Carnosine is a dipeptide formed of the amino acids β-alanine and histidine. Only a limited number of studies have examined the effects of carnosine on sympathetic nerve activation and anxiety. The present study was undertaken to determine the dose-related effects of carnosine on anxiety in the elevated T-maze test (ETM) with electrodermal activity (EDA). Carnosine was injected in three groups of rats with doses of 10 (low dose), 100 (medium dose) and 1000 (high dose) mg/kg i.p. Physiological saline was injected in the sham group. The anxiety scores of the rats were measured with ETM 20 minutes after injection. Then, SCL was measured. The decreased number of entries into the open arm (NEOA), the percentage of time spent in the open arm (% TSOA) and higher EDA [shown by skin conductance level (SCL)] indicate higher anxiety. The NEOA and % TSOA were lower in the high-dose group than in the other groups. SCL was lower in the medium-dose carnosine group than in the high-dose carnosine and sham groups. SCL was higher in the high-dose group than in the medium-dose and sham groups. Our results suggest that high-dose carnosine produced anxiety-like effects as assessed in the SCL and ETM. Medium-dose carnosine acted as an anxiolytic. The anxiety-related responses of carnosine depend on its dose-related effect. and N. Dolu, H. Acer, A. Y. Kara
BACKGROUND: The method of continual determination of the rat blood cholinesterase activity was developed to study the changes of the blood cholinesterases following different intervetions. AIMS: The aim of this study is registration of cholinesterase activity in the rat blood and its changes to demonstrate detoxification capacity of rats to inactivate sarin or VX in vivo. METHODS: The groups of female rats were premedicated (ketamine and xylazine) and cannulated to a. femoralis. Continual blood sampling (0.02 ml/min) and monitoring of the circulating blood cholinesterase activity were performed. Normal activity was monitored 1-2 min and then the nerve agent was administered i.m. (2×LD50). Using different time intervals of the leg compression and relaxation following the agent injection, cholinesterase activity was monitored and according to the inhibition obtained, detoxification capacity was assessed. RESULTS: Administration of sarin to the leg, then 1 and 5 min compression and 20 min later relaxation showed that further inhibition in the blood was not observed. On the other hand, VX was able to inhibit blood cholinesterases after this intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that sarin can be naturally detoxified on the contrary to VX. Described method can be used as model for other studies dealing with changes of cholinesterases in the blood following different factors. and J. Bajgar, J. Cabal, J. Kassa, M. Pavlík
Cíl studie: Sledovat vliv opakovaných krevních odběrů a diety obohacené o železo na kostní metabolismus u samců potkanů kmene Wistar. Typ studie: Základní výzkum. Název a sídlo pracoviště: Vivárium a radioizotopové laboratoře, LF UK Hradec Králové, Ústav klinické biochemie a diagnostiky, Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové. Materiál a metody: Potkani byli po dobu 8 týdnů krmeni standardní laboratorní dietou (SLD, 27 mg Fe/kg diety) nebo dietou obohacenou o železo (FE, 400 mg Fe/kg diety). Týdně byl proveden odběr (w) 0,5 ml krve/100 g tělesné hmotnosti, celkem 8krát. Skupiny: 1. kontrolní skupina SLD; 2. kontrolní skupina FE; 3. SLD-w; 4. FE-w. V krvi byl stanoven krevní obraz, respiratorní vzplanutí (RB), v séru koncentrace prohepcidinu a železa, v játrech koncentrace železa. Z kostních ukazatelů jsme stanovili: osteokalcin (OC), N-terminální propeptid prokolagenu typu I (PINP), C-terminální telopeptid kolagenu typu I (CTx) a tartát-rezistentní kyselou fosfatázu (TRACP). Byla změřena kostní minerální hustota (BMD). Výsledky: U skupin s krevními odběry bylo vyšší spontánní RB a železo v séru, naopak došlo k poklesu sérového prohepcidinu, hemoglobinu i železa v játrech ve srovnání s SLD a FE, u FE-w bylo také vyšší stimulované RB. Hodnoty PINP (p < 0,05), CTx (p < 0,05) a TRAP (p < 0,05) vzrostly u SLD-w ve 3. týdnu a u FE-w v 1. týdnu, hodnoty OC (p < 0,05) vzrostly pouze u FE-w v 1. týdnu, poté všechny hodnoty poklesly na hodnoty SLD a FE. BMD vzrostla po odběrech v bederní a ocasní oblasti (p < 0,01). Závěr: Opakované krevní odběry a dieta obohacená o železo vedly k vyšší reaktivitě buněk makrofágového systému, k vyšší aktivitě osteoklastů, ke stimulaci osteoblastů s následným pozitivním vlivem na kvalitu kostní tkáně. Klíčová slova: odběr krve, železo, osteokalcin, N-terminální propeptid prokolagenu typu I, C-terminální telopeptid kolagenu typu I., Objective: We studied the infl uence of repeated blood withdrawals and iron enriched diet on biochemical markers of bone metabolism in male Wistar rats. Design: Basic research. Settings: Radioisotope Laboratories and Vivarium, Charles University, Medical Faculty, Hradec Kralove, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, University Hospital, Hradec Kralove. Material and Methods: Rats were fed for 8 weeks with standard laboratory diet (SLD, 27mg Fe/kg diet) or iron enriched diet (FE, 400 mg Fe/kg diet) and had blood withdrawals (w) 0.5 ml/100 g body weight, 8 times. Animals were divided into 4 groups: 1. Control group SLD; 2. Control group FE; 3. SLD-w; 4. FE-w. The following items were assessed in blood; haemoglobin concentration and respiratory burst (RB), iron stores in liver tissue. In serum were evaluated prohepcidin, iron and bone metabolism markers: osteocalcin (OC), N-terminal propeptid of procollagen I (PINP), C-terminal telopeptide of collagen I (CTx) and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured. Results: Spontaneous RB and iron in serum increased in animals with repeated blood withdrawals, but serum prohepcidin, haemoglobin concentration and iron in liver decreased vs. SLD and FE, but in FE-w animals increased stimulated RB, too. Values of PINP (p < 0.05), CTx (p < 0.05) and TRAP (p < 0.05) increased by SLD-w in 1st week and by FE-w in 3rd week, values of OC (p < 0.05) increased only by FE-w, but then all these values decreased to values of SLD and FE. BMD increased by blood withdrawals in femur (p < 0.01) and lumbar part (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Repeated blood withdrawals and iron enriched diet contributed to stimulation reactivity of scavenger cells, elevation activity of osteoclast, stimulation of osteoblast with subsequent positive effect on quality of bone tissue. Key words: blood withdrawal, iron, osteocalcin, N-terminal propeptide of procollagen I, C-terminal telopeptide of collagen I., Švejkovská K., Doubková K., Živná H., Živný P., Palička V., and Lit.: 19
Sledovali jsme vliv nedostatku železa na nástup jaterní regenerace a respiratorní vzplanutí polymorfonukleárů (RB-PMN). Wistar potkani, samci (M), samice (F) měli jeden krevní odběr v 9. týdnu, skupina samců (M-w) a skupina samic (F-w) měly devět krevních odběrů (jednou týdně). Potkani byli usmrceni v 10. týdnu 18 hodin po částečné hepatektomii (PH), 1 hodinu po aplikaci 3H-thymidinu i. v. V krvi jsme stanovili krevní obraz a respiratorní vzplanutí, v séru hepcidin, estradiol, železo, vazebnou kapacitu pro železo, obsah železa v játrech. Syntéza jaterních DNA byla vyšší u skupin M-w a F-w vs skupiny M a F (p = 0,05). Hepcidin po PH klesá u samců i samic (p = 0,001) a u skupiny F-w (p = 0,05), ale ne u skupiny M-w. Vlivem krevních odběrů bylo zvýšeno spontánní RB (p < 0,05), stimulované RB pouze u samic (p < 0,01). Stimulované RB bylo nižší u samců M-w než u M (p < 0,01). Sérové železo bylo nižší u samců než u samic. Potkani s krevními odběry měli vyšší železo a jeho saturaci než potkani bez odběrů. TIBC klesla po PH (p < 0,001), méně u skupiny M-w (p < 0,05). Jaterní zásoby železa klesly u samců, méně u samic. Samice měly větší jaterní zásoby a snáze je mobilizovaly. Hepcidin nebyl významný při tomto procesu. Předpokládáme, že hepcidin chrání aktivitu PMN u potkanů skupiny M-w., We studied the influence of iron deficiency on initiation of liver regeneration and respiratory burst of PMN (RB). Wistar rats, control males (M) and females (F) had blood withdrawal in 9th week, experimental males (M-w) and females (F-w) had nine blood withdrawals. Rats were sacrificed in 10th week 18 h after 67% hepatectomy (PH), one h after 3H-thymidin application. We determined erythrocyte and leukocyte count, RB, serum hepcidin, estradiol, iron, iron binding capacity (TIBC) and liver iron stores. Liver DNA synthesis in M-w and F-w increased versus M and F (p = 0.05). Hepcidin after PH decreased in M, F (p = 0.001) and F-w (p = 0.05), but not in M-w. Blood withdrawals increased spontaneous RB (p < 0.05), stimulated RB only at females (p < 0.01). Stimulated RB was lower in M-w then in M (p < 0.01). Serum iron was lower in males than in females. Rats with withdrawals had higher iron and iron protein saturation then rats without withdrawals. TIBC decreased after PH (p < 0.001), less at M-w (p < 0.05). Iron stores in liver decreased in M, less in F. Females had higher and easier mobilized liver iron store. Hepcidin was not important at this point. We assumed that hepcidin protects PMN activity at M-w., Helena Živná, Pavel Živný, Doris Vokurková, Vladimír Palička, and Lit.: 29
