Capsaicin desensitization induces atrophy of brown adipose tissue in rats

Interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) of capsaicin-desensitized (Cap-Des) rats is atrophied, having a lower wet weight, a reduced total protein content, and as little as 10% of the normal content of uncoupling protein (UCP). Because the mitochondrial concentration of UCP, relative to other mitochondrial proteins, is not altered in Cap-Des rats, it is concluded that most of the mitochondria of BAT of Cap-Des rats have been lost. Consistent with this interpretation is a reduction of almost 40% of the overall thermogenic response to infused norepinephrine by anesthetized Cap-Des rats. Feeding a palatable diet had a delayed thermogenic effect and no trophic effect on BAT of Cap-Des rats. Food selection and intake were normal in Cap-Des rats, and diet-induced weight gain was the same as in control rats. Exposure of Cap-Des rats to cold for 1 or 7 days exerted a normal thermogenic effect on BAT but a delayed trophic effect. The cold-induced increase in thyroxine 5'-deiodinase in BAT occurred normally. Cap-Des rats were hypothermic at 1 day but normothermic by 7 days of cold exposure. The concentration of thyroid hormones in their blood was normal. It is suggested that the depletion of sensory neuropeptides in BAT presumed to be brought about by Cap-Des results either in loss of a trophic influence on mitochondriogenesis in BAT or in lack of an inhibitory influence on mitochondrial breakdown in BAT and leads to atrophy of BAT in rats living at 26 degrees C and an impaired response to stimulation by diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Analgesic and antipyretic effects of cyproheptadine]

Cyproheptadine-HCl raised the pain thresholds during hot plat test and writhing test in mice and tail flick test in rats, strengthened the hypnotic action by subthreshold dosage of sodium pentobarbital and chloral hydrate. The ED50 were 4.4 (3.2-5.7) and 12.4 (8.4-18.2) mg/kg 30 min after ip cyproheptadine in mice and rats, respectively. The ED50 was 0.14 (0.12-0.18) mg/kg 90 min after icv cyproheptadine in mice. Cyproheptadine po 20, 40 mg/kg and ip 10, 20 mg/kg showed significant antipyretic effects on yeast-induced pyrexia in rats.

[An autopsied case of a malignant lymphoma with a severe nephrotic syndrome overlapped by cirrhotic glomerulosclerosis]

A 52-year-old man, who had been diagnosed as having alcoholic liver cirrhosis, presented a chronic nephritic syndrome due to hepatic glomerulosclerosis. Ten months before death, massive proteinuria exceeding 40 g/day was noted. A renal biopsy revealed diffuse mesangial sclerosis, associated with an IgA deposition consistent with hepatic glomerulosclerosis. Although the nephrotic syndrome subsided with immunosuppressive therapy, he died of hepatic failure. Postmortem examinations disclosed a diffuse, medium-size B-cell lymphoma, involving the peritoneal and retroperitoneal organs and an IgA-positive plasmacytosis. His massive proteinuria seems to have been caused by the paraneoplastic syndrome of a malignant lymphoma.