Animals ; Arsenates ; toxicity ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats, Wistar

Alanine Transaminase/metabolism ; Liver/drug effects ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field(ELF EMF) and its combination with lead on the antioxidant system in mouse brain and liver tissues.

METHODMice were exposed to a 50 Hz sinusoidal 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT EMF for 2 weeks. At the same time, some groups were exposed to lead(50 mg/kg). After the exposure, the antioxidant system and cell membrane fluidity in brain and liver were measured.

RESULTSMalondiadehyde(MDA) content in brain and liver increased from the control levels of (1.33 +/- 0.12) and (3.95 +/- 0.21) nmol/mg pro to (1.35 +/- 0.09) and (6.15 +/- 0.28) nmol/mg pro respectively following 0.2 mT exposure, and to (3.98 +/- 0.10) and (6.50 +/- 0.79) nmol/mg pro respectively following 6.0 mT exposure. Total antioxidant capability(T-AOC) in brain and liver decreased from the control levels of (4.39 +/- 0.48) and (2.45 +/- 0.21) U/mg pro to (3.99 +/- 0.39) and (1.92 +/- 0.32) U/mg pro respectively following 0.2 mT, and to (3.12 +/- 0.37) and (1.57 +/- 0.14) U/mg pro respectively following 6.0 mT. GSH content decreased only in liver tissue from the control level of (194.60 +/- 20.93) mg/g pro to (189.24 +/- 5.61) mg/g pro(0.2 mT) and (153.04 +/- 1.18) mg/g pro(6.0 mT). Cellular membrane fluidity decreased from the control levels of (1.396 +/- 0.040) and (2.899 +/- 0.552) to (1.224 +/- 0.190) and (1.894 +/- 0.0761) (0.2 mT), (1.159 +/- 0.179) and (1.516 +/- 0.204)(6.0 mT) respectively. Compared with single EMF exposure(6.0 mT), EMF combined with lead exposure induced remarkable increase in MDA, GSH content and T-AOC and decrease in cell membrane fluidity both in the brain and liver, and increase in SOD activity only in liver.

CONCLUSIONELF EMF might alter the metabolism of free radicals, decrease anti-oxidant capability and enhance lipid peroxidation. The combination of EMF with lead showed synergic effects on lipid peroxidation.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Glutathione ; analysis ; Lead ; toxicity ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Membrane Fluidity ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Mice ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Aged ; Dyslipidemias ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

Cell Line ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; pharmacology

The effect of dexamethasone (10(-5)M) and epinephrine (10(-6)M) on the biosynthesis of metallothionein (MT) in the perfused rat liver was investigated. MT synthesis was determined by measuring the incorporation of 14C-L-aspartic acid into liver MT fraction after the perfusion for five hours of isolated liver by artificial blood containing 14C-L-U-aspartic acid (0.2uci) with dexamethasone or epinephrine. MT was isolated by Sephadex G-75 column chromatography and DEAE Sephadex column chromatography. Incorporation of radioactive 14C into the MT fraction of perfused liver cytosol (9.0grams of liver) from dexamethasone treated, epinephrine treated and control groups were, respective1y, 0.72, 0.34 and 0.33% of total radioactivity infused. Total protein content in the MT fraction of liver perfused with dexamethasone and epinephrine were 0.80, 0.64mg/g liver compared to 0.52mg/g liver in the control. MT, a protein having a high content of cystein and metals is synthesized in the perfused rat liver and its induction is stimulated by dexamethasone, while epinephrine increased the accumulation of Zn in the MT fraction of the perfused rat liver. The present experiment confirms that MT synthesis and degradation are somewhat regulated by glucocorticoid hormone and epinephrine.
Animal ; Dexamethasone/pharmacology* ; Epinephrine/pharmacology* ; Female ; In Vitro ; Liver/drug effects ; Liver/metabolism* ; Metalloproteins/metabolism* ; Metallothionein/metabolism* ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Zinc/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of three preparations of xiaoyao formula (xiaoyao capsule, xiaoyao pill and Xiaoyao decoction) on soothing liver and strengthening spleen.

