2型糖尿病患者血浆Apelin-12水平与高血压、胰岛素抵抗的相关性

目的探讨Apelin-12与高血压、肥胖、胰岛素抵抗、炎症等的相关性。方法测定31例单纯2型糖尿病、37例2型糖尿病合并高血压患者及25例健康对照者血浆Apelin-12、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、血脂、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、胰岛素抵抗(IR)指数(HOMA-IR)、体重指数(BMI)、血压等水平并进行各参数之间的相关分析。结果①糖尿病合并高血压组血浆Apelin-12水平低于正常对照组和单纯糖尿病组(P0.05或P0.01),单纯糖尿病组血浆Apelin-12水平高于正常对照组(P0.05)。②糖尿病合并高血压组TNF-α水平高于糖尿病组和正常对照组(P0.05或P0.01),糖尿病组TNF-α水平高于正常对照组(P0.05)③直线相关分析显示,空腹血浆Apelin-12与腰臀比(WHR),FINS,HOMA-IR,甘油三酯(TG),收缩压(SBP),TNF-α呈负相关,与HDL-C呈正相关。结论血浆Apelin-12水平在糖尿病组升高,在糖尿病合并高血压组降低,且与肥胖、IR、炎症等相关。推测Apelin-12可能参与了IR、2型糖尿病、高血压等疾病的发生发展。     

心脑血管病合并2型糖尿病患者的临床观察及护理

目的探究心脑血管疾病合并2型糖尿病患者的临床观察和护理对策。方法选取2018年10月—2019年10月间该院收治的90例心脑心脑血管疾病合并2型糖尿病患者作为观察对象,将其随机分为两组,每组45例。对照组常规护理干预,观察组优质护理干预。对比两组患者的血糖控制效果及患者的生活质量评分。结果观察组患者总有效率显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。干预前两组患者的空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖、糖化血红蛋白指标对比差异无统计学意义(P0.05);干预后观察组空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖、糖化血红蛋白水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。干预后观察组患者的生活质量评分高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组患者6个月内心脑血管事件发生率低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论针对心脑血管疾病合并2型糖尿病患者的专业化优质护理干预,可显著提升患者的血糖控制水平,降低诱发心脑血管不良事件的风险,促进患者生活质量水平的提升,值得推广。     

2型糖尿病并发高血压患者内皮功能的血浆生物指标的变化

目的探讨2型糖尿病患者并发高血压时内皮细胞损伤或功能紊乱的血浆生物指标的变化。方法测定31例糖尿病并发高血压患者、35例单纯糖尿病患者和32例正常人血压、空腹血糖、血浆甘油三酯、胆固醇、血栓调节蛋白(Tm)、一氧化氮(NO)、vW因子水平。统计学方法用t检验和直线相关分析。结果2型糖尿病并发高血压患者收缩压、舒张压、空腹血糖、血浆甘油三酯、胆固醇、Tm和vW因子高于正常人(P<0.01),NO低于正常人(P<0.01)。单纯糖尿病患者空腹血糖、血浆甘油三酯、胆固醇、Tm和vW因子高于正常人(P<0.01或P<0.05)。糖尿病并发高血压患者收缩压、舒张压、血浆甘油三酯、胆固醇、Tm和vW因子高于单纯糖尿病患者(P<0.01或P<0.05),NO低于单纯糖尿病患者(P<0.01)。2型糖尿病患者Tm与收缩压、舒张压、甘油三酯、胆固醇和vW因子呈正相关(r=0.353、r=0.324、r=0.257、r=0.265、r=0.404,P<0.01或P<0.05),vW因子与收缩压、舒张压、甘油三酯和胆固醇呈正相关(r=0.329、r=0.289、r=0.254、r=0.256,P<0.01或P<0.05),NO与收缩压、舒张压、Tm及vW因子呈负相关(r=-0.432、r=-0.402、r=-0.415、r=-0.467,P<0.01)。结论2型糖尿病合并高血压患者存在内皮细胞损伤或功能紊乱,其高血压的发生发展可能与血管内皮细胞的损伤或功能紊乱相关。     