The reactivating and therapeutic efficacy of two combinations of oximes (HI‑6 + trimedoxime and HI‑6 + K203) was compared with the effectiveness of antidotal treatment involving single oxime (HI‑6, trimedoxime, K203) using in vivo methods. In vivo determined percentage of reactivation of cyclosarin‑inhibited blood and tissue acetylcholinesterase in poisoned rats showed that the reactivating efficacy of both combinations of oximes is slightly higher than the reactivating efficacy of the most effective individual oxime in blood, diaphragm as well as in brain. Moreover, both combinations of oximes were found to be slightly more efficacious in the reduction of acute lethal toxic effects in cyclosarin‑poisoned mice than the antidotal treatment involving single oxime. Based on the obtained data, we can conclude that the antidotal treatment involving chosen combinations of oximes brings a beneficial effect for its ability to counteract the acute poisoning with cyclosarin., Jiří Kassa, Jana Zdarová Karasová, Růžena Pavlíková, Filip Caisberger, Jiří Bajgar, and Literatura 36
Introduction: We studied influence of mud-bath on bone status in male Wistar rats with subchronic arthritis. Methods: Arthritis was induced by 2 subplantar injections of Freund’s adjuvans with heat-killed Streptoccocus pyogenes into paw. Groups: intact (int) on chippings; (con) arthritis on chippings; (san38) arthritis on hot sand; (mu38) arthritis on hot mud; (mu21) arthritis on mild mud. Bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and femurs were tested biomechanically. Bone markers osteocalcin (OC), PINP and CTX were analysed in bone. Results: BMD of right femur decreased vs. left in san38 (p = 0.030) and mu38 (p = 0.047). Fracture load of right/left femur (N) decreased in experimental groups, significantly in san38 (p = 0.05). Fracture threshold of neck decreased in right vs. left in experimental groups, but significantly in san38 (p = 0.05). OC decreased in mu38 vs. con (1.84 ± 0.14/2.62 ± 0.23). PINP decreased in int vs. san38 (p = 0.005) and mu21 (p < 0.001). CTX decreased in int vs. mu38 (p = 0.006) and mu21 (p = 0.005). Conclusion: The hot bath appears indifferent in relation to osteoporosis, while cold mud-bath shows good effect on bone metabolism. The cold mud-baths help to reduce arthritic inflammation and pain and thereby lead to higher mobility with positive consequence on bone., Helena Živná, Ljiljana Maric, Iveta Gradošová, Klára Švejkovská, Soňa Hubená, Pavel Živný, and Literatura 19
AIM: The ability of two newly developed oximes (K727, K733) to reduce tabun-induced acute neurotoxic signs and symptoms was evaluated and compared with currently available trimedoxime in rats. METHODS: The neuroprotective effects of the oximes studied combined with atropine on Wistar rats poisoned with tabun at a lethal dose (380 µg/kg i.m.; 90% of LD50 value) were evaluated. Tabun-induced neurotoxicity was monitored by the functional observational battery consisting of 38 measurements of sensory, motor and autonomic nervous functions at 2 hours following tabun challenge. RESULTS: All tested oximes combined with atropine enable tabun-poisoned rats to survive till the end of experiment. Both newly developed oximes (K727, K733) combined with atropine were able to decrease tabun-induced neurotoxicity in the case of lethal poisoning although they did not eliminate all tabun-induced acute neurotoxic signs and symptoms. CONCLUSION: The ability of both novel bispyridinium oximes to decrease tabun-induced acute neurotoxicity was slightly lower than that of trimedoxime. Therefore, the newly developed oximes are not suitable for the replacement of commonly used oximes such as trimedoxime in the treatment of acute tabun poisonings. and J. Kassa, J. Hatlapatková, J. Žďárová Karasová