Causes of artificially high blood glucose values in experiments with diabetic rats and mice

Unusually high blood sugar values may be caused by the slightest contamination of the blood obtained after puncture of the tail vein by diabetic urine, that has dried onto the tails of the animals. This can be avoided by collecting blood that is allowed to drip from the severed tip of the tail or by carefully cleaning the tail before puncturing the tail vein.     

Hemodynamic studies in acute venous stasis edema in rats

An increase in venous pressure in the rat tail is known to result in acute edema. Acute venous stasis edema of the rat tail was induced by applying a force-controlled banding of standard tension (200 g) proximally for a period of 6-12 h. The hemodynamic changes of acute venous stasis edema were evaluated using non-invasive plethysmography, fluorescence angiography, computer thermography and invasive radioactive microsphere techniques. It is shown here that reduction of tail circulation to 40% of the control value is followed by prolonged vascular disorder characterized by genesis of reversible edema, increased total blood flow to the tail and decreased local cutaneous blood flow, without affecting the general hemodynamics. The cutaneous circulation (decreased blood flow) seems to be principally involved in the edemogenic response, whereas the deeper vessels (hyperemia) may or may not play a determinant role in acute experimental venous stasis edema in rats.     

A simple method of obtaining multiple blood samples from the portal vein and the hepatic vein in the rat in vivo

A very simple and rapid technique for inserting a catheter in the portal vein and the hepatic vein in the anesthesized rat in vivo is described. The pointed, saline-containing PE tubing is frozen in liquid nitrogen, whereupon it is used as a 'needle' to insert the catheter into the blood vessel. Multiple blood samples can be obtained from the portal and the hepatic vein at the same time, so that in situ extraction of drugs by the liver can be measured in vivo, since hepatic blood flow is uninterrupted.     

Hemodynamic studies in acute venous stasis edema in rats

Summary An increase in venous pressure in the rat tail is known to result in acute edema. Acute venous stasis edema of the rat tail was induced by applying a force-controlled banding of standard tension (200 g) proximally for a period of 6–12 h. The hemodynamic changes of acute venous stasis edema were evaluated using non-invasive plethysmography, fluorescence angiography, computer thermography and invasive radioactive microsphere techniques. It is shown here that reduction of tail circulation to 40% of the control value is followed by prolonged vascular disorder characterized by genesis of reversible edema, increased total blood flow to the tail and decreased local cutaneous blood flow, without affecting the general hemodynamics. The cutaneous circulation (decreased blood flow) seems to be principally involved in the edemogenic response, whereas the deeper vessels (hyperemia) may or may not play a determinant role in acute experimental venous stasis edema in rats.Acknowledgment. The authors thank Mr G. Ponard for his technical assistance.     

Smooth muscle in the hepatic artery, portal vein and hepatic vein within the liver of the raccoon and guinea pig

The amount and arrangement of smooth muscle in the intrahepatic vessels suggests that the guinea pig would be a good animal model for studying mechanisms controlling intrahepatic portal vein blood flow, while the raccoon would be good for studying hepatic vein mechanisms of control.     

Smooth muscle in the hepatic artery,portal vein and hepatic vein within the liver of the raccoon and guinea pig

Summary The amount and arrangement of smooth muscle in the intrahepatic vessels suggests that the guinea pig would be a good animal model for studying mechanisms controlling intrahepatic portal vein blood flow, while the raccoon would be good for studying hepatic vein mechanisms of control.     

Eine Methode zur fortlaufenden Blutentnahme aus der Vena portae von Hunden

Summary A method is described for the introduction of a PVC.-Catheter into the portal vein of dogs. The catheter is introduced into one of the mesenteric veins of the ileum and pushed through the vena mesenterica communis until the portal vein is reached. The catheter, the end of which is fixed to the skin on the outside, can be removed without any injury to the animal by just drawing it out through the skin. The method can be applied for taking blood at various intervals during experiments on absorption, measurement of blood pressure in the portal vein and its branches, for the injection of substances directly into the liver, etc., on unanaesthetized animals.     

