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Biomedical subjects

J Frutoso

Publications and source records attributed to J Frutoso.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Structural and metabolic properties of rat muscle exposed to weightlessness aboard Cosmos 1887.

Male Wistar rats were subjected to 12.5 days of weightlessness aboard Cosmos 1887. Histomorphometric and biochemical analyses were investigated in soleus (SOL), plantaris (PL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of flight rats (group F) and compared with data from two groups of terrestrial controls: one group living free in a vivarium (group V) and another subjected to a flight simulation except for the state of weightlessness (group S). Relative to groups V and S, no alteration in the percentage distribution of fibres had occurred in SOL, PL or EDL, after the flight. In SOL muscles from group F animals, cross-sectional areas of all fibre types were reduced to a greater extent (-40%) than capillary to fibre ratio (-24%) leading to a higher capillary density (+33%) than in V and S groups. In PL, type I, IIA and IIB fibre cross-sectional areas were less decreased (-25%). In EDL, only fast-twitch fibre cross-sectional areas showed an average decrease of 30%. Capillary per fibre ratio was reduced by 15% and 28% respectively in PT and EDL muscles from group F rats compared to control groups V and S. Citrate synthase and 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase activities remained unchanged in SOL, PL and EDL following spaceflight. These findings indicate greater atrophy and functional alterations (capillarity) compared to those observed after 7 days of microgravity on Cosmos 1667.

Anaerobiosis

Fasting-induced rise in locomotor activity in rats coincides with increased protein utilization.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relation between the modifications in locomotor activity (on running wheel) which occur during prolonged fasting and changes in the utilization of energy reserves. In 18-week-old rats, we found that the rate of body mass loss reflects the changes in nitrogen excretion that occur over three phases of fasting: (I) initially decreasing, (II) maintained at a low level and (III) increasing. Locomotor activity started to increase during phase II without a change in its nycthemeral pattern. By contrast, the 10-fold higher daily locomotor activity that occurred in phase III was marked by a higher proportion of diurnal activity. Using 9-, 18-, and 33-week-old rats, in order to obtain a different timing in the metabolic changes during fasting, we could confirm the coincidence between the later rise in locomotor activity and the occurrence of phase III. Refeeding of rats of either age in phase III rapidly suppressed fasting-induced changes in locomotor activity. These data accord with the idea that behavioral changes reflecting the search for food are triggered by a later and reversible change in the utilization of body protein vs. lipid stores during prolonged fasting.

Animals

Effect of almitrine administration on pulmonary arterial pressure in resting and exercising dogs.

In addition to its well-known ventilatory effect, a small rise in pulmonary arterial pressure or pulmonary vascular resistance is occasionally observed with chronic administration of almitrine. In order to test the hypothesis of enhancement of exercise pulmonary vasoconstriction by almitrine, mongrel dogs were studied at rest and during submaximal exercise before and after 4 weeks of chronic ingestion of almitrine (10 mg/kg). It was shown that resting pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) remained unchanged by almitrine treatment. However, when exercise was superimposed on almitrine medication, PAP was significantly increased throughout the exercise bout. Thus, the rise in PAP during the 20th min of exercise averaged 8.7 +/- 3.4 mm Hg after almitrine treatment while PAP increased by only 1.3 +/- 1.7 mm Hg before medication. The exaggerated exercise-induced PAP response in conjunction with the enhanced secretion of norepinephrine that we observed during almitrine treatment suggests that catecholamine could be involved in the pulmonary haemodynamic adjustments. Furthermore, mixed-venous PO2 (PvO2) both during rest and exercise declined with the prolongation of almitrine ingestion, suggesting that PvO2 might possibly be implicated in the pulmonary haemodynamic response to almitrine, in the same way as it is involved in the hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. These findings demonstrate that almitrine medication, even at a high dose, does not have any deleterious effect on pulmonary vasculature in resting conditions, but prolonged submaximal exercise should be proscribed in patients on a long-term therapy.

Almitrine

Effects of swim training alone and in combination with clonidine and rilmenidine on blood pressure, plasma electrolytes, vasopressin, and renin activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Adaptations to the effects of clonidine (CL) and rilmenidine (R) were studied during a 12-week training program (swimming) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was regularly measured during this period. Body weight (BW) was determined at the beginning and at the 12th week. Plasma parameters, cardiac determinations, vasopressin (pAVP), and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured only at the end of the experiment. Both SBP and ponderal benefit were reduced by CL, R, and training. Contrary to beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents, we found no inhibition of the beneficial effect on SBP of training in combination with CL or R. Plasma and hypothalamic vasopressin were reduced by both drugs but only CL increased plasma renin activity (PRA) although its mechanisms of action are still not clearly understood. Our results suggest that CL and R as well as swim training can be considered as an effective countermeasure in SHR. Moreover, the heterogeneity of action of CL and R on some of the parameters tested is in favor of different pharmacological properties for these drugs.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists

Skeletal muscle adaptation to physical training and beta-adrenergic blockade in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effects of training alone or in combination with long-term, non-selective, beta-adrenergic blockade on histochemical and biochemical properties of fast-twitch [extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL)] and slow-twitch [soleus muscle (Sol)] muscle were analyzed in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto strain rats (WKY). Fiber type distribution of Sol was drastically modified in SHR with fewer type I fibers and more type IIA fibers. No such histochemical alterations were observed in EDL. While prolonged swimming training remained ineffective in inducing both histochemical and biochemical improvement in WKY, SHR displayed a significant enhancement of capillarization and oxidative capacity in both Sol and EDL. However, in long-term beta-blocks rats training failed to improve significantly the oxidative capacity of SHR muscles, suggesting that beta-adrenoreceptor stimulation is necessary for a fully efficient adaptation of muscular metabolism to physical training.

