THE EFFECT OF THIAMINE DEFICIENCY ON THE ACETYLCOENZYMEA AND ACETYLCHOLINE LEVELS IN THE RAT BRAIN

Abstract— It is shown that transketolase activities in red blood cells and whole brain of normal and thiamine-deficient rats correlate well with heart frequencies.
The effect of thiamine depletion on the levels of acetylcoenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and acetylcholine (ACh), and on the activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase, choline acetyl-transferase and acetylcholine esterase was studied in whole brains of thiamine-deficient, thiamine-supplemented ad libitum and pair-fed rats. The concentrations of acetyl-CoA and ACh decreased in thiamine-deficient brains by 42 and 35 per cent, respectively.
Total pyruvate dehydrogenase activity did not change during vitamin B₁ deficiency. The 'resolved' enzyme, reconstituted with thiamine diphosphate, had an association constant of 5.4 × 10⁻⁶ m . Choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholine esterase activities remained unchanged in thiamine deficiency.
Possible mechanisms which could explain the reduced Ach levels in vitamin B₁ deficiency are discussed.     

THE EFFECT OF HYPOXIA ON MONOAMINE SYNTHESIS, LEVELS AND METABOLISM IN RAT BRAIN

Abstract— Rats were exposed to 5.6% oxygen environments for up to 2 h. The accumulation of brain DOPA and 5-hydroxytryptophan at 30 min after decarboxylase inhibition was used to estimate cerebral tryosine and tryptophan hydroxylase activity, respectively, in vivo. There was a continuing decrease in tryosine hydroxylase activity during the 2 h in whole brain as well as five brain regions. Tryptophan hydroxylase activity declined during the 1st h, but then increased towards control levels during the 2nd h. There was an increase in brain tryptophan during the 2nd h as well. In whole brain and the five brain regions, there was no significant change in the levels of noradrenaline, dopamine or 5-hydroxytrypamine. During a 1 h exposure to 5.6% oxygen, there was decreased accumulation of noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine after MAO inhibition and decreased accumulation of homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid after probenecid administration. The dercreased synthesis and metabolism of the monoamines is most likely attributable to insufficient brain tissue oxygen as a substrate for the two hydroxylase enzymes.     

DARK REARING and VISUAL STIMULATION IN THE RAT: EFFECT ON BRAIN ENZYMES

Abstract— Enzyme activities in motor and visual cortex and cerebellum of rats reared for 50 days in the dark (D) were compared to levels in normally reared (N) and in dark-reared littermates exposed to 3 h of visual stimulation (L). Amongst 6 acid hydrolases, two, acid phosphatase and galactosaminadase, showed no effect of dark rearing. In three of the others, glucuronidase, glucosaminidase and galactosidase, activity tended to be lower in D than L. In glucosaminidase, N was similar to D and L above both, while in (total) glucosidase, galactosidase and glucuronidase, N was higher than D and L approached N. There were fewer changes in cerebellum than in cortex.
Visual cortex acetylcholinesterase was 29% higher in L than in D, and 41% higher in L than in N, but there were no significant differences in AChE or BChE in motor cortex or cerebellum. Choline acetyltransferase was higher by 30% in L and D in visual cortex, and 22% in motor cortex. There were no differences in the cerebellum. There were no differences in the levels of activity of glutamate decarboxylase or Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ -ATPase in any region or condition.
The significance of both the apparently transient and more permanent effects of dark rearing and light exposure on the enzymes studied, and discrepancies with other reports of enzyme changes in dark rearing are discussed.     

