a day; Group 3: Control (+) received a sublethal dose of CCL4 intraperitoneally the end of the experiment. Group 4: Stander treated with silymarin at a daily dose of 200 mg/kg orally. Group 5: The mice were given 8.4 mg/ kg bw of (PE) orally. Group 6: The mice were given (BPE) extract (140 mg/kg bw) orally. After five consecutive days of treatment, all mice had testis injury in all groups except G1& G2, by a single i.p injection of CCL4 at a dose of 0.5 mL/kg (bw; 20% v/v in corn oil). The result showed a significant increase in luteinizing, follicle-stimulating, and testosterone hormone levels in the serum and semen parameters in the groups treated with PE and BPE. The histological results showed the greatest improvements in testis structures in the BPE group, which was confirmed using (Bcl-2; immunohistochemistry). These results suggest an important role of the antioxidative effects of PE and BPE in the attenuation of CCl4 oxidative stress.     

Ultrastructure and number of Kupffer cells in the mouse liver during acute CCl4 poisoning

The ultrastructure and the number of Kupffer cells in different zones of hepatic lobules of mice were studied following CCl4 injection. Migration of the Kupffer cells to necrotic zones of the hepatic lobule after CCl4 administration was detected. These data allow a tentative suggestion that the Kupffer cells are conditionally resident macrophages.     

Effect of rioprostil and colchicine on CCl4-acute liver damage in rats. Relationship with plasma membrane lipids

The effects of colchicine (10 g/day p.o. for 7 days) and rioprostil (2-decarboxy, 2-hydroxymethyl-15-deoxy-16-RS-hydroxy-16-methyl-prostaglandin-E1) (20 g/kg s.c., a single dose) on the enzymatic and histological markers of acute liver damage were studied in rats intoxicated with a single oral dose of CCl4. The rats were sacrificed 24 h after CCl4. The lipid composition of the liver plasma membranes was also determined. The increase in Alk. Phosp., GGTP and GPT activities and bilirubin concentration in serum as well as the histological images produced by CCl4 were equally prevented by the treatments with colchicine or rioprostil. CCl4 changed the lipid composition of the liver plasma membrane by increasing PI and PC and decreasing SM, PS and PEA. There was a decrease in the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio at the expense of a reduction of cholesterol/protein ratio and elevation in phospholipid/protein ratio. Colchicine and rioprostil also prevented these lipid alterations. The results suggest that the plasma membrane is an important site of action of CCl4 and of the 2 drugs studied. We postulate that the plasma membrane rather than other organelles is the target for the cytoprotective actions of prostaglandins.     

Effects of a selective Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 on oxidative stress parameters in acute dichlorvos poisoning in rats

This study examined the effects of Y-27632, a selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, on organophosphate-induced acute toxicity in rats. Rats were randomly divided into four groups as control (corn oil), dichlorvos (30 mg kg(-1) i.p.), 1 and 10 mg kg(-1) Y-27632 + dichlorvos groups. Cholinergic signs (fatigue, tremor, cyanosis, hyper-secretion, fasciculations) were observed in all the rats in the dichlorvos group and the mortality rate was 50%. No cholinergic findings and deaths were observed in the control and Y-27632 groups. Plasma cholinesterase activities were suppressed with dichlorvos and these reductions were attenuated with Y-27632 pretreatment. There was a marked increase in plasma malondialdehyde level in the dichlorvos group, but Y-27632 pretreatment abolished this elevation. Dichlorvos markedly depressed cardiac paraoxonase activity, but these changes were not markedly modified with Y-27632. Total antioxidant capacities, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, total free sulfhydryl groups and catalase activities in plasma and cardiac tissues were not markedly different between the groups. No significant changes were observed with cardiac myeloperoxidase activities or plasma arylesterase and ceruloplasmin activities. In conclusion, our results suggest that Rho-kinase pathway is involved in organophosphate intoxication, and a decrease in cardiac paraoxonase activities may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute organophosphate poisoning in rats.     

Studies on essential fatty acid deficiency. Effect of the deficiency on the lipids in liver mitochondria and oxidative phosphorylation

1. Dietary deficiency of essential fatty acids results in a twofold increase in the neutral lipid content of liver mitochondria as compared with the corresponding value for stock-fed rats. 2. Deficiency produces changes in the pattern of the constituent fatty acids of the main phospholipid fractions of liver mitochondria which are similar to those previously reported for the lipids of whole liver. There is a fall in the content of C_18:2 acid and to a smaller extent of C_20:4 acid associated with a rise of C_16:1, C_18:1 and C_20:3 acids. 3. Deficiency results in small decreases in the phosphorylation quotients of liver mitochondria during oxidation of succinate and pyruvate, but the values lie within the range reported for normal mitochondria. Mitochondrial respiration with succinate is decreased as a result of deficiency but no change was observed with pyruvate as substrate.