Mice show a strong preference for corn oil, which was thought to be elicited by stimulation in the oral cavity. Grooming behavior is known to be induced by dopamine D(1) stimulation in rodents. Therefore, we evaluated stimulation by corn oil in the oral cavity and the contribution of D(1) receptors to corn-oil-induced grooming in mice. Intraoral injection (0.1 ml) of corn oil induced grooming behavior similarly to SKF 38393 (10 mg/kg i.p.), a D(1) agonist, and both were antagonized by pretreatment with SCH 23390, a D(1) antagonist. However, a higher dose was needed for antagonism of the corn-oil-induced grooming compared with that induced by SKF 38393. Long-chain fatty acids, their methyl esters and alcohol, their triglycerides, mineral oil and silicone oil but not glycerin, a short-chain triglyceride, xanthan gum solution, or sucrose solution also induced grooming in mice. Xanthan gum solution, which was suggested to mask oil-like texture, attenuated the silicone-oil- but not corn-oil-induced grooming when injected intraorally as a mixture with an equal volume of the oil (50% suspension). The silicone-oil-induced grooming was reduced by SCH 23390 similarly to that induced by corn oil. These results suggested that stimulation by the oil-like texture in the oral cavity in mice induced grooming behavior and that it might be mediated at least partially via D(1) receptors. Moreover, stimuli other than texture might also contribute to the corn-oil-induced grooming.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Masked Cushing's disease in an aged man associated with intraventricular hemorrhage and tuberculous peritonitis.

A 77-year-old man complained of headache, dizziness and tactile hallucination. Based on those clinical signs and the findings of computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging, he was diagnosed as having pituitary adenoma. Clinical signs and symptoms of Cushing's disease had not been apparent because of the occurrence of the disease at an old age. An increase in serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone indicated the presence of Cushing's disease. Physical findings obtained thereafter were also compatible with the disease. While the patient was being prepared for surgery, pituitary apoplexy and intraventricular hemorrhage occurred. Massive ascites appeared as a result of tuberculous peritonitis. In spite of treatment for these complications, his general condition progressively deteriorated and he died 39 days after the intraventricular hemorrhage. This case presents the difficulty in the treatment of masked Cushing's disease in the elderly population.

Adenoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma immunoreactive somatostatin response to arginine after glycemic control with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in type I diabetics.

The effects of 3 wk of near normoglycemia by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) on plasma immunoreactive somatostatin (IRS) responses to arginine (0.5 g X kg-1 X 30 min-1) in seven patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were compared with the same patients in poor glycemic control during conventional insulin therapy (CIT) and with seven normal controls. After 3 wk of CSII treatment, mean daily blood glucose and HbA1 decreased to mean (+/- SE) values of 129 +/- 6 mg/dl and 8.0 +/- 0.1%, respectively. Plasma free-insulin levels in IDDM patients 30 min before a meal during CSII were significantly higher than those during CIT or in normal controls. Fasting mean plasma IRS levels of the IDDM patients during CSII (7.3 +/- 1.4 pg/ml) were not different from those during CIT (8.4 +/- 1.3 pg/ml) and in normal controls (5.9 +/- 0.8 pg/ml). Arginine elicited a rise in plasma IRS during CIT in all seven IDDM patients during CIT and in the normal controls, with peak values of 18.2 +/- 4.1 and 12.5 +/- 1.8 pg/ml, respectively. However, no significant increase in plasma IRS was observed in all seven IDDM patients during CSII. The integrated values of plasma IRS during the arginine-infusion study of the IDDM patients treated with CIT were significantly higher than those of the normal controls. The increased integrated values of plasma immunoreactive glucagon response to arginine observed during CIT became normalized after CSII. These results suggest that glycemic control with CSII in IDDM patients suppresses the increased plasma IRS response to arginine that occurs during CIT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