Increase in blood-brain barrier permeability by altitude decompression.

Previous studies indicated that exposure to compression-decompression increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to vital dyes and antibiotics. This report concerns functional and ultrastructural BBB changes induced by altitude decompression. A 2% trypan blue solution was intravenously injected (4 ml.

Increase of plasma renin activity in male and female rabbits subjected to dysbaric conditions.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may be implicated in hemodynamic alterations occurring in dysbaric disorders. This report concerns changes in plasma renin activity (PRA) induced by exposure of rabbits to a compression-decompression schedule that does not normally produce clinical manifestations of decompression sickness (DS). The results revealed a significant increase in PRA in 19 of 23 animals following dysbaric exposure.

Meiotic chromosomal changes and sterility produced by nitrogen mustard and procarbazine in mice.

Treatment and survival of reproductive-age patients with chemotherapy raises the question of possible effects on procreative ability. An attempt has been made to establish an animal model system. The anticancer agents nitrogen mustard and procarbazine caused decreased fertility in mice of both sexes and induced meiotic chromosomal abnormalities, at least in the male.

Amelioration of decompression sickness in mice by pretreatment with cyproheptadine.

Substances that stimulate smooth muscle have been previously implicated in the pathogenesis of decompression sickness. This concept was strongly supported by the demonstration that compounds that combine activities against histamine, bradykinin, and serotonin prevent or ameliorate decompression sickness. This communication deals with the prophylactic effect of cyproheptadine (Periactin), a drug exhibiting such pharmacologic properties.