Cell growth of skeletal muscle as an indicator of protein requirements of the adult rat

Skeletal muscle growth, muscle nucleic acids and muscle protein synthesis capacity, were measured to evaluate the protein requirement of adult rats. Wistar rats were fed on diets containing 4%, 10% or 20% casein + D,L-methionine. All diets were provided for 21 days beginning at 90 days of age. Body weight, food efficiency and net weight change increased as the casein content of the diet increased. Muscle DNA, RNA and RNA/protein were lost, but protein and protein/DNA increased on the 4% and 20% protein diet. This fact involves an aplasia phenomenon although the hypertrophic growth is maintained. Alterations of the insulin and GH plasma levels were observed. These findings indicate that for adult rats the 4% and 20% protein diets are not adequate for the period of adult maintenance.     

Effect of ACTH, dexamethasone, and adrenalectomy on the secretion of testosterone in the rat

The effect of ACTH (100 micrograms/animal/day, i.p.), dexamethasone (75 micrograms/animal/day, s.c.), both for three consecutive days, and adrenalectomy, with or without dexamethasone, maintained according to the group, one, two or three days, on the plasmatic testosterone and corticosterone levels, has been studied in adult male Wistar rats. ACTH and adrenalectomy produced a high decrease in testosterone levels (p less than 0.001 for the three days studied). Dexamethasone produced lower testosterone levels in the first day followed by partial recuperation between the second and the third days of its administration. Dexamethasone produced the effects mentioned for intact animals. The changes in corticosterone levels were according to an adequate response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system under these experimental circumstances. ACTH exerts an inhibitory effect on testosterone secretion in the rat, so that such an effect from the data obtained after adrenalectomy and simultaneous dexamethasone injections, does not seems to be mediated either by the presence of adrenals or high corticosterone levels.     

Iron mobilization in three animal models of inflammation

The effect of acute, subchronic, and chronic experimental models of inflammation upon hematocrit, hemoglobin, serum iron and ferritin iron and nonheme iron concentration in the liver and spleen has been studied in the rat. In the acute model (carrageenan oedema) no iron mobilization took place, whereas in the chronic models differences in iron mobilization were observed, related to their different chronicity and to the time elapsed from induction. The carrageenan-induced granuloma (from 12 h to 8 days) (subchronic model) was accompanied by a decrease of plasma iron (12 and 24 h), a later decrease of the hematocrit values (2 and 4 days) and high ferritin and nonheme iron concentrations in the liver and spleen for 4 days, followed by a tendency to return to the control values. The anemia in the adjuvant arthritis (from 1 to 4 weeks after induction) (chronic model) was observed at 7 days and is related to increased iron stores in the liver and spleen. However, the iron store levels in liver decreased and fell later below control values. The increase of ferritin and nonheme iron concentrations may be responsible for the reduced availability of iron release from tissue.     

The dosage thresholds for disordered physical work capacity in mice and rats following irradiation

Physical efficiency of mice and rats at early times following irradiation with doses of 35 to 200 Gy was estimated by the muscle endurance and motor coordination indices. A threshold nature of the effects was exhibited at high doses. For instance, as large as 40 Gy was the dose threshold at which stability in the accomplishment of the known operations was impaired; at 70-100 Gy, the accomplishment decreased down to 50% of the initial level, by the 2nd hour after irradiation, with the subsequent partial restoration; 200 Gy was the threshold dose at which the disturbances were irreversible. These values were also similar to those of the threshold doses at which clinical picture of the affection was changed.     

The interphase death of dividing cells. The effect of oxygen and the pH of the medium on the interphase death of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells under the action of ionizing radiation

Interphase death of in vitro irradiated (200 Gy) Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was studied as a function of oxygenation level and medium pH. The presence of oxygen both during and after irradiation as well as the increase in pH from 7.4 to 8.1 were shown to increase interphase death rate. The pronounced threshold dependence of interphase death of cells upon their concentration may be attributed to hypoxia occurring in a pericellular medium when cells concentration exceeds the threshold.     

Effect of treatment with enalapril maleate on the levels of circulating catecholamines, beta endorphins, prostaglandins, and concentration of sodium in erythrocytes in patients with essential hypertension

An effect of enalapril maleate on the activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic reactivity, erythrocyte prostaglandin and sodium levels as well as blood beta-endorphin was investigated in 28 patients with the essential arterial blood hypertension. It was found that enalapril maleate significantly increased plasma renin activity, decreased plasma norepinephrine and its 24-hour excretion, and decreased erythrocyte beta-endorphin and sodium levels. Blood epinephrine and aldosterone levels and their daily excretion remained unchanged similarly to prostaglandins. The above results suggest that a decrease in sympathetic system activity and intracellular sodium concentration may play a role in the hypotensive action of enalapril maleate related to the inhibition of angiotensin II formation.     

Stages of B-lymphocyte differentiation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Blasts phenotype was determined in 61 children with the acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Non-T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was diagnosed in 51 children. Stages of blasts differentiation were determined with the aid of monoclonal antibodies set using alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase technique. Blasts in 50 patients belonged to B subpopulation confirmed by the presence of panB CD19 and CD22 antigens. Common antigen was seen in 76.5% of the examined patients with non-T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cases of non-T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia were divided into 8 subgroups depending on the antigens of B-cells differentiation. An identification of pre-B subgroups of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia indicates heterogenicity of the acute lymphoblastic leukemias in childhood and enables their classification into groups corresponding to the early stages of lymphoblasts maturation.     

Various parameters of humoral and cellular immunity in children with iron deficiency

Serum IgA, IgM and IgG as well as percentage of lymphocytes T and B in peripheral blood were determined in 50 children aged between 6 months and 3 years with iron deficiency anaemia. A significant decrease in lymphocyte T number in these children was found in comparison with control group of healthy children. Lymphocyte T count positively correlated with serum iron concentration. Moreover, a decrease in serum IgA and IgG was found in children with iron deficit.     

Effect of long-term treatment with guanfacine on selected humoral metabolic indices in patients with primary hypertension

An effect of the treatment with guanfacine on the activity of the adreno-sympathetic system, beta-thromboglobulin, beta-endorphin, and blood lipids was studied in 30 patients with the primary arterial blood hypertension. It was found that guanfacine significantly decreases plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline, and dopamine. Moreover, it decreases the excretion of noradrenaline, adrenaline and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenylglycol. These effects correlate with the drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A decrease in plasma renin activity was also observed. It correlated with the blood pressure drops. Guanfacine increased beta-endorphin levels while beta-thromboglobulin, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels remained unaffected. The authors suggest that the hypotensive effect of guanfacine is related to the decrease in adreno-sympathetic system activity and plasma renin activity and no effect on the erythrocyte activity and lipids metabolism.     

Sequential estimation of nuclear DNA and silver staining of nucleoli in plant cells

A method for sequential estimation of nuclear DNA and silver staining of nucleoli in plant cells is described. Feulgen staining is done first and nuclear DNA estimated by absorption cytophotometry. Following this, the slides are stained with AgNO3. The method has been used to study the process of nucleolar fusion in garlic (Allium sativum L.) meristem root tip cells. It was found that during interphase nucleoli rarely fused, thus most fusion must have occurred before the G1 phase of the cell cycle.