Effects of zopiclone on blood glucose level, serum lipid concentration and clot lysis time in normoglycemic and normolipidemic rats

In normoglycemic and normolipidemic rats the i.p. injection of zopiclone induced an acceleration of fibrinolysis in a dose-dependent bell shaped manner and various changes of the blood glucose level. Total lipids, total cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels remained unaffected by doses of 1.25, 2.5 and 15.0 mg/kg, with the exception of the medium dose (5.0 mg/kg) and the next dose (10.0 mg/kg) which lowered them very significantly.     

The effect of hormonal condition on dose-dependent amphetamine-stimulated behaviors in the male rat

The effects of varying doses (1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg, ip) of D-amphetamine sulfate (AMPH) on eight individual behaviors (Rearing, Grooming, Sniffing, Stationary, Gnawing, Head Bobbing, "Sleeping," and Licking) of Castrate + Oil-treated, Castrate + Testosterone Propionate (TP)-treated, and Intact male rats were examined. For Stationary, Sniffing, and "Sleeping" at 1.25 mg/kg AMPH and Rearing and Sniffing at the 2.5 mg/kg dose a significantly greater duration in the behavioral score was obtained for Castrate + Oil versus Castrate + TP and Intact males. These results indicate the complexity of the AMPH dose-response effects upon measurable behaviors, the alteration in the duration of these effects as a function of the hormonal condition of the male rat, and the importance of examining discrete components of behavior when hormone-amphetamine interactions are examined.     

Micronucleus test with vincristine administered by intraperitoneal injection and oral gavage

The effects of vincristine sulfate (VINC) on micronucleus induction were studied in 2 strains of mice (MS/Ae: CD-1) following intraperitoneal (i.p.) or oral administration (p.o.) of the chemical. On the basis of a small-scale acute toxicity study and a pilot micronucleus experiment, the full-scale micronucleus test was performed with a sampling time of 24 h at doses of 0.063, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg (i.p.) and 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 mg/kg (p.o.). The maximum frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes was 7.15% in MS/Ae mice and 4.98% in CD-1 mice at 5.0 mg/kg p.o. in both cases. The maximum frequencies by the i.p. route (9.93% in MS/Ae mice; 11.68% in CD-1 mice) occurred at 0.25 mg/kg and 0.125 mg/kg, respectively. Although the doses showing a positive response were different between the 2 routes, VINC induced micronuclei very efficiently at all doses tested by both administration routes in both strains.     

Doses of prostaglandin F(2)alpha effective for induction of estrus in goats

A total of 11 cycling does weighing between 24 and 50 kg were injected with varying dosages of prostaglandin F(2)alpha (PGF(2)alpha) between 7 and 10 days into each estrous cycle. Five injections each of 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, or 7.5 mg PGF(2)alpha were alternated with five injections of 1.0 ml saline. Saline treated does served as controls. All does were teased twice daily with a buck and observed for signs of estrus for 5 days post-injection. Daily systemic concentrations of progesterone (P(4)) were determined by radioimmunoassay. The mean (+/- S.E.) hours from injection to estrus was 47 +/- 3.3, 42 +/- 4.3, 44 +/- 8.5, and 43 +/- 5.5 for does receiving 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg PGF(2)alpha, respectively. None of the does receiving saline exhibited estrus in the 5-day post-injection observation period. Mean (+/- S.E.) concentrations of systemic P(4) in all does on the day of injection was 4.22 +/- 0.45 ng/ml. Concentrations 24 hours post-injection were 0.21 +/- 0.02, 0.15 +/- 0.05, 0.17 +/- 0.04, 0.16 +/- 0.04, and 4.5 +/- 1.36 ng/ml for does receiving 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg PGF(2)alpha, and 1.0 ml saline, respectively. The results suggested that 1.25 mg PGF(2)alpha was effective for induction of estrus in the cycling goat.     

Teratogenic effects of nigericin, a carboxylic ionophore

Nigericin (Na+ salt) was given intraperitoneally at doses of 5.0 or 7.0 mg/kg on one of gestation days 7-12 to pregnant CD-1 mice. Additional mice were injected ip with 2.5 mg/kg on day 11 or 12 only. Injections on single gestation days reduced fetal growth and increased prenatal deaths. Additional signs of toxicity to the conceptus included treatment-related extra ribs and delayed ossification. Treatment was also associated with gross and skeletal malformations, such as median facial cleft, exencephaly, encephalocele, fused ribs, and anomalous vertebrae and exoccipitals. With the possible exception of the 5.0 mg/kg dose given on gestation day 8, nigericin doses associated with gross or skeletal malformations also resulted in observable maternal toxicity.     

