Distribution of prolactin in selected rat organs and tissues

A single dose of 25 microg prolactin (PRL)/kg of rat body weight was administered to rats subcutaneously. At 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h after the injection, selected organs and tissues were taken for analysis. It was found that 1 h after administration, the highest amount of PRL accumulated in the milk (lactiferous) gland, the blood, the ovaries, the pituitary and the liver. Over time, the prolactin content in the selected organs and tissues decreased. PRL is selectively captured by the milk gland, the pituitary, the ovaries, the liver and the heart. Based on the value of the organ or tissue capacity index for PRL, the following order was established for the organs and tissues to which the hormone binds: milk gland > blood > pituitary > ovaries > lungs > liver > cranial bone > spleen > heart > kidneys > muscular tissue > adrenals > adipose tissue > brain.     

Histopathologic and ultrastructural studies of disseminated cytomegalovirus infection in strain 2 guinea pigs

Inbred strain 2 guinea pigs developed severe disseminated disease during acute experimental guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) infection. A high mortality rate (100%) resulted, with most animals dying between 10 and 14 days after high dose (7.5 X 10(5) TCID50) virus inoculation. Infectious virus was recovered from many tissues, including spleen, lungs, liver, pancreas, heart, adrenals, kidneys, and salivary glands. The rate of GPCMV isolation from these tissues ranged from 50 to 100%. Gross lesions were observed in the spleen, liver, and lungs. On histologic examination, lesions were also seen in many other organs, including heart, pancreas, kidneys, adrenals, brain, intestines, and salivary glands. Intranuclear viral inclusions were present in many cell types of various organs. Under electron microscopic examination, cells with viral inclusions were easily found in the spleen, and liver, but less readily in the lungs, kidneys, salivary glands, and other organs. Most of the intranuclear inclusions consisted of electron-dense fibrils (10 nm diameter), viral nucleocapsids (100 nm), and tubular structures (60 nm diameter). Dense bodies and enveloped dense virions containing single or multiple capsids were present in the cytoplasm of many infected cells. The morphologic developments of GPCMV in these visceral tissues of strain 2 guinea pigs resembled those seen in GPCMV-infected cultured guinea pig cells but differed from those observed in the infected salivary gland duct cells. Strain 2 guinea pigs are a useful animal model for studying disseminated infection in CMV-associated human diseases.     

The effect of oral aspartame administration on the balance of magnesium in the rat.

The aim of the present work was to determine the effect of aspartame administration on the excretion of magnesium and its distribution in the various rat tissues and organs. The present results have shown that aspartame administration influences the balance of magnesium in the organism, since in some organs and tissues (heart, lungs, kidneys, adrenals, jejunum, hair and blood) it is accumulated, while other organs (liver and testes) are deprived of it. Aspartame administration also affects the excretion of magnesium from the organism, since it decreases the concentration of magnesium in both urine and feces.     

Basal metabolic rate and organ size in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii): Effects of photoperiod, temperature and diet quality

This study examined the effects of photoperiod (long day [16 Light:8 Dark] and short day [8 Light:16 Dark]), temperature (cold [5 degrees C] and warm [23 degrees C]), and diet quality (high-fiber diet [36% neutral-detergent fiber (NDF)] and low-fiber diet [23% NDF]) on basal metabolic rate (BMR), digestible energy intake, and organ size in the Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Cold increased BMR and showed a significant interaction with diet quality. Cold and short photoperiod increased intake of food and digestible energy. The high-fiber diet increased food intake, but decreased digestibility, and had no effects on digestible energy intake. Voles housed in the cold had heavier liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal segments but a lighter carcass. Segments of the gastrointestinal tract tended to be heavier when voles were fed the high-fiber diet. Voles housed in short photoperiod had lighter heart and kidneys but heavier gut segments. With the effects of body mass on BMR and organs was removed, BMR was significantly related to the dry mass of heart, liver, kidneys and cecum. Digestible energy intake was significantly related to the dry mass of kidneys and stomach. These significant relationships were also detected after removing the effects of body mass, temperature, photoperiod and diet quality. There was also a significant correlation between BMR and digestible energy intake. Our results suggest that variations in BMR reflected the evolution of metabolic machinery that induces higher energy intakes. The data also support the assimilation capacity model of endothermy.     