血清CTRP3及CTRP9水平与老年冠心病合并糖尿病的相关性

目的分析血清补体C1q/肿瘤坏死因子相关蛋白(CTRP)3及CTRP9水平与老年冠心病合并糖尿病的相关性。方法选择老年冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者40例作为冠心病合并糖尿病组,另选单纯冠心病40例老年患者作为冠心病组,单纯2型糖尿病老年患者40例作为糖尿病组,健康老年人群40例作为对照组。入组者均接受血清相关指标检查,包括血糖、血脂、血清CTRP3、CTRP9等,同时采用Gensini积分评价并比较冠心病组与冠心病合并糖尿病组患者的病变程度,最终采用双变量Pearson相关性分析验证血清CRTRP3、CTRP9水平与老年冠心病合并糖尿病患者各主要指标水平的相关性。结果与对照组比较,糖尿病组空腹血糖较高、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇较低,冠心病组高密度脂蛋白胆固醇较低,冠心病合并糖尿病组空腹血糖较高,糖尿病组、冠心病组及冠心病合并糖尿病组血清CTRP3、CTRP9水平均较低(P0.05)。与冠心病组比较,糖尿病组空腹血糖、糖化血糖蛋白水平均较高,冠心病合并糖尿病组糖化血红蛋白较低、血清CTRP3、CTRP9水平较低(P0.05)。与糖尿病组比较,冠心病合并糖尿病组患者血清CTRP3、CTRP9水平表达均较低(P0.05)。冠心病组Gensini积分明显高于冠心病合并糖尿病组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。经双变量Pearson相关性分析,血清CTRP3、CTRP9水平与老年冠心病合并糖尿病患者空腹血糖、糖化血红蛋白、三酰甘油、Gensini积分均呈负相关(P均0.05);与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇呈正相关(r=0.279,P0.05)。结论 CTRP3、CTRP9不仅参加了糖代谢,还对冠心病的发生发展起到重要作用,可将其水平表达的降低作为糖尿病、冠心病、冠心病合并糖尿病等疾病的独立危险因素,为未来临床治疗冠心病合并糖尿病提供新靶点及新思路。     

老年冠心病合并糖尿病患者血清Apelin-13水平及与Gensini评分的关系

目的探讨老年冠心病合并糖尿病患者血清爱帕琳肽(Apelin)-13水平与冠状动脉病变狭窄程度的关系。方法选取行冠状动脉造影检查的老年患者164例,根据造影结果及血糖水平分为正常组(53例)、冠心病组(65例)、冠心病合并糖尿病组(46例)。通过酶联免疫吸附试验检测血清Apelin-13水平,通过Gensini评分对冠状动脉病变程度进行评分,通过Pearson相关性分析冠心病合并糖尿病患者血清Apelin-13水平与Gensini评分、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)水平的相关性及冠心病组血清水平与Gensini评分的相关性。结果与正常组、冠心病组相比,冠心病合并糖尿病组HbA1c水平显著升高(P<0.05);与正常组相比,冠心病组、冠心病合并糖尿病组血清Apelin-13水平显著降低(P<0.05);与冠心病组相比,冠心病合并糖尿病组血清Apelin-13水平显著降低(P<0.05),Gensini评分显著升高(P<0.05);冠心病合并糖尿病患者血清Apelin-13水平与Gensini评分、HbA1c水平呈负相关(r=-0.835、-0.695,均P<0.001)。冠心病组血清Apelin-13水平与Gensini评分呈负相关(r=-0.712,P<0.001)。结论老年冠心病合并糖尿病患者血清Apelin-13水平与Gensini评分呈负相关,可反映患者冠状动脉病变狭窄程度。     

