Biomedical subjects

V Trkulja

Publications and source records attributed to V Trkulja.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Vagal influence on compensatory ovarian growth is important only briefly after hemicastration.

Hemicastration induces growth of the remnant ovary in the rat. As evidenced by the effects of total abdominal vagotomy, vagal innervation markedly influences this compensatory ovarian growth. In the present experiments, vagotomy inhibited compensatory ovarian growth when performed immediately after hemicastration, but not when delayed until 4.5 hr after hemicastration. Brief exposure of subdiaphragmal portion of the vagi nerves to 2% lidocaine shortly before hemicastration also inhibited compensatory growth. Fifteen minutes after hemicastration, markedly elevated tissue concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) were recorded in the remnant ovaries. This accumulation of cAMP was inhibited by vagotomy that preceded hemicastration, as well as by lidocaine pretreatment of the vagi nerves, and partly by vagotomy that followed 10 min after hemicastration. At 5 hr after hemicastration, tissue cAMP concentrations in the remnant ovaries were not elevated and were not affected by vagotomy. The present results suggest that vagal influence on the compensatory ovarian growth is important only during a short period of time after hemicastration (apparently shorter than 4.5 hr), and that it, at least briefly after hemicastration, includes neural input to the ovary.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Involvement of muscarinic receptors in the control of female puberty in the rat.

Immature female rats (21 days of age) were chronically intraperitoneally treated with guanethidine or muscarinic agents. The effects on the timing of puberty and ovarian wet weight, protein and total RNA and DNA contents were studied. While guanethidine (20.0 mg/kg/day) was ineffective, trihexyphenidyl and especially propantheline (15.0 mg/kg/day) delayed vaginal opening (by 23%) and the first vaginal oestrus (by 28%), and lowered ovarian weight (by 37%) and other ovarian growth parameters. Carbachol (0.2 mg/kg/day) reversed the effects of propantheline. Thus, in contrast to the adrenergic system, the cholinergic system appears to substantially contribute to the accurate onset of female puberty and ovarian growth in the rat.

Adrenergic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Addictive substances and medical students in Zagreb].

We surveyed 3 generations (1996-1998) of the 3rd year medical students at the University of Zagreb for their contact with tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances of abuse using an anonymous questionnaire. Of 464 participants 25-30% were smokers, 60-70% confirmed that they had got drunk and 31% that they had used illicit substances at least once in the lifetime (primarily cannabis). The proportion of participants confirming contact with cannabis was significantly higher in 1998 than in 1996--34.3% vs. 22.3% (p < 0.05). Comparing the data with a similar survey in 1989, it seems that there has been no significant change in the use of socially accepted substances (tobacco, alcohol), but the proportion of students in contact with illicit substances has increased three times. This increasing trend is in agreement with trends among medical students in Western countries. The students' knowledge about the hazards related to the most harmful substances was poor.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Ecstasy].

"Ecstasy" (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is a prototype of a class of amphetamine derivatives that selectively destroy serotonergic neurons in several brain regions of various species, including, most probably, humans. Due to its psychostimulant and psychodelic effects, "Ecstasy" has been increasingly abused, especially in association with the "Rave" (sub)culture. However, it is not an innocent stimulant. At least 30 cases of severe psychiatric disturbances (chronic psychoses, panic disorders, suicides) induced by recreational doses of "Ecstasy" have been reported during the past 10 years in periodicals included in MEDLINE data base. Moreover, about 70 cases of severe systemic intoxication in young, otherwise healthy individuals, characterized by hyperthermia, arrhythmias and blood pressure disturbances, disseminated intravascular coagulation, rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure, have also been reported. Despite the fact that the patients were treated at the intensive care units, the mortality exceeded 40%. Furthermore, about 20 cases of acute or recurrent non-infective hepatitis, some of which with lethal outcome, have been described as well.

Hallucinogens↗