Body weight gain and food intake alterations in crowd-reared rats

The effect of being reared in a crowd for 6 continuous weeks postweaning on body weight gain, food intake and gland weight (thymus, adrenals and testes) was studied in Sprague-Dawley adult male rats. Crowd-reared rats (10 per cage) showed a significantly lower body weight at the end of the crowding period as compared to control rats (5 per cage). After 200 days of being reared under the same conditions (5 per cage), the body weights of crowd-reared rats were still significantly lower than those of control rats. However, the body weight gain during this period was the same for both groups. Crowd-reared rats also had significantly lower thymus weight and higher adrenal gland and testes weights as compared to those weights of control rats. In addition, food intake was similar for both groups.     

Cell number and size in selected organs of fetuses of rats malnourished and exposed to nitrofen

The effects of maternal exposure to nitrofen or protein-energy malnutrition on the number and sizes of cells in selected organs of the fetal rat have been studied. Pregnant rats were fed either an adequate (CON) or protein-energy deficient diet (PEM) throughout gestation. Each diet group was divided into two subgroups. One subgroup was gavaged with 25 mg nitrofen/kg body weight on gestational days 7-21 and the other, with corn oil carrier only. Fetal liver, kidneys, intestine, heart, lung, and brain were weighed and assayed for DNA, RNA, and protein. Maternal protein deficiency resulted in a reduction in organ weight and total DNA, RNA, and protein in all six organs. Maternal nitrofen exposure resulted in reduced weight and reduced protein in all organs except the brain. Total DNA and RNA were reduced in intestine, heart, and lung, and total RNA was also reduced in the liver following maternal nitrofen exposure. An interaction between diet and toxin affected lung weight, DNA, RNA, and protein, intestinal total protein, and heart DNA. Protein/DNA ratios were reduced in liver, intestine, and brain in the group fed the inadequate diet and in intestine only following nitrofen exposure. The deficient diet resulted in increased RNA/DNA ratio in the fetal liver and heart and a decreased ratio in the kidney and brain. Nitrofen exposure resulted in a lower RNA/DNA ratio in the liver. The data indicate that maternal protein-energy malnutrition results in smaller organs in the fetuses with fewer cells and containing less protein and RNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Long-term effects of insulin in weanling rats with dorsomedial hypothalamic hypophagia: Food intake,efficiency of food utilization,body weight and composition

Twenty-five day-old Sprague-Dawley rats received electrolytic lesions in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei (DMNL rats); sham-operated rats served as controls. Two weeks after the operation the DMNL rats showed reduced (p<0.001) body weight and food intake but normal body composition (Lee Index) and efficiency of food utilization (EFU). During the following 32 days subcutaneous administration twice daily of intermediary-acting insulin in increasing doses (mean daily dose 2.64 IU/kg) caused highly significant increases in food intake in both groups. Injection for the subsequent 14 days of higher doses of insulin (mean daily dose 5.64 IU/kg) caused dramatic increase in both food intake and Lee Index and equalized the rate of weight gain with that of the controls. However, in absolute terms the DMNL rats remained consistently hypophagic and weighed significantly less than the controls. Both DMNL rats and controls showed the same EFU during both periods of insulin administration. On discontinuation of hormone treatment during the subsequent 20 days, food intake and body weight gains returned to pretreatment values and the insulin-induced increased Lee Index returned into the low-normal range. However, EFU was significantly (p<0.05) decreased during this period. At sacrifice, plasma glucose, glycerol, free fatty acids and total protein and carcass lipid and protein were normal in the DMNL rats. Absolute and relative (per 100 g body weight and per metabolic size) weight of epididymal fat pads, pituitaries, adrenals and kidneys were normal in the DMNL rats but testes weight per 100 g body weight was higher (p<0.05) in the DMNL rats. Although DMN lesions may remove some glucose-sensitive elements within the hypothalamus, the animals are still capable of responding to the food intake and weight-promoting properties of insulin, as do intact animals.     

