依那普利对自发性高血压大鼠左室肥厚的逆转作用

目的：阐明心脏肾素－血管紧张素系统（ＲＡＳ）在左室肥厚形成中的重要作用，探讨转换酶抑制剂──依那普利逆转左室肥厚的机制。方法：将雄性１５周龄自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）随机分为治疗组（ｎ＝７）和对照组（ｎ＝６），分别以管饲法给依那普利（溶解在蒸馏水中，其浓度为１０ｍｇ／ｍｌ）２０ｍｇ·ｋｇ－１／日和等量的蒸馏水治疗５周。以放射免疫法和高效液相层析法测定血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）和去甲肾上腺素（ＮＥ）浓度。以尾套法测血压。结果：治疗组左室肥厚逆转，血压下降，同时伴左室心肌组织ＡｎｇⅡ含量降低，血浆ＡｎｇⅡ水平升高。左室心肌ＮＥ总含量和前肢肌肉组织中ＮＥ浓度无明显改变。左室＋室间隔重／体重与左室心肌组织ＡｎｇⅡ含量呈显著正相关（ｒ＝０．６２６，Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：心脏ＲＡＳ在左室肥厚形成过程中起着重要作用，心肌组织ＮＥ可能不参与依那普利逆转心肌肥厚的机制。     

当归对正常及肝硬化犬门脉血液动力学的影响

研究当归对正常（ｎ＝６）和慢性胆管结扎肝硬化犬（ｎ＝８）的全身和门脉血液动力学的影响。结果表明，给正常及肝硬化犬静滴当归注射液（８０ｍｇ／ｋｇ／ｍｉｎ），可以明显降低正常犬ＭＡＰ（１９．４５：１７．３４ｋＰａ，Ｐ＜０．０２），对ＨＲ和ＩＶＣＰ没有影响，但肝硬化犬ＭＡＰ、ＨＲ和ＩＶＣＰ均没有明显变化。相反，应用当归注射液后肝硬化犬ＷＨＶＰ（２．４２±０．８０：１．７９±０．７６ｋＰａ，Ｐ＜００１）、ＨＶＰＧ（１．６９±０．７０：１．０６±０．６８ｋＰａ，Ｐ＜００１）、Ｐｐｖ（２．５０±０．７９：１．８１±０．７４ｋＰａ，Ｐ＜０．００１）和Ｒｐｖ（０．８９±０．４８：０．５８±０．４０ｋＰａ·Ｓ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）显著下降，但Ｑｐｖ、ＱＨＡ和ＱＴＬ治疗前后基本保持稳定。研究证明，当归注射液是一种治疗门脉高压的安全有效药物。     

自发性高血压大鼠高血压形成前期血管平滑肌细胞增殖和肾素-血管紧张素系统的关系

通过体外培养３周龄自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞（ＡＳＭＣ），探讨ＳＨＲ高血压形成前期ＡＳＭＣ是否存在异常增殖，以及与循环、血管局部血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）、血管紧张素转换酶（ＡＣＥ）的关系。结果表明：３周龄ＳＨＲＡＳＭＣ肾素－血管紧张素系统（ＲＡＳ）处于高功能状态，合成ＡｎｇⅡ、ＡＣＥ，分泌ＡｎｇⅡ的量比ＷＫＹ高（Ｐ＜０．０５），并呈现异常增殖，３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入增加，倍增时间（ＤＴ）缩短（Ｐ＜０．０１）。血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂（ＡＣＥＩ）卡托普利、ＡｎｇⅡ受体拮抗剂Ｓａｒａｌａｓｉｎ长期干预可通过抑制ＳＨＲＡＳＭＣＡｎｇⅡ生成或阻断ＡｎｇⅡ的作用进而抑制其异常增殖。而ＷＫＹ血浆ＡｎｇⅡ、ＡＣＥ活性反比ＳＨＲ高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。说明：血管局部ＲＡＳ处于高功能状态对ＳＨＲ高血压前期ＡＳＭＣ异常增殖起重要作用，而循环ＲＡＳ则不起作用。     

心功能障碍患者心肌组织及血浆肾素－血管紧张素系统、心钠素改变的临床意义

１９例心功能障碍患者的血浆、心肌血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）、心钠素（ＡＮＦ）含量高于正常对照组；血浆ＡｎｇⅡ和ＡＮＦ含量增高与心脏指数（ＣＩ）呈显著负相关（ｒ＝－０．５９６８，Ｐ＜０．０５；ｒ＝－０．８９９６，Ｐ＜０．０１），心肌ＡｎｇⅡ含量变化与左室心肌重量（ＬＶＭ）呈显著正相关（ｒ＝０．５７２３，Ｐ＜０．０５）；提示心脏局部肾素－血管紧张素系统（ＲＡＳ）活性增高和ＡＮＦ变化参与心肌细胞增殖及心室重塑的意义较为突出。     

自发性高血压大鼠心肌胶原增生与心肌局部血管紧张素Ⅱ及醛固酮

为探讨高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）心肌胶原增生与心肌局部血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）、醛固酮（Ａｌｄ）的关系。方法应用羟脯氨酸法测定大鼠心肌胶原含量，用放免法测定心肌局部ＡｎｇⅡ、Ａｌｄ含量，将两者进行线性相关分析。结果自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲｎ＝７）与对照组（ＷＫＹｎ＝７）相比，心肌胶原含量增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）。相关分析表明，心肌胶原含量与心肌局部ＡｎｇⅡ含量呈正相关（ｒ＝０．７２，Ｐ＜０．０５），与心肌局部Ａｌｄ含量呈显著正相关（ｒ＝０．８８５，Ｐ＜０．００１），而与血压（ＳＢＰ）无明显相关（ｒ＝０．３９８，Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论ＳＨＲ心肌胶原含量较正常大鼠增加，并且与心肌局部ＡｎｇⅡ、Ａｌｄ含量增加有关。     

自发性高血压大鼠高血压形成前期血管平滑肌细胞增殖和肾…

通过体外培养３周龄自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞（ＡＳＭＣ），探讨ＳＨＲ高血压形成前期ＡＳＭＣ是否存在异常增殖，以及与循环、血管局部血和紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ、血管紧张素转换酶（ＡＣＥ）的关系。结果表明：３周龄ＳＨＲＡＳＭＣ肾素－血管紧张素系统（ＲＡＳ）处于高功能状态，合成ＡｎｇⅡ，ＡＣＥ，分泌ＡｎｇⅡ的量比ＷＫＹ高（Ｐ〈０．０５），并呈现异常增殖，３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入增加，倍增时间（Ｄ     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞心钠素合成、分泌和基因表达的影响

培养的自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）及其对照ＷＫＹ大鼠的主动脉平滑肌细胞（ＡＳＭＣ）能合成和分泌心钠素（ＡＮＦ）。ＳＨＲ的ＡＳＭＣ合成和分泌的ＡＮＦ量分别为０．８１±０．０５和０．４０±０．０３ｎｇ／１０６ｃｅｌｌｓ，而ＷＫＹ大鼠为１．００±０．０７和０．７０±０．０３ｎｇ／１０６ｃｅｌｌｓ，前者明显低于后者（Ｐ＜０．０１）。应用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法检出ＡＳＭＣ中存在特异的ＡＮＦｍＲＮＡ．１０－１１～１０－５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）能明显刺激ＡＮＦ的合成和释放，有量效关系。结果提出：（１）ＡＮＦ可在ＡＳＭＣ中原位合成。（２）ＳＨＲ的ＡＳＭＣ合成和分泌ＡＮＦ量下降及ＡｎｇⅡ刺激下其ＡＮＦｍＲＮＡ表达降低可能在高血压发生的血管机制中起作用。     

自发性高血压大鼠心肌胶原增生与心肌局部血管紧张素II及醛固酮

目的 为探讨高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）心肌胶原增生与心肌局部血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）、醛固酮（Ａｌｄ）的关系。 方法 应用羟脯氨酸法测定大鼠心肌胶原含量，用放免法测定心肌局部ＡｎｇⅡ、Ａｌｄ含量，将两者进行线性相关分析。 结果 自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ ｎ＝７）与对照组（ＷＫＹｎ＝７）与对照组（ＷＫＹｎ＝７）相比，心肌胶原含量增加（Ｐ〈０．０１）。相关分析表明，心肌胶原含量与心肌局部ＡｎｇⅡ含量呈正相关     