METHODThe liver depression and spleen deficiency rat model were established by forcing swimming, confining movement test and feeding on alternate days. The rats were randomly divided into eight groups, namely the blank group, the model group, the Cisapride group (2.7 mg x kg(-1)), the xiaoyao decoction group (1.62 g x kg(-1)), the xiaoyao pill group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) and the Xiaoyao capsule groups of high dose (3.24 g x kg(-1)), medium dose (1.62 g x kg(-1)) and low dose (0.81 g x kg(-1)), with intragastric administration for 3 weeks. The contents of NE, DA, 5-HT in serum were measured by HPLC-electrochemical detection method. The contents of motilin (MTL) and somatostation (SS) in plasma was determined by radioimmunassay. The expressions of MTL and SS in tissue were determined by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTThe contents of NE and MTL in the xiaoyao decoction group was significantly higher than that in the model group, while the content of 5-HT and SS was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The expression of MTL in the xiaoyao capsule group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) was significantly higher than that in the model group and the contents of 5-HT and SS was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05). The mean optical density of MTL in gastrointestinal tissue of rats in the xiaoyao decoction group and the xiaoyao capsule group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) was remarkably higher than that in the model group, while the expression of SS was notably lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAll of the three preparations of Xiaoyao formula have the effect on soothing liver and strengthening spleen. Xiaoyao decoction shows better effect than xiaoyao capsule with same dosage, while xiaoyao capsule shows better effect than xiaoyao pill with same dosage.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Motilin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Somatostatin ; metabolism ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Stomach ; drug effects ; metabolism

AIMTo examine the liver mechanism with which clenbuterol (CL) is explained how to affect growth metabolism.

METHODSThe technique of chronic poly catheter was used to study the effects of CL (0.8 mg/kg b w) on the hepatic flux of nitrogen, VFA and glucose in 4 sheep.

RESULTSThe urea-nitrogen flux in CL-treated period always was lower than that in control during 24 h. The average flux of urea-nitrogen in hepatic and portal vein were decreased by 16.86% (P < 0.01) and 15.51% (P < 0.05), respectively, compared with that of control. The peptide level in hepatic vein was decreased with the treatment of CL, average flux of peptide was decreased by 38.71% (P < 0.01). But the peptide level of portal vein in CL treatment period was similar to control. Moreover, VFA level in the portal vein was enhanced by CL, the average flux of acetate in portal vein was increased by 19.49% (P < 0.01). No difference of VFA level in hepatic vein was noted between CL-treated period and control. In addition, the glucose flux in hepatic vein was obviously increased with CL treatment, the average flux of glucose was increased by 25.96% (P < 0.01). And glucose flux in portal vein was also elevated during CL-treated period.

CONCLUSIONCL can affect growth metabolism of animal with increasing nitrogen deposition, improving absorption and utilization of VFA and enhancing glucose synthesis in sheep liver.

Animals ; Clenbuterol ; pharmacology ; Fatty Acids, Volatile ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Sheep

PURPOSE: Hyperglycemia increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the resulting oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is one of the major sources of ROS production in diabetes. We, therefore, examined the possibility that NADPH oxidase activation is increased in various tissues, and that the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may have tissue specific effects on NADPH oxidase and tissue antioxidant status in diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Control (C) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic (D) rats were treated either with NAC (1.5 g/kg/day) orally or placebo for 4 weeks. The plasma, heart, lung, liver, kidney were harvested immediately and stored for biochemical or immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: levels of free 15-F2t-isoprostane were increased in plasma, heart, lung, liver and kidney tissues in diabetic rats, accompanied with significantly increased membrane translocation of the NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox in all tissues and increased expression of the membrane-bound subunit p22phox in heart, lung and kidney. The tissue antioxidant activity in lung, liver and kidney was decreased in diabetic rats, while it was increased in heart tissue. NAC reduced the expression of p22phox and p67phox, suppressed p67phox membrane translocation, and reduced free 15-F(2t)-isoprostane levels in all tissues. NAC increased antioxidant activity in liver and lung, but did not significantly affect antioxidant activity in heart and kidney. CONCLUSION: The current study shows that NAC inhibits NADPH oxidase activation in diabetes and attenuates tissue oxidative damage in all organs, even though its effects on antioxidant activity are tissue specific.
Acetylcysteine/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*drug therapy/*metabolism ; Heart/drug effects ; Kidney/drug effects/metabolism ; Liver/drug effects/metabolism ; Lung/drug effects/metabolism ; Male ; NADPH Oxidase/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of salvianolic acid B (SAB), an extract from Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, on expression of leucocyte differentiation antigen 14 (CD14) in the liver tissue of experimental rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, the model group, the treated group, and the control group. The pathological fibrosis changes in liver of rats were observed. Meantime, their liver function was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum content of endotoxin was assayed by matrix staining, and plasma content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was detected by radioimmunoassay. mRNA and protein expressions of CD14 in the liver tissue were measured using reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry respectively.

RESULTSAll the laboratory parameters, including liver function, degree of liver fibrosis, serum endotoxin levels, plasma TNF-alpha contents, and CD14 mRNA and protein expressions in the model group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.01). All the aforesaid indices were lowered more in the treated group than in the model group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSAB could antagonize the CCl4, induced liver fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism of action was possibly correlated with its effects on down-regulating hepatic CD14 expression and blocking the endotoxin signal transduction pathway.

Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley