Urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine responses to chair restraint in the monkey

Mean urinary epinephrine levels show a greater than three-fold increase (8.2 μg/day versus baseline of 2.2 μg/day) in monkeys during the first three days after placement in a restraining chair. Epinephrine levels remain significantly elevated, however, only during the first week in a total eight-week period of restraint. Although there also was a tendency for slight initial increases in urinary norepinephrine levels to occur, the changes were not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in either epinephrine or norepinephrine levels in monkeys during cage housing as compared to the second month of chair restraint, indicating no sustained effects of chair restraint on the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system over a two-month period. Some practical, methodological implications of the findings are discussed.     

Acute blood biochemical alterations in response to marathon running

Adrenal-sympathico function, blood carbohydrates and lipids, and water and electrolyte balance were studied in six highly trained male marathon runners prior to and after running a marathon (26.2 miles; 42.2 km) and on control days corresponding to the above times. Fluid intake was not sufficient to maintain body weight, the runners losing approximately 2.8 kg. Estimated plasma volume losses (161 ml, 4.4%) indicated that most of the fluid loss was extravascular.T _re rose an average 2.4° C and a significant negative correlation between running time and rise inT _re was observed. Glucose, free fatty acids, glycerol, hemoglobin, and plasma proteins were significantly elevated after the race. Small but statistically significant increments in lactate and pyruvate were also observed. Alterations in adrenalsympathico function were indicated by increased levels of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.     

Iron-regulatory protein hepcidin is increased in female athletes after a marathon

The propose of this study was to determine the influence of marathon race on hepcidin excretion in female athletes (age 26–45 years). Urine samples were taken before, immediately after, 1 and 3 days after the race. In the average, hepcidin transiently increased at day 1 from 32 to 85 ng/mg creatinine. We propose that the frequently observed iron deficiency of females runners is caused by elevated hepcidin levels.     

Changes in plasma volume and red cell formation after a marathon competition

Summary The purpose of this study was to investigate middle-term influences of a marathon race on plasma volume (PV) and red cell production. We performed the following measurements in the blood of 15 male athletes: haemoglobin ([Hb]), haematocrit (Hct), plasma protein concentration ([Prot]), plasma osmolality, sodium concentration ([Na⁺]), potassium concentration ([K⁺]), aldosterone concentration ([Aldo]), haptoglobin concentration ([Hpto]), and the reticulocyte count, as well as the calculation of relative changes in PV, 3 days before and on 3-consecutive days after a marathon race. By the 2nd day of recovery PV had increased by 16%. Plasma osmolality and [K⁺] remained constant, whereas [Na⁺] had decreased slightly 2 days after the competition and [Aldo] tended to be elevated 1 day after the competition. [Hpto] was low before and 1 day after the competition and increased on the following days. Reticulocyte count was unaffected 1 day after the race, but increased by 106% on the 2nd day and was still elevated after 3 days. The causes for higher post-marathon plasma volumes and reticulocyte counts could be in the complex variations in hormonal regulation, which have not yet been sufficiently investigated. A preliminary report was presented at the 64^th congress of the German Physiological Society in 1987     

Mood as a predictor of discharge from Air Force basic training

In order to determine the predictive validity of the Total Mood score, the Negative Mood Scale, and the Positive Mood Scale of the ST-Depression Adjective Check Lists (ST-DACL), the state version of lists C and D of the ST-DACL was administered on the second day of the Air Force basic training program to 229 newly enlisted Air Force recruits (men = 113; women = 116). Findings were that DACL total score yielded the best overall classification rate, the Positive Mood Scale was most related to predicting eventual discharge, and the Negative Mood Scale was best at predicting graduation. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Changes in serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), plasma CPK and plasma hs-CRP in relation to running distance in a marathon (42.195 km) and an ultra-marathon (200 km) race

