Non-parallel secretion of pancreatic enzymes in sheep following hormonal or vagal stimulation

• 1.1. The flow of pancreatic juice and its composition of protein, amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin were measured in sheep during treatments known to induce a response in nonruminants.
• 2.2. Intraduodenal peptone (100 or 200 μg/min) had no affect but intraduodenal hydrochloric acid (66 μequiv/min) or intravenous (iv) pentagastrin (10 μg/min) doubled the flow and enzyme output. Cholecystokinin (1.0 IDU/min iv) caused smaller changes in enzyme output but no change in flow, whereas, secretin (0.5 or 1.0 CU/min iv) caused a rapid, sustained, five- or six-fold increased in flow but only a transitory increase in enzyme output.
• 3.3. The largest increases in enzyme output occurred during stimulation of the vagus (10 Hz, 10 V); the outputs were sustained at 5–10 times control levels and the flow increased two- or three-fold.
• 4.4. A non-parallel response of amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin occurred during administration of those treatments which significantly enhanced the enzyme output. Compared with periods of basal secretion the stimulated juice contained significantly more chymotrypsin and amylase than trypsin; the relationship between chymotrypsin and amylase did not change significantly.
• 5.5. The composition of the juice during stimulation approached and often equalled the enzyme composition of pancreatic tissue.
• 6.6. These results are compatible with the view that the mixture of enzymes in pancreatic juice is derived from at least two compartments with different enzyme compositions.

     

The digestive enzymes of the pacific brown shrimp Penaeus californiensis.: I—Properties of amylase activity in the digestive tract

• 1.1. Crude extract of the whole digestive tract from the brown shrimp (P. californiensis) was investigated for digestive amylase activity.
• 2.2. Considerable amylase activity was found at pH 6.5–8.0, with optimum pH at around 7.5.
• 3.3. Optimum temperature was found between 30–40°C, similar to amylases from other crustaceans.
• 4.4. Amylase activity was highly halotolerant, having 50% maximum activity at 3 M NaCl.
• 5.5. Maximum amylase activity was found at 0.01 M NaCl.
• 6.6. Amylase activity was partially inhibited by the divalent ions Hg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cr²⁺.
• 7.7. Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions seemed to enhance amylase activity.

     

Alteration of 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced hypothermia by serotonergic agents in the adult domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus)

• 1.1.|5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) induced a dose-dependent hypothermia in adult fowls.
• 2.2.|The hypothermic effect of 5-HTP was potentiated by carbidopa, citalopram, additive with (±), (−) and (+) propanolol and antagonised by methysergide and metitepine.
• 3.3.|Cyproheptadine, xylamidine and ketanserin did not antagonised 5-HTP-induced hypothermia.
• 4.4.|The results suggest that the hypothermic effect of 5-HTP in fowls may be mediated mainly via activation of central 5-HT receptors, probably 5-HT₁ receptors.

     

Sympathoadrenal activity during helox-cold induced hypothermia in syrian hamsters

• 1.1. As reflected by increasing plasma concentrations of cortisol, norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine, a marked stimulation of the adrenal cortex and of the sympathetic nervous system occurred in Syrian hamsters during moderate hypothermia induced by helium-oxygen atmosphere and cold.
• 2.2. A profound hyperglycemia was observed during hypothermia.
• 3.3. All effects due to the helium-oxygen atmosphere and cold exposure (helox-cold) disappeared almost completely after rewarming.
• 4.4. The results corroborate the hypothesis of an involvement of the adrenal cortex combined with the sympathetic nervous system in the control of acute induced heat production.

     

Digestive protease,lipase and amylase activities in stage i larvae of the american lobster,Homarus americanus

• 1.1. Digestive protease, lipase, and amylase of Stage I larvae of the American lobster Homarus americanus are characterized.
• 2.2. A sensitive method for detection of crustacean lipase was developed using an latroscan which combines thin-layer chromatography and flame ionization detection to quantify free fatty acids generated by lipase digestion.
• 3.3. pH optima of the three enzymes occurred at or near the pH of gastric fluid.
• 4.4. A time course study demonstrated slight increases in protease and amylase activities during the first larval stage, regardless of whether the lobsters were fed or not, whereas lipase activity was constant.

