Regulation of hormone biosynthesis in cultured islet cells from anglerfish

Summary The effects of glucose and arginine on islet hormone biosynthesis were investigated using primary cell cultures prepared from islets of the anglerfish (Lophius americanus). After dispersion under sterile conditions, islet cells were maintained at 23° C in medium containing RPMI 1640 with Hanks' buffer, pH 7.5, modified by the adjustment of glucose (to 0.56 or 5.6 mM) and arginine (to 0.1, 1.15, or 10 mM) with the addition of 10% fetal bovine serum (dialyzed, heat inactivated) and penicillin/streptomycin. After 48 h, media were replaced by incorporation media containing [¹⁴C]isoleucine and [³H]tryptophan and incubated for an additional 8 h under otherwise identical conditions. Culture samples (cells plus media) were extracted, desalted, and gel filtered to identify and quantitate [¹⁴C]insulin, [³H]glucagon(s) plus [³H]somatostatin-28, and [³H]somatostatin-14 were In some experiments, [¹⁴C]insulin, [³H]glucagon(s), [³H]somatostatin-28, and [³H]somatostatin-14 were separated by high performance liquid chromatography. Raising the medium glucose from 0.56 (control) to 5.6 mM resulted in an augmentation in incorporation of [¹⁴C]isoleucine into insulin and an augmentation of [³H]tryptophan into glucagon(s) and somatostatin-14, but no change in incorporation of [³H]tryptophan into somatostatin-28. Raising the concentration of arginine from 0.1 to 1.15 or 10 mM resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of labeled amino acid incorporation into all hormones except somatostatin-28. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the culture system for studying the modulation of hormone biosynthesis in anglerfish islet cells. This work was supported by Grants AM 16921 and AM 26378 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.     

Identification of methyl farnesoate from in vitro culture of the retrocerebral complex of adult females of the moth, Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its conversion to juvenile hormone III

Gas chromatographic-mass spectral analysis of extracts obtained from in vitro culture of isolated retrocerebral complexes obtained from adult females of the moth Heliothis virescens resulted in identification of methyl farnesoate as well as juvenile hormone III (JH III) but not JH III acid. Inhibition of JH biosynthesis by incubation of tissue in synthetic Manduca sexta allatostatin (Manse-AST, pGlu-Val-Arg-Phe-Arg-Gln-Cys-Tyr-Phe-Asn-Pro-Ile-Ser-Cys-Phe-COOH) reduced production of these chemicals to negligible levels. However, incubation of tissue in the presence of Manse-AST plus farnesol resulted in production of significant amounts of both methyl farnesoate and JH III. Tissue incubated in the presence of Manse-AST plus methyl farnesoate produced only JH III. The results indicated that methyl farnesoate is naturally produced by the corpora allata of adult females of Heliothis virescens. However, tissue incubated in the presence of Manse-AST plus JH III acid also produced JH III in amounts equivalent to that produced by tissue incubated with methyl farnesoate. Thus, both methyl farnesoate and JH III acid could serve as a precursor for biosynthesis of JH III.     

A novel geminal diol as a highly specific and stable in vivo inhibitor of insect juvenile hormone esterase

Thio-containing and acetylenic trifluoromethyl ketones were potent inhibitors of insect juvenile hormone (JH) esterase with greater inhibitory activity than aliphatic and α,β-unsaturated homologs. Octylthio-1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-one was the most potent inhibitor with the greatest equilibrium hydration constant in pure water. However, a keto/hydrate equilibrium was not necessary for JH esterase inhibition. The carbonyl tautomer of 1-octyl [1-(3,3,3-trifluoropropan-2,2- dihydroxy)] sulfone (OTPdOH-sulfone) was not detectable, and yet OTPdOH-sulfone was a potent in vitro inhibitor of JH esterase with an I₅₀ of 1.2 nM. The mechanism of JH esterase inhibition by these compounds is discussed. OTPdOH-sulfone inhibited JH esterase with minimal activity toward insect 1-naphthyl acetate esterase and electric eel acetylcholinesterase. The inhibitor was also active in vivo, selective for JH esterase, and persistent for over 32 h. OTPdOH-sulfone when topically applied to larval and adult cabbage loopers, Trichoplusia ni, elicited juvenoid activity apparently because of the specific in vivo inhibition of JH metabolism. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 36:165–179, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Control of C-16 juvenile hormone biosynthesis in active corpora allata of female African locusts

Summary

Corpora allata from 8-day-old female Locusta migratoria, during the phase of yolk deposition, exhibit high rates of C-16 juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis. The effect of different potential factors which may be involved in the regulation of corpora allata activity is reported. The biosynthetic activity of corpora allata was determined by radiochemical assay.