Liver, lung, kidney, heart and spleen structure of rats after multiple intravenous injections of magnetite nanosuspension

Effects of multiple intravenous magnetite nanosuspension injections on the structure of rat liver, lungs, kidney, heart and spleen have been studied. Histology of the organs listed have found haemodynamic distortions and necrotic lesions in the parenchyma of these organs. With the help of Pearls histochemical method significant piling of nanoparticles were found in the cells of the mononuclear phagocytes in liver, lungs and spleen of the rats. Only singular Pearls-positive cells were found in kidneys and hearts of the rats.     

Distribution of ethomerzol in organ and tissue of rats after single and course treatment

We studied experimental kinetics of ethomerzol (5-ethoxy-2ethylthiobenzimidazole hydrochloride) distribution in the liver, brain, kidneys, spleen, heart, skeletal muscles, lungs, adipose tissue, and testes of rats after its single or course administration. Peculiarities of ethomerzol distribution in various administration regimens were analyzed. Single treatment led to more pronounced accumulation of the drug in the liver. Study of ethomerzol distribution after course treatment revealed organs and tissues accumulating the drug (blood, brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and adipose tissue). __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 145, No. 1, pp. 47–49, January, 2008     

Evaluation of organ weights for rodent and non-rodent toxicity studies: a review of regulatory guidelines and a survey of current practices

The Society of Toxicologic Pathology convened a working group to evaluate current practices regarding organ weights in toxicology studies. A survey was distributed to pharmaceutical, veterinary, chemical, food/nutritional and consumer product companies in Europe, North America, and Japan. Responses were compiled to identify organs routinely weighed for various study types in rodent and non-rodent species, compare methods of organ weighing, provide perspectives on the value of organ weights and identify the scientist(s) responsible for organ weight data interpretation. Data were evaluated as a whole as well as by industry type and geographic location. Regulatory guidance documents describing organ weighing practices are generally available, however, they differ somewhat dependent on industry type and regulatory agency. While questionnaire respondents unanimously stated that organ weights were a good screening tool to identify treatment-related effects, opinions varied as to which organ weights are most valuable. The liver, kidneys, and testes were commonly weighed and most often considered useful by most respondents. Other organs that break were commonly weighed included brain, adrenal glands, ovaries, thyroid glands, uterus, heart, and spleen. Lungs, lymph nodes, and other sex organs were weighed infrequently in routine studies, but were often weighed in specialized studies such as inhalation, immunotoxicity, and reproduction studies. Organ-to-body weight ratios were commonly calculated and were considered more useful when body weights were affected. Organ to brain weight ratios were calculated by most North American companies, but rarely according to respondents representing veterinary product or European companies. Statistical analyses were generally performed by most respondents. Pathologists performed interpretation of organ weight data for the majority of the industries.     

Influence of thyroidin on the condition of the viscera of the white rat (as indicated by vital staining of the tissues)

Summary Experiments were carried out on male albino rats which were given 0.25 g of thyroidin per 100 g body weight for 10 days. Vital staining with neutral red was used to study the interaction between the tissues of the different viscera (spleen, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, testes, brain, small intestine, and skeletal muscle).In the animals receiving thyroidin there was a change in the sorptive property of the tissue of the liver, kidneys, heart, testes, brain, small intestine and skeletal muscle, which was thought to result from denaturation of cellular proteins.The results obtained reflect the nature and specific features of pathological and compensatory reactions occuring in tissues under the influence of thyroidin.Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR A. V. Lebedinskii Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 58, No. 10, pp. 108–110, October, 1964     

Society of Toxicologic Pathology position paper: organ weight recommendations for toxicology studies

The evaluation of organ weights in toxicology studies is an integral component in the assessment of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and medical devices. The Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) has created recommendations for weighing organs in GLP general toxicology studies lasting from 7 days to 1 year. The STP recommends that liver, heart, kidneys, brain, testes, and adrenal glands be weighed in all multidose general toxicology studies. Thyroid gland and pituitary gland weights are recommended for all species except mice. Spleen and thymus should be weighed in rodent studies and may be weighed in non-rodent studies. Weighing of reproductive organs is most valuable in sexually mature animals. Variability in age, sexual maturity, and stage of cycle in non-rodents and reproductive senescence in female rodents may complicate or limit interpretation of reproductive organ weights. The STP recommends that testes of all species be weighed in multidose general toxicology studies. Epididymides and prostate should be weighed in rat studies and may be weighed on a case-by-case basis in non-rodent and mouse studies. Weighing of other organs including female reproductive organs should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Organ weights are not recommended for any carcinogenicity studies including the alternative mouse bioassays. Regardless of the study type or organs evaluated, organ weight changes must be evaluated within the context of the compound class, mechanism of action, and the entire data set for that study.     

