Functional significance of lipid changes under the effect of inhalational anesthetics

Small concentrations of inhaled anesthetics can induce type II pneumocytes dysfunction and affect surfactant production and exacerbate oxidant mediated lung injury. The aim of the present work was to study the interrelationship between alveolar surfactant lipid composition and that of the lung tissue aiming to understand the sequence of events in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of acute lung injury [ALI] after inhalation anesthesia. 60 albino rats were used in this study. Lipids were extracted from the lung tissue and alveolar surfactant obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from rats which were subjected to 1-2% halothane or nitrous oxide anesthetics. The following parameters were determined on the extracted lipids: total lipids [TL], triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [T-ch], total free fatty acids [FFA], total phospholipids [TPL], phospholipids fractions, lecithin [phosphatidyl cholin Pc], lysolecithin, cephalin [phosphatidyl ethanol amine PI] and sphingomyelin. I- Effect of halothane In the surfactant: Halothane decreased all parameters studied with the exception of FFA and sphingomyelin which was increased compared to controls. Cephalin did not change. However, in the lung FFA, lecithin and lysolecithin increased while all other parameters decreased. II- Effect of nitrous oxide [N[2]O]: In the surfactant: All parameters also decreased except lysolecithin, cephalin and sphingomyelin, which were increased. However, FFA did not change significantly from controls. In the lung: Lecithin, lysolecithin and FFA increased whereas the other parameters decreased. Halothane and N[2]O differ as regards their effect on the lipid profile of the surfactant or lung tissue. The functional significance of the alteration was discussed

Osmotic fragility of normal human erythrocytes in solutions of different cations and anions

Osmotic fragility curves for normal RBCs bathed with each of four different cations [Na[+],K[+],Ca[2] and Mg[2+] and five different anions [Lactate, H[2]PO[-4], Cl[-],HCo[-3] and HPO[--4] were constructed The curves for cations were typical "S" shaped. The divalent cations [Ca[+2] and Mg[+2]] produced more hemolysis than monovalent ones [Na[+] and K[+]] at each osmolal concentration of the curves. HCO[-3] has the least hemozytic effect while lactate the greatest. Divalent phosphate [HPO[--4] has less hemolytic effect than monovalent one H[2]PO[-4]] at high osmolal concentrations [150-300 mosm/L], The reverse effect occurs at lower osmosal concentrations [50-150 mosm/L], It is not only the total osmotic pressure [O.P] of the solution or the diameter of the ion but also the ion charge and the presence or absence of specific ion which determines the osmotic behaviour of the cell

early effects of ionizing radiation on rat skeletal muscle

The early effects of ionizing radiation at 1, 6, 24 and 48 hours following exposure have been studied in the rat skeletal muscle. Whole body exposure of male albino rats to a single dose of [600 rad] gamma-radiation resulted in significant increase in total lipids, triglycerides and glycogen contents of the skeletal muscle, while the total protein content was significantly decreased. The electrolytes of the skeletal muscle showed variable changes: Sodium, calcium, magnesium and chloride were significantly increased after different intervals of irradiation, potassium was significantly decreased, while the inorganic phosphorus did not show any significant change. Irradiation also resulted in significant decrease in activities of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase [Na+ - K+-ATPase] and cholinesterase enzymes of the skeletal muscle, while creatine phosphokinase enzyme [CPK] was significantly increased. It is concluded that ionizing radiations cause damage to the cell membranes which leads to increased lipogenesis, modifications of enzyme activities and altered permeability

Effect of the converting enzyme inhibitor [Captopril] and its interaction with the calcium antagonist [Verapamil] on lipid metabolism

The effect of a converting enzyme inhibitor [captopril] and its interaction with a calcium antagonist [verapamil] on lipid metabolism was studied. A daily dose of captopril [1 mg/200 g body weight] for 3 weeks was given to 8 rats, another group of 8 rats was given the same daily dose of captopril together with a daily dose of verapamil [125 mug/200 g body weight] for 3 weeks. At the end of the 3 weeks investigation of the differences in lipid patterns was done. Captopril alone caused significant increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides, but in the group treated with captopril and verapamil a less significant increase was revealed in total cholesterol. There were also significant changes in the different concentrations of lipoprotein fractions in the two groups. The verapamil was found to modulate the effect of captopril