Effect of K, MG aspartate on some biological parameters of aging rats.

The effect of K and Mg salts of aspartic acid (Cardilan) on the serum concentration of selected proteins and phagocytic activity in aging male Wistar rats was investigated. Cardilan was administered in tap water for 7 days a month for 3 months before the last observed interval (12, 18 and 24 month). In a part of animals, the aging process was accelerated by sublethally gamma-irradiation. The administration of Cardilan slowed down the changes in the concentration of prealbumin, albumin, haptoglobin, haemopexin, C3 complement in non-irradiated rats (DC). This effect was extended to the changes in transferrin level in irradiated rats (IDC). The phagocytic activity in both DC, IDC rats was lower compared with controls drinking water (DW, IDW), but not significantly. The effect of Cardilan administration appears to be the greatest in 24-month-old rats, when the treated animals survived better by 25% in IDC group and by 26% better in DC rats, compared with those of the same age controls. Potassium and magnesium salts of aspartates are suitable compounds for life prolongation in the experimental conditions.

Favourable effect of K, Mg aspartate on serum proteins in aging rats.

The serum concentration of individual proteins in aging rats was studied. We have made an attempt to slow down the changes in concentration occurring in rats from 5 up to 17 months of age by application of aspartate given in drinking water containing 500 mg% of monopotassium DL asparagicum and 500 mg% of monomagnesium D,L asparagicum. The solution was administered continuously for 14 days a month for 1 year. In a part of animals, the aging process was accelerated by ionizing radiation with a single dose of 4.0 Gy. We found out that administration of aspartate caused slowing of changes in concentration of all proteins observed (prealbumin, albumin, A1-globulin, haptoglobin and hemopexin) in non-irradiated and prealbumin, albumin, A1-globulin in irradiated rats in comparison with the values of proteins in rats drinking water only. The preparation did not influence more significantly the changes in the serum concentration of haptoglobin and hemopexin in rats whose aging was accelerated by radiation. A favourable effect of the preparation used manifested also in the values of survival, because the animals protected with K, Mg aspartate survived by 25-30% longer.

Changes of the peripheral blood picture after combined neutron and gamma irradiation.

Changes of the peripheral blood picture of rats irradiated with a single dose of 2 Gy of neutrons were followed in comparison with a group of rats irradiated with a single dose of 2 Gy of neutrons followed by continuous gamma irradiation (daily dose rate 0.574 Gy, total dose 6 Gy). The decisive factor for the organism damage was the single 2 Gy neutron dose. The subsequent continuous gamma irradiation retarded the reparation of the peripheral blood elements.

Serum proteins in rats after combined neutron and gamma irradiation.

Quantitative changes of some selected serum proteins in rats irradiated with a single dose of 2 Gy neutrons were compared with protein changes in rats irradiated with an equal single neutron dose and subsequent continuous gamma irradiation using daily dose rate of 0.574 Gy up to the total dose of 6 Gy. On the basis of the values obtained from the diagrams of two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis it was found that both irradiations entailed approximately equal quantitative changes of the serum concentrations of the proteins followed. The differences found concerned time intervals of the adjustment of the changes produced. After neutron irradiation reparation of the serum albumin occurred on 14th day, of A1-globulin concentrations on 28th day and of haptoglobin on 90th day, yet after combined neutron and gamma irradiation reparation of the changes in albumin on 15th and A1-globulin occurred on 40th day and in haptoglobin only on 100th day after neutron irradiation.

The effect of indomethacin on serum proteins in continuously irradiated rats.

Changes in serum albumin, A1-globulin, A1-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, hemopexin, and ceruloplasmin concentration in rats irradiated continuously with a daily dose of 2.055 Gy up to a total dose of 14.385 Gy of gamma rays after peroral indomethacin administration were followed by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. The use of indomethacin evoked a beneficial response particularly in the serum concentration of albumin, A1-globulin, and A1-macroglobulin on the 21st day after irradiation. In contrast with the concentrations in the irradiated control group, protein values in rats treated with indomethacin were less reduced. We did not observed significant differences between the serum concentration of haptoglobin, hemopexin, and ceruloplasmin of irradiated, indomethacin-treated and irradiated control, up to the 58th day after irradiation.

Serum proteins in rats irradiated continuously over a long period at diminishing radiation dose rates.

The authors studied changes in serum protein concentrations in rats exposed 10 days to continuous irradiation at progressively diminishing dose rates imitating the radioactive decay of a fissile mixture, up to a total dose of 9 Gy, both during and up to 240 days after discontinuing irradiation. The prealbumin concentration (from the 6th day) and the A1-globulin concentration (from the 1st day) fell to 70% during irradiation. Afterwards, the A1-globulin level fell significantly up to the 28th day and then, from the 60th to the 240th day, rose again. During irradiation the serum haptoglobin concentration rose significantly from the 1st to the 10th day and the ceruloplasmin concentration on the 10th day. An increase in both protein concentrations (to 172% and 190%) was also observed on the 14th postirradiation day, after which the serum haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and A1M concentration fell abruptly up to the 60th day.

Character of changes in the serum proteins of continuously irradiated rats.

Using quantitative two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis, the authors studied, at various intervals, changes in the serum prealbumin, albumin, A1-globulin A1-macroglobulin (A1M), haptoglobin, haemopexin, transferrin, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and C3 component of complement in rats irradiated continuously with daily input doses of 957 mGy, 1,914 mGy and 3,828 mGy up to the lethal dose. During irradiation with these inputs, the prealbumin, albumin, A1-globulin, A1M, transferrin, IgG and C3 levels fell while the serum haptoglobin and haemopexin concentration rose.

Identification of A1 macroglobulin and A2 macroglobulin in rat serum by a two-dimensional quantitative immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel.

A1 macroglobulin was identified in rat serum by a two-dimensional quantitative immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel containing monovalent anti-A1M rat serum. A second serum macroglobulin A2M antigenically related to A1M was identified in turpentine-stimulated or irradiated rats.

Effect of magnitude of daily continuous radiation dose on serum proteins and survival in rats.

Changes in serum prealbumin, A1-macroglobulin, transferrin, and complement levels were studied in rats irradiated with daily doses of 100R (0.0258 C/kg), 200R (0.0516 C/kg) and 400R (0.1032 C/kg) until death. The daily dose of 100R applied for 39 days produced no changes in prealbumin and transferrin and a rise in the levels of A1-macroglobulin and complement. Shortly before death, i.e., between 39 and 44 days of irradiation, the levels of all four patients dropped. Daily doses of 200 and 400R caused a reduction in the levels of all four proteins since the very beginning. The LD 50 was 4 270R (1.1017 C/kg) at 100R/day, 4 060 R (1.0475 C/kg) at 200R/day, and 4 520 R (1.1342 C/kg) at 400R/day.

Determination of protein levels by quantitative immunoelectrophoresis in rats subjected to continuous irradiation.

Changes in the concentration of some serum proteins are determined by quantitative two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis in rats subjected to continuous irradiation with 400R/day for 11 days. At this dose rate albumin levels were decreased by 36% and IGG levels by 70% in comparison with the control (C2) values. The concentration of haptoglobin, haemopexin and caeruloplasmin was increased by 75-140% on day 10 as compared with the control (C2) values.