[Gastroschisis and omphalocele in the same family (author's transl)]

Occurrence of gastroschisis and omphalocele in the same sibship reported for the first time. After a first case of gastroschisis, it is advisable to measure the alpha-fetoprotein level in the maternal serum and to perform diagnostic ultrasonography in the next pregnancy in order to make a prenatal diagnosis. The authors suggest the existence of a similar anomaly of the umbilical ring.

[Distribution of fibronectin in normal human tissue]

Distribution of fibronectin (FN), a major glycoproteic component of extracellular matrix was studied by an indirect immuno-fluorescence technique using a rabbit anti-FN serum on frozen sections of fresh human tissues. In the extracellular matrix, FN is localized in epithelial and glandular basement membranes (bronchial, digestive, urothelial, prostatic, thyroid and mammary glands). FN is also visualized in vascular basement membranes and pulmonary alveolar basal laminae. In lymphoid tissues. In the liver and adrenal cortex, FN has the same distribution as reticulin fibers. In the kidney, glomerular mesangium in labeled. There are also pericellular labelings on fibroblastic and muscular cell surfaces. Epithelial cells of the mammary gland show a pericellular positive staining. FN is principally involved in cell orientation and in cell extra-cellular matrix interactions.

Effect of blockade of the reticuloendothelial system on the carbaryl toxicity in the rat

The time dependence of the level of blood cholinesterase was determined in rats with the reticulo-endothelial system (RES) inhibited with colloidal carbon and in control rats after i.v. administration of 2 does of carbaryl: 0.75 mg and 1.50 mg/100 g body wt. Pretreatment with colloidal carbon had no effect on the blood cholinesterase activity when compared with the controls. Carbaryl rapidly inhibits cholinesterase; the time of "reactivation" of this enzyme increases with the administered dose. However, when the RES is inhibited with colloidal carbon, "reactivation" of cholinesterase is significantly slowed down, to a varying degree, depending on the dose of carbaryl. Our results bring to light a relationship between the inhibition of the RES and the toxicity of carbaryl, inhibition increasing the anticholinesterase effect of the insecticide.

[Effect of blockade or stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system on the blood clearance kinetics of the anticholinesterase insecticide carbaryl in the rat]

The blood clearances of 14C-carbaryl and colloïdal carbon were studied in Rats with reticuloendothelial system (RES) inhibited or activated, and in control Rats. A correlation was established between the blood clearance kinetics of carbon particles and carbaryl; such data support the concept of the contribution of the RES in the disappearance of carbaryl from the circulation.

[Phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system in the rat after administration of an anticholinesterasic pesticide, carbaryl (author's transl)]

The effects of 4 carbaryl doses (0.375, 0.75, 1.50 and 3 mg/100 g) on the reticuloendothelial system (RES) phagocytic activity were studied 1 h after their administration to male rats. Carbaryl reduced RES phagocytic activity. Results showed a dose-dependent drop in RES phagocytic activity. Carbaryl might act as an inhibitor of phagocytes by saturing them to greater or lesser degree, depending on the dose administered.

Dietary effects on inhibition of rat hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes by a pesticide (Morestan)

Female rats were fed for 21 days on 5 semi-synthetic diets containing 8 or 30% proteins, 1 or 25% lipids respectively, the control animals being given a diet containing 20% proteins and 5% lipids. The animals on each diet were then subdivided into two subgroups and on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th days were given an oral dose of 75 mg/kg of Morestan in solution in peanut oil (PO) or a dose of oil only. The microsomes were prepared 24 h after the last administration and aniline aromatic hydroxylase, aminopyrine and N-methylaniline N-demethylase activities and cytochrome P-450, protein and RNA levels were measured. Whatever the diet, Morestan inhibited N-demethylase activities and decreased the cytochrome P-450 level; liver protein and RNA levels and microsomal RNA level increased. The 25% lipid diet alone increased activity of the three enzymes studied, without modifying the cytochrome P-450 level; Morestan produced antagonism of this effect in the rats on this diet. The decreased cytochrome P-450 level caused by Morestan was higher in animals on the 8% protein diet.

[Effect of ingestion of derivatives of quinoxaline on the enzymatic detoxication activity of hepatic microsomes in the rat]

Female rats received quinoxaline, 2,3-dimethyl quinoxaline, 2,3-diphenyl quinoxaline and 2,3-dithiol quinoxaline by oral intubation for 4 days (500 mg/kg/day) and drug-metabolizing enzymes were investigated. A significant stimulation in liver microsomal enzymes occurred after 2,3-dimethyl quinoxaline and 2,3-diphenyl quinoxaline treatments; these changes were associated with increases in cytochrome P-450 level and in RNA and protein contents of the microsomal fraction. Quinoxaline had no effect on the metabolic rate of the studied substrates but increased the cytochrome P-450 and the RNA and protein levels; whereas, 2,3-dithiol quinoxaline inhibited the aminopyrine and N-methylaniline N-demethylations and decreased the cytochrome P-450 per mg microsomal protein.

[Relations between the changes of the phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system and the alterations in protein and nucleic acids contents of the rat liver (author's transl)]

The phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) was evaluated after a single oral administration of soya-bean oil to male rats (15 g/kg). 1. An emulsion of soya-bean oil administered to the rat by gastric intubation activated the phagocytosis of colloidal carbon; the stimulation appeared on the 2nd day after treatment and persisted up to the 3rd day. There was also a relation between the stimulation of RES activity, under our experimental conditions, and the increased level observed in the protein and nucleic acid contents of the liver. 2. In contrast, without emulsion, soya-bean oil depressed the phagocytic activity on the 2nd and 3rd days after administration of the oil. These changes were associated with a diminution in ribonucleic acid and protein contents of the liver. Although the mechanisms of soya-bean oil-induced alterations of phagocytic activity were not clarified, there was a relationship between the RES stimulation or inhibition and the modifications in nucleic acid and protein contents of rat liver.

[The influence of dietary regimen on the stimulation of microsomal monooxygenases in rat liver induced by 2,3-dimethylquinoxaline]

Activities, on the hepatic microsomal fraction, of the following enzymes: aniline aromatic hydroxylase, p-nitroanisole O-demethylase, aminopyrine N-demethylase, N-methylaniline N-demethylases, as well as the P-450 cytochrome level, have been evaluated on female rats. During a period of 26 days, they are fed on 4 diets including either: 20% or 30% proteins, or: 1% or 30% lipids. A parallel study is carried out: animals fed on the same diets are given, orally on the 22nd day and for 4 days, a bactericide, the dimethyl-2.3 quinoxaline; the dose is 500 mg/kg/day, with an interval of 24 hours. 1) A stimulation of the microsomal monooxygenase activity and an increase in the P-450 cytochrome level are induced by the dimethyl-2.3 quinoxaline on all animals regardless the diet they are on. 2) The hyperlipidic diet is the only one to induce an increased activity of the same enzymes, but the P-450 cytochrome level remains unchanged. 3) In rats fed on the hyperlipidic diet and treated with dimethyl-2.3 quinoxaline, the effects of this substance and of this diet, on the drug-metabolizing enzymes, become additive.

[Effect of the quality of various vegetable oil emulsions on phagocytotic activity of the reticuloendothelial system in the rat]

In the liver, reticuloendothelial cells make up 35 p. 100 of the total cellular population. The characterization of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) is its phagocytic activity. Certain fatty acids and lipids produce stimulation or depression of phagocytic function. In the present study, the phagocytic activity of the RES has been evaluated 3 days after oral (15 g/kg) and intravenous (1, 5 g/kg) treatments of male rats with emulsions of peanut, canbra, soyabean, olive and rapeseed oils. The distribution of particle sizes of all suspensions were made microscopically. Phagocytic function was measured by the blood clearance of colloidal carbon injected intravenously; the phagocytic index was calculated from the formula: log C=Kt + log C0 where C and C0 were carbon concentrations in standard volumes of blood removed from the animals at times t and t0 (in minutes). Intravenous administrations with the 5 oil emulsions significantly increased the phagocytic function of the RES. However, with oral administration, stimulation or depression of phagocytic function were dependent of many factors, among them the nature of the oil and the physical and chemical structure of the lipid emulsion. The variations in particle sizes found in emulsions make it extremely difficult to draw any comparison between their effects on the RES phagocytic capacity of rat; but difference in the distribution of various particle sizes provided an indirect approach to studying their influences on RES stimulation or inhibition. However, it is obvious that although modifications of particle sizes may alter the level of phagocytic activity induced by certain oil emulsions, they do not explain the phenomenon. The activity of phagocytic function of oil emulsions on RES cells can be related to their physical or chemical properties; the mode of esterification of the fatty acids may be an important factor. However, no evidence has been obtained which in any way correlates changes in physical or chemical properties of the studied oil emulsions with the observed differences in effects upon the RES cells. No adequate explanation of the role of these parameters in the stimulation or inhibition of phagocytic properties of RES can be made and other studies are necessary.