Role of adrenergic structures in regulating the release by the intestines of hemocoagulating compounds into the blood stream

Experiments on cats were made to study the capability of adrenaline, tropaphen and propranolol of influencing the intensity of the release of hemocoagulating compounds and anticoagulants from the intestinal vessels and tissues to the bloodstream (perfusate). Adrenaline was found to increase the coagulative activity of the perfusate, provoking an enhanced release into it of thromboplastin, an analogue of plasma factor V and antiheparin compounds and suppressing the release of antithromboplastins. The blockade of the alpha-adrenoreceptors was accompanied by a dramatic increase of antithromboplastins to the intestinal perfusate, whereas the depression of the activity of beta-adrenergic structures by reduction of the release of tissue thromboplastin inhibitors. It is concluded that regulation of the release of antithromboplastins in the intestine is mediated by the structures similar in their characteristics to alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors.     

Diet of the Indochinese silvered langur (Trachypithecus germaini) in Kien Luong Karst area,Kien Giang Province

The Indochinese silvered langur (Trachypithecus germaini) is distributed to the west of Mekong River in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. During a two‐year study, from May 2014 to May 2016, we collected 320.44 hr of behavior, with 17,040 feeding bouts recorded (142 hr) for T. germaini on Chua Hang Karst Mountain, Kien Luong District, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam. Feeding accounted for 45% of the Indochinese silvered langurs’ activity budget. The plant diet of the Indochinese silvered langurs was principally composed of young leaves (58%), followed by mature leaves (9.5%), fruits (22.7%), flowers (4.7%), buds (3.3%), petioles (1.2%), and other (0.5%). A total of 58 plant species were fed on by the silvered langurs, and leaves of eight species (Phyllathus reticulatus, Ficus rumphii, Ficus tinctoria, Ficus microcarpa, Cayratia trifolia, Streblus ilicifolia, Combretum latifolium, and Streblus asper) were fed on throughout the year. P. reticulatus was most frequently eaten (13.9% feeding time, n = 1,733). Food selection differed significantly between months and seasons. The Indochinese silvered langurs ate 27 plant species in the wet season compared with 23 plant species in the dry season. Leaf chemical composition of two food categories, 16 eaten species (with 10 most frequently consumed species and six least consumed species), and four noneaten species, were analyzed. Feeding samples from eaten species in the Indochinese silvered langurs's diet contained lower amounts of condensed tannin, lignin, protein, ash, and lipids, but a higher amount of total sugar compared with samples from noneaten species. Furthermore, the most frequently consumed species contained lower amounts of lignin compared with the less frequently consumed species. Using a generalized linear model with five variables, including neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total sugar, lignin, lipid, and calcium (Ca) indicated that NDF positively correlated and lignin content negatively correlated with feeding records in the diet of these langur.     

Analogs of oxytocin containing a modified peptide bond

Analogs of deamino-oxytocin and deamino-oxypressin containing a CH2-NH group instead of an amide bond between positions 8 and 9 were synthesized. All tested compounds exhibit significantly lowered biological activities.     

Maximization of pulmonary hygroscopic aerosol deposition

A newly developed computer model is used to predict the aqueous salt solution concentration, breathing pattern, and inhaled droplet size distribution parameters that will maximize pulmonary deposition of hygroscopic medicinal aerosols. The parameter values providing maximum pulmonary deposition include 1) a NaCl concentration in the aerosolized solution of 0.035 g/ml or higher if the subject can tolerate it, 2) as nearly a monodispersed inhaled aerosol size distribution as possible, 3) an aerosol mass median diameter of 2-3 micron, and 4) slow (7 breaths/min) uninterrupted breathing of 1.5-2 liters of aerosol/breath. With these values, the model predicts that pulmonary deposition can be increased by greater than 100% relative to the deposition achieved in conventional inhalation therapy with isotonic saline-based medications.     

Reinnervation of experimental superficial wounds in rats

Sensory reinnervation of a superficial skin wound in the rat was studied by labeling sensory axons with anterogradely transported wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase. Reinnervation starts after 3 days from the edge of the wound as well as from beneath the wound. About 2 weeks after the production of the wound, some hyperinnervation appears to be present, but after a few additional weeks, the innervation pattern is essentially normal. The results indicate that structural recovery of sensory axons is rapid and probably complete when skin wounds heal with no or minimal scar formation.     

Blood content of tyrosine is an index of glucocorticoid action on metabolism

Glucocorticoid hormones directly or indirectly control virtually all metabolic and physiological processes. Glucocorticoids are also shown to act on a multitude of genes, enzyme systems, and proinflammatory factors, but for these hormones there is no representative index of action on metabolism similar to glucose content in blood for insulin. The absence of such an index prevents the assessment of tissue provision with these hormones under various conditions and seems to be an essential cause of complications associated with the clinical use of glucocorticoid preparations. Considering specific features of tyrosine metabolism and data obtained experimentally and on a clinical model (adrenalectomy in rats and substitution therapy in endocrine disease), blood content of this amino acid seems promising as such an index. Based on comparing results of glucocorticoid treatment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with changes in their blood tyrosine contents, the pharmacological effect of glucocorticoid preparations is suggested to be mainly due to compensating a relative shortage of these hormones.     

Purification and properties of thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH)-containing particles from the rat hypothalamus

The subcellular distribution of the TRH-like immunoreactivity in the rat hypothalamus and brain was studied. In differential centrifugation, the 900 g for 10 min supernatant (S1) of the hypothalamus or brain contained 61--79% of the total TRH. At 11,000 g for 20 min, 51--73% of the TRH in S1 was sedimented. When the hypothalamic S1 was fractioned under non-equilibrium conditions at 25 degrees C, two populations of TRH-containing particles were observed in several types of continuous linear density gradients. Metrizamide and sucrose gradients affected TRH-assay. TRH-particles were very light in Percol-gradients. Isotonic dextran 40,000-sucrose gradients gave the most reproducible results. In these gradients, the large TRH-particles (35%) equilibrated at 1.055--1.060 kg/l and the small ones (23%) at 1.041--1.047 kg/l. Working at 4 degrees C decreased the amount of large TRH-particles. The apparently larger particles contained cytoplasmic and mitochondrial enzymes and were sensitive to hypoosmotic shock like synaptosomes. Electron micrographs confirmed that these particles were synaptosomes. The true nature of the small particles remained unclear but morphologically a part of them were also synaptosomes. Treatment of the animals with reserpine (10 mg/kg i.p., 24 h), with 6-hydroxydopamine (100 microgram/rat i.c.v.) or with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (200 microgram/rat i.c.v.) did not affect significantly TRH-recovery or distribution in the hypothalamus.