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine in the venous blood of adrenal gland of man: a comparison with levels in the periphery of the circulation.

In 10 human subjects plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity was found in the adrenal vein blood to be as high as in the periphery of the circulation. Adrenaline concentration in the adrenal vein blood was in the mean 170 times, noradrenaline concentration 11 times and dopamine concentration little higher than levels in the periphery.     

Dopamine-β-hydroxylase,adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine in the venous blood of adrenal gland of man: A comparison with levels in the periphery of the circulation

Summary In 10 human subjects plasma dopamine--hydroxylase activity was found in the adrenal vein blood to be as high as in the periphery of the circulation. Adrenaline concentration in the adrenal vein blood was in the mean 170 times, noradrenaline concentration 11 times and dopamine concentration little higher than levels in the periphery.This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Au sujet de la mesure des modifications de l'adrénalino-sécrétion

Summary A method is described that allows blood samples to be taken repeatedly from the suprarenal vein, without changing the circulation in the adrenal glands or eliciting reflexes which could interfere with the adrenalin secretion. The vasoconstrictor properties of the blood samples are tested on an isolated blood vessel preparation.     

Technik der Kanülierung des Confluens sinuum beim Kaninchen für Versuche mit partiellem extrakorporellem Kreislauf

Summary Since an adequate venous blood outflow from the internal jugular vein is not available in the rabbit, a method for venous blood outflow from the Confluens sinuum was developed. It appeared to be useful in experiments with partial extracorporal circulation and for partial oxygenation of the blood circulation during haemodialysis.     

The effect of urethane and pentobarbital anaesthesia and hepatic portal vein catheterization on liver blood flow in the rat

Summary The effect of urethane and pentobarbital anaesthesia and hepatic portal vein catheterization on liver blood flow was investigated in the rat. Liver blood flow with pentobarbital anaesthesia was 40% greater than with urethane. Hepatic portal vein catheterization had no effect under pentobarbital anaesthesia whereas it produced an 18% fall in liver blood flow with urethane.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grants from ICI Pharmaceuticals and Mersey Regional Health Authority (Research Scheme No. 338). We wish to thank Mr P.J. Roberts for much skilled assistance and Evans Medical Ltd for the kind gift of drugs.     

A simple method of cannulating the portal vein and obtaining multiple blood samples in the rat

Summary A simple and rapid technique for cannulating the portal vein in the rat is described. Multiple blood samples can be obtained or alternatively substrate may be infused through the cannula.Supported by the Clayton Foundation for Research, Houston, Texas. Common resource support was also provided by the Research Service of the Veterans Administration. To whom reprint requests should be addressed as follows.     

Water movement between myocardial tissue and capillary blood during and after coronary reactive hyperemia as studied by continuous measurement of colloid osmotic pressure of cardiac venous blood

Summary Colloid osmotic pressure (COP) of blood from the great cardiac vein was continuously measured by the use of a membrane colloid osmometer during reactive hyperemia resulting from temporary occlusion of the anterior descending branch of left coronary artery. The COP increased sharply but transiently after the release, then it decreased below the initial level and gradually recovered. It was concluded that a measurable amount of water moved from the capillary blood into the myocardial tissue and then flowed back slowly into the capillary blood.     

Reversal of human ophthalmic vein blood flow : selective cooling of the brain]

Direction of blood flow in angularis oculi veins was recorded in humans. In mild hypothermia, blood flow was weak and directed from brain to face. In hyperthermia, however, blood flowed rapidly in the opposite direction, angularis oculi vein collecting cool facial blood and supplying cavernous sinus. Therefore selective cooling of human brain is possible.     

