Destructive and reparative processes in the liver in acute experimental peritonitis

Dynamics and character of interrelations of destructive and reparative processes in the liver in different conditions of acute experimental peritonitis (AEP), using preparations, inhibiting or stimulating these reactions in the experiment with 135 white rats have been studied. It was established the dependence of the level of destruction and intensity of hepatic reparative regeneration on the gravity of peritoneum affection, the level of toxicity and the state of the body immunologic reactivity. The organ reparation in normal AEP in the first two days is carried out mainly by intercellular hyperplasia of hepatocyte ultrastructures. Karyokinetic cellular activity is increasing from the 3rd day and reacting its peak on the 4-5 day of the experiment. The course of peritonitis while introducing azathioprine is accompanied by prevailing destructive-purulent changes in the liver. On the contrary, levamisole administration in experimental animals causes an increase in lymphoid-cellular infiltration of stromal and parenchymatous cells with earlier reparation of necrotic foci.     

Effects of sodium hypochlorite on oxygen balance and functional state of the small intestine in experimental peritonitis]

Sodium hypochlorite, administrated intravenously and intraperitoneally, leads to normal oxygen balance, metabolism and motility of small intestine in peritonitis. Anti-hypoxia effect of this substance is realized by an increase of oxygen content in the blood. It is useful to use sodium hypochlorite in general peritonitis for antibacterial therapy and against tissue hypoxia without side effects.     

Interrelation of blood glucose and serotonin in rats

Previous experiments have put in evidence that the 5-HT injected intraperitoneally in rats elicits remarkable variations of some enzymatic activities of glycolytic pathways and it is an iperglicemic factor as in function of dose that of time. For that the AA. have measured the glycemia in different starting glicemic conditions, to control if the 5-HT effect persists. The results have evidenced the 5-HT effect (20 mg/kg i.p.) there is also in fasting rats as drinking water as a water solution of glucose (20%).     

Alterations of the composition and metabolism of pulmonary surfactant phospholipids induced by experimental peritonitis in rats

Pulmonary complications often accompany the development of acute peritonitis. In this study, we analyzed the alterations of alveolar surfactant phospholipids in rats with experimentally induced peritonitis. The results showed a reduction of almost all phospholipid fractions in pulmonary surfactant of experimental animals. The most abundant alveolar phospholipids-phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol were reduced significantly in surfactant of rats with experimental peritonitis. In addition, analysis of the fatty acid composition of these two phospholipids revealed marked differences between experimental and control animals. The activity of phospholipase A2, which is localized in the hydrophyllic phase of alveolar surfactant, was higher in rats with experimental peritonitis compared to sham-operated ones. Also, a weak acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid acyltransferase activity was detected in alveolar surfactant of rats with experimental peritonitis, whereas in control animals this activity was not detectable. The lipid-transfer activity was quite similar in pulmonary surfactant of control and experimental rats. The total number of cells and the percentage of neutrophils were strongly increased in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid from rats with peritonitis. Thus, our results showed that the development of peritonitis was accompanied by pulmonary pathophysiological processes that involved alterations of the phospholipid and fatty acid composition of alveolar surfactant. We suggest that the increased populations of inflammatory cells, which basically participate in internalization and secretion of surfactant components, contributed to the observed alterations of alveolar phospholipids. These studies would be useful for clarification of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the occurrence of pulmonary disorders that accompany acute inflammatory conditions, such as peritonitis and sepsis.     

Trace element levels in the experimental peritonitis

Electron transfer from iron or copper ions to oxygen is an important example of cellular free radical initiation. Oxygen derived free radicals have been implicated as mediators of cellular injury in several model systems. To evaluate the importance of iron, copper and zinc levels on lipid peroxidation in peritonitis, we measured peritoneum malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation, zinc, copper, and iron levels during an animal model of intraperitoneal sepsis. Additionally the effects of the free radical scavenger alpha-tocopherol administration was studied. The peritoneum MDA, iron, copper and zinc levels were increased after induction of peritonitis with Escherichia Coli. The treatment with alpha-tocopherol was decreased the peritoneum MDA, iron and copper levels significantly, except the zinc level (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally the alpha-tocopherol treatment for three days prior to injection of E.Coli more decreased MDA, copper and iron levels than that of the treatment with alpha-tocopherol at the time of injection of E. Coli (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Our results indicated that copper, iron and zinc had important effects on peroxidation events in E. Coli induced peritonitis, and alpha-tocopherol treatment can improve the oxidant status.     

Reparative processes in the liver and adrenal cortex of rats following an experimental vascular crisis

Reparative processes in the liver and the adrenal cortex of hemiadrenalectomized female rats, which sustained an acute circulatory disturbance as a result of orthostasis, were investigated by means of quantitative methods (cytometry, kariometry, nucleolometry, determination of cell content calculation of nucleo-cytoplasmic, nucleolo-nuclear ratios). Common features in regeneration of the organs under study were found. During the first days of the experiments the count of the dying cells increased and simultaneously the quantity of amitoses and binucleated cells in the liver grew. The cell composition of the organs was stabilized by the 15th day in the adrenal gland and by the 45th day in the liver. During the first week after orthostasis mitotic activity of epithelial cells rose in both the organs. Later the regeneration took place at the intracellular level (activation of the nuclear apparatus and hypertrophy of the cell cytoplasm).