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Murid gammaherpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4) provides a small animal model for the study of animal gammaherpesviruses. MHV-76 is a spontaneous deletion mutant as compared to the prototype strain of MuHV-4 (MHV-68). The MHV-76 genome lacks at least 12 ORFs at the 5′-end including the M1, M2, M3 and M4 genes and the eight viral t-RNA-like genes. During 27 months of experimental infection of BALB/c mice we followed their pathogenesis, immunology and oncogenic properties. After intranasal infection with MHV-76, the infectious virus was detected in the blood, thymus, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, bone marrow, peritoneal macrophages, lymph nodes, kidneys, mammary glands, brain and small intestine. The acute phase of infection was attenuated, but the chronic phase of infection was accompanied with long persistence of virus not only in the lymphatic, but in the neural and glandular tissue, as well. In comparison with the prototype strain, splenomegaly and lymphocytosis was very low. Surprisingly, during 27 months the BALB/c mice infected with MHV-76 did not develop lymphoproliferative disorders like infectious mononucleosis, leukaemia or lymphomas. We hypothesize that the M4 gene, present in all oncogenic MHV isolates, might be related (directly or indirectly) to their transforming properties.

Chalupkova, A.　Hricova, M.　Hrabovska, Z.　Mistrikova, J.
Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynska dolina B2, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of possible protective effects of quercetin and chrysin in experimental alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. Alloxan was injected at a single dose of 60 mg/kg (into the tail vein) for diabetes induction. Quercetin (50 and 100 mg/kg; orally) and chrysin (50 and 100 mg/kg; orally) were administered daily for 3 days prior and 7 days after alloxan injection. Alloxan induced a significant increase of glycaemia (p<0.001) in comparison with control animals. Quercetin at both doses prevented serum glucose elevation (p<0.001). However, the protective effect of chrysin was weaker and surprisingly, most prominent at the lower dose (p<0.05; p<0.01). On the other hand, glycosuria was increased in all groups of animals receiving alloxan. We suggest that the protective effect of the used flavonoids in experimental diabetes mellitus may be related to their antioxidative/chelatory properties. Increased glycosuria indicated that inhibition of renal glucose reabsorption may also play a role in the hypoglycaemic effect of both flavonoids.

Lukacinova, A.　Mojzis, J.　Benacka, R.　Keller, J.　Maguth, T.　Kurila, P.　Vasko, L.　Racz, O.　Nistiar, F.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Safarik University, Trieda SNP 1, 040 66 Kosice, Slovakia.

2008,no4

The effect of hormonal superovulation preparations of FSH (450 IU) or PMSG (1500 IU), on concentration of catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine) was studied in the oestrus period using radioenzymatic methods in the median eminence of the sheep. The administration of FSH caused a significant increase in the concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) in the median eminence (ME) of sheep (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). The comparison of the effect of hormonal preparations on the changes in catecholamine levels showed that the effect of FSH was observed mostly in eminentia mediana of sheep. We propose that the given changes in concentrations of catecholamines in the median eminence of sheep after administration of PMSG or FSH are related to steroids after hormonal stimulation.

Pastorova, B.
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Physiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia.