Ludvik Peric-Golia

Ornithocholanic Acids—Abnormal Conjugates of Bile Acids.

Summary L-ornithine conjugate of the 2 cholanic acids of the immature and the 3 cholanic acids of the adult guinea pig have been identified in bile following injection of a toxic, C14-labeled capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Preferential conjugation of L-ornithine with cholic acid by rat and guinea pig liver has been demonstrated in vitro.

The feect of neutrotensin on the plasma cholesterol levels in the rat

The effect of the hypothalamic tridecapeptide neurotensin (NT) on the plasma cholesterol levels was studied in the rat. 15 min after the intravenous administration of 1.25 pmol/100 g body weight NT, the concentration of the total plasma cholesterol was increased about 25% above the control values (P less than 0.001) and remained at about the same level 30 min after the injection. The hypercholesterolemic response to the intravenous administration of NT increased dose dependently (12.5 and 125 pmol). Adrenalectomy and hypophysectomy did not modify the hypercholesterolemic effect of NT. The data suggest that NT may have a role in cholesterol transport.

Ornithocholanic Acids and Cholelithiasis in Man

Ornithocholanic acids and small soft gall stones were found in the bile of patients from which Klebsiella pneumoniae was also isolated. Cholelithiasis may be initiated by metabolic disturbances in the conjugation of bile acids in liver tissue and the subsequent precipitation of cholesterol and bile pigment.

Cholic acid in guinea pig bile.

Summary Cholic (3α, 7α, 12α-trihydroxycholanic) acid has been isolated from the guinea pig bile obtained from gall bladders as well as by biliary fistulae. However, this bile acid was found only in the bile of adult and not of immature guinea pigs. The other 2 bile acids isolated, chenodeoxycholic (3α, 7α-dihydroxycholanic) and 7-ketolithocholic (3α-hydroxy, 7-ketocholanic) acid, occurred in both immature and mature guinea pigs.

Cholesterol-4-C14 and Bile Acids in the Guinea Pig.∗

Summary In adult guinea pigs with biliary tract fistulae and stable enterohepatic bile acid pool, cholesterol-4-C14 was converted into 3 labeled bile acids (3a, 7a, 12a-trihydroxycholanic, 3a, 7a-dihydroxycholanic and 3a-hydroxy, 7-ketocholanic acid). This conversion occurred independently of enteric passage, 3a, 7a, 12a-trihydroxycholanic (cho-lic) acid appearing in relatively low but gradually increasing concentration during the first 9 hours of free flow and of continuous cycling. After one or more days of continuous enterohepatic cycling, 3a, 7a, 12a-trihy-droxycholanic acid was the predominant labeled bile acid, maintaining a relatively high level until termination of the experiment 18 days after injection of cholesterol-4-C14.

Experimental Cholelithiasis in the Guinea Pig.

Summary Within 1 day after intravenous injection of C14-labeled Klebsiella polysaccharide, cholesterol and pigment precipitate and small firm masses appeared in the gall bladder bile of guinea pigs. No C14 was present in the precipitate and less than 1% of the label from the injected bacterial polysaccharide was excreted in the bile during the first 12 hours. Since bacterial polysaccharide could not be identified in the bile, the precipitate was not due to the direct physicochemical effect of this material. The label in bile underwent a single enterohepatic cycle and some of this label was conjugated with bile acids.

Endoscopic laser resection of atherosclerotic plaque in a live animal model: a preliminary report on some technical difficulties

This study was designed to determine whether laser energy could be used effectively to resect atherosclerotic plaque through an endoscope in a live animal model. Twelve adult Yorkshire swine with infrarenal aortic atherosclerosis had a 2.5 mm and/or 3.2 mm diameter fiberscope passed into the aorta from the femoral artery after proximal aortic balloon occlusion. Endoscopic argon laser resection of the atherosclerotic plaque was then attempted in eight pigs with an argon laser fiber (60 to 400 microns). We were able to visualize the raised atherosclerotic plaque in all 12 pigs with the larger 3.2 mm diameter fiberscope, which was easily passed into the aortoiliac system from the 4 mm diameter femoral vessel. The articulating end feature enhanced maneuverability within the lumen and allowed laser fiber direction. The 2.5 mm endoscope did not allow adequate visualization in any pig since the vessel could not be cleared of blood. The 2.5 mm endoscope was also passed from the femoral artery distally into the hind limb and still did not allow adequate visualization of the vessel wall because of persistent luminal blood. The 3.2 mm endoscope enabled vessel wall visualization distal to the femoral artery when the proximal artery was occluded. No aortas were grossly perforated by the laser energy. In all pigs undergoing endoscopic laser resection, raised plaques were removed both grossly and histologically, although the plaque edges were carbonized and frayed as well as vaporized. With the small spot size of the argon fiber, channels were drilled through plaque, frequently with incomplete recanalization of the lumen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Free bile acids in sheep

Abstract 1. 1. Free cholic (3α, 7α, 12α-trihydroxycholanic) acid is identified for the first time in the gall-bladder bile of sheep. 2. 2. No free bile acids are detected in the bile of the lambs during the first weeks after birth.

Corticosterone in Lymphoma-Bearing Rats.

Summary Corticosterone in plasma and urine was determined by spectrofluorometry in sulfuric acid and by direct spectrophotometry in ethanol. Plasma levels and urinary excretion of corticosterone were elevated in rats with subcutaneous lymphomas. The high plasma concentration of corticosterone in these rats may help to explain the reduction in splenic, thymic and lymphoid tissue of lymphoma-bearing rats and certain interactions of exogenous steroids, quantity of lymphoma tissue and tumor-necrotizing effect of K. pneumoniae polysaccharide.

Enterohepatic circulation of cholic acid and cholesterol metabolism in the rat.

A role for cholic acid in the regulation of body cholesterol levels is emphasized by the following experiment and findings. Fifteen rats with biliary and duodenal fistulae were divided into three groups. 4-14C-cholesterol was admistered intravenously to all animals on day 1. Two groups received a duodenal infusion of either sodium taurocholate or of cholesterol at the same time and thereafter daily. Bile samples were collected daily for 15 consecutive days. Cholic, chenode-oxycholic acid and cholesterol were the major labeled compounds in the bile. Labeled cholic acid disappeared from the bile of control animals after day 8 while it persisted in the group receiving unlabeled cholic acid up to day 15. The decrease of specific radioactivity of labeled biliary cholic acid in the rats receiving unlabeled cholesterol corresponded to that of control animals. A significant increase in the concentration of cholesterol was found in the plasma of animals receiving cholic acid and in the liver of those receiving unlabeled cholesterol.