测定血清脂质结合唾液酸对胃癌诊断的临床意义

临床检测结果：胃癌组血清脂质结合唾液酸（ＬＳＡ）含量（１４８±４７ｍｇ／Ｌ，ｎ＝４８）显著高于胃良性疾病（８８±２４ｍｇ／Ｌ，ｎ＝２９４）和正常值（８６±１２ｍｇ／Ｌ，ｎ＝２１０）（ｐ＜０．００１），测定ＬＳＡ对胃癌诊断敏感度７２．９％，特异度９１．８％，准确度８９．２％，诊断效率６６．９％，有明显应用价值。比较研究显示测定ＬＳＡ对胃癌诊断的价值优于血对癌胚抗原（ＣＥＡ）检测（Ｐ＜０．０１）．血清ＬＳＡ动态监测对胃癌术后复发或转移监视、疗效及预后分析等具有显著临床意义。     

重组体pCD—HCV1诱发小鼠免疫反应的研究

目的探讨丙型肝炎病毒（ＨＣＶ）基因重组体诱发小鼠免疫反应。方法将编码Ⅱ型ＨＣＶ结构蛋白的基因片段Ｃ、Ｅ１和大部分Ｅ２插入到真核细胞表达载体ｐＣＤＳＲα１中,构建成重组体ｐＣＤＨＣＶ１。经肌内注射将此重组体免疫Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠。结果ｐＣＤＨＣＶ１（１００μｇ／只,ｎ＝１２）３～４次接种小鼠后,血清抗体水平达０．７１～０．７７（Ａ值,下同）,空载体ｐＣＤＳＲα１免疫鼠（ｎ＝８）,血清抗体阴性;对其中８只免疫鼠持续检测１８周,未见抗体水平有下降趋势（０．６８～０．７５）。重组体ｐＣＤＨＣＶ１免疫鼠（ｎ＝１２）的脾细胞对ＨＣＶ合成肽ＣＰ９、基因重组抗原Ｃ、Ｅ１刺激后,均出现增殖反应（ｃｐｍ）,ＳＩ分别为４．１４±０．９,３．９８±１．６,４．０２±１．２,与ｐＣＤＳＲα１免疫鼠（ｎ＝８）相比,差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．００１）。结论构建的ＨＣＶＤＮＡ重组体可诱发Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠产生免疫反应。     

Three layer functional model and energy exchange concept of aging process

Relying on a certain degree of abstraction, we can propose that no particular distinction exists between animate or living matter and inanimate matter. While focusing attention on some specifics, the dividing line between the two can be drawn. The most apparent distinction is in the level of structural and functional organization with the dissimilar streams of ‘energy flow’ between the observed entity and the surrounding environment. In essence, living matter is created from inanimate matter which is organized to contain internal intense energy processes and maintain lower intensity energy exchange processes with the environment. Taking internal and external energy processes into account, we contend in this paper that living matter can be referred to as matter of dissipative structure, with this structure assumed to be a common quality of all living creatures and living matter in general. Interruption of internal energy conversion processes and terminating the controlled energy exchange with the environment leads to degeneration of dissipative structure and reduction of the same to inanimate matter, (gas, liquid and/or solid inanimate substances), and ultimately what can be called ‘death.’ This concept of what we call dissipative nature can be extended from living organisms to social groups of animals, to mankind. An analogy based on the organization of matter provides a basis for a functional model of living entities. The models relies on the parallels among the three central structures of any cell (nucleus, cytoplasm and outer membrane) and the human body (central organs, body fluids along with the connective tissues, and external skin integument). This three-part structural organization may be observed almost universally in nature. It can be observed from the atomic structure to the planetary and intergalactic organizations. This similarity is corroborated by the membrane theory applied to living organisms. According to the energy nature of living matter and the proposed functional model, the decreased integrity of a human body's external envelope membrane is a first cause of the structural degradation and aging of the entire organism. The aging process than progresses externally to internally, as in single cell organisms, suggesting that much of the efforts towards the restoration and maintenance of the mechanisms responsible for structural development should be focused accordingly, on the membrane, i.e., the skin. Numerous reports indicate that all parts of the human body, like: bones, blood with blood vessels, muscles, skin, and so on, have some ability for restoration. Therefore, actual revival of not only aging tissue of the human body's membrane, but the entire human body enclosed within, with all internal organs, might be expected. We assess several aging theories within the context of our model and provide suggestions on how to activate the body's own anti-aging mechanisms and increase longevity. This paper presents some analogies and some distinctions that exist between the living dissipative structure matter and inanimate matter, discusses the aging process and proposes certain aging reversal solutions.     

