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Biomedical subjects

P Kopp

Publications and source records attributed to P Kopp.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Lung and blood superoxide dismutase activity in mercury vapor exposed rats: effect of N-acetylcysteine treatment.

Rats were exposed to mercury vapors (30 mg/m3) for either 1 or 2 h. Histological lesions like alveolar oedema, hyaline membranes and sometimes fibrosis were observed. The lesions were more significant after 2 h of exposure, with about 50% of the animals dying within 2 weeks. The mercury level and the superoxide dismutase activity in the blood and the lungs demonstrated differences according to the time of exposure. In the animals exposed for 2 h to mercury vapors, N-acetylcysteine treatment increased survival time and the percentage of living animals. The lung superoxide dismutase was lower than in the non-treated animals indicating an antioxidant effect. Mercury levels were decreased in blood and lung, suggesting some chelating effect of N-acetylcysteine. The exact mechanism of its action must be further elucidated.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1991

Combined effects of ethanol and manganese on cultured neurons and glia.

Manganese is essential for normal development and activity of the nervous tissue. Mn2+ ions are involved in protein synthesis and may prevent free radical damage. Since it is now established that alcohol degradation may produce free radicals, we studied the effect of Mn2+ on ethanol induced alterations using cultured nerve cells as an experimental model of the central nervous system. Neurons and glial cells were cultured from rat brain cortex; a tumoral rat glial cell line (C6) was also examined. We measured enzymatic markers of nerve cell maturation (enolase, glutamine synthetase) and superoxide dismutase, a scavenger of free radicals; all these enzymes being activated by Mn2+ ions. Only for the glial cell types an alcohol antagonizing effect was found when Mn2+ was combined with ethanol. Neurons were not sensitive to that Mn2+ effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Alcohol exposure before pregnancy: biochemical and behavioral effects on the offspring of rats.

The effect of maternal alcohol exposure before mating was investigated in the offspring over a period of 6 months concerning some specific aspects of energy metabolism in the brain and the liver. The following biochemical parameters were analyzed: superoxide dismutase (involved in elimination of free radicals produced during ethanol oxidation), enolase isoenzymes (markers of nerve cell maturation), and alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase (the main alcohol degradating enzymes). These enzymatic activities were measured at their subcellular level. In these animals never directly exposed to alcohol, superoxide dismutase activity was decreased mainly in the liver cytosol. Only the nonneuronal form of enolase activity was modified. Alcohol dehydrogenase was decreased in the liver as well as in the brain. Aldehyde dehydrogenase was also decreased in the liver and in the brain, mainly in the mitochondria. Behavioral observations showed decreased emotional reactivity as well as an increase in locomotor activity. Our results suggest that long-lasting biochemical and behavioral effects of alcohol may occur in the offspring starting at the earliest stage of development.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[2 cases of acute sickle cell crisis in subjects with sickle cell trait following high altitude exposure].

We present two patients with sickle cell trait (HbAS) who developed acute sickle cell crisis after passive exposure to high altitude on the Jungfraujoch (3454 meters, 11,333 ft). Both suffered splenic infarction and the first patient also presented with acute renal failure. Splenic infarction is known to be a complication of altitude exposure in carriers of the trait, whereas acute renal failure due to altitude exposure alone has as far as we know never been described in the literature. These forms of high altitude complications are totally unusual in Switzerland.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

An experimental study of fetal alcohol syndrome in the rat: biochemical modifications in brain and liver.

Maternal alcohol consumption produces various abnormalities in the offspring, termed fetal alcohol syndrome. We investigated various biochemical modifications occurring in the brain and the liver of pups born to alcohol-consuming rats. The parameters analysed were: superoxide dismutase, a protector against free radicals injury, enolase isoenzymes as markers of nerve cell maturation, glutamine synthetase involved in ammonia detoxification, alcohol and aldehyde deshydrogenases in order to evaluate the contribution of acetaldehyde teratogenicity and ATPase activities involved in ion and neurotransmitter transport. Activities of all these enzymes were decreased in the brain even when alcohol was withdrawn from the mother diet either during pregnancy or lactation. Activities were also decreased in the liver, except enolase and alcohol deshydrogenase activities, which were increased, suggesting possible adaptative events in the presence of alcohol. It seems likely that the multiple alterations observed in experimental fetal alcohol syndrome may be caused by free radicals following decreased superoxide dismutase activity in addition to the toxicity of alcohol and its metabolites.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1988

Levels and sub-cellular distribution of physiologically important metal ions in neuronal cells cultured from chick embryo cerebral cortex.

Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cu content of neurons from chick embryo cortex cultivated in chemically defined serum free growth medium was determined by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The intracellular volume of cultured neurons was determined to be 2.73 microliters/mg. Intracellular Mn2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ in the cultivated neurons were 100-200 times the concentrations in the growth medium: Mg2+ and Ca2+ were 0.9 and 1.7 mM respectively, around 20 fold higher than in growth medium. Mg2+, Fe2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ concentrations in neurons were in the range of ca. 300-600 microM, approximately 2-3 times the values previously reported in glial cells; Ca2+ and Mn2+ content of the neurons were higher by 5 and 10 fold respectively compared to glial cells. In neurons, the subcellular distribution of Fe2+, Cu2+, and Mn2+ follows the rank order: cytosol greater than microsomes greater than mitochondria; for Zn2+ the distribution differs as following: cytosol greater than mitochondria greater than microsomes. Determination of the superoxide dismutase activities in the cultivated neurons indicated that the Mn2+ linked activity predominates whereas, the Cu-Zn dependent enzyme is dominant in glial cells. Enrichment of the culture medium with Mn2+ to 2.5 microM enhanced the Mn-SOD by approximately 33% but the Cu2+-Zn2+ enzyme activity was not modified. The high Mn2+ content, the capacity to accumulate Mn2+, and the predominancy of the Mn-SOD form observed in neurons is in accord with a fundamental functional role for this metal ion in this type of brain cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Hyperprolactinemia].

Hyperprolactinemia is frequent in clinical endocrinology. Its commonest causes are, besides pregnancy and lactation, drugs, mainly involving the generally used psychopharmaca and the equally ubiquitously prescribed estrogens. The single most important cause is a pituitary tumor, the prolactinoma, but lesions of the hypothalamus or pituitary stalk, primary hypothyroidism, liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure, among others, may also provoke hyperprolactinemia. The clinical features of hyperprolactinemia in women are mainly amenorrhea, or irregular menses, galactorrhea, hirsutism, infertility and loss of libido. In men loss of libido and/or impotence are the most important symptoms, accompanied by infertility. Macroadenoma, more frequently seen in men than in women, may cause tumor symptoms such as headache and ophthalmologic disorders (visual field loss). The main biochemical finding is hyperprolactinemia, which should be repeatedly checked. In general, high concentrations are mainly found in large adenomas, while microadenomas usually involve only mild hyperprolactinemia, though there are numerous exceptions. While dynamic tests of prolactin secretion have provided useful information about the pathophysiology of prolactin secretion, their use in routine clinical work is controversial and of limited value. As a routine neuroradiological examination, high resolution CT of the pituitary area is to be recommended. In all hyperprolactinemic patients with suspicion of macroadenoma, ophthalmologic evaluation of fundus and visual fields should be performed. Dopaminergic drugs such as bromocriptine rapidly reduce serum prolactin levels in hyperprolactinemic women and men with micro- or macroadenoma. With these drugs considerable tumor shrinkage is possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenoma↗
PubMed1985

Effect of ethanol on adenosine triphosphatase and enolase activities in rat brain and in cultured nerve cells.

The effect of alcohol on enzymes involved in energy metabolism of nervous tissue were analyzed, in vivo after acute and chronic ethanol administration to rats and in vitro by addition of 50 mM and 100 mM ethanol to the medium of cultured nerve cells: chick neurons, chick glial cells, a neuronal cell line (MT17) and a glial tumoral cell line (C6). The parameters we measured were (Na+, K+), Mg2+ and ecto Ca2+, Mg2+ ATPase activities involved in transport phenomena and enolase activities (non neuronal NNE and neuron specific enolase NSE) as markers of nerve cell maturation. In vivo, after chronic ethanol administration (Na+, K+) ATPase activity was increased while Mg2+ dependent activity was not affected. Enolase activity was decreased. Acute ethanol administration decreased (Na+, K+) ATPase activity, while Mg2+ dependent activity was not affected. In cultured nerve cells ethanol effect was dose, time and cell type dependent; alterations of the cell membrane by trypsinization of the tissue before seeding modifies the effect of ethanol on the enzymes we analyzed. Our results suggest that alcohol effect on nerve cells depends mainly on the lipoprotein structure of the cell membranes which may have different properties from one cell type to another.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1976

[Diabetes mellitus and femoral fractures in close proximity to the hip joint in multimorbid patients of old age (author's transl)].

From a great number of patients with femoral fractures in close proximity to the hip joint with an average age of 78.3 years, all diabetics were compared to persons with a normal metabolism in terms of concomitant diseases, causes of death, complications, and fracture healing. Although no differences with regard to fracture healing and subsequent functional results in later years could be established in patient put on the correct diet and insulin dose, as compared to the control group, the clinical complication rate and the mortality rate were significantly higher among patients of old age with Diabetes mellitus. To bring about a possible change, operating techniques providing the possibility of an early mobilisation and optimal physiotherapeutical after--care are recommended.

Aged↗