Trichinella spiralis: acceleration and inhibition of cyst calcification in rats.

Daily administration of vitamin D3 (75,000 IU/kg b. wt) for 7 days accelerated Trichinella spiralis cyst calcification in rats with a 14-week-old infection. When disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) was administered (50 mg/kg b. wt) from 2 days before until 2 days after vitamin D3 treatment, cyst calcification was inhibited. Thus, the ability to inhibit E. spiralis calcification has demonstrated for the first time.     

Effect of borax on testis of Indian desert gerbil,Meriones hurriane Jerdon

Summary Borax was injected at a dose level of 250 mg/kg b. wt for 16 days (total dose 4 g/kg b.wt) s.c. to active adult male gerbils. Borax caused several degenerative changes in the testes of which giant cell formation, pyknosis and exfoliation are prominent. The increased activity of phosphatases was also noticed.The autors are grateful to University of Rajasthan for providing research scholarship to (M.P. Sharma) and (K. Mehta) and the necessary facilities.     

Stimulation of gastric secretion by prostaglandin F2 alpha in rats.

In rats with chronic gastric fistulas, prostaglandin F2 alpha stimulated the gastric acid secretion in graded doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 microgram/kg b.wt, while higher doses above 1 mg/kg b.wt tended to inhibit significantly. The gastric antisecretory effect of prostaglandin E1 could not be altered or modified by subsequent treatment of prostaglandin F2 alpha, while the latter alone without any prior treatment of the former, stimulated output of gastric juice, HCl and pepsin without significantly affecting the concentration of these components.     

Prostaglandin analogue protects pancreatic B-cells against cyclosporin A toxicity

Summary Cyclosporin A toxicity on pancreatic B-cells and its prevention by rioprostil, a prostaglandin E₁ analogue, were studied in the model of the isolated perfused pancreas of rats treated with both compounds for 8 days. At toxic doses of cyclosporin (10 and 20 mg/kg b.wt), the B-cells showed severe hydropic degeneration of the endoplasmatic reticulum and slight degranulation of the B-cells. Accordingly, the insulin secretion was markedly impaired. Administration of rioprostil ameliorated the insulin secretion significantly, but not the ultrastructural changes. At therapeutic levels of cyclosporin (5 mg/kg b.wt), the hydropic degeneration and the drop in insulin secretion were completely prevented by rioprostil. This observation might have therapeutic implications in the treatment of patients, in particular those undergoing pancreatic transplantation.     

Prostaglandin analogue protects pancreatic B-cells against cyclosporin A toxicity

Cyclosporin A toxicity on pancreatic B-cells and its prevention by rioprostil, a prostaglandin E1 analogue, were studied in the model of the isolated perfused pancreas of rats treated with both compounds for 8 days. At toxic doses of cyclosporin (10 and 20 mg/kg b.wt), the B-cells showed severe hydropic degeneration of the endoplasmatic reticulum and slight degranulation of the B-cells. Accordingly, the insulin secretion was markedly impaired. Administration of rioprostil ameliorated the insulin secretion significantly, but not the ultrastructural changes. At therapeutic levels of cyclosporin (5 mg/kg b.wt), the hydropic degeneration and the drop in insulin secretion were completely prevented by rioprostil. This observation might have therapeutic implications in the treatment of patients, in particular those undergoing pancreatic transplantation.     

Trichinella spiralis: Acceleration and inhibition of cyst calcification in rats

Summary Daily administration of vitamin D₃ (75,000 IU/kg b.wt) for 7 days acceleratedTrichinella spiralis cyst calcification in rats with a 14-week-old infection. When disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) was administered (50 mg/kg b.wt) from 2 days before until 2 days after vitamin D₃ treatment, cyst calcification was inhibited. Thus, the ability to inhibitT. spiralis calcification has been demonstrated for the first time.Supported in part by EKU faculty research grant No. 03-05.Much appreciation goes to Dr Gordon S. Hassings and the Proctor and Gamble Company, Miami Valley Laboratories, Cincinnati, Ohio USA for providing the EHDP used in this study.     

The effect of melatonin on the formation of gastric stress lesions in rats

Summary Prior melatonin administration (1,5 and 10 mg/kg b. wt) causes a significant reduction in gastric ulceration induced in male rats by restraint immobilization in the presence of low temperatures.     

Monoaminoguanidine prevents sorbitol accumulation, nonenzymatic protein glycosylation and development of kidney lesions in diabetic rats

Monoaminoguanidine administration (25 mg/kg b.wt, i.p. for 14 weeks) to alloxan diabetic rats (blood glucose greater than or equal to 250 mg/dl) decreased the nonenzymatic protein glycosylation and sorbitol levels. It prevented development of Armanni-Ebstein tubular lesions, pathological changes in the glomerular capillary tufts and glomerular basement membrane thickening in the kidney.     

Monoaminoguanidine prevents sorbitol accumulation,nonenzymatic protein glycosylation and development of kidney lesions in diabetic rats

Summary Monoaminoguanidine administration (25 mg/kg b.wt, i.p. for 14 weeks) to alloxan diabetic rats (blood glucose 250 mg/dl) decreased the nonenzymatic protein glycosylation and sorbitol levels. It prevented development of Armanni-Ebstein tubular lesions, pathological changes in the glomerular capillary tufts and glomerular basement membrane thickening in the kidney.CDRI Communication no. 4694.     

Ascorbic acid content of neotropical plant parts available to wild monkeys and bats

Summary The ascorbic acid content of foliage available to wild primates and bats in Panama (in transition between wet and dry seasons) was lower than that of temperate zone foliage but higher than that of most fruits and vegetables. Intakes of ascorbic acid (mg/kg b.wt/day) by wild primates and frugivorous bats in Panama are much greater than that of most human populations.     

Ascorbic acid content of neotropical plant parts available to wild monkeys and bats

The ascorbic acid content of foliage available to wild primates and bats in Panama (in transition between wet and dry seasons) was lower than that of temperate zone foliage but higher than that of most fruits and vegetables. Intakes of ascorbic acid (mg/kg b.wt/day) by wild primates and frugivorous bats in Panama are much greater than that of most human populations.     

Erythrocytes within pancreatic B-cells of corticosteroid-treated mice.

An ultrastructural study of the endocrine pancreas of female ICR mice that received 21 daily injections of the synthetic glucocorticoid, Triamcinolone diacetate (8 mg/kg b.wt) revealed some examples of microhaemorrhage within islets of Langerhans, extravasation of erythrocytes, and the presence of erythrocytes within B-cells, where they undergo degradation to form myelin-like configurations.     

Erthrocytes within pancreatic B-cells of corticosteroid-treated mice

Summary An ultrastructural study of the endocrine pancreas of female ICR mice that received 21 daily injections of the synthetic glucocorticoid, Triamcinolone diacetate (8 mg/kg b. wt) revealed some examples of microhaemorrhage within islets of Langerhans, extravasation of erythrocytes, and the presence of erythrocytes within B-cells, where they undergo degradation to form myelin-like configurations.     

Certain biochemical effects of garlic oil on rats maintained on high fat-high cholesterol diet

The feeding of a high fat-high cholesterol (HF-HC) diet to normal rats for 1 month increased the lipid components cholesterol and triglyceride in serum, liver and kidneys and decreased the serum albumin very significantly. Administration of garlic oil (100 mg/kg b. wt/day) for 1 month together with the HF-HC diet to another group almost nullified the lipid-increasing and albumin-decreasing effects of that diet. The reduction in total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides and the restoration to normal level of serum albumin were highly significant in the garlic oil group. Adipose tissue triglyceride lipase activity was significantly increased in both the above groups with a much greater rise in the oil group.     

Certain biochemical effects of garlic oil on rats maintained on high fat-high cholesterol diet

Summary The feeding of a high fat-high cholesterol (HF-HC) diet to normal rats for 1 month increased the lipid components cholesterol and triglyceride in serum, liver and kidneys and decreased the serum albumin very significantly. Administration of garlic oil (100 mg/kg b. wt/day) for 1 month together with the HF-HC diet to another group almost nullified the lipid-increasing and albumin-decreasing effects of that diet. The reduction in total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides and the restoration to normal level of serum albumin were highly significant in the garlic oil group. Adipose tissue triglyceride lipase activity was significantly increased in both the above groups with a much greater rise in the oil group.     

Genotoxic effects of dithane M-45 on the bone marrow cells of mice in vivo

Genotoxic effects of dithane M-45 were studied on the bone marrow cells of male albino mice (Lacca strain) in vivo. Different doses (30 mg, 40 mg and 300 mg/kg b.wt) of dithane M-45 were injected intraperitoneally and their effects were investigated after time intervals of 1, 2, 5 and 10 days. The chromosomal aberrations observed in the bone marrow cells of male mice after treatment with dithane M-45 were fragments, rings, dicentric chromosomes, terminal chromatid deletions, chromatid gaps and breaks. In addition to these chromosomal aberrations, physiological effects such as uneven stretching of chromatin material, end-to-end chromosomal associations, exchange configurations, clumping, stickiness and centromeric associations were also observed.     

Genotoxic effects of dithane M-45 on the bone marrow cells of mice in vivo

Summary Genotoxic effects of dithane M-45 were studied on the bone marrow cells of male albino mice (Lacca strain) in vivo. Different doses (30 mg, 40 mg and 300 mg/kg b.wt) of dithane M-45 were injected intraperitoneally and their effects were investigated after time intervals of 1, 2, 5 and 10 days. The chromosomal aberrations observed in the bone marrow cells of male mice after treatment with dithane M-45 were fragments, rings, dicentric chromosomes, terminal chromatid deletions, chromatid gaps and breaks. In addition to these chromosomal aberrations, physiological effects such as uneven stretching of chromatin material, end-to-end chromosomal associations, exchange configurations, clumping, stickiness and centromeric associations were also observed.     

Effect of cortisone or triiodothyronine administration to pregnant rats on lysosomal hydrolases in fetal forebrain and cerebellum

Triiodothyronine injected daily to pregnant rats for the last week of gestation (50 microgram/100 g b.wt) increased the specific activities of 5 acid glycosidases in the fetal forebrain and cerebellum. Cortisone (50 mg/100 g b.wt) administered in the same period had no effect on cerebellum acid hydrolases, but decreased their activity in the forebrain.     

Effect of the extracts from Aristolochia indica Linn. on interception in female mice.

The crude petroleum ether, chloroform and alcoholic extracts from the roots of Aristolochia indica (Linn.) showed 100% interceptive activity in mature female mice at the single dose of 100 mg/kg body wt. The follow-up studies with the chloroform extract showed the most significant effect in the basic part and two acidic fractions at the single dose levels of 50 mg/kg body wt. No toxic effect was observed at the dose levels used.     

N-ethylmaleimide antagonizes stress-induced gastric ulcers in rats

N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) 10 or 25 mg/kg b.wt, given s.c. 20 min beforehand, dose-dependently and significantly antagonizes the severity of gastric glandular ulcers produced by restraint at 4 degrees C (stress) for 2 h. These findings suggest that reduced activity of endogenous nonprotein sulfhydryl substances in gastric tissue does not worsen stress-induced ulceration in rat stomachs, unlike the deleterious effect its depletion is claimed to have on ethanol-evoked gastric mucosal damage. Thus, decreased SH activity appears not to play a role in the aetiology of mucosal ulcers due to stress.