老年不稳定型心绞痛合并2型糖尿病患者血清NF-κB、YKL-40水平和Gensini评分的变化

目的探讨老年不稳定型心绞痛合并2型糖尿病患者的血清核因子(NF)-κB、YKL-40水平和Gensini评分的变化。方法单纯不稳定型心绞痛患者79例作为A组,66例不稳定型心绞痛合并2型糖尿病患者作为B组,同期体检健康者75例作为对照组(C组)。检测各组的血脂、血糖、血清NF-κB、YKL-40、超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平;采用Gensini积分评价冠状动脉病变程度。结果 B组的空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(Hb A1c)高于C组(t=17.901,14.467),A组、B组hs-CRP水平均高于C组(t=25.321、4.782,P均<0.05);B组的FPG、Hb A1c、hs-CRP高于A组(t=13.987,13.198,27.094,P均<0.05)。A组、B组NF-κB(t=14.728,21.426)、YKL-40(t=30.757,32.825)水平均高于C组(P均<0.05);B组的NF-κB、YKL-40水平和Gensini积分均高于A组(t=9.759、5.604、5.347,P均<0.05)。Spearman相关分析结果表明,不稳定型心绞痛患者的血清NF-κB水平与hs-CRP、YKL-40水平、Gensini积分均呈正相关(P均<0.05);血清YKL-40水平与hs-CRP、Gensini积分均呈正相关(r=0.627、0.580,P<0.05)。结论血清NF-κB、YKL-40水平检测可用于诊断老年不稳定型心绞痛合并2型糖尿病,具有较高的临床应用价值。     

老年糖尿病患者血浆抵抗素与胰岛素抵抗关系的研究

目的　了解老年糖尿病患者血浆抵抗素的浓度及其与肥胖、胰岛素敏感性、血糖、血脂的关系。　方法　选择 5 1例老年 2型糖尿病患者和 4 2例健康老年人 ,分别分为肥胖组和非肥胖组 ,用竞争性酶联免疫吸附法测定各组空腹血浆抵抗素水平 ,同时检测空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素、血脂、胰岛素敏感指数 ,测量受试对象腰围、臀围、腰臀比。　结果　在对照组和糖尿病组中 ,肥胖组空腹血浆抵抗素水平显著高于非肥胖组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;糖尿病非肥胖组空腹血浆抵抗素水平显著高于对照非肥胖组 (P <0 0 1) ,但与对照肥胖组比较 ,差异无显著性 ;糖尿病肥胖组空腹血浆抵抗素水平显著高于对照肥胖组 (P <0 0 5 )。抵抗素与体质指数呈正相关关系 (r =0 2 5 ,P <0 0 5 ) ,与胰岛素敏感指数及空腹胰岛素呈负相关关系 (r=- 0 32、- 0 35 ,P <0 0 5 )。而抵抗素与空腹血糖、各项血脂指标、年龄、性别及腰臀比之间无明显相关性。　结论　在肥胖发展为糖尿病的过程中 ,抵抗素可能参与了胰岛素抵抗 ,并有可能成为诊断胰岛素抵抗的指标之一。     

2型糖尿病患者和甲状腺疾病患者血浆脂联素水平变化研究

目的探讨2型糖尿病患者和甲状腺疾病患者血浆脂联素水平变化情况。方法选取本院2013年1月~2015年12月收治的70例2型糖尿病和70例甲状腺疾病患者作为本次研究对象,按照中国肥胖成年人标准,并根据患者体质量指数(BMI)将2型糖尿病患者分组为糖尿病肥胖组(BMI≥25kg/m~2)与糖尿病非肥胖组(BMI25kg/m~2),分别为40例、30例;70例甲状腺疾病患者分为甲亢组(40例)和甲减组(30例),另选择同期来院健康体检的健康人群40例作为本次研究对照组,且BMI25kg/m~2)。抽取患者空腹下静脉血液,并采用葡萄糖氧化酶法检测器血糖水平,采用电化学发光法检测其胰岛素水平;采用自动化学发光分析仪检测其FT3、FT4、TSH;采用酶联免疫吸附法检测其脂联素水平及血浆游离脂肪酸。结果甲亢患者脂联素水平为(11.9±6.7)ug/L明显高于其他组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);糖尿病肥胖组患者脂联素水平为(4.7±1.9)ug/L明显低于糖尿病非肥胖患者组(7.1±3.7)ug/L、对照组(6.8±3.3)ug/L,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);然糖尿病非肥胖组与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。脂联素水平与总胆固醇(r=-0.30)、甘油三酯(r=-0.30)、BMI(r=-0.37)及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(r=-0.24)、空腹胰岛素(r=-0.27)、空腹血糖(r=-0.27)、胰岛素抵抗(r=-0.23)呈负相关。在甲亢及甲减患者中,脂联素水平与FT4呈正相关(r=0.49,P0.05);然与总胆固醇(r=-0.40)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(r=-0.36)呈负相关。于糖尿病及对照组中,脂联素水平与BMI(r=-0.37)、总胆固醇(r=-0.37)呈负相关。BMI是2型糖尿病和甲状腺疾病患者脂联素水平影响最为显著的因素;FT4为甲状腺疾病患者脂联素水平影响最为显著的因素。结论加强对2型糖尿病和甲状腺疾病患者肥胖程度的控制,同时做好甲状腺疾病患者FT4水平的检测,有利于患者临床疾病治疗和脂联素水平的控制,更好地改善其预后。     

