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Journal Article 2001; 22(4): 238-242 PubMed PMID: 11524629 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Blood Glucose:analysis, Cholesterol:blood, Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental:metabolism, Hydrolases:metabolism, Insulin:blood, Kidney:enzymology, Liver:enzymology, Lysosomes:enzymology, Male, Rabbits,.   

OBJECTIVES: The study was carried out on fifty male rabbits of the New Zealand White breed. Diabetes was caused by a single, intravenous alloxan injection. Rabbits which had glycaemia 7th day after the alloxan administration higher than 11 millimol/litre were selected for the studies. They were divided into 5 groups: I - control (without diabetes); II - 3-week diabetes; III - 6-week diabetes; IV - 3-month diabetes; V - 6-month diabetes.r />r /> METHODS: In control and experimental rabbits the activity of beta-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, lysosomal acid phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, cathepsin D, and lysosomal arylesterase was determined in lysosomal fractions of the liver and kidney.r />r /> RESULTS: Alloxan caused lowering of the activity of all the investigated enzymes in the kidney and liver except lysosomal arylesterase.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Alloxan injection caused a significant increase in the activity of all the investigated enzymes. The advisable lysosomal enzymes may be useful for the monitoring of the course and effectiveness of diabetes therapy....

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Comparative Study 2001; 22(4): 229-237 PubMed PMID: 11524628 Citation  Keywords:  1,2-Dimethylhydrazine:administration & dosage, Animals, Biogenic Monoamines:metabolism, Carcinogens:administration & dosage, Circadian Rhythm:drug effects, Dopamine:metabolism, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid:metabolism, Inj.   

OBJECTIVES: Our data on the contents of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and the metabolite of serotonin 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) measured in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), preoptic area (PA) and median eminence (ME) of hypothalamus of rats after single subcutaneous injection of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) as well as the effect of this carcinogen on formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the PA are presented in this paper.r />r /> RESULTS: Diurnal changes of DA in all studied brain structures and of NE in the PA have been observed in the control group. Their morning levels were higher than evening ones. Rhythms of 5-HIAA in the SCN and diurnal changes of ROS formation have been shown to have contrary changes in control. Both the morning (11 a.m.) and evening (11 p.m.) subcutaneous administration of DMH at the dose of 21 mg/kg of body weight resulted in changes of all rhythms observed in control. In some cases a phase shift was found, in others the rhythms of neurotransmitters and ROS formation disappeared entirely.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The data obtained confirm the idea of dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems taking part in mechanisms of a response of the hypothalamic nuclei to non-photic stimuli. It is suggested that the effect of DMH on the content and diurnal rhythms of neurotransmitters in the hypothalamic structures under study is due to its affecting activities of the enzymes of biogenic amines synthesis, synaptic transmission, melatonin synthesis and secretion rhythms. The change in ROS formation that is caused by administration of DMH is likely to be due to a disturbance of diurnal rhythms of neurotransmitters that are one of the sources of formation of free radicals in the brain....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(4): 222-228 PubMed PMID: 11524627 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Circadian Rhythm, Drosophila:physiology, Reproduction:physiology, Species Specificity,.   

: Physiological and behavioral phenomena of many animals are restricted to certain times of the day. Many organisms show daily rhythms in their mating. The daily fluctuation in mating activity of a few insects is controlled by an endogenous clock. The fruitfly, Drosophila, is the most suitable material to characterize the genetic basis of circadian rhythms of mating because some mutants with defective core oscillator mechanism, feedback loops, have been isolated. D. melanogaster wild-type display a robust circadian rhythm in the mating activity, and the rhythms are abolished in period or timeless null mutant flies (per(01) and tim(01)), the rhythms are generated by females but not males. Disconnected (disco) mutants which have a severe defect in the optic lobe and are missing lateral neurons show arrhythmicity in mating activities. Thus, the lateral neurons seem to be essential for the circadian rhythm in mating activity of Drosophila. Furthermore, an anti-phasic relation in circadian rhythms of the mating activity was detected between D. melanogaster and their sibling species D. simulans. The Queensland fruit flies or wild gypsy moth also show species-specific mating rhythm, suggesting that species-specific circadian rhythms in mating activity of insect appear to cause a reproductive isolation....