     

Induction of a 60-kDa heat shock protein in rat pancreas by water-immersion stress

• 1.1. In this study, expression of a 60-kDa heat shock protein in rat pancreas was investigated before and after water-immersion stress, which has been known as an exacerbation factor of caerulein-induced pancreatitis in rats, by Western blot.
• 2.2. A 60-kDa heat shock protein increased after water-immersion stress in both soluble and insoluble fractions of the pancreas.
• 3.3. Serum amylase level and pancreas weight did not increase after water-immersion.
• 4.4. No pathologic alteration was observed in the pancreas after water-immersion.

     

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Solvent perturbation spectra of yellow mealworm α-amylase and of wheat protein inhibitors

• 1.1. The number of tyrosine and tryptophan residue-equivalents on the surfaces of the α-amylase and of two of its protein inhibitors has been determined.
• 2.2. The solvent-exposed tyrosine and tryptophan residue-equivalents in the dimeric inhibitor are respectively four and two times as much as those ones of the monomeric inhibitor.
• 3.3. On the basis of the homology among their polypeptide chains, it is suggested that the outer tryptophan residues in either inhibitors are located at the positions 4 and 51 of the primary structure.
• 4.4. On the interaction of the monomeric inhibitor with the amylase, two tryptophan residue-equivalents became no more accessible to the solvent.

     

Comparative ocular blood flow

• 1.1. Blood flow values for the mammalian anterior uvea were not significantly different among species but was higher than that of the avian anterior uvea.
• 2.2. Blood flow to the primate choroid was significantly higher than that of other species.
• 3.3. The blood flow ratio which reflects the distribution of total ocular flow was significantly higher in primates than in sheep or geese.
• 4.4. The anterior ciliary artery circulation is of major importance to anterior segment blood flow in primates but not in other mammals.
• 5.5. Therefore primates are the only suitable models for ischemia following strabismus surgery.

     

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Protease,amylase and lipase activities in the midgut and hindgut of the cricket,Gryllus rubens and mole cricket,Scapteriscus acletus

• 1.1. Midgut is the major source of protease, amylase and lipase in a cricket, Gryllus rubens and in a mole cricket, Scapteriscus actetus.
• 2.2. Hindgut makes a significant contribution, and possibly even the major contribution, to digestion in both crickets, with enzyme activities from 20% (amylase and lipase) to 30% (protease) of midgut level, and a pH favorable to action of all three.
• 3.3. Ingested food helps regulate digestive enzyme levels, and crickets starved for 5 days had only 50–60% of normal levels of enzyme activity.

     

Circadian rhythms of determined blood chemistry values in buzzards and eagle owls

• 1.1. Fifteen values were determined in blood samples from six buzzards (Buteo buteo) and six eagle owls (Bubo bubo) over the 24 hr of the day.
• 2.2. Glucose, urea, uric acid, triglyceride and calcium values showed diurnal rhythms in both species. Their respective patterns of diurnal variation were compared.
• 3.3. Phosphorus, cholesterol and cholinesterase levels underwent circadian rhythms only in the buzzards. Albumin/globulin and amylase exhibited diurnal variations exclusively in the eagle owls.
• 4.4. Glutamatic oxaloacetic transaminase, albumin, globulin, total protein and creatinine concentrations did not show diurnal rhythms in either of the species.
• 5.5. Blood values of the different parameters were studied on the basis of the ranges described in birds.

     

Compensations for temperature in the activities of digestive enzymes of Periplan eta americana (L.)

• 1.1. Differential thermal acclimatory responses of maximal catalytic rates (V_max) of digestive enzymes have been measured in both sexes of Periplaneta americana adapted to 16 and 32°C.
• 2.2. Salivary amylase of females and gastric protease of males exhibit “translational” acclimation, the former showing a “complete” but the latter only a “partial” compensation. The value of Q₁₀ is not altered in the adaptive response.
• 3.3. An alteration of the thermal coefficient is evidenced by the “translational-cum-rotational” compensation of gastric amylolytic activity, with significant warm acclimation but no cold acclimation in both sexes.
• 4.4. Gastric protease of female cockroaches and gastric lipase of both sexes are characterized by the lack of an adaptive compensation to temperature, while salivary amylase of male appears to manifest an “inverse” acclimation.
• 5.5. Sexual dimorphism in the levels of the activities and in the patterns of thermal acclimation of the digestive enzymes is indicated.

