Prostaglandin release by spinal cord injury mediates production of hydroxyl radical, malondialdehyde and cell death: a site of the neuroprotective action of methylprednisolone

The present study explores in vivo whether and how prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)), a membrane phospholipid hydrolysis product, causes neuronal death. The concentration of PGF(2alpha) measured by microdialysis sampling increased threefold immediately following impact injury to the rat spinal cord. Administration of PGF(2alpha) into the cord through a dialysis fiber caused significant cell loss, increased extracellular levels of hydroxyl radicals and malondialdehyde - an end product of membrane lipid peroxidation - to 3.3 and 2.3 times basal levels, respectively. This suggests that PGF(2alpha)-induced cell death is partly due to hydroxyl radical-triggered peroxidation. Generating hydroxyl radical by administering Fenton's reagents into the cord through the fibers significantly increased malondialdehyde production - the first direct in vivo evidence that hydroxyl radical triggers membrane lipid peroxidation. Methylprednisolone significantly reduced the release of PGF(2alpha) upon spinal cord injury and blocked PGF(2alpha)-induced hydroxyl radical and malondialdehyde production, but did not significantly reduce Fenton's reagent-induced malondialdehyde production, despite the production of more malondialdehyde by PGF(2alpha). This suggests that methylprednisolone may not directly scavenge hydroxyl radical, and that its 'antioxidant' effect is a consequence of blocking the pathways for producing toxic PGF(2alpha) and for PGF(2alpha)-induced hydroxyl radical formation, thereby reducing membrane lipid peroxidation.     

The compact and expanded denatured conformations of apomyoglobin in the methanol-water solvent

We have performed a detailed study of methanol-induced conformational transitions of horse heart apomyoglobin (apoMb) to investigate the existence of the compact and expanded denatured states. A combination of far- and near-ultraviolet circular dichroism, NMR spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used, allowing a phase diagram to be constructed as a function of pH and the methanol concentration. The phase diagram contains four conformational states, the native (N), acid-denatured (U(A)), compact denatured (I(M)), and expanded helical denatured (H) states, and indicates that the compact denatured state (I(M)) is stable under relatively mild denaturing conditions, whereas the expanded denatured states (U(A) and H) are realized under extreme conditions of pH (strong electric repulsion) or alcohol concentration (weak hydrophobic interaction). The results of this study, together with many previous studies in the literature, indicate the general existence of the compact denatured states not only in the salt-pH plane but also in the alcohol-pH plane. Furthermore, to determine the general feature of the H conformation we used several proteins including ubiquitin, ribonuclease A, alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, and Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor (SSI) in addition to apoMb. SAXS studies of these proteins in 60% methanol showed that the H states of these all proteins have expanded and nonglobular conformations. The qualitative agreement of the experimental data with computer-simulated Kratky profiles also supports this structural feature of the H state.     

Expanded bed adsorption as a unique unit operation for the isolation of bacteriocins from fermentation media

Expanded bed adsorption using a strong cation exchanger allowed the direct isolation of amylovorin L471, a bacteriocin from Lactobacillus amylovorusDCE 471, from the fermentation medium. The pH of the loading and elution buffer were optimised in a packed bed with cell-free culture supernatant. Bound bacteriocin was eluted with 1.0 M NaCl. The highest recovery (30%) was obtained at the lowest pH (3.6). At higher pH values the recovery was lower, namely 12%, 15% and 7% at pH 4.5, 6.5 and 8.0, respectively. In expanded bed mode, direct isolation of the bacteriocin from the fermentation medium at pH 3.6 (loading and elution) initially resulted in a recovery of 12%. After optimisation of the pH (loading and elution at pH 3.6 and 6.5, respectively), the recovery for amylovorin L471 increased up to 30% and higher. Recovery of enterocin A from Enterococcus faeciumCTC 492 fermentation medium averaged 15% (loading and elution at pH 3.6 and 6.0, respectively). With pediocin, produced by Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042, 26% recovery was obtained at a pH of 6.5 during loading and elution. Low recoveries can be ascribed to non-optimal operation conditions (pH of loading and elution buffer), inactivation of the bacteriocin on a cationic resin, and the formation of more insoluble and less active, strongly hydrophobic bacteriocin aggregates upon further purification.     