Unusual responses of nocturnal pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion to swimming: Attempts to define mechanisms

Abstract: The effect of swimming at night on rat pineal melatonin synthesis was compared with that of light exposure at night. Rats were forced to swim at 0030 hr (lights out at 2000 hr) and sacrificed by decapitation 15 and 30 min later, immediately after swimming. Other groups of animals were exposed to white light (650μW/cm²) for 15 and 30 min at same time. Swimming caused a rapid and highly significant drop in the melatonin content in the pineal gland; however, the activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the supposed rate limiting enzyme in the melatonin production, was not changed. Despite the drop in pineal melatonin levels, serum concentrations of the indole remained elevated in the rats that swam. In contrast, melatonin levels in the pineal and serum of light exposed rats fell precipitously, accompanied by a significant suppression of NAT activity. Since we anticipated that the strenuous exercise associated with swimming may induce release of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the heart, which in turn could cause the release of pineal melatonin, in a second study we injected physiological saline intravenously to stretch the cardiac muscle and release ANP. Three milliliters of normal saline was injected during the day into the jugular vein of anesthetized rats that were pretreated with isoproterenol to stimulate pineal melatonin production. Animals were killed 15 min after the saline injection, and pineal NAT activity and pineal melatonin levels were measured. The saline injections caused no alteration in the elevated levels of either NAT or melatonin. These data suggest that the disparity in pineal NAT activity (which was high) and pineal melatonin (which was low), in animals swum at night, may not be caused by ANP which is released during strenuous exercise such as swimming.     

Melatonin and photoperiodic time measurement: Seasonal breeding in the sheep

Abstract: Well-established circadian physiology supports the view that photoperiodic time measurement utilizes the coincidence between the presence of light and a photosensitive phase of a 'biological clock' to alter reproductive status—the so-called external coincidence model of seasonal breeding. In this review, we examine the mechanism whereby photoperiod interacts with presumed suprachiasmatic nuclei activity to allow endogenous melatonin to normally synchronize reproductive activity to the optimal time of year. The Romney Marsh sheep is particularly explored as an experimental model. It is suggested that the on/off activity of seasonal reproduction may be a robust mechanism able to be predictably manipulated by the judicious use of the light/dark cycle and exogenous melatonin, but firmly based on circadian principles.     

Serological survey of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in Madagascar

Objectives Peripartal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, leads to severe consequences for newborns. Preventive measures require awareness of the maternal infection. Although HIV and syphilis testing in Madagascar could be theoretically carried out within the framework of the national pregnancy follow‐up scheme, the required test kits are rarely available at peripheral health centres. In this study, we screened blood samples of pregnant Madagascan women for HIV and syphilis seroprevalence to estimate the demand for systemic screening in pregnancy. Methods Retrospective anonymous serological analysis for HIV and syphilis was performed in plasma samples from 1232 pregnant women that were taken between May and July 2010 in Ambositra, Ifanadiana, Manakara, Mananjary, Moramanga and Tsiroanomandidy (Madagascar) during pregnancy follow‐up. Screening was based on Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests for syphilis and rapid tests for HIV, with confirmation of positive screening results on line assays. Results Out of 1232 pregnant women, none were seropositive for HIV and 37 (3%) were seropositive for Treponema pallidum. Conclusions Our findings are in line with previous studies that describe considerable syphilis prevalence in the rural Madagascan population. The results suggest a need for screening to prevent peripartal Treponema pallidum transmission, while HIV is still rare. If they are known, Treponema pallidum infections can be easily, safely and inexpensively treated even in pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission.     

Variabilité des concentrations plasmatiques de l’angiotensinogène et risque d’hypertension artérielle chez le rat transgénique

Aim

Genetic polymorphisms of the human angiotensinogen gene are frequent and may induce up to 30% increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations with a blood pressure increase of up to 5 mmHg. Their role for the pathogenesis of human arterial hypertension remains unclear. High plasma angiotensinogen levels could increase the sensitivity to other blood pressure stressors.