Marathon running is frequently associated with numerous cellular changes, but little information is available on the effects of exercise-mediated prolonged impact-stress on cartilage integrity. This study was undertaken to evaluate muscle and cartilage damage with different running distances. Twenty male marathoners and ultra-marathoners participated in the study. Serum COMP and plasma CPK and hs-CRP were measured as markers of cartilage and muscle damage and inflammation. Serum COMP was increased 1.6-fold at 10 km during a marathon race and declined to the pre-race level after 2 days recovery. In contrast, serum COMP was increased 1.9-fold after a 200-km race and maintained until day 3 of recovery, only returning to the pre-race level on day 6. Plasma CPK was increased at 10 km of the marathon race and up to threefold at the end of the race. This was further increased on day 1, only returning to pre-race level on day 6. Plasma CPK was increased 35-fold at the end of the 200-km race and remained increased until day 5. There was no change in plasma hs-CRP during the marathon race, but this was increased 3.4-fold by day 1, returning to the pre-race level on day 4. Plasma hs-CRP increased 40-fold by the end of the 200-km race and was still increased on day 6 of recovery. Therefore, longer distance running may induce more impact-stress both on muscle and cartilage. Further, the required time for recovery may vary with running distance and the tissue type, e.g. cartilage or skeletal muscle as in this case.     

Changes in blood glutathione concentrations,and in erythrocyte glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activity after running training and after participation in contests

Summary Previously sedentary men (n=23) and women (n =18) were trained to run a half marathon contest after 40 weeks. Total blood glutathione had increased by 20 weeks of training and had returned to normal after 40 weeks. Erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity had increased by 20 weeks and remained elevated after 40 weeks. This effect was accompanied by decreases in glutathione reductase coefficients, which indicated that increases in the presence of riboflavin may have been responsible for the changes in reductase activity. Erythrocyte glutathione S-transferase activity had increased slightly after 20 weeks of training and a much more marked increase was found after 40 weeks. This may have been indicative of the occurrence of lipid peroxidation in this phase of training. The participants ran a 15-km race after the first 20 weeks of training and a half marathon after 40 weeks. Blood glutathione tended to decrease after the 15-km race and increased after the half marathon. In both cases it had returned to normal values 5 days after the race. Erythrocyte glutathione reductase was elevated 1 day after the races, and had returned to normal after 5 days. This could also have been explained from concurrent changes in the riboflavin content of the erythrocytes. Erythrocyte glutathione S-transferase activity decreased after both races, but was restored 5 days after the half marathon while such was not the case after the 15-km race.     

Plasma catecholamines in rats: Daily variations in basal levels and increments in response to stress

Chronic tail artery catheters were surgically implanted into male Sprague-Dawley rats to allow for repeated sampling of blood. Animals were housed individually and maintained on a controlled photoperiod (lights on 0600–1800 hours). In the first experiment, blood samples were obtained 2 days after surgery from animals at 0800, 1600, and 2400 hours and again at 0800 hours on the next day. Plasma levels of the sympathetic transmitter norepinephrine (NE) were higher at 2400 hours compared to all other sampling times. In contrast, plasma levels of the adrenal medullary hormone, epinephrine (EPI), were similar across sampling times. In a second experiment, individual rats were transferred to a shock chamber and after 3 minutes received 10 footshocks (2.0 mA, 0.5 sec duration, every 6 sec). Separate groups of rats were stressed in this manner at 0800, 1600, or 2400 hours. Basal and transfer-induced increments in plasma levels of NE and EPI did not vary with time of day. However, footshock-induced increments in plasma levels of EPI were greater at 0800 hours than at 1600 or 2400 hours. Footshock-induced alterations in plasma NE and behavior of rats did not vary with time of day. These results suggest that basal plasma levels of NE are elevated at 2400 hours due to postural changes associated with increased locomotor activity and not to an endogenous circadian rhythm. Furthermore, this effect is consistent within but not across groups of rats. The responsiveness of the adrenal medulla to the intense stress of footshock appears to be greatest in early morning compared to later afternoon and midnight.     

