GABA agonists differentially modify blood glucose levels of diabetic rats.

This study described the effects of GABA agonists on glucose plasma concentrations of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Low doses of an indirect GABA agonist, AOAA (aminooxyacetic acid); a GABA(A) and a GABA(B) agent, THIP (4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridone) and baclofen, respectively; and a benzodiazepine were administered to non-diabetic and to diabetic rats. Plasma glucose concentrations were estimated during fasting and after an oral glucose load. Diazepam (1 mg/kg), baclofen (1 mg/kg) and AOAA (30 mg/kg), significantly decreased glycemia after oral glucose overload of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. None of the GABA-acting agents tested changed fasting or glucose overload glycemia of normal rats. Diazepam was the only drug to increase the fasting blood glucose concentration of diabetic rats. Treatment with AOAA or diazepam was accompanied by increased insulin plasma concentrations in diabetic rats to levels similar to the ones of non-diabetic animals. These results demonstrate that benzodiazepines and other GABA drugs act the endocrine pancreas in vivo, ultimately increasing plasma insulin and decreasing high blood glucose levels of diabetic rats. The acute and prolonged effects of the multitude of drugs acting on the GABA(A)-benzodiazepine-chloride ionophore complex remain to be broadly investigated as a therapeutic tool in diabetes.

[Surface cytoarchitectonics of maternal and fetal erythrocytes in normal and complicated course of pregnancy and labor]. / Poverkhnostnaia tsitoarkhitektonika éritrotsitov materi i ploda pri normal'nom i oslozhnennom techenii beremennosti i rodov.

Red cell surface architectonics and ultrastructure were studied in pregnant women, their fetuses, and newborns in normal and complicated pregnancy. The results were correlated to dopplerometric blood stream parameters of uterine artery and fetal umbilical artery. The most grave changes in red cell structure were detected in women with medium-severe and grave OPH gestosis: the share of red cell discoid forms was reduced by 21%, that of nontransitional forms ("shrunk ball"-shaped cells, spherocytes, degeneratively changed cells) increased by 17%. Deterioration of blood rheology in complicated pregnancy correlated with reduced fetoplacental and uteroplacental blood stream and with unfavorable perinatal outcomes.