Analytical microscopy observations of rat enterocytes after oral administration of soluble salts of lanthanides, actinides and elements of group III-A of the periodic chart.

The behavior in the intestinal barrier of nine elements (three of the group III-A, four lanthanides and two actinides), absorbed as soluble salts, has been studied by two microanalytical methods: electron probe X-ray micro analysis (EPMA) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). It has been shown that the three elements of group III-A, aluminium, gallium and indium; and the four lanthanides, lanthanum, cerium, europium and thulium, are selectively concentrated and precipitated as non-soluble form in enterocytes of proximal part of the intestinal tract. SIMS microscopy has shown that these elements are concentrated as a number of submicroscopic precipitates, most of them localized in the apical part of the duodenum enterocytes, where they are observed from one hour to 48 hr after a single intragastric administration. No precipitate is observed after three days. It is suggested that this mechanism of local concentration limits the diffusion of these elements through the digestive barrier, some of them being toxic and none of them having a recognized physiological role. Additionally, the precipitation in duodenal enterocytes, the life time of which is on the order of 2-3 days, allows the elements absorbed as soluble form to be eliminated as a non-soluble form in the digestive lumen along with the desquamation of the apoptotic enterocytes. The intracytoplasmic localization of the precipitates are supposed to be the lysosomes although no direct evidence could be given here due to the very small sizes of the lysosomes of enterocytes. The same results were not observed with the two studied actinides. After administration of thorium, only some very sparse microprecipitates could be observed in intestinal mucosa and, after administration of uranium, no precipitates were observed with the exception of some in the conjunctive part of the duodenal villi.

[Effects of anabolics on the thermostimulated current spectrum in calf muscles]. / Effets des anabolisants sur les spectres de courants thermostimulés des muscles de veaux.

The effects of growth substances (zeranol, trenbolone) on calf muscle (pectoralis transversus) have been studied with a recent physical method (thermostimulated current spectroscopy). This method appears promising for detecting meat from calves treated with such hormonal substances. The authors have hypothesized that the observed differences are related to protein modification, the nature of which is yet unknown. A complementary work is now in progress.

[Optimization of the determination of muscle acid phosphatase in the post-mortem chicken. Study of the stability of enzyme activity during meat storage at 4 degrees C. and -20 degrees C]. / Optimisation du dosage de la phosphatase acide musculaire du poulet post-mortem. Etude de la stabilité de l'activité enzymatique lors du stockage de la viande à + 4 degr'es C et -20 degr'es C.

A colorimetric quantitative determination of total acid phosphatase in chicken muscle is proposed. Optimal conditions for the use of this enzyme were studied. This method allowed to establish that the muscular acid phosphatase of chicken does not resist to a 30 minutes incubation at 65 degrees C but that its activity is unchanged when the meat is stored at + 4 degrees C for 10 days or at -20 degrees C for 4 months.

[Blood plasma differentiation of 11 domestic species by layer electrofocusing]. / Différenciation du plasma sanguin de 11 espèces domestiques par électrofocalisation sur plaque.

The study of the dispersion of plasma proteins of 11 species of Mammals by electrofocusing in thin layers, allows the characterisation of each species with the diagram of the migration of the proteins according to their isoelectric point. This fast and easy method may be preferred to immunological means and can be applied to the smallest sample forensic medicine.

[Effect of tranquilizer doping on the muscular activity on the sport horse. I. -- Acepromazine (author's transl)]. / Incidence du dopage par les tranquillisants sur l'activité musculaire du cheval de sport. I. -- Acépromazine

Doping with tranquilizers has appeared recently in horse-back riding sports. In this paper we study the effects of acepromazine, one of the main tranquilizers used, on various physiological and biochemical aspects of muscular activity (cardiac and respiratory rhythms, seric rates of glucose, urea, protein, creatine phosphokinase, glutamate oxalacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase). A low dose (0.02 mg/kg) of acepromazine is injected; the evolution of the variables is studied before and after a standardized effort. After the effort and during recuperation, acepromazine administration causes: -- a decrease of respiratory rhythm and seric protein rats, -- an increase of creatine phosphokinase rate. A discussion of these results suggests that acepromazine depresses the respiratory centers and has a possible toxic effect on the muscle cell.

[Effect of tranquilizer doping on the muscular activity of the sport horse. II. -- Diazepam (author's transl)]. / Incidence du dopage par les tranquillisants sur l'activité musculaire du cheval de sport. II. -- Diazépam

The practise of repeated doping of the sport horse led us to examine its effects on the health of the animal, and particularly on muscular activity. The main doping agent used at present (acepromazine) has already been studied (COURTOT et al., 1974). In this paper, we study the secondary effects of diazepam, a derivative of the benzodiazepine series, which is being used more and more frequently on horses. In treated animals as compared to controls, we observe: -- a slight respiratory depression related solely to effort, -- an increase in seric creatine phosphokinase rate with no apparent relation to effort. A discussion of these results leads to the conclusion that the secondary effects of diazepam are: -- a punctual effect on respiration as related to decreasing effort intensity, -- a toxic effect on muscle.