Effect of 2,4-thiazolidinedione on limousin cattle growth and on muscle and adipose tissue metabolism.

The main adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ possesses high affinity to 2,4-TZD, a member of the Thiazolidinedione family of insulin-sensitizing compounds used as adipogenic agents. We evaluated 2,4-TZD's effect on bovine growth and PPAR tissue expression. Seventeen Limousin bulls (18 month-old; 350 kg body weight (BW)) were assigned into 2 treatments: control and 2,4-TZD (8 mg/70 kg BW) and were fed until bulls reached 500 kg BW. They were weighed and their blood was sampled. DNA, RNA, and protein were determined in liver; skeletal muscle; subcutaneous (SC), omental, perirenal adipose tissues (AT) to determine protein synthesis rate and cellular size. Expression of PPAR mRNA was measured in liver and muscle (PPARα, -δ, and -γ) and SC adipose tissue (γ) by real-time PCR. No significant differences were found (P > 0.1) in weight gain, days on feed, and carcass quality. Muscle synthesis was greater in controls (P < 0.05); cell size was larger with 2,4-TZD (P < 0.05). PPARα, -δ, and -γ expressions with 2,4-TZD in liver were lower (P < 0.01) than in muscle. No differences were found for PPARγ mRNA expression in SCAT. The results suggest the potential use of 2,4-TZD in beef cattle diets, because it improves AT differentiation, liver, and muscle fatty acid oxidation that, therefore, might improve energy efficiency.

Changes in cerebral blood flow accompanied with reduction of blood pressure treatment in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhages.

Blood pressure usually is reduced in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage for the prevention of the expansion of the hematoma and recurrent hemorrhage in acute stage. However, disturbed autoregulation of cerebral circulation is expected, and decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) caused by excessive hypotension has been pointed out. There are different mechanisms of action in hypotensives, thereby the influence of hypotension on CBF in patients with the thalamic hemorrhage was investigated using nitroglycerin (TNG), diltiazem hydrochloride (DH) and trimethaphan camsilate (TC). Average CBF in a hemisphere on the hematoma side, the hemisphere without hematoma, and around the hematoma showed a slight decline after administration of TNG or DH. However, CBF declined more, after TC than DH. DH and TNG are preferable in descending order to control blood pressure of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in the acute stages in view of a smaller decline in CBF.

[A study of collateral circulation in acute stage of occlusion of the middle cerebral artery].

Collateral circulation of angiogram in occlusion of main trunk of the middle cerebral artery in acute stage was studied in detail, and compared with the extent of the low density area on CT. Territory of the middle cerebral artery in the lateral view of angiogram was divided into three regions. Collateral circulation time was measured with the period from the maximum filling of carotid siphon to the retrograde maximum filling of collateral circulation. With these studies, the following conclusions were obtained. 1) The degree of collateral circulation is classified into three types. One type with good collateral circulation is type I. Another type with moderate collateral circulation is type II. A further type with poor collateral circulation is type III. Angiographic circulation time in each branch of the middle cerebral artery is measured in each type. 2) There is a tendency that types with the better development of collateral circulation have the smaller low density area on CT. In type I, the smallest low density area on CT appears in the territory of basal ganglia or around corona radiata. In type II or III, the medium or large low density area on CT appears in cortical and/or subcortical territory of the middle cerebral artery. 3) There is a tendency that types with the worse development of collateral circulation have the later collateral circulation time in each region. If collateral circulation time is later than 4 seconds, it is impossible to avoid the appearance of the low density area on CT in C region. In the same way, in B region, it is later than 5 or 6 seconds, in A region, it is later than 7 seconds. But, in type II or III, there are a few cases in which it is impossible to avoid the appearance of the low density area on CT, even if collateral circulation time is earlier than those mentioned. As mentioned above, classifying of collateral circulation is possible to expect the extent of the low density area on CT, and measurement of collateral circulation time is able to estimate the appearance of the low density area on CT. In type I and II, superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery anastomosis is apt to make the low density area narrow on CT, and to prevent the appearance of hemorrhagic infarction.