Erythropoietic effect of ultraviolet radiation in blind rats in comparison with control seeing rats.

In 40 blinded rats erythropoiesis parameters were determined in four groups of 10 animals each and were compared with similar parameters in seeing control rats. Two group of blind rats received ultraviolet radiation 405-289 nm wavelength; 140 000 erg/sec/cm2 daily for 10 minutes during 2 or 4 weeks. Two other groups served as non-irradiated blind controls. The determined parameters showed the following rise (+) or fall (-) in per cent in relation to the non-irradiated rats: haematocrit (H) +3.6 and 9.3; erythrocyte count (E) +15.1 and 13.2; reticulocyte count (R) +65.5 and 184.1; haemoglobin level (Hb) +6.6 and 13.1; 59Fe incorporation index into erythrocytes (EFe) +27.3 and 30.4, into spleen (SFe) +35.8 and 34.3, into liver (LFe) -20.9 and -19.3, into bone marrow (BFe) -22.8 and -41.9. In the seeing animals all these parameters were significantly greater; H +11.4 and 7.9; E +56.9 and 26.6; R +288.9 and 199.1; Hb +22.3 and 5.1; EFe +64.1 and 42.5; SFe +195.8 and 134.7; LFe -35.4 and -29.9; BFe -65.2 and -57.2.

Effect of ultraviolet radiation and kinins on oxygen uptake by tissue slices and on basal metabolism in rabbits.

The experiments were carried out on 85 rabbits in 15 groups of 5-8 animals in each. The different groups received: 1) ultraviolet radiation once during 45 minutes or daily during 10 minutes for 6 weeks, 2) bradykinin intravenously 10 microgram/kg, 3) kallikrein 5 B.U./kg intramuscularly during 3 weeks. The levels of kinins and kininogen, and the activity of kallikrein and kininases were determined in the blood several times during 24 hours after radiation exposure, and at intervals of two weeks during long-term exposure to radiation. In the same time periods after exposure the basal metabolism and the uptake of oxygen by slices of the kidneys, liver, heart and skin in vitro were determined. Determinations of aerobic metabolism were carried out also after bradykinin injection and at weekly intervals during kallikrein administration. It was found that: 1) after exposure to ultraviolet radiation there was a high rise in the level of kinins and a fall of kininogen, the activity of kininogenases was raised and that of kininases was decreased, while oxygen uptake was reduced moderately; 2) exogenous bradykinin and endogenous kinins reduced oxygen uptake in vivo and in vitro.

Effects of kinins, kallikrein and its inhibitor on certain indices of cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity in rabbits.

The experiments were carried out on 54 rabbits in 9 groups of 6 animals each: group I -- controls, groups II, III, IV -- bradykinin i.v., groups V, VI, VII -- Depot-Kallikrein i.m. every other day for 3 weeks, groups VIII and IX -- Traskolan (trasylol) i.v. four times at intervals of 1 or 12 hours. The determined indices of cell-mediated and humoral immunity included: phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system and peripheral blood leucocytes and their leukergic adhesiveness, haemagglutinin and haemolysin levels, serum complement titre, and the number of cells forming rosettes (RFC) or plaques (PFC) in the blood and spleen. These indices were determined 15 minutes, 3 and 24 hours after bradykinin administration, after 1, 2 and 3 weeks of kallikrein administration, and 1 or 12 hours after the last dose of Traskolan. Most determined indices showed always some fall. Only the phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system was moderately increased in all groups, and in the bradykinin group leucocyte phagocytosis was increased slightly while their leukergic reaction was increased very strongly.