Neural discharge can be modulated by carotid arterial injection of gastrin-17 in rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

Neural discharge in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was examined after gastrin-17 injection into the carotid artery in anesthetized rats. Neural discharge was increased by gastrin-17 injection into the carotid artery close to the cranium, and the response due to the gastrin was dose-dependent. No discharge response was seen when gastrin was injected into the jugular vein. These results suggest that gastrin circulating in the arterial blood can penetrate the blood brain barrier, and modulate neural PVN activity which is responsible for gastric acid secretion.     

Rhythms of enzymatic activity in maternal and umbilical cord blood

The 24-h activity patterns of variouns enzymes were determined in human serum, red blood cells and white blood cells of maternal and umbilical cord blood. Blood was drawn from the brachial vein of mothers and from the umbilical cord within ten minutes after delivery. Corresponding blood specimens were obtained from 83 spontaneous labors, occurring at different hours over a period of 60 days. For each variable (variable=activity of a specific enzyme in one of the blood components) the results were grouped according to delivery hour, forming a 24-h pattern which was analyzed to elucidate time dependency. Five out of six corresponding maternal and fetal variables were similar with regard to pattern and peak time. The activity rhythms of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glucose phosphate isomerase in red blood cells of mothers and fetuses possessed a significant bimodal pattern. The activity rhythms of the latter enzyme in white blood cells and sera exhibited a significant 24-h period. Hexosaminidase activity exhibited a distinct 24-h rhythm in maternal white blood cells, but no significant rhythm could be detected in the fetal white blood cells. The activity of hexosaminidase showed, identical 24-h patterns in maternal and cord serum when analyzed by best fit cosine, and no significant time-dependency when analyzed by ANOVA.     

Rhythms of enzymatic activity in maternal and umbilical cord blood.

The 24-h activity patterns of various enzymes were determined in human serum, red blood cells and white blood cells of maternal and umbilical cord blood. Blood was drawn from the brachial vein of mothers and from the umbilical cord within ten minutes after delivery. Corresponding blood specimens were obtained from 83 spontaneous labors, occurring at different hours over a period of 60 days. For each variable (variable = activity of a specific enzyme in one of the blood components) the results were grouped according to delivery hour, forming a 24-h pattern which was analyzed to elucidate time dependency. Five out of six corresponding maternal and fetal variables were similar with regard to pattern and peak time. The activity rhythms of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glucose phosphate isomerase in red blood cells of mothers and fetuses possessed a significant bimodal pattern. The activity rhythms of the latter enzyme in white blood cells and sera exhibited a significant 24-h period. Hexosaminidase activity exhibited a distinct 24-h rhythm in maternal white blood cells, but no significant rhythm could be detected in the fetal white blood cells. The activity of hexosaminidase showed, identical 24-h patterns in maternal and cord serum when analyzed by best fit cosine, and no significant time-dependency when analyzed by ANOVA.     

Endotoxin-induced acceleration of ovum transport in rabbits.

Salmonella enteritidis-Boivin endotoxin (1--20 microgram/kg) induced accelerated oviductal ovum transport in rabbits in a dose-related manner. Indomethacin prevented this effect. Levels of prostaglandin E and F in uterine vein blood increased following endotoxin injection.     

Branchial vascularization in the eel: action of acetylcholine and adrenaline on the distribution of polymerizable resin in the different vascular compartments]

The current findings from gill vascular cast preparations in the eel emphasize the division in each primary lamella of the afferent vasculature into two efferent pathways: an arterial pathway (via the secondary lamellae and the efferent branchial artery to the dorsal aorta), a venous pathway (via the central lamellar compartment and the branchial vein to the sinus venosus). By the same technique two antagonist mechanisms have been shown presumably controlling the blood flow in both pathways. 1. Acetylcholine increases the filling of the central lamellar compartment by constricting the efferent arterial sphincters and therefore increases the venous return. 2. Epinephrine impairs the filling of the central lamellar compartment (by acting on alpha receptors) and dilates the arterial pathway (by acting on beta receptors). Therefore the stimulation of these two synergic receptors by epinephrine increases the systemic blood flow.