Is the throughbred race-horse under chronic stress?

Thoroughbred fillies were divided into three groups according to age: group 1, 7 fillies aged 1 to 2 years (G1) starting the training program; group 2, 9 fillies aged 2 to 3 years (G2) in a full training program; group 3, 8 older fillies 3 to 4 years of age (G3) training and racing. Blood samples were collected weekly from July to December. Cortisol was quantified using a solid phase DPC kit. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 12.5 percent and 15.65 percent and sensitivity was 1.9 + 0.2 nmol/1. The semester average of cortisol levels varied between groups: G1 = 148.8 + 6.7, G2 = 125.7 + 5.8, G3 = 101.1 + 5.44 nmol/l, with G3 differing statistically from the other groups. The lower cortisol levels observed in the older fillies leads us to propose that the stress stimulus, when maintained over a long period of time, may become chronic and result in a reduction of hypophyseal corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors. The secretion of endogenous opioids may also lead to low serum cortisol levels.

Metabolic markers following beta-adrenoceptor agonist infusion in footshock-stressed rats

Stress hormones can alter metabolic functions in adipose tissue and liver, as well as the sensitivity of rat white adipocytes and rat atrial responses to ß-adrenergic agonists. In this study, we examined the effects of three daily footshock stress sessions on the plasma corticosterone, glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels of fed, conscious male rats, and on the plasma glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels of the same rats following iv infusions of ß-adrenergic agonists (isoproterenol: 0.4 nmol kg-1 min-1, noradrenaline: 5.0 æg kg-1 day-1, and BRL 37344 ([+ or -]-[4-(2-[(2-[3-chlorophenyl]-2-hydroxyethyl)amino]propyl)phenoxy]acetic acid), a selective ß3-adrenoceptor agonist: 0.4 nmol kg-1 min-1). Plasma corticosterone levels increased significantly after each stress session, while triacylglycerol levels increased after the first session and glucose increased after the second and third sessions. Glycerol levels were unaltered after stress. These results suggest that repeated footshock stress may induce a metabolic shift from triacylglycerol biosynthesis to glucose release by hepatic tissue, with glycerol serving as one of the substrates in both pathways. Stressed rats were more sensitive to infusion of noradrenaline plus prazosin and to infusion of isoproterenol, with elevated plasma glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels. The higher sensitivity of stressed rats to isoproterenol and noradrenaline was probably related to the permissive effect of plasma corticosterone. Only BRL 37344 increased plasma glycerol levels in stressed rats, probably because ß3-adrenoceptors are not involved in hepatic triacylglycerol synthesis, thus allowing glycerol to accumulate in plasma

Efectos del estres sobre la frecuencia leucocitaria relativa y las concentraciones de sodio y patasio sericos en bovinos / Effects of stress on relative leucocyte frequency and serum sodium and potassium concentrations in bovines

Se estudió la variación de los leucocitos y el perfil mineral en bovinos sometidos a distintos tiempos de espera en el matadero. El estrés producido por el tiempo de espera en el matadero produjo cambios en la frecuencia leucocitaria relativa que se manifestó con una relación N:L invertida en los animales con 24 horas de espera (1.45) y aparentemente normal en los animales con 48 horas de espera (0.41). Sin embargo la relación sodio/potasio en los animales con 48 horas de espera está significativamente alterada (23.6, p < 0.001) respecto de los valores prácticamente normales de los animales con 24 horas de espera (33.1). Así mismo las altas correlaciones que presentaban las variables estudiadas muestran una unica situación fisiológica o patológica. Los resultados encontrados evidencian cambios hormonales similares a los encontrados en el estrés

Sistema nervioso autónomo y estres gástrico, en ratas / Autonomic nervous system and gastric stress in rats

En grupos diferentes de ratas Wistar (n=10), se estudió el efecto fisiopatológico del sistema nervioso autónomo en el estrés gástrico, en el modelo experimental de estrés, por inmovilización e inmersión en agua a 15 grados Celsius durante 6 hs., en el que se tabuló el por ciento lesional macroscópica de la mucosa gástrica y en sangre se midió el cortisol, malatonina, nor-adrenalina, adrenalina, dopamina y serotonina. En estrés testigo se encontró un área necrótica gástrica de un 80 por ciento en sangre solo se halló aumento de nor-adrenalina y adrenalina. Se estudiaron fármacos en dosis dependientes, agonistas y antagonistas de los receptores Beta adrenérgicos, antagonistas alpha adrenérgicos postinápticos; colinérgicos y anticolinérgicos, de los receptores endorfínicos y de los GABA. Se encontró que Isoproterenal, Prazosim, Doxazosina, Tramadol y Vgabatrin dieron marcada protección de la mucosa gástrica en el estrés, con un área necrótica cercana al 0 por ciento (P<0.001); en contraste, Propanolol, Acetilcolina, Atropina, Naloxona y Flumazenil no se diferenciaron del estrés testigo (P>0.5). Todos los fármacos estudiados dieron similares aminas vasoactivas que el estrés testigo. Se concluyó que el sistema nervioso autónomo en su vinculado a sus receptores con incremento de la microcirculación esplácnica.

