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Biomedical subjects

K Blum

Publications and source records attributed to K Blum.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Methionine enkephalin as a possible neuromodulator of regional cerebral blood flow.

In swine, cerebral blood flow was documented by a left ventricular injection of radiolabeled 15-micron spheres. Utilizing this procedure, the effect of the putative neurotransmitter methionine-enkephalin on regional cerebral blood flow was systemically evaluated. Our results revealed that a peripheral infusion of methionine enkephalin into miniature swine significantly increased cerebral blood flow in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, pons, inferior parietal cortex and frontal cortex. Non-significant increases were observed in the hippocampus, occipital cortex and medulla oblongata while no effect on blood flow was observed in the pituitary gland. Significance of these results in the potential role of methionine enkephalin as a modulator of blood flow to the brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Supersensitivity to norepinephrine induced by prenatal exposure to ethanol.

Pregnant random bred mice were treated with ethanol (ETOH) (0.33 g/kg) for 1 or 2 days prior to parturition. When compared to saline controls, ETOH-treated adult males had vasa deferentia that were supersensitive to norepinephrine (NE). Tissues from mice prenatally treated for 1 day with ETOH showed a decreased response to electrical stimulation whereas vas deferens obtained from 2-day-treated ethanol showed no significant difference in the response compared to that of controls. These findings indicate that prenatal exposure to ETOH can influence the subsequent sensitivity of the vas deferens to adrenergic stimulation. These changes appear to reflect effects of ETOH during critical periods.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Ethanol acceptance as a function of genotype amounts of brain [Met]enkephalin.

Our results indicate a negative correlation between the amount of ethanol (10%) consumed and endogenous levels of brain [Met]enkephalin in C57BL/6J (alcohol-preferring) and DBA/2J (alcohol-nonpreferring) inbred mice strains. Additionally, it was found that 8 wk after 1-day starved groups of both C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice were challenged with ethanol (10%) for 1-day acceptance, they had significantly lower levels of brain [Met]enkephalin compared with their nonalcohol-treated controls. These results suggest that the brain endogenous peptidyl opiates may play a crucial role in alcohol-seeking behavior.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1982

Whole brain methionine-enkephalin of ethanol-avoiding and ethanol-preferring c57BL mice.

These experiments systematically investigated ethanol preference in both the C57Bl/6N and C57Bl/6J mice utilizing three-choice 2-bottle preference test. In addition, these sublines were evaluated for whole brain methionine-enkephalin levels, which were significantly lower in C57Bl/6J mice (alcohol preferring) compared to C57Bl/6N mice (alcohol non-preferring). This finding supports the involvement of the peptidyl opiates in ethanol seeking behavior.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1982

Reduced leucine-enkephalin--like immunoreactive substance in hamster basal ganglia after long-term ethanol exposure.

Golden Syrian hamsters were placed individually in cages with three drinking bottles--one empty, one containing water, and the third containing water and ethanol. Control hamsters received water only. After 1 year the experimental hamsters showed a significantly lower concentration of leucine-enkephalin-like immunoreactive substance in the basal ganglia than the control hamsters. This finding indicates that the action of ethanol involves endogenous peptidyl opiates.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Ethanol intoxication as a function of genotype dependent responses in three inbred mice strains.

Three strains of mice, ICR Swiss, DBA/2J and C57Bl/6J were compared for initial sensitivity, recovery from intoxication, and acute tolerance development to ethanol. The The C57Bl/6J mice were found to be less sensitive and to recover more rapidly from the effects of the same dose of ethanol than the other two strains treated. None of the strains tested demonstrated acute tolerance to ethanol when given the same dose 3 hours later.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1981

A rapid method of evaluate acute ethanol intoxication in mice.

A simple technique for the evaluation of ethanol intoxication based on the ability of mice to remain on a bar suspended above an electrified grid is reported. The characteristics that make this model useful to measure ethanol induced intoxication include: (a) low variability; (b) high sensitivity; (c) rapidity; (d) requires no previous training of animals to be tested; (e) objective scoring which can be quantified; and (f) dose-dependent correlation between brain and blood ethanol levels and bar holding response.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗
PubMed1981

Schistosoma mansoni: age-dependent susceptibility to immune elimination of schistosomula artificially introduced into preinfected mice.

Mice chronically infected with Schistosoma mansoni exhibited a significant resistance to a second infection with the same parasite, as demonstrated by their challenge worm burdens measured by portal perfusion. A decreased worm recovery was also exhibited by chronically infected mice when the challenge was administered intravenously using 3-h schistosomula obtained by the isolated skin technique or using 5-, 6-, 7- and 9-day-old schistosomula obtained from the lungs of infected donor mice. Variable results were obtained with 10- and 11-day-old forms, while schistosomula which were 12 days old or older, did not undergo significant rejection when introduced into the mesenteric veins of preinfected mice. Attempts to analyse these phenomena using the 'lung assay' were made complicated by the observation that the day of maximum recovery from the lungs was dependent upon the age of injected worms.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1981

Marihuana and alcohol: perinatal effects on development of male reproductive functions in mice.

Marihuana and alcohol have been reported to exert a wide range of effects on reproductive functions in man and laboratory animals. Decreased testosterone levels, suppression of pituitary gonadotropin release, impaired fertility and sexual dysfunction have been observed in adult males exposed to either of these substances. The present studies examined the effects of perinatal exposure to ETOH and THC alone or in combination on the development or reproductive functions in mice. Testes weights and plasma testosterone levels were reduced in adult males perinatally exposed to these substances, alone or in combination. Seminal vesicle weights were reduced only in the THC-exposed mice, while kidney weights were decreased by either ETOH or THC exposure. In ETOH plus THC-exposed animals, plasma LH was reduced while FSH levels were increased. In response to castration, gonadotropin levels were elevated in mice perinatally exposed to THC. In vitro responsiveness to gonadotropin stimulation, as indicated by testosterone production by decapsulated testes, was significantly inhibited in tissue obtained from ETOH-exposed males. Although no simple interactions were observed, it is evident that THC and ETOH, either alone or in combination, can affect the development of male reproductive functions in mice.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1980

Overestimation of glucose in uranyl acetate-treated samples: modification of the deproteinization method.

It is demonstrated that uranyl ions remaining in deproteinized supernatants of blood, serum, or liquor cerebrospinalis lead to falsely elevated glucose values by forming insoluble precipitates of uranyl phosphate. Furthermore, glucose is overestimated in hemolytic blood samples because of the UV-absorption of incompletely precipitated hemoglobin. A modified deproteinization method is recommended which overcomes these problems: the specimen volume is reduced to one half of the usual volume (0.05 instead of 0.1 ml) and excess uranyl ions are removed from the deproteinized supernatant by precipitation as uranyl phosphate, using phosphate-coated tubes. The supernatant obtained after centrifugation is free of uranyl ions and hemoglobin. Therefore, a sample blank may be omitted.

Blood Glucose↗