Anti-relapse properties of IDN 5082, a standardized extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza, in alcohol-preferring rats.

Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts have been reported to suppress acquisition and maintenance of alcohol drinking behavior in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. The present study investigated whether IDN 5082, a standardized extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza, was capable of preventing, in sP rats, the development of the so-called alcohol deprivation effect (ADE), i.e.

Modifying influence of fasting on liver hyperplasia induced by lead nitrate.

Previous studies by our laboratory have shown that lead nitrate when injected intravenously as a single dose to rats, induces a hyperplastic response in the liver. Liver hyperplasia was accompanied by an increase in cholesterol synthesis, an accumulation of cholesterol esters and by a stimulation of hexose-monophosphate (HMP) shunt enzyme activities. In the present report, hepatic DNA, mitotic index, cholesterol metabolism, as well as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) activities, were investigated during liver hyperplasia induced by lead in fasted rats.

Multiple molecular forms of rat liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase during liver hyperplasia induced by lead nitrate.

In the present study the three dimeric molecular forms of rat liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were investigated during liver hyperplasia induced by lead nitrate. An increase of band 3 and a concomitant decrease of band 1 was found, indicating that this proliferating process is characterized by a peculiar pattern in the distribution of liver G6PD activity. Since the same pattern was observed also in liver hyperplasia induced in fasted animals, a condition otherwise characterized by a shift towards band 1, we suggest that during proliferating processes the metabolic control normally exerted by fasting on the enzymatic activity is overcome.

Variations of serum lipoproteins during cell proliferation induced by lead nitrate.

In the present study serum lipoproteins were investigated during cell proliferation induced by a potent mitogen, lead nitrate. A strong decrease in HDL2 and a concomitant increase in HDL3 were observed in lead-treated rats. The recovery of normal lipoprotein pattern took place together with the regression of hyperplastic process.

Relationship between DNA and cholesterol synthesis in kidney after refeeding.

DNA and cholesterol synthesis were investigated in the kidneys of fasted-refed rats. Refeeding resulted in an increase in kidney DNA synthesis, as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation, starting at 72 h. The increase in DNA synthesis was accompanied by a stimulation of cholesterol synthesis, as measured by 14C-acetate incorporation into cholesterol.