Immune-mediated glomerulonephritis induced by mercuric chloride in mice

Summary The BALB/c mouse developed mesangial deposits of immune constituents and light microscopical changes characteristic of immune complex glomerulonephritis after 8 weeks' treatment with mercuric chloride given by s.c. injection. There were no signs of linear of granular immune deposits along the glomerular capillary basement membrane after 2 or 8 weeks. The antigen could not be identified. No antibodies to nuclear or renal structures were found. Using a histochemical method (silver amplification) mercury was detected by light and electron microscopy in tubular and glomerular structures. Mercury was present in secondary lysosomes of the mesangial cells after eight weeks of mercury poisoning.We are deeply indebted to Dr. Gorm Danscher, Institute of Anatomy, B., University of Aarhus, Denmark, for valuable discussions and technical advice. This work was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council, project no 6536.     

Early investigations on the effect of methyl mercuric chloride upon DMN-acute hepatotoxicity

Summary Acute toxicity induced by DMN was partially prevented by previously administering methyl mercuric chloride (MMC), a chemical inhibitor of the drug metabolizing enzyme system (DMES). We have studied the early changes occurring during the course of DMN-intoxication, namely disaggregation of polysomal profiles and necrosis, evaluated morphologically and by the release of S-GPT.This work was supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, Italy.     

Protection against cocarcinogenesis by antioxidants

Zusammenfassung Natrium-Selenid und andere Antioxydantien können die Entstehung von Tumoren hemmen. Die Wirkung kommt möglicherweise zustande über eine Hemmung der Bildung von Co-Carcinogenen.     

Protection of rat gastric mucosa against ethanol injury by the new synthetic prostaglandin MDL 646

Summary Oral administration to fasted rats of absolute ethanol produces extensive necrotic lesions of gastric mucosa as well as a massive leakage of proteins and mucus glycoproteins into gastric lumen. When the new synthetic prostaglandin MDL 646, belonging to the PGE₁ series, is administered intragastrically (2 or 10 g/kg) 30 min before ethanol administration, a significant protection of rat gastric mucosa against alcohol injury is observed.This work was supported in part by a contribution from Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione (MPI), Rome, Italy.     

Protection of rat gastric mucosa against ethanol injury by the new synthetic prostaglandin MDL 646

Oral administration to fasted rats of absolute ethanol produces extensive necrotic lesions of gastric mucosa as well as a massive leakage of proteins and mucus glycoproteins into gastric lumen. When the new synthetic prostaglandin MDL 646, belonging to the PGE1 series, is administered intragastrically (2 or 10 micrograms/kg) 30 min before ethanol administration, a significant protection of rat gastric mucosa against alcohol injury is observed.     

Cataract induced by administration of a single dose of sodium selenite to suckling rats

Summary A single dose of sodium selenite to male suckling rats causes permanent or intermittent cataracts. The resistance to the lethal effect of selenite in suckling rats is significantly higher in comparison with adult animals.     

Renal tubular transport of sodium during sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate loadings in the normal dog

Résumé La réabsorption tubulaire des ions sodium, chlore et bicarbonate a été étudiée au cours de perfusions de NaCl et de NaHCO₃ chez le chien normal. 61 expériences, comportant un ensemble de 295 récoltes urinaires, ont été pratiquées sur 21 animaux.A filtration constante, la réabsorption du sodium exprimée enmM/l de filtrat glomérulaire demeure constante lorsque la natrémie est accrue par l'infusion de NaHCO₃. Elle est, au contraire, une fonction linéaire de la natrémie lorsque celle-ci est élevée par des perfusions de NaCl.Dans le premier cas, la réabsorption du sodium s'effectue par un double mécanisme: l'un, lié à la réabsorption du bicarbonate, est fixé par un Tm constant, l'autre, lié à la réabsorption du chlore, dépend de la chlorémie. Lorsque la natrémie est accrue par l'infusion de NaCl, le second mécanisme l'emporte nettement sur le premier. Il apparaît alors une relation évidente entre la natrémie (ou la chlorémie) et la quantité de sodium (ou de chlore) réabsorbée par les tubes rénaux.     

Protection by antioxidants against ozone toxicity in mice

Zusammenfassung 16 Antioxidantien wurden auf ihre Schutzwirkung gegen Ozontoxizität in Mäusen geprüft. AHQ, Primaquin und EMQ waren hochwirksam, BHA, NDGA und Ascarbinsäure mässig wirksam, und die übrigen zeigten keinen nennenswerten Effekt.

---

---

We thank Dr. D.Coffin for his advice and for the gift of the exposure chambers. This work was supported by N.I.H. Grants No. C-6516 and No. FR-05526 (to the Children's Cancer Research Foundation, Inc.) and has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an MS thesis at the North Eastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (by L.Pagnotto).     

Protection by cerium chloride on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity

Summary Pretreatment of rats with cerium chloride, an inhibitor of the DMES, protects against CCl₄ intoxication. The protection was obtained against the fatty infiltration in the liver, the decrease of triglyceride secretion from the liver into the plasma compartment, the polysomal disaggregation and the rise of serum transaminases.     

Water and sodium chloride intake following microinjection of carbachol into the septal area of the rat brain

Resumen La inyección intraseptal de carbacol en ratas determinó la ingestión de agua. Este efecto, como asi tambien el provocado por 18 h de privación de liquidos, fué bloqueado por atropina. Estos resultados apoyan la hipótesis de que el mecanismo de la ingestión de liquidos en el área septal comprende neuronas colinérgicas.     

Protection by cerium chloride on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.

Pretreatment of rats with cerium chloride, an inhibitor of the DMES, protect against CCl4 intoxication. The protection was obtained against the fatty infiltration in the liver, the decrease of triglyceride secretion from the liver into the plasma compartment, the polysomal disaggregation and the rise of serum transaminases.     

Protection ofVicia faba equina against X-rays by serotonin

Résumé LaVicia faba se prête bien, non seulement au dosage biologique des rayons X, mais également à des expériences sur la radioprotection. Avec le test utilisé lors de ces expériences, il a été possible de démontrer l'effet protecteur non seulement de la cystéamine, mais aussi celui de la sérotonine.

---

---

The research reported in this document has been made possible through the support and sponsorship of the US Department of Army, through its European Research Office. Contract number (DA-91-591-EUC-2696).     

Effect of sodium chloride on the respiratory function ofStaphylococcus aureus

Summary Sodium chloride at concentrations below 0.5 M, enhanced the respiratory activity (O₂-consumption) ofStaphylococcus aureus under endogenous and sugar-supported conditions, but did not overcome the inhibitory action of sodium azide. Several sugars, including the glucose analoguea-methylglucoside, and their metabolites enhanced bacterial O₂-consumption, but acetylmethylcarbinol was ineffective.     

Streptozotocin induced diabetic nephropathy and renal tumors in the rat

Summary Adult Wistar rats rendered diabetic by a single dose of streptozotocin develop renal morphological changes which show subtle differences compared to those seen in human diabetic renal disease. The early tubular degeneration is sited in the distal rather than the proximal convoluted tubule and subsequent glomerular lesion shows linear deposits of IgG and albumin in the basement membrane rather than in the mesangium. The carcinogenicity of streptozotocin in the rat is reconfirmed.Acknowledgements. We wish to thank Mr S.G. Watkins and Mrs D. Greening for technical assistance.