Effects of bile acids on ventricular muscle contraction and electrophysiological properties: studies in rat papillary muscle and isolated ventricular myocytes

Summary The effects of sodium salts of various bile acids on the contractile force and the electrophysiological properties of rat ventricular muscle were studied in vitro. Primary, conjugated, and secondary bile acids were studied in a concentration range of 10^–9–10^–6 mol/l, which corresponds to concentrations found in the plasm of patients with cholestatic jaundice. In general, the bile acid induced a negative inotropic effect which was manifested as a reduction in active tension, maximum rate of tension activation, and maximum rate of tension relaxation. Twitch duration and time to peak tension were unaffected by the bile acids. The negative inotropism was associated with a reduction in ventricular action potential duration. Resting potential, action potential amplitude, and maximum upstroke velocity of phase 0 depolarization were unaffected. Voltage clamp experiments in rat ventricular myocytes demonstrated that sodium taurocholate decreased the slow inward current and slightly increased the outward potassium current. Hence, these effects on the membrane currents are probably responsible for the negative inotropic effect. Send offprint requests to O. Binah at the above address     

Modulating effects of posttraining epinephrine on memory: Involvement of the amygdala noradrenergic system

These experiments examined the effects, on retention, of posttraining intra-amygdala administration of norepinephrine (NE), and propranolol. Rats were trained on a one-trial step-through inhibitory avoidance task and tested for retention 24 h later. Injections were administered bilaterally (1.0 microliter/injection) through chronically-implanted cannulae. Low doses of NE (0.1 or 0.3 microgram) administered shortly after training enhanced retention while higher doses (1.0 or 5.0 micrograms) were ineffective. Retention was not affected by NE administered 3 h after training. The effect of intra-amygdala NE on retention is blocked by simultaneous administration of propranolol (0.2 microgram). This finding suggests that the memory-enhancing effect of NE may be mediated by beta-receptors. Posttraining intra-amygdala NE also attenuated the retention deficit produced by adrenal demedullation. Further, intra-amygdala injections of propranolol (0.2 microgram) blocked the enhancing effect, on retention, of posttraining s.c. injections of epinephrine. These findings suggest that activation of noradrenergic receptors in the amygdala may be involved in memory processing and may play a role in the memory-modulating effect of peripheral epinephrine.     

Clinical experience with the use of rhG‐CSF in secondary autoimmune neutropenia

This paper outlines the impact of granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) used as a single modality therapy in 17 patients with secondary autoimmune neutropenia (S‐AIN) who had been treated a multiple number of times previously. Fifteen of these patients had demonstrable antineutrophil antibodies and two had cellular S‐AIN with haemopoietic inhibitory T‐cells present in the marrow. Prior to treatment, all had had problems with infection. All patients responded within 7 days of commencement of treatment. Provided G‐CSF neutrophil counts were maintained above 1 × 10⁹/l, no further infections occurred. This was achievable by using G‐CSF administered as infrequently as once every 8 days. Eight of the 17 patients remained on G‐CSF, although five switched to the glycosylated form because of side‐effects. None have developed osteoporosis despite 47.29 patient years of total experience with G‐CSF. In conclusion both glycosylated and nonglycosylated G‐CSF can be used effectively in treating AIN on a long‐term basis.     

P物质抑制剂辣椒素和bFGF抗体对增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞增殖协同抑制作用的实验研究

目的：探讨P物质抑制剂-辣椒素及bFGF抗体单独或联合使用对体外培养的人体增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞增殖的影响。方法：体外培养12例增生性瘢痕组织的成纤维细胞,分别加入不同浓度的辣椒素或/和bFGF抗体,培养24h后观察细胞形态学变化,并用MTT法检测细胞增殖抑制率。结果：所有不同浓度的辣椒素（2.5,5,20,40,60,80mg/L）均能使细胞皱缩、坏死,抑制细胞增殖,其抑制作用随剂量增大而增加。中高浓度bFGF抗体（40,80mg/L）也可促使细胞皱缩、坏死,抑制细胞增殖,其抑制作用也随剂量增大而增加。辣椒素与bFGF抗体联合应用对成纤维细胞抑制作用较单独使用效果更显著（P﹤0.05）。结论：辣椒素及bFGF抗体可抑制增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞增殖,其抑制作用随浓度增加而增加,两者联合使用有协调作用,本研究结果可能在增生性瘢痕的治疗提供新的思路和手段。     

自发性高血压大鼠颈动脉血管平滑肌中抑癌基因P53和原癌基因c-jun、c-fos、c-myc mRNA表达的研究

目的探讨自发性高血压大鼠颈动脉中抑癌基因P53和原癌基因c-jun、c-fos、c-myc mRNA的表达.方法用逆转录聚合酶链式反应检测两种基因的表达水平.正常雄性大鼠作为对照组.结果 SHR颈动脉中,抑癌基因P53和原癌基因c-jun、c-fos、c-myc均有高表达,较WKY差异有显著性(P<0.05).结论自发性高血压大鼠颈动脉组织中抑癌基因P53和原癌基因c-jun、c-fos、c-myc均有高表达,癌基因的活化可能与自发性高血压大鼠颈动脉血管重构有关.     