Effect of chronic D-fenfluramine administration on rat hypothalamic serotonin levels and release

D-fenfluramine, an anorectic agent in rats and man, was administered daily at doses 1.25, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg/day for 10 days, and sacrificed 6 days later. Hypothalamic serotonin (5-HT) levels were unchanged in rats receiving 1.25-5 mg/kg/day of d-fenfluramine but reduced by 22% (p less than 0.01) at the highest drug dose (10 mg/kg/day); hypothalamic 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were reduced by 15% (p less than 0.05) or 28% (p less than 0.01) in rats receiving 5 or 10 mg/kg/day of the drug, respectively. Hypothalamic slices prepared from rats which were previously treated with any of the drug doses spontaneously released endogenous 5-HT at rates that did not differ from those of vehicle-treated rats. 5-HT released with electrical field-stimulation was unaffected by prior d-fenfluramine treatment at doses of 1.25-5 mg/kg/day, and was reduced by 20% (p less than 0.05) from slices prepared from rats which received 10 mg/kg/day. 5-HIAA efflux was also attenuated by the highest drug dose. These data indicate that chronic administration to rats of customary anorectic doses of d-fenfluramine (i.e. 0.06-1.25 mg/kg) fail to cause long-lasting reductions in brain 5-HT release.     

Evidence for sedative effects of low doses of morphine in mice involving receptors insensitive to naloxone

Low doses of morphine (0.30–2.5 mg/kg) decrease in a dose-dependent manner spontaneous climbing behaviour in mice. This effect is not modified by administration of naloxone at doses up to 1.25 mg/kg. These morphine doses do not modify the locomotor activity but, when they are associated with naloxone (0.5 mg/kg), an obvious inhibition occurs. In rats, a hyperactivity follows the akinesia produced by a morphine administration (10 mg/kg). This hyperactivity is changed into a significant hypokinesia when the animals are treated with naloxone (0.05 mg/kg). These results might reveal a dual effect of low doses of morphine, the excitatory effect of morphine being antagonized by naloxone whereas no action on the sedative effect is observed.     

Stereotypy and dyskinesias provoked in cats differentiate directly and indirectly-acting psychomotor stimulants

Cats were observed after treatment with different doses of d-amphetamine, apomorphine, piribedil, nomifensine and L-DOPA + benserazide. Nomifensine (30 mg/kg, ip), d-amphetamine (3, 5 and 7.5 mg/kg, ip) and L-DOPA (100 mg/kg, ip) induced stereotyped behaviors without a significant increase in dyskinetic movements. Piribedil (80 and 150 mg/kg, ip) induced dyskinetic movements without stereotypies. Apomorphine (3 and 10 mg/kg, ip) induced a high frequency of dyskinetic movements with stereotypies occurring only at the highest dose level (10 mg/kg). The dissociation between the stereotyped behaviors and dyskinesias induced by psychomotor stimulants parallels the distinction between indirect and direct receptor stimulation.     

Effects of intraperitoneal and intraventricular d-amphetamine administration on active avoidance performance in the rat

Intraventricular and intraperitoneal administration of d-amphetamine impaired asymptotic shuttle box avoidance performance in rats. Low ip doses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/kg) had no effect whereas higher ip doses (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 mg/kg) impaired performance in a dose-related fashion. An inverted U-shaped function was obtained with the ivent doses; low dose (25 ug) and high doses (200 and 400 ug) impaired performance whereas intermediate doses (50 and 100 ug) had little effect. The cannulation procedure itself produced only minimal acquisition effects. The data tend to support the contention that amphetamine acts on the brain to cause the deterioration of well learned avoidance responding.     

p-Chloroamphetamine (PCA) suppresses ingestive behavior in male rats.

