Effects of purine nucleotide administration on purine nucleotide metabolism in brains of heroin-dependent rats

ABSTRACT Heroin is known to enhance catabolism and inhibit anabolism of purine nucleotides, leading to purine nucleotide deficiencies in rat brains. Here, we determined the effect of exogenous purine nucleotide administration on purine nucleotide metabolism in the brains of heroin-dependent rats. Heroin was administrated in increasing doses for 9 consecutive days to induce addiction, and the biochemical changes associated with heroin and purine nucleotide administration were compared among the treated groups. HPLC was performed to detect the absolute concentrations of purine nucleotides in the rat brain cortices. The enzymatic activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) in the treated rat cortices were analyzed, and qRT-PCR was performed to determine the relative expression of ADA, XO, adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (APRT), hypoxanthine-guaninephosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT), and adenosine kinase (AK). Heroin increased the enzymatic activity of ADA and XO, and up-regulated the transcription of ADA and XO. Alternatively, heroin decreased the transcription of AK, APRT, and HGPRT in the rat cortices. Furthermore, purine nucleotide administration alleviated the effect of heroin on purine nucleotide content, activity of essential purine nucleotide metabolic enzymes, and transcript levels of these genes. Our findings therefore represent a novel, putative approach to the treatment of heroin addiction.

Niveles aumentados de estrés oxidativo se asocian a disfunción endotelial periférica y respuesta vascular pulmonar disminuida frente a vasodilatadores en pacientes con hipertensión pulmonar / Increased oxidative stress are associated with peripheral endothelial dysfunction and diminished vascular response to vasodilators in pulmonary hypertensive patients

Introducción: La Hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HP) se caracteriza por remodelado vascular y disfunción endotelial. Evidencia experimental muestra que el estrés oxidativo juega un rol importante en la patogénesis de la HP. El rol del estrés oxidativo, su relación con la función endotelial periférica y con la respuesta vascular pulmonar a vasodilatadores en pacientes con HP no está aclarada. Objetivo: evaluar parámetros de estrés oxidativo y función endotelial periférica en pacientes con HP y estudiar su relación con la respuesta vascular pulmonar frente a vasodilatadores. Métodos: estudio transversal. Se incluyeron 14 pacientes con HP y 14 controles pareados por edad y sexo. En todos los sujetos se midieron: niveles plasmáticos de malondialdehido (MDA), superóxido dismutasa ligada a endotelio (eSOD) y xantino oxidasa (eXO). Vasodilatación dependiente de endotelio mediada por flujo en arteria braquial fue usada como marcador de función endotelial (FDD). Función ventricular derecha y reactividad del lecho vascular pulmonar frente a iloprost inhalado fueron evaluadas ecocardiográficamente en los pacientes con HP Resultados: Los pacientes con HP presentaron FDD disminuida versus los controles (2,8 +/- 0,6 vs 10,7 por ciento +/- 0,6, p< 0,01). Niveles de MDA y eXO aumentados (0,61 +/- 0,17 vs 0,34 +/- 0,15uM, p<0,01 y 0,039 +/- 0,005 vs 0,034 +/- 0,004 U/mL1, p=0,02 respectivamente) y actividad de eSOD disminuida (235,55 +/- 23 vs 461,41 +/- 33 ABC, p<0,01). Iloprost mejora significativamente el gasto cardíaco derecho y disminuye la resistencia vascular pulmonar en los pacientes con HP y este cambio se correlaciona con la actividad de eSOD (Rho: 0,61, p<0,01) y FDD (Rho: 0,63, p=0,01). Conclusiones: Pacientes con HP presentan parámetros de estrés oxidativo elevados y disfunción endotelial periférica La respuesta hemodinámica frente al uso de Iloprost se correlaciona con estos parámetros sugiriendo un rol en la HP cuyo valor clínico deberá ser evaluado.

