Abnormal cholesterol metabolism, including low intestinal cholesterol absorption and elevated synthesis, is prevalent in diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome. Diet-induced weight loss improves cholesterol absorption in these populations, but it is not known if endurance exercise training also improves cholesterol homeostasis. To examine this, we measured circulating levels of campesterol, sitosterol, and lathosterol in 65 sedentary subjects (average age 59 years; with at least one metabolic syndrome risk factor) before and after 6 months of endurance exercise training. Campesterol and sitosterol are plant sterols that correlate with intestinal cholesterol absorption, while lathosterol is a marker of whole body cholesterol synthesis. Following the intervention, plant sterol levels were increased by 10 % (p<0.05), but there was no change in plasma lathosterol. In addition, total and LDL-cholesterol were reduced by 0.16 mmol and 0.10 mmol, respectively (p<0.05), while HDL-C levels increased by 0.09 mmol (p<0.05). Furthermore, the change in plant sterols was positively correlated with the change in VO2 max (r = 0.310, p=0.004), independent of other metabolic syndrome risk factors. These data indicate that exercise training reduces plasma cholesterol despite increasing cholesterol absorption in subjects with metabolic syndrome risk factors., K. R. Wilund ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The activity of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and cytosol superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) was measured in corresponding subcellular fractions prepared from the thymi of intact and chronically gonadectomized (GX) rats of both sexes, as well as of GX male and female rats injected subcutaneously with a single dose of 5 mg estradiol benzoate (EB) and/or 2 mg progesterone (P). Animals were sacrificed 2 h or 24 h following hormone treatment. In the females, the activity of MnSOD in the thymus was stable during the estrous cycle and did not change after ovariectomy. Treatment of GX females with estradiol benzoate resulted 2 h later in a significant elevation of MnSOD activity, whereas 24 h later the activity returned back to control values. On the other hand, treatment of GX females with progesterone had no effect on the MnSOD activity. However, combined hormone treatment, in which EB injection preceded progesterone injection by one hour, enhanced the effect on MnSOD activity similar to that of estradiol benzoate alone. The activity of CuZnSOD in cycling rats was increased in proestrus, whereas removal of the ovaries kept the values at low diestrus and estrus levels. Contrary to MnSOD, CuZnSOD activity did not change after EB treatment of GX females, while progesterone increased the enzyme activity at 2 h and 24 h after hormone treatment. However, combined EB+P treatment proved to be ineffective. In the males, neither MnSOD nor CuZnSOD activity was affected by the removal of testes or by progesterone treatment of GX animals. Only EB injection to GX rats significantly increased CuZnSOD activity 24 h later., J. Kasapović, S.B. Pajović, S. Pejić, J.V. Martinović., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The relationships between exercise and metabolites as well as between exercise and sarcoplasmic reticulum function were studied in gastrocnemius muscle of ovariectomized-trained rats. Prolonged moderate-intensity exercise, treadmill up-hill run for 90 min with a 10° incline, decreased the muscle glycogen content. Exercise until exhaustion further lowered the glycogen concentration to 13 % of the control, together with a significant decrease of ATP and glucose-6-phosphate concentrations. Also, Ag+-induced Ca2+release, measured in whole muscle homogenate, showed a 30 % reduction on exhaustion, while Ca2+ uptake was unaffected by this exercise. ATPase activities, of both homogenate and SR vesicles, and Ca2+ transport in the latter preparation were not altered on exhaustion. It could be concluded from these results that muscular fatigue in ovariectomized rats after aerobic exercise is caused by the change in energy supply and Ca2+ release from the SR, this latter possibly due to metabolites generated by the exercise., I. Gigli, L. E. Bussmann., and Obsahuje bibliografii
To assess the possible involvement of mast cells and/or their mediators in inflammatory bowel diseases, the effect of the histamine H1 antagonist Dithiaden was studied on a model of acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Dithiaden pretreatment by intracolonic administration was found to reduce the extent of acute inflammatory colonic injury. This was manifested by a decrease in the score of gross mucosal injury, by lowered colonic wet weight and by diminished myeloperoxidase activity reflecting reduced leukocyte infiltration. Vascular permeability and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, elevated by acetic acid exposure, were decreased after Dithiaden pretreatment. The results indicate that locally administered Dithiaden may protect the colonic mucosa against an acute inflammatory attack by interfering with the action of the major mast cell mediator histamine., V. Nosáľová, O. Ondrejičková, J. Pečivová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Toxic influence of high oxygen concentration on pulmonary function and structures has been known for many years. However, the influence of high oxygen concentration breathing on defensive respiratory reflexes is still not clear. In our previous experiments, we found an inhibitory effect of 100 % oxygen breathing on cough reflex intensity in healthy guinea pigs. The present study was designed to detect the effects of hyperoxia on cough reflex in guinea pigs with allergic airway inflammation. In the first phase of our experiment, the animals were sensitized with ovalbumin. Thirty-two sensitized animals were used in two separate experiments according to oxygen concentration breathing: 100 % or 50 % oxygen for 60 h continuously. In each experiment, one group of animals was exposed to hyperoxia, another to ambient air. The cough reflex was induced both by aerosol of citric acid before sensitization, then in sensitized animals at 24 h and 60 h of exposition to oxygen/air in awake animals, and by mechanical stimulation of airway mucosa in anesthetized animals just after the end of the experiment. In contrast to 50 % oxygen, 100 % oxygen breathing leads to significant decrease in chemically induced cough in guinea pigs with allergic inflammation. No significant changes were present in cough induced by mechanical stimulation of airways., M. Brozmanová, J. Hanáček, M. Tatár, A. Strapková, P. Szépe., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has become an important modality for the assessment of cardiac structure and function in animal experiments. The acquisition of echocardiographic images in rats requires sedation/anesthesia to keep the rats immobile. Commonly used anesthetic regimens include intraperitoneal or inhalational application of various anesthetics. Several studies have compared the effects of anesthetic agents on echocardiographic parameters in rats; however, none of them examined the effects of different concentrations of inhalational anesthetics on echocardiographic parameters. