Dietary induced increase of lactase activity in adult rats is independent of adrenals

Adult rats fed 10 days a low starch-high fat diet were either adrenalectomized or sham-operated and force-fed the same diet another 5 days; 14 h before sacrifice, some animals were force-fed a sucrose diet. Activity of lactase, sucrase and maltase was increased in adrenalectomized and sham-operated rats.     

Acute changes in dopamine metabolism in the medio-basal hypothalamus following adrenalectomy

During the first hour following adrenalectomy the alpha-MPT-induced disappearance of dopamine was increased in the arcuate nucleus compared to that in sham-operated rats. In a number of other brain regions of both adrenalectomized and sham-adrenalectomized rats only stress-induced changes were observed in catecholamine utilization. These data suggest that corticosterone selectively modulates dopamine utilization in the medio-basal hypothalamus.     

Acute changes in dopamine metabolism in the medio-basal hypothalamus following adrenalectomy

Summary During the first hour following adrenalectomy the -MPT-induced disappearance of dopamine was increased in the arcuate nucleus compared to that in sham-operated rats. In a number of other brain regions of both adrenalectomized and sham-adrenalectomized rats only stress-induced changes were observed in catecholamine utilization. These data suggest that corticosterone selectively modulates dopamine utilization in the medio-basal hypothalamus.Acknowledgment. The skilful technical assistance of Ms Joke Van Put, Ms Henny De Vos Burchart-Lodewijks and Mr Henk Spierenburg is gratefully acknowledged.     

Effect of adrenalectomy and dexamethasone treatment on the monoamine oxidase activity in the thyroid gland of the rat

Summary Adrenalectomy increased MAO activity in the thyroid gland of rats. The administration (200 g/100 g daily for 7 days) to adrenalectomized rats decreased MAO activity below levels of intact controls.     

Effect of pectin and cellulose on formation and regression of gallstones in hamsters

Summary Male Syrian hamsters were fed a lithogenic diet containing 7% cellulose or 4.2% pectin. After 50 days, pectin was 76% and cellulose 64% less lithogenic than the control diet. Hamsters fed the control diet for 50 days were maintained on that diet for another 50 days or fed diets containing cellulose or pectin. These was a 52% increase in gallstone incidence in hamsters continued on the control diet and a 9% increase in those on cellulose. Pectin promoted regression of gallstones (by 52%).Acknowledgments. This work was supported, in part, by a grant (HL-03299) and a Research Career Award (HL-00734) from the National Institutes of Health, and by funds from Mary L. Smith and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.     

Regulation of rat renal (Na(+) + K+)-adenosine triphosphatase mRNA levels by corticosterone.

We investigated the mechanisms for glucocorticoid regulation of rat renal NaK-ATPase activity. Our findings suggest that the magnitudes of corticosterone-induced increases in alpha 1 mRNA and beta 1 mRNA levels are similar in the kidney of the adult adrenalectomized rats. The results also suggest that corticosterone restores NaK-ATPase activity in adrenalectomized rats prior to any enhanced sodium delivery.     

Age-related response of citrate synthase to hydrocortisone in the liver and brain of male rats

The activity of citrate synthase of the liver and brain of rats shows a gradual increase as a function of age. Adrenalectomy causes no significant change in the activity of citrate synthase in either of these tissues in young, adult or old rats. Administration of hydrocortisone to adrenalectomized rats depresses the activity of this enzyme maximally in the liver and brain of young rats. Administration of actinomycin D tends to normalize the depressed level of this enzyme.     

Effect of pylorus ligation on gastric mucosal mast cell population in normal and adrenalectomised albino rats

Summary Pylorus ligation in normal albino rats acts like a stressor leading to degranulation of mast cells in gastric mucosa, thereby decreasing their number. This decrease is less pronounced when pylorus ligation is done in adrenalectomized rats. This implies that action of a stressor on gastric function involves the adrenal steroids which liberate the powerful gastric stimulant histamine from gastric mucosal mast cells.     

In vivo inhibition of citrate cleavage enzyme by polychlorinated biphenyls

Summary Polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254, PCB) administered in the diet (0.01%, w/v) to rats inhibited citrate cleavage enzyme. The results suggest that the decreased activity might in part account for decreased fatty acid synthesis in the livers of PCB-treated rats.This research was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (ES-00040). Aroclor 1254 was a gift of Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.     

Effect of bilateral adrenalectomy and parenteral betamethasone on gastric mucosal mast cell population in albino rats

Summary The histamine-laden mast cells gastric mucosa in albino rats are shown to degranulate on administration of Betamethasone, but they increase in number in adrenalectomized rats. It is concluded that Betamethasone, and also adrenal glucocorticoids incrase gastric secretion by liberating histamine from mast cells and histamine in turn acts on the gastric glands.     

Chromosomal abnormalities in starved and marginally malnourished rats and in utero upon rehabilitation

The effects of starvation and marginal malnutrition (MN) on the lymphocytes of rats were evaluated by chromosomal analysis before and after rehabilitation. The effect of parental starvation or malnutrition on chromosomal aberrations in the foetus was also studied. Wistar rats, 30–35 days old, were starved for 5 days or fed a minimally restricted or a severely restricted diet for three weeks. At the end of the period of starvation or malnutrition, lymphocytes were isolated and chromosomal analysis was performed. Starved and severely restricted rats showed significantly higher mean chromosomal aberrations than the controls. These aberrations returned to a normal level when the experimental groups were rehabilitated for a month, indicating that the damage was transient. A chromosomal aberration study done on foetal cells from rehabilitated rats which had previously been starved or fed a severely restricted diet showed significantly increased values, indicating that some damage was permanent. A low number of implantations was also recorded in these experimental groups. These observations clearly indicate that young animals exposed to conditions like starvation or chronic malnutrition are prone to permanent damage of the genetic system.     

Effect of bilateral adrenalectomy and parenteral betamethasone on gastric mucosal mast cell population in albino rats.

The histamine-laden mast cells of gastric mucosa in albino rats are shown to degranulate on administration of Betamethasone, but they increase in number in adrenalectomized rats. It is concluded that Betamethasone, and also adrenal glucocorticoids increase gastric secretion by liberating histamine from mast cells and histamine in turn acts on the gastric glands.     

Effect of pylorus ligation on gastric mucosal mast cell population in normal and adrenalectomised albino rats.

Pylorus ligation in normal albino rats acts like a stressor leading to degranulation of mast cells in gastric mucosa, thereby decreasing their number. This decrease is less pronounced when pylorus ligation is done in adrenalectomized rats. This implies that action of a stressor on gastric function involves the adrenal steroids which liberate the powerful gastric stimulant histamine from gastric mucosal mast cells.     

Radiostrontium-Ausscheidung im Kot junger Ratten nach calciumreicher Ernährung

Summary Young immature rats of both sexes were fed with a diet either high (1.95%) or low (0.31%) in Ca content. A s.c. injection of weightless⁹⁰Sr results in a better excretion of radiostrontium with the faeces during feeding with high Ca diet. The retention of activity in the femori 30 days after injection is, in the same case, lower than by feeding with low Ca diet.     

Dissociation of glucocorticoid effects of C-21 steroids at high concentrations in thymocytes

A dissociation between inhibition of RNA synthesis and cell lysis was observed when thymocytes of adrenalectomized rats were incubated with high concentrations of pregn-4-ene-11 beta-ol-3,20-dione and pregna-1,4-diene-11 beta-ol-3,20-dione. In contrast, no dissociation of these effects was found with the typical glucocorticoids cortisol and corticosterone, nor with their 1,4-diene analogs under the same conditions.     

Regulation of rat renal (Na++K+)-adenosine triphosphatase mRNA levels by corticosterone

We investigated the mechanisms for glucocorticoid regulation of rat renal NaK-ATPase activity. Our findings suggest that the magnitudes of corticosterone-induced increases in ₁ mRNA and ₁ mRNA levels are similar in the kidney of the adult adrenalectomized rats. The results also suggest that corticosterone restores NaK-ATPase activity in adrenalectomized rats prior to any enhanced sodium delivery.     

Ovarian stimulation by exogenous gonadotrophins in fetal ethanol-exposed immature rats

Summary Adult pregnant rats were given either an ad libitum liquid diet containing 5% ethanol, a pair fed liquid diet or an ad libitum diet of rat chow and water administered throughout pregnancy and during the nursing period. The female offspring received either pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) or PMSG followed by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) at 30 days of age. The ovaries of fetal ethanol-exposed animals responded greater to the exogeneous gonadotrophins with enhanced ovarian weights, increased numbers of ova shed, greater numbers of corpora lutea and antral follicles, and higher serum progesterone levels than in animals exposed to the control diets during gestation.     

Age-related response of citrate synthase to hydrocortisone in the liver and brain of male rats

Summary The activity of citrate synthase of the liver and brain of rats shows a gradual increase as a function of age. Adrenalectomy causes no significant change in the activity of citrate synthase in either of these tissues in young, adult or old rats. Administration of hydrocortisone to adrenalectomized rats depresses the activity of this enzyme maximally in the liver and brain of young rats. Administration of actinomycin D tends to normalize, the depressed level of this enzyme.Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to Professor M.S. Kanungo of the Department of Zoology of Banaras Hindu University for helpful advice and facilities. A part of this project was presented at the 12th International Congress of Biochemistry, Australia, 1982.     

Ovarian stimulation by exogenous gonadotrophins in fetal ethanol-exposed immature rats

Adult pregnant rats were given either an ad libitum liquid diet containing 5% ethanol, a pair fed liquid diet or an ad libitum diet of rat chow and water administered throughout pregnancy and during the nursing period. The female offspring received either pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) or PMSG followed by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) at 30 days of age. The ovaries of fetal ethanol-exposed animals responded greater to the exogenous gonadotrophins with enhanced ovarian weights, increased numbers of ova shed, greater numbers of corpora lutea and antral follicles, and higher serum progesterone levels than in animals exposed to the control diets during gestation.     

Thrombozytose und Eosinophilie bei adrenalektomierten Ratten nach einmaliger 5-Hydroxytryptamininjektion

Summary In adrenalectomized rats, the injection of a single high dose of 5-hydroxytryptamin results, as in intact animals previously reported, in a strong increase of the number of platelets in the peripheral blood. The number of eosinophils, instead of decreasing, also rises. The maxima of increase are not in temporal accordance.