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Editorial 2001; 22(4): 219-221 PubMed PMID: 11524626 Citation  Keywords:  Cooperative Behavior, Culture, Europe, Humanities, Humans, Interprofessional Relations, Models, Theoretical, Research, Science,.   

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Comment 2001; 22(3): 151-152 PubMed PMID: 11449198 Citation  Keywords:  Motion Pictures as Topic, Psychology, Social Behavior,.   

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Journal Article 2001; 22(3): 192-198 PubMed PMID: 11449197 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Affect, Antidepressive Agents:therapeutic use, Circadian Rhythm, Clomipramine:therapeutic use, Depression:blood, Female, Humans, Male, Melatonin:blood, Middle Aged, Sleep Wake Disorders:complications,.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to establish if there are differences in the 24-hour melatonin secretion profile between patients with major depression (before, and after treatment with clomipramine) compared to those in healthy subjects. Additionally, we determined if there are differences in melatonin concentrations, depending on the severity of depression, and the presence of 24-hour rhythm disturbances.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with major depression and 24-hour rhythm disturbances, and 14 healthy volunteers took part in the study. Before, and after treatment with clomipramine all subjects had blood samples collected at 08:00, 14:00, 20:00, 24:00, 02:00, 04:00, and 08:00 h, for estimation of melatonin concentrations. Before and after treatment, the severity of depression was evaluated using the following scales: the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HADRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and clinical observation, as well as presence, and if so, severity of 24-hour rhythm disturbances were assessed.r />r /> RESULTS: In individuals with major depression with marked disturbances of their diurnal rhythms, melatonin secretion is also disturbed, shown by the higher melatonin concentrations at night as compared to those in healthy individuals. However, melatonin levels were independent of the severity or the clinical manifestation of depression. Moreover, no correlation between the disturbances in their diurnal rhythms (sleep-watchfulness, diurnal mood shifts) and disturbed melatonin pattern was observed.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin nocturnal concentrations in patients with major depression were higher than those in healthy individuals. However, the melatonin concentration values do not differentiate the patients in terms of the severity of the depressive symptoms....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(3): 181-185 PubMed PMID: 11449196 Citation  Keywords:  Acetylglucosaminidase:metabolism, Animals, Antigens, CD13:metabolism, Cathepsin D:metabolism, Cathepsin L, Cathepsins:metabolism, Cysteine Endopeptidases, Female, Glucuronidase:metabolism, Kidney:enzymology, Kinetics, Lipase:metabolism, Liver:enzymology, .   

OBJECTIVES: Changes in the activity of beta-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, cathepsin D and L, alanine aminopeptidase and lysosomal acid lipase in lysosomal fractions of the liver and kidneys of mice, which were administered 20 mg/kg b.w. of exogenous melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) for 7 and 14 days were investigated.r />r /> METHODS: The slices of the liver and kidney were homogenized in 0.1M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. Homogenates were subjected to differentiated centrifuging and determination of studied enzymes.r />r /> RESULTS: Melatonin caused lowering of the activity of all the investigated lysosomal enzymes in the liver and kidney.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Administration of melatonin was caused the lowering of the activity of the investigated lysosomal enzymes in comparison with values in control groups....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(3): 175-180 PubMed PMID: 11449195 Citation  Keywords:  Emotions, Humans, Immune Tolerance, Neoplasms:immunology, Neuroimmunomodulation, Pineal Gland:physiology, Sexuality,.   

: With the advances in the knowledge of neuroimmunomodulation, a new era of investigations about the chemical basis of the state of mind has been initiated. Both emotions and states of spiritual consciousness may influence immune functions and cancer growth. Stress, anxiety and depressive states are associated with immunosuppression and enhanced frequency of tumors. On the other hand, the states of sexual pleasure and spiritual joy enhance the immune efficacy, by counteracting tumor onset and dissemination. The biochemistry of pleasure and immunostimulation is mainly mediated by pineal indoles and cannabinergic substances, whereas that of stress, anxiety and depression is associated with enhanced production of adrenal steroids, opioids and catecholamines. The sexual repression would allow a progressive immunosuppression through a profound damage in the biochemistry of pleasure. Therefore, a better definition of psychospiritual status-associated neuroimmunochemistry could allow us to improve the immune dysfunction by acting on the same neuroendocrine secretions which are involved in mediating the psychic influence on the immunity, including that against cancer....

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