氨氯地平联合厄贝沙坦片治疗2型糖尿病患者脑出血急性期的安全性分析

目的探究2型糖尿病患者脑出血急性期应用氨氯地平联合厄贝沙坦片的临床效果。方法抽取92例在该院2018年2月—2020年9月期间进行诊治的2型糖尿病合并脑出血急性期患者,利用抽签法分为两组,参照组予以患者甘露醇,实验组予以患者氨氯地平联合厄贝沙坦,比较两组患者临床治疗效果。结果实验组患者NIHSS评分、空腹血糖以及餐后2 h血糖分别为(8.93±1.37)分、(6.42±1.05)mmol/L、(9.46±2.67)mmol/L,其数据均显著优于参照组,差异有统计学意义(t=4.812,P0.001;t=2.847,P=0.005;t=2.425,P=0.017)。结论 2型糖尿病合并脑出血急性期患者经过氨氯地平联合厄贝沙坦片治疗,可有效改善患者血糖水平与神经功能。     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者血清解耦联蛋白-2水平的临床意义

目的 观察阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)患者血清解耦联蛋白-2(UCP-2)的变化,探讨OSAHS并发糖代谢异常的可能机制.方法 选取单纯OSAHS患者31例,轻、中度组16例,重度组15例;OSAHS合并2型糖尿病患者14例;单纯2型糖尿病患者14例及单纯肥胖者18例;均行整夜多导睡眠监测(PSG)及空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)测定,ELISA法检测血清中UCP-2水平,了解UCP-2在OSAHS患者糖代谢变化中发挥的作用.结果 与单纯肥胖对照组相比,糖尿病组、重度OSAHS组、合并组UCP-2水平明显升高(P＜0.05),合并组较糖尿病组与重度组UCP-2升高更为明显(P＜0.05).UCP-2水平与AHI、HbA1c、FPG呈正相关(r=0.795、0.513、0.268,P值均＜0.05),与LSO2呈负相关(r=-0.721,P＜0.05).结论 OSAHS可引起UCP-2的血清水平升高,其可能在OSAHS致糖代谢异常中起重要作用.     

Three layer functional model and energy exchange concept of aging process

Relying on a certain degree of abstraction, we can propose that no particular distinction exists between animate or living matter and inanimate matter. While focusing attention on some specifics, the dividing line between the two can be drawn. The most apparent distinction is in the level of structural and functional organization with the dissimilar streams of ‘energy flow’ between the observed entity and the surrounding environment. In essence, living matter is created from inanimate matter which is organized to contain internal intense energy processes and maintain lower intensity energy exchange processes with the environment. Taking internal and external energy processes into account, we contend in this paper that living matter can be referred to as matter of dissipative structure, with this structure assumed to be a common quality of all living creatures and living matter in general. Interruption of internal energy conversion processes and terminating the controlled energy exchange with the environment leads to degeneration of dissipative structure and reduction of the same to inanimate matter, (gas, liquid and/or solid inanimate substances), and ultimately what can be called ‘death.’ This concept of what we call dissipative nature can be extended from living organisms to social groups of animals, to mankind. An analogy based on the organization of matter provides a basis for a functional model of living entities. The models relies on the parallels among the three central structures of any cell (nucleus, cytoplasm and outer membrane) and the human body (central organs, body fluids along with the connective tissues, and external skin integument). This three-part structural organization may be observed almost universally in nature. It can be observed from the atomic structure to the planetary and intergalactic organizations. This similarity is corroborated by the membrane theory applied to living organisms. According to the energy nature of living matter and the proposed functional model, the decreased integrity of a human body's external envelope membrane is a first cause of the structural degradation and aging of the entire organism. The aging process than progresses externally to internally, as in single cell organisms, suggesting that much of the efforts towards the restoration and maintenance of the mechanisms responsible for structural development should be focused accordingly, on the membrane, i.e., the skin. Numerous reports indicate that all parts of the human body, like: bones, blood with blood vessels, muscles, skin, and so on, have some ability for restoration. Therefore, actual revival of not only aging tissue of the human body's membrane, but the entire human body enclosed within, with all internal organs, might be expected. We assess several aging theories within the context of our model and provide suggestions on how to activate the body's own anti-aging mechanisms and increase longevity. This paper presents some analogies and some distinctions that exist between the living dissipative structure matter and inanimate matter, discusses the aging process and proposes certain aging reversal solutions.     