THE EFFECT OF LOW LEVEL CONTINUOUS 2.45 GHz WAVES ON ENZYMES OF DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN

The present work describes the effect of low level continuous microwaves (2.45 GHz) on developing rat brain. Some 35-day-old Wistar rats were used for this study. The animals were exposed 2 hr/day for 35 days at a power density of 0.34 mW/cm² [specific absorption rate (SAR), 0.1 W/kg] in a specially made anechoic chamber. After the exposure, the rats were sacrificed and the brain tissue was dissected out and used for various biochemical assays. A significant increase in calcium ion efflux and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity was observed in the exposed group as compared to the control. Correspondingly, a significant decrease in the calcium-dependent protein kinase activity was observed. These results indicate that this type of radiation affects the membrane bound enzymes, which are associated with cell proliferation and differentiation, thereby pointing out its possible role as a tumor promoter.     

EFFECT OF UNDERNUTRITION ON CELL FORMATION IN THE RAT BRAIN

Abstract— Rats were undernourished by approximately halving the normal food given from the 6th day of gestation throughout lactation. Growth of the foetuses was nearly normal, in marked contrast to the severe retardation caused by undernutrition during the suckling period. In comparison with controls the size and the DNA content of the brain were permanently reduced by undernutrition during the suckling period: this effect was relatively small, approx. 15 per cent decrease at 21 and 35 days. The rate of ¹⁴C incorporation into brain DNA at 30 min after administration of [2-¹⁴C] thymidine was taken as an index of mitotic activity; compared with controls there was severe reduction in mitotic activity (maximal decrease by about 80 per cent at 6 days in the cerebrum and by 70 per cent at 10 days in the cerebellum). The rate of acquisition of cells was calculated from the slopes of the logistic curves fitted to the estimated DNA contents. In normal animals the maximal slope was attained at 2·7 days and at 12·8 days after birth in cerebrum and cerebellum respectively; the daily acquisition of cells at these times was 4·8 × 10⁶ and 18 × 10⁶ cells respectively. The fractional increase in cell number at the maximum was 5·4 percent per day in the cerebrum and 15·2 per cent per day in the cerebellum. The rate of acquisition of cells relative to the rate of mitotic activity was higher in the brains of undernourished animals than in controls. One of the compensatory mechanisms for the severe depression of mitotic activity in the brain of undernourished animals Seems to involve a reduction in the normal rate of cell loss.     

大鼠隔—海马通路损伤对海马内递质含量及酶活力的影响

单侧切断大鼠海马缴和部分穹窿可使海马部分去神经。损伤后7d,海马内胆碱能系统中乙酰胆碱(ACh)含量下降72.5%,胆碱乙酰基转移酶(ChAT)活力下降45.7%,胆碱酯酶活力下降52.2%,在单胺能系统中,去甲肾上腺素(NA)含量下降16.3%,多巴胺(DA)含量下降31.3%,5-羟色胺含量下降30.3%。在损伤过程中,海马内氨基酸含量没有改变。实验结果表明,海马缴和穹窿是脑内胆碱能和单胺能传入神经到达海马靶区的部分共同通路。     

EFFECT OF METHIONINE AND METHIONINE SULPHOXIMINE ON RAT BRAIN S-ADENOSYL METHIONINE LEVELS

Rat brain SAM levels were markedly increased after methionine administration, whereas the convulsant, L-methionine-dl-sulphoximine (MSO), produced a 35 per cent decrease in whole brain content of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). When methionine was given in combination with MSO, SAM levels were not decreased. Studies on the regional distribution of SAM revealed only a small variation between regions (from 24 nmol/g in midbrain to 49-5 nmol/g in striatum). SAM levels were reduced by about 50 per cent in the cerebellum, striatum, cortex and hippocampus 3 and 6 h after MSO. It is proposed that abberant cerebral methylation processes may be involved in the genesis of the MSO seizure.     

