Pineal gland and melatonin influence on chronic alcohol consumption by hamsters

Male golden hamsters preferentially consume alcohol solution when given a free-choice between water and the alcohol solution. The pineal gland has been implicated as influencing the predilection for the ethanol solution. Melatonin, a pineal hormone, was administered either daily for 11 weeks as a subcutaneous injection (25 μg/animal) or weekly as a subcutaneous beeswax implant (1 mg melatonin/24 mg beeswax) for 5 weeks to hamsters allowed a free-choice between water or a 10% ethanol solution. Food, water and alcohol consumptions were measured on a daily basis. Animals treated by daily injection with melatonin consumed slightly less ethanol than animals not given melatonin. In light-deprived animals given chronic implants of melatonin, alcohol consumption was reduced when compared to alcohol consumption by light-deprived hamsters not receiving melatonin. Melatonin treatment also resulted in reducing daily total fluid intake as well as ethanol consumption in light-deprived hamsters. The results indicate that the pineal gland may influence fluid consumption in the hamster, and indirectly alters the propensity of the hamster to consume alcohol.     

异虎耳草素对PCPA致松果体损伤模型大鼠的改善作用及生物钟基因表达的影响

目的:研究异虎耳草素对对氯苯丙氨酸(PCPA)致松果体损伤模型大鼠的改善作用及其对生物钟基因表达的影响。方法:将60只大鼠随机分为空白对照组(2%聚山梨酯80溶液)、模型对照组(2%聚山梨酯80溶液)、阳性对照组(褪黑素,10 mg/kg)和异虎耳草素高、中、低剂量组(3、1.5、0.75 mg/kg),每组10只。除空白对照组外,其余各组大鼠均采用腹腔注射PCPA(450mg/kg)的方法构建松果体损伤模型。造模结束后,各组大鼠灌胃给药,每天1次,连续7 d。在给药第6天,通过戊巴比妥钠协同睡眠实验考察各组大鼠的入睡潜伏期和睡眠持续时间;末次给药后,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定大鼠血清中褪黑素水平,分别在荧光显微镜和电子显微镜下观察大鼠松果体组织的病理变化和细胞超微结构改变,并采用实时荧光定量-聚合酶链式反应法测定大鼠松果体中生物钟基因Clock、Bmal1、Per1、Per2、Per3、Cry1、Cry2 mRNA表达水平。结果:与空白对照组比较,模型对照组大鼠的入睡潜伏期显著延长(P<0.05);血清中褪黑素水平和松果体中Bmal1、Per1 mRNA表达水平显著降低(P<...     

Chronic diazepam administration differentially affects melatonin synthesis in rat pineal and Harderian glands

RATIONALE: Pineal and Harderian gland melatonin production as well as plasma melatonin levels were investigated in male Wistar rats (12 weeks old) after administration of diazepam, a benzodiazepine widely used as anxiolytic. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigates the effects of a chronic administration of diazepam on pineal and Harderian gland melatonin contents. METHODS: Diazepam was administered subcutaneously, for 21 days, at a dosage of 3 mg/kg body weight per day, 1 h before the onset of darkness. RESULTS: Diazepam clearly affected pineal melatonin biosynthesis and plasma melatonin levels. Diazepam reduced the pineal melatonin content (by a factor of 2) and the activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT) (by a factor of 3.5), as well as plasma melatonin levels (by a factor of 1.5), but had no effects on pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity. By contrast to the pineal gland, diazepam failed to affect the Harderian gland melatonin content. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the inhibition of melatonin production induced by diazepam in vivo may be due to a direct action of this benzodiazepine on the pineal gland, through its action on NAT, the key enzyme of melatonin synthesis, and that the control of melatonin production in the Harderian glands may be different from that observed in the pineal gland.     

Protective Role of Corticosterone against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Neuronal Cell Death in SH-SY5Y Cells

Stress breaks body balance, which can cause diverse physiological disorders and worsen preexisting diseases. However, recent studies have reported that controllable stress and overcoming from stress reinforce resilience to resist against more intense stress afterwards. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of corticosterone (CORT), a representative stress hormone against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced neuronal cell death and its underlying molecular mechanism in SH-SY5Y cells, a human neuroblastoma cell line. The decreased cell viability by H₂O₂ was effectively restored by the pretreatment with low concentration of CORT (0.03 μM for 72 h) in the cells. H₂O₂-increased expression of apoptotic markers such as PUMA and Bim was decreased by CORT pretreatment. Furthermore, pretreatment of CORT attenuated H₂O₂-mediated oxidative damages by upregulation of antioxidant enzymes via activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). These findings suggest that low concentration of CORT with eustressed condition enhances intracellular self-defense against H₂O₂-mediated oxidative cell death, suggesting a role of low concentration of CORT as one of key molecules for resilience and neuronal cell survival.     

The Effect of Lithium on the Iodide Concentrating Mechanism in Mouse Salivary Gland

Abstract The iodide concentrating mechanism, measured as the gland to plasma (G/P)¹²⁵I^- concentration ratio, was measured in male mouse submandibular glands after the animals had been fed with varying amounts of lithium chloride for intervals ranging from 0 to 8 weeks. After acute exposure (by injection) to lithium the G/P ¹²⁵I^- fell compared to control values and was further depressed at high serum lithium values. Chronic exposure to lithium was characterised by an increase in the G/P ¹²⁵I^- ratios at therapeutic serum lithium concentrations. It is suggested that lithium has a direct effect on the iodide concentrating mechanism that may be independent of any action of thyroid stimulating hormone during this process. The effect may be important in the formation of lithium induced goitre.     

丹墨胶囊对大鼠体内内源性激素的影响

目的研究丹墨胶囊对大鼠体内内源性激素的影响。方法取大鼠随机分为空白组、对照组（醋酸泼尼松42 mg/kg）和给药组（分别为丹墨胶囊低剂量0.216 g/kg＋醋酸泼尼松42 mg/kg、丹墨胶囊中剂量0.432 g/kg＋醋酸泼尼松42 mg/kg、丹墨胶囊高剂量0.864 g/kg＋醋酸泼尼松42 mg/kg）,每组6只,对照组连续灌胃羧甲基纤维素钠14 d、给药组连续灌胃丹墨胶囊14 d,两组均于末次给药后灌胃醋酸泼尼松。采用高效液相色谱法测定各组大鼠醋酸泼尼松给药前和给药后0,0.083,0.16,0.25,0.5,0.75,1,1.5,2,2.5,3,4,5,6,8 h的皮质酮血药浓度。以WinNonLin4.2药动学软件计算药动学参数。结果空白组、对照组和丹墨胶囊高、中、低剂量给药组大鼠体内皮质酮的AUC0-8 h分别为：（353.39±30.99）、（99.09±9.25）、（547.49±20.22）、（416.01±23.33）、（243.77±20.37）ng·h/L,给药组AUC0-8 h与对照组比较具有显著性差异（P〈0.05）,与空白组比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。结论丹墨胶囊高、中、低3个剂量给药组均能提高大鼠体内内源性激素水平。     

Circadian rhythm of corticosterone in mice: The effect of chronic consumption of alcohol

The effect of chronic consumption of alcohol on the circadian variations of the plasma corticosterone was investigated in DBA/2J male mice. After 15 weeks of alcohol consumption (3.8%w/v for the first week and 7.5% for subsequent weeks) the alcohol groups exhibited a flattened circadian corticosterone curve, the level being intermediate between the peak and trough values of the water control groups. The diurnal patterns of food and liquid consumption were still present at the 10th week of alcohol treatment in the alcohol groups, although the absolute amount of food and liquid consumed at each of the 6-h intervals was somewhat different between the alcohol and water groups. The blood alcohol showed a peak at early morning with the mean of 100 mg/100 ml, but the levels of alcohol during the remaining periods were remarkably stable, the means ranging from 30 to 46 mg/100 ml. Chronic consumption of alcohol, even relatively low concentrations, appears to affect the neural sites in the CNS controlling the circadian rhythm of ACTH release.     

小鼠体液免疫功能的昼夜节律性

为探索体液免疫功能的昼夜节律性，昆明种雌性小鼠置于１２：１２的明暗周期交迭的环境中养，在０４：００，０８：００，１２：００，１６：００，２０：００和２４：００时分别取样测定．结果表明，正常小鼠和初次致敏小鼠的脾抗体分泌细胞，总补体，血清免疫球蛋白Ｇ（ＩｇＧ）均有明显的昼夜节律．上述免疫指标峰值分别为１２：１３，８：０９和０：１８；致敏小鼠的峰值分别为０８：５５，１３：５８，０４：００和血清凝集素的峰值为０４：１８．     

Enhancement of Anxiety and Modulation of TH and pERK Expressions in Amygdala by Repeated Injections of Corticosterone

Repeated stress induces corticosterone release. However, it is not clear that stress results in further elevation of corticosterone levels, and the roles of released corticosterone to aggravate stress-related symptoms are also not clear. This study investigated whether neuronal modulation was induced in the amygdala after two kinds of stress, that is, such as electric shock and corticosterone injection. It was found that stress by electric shock decreased the expression of tyrosine hydoroxylase (TH) in the amygdala while the expression of pERK was increased. However, there is no difference in the expressions of TH and pERK in the frontal cortex compared with those of the control group. The level of corticosterone was significantly increased in the serum after stress. To determine the effect of corticosterone on the induction of anxiety and the expression of TH, the rats received corticosterone (20 mg or 40 mg/kg i.p.) for 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively. The spent time in open arms of the EPM (elevated plus maze) test was significantly decreased after 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks. The time spent in open arms of the EPM test after repeated injections of corticosterone was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of TH in the amygdala was reduced after following repeated corticosterone treatment for 2 weeks and 3 weeks. Collectively, this study suggests that corticosterone has a major role in the induction of anxiety and the modulation of TH expression, at least, in the amygdala.     

