Prevention of CCl(4)-induced oxidative damage in adrenal gland by Digera muricata extract in rat.

Digera muricata (L.) Mart. is a weed and commonly found in waste places, road sides and in maize fields during the summer season. It possesses antioxidant capacity and is locally used for various disorders such as inflammation, urination, as refrigerant, aperient and in sexual anomalies. In this study antioxidant potential of Digera muricata methanol extract (DMME) and n-hexane extract (DMHE) was evaluated against CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress in adrenal gland of Sprague-Dawley male rats. 42 rats were equally divided into 7 groups of 6 rats in each. Group I remained untreated, while Group II treated with vehicles. Group III received only CCl(4) (1 ml/kg b.w., 10% in olive oil) once a week for 16 weeks. Group IV and VI received DMME and DMHE at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. along with CCl(4). Animals of Group V and VII administered with DMME and DMHE alone at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. once a week for 16 weeks. Lipid peroxidation significantly increased while activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GST, GSR and GSH-Px) were reduced in adrenal gland samples by the administration of CCl(4). Glutathione (GSH) concentration was significantly decreased whereas DNA fragmentation% and AgNORs count was increased in adrenal gland by CCl(4) administration. Treatment of rat by both the extracts (DMME, DMHE) and CCl(4) increased the glutathione level and activities of antioxidant enzymes while reduced the lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation percent and AgNORs count in adrenal gland. These results indicate that Digera muricata extract is able to ameliorate oxidative stress in adrenal gland induced by CCl(4) in rat.

Ultrasound screening of neonatal adrenal hemorrhage.

Neonatal adrenal hemorrhage (NAH) is frequently overlooked because the majority of cases are asymptomatic. In this study, we investigated the clinical symptoms, echographic characteristics and incidence of NAH from January 1998 to December 1999 at Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Among 3273 newborns who had ultrasound screening, 18 cases were diagnosed as having NAH. The incidence was 0.55% which was compatible with other reports. But there was a female predominance (10:8) which was different from previous reports. Only one premature baby was diagnosed with NAH. No patients had perinatal asphyxia, and this was different from other reports. The mean birth body weight was 3530 grams which was more than the 75th percentile of normal term baby birth weight. Sixteen cases had right-sided NAH and two cases had left-sided NAH. Eleven cases (61%) within this study were asymptomatic. The incidence of pathologic jaundice was 11%. Four babies (22%) had poor oral feeding combined with vomiting. Only one had severe anemia for which blood transfusion was required. There were no cases of adrenocortical insufficiency in our study. Only one patient received adrenalectomy. In conclusion, NAH can be detected early by sonography and most cases require only supportive treatment. Thus, unnecessary surgery and severe complications due to delayed diagnosis can be avoided.

[Modifying effect of DDT and of its various metabolites on the toxic effect of 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene]. / Modifitsiruiushchee deistvie DDT i nekotorykh ego metabolitov na toksicheskii effekt 7,12-dimetilbenz(alpha)antratsena.

In rats a preliminary three times injection of DDT in doses of 10 and 100 mg/Kg eliminated completely DMBA (30 mg/per 100 g of weight) lethal effect and prevented or decreased the development of adrenal necrosis. Among the metabolites under study (DDT, DDON, DDMU, DDE, DDA, DVR) DDE was found to render the strongest protective action in its single administration in a dose of 10 mg/Kg a day before the exposure to DMBA.

Reciprocal relationship between the production of adrenal damage by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in rats and the induction of liver damage by various treatments.

Further investigations into the mechanism by which CCl(4) administration to Sprague-Dawley rats protects them against the adrenocorticolytic action of dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) are reported. The results show that CCl(4) must be given shortly before DMBA to achieve the best protection and that treatments given after DMBA are ineffective. It was established that the hepatotoxicity of CCl(4) in these experiments was related reciprocally to the adrenocorticolytic effect of DMBA.Protection with butter yellow (DAB) was achieved only when sufficient time elapses for drug metabolism to be stimulated in the liver. Butter yellow given after DMBA has no protective effect but the prior exposure of the rats to DMBA potentiates the hepatotoxic effects of DAB.Partial hepatectomy gives protection when performed 1 day before DMBA; shorter intervals give no protection. Some protection can be achieved with resection 6 or 24 hours after DMBA.