Evoked Potentials in Diabetic Syndrome of Rats Before and After Two Months of Methadone Treatment

The effect of two months treatment with methadone (0.87 mg/kg per os, daily) on the somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in female control and diabetic rats were studied. Diabetes was induced by alloxan monohydrate (65 mg/kg i. v.). SEPs obtained after electrical stimulation of the contralateral forepaw and recorded from the scalp, by an non invasive method, showed high reproducibility. Prolonged latency (156%) and a marked amplitude enhancement (371%) characterized the mid-latency SEPs following 64 days methadone treatment of healthy rats. Experimental diabetes induced significant alteration of both parameters; amplitude decrease of earlier components (Nl, P2) and delayed latency of later ones (P3). Two months methadone treatment of diabetic rats not only leads to the recovery but also augmented P2 (P25) amplitude (225%). It was concluded that no essential differences exist in the methadone effect on control (healthy) and diabetic Wistar female rats

Toxicological Assessment of P-9801091 Plant Mixture Extract after Chronic Administration in CBA/HZg Mice – A Biochemical and Histological Study

Acute, subchronic and chronic effects of the P-9801091 plant mixture extract at a dose of 20 mg/kg body mass were assessed in serum of healthy CBA/HZg mice at 24 hours, 7 days, 3 months and 6 months of treatment (experimental group), and compared with the values obtained in the control group of untreated healthy CBA/HZg mice. The P-9801091 plant mixture extract is an antihyperglycemic preparation containing Myrtilli folium (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), Taraxaci radix (Taraxacum officinale Web.), Cichorii radix (Cichorium intybus L.), Juniperi fructus (Juniperus communis L.), Centaurii herba (Centaurium umbellatum Gilib.), Phaseoli fructus sine semine (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), Millefolii herba (Achillea millefolium L.), Mori folium (Morus nigra L.), Valerianae radix (Valeriana officinalis L.) and Urticae herba et radix (Urtica dioica L). Toxic effect of the P-9801091 plant mixture extract was assessed by the following biochemical parameters: urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cholesterol. Also, histopathological examination of the kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, testes and lungs was performed. Results of biochemical testing performed at specified time points generally showed no statistically significant differences from control values, with the only exception of the catalytic concentration of AST in the experimental group measured on day 7, which was significantly increased as compared with the control group (p<0.05). Pathohistological examination including characteristic organ and tissue structure, and parenchyma relationship to the adjacent blood vessels and connective tissue in the examined organs revealed no major pathologic changes

Concentration of malondialdehyde in a NOD mice treated with acarbose

Cilj: Malondialdehid (MDA) je jedan od toksičnih produkata lipidne peroksidacije, a koristi se u evaluaciji oksidativnog stresa tijekom šećerne bolesti. Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitati učinak akarboze (inhibitora α-glukozidaza) na koncentraciju glukoze u serumu i MDA u homogenatu jetre NOD (engl. non-obese diabetic) miševa. Materijali i metode: U NOD miševa šećerna bolest inducirana je i.v. aplikacijom aloksan-monohidrata (75 mg/kg t. mase). NOD miševi podijeljeni su u 4 skupine (n=6): Kontrolni, zdravi NOD miševi (K), Kontrolni, zdravi NOD miševi tretirani 7 dana akarbozom (K/A), dijabetični NOD miševi (D) te dijabetični NOD miševi tretirani 7 dana akarbozom (D/A). Koncentracija glukoze u krvi izmjerena je glukoza oksidaza-peroksidaza metodom, a koncentracija MDA u homogenatu jetre određena je upotrebom metode s tiobarbiturnom kiselinom. Rezultati: Nakon sedmodnevnog tretmana akarbozom zabilježeno je statistički značajno smanjenje koncentracije glukoze u krvi u skupini D/A u odnosu na skupinu D (p<0.05), a isto tako je uočen i statistički značajan pad koncentracije MDA (p<0.05). Zaključak: Ovi rezultati potvrđuju pozitivan antioksidacijski učinak akarboze što se može objasniti njezinim antihiperglikemijskim djelovanjem.Aim. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is one of the toxic product of the lipid peroxida-tion, and that plays an important role in the evaluation of oxidative stress in the diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to study the effect of acarbo-se (α-glucosidase inhibitor) on serum glucose concentration and MDA in liver homogenate of NOD (non-obese diabetic) mice. Material and methods. Diabetes was induced in mice by i.v. administration of alloxan-monohydrate (75 mg/kg b.w.). The mice were divided into 4 groups (N=6): control, healthy mice (C), control healthy mice on 7-day treatment with acarbose (C/A), NOD mice (D), and NOD mice on 7-day acarbose treatment (D/A). The levels of blood glucose and of MDA in liver homogenate were determined by glucose oxidase-peroxidase method and a method with thiobarbituric acid, respectively. Results. Significant reduction in blood glucose levels was observed after 7-day administration of acarbose in D/A group compared to D group (p<0.05), together with a significant fall in MDA concentration (p<0.05). Conclusion. This results confirmed thefavorable antioxidative effect of acarbose which may be explained by its antihyperglycemic action

