Swelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum after isometric contractions in rat semimembranosus lateralis muscle

The decline in isometric force, swelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum and loss of desmin was measured in semimembranosus lateralis muscle of male Wistar rats immediately after a short series of brief (500 ms) maximal isometric contractions. For the active muscle, the series ended below (protocol A) and just over muscle optimum length (protocol AA). In one protocol, the muscle remained passive and was extended to lengths just over muscle optimum length (protocol P). After all experimental protocols, no loss of desmin was observed and sarcomere appearance was normal. Protocol A produced swelling (87%) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum but no decline in isometric force. Protocol AA produced larger swelling (147%) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and an isometric force decline (<49%) at short muscle lengths. Swelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum was observed mainly in the periphery of muscle fibres. Protocol P did not result in swelling of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and isometric force decline. It is concluded that swelling of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the periphery of muscle fibres after brief maximal isometric contractions is associated with muscle force and not muscle length

Effects of the insulin-sensitizing drug pioglitazone and lipopolysaccharide administration on insulin sensitivity in horses

BACKGROUND\ud \ud \ud Obesity and insulin resistance increase the risk of laminitis in horses. Pioglitazone (PG) is an insulin-sensitizing drug used in humans that is absorbed after oral administration to horses.\ud \ud HYPOTHESIS\ud \ud \ud PG treatment will increase insulin sensitivity and transcript abundance of glucose and lipid transporters in adipose and skeletal muscle tissues.\ud \ud ANIMALS\ud \ud \ud Sixteen lean, healthy horses.\ud \ud METHODS\ud \ud \ud Eight horses were administered PG (1 mg/kg bodyweight PO) for 12 days before induction of insulin resistance through IV administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Treated and untreated controls (CN; n = 8) were subjected to testing of peripheral insulin sensitivity and biopsies of both subcutaneous (nuchal ligament) adipose tissue and skeletal muscle before and after treatment, and 24 hours after LPS administration.\ud \ud RESULTS\ud \ud \ud PG treatment did not improve basal insulin sensitivity (CNs: 1.4 ± 0.3, PG-treated: 1.9 ± 1.3; P > .4) or mitigate LPS-induced insulin resistance (CNs: 0.4 ± 0.3, PG-treated: 0.4 ± 0.3); however, transcript abundance of glucose and lipid transporters was altered in both skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue.\ud \ud CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE\ud \ud \ud Either a higher dose or longer treatment period might be required for physiological effects to be observed. PG is a novel therapeutic agent requiring further investigation in horses in order to determine treatment efficacy

Pharmacokinetics of pioglitazone after multiple oral dose administration in horses

Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic agent with proven efficacy in increasing insulin sensitivity in humans with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, a syndrome of insulin resistance sharing similarities with equine metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of pioglitazone in adult horses following multiple oral dose administration. Pioglitazone hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) was administered orally for 11 doses at 24-h intervals, and plasma samples were collected. Initially, a pilot study was performed using one horse; and thereafter the drug was administered to six horses. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental modeling. The maximum plasma concentration was 509.1 ± 413.5 ng/mL achieved at 1.88 ± 1.39 h following oral administration of the first dose, and 448.1 ± 303.5 ng/mL achieved at 2.83 ± 1.81 h (mean ± SD) following the eleventh dose. Apparent elimination half-life was 9.94 ± 4.57 and 9.63 ± 5.33 h after the first and eleventh dose, respectively. This study showed that in healthy horses, pioglitazone administered at a daily oral dose of 1 mg/kg results in plasma concentrations and total drug exposure approximating, but slightly below, those considered therapeutic in humans

Rizoremediação de pentaclorofenol em um solo argiloso por sphingomonas chlorophenolica ATCC 39723 Pentachlorophenol rhizoremediation in a loamy soil by sphingomonas chlorophenolica ATCC 39723

O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a degradação de PCP por Sphingomonas chlorophenolicaem solo argiloso na presença e ausência de trigo. As concentrações de PCP foram determinadas através de Análises de Alta Performance de Cromatografia Líquida. Os efeitos tóxicos de PCP foram estudados através do monitoramento do crescimento das plantas. A biodegradação de PCP por S. chlorophenolica foi acompanhada por testes de bioluminescência de Escherichia coli HB101 pUCD607 e contagens bacterianas no solo e nas raízes. A degradação de PCP ocorreu de forma mais rápida no solo plantado e inoculado quando comparada ao solo sem plantas. Houve um aumento significativo nas populações dos organismos testados nas raízes quando comparadas com as populações presentes no solo. O monitoramento do crescimento da planta mostrou o papel protetor exercido pela S.chlorophenolica contra a toxicidade do PCP.<br>The main objective of this study was study the PCP degradation by Sphingomonas chlorophenolica in a loamy soil in the presence and absence of plants (Winter wheat). Measurements of PCP concentrations were carried out in a laboratory basis using High performance liquid chromatography analysis (HPLC). The toxic effect of PCP on plants was studied through the monitoring of the plant growth. The biodegradation of PCP by S. chlorophenolica in soil was assessed with a bioluminescence assay of Escherichia coli HB101 pUCD607 and bacterial analyses in roots and soil. The planted and inoculated soil showed a faster degradation when compared to the inoculated soil without plants. There was a significative increase in the populations of the organisms tested in the roots when compared to the soil. The monitoring of the plant growth showed a protective role of S. chlorophenolica against the toxicity of PCP in the loamy soil