Polyamines and Ca2+ Mediate Hyperosmolal Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier: In Vitro Studies in Isolated Rat Cerebral Capillaries

We recently presented evidence that the reversible opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by the infusion of 1.6 M mannitol into the rat internal carotid artery is mediated by a rapid stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and putrescine synthesis in cerebral capillaries. We have now investigated this hypothesis further, using isolated rat cerebral capillaries as an in vitro model of the BBB. The ODC activity of cerebral capillary preparations was enriched up to 15-fold over that of the cerebral homogenate. Hyperosmolal mannitol in physiological buffer evoked a rapid (less than 15 s), concentration- and time-dependent increase in capillary ODC activity and an accumulation of putrescine and spermidine which was blocked by the specific ODC inhibitor, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO, 10 mM). Mannitol (1 M), as well as 2 M urea, evoked a two- to fivefold increase in the temperature-sensitive influx of 45Ca2+ and uptake of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 2-deoxy-D-[1-3H]glucose (DG), but not alpha-[1-14C]aminoisobutyrate, during a 2-min incubation. DFMO (10 mM) abolished 1 M mannitol-mediated stimulation of 45Ca2+ influx and uptake of HRP and DG, whereas 1 mM putrescine replenished capillary polyamines and reversed the DFMO effects. Mannitol (1 M)-induced stimulation of ODC activity and membrane transport processes was Ca2+-dependent and verapamil- and nisoldipine-sensitive. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 10 nM), a protein kinase C activator, also evoked a two- to threefold stimulation of 45Ca2+ transport and HRP and DG uptake. This PMA effect was abolished by DFMO, suggesting involvement of rapid, ODC-controlled polyamine synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

不同进化类型大豆种子超氧物歧化酶的比较

本文对不同进化类型大豆种子超氧物歧化酶(SOD)进行了比较分析。结果表明:(1)供试三种进化类型大豆种子的 SOD 同工酶酶谱一致,均为7条,其中一条为 Ma-SOD,其余6条为 Cu-Zn-SOD。(2)SOD 活性表现为:野生类型明显高于中间类型,中间类型明显高于栽培类型。(3)随着大豆籽粒百粒重的增大,种胚的 SOD 活性降低。(4)种皮颜色由黑到黄,种皮的 SOD 活性降低。讨论了大豆种子 SOD 活性与 Sofa 亚属内大豆进化的关系。     

广西壮族颅骨的测量与研究

本文以来源于壮族居民世代聚居地区,生前资料比较可靠的150例颅骨为材料并用多因素分析等6方法探索壮族的体质特征、人种地位、地区类型及可能的起源。结果表明,壮族居民属黄色人种南亚类型,中华民族的华南,与柳江人,Chen皮岩人有最接近的亲缘关系。     

成人及新生儿颅骨铜和锌含量的初步研究

本文系用原子吸收光谱法测定了西安地区10例成人尸体和15例新生儿尸体的颅盖骨内Cu和zn的含量。结果求得成人颅骨中Cu正常含量(均数±标准差)为4.48±3.78mg/kg(干组织重);zn为597.05±472.54mg/kg。新生儿颅骨中Cu和zn的含量分别为1.96±0.76mg/kg;1160.38±859.71mg/kg。结果表明,成人颅骨内Cu含量高于新生儿,而成人颅骨内Zn含量显著低于新生儿。     

Retrovirus-mediated transgenic keratin expression in cultured fibroblasts: specific domain functions in keratin stabilization and filament formation.

With retrovirus-mediated gene transfer, we used intact and deleted keratin proteins to investigate the molecular basis of intermediate filament function. Three levels of assembly show a different stringency for the involvement of individual keratin domains: protein accumulation requires the alpha helix domains; stable filament formation additionally requires both N- and C-terminal domains of either one of the two interacting keratins, suggesting that head to tail homotypic interaction is important for effective elongation; and higher order organization of the cytoplasmic network depends on correct type I-type II pairing of keratins. The presence of two distinct interaction sites along potentially different axes may explain the characteristic morphology of keratin intermediate filament networks.     

Response of exocrine pancreas to corticosterone and aldosterone after adrenalectomy

The long-term effect of adrenalectomy (Adx) on the exocrine pancreas was examined in female adult rats. Pancreatic amylase concentration decrease to 50% of the control level starting 10 days after Adx, whereas the levels of trypsinogen and lipase remained unchanged. Replacement studies beginning 24 h after surgery with corticosterone (B, 1 mg/100 g body wt) or aldosterone (ALDO, 8 micrograms/100 g body wt) alone did not prevent the decline in amylase after Adx. However, when both hormones were administered together, pancreatic amylase concentration was maintained at a level similar to that of the control group. Serum corticosterone levels in the rats receiving B alone or B + ALDO were not different, and were comparable to levels found in normal rats. Both ALDO and B, given for 5 days starting 10 days after Adx, were required to restore amylase concentrations toward control values. When spironolactone (SPIRO, 3 mg/100 g body wt), a specific mineralocorticoid receptor blocker was administered bid together with ALDO + B, it blocked the increase in pancreatic amylase seen in ALDO + B treated rats but did not affect the serum corticosterone levels. These results suggest that mineralocorticoids are also involved in modulating the level of amylase in the rat exocrine pancreas.     

Infertility induced in rats by immunization with synthetic peptide segments of a sperm protein.

Three peptide segments (YAL-198, YAL-201 and YAL-212) corresponding to the extracellular domain of a human sperm protein designated as YWK-II antigen were synthesized as multiple antigen peptide (MAP). Male and female rats were immunized with the YWK-II-MAPs and fertility determined. In a group of 12 female rats immunized with YAL-198, seven animals were infertile and two animals were subfertile. When immunized with YAL-201 and YAL-212, 4 and 2 animals were infertile, respectively. In a group of 15 males immunized with YAL-198, 2 animals were infertile and 6 were subfertile. Two animals immunized with YAL-201 were subfertile. All control male and female rats immunized with bovine serum albumin and adjuvant were fertile. Sera obtained from infertile rats immunized with YAL-198 contained higher titers of antibodies compared to those obtained from fertile animals. The present study shows that immunization with synthetic peptide segments of a sperm protein can effectively reduce fertility.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of human liver cDNA encoding for cystathionine gamma-lyase.

We have cloned and sequenced a full-length cDNA (1083 bp) encoding the human liver cystathionine-gamma-lyase enzyme (cystathionase). The human cystathionase sequence presented a substantial deletion of 132 bases (44 amino acids) compared to that reported for rat cystathionase, and of 135 bases (45 amino acids) compared to that reported for yeast cystathionase. After re-alignment for the missing nucleotides, the human cDNA sequence shows significant amino acid homology to that for the rat enzyme (85%) and the yeast enzyme (50%). A search for an undeleted cDNA, by the polymerase chain reaction, yielded a second clone which contained the missing 132 bases. Flanking nucleotides in the latter clone were identical to those in the cDNA clone containing the deletion. The two forms of human cystathionase deduced from the two cDNA clones may be derived from two different genes or may be splice variants.