Pharmacological properties of Ca2+-activated K+ currents of ramified murine brain macrophages

Using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique, calcium-activated potassium currents (I_K,Ca) were investigated in ramified murine brain macrophages. In order to induce I_K,Ca the intracellular concentration of nominal free Ca²⁺ was adjusted to 1μM. The Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current of brain macrophages did not show any voltage dependence at test potentials between –120 and +30mV. A tenfold change in extracellular K⁺ concentration shifted the reversal potential of I_K,Ca by 51mV. The bee venom toxin apamin applied at concentrations of up to 1μM did not affect I_K,Ca. Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ currents of ramified brain macrophages were highly sensitive to extracellularly applied charybdotoxin (CTX). The half-maximal effective concentration of CTX was calculated to be 4.3nM. In contrast to CTX, the scorpion toxin kaliotoxin did not inhibit I_K,Ca at concentrations between 1 and 50nM. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) blocked 8.0% of I_K,Ca at a concentration of 1mM, whereas 31.4% of current was blocked by 10mM TEA. Several inorganic polyvalent cations were tested at a concentration of 2mM for their ability to block I_K,Ca. La³⁺ reduced I_K,Ca by 72.8%, whereas Cd²⁺ decreased I_K,Ca by 17.4%; in contrast, Ni²⁺ did not have any effect on I_K,Ca. Ba²⁺ applied at a concentration of 1mM reduced I_K,Ca voltage-dependently at hyperpolarizing potentials. Received: 17 January / Accepted: 5 May 1997     

蜂王浆冻干粉对小鼠肿瘤的抑制作用

目的研究蜂王浆冻干粉对小鼠肿瘤的抑制作用.方法按每公斤体重0g、0.25g、0.50g、0.75g设对照及低、中、高3个剂量组,经口给予蜂王浆冻干粉30d后,接种小鼠肉瘤180(S180)和艾氏癌腹水型(EAC)两个瘤种.结果在两次重复的小鼠S180和EAC抑瘤试验中发现中剂量组瘤重明显低于阴性对照组(P<0.05),抑制率可达34%;中剂量组荷瘤小鼠平均生存时间均明显高于对照组(P<0.05).结论蜂王浆冻干粉具有抑制肿瘤的作用.     

Ontogeny of behavioral sensitization to cocaine

The ontogeny of the behavioral effects of acute cocaine administration and behavioral sensitization to cocaine in rat pups was investigated. Acute behavior stimulating effects of cocaine were observed in pups as young as 7 postnatal days (PND) old, although they needed a higher dose of cocaine than adult rats to evoke the same motor effects. An adult dose-response curve pattern of stereotypy and locomotion to acute cocaine treatment was observed at PND 21, and of rearing at PND 28. Rats aged PND 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56 received repeated injections of saline or cocaine (15 mg/kg) twice a day for 5 consecutive days. After a 3-week period of abstinence, sensitization to a challenge dose of cocaine was assessed. Cocaine-induced stereotyped behavior was enhanced significantly only in rats in which cocaine pretreatment was initiated on PND 21, 28, and 56, but not earlier on PND 7 and 14. Adult female rats given repeated cocaine injections on PND 56–60 showed significantly greater sensitization than males, but no such sex difference was observed in pups given cocaine repeatedly on PND 21–25 or 28–32. These results show clearly that cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in rats occurred only when subchronic cocaine administration was commenced on PND 21 or later.     

自发性食管破裂的诊断和外科治疗

目的:探讨自发性食管破裂的诊断和外科治疗。方法 :对 14例自发性食管破裂患者的诊断、治疗方法及治疗结果进行回顾性分析。结果:本组确诊时间 2 4 h以内者仅 2例 ,确诊时间大于 2 4 h者 12例 ;一期食管修补、带蒂胸膜覆盖术 3例 ,治愈 1例 ,治疗失败 2例 (其中 1例死亡 ,1例延期行结肠代食管术后治愈 ) ;行破裂段食管切除、胃 -食管吻合术的 5例全部治愈 ;保守治疗 6例 ,治愈及死亡各 3例。结论:早期诊断自发性食管破裂是提高疗效、降低病死率的关键。发病 2 4 h以上者 ,如全身情况允许 ,破裂段食管切除、胃 -食管吻合术的疗效较好。     

Behavioral models in mice. implication of the alpha noradrenergic system

1. The mechanism of action of drugs might change according to the test used. Several noradrenergic drugs were tested in order to understand their implication in the mobility tests.

2. It was found that clonidine, an Alpha 2 agonist, acted differently according to the tast used. It provoked sedation in spontaneous activity test, and anti-immobility effects in the other tests.

3. Tall suspension test is able to show the double acting of clonidine.

4. Idazoxan might act either as an alpha 2 antagonist or as partial alpha 2 agonist. TST shown the unexpected partial alpha agonist effect of the molecule.

5. Forced swimming test is more specific for predicting antidepressant activity than tail suspension test which is close to a spontaneous activity model.