     

Secretory oedema in diabetic submandibular glands during parasympathetic nerve stimulation: Relationship to microvascular abnormalities in streptozotocin-treated rats

• 1.1. Submandibular secretion during parasympathetic stimulation (5 Hz) was examined in streptozotocin-diabetic and age-matched control rats.
• 2.2. At 3 weeks, but not 3 and 6 months, flow rate was initially greater than in controls, but it declined rapidly after 30 min.
• 3.3. The reduction in flow rate was associated with oedema of the gLond.
• 4.4. At 3 months, graded stimulation revealed a tendency to oedema at frequencies of 10 Hz and above.
• 5.5. Morphologically, submandibular capillary density was increased in diabetic rats.
• 6.6. Thus, in diabetes the submandibular gland appears less able to withstand continuous parasympathetic stimulation, due in part to an increase in tissue capillary area.

     

Measurement of blood flow in the skin and oral mucosa of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) using laser doppler flowmetry

• 1.1. It is generally assumed that oral blood flow is higher than that of skin, and invasive methods to measure blood flow support this view.
• 2.2. However, it was not known whether this finding would be confirmed by laser Doppler flowmetry, which is a noninvasive method to measure blood flow.
• 3.3. The purpose of this study was to compare blood flow in oral and skin regions of the rhesus monkey using laser Doppler flowmetry.
• 4.4. The results demonstrated that blood flow was significantly higher in oral regions as compared to facial skin (P < 0.05).
• 5.5. This finding is most likely related to the more abundant capillary supply in oral mucosa as compared to skin.

     

Effect of angiotensin II on vascular resistance in whole-body perfused dogfish

• 1.1. The effect of angiotensin II (AII), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and isoproterenol (ISO) was observed on the branchial and systemic circulations in a whole-body-pump perfused dogfish preparation.
• 2.2. NE and E increased systemic blood flow resistance, but decreased branchial resistance.
• 3.3. ISO decreased both systematic and branchial blood flow resistance.
• 4.4. AII had no significant effect on either branchial or systemic resistance.

     

Skin blood flow in the Wistar-Kyoto rat and the spontaneously hypertensive rat

• 1.1. Using laser Doppler techniques in man, we have previously demonstrated differences in skin blood flow properties at sites with primarily nutritive (NUTR) perfusion, such as the elbow or knee, as compared to sites such as the finger pulp, with predominantly arteriovenous anastomotic (AVA) perfusion.
• 2.2. Basal and heat stimulated flow is greater at AVA sites. In man, blood pressure changes are reflected primarily by changes at AVA rather than NUTR sites.
• 3.3. These blood pressure induced changes affect the red blood cell velocity (VEL) component at AVA sites more than microvascular volume (VOL).
• 4.4. Given these findings in man, we decided to compare skin blood flow properties in a suitable animal model.
• 5.5. We chose the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) strains, in view of the marked difference in systemic blood pressure in these two related strains.
• 6.6. Skin blood flow varied considerably at different skin sites in the rats. Skin sites with hair covering, on the back and at the base of the tail, showed low basal and heat stimulated blood flow.
• 7.7. In contrast, the plantar surface of the paw behaved similarly to the finger or toe pulps in man, with 3–4-fold higher basal flow than the hair covered areas and a 7–8-fold rise with local heating to 44°C.
• 8.8. Furthermore, there was a 25% greater blood flow at the plantar paw surface in the SHR rats as compared to the WKY rats, corresponding to the 25% higher systemic blood pressure in these animals.
• 9.9. The heat induced increase in flow at the plantar surface of the paw was primarily a result of a marked increase in VEL rather than VOL.
• 10.10. The higher flow at this site in SHR as compared to WKY rats was likewise ascribable to an increase in VEL, VOL being equivalent in the two strains.

     

Purification and characterization of hatching enzyme of the pike (Esox lucius)

• 1.1. A choriolytic enzyme was isolated from the hatching medium of the pike, Esox lucius.
• 2.2. The enzyme is defined as hatching enzyme.
• 3.3. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 24,000.
• 4.4. The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing 2% carbohydrate.
• 5.5. Its isoelectric point is 6.5.
• 6.6. The pH optimum is around pH 8.
• 7.7. The enzyme molecule contains two disulfide bonds but no free cysteine.
• 8.8. Inhibitor studies and metal analysis show that the enzyme is a zinc-metalloprotease.