Enzymatic activities in brains of diabetic rats treated with vanadyl sulphate and sodium tungstate.

The hypothesis of the present study was that diabetes mellitus might affect brain metabolism. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, treated with vanadyl sulphate (V) and sodium tungstate (T) were employed to observe the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine kinase (CK) activities in brain homogenates. Significant increases in AST, ALT and CK activities were found in diabetic brain homogenates against controls, suggesting increments of transamination in brain and/or increases in cell membrane permeability to these enzymes.

Lipid changes in hepatic microsomes and its relationship to P-nitrophenol glucuronidation in an experimental model of portal hypertension.

The liver is responsible for the most important metabolic pathway of non polar compounds. The aim of the present work was to study the p-nitrophenol glucuronidation and its relationship with lipidic composition of microsomal membrane in a model of hepatic portal hypertension and hepatocellular damage induced by monocrotaline. A global increment in liver microsomal phospholipids as well as changes in the phospholipid pattern (phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin increased up to 156 +/- 13 and 195 +/- 14% respectively) were detected in monocrotaline intoxicated rats when it were compared to control rats.

Cholestasis as a liver protective factor in paracetamol acute overdose.

1. The effect of paracetamol overdoses on its disposition was investigated in cholestatic rats. 2.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats in the western part of Great Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1993.

The serological prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was determined, using indirect haemagglutination assay, in the sera of 169 cats. Classification by age, sex, alimentary, hunting and roaming habits was made in conjunction with the number of cats living in each house. An important prevalence was detected (19.

[Development of biochemical and histopathological parameters in paracetamol overdose in experimental cholestasis].

The aim of the present paper is to determine the effect of Paracetamol (P) acute intoxication in cholestatic rats. Four groups of animals were considered: controls, controls intoxicated with P, rats intoxicated with P and cholestatic rats. Hepatic biochemical tests and liver histology were performed in every group.

Changes in liver drug glucuronidation during cholestasis are non predictable.

Liver microsomal glucuronidation of acetaminophen, chloramphenicol, salicylic acid, lorazepam, p-nitrophenol and morphine were measured in 8 days bile duct ligated rats. Compared to normals, cholestatic rats showed a decrease of 31% for p-nitrophenol glucuronidation; salicylic acid glucuronidation increased 281%; acetaminophen glucuronidation increased 38% while morphine, chloramphenicol and lorazepam values were similar to controls. We concluded that cholestasis produces non predictable changes on liver drug glucuronidation pathways.

[Increase of acetaminophen conjugation ability in experimental cholestasis].

Acetaminophen glucuronidation ability and its relationship to hepatic microsomal phospholipid changes were studied during experimental extrahepatic cholestasis. This study included two groups of Wistar rats: 1) normal rats and 2) cholestatic rats. UDP-Glucuronyltransferase activity (UDP-GT) towards acetaminophen resulted increased in 38% (p < 0.

p-Nitrophenol glucuronidation in bile duct ligated rats.

Liver microsomal glucuronidation of p-nitrophenol was measured in normal, 2 and 8 day bile duct ligated rats. At low aglycone concentration (0.24-0.

Changes in microsomal phospholipid fatty acids composition in cholestatic rats.

In the rat, the effect of the bile duct ligation on liver microsomal phospholipid fatty acid composition and on phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol pattern were studied. After two days of cholestasis, microsomal phospholipid fatty acids showed a decrease in linoleic, stearic and arachidonic acids and an increase in oleic and docosahexaenoic ones, as compared to controls. Phosphatidylcholine showed an increment in oleic and palmitic acid content and a concomitant decrease in arachidonic acid.

[Fluidity of hepatic microsomal membrane and its relation with aging].

The effect of aging on hepatic microsomal membrane phospholipid composition was studied composition was studied in both young (2 months) and mature (6 months) Wistar rats. When total microsomal phospholipid content was analysed the aged group showed a significant increment (73%). Microsomal phospholipid pattern also showed a different behavior between both groups, with a significative increase in phosphatidylcholine (62%), phosphatidylserine (124%), phosphatidylinositol (31%) and sphingomyelin (10%) and appearance of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol in the six-month group.

[Benzodiazepine metabolism in experimental extrahepatic cholestasis].

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of bile flow impairment on hepatic lorazepam detoxication and its relationship with the liver microsomal membrane phospholipid composition. It was observed a decrease of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin content and an increase of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol. A similar activity on lorazepam detoxication was observed when cholestatic rats were compared to controls.

[Phospholipid composition of the hepatic microsomal membrane and its relationship to bilirubin UDP glucuronyltransferase in human cholestasis].

A number of morphological and functional changes on liver cells were reported during experimental cholestasis. Some specific metabolic pathways catalyzed by "membrane bound" enzymes were described to be altered by lipid microenvironment changes. The purpose of he present study is to establish Bilirubin UDP-Glucuronyltransferase activity--a microsomal integral enzyme responsible for bilirubin conjugation--and microsomal phospholipid profile in cholestatic and normal patients.

Protein and lipid disturbances in rat liver microsomal membranes after bile duct ligation.

An analysis of proteins, phospholipids and cholesterol from liver microsomal membranes was performed in normal and post-cholestatic rats. Bile duct ligated rats showed a progressive decrease of these membrane constituents. Minor changes in peptide analysis, a marked decrease of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol, disappearance of phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin, and a clear increment of phosphatidylserine was observed in post-cholestatic as compared to normal group.

Liver microsomal bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase disturbances in bile duct ligated rats.

The activity of bilirubin UDP-Glucuronyltransferase was determined in microsomes from normal and bile duct ligated rats. It was measured after 2 and 8 days following bile duct ligation and compared with normal rats. A decrease of 33% in the total enzyme activity was observed on day 2; a fall of 70% was founded on day 8.