Sport activities for children and adolescents: the Position of the European Academy of Paediatrics and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians 2023-Part 1. Pre-participation physical evaluation in young athletes.

The European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP) emphasize the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles within the pediatric population. Many health professionals have questions concerning adequate levels of physical activity for both the healthy pediatric population and for those who may have specific complications. Unfortunately, the academic literature that provides recommendations for participation in sport activities within the pediatric population that have been published during the last decade in Europe is limited and is mainly dedicated to specific illnesses or advanced athletes and not toward the general population. The aim of part 1 of the EAP and ECPCP position statement is to assist healthcare professionals in implementing the best management strategies for a pre-participation evaluation (PPE) for participation in sports for individual children and adolescents. In the absence of a uniform protocol, it is necessary to respect physician autonomy for choosing and implementing the most appropriate and familiar PPE screening strategy and to discuss the decisions made with young athletes and their families. This first part of the Position Statement concerning Sport Activities for Children and Adolescents is dedicated to healthy young athletes.

Salsolinol-neurotoxic or Neuroprotective?

Salsolinol (6,7-dihydroxy-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline), widely available in many edibles, is considered to alter the function of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system and thus, multiple hypotheses on its either physiological and/or pathophysiological role have emerged. The aim of our work was to revisit its potentially neurotoxic and/or neuroprotective role through a series of both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Salsolinol in the concentration range 10-250 µM did not show any significant release of lactate dehydrogenase from necrotic SH-SY5Y cells and was able in the concentration of 50 and 100 µM to rescue SH-SY5Y cells from death induced by H2O2. Its neuroprotective effect against neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine was also determined. Salsolinol was found to decrease significantly the reactive oxygen species level in SH-SY5Y cells treated by 500 µM H2O2 and the caspase activity induced by 300 µM of H2O2 or 100 µM of 6-hydroxydopamine. Serum levels of TNFα and CRP of salsolinol-treated rats were not significantly different from control animals. Both TNFα and CRP served as indirect markers of neurotoxicity and/or neuroprotection. Although the neurotoxic properties of salsolinol have numerously been emphasized, its neuroprotective properties should not be neglected and need greater consideration.

Chronic Isolation Stress Affects Subsequent Crowding Stress-Induced Brain Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) Isoforms and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis Responses.

The nitric oxide (NO) pathway in the brain is involved in response to psychosocial stressors. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of nNOS and iNOS in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HIP), and hypothalamus (HYPO) during social isolation stress (IS), social crowding stress (CS), and a combined IS + CS. In the PFC, 3 days of CS increased iNOS but not nNOS protein level. In the HIP and HYPO, the levels of nNOS and iNOS significantly increased after 3 days of CS. In the PFC, IS alone (11 days) enhanced iNOS protein level following 3 days of CS and increased nNOS level in the HIP and HYPO after 14 days of CS. By contrast, in the HIP, IS abolished the subsequent CS-induced increase in nNOS in the HIP and strongly elevated iNOS level after 7 days of CS. In the HYPO, prior IS inhibited nNOS protein level induced by subsequent CS for 3 days, but increased nNOS protein level after longer exposure times to CS. Isolation stress strongly upregulated plasma interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels while corticosterone (CORT) level declined. We show that the modulatory action of the NO pathway and ACTH/CORT adaptation to chronic social isolation stress is dependent on the brain structure and nature and duration of the stressor. Our results indicate that isolation is a robust natural stressor in social animals; it enhances the NO pathway in the PFC and abolishes subsequent social CS-induced NOS responses in the HIP and HYPO.

Asthma and exercise-induced respiratory disorders in athletes. The position paper of the Polish Society of Allergology and Polish Society of Sports Medicine.

Exercise-induced respiratory symptoms describe acute airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise. It includes exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and exercise-induced asthma (EIA) issues. To provide clinicians with practical guidelines, a multidisciplinary panel of stakeholders was convened to review the pathogenesis of EIB/EIA and to develop evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of EIB were developed. High-intensity exercise in polluted environment (cold air, humidity, contamination, allergens) may increase the risk of EIB and asthma symptoms in athletes. Diagnostic procedures should include history taking, physical examination, atopy assessment and functional tests of the respiratory system. A strong recommendation was made for regular use of inhaled glucocorticosteroids and avoidance of short-acting ß2-agonists as the only treatment. The treatment of asthma in athletes should always take into account current anti-doping regulations. This position paper reflects the currently available evidence.

Salsolinol: an Unintelligible and Double-Faced Molecule-Lessons Learned from In Vivo and In Vitro Experiments.

Salsolinol (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) is a tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative whose presence in humans was first detected in the urine of Parkinsonian patients on L-DOPA (L-dihydroxyphenylalanine) medication. Thus far, multiple hypotheses regarding its physiological/pathophysiological roles have been proposed, especially related to Parkinson's disease or alcohol addiction. The aim of this review was to outline studies related to salsolinol, with special focus on in vivo and in vitro experimental models. To begin with, the chemical structure of salsolinol together with its biochemical implications and the role in neurotransmission are discussed. Numerous experimental studies are summarized in tables and the most relevant ones are stressed. Finally, the ability of salsolinol to cross the blood-brain barrier and its possible double-faced neurobiological potential are reviewed.

Chronic social isolation in adaptation of HPA axis to heterotypic stress.

BACKGROUND: Social crowding and isolation are recognized as major stressors and risk factors for development of psychiatric disorders. Chronic isolation stress (IS) and crowding stress (CS) activate neuroendocrine and neurochemical mechanisms, that activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Changes of the plasma level of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), ACTH and corticosterone (CORT) after chronic psychosocial IS and CS were investigated. METHODS: Control rats were kept 5 per cage and not stressed. Stressed groups were subjected to either CS for 3, 7, 14days+restraint stress (RS) or IS for (11days) before this treatment was applied. Crowded rats were remained (24 in one cage) and RS rats were restrained for 10min. Total CORT, ACTH and IL-1ß levels were measured using commercially available kits. RESULTS: Social CS for 3days significantly increased plasma IL-1ß level. Social IS increased plasma IL-1ß level after longer period of subsequent CS 7 and 14days, than ACTH and CORT, after 3 and 7days. Prior IS significantly increased plasma IL-1ß level induced by subsequent combined CS for 3days+acute RS, but significantly or totally inhibited the acute stress-induced increase of plasma IL-1ß level after 7 and 14days of combined stress. IS, by contrast, strongly inhibited the increase of plasma ACTH and CORT level induced by combined CS+acute RS. CONCLUSION: Chronic IS augments the changes of IL-1ß level induced by a longer crowding period than ACTH and CORT. Modulatory action of IL-1ß and pituitary-adrenocortical hormones adaptation to chronic social stress is asynchronous.

The effect of peripheral chronic salsolinol administration on fat pad adipocytes morphological parameters.

Salsolinol (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) is thought to regulate dopaminergic neurons and to act as a mediator in the neuroendocrine system. We have previously reported that exogenous salsolinol evokes enteric neuronal cell death, leading to the impairment of myenteric neurons density and abnormal intestinal transit in rats. We also observed significant reduction of body weight, related to the disrupted gastrointestinal homeostasis. e aim of current study was to evaluate the influence of prolonged salsolinol administration body weight, food intake, adipose tissue accumulation and fad pad adipocyte morphological parameters assessed by image analysis. Male Wistar rats were subjected to continuous intraperitoneal low dosing of salsolinol - 200 mg/kg in total with ALZET osmotic mini-pumps (Durtec, USA) for 2 or 4 weeks with either normal or high-fat diet. Appropriate groups served as the controls. Food intake, body weight were measured each morning. Both epididymal fat pads were dissected, weighted and processed for routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. e following parameters: cell area, perimeter, long and short axis, aspect ratio and circularity factor were assessed in stained specimens with the image analysis system (Multiscan, Poland). Salsolinol administration significantly reduced total body mass with no differences in total food intake between the groups. The epididymal fat pad weight over final body mass ratio was lower in salsolinol treated rats on high fat diet in comparison with the control groups. e area, perimeter, short and long axis of the fad pad adipocytes were significantly decreased in salsolinol treated animals in comparison with relevant controls. Salsolinol targets some regulatory mechanisms concerned with the basic rat metabolism. Prolonged peripheral salsolinol administration in rats significantly decreases the adipocyte size, and such effect is related to the weight loss and reduced adipose tissue accumulation.

