Effect of long term bed rest in men on enzymatic antioxidative defence and lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes.

Bed rest is an integral part of treatment of numerous diseases. Typical examples are bone fractures of lower extremities and pelvis. Temporary immobilization is necessary also, e.

Effect of interleukin-1a, IL-1b and IL-1 receptor antibody on the proliferation and steroidogenesis of regenerating rat adrenal cortex.

Several data suggest that the endocrine and immune systems are closely interconnected, therefore, we investigated the effect of interleukin-1 on adrenocortical regeneration. The study was performed on adult rats subjected to left adrenal enucleation combined with contralateral adrenalectomy. The animals were given purified human recombinant IL-1 alpha (5 micrograms/kg), IL-1 beta (5 micrograms/kg) anti-human IL-1 receptor antibody (10 micrograms/kg) and combination of interleukins and antibodies.

Interleukin-1 beta, but not IL-1 alpha, stimulates cell proliferation in the adrenal cortex.

Endocrine and immune systems are closely interconnected, so the effect of interleukin-1 on adrenal cortex proliferation in vivo was investigated. Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and IL-1 beta (0.1, 1 and 10 micrograms/kg) were given twice daily alone or in combination with interleukin-1 receptor-antibody (IL-1rAb) to adult male Wistar rats.

Effect of neurotensin and substance P on adrenal cortex regeneration.

The influence of neurotensin (NT) and substance P (SP) on the early stage of adrenal regeneration was investigated. Neurotensin (5 and 50 micrograms/kg) and SP (10 and 100 micrograms/kg) were given to rats subjected to adrenal enucleation combined with contralateral adrenalectomy. The mitotic index was employed to assess cell growth, and plasma corticosterone was determined by a radioimmunological assay.

Somatostatin inhibits cell proliferation and corticosterone secretion in the early stage of adrenal regeneration.

Somatostatin was given to male Wistar rats subjected to adrenal enucleation combined with monoadrenalectomy. It was found that somatostatin (25 micrograms/kg) inhibited both cell proliferation and corticosterone output on the fourth and on the eighth days of adrenal regeneration.

Effect of pinealectomy on mitotic activity of adrenal cortex in rats subjected to unilateral adrenalectomy.

The effect of pinealectomy on the adrenal growth in unilaterally adrenalectomized rats was studied by evaluation of the mitotic activity of adrenocortical cells on the fifth and tenth day after operation. It was found that pinealectomy resulted in an about double increase of mitotic index on the 5th day after unilateral adrenalectomy, and on the 10th day the stimulatory effect of pinealectomy became less significant.

Influence of diazepam on regenerating adrenal cortex in Wistar rats.

The influence of diazepam on the mitotic activity of regenerating adrenal cortex in male Wistar rats was investigated. Diazepam administration (5 mg/kg/day) was shown to inhibit the mitotic index of adrenocortical cells on the 4th and 8th day after adrenal enucleation combined with contralateral adrenalectomy. The possible mechanism of diazepam action is discussed.

Circadian variations in plasma melatonin, FSH, LH, and prolactin and testosterone levels in infertile men.

Circadian patterns of plasma melatonin, FSH, LH, prolactin, and testosterone were studied in 10 healthy men, 20 men with oligozoospermia, and 8 men with azoospermia. Circadian rhythms were found in concentrations of melatonin and prolactin, with higher values at night in comparison with daytime levels. In patients with oligozoospermia and azoospermia an elevation in melatonin levels was observed, and an increase in melatonin concentrations occurred before onset of darkness (i.

Influence of diazepam on the mitotic activity of adrenocortical cells in rats after unilateral adrenalectomy.

The effect of diazepam on adrenocortical cell proliferation was investigated in unilaterally adrenalectomized Wistar rats by evaluation of the mitotic ratio. Diazepam administration (5 mg/kg/day) was shown to decrease the mitotic index of the adrenal cortex on the 5th day after monoadrenalectomy, while on the 10th day after the operation the inhibitory effect became insignificant. The possible mechanism of diazepam action is discussed.

Nifedipine decreases the mitotic activity of adrenocortical cells in early stage of adrenal regeneration.

The influence of nifedipine, a calcium channel antagonist, on adrenal regeneration was investigated by evaluation of mitotic activity of adrenocortical cells. It was found, that nifedipine given at a daily dose of 10 mg/kg, reduced the proliferation of regenerating adrenal cortex on the fourth day after adrenal enucleation, but the inhibitory effect of nifedipine became insignificant on the eighth day after the operation.

Effect of constant light and darkness on the mitotic activity of adrenal cortex undergoing adrenal regeneration or compensatory growth in male Wistar rats.

The effect of constant light and darkness on the mitotic activity of the adrenal cortex in the course of adrenal regeneration and compensatory growth in male Wistar rats was investigated. Three separate experiments were performed in different seasons. It was found, that on the tenth day of both regeneration and compensatory growth, constant darkness decreased the mitotic activity of the adrenal cortex, and in contrast, constant light had no significant effect when compared with the controls.

The effect of hypophysectomy on the mitotic activity of the regenerating adrenal cortex in rats.

The role of the pituitary in the regeneration of the adrenal cortex was examined. Enucleation of the left adrenal, and removal of the right adrenal were performed in hypophysectomized rats, in sham-operated control rats and in intact control rats. The mitotic activity of adrenal regenerates was evaluated on the 5th day after enucleation.

Failure of melatonin to inhibit the mitotic activity of regenerating adrenal cortex in rats.

Although there is little evidence that melatonin may have a direct antimitotic effect on various cells, it has been shown that this pineal compound may influence the cell proliferation of either normal or neoplastic cells. Therefore, the influence of melatonin on the mitotic activity of regenerating adrenal cortex of rats was studied. The mitotic activity was counted in the adrenal cortex or rats on days 2, 7, and 12 following enucleation of the adrenals.

Influence of pinealectomy on the mitotic activity of regenerating adrenal cortex in rats.

There is some evidence that the pineal gland may influence the proliferation of both normal and neoplastic cells. The adrenal cortex has very high capacity for regeneration. Therefore, the effects of pinealectomy on the mitotic activity of regenerating adrenal cortex of rats were studied on the second, seventh and twelfth days following the enucleation of adrenals.