The latest research reveals that nitric oxide as a gas messenger may diffuse into the surrounding extracellular fluid and act locally upon neighboring target cells. However, several observations raise the possibility that nitric oxide may also be released at a greater distance from the neuronal cell body. The catalytic nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) activity was therefore studied in the cervicothoracic and lumbosacral segments of the spinal cord of rabbits, including the white matter of dorsal columns (DC), lateral columns (LC) and ventral columns (VC), as well as the gray matter of dorsal horns (DH), intermediate zone (IZ) and ventral horns (VH). Lower cNOS activity was found in the white matter of both cervicothoracic (47 %) and lumbosacral (30 %) regions, whereas that detected in the gray matter of the lumbosacral part of the spinal cord was considerably higher (70 %). Enzyme activity varied from 43.4 to 77.2 dpm/µg protein in the cervicothoracic segments of the gray matter in the descending order: DH>VH>IZ. Similar cNOS activity was found in the white matter of the cervicothoracic segments (42.1-62.8 dpm/µg protein). When the activity of cNOS was compared in the lumbosacral segments, the highest enzyme activity was found in DH of the gray matter (198.7 dpm/µg protein) and the lowest cNOS in DC (45.8 dpm/µg protein) of the white matter. It was concluded that the white matter of the spinal cord contains similar cNOS activity in comparison to the gray matter., N. Lukáčová, J. Pavel., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are widely used in therapy of cardiovascular diseas es. However, the consensus on effects of these inhibitors in control of myocardial oxygen consumption during the process of experimental hypercholesterolemia and under the condition of endothelial dysfunction has not been reached. Here we examined effects of captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on serum lipid levels and oxygen consumption rate in mitochondria isolated from heart of rabbits treated by hypercholesterolemic diet. During the twelve-week period, th e Chinchilla male rabbits were daily treated by saline (controls); 1 % cholesterol diet; 5 mg/kg/day captopril or 1 % cholesterol + 5 mg/kg/day captopril. Total- and high-densi ty lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride in serum were measured spectrophotometricly. The left ventricle mitochondrial fraction was isolated and myocardial oxygen consumption was measur ed by Biological Oxygen Monitor. Mitochondria isolated from hearts of rabbits exposed to hypercholesterolemic diet sh owed significantly reduced respiration rates (state 3 and state 4) with altering adenosine diphosphate/oxygen ratio, whereas the respiratory control ratio was not affected when compared to controls. Mitochondria from cholesterol/captopril-treated animals showed significantly reduced respiration rates without altering adenosine diphosphate/oxygen ratio index or respiratory control ratio. Although captopril did not exert the favorable effect on serum lipid levels in cholesterol-treated animals, it restored the mitochondrial oxygen consumption. Further studies should be performed to define the under lying physiological and/or pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications., Z. Kojic ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
INTRODUCTION: A previous study has employed shear-wave ultrasound elastographic imaging to assess corneal rigidity in an ex-vivo porcine eye model. This study employs the same modality in vivo in a rabbit eye model in order to assess lens, ciliary body and total ocular rigidity changes following the instillation of atropine and pilocarpine. METHODS: Ten non-pigmented female rabbits were examined. Measurements of the lens, ciliary body and total ocular rigidity as well as lens thickness and anterior chamber depth were taken with the Aixplorer system (SuperSonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France) with the SuperLinear™ SL 15-4 transducer in both eyes at baseline as well as after pilocarpine and atropine instillation. The IOP was also measured with the TonoPen tonometer. RESULTS: Changes in rigidity in the examined areas following atropine instillation were statistically not significant. Ciliary body rigidity was significantly increased whereas lens and total ocular rigidity were significantly reduced following pilocarpine instillation. The decrease in lens rigidity following pilocarpine was significantly associated with the respective increase in ciliary body rigidity. CONCLUSIONS: Shear-wave ultrasound elastography can detect in vivo rigidity changes in the anterior segment of the rabbit eye model and may potentially be applied in human eyes, providing useful clinical information on conditions in which rigidity changes play an important role, such as glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation syndrome or presbyopia. and E. T. Detorakis, E. E. Drakonaki, H. Ginis, N. Karyotakis, I. G. Pallikaris
