The neural apparatus of the small intestine of piglets after administration of a growth stimulator kormogrisein]

By means of classical neurohistological techniques, phase contrast microscopy and morphometry, a comparative investigation has been performed concerning the development of the intramural nervous apparatus in the small intestine, normal and at application of cormogrisine. The structural peculiarities of morphogenesis are considered together with signs of activation and inhibition of the neurons growth in tissue culture. A number of morphological criteria, demonstrating an increased extrusive activity and enhancing potensity of the neurons growth have been revealed. The number of nervous processes becomes greater; degree of their ramification increases; a part of neurons of Dogiel II type turns into multiprocessive neurons with some signs of Dogiel I type cells; growth cones and arcadian structures are present; giant processes appear; thick nervous fasciculi are formed; volume of the neuron bodies increases more intensively. After application of cormogrisine for 2 months a definite neurostimulatory effect is revealed; it demonstrates a more intensive morphogenesis of the small intestine nervous of Physiology, USSR, Academy of Medical Sciences, Leningrad.     

Effect of tetracycline group antibiotics on the barrier properties of the small intestine epithelium]

The effect of 5 tetracyclines on the barrier and transport properties of the small intestine epithelium was studied. The barrier properties were estimated by a change in the ionic selectivity and conductivity of the epithelium, as well as by enterocyte linkage. The current of the short circuit served the characteristics of the Na transport system state. Dimethylchlortetracycline, methacycline and oxytetracycline in concentrations of 10(-7) g/ml decreased the epithelium conductivity and increased the cell linkage. Tetracycline and methacycline in concentrations of 10(-9) g/ml had an analogous effect. The effect was observed 10--20 minutes after the start of incubation with the substance. No effect on the current of the short circuit was observed within the concentrations of 10(-4) to 10(-9) g/ml. It is suggested that the decreased conductivity and increased linkage are due to adsorption of the tetracycline molecules in the region of close cell contacts.     

Significance of the intervals of hydroxyurea administration for epithelial damage to the small intestine in mice

The states of the murine small intestinal epithelium 6, 30 and 78 h after the end of the multiple regular injections of hydroxyurea (HU) were analysed with the aid of the light and electron microscopy. The course of 6 regular injections of 5 mg/mouse HU was begun 24 h after the initiating gamma-irradiation in a dose 200 rad and the interval between injections was varied from 7 to 19 h for different experimental groups of mice. The analysis of the epithelial state revealed two minima of the tissue damage which correspond to the courses of HU injections with the intervals close 9 h and 16.5 h.     

Crypt cell development in newborn rat small intestine

Three monoclonal antibodies were prepared against luminal membranes from small intestinal cells of 3-d-old rats (YBB 1/27, YBB 3/10) and crypt cell membranes from adult rats (CC 4/80). The antibodies were shown to define specific stages of development of the intestinal crypt cells. The YBB 1/27 antigen was first detected at the luminal membrane of the epithelial cells in fetal intestine at day 20 of gestation; it was confined to the crypt cells and lower villus cells between 1 and 20-22 d after birth, and could not be detected in any region of the intestine in older animals. The YBB 3/10 antigen, identified as a set of high Mr proteins, was localized over the entire surface membrane of fetal intestinal cells and of crypt and villus cells after birth; after weaning (20-22 d after birth) it gradually disappeared from the villus cells and became confined to the region of the crypts. The CC 4/80 antigen, identified as a protein (or a set of related proteins) of molecular mass 28-34 kD, was shown to appear in the crypt cells 10-14 d after birth. Its distribution changed after weaning, when it disappeared from the crypts, and was localized in the absorptive lower villus cells. This change in pattern could, in part, be prematurely elicited by cortisone injection in younger animals. These results have demonstrated the presence of specific surface membrane components on the intestinal crypt cells, and suggested that fetal antigens may be retained in these cells after birth.     

Biochemical analysis of the microvillose membranes of the small intestine mucosa of dogs after levorin administration

The effect of oral levorin used for a prolonged period of time on the lipid composition and activity of alkaline phosphatase and invertase of the microvilli membranes of the small intestinal enterocytes of old dogs was studied. Higher ratios of cholesterol/phospholipids in the membranes and inactivation of alkaline phosphatase and invertase were noted in the old dogs as compared to the young ones. Exposure of the old dogs to levorin had a significant effect on the microvilli membranes of the intestinal epithelial cells. It was evident from a lower ratio of cholesterol/phospholipids in the membranes and stimulation of the alkaline phosphatase activity. It is supposed that the changes in the state of the microvilli membranes of the small intestinal mucosa due to levorin play a definite role in the mechanism of its hypercholesterolemic action.     

Infection of mice with oral administration of trophozoites of Giardia muris]

For the last 9 years we have used Giardia muris for chemotherapy research, passing trophozoites scraped from the mouse small intestine into fresh mice, by gavage. More or less every trophozoite administered orally reproduces in the intestine, as shown by quantitative studies in groups of young, specific pathogen-free mice, treated with 1, 3, 10, 30 or 100 Giardia each. After 7-9 days the number of protozoa in the intestine diminished somewhat, in the groups infected with the largest number of trophozoites.     

Radioprotective effects of oral 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin in mice: bone marrow and small intestine

Background

Our previous research demonstrated that one subcutaneous injection of 17-Dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG) 24 hours (h) before irradiation (8.75 Gy) increased mouse survival by 75%. However, the protective mechanism of 17-DMAG is currently unknown. The present study aimed to investigate whether oral administration of 17-DMAG was also radioprotective and the potential role it may play in radioprotection.

Results

A single dose of orally pre-administered (24, 48, or 72 h) 17-DMAG (10 mg/kg) increased irradiated mouse survival, reduced body weight loss, improved water consumption, and decreased facial dropsy, whereas orally post-administered 17-DMAG failed. Additional oral doses of pre-treatment did not improve 30-day survival. The protective effect of multiple pre-administrations (2?3 times) of 17-DMAG at 10 mg/kg was equal to the outcome of a single pre-treatment. In 17-DMAG-pretreated mice, attenuation of bone marrow aplasia in femurs 30 days after irradiation with recovered expressions of cluster of differentiation 34, 44 (CD34, CD44), and survivin in bone marrow cells were observed. 17-DMAG also elevated serum granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), decreased serum fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, and reduced white blood cell depletion. 17-DMAG ameliorated small intestinal histological damage, promoted recovery of villus heights and intestinal crypts including stem cells, where increased leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) was found 30 days after irradiation.

Conclusions

17-DMAG is a potential radioprotectant for bone marrow and small intestine that results in survival improvement.

     

Studies on the function of blood-liquor barrier in newborn infants]

Simultaneous measurement of the electrolytic conductivity of the cerebrospinal fluid and the blood serum in newborns has revealed a concentration gradient suggesting an active transfer of electrolytes into the liquor space. The extent of this concentration drop is regarded as expressing the functional capacity of the blood-liquor barrier. Comparative investigations in healthy older children shown that constant values, corresponding to the adult age, are reached approximately at the end of the first year of life.     

Chicken intestine microbiota following the administration of lupulone, a hop-based antimicrobial

The use of antibiotic growth promotants in poultry rearing is a public health concern due to antibiotic resistance in bacteria and the harborage of resistance genes. Lupulone, a hop β-acid from Humulus lupulus, has been considered as a potential feed additive growth promotant. Here, the effect of lupulone was evaluated for its effect on the microbiota of the chicken intestine. The intestinal microbiota of broilers was quantified after the addition of 125 mg L(-1) lupulone to water and challenge with Clostridium perfringens. Microbial DNA was extracted from the broiler midgut and cecal sections and bacterial groups were quantified using real-time PCR. The predominant cecal bacterial groups were Clostridium leptum subgroup 16S rRNA gene Cluster IV, Clostridium coccoides subgroup 16S rRNA gene Clusters XIVa and XIVb and Bacteroides, whereas Lactobacillus, the Enterobacteriaceae family and Enterococcus dominated the midgut. Lupulone at 125 mg L(-1) significantly decreased the C. perfringens subgroup 16S rRNA gene Cluster I, which contains several pathogenic species, in both the midgut and the cecum and Lactobacillus in the midgut. No significant changes were noted in the overall microbiota for the cecum or the midgut. Lupulone warrants further evaluation as a botanical agent to mitigate C. perfringens overgrowth in antibiotic-free reared poultry.     

Promotion of non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice after oral administration of ornithine

We examined the effects of ornithine on the sleep-wake cycle by monitoring the electroencephalo-gram, electromyogram, and locomotor activity of freely moving mice after oral administration of it at lights-off time (18:00). Ornithine (1.0 and 3.0 g/kg of body weight) increased the amount of non-rapid eye movement (non-REM, NREM) sleep for 2 h after its administration, with a peak at 60 min post administration, to 164% and 198%, respectively, of that of the vehicle-administered mice, without changing the amount of REM sleep. The administration of ornithine at a lower dose (0.3 g/kg of body weight) did not increase the amount of NREM sleep compared with the vehicle administration. Ornithine did not affect the power spectrum density of NREM sleep but increased the number of episodes of wakefulness and NREM sleep and that of transitions between wakefulness and NREM sleep, and decreased the mean duration of wake episodes in a dose-dependent manner for 2 h after the oral administration. These results indicate that ornithine increased the amount of NREM sleep without reducing the power spectrum density of NREM sleep.