Corticosterone increases severity of acute withdrawal from ethanol,pentobarbital, and diazepam in mice

It has been suggested that withdrawal from several subclasses of central nervous system (CNS) depressants involves common underlying mechanisms. For example, mice genetically selected for severe ethanol withdrawal convulsions (Withdrawal Seizure Prone or WSP) have also been found to express severe withdrawal following treatment with barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Corticosteroids appear to modulate severity of withdrawal from CNS depressants. Therefore, it was hypothesized that corticosterone would enhance withdrawal convulsions following acute ethanol, pentobarbital, and diazepam in WSP mice. Corticosterone (20 mg/kg) administered following each of these drugs significantly increased severity of handling-induced convulsions during withdrawal. Corticosterone did not affect pre-withdrawal convulsion scores or handling-induced convulsions of drug-naive mice. These results suggest that withdrawal convulsions following acute ethanol, pentobarbital, and diazepam are sensitive to modulation by corticosterone and they support the hypothesis that stress may increase drug withdrawal severity.Supported by grant # DA05496, #AA06243, and by the Department of Veterans Affairs.     

临床护理干预在乳腺纤维瘤手术中的应用

目的探究临床护理干预在乳腺纤维瘤手术中的应用,总结临床护理干预的重点。方法选择100例乳腺纤维瘤患者,对其进行手术临床护理干预,分析术前、术后的护理重点。结果 100例患者,16例患者在手术过程中放置引流条,通过临床护理干预,拔除引流条时间最短为18 h,最长为超过36 h。16例患者拔除引流条的平均时间为25 h。100例患者,进行临床护理干预,手术切口一期愈合为97例,愈合率为97.0%。结论对乳腺纤维瘤患者,需要做好临床护理,提高成功率,值得临床推广。     

超声刀在开放式甲状腺手术中的应用研究

目的探讨超声刀在开放式甲状腺手术中的应用。方法采用回顾性分析的方法,分析收治的甲状腺手术患者,依据治疗方式不同分为观察组和对照组。结果观察组手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流时间、住院时间均明显低于对照组;观察组术后吞咽苦难、暂时性声嘶、暂时性旁腺功能减退、术后粘连均明显低于对照组,P<0.05,差异均有统计学意义。结论超声刀行开放式甲状腺手术疗效较好,值得临床推广应用。     

党参及其正丁醇提取物在小鼠的急性毒性和对血浆皮质酮、ACTH含量的影响

党参水煎剂灌胃和腹腔给药的LD_(50)分别为44.5与29.2g/kg,其正丁醇提取物(Ⅲ)腹腔与静脉给药的LD_(50)分别为7.6与1.7g/kg。党参水煎剂在灌胃、皮下、腹腔给药后,Ⅲ在静脉给药后,能使血浆皮质酮含量显著升高。Ⅲ能使血浆ACTH含量显著增高,并能对抗地塞米松的降血浆皮质酮作用,提示其作用部位在垂体或垂体以上水平。     

5-Methoxyindoles in pineal gland of cow,pig, sheep and rat

Summary The occurrence and concentration of the four 5-methoxyindoles: 5-methoxytryptamine, 5-methoxytryptophol, 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid and melatonin in the pineal gland of pig, cow, sheep and rat was investigated. The analytical method involved the use of deuterated analogues as internal standards and capillary column gas chromatography — mass spectrometry. The analyses of pineal glands obtained during the morning hours revealed the presence of 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid and melatonin in nmoles/g and 5-methoxytryptophol and 5-methoxytryptamine in pmoles/g amounts in pig, cow and sheep. In Wistar and Sprague-Dawley strain of rat, melatonin was present at a concentration of about 0.5 pmoles/pineal, a level which was elevated more than five times by treatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. 5-methoxytryptamine was found at a concentration of about 0.03 pmoles/pineal, and was elevated by monoamine oxidase inhibition.     