Adaptation, Physiological

Effect of spontaneous recovery or retraining after hindlimb suspension on aerobic capacity.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of spontaneous recovery or recovery by treadmill training (180 min/day, 5 days/wk, 30 m/min for 8 wk) on maximal O2 uptake (VO2max), histochemical and biochemical muscular properties (soleus), of rats subsequent to 5 wk of hindlimb suspension. Spontaneous recovery reversed the 15% reduction in VO2max, whereas training posthypokinesia induced a 20% increase over control values. In the spontaneous recovery group, both citrate synthase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities, decreased by hypokinesia (-40%), increased but remained 20% below the control level. In the training posthypokinesia group, an increase of these activities over control occurred (+50 and +20%, respectively). Recovery or training led to a 100% type I distribution in soleus muscle and to a recovery of all fibers' cross-sectional areas. In the spontaneous recovery group, capillaries per fiber, decreased by 46%, returned to the normal range. In the training posthypokinesia group, training induced an increase in capillaries per fiber above their control values (+23%). These results point to the plasticity of the muscle and indicate the necessity of a posthypokinesia training program for recovery of the total oxidative enzyme capacity.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases

Ventilatory transients during exercise: peripheral or central control?

The fast component of the ventilatory changes that occur at the transition phases of exercise was studied in awake dogs trained to run on a treadmill. Two questions were examined: firstly, is the fast ventilatory component modified by changes in venous return to the lungs, such as those consecutive either to increased work loads or to beta adrenergic blockade?, and secondly, is this component altered by central ventilatory depressants? The results showed that at the onset of exercise, there is no correlation between the instantaneous increment in ventilation and the intensity of exercise, but at the end of the treadmill run, the fall in ventilation is closely linked to the power of the work performed. Ventilatory transients observed either at the start or at the end of exercise remain unaffected by administration of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. But central depressant effects on ventilation caused by narcotic analgesics or hypnotic drugs altered the breathing pattern of the fast component of exercise-induced ventilatory changes. It is concluded that the instantaneous changes in ventilation occurring at the transition phases of exercise are controlled by mechanoreceptor mechanisms, but cerebral control is superimposed on the reflex control in regulating both tidal volume and breathing rate.

Animals

[Maximal oxygen uptake in French children in relation to age, sex and physical training].

1. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was determined in 451 boys and girls ranging from 11 to 16 years and divided in two groups. Group I (n = 287) was considered as an untrained reference group. Group II (n = 174) was regularly trained. This group concerned school-children affiliated to a swimming club and trained 5 to 10 h per week. Body growth is nearly the same in the two groups until puberty but, at 15-16 years in the boys, 14-16 years in the girls, height and weight are higher in group II. 2. In group I, between 11 and 16 years, VO2 max increases by 50% in boys against only 25% in girls. For the same age, VO2 max remained smaller in girls, even before puberty although there is no difference in body growth. At 11 years, specific VO2 max averaged 47 ml . min-1 . kg-1 in boys and 40 ml . min-1 . kg-1 in girls and decreases with age only in sedentary girls down to 37 ml . min-1 . kg-1. From the results presented here it appears that maximal oxygen uptake in the average french schoolchild is similar to those of subjects from different countries with same cultural and socio-economical level. 3. In group II, VO2 max is similar in both sexes at 11-12 years old, and then up to 16 years of age increases more rapidly in boys (+100%) than in girls (+50%). Specific VO2 max ranges between 57 and 62 m. min-1 . kg-1 in boy swimmers and averages 53 ml . min-1 . kg-1 in girl swimmers. The influence of physical training on aptitude development is discussed and compared with previously published data.

Adolescent

Radioimmunoassay of arginine vasopressin, oxytocin and arginine vasotocin-like material in the human pineal gland.

Specific radioimmunoassays (RIAs) have been developed for arginine-vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin (OT), and arginine-vasotocin (AVT): they can detect 2.5 pg, 5 pg and 1 pg of hormone respectively. The three antisera employed in the RIAs in the present study all had a specificity that discriminated between the three neuropeptides and thus allowed their accurate measurement in each of 157 human pineal glands. Immunoreactive AVP was found to have a mean concentration of 306.4/+-27.6 (SE) pg/gland in the 1389 pineals where it was at level higher than the detection limit. Immunoreactive OT was determined as 386.3/+-42.1 pg/gland in the 110 pineals where it was measurable, and the mean apparent immunoreactive AVT content was 44.6/+-3.6 pg/gland in the 110 pineals where it was found at detectable levels. Cross-reactivity with AVP or OT cannot account for the immunoreactive peptide content of human adult pineal glands was demonstrated as a function of: (1) sex, (2) time of death, (3) cause of death, (4) age (18 to 85 yr old) or (5) delay between death and gland removal over the range of 4 to 48 hr. While the presence of AVP and OT is not surprising, indications of an immunoreactive AVT may in fact reflect a peptide which is closely related to AVT and cross-reacts in the AVT RIA.

Antibody Specificity

Soleus muscle alterations in spontaneously hypertensive rats are not dependent on activation of beta 2-adrenergic receptors.

The effects of selective beta 2-adrenergic blockade with ICI 118,551 on the histochemical, biochemical, and contractile properties of slow-twitch soleus muscle from spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive (WKY) rats were examined from birth to 8-10 weeks of age. Chronic treatment of normotensive rats with ICI 118,551 caused an impairment in the differentiation of slow type fibers during development but failed to alter the fiber type distribution of hypertensive rats. beta 2-Adrenoreceptor blockade was ineffective in reducing the enhanced glycolytic and oxidative capacities of soleus in hypertensive rats. The suggestion can be made that beta 2-adrenoreceptor activation is not responsible, at least directly, for the histochemical and biochemical alterations of slow muscle from hypertensive rats.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists