The aims of our study were to investigate into the effect of lithium on smooth muscle contraction and phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC20) by MLCK and to find out the clue of its mechanism. Isolated rabbit duodenum smooth muscle strips were used to study the effects of lithium on their contractile activity under the condition of Krebs’ solution by means of HW-400S constant temperature smooth muscle trough. Myosin and MLCK were purified from the chicken gizzard smooth muscle. Myosin phosphorylation was determined by Glycerol-PAGE, myosin Mg2+-ATPase activity was measured by Pi liberation method. Lithium (10-40 mM) inhibited the contraction in duodenum in a dose-related and time-dependent manner. Lithium could also inhibit the extent of myosin phosphorylation in a dose-related and time-dependent manner, whereas it inhibited Mg2+-ATPase activity in a dose-rel ated manner. Lithium inhibited smooth muscle contraction by inhibition of myosin phosphorylation and Mg2+-ATPase activity., Z. Y. Tang, Z. N. Liu, L. Fu, D. P. Chen, Q. D. Ai, Y. Lin., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term stay of Japanese quail in simulated microgravity on some sexual features of males. As a model for simulating microgravity exposure of birds in laboratory conditions was used hypodynamia. The mean left testis weight in males reared under hypodynamia from day 3 up to 180 days of age was lower than that of control (P<0.05), but the right testis weight differences between both groups were not significant. Also the area, volume and foam production of cloacal gland was not significantly decreased in hypodynamia birds at the end of experiment. By contrast, the plasma testosterone concentration of males living in hypodynamia was reduced about 50 % at 90 and 180 days of age in comparison to control (P<0.05) suggesting some negative effects on sexual development. Our results demonstrated that male quail kept under simulated microgravity conditions were sexually competent although their sexual efficiency was reduced especially in terms of plasma testosterone., P. Škrobánek ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
We studied the effect of losartan on baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) of adult Wistar rats during acute and chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis by NG -nitro-Larginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Chronic L-NAME administration (50 mg/kg per day for 7 days, orally through gavage) increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate but significantly decreased BRS. In addition, a significant fall of standard deviation of normal RR intervals, total spectral power, high frequency spectral power and a rise of low frequency to high frequency (LF: HF) ratio was seen. Acute L-NAME administration (30 mg/kg, i.v. bolus dose) also raised MAP and impaired HRV but it was associated with augmented BRS for bradycardia reflex. Losartan treatment (10 mg/kg, i.v.) in both acute and chronic L-NAME treated rats, decreased MAP but the difference was not significant. On the other hand, losartan administration normalized depressed BRS for bradycardia reflex and significantly reduced LF to HF ratio in chronic L-NAME treated rats. But this improvement was not observed in acute L-NAME group. These results indicate importance of mechanisms other than renin-angiotensin system in the pressor response of both acute as well as chronic L-NAME. However, autonomic dysregulation especially following chronic L-NAME appears to be partly angiotensin dependent., M. Chaswal ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Obesity in T1DM patients is associated with the components of metabolic syndrome. The influence of controlled fasting and low calorie diet (LCD) on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism was studied in 14 obese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) (42.6±9.4 years, BMI 32.4±2.1 kg m−2). Insulin sensitivity in obese T1DM patients was measured using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp before fasting, immediately after 7 days of fasting, and after 21 days of LCD. Glucose oxidation and non-oxidative glucose disposal were measured before and during the clamp by indirect calorimetry. In the control group of 13 of non-obese T1DM patients (36.9±13.9 years, BMI 22.6±2.1 kg m−2), only one hyperinsulinemiceuglycemic clamp was performed. Obese T1DM patients lost 6.1±1.1 kg after fasting and maintained reduction in body weight after 21 days of LCD. Fasting transiently reduced insulinmediated glucose disposal in the clamp (from 9.69±1.48 to 6.78±1.21 mg min−1 kg−1, P<0.001). This was caused by reduced glucose oxidation after the fasting period (from 2.81±0.52 to 0.88±0.98 mg min−1 kg−1, P<0.001). We conclude that one week of fasting transiently decreased insulin-mediated glucose disposal in T1DM patients. This was caused by reduced glucose oxidation., F. Musil, ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The aim of this study was to inve stigate the effect of prenatal methamphetamine (MA) exposure and application of the same drug in adulthood on cognitive functions of adult female rats. Animals were prenatally exposed to MA (5 mg/kg) or saline (control group). The cognitive function was tested as ability of spatial learning in the Morris Water Maze (MWM). Each day of the experiment animals received an injection of MA (1 mg/kg) or saline. Our results demonstrated that prenatal MA exposure did not affect the latency to reach the hidden platform or the distance traveled during the Place Navigation Test; however, the speed of swimming was increased in prenatally MA-exposed rats compared to controls regardless of the treatment in adulthood. MA treatment in adulthood increased the latency and distance when compared to controls regardless of the prenatal exposure. Neither prenatal exposure, nor tr eatment in adulthood affected memory retrieval. As far as the estrous cycle is concerned, our results showed that prenatally MA-exposed females in proestrus/estrus swam faster than females in diestrus. This effect of estrous cycle was not apparent in control females. In conclusion, our results indicate that postnatal, but not prenatal exposure to MA affects learning of adult female rats., E. Macúchová, K. Nohejlová-Deykun, R. Šlamberová., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
a1_The day-night variation of food intake and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was studied in the duodenum of rats neonatally treated with monosodium glutamate (MSG) and saline-treated (control) rats. The animals were kept under light-dark conditions (light phase from 09:00 h to 21:00 h) with free access to food. AP activity was cytophotometrically analyzed in the brush-border of enterocytes separated from the tip, middle and cryptal part of the villi every 6 h over a 24-hour period. In comparison with the controls, MSG-treated rats consumed about 40 % less food during the dark period and their 24-hour food intake was thus significantly lowered (P<0.001). On the other hand, the nocturnal feeding habit showed a similar pattern: food consumption was high during the night (65 % vs. 75 %) and the lowest consumption was found during the light phase (35 % vs. 25 %) in MSG-treated and control rats, respectively. In agreement with the rhythm of food intake, the highest AP activity was observed during the dark phase and was lowest during the light phase in both groups of animals. These significant day-night variations showed nearly the same pattern in the enterocytes of all observed parts along the villus axis. In comparison with the controls, a permanent increase of AP activity was observed in neonatal MSG-treated rats. This increase was more expressive during the dark phase of the day in the cryptal (P<0.001) and middle part of the villus (P<0.01). From the viewpoint of feeding, this enzyme in MSG-treated rats was enhanced in an inverse relation to the amount of food eaten i.e. despite sustained hypophagia the mean AP activity in the enterocytes along the villus axis was higher than in the control animals during all investigated periods., a2_The present results suggest that the increased AP activity in MSG-treated rats is probably not a consequence of actual day-night eating perturbations but could be a component of a more general effect of MSG. This information contributes to better understanding of the function of intestinal AP and its relation to day-night feeding changes especially in connection with the MSG syndrome., A. Martinková, Ľ. Lenhardt, Š. Mozeš., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The present investigation was directed to study the effect of in vitro or ex vivo NO donors, sodium nitroprusside and molsidomine, using isolated sliced adipose tissue or in the form of immobilized and perfused adipocytes on the basal and isoprenaline-stimulated lipolysis. The results demonstrated that 1) in vitro application of sodium nitroprusside to perfused adipocytes or molsidomine to sliced adipose tissues affects isoprenaline-induced lipolysis in two ways, an increase in lipolysis at low isoprenaline concentrations (which means the sensitization of adipose tissues to adrenergic effect by NO) and decreased adrenergic agonist-stimulated lipolysis at higher concentration of isoprenaline (a decrease in the maximum lipolytic effect of isoprenaline), 2) low concentrations of molsidomine alone induced lipolysis from adipose tissue which attained more than 60 % of that by isoprenaline (pD2 value for molsidomine = 11.2, while pD2 for isoprenaline = 8.17) while sodium nitroprusside did not affect the basal lipolysis significantly, 3) in vivo administration of molsidomine for 2 days reduced the maximum lipolytic effect of isoprenaline and (only non-significantly) increased the sensitivity to low doses of isoprenaline. In conclusion the present data demonstrate that NO plays an important role in adrenergic lipolysis in adipose tissues and further investigations are needed to unravel the exact role of NO in lipolysis., D. Lincová, D. Mišeková, E. Kmoníčková, N. Canová, H. Farghali., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Thiazolidinediones are insulin-sensitizing drugs acting through peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor (PPAR)-γ. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of 5-month treatment with PPAR-γ agonist – rosiglitazone (4 mg/day), on the circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction and to evaluate the role of changes in endocrine function of adipose tissue in this process. Biochemical and metabolic parameters, circulating adiponectin, resistin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, PAI-1, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) concentrations were assessed in 10 women with type 2 DM before and after rosiglitazone treatment and in a control group of healthy women. At baseline, diabetic group had significantly higher serum concentrations of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, V-CAM and PAI-1 compared to control group. Adiponectin levels tended to be lower in diabetic group, while resistin concentrations did not differ from control group. Rosiglitazone treatment improved diabetes compensation, significantly reduced VCAM-1, PAI-1 and E-selectin concentrations and increased adiponectin levels, while it did not affect serum resistin concentrations. Adiponectin concentrations at baseline were inversely related to E-selectin and MPO levels, this correlation disappeared after rosiglitazone treatment. We conclude that 5-month rosiglitazone treatment significantly reduced several markers of endothelial dysfunction. This effect could be at least in part attributable to marked increase of circulating adiponectin levels., R. Doležalová, M. M. Haluzík, L. Bošanská, Z. Lacinová, Z. Kasalová, T. Štulc, M. Haluzík., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Cancer therapy with daunorubicin is limited by its cardiotoxicity. It has been suggested that daunorubicin-induced free radical generation can be involved. The precise molecular mechanism of daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is still not well understood but it is believed that mitochondria play an important role in this process. It has been reported that flavonoids with antioxidant properties may prevent anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. In this work, we investigated the effects of daunorubicin and quercetin on mitochondrial enzyme activities such as ATPase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR). Moreover, we also studied the changes of outer mitochondrial membrane using synchronous fluorescence spectra. The actitivity of ATPase and GR were significantly increased after daunorubicin application. Pretreatment with quercetin significantly alleviated this increase. On the other hand, GPx activity was significantly decreased and quercetin prevented this decrease. Treatment with quercetin alone had no significant effect on the enzyme activity studied. Quercetin also completely prevented daunorubicin-induced changes in fluorescence of the outer mitochondrial membrane. In conclusion, our data indicate that quercetin may be useful in mitigating daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity., J. Guzy, J. Kušnír, M. Mareková, Z. Chavková, K. Dubayová, G. Mojžišová, L. Mirossay, J. Mojžiš., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Reoxygenation following hypoxic episodes can increase the risk for the development of ventricular arrhythmias, which, in addition to circadian aspects of reoxygen ation arrhythmias has not been studied extensively. The aim of the present study was to evaluate circadian changes in the electrical stability of the rat heart during reoxygenation following a hypovent ilatory episode. The electrical stability of the heart, defined in the present study as the ventricular arrhythmia threshold (VAT), was measured at 3 h intervals at clock times 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, 21:00, 24:00, 03:00, 06:00 and 09:00 during 20 min hypoventilation (20 breaths/min, tidal volume = 0.5 ml/100 g body weight [n=17]) and subsequent 20 min reoxygenation (50 breaths/min, tidal volume = 1 ml/100 g body weight [n=4]) intervals. The experiments were performed usin g pentobarbital-anesthetized (40 mg/kg intraperitoneally) female Wistar rats that first underwent a four-week adaptation to a 12 h light:12 h dark regimen. Detailed analysis show ed that circadian VATs changed to biphasic rhythms at 10 min of hypoventilation. The VAT circadian rhythms were observed immediately following the commencement of reoxygenation, with the highest values measured between 12:00 and 15: 00, and the lowest values between 24:00 and 03:00. These resu lts suggest that myocardial vulnerability is dependent on the light:dark cycle and characteristics of pu lmonary ventilation., P. Švorc ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy