Lead removal in rats using calcium alginate.

Lead (Pb) exposure, even at low levels, causes a variety of health problems. The aims of this study were to investigate the tissue distribution of lead in the bodies of rats, to evaluate lead removal from the internal organs and bones using calcium alginate in doses of 500, 200 and 100 mg/kg per day for 28 days and to assess the impact of calcium alginate on the level of essential elements. Lead (Pb), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels in the blood, hearts, kidneys, livers and femurs of the experimental animals were measured using mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma.

[Effect of carrageenan on non-specific resistance to LPS-induced endotoxemia in mice].

The study showed that kappa/lamda-carrageenan increase non-specific resistance to impact of Escherichia coli lypopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxinemia in mice. Carrageenan was administered intragastrically in dose 100 mg/kg/day during 5 days followed by intraperitoneal injection of LPS in dose 1 mg/kg. Carrageenan hampered the involution of thymus, hypertrophy of adrenal glands, the changes on level of thyroid hormones and corticosterone in serum, the activation of glycogenolysis, glycolysis, and peroxidation of lipids in liver.

Effect of zosterin on protein-synthesizing activity of hepatocytes.

The effect of zosterin (pectin polysaccharide) on the protein-synthesizing function of mouse liver cells was studied after its intragastric administration of 1% gel zosterin. The drug modified the morphology and function of the nucleolar apparatus by changing the number and summary area of the nucleoli, content of Ag proteins, nucleolar/nuclear ratio, and increased protein content in hepatocyte cytoplasm.