Nutritional parameters and carbohydrate and fat metabolism after prolonged salsolinol administration in rats fed normal or high-fat diets.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have reported that exogenous salsolinol might contribute to myenteric cell death and altered gastrointestinal motility. Because the entire gut mucosal, entero-endocrine and motor functions are integrated by the enteric nervous system, the aim of the present study was to investigate if prolonged intraperitoneal salsolinol administration alters basic metabolism and nutritional parameters in adult Wistar rats fed normal or high-fat diets. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were subjected to continuous intraperitoneal low dosing of salsolinol with ALZET osmotic mini-pumps for 2 or 4 weeks and fed either a normal or high-fat diet. Appropriate groups served as the controls. Nutritional status (food intake, body weight, and epididymal fat pads weight), residual solid food in the stomach and biochemical parameters (GIP, GLP-1, CRF, glucose, TG, LDL, HDL) were assessed. RESULTS: Prolonged salsolinol treatment significantly reduced total body mass and adipose tissue accumulation. The effects were more pronounced in the salsolinol-treated rats fed a high-fat diet. In salsolinol-treated rats, serum postprandial GIP levels were elevated, and serum postprandial GLP-1 levels were lower compared with the appropriate controls. CONCLUSIONS: Salsolinol might influence the regulatory mechanisms of body weight and epididymal fat pad accumulation through neurohormonal pathways.

Neuropathic alterations of the myenteric plexus neurons following subacute intraperitoneal administration of salsolinol.

INTRODUCTION: Impairment of the enteric nervous system has been suggested to occur within the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, in the current study, we consider salsolinol (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, SAL) as a substance that can potentially induce myenteric neurodegen-eration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were subjected to continuous intraperitoneal dosing of salsolinol (200 mg/kg in total) with osmotic mini-pumps for either two or four weeks. An equivalent group of rats served as the control. Jejunal myenteric neurons were subjected to immunofluorescence staining to detect neuron specific protein - protein gene product (pan-neuronal marker, PGP 9.5), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), Bax-protein and alpha-synuclein. In search of any functional impairment within the gastrointestinal tract, gut motility was assessed by determining the residual solid food contents in the stomach and the small and large intestine transit. RESULTS: The myenteric neuron count, the mean size of the neuron body, the area of ganglia and the diameter of nerve strands were decreased in both of the salsolinol-treated groups compared with the controls. The number of NOS-positive cells was lower in the salsolinol-treated groups, while the number of ChAT-positive cells remained unchanged in comparison with the controls. Neurons expressing the pro-apoptotic Bax protein and alpha-synuclein deposits were observed among the myenteric neurons of the salsolinol-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: Salsolinol evokes enteric neuronal cell death via initiation of apoptosis and leads to the formation of pathological aggregates of alpha-synuclein. Impairment of myenteric neurons, mainly the inhibitory motor neurons, might be responsible for the abnormal intestinal transit. Thus, salsolinol might be regarded as a suitable compound for inducing experimental enteric neurodegeneration in rats.

Electrical chronic vagus nerve stimulation activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in rats fed high-fat diet.

OBJECTIVES: The brain and the gut communicate bi-directionally through the brain-gut axis. The key role in such interactions plays autonomic nervous system and its major component, the vagus nerve. There is growing evidence that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has a suppressive effect on both short- and long-term feeding in animal models. In the present study, we investigated the effect of VNS on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, feeding behavior and appetite in rats fed a high-fat diet. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were implanted with a microstimulator (MS) and fed a high-fat diet throughout the study (42 days). The left vagus nerve was stimulated subdiaphragmatically by electrical pulses (10 ms, 200 mV, 1 Hz or 10 Hz respectively, 12 h a day) generated by the MS. Daily food intake and body weight were measured. At the end of the experiment, animals were euthanized and serum corticosterone levels were assessed by immunoassays. Adipose tissue content was evaluated by measuring epididymal fat pads' weight. To determine whether VNS activated food-related areas of the brain, neuronal c-Fos induction in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) was assessed. RESULTS: Chronic VNS decreased food intake, body weight gain and epididymal fat pad weight in stimulated animals compared to control animals. Serum corticosterone concentrations were significantly elevated following VNS, and neuronal responses in the NTS were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that chronic electrical VNS exerts anorexigenic effects on food intake and body weight gain, and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis activation may contribute to these effects.