Some aspects of the acute phase response after a marathon race,and the effects of glutamine supplementation

Strenuous exercise may be associated with immune suppression. However, the underlying mechanism is not known. A decrease in the plasma level of glutamine, which is utilised at a high rate by cells of the immune system, and an increase in the plasma level of some cytokines may impair immune functions such as lymphocyte proliferation after prolonged, exhaustive exercise. In two separate studies of the Brussels marathon, using similar protocols, the time course of the changes in the plasma concentrations of some amino acids (glutamine, glutamate, alanine, tryptophan and branched chain amino acids), acute phase proteins and cytokines (interleukins IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor type a) was measured in male athletes. The numbers of circulating leucocytes and lymphocytes were also measured. Amino acid and cytokine concentrations have not previously been measured concomitantly in marathon runners; the measurement of some of these parameters the morning after the marathon (16?h) is novel. Another novel feature is the provision of glutamine versus placebo to marathon runners participating in the second study. In both studies the plasma concentrations of glutamine, alanine and branched chain amino acids were decreased immediately after and 1?h after the marathon. Plasma concentrations of all amino acids returned to pre-exercise levels by 16?h after exercise. The plasma concentration of the complement anaphylotoxin C5a increased to abnormal levels after the marathon, presumably due to tissue damage activating the complement system. There was also an increase in plasma C-reactive protein 16?h after the marathon. The plasma levels of IL-1α were unaffected by the exercise, while that of IL-2 was increased 16?h after exercise. Plasma IL-6 was increased markedly (≈ 45-fold) immediately after and at 1?h after exercise. Neopterine, a macrophage activation marker, was significantly increased post-exercise. There was a marked leucocytosis immediately after the marathon, which returned to normal 16 h later. At the same time there was a decrease in the number of T-lymphocytes, which was further reduced within 1 h to below pre-exercise levels. Glutamine supplementation, as administered in the second study, did not appear to have an effect upon lymphocyte distribution.     

The nitroblue-tetrazolium test following acute myocardial infarction

The percentage nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) leucocyte levels were evaluated daily in the 10 days following a first attack of coronary thrombosis. In 12 uncomplicated cases the peak increase was on the second or third day; thereafter the level declined and was below 10% by the tenth day. Three other patients did not conform to this pattern of NBT behaviour. They had experienced a second myocardial infarction and this was attended by a secondary rise in the NBT score; in the two survivors the score remained elevated on the tenth day. Comparison of the score on the second-third and tenth-fourteenth days is a possible useful index of a further complication.     

Effects of handling during infancy on the sympathetic–adrenal medullary system of rats

We examined the effects of daily handling and maternal separation (5 min per day) on the responsiveness of the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system of Sprague-Dawley rats before weaning and in adulthood. Plasma levels of norepinephrine (derived primarily from sympathetic nerves) and epinephrine (released from the adrenal medulla) were elevated in handled pups compared to unhandled controls at 14 and 18 days of age but not at 6 and 10 days of age. When tested in adulthood, previously handled and control rats did not differ with respect to basal or stress-induced increments in plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. These results indicate that brief daily episodes of handling and maternal separation are attended by an increase in sympathetic-adrenal medullary tone in 14–18-day-old rats. However, the enhanced response of the sympathetic–adrenal medullary system of separated rats may not persist into adulthood.     

Temporal dissociation between changes in striatal enkephalin and substance P messenger RNAs following striatal dopamine depletion

Changes in the levels of enkephalin and substance P messenger RNA expression were examined in the striatum following dopamine depletion resulting from unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra. In response to striatal dopamine depletion, the levels of enkephalin messenger RNA were elevated, whereas substance P messenger RNA was decreased within all regions of the striatum. Examination of the striatal peptide messenger RNAs between one and 21 days after the injection of 6-hydroxydopamine revealed a temporal dissociation between changes in enkephalin and substance P messenger RNAs. Within one day of the 6-hydroxydopamine injection, substance P messenger RNA was significantly decreased by 30% at all levels of the striatum. This decrease was maintained for up to 21 days after the lesion. In contrast, striatal enkephalin messenger RNA was not significantly elevated until three days following the injection of 6-hydroxydopamine, after which there was a gradual increase up to 21 days. In order to correlate alterations in peptide messenger RNA expression with 6-hydroxydopamine-induced changes in striatal dopamine innervation, tissue punches from the striatum were examined for dopamine content at one, two, three and seven days after the lesion. One day after the lesion, striatal dopamine levels were significantly increased by 47%. In contrast, within two days tissue dopamine content was reduced by 77% compared to control levels. A further decrease of 90% or more was observed at three and seven days after the lesion.

Taken together, these data demonstrate a temporal dissociation between changes in enkephalin and substance P messenger RNA levels following 6-hydroxydopamine-induced striatal dopamine depletions. This temporal dissociation may reflect a differential response of enkephalin and substance P messenger RNAs to alterations in dopamine release and subsequent receptor activation.     

Phosphoinositide response and alterations in free-radical oxidation in rats with catecholamine-induced cardionecrosis

Vascular spasm, hypertrophy of cardiac muscle cells, and necrotic changes in the myocardial tissue of rats administered norepinephrine in incremental doses over 14 days were accompanied by a considerable activation of lipid peroxidation and a weakening of antioxidant defense during the first 7 days of exposure to this injurious agent. On day 14, despite the greatly increased load of norepinephrine, the concentrations of lipid peroxidation products and the activity of antioxidant enzymes deviated from their control values to a lesser extent than on day 7. A similar change was shown by the concentration of brain tissue phosphatidylinositol-4,5-diphosphate, a source of second messengers, suggesting that the phosphoinositide system of second messengers is involved in the mechanisms whereby the destructive effects of norepinephrine are mitigated. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 8, pp. 137–139, August, 1995 Presented by I. P. Ashmarin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Testosterone and cortisol levels in crewmen of U.S. Air Force fighter and cargo planes

Serum levels of cortisol and testosterone were measured in 39 United States Air Force personnel on active duty flying status. The subjects selected belonged to one of the following categories: pilot of a fighter-type aircraft, nonpilot on a fighter plane, pilot of a cargo-type aircraft, or nonpilot on a cargo plane. Blood samples were taken prior to and after a routine flying mission. Cortisol levels prior to the flight did not differ across groups. However, postflight samples of cortisol were elevated in the nonpilots, in comparison to the pilots, regardless of aircraft type. Conversely, while testosterone levels were unaffected by crew position, the men flying on fighter-type planes had lower serum levels than did those on cargo planes. These results suggest that hormone levels may be differentially affected by the stressors of routine military flight.     

Hormonal changes associated with hypertension in neoplasia-induced hypercalcemia

Neoplasia-induced hypercalcemia in the Fischer rat results in hypertension 1 wk after Leydig cell tumor transplantation. Systolic blood pressure, plasma catecholamine, prolactin, plasma renin activity (PRA), and aldosterone responses to immobilization stress were evaluated in Fischer rats 10 days after tumor transplantation and in age-matched nontransplanted controls. Basal systolic blood pressure, norepinephrine, and PRA levels at 10 days after tumor transplantation were higher in association with elevated calcium levels in tumor-transplanted rats than in controls. Systolic pressure, norepinephrine, and epinephrine responses to immobilization stress were greater in the hypercalcemia 10-day transplanted rats. Although basal levels of prolactin and aldosterone were similar in the two groups. These observations suggest that elevated levels of the vasoactive hormones norepinephrine and angiotensin may play a pivotal role in development of hypertension in association with neoplasia-induced hypercalcemia. Further, neoplasia-induced hypercalcemia in the Fischer rat is associated with a relative hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism state.     

Anti-immunoglobulin antibody detection in adjuvant arthritis by an ELISA technique

Sprague-Dawley rats, injected in the hind paw with heat-killed mycobacteria dispersed in oil, develop a severe polyarthritis. In this paper, we detected and quantified by a micro-ELISA technique autoantibodies against immunoglobulins in rats with adjuvant arthritis. Increased total anti-immunoglobulin antibodies levels were found from 3 days after induction and remained elevated until day 42. IgG anti-immunoglobulin antibodies in arthritic animals were significantly elevated during days 35-42. These results show that alterations in the humoral immune response (synthesis of anti-immunoglobulin antibodies) are present in adjuvant arthritis as they are in human rheumatoid arthritis.     