Ingestive behavior was activated in male rats by intraoral intake and intake from a bottle of 1-M solution of sucrose. Intraperitoneal injection of p-chloroamphetamine (PCA), releasing central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from serotonergic nerve terminals, inhibited ingestion of the sucrose solution. Significant inhibition of sucrose intake by PCA was observed at 1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg dose in a bottle intake test, and at 5.0 mg/kg dose in an intraoral intake test. These findings suggested that 1.25 and 5.0 mg/kg of PCA suppressed appetitive ingestive behavior and consummatory ingestive behavior in male rats, respectively.     

活性炭对苦荞幼苗根系和叶片生理特性的影响

以山西省主栽苦荞品种‘黑丰1号’温室盆栽幼苗为材料,设置土壤活性炭含量分别为0(CK)、2.5(B2.5)、5.0(B5.0)、7.5(B7.5)、10(B10)g/kg共5个水平,研究土壤中施加活性炭后对苦荞幼苗根系及碳氮代谢、保护酶活性等指标的影响.结果显示:(1)随着活性炭施用比例的增加,苦荞幼苗根系生长指标和根系活力指标均呈先增后减的趋势,根平均直径呈先减后增的趋势,其中B5.0、B7.5处理的幼苗根系总长度、总表面积、总体积、活跃吸收面积、根尖数均显著高于对照,但B10处理的根系发育减弱.(2)随活性炭施用比例的增加,苦荞幼苗叶片蔗糖酶活性变化呈先增后减的趋势,同一处理水平条件下随苦荞的生长而逐渐下降;B2.5、B5.0处理苦荞幼苗叶片蔗糖酶活性和可溶性糖含量均比CK极显著增加,B7.5处理略有提高,B10处理差异不显著.(3)苦荞幼苗叶片谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性随活性炭的增加基本呈上升趋势,而同一处理水平下随苦荞的生长而下降;叶片GS活性在B5.0、B7.5处理时比CK极显著提高,可溶性蛋白质含量在B7.5处理时也显著提高.(4)叶片保护酶SOD、POD、CAT活性随活性炭浓度的升高呈先升后降的变化趋势,而同一处理水平下各时期间变化不大;B2.5处理叶片的SOD、POD和CAT活性比对照显著增强.研究发现,适量施用活性炭(2.5～7.5g/kg)能有效促进苦荞幼苗碳氮代谢和保护酶活性,增强其根系活力.     

KINETICS OF IN VIVO CONVERSION OF γ-[3H]AMINOBUTYRIC ACID TO γ-[3H]HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID BY RAT BRAIN1,2

Abstract— The appearance of γ-[³H]hydroxybutyric acid ([³H]GHB) in rat brain at various times after the intraventricular administration of [³H]GABA was determined. Radioactivity recovered as [³H]GHB was maximal 30 s after [³H]GABA administration and declined exponentially thereafter. From a linear transformation of the disappearance with time of [³H]GHB formed from [³H]GABA, the fractional rate of disappearance and turnover time of GHB were calculated. Administration of amino-oxyacetic acid (50 mg/kg i.p.) 1 h before [³H]GABA, reduced [³H]GHB formation, measured 4 min after [³H]GABA, to 28% of that found in control animals. This strongly suggests that GABA-transaminase catalyzes at least one step in the conversion pathway. [³H]GHB recoverable 4 min after [³H]GABA was unchanged when animals were pretreated with pyrazole (1.25–5.0 mmol/kg), diphenyl-hydantoin (25 and 75 mg/kg), phenobarbital (7.5–60 mg/kg), ethanol (1.25–5.0 g/kg), or morphine (2.5–10 mg/kg). Significantly more [³H]GHB could be recovered at several time points from animals which had been pretreated with 50 mg/kg i.p. of the convulsant 3-mercaptopropionic acid.     

Efficacy study of novel diamidine compounds in a Trypanosoma evansi goat model

Three diamidines (DB 75, DB 867 and DB 1192) were selected and their ability to cure T. evansi experimentally infected goats was investigated. A toxicity assessment and pharmacokinetic analysis of these compounds were additionally carried out. Goats demonstrated no signs of acute toxicity, when treated with four doses of 1 mg/kg/day (total dose 4 mg/kg). Complete curative efficacy of experimentally infected goats was seen in the positive control group treated with diminazene at 5 mg/kg and in the DB 75 and DB 867 groups treated at 2.5 mg/kg. Drug treatment was administered once every second day for a total of seven days. Complete cure was also seen in the group of goats treated with DB 75 at 1.25 mg/kg. DB 1192 was incapable of curing goats at either four-times 2.5 mg/kg or 1.25 mg/kg. Pharmacokinetic analysis clearly demonstrated that the treatment failures of DB 1192 were due to sub-therapeutic compound levels in goat plasma, whilst compound levels for DB 75 and DB 867 remained well within the therapeutic window. In conclusion, two diamidine compounds (DB 75 and DB 867) presented comparable efficacy at lower doses than the standard drug diminazene and could be considered as potential clinical candidates against T. evansi infection.     

