Effect of corticosteroids on the secretion of the serum thymic factor and on the content of mast cell affinity lymphocytes in rats

The level of thymus serum factor (TSF) was studied in the circulation of adrenalectomized rats and in the administration of corticosteroids. The effect of adrenocortical hormones on the receptor properties of thymocytes by the ability of mast cells to form mastolymphocytic rosettes (MLR) with thymocytes was also studied. The TSF content was shown to decrease to the level observed in thymectomized animals 40 h after administration of 125 mg/kg hydrocortisone. The MLR amount formed by thymocytes decreased significantly either. Adrenalectomy mas accompanied by an increase in the TSF content early after operation and at later time the MLR amount rose. Sham adrenalectomy resulted in a decrease in the TSF amount early after operation.     

Cerebrovascular disease: evaluation with transbrachial intraarterial digital subtraction angiography using a 4-F catheter

Three hundred sixty-one patients underwent intraarterial digital subtraction angiography for definite or probable occlusive vascular disease of the carotid arteries. Examinations were performed with 65-cm-long, 4-F aortic catheters. A transbrachial approach was used. Images were good or excellent in nearly all cases. No postprocedural neurologic deficits or hematomas occurred. Permanent pulse deficit occurred in two patients, and temporary deficit occurred in three patients, an improvement over the frequency found in previous transbrachial series using 6-8-F catheters. While these results establish the efficacy of this technique, they also indicate a possible greater relative safety in men than in women.     

Avian Flu – A Bird's Eye View

Influenza A (H5N1) virus infects a variety of animals, birds and humans. Present ongoing epidemic of this deadly virus in poultry livestock and humans has had major economic and health repercussions. It causes a wide spectrum of clinical features in human beings ranging from mild respiratory tract infection to a fatal pneumonia leading to multi organ system failure. Diagnosis is mainly clinical, aided by lab features like lymphopaenia and non-specific chest X-ray findings. Diagnostic tests are being evolved for rapid and specific diagnosis. Management is mainly symptomatic. Newer and effective antivirals, i.e. amantadine, zanamivir etc are also being tried.Key Words: Avian influenza, Severe acute respitatory syndrome, Influenza A     

Antidiuretic hormone—V2-receptor—aquaporin-2 system in rat kidneys during acute inflammation

Expression of antidiuretic hormone V₂-receptor, water channel protein aquaporin-2, and cytokines interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 was studied in the kidneys of rats with acute inflammation produced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide in a dose of 250 µg/100 g. Reduced expression of aquaporin-2 and V₂-receptor led to impairment of concentration capacity in the kidneys and decrease in urine osmolarity.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 11, pp. 511–516, November, 2004     

Morphological changes in immunogenesis organs in transplantation of Guerin carcinoma to the spleen

The study was made in 30 male Wistar rats (b.m. 110+/-10 g) with transplanted Guerin carcinoma to their spleen. Morphological changes in the tumour, spleen, thymus and mesenteric lymph nodes on tumour growth day 7, 10, 14, 18, 22, 25 were studied. The elaborated experimental model of tumour growth in the spleen allowed to detect tumor-specific changes in organs of immunogenesis as well as the dynamics of their development. The findings show possibility of renewal of both cellular content in the tumour-activation of proliferation, and in tissue of the spleen-blast transformation with predominance of lymphoblasts. Morphologic changes in the thymus and regional lymph nodes are different this meaning that changes in the organs of immunogenesis are not of a systemic character, their reaction to the presence of tumour in organism is not always the same and has its own features.     

Extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens in AA and ANA rats after reverse microdialysis of ethanol into the nucleus accumbens or ventral tegmental area.

Ethanol is known to increase the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. The question of whether this is a result of a direct or an indirect effect of ethanol on mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons was examined by investigating the extracellular levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the nucleus accumbens of alcohol-preferring AA (Alko Alcohol) and alcohol-avoiding ANA (Alko Non-Alcohol) rats after application of ethanol locally into either the nucleus accumbens or the ventral tegmental area with the use of reverse microdialysis. Application of ethanol (200, 400, or 800 mM in dialysate) into the nucleus accumbens, but not into the ventral tegmental area, temporarily increased the accumbal levels of dopamine in a dose-dependent manner. The ethanol-evoked increase in the level of extracellular dopamine was more prominent in AA rats than in ANA rats. Ethanol tended to suppress levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid. Because the concentrations of ethanol found to elevate the extracellular level of dopamine can hardly be considered pharmacologically relevant, the increase in accumbal dopamine levels after application of ethanol may be due to nonspecific membrane effects of ethanol. The findings support the suggestion that the increase in the extracellular level of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens after systemic administration of ethanol may involve other sites on dopamine neurons or even different neurotransmitter systems, rather than the action of ethanol at the mesolimbic dopaminergic terminals.