Fate of orally administered radioactive fatty acids in the late-pregnant rat.

To investigate the biodisponibility of placental transfer of fatty acids, rats pregnant for 20 days were given tracer amounts of [(14)C]palmitic (PA), oleic (OA), linoleic (LA), α-linolenic (LNA), or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) orally and euthanized at 0.5, 1.0, 2.

Outcome of acute renal injury in diabetic mice with experimental endotoxemia: role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α.

The role of diabetic nephropathy in the outcome of acute renal injury (AKI) is not well defined. Herein we evaluate the outcome of lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced AKI in streptozotocin-induced diabetes, as well as the potential role of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF-1 α ) in this condition. Although 6 h after LPS injection all mice developed a decrease in renal function, proteinuric diabetic mice showed a better recovery of this parameter throughout the study (72 h).

Parathyroid hormone-related protein induces hypertrophy in podocytes via TGF-beta(1) and p27(Kip1): implications for diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Hypertrophy of podocytes is characteristic in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Previously, we observed the upregulation of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and its receptor PTH1R, in experimental DN, associated with renal hypertrophy. Herein, we test the hypothesis that PTHrP participates in the mechanism of high glucose (HG)-induced podocyte hypertrophy.

The parathyroid hormone-related protein system and diabetic nephropathy outcome in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The pathophysiology of the diabetic kidney (e.g., hypertrophy, increase urinary albumin excretion (UAE) is still ill-defined.

A practical approach to the molecular biology of kidney diseases: from basic science to bed side.

Nowadays, the term "Molecular Biology" (MB) is generally a pplied to the biochemical processes that involve genes and the expression of proteins for which specific genes code. In recent years, astonishing advances have occurred in this field. Currently, there are many important powerful techniques allowing scientists to study the molecular mechanisms involved in many human genetic diseases.

Treadmill training enhances glucose tolerance more in pregnant than in virgin rats.

To determine whether aerobic training throughout gestation modifies glucose tolerance, female Wistar rats were mated or kept nonpregnant and run or not on a 10 degrees slope treadmill for 5 days/week at 20 m/min, starting with a 20-min run, and with a progressive daily increase of 5 min, reaching a 75-min run on the 20th day of protocol or gestation. The exercise protocol did not modify food intake, maternal and fetal weights, litter size or blood lactic acid levels. The rise in blood glucose after an oral glucose load (2 g/kg body weight) did not differ between trained and untrained nonpregnant rats but was lower in trained than in untrained pregnant rats.

Aerobic exercise during pregnancy reverts maternal insulin resistance in rats.

Purpose And Methods: To determine whether pregnancy modifies the effect of aerobic exercise on insulin responsiveness, female rats were mated or kept nonpregnant and exercised or not on a treadmill (10 degrees slope, 20 m.min-1) 5 d.wk-1 during a 20-min period that was increased progressively up to 70 min on the 19th d.

Glucose and insulin tolerance tests in the rat on different days of gestation.

To study insulin/glucose relationship during gestation, rats were studied on days 6, 12, 15, 18, 20 or 21 of pregnancy and the results were compared to values in sex-matched virgin control rats. Blood glucose levels were decreased on days 20 and 21 of gestation whereas plasma insulin levels appeared decreased on days 6 and 12, unchanged on day 15 and enhanced on days 18, 20 and 21 of gestation. Total pancreas insulin content was already augmented on day 6 of gestation and continued to increase with gestational time.

Effect of starvation on lipoprotein lipase activity in different tissues during gestation in the rat.

This study was addressed to determine whether the tissue-specific LPL activity response to fasting differs between nonpregnant and pregnant rats over the course of pregnancy. Fed and 24-h fasted rats were studied at days 12, 15 or 20 of gestation and were compared to virgin controls. In fed rats at days 15 and 20 of gestation LPL activity decreased in lumbar adipose tissue and the heart and liver, and increased in mammary gland tissue.

Carbohydrate-lipid interactions during gestation and their control by insulin.