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of different concentrations of isoflurane used for anesthesia during TTE examination in rats on basic echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular (LV) anatomy and systolic function. TTE examinations were performed in adult male Wistar rats (n=10) anesthetized with isoflurane at concentrations of 1.5-3 %. Standard echocardiograms were recorded for off-line analysis. An absence of changes in basic echocardiographic parameters of LV anatomy and systolic function was found under isoflurane anesthesia using concentrations between 1.5-2.5 %. An isoflurane concentration of 3 % caused a small, but statistically significant, increase in LV chamber dimensions without a concomitant change in heart rate or fractional shortening. For the purpose of TTE examination in the rat, our results suggest that isoflurane concentrations ≤ 2.5 % can be safely recommended., H. Říha ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The effects of various doses of L-arginine, a nitric oxide substrate, on lithium-pilocarpine-induced seizures were studied in rats. Rats were implanted with chronic, stainless steel screw electrodes epidurally for electrocortical recordings. A control group received 3 mEq/kg LiCl (i.p.) and 24 h later 45 mg/kg pilocarpine HCl (i.p.). Two different experimental procedures were followed: (1) L-arginine was applied in doses of 100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg (i.p.), 30 min before pilocarpine injection; (2) 300 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg (i.p.) L-arginine was injected either 5 min or 30 min after the onset of status epilepticus (SE). L-arginine (300 mg/kg) injected 30 min before pilocarpine significantly reduced the percentage of SE, but did not change the latency to SE or 24-hour survival. These parameters were not significantly affected by the 100 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg dose of L-arginine. On the other hand, no dose of L-arginine that was applied after SE had begun, had any significant influence on the seizures. We concluded that L-arginine may prevent seizure activity in some but not all doses, and does not have any effect on the ongoing seizure activity., B. Noyan, G. Güleç., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Accumulation of oxidative damage has been implicated to be a major causative factor in the decline in physiological functions that occur during the aging process. The mitochondrial respiratory chain is a powerful so urce of reactive oxygen species (ROS), considered as the pathogen ic agent of many diseases and aging. L-malate, a tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate, plays an important role in transporting NADH from cytosol to mitochondria for energy production. Previous studies in our laboratory reported L-malate as a free radical scavenger in aged rats. In the present study we focused on the effect of L-malate on the activities of electron transport chain in young and aged rats. We found that mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the activities of succinate dehydrogenase, NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and cytochrome c oxidase in liver of aged rats were significantly decreased when compared to young control rats. Supplementation of L-malate to aged rats for 30 days slightly increased MMP and improved the activities of NADH-dehydrogenase, NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and cytochrome c oxidase in liver of aged rats when compared with aged control rats. In young rats, L-malate administration increased only the activity of NADH-dehydrogenase. Our result suggested that L-malate could improve the activities of electron transport chain enzymes in aged rats., J.-L. Wu ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Thyroid hormones (THs) play multiple roles in the organism and alterations of their levels can result in many pathological changes. Currently, we use hypert hyroid and hypothyroid rats as “models of a diseased organi sm” and analyze whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) administration can ameliorate TH-induced pathop hysiological changes. We investigate myosin heavy chain composition, calsequestrin levels, changes in cardiac tissue remodeling and cell-to-cell communication, expression of protein kinases, mitochondrial functions, oxidative stress mark ers and cell death, changes in serum lipid levels, activities of key enzymes of thyroid hormone metabolism, activity of acetyl choline esterase and membrane anisotropy, as well as mobile behavior and thermal sensitivity. Additionally we also mention our pilot experiments dealing with the effect of statin administration on skeletal muscles and sensory functions. As THs and n-3 PUFA possess multiple sites of potential action, we hope that our complex research will contribute to a better understanding of their actions, which can be useful in the treatment of di fferent pathophysiological events including cardiac insufficiency in humans., T. Soukup., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The aim of this study was to assess carotid baroreflex responses during graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP). In 12 healthy subjects (age 29±4 years) we applied sinusoidal neck suction (0 to -30 mmHg) at 0.1 Hz to examine the sympathetic modulation of the heart and blood vessels and at 0.2 Hz to assess the effect of parasympathetic stimulation on the heart. Responses to neck suction were determined as the change in spectral power of RR-interval and blood pressure from baseline values. Measurements were carried out during progressive applications (0 to -50 mmHg) of LBNP. Responses to 0.1 and 0.2 Hz carotid baroreceptor stimulations during low levels of LBNP (-10 mmHg) were not significantly different from those measured during baseline. At higher levels of LBNP, blood pressure responses to 0.1 Hz neck suction were significantly enhanced, but with no significant change in the RR-interval response. LBNP at all levels had no effect on the RR-interval response to 0.2 Hz neck suction. The unchanged responses of RR-interval and blood pressure to neck suction during low level LBNP at -10 mmHg suggest no effect of cardiopulmonary receptor unloading on the carotid arterial baroreflex, since this LBNP level is considered to stimulate cardiopulmonary but not arterial baroreflexes. Enhanced blood pressure responses to neck suction during higher levels of LBNP are not necessarily the result of a reflex interaction but may serve to protect the circulation from fluctuations in blood pressure while standing., C. M. Brown, M. J. Hecht, B. Neundörfer, M. J. Hilz., and Obsahuje bibliografii