Diabetic heart is suggested to exhibit either increased or decreased resistance to ischemic injury. Ischemic preconditioning suppresses arrhythmias in the normal heart, whereas relatively little is known about its effects in the diseased myocardium. Our objective was to investigate whether development of diabetes mellitus modifies the susceptibility to ischemia-induced arrhythmias and affects preconditioning in the rat heart. Following 1 and 9 weeks of streptozotocin-induced (45 mg/kg, i.v.) diabetes, the hearts were Langendorff-perfused at constant pressure of 70 mm Hg and subjected to test ischemia induced by 30 min occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Preconditioning consisted of one cycle of 5 min ischemia and 10 min reperfusion, prior to test ischemia. Susceptibility to ischemia-induced arrhythmias was lower in 1-week diabetics: only 42 % of diabetic hearts exhibited ventricular tachycardia (VT) and 16 % had short episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) as compared to VT 100 % and VF 70 % (including sustained VF 36 %) in the non-diabetics (P<0.05). Development of the disease was associated with an increased incidence of VT (VT 92 %, not significantly different from non-diabetics) and longer total duration of VT and VF at 9-weeks, as compared to 1-week diabetics. Preconditioning effectively suppressed arrhythmias in the normal hearts (VT 33 %, VF 0 %). However, it did not provide any additional antiarrhythmic protection in the acute diabetes. On the other hand, in the preconditioned 9-weeks diabetic hearts, the incidence of arrhythmias tended to decrease (VT 50 %, transient VF 10 %) and their severity was reduced. Diabetic rat hearts are thus less susceptible to ischemia-induced arrhythmias in the acute phase of the disease. Development of diabetes attenuates increased ischemic tolerance, however, diabetic hearts in the chronic phase can benefit more from ischem preconditioning, due to its persisting influence., T. Ravingerová, R. Štetka, D. Pancza, O. Uličná, A. Ziegelhöffer, J. Styk., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Chronic volume overload (VO) on the left ventricle (LV) augments redox stress and activates matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) which causes the endocardial endothelial-myocyte (EM) disconnection leading to myocardial contractile dysfunction. VO-induced MMP-9 activation impairs cardiac functions, in part by endothelial endocardial apoptosis, but the role of MMP-9 on EM functions remains obscure. We conjecture that chronic VO activates MMP-9 and causes EM uncoupling. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was created in genetically identical wild type (WT) mice (FVB/NJ) and MMP-9 knockout mice (MMP-9KO, FVB.Cg-MMP9tm1Tvu/J). Sham-operated mice were used as controls. Before experimentation the phenotype analysis of MMP-9KO mice was carried out. In-gel-gelatin zymography for MMP-9 activation was performed on LV homogenates. The EM functions were determined on LV rings using tissue myobath. We report a decrease in MMP-9 activity in left ventricular myocardial extracts in MMP-9 deficient mice after AVF. The responses to drugs affecting cardiac functions (acetylcholine (Ach), nitroprusside and bradykinin) were attenuated in AVF mice suggesting the impairment of EM coupling. Interestingly, the EM functions were restored in the MMP-9 deficient mice after AVF. We suggest a direct cause-and-effect relationship between MMP-9 activation and EM uncoupling in LV myocardium after chronic VO and the possible involvement of MMP-9 in myocardial contractile performance., K. S. Moshal, W. E. Rodriguez, U. Sen, S. C. Tyagi., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The relationship between hippocampal function and aging was explored in Wistar rats using taste aversion learning by comparing the performance of adult dorsal hippocampal lesioned and fifteen-month-old intact rats with that of adult intact rats. In experiment 1 the conditioned blocking phenomenon was absent in the hippocampal and the aging rats. Unlike the adult intact rats, the hippocampal and aging rats were not impaired in acquiring a learned aversion to a cider vinegar solution (3 %) presented as a serial compound with a previously conditioned saccharin solution (0.1 %). In experiment 2 both the hippocampal and the aging rats developed reduced aversions to a saline solution (0.5 %) followed by an i.p. injection of lithium chloride (0.15 M; 2 % b.w.) if the taste solution was previously preexposed without consequences. This latent inhibition effect was similar to that seen in intact adult rats. In both experiments, the aging rats exhibited enhanced conventional learned taste aversions. It is concluded that aging is not a unitary process but induces both hippocampal dependent and hippocampal independent complex changes in the functioning of the neural circuits, implementing taste aversion learning., I. Moron, M.A. Ballesteros, A. Candido, M. Gallo., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Whole blood surface tension of 15 healthy subjects recorded by the ring method was investigated in the temperature range from 20 to 40 °C. The surface tension σ as a function of temperature t (°C) is described by an equation of linear regression as σ(t) = (-0.473 t + 70.105) × 10-3 N/m. Blood serum surface tension in the range from 20 to 40 °C is described by linear regression equation σ(t) = (-0.368 t + 66.072) × 10-3 N/m and linear regression function of blood sediment surface tension is σ(t) = (-0.423 t + 67.223) ×10-3 N/m., J. Rosina, E. Kvašňák, D. Šuta, H. Kolářová, J. Málek, L. Krajči., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Glucose tolerance, serum insulin, insulin receptors in epididymal fat tissue, circulating total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations as well as serum prolactin were studied in obese and lean spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of both sexes. Obese animals displayed insulin resistance and elevated insulin and triglyceride concentrations. Moreover, in obese rats the increased mass of epididymal fat tissue was accompanied with decreased capacity of high affinity binding sites of insulin receptors in the tissue plasma membranes. Terguride treatment lowered prolactin serum levels which was accompanied by ameliorated insulin sensitivity in obese animals of both sexes. In addition, terguride treatment decreased serum insulin and triglyceride concentrations in obese females and at the same time enhanced the affinity of high affinity insulin binding sites. Our results show that obesity in SHR is associated with a decreased capacity of insulin receptors and that prolactin may play a role in obesity-induced insulin resistance, particularly in female rats., V. Golda +, M. Ficková, L. Pinterová, J. Jurčovičová, L. Macho, Š. Zórad., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impairment in social communication and presence of stereotyped/restricted behaviors. Children with ASD very often demonstrate co-morbid psychiatric problems, problems known to be affected by testosterone in neurotypical populations. However, there are few reports investigating relationships between testosterone and psychiatric conditions in children with ASD. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between plasmatic levels of testosterone and behavioral/emotional problems in pre-pubertal boys with ASD. The study sample consisted of 31 pre-pubertal boys (ages 3-10) with ASD. Parents completed the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form (NCBRF) to assess specific behavioral/emotional problems as observed in the previous 2 months. Plasmatic testosterone levels were determined in boys according to standardized procedures. It was found that there were positive correlations between testosterone levels and the conduct problems subscale (p=0.034, rs=0.382) of NCBRF and also between testosterone levels and the hyperactive subscale (p=0.025, rs=0.402) of NCBRF. Findings in this study are in line with research conducted in the neurotypical population. This is the first large study investigating testosterone and emotional/behavioral problems in ASD and warrants further research in this field in order to clarify the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric co-morbidities and improve their treatment., A. Pivovarciova, J. Durdiakova, S. Hnilicova, D. Filcikova, D. Ostatnikova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) represents a frequent and irreversible cause of long-term renal graft loss. TGF- β 1 is a key profibrogenic cytokine associated with CAN pathogenesis. Because of clinical diagnostic inaccuracy, protocol biopsy has been suggested to be a beneficial method for early CAN detection. Protocol core biopsy was carried out in 67 consecutive cyclosporine-based immunosuppression-treated kidney transplant recipients with stable renal function 12 months after renal transplantation. Biopsy specimens were analyzed morphologically according to Banff-97' criteria and immunohistologically for TGF- β 1 staining. The data obtained were correlated with plasma TGF- β 1 levels and clinical data. CAN (grade I-III) was found in 51 patients (76 %). CAN grade I was found to be the most frequent one (44 %). A normal finding within the graft was made in only 12 patients (18 %). Clinically silent acute rejection Banff IA was present in 4 patients (6 %). In 8 patients (12 %) with CAN, borderline changes were present. We found a significant correlation between CAN grade and creatinine clearance, as measured by the Cockroft-Gault formula (p<0.01) as well as body mass index (p<0.01). There was a significant correlation between chronic vasculopathy (Banff cv) and creatinine clearance, and between the degree of TGF- β 1 staining and chronic vasculopathy (p<0.01). There were no relations between morphological findings and TGF- β 1 plasma levels, cyclosporine levels, plasma lipids, HLA- mismatches, panel reactive antibodies (PRA), proteinuria, and the donor's age. In conclusion, CAN is a frequent finding in protocol kidney graft biopsies 12 months after transplantation. TGF- β 1 tissue expression is linked with chronic vasculopathy., O. Viklický, I. Matl, L. Voska, R. Böhmová, M. Jarešová, J. Lácha, A. Lodererová, I. Stříž, V. Teplan, Š. Vítko., and Obsahuje bibliografii