In vivo growth inhibitory effect of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on a transplantable mouse tumor, Sarcoma 180.

Withania somnifera is a medicinal plant used in the treatment of a variety of ailments in the Ayurvedic system. Alcoholic extract of the root of the plant was injected(ip) at daily doses of 200 to 1000 mg/kg body wt for 15 days starting from 24 hr after intradermal inoculation of 5 x 10(5) cells of S-180 in BALB/c mice. Solid tumor growth was monitored for 100 days. Doses of 400 mg/kg and above produced complete regression of tumor after an initial growth, the percentage of complete response (CR) increasing with increasing drug dose. A 55% CR was obtained at 1000 mg/kg drug administration, but this dose also produced some mortality among the animals. A significant increase in the volume doubling time and growth delay was seen when the drug dose was increased from 500 to 750 mg/kg body wt, but further increase in drug dose to 1000 mg/kg did not produce any significant increase in these responses. Cumulative doses of 7.5 to 10 g at daily doses of 500 or 750 mg/kg seems to produce a good response in this tumor.     

Effects of low dose versus conventional dose thiazide diuretic on insulin action in essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE--To see whether low dose thiazide diuretics given to patients with essential hypertension might avoid the adverse metabolic consequences seen with conventional doses. DESIGN--Double blind randomised crossover study of two 12 week treatment periods with either low dose (1.25 mg) or conventional dose (5.0 mg) bendrofluazide given after a six week placebo run in period. SETTING--Outpatient clinics serving the greater Belfast area. SUBJECTS--16 white non-diabetic patients (9 male) under 65 with essential hypertension recruited from general practices within the greater Belfast area. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and peripheral and hepatic insulin action. RESULTS--One man failed to complete the study. There were no differences between doses in their effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Bendrofluazide 1.25 mg had substantially less effect on serum potassium concentration than the 5.0 mg dose. There were no intertreatment differences in fasting glucose, insulin, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations. Bendrofluazide 5.0 mg significantly increased postabsorptive endogenous glucose production compared with baseline (mean 10.9 (SD 1.2) v 10.0 (0.8) mumol/kg/min), whereas bendrofluazide 1.25 mg did not. Postabsorptive endogenous glucose production was significantly higher with bendrofluazide 5.0 mg compared with 1.25 mg (10.9 (1.2) v 9.9 (0.8) mumol/kg/min) but was suppressed to a similar extent after insulin (bendrofluazide 5.0 mg 2.8 (1.5) mumol/kg/min v bendrofluazide 1.25 mg 2.2 (1.5) mumol/kg/min). Exogenous glucose infusion rates required to maintain euglycaemia were not significantly different between doses and were similar to baseline. CONCLUSIONS--Bendrofluazide 1.25 mg is as effective as conventional doses but has less adverse metabolic effect. In contrast with conventional doses, low dose bendrofluazide has no effect on hepatic insulin action. There is no difference between low and conventional doses of bendrofluazide in their effect on peripheral insulin sensitivity.     

Effect of Withania somnifera Dunal in ethanol-induced anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety in rats

Withania somnifera (WS) or its psychotropic preparation is known to play a critical role in morphine, alcohol and benzodiazepines addiction. This study investigates the role of WS in acute ethanol and withdrawal from chronic ethanol consumption using elevated plus maze paradigm in rats. Acute administration of ethanol (1.5-2 g/kg, ip) triggered anxiolytic effect and withdrawal from prolonged ethanol (9% v/v ethanol, 15 days) consumption elicited enhanced behavioral despair (anxiety). Acute administration of WS (50 mg/kg, oral) potentiated the anxiolytic action of subeffective dose of ethanol (0.5 or 1 g/kg, ip). Moreover, the ethanol withdrawal anxiety was markedly antagonized in dose dependent manner by WS at 200 and 500 mg/kg or higher dose of ethanol (2.5 g/kg). However, co-administration of subeffective doses of WS (50 mg/kg, oral) and ethanol also attenuated withdrawal-induced anxiety due to chronic ethanol (9% v/v ethanol, 15 days) consumption. The results suggest the protective effect of WS in the management of ethanol withdrawal reactions.     

GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen attenuates the development and expression of d-methamphetamine-induced place preference in rats

The present study investigated the effect of systemic administration of the GABA(B) receptor agonist, baclofen, on the development and expression of d-methamphetamine (d-MA)-induced place preference in male Wistar rats. Using a biased and 8-day schedule of conditioning, it was found that administration of d-MA (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) produced significant place preference. The administration of baclofen (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to the exposure to d-MA attenuated the development of d-MA-induced place preference (p<0.05). In addition, when it was acutely administered 30 min prior to the testing session of an already established d-MA place preference, baclofen (1.25-5.0 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated the expression of this conditioned response in a dose-dependent manner. These results showed that baclofen suppressed the rewarding effect produced by d-MA and may be potentially effective in the treatment of methamphetamine dependence and craving.     

Hypothermic response produced by manassantin A, a novel neuroleptic agent

Manassantin A (MNS-A), a novel neolignoid, neutral compound shown to possess neuroleptic properties, causes hypothermic response in male and female mice of CD-1 strain when administered by the intra-cerebroventricular (icv), (0.1, 1.0, 3.2, 10 micrograms/mouse), intraperitoneal (ip), (0.1, 0.32, 1.0, 3.2 mg/kg) and oral (0.5, 1.6, 5.0, 16 mg/kg) routes. The hypothermia was found to be dose and time dependent, the maximum decrease of temperature being observed by the icv route (P less than 0.001) after 2 hours. However, ip and oral administration of lower and middle order doses were not very effective but higher doses caused significant (P less than 0.001) reduction of body temperature. The centrally-induced hypothermic response by MNS-A may give future leads as a screening model for antidepressant drugs and can be a useful tool for manipulating physiological and pharmacological processes to understand the central thermoregulatory functions.     

The comparative effects of propofol, thiopental, and diazepam, administered intravenously, on pentylenetetrazol seizure threshold in the rabbit.

The anticonvulsant effects of propofol, thiopental, and diazepam, administered intravenously, on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) seizure threshold were studied and compared in the rabbit. The PTZ seizure threshold determined in various rabbit groups during the control phase of conducted experiments, was found to be in the range of 10.1 +/- 2.0 to 13.5 +/- 3.7 mg/kg. Intravenous administration of comparable doses of propofol, thiopental, and diazepam resulted in marked and significant increases in PTZ seizure threshold. At all administered doses (1.25-10.0 mg/kg), propofol was found to be more effective than thiopental in increasing the PTZ threshold dose. However, the anticonvulsant effects of diazepam were more marked than those of propofol, except at a dose of 10 mg/kg where both agents exhibited equipotent activities. These data demonstrate that propofol enjoys a considerable degree of anticonvulsant activity in the rabbit. This anticonvulsant action is greater than that of thiopental at doses ranging from 2.5 to 10 mg/kg and equipotent with diazepam at the 10 mg/kg dose.     

Toxicity of pure alkaloid of Tylophora asthamatica in male rat

Administration of pure alkaloid of T. asthamatica, suspended in peanut oil and given in single doses (12-100 mg/kg) by gavage, to male rats caused inactivity, respiratory distress, salivation, nasal discharge and diarrhoea. The oral LD50 value of the alkaloid was 35.32 mg/kg. In short term toxicity study daily doses of the alkaloid (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) were given to male rats for 15 days. Smaller doses of the alkaloid (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg/day) produced no signs of poisoning or death in animals; while 5 mg/kg/day produced signs of poisoning and death of two animals, 10 mg/kg/day caused death of all the animals within 7 days. Activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were significant and associated with morphological changes in liver. The alkaloid also caused marked changes in the morphology of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic activity of experimental animals. Since the alkaloid is effective in microgram quantities, the non toxic effects observed after daily doses of 1.25 mg/kg in male rats assume great therapeutic significance.