Acta Medica Okayama volume35 issue6

To investigate the action of motilin on the sphincter of Oddi, the flow rate of the perfusate (FRP) discharged into the duodenal lumen through the orifice of the common bile duct was measured by means of an electric drop counter in decerebrated dogs. Motilin in doses above 0.5 micrograms/kg i.v. reduced or stopped the FRP. The fifty percent recovery time of FRP was 20 min and full recovery time was 30 min. The reduction of FRP induced by motilin was unaffected by denervation and atropinization. These results suggest that motilin caused an increase in tone of the sphincter of Oddi by acting on the sphincter muscle.

The usefulness of liposomes (in neutral, positively and negatively charged forms) as a carrier for adriamycin (ADM) was studied by examining the distribution of ADM and related fluorescent compounds in Ehrlich solid tumor-bearing mice. The mice were given free or liposome-entrapped ADM intraperitoneally. The distribution of ADM and related fluorescent compounds between the administration of the free form and liposome-entrapped form was measured by high performance liquid chromatography : The distribution was dependent on the form of the liposomes. The amounts of ADM and its metabolites in the mouse serum 20 min after administration of neutral-liposome-entrapped ADM were 10 times those after the administration of free ADM, 6 times those after the administration of a negatively charged form, and 3.5 times those in the administration of positively charged form. There was no marked difference in the concentrations of these compounds 5 h after administration. The concentration of these compounds in the liver 60 min after administration of each liposome-entrapped form of ADM were in inverse correlation with the concentrations in the serum obtained at 20 min after administration. Total concentrations of ADM and its metabolites in the tumors 20 min after administration of each entrapped form of ADM were 4-5 times that in administration of free ADM after 20 min. There were no marked differences in the concentration of ADM for administration of the various liposome forms. Statistically significant decreases in mean tumor weight were seen in the groups given neutral, positively and negatively charged liposome-entrapped forms compared to corresponding control groups given with free ADM.

In rats, microinjection of FeCl3 solution into the left sensorimotor cortex was performed to induce a chronic epileptic focus. One month or more after the microinjection, electrocutaneous stimuli were applied to part of the wrist joint and 50 consecutive somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were averaged. SEP from the left cortex showed only an initial negative monophasic deflection while SEP from the contralateral cortex showed a normal configuration with initial positive-negative biphasic deflection in the majority of experimental animals.

Papular acrodermatitis of childhood (PAC) has recently been reported to be associated with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) subtype ayw. Between September, 1978, and June, 1979, we saw 14 patients with PAC in a small epidemic occurring in Iwakuni City, Japan. HBsAg was detected in sera from all patients. Subtyping of HBsAg in 11 patients showed that 8 had a determinant adr and 3 had no detectable determinant because of low antigen titers. The result suggests that factors other than the specific HBsAg subtype contribute to the development of PAC.

Cholestasis with hyperbilirubinemia was induced in female, but not male, Sprague-Dawley rats by daily treatment with phalloidin for 7 days. Increases in serum direct bilirubin level and alkaline phosphatase (Al-Pase) activity were observed concomitantly with diminished bile flow and a decreased output of bile acid and cholesterol. Light microscope findings of the liver revealed proliferated bile ductules and enhanced mitosis of hepatocytes.

Most of the common organic solvents are excreted into urine as metabolites. A correlation exists for several organic solvents between the amount taken in and the amount of metabolites excreted. Many methods have been developed for the measurement of these urinary metabolites. The methods were classified into three group: colorimetry, gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The characteristics and availability of these methods in a laboratory for routine work were reviewed. The correction equation for the amounts of metabolites in spot urine is discussed.

Alpha-getoprotein (AFP) was purified from fetal rat serum by a combined technique of affinity chromatography with Affi-Gel Blue and disc electrophoresis followed by extraction of AFP from the gel. The purified AFP was immunologically identical with the original AFP in fetal rat serum.

Cholestasis with htperbilirubinemia was induced in female, but not male, Sprague-Dawley rats by daily treatment with phalloidin for 7 days. Increases in serum direct bilirubin level and alkaline phosphatase (Al-Pase) activity were observed concomitantpy with diminished bile flow and a decreased output of bile acid and cholesterol. Kidht microscope findings of the liver revealed proliferated bile ductules and enhanced mitosis of hepatocytes.