ABSTRACT
An amino acid solution enriched in branched chain amino acids (BCAA) was administered to cirrhotic patients with encephalopathy and serial determinations of serum glucose, IRI and IRG were performed. Slight decrease of serum glucose was observed when only BCAA was given. On the other hand, when BCAA was infused with glucose, the serum glucose level decreased significantly after infusion (-77.5 +/- 26.2 mg/dl, p less than 0.01) and two cases of hypoglycemic shock were observed. Although both serum insulin and glucagon increased in these cases, the IRI/IRG molar ratio which was 8.9 at the start of infusion increased to 20.6 at the end of infusion. It was suggested that administration of BCAA with glucose caused hypoglycemia in cirrhotics with encephalopathy, possibly by synergistic action of BCAA and glucose on serum insulin level.
Subject(s)
Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/administration & dosage , Glucose/metabolism , Hepatic Encephalopathy/blood , Liver Cirrhosis/blood , Amino Acids/administration & dosage , Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/pharmacology , Blood Glucose/analysis , Female , Glucagon/blood , Humans , Infusions, Parenteral , Insulin/blood , Male , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Radioimmunoassay/methods , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Thyrotropin/blood , Antibodies , Humans , Time FactorsSubject(s)
C-Peptide/metabolism , Peptides/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus/urine , Female , Humans , Male , Radioimmunoassay , Reagent Kits, DiagnosticSubject(s)
Carcinoembryonic Antigen/analysis , Kidney Failure, Chronic/immunology , Renal Dialysis , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Smoking/complicationsABSTRACT
Effects of several kinds of ginsenosides, saponins from Panax ginseng on DNA, RNA, protein and lipid synthesis in bone marrow were investigated. Single i.p. injection of 0.5--1 mg/100 g body weight of ginsenosides Rb2, Rc, Re and Rg1 4 h prior to the sacrifice increased DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells. RNA, protein and lipid synthesis were also increased. The direct addition of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2 and Rc mixture (GNS) enhanced DNA synthesis. Cyclic AMP levels in bone marrow cells were decreased 20 min after i.p. injection of ginsenosides Rb2, Rc and Rg1 and the direct addition of ginsenosides Rb2, Rc and Rg1 also decreased cyclic AMP levels. While cyclic GMP levels were increased by administration of ginsenosides Rb2, Re and Rg1. Relationship between chemical structure and actions of ginsenosides and the role of cyclic nucleotides in the stimulatory action of ginsenosides on DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells were discussed.
Subject(s)
Bone Marrow/metabolism , Cyclic AMP/physiology , Cyclic GMP/physiology , Panax , Plants, Medicinal , Saponins/pharmacology , Animals , Bone Marrow/drug effects , Bucladesine/pharmacology , DNA/biosynthesis , In Vitro Techniques , Lipid Metabolism , Male , Protein Biosynthesis , Rats , Stimulation, ChemicalABSTRACT
The effects of adrenalectomy, ether-laparotomy stress and in vivo administration of either ACTH or dexamethasone on the cAMP levels in the anterior pituitary and the adrenal glands were investigated in male rats. After adrenalectomy or ether-laparotomy stress, an increase of the pituitary cAMP levels was observed. A prior administration of dexamethasone failed to inhibit the increase of the pituitary cAMP levels. Acute administration of dexamethasone increased the cAMP levels in the pituitary. Chronic administration of dexamethasone decreased the cAMP levels in the pituitary, but ACTH did not. These data suggest that cAMP might be involved in the mediation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis.