PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Dubin

Publications and source records attributed to M Dubin.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Increased biliary secretion and loss of hepatic glutathione in rat liver after nifurtimox treatment.

Treatment of rats with nifurtimox, a nitrofuran derivative widely used for the treatment of Chagas' disease, induced a time- and dose-dependent depletion of liver glutathione, maximal effects being obtained with 200 mg nifurtimox/kg body weight. Extra release of both oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione into bile contributed to this depletion. Glutathione excretion into bile accounted for only part of liver glutathione loss, thus indicating that, in addition to the GSH-peroxidase reaction (resulting in GSSG generation), other glutathione-related processes were involved in nifurtimox detoxification. Bile flow, bile salt excretion, liver lipid conjugated diene content, liver glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) activity were not affected by the nifurtimox treatment, thus ruling out widespread damage of the liver cell by nifurtimox. Nevertheless, the extra GSH release in the nifurtimox-treated rats may indicate an alteration of the hepatocyte membrane.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Effect of phalloidin on biliary lipid secretion in rats.

1. The effect phalloidin on bile acid, phospholipid and cholesterol secretion into bile was studied in rats with bile fistulae. 2. Phalloidin, when given for 7 days, induced a significant decrease in biliary cholesterol concentration and cholesterol saturation index. Bile acid and phospholipid concentration in bile remained unchanged. This effect was less marked in animals receiving the drug for 3 days, and not detectable in animals treated for 1 day. 3. These results provide circumstantial evidence for the hypothesis that microfilament dysfunction may lead to alterations in cholesterol secretion into bile.

Animals↗

Influence of colchicine and phalloidin on bile secretion and hepatic ultrastructure in the rat. Possible interaction between microtubules and microfilaments.

The studies were carried out to examine the role of microtubules and microfilaments on bile secretion in the rat in vivo. Phalloidin (which causes irreversible polymerization of actin into microfilaments), administered at the dose of 50 microgram/100 g body wt during 3 days, caused an increase in the microfilamentous network around bile canaliculi; it induced a significant decrease both in basal bile flow, and in bile flow stimulated by sodium taurocholate, the major bile acid in the rat. Colchicine (which inhibits the polymerization of tubulin into microtubules), 3 hr after an injection of 0.2 mg/100 g body wt, caused the almost complete disappearance of microtubules in the hepatocytes; it did not modify basal bile secretion, but did induce a significant decrease in taurocholate secretion and taurocholate-stimulated bile flow after a bile-acid load, as well as a delayed plasma disappearance of the bile acid. Lumicolchicine, which is known to have no effect on tubulin, had no effect on bile secretion. The combined administration of phalloidin and colchicine caused both the increase of the pericanalicular microfilamentous network and the disappearance of microtubules; it induced a decrease in basal bile flow that was more marked than that observed with phalloidin alone, suggesting that the effects of the two drugs were not simply additive, but synergic. Although a toxic effect of colchicine could not be totally excluded, the results are compatible with the hypothesis that microtubules as well as microfilaments play a role in the excretion of a bile-acid load.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Phalloidin-induced cholestasis in the rat: relation to changes in microfilaments.

The influence of phalloidin, an agent that causes irreversible polymerisation of actin into microfilaments, on bile secretion and hepatocyte ultrastructure was examined in rats. Phalloidin was given intraperitoneally at the dose of 50 microgram per 100 g of body weight per day for 1, 3, or 7 days. The following was observed. (1) Bile flow decreased, as compared to controls, by 19% after 1 day, 34% after 3 days, and 55% after 7 days. Bile acid secretion was also decreased. (2) Electron microscopic examination of the hepatocyte in treated animals revealed an increased thickness of the pericanalicular microfilamentous network and a dilatation of bile canaliculi. Stereological examination revealed an increase in the relative volume of the microfilamentous network (per unit of hepatocyte cytoplasm) of 2.55% after 1 day, 4.06% ater 3 days, and 6.16% after 7 days. (3) [14C]Erythritol biliary clearance, measured after 7 days, decreased in parallel to bile flow, suggesting that the decrease in bile flow was of canalicular origin. [14C]Sucrose biliary clearance increased in treated animals, suggesting an increased permeability of the biliary system to sucrose. There was a predominant decrease in the bile acid independent bile flow. These data provide circumstantial evidence for the hypothesis that microfilament dysfunction can produce cholestasis.

