Combined effect of X‐ray radiation and static magnetic fields on reactive oxygen species in rat lymphocytes in vitro

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of static magnetic fields (SMF) on reactive oxygen species induced by X‐ray radiation. The experiments were performed on lymphocytes from male albino Wistar rats. After exposure to 3 Gy X‐ray radiation (with a dose rate of 560 mGy/min) the measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species in lymphocytes, using a fluorescent probe, was done before exposure to the SMF, and after 15 min, 1 and 2 h of exposure to the SMF or a corresponding incubation time. For SMF exposure, 0 mT (50 µT magnetic field induction opposite to the geomagnetic field) and 5 mT fields were chosen. The trend of SMF effects for 0 mT was always opposite that of 5 mT. The first one decreased the rate of fluorescence change, while the latter one increased it. Bioelectromagnetics 34:333–336, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ethanol-induced hypothermia. Cross tolerance with morphine

The development of tolerance to ethanol-induced hypothermia and hypnosis, and cross-tolerance with morphine was studied in mice and rats. Ethanol significantly decreased the body temperature in rats (3.0 and 3.2 g/kg) and in mice (3.5 and 4.0 g/kg). Chronic administration of ethanol resulted in the tolerance not only to ethanol hypothermia but also to hypothermic effects of morphine in examined animals. Implantation of morphine pellets caused the development of cross tolerance to ethanol-induced hypothermia in rats but not in mice. The hypnotic effect of ethanol was significantly shorter in chronic alcoholized rats but not in morphine-implanted rats. Neither chronic ethanol administration nor implantation of morphine pellets changed the duration of ethanol-induced hypnosis in mice. These results seem to support the hypothesis on the opiate-like mechanism of ethanol action.     

Isolation and fluorometric determination of homovanillic acid in urine and tissues

The fluorometric method is described for determination of the final product of dopamine metabolism homovanillic acid in urine, amniotic fluid and tissue extracts. The metabolite was isolated using three chromatographic columns (1-Amberlit CG-50, 2-Dowex AG 1 x 2, 8-Aluminium oxide). Oxidation of eluates to emitter was done with potassium ferricyanide in alkalic medium. The use of internal standards made high recovery of compound and a good specificity and sensitivity of detection.     

Efficient apoptosis and necrosis induction by proteasome inhibitor: bortezomib in the DLD-1 human colon cancer cell line

The inhibition of the 26S proteasome evokes endoplasmic reticulum stress, which has been shown to be implicated in the antitumoral effects of proteasome inhibitors. The cellular and molecular effects of the proteasome inhibitor—bortezomib—on human colon cancer cells are as yet poorly characterized. Bortezomib selectively induces apoptosis in some cancer cells. However, the nature of its selectivity remains unknown. Previously, we demonstrated that, in contrast to normal fibroblasts, bortezomib treatment evoked strong effect on apoptosis of breast cancer cells incubated in hypoxic and normoxic conditions. The study presented here provides novel information on the cellular effects of bortezomib in DLD-1 colon cancer cells line. We observe twofold higher percentage of apoptotic cells incubated for 48 h with 25 and 50 nmol/l of bortezomib in hypoxic conditions and four-, fivefold increase in normoxic conditions in comparison to control cells, incubated without bortezomib. It is of interest that bortezomib evokes strong effect on necrosis of DLD-1 colon cancer cell line. We observe the sixfold increase in necrosis of DLD-1 cells incubated with 25 or 50 nmol/l of bortezomib for 48 h in hypoxia and fourfold increase in normoxic conditions in comparison to adequate controls. We suggest that bortezomib may be candidates for further evaluation as chemotherapeutic agents for human colon cancer.