Abstract Dietary xylitol supplementation increases bone calcium and phosphorus concentrations in healthy rats, as well as protects against the decrease of bone minerals and bone density during experimental osteoporosis. This suggests that dietary xylitol might have a favorable effect on the prevention of osteoporosis. However, before any conclusions can be drawn about the usefulness of a compound, studies including structural evaluation and biomechanical testing of bones must first be performed. Thus, the aim of the present study was to clarify whether dietary xylitol affects bone resorption, bone structure, and bone biomechanics in healthy rats, and whether dietary xylitol offers some preventive effects against the increased bone resorption, decreased bone trabeculation, and weakened bone biomechanical properties during experimental osteoporosis. Dietary xylitol reduced bone resorption in 3-mo old healthy male rats, and protected significantly against the increase of bone resorption in 3-mo old ovariectomized rats, as measured by the urinary excretion of 3H following [3H]tetracycline-prelabeling. In addition, increased trabecular bone volume of proximal tibia in 4-mo old healthy male rats was detected after a 1-mo xylitol feeding period, and significant protection against the decrease of trabecular bone volume in 6-mo old ovariectomized rats was observed after a 3-mo xylitol feeding period. Furthermore, dietary xylitol increased the strength properties of long bones in 6-mo old healthy male rats after a 3-mo feeding period, without affecting the bone elastic properties as tested by three-point bending of tibia, torsion of femur, and loading of femoral neck. Accordingly, dietary xylitol protected significantly against the weakening of bone biomechanical properties in 6-mo old ovariectomized rats after a 3-mo feeding period. In conclusion, the above results strongly support the hypothesis that oral administration of xylitol protects effectively against the progression of experimental osteoporosis. Dietary xylitol was effective both in increasing bone mass in healthy rats, and in preventing bone loss in ovariectomized rats, suggesting a favorable effect of xylitol on both main targets in the prevention of osteoporosis. As dietary xylitol was effective also in protecting against the experimental osteoporosis-caused changes in bone structure and weakening of bone biomechanical properties, oral xylitol administration seems to provide interesting possibilities when searching for new physiological choices for the prevention of osteoporosis.

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Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Student: Alena Novýsedláková Supervisor: PharmDr. Jana Pourová, PhD. Title of Thesis: In vitro effects od selected isoflavonoids on isolated rat aorta Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether the selected isoflavonoids are able to vasodilate aorta, what structural features might be responsible for a relaxing activity and estimate the mechanism of action. The experiment we carried out the classical in vitro method on the isolated rat aorta, and the results evaluated by the computer program GraphPad. Only glycitin did not show statistically significant relaxation of blood vessels, which can be attributed to ineffective glycosidic form. Other izoflavonoids- glycitein, daidzein and tectorigenin seem to be promising in terms of potential vasodilatation. Further studies would be needed to verify also the in vivo effects. Likely structural features include the hydroxy group at 7-position and a methoxy group at position 8 of the core od isoflavonoids. The mechanism of action is not yet known, but most likely appears endothelium-dependent mechanisms, alpha 1 receptor antagonism and agonism of muscarinic M3 receptor. It may be also involved in the effect of the antioxidant and...

Following a stroke there is a significant increase in the number and migration of progenitor cells (PCs) to the infarct, and positive correlations between neurogenesis and recovery. Loss-of-function studies have conflicting findings on whether the ablation of PCs impedes motor or cognitive function post-stroke. This thesis examines if neurogenesis per se is required for motor recovery and spatial learning and memory. PCs were ablated in an adult GFAP-TK rat model that allows for the inducible deletion of GFAP-expressing PCs in the brain. An endothelin-1 (ET-1) stroke was produced and assessment of motor function and spatial learning and memory revealed no differences between control and GFAP-TK rats in which PCs were ablated. This study is the first to use a focal cortical stroke model in a rat to study PCs and stroke recovery, and suggest that PCs and their progeny are dispensable for motor recovery and spatial learning and memory post-stroke.

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1. The influence of catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor U-0521 on isotonic contraction of isolated rat vas deferens was examined to determine optimal concentration and nonspecific effects. 2. Maximum responses to (-)-epinephrine were increased at 0.4 μM and 1 μM concentrations of U-0521. Epinephrine responses were progressively decreased in the presence of higher concentrations (10 μM, 30 μM and 100 μM) Of U-0521. 3. The response to the nonadrenergic agonist neurokinin A was similarly depressed in the presence of 100 μM U-0521. 4. U-0521 not only inhibits COMT, at concentrations above 1 μM it nonspecifically depresses contraction of the rat vas deferens by both adrenergic and nonadrenergic agonists.

Three-dimensional electrocardiography with computerized analysis provides a means to rapidly collect and quantitatively analyze electrocardiographic data from rats. Electrical activity at each point in time can be expressed quantitatively as a vector with magnitude and direction. Rats are fitted with plate and needle electrodes in three mutually perpendicular axes: X (right to left), Y (rostral to caudal), and Z (ventral to dorsal). Electrocardiographic signals are recorded on paper and also collected at 1000/sec using an IBM-compatible computer equipped with a fast A/D convertor. Signals are analyzed using an interactive program written in Turbo PASCAL which transforms data into an array consisting of vector magnitude and direction at each time point. The data are further used to produce both a tabular report and graphic output. This method retains simplicity while extending the accuracy of electrocardiographic (ECG) measurement. It literally adds another dimension of information to the three-lead ECG most commonly measured in rats.

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Autonomic control of the heart results in variations in the intervals between heart beats, known as heart rate variability. One of the defining components of autonomic control is the baroreflex, a negative feedback controller that balances heart rate and blood pressure. The baroreflex is under constant command from the branches of the autonomic nervous system. To better understand how the autonomic nervous system commands the baroreflex, a baroreflex reflexogenic animal protocol was carried out. Heart rate variability analysis and baroreflex sensitivity were used to quantify the neural control of the heart. This thesis reconfirmed the existence of sexually dimorphic properties in the baroreflex through the use of heart rate variability analysis and baroreflex sensitivity. It was discovered that there are many caveats to utilizing heart rate variability analysis, which have to be addressed both in the experimental protocol and the signal processing technique. Furthermore, it was suggested that the slope method for quantifying baroreflex sensitivity also has many caveats, and that other baroreflex sensitivity methods are likely more optimal for quantifying sustained activation of the baroreflex. By utilizing various heart rate variability signal processing algorithms to assess autonomic tone in Sprague-Dawley rats during rest and sustained electrical activation of the baroreflex, the null hypothesis was rejected.

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