Elevated interleukin-1ß serum level after chronic peripheral salsolinol administration.

The catechol isoquinoline derivatives are endogenous compounds present in the mammalian brain and the representative one is referred to as salsolinol. It may be formed from aromatic amines leading to neurotoxic N-methyltetrahydroquinolinium ions that may play a role in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Neuroinflammation and apoptosis is thought to be a major contributor to the neuronal degeneration in PD. The alteration of inflammatory cytokines in the brain, cerebral spinal fluid and plasma of PD patients supports the existence of functional interconnections between the immune and nervous systems. In animal studies, chronic administration of salsolinol induced parkinsonian-like symptoms, both peripherally and centrally. However, still little has been known about the effects of salsolinol on the pro-inflammatory cytokine production or mast cells activation in the gastrointestinal tract. Male Wistar rats were subjected to continuous intraperitoneal dosing of salsolinol (200 mg/kg in total) with osmotic mini-pumps for two or four weeks and fed with either standard or high fat diet. An equivalent group of rats served as the appropriate controls. At the end of the experiment animals were decapitated and blood samples as well as tissue fragments were collected. Serum samples were assayed immunoenzymatically for IL-11ß and by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for histamine. Tissue fragments from gastric antrum, duodenum and proximal colon were formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded and stained with either hematoxylin and eosin or toluidine blue. Once activated, mast cells might secrete a range of neurosensitizing and pro-inflammatory molecules, increasing gut-blood and blood-brain barrier permeability. Cytokines mediate the activity of immune cells and may affect brain neurochemistry. The results of the present work serve as an additional support for the existence of an interrelationship between the nervous and immune system.

[Identification of the effects of certain determinants on the results of pension prevention in the locomotor dysfunction]. / Identyfikacja wplywu niektórych uwarunkowan na wyniki prewencji rentowej w dysfunkcjach narzadu ruchu.

BACKGROUND: A large group of patients of Ladek Zdrój spa consists of people with disabilities confirmed by objective tests performed under the pension prevention program of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). The purpose of disability prevention is to improve the health conditions to the extent required to continue work. The aim of the study was to identify the differences in the assessment of the treatment and its results between patients referred by the Social Insurance Institution and by the National Health Fund (NFZ). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 780 people referred to the spa treatment because of different locomotor dysfunctions participated in a questionnaire-based voluntary anonymous survey. The control group consisted of 215 persons with similar illnesses referred by the National Health Fund. The questionnaire included nine specific questions concerning important socio-medical issues of spa rehabilitation. RESULTS: Following the mathematical analysis, the survey data, presented in the percentage form in 10 tables, allowed us to identify differences in the evaluation of treatment of patients referred by ZUS and NFZ. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory results of rehabilitation were reported more often by patients referred by NFZ than by those treated under the ZUS disability prevention program. The latter group of patients frequently reported anger, fear or despair associated with rehabilitation declaring at the same time active participation in the treatment process. This observation provides evidence that the pension prevention based on the holistic model, preferred by the Social Insurance Institution, is more useful.

The influence of salsolinol on basic rat metabolism.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with a broad spectrum of non-motor symptoms, which are poorly understood and foremost, may precede motor impairment. These symptoms include weight changes and gastrointestinal dysregulation. In our experiment, we applied salsolinol given peripherally and continuously in rats to induce changes in the enteric nervous system, which might be similar to those observed in PD patients. Surprisingly, we noted decrease in body weight and alteration in body fat contents of the animals during salsolinol exposure. The blood glucose levels, lipid profile and hepatic enzymes levels were assessed as well. While lipid profile, postprandial blood glucose and hepatic enzymes levels remained indifferent, postprandial triglyceridemia was significantly lower in all salsolinol-treated rats in comparison with the control, which might be related to disturbed absorption. We also suggest that diminished body weight gain and lower adipose tissue accumulation in salsolinol-treated animals were due to delayed gastric emptying together with disturbed gut function resulting in absorptive dysfunction.