Sastav aminokiselina u zeleni kičice (Centaurii herba) i zeleni stolisnika (Millefolii herba)

In the ethanolic extract of the Lesser centaury - Centaurii herba (Centaurium erythraea Rafn., Gentianaceae) following amino acids were identified: Lysine (Lys), Glutamine (Gln), Serine (Ser), Threonine (Tlu-), Valine (Val) and Leucine (Leu). In the ethanolic extract of the Yarrow-Millefolii herba (Achillea millefolium L., Asteraceae) following amino acids were identified: Glutamine (Gln), Glutamic acid (Glu), Serine (Ser), Threonine (Th1-), Proline (Pro), Tyrozine (Tyr), Valine (Val), Phenylalanine (Phe) and Leucine (Leu). Investigation of the composition amino acids was carried with thin layer chromatography method (TLC). Rf values of the identified amino acid were compared with the Rf values of amino acids in the standard solutions

Sastav aminokiselina u listu borovnice, korijenu vodopije i listu crnog duda (Myrtilli folium, Cichorii radix et Mori nigrae folium)

In the ethanol extract of the Bilberry leaf-Myrtilli folium (Vaccinium myrtillus L.,Ericaceae) following amino acids were identified: Glutamine (Gln), Threonine (Thr), Glutamic acid (Glu), Tyrozine (Tyr} and Valine (Val). In the ethanol extract of the Chichory root-Cichorii radix (Cichorium intybus L., Asteraceae) following amino acids were identified: Serine (Ser), Threonine (Thr), Proline (Pro), Valine (Val) and in the ethanol extract of the Black mulberry leaf.Mori nigrae folium (Morus nigra L., Moraceae) following amino acids were identified: Lysine (Lys), Serine (Ser), Threonine (Thr), Glutamic acid (Glu), Proline (Pro), Valine (Val), Phenylalanine (Phe) and Leucine (Leu). lnvestigation of the composition amino acids was carried with thin layer chromatography method (TLC). R1 values of the identified amino acid were compared with the R1 values of amino acids in the standard solutions

Sastav aminokiselina u listu koprive, korijenu odoljena i perikarpu graha (Urticae folium, Valerianae radix et Phaseoli pericarpium)

In the ethanol extract of the Nettle leaf.Urticae folium (Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae) following amino acids were identified: Histydine (His), Cysteine (Cys), Lysine (Lys), Glutamine (Gln), Glutamic acid (Glu), Threonine (Thr), Proline (Pro), Valine (Val), Leucine (Leu). In the ethanol extract of the Valerian root -Valerianae radix (Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianaceae) following amino acids were identified: Histydine (His), Cysteine (Cys), Glutamine (Gln), Glutamic acid (Glu), Threonine (Thr), Valine (Val), Leucine (Leu) and in the ethanol extract of the Kidney-bean pod -Phaseoli pericarpium (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae) following amino acids were identified: Serine (Ser), Glutamic acid (Glu), Threonine (Thr), Proline (Pro), Valine (Val) and Leucine (Leu). Investigation of the composition amino acids was carried with thin layer chromatography method (TLC). R,values of the identified amino acid were compared with the R,values of amino acids in the standard solutions

Updated distribution of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) and its conservation issues in Serbia

Although the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) has been included in studies for several decades, the information about its distribution and the state of populations in Serbia is still incomplete. The data collected from the available literature sources, and those based on the authors’ own field investigations, indicate that E. orbicularis occupies a large part of the territory of the Republic of Serbia, preferring aquatic biotopes at lower altitudes. We compiled a list of 287 localities where the presence of the pond turtle has been recorded. Of those, 14% (40 localities) were known only from literature sources, localities added during our field investigations represent 82% (235 sites), 4% (12 localities) confirming literature data. We also gathered information on the main negative threats to the endurance of the pond turtle in Serbia. These are habitat pollution, degradation and destruction, and the spread of allochthonous invasive turtle species. Some protective and conservation measures are suggested in the conclusion. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173043