Morphometric and functional abnormalities of kidneys in the progeny of mice fed chocolate during pregnancy and lactation.

Even most commonly consumed beverages like tea, coffee, chocolate and cocoa contain methylxanthines, biogenic amines and polyphenols, among them catechins, that exhibit significant biological activity and might profoundly affect the organism homeostasis. We have previously shown that 400 mg of bitter chocolate or 6 mg of theobromine added to the daily diet of pregnant and afterwards lactating mice affected embryonic angiogenesis and caused bone mineralization disturbances as well as limb shortening in 4-weeks old offspring. The aim of the present study was the morphometric and functional evaluation of kidneys in the 4-weeks old progeny mice fed according to the protocol mentioned above. Progeny from the mice fed chocolate presented considerable morphometric abnormalities in the kidney structure, with the lower number of glomeruli per mm2 and their increased diameter. Moreover, higher serum creatinine concentration was observed in that group of offspring. No morphometric or functional irregularities were found in the progeny of mice fed theobromine. Abnormalities demonstrated in the offspring of mice fed chocolate are not related to its theobromine content. Consequently, identification of active compound(s) responsible for the observed effects is of vital importance.

[Proteinases inhibitors in sera of diabetic patients with non-proliferative retinopathy]. / Inhibitory proteaz w surowicach pacjentów z cukrzycowa retinopatia prosta.

Diabetes is associated with a hypercoagulable state. Eighty percent of patients with diabetes mellitus die due to various thrombotic vascular complications. Disorder of coagulation and fibrynolysis is associated with diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. Angiogenesis requires degradation of vascular basement membrane prior to migration and proliferation of endothelial cells. Various serine proteases play important role in this process. The homeostatic system is also the source of endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis. Human serum contains various factors able to induce or suppress formation of new blood vessels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the activity of some angiogenesis inhibitors, anti-proteases, anti-thrombin III, a1 anti-trypsin and a2 anti-plasmin in sera of patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 and non-proliferative retinopathy, and to correlate this activity to total angiogenic potential of these sera, measured by mice cutaneous test. Sera of 22 persons with DM1, aged 33-70 years, 35 persons with DM2, aged 37-79 years, and 51 healthy people, aged 22-80 years (as control group) were studied. Direct serum-induced cutaneous angiogenesis test in mice (SIA) was applied. Berichrom (ade Behring) tests and immunoturbidimetric method were used for evaluation of anti-proteases activity. Angiogenic activity of DM1 patients sera was statistically lower than this parameter in DM2 patients and in control group. Levels of anti-proteases were similar in DM1, DM2 and control group, with one exception: anti-thrombin level was lower in DM2 patients' sera than this in the control group. Analysis of correlation revealed important difference in behaviour of DM1 sera, as compared to other groups. Significant negative correlation was observed between angiogenic activity and anti-thrombin, as well as anti-trypsin level of DM1 patients' sera. On the other hand, correlation analysis performed for the sera of control group revealed significant positive correlation between their angiogenic activity and anti-thrombin level. No other correlations were found.