Fox U

Suppression of gastric acid secretory and ulcerogenic effects of cysteamine in chronic antrectomized rat

Summary The secretory and ulcerogenic effects of cysteamine were studied in normal and in chronically antrectomized rats. In agreement with the results obtained by other authors, cysteamine increased gastric acid secretion and induced duodenal ulcers. In our experiments hexamethonium, atropine and vagotomy had no effect on the hypersecretion induced by cysteamine. Acid hypersecretion was reduced in a dose-related manner by cimetidine and proglumide, the last claimed to be an antigastrin drug. Antrectomy completely blocked acid hypersecretion in both anaesthetized and conscious rats given cysteamine and protected conscious animals from cysteamine ulcer formation. It is worth stressing that chronically antrectomized rats were still able to respond to histamine infusion with acid hypersecretion. These results suggest that cysteamine may act mainly on the antrum probably inducing a release of gastrin. To confirm this hypothesis blood gastrin levels in normal and antrectomized rats during cysteamine treatment should be measured.

The microsurgical drainage of the varicocele

A new technique for surgical treatment of primary and recurrent varicocele is proposed. The technique consists of direct anastomosis of two or three dilated veins of the pampiniform plexus with the great saphenous vein. A connection between a high venous pressure region and a lower pressure region is established. Twenty-five patients were operated on, 7 with recurrent varicocele and 18 with primary varicocele. The immediate and long-term results (6 year follow-up) have always been good.

Portacaval shunt in the rat: an animal model for evaluation of uricase activity.

Summary End-to-side portacaval shunts were prepared in mature male rats and their uricemia was measured 7,14,21 and 30 days after the surgery. Due to hepatic uricase exclusion, a sustained increase in serum uric acid over preoperative levels was found between 7 and 21 days after operation. After that, uric acid levels slowly declined, probably as a consequence of the formation of adhesions between the portal circulation and the liver. The hyperuricemic portacaval-shunted rat is a suitable animal model for assaying exogenously administered uricase, and may help also in research studies in the area of hyperuricemic syndromes.