OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of sodium cromoglycate in brain protection and its effects on brain tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) expressions after global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in gerbils.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy male gerbils were randomized into 3 equal groups, namely the sham-operated group with isolation of the bilateral carotid arteries but without occlusion, IR injury model group with bilateral carotid artery occlusion, and sodium cromoglycate treatment group with bilateral carotid artery occlusion and sodium cromoglycate administration at 25 mg/kg via the lingual vein as soon as the reperfusion start with another dose 1 h later. The animals were then sacrificed and the thalamus were removed, fixed in 10% formaldehyde and sliced for observation under light microscope with HE staining. The rest brain tissues were prepared into homogenate to determine the content of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. The right hemispheres of the gerbils were measured for wet weight and dry weight to calculate the water content in the brain.

RESULTSThe water content in the brain of the gerbils in the model group was the highest among the groups, and that in sodium cromoglycate treatment group was significantly less than that of the model group (P<0.05). Microscopic examination showed the most severe brain tissue damage in the model group with also the highest TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels in the brain. The brain TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels in sodium cromoglycate group were significantly decreased as compared with those in the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSodium cromoglycate can alleviate brain IR injury possibly by lowering the TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels in the brain tissues.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Cromolyn Sodium ; pharmacology ; Gerbillinae ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Mesangial IgA nephropathy was experimentally induced in ddY mice by oral and parenteral administration of the poliomyelitis vaccine (POLIO), and we then tried to investigate if IgA deposition could be prevented by the concurrent use of sodium cromoglycate (SCG), which is known to inhibit the local mucosal immune reaction. Mucosal and systemic immunity could be induced by the administration of POLIO; proteinuria, increased serum IgA levels, mesangial cell proliferation, mesangial matrix widening, mesangial deposits of IgA, and large electron dense deposits in the mesangium were observed. Concurrent administration of SCG and POLIO resulted in a significant decrease in the serum IgA level and mesangial IgA deposits. The later addition or abstinence of SCG after the 70th day did not influence the glomerular mesangial IgA deposition. But the serum IgA level was still decreased by the continuous treatment of SCG even after the 70th day. Thus, mesangial IgA nephropathy simulating IgA nephropathy in humans could be induced in ddY mice using POLIO and its induction could largely be prevented by the concurrent use of SCG. However mesangial IgA deposits already present could not be cleared by the late administration of SCG.
Animal ; Cromolyn Sodium/*pharmacology ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Immunoglobulin A/metabolism ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron ; Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated/*immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of sodium cromoglycate on experimental endometriosis in rats.

METHODSEndometriosis model was established in 36 unpregnant female SD rats by transplanting autologous fragments of endometrium to the inner surface of the abdominal wall. The endometriotic lesions were measured by a second laparotomy 2 weeks after surgery. Then the rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 in each group) to receive intraperitoneal injection of different doses of sodium cromoglycate for 2 weeks: high-dose group (20 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹); low-dose group (10 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹); the negative control group and the blank control group. The animals were sacrificed and the size of the lesions were measured. The endometriosis model of SD rats was identified by HE staining and immunohistochemical staining of keratin and vimentin. The total number of mast cells and their degranulation were measured by Toluidine blue staining; the concentrations of TNF-α in serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; the concentrations of estradiol in serum were measured by enzyme immunoassay; the expression of tryptase and nerve growth factor (NGF) were measured by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe number of activated mast cells (MC) by Toluidine blue staining in high-dose group was significantly lower than that in negative control group (P<0.05), and its ratio of degranulation/total number of MC was significantly lower than that in negative control group or blank control group (P<0.05). The serum TNF-α levels and tryptase expression in tissues in high-dose group were significantly lower than those in negative control group or blank control group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in the size of endometriotic lesions and expression of NGF was found among groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSodium cromoglycate can stabilize mast cells from degranulation, which may relieve the clinical symptoms of endometriosis by reducing TNF-α and tryptase levels.

Animals ; Cromolyn Sodium ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endometriosis ; drug therapy ; Endometrium ; pathology ; Female ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tryptases ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate cardiac function impairment and myocardial injury in rats with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion and the protective effect of cromolyn sodium.

METHODSThirty-two SD rats were randomized into 4 groups (n=8), namely the sham operation group, model group, 50 mg/kg cromolyn sodium group, and 25 mg/kg cromolyn sodium group. Intestinal damage was induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 60 min. Cromolyn Sodium was administrated intaperitoneally 15 min before reperfusion. The heart rate (HR), left ventricle pressure (LVSP), and the maximal/minimum rate of LVSP (+dp/dt(max), -dp/dt(max)) were sacrificed immediately before ischemia (baseline, T(0)), at 15 min (T(1)), 30 min (T(2)), 45 min (T(3)) of ischemia, and at 3 min (T(4)), 5 min (T(5)), 10 min (T(6)), 15 min (T(7)), 45 min (T(8)), 60 min (T(9)) of reperfusion. At the end of the experiment, the rats were executed and the hearts were immediately removed for observation of the pathological changes and determination of MDA contents and SOD activity.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline T(0), the HR, +dp/dt(max), -dp/dt(max) and the LVSP were decreased significantly at T(8) and T(9) in the model group and the two cromolyn sodium groups (P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, these indices were also significantly decreased at T(8) and T(9) in the model group and the two cromolyn sodium groups, but the model group had significantly lower levels for these indices at T(8) and T(9) than the two cromolyn sodium groups (P<0.05). The score of myocardial injury in the model group and the two cromolyn sodium groups were significantly higher than that of group A, and 50 mg/kg cromolyn sodium group had lower score than the model group (P<0.05). The rats in the model group had significantly higher MDA levels than those in the sham operation group and the 50 mg/kg cromolyn sodium group. SOD activities in the model group and 25 mg/kg cromolyn sodium group was lower than that in the sham operation group (P<0.05), but 50 mg/kg cromolyn sodium group had significantly higher SOD activities than the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCromolyn sodium can protect the myocardium against intestal ischemia-reperfusion injury and improve the cardiac function.

Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cromolyn Sodium ; pharmacology ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Intestines ; blood supply ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism ; Time Factors