Serum and tissue (kidney's) angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity has been examined in Wistar rats (10 males and 10 females), seven days after unilateral nephrectomy. Renal hypertrophy was determined by measurement of kidney absolute mass. Serum and tissue ACE activity was determined by spectrophotometric method using hippuryl-l-histidyl-l-leucine (Hip-His-Leu) as a substrate. The ACE serum activity was expressed in units that correspond to 1 nmol of hippuric acid released by enzymatic hydrolysis of Hip-His-Leu substrate per minute/ml serum. The ACE tissue activity was expressed in units that correspond to 1 nmol of hippuric acid released by enzymatic hydrolysis of Hip-His-Leu substrate per minute/mg protein or mg kidney's tissue. The ACE serum activity significantly increased (p<0,05) seven days after unilateral nephrectomy. The ACE tissue activity, expressed in units that corresponds to 1 nmol of hippuric acid released by hydrolysis of Hip-His-Leu substrate per minute/mg protein, was higher seven days after unilateral nephrectomy then in kidney control, but the difference was not significant compared to the values determined in kidney control. The ACE tissue activity, expressed in units that correspond to 1 nmol of hippuric acid released by hydrolysis of Hip-His-Leu substrate per minute/mg tissue, was increased seven days after unilateral nephrectomy, which is statistically significant compared to the activity of the same enzyme in kidney control (p<0,01). The results indicate that ACE, probably has an important role in development of adaptive compensatory mechanisms after unilateral nephrectomy.

Lobus limbicus is an anatomical basis for understanding the temporal epilepsy because it includes not only the focus of temporal lobe infection but of the frontal lobe as well. With it we can explain many of the phenomena accompanying epilepsy (hallucinations, the change of the effects, and so on). The goal of this assignment was to explore the asymmetry of amygdaloidal complex in the patients with complex partial attacks. The results show that the smallest number of patients with epilepsy have a symmetric (same size) amygdaloidal complex on the left side and the right. According to the asymmetry direction the difference in the number of patients with epilepsy is not statistically significant. Coefficient of asymmetry shows that the asymmetry on the left side is more frequent in men, while women have the same distribution on both sides. The greatest differences were found when considering the age factor. So, in all the three groups of evaluated data the differences in average age of patients with epilepsy according to total symm./asymm. were not statistically significant. But, the differences in average age depending on the direction of asymmetry were significant. Patients with longer amygdaloidal complex on the left side are significantly younger, both male and female (related to the axial slice, ant. - post. diameter). Thus, we propose the application of MRI technique in examining the asymmetry of the amygdaloidal complex that we used in this assignment as a template for future examinations in a sense of shedding light on the anatomical functions that underlie neuro-psychiatric dysfunctions.

This study was performed in order to investigate possible role of brain beta-endorphins as markers of antidepressive drugs therapy monitoring. Experiment was done using amitriptyline and trazodone as antidepressants. For quantification of brain beta-endorphins we used RIA technique. Our results showed significant decrease of brain beta-endorphins concentration in drug-pretreated animals, vs. those in of control group treated with 0,95% NaCl. The lower values were obtained in trazodone pre-treated animals. This study shows that use of psychoactive drugs have influence on brain beta-endorphins concentration. beta-endorphins could be of great importance, used as markers for evaluation of patient treatment.