Chronic Administration of Catechin Decreases Depression and Anxiety-Like Behaviors in a Rat Model Using Chronic Corticosterone Injections

Previous studies have demonstrated that repeated administration of the exogenous stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) induces dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and results in depression and anxiety. The current study sought to verify the impact of catechin (CTN) administration on chronic CORT-induced behavioral alterations using the forced swimming test (FST) and the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Additionally, the effects of CTN on central noradrenergic systems were examined by observing changes in neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in rat brains. Male rats received 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg CTN (i.p.) 1 h prior to a daily injection of CORT for 21 consecutive days. The activation of the HPA axis in response to the repeated CORT injections was confirmed by measuring serum levels of CORT and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Daily CTN administration significantly decreased immobility in the FST, increased open-arm exploration in the EPM test, and significantly blocked increases of TH expression in the locus coeruleus (LC). It also significantly enhanced the total number of line crossing in the open-field test (OFT), while individual differences in locomotor activities between experimental groups were not observed in the OFT. Taken together, these findings indicate that the administration of CTN prior to high-dose exogenous CORT significantly improves helpless behaviors, possibly by modulating the central noradrenergic system in rats. Therefore, CTN may be a useful agent for the treatment or alleviation of the complex symptoms associated with depression and anxiety disorders.     

低强度微波作用时动物肾上腺皮质激素与脾抗体形成细胞反应的相互关系

死卡介苗预免疫的SD大鼠全身接受微波照射3天(2450 MHz,10mW/cm~2,1h/d)后,血清皮质酮升高和脾抗体形成细胞反应增强。给予外源糖皮质激素或肾上腺皮质激素抑制剂后,脾抗体形成细胞反应无明显变化。但再以微波照射后,脾抗体形成细胞反应增强。     

硝苯地平控释片对老年非杓型高血压患者昼夜节律变化的影响

目的研究硝苯地平控释片对老年非杓型高血压患者昼夜节律变化的影响。方法对58例老年非杓型高血压患者随机分为硝苯地平控释片晨起服药组（n=30）和晚上服药组（n=28）30mg/d,共治疗4周,服药前后进行动态血压监测,观察药物对血压昼夜变异率的影响。结果晚上服药组夜间平均SBP和DBP均较晨起服药组明显下降,对非杓型血压的昼夜节律调节有效率明显高于晨起服药组（SBP：89．29％,DBP92．86％）。结论对于老年非杓型高血压患者,硝苯地平控释片在晚上服用可以较好地纠正夜间的高负荷血压,维持正常的昼夜变化节律。     

Corticosterone in relation to tissue cadmium, mercury and selenium concentrations and social status of male lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)

Combined lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) and greater scaup (A. marila) populations have declined steadily from the 1970s. Accompanying the population decline have been two shifts in lesser scaup demographics: a decrease in the proportion of young birds and an increase in male to female ratio. In addition, there are concerns about potential effects of contaminants and trace elements. These metals may influence the stress response and corticosterone secretion. We examined impacts of cadmium, selenium and mercury on the stress response in relation to social status in male lesser scaup near Yellowknife, NWT May to June 2004 and 2005. Kidney cadmium and liver selenium and mercury ranged 0.78–93.6, 2.12–9.64, and 0.56–3.71 μg/g, dry weight, respectively. Results suggest that corticosterone release may be influenced by complex contaminant interactions in relation to body condition and body size. When cadmium was high and birds were in good body condition, there was a negative relationship between liver selenium and corticosterone (R ² = 0.60, n = 10, P = 0.008) but not in birds with poor body condition (R ² = 0.07, n = 9, P = 0.50). Unfortunately we were unable to draw any conclusions about metals and social status in relation to corticosterone or glucose and T₄. This study emphasizes the complex nature of biological systems and the importance of considering interactions to characterize effects of metals.     

肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤诊断与治疗

目的 提高肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤的诊断治疗水平,完善其围手术期处理.方法 对74例经手术治疗的肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,有典型儿茶酚胺症状者68例,B超、CT、MR1定位检查阳性率分别为85.8%、97.1%和100%.结果 所有患者手术成功切除肿瘤,共77个,经病理检查证实良性66例,恶性8例.该组无手术死亡病例.结论 肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤主要根据临床表现、实验室定性检查及影像学定位检查来明确诊断.术前血压控制、充分扩容、改善心功能、纠正心衰,术中应用升压药物等围手术期处理是确保手术成功的重要因素.     

腹腔镜下胰体尾切除术后的护理

目的探讨腹腔镜下胰体尾手术后的护理。方法从常规护理、人工气腹、术后并发症、血糖、营养支持、心理护理等方面分析14例腹腔镜下胰体尾手术后的护理特点。结果观察病人均恢复良好。结论腹腔镜下胰体尾手术患者恢复快，有其特有护理特点。