Accumulation of Sapogenin Conjugates and Histological Changes in the Liver and Kidneys of Lambs Suffering from Alveld,a Hepatogenous Photosensitization Disease of Sheep Grazing Narthecium ossifragum

Sixteen lambs exhibiting hepatogenous photosensitization (alveld) after grazing pasture containing Narthecium ossifragum and seven nonphotosensitized lambs grazing the same pastures were studied. All the alveld-affected lambs revealed liver damage dominated by single cell necrosis, portal fibroplasia and bile duct proliferation. Crystalloid clefts were demonstrated in the bile ducts of two and in the hepatocytes and Kupffer cells of nine photosensitized lambs. Plasma bilirubin concentration was severely increased in ten of the cases of alveld whereas the activity of aspartate aminotransferase was moderately to severely increased in seven cases. The activity of glutamate dehydrogenase was moderately elevated in one of the photosensitized lambs. The main histopathological findings in the kidneys from the alveld-affected lambs were dilated tubules, often with eosinophilic material in the tubular lumina. Regenerative changes were seen in a large proportion of the renal sections. Elevated plasma concentrations of urea and creatinine, and the renal histopathological changes, suggested that the photosensitized lambs had been through a phase of renal injury. Analysis of the free and conjugated sapogenin content in liver tissue and bile was performed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. There were significantly higher concentrations of conjugated episapogenins in both the liver and bile in the alveld-affected lambs than in the nonphotosensitized lambs.     

腐霉利在水溶液中的光化学降解研究

研究了3种浓度的腐霉利在3种光源下的光化学降解途径,并考察了溶液pH、硝酸盐和H2O2对腐霉利水溶液光化学降解的影响。结果表明,在3种光源下,腐霉利水溶液的光解符合一级动力学反应。腐霉利的光解速率在紫外灯下是高压汞灯下的近2倍,其半衰期在高压汞灯下为43.6 min,在紫外灯下仅为28.2 min;以高压汞灯为光源,在浓度2～8 mg.L-1范围内,腐霉利的光解速率与其初始浓度呈负相关;随着溶液pH的增大,腐霉利的光解速度加快;硝酸盐对腐霉利的光解表现为光猝灭效应;而H2O2对腐霉利的光解有显著的光敏化作用。     

HPD及合成卟啉化合物对HEP－2细胞的光敏作用比较

ＨＥｐ－２细胞对ＨＰＤ及九种卟啉化合物中的７种具荧光卟啉均能吸收。脂溶性的四种卟啉化合物易被含１０％小牛血清的Ｈａｎｋ＇ｓ液洗脱，总ＨＰＤ及３种水溶性卟啉则不易被洗脱出细胞。含有ＨＰＤ及以上７种卟啉化合物的细胞加光照时均可杀伤细胞。光敏活性ＨＰＤ＞脂溶性卟啉＞水溶性卟啉．另外两种含顺磁盒属的脂溶性卟啉化合物本身不具荧光，加到培养基中使细胞吸收，加光照后亦无光敏现象。实验说明卟啉的极性在光敏反应中起重要作用。     

Glycogen accumulation and histological changes in the livers of lambs with alveld and experimental sporidesmin intoxication

Alveld is a hepatogenous photosensitization disease seen in lambs grazing Narthecium ossifragum pastures in Norway. Mycotoxins, possibly sporidesmin, have been suspected to cause the liver damage in alveld as in facial eczema. The histological changes in the liver of alveld cases and in lambs photosensitized after experimental sporidesmin intoxication were compared. The liver damage characterized by necrosis in single centrilobular hepatocytes, was of the same type in both conditions. Minor to moderate portal fibroplasia and bile duct proliferation were almost always present. Accumulated glycogen was seen in hepatocytes in the centrilobular areas. This was significantly correlated to the enzymatically measured glycogen content and there was good correlation between parenchymal damage and glycogen accumulation. The glucose-6-phosphatase and glycogen phosphorylase activities were normal. These findings indicate that parenchymal damage, rather than obstruction of the bile ducts, caused the retention of phylloerythrin both in alveld cases and in experimentally sporidesmin-intoxicated lambs. The accumulation of glycogen could not be explained.Abbreviations HE haematoxylin and eoson - PAS periodic acid Schiff - EDTA ethylene diamine tetracetic acid     

Photosensitisation induced by clofazimine in a cat

A pale ginger cat was treated with clofazimine for feline leprosy. During the course of treatment, photosensitisation by clofazimine led to a dermatological disease resembling actinic dermatitis. The mycobacterial disease was eventually cured with clofazimine and the photosensitisation was managed by regulating sunlight exposure. Upon review of the literature, this appears to be the first documented case of drug-induced photosensitisation in the cat.     

Fungi onNarthecium ossifragum leaves and their possible involvement in alveld disease of Norwegian lambs

Spores ofPithomyces chartarum (Berk. & Curt.) M.B. Ellis were only rarely seen on leaves ofNarthecium ossifragum (L.) Hudson collected in summer from five areas in western Norway in which alveld, a photosensitization disease of lambs, is endemic.Cladosporium magnusianum (Jaap) M.B. Ellis was found on all 118 leaf samples collected in the summers of 1990 and 1991. The hypothesis thatP. chartarum contributes to the aetiology of alveld could not be supported, but it is possible thatC. magnusianum may have a role in the causation of the disease.     

Preclinical evaluation of 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy for canine transitional cell carcinoma

As a prelude to photodynamic therapy, 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was given orally to healthy dogs. ALA‐induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence significantly increased in the mucosa of the urinary bladder in an ALA dose‐dependent fashion. Vomiting occurred after ALA administration in 70% of the dogs but did not affect PpIX fluorescence. ALA‐based photodynamic therapy (PDT) of the urinary bladder in healthy dogs caused only submucosal oedema within the bladder wall. No haematologic or serum biochemistry abnormalities were observed after ALA administration. Microscopic haematuria was observed in all the dogs after PDT but was mild and self limiting. ALA‐based PDT was administered to six dogs with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the lower urinary tract. ALA‐based PDT resulted in tumour progression‐free intervals from 4 to 34 weeks in five dogs; one dog with pre‐existing hydronephrosis died shortly after PDT. Dogs with TCC represent an outbred, spontaneous, tumour model for developing PDT protocols for humans with bladder cancer.     

Parenchymal injury and biliary obstruction in relation to photosensitization in sporidesmin-intoxicated lambs

The hepatic changes were compared in lambs photosensitized or not photosensitized after exposure to sporidesmin. Injury to both the parenchyma and the biliary system was more severe in the photosensitized than in the non-photosensitized lambs. The activities of -glutamyltransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase, and the total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin concentrations were significantly higher in sera from the photosensitized than from the non-photosensitized lambs. Hepatic glycogen levels were decreased in both the photosensitized and the non-photosensitized lambs, but were significantly lower in the former. Hence it is possible that lesions in hepatocytes contribute to retention of phylloerythrin and so to photosensitization.