1. During the first two thirds of gestation, coinciding with a minimal accretion by the conceptus, the mother is in an anabolic state which is supported by her hyperphagia and the more efficient conservation of exogenous nutrients when she eats. During this phase maternal fat deposits are accumulated thanks to the enhancement in adipose tissue lipogenic and glycerologenic activity.

Seasonal changes in blood parameters in the bat species Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and miniopterus schreibersi.

Intersexual and seasonal comparisons of erythrocyte number, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentration were conducted for two old world temperate bats, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Miniopterus schreibersi. Both species had many small erythrocytes and elevated hemoglobin concentrations. Seasonal differences in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, and mean cell volume were found in each species.

Glucose tolerance tests during gestation in the unanesthetized rat.

To establish the temporal stages at which changes in insulin/glucose interactions may appear during gestation in the rat, unanesthetized animals were subjected to oral glucose tolerance tests (2 g glucose/kg) at days 15 and 21 of gestation and were compared to virgin female controls. On day 15 glucose tolerance is enhanced in the pregnant rat whereas plasma insulin levels are like those in control animals. On day 21 glucose tolerance does not differ between the two groups although insulin is higher in the pregnant animals.

Oxygen-binding properties of bat hemoglobins.

The functional properties of hemolysates from the bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Miniopterus schreibersi and Pipistrellus pipistrellus were studied at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C over the pH range 7.0-7.4.

Carcass and tissue fat content in the pregnant rat.

The present study in rats was aimed at determining the specific day of pregnancy on which maternal body fat accumulation starts and which tissues are involved. Most of the body weight increase at day 12 of gestation corresponded to conceptus-free maternal weight which progressively increased until the 19th day of gestation after which maternal weight stabilized and the rate of conceptus weight gain became maximal. Maternal carcass fat content progressively increased until day 18 of gestation, increased very markedly on day 19, stabilized between day 19 and 20 and then decreased on day 21.

Role of lipoprotein lipase activity on lipoprotein metabolism and the fate of circulating triglycerides in pregnancy.

The mechanism that induces maternal hypertriglyceridemia in late normal pregnancy, and its physiologic significance are reviewed as a model of the effects of sex steroids on lipoprotein metabolism. In the pregnant rat, maternal carcass fat content progressively increases up to day 19 of gestation, then declines at day 21. The decline may be explained by the augmented lipolytic activity in adipose tissue that is seen in late pregnancy in the rat.

Hematological data and hemoglobin components in bats (Vespertilionidae).

1. Statistically significant variations were observed in the RBC counts and Hb concentration in pregnant females of Pipistrellus pipistrellus. 2.

Body fat in pregnant rats at mid- and late-gestation.

Carcass fat content was estimated in fed 12- and 19-day pregnant rats and fed and 48 hour starved virgin females following both specific gravity determination and direct gravimetry of extracted lipids. No change in body fat accumulation was found in 12-day pregnant rats whereas in 19-day pregnant animals it increased significantly. A significant correlation was also found when the percentage of carcass fat was plotted against specific gravity considering values from all subjects.

Hemoglobin and oxygen: different affinities in two species of rodents (Mus musculus and Pitymys duodecimcostatus).

Five different hemoglobins have been demonstrated by polyacrylamide-gel disk electrophoresis in the species Mus musculus. Oxygen affinities of hemoglobin (P50) from Mus musculus and Pitymys duodecimcostatus hemolysates were determined at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C.

Effect of the hypothyroidism on the levels of different metabolites in pregnant rats.

The effect of gestational hypothyroidism on some maternal and foetal metabolites were studied on pregnant rats after 24 h fasting. Thyroidectomy induced a decrease in body weight in the pregnant rats. Their foetuses showed lower weights than the controls.

Hemoglobin components and plasma proteins in Pitymys duodecimcostatus.

Six different hemoglobins have been demonstrated by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis in a species of vole Pitymys duodecimcostatus. Plasma proteins of the Pitymys duodecimcostatus were analyzed by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and there was no significant difference with the electrophoretic patterns of the rat (Rattus norvegicus). The hematological values, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte number have been analyzed.