Influence of immobilization stress on the phospholipid composition of alveolar surfactant and lungs in rats.

The influence of immobilization stress on the lipid composition of alveolar surfactant and lungs in rats immobilized for 12 and 24 hours, the effects of phospholipase A2, and lipid transfer activity in alveolar surfactant were investigated. The results indicate that alveolar surfactant phospholipids underwent more significant alterations compared to lung phospholipids. Furthermore, phospholipase A2 and lipid transfer activity were reduced in alveolar surfactant of immobilized rats. The reported data suggest that the lower lipid transfer activity might be responsible for the reduced phospholipids in the surfactant system.

[The effect of vitamin E on the survival rate and biochemical parameters such as isocitrate dehydrogenase, lactate and selected peptidases and proteases during endotoxic shock in the rat]. / Zur Wirkung von Vitamin E auf Uberlebensrate und biochemische Parameter wie ICDH, Lactat sowie ausgewählte Peptidasen und Proteasen im Endotoxinschock der Ratte.

Protective effect of the investigated alpha-tocopherol solution regarding survival and changes of several biochemical parameters in rat endotoxin shock could already be demonstrated after application of the solvent (special oil HCO-60) alone. An additional effect of Vitamin E was observed only in DP IV activity and leukocyte counts.

Changes in thyrotropin, triiodothyronine, thyroxine and prolactin levels during septic shock in rats.

Inhibition of thyroid gland function and a decrease of serum prolactin content are well documented during endotoxin and septic shocks. On the fifth hour of septic shock by cecal incision, triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels are significantly decreased while the decrease in thyrotropin and prolactin are insignificant. On the 10th hour, all the hormone under study are significantly decreased.

Neurotropin effect on the deformability and electrophoretic mobility of rabbit erythrocytes.

The effect of neurotropin (a drug with antioxidant action) on the deformability and electrophoretic mobility (EM) of rabbit erythrocytes was investigated and compared to that of endotoxin from E. Coli (0111:B4) using an electrooptical technique. Endotoxin decreased the erythrocyte deformability in vitro. Upon incubation with neurotropin the endotoxin effect was reversed, i.e. the deformability of the erythrocytes increased. The electrophoretic mobility of red blood cells exposed to the simultaneous action of endotoxin and neurotropin was substantially closer to that of the control cells, as compared to the one of erythrocytes incubated with endotoxin alone. Neurotropin (1 mg.kg-1 given 1 hour after endotoxin administration) decreased the mortality of the animals, injected with endotoxin (2 mg.kg-1) namely by in the first day 63.6% versus 9.1%.

Decreases in left ventricular contractility during endotoxin shock in rabbits.

The participation of the heart in shock syndrome formation during endotoxin shock is a problem still awaiting solution. The task undertaken is to assess the work of the left ventricle and arterial pressure in rabbits before and after endotoxin injection at a dose of 2 mg.kg-1. Heart rate is the first to reach significantly lower values--at 30 min (p less than 0.05). At 45 min, there are significant reductions in dP/dtmax (p less than 0.01), (dp/dt)/P40 (p less than 0.001), LVP (p less than 0.05), and increase in dP/dtneg (p less than 0.02). Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased at 60 min. The data obtained warrant the assumption that impaired myocardial contractility plays a part in the formation of shock syndrome in rabbits exposed to endotoxin.

Successful nonsurgical embryo transfer in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis ) in Bulgaria.

Forty-one Day 5.0 to Day 5.5 embryos and one unfertilized ovum were recovered nonsurgically from 24 superovulated, parous buffalo (Bubalus bubalis ) and transferred nonsurgically to 28 synchronized recipients by a team of Bulgarian and American scientists. Five pregnancies were established and four live buffalo calves were born at the end of normal gestation periods.

A new method for the management of ureteral colic after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

In ten patients, who underwent ESWL of renal calculi and had severe ureteral colic due to acute obturation of the ureteral lumen by larger stone fragments, i.v. glucagon injections combined with laevulose infusion were applied. All patients reported relief of pain and discomfort within 15-20 minutes after glucagon injection. Position of the stones in the ureter was regularly checked. No particular adverse effects of glucagon were noted. Glucagon increases GFR and diuresis and exhibits spasmolytic effect on the smooth muscle of the ureteral wall, thus facilitating the passage of stone fragments after ESWL. In certain cases and with certain indications we recommend the method as highly effective.

Effect of calcium blocking agent verapamil on blood pressure, ventricular contractility, parathyroid hormone, calcium and phosphorus in plasma, catecholamines, corticosterone and plasma renin activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

In four-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) the effect of a calcium blocking agent verapamil on blood pressure, ventricular contractility indices, parathyroid hormone (PTH), plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma and adrenal corticosterone content and catecholamines in hypothalamus, myocardium and adrenal gland was evaluated. Calcium and phosphorus in plasma were also determined. Verapamil treatment resulted in a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a reduction in maximum left ventricular pressure. Verapamil exerted a negative inotropic effect, evaluated by a decrease in dP/dt max and dP/dt neg. PRA was elevated, calcium tended to decrease, and no changes in PTH and phosphorus were found. The hypotensive effect of verapamil in SHR was accompanied by a decrease in plasma and adrenal corticosterone content, and a fall in catecholamine concentration in adrenal glands and myocardium.

Effect of captopril on some ventricular contractility indices in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Two groups of SHR were treated with captopril (Squibb): the first group (1 month old)--30 mg/kg i.p. twice daily for 77 days, and the second group (8 months old)--20 mg/kg p.o. twice a day for 23 days. The recording of electrocardiogram (ECG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and some isometric indices of the left-ventricular contractility indicate that in all treated animals the values of most of the parameters are considerably lowered compared to the controls. The ratio between velocity of pressure increase and intraventricular pressure/equal to 50 mmHg--(dP/dt)/ICP50/does not change significantly. It can be concluded that in SHR, captopril practically does not influence the inotropic condition of the myocardium.

Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the jejunal mucosa associated with hypogammaglobulinemia. Increased number of mast cells in the jejunal mucosa.

A case with nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the jejunal mucosa associated with hypo- and dysgammaglobulinemia, increased susceptibility to infections, recurrent giardia invasions, absence of plasma cells in the bone marrow and jejunal mucosal stroma and extremely increased number of mucosal mast cells has been described. The latter was supposed to be an essential morphological feature of the syndrome, that is due to a "secondary" response to repeated giardia invasions in a condition of impaired humoral but presumably normal cellular immune response. Some of the tinctorial properties of intestinal mucosal mast cells were discussed.

A method of exocrine pancreatectomy in the rat.

The abdominal cavity of male albino rats, average weight 250 g, was opened and the duodenum approached where the ductus choledochus joins. Pancreatic ducts empty into the lower third of the choledochus. The ductus choledochus was cannulated with a Teflon catheter beneath the liver and its other end was brought out at the neck of the rat. Tissue glue was introduced into the lower part of the choledochus towards the liver. Another Teflon catheter was introduced into the duodenum, its second end brought out at the neck and connected with the first catheter by means of a metal tube, thus preserving bile flow from the liver to the duodenum. Tissue glue injection results in complete atrophy of the exocrine pancreas within 2-15 days. The islets of Langerhans remained intact.