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Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrates are immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory plasma-derived products. Clinical studies in recent years have suggested that IgG attenuates neuropathic pain. In this study, effects of sulphonated IgG on the development and maintenance of a mechanical allodynia-like response were examined in mice with neuropathic pain induced by a partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSL). When sulphonated IgG (400 or 1,000 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was administered for 5 days, from 1 day before surgery to post-operative day (POD) 3, the development of a mechanical allodynia-like response was attenuated. On the other hand, sulphonated IgG had little effect on the maintenance of a mechanical allodynia-like response when administered for 5 days, from POD 11 to POD 15, at which time a mechanical allodynia-like response had already been developed. To explore the mechanism of sulphonated IgG, the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines was evaluated in the injured sciatic nerve. Sulphonated IgG (1,000 mg/kg/day, i.p.) that was administered for 3 days, from 1 day before surgery to POD 1, significantly attenuated the up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-a and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 mRNAs on POD 1. These results suggest that prophylactic treatment with sulphonated IgG attenuates the development of mechanical allodynia-like response by inhibition of inflammatory cytokine expression in mice with PSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose has an important role in spermatogenesis. Nevertheless there are few reports in which the effects of long-lasting hypoglycemia on male reproductive organs have been evaluated. Therefore, insulin was administered subcutaneously at 100, 200, and 400 IU/kg to male rats twice a day for one month. This treatment regimen produced plasma glucose levels that rapidly decreased after treatment, with decreased glucose levels lasting for several hours after each administration on the first and final treatment days. During the treatment period, no abnormalities in clinical signs or body weight were observed. No statistically significant differences were noted in the weights of testes, epididymides, prostates and seminal vesicles, or pituitary glands. Histopathological examination revealed that the insulin-treated animals exhibited degeneration of seminiferous tubules in the testes and exfoliation of germ cells in the lumens of epididymides as a secondary change related to the testicular lesions. The incidences of the histopathological findings were found to be proportional to insulin dose. Sperm analysis of the group receiving the highest dosage indicated that the sperm concentration tended to decrease and the incidences of sperm malformations tended to increase. Our results suggest that long-lasting hypoglycemia affects male reproductive organs in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]