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Biomedical subjects

D Varonos

Publications and source records attributed to D Varonos.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Chlorimipramine, electroconvulsive shock and combination thereof: differential effects of chronic treatment on apomorphine-induced behaviours and on striatal and mesocortical dopamine turnover.

We studied the influence of different pretreatment regimens (Chlorimipramine-Cmi, electroconvulsive shock-ECS, and Cmi + ECS all regimens being applied for either 2 or 15 days) on the open field behaviour, on the striatal and on the prefrontal dopamine-PFC DA turnover in rats injected with either apomorphine-AP 25 micrograms/kg (stimulating presynaptic DA receptors), AP 200 micrograms/kg (stimulating post-synaptic DA receptors), or vehicle (control). In the controls, AP 25 micrograms/kg reduced the locomotor activity and the striatal, but not the PFC DA turnover. AP 200 micrograms/kg increased the locomotor activity and reduced the striatal but not the PFC DA turnover. Short-term pretreatment: ECS and Cmi + ECS prevented the decrease of striatal DA turnover after AP 25 micrograms/kg. No other influence of any pretreatment on behaviour or DA-turnover became significant. Long-term pretreatment: Chronic Cmi: marginally increased the open field behaviour and marginally decreased the PFC DA turnover; significantly increased the effect of AP (200 micrograms/kg) on striatal DA turnover and the effect of AP (25 and 200 micrograms/kg) on PFC DA turnover. Repeated ECS: decreased locomotion and rearing and increased PFC DA turnover; increased the effect of AP (200 micrograms/kg) on locomotion and on striatal DA turnover; decreased the effect of AP (25 and 200 micrograms/kg) on PFC DA turnover. Chronic Cmi + ECS: decreased locomotion and rearing and marginally decreased PFC DA turnover; increased the effect of AP on hyperlocomotion and on striatal DA turnover.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Effect of a new GABA-ergic substance gabalid on brain bioelectric activity of cat.

The effect of the GABA-ergic substance gabalid on the bioelectric activity of cats was studied using electrodes introduced into substantia nigra (SN), nucleus caudatus (NC), Amygdala basolateralis ( Abl ), mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF) and sensor motor cortex (Sm). Gabalid was administered i.p. in doses of 100 to 200 mg/k increased amplitude and frequency of spontaneous and evoked EEG activity in NC. Suppression of mean amplitude, driving reaction and evoked potentials was observed in Abl . Most expressive were the changes in the ECoG activity. We observed many regularly appearing bursts of high-amplitude alow "spindles" and an increase in the number of medium and high-amplitude waves.

Animals↗

Olfactory involvement in learning processes.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the existing relations between olfaction and acquisition of the two-way conditioned avoidance response (CAR). For this investigation we have used white adult male Wistar rats. Taking into consideration that several structures of the limbic system participate in learning and memory processes and also that olfactory pathway is believed to have connections with the limbic system, we thought it would be interesting to investigate, if peripheral anosmia influences the performance of rats in the two-way avoidance response. It was shown that peripheral anosmia in rats impaired conditioned avoidance response.

Animals↗

Effect of beta-adrenergic blockade on physiologic growth in the Wistar rat.

The effect of propranolol (Pr) on body weight was studied in 144 Wistar rats of both sexes from weaning to 17 weeks of age. Pr was administered to 77 of these rats (chosen at random), in a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight daily. Body weights were monitored every third day throughout the study. During their 17th week of age, all the rats were weighed for the last time and then sacrificed. The following organs were carefully dissected and weighed: brain, thymus, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, adrenals, testes and ovaries. Gain in body weight was significantly reduced in the propranolol treated animals compared to control in both sexes. Organ weights were also less in propranolol-treated rats except for the kidneys of both sexes and the heart and testes of the males. However, the ratio of most organ weights per body weight was greater, indicating that the inhibition of weight gain was less severe in those organs compared to that of total body weight.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Cholinergic action of thiopental on the hypothalamohypophyseal axis.

Ten postmenopausal women were divided into two groups. In five patients (group 1) four venous blood samples were collected at 5-minute intervals before and after thiopental sodium, 6 mg/kg IV, for determination of serum levels of prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone. In the other five patients (group 2) the procedure followed was as in group 1, but thiopental administration was preceded by atropine, 0.1 mg/10 kg. Prolactin levels increased significantly after thiopental injection in group 1, but not in group 2. Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in both groups remained virtually unaltered. The fact that atropine prevented the increase of prolactin due to thiopental suggests that thiopental may have an indirect effect on the hypothalamohypophyseal axis through a cholinergic mechanism.