Background: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling. Several lines of experimental evidence indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PAH. The role of oxidative stress and its relation with peripheral endothelial function and pulmonary vascular response to vasodilators remains unknown. Aim: To evaluate whether systemic oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction markers are associated with the response of the pulmonary vascular bed to inhaled vasodilators in PAH patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study Fourteen patients with PAH and 14 age and gender-matched controls were included. Systemic oxidative stress was assessed through plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), xanthine oxidase (eXO) levels and endothelial-bound superoxide dismutase (eSOD) activity Brachial artery endothelial-de-pendent flow-mediated vasodilation (FDD) was used to evaluate endothelial function. Right ventricular function and pulmonary vascular bed reactivity to inhaled vasodilators was determined with echocardiography in PAH patients. Results: Compared to controls, PAH patients showed impaired FDD (2.8 +/- 0.6 vs 10.7 percent +/- 0.6, p< 0.01), increased MDA and eXO levels (0.61 +/- 0.17 vs 0.34 +/- 0.15uM, p<0.01 and 0.039 +/- 0.005 vs 0.034 +/- 0.004 U/ mL1, p=0.02 , respectively) and decreased eSOD activity 235.55 +/- 23 vs 461.41 +/- 33 AUC, p<0.01). Iloprost significantly improved right cardiac output (RCO) and decreased pulmonary vascular resistance. The amount of change in RCO after iloprost inhalation correlated significantly with baseline eSOD activity and FDD (Rho: 0.61, p<0.01 and Rho: 0.63, p=0.01 respectively). Conclusions: PAH patients show increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction markers. Response to inhaled iloprost is closely related with baseline endothelial function and oxidative stress parameters, suggesting an important role of these elements that re...

The protective effect of methylene blue in lungs, small bowel and kidney after intestinal ischemia and reperfusion

PURPOSE: To study the role of methylene blue as an inhibitor of superoxide production by xanthine oxidase. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups of 16 animals: the control group and the experimental group. All were submitted to a laparotomy for the occlusion of the cranial mesenteric artery during 60 minutes. The reperfusion was confirmed by the pulsation of the artery after the release of the temporary ligature and color change of the intestines. In the animals of the control group, 2 ml of saline were injected in the peritoneal cavity and in the animals of the experimental group, 2 ml of methylene blue were injected in the peritoneal cavity. After reperfusion for 4 hours, the animals were then sacrificed. The lungs were excised from all 32 rats. Simultaneously, the small intestine and kidneys were ressected in 20 animals (10 from the control group and 10 from the experimental group). Samples of the organs were taken to evaluate the action of xanthine-oxidase, for histopathology studies and for characterization of the edema. RESULTS: In the animals of the experimental group, the inflammatory lesion as well as the edema in the lung was greater than in the control group. The intestinal and renal lesions were similar in both groups, but the lung damage was superior to that observed in the intestines and kidneys. . CONCLUSION: Despite similar action of the xanthine oxidase in the control and the experimental group, after intestinal ischemia and reperfusion, the protective effect of methylene blue was observed only in the lungs of the experimental group.

OBJETIVO: Estudar a ação do azul de metileno como supressor da produção de radicais livres de oxigênio, atuando como receptor alternativo de elétrons na enzima xantina-oxidase. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 32 ratos Wistar (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Rodentia mammalia) divididos em 2 grupos de 16 animais, os quais foram denominados grupos: experimento e controle. Todos os animais foram submetidos a laparotomia mediana e oclusão da artéria mesentérica cranial por 60 minutos. A reperfusão foi confirmada por meio da verificação do reaparecimento da pulsação da arcada mesentérica. Foi então administrado no grupo experimento 2 ml de azul de metileno 1 por cento intra-peritonealmente, enquanto que no grupo controle o mesmo volume de solução salina isotônica foi administrado pela mesma via. Após 4 horas de reperfusão, os animais foram sacrificados. Os pulmões foram ressecados nos 32 animais do estudo, ao passo que o intestino delgado e os rins em 20 animais (10 ratos do grupo controle e 10 ratos do grupo experimento). Amostras dos órgãos retirados foram obtidas para medição da xantina-oxidase, análise histopatológica e avaliação do edema. RESULTADOS: O dano pulmonar encontrado no grupo controle foi superior ao encontrado no grupo experimento. Observou-se uma maior formação de edema e uma maior atividade inflamatória nos pulmões do grupo controle. O dano intestinal e renal encontrado foi semelhante em ambos os grupos, mas não tão intenso quanto o dano pulmonar. A atividade da xantina-oxidase foi semelhante em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: A atividade protetora do azul de metileno foi evidenciada nos pulmões, todavia o mesmo efeito não foi demonstrado nos rins nem no intestino delgado.

Potency of Allium sativum and Allium cepa oils against Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice

It has been reported that garlic [Allium sativum] and onion [Allium cepa] are used all over the world in different diseases, such as infections, injuries, gastrointestinal dysfunctions and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, our aim in this work was to study the ability of garlic and onion oils to offset the infectivity as well as the metabolic disturbances induced by Schistosoma mansoni parasitism. The two current drugs were given in a dosage of 5ml / kg body weight/ day. Three aspects of drug action were investigated, the effect on S. mansoni infection, the effect on liver functions, and on liver metabolism. The parasitological investigation included worm burden and ova count. Serum biochemical analysis of infected mice revealed a significant increase in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], acid phosphatase [AP], while a decrease in glucose, total lipids total cholesterol, high - and low- density lipoproteins cholesterol [HDL and LDL], triglycerides, total proteins and albumin was observed. Liver tissue analysis of infected animals showed a marked increase in L- hydroxyproline [HP] concentration and xanthine oxidase [XO] activity accompanied with a reduction in total adenosinetriphosphatase [ATPase] and phosphofructokinase [PFK] enzymatic activities. Treatment with either garlic or onion oils greatly normalized liver function enzymes and variably improved the other parameters with a noticeable reduction in worm burden and ova count. It could be concluded that garlic or onion may play a role against the metabolic disturbances caused by S. mansoni infection, owing to an effect which may be induced by improving the immunological host system and their antioxidant activities

The protective effect of allopurinol on cholestatic liver injury induced by bile duct ligation

To determine whether oxygen free radicals are responsible for the pathogenesis of the cholestasis induced by ligation of common bile duct (CBD) variables which reflect the hepatic function in the serum, the amount of superoxide radical production, and xanthine oxidase(XO) activity were studied. The activity of serum alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin level in the serum and the amount of superoxide radical production were lower in a CBD ligation with allopurinol treated group than in a CBD ligation without allopurinol treated group. Abnormalities of the microscopic structures were reduced in a CBD ligation with allopurinol treated group than in a CBD ligation without allopurinol treated group. Allopurinol, an inhibitor of XO, prevented the hepatic damage induced by CBD ligation through the inhibition of XO. These experiments demonstrate that oxygen free radicals are responsible for the pathogenesis of the cholestatic liver.

Enzimas y metabolitos purínicos durante el embarazo / Purine metablic enzymes during of pregnancy

Se estudia el metabolismo purínico en 64 mujeres, 48 embarazadas y 16 no embarazadas. Los resultados se confrontaron estadísticamente y se concluye que: no se observa actividad de guanasa, a diferencia del suero, en saliva de mujeres embarazadas o no embarazadas. Las oxipurinas, xantina + hipoxantina, salivales, aumentan progresivamente durante el embarazo, siendo los valores más significativos en el 3er. trimestre. El ácido úrico sérico y salival, y la xantina oxidasa salival, disminuyen progresivamente durante la gestación, observando los valores más significativos en el 3er. trimestre. Se establecen los valores normales de xantina oxidasa, oxipurinas y ácido úrico en la saliva de las mujeres estudiadas.