The effects of adjuvant arthritis on the myometrial adrenergic functions in the nonpregnant and the late-pregnant rat.

The beneficial effects of pregnancy on the symptoms of inflammatory diseases are well documented. The modulation in the uterine functions in the presence of generalized inflammation, however, is much less characterized. The aim of the present study was to explore the modulatory action of adjuvant arthritis on the adrenergic functions of the uterus in nonpregnant and late pregnant rats. Adjuvant arthritis was induced by the subplantar injection of M. butyricum. Presynaptic functions were characterized by a superfusion technique and by registration of the contractions of isolated uterine rings elicited by electric field stimulation. The functions of the adrenoceptors were characterized by constructing concentration-response curves with agonists for both α- and ß-receptors. Where these curves differed significantly from the control, the expressions of these receptors at the mRNA level were additionally determined. Adjuvant arthritis substantially decreased the uptake and release of [(3)H]noradrenaline in myometrial samples from nonpregnant rats, but caused no change at term. The electrically induced contractions were decreased by inflammation in both gestational states. Arthritis resulted in decreased ß-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation (in both the nonpregnant and the late-pregnant animals) and an increase in α-mediated contraction at term. It can be concluded that adjuvant arthritis deteriorates the adrenergic innervation of the uterus. The effects of exogenous sympathomimetics are shifted, favoring a state of higher contractility. If similar mechanisms are operative in humans, the present results could imply that ß-adrenoceptor agonists are not ideal tocolytics when pregnancy is complicated by generalized inflammation.

Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the uterine adrenergic nerve function in pregnant rats. A superfusion study.

Pregnancy-induced diabetes mellitus poses one of the greatest challenges in obstetrical practice. The direct action of diabetes on the myometrial adrenergic functions has not been completely characterized. Accordingly, the present study relates to the impact of experimentally induced diabetes on the presynaptic functions of the rat uterus in relation to gestational age. Experiments were carried out on non-pregnant, early-pregnant (day 7), middle-pregnant (day 14) and late-pregnant (day 21) animals. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, i.v.) in virgin female or early-pregnant animals (on day 2 for the day 7 experiments and on day 5 for the experiments on the middle and late-pregnant animals). Myometrial samples were utilized for superfusion experiments. After saturation, [3H]noradrenaline perfusate fractions were collected and electric field stimulation was applied to determine the amount of transmitter liberated. Additionally, the total uptake capacity of each sample was assayed. Experimental diabetes decreases the transmitter uptake capacity both in virgin rats and at all stages of pregnancy. In early pregnancy (on day 7), this limitation in uptake is obvious as early as 5 days after the induction of diabetes. In non-pregnant animals, the electrically stimulated transmitter release is inhibited substantially, a similar decrease being observed only at mid-pregnancy (day 14). The present superfusion study proves that experimental diabetes depresses the presynaptic adrenergic functions (both the transmitter uptake and the stimulated release) in the myometrium of the rat. Since the effect of diabetes on the uptake capacity can be detected earlier than for generally accepted markers of peripheral neuropathies, superfusion can be suggested as a sensitive and reliable approach for investigations of hyperglycaemia-related functional deteriorations. We speculate that diabetes-induced functional deterioration of the adrenergic nerves could partially explain the anomalies of the reproductive functions found in diabetic patients if a similar mechanism is operative in humans.

WITHDRAWN: Effects of diabetes on the uterine adrenergic nerve function in pregnant rats. A superfusion study.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in Neurochemistry International, doi:10.1016/j.neunet.2005.10.001. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.

Saturation Spectrum of the nu2/nu4 Dyad of AsH3

The nu2/nu4 dyad of arsine, AsH3, has been investigated between 875 and 1100 cm-1 by laser sideband spectroscopy. In total 189 transitions have been observed with sub-Doppler resolution ( approximately 300 kHz) and measured to an absolute accuracy of about 100 kHz. These data may be useful to serve as a secondary frequency standard. Our observations include four perturbation-allowed transitions with Delta(k - l) = 3. Saturation spectra of dipole forbidden transitions had not been previously reported for arsine. Quadrupole hyperfine structure, as well as vibration-rotation splitting of |k - l| = 3N levels in both fundamentals, has been analyzed. Combining our results with MW and RF data (239 frequencies) reported in the literature, a total of 882 transition frequencies were available to fit 15 ground state parameters and 48 excited state parameters of the nu2/nu4 dyad. The standard deviation of the fit is 245 kHz. Copyright 1998 Academic Press. Copyright 1998Academic Press

[Synoviosarcoma: presentation of a case and review of the literature]. / Synoviosarcome: présentation d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

Synovial sarcoma is a rare tumour. The diagnosis is difficult because of the lack of typical clinical symptoms and microscopy can be controversial. The prognosis is bad. A case is described in a woman aged 63 who presented previously with osteopoikilosis without clinical signs. The sarcoma was situated at the knee and was at first confused with a degenerative arthritis. The patient died despite secondary amputation. After study of the literature the authors conclude that the prognosis may be improved by early diagnosis.

[A predictive thermographic test of the effect of lumbar sympathectomy]. / Test thermographique prédictif de l'action de la sympathectomie lombaire.

The benefit of lumbar sympathectomy in the treatment of arteriopathy of the lower limb has been widely proved. To predict objectively its efficiency we developed a simple pharmacologic test under thermographic control. 1 mg of Reserpine is injected in a femoral artery, a digitalized thermography enables to follow the chronological evolution of temperatures of the lower limbs. Thirty patients were investigated, 27 responded positively. The mean increase in temperature of the injected limb reached 1.62 degrees C beginning 2 h 46 after the injection of Reserpine.