Hippocampus is a brain structure containing vasopressin (AVP) fibers and specific binding sites for this peptide. There is growing evidence that AVP and its metabolites participate in glutamate-mediated plasticity of the hippocampus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of NMDA on AVP release in the rabbit hippocampus. Caudate nucleus was chosen as the reference structure. The mentioned brain structures were simultaneously microdialyzed with 0.9 % NaCl solution. AVP was determined in the outflowing fluid by radioimmunoassay. The mean basal AVP content in the fluid outflowing from the hippocampus was significantly greater than that from the caudate nucleus. The addition of K+ into the fluid perfusing the probes implanted into the hippocampus and caudate nucleus significantly increased AVP release into the extracellular fluid of both brain structures. NMDA applied into the mentioned brain structures increased AVP release only from the hippocampus but not from the caudate nucleus. Our findings indicate a role which NMDA receptors play in AVP release into the extracellular fluid of the hippocampus., M. Orłowska-Majdak, W. Z. Traczyk, D. Szymański., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A ssessment of the cerebral microcirculation by on-line visualization has been impossible for a long time. Sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging is a relatively new method allowing direct visualization of cerebral surface layer microcirculation using hand-held probe for direct contact with target tissue. The aim of this study was to elucidate the feasibility of studying the cerebral microcirculation in situ by SDF imaging and to assess the basic cerebral microcirculatory parameters in mechanically ventilated rabbits. Images were obtained using SDF imaging from the surface of the brain via cranio tomy. Clear high contrast SDF images were successfully obtained. Total small-vessel density was 14.6±1.8 mm/mm 2 , total all-vessel density was 17.9±1.7 mm/mm2, DeBacker score was 12.0±1.6 mm-1 and microvascular flow index was 3.0±0.0. This method seems to be applicable in animal studies with possibility to use SDF imaging also intraoperatively, providing unique opportunity to study cerebral microcirculation during various ex perimental and clinical settings., M. Šitina ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Oxygen supply was corrected in rabbits during the hepatic ischemia/reperfusion by means of different breathing mixtures: hypoxic (14.8 % O2+85.2 % N2), hyperoxic (78 % O2+20.2 % N2+ 1.8 % CO2), or hypercapnic (5 % CO2 in air). Hepatic ischemia was induced for 30 min by ligation of hepatic artery, reperfusion period lasted 120 min. Indices of blood oxygen transport (p50act, pCO2, pH, pO2, etc.) and prooxidant-antioxidant balance (Schiff bases, conjugated dienes, catalase, retinol, a-tocopherol) were measured in the blood and liver. The severity of reperfusion damage was evaluated by the activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT, AST) in the blood. Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion resulted in higher p50act in hepatic venous and mixed venous blood in all experimental groups. The changes of p50act were most marked in the hypercapnic group and were the weakest in the hypoxic group. The rise in p50act was accompanied by higher levels of lipid peroxidation products, ALT and AST in blood and liver homogenates, and by a simultaneous fall of α-tocopherol and retinol concentrations, except in the hypoxic group. Catalase activity at the end of reperfusion increased under normoxia, decreased under hyperoxia or hypercapnia and did not change under hypoxia. The moderate hypoxia during reperfusion was accompanied by a better balance between the mechanisms of reactive oxygen species production and inactivation that may be observed by optimal changes in p50act and reduced the hepatic damage in this pathological condition., V. V. Zinchuk, M. N. Khodosovsky, D. A. Maslakov., and Obsahuje bibliografii
PURPOSE: A variety of anti-glaucomatous shunt designs have been proposed so far. This study evaluates the feasibility of a novel shunt design, the intra-scleral parathalamus implant (IPI), in a rabbit eye model. METHODS: Ten healthy albino rabbits were included. Measurements of the IOP, using TonoPenXL, as well as ocular rigidity (OR) and aqueous outflow facility (AO), using a previously described methodology, were performed in both eyes of each animal. Subsequently, the IPI was implanted at the left eye of all animals whereas the right eye served as control. Measurements of IOP were repeated at weekly intervals for 2 months postoperatively whereas measurements of OR and AO were repeated at the 1st and 2nd postoperative week. RESULTS: The IOP decreased significantly whereas the AO increased significantly postoperatively at the operated eyes. A significant postoperative decrease in OR was also recorded at the operated eyes. Respective differences at the fellow eyes were statistically not significant. Two animals developed postoperative complications and were excluded from follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Results imply that the implantation of the IPI is feasible in rabbit eyes with significant favorable effects on the IOP, AO and OR. and E. T. Detorakis, K. Loggaki, N. Karyotakis, H. Ginis
Footage from the documentary Kejřův mlýn v Hloubětíně (Kejř's Mill in Hloubětín, Kinofa, 1911). The owner of the mill, Josef Kejř, with his family and employees in the estate courtyard.