Unusual responses of nocturnal pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion to swimming: Attempts to define mechanisms

Abstract: The effect of swimming at night on rat pineal melatonin synthesis was compared with that of light exposure at night. Rats were forced to swim at 0030 hr (lights out at 2000 hr) and sacrificed by decapitation 15 and 30 min later, immediately after swimming. Other groups of animals were exposed to white light (650μW/cm²) for 15 and 30 min at same time. Swimming caused a rapid and highly significant drop in the melatonin content in the pineal gland; however, the activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the supposed rate limiting enzyme in the melatonin production, was not changed. Despite the drop in pineal melatonin levels, serum concentrations of the indole remained elevated in the rats that swam. In contrast, melatonin levels in the pineal and serum of light exposed rats fell precipitously, accompanied by a significant suppression of NAT activity. Since we anticipated that the strenuous exercise associated with swimming may induce release of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the heart, which in turn could cause the release of pineal melatonin, in a second study we injected physiological saline intravenously to stretch the cardiac muscle and release ANP. Three milliliters of normal saline was injected during the day into the jugular vein of anesthetized rats that were pretreated with isoproterenol to stimulate pineal melatonin production. Animals were killed 15 min after the saline injection, and pineal NAT activity and pineal melatonin levels were measured. The saline injections caused no alteration in the elevated levels of either NAT or melatonin. These data suggest that the disparity in pineal NAT activity (which was high) and pineal melatonin (which was low), in animals swum at night, may not be caused by ANP which is released during strenuous exercise such as swimming.     

Melatonin and photoperiodic time measurement: Seasonal breeding in the sheep

Abstract: Well-established circadian physiology supports the view that photoperiodic time measurement utilizes the coincidence between the presence of light and a photosensitive phase of a 'biological clock' to alter reproductive status—the so-called external coincidence model of seasonal breeding. In this review, we examine the mechanism whereby photoperiod interacts with presumed suprachiasmatic nuclei activity to allow endogenous melatonin to normally synchronize reproductive activity to the optimal time of year. The Romney Marsh sheep is particularly explored as an experimental model. It is suggested that the on/off activity of seasonal reproduction may be a robust mechanism able to be predictably manipulated by the judicious use of the light/dark cycle and exogenous melatonin, but firmly based on circadian principles.     

Serological survey of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in Madagascar

Objectives Peripartal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, leads to severe consequences for newborns. Preventive measures require awareness of the maternal infection. Although HIV and syphilis testing in Madagascar could be theoretically carried out within the framework of the national pregnancy follow‐up scheme, the required test kits are rarely available at peripheral health centres. In this study, we screened blood samples of pregnant Madagascan women for HIV and syphilis seroprevalence to estimate the demand for systemic screening in pregnancy. Methods Retrospective anonymous serological analysis for HIV and syphilis was performed in plasma samples from 1232 pregnant women that were taken between May and July 2010 in Ambositra, Ifanadiana, Manakara, Mananjary, Moramanga and Tsiroanomandidy (Madagascar) during pregnancy follow‐up. Screening was based on Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests for syphilis and rapid tests for HIV, with confirmation of positive screening results on line assays. Results Out of 1232 pregnant women, none were seropositive for HIV and 37 (3%) were seropositive for Treponema pallidum. Conclusions Our findings are in line with previous studies that describe considerable syphilis prevalence in the rural Madagascan population. The results suggest a need for screening to prevent peripartal Treponema pallidum transmission, while HIV is still rare. If they are known, Treponema pallidum infections can be easily, safely and inexpensively treated even in pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission.     

Variabilité des concentrations plasmatiques de l’angiotensinogène et risque d’hypertension artérielle chez le rat transgénique

Aim

Genetic polymorphisms of the human angiotensinogen gene are frequent and may induce up to 30% increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations with a blood pressure increase of up to 5 mmHg. Their role for the pathogenesis of human arterial hypertension remains unclear. High plasma angiotensinogen levels could increase the sensitivity to other blood pressure stressors.