Atropine↗

Influence of liver enzyme induction caused by diphenylhydantoin and diazepam on bone mass of rats.

25 albino rats of Wistar strain were used for the study. They were divided into three groups. Animals of the first group (n = 10) were treated with Diphenylhydantoin in a daily dose of 70 mg/kg for three months. Animals of the second group (n = 10) were treated with Diazepam in a daily dose of 10 mg/kg for 3 months. Animals of the third group (n = 5) were treated with 5% acacia oil for the same period of time. Food and water consumption together with motor activity were measured. As indices of enzyme induction, D-Glucaric acid and liver weight were determined. Also the following bone indices were determined: femur Ca/femur weight, femur Ca/body weight, humerus Ca/humerus weight, humerus Ca/body weight, femur specific weight, humerus specific weight. Statistically significant alterations of bone mass were found.

Animals↗

Effects of diazepam-infrasounds combination on locomotor activity and avoidance behaviour of rats.

The locomotor activity, the two-way conditioned avoidance response, the norepinephrine and dopamine brain levels, were simultaneously studied in rats, under the influence of Diazepam alone or in combination with infrasound environment. Diazepam decreased the spontaneous activity and facilitated the retention of an avoidance behaviour of rats subjected to four shuttle box sessions. These effects were reversed when Diazepam was administered to rats exposed to infrasound environment. The norepinephrine and dopamine levels, determined in whole brain homogenate, were slightly affected in both cases.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Pharmacological activity of new derivatives of morphine.

Three new derivatives of morphine: O3-(beta-isopropylaminoethyl) ether of morphine (T .3289), O3, O6-[N,N'-bis(methylcarbamate] ester of morphine (T .3298) and beta-dimethylamino-ethyl-ether of dihydromorphinone (T .3403) were tested for their action on CNS. A detailed study of pain threshold, motor activity, conditioned behavior and noradrenaline levels in brain was carried out. The compounds T .3289 and T .3298 exhibited analgesic action. The spontaneous activity of rats was decreased by T .3289 and increased by T .3298. The conditioned avoidance response was decreased and the brain nor-adrenaline levels were altered.

Analgesics↗

Prolactin levels during labor.

To test the hypothesis that prolactin (PRL) plays a role in the hormonal events of labor, serum PRL levels in 15 normal secundigravidas were measured on 2 occasions 10-15 days before delivery, at the onset of labor, at cervical dilatation of 5 and 10 cm, at the time of delivery, and on the first, second, and fifth days postpartum. The mean level of PRL was 163 ng/ml +/- 26 ng/ml at the onset of cervical dilatation; it typically decreased with the progress of labor, reaching a value of 140 ng/ml +/- 21 ng/ml at the time of delivery. The differences during the various stages of labor, however, were not found to be statistically significant. Postpartum values were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) on the fifth day after parturition. It is therefore unlikely that PRL is involved in or influenced by the hormonal interplay that occurs during labor.

Delivery, Obstetric↗

Effect of cortisone and an anabolic steroid upon plasma hydroxyproline during fracture healing in rabbits.

The effect of cortisone and an anabolic steroid on plasma hydroxyproline (HOP) was investigated in young male rabbits, following operative fracture of the radius. The action of these hormones was studied in three groups of animals, a cortisone (hydrocortisone sodium succinate 5mg/kg every day), an anabolic (norandronolone-19-phenylpropionate 5 mg/kg every other day) and a cortisone plus anabolic treated group. A fourth group of animals served as controls. Plasma HOP was found to increase during the fracture healing in control animals, particularly in the first week and during callus remodelling. Cortisone produced elevation of HOP level during the first two weeks followed by a decrease to low normal values. Animals treated with the anabolic did not present the initial rise but a sustained increase during callus remodelling. When both the anabolic and cortisone were administered, a curve similar to that of cortisone-treated animals was obtained. The initial increase of HOP is attributed to bone destruction and to a lesser degree to synchronous bone formation at the site of the fracture. This catabolic process seems to be enhanced by cortisone and inhibited by the anabolic. When, however, the two hormones are given together the protective anticatabolic effect of the anabolic is almost abolished.

Anabolic Agents↗