In maturing females, no changes in corpora allata activity are detected during one daily cycle. Starvation reduces JH biosynthesis only 3 days after the beginning of the food deprivation. Suppression of the median neurosecretory material by electrocoagulation of the internal cardiaca tract (TCC-I) does not disturb JH biosynthesis whereas the transection of the allata I nerve fibres (NCA-I) or the electrocoagulation of the lateral neurosecretory pericarya results in a rapid decline of JH biosynthesis. These data indicate that the median and lateral allatotropins are different, and that only the lateral neurosecretory material exerts an allatostimulating action on corpora allata at the time of vitellogenesis. The corpora allata response to the median allatotropin changes during oocyte growth. C-16 JH and/or 20-hydroxyecdysone treatments in vitro (addition in the culture medium) and in vivo (injection in female) do not influence JH production in our experimental conditions.     

Rates of juvenile hormone synthesis control caste differentiation in the stingless bee Scaptotrigona postica depilis

Summary In social insects the expression of caste-specific characters is controlled by juvenile hormone (JH) during definite sensitive periods in preimaginal development. For a number of stingless bee species the existence of such a JH-sensitive period has already been demonstrated. Queen development can be induced by topical JH applications during the cocoon spinning phase of the last larval instar. Neither JH titers nor rates of JH synthesis were known so far for this subfamily of eusocial bees distinguished by a pronounced caste dimorphism. As the pantropically distributed stingless bees with approximately 400 recent species are the largest group of social bees, JH synthesis was studied in one of the species that can be kept under laboratory conditions. An in vitro radiochemical assay was used to measure stage- and caste-specific activities of the corpora allata (CA). For the first time in a eusocial hymenopteran species it was demonstrated how the endocrine system is reacting to trophogenic stimuli capable to induce caste differentiation during larval development. Generally JH synthesis in queen CA was found to be 30–80% higher than in workers during the penultimate and last larval instar, but a strong and distinct caste-specific modulation of JH synthesis was only observed right before the onset of a JH-sensitive period in the cocoon spinning phase of the fifth instar.     

Juvenile hormone-binding protein and juvenile hormone esterase activity in hemolymph from last-instar nymphs of Leucophaea maderae

The concentration of the juvenile hormone-binding protein (JHB) in hemolymph was determined throughout the last nymphal instar. It was found to be 3.9 μM at the molt to the instar, rising to 13 μM by mid-instar, and dropping to 6.7μM the day before emergence. Endocrine control of its production during the last nymphal instar could not be established. The apparent juvenile hormone esterase (JHF) activity was low at the molt to the last instar, but rose about fivefold by mid-instar, and then modestly declined. On the day of emergence, JHF activity rose to the highest level observed. A four- to fivefold increase in absolute JHF activity was determined during the first half of the last nymphal instar. This increase is not regulated by JH. Removal of the JHB from hemolymph samples by precipitation with a polyclonal specific antibody increased the JHF activity up to 1,000-fold. Thus, changes in the concentrations of JHB can affect the apparent activity of JHE, which is unrelated to the production or degradation of the JHF.     

Age-specific energetics of reproduction in Nucula turgida (Leckenby and Marshall) a bivalve with lecithotrophic larval development

Summary

Nucula turgida is a protobranch bivalve of the shallow sublittoral which produces, for a bivalve, unusually large eggs with a high lipid content to sustain the lecithotrophic development of the larvae. Males and females have similar reproductive investments, and the most noticeable feature of their output is the proportional increase in reproductive output as the animals age. Reproduction, as a proportion of the assimilation (Rep/C), was around 0.17 at population level but ranged from 0.055 in the 3 + year class to 0.54 in the 7 + year class. Similarly, C(=1 ? [(A ? G/R]) where A is assimilation, G gonad production and R is respiration, which appeared to be almost perfectly balanced at population level (C= ?0.05) in fact varied from very conservative (C= ?1.63) at 3 + to very “reckless” at 7+ (C=0.57). Using age-specific data, more accurate estimates can be made of future recruitment, and by back-calculation the survival rate from spawning to appearance in the benthos can be calculated.     

The activity of denervated corpora allata in a diapausing strain of Locusta migratoria: in vivo and in vitro studies

Summary

The activity of denervated corpora allata of a diapausing strain of Locusta migratoria is compared in vivo and in vitro. Inactive corpora allata (CA) of diapausing adult females soon become active following implantation into other diapausing females. Activation also follows incubation in vitro, although this activity decreases rapidly. Active CA of animals whose diapause has been broken by NCC2 section continue to secrete hormone when implanted into host animals (i.e., in vivo) although activity declines after 3 days. In contrast such CA show very low activity in vitro. These data confirm that in L. migratoria activity of the CA is regulated by a dual control involving inhibiting and activating factors whose origins are discussed.     

风信子HoMADS2基因的克隆及表达分析

利用同源克隆策略,从风信子中分离出一个MADS box基因,命名为HoMADS2。序列比较分析表明,HoMADS2与B类MADS box蛋白具有较高的同源性。分子进化树分析显示,HoMADS2与PI家族类聚在一起。同时,在HoMADS2的Kbox和C末端区域均具有PI家族的特征序列。以上序列分析结果表明,HOMADS2可能是尸,的一个同源基因。RNA分子杂交结果显示,HoMADS2在四轮花器官中均表达,其表达模式不同于双子叶植物中尸,同源基因。利用风信子离体花器官再生系统研究表明,HoMADS2在再生花芽中的表达不同于HoMADS1和HAG1,该基因在再生花芽发育过程中组成型表达,不受外源细胞分裂素和生长素的影响。     

Novel assay for determining the metabolic fate of juvenile hormone III: A study with Drosophila melanogaster

A thin-layer chromatographic assay was developed for the resolution of hydrolytic and conjugative catabolites of juvenile hormone (JH). A single-dimension, dual-development thin-layer system allowed complete resolution of the catabolites. Thus, this system provided a means for the rapid and economic analysis of JH hydrolysis even when different hydrolytic activities were present concurrently. Purified hydrolytic enzymes were found to be superior to chemical methods for the generation of small amounts of standards of JH catabolites. The relative levels of activities of an epoxide hydrolase and an esterase toward JH III were found to be similar in microsomal preparations from three lines of adult Drosophila melanogaster isolated from a field population. However, selection of flies by exposure to cut orange resulted in the elevation of levels of epoxide hydrolase activities, whereas esterase levels were not affected to the same extent. The formation of the JH acid-diol was not detected under the conditions of this study, suggesting that the JH acid and diol were not good substrates for epoxide hydrolase and juvenile hormone esterase, respectively.     

Juvenile hormone and reproduction in crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer: corpus allatum activity (in vitro) in females during adult life cycle

ABSTRACT. Incubation conditions were established for a short-term radiochemical assay of spontaneous juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis in vitro by corpora allata from adult female Gryllus bimaculatus. The only JH synthesized was shown by HPLC to be JH III. A further incubation product, predominantly extracted from the corpora allata, was thought to be the JH III precursor, methyl farnesoate. In adult females reared at a constant temperature of 27°C the synthetic activities of the corpora allata-corpora cardiaca complexes in vitro increase from almost zero to a high peak value 4 days after the imaginal moult. Thereafter the activity decreases to varying intermediate levels, but always lower than the first maximum. Two days after the first peak in corpus allatum activity, ovarian fresh weight increases dramatically and the first oviposition occurs 2 days later.
Topical application of JH III to females reared at 20°C, which usually have a low fecundity, causes a dose-dependent stimulation of egg production and oviposition.     

Bioassays of compounds with potential juvenoid activity on Drosophila melanogaster: Juvenile hormone III, bisepoxide juvenile hormone III and methyl farnesoates

Metabolites of the 6,7,10,11 bisepoxide juvenile hormone III (JHB₃), and other potential juvenoids, were tested for juvenile hormone activity using early instar or early stage pupae of Drosophila melanogaster. Importantly, methyl farnesoates were tested as they might have JH-like activity on Dipteran juveniles. Larvae were exposed to compounds in medium, or the compounds were applied to white puparia. In the assays employed in the present study, there was no indication for JH activity associated with the metabolites of JHB₃. The activity of methyl farnesoate (MF) was higher than that of JH III and far greater than bisepoxide JH III. As opposed to the two endogenous juvenile hormones, methyl farnesoate has weak activity in the white puparial bioassay. When fluorinated forms of methyl farnesoate, which is unlikely to be converted to JH, were applied to Drosophila medium to which fly eggs were introduced, there was a high degree of larval mortality, but no evidence of subsequent mortality at the pupal stage. One possible explanation for the results is that methyl farnesoate is active as a hormone in larval stages, but has little activity at the pupal stage where only juvenile hormone has a major effect.     

Conditions for estimation of corpus allatum activity in the blowfly, Phormia regina, in vitro

ABSTRACT. Incubation conditions have been established for the corpus cardiacum-corpus allatum (CC-CA) complex of female Phormia regina (Meigen), which will support CC-CA biosynthetic activities in vitro as measured by the incorporation of a labelled methyl group with L-[methyl-³H]methionine as the methyl donor. After incubation, radioactivity in the organic extract of the medium was determined by scintillation counting. Analysis of the organic extract with reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that a compound which has similar retention time (UV absorbance) with synthetic JH III was synthesized by the CC-CA complexes of liver-fed females. By using this short-term, in vitro , radiochemical assay for CA activity, it was shown that a protein diet significantly increases the activity of the CA compared with females fed only a sugar-water diet. Furthermore, use of HPLC separation, in conjunction with scintillation counting of time-collected fractions, demonstrated the existence of a moiety containing incorporated radiolabeled methyl group (from the methionine) which did not co-elute with JH I or JH III standards. These results suggest that in P. regina use of the incorporation of a radiolabeled methyl group to measure JH biosynthesis (CA activity) can be misleading if the compounds which do not co-elute with JHs are not considered.     

Mispatterning in the ommatidia of Apis mellifera pupae treated with a juvenile hormone analogue

To further understand the function of morphogenetic hormones in honeybee eye differentiation, the alterations in ommatidial patterning induced by pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone (JH) analogue, were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Prepupae of prospective honeybee workers were treated with pyriproxyfen and the effects on ommatidial differentiation were described at the end of the pupal development. The results show that the entire ommatidia, i.e., the dioptric as well as the receptor systems, were affected by the JH analogue. The wave of ommatidial differentiation, which progresses from the posterior to the anterior region of the pupal eyes, was arrested. In treated pupae, the rhabdomeres only differentiated at the apical axis of the retinula, the secondary and tertiary pigment cells did not develop their cytoplasm protrusions, and the cone cell quartet did not pattern correctly. Simultaneously, an intense vacuolization was observed in cells forming ommatidia. In a previous study we showed that pyriproxyfen exerts an inhibition on pupal ecdysteroid secretion. In this sense, the arrested ommatidial differentiation in pyriproxyfen-treated pupae could be due to a secondary effect resulting from an alteration in pupal ecdysteroid titers.     

Evidence for a calcium-dependent outward conductance in endocrine cells of the cockroach, Diploptera punctata

Abstract The cell membranes of the corpora allata of the cockroach Diploptera punctata contain voltage-dependent calcium channels. Depolarizing current injection into cells of the corpora allata in the presence of the calcium channel blockers, cadmium, cobalt or verapamil allows the production of multiple action potentials, as does treatment with the intracellular calcium chelator, BAPTA/AM. These results suggest that calcium currents are involved both in decreasing the excitability and in activating an outward current in cells of the corpora allata. Electrophysiological measurements also suggest a concomitant reduction in outward conductance following the multiple action potentials produced in the presence of the channel blockers or BAPTA/ AM. We hypothesize that the calcium current may play an important role in the regulation of intracellular calcium concentration and Juvenile Hormone biosynthesis.     