Methods

Male transgenic rats with a 9-fold increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations and male non-transgenic rats aged 10 weeks were treated or not with NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester for 3 weeks in their drinking water (n = 3/group). Systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured at baseline and at the end of the study when left ventricular weight and ventricular expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and procollagen Iα1 were determined (polymerase chain reaction).

Results

At baseline, transgenic rats had +18 mmHg higher bood pressure and –8% lower body weight compared to non-transgenic rats (P < 0.05) without significant changes for the vehicle groups throughout the study (P > 0.05). NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester increased blood pressure, left ventricular weight and left ventricular weight indexed for body weight by +41%, +17.6% and +18.6% (P < 0.05) in transgenic and +25%, +5.3% and +6.7% (P > 0.05) in non-transgenic rats compared to untreated animals, respectively. Cardiac gene expression showed no differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased plasma angiotensinogen levels may sensitize to additional blood pressure stressors. Our preliminary results point towards an independent role of angiotensinogen in the pathogenesis of human hypertension and associated end-organ damage.     

Morphological and immunocytochemical heterogeneity of cultured pinealocytes from one-week-and two-month-old rats: Planimetric and densitometric investigations

Abstract: In vitro preparations of rat pinealocytes are widely used for biochemical analyses of signal transduction processes. This paper deals with morphological and immunocytochemical features of such preparations. Special attention was paid to the problems of whether pinealocytes represent a heterogeneous cell population and how such heterogeneity may develop during ontogeny. The investigations were performed with cells which were obtained from the pineal organ of one-week-and two-month-old rats, attached to synthetic peptide-coated coverslips or tissue culture chamber slides, and maintained under in vitro conditions overnight. The attached cells were then fixed with paraformaldehyde. These preparations yielded monolayers of spherical cells of different sizes; most cells were isolated, but some of them were aggregated and formed small clusters. On the average, the cells from the one-week-old animals were smaller than the cells from the two-month-old animals. Immunocytochemical demonstration of S-antigen, a pinealocyte-specific marker, showed that the majority of the cells from two-month-old animals were intensely or moderately labelled. Pinealocytes from one-week-old animals were less S-antigen immunoreactive. Only very few cells (less than 1% displayed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity. Planimetric investigations of the cell size and semiquantitative densitometric investigations of the intensity of the S-antigen immunoreaction revealed that (i) pinealocytes kept in vitro form a heterogeneous cell population, and that (ii) this heterogeneity increases during postnatal development from one-week-old to two-month-old animals. Two groups of pinealocytes can be distinguished based on their developmental fate: pinealocytes of one group grow dramatically, but show only a moderate increase in S-antigen immunoreactivity, and pinealocytes of the other group retain their size, but display a distinct increment in S-antigen immunoreacti vitv.     

Effects of pinealectomy and melatonin administration on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in rats with both ovaries intact or after unilateral ovariectomy

Abstract: In earlier studies from other laboratories it was shown that melatonin decreased ovarian weight in rats and inhibited compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining ovary after unilateral ovariectomy. This study was designed to examine the influence of melatonin on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in adult female rats with both ovaries preserved and with either an intact pineal gland or with the pineal gland removed (pinealectomy, PX) or, finally, in sham-PX animals. Similar studies were conducted on rats after unilateral ovariectomy, referring the examined parameters to the remaining intact ovary. The studies included mitotic activity of granulosa layer cells and corpus luteum cells, ovarian weight, ovarian cross-sectional area, cross-sectional area of the granulosa layer of all the Graafian follicles and the cross-sectional areas of the corpora lutea, visible on the ovarian cross-section. On the basis of results, we conclude that: 1) the effect of PX on the processes of ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy may vary; analogously, exogenous melatonin administration may influence ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy in different ways; 2) PX and exogenous melatonin may, under certain conditions, exert similar biological effects, even synergistic effects; 3) melatonin inhibits ovarian growth processes, while the effects of PX are variable; 4) the results indicate that in experiments performed on rats, with the use of two control groups, i.e., intact and sham-PX, melatonin effects on these two groups may differ.