No abstract

We measured the excretion rates of six urinary enzymes that either originate from the proximal renal tubule, like alanine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2), alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), gamma-glutamyltransferase (EC 2.3.2.2), and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), or that are typical low-molecular-mass proteins, like lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) and pancreatic ribonuclease (EC 3.1.27.5). These rates were compared with those of total protein and albumin in urine of 36 insulin-dependent diabetic men and 30 healthy men. Seventeen of the diabetics had "clinical proteinuria," defined as excretion of more than 7.5 g of protein per mole of urinary creatinine (group B). Group A comprised the 19 diabetics without proteinuria. Except for gamma-glutamyltransferase, the excretions of enzymes and proteins were significantly higher in diabetics than in controls and were greater in group B than in group A. N-Acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was the analyte most often increased in group A (89%), followed by albumin and alkaline phosphatase (each 32%). All patients in group B showed increased excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. We conclude from the comparative data that this enzyme may be useful as an early predictor of diabetic nephropathy.

Ten healthy and twenty diabetic volunteers (type 1) received 15 capsules (à 450 mg) cod liver oil for 2 weeks daily in addition to a "normal" diet. The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in the plasma phospholipids of both groups were increased after the treatment. The inhibition of the prostacyclin formation by LDL was diminished when the LDL was isolated after the treatment in comparison to LDL taken in the same concentration and from the same donors before it. The thromboxane B2 (TXB2) synthesis capacity of clotting whole blood, thrombin-induced TXB2 formation by platelets as well as the 15(S)-hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-epoxymethano-5Z, 13E-prostadienoic acid-induced platelet aggregation were not altered by the treatment in healthy volunteers, whereas in diabetics the TXB2 formation capacity of clotting whole blood was decreased after the treatment in comparison with before it.

The effects of perinatal sexual differentiation of the brain and of postpuberal sex hormone levels on the development of sex-specific differences in body weight as well as triglyceride (TG), high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-CHOL) and total cholesterol were investigated. Significant differences in body weight of male and female rats are attributed to the influence of different androgen levels during the perinatal period as well as to the influence of different postpuberal estrogen (E) and androgen (A) levels. Sex-specific differences in TG serum levels are essentially caused by varying influence of androgens during the perinatal period, possibly in part after conversion to estrogens. Different postpuberal sex hormone concentrations seem to have only little effect on the TG levels. Sex-specific differences in HDL-CHOL serum levels appear to be independent of androgens during the perinatal period as well as of physiological postpuberal estrogen levels. These differences are mainly the result of the current postpuberal androgen levels. Total CHOL did not show any sex-specific differences under the conditions of the experiment. FRANZISKA GÖTZ1), ERIKA SCHIMKE2) and G. DÖRNER1) Summary. The effects of perinatal sexual differentiation of the brain and of postpuberal sex hormone levels on the development of sex-specific differences in body weight as well as triglyceride (TG), high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-CHOL) and total cholesterol were investigated. Significant differences in body weight of male and female rats are attributed to the influence of different androgen levels during the perinatal period as well as to the influence °f different postpuberal estrogen (E) and androgen (A) levels. Sex-specific differences in TG serum levels are essentially caused by varying influence of androgens during the perinatal period, possibly in part after conversion to estrogens. Different postpuberal sex hormone concentrations seem to have only little effect on the TG levels. Sex-specific differences in HDL-CHOL serum levels appear to be independent of androgens during the perinatal period as well as of physiological postpuberal estrogen levels. These differences are mainly the result of the current postpuberal androgen levels. Total CHOL did not show any sex-specific differences under the conditions of the experiment.