The chemical synthesis and biological oxidation of 7α-hydroxy[26-14C]cholesterol, 7-dehydro[26-14C]cholesterol and 26-hydroxy[26-14C]cholesterol

1. 26-Hydroxycholesterol was obtained by reducing the methyl ester of (±)-3β-hydroxycholest-5-en-26-oic acid, which was synthesized from 25-oxonorcholesterol. 2. Methods for preparing 7α-hydroxycholesterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol were modified to allow the micro-scale preparation of these [¹⁴C]sterols from [26-¹⁴C]-cholesterol. 3. 26-Hydroxycholesterol was oxidized more readily than 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol or cholesterol by mitochondrial preparations from livers of mice, rats, guinea pigs, common toads (Bufo vulgaris) and Caiman crocodylus. 4. (±)-3β-Hydroxy[26-¹⁴C]cholest-5-en-26-oic acid was oxidized very rapidly to ¹⁴CO₂ by mouse and guinea-pig mitochondria without evident discrimination between the two optical isomers. 5. An enzyme system that oxidizes 26-hydroxycholesterol to 3β-hydroxycholest-5-en-26-oic acid was identified in the soluble extract of rat-liver mitochondria. This enzyme could use NADP in place of NAD but was not identical with liver alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1). 6. [26-¹⁴C]Cholesteryl 3β-sulphate was not oxidized by fortified mouse-liver preparations that oxidized [26-¹⁴C]cholesterol to ¹⁴CO₂.     

(14C)Ethylenethiourea: distribution, excretion, and metabolism in pregnant rats.

Following administration of single oral doses of [14C]ethylenethiourea (ETU) to pregnant rats maternal blood maintained peak radioactivity for 2 h, and the radioactivity was dispersed uniformly between the red blood cells and plasma. The level of radioactivity was distributed equally among several maternal tissues but was present in lower amounts in embryos. Twenty-four hours after treatment all tissues examined, except blood, were relatively clear of radioactivity and 72.8% of the total radioactivity given had been excreted in the urine. Elution patterns of metabolites from Sephadex separation suggested that ethylenethiourea was degraded very little. The teratological mechanism is discussed.     

Metabolism of (3-(14)C)tryptophan and (2-(14)C)alanine in cattle tissues

In the experiments involving incubation of the liver, brain cortex, muscle and adipose tissues homogenates with [3-14C] tryptophan for an hour 43.2-89.3% of the label was found in proteins, 7.2-47.2%--in lipids, 2.6-9.4%--in CO2. Following incubation of the above-mentioned tissue homogenates with [2-14C] alanine, proteins, lipids and CO2 contain 28.8-49.3%; 22.6-31.9% and 21.6-49.3% of radioactive label, respectively. Radioactivity of lipids synthesized by the homogenates of the investigated tissues from [3-14C] tryptophan and [2-14C] alanine is 23.5-63.5 and 21.1-56.0%, respectively, the radioactivity of CO2 being 1.4-5.1 and 9.3-11.8% of the above-mentioned compounds synthesized from [1-14C] acetate. The results obtained testify to the considerable contribution of [3-14C] tryptophan and [2-14C] alanine to protein synthesis as well as to their involvement in the substrate supply of lipogenesis and energetic processes in various organs and tissues of cattle.     

Distribution, metabolism and excretion of [1-14C]dolichol injected intravenously into rats.

[1-14C]Dolichol mixed in vitro with rat serum and injected intravenously into rats was rapidly cleared from the circulation in a manner consistent with a two-compartment model. About 80% of the radioactivity recovered from animals killed after 1 day was in the liver, with smaller amounts being found in lung, carcass (internal organs removed), gastrointestinal tract and contents, and spleen. The kidneys, testes and heart contained little radioactivity, and the brain did not appear to take up any [1-14C]dolichol. The half-life for the turnover of radioactivity from [1-14C]dolichol in tissues varied considerably, being 2 days for the lung, 17 for liver and about 50 days for the carcass. After 1 day, and also after 4 and 21 days, most of the radioactivity in all tissues was as [1-14C]dolichol and as [1-14C]dolichyl fatty acyl ester, although a small amount of incorporation of [1-14C]dolichol radioactivity into phospholipids was also observed. Faeces collected over the first 4 days after injection contained 13% of the [1-14C]dolichol dose, but urine and expired air contained only small amounts of radioactivity. Radioactivity in faeces was nearly all as unchanged [1-14C]dolichol and as [1-14C]dolichyl fatty acyl ester. The [1-14C]dolichol remaining in liver after 21 days appeared to be in a pool (possibly lysosomes) where most of it was not subject to excretion.     

Effect of insulin and cortisol on oxidation of (1-14C)glucose, (6-14C)glucose, (1-14C)palmitate and (1-14C)leucine in the tissues of swine during the neonatal period

The intensity of [1-14C]glucose, [6-14C]glucose, [1-14C]palmitate and [1-14C]leucine oxidation and the effect of insulin and hydrocortisone on this process were studied in the brain, duodenum mucosa, liver and skeletal muscle of 1- and 5-day old piglets in vitro. Most of the studied substrates are oxidized in the tissues of 5-day piglets more intensively. Insulin stimulates oxidation of [1-14C]glucose, [6-14C]glucose and [1-14C]leucine in the brain and duodenum mucosa in 1- and 5-day old piglets, while in the liver and skeletal muscle--only in 5-day old piglets. Hydrocortisone administration enhances oxidation of [1-14C]leucine in most of the studied tissues in 1-day piglets and oxidation of [1-14C]glucose and [6-14C]glucose--in 5-day piglets. Both hormones produce no essential influence on the intensity of [1-14C]palmitate oxidation in the studied tissues of piglets or somewhat weaken it.     

Effects of a cafeteria diet and starvation of global 14C(U)-glucose disposal

The label distribution in control and cafeteria-diet fed rats, either in basal conditions or after 24 hours of food deprivation, 10 minutes after the i.v. injection of carrier-free D-14C-(U)-glucose, has been studied. The radioactivity recovered in the different fractions of liver, kidney, heart, striated muscle and white adipose tissue showed comparable patterns of change with starvation in both dietary groups. Most of the radioactivity was found in the free amino acid fraction as well as in proteins, with significant proportions also in lipid and liver glycogen. However, most of the label was lost due to its oxidation, remaining in the combined indicated tissues 10-20% of the injected label. On the whole, cafeteria rats consumed more glucose than controls, the lowest oxidation corresponding to the starved-control group. The amount of glucose oxidized by cafeteria rats was actually comparable to that of fed controls. The availability of other energetic sources--i.e. lipid--allows for an increased glucose utilization in cafeteria rats, even in the starved state.     

人参茎叶皂甙对高胆固醇饮食大鼠再灌注性心律失常和脂质过氧化的 …

To explore the effects of GSL on myocardial reperfusion arrhythmia and lipid superoxidation in high cholesterol diet rats. Hyperlipidemia model was set up with administered high cholesterol emulsion 15 ml/kg to rats orally for 14 days. In GSL group, rats were given GSL i.p. 75 mg/kg simultaneously when administered high cholesterol emulsion. The experiment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion was performed on all rats. The results showed: (1) After administration of high cholesterol emulsion to rats orally for 14 days, hyperlipidemia model was set up successfully, simultaneously treatment with GSL. It lowered serum lipid; (2) In hyperlipidemia state, serum MDA increased (p < 0.01, SOD and NO decreased markedly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively) after 2 h of myocardial reperfusion; the rate of reperfusion arrhythmia (RPAr) increased within 10 min of reperfusion, four out of nine rats died of ventricular fibrillation (VF); and (3) GSL decreased MDA, increased SOD and NO after 2 h of myocardial reperfusion. All changes were significant (p < 0.01); the rate of RPAr decreased, no VF occurred and all rats survived. Hyperlipidemia aggravated myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury and increased the incidence of RPAr. The results suggested that GSL reduced myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury and RPAr in high cholesterol diet state through antiperoxidating and inducing the production of NO.