Changes in the functional activity of the liver cells in rabbits during a bacterial infection

In the process of the development of bacterial infections, the activity of marker enzymes in the membrane structure of liver cells has been studied in rabbits by biochemical and electron-histochemical methods. The results of these studies have shown that, simultaneously with the progressing course of cell pathology and inhibition of the function of mitochondria, microsomes and peroxisomes, the lysosomes activate for the realization of the protective function formed in the course of evolution. At the same time the excessive labilization of lysosomal membranes facilitates the development of cell pathology, which is confirmed by the accumulation of residual bodies in the cytoplasm.     

The blood supply to the abdominal organs of the fetal guinea-pig

Guinea-pigs near term of pregnancy were anaesthetized with diazepam and sodium pentobarbitone. A fetus was exposed and the vitelline artery catheterized to measure blood pressure and heart rate or to render a reference sample of blood for the determination of organ blood flow by the microsphere technique. The radioactive microspheres were injected through a catheter in the right atrium. Mean arterial blood pressure was 4.0 kPa and heart rate was 261 beats min-1. The liver, spleen, pancreas and gut receive most of their blood supply from the same trunk as the vitelline artery. The sample from this vessel was also used to calculate blood flow to the adrenal glands, kidneys, urogenital tract, and placenta, assuming even mixing of microspheres and blood in the abdominal aorta. Umbilical blood flow, corrected to a fetal weight of 100 g, averaged 7.5 ml min-1. The adrenal glands, which are known to increase their cortisol secretion near term, had a very high rate of perfusion. If the microspheres were injected in the umbilical vein, almost all were trapped in the liver, confirming the absence of a ductus venosus in the guinea-pig fetus. Most of these microspheres were found in the quadrate lobe of the liver. Hepatic arterial blood flow was also unequally distributed, with more than two-thirds going to the right lobe of the liver. Although the distribution of portal venous blood flow is not known, it is evident that different areas of the liver are presented with blood of greatly varying oxygen saturation.     

Changes in enzyme activity as affected by ultrasound in different functional states of the liver

Simultaneous determination of aldolase fructose-1-phosphate activity in the liver and blood plasma of experimental rats gives possibility to judge of histohaematic permeability of liver barriers. The presence and advancement of the pathological process in liver is characterized by acid maltase activity. Normalization of histohaematic barrier permeability is observed after ultrasonic action of 0.2 wt/cm2 intensity on the liver area in experimentally induced immunological hepatitis.     

Changes in glutamine synthesis activity in the different organs of developing rats

The changes experienced by the glutamine synthetase activity in the liver, kidney, striated muscle, adipose tissue, brain, stomach, small intestine and skin of developing rats have been estimated. Skin and stomach enzymes attained the adult values in the late foetal period. Striated muscle, intestine and kidney glutamine synthetase belonged to the neonatal cluster, while liver and brain rose to values comparable to those of adults in late suckling. Glutamine synthesis between different organs of the rat during development matures soon after birth, gaining a considerable importance that helps to compensate the lack of availability of other nitrogen transport systems between peripheral and splanchnic bed organs in developing rats.     

The effect of in vitro X-irradiated blood transfusions on the morphostructure of immunocompetent organs and their nerve elements

A study was made of changes that occur in the rat thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, their nerve elements, and spinal ganglia under the effect of the in vitro X-irradiated blood transfusions. Parallelism was noted in the activation of the immunocompetent organ morphostructures, the rate of reactive alterations in nerve elements, and the improvement of the immunity indices.     

Changes in the level of dopamine and its metabolites in brain structures and immunocompetent organs in the formation of immune response

By the method of liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection dopamine level increase was shown within 2 min after immunization of rats with sheep red blood cells in n. caudatus. In 20 min after the immune response the acceleration of dopamine metabolism was observed in nuclei A9, A10, A11, accumbens, in amygdala, hypothalamus and hippocampus. In immunocompetent organs dopamine level was changed in 24 h after the immunization.     

Lipid composition of immunocompetent organs of tumor-bearing rats

A comparative study of phospholipid composition of thymus, spleen, bone marrow, liver and peritoneal exudate with sarcoma 45-bearing and normal rats was carried out. It was found that substantial changes in total phospholipid and cholesterol contents are observed only in peritoneal exudate of tumour-bearing animals. Some alterations were revealed in the content of individual fractions of investigated organs. The most pronounced changes in the contents of individual phospholipid fractions were found in peritoneal exudates of rats with sarcoma 45.     

Dependence of the functional activity of immunocompetent mouse spleen cells on their hemopoietic microenvironment

Accumulation of erythropoietic, granulopoietic cell elements, a change in the ration and absolute count of the T, B cells, and "null" lymphocytes, as well as a sharp inhibition of primary immune response were found in the spleen of CBA mice treated with antierythrocyte sera. The inductive phase of immunogenesis proved to be sensitive to the action of antierythrocyte sera. The data obtained apparently demonstrated the existence of a functional relationship between the immunocompetent spleen cells and their non-lymphoid hemopoietic microenvironment.     

Changes in the myocardium damaged by strophanthin

The mechanism of intoxication, produced with strophanthin (10 mg/kg) has been studied in myocardium of white rats. Area, perimeter and factor of form in mitochondria, ratio of the mitochondrial surface area with injured external membranes to the whole mitochondrial area, agranular sarcoplasmic network and T-system area, changes in myofilaments, Z-lines, length of sarcomeres have been estimated. Changes in succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and in reduced forms of nicotinamide coenzymes activity has been investigated histochemically. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) prevents appearance of ultrastructural and histochemical disturbances, produced with strophanthin. However, the protective effect of ATP is not sufficient. Adenosine monophosphate, penetrating across the cell membrane, is supposed to produce a greater curative effect.     

Evaluation of the functional state of the hepatocyte monooxygenase system in rats with damaged innervation of the liver

Cytochrome P-450 content measured spectrophotometrically 14 and 25 days after bilateral subdiaphragmal vagotomy in hepatocyte microsomes of inbred male rats was considerably reduced. The rate of aminopyrine demethylation and oxygen consumption decreased, while the duration of hexenal-induced sleep was prolonged. Monoxygenase responsible for p-hydroxylation of aniline proved relatively resistant to vagotomy.     

Changes in the intervertebral disks in disorders of segmental blood supply of the spine

In 50 mature Chinchilla rabbits a model of chronic insufficiency of blood supply in the lumbar vertebral bodies has been disturbed as a result of unilateral sectioning of the segmentary arteries and veins. By means of light and transmissive electron microscopy the dynamics of structural changes has been followed in tissue of the intervertebral discs for 3 months after the operative intervention. Under hypoxia in the ground substance of the pulposus++ nucleus even proteoglycans granular-filamentous network gradually develops and floccular material and transverse striated filamentous aggregates are accumulated. Notochord cells are subjected to certain degenerative changes and die. Simultaneously fibroblastic cells of the pulposus++ nucleus periphery become activated, they produce glycosaminoglycans and collagen. As a result the hydrated tissue of the pulposus++ nucleus is substituted for a newly formed fibrous cartilage. The process of fibroses in the intervertebral disc is completed in 3 months after blood circulation has been disturbed in the vertebral bodies.     

Changes in the functional activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in pseudotubercular infection

The functional activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PNL) of the peripheral blood of rabbits infected orally with Y. pseudotuberculosis was studied. By day 5 of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection the pronounced stimulation of the myeloperoxidase system with the appearance of respiratory explosion was registered with the use of the nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) test. The NBT-positive leukocyte index was found to increase 3.32-fold in comparison with the initial data. According to the results of the liposomal cationic test, the stimulation of the system of nonenzymatic cationic PNL proteins was revealed. By day 12 after infection the median cytochemical coefficient reached 2.035 +/- 0.005 conventional units, while in intact animals it was equal to 0.995 +/- 0.002 units. By day 20 a repeated, not so great, increase in the amount of NBT-positive PNL and in the content of cationic proteins in them was observed. The data thus obtained are indicative of the faintly pronounced secretory degranulation of PNL, which was probably one of the causes responsible for disturbances in the process of the digestion of Y. pseudotuberculosis by leukocytes, while their capacity for ingestion was retained.