Effect of praziquantel on the hosf-tissue contents of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc in S. mansoni infected mice

The effect of praziquantel [500 mg/kg/day for 2 consecutive days] on host-tissue content of calcium; magnesium; copper and zinc was investigated in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. Also, the drug effect in normal healthy mice was studied. Praziquantel caused significant increase in Ca content of the liver, kidneys and gastrocnemius muscle of both infected and healthy mice 24 hours after its administration, in comparison with the corresponding non-treated control groups. Also, the drug increased the Ca content of both heart and spleen of the infected animals at the same time period. Seven days latter, there was significant increase in the liver, spleen and muscle Ca of the infected treated mice together with a reduction in kidney Ca content. However, in healthy mice, the drug did not cause any change in tissue Ca content after 7 days of its administration. On the other hand, the drug had no effect on tissue content of Mg; Cu and Zn after 24 hours of treatment of both S. mansoni-infected and normal healthy animals. Also, after 7 days of its administration, it had no effect on the three cations in normal healthy mice. However, in the infected group, there was marked increase in the liver content of Mg, Cu and Zn. Also spleen and muscle Mg were increased. On the contrary, kidney Mg and Zn as well as spleen Cu were decreased. These results might reflect the modulatory action of praziquantel on cell membrane permeability to Ca[++] as well as its high curative activity resulting in relatively rapid resolution of cellular reactions and fibrosis of infected tissues

Possible role of certain neurotransmitters of the monoamine type on butorphanol tartrate-induced physical dependence in mice

Brain monoamines were spectrophotofluorometrically determined during the appearance of butorphanol tartrate withdrawal symptoms in addict adult male mice. The animals were rendered addict by daily administration of the drug for 12 successive days in gradually increasing doses, starting from 1mg/kg and up to 15 mg/kg body weight. Such animals when deprived from butorphanol tartrate, showed after 24 hours severe syndrome consisting of writhing, teeth chattering, ptosis, tachycardia, tremors, and marked nervous hyperexcitability. The animals were decapitated at that time for the determination of their brain contents of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Compared with a parallel group injected with normal saline and used as control, there was a significant increase in dopamine and norepinephrine contents in brain amounting to 53 and 220%, respectively. On the other hand, no change in brain serotonin content was observed. The results of this work point to a probable role for brain dopamine and norepinephrine but not for serotonin on the induction of butorphanol tartrate withdrawal symptoms in addict adult male mice

Prophylactic properties of gamma-irradiated verapamil and propranolol against experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats

An experimental model of myocardial infarction has been reproduced in rats by S.C. injection of isoproterenol [85 mg/kg] for two days. The prophylactic properties of verapamil and propranolol before and after gamma-irradiation against this model of myocardial necrosis were investigated. Pretreatment with verapamil or irradiated verapamil significantly reduced the myocardial damage, the enzymes LDH and CK leakage and the increase in plasma creatinine. However, verapamil and its irradiated form did not affect isoproterenol-induced elevation of plasma creatine, FFA as well as cardiac NE content. On the other hand, injection of propranolol or irradiated propranolol prior to isoproterenol significantly reduced the myocardial necrosis, the enzymes LDH and CK leakage and the plasma creatinine. Meanwhile, the elevated levels of plasma FFA and cardiac NE content arising from isoproterenol injection were normalized and reduced respectively by propranolol and irradiated propranolol pretreatment. The present study revealed that irradiation of verapamil and propranolol at dose level of 25 KGy did not change their prophylactic properties against isoproterenol-induced myocardial necrosis as compared to non-irradiated drugs