Heart metabolic modifications induced by nifedipine treatment in normo- and hypertensive Wistar rats.

Male Wistar rats weighing 150 +/- 10 g at the beginning of the experiment were used. The animals were divided in to four groups: control group (C); Hypertensive group (H) (Hypertension induced by subcutaneously injecting desoxycorticosterone acetate: 14 mg/kg b. w./day and intragastric tubage administration of 30% sodium chloride: 3 g NaCl/kg b. w./day for 4 weeks); normotensive group receiving Nifedipine (N) (0.5 mg/Kg b. w./day); hypertensive group receiving Nifedipine (HN) (hypertension was induced as in group H and Nifedipine dose was as in group N). We observed that hypertensive status as well as Nifedipine treatment caused an increase of preference of rat heart muscle to utilize its glycogen as carbohydrate energy source instead of added glucose to incubation medium.

The effects of leucotrofina or timolimfotropina on some parameters of carbohydrate metabolism in the Wistar rat.

A 10 days Leucotrofina or Timolimfotropina administration induced in Wistar rats a rise of glycemia and liver glycogen content, and a decrease of glycogen-phosphorylase a activity. These modifications lasted in time and may be due to an activation of the hepatic gluconcogenetic pathway, via a stimulated glucocorticoid production.

Thymic and suprarenalian response of Wistar rats following the administration of the humoral thymic factor (Leucotrofina) and of the cytostatic cyclophosphamide.

Leucotrofina administration in Wistar rats induced in thymus an increase of total protein content and of protein synthesis from 14C-leucine, simultaneously with a raise in the AlAT activity. Adrenal glands were not affected. Leucotrofina administration on the background of Cyclophosphamide induced modifications restored at normal values some of the thymic parameters (total protein content and RNA content) but the ascorbic acid content in the adrenals remained lowered.

Biochemical modifications in the bursa of fabricius, thymus and adrenals of chickens injected with an anti-bursal serum.

Cornish-Rock chickens were given 0.3 ml anti-bursal serum in the pectoral muscle on the first day of life. Three days after serum administration, the modifications were evident both in the bursa of Fabricius and thymus (ponderal involution and decrease of RNA and glycogen contents). Pronounced thymo-bursal differences appeared at 13 days: in the bursa the values were normalized; in the thymus inverse modifications appeared as compared to the 3 days values. The modifications in the adrenals are in agreement with those in the lymph organs.

The hypoglycemic effect of "Hipogalegin".

In alloxan-induced diabetes in rats a marked increase in fasting glycemia was seen. The administration of "Hipogalegin" (0.45 g/kg b.w.; for one administration) led to a marked decrease of the glycemia in fasted diabetic animals: 40% of the diabetic animals subjected to this treatment survived and continued to survive even on the 94th day after diabetes was induced. Diabetic animals who were not given "Hypogalegin" died during the first two weeks after diabetes was induced.

Hepatoprotector effect of Chrysanthemum balsamita extract in ethanol intoxicated rats.

Male Wistar rats weighing 200 +/- 10 g were intoxicated with ethanol 50% (1 ml/100 g b.w./, day, for 12 days) and concomitantly treated with hydroethanol extract of Chrysanthemum balsamita. An increase of liver glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphorylase a activities correlated with a liver glycogen breakdown as well as a decrease of glycemia were obtained in rats given ethanol 50%. It was found that Chrysanthemum balsamita extract counteracted ethanol effects and maintained at normal limit the metabolite parameters.

Thiourea and methionine effects upon glucose and leucine absorption in chicken jejunum.

Administration of a unique dose of thiourea (7 mg per kg b.w.) in the 7th day of life to broiler chickens affects in different manners the jejunal absorption of glucose and that of leucine. Methionine supplementation of the fodder (1.5 g per kg) during 40 days affects--in an age-dependent manner--the glucose absorption, but not that of leucine.

Biochemical modifications induced by Timorom in the liver carbohydrate metabolism of male and female rats.

A 90-day Timorom treatment of rats of both sexes modified some of the carbohydrate metabolism parameters. Some of the modifications were different in male and female rats. Glycogen storage was increased, while liver GPa activity was decreased in the male rats, but those modifications ran in the opposite direction in the female rats. In our opinion, these different reactions of male and female rats to Timorom (containing a nonselective beta-adrenergic blocking agent--timolol) depended on the different ways by which the glycogen phosphorylase system is activated. Many of the biochemical modifications, obtained after the Timorom treatment, disappeared at the end of the first post-treatment month.

Metabolic disturbances induced by organotins through subchronic treatment in chickens. First communication: growth dynamics, carbohydrate and protein metabolism.

Four organotin derivatives (tributyltin acid, dibutyltin chloride, triphenyltinchloride, and triphenyltin-bis (diethyl) dithiophosphate) were tested through subchronic treatment on 19 days old chickens. Growth dynamics as well as carbohydrate and protein metabolism were investigated, in order to evaluate their effects on metabolic activity. Biochemical liver and blood constituents revealed growth retardation and general depression of metabolic activity in experimental groups. Some correlations were found to exist chemical structure, dose use for compound, and effects. Butyltins were more toxic than phenylderivatives and their effects were proportionale to the dose.

Effect of calcitonin on phosphorylase a and glucose-6-phosphatase activities in the hepatic particulate glycogen of rats.

A single dose of calcitonin (CT) (70 mU MRC/100 g body weight) was administered in 50 and 90 days old male Wistar rats. In both ages CT determined a rise of Phosphorylase a and glucose-6-phosphatase activity as well as an increased calcium accumulation at the level of liver particulate glycogen. In the rats receiving CT glycemia increased and the liver glycogen content decreased. With the exception of liver glycogen the other metabolic parameters studied were modified at the two ages in the same manner under the influence of the same dose of CT.