Oxidative damage in rat tissue following excessive L-tryptophan and atherogenic diets.

Numerous reports were published on the connection between diets containing excessive L-tryptophan and the development of Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome. It has been also demonstrated that some cell functions depend on fatty acid composition which can result in increased lipid peroxidation in cells such as macrophages and other inflammatory cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the combined effects of an atherogenic diet enriched with tryptophan on lipid peroxidation in rats. 3-week-old CD-1 female rats were fed (3 weeks) control or atherogenic diets and the same diets supplemented with 0.4% or 1.0% L-tryptophan. Liver and skeletal muscle samples from all groups were taken for histology, autoradiography and for determination of lipid peroxidation. Infiltration of cells into fascia of muscle was observed following tryptophan or atherogenic diet consumption. However, no change in 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA was observed by autoradiography. A significant increase of lipid peroxidation was detected in muscle following consumption of L-tryptophan-rich diets, with no significant difference from control in animals treated with atherogenic diets. Contrastly, a reduced lipid peroxidation was detected in liver of animals treated with excessive tryptophan as well as in animals fed on L-tryptophan and atherogenic diet or atherogenic diet alone. Our results indicated that excessive dietary tryptophan, when consumed with an atherogenic diet, increased lipid peroxidation in muscle but not in liver. Consumption of these feeding diets with or without supplementation of tryptophan resulted in reduced lipid peroxidation in muscle as well as in liver.

Tryptophan toxicity--time and dose response in rats.

UNLABELLED: During the past decade L-tryptophan (Trp) ingestion have been associated with a multisystemic syndrome, known as eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS). Even though an epidemic studies indicated that a contaminant, 1,1'-ethylidene-bis-L-tryptophan was involved in EMS, abnormalities in metabolism of Trp have been reported in other similar clinical syndromes such as carcinoid syndrome, scleroderma or eosinophilic fasciitis. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of Trp or its metabolite, given in different dosing regimens in induction of tissue damage. METHOD: 3 months old female rats (Charles River CD-1) were fed for 3, 6, 12 weeks on a diet containing 20% protein diet derived from casein and supplemented with 1%, 2%, or 5% Trp. On the last week of feeding, half of the animals fed on a control diet and half of the animals fed on the Trp diet were injected with 2 injections of para-chlorophenyl alanine (p-CPA), a Trp hydroxylase inhibitor, 300 mg/kg i.p. followed by 3 injection of 100 mg/kg every alternate day. RESULTS: Body weight of rats fed higher levels of Trp increased slowly and injection of p-CPA induced loss in body weight. 2/6 of the animals treated with 1% Trp and 1/6 treated with 5% Trp for 3 weeks and 2/4 animals treated with 1% Trp and 1/4 treated with 5% Trp for 12 weeks died after injection of p-CPA. No mortality was detected in 1-5% Trp treated animals. Alopecia and skin changes were seen after p-CPA in 1-5% Trp treated animals. Increased amounts of connective tissue and induction of inflammatory cell proliferation were observed in lung, spleen and in gastrocnemia muscle of rats treated with higher dose of Trp for longer period. Induction of kynurenine pathway by injection of p-CPA caused more tissue damage. It is concluded that excessive Trp or elevation of its metabolites could play a role in amplifying some of pathological features of EMS. This pathological damage is further augmented by metabolites of the kynurenine pathway.

does intravenous administration of human albumin prevent severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with i.v. albumin as a means to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in high-risk patients. DESIGN: Retrospective case-series. SETTING: University hospital-based IVF program. PATIENTS: Five women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF-Based on previous history and/or E2 measurements and number of ovarian follicles, these patients were considered to be at high risk for developing OHSS. INTERVENTIONS: Intravenous albumin was given at the time of oocyte retrieval. Additional doses were given 12 and 24 hours later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Development of OHSS. RESULTS: Four patients developed OHSS; two of them had the severe form of the syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Severe OHSS may develop in high-risk patients despite the prophylactic administration of i.v. albumin.