Animals↗

Study of indirect methods for measuring hepatic blood flow in the isolated perfused dog liver.

This study was undertaken to assess the reliability of the constant infusion clearance and extraction technique (CIT) and the single injection clearance method (SIT), to measure hepatic perfusate flow at different levels of liver function. In the 36 isolated perfused dog livers, hepatic perfusate flow(HPF) was monitored by a direct method (DM), and the HPF was simultaneously measured with an indirect method (IM) utilizing bromosulphophthalein BSP) as indicator (20 SIT and 16 SIT). In 16 experiments, absolute ethanol (750 mM) and sodium taurocholate (600 muM) were seperately utilized to impair BSP metabolism. By comparison with DM, in the experiments with an extraction ratio(ER) of BSP lower than 10%, the error of the IM (ml/min) was for the CIT 154.57 +/- 46.55 and for the SIT 107.25 +/- 34.20. This error was significantly greater than in the experiments with an ER greater than 10% (CIT 15.70 +/- 3.88, SIT 8.20 +/- 1.38) p less than 0.01. In the studies with ER less than 10%, no difference was found in the error detected with the SIT (107 +/- 34.20) and CIT measurements (154.37 +/- 46.55); in the experiments with an ER greater than 10%, the error with the CIT (15.70 +/- 3.88) was greater than the one attained with the SIT (8.20 +/- 1.38, p less than 0.10 greater than 0.05). It is concluded that both methods are reliable techniques, for measuring HPF in livers with normal or near normal clearance capacity, but even in these ideal experimental conditions the values for HPF are inacurate when the liver clearance function is moderate or severly impaired.

Animals↗

Prenatal diagnosis of a subamniotic hematoma.

A case of a subamniotic hematoma was diagnosed at 34 weeks of gestation. Pregnancy and delivery were uneventful. The ultrasound features of a subamniotic hematoma, and the differential diagnosis with lesions of less favorable outcome are described.

Adult↗

Choline deficiency causes reversible hepatic abnormalities in patients receiving parenteral nutrition: proof of a human choline requirement: a placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that plasma free choline concentrations are significantly decreased in many long-term home total parenteral nutrition (TPN) patients. Furthermore, low choline status has been associated with both hepatic morphologic and hepatic aminotransferase abnormalities. A preliminary pilot study suggested choline-supplemented TPN may be useful in reversal of these hepatic abnormalities. METHODS: Fifteen patients (10 M, 5 F) who had required TPN for > or =80% of their nutritional needs were randomized to receive their usual TPN (n = 8), or TPN to which 2 g choline chloride had been added (n = 7) for 24 weeks. Baseline demographic data were similar between groups. Patients had CT scans of the liver and spleen, and blood for plasma free and phospholipid-bound choline, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), bilirubin, serum lipids, complete blood count (CBC), and chemistry profile obtained at baseline, and weeks 2, 4, 6, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 34. CT scans were analyzed for Hounsfield unit (HU) densities. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in any measured parameters after 2 weeks. However, at 4 weeks, a significant difference in liver HU between groups was observed (13.3+/-5.0 HU [choline] vs 5.8+/-5.2 HU [placebo], p = .04). This significant trend continued through week 24. Recurrent hepatic steatosis and decreased HU were observed at week 34, 10 weeks after choline supplementation had been discontinued. A significant increase in the liver-spleen differential HU was also observed in the choline group (10.6+/-6.2 HU [choline] vs 1.3+/-3.3 HU [placebo], p = .01). Serum ALT decreased significantly (p = .01 to .05) in the choline group vs placebo at weeks 6,12, 20, and 24. Serum AST was significantly decreased in the choline group by week 24 (p = .02). The serum alkaline phosphatase was significantly reduced in the choline group at weeks 2, 12, 20, 24, and 34 (p = .02 to 0.07). Total bilirubin was normal in these patients and remained unchanged during the study. Serum GGT tended to decrease more in the choline group, but the greater decrease was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Choline deficiency is a significant contributor to the development of TPN-associated liver disease. The data suggest choline is a required nutrient for long-term home TPN patients.

Adult↗