Role of mast cells and eosinophils in tissue injury caused by injection of Ascaris fluid in the rat

Ascaris fluid was found to cause a phlogistic response when injected into the peritoneal cavity of rats. Evidence was provided that such an inflammatory reaction is determined by damage to mast cells, followed by histamine- and serotonin-release in tissues. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that Ascaris fluid does not act by a direct cytotoxic effect on mast cells, but by release of mast cell lytic factors from eosinophils. The meaning of such a phenomenon, relative to the function displayed by eosinophils in tissue injury, is discussed.

Renin activity and norepinephrine, cation, and water contents of cardiovascular tissue of dogs with congestive heart failure, and ascites

Six dogs with congestive heart failure and ascites were studied for (a) renin, norepinephrine, water, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents in cardiovascular tissues; (b) plasma renin activity and renin substrate; (c) renal renin activity, juxtaglomerular index, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in macula densa cells, and α-glycero-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in macula densa cells and juxtaglomerular bodies. The most important findings were: (a) a significant decrease in renal renin activity and in the juxtaglomerular index coinciding with increased activities of glucose-6-phosphate and α-glycero-6-phosphate dehydrogenases in macula densa cells when compared with normal renal tissue; (b) a highly significant increase in norepinephrine content in branches of mesenteric veins combined with a decrease in norepinephrine content in most arteries studied; (c) a significant increase in the sodium content of most arteries studied, without any change in water content.

Albumin to ascites: demonstration of a direct pathway bypassing the systemic circulation

The transport of plasma albumin and newly made albumin into ascitic fluid was studied in eight patients with cirrhosis and ascites. The thoracic duct was cannulated in two patients and lymph collected over a period of 2 hr. Simultaneously albumin-(131)I and carbonate-(14)C were injected intravenously. The albumin-(131)I measured the transfer of plasma albumin into ascites and into thoracic duct lymph. The carbonate-(14)C, by labeling newly formed albumin, permitted the estimation of the transfer of newly formed albumin into plasma, ascites, and lymph. If the newly synthesized albumin entering ascites and thoracic duct lymph is delivered initially into the plasma, then the ratios of the albumin-(14)C and -(131)I in ascites and lymph compared with the content of albumin-(14)C and -(131)I in plasma would be identical. However, if some newly formed albumin is delivered directly into ascites or lymph, the ratio for albumin-(14)C would be higher than that for albumin-(131)I in lymph or ascites. The ratios of both labeled albumins found in ascites or lymph are expressed as per cent of the total plasma pool. In the eight patients studied 4.2-11.7% of the albumin-(14)C in plasma was found in ascites in 2 hr whereas only 0.4-2.2% of plasma albumin-(131)I entered in this same period. In the two patients studied during thoracic duct lymph drainage 6.1 and 13.5% of newly made albumin-(14)C appeared in lymph in 2 hr whereas only 2.8 and 3.8% of plasma albumin-(131)I was found in the lymph. In cirrhosis with ascites some newly formed albumin entered ascites and thoracic duct lymph by a direct pathway from the liver bypassing the systemic circulation.

Albumin synthesis in cirrhotic subjects with ascites studied with carbonate-14C

The synthesis of serum albumin was measured in 19 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and ascites. Carbonate-(14)C was used to label the guanido carbon of arginine in albumin.18 of the patients had the diagnosis of cirrhosis confirmed by biopsy and/or by the presence of esophageal varices. Seven patients with albumin synthesis rates of 42-105 mg/kg per day demonstrated the lowest serum cholesterol esters and highest serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels, while the seven patients whose albumin synthesis rates ranged from 203-378 mg/kg per day, had significantly higher cholesterol ester levels and significantly lower values for SGOT. The serum albumin levels were equally depressed in all patients. In patients with cirrhosis and ascites albumin production was found to be normal or elevated in seven of the 19 subjects, and only markedly depressed in seven patients, in spite of the fact that the serum albumin level was depressed in all patients.