Measurements of urethral pressure profiles in the male horse.

Urinary tract pressure profiles were evaluated in 6 clinically normal geldings over 3 consecutive days. This was performed by introducing a 1.3 m-long cuffed catheter into the urinary tract, under xylazine sedation (0.8 mg/kg, iv). The method was reproducible. The mean (+/- sd) intra-vesicular pressure (IVP) and maximal urethral closure pressures (MUCP) were 10.3 (+/- 1.7) and 129.8 (+/- 19.6) cmH2O, respectively, and the ratio between MUCP and IVP was 13.2 (+/- 2.5). A gelding with urinary incontinence showed a significantly lower MUCP (73.4 cmH2O), and an MUCP to IVP ratio of 8.0. It was concluded that the day-to-day variation was non-significant, and that the technique may be useful in the differential diagnosis of urinary incontinence in male horses.

Pregnancy after liver transplantation.

Two patients who became pregnant after liver transplantation for end-stage liver disease were carefully monitored using pulsed Doppler waveform measurements. One patient with Wilson's disease, on triple immunosuppressive therapy including prednisone, azathioprine and low-dose cyclosporin A, delivered a healthy girl weighing 2650 g after 38 weeks' gestation. The other patient, with HBV-related postnecrotic cirrhosis, became pregnant less than 3 months postoperatively, under triple therapy, after being amenorrheic for 6 years. Episodes of elevation in liver enzymes were noted, and severe osteoporosis with low back pain developed. A healthy boy weighing 2975 g was born at 35 weeks' gestation. Our cases add to previous reports of successful pregnancies under cyclosporin A immunosuppression.

Renal dysplasia in two adult horses: clinical and pathological aspects.

Renal dysplasia is reported in two adult horses in chronic renal failure. Renal dysplasia, complicated by severe interstitial pyelonephritis, was diagnosed on renal biopsy and confirmed on post mortem examination.

Clinical and biochemistry findings, and parathyroid hormone concentrations in three horses with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Three cases of horses with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH) are described. The horses showed typical thickening of the maxillae and mandibular bones with or without lameness. Laboratory findings included elevated concentrations of parathyroid hormone (carboxy-terminal and mid-molecule fractions), alkaline phosphatase and an increase in the fractional excretion rate of serum inorganic phosphorus.

Molluscum contagiosum in a horse.

An adult stallion presented with a severe papular dermatitis of especially the neck, chest and genitalia. A marked scrotal oedema was present. Histopathological examination of skin biopsies, revealed the presence of numerous intracytoplasmic molluscum bodies in areas of focal epidermal hyperplasia. Electron microscopical examination showed the presence of typical pox virions in affected epidermal cells. Attempts at viral isolation were unsuccessful. This is believed to be the first reported case of molluscum contagiosum in a horse in the Republic of South Africa.

Does insulin affect placental glucose metabolism and transfer?

An in vitro recycled perfusion of the human placenta was used to investigate the effect of insulin on placental metabolism and transfer of glucose. Human insulin, 1000 microU/ml, was introduced into either maternal or maternal and fetal compartments. In one series of experiments placentas were used as either a control group or study group, whereas in the other series each placenta served as its own control. Metabolic effects were determined by measuring placental glucose and oxygen consumption and lactate production rate. The effect of insulin on transfer was studied by the use of 3-O-methylglucose labeled with tritium; this effect was expressed as the slope of maternal minus fetal concentrations on a natural logarithmic scale and compared with the antipyrine tagged with carbon 14. The stability of perfusate volume was used as an index for placental integrity, whereas absence of tissue edema demonstrated adequacy of perfusion. Neither of the metabolic parameters studied was significantly affected by insulin, and insulin did not have an effect on 3-O-methylglucose transfer rate. It was concluded that, in contrast to other tissues in the body, placental glucose metabolism and transfer are not sensitive to the action of insulin.