刺激脑内渗透压感受器对大鼠浅表肾单位功能的影响

我们先前已在麻醉大鼠中用锂清除率方法从全肾水平证实,脑室内注射高张盐水(icv.HS)引起的利尿和利尿钠反应是由于肾小球滤过率增加和近球小管重吸收能力降低。本实验用肾小管微穿刺方法从肾单位水平进一步观察icv.HS对浅表肾单位的单个肾单位肾小球滤过率以及近曲小管和髓袢的重吸收的影响。实验在麻醉大鼠中进行。icv.HS后,单个肾单位肾小球滤过率从39.6±1.9nl/min增加至48.8±2.0nl/min(P<0.001);近曲小管末段小管液流量从20.5±1.4nl/min增加至28.4±2.0nl/min(P<0.001);小管液菊糖浓度与血浆菊糖浓度的比值从1.98±0.98降低至1.69±0.05(P<0.01)。根据上述数据计算得到的近曲小管重吸收分数从49.2±2.2％下降至41.7±1.8％(P<0.001),而近曲小管的绝对重吸收无明显改变。这些结果与用锂清除率方法获得的结果相符合。icv.HS后,髓袢的绝对重吸收升高,而重吸收分数下降。上述结果表明刺激脑内渗透压感受器可增加浅表肾单位的肾小球滤过率,并降低近曲小管的重吸收能力,从而增加髓袢的负荷,使髓袢的绝对重吸收增加。本实验结果不能排除icv.HS对髓袢的重吸收过程具有直接影响的可能性。     

EFFECT OF TRANQUILIZERS ON REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF ASCORBIC ACID IN THE RAT BRAIN

—Studies were made of the effects of fluphenazine, chlorpromazine and triflupromazine on tissue concentration, liver synthesis of ascorbic acid and its distribution in different areas of the brain. All the three drugs were found to increase liver concentration and synthesis of the vitamin at 24 hr after administration of a single oral dose of the vitamin, but only fluphenazine was found to increase its concentration in the adrenals and brain; the increase in the latter case was found to vary in different regions of the brain, the olfactory lobes, hypothalamus and residual brain showing maximum increases, andthe basal ganglia, visual cortex and remaining dorsal cortex showing minimum increases. The effects were found to be reversed 72 hr after drug treatment.     

腹腔和脑室注射促肾上腺皮质激素对大鼠不同脑区5-羟色胺含量的影响

本文应用荧光分光光度法测定脑内5-羟色胺(5-HT)含量,观察腹腔内注射(ip)或侧脑室内注射(icv)促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)对大鼠海马、下丘脑和中-桥脑内5-HT 含量的影响,结果如下:(1)ACTH(20.0U/kg)ip 可使海马、下丘脑和中-桥脑内5-HT 含量增多,1h达高峰,与对照组比较差异非常显著(P<0.01-0.001);ACTH ip 后3h,三脑区5-HT 含量基本恢复至对照水平。电解损毁中脑中缝核后,ACTH ip 使海马和下丘脑5-HT 含量升高的作用明显降低,摘除两侧肾上腺后,对 ACTH 增加三脑区5-HT 含量的效应没有影响。(2)ACTH(0.5U/10μl)icy 40min 后,也使三脑区5-HT 含量升高,与人工脑脊液 icv的比较,差异显著或非常显著(P<0.05-0.01);电解损毁中脑中缝核后,ACTH icv 使海马和下丘脑5-HT 含量升高的作用也显著下降。(3)ACTH ip 升高三脑区5-HT 含量的作用较 ACTH icv 的强,损毁中脑中缝核后,5-HT 含量的下降,前者却不如后者显著。上述结果提示:ACTH(ip 或 icv)之所以引起海马、下丘脑和中-桥脑5-HT 含量增多,很可能都与激活中脑中缝核有关,ACTH ip 尚可能有其它作用途径,但与肾上腺关系不大。     

EARLY EVENTS IN THE EFFECT OF HYDROCORTISONE ACETATE ON DNA REPLICATION IN THE RAT BRAIN

—Between the injection of hydrocortisone acetate to young rats and the onset of inhibition of DNA synthesis in brain, there is a lag period of 90 min. During these 90 min the only major alteration observed is a reduced formation of the DNA associated proteins while the synthesis of other brain proteins as well as that of RNA is normal. The specific activity of the enzymes thymidine kinase and DNA polymerase is also within control values. At later times, there is an inhibition in the synthesis of all brain proteins measured and of RNA and in the specific activity of the thymidine kinase. The specific activity of DNA polymerase remains normal throughout the period studied. These results indicate an important role for the DNA associated proteins in the regulation of DNA replication in rat brain.     

