The insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) is an important metabolic factor involved in cell growth and metabolism. Although secretion of IGF-I in rat liver is regulated by growth hormone, the effects of forskolin, adenylate cyclase activator, on secretion of IGF-I have not been reported. Therefore, a modified perfused rat liver model was used to investigate the regulatory effects of forskolin on IGF-I secretion in this experiment. The results were summerized as follows: 1. Modified perfused rat liver model was not changed to aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) secretion in time. 2. The IGF-I secretion in hepatic cell was increased by forskolin(10-5, 10-6 and 10-7M) in a dose-dependent manner as compared with those of the controls, and significantly increased by 10-5 and 10-6M forskolin(p0.05). 3. Secretion of glucose in hepatic cell significantly was decreased by 10-5M forskolin as compared with those of controls(p0.05). These results suggest that forskolin may be involved in the regulation of IGF-I secretion in the perfused rat liver.

Body weights and blood biochemical values in chickens infected with reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV)-HI, a Korean isolate, were studied. REV-HI causes severe body weight depression in chickens inoculated but not in chicken contact-infected. Body weights of infected chickens in 3, 4, and 5 weeks after infection were 78%, 76% and 65% of those of control respectively. Blood glucose levels in REV-infected chickens were extremely high compared with those in control (226±21 vs. 814±91.3 mg/dl in week 2) during the experiment period. Triglyceride levels in REV-infected chickens were significantly higher in week 2 and 3, whereas in week 4, REV-infected chickens showed significantly lower levels than the control. Blood lipase, amylase and alkaline phosphatase levels of REV-infected chickens in week 2 were significantly higher, whereas cholesterol, magnesium and calcium values in week 4 were significantly lower than the control. Other blood biochemical values such as alkaline aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyltransferase were nonsignificantly different from the control. These above results suggest that weight depression by REV may be related with increase of blood glucose, which indicated that REV-infected chickens could not use blood glucose as energy source.

The proliferation of mesangial cells has been associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy. The cell proliferation has been regulated by diverse growth factors. Among them, insulin like growth factors(IGFs) are also involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. However, it is not yet known about the effect of high glucose on IGF-I and IGF-Ⅱ secretion and the relationship between high glucose-induced secretion of IGFs and PKC or oxidative stress in the mesangial cells.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of Aloe vera in the pancreatic islets of streptozotocin diabetic mice. Experimental diabetes was induced in ICR mice with a single injection of SZ (140mg/Kg body weight, ip). The mice demonstrating hyperglycemia 48 hours after SZ injection were treated for 16 days with Aloe vera (300, 800mg/Kg). Plasma glucose was measured, and for morphological studies of the islets specimens were staind with hematoxylin-eosin and by immunocytochemical methods. Then we observed the morphological changes of islets. Polymorphonuclear cells were infiltrated at the periphery of the islets 48 hours after SZ injection in SZ-treated ICR mice, but no prominent WBC infiltration was observed throughout the experiment. Blood glucose in mice treated with Aloe vera after SZ injection was higher than that of SZ injected mice, and mononuclear cells were heavily infiltrated at the islets 16 days after Aloe vera treatment (300mg/Kg), and significant islets infiltration of mononuclear cells was observed 30 days after Aloe vera treatment (800mg/Kg). Islets of ICR mice treated with Aloe vera after SZ injection showed severer insulitis, degranulation and necrosis of B cells than those of SZ injected mice. These studies indicate that Aloe in SZ injected mice increases vascular permeability and number of WBC in pancreatic islets, and potentiates destruction of B cells by cell-mediated immune system

This experiment was carried out to provide the data of blood chemistry in use of application to clinical diagnosis in racehorses. Blood was collected from 30 racehorses (female 17, male 13). Calcium, inorganic phosphorus, blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, bilirubin, fibrinogen and ketone body in serum were analyzed. The values of calcium and inorganic phosphorus were maintained a certain level without much variation regardless of sex and species. Ca/P ratio was in the range of 3.13-3.35. The value of blood glucose was 60mg/100ml. Age and sex of racehorses make no difference in the value. The value of blood urea nitrogen and total cholesterol showed a tendency to increase according to the age. Total cholesterol value was somewhat higher in male than in female. The value of total bilirubin showed a tendency to increase according to the age. There was no difference between sexes in the value. The value of fibrinogen showed no apparent difference with age and sex. Ketone body was negative in all of the cases. There was no variation on the species of the racehorses