南方红豆杉内生真菌的抗肿瘤产物震颤毒素的研究

从红豆杉内生真菌青霉菌Penicillum sp. H⑥.1发酵产物中自然析出一种化合物,经图谱检测和文献比对,鉴定为震颤毒素Penitrem A。四唑盐（MTT）比色法研究表明Penitrem A对恶性黑色素瘤细胞A375有一定的抑制作用,且抑制作用随浓度的增大而增强,IC₅₀为27.24μg/mL。本研究是首次从红豆杉内生真菌发酵产物中分离得到震颤毒素Penitrem A,为抗肿瘤药物开发提供了理论参考。     

Assessment of the antiproliferative activity on murine melanoma cells of extracts from elicited cell suspensions of strawberry,strawberry tree,blackberry and red raspberry

The antiproliferative activity of extracts from cell suspensions of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and strawberry-tree (Arbutus unedo L.) on murine B16-F10 melanoma cells was investigated. To enhance the synthesis of the bioactive compounds, various elicitors, i.e. temperature (cold and cold/warm cycle), light (blue and red) and increased nitrogen concentration, were also applied to the cell cultures to evaluate the effects on their antiproliferative activity. The extracts from all the species reduced murine melanoma cell proliferation (between 30% and 38% relative to the control) and an improvement of antiproliferative activity on murine melanoma cells, relative to the un-elicited berry suspensions, was shown by the extracts from strawberry and strawberry-tree cells treated with red and blue light.     

覆盆子提取物联合唑类药物抗真菌活性研究

目的 探讨中药覆盆子提取物联合唑类药物的体外抗真菌作用.方法 采用CLSI公布的M27-A方案微量液基稀释法和棋盘式微量稀释法,测定覆盆子提取物单用及联合唑类药物对不同念珠菌的MIC值和FICI指数.结果 覆盆子不同溶液提取物与氟康唑均表现出协同关系,以覆盆子醇提物为例,单用对念珠菌的MIC80测定值范围主要集中在0.16～1.25 mg/mL,与氟康唑合用后表现出协同关系(FICI≤0.5),且MIC80测定值范围降至0.01 ～0.04 mg/mL;合用后的氟康唑抗真菌活性也明显增强.另外,覆盆子醇提物与不同唑类药物合用后均有协同关系,其MIC80测定值由单用时大于10 mg/mL降至0.04 mg/mL.结论 覆盆子醇提物和唑类药物单用时对耐药念珠菌的抑菌作用较弱,但二者合用后表现出明显的协同关系,对耐药念珠菌的抑菌作用明显增强.     

Fluid secretion by single isolated Malpighian tubules of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus, and their response to diuretic hormone

ABSTRACT. A simple modification of the Ramsay method is described for the isolation in vitro of Malpighian tubules from Acheta domesticus. Isolated tubules continue to secrete for many hours in a simple Ringer solution. The rate of secretion is linearly related to the length of tubule within the bathing fluid.
Secretion rates during the immediate post-equilibration period relate to the physiological state of the donor insect. Highest rates are recorded in tubules removed from animals during the scotophase when the crickets are most actively feeding. Starvation reduces the rate of secretion and when previously starved insects are given access to food the rate increases. These results are consistent with variations in the haemolymph titre of DH that are induced by feeding.
Tubule fluid secretion is stimulated by either CC extract (1 gland pair/50 μ1) or dibutyryl cAMP (10^-3M). CC extracts increase the rate of fluid secretion by c. 200 pl/mm/min for up to 6 h after the tubules have been isolated. The response varies little with the age or physiological state of the donor insect. However, tubules from newly moulted insects secrete at very low rates and respond poorly to CC extract, although they are stimulated by cAMP. The significance of these results is discussed with particular reference to the use of Acheta tubules as a bioassay preparation for DH.     

金龙胆草提取液体外抑菌活性分析

金龙胆草是传统道地中药材,但目前受到材料来源不足的限制,其应用和研究均受到很大限制,为更好地开发和应用该道地中药材,本研究以实验室野生金龙胆草和组培金龙胆草出发,分别采用热水浴和索式提取法对金龙胆草有效成份进行了提取和体外抑菌活性研究。结果表明,热水浴浸提法的抑菌效果优于索式提取法,均表现出对金黄色葡萄球菌和枯草芽孢杆菌这类革兰氏阳性菌有很好的抑制效果,最小抑菌浓度分别达到12.5 mg/mL和50 mg/mL。野生型提取液和组培型的提取液体外抑菌比较实验显示,野生型金龙胆草的抑菌效果要显著优于组培型金龙胆草提取液。这将为金龙胆草作为中药抗菌药的合理利用提供一定的指导作用,同时为减少抗生素的滥用造成的环境污染作出一定的贡献。