Production of plasmid DNA for human gene therapy using modified alkaline cell lysis and expanded bed anion exchange chromatography

We describe a process for the commercial manufacture of therapeutic grade plasmid DNA. The industrially scaleable unit operations employed in this process are: (i) optimized alkaline lysis; (ii) bag filtration; (iii) expanded bed anion exchange chromatography; (iv) ultrafiltration, and (v) size exclusion chromatography. These steps are scaleable alternatives to current approaches to plasmid DNA isolation such as high speed centrifugation for feedstock clarification and solvent precipitation for plasmid concentration, and an efficient alternative to conventional low through-put packed bed chromatography.The process produces plasmid DNA characterized by low level chromosomal DNA, RNA and endotoxin contamination without the use of flammable solvents or toxic reagents and is suitable for therapeutic administration.     

Physical and biochemical characterization of a simple intermediate between fluidized and expanded bed contactors

Physical and biochemical comparison has been made of the performance of a simple fluidised bed contactor and a commercial expanded bed contactor, characterised by identical dimensions, and operated at various settled bed heights with two anion exchange adsorbents. The contactors were tested with various feedstocks comprising bovine albumin in the absence and presence of 20 g dry cell weight biomass litre^-1. Earlier classification of the simple contactor as a single-stage, well mixed fluidised bed is reviewed. The relative merits of STREAMLINE DEAE and DEAE Spherodex LS as fluidisable, anion exchange adsorbents are discussed.     

Modulation of Formalin-Evoked Hyperalgesia by Intrathecal N-Type Ca Channel and Protein Kinase C Inhibitor in the Rat

1. -CgTx attenuated formalin-evoked biphasic flinches, while PKC inhibitor (STU) attenuated phase 2 and was reversed by PDBu.2. -CgTx and STU suppressed the increase in CSF-glutamate after formalin injection.3. Morphine completely suppressed both increased flinching and CSF glutamate release.4. Thus, -CgTx (N-type Ca channels) may regulate neurotransmitter release evoked by C fiber activation and the formalin-evoked hyperalgesia may possibly be provoked as a result of PKC activation elicited by both presynaptic neurotransmitter release and activation of NMDA receptors in the spinal neurons.     

蛋白激酶A介导慢性压迫背根节神经元的肾上腺素能兴奋反应

本实验在奶节（ＤＲＧ）慢性压迫模型上,采用离体灌流ＤＲＧ和单纤维记录神经元自发放电的方法研究了初级感觉神经元的交感－感觉耦联作用及其细胞内机制。用外源性支甲肾上腺素（ＮＥ,１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）浸浴损伤的ＤＲＧ时,在９５个ＤＲＧ神经元中有８５个自发放电的神经元产生明显反应。其中,４４个呈现单纯兴奋效应,２１个表现先兴奋后抑制效应,６个出现兴奋－抑制交替振荡现象,１４个表现抑制效应。ＮＥ对损伤神经元的兴     

Response of NADPH-Diaphorase-Exhibiting Neurons in the Medullar Reticular Formation to High Spinal Cord Injury

1. The effect of hemisection of the cervical spinal cord on NADPH-diaphorase staining in the reticular nuclei of the rabbit medulla was investigated using histochemical technique.2. A quantitative assessment of somal and neuropil NADPH-diaphorase staining was made by an image analyzer in a selected area of each reticular nucleus of the rabbit medulla.3. On the 7th postsurgery day, the highest up-regulation of somatic NADPH-diapho- rase staining was observed in regions regulating cardiorespiratory processes; however, the highest increase of neuropil NADPH-diaphorase staining was found in the reticular nuclei modulating the tonus of postural muscles.4. The degeneration of non-NADPH-diaphorase-stained neurons was detected throughout the reticular formation of the medulla, but the extent of neuronal death did not correlate with the up-regulation of the NADPH-diaphorase staining in the reticular nuclei of the medulla.5. The findings provide evidence that NADPH-diaphorase-exhibiting neurons are refractory to the hemisection of the cervical spinal cord and that the neuronal up-regulation of NADPH-diaphorase at the medullar level is probably not a causative factor leading to the death of the reticulospinal neurons.