Leukocyte subsets and neutrophil function after short-term spaceflight

Changes in leukocyte subpopulations and function after spaceflight have been observed but the mechanisms underlying these changes are not well defined. This study investigated the effects of short-term spaceflight (8-15 days) on circulating leukocyte subsets, stress hormones, immunoglobulin levels, and neutrophil function. At landing, a 1.5-fold increase in neutrophils was observed compared with preflight values; lymphocytes were slightly decreased, whereas the results were variable for monocytes. No significant changes were observed in plasma levels of immunoglobulins, cortisol, or adrenocorticotropic hormone. In contrast, urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol were significantly elevated at landing. Band neutrophils were observed in 9 of 16 astronauts. Neutrophil chemotactic assays showed a 10-fold decrease in the optimal dose response after landing. Neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells was increased both before and after spaceflight. At landing, the expression of MAC-1 was significantly decreased while L-selectin was significantly increased. These functional alterations may be of clinical significance on long-duration space missions.     

Functional consequences of unilateral olfactory deprivation: time-course and age sensitivity.

Unilateral olfactory deprivation in the rat profoundly modifies olfactory bulb anatomy, chemistry and function. The present report examined the time-course of the functional effects of unilateral deprivation on inhibition in the olfactory bulb using paired-pulse stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract and olfactory nerve. In addition, an attempt was made to correlate these physiological measures with olfactory bulb dopamine and norepinephrine levels and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. Deprivation from postnatal day 1 to postnatal day 20 or postnatal day 40 significantly enhanced lateral olfactory tract paired-pulse depression, while late onset deprivation (postnatal day 20) had no effect. Olfactory nerve paired-pulse depression was enhanced by 40 days of deprivation regardless of the age at onset. The time-course of these deprivation-induced physiological changes did not correlate well with reductions in dopamine. Dopamine levels were reduced in all deprivation conditions by 70-80% compared with control bulbs. Norepinephrine content was slightly elevated in deprived bulbs. These results suggest that early olfactory deprivation modifies olfactory bulb synaptic activity and further, as with other sensory systems, these effects are age and duration dependent.     

Prolactin response to the severity of surgical insult.

Prolactin levels are elevated significantly during the recovery process from surgical insult, implying a role for prolactin in the neuroendocrine immune network. This study examined the importance of severity of surgical insult to the prolactin response. Two groups of surgical patients were chosen consecutively and studied prospectively. Seven patients scheduled for "clean" elective surgery, i.e., herniorrhaphy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were compared with seven patients scheduled for prolonged abdominal exploration. Blood was drawn for prolactin and cortisol at 8:00 AM on the day of surgery and on postoperative days one, three, and five. Using a two-tailed test, preoperative prolactin levels and levels on postoperative days three and five were significantly different in the prolonged surgery group (.012 and .002, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative and postoperative prolactin levels in the clean surgery group. Cortisol levels were not significantly elevated in either group. These results indicate that the prolactin response to surgery is related to the severity of the surgical insult.     

Postnatal development of adenylate cyclase in rat salivary glands: patterns of hormonal sensitivity.

In order to compare the known morphological changes which occur during the postnatal development of the salivary glands in the rat with alterations in membrane function, we measured adenylate cyclase activity and its responses to sodium fluoride (NaF), norepinephrine, and isoproterenol in salivary gland membranes at various times after birth. In the parotid gland, basal enzyme activity did not change significantly during postnatal life, but fluoride-stimulated activity rose on day 15; A similar marked rise in activity stimulated by norepinephrine (0.02 mM) and isoproterenol (0.03 mM) was noted simultaneously. In the submandibular gland, basal adenylate cyclase activity was higher just after birth than at 25 days of life or in maturity. Fluoride-stimulated activity was 7 times higher than basal activity on day 1, greater than 10 times higher on day 25, and 30 times greater in the adult. The gland was as responsive to norepinephrine and isoproterenol on day 5 as it was on day 25 or in the mature animal, showing a two- to threefold increase over the basal enzyme value at each time point studied. Residual phosphodiesterase activity in the membranes was always negligible. The data demonstrate a time-dependent developmental change in the responsiveness of the parotid gland to norepinephrine and isoproterenol, which corresponds to the time when morphological maturation normally occurs. By contrast, in the submandibular gland, membrane-bound adenylate cyclase is fully developed at the time of birth.