Zbigniew Wójtowicz

Changes in antioxidant status of lung tissue in experimental diabetes in rabbits

OBJECTIVES Hyperglycaemia can result in oxidative stress which may affected as cellular tissue damage. DESIGN AND METHODS After 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks of hyperglycaemia oxidative stress related parameters were measured in lung tissue of diabetic and control rabbits. RESULTS Decreased activities of antioxidative compounds and intensification of lipid peroxidation process were found in diabetic lung. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained suggest that hyperglycaemia induces oxidative stress in lung tissue which may play an important role in pathogenesis of diabetic complications.

Differences in antioxidant status in skeletal muscle tissue in experimental diabetes.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that oxidative stress may play an important role in pathogenesis of diabetic complications. The present study was designed to evaluate the oxidative stress-related parameters in alloxan (A)-induced long-term diabetes in rabbits. METHODS After 3, 6 and 12 weeks of diabetes, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) and concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) and free sulfhydryl compounds (SH) were measured in skeletal muscle of diabetic rabbits and the normal control subjects. The products of lipid peroxidation (MDA) were also estimated. RESULTS In our tests, the muscle SOD activity, SH and AA concentrations were significantly reduced. CAT activity increased significantly at all time intervals. GSH-Px activity decreased after 3 weeks and then remained at the control level. GSSG-R activity decreased progressively at 3rd and 6th week and then significantly increased. MDA level increased initially, dropped below baseline after 6 weeks and then remained at the level of the control group. CONCLUSIONS The changes observed in the present experiment suggest a significant imbalance in antioxidative system in the skeletal muscle of rabbits with alloxan-induced diabetes. Such study may lead to therapeutic approaches for limiting the damage from oxidation reactions and preventing the diabetic complications.

Hepatic lysosomal enzymes activity and liver morphology after short-time omeprazole administration

The aim of the study was to establish the influence of short-time omeprazole administration on liver function and morphology. Omeprazole was administered intraperitoneally, twice daily, for 3 days to male Wistar rats in two doses: 0.571 mg/kg and 5.71 mg/kg. Control animals were treated with physiological saline. Half of the animals were sacrificed 12 hours after the last injection. The remaining rats were raised for another 6 weeks, without any xenobiotics, and sacrificed on the 47th day of the experiment. The activity of free and bound fractions of hepatic acid phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, cathepsin B, D and L, lipase, and sulphatase were determined spectrophotometrically in homogenates of the liver. The liver sections were examined by light microscopy with hematoxylin-eosin, azan, and periodic acid-Schiff stains. Marginally significant (p < 0.1) differences in activity of free sulphatase fraction, and free and bound fractions of beta-galactosidase were found in animals exposed to the higher dose of omeprazole and sacrificed 12 hours after the last injection. Enzymatic profiles were normalised during the next 6 weeks. Histological evaluation revealed small degenerative and adaptive changes in all examined groups. It could be concluded that observed differences of hepatic lysosomal enzyme activities were the result of accompanied chemical-induced peritonitis as previously reported, and not a direct drug-toxic effect.

Relationships Between Divisions of the Lingular Bronchus and Vascularization Patterns in the Lingula

In 100 left human lungs the main bronchus, the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary veins were injected with 65% methyl methacrylate (Duracryl) and then digested in sulphuric acid. The resulting specimens were studied concerning the divisions of the lingular bronchus and the types of arterial and venous vascularization of the lingula. As a rule the lingular bronchus divided into two segmental bronchi. A single lingular artery was found in 80% of the cases and a single lingular vein in 58%. Atypical bronchial divisions were almost always associated with unusual types of vascularization. Patterns of bronchial division showed complete concordance with those of arterial vascularization of the lingula in 64% of the lungs and consistency with venous drainage patterns in 54%.