Effects of stress upon plasma estradiol and progesterone levels and the rate of oviductal embryo transport in the rat

The possibility that changes in sex steroid levels associated with stress could alter the rate of oviductal embryo transport was investigated in the rat. To this end, the effect of cold-swimming and cold-restraint upon estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) serum levels and embryo transport were assessed. Swimming in water at 16 degrees C for 10 min two or four times between 16:00 and 22:00 h on day 3 of pregnancy caused a modest acceleration of embryo transport that was not associated with decreased fertility. Restraint at 10 degrees C for 2 h between 13:00 and 15:00 h on the first 4 days of pregnancy did not affect embryo transport. Both stimuli increased corticosterone serum levels. Cold-swimming produced a severe hypothermia as compared to cold-restraint and increased serum E2, decreasing significantly the ratio P/E2. Cold-restraint increased the P/E2 ratio. When rats swam in cold water for 10 min twice and were rewarmed by immersion in water at 38 degrees C during 20 min, embryo transport was accelerated despite that no changes occurred in the blood levels of sex steroids. It is concluded that oviductal embryo transport is minimally affected by stress in the rat and that the effect of acute immersion may be independent of alterations in circulating sex steroid levels

Toxicología ambiental: metalotioneínas y metabolismo celular / Environmental toxicology: metallothioneins and cellular metabolism

Las metalotioneínas (MT) constituyen una familia de proteínas de bajo peso molecular (6-8 kDa), presentes en procariotes y eucariotes, con elevado contenido en cisteína (30-35 por ciento) y marcada capacidad para combinarse con iones metálicos. dentro del metabolismo celular, se le han asignado múltiples funciones, desde un papel central en la homeostasis celular de ciertos metales pesados esenciales ("pool" citosólico de Zn y/o Cu), la detoxificación de metales pesados no esenciales, hasta su participación en ciertos procesos inflamatorios y la inactivación de radicales libres. La variación en el nivel de MT es indicador de exposición a xenobióticos, de situaciones ambientales adversas así como de situaciones de estrés fisiológico. Como tal, esta respuesta puede utilizarse tanto a nivel de la toxicología laboral, clínica y en estudios ecotoxicológicos. A este respecto, se encuentra en fase experimental su utilización con fines de diagnóstico ambiental. Esta revisión tiene como objeto constituir una breve reseña sobre los principales conocimientos reunidos hasta la fecha. Se ha avanzado significativamente en los aspectos básicos y metodológicos de la inducción de metalotioneínas en situaciones de estrés. Sin embargo, y a pesar de contarse con un número importante de estudios específicos, y a diferencia de otras proteínas menos estudiadas, queda aún sin precisar su función básica dentro del metabolismo celular

Metoclopramide enhances labetalol-induced antihypertensive effect during handgrip in hypertensive patients / La metoclopramide y el labetalol producen efectos antihipertensivos durante el manejo en pacientes hipertensivos

The effects of metoclopramide, labetalol and metoclopramide plus labetalol treatment on baseline cardiovascular parameters and isometric handgrip induced changes, were evaluated in eleven hypertensive subjects. Although all treatments were effective in reducing resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, the combination of metoclopramide and labetalol appeared to provide a greater decrease (changes in SBP/DBP: 15/11 mmHg, p<0.05; from 149 + 4/95 +4 mmHg to 134 + 5/84 ñ 3 mmHg) than did labetalol alone (changes in SBP/DBP: 10/9 mmHg p<0.05; from 149 ñ 4/95 ñ 4 to 139 ñ 486 ñ 3 mmHg). At 2 minutes, handgrip increased blood pressure on placebo (changes in SBP/DBP: 34/7 mmHg, p<0.001). However, in the presence of metoclopramide and metoclopramide plus labetalol, handdrip induced lesser increases in blood pressure (changes in SBP/DBP: 23/7 mmHg, p<0.01 and 18/4 mmHg, p<0.01, for metoclopramide and metoclopramide plus labetalol treatment, respectively. We conclude that: 1.- Metoclopramide lowers blood in hypertensive patients; 2.- Metoclopramide attenuates blood pressure response to isometric handgrip and; 3.- Both compouds, labetalol and metoclopramide, seem to have a pharmacological interaction conceming blood pressure decrease. It is suggested a clinical significance for the metoclopramide effect