Is the vagus nerve stimulation a way to decrease body weight in humans?

Obesity and its complications constitute an important health problem in growing number of people. Behavioral and pharmacological treatment is not much effective and surgical treatment carries too many threats. Promising method to be used is pharmacological or electric manipulation of vagus nerves. Regulation of food intake and energy utilization is a complex process regulated by centers in hypothalamus and brainstem which are receiving information from the peripheral via afferent neural pathways and sending peripherally adequate instructions by efferent neural pathways. In these signals conduction an important role plays vagus nerve. Additionally central nervous system stays under influence of endocrine, paracrine and neuroendocrine signals taking part in these regulations, functioning directly onto the centre or on the afferent neural endings. 80-90% fibers of vagus nerve are afferent fibers, so their action is mainly afferent, but possible contribution of the efferent fibers cannot be excluded. Efferent stimulation induces motility and secretion in the intestinal tract. Afferent unmyelinated C-type fibres of the vagus nerve are more sensitive and easily electrically stimulated. Information from vagus nerve is transmitted to nucleus tractus solitarius, which has projections to nucleus arcuate of the medio-basal hypothalamus, involved in the control of feeding behavior. It is suggested, that interaction onto the vagus nerve (stimulation or blocking) can be an alternative for other ways of obesity treatment. Through the manipulation of the vagus nerve activity the goal is achieved by influence on central nervous system regulating the energy homeostasis.

Chronic vagus nerve stimulation reduces body fat, blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rats fed a high-fat diet.

There is growing evidence that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) exerts a suppressive effect on both short- and long-term feeding in animal models. We previously showed that VNS with high-frequency (10 Hz) electrical impulses decreased food intake and body weight in rats. In the present study, we investigated the effect of VNS with a low frequency (1 Hz) on the serum lipid concentrations, feeding behavior and appetite in rats fed a high-fat diet. The levels of appetite-regulating peptides were also assessed. Adult male Wistar rats were subcutaneously implanted with a microstimulator (MS) and fed a high-fat diet throughout the entire study period (42 days). The left vagus nerve was stimulated subdiaphragmatically by rectangular electrical pulses (10 ms, 200 mV, 1 Hz, 12 h a day) generated by the MS. The daily food intake and body weight were measured each morning. At the end of the experiments, the serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins, ghrelin, leptin and nesfatin-1 concentrations were measured. The adipose tissue content was evaluated by the assessment of the weight of the epididymal fat pads. Chronic VNS significantly decreased food intake, body weight gain and epididymal fat pad weight. VNS also lowered the total plasma cholesterol concentrations and triglyceride levels. Finally, the serum concentrations of nesfatin-1 were elevated, leptin levels were decreased, and ghrelin levels remained unchanged after VNS. The study demonstrates that chronic electrical VNS exerts anorexigenic effects, lowering the blood concentration of lipids. Increased nesfatin-1 levels may contribute to these effects.

[Electric activity of vagus nerve in rats according to satiety]. / Aktywnosc elektryczna nerwu blednego u szczurów w zaleznosci od stopnia sytosci.

Vagus nerve as a part of brain-gut axis transmits peripheral information to the brain via vagovagal reflexes. Electric properties of the vagus are not exactly known. Analysis of electric changes in vagal nerves evoked by physiologic impulse such as stomach distention by food would facilitate applying better documented and therefore safer vagal neuromodulation. The aim of our study was analysis and interpretation of electric properties of the left vagus in vivo in fasted and satiated Wistar rats. Silver measuring electrodes connected to analog amplifier (A-M Systems 3000) were attached to the nerve in the neck region. The signal was filtered and probing by computer recording system (ADInstruments Power Lab) and additional analyses were performed using GNU Octave programme. Our resuts have shown that the higher amplitude the smaller number of counted impulses in the vagus was detected. This relationship was true only till the maximum level typical for each recording (about 15-20 dB). We note that observed inter spike interval can be approximated with log-normal distribution, and that its mu parameter is enough to characterize a particular recording. Satiated rats were characterized by higher number of spikes per second in the nerve than fasted ones (0.9 vs 0.26) indicating that food intake increased nervous activity 3-4 times comparing to fasted state. The outcomes encourage us to state that good quality characteristic of the left vagus nerve activity provides an effective tool for detection of peripheral signals which are transmitting via vagal afferents to the higher centres. Target vagal neuromodulation to obtain certain terapeutic effects may be possible.

Increased c-Fos expression in nodose ganglion in rats with electrical vagus nerve stimulation.

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system receives information from the gut and modifies food intake mainly by vagus nerves. Some our data show that long-term electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), which "mimics" satiety signal from gut, may cause reduction of body mass and decrease in food intake. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of chronic vagal stimulation on neurons in the nodose ganglions of vagus nerves, analyzed by c-Fos expression and image analysis. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n = 24) were implanted with microstimulator (MS) and kept during the whole study (3 months) on high calorie diet. Sub-diaphragmatic left vagal nerve was stimulated by electrical rectangular pulses duration 10 ms, amplitude 200 mV, frequency 0.05 Hz generated by MS. Twelve rats (6--control and 6--MS implanted) were used for 3-week and 3-month experiments respectively. At the end of experiments the nodose ganglions of both vagus nerves (left and right) were taken, formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens were made. The nodose ganglions neurons were identified by immunochemistry (PGP 9.5 as a marker) and the percentage of c-Fos positive neurons (anti c-Fos as a marker) were evaluated. RESULTS: Assessment of c-Fos positive neurons in nodose ganglia of vagal nerve showed significant increase in percentage of positive cells in the left nodose ganglion (4.19%) and non significant in the right nodose ganglion (2.64 %) compared to control (1.44%) in 3-week experiment. Data obtained from 3-month experiment were similar: (4.97%; 2.66% and 1.68%) for left, right and control respectively. In both experiments number of c-Fos positive neurons was higher in left vagal ganglion compared to the right ganglion and control. There were no significant differences between 3-week and 3-month experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increase in c-Fos expression in left nodose ganglion neurons confirms the afferent transmission of the signal (generated by MS) from periphery to the brain by the vagal nerves.

The effects of salsolinol on the mucosal mast cells in the rat gut.

Mast cells in the gastrointestinal tract have been found in close spatial contact with the regulatory cells of gastrointestinal motility: interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and myenteric neurons, suggesting their functional interaction. Because of the regulatory role of mast cells even the slight damage or change in activity of these cells may cause considerable disorder of the gut motility. The catechol isoquinoline derivatives are endogenous compounds present in the mammalian brain and the representative one is referred to as salsolinol. Increased salsolinol levels are detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson's disease patients. Gastrointestinal dysmotility in those patients has been associated with peripheral action of salsolinol. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of exogenous salsolinol on mast cells in the gastrointestinal tract of rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 8) were injected intraperitoneally with salsolinol (50 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks and the equal group served as a control. On the last day the animals were sacrificed, stomachs, small and large intestines were removed, and paraffin embedded specimens were prepared. Slides were toluidine blue stained and the total number and percentage of degranulated mast cells in gastric antral, duodenal and ascending colon wall were assessed by image analysis. The number of mast cells in the gastrointestinal wall was decreased in the salsolinol group compared to the control--in the stomach 98.7 +/- 53.3 vs. 156.7 +/- 45.8, in the duodenum 2.6 +/- 2.1 vs. 7.83 +/- 7.8 and in colon 12.8 +/- 14 vs. 10.7 +/- 17.1 (salsolinol treated vs. control group). Carried out examinations showed the destructive action of salsolinol on the mast cells in all segments examined of gastrointestinal tract.

[Cytological changes in bronchial lavage in silica exposure rats]. / Ocena cytologiczna popluczyn oskrzelowych w eksperymentalnej pylicy krzemowej u szczurów.

Exposure to inorganic dust containing silica particles leads to severe lung dysfunction. In order to evaluate the development of the early changes in pneumoconiosis the studies in rats were performed. Rats were instilled with silica and especially prepared coal dust by tracheal insuflation. After 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 10 weeks bronchial lavage was performed and the cells obtained were examined. The lung tissue samples were taken for histological evaluation. To assess the macrophages activity the nitro blue tetrazolium test (NBT-test) was performed. In the groups studied the differences in cell count and populations were found, especially in the monocytes and macrophages group of cells.