EFFECT OF OLIGEMIA ON REGIONAL METABOLITE LEVELS IN CAT BRAIN

Abstract— Incomplete cerebral ischemia (oligemia) was produced in cat by carotid occlusion combined with arterial hypotension. Lowering arterial pressure to 50–60 Torr for 20 min caused marked alterations of the ATP, phosphocreatine, and lactate content of subcortical white matter. In contrast, metabolite levels in cerebral cortex and caudate nucleus were only moderately perturbed from control values. More severe oligemia resulted when arterial pressure was lowered to 30 Torr for 20 min following carotid occlusion. Metabolite levels in cortex, caudate nucleus, and white matter were greatly altered from control. In the gray matter there was regional heterogeneity of metabolic alteration, as evidenced from the pattern of NADH tissue fluorescence. The cortex contained micro-patches (0.1mm) of increased NADH, which frequently exhibited a columnar orientation.
These findings demonstrate two distinct types of cerebral inhomogeneity of metabolic failure with reduced blood flow; white matter fails before gray matter, and there is micro-heterogeneity of metabolic failure in the gray matter.     

THE EFFECT OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE GANGLIOSIDES OF RAT AND PIG BRAIN

Abstract— The ganglioside content of the forebrain, brain stem and cerebellum have been studied, in the rat at various ages from 1 day to 27 months, and in the pig at various ages from 93 days gestation to 30 months. Each part of the brain was analysed for total ganglioside NANA and for four major gangliosides (G_Ml, G_D1a, G_Dlb and G_T1 in the nomenclature of S vennerholm , 1963). In the rat forebrain, the concentration of ganglioside NANA rose rapidly between 1 and 21 days after birth, fell to 3 months and subsequently rose to a mature value at 6 months. In the rat cerebellum, the peak concentration was reached at 2 months and the lower adult value at 9 months, whilst in the brain stern, the concentration rose more slowly and had a broad peak from 15 days to 2 months. Values are also given for the changes in the total amounts in each brain part. The changes in the concentrations and total amounts of ganglioside NANA, in the three parts of the pig brain were, on the whole, similar to those in rat brain except that the percentage distribution of the major gangliosides had almost attained the mature pattern at birth. In the forebrain of both species, the disialoganglioside, G_D1a, accounted for the highest percentage of the total gangliosides. The results are discussed with respect to their possible structural significance.     

EFFECTS OF PRE-WEANING AND POST-WEANING UNDERNUTRITION ON ACETYLCHOLINE LEVELS IN RAT BRAIN

Abstract— Studies were made of the effects of undernutrition during the neonatal period and also protein deficiency and undernutrition during the post-weaning period on brain acetylcholine. Rats undernourished from birth to 4 weeks so as to result in a body wt deficit of 43 per cent had an associated deficit in brain wt of 14 per cent, but the concentration of acetylcholine in the brain was not affected. In the case of post-weaning undernutrition, acetylcholine concn was found to be affected in protein deficiency as well as in severe calorie restriction.     

THE EFFECT OF SULFHYDRYL REAGENTS ON THE TITYUSTOXIN-INDUCED ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE IN RAT BRAIN SLICES1

Abstract— Pre-treatment of rat brain slices with organic mercurials prevents the increased acetylcholine release induced by tityustoxin. This inhibition is reversed by dithiothreitol. N-Ethylmaleimide blocks the tityustoxin effect irreversibly. Simultaneous incubation with mercurials and toxin reveals a competition of both ligands for a membrane sulfhydryl group apparently required for tityustoxin activity.