Methods

Male transgenic rats with a 9-fold increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations and male non-transgenic rats aged 10 weeks were treated or not with NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester for 3 weeks in their drinking water (n = 3/group). Systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured at baseline and at the end of the study when left ventricular weight and ventricular expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and procollagen Iα1 were determined (polymerase chain reaction).

Results

At baseline, transgenic rats had +18 mmHg higher bood pressure and –8% lower body weight compared to non-transgenic rats (P < 0.05) without significant changes for the vehicle groups throughout the study (P > 0.05). NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester increased blood pressure, left ventricular weight and left ventricular weight indexed for body weight by +41%, +17.6% and +18.6% (P < 0.05) in transgenic and +25%, +5.3% and +6.7% (P > 0.05) in non-transgenic rats compared to untreated animals, respectively. Cardiac gene expression showed no differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased plasma angiotensinogen levels may sensitize to additional blood pressure stressors. Our preliminary results point towards an independent role of angiotensinogen in the pathogenesis of human hypertension and associated end-organ damage.     

Morphological and immunocytochemical heterogeneity of cultured pinealocytes from one-week-and two-month-old rats: Planimetric and densitometric investigations

Abstract: In vitro preparations of rat pinealocytes are widely used for biochemical analyses of signal transduction processes. This paper deals with morphological and immunocytochemical features of such preparations. Special attention was paid to the problems of whether pinealocytes represent a heterogeneous cell population and how such heterogeneity may develop during ontogeny. The investigations were performed with cells which were obtained from the pineal organ of one-week-and two-month-old rats, attached to synthetic peptide-coated coverslips or tissue culture chamber slides, and maintained under in vitro conditions overnight. The attached cells were then fixed with paraformaldehyde. These preparations yielded monolayers of spherical cells of different sizes; most cells were isolated, but some of them were aggregated and formed small clusters. On the average, the cells from the one-week-old animals were smaller than the cells from the two-month-old animals. Immunocytochemical demonstration of S-antigen, a pinealocyte-specific marker, showed that the majority of the cells from two-month-old animals were intensely or moderately labelled. Pinealocytes from one-week-old animals were less S-antigen immunoreactive. Only very few cells (less than 1% displayed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity. Planimetric investigations of the cell size and semiquantitative densitometric investigations of the intensity of the S-antigen immunoreaction revealed that (i) pinealocytes kept in vitro form a heterogeneous cell population, and that (ii) this heterogeneity increases during postnatal development from one-week-old to two-month-old animals. Two groups of pinealocytes can be distinguished based on their developmental fate: pinealocytes of one group grow dramatically, but show only a moderate increase in S-antigen immunoreactivity, and pinealocytes of the other group retain their size, but display a distinct increment in S-antigen immunoreacti vitv.     

Effects of pinealectomy and melatonin administration on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in rats with both ovaries intact or after unilateral ovariectomy

Abstract: In earlier studies from other laboratories it was shown that melatonin decreased ovarian weight in rats and inhibited compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining ovary after unilateral ovariectomy. This study was designed to examine the influence of melatonin on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in adult female rats with both ovaries preserved and with either an intact pineal gland or with the pineal gland removed (pinealectomy, PX) or, finally, in sham-PX animals. Similar studies were conducted on rats after unilateral ovariectomy, referring the examined parameters to the remaining intact ovary. The studies included mitotic activity of granulosa layer cells and corpus luteum cells, ovarian weight, ovarian cross-sectional area, cross-sectional area of the granulosa layer of all the Graafian follicles and the cross-sectional areas of the corpora lutea, visible on the ovarian cross-section. On the basis of results, we conclude that: 1) the effect of PX on the processes of ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy may vary; analogously, exogenous melatonin administration may influence ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy in different ways; 2) PX and exogenous melatonin may, under certain conditions, exert similar biological effects, even synergistic effects; 3) melatonin inhibits ovarian growth processes, while the effects of PX are variable; 4) the results indicate that in experiments performed on rats, with the use of two control groups, i.e., intact and sham-PX, melatonin effects on these two groups may differ.