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TITLE:
Alloxan diabetes abolishes the increased
negativity of interstitial fluid pressure in rat trachea induced by vagal nerve
stimulation.
AUTHOR:
Woie K; Reed RK
AUTHOR AFFILIATION:
Department of Physiology, University of Bergen,
Norway.
SOURCE:
Acta Physiol Scand 1997 Sep;161(1):113-9
NLM CIT. ID:
98017776
ABSTRACT:
Increased negativity of interstitial fluid
pressure (Pif) occurs concomitantly with oedema formation in acute airway inflammation.
This observation is principally important because the loose connective tissues become
'active' and provide the driving force for the rapid oedema formation via Pif. The present
study reports Pif in acute airway inflammation in alloxan diabetic rats. The basis for the
study was, firstly, that inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Secondly, that clinically there is almost a mutual exclusion between diabetes and asthma
and, lastly, that the inflammatory response is attenuated in alloxan diabetic rats. Pif
was measured on the ventral side of the trachea with sharpened glass capillaries (3-6
microns) connected to a servocontrolled counterpressure system. Measurements and nerve
stimulation were performed after circulatory arrest, since oedema formation associated
with inflammation will increase Pif, causing an underestimation of a potentially increased
negativity of Pif. Control or diabetic rats (alloxan 45 mg kg-1 i.v. 5 days earlier)
received either the mast cell degranulating substance compound 48/80 (100 micrograms),
dextran 70 (60 mg) i.v. or vagal nerve stimulation. After dextran, Pif was -4.7 +/- 0.9
(SD) mmHg (n = 6) and -1.3 +/- 0.3 mmHg (n = 6) (P <0.01) in normal and diabetic rats, respectively. Corresponding values after vagal nerve stimulation were 5.3 +/- 1.8 mmHg (n="5)" and 0.7 +/- 0.2 mmHg (P < 0.01). Insulin treatment restored the Pif response to dextran and vagal stimulation. Pif after Compound 48/80 did not differ between control and diabetic rats. Interstitial volume, total tissue water and transcapillary albumin extravasation increased significantly in controls after vagal nerve stimulation, but was attenuated in diabetic rats.
When my office
lease expired at the end of 2004, I decided to turn it into a
"sabbatical" from my private practice. Many years ago, in my
grandfather's 89th year of life, he told me, "John, it is important
to smell the roses while you can still smell them." His life
gave living a very good reputation. It is also true that the
pursuit of that philosophy required my grandfather to to re-open his
assay office/ore market in Wickenburg, Arizona as a 75-year-old because
he had run a little short of retirement money. Thus, if blessed with his
luck and health, I'll be back.. --jjh
