Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
-
Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Sep 2000
Comparative StudyAge as a susceptibility factor in the striatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity observed in the mouse following substituted amphetamine exposure.
A number of substituted amphetamines, including methamphetamine (METH) are considered dopaminergic neurotoxicants. METH causes long-term depletions of striatal dopamine (DA) and its metabolites (DOPAC and HVA) that are accompanied by other changes indicative of nerve terminal degeneration. These include argyrophilia as detected by silver degeneration stains and an elevation in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of reactive gliosis in response to injury, as well as a long-term decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein levels. ⋯ In contrast, the usual neurotoxic regimen of d-METH was minimally effective in inducing GFAP elevations (49% over control) in one-month-old mice, despite elevations in body temperature equivalent to those observed in older mice. Although increasing the dosage of d-METH (20 to 80 mg/kg) did increase the GFAP response (100% over control), it was still well below that usually exhibited at the usual neurotoxic dosage (300-400% over control) in fully mature mice. These data suggest maturity of striatal dopamine systems may be an essential element in the striatal damage induced by the neurotoxic amphetamines.
-
Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · May 2000
Similarity of changes in body composition in intensive care patients following severe sepsis or major blunt injury.
Critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe sepsis or major blunt injury undergo massive changes in body composition. We compared these changes in 12 patients with generalized peritonitis, and in 18 patients with major blunt injury over a 21-day period soon after their admission. Body composition was measured as soon as the patients were hemodynamically stable, and again 5, 10, and 21 days later. ⋯ Total body water (TBW) lost postresuscitation averaged 11.1 +/- 1.3 L and 6.7 +/- 1.1 L for the two groups, respectively, these changes largely being accounted for by changes in extracellular water (ECW). Our results demonstrate a striking similarity in the changes in total body protein for these two groups of critically ill patients. The sepsis patients retained approximately twice the volume of fluid of those with major trauma.