A comparative study of the fixation of antibiotics of the tetracycline group by homogenates of organs

Summary The authors established the quantitative fixation of chlortetracycline, tetracycline, and oxytetracycline by homogenates of the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, heart, and brain of white rats. Fixation by the organ homogenates was greatest by chlortetracycline, followed by tetracycline and oxytetracycline in that order. Homogenates of the liver, kidneys, and brain fixed the tetracyclines in considerable quantitities, those of the lungs, heart and spleen—to a noticeably lesser degree.Presneted by Active Member AMN SSSR V. V. Zakusov     

"The weight ratio of organs for 750 judicial autopsy cases"

Based on the autoptical investigations conducted various informations were provided for the weight of organs, while the same of those organs were observed to be varied by conditions or causes such as: ages, sex distinction, physique build, time elapsed after death, cause of death and so forth. In consideration of above conditions and/or causes, our approach to judicial autopsies on the weight ratio (weight of organ/weight of body X 100) of the brains, lungs, hearts, livers, spleens, pancreases, kidneys and suprarenal glands for a total of 750 corpse resulted in the followings: 1) In regard to the cases of weight ratio of organs to the bodies within the range of ages (29-40) almost no difference has been observed by the age factor with exception of a certain increasing tendency limited to the heart weight ratio as their ages advance. 2) The weight ratio of lungs to the death group such as: by fire, drowning or asphyxia revealed rather higher level as compared with the same group such as: bleeding caused by external wound, gunshot wound or traffic accidents. 3) The weight ratio of spleens caused by the death of bleeding due to external wound and drowning has shown a lower level than that by the death of asphyxia or death of disease. 4) The weight ratio of kidneys for the group of death by fire, asphyxia and diseases has indicated a higher level than same of death group by bleeding resulting from external wound and gunshot wound. 5) The weight ratio of brains by the death of bleeding due to external wound and gunshot wound has shown a lower level than the same of death by asphyxia.     

The production of bovine interferon in foetal and adult organ cultures and in leukocytes

Interferon response in bovine foetal and adult organ cultures after induction in vitro with Radom velogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV-R) was studied. Interferon was produced in foetal organ cultures derived from skin, liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, tongue and also from amniotic membranes and placenta; however, no correlation between the gestational age and levels of interferon produced by different tissues was observed. In comparison with foetal tissues the organ cultures derived from liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and spleen of cows produced higher interferon titers. In contrast to organ cultures, the interferon response of in vitro cultivated leukocytes isolated from spleen and liver of foetuses and cows was comparable. The antiviral substance both from foetal and adult animals was characterized as interferon by standard criteria; however, higher acid lability of "foetal" interferon in comparison with that of "adult" was observed.     

Effect of crowding on some physiological and behavioral variables in adult male rats

The effect of two population densities on body weight gain, food and water intake and the weight of some organs and glands was studied in adult male rats. Behavioral reactivity to open field was also assessed. Crowded rats (10 animals per cage) showed lower body weight gain than control rats (3 per cage) throughout all the experimental period. Crowding decreased food intake and increased water intake. Any effect of crowding on the weight of thymus, liver and endocrine glands (except testes) was found. Open field defecation and activity were the same in control and crowded rats. Discrepancies from earlier works could likely be due to methodological differences and these are discussed in the text.     

全反式维甲酸对生长发育期大鼠实质器官的损伤

目的 探讨体内过量全反式维甲酸（ATRA）对生长发育期SD大鼠的脑、心、肺、肝、肾和脾的影响。方法 以48只3周雄性SD大鼠为实验对象,随机分为对照组和3个实验组,ATRA剂量分别为40、60、80 mg/(kg·d),每组12只,进行连续10 d ATRA灌胃处理,记录SD大鼠每日体重,于灌胃第10天解剖称量各器官的重量以及计算脏器指数,然后对各器官进行HE染色。结果 ATRA灌胃后,与对照组比较,40 mg/(kg·d) ATRA组肾指数升高,体重变化差异无统计学意义;60 mg/(kg·d) ATRA组体重降低,心、肾指数升高,脾脏重量降低;80 mg/(kg·d)ATRA组体重明显降低,脑、心、肾指数升高,脑、脾重量降低;HE染色显示,与对照组比较,ATRA处理组的肺泡壁增厚,肾小管上皮细胞有空泡样改变,脾脏红髓出现较多巨噬细胞,而大脑、肝脏、心肌无明显组织学变化。结论 体内过量全反式维甲酸能够对生长发育期SD大鼠的肺、肾和脾有一定的损伤作用。     

Gross and microscopic visceral anatomy of the male Cape fur seal, Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus (Pinnipedia: Otariidae), with reference to organ size and growth

The gross and microscopic anatomy of the Cape fur seal heart, lung, liver, spleen, stomach, intestine and kidneys (n = 31 seals) is described. Absolute and relative size of organs from 30 male seals are presented, with histological examination conducted on 7 animals. The relationship between log body weight, log organ weight and age was investigated using linear regression. Twenty five animals were of known age, while 6 were aged from counts of incremental lines observed in the dentine of tooth sections. For the range of ages represented in this study, body weight changes were accurately described by the exponential growth equation, weight = w_or^t, with body weight increasing by 23% per annum until at least 9–10 y of age. Organ weight increased at a rate of between 25% and 33% per annum until at least 9–10 y of age, with the exception of the intestines, where exponential increase appeared to have ceased by about 7 y. The relationship between body weight and organ weight was investigated using logarithmic transformations of the allometric equation, y = ax^b, where the exponent b is 1 if organ weight is proportional to body weight. Most organs increased in proportion to the body. However, the heart, liver and spleen had exponents b > 1, suggesting that these organs increased at a faster rate than the body. The basic anatomical features of the viscera were similar to those of other pinnipeds, with some exceptions, including the arrangement of the multilobed lung and liver. Apart from the large liver and kidneys, relative size of the organs did not differ greatly from similar sized terrestrial carnivores. The histological features of the organs were generally consistent with those previously described for this species and other otariids. The heart, as in other pinnipeds, was unlike that of cetacea in not having unusually thick endocardium or prominent Purkinje cells. Notable histological features of the lungs included prominent fibrous septa, prominent smooth muscle bundles, cartilage extending to the level of the alveolar sacs and ample lymphoid tissue. The spleen had a thick capsule, well developed trabeculae and plentiful plasma cells. Abundant parietal cells were present in the fundic glands and lymphoid follicles were present in the gastric lamina propria, particularly in the pyloric region. Small intestinal villi were very long but this could have resulted from underlying chronic inflammation. Lymphoid follicles were prominent in the colon. The kidney reniculi each had a complete cortex, medulla and calyx, but a sportaperi medullaris musculosa was not identified.     

The Effect of 1-(o-Chlorophenyl)-1-(p-Chlorophenyl)-2,2-Dichloroethane(o,p′-DDD) on the Immune Response in Malnutrition

The drug o,p′-DDD diminished the body weight as well as the weights of the thymus, spleen and adrenals of rats. There was minimal fatty infiltration of the liver. In well-nourished rats o,p′-DDD produced atrophy of both the adrenal cortex and the thymolymphatic organs, but no changes could be detected in kidneys, heart and lungs. The numbers of plaque-forming cells (PFC) and rosette-forming cells (RFC) in the spleen and thymus of the o,p′-DDD treated rats were lower than the controls. The effect of o,p′-DDD was greatest on the adrenal cortex of the malnourished rats with a diminution of plasma corticosteroid concentration and less impairment of the immune response. The numbers of PFC and RFC in the spleen and thymus of the o,p′-DDD-treated malnourished rats were almost equal to that of their controls. It was interesting to observe that o,p′-DDD seemed to affect PFC more adversely than RFC. In comparison to the controls, thymocytes and spleen cells of the o,p′-DDD-treated rats responded better to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) than to pokeweed mitogen (PWM).