Skeletal muscle glycogen content, structure, and metabolism are normal in rats with hepatic glycogen phosphorylase kinase deficiency

Skeletal muscle glycogen content and structure, and the activities of several enzymes of glycogen metabolism are reported for the hepatic glycogen phosphorylase b kinase deficient (gsd/gsd) rat. The skeletal muscle glycogen content of the fed gsd/gsd rat is 0.50 +/- 0.11% tissue wet weight, and after 40 hours of starvation this value is lowered 40% to 0.30 +/- 0.05% tissue wet weight. In contrast the gsd/gsd rat liver has an elevated glycogen content which remains high after starvation. The skeletal muscle phosphorylase b kinase, glycogen phosphorylase, glycogen synthase and acid alpha-glucosidase activities are 17.2 +/- 2.9 units/g tissue, 119.9 +/- 6.4 units/g tissue, 12.2 +/- 0.4 units/g tissue and 1.4 +/- 0.4 milliunits/g tissue, respectively, with approx. 20% of phosphorylase and approx. 24% of synthase in the active form (at rest). These enzyme activities resemble those of Wistar skeletal muscle, and again this contrasts with the situation in the liver where there are marked differences between the Wistar and the gsd/gsd rat. Fine structural analysis of the purified glycogen showed resemblance to other glycogens in branching pattern. Analysis of the molecular weight distribution of the purified glycogen indicated polydispersity with approx. 66% of the glycogen having a molecular weight of less than 250 X 10(6) daltons and approx. 25% greater than 500 X 10(6) daltons. This molecular weight distribution resembles those of purified Wistar liver and skeletal muscle glycogens and differs from that of the gsd/gsd liver glycogen which has an increased proportion of the low molecular weight material.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of fasting on glycogen metabolism and activities of glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes in the mudskipper Boleophthalmus boddaerti

During starvation, muscle glycogen in Boleophthalmus boddaerti was utilized preferentially over liver glycogen. In the first 10 days of fasting, the ratio of the active‘a’form of glycogen phosphorylase to total phosphorylase present in the liver was small. During this period, the active‘I’form of glycogen synthetase increased in the same tissue. In the muscle, the phosphorylase‘a’activity declined during the first 7 days and increased thereafter while the total glycogen synthetase activity showed a drastic decline during the first 13 days of fasting. The glycogen level in the liver and muscle of mudskippers starved for 21 days increased after refeeding. After 6 and 12 h refeeding, liver glycogen level was 8·5 ± 2·3 and 6·9 ± 4·5 mg·g wet wt ¹, respectively, as compared to 5·8 ± l·6mg·g wet wt ¹ in unfed fish. Muscle glycogen level after 6 and 12 h refeeding was 0·96±0·76 and 0·82 ± 0·50 mg·g wet wt ¹, respectively, as opposed to 0·21 ± 0·12 mg·g wet wt ¹ in the 21-days fasted fish. At the same time, activities of glycogen phosphorylase in the muscle and liver increased while the active‘I’form of glycogen synthetase showed higher activity in the liver. Since glycogen was resynthesized upon refeeding, this eliminated the possibility that glycogen depletion during starvation was due to stress or physical exhaustion after handling by the investigator. Throughout the experimental starvation period, the body weight of the mudskipper decreased, with a maximum of 12% weight loss after 21 days. Liver lipid reserves were utilized at the onset of fasting but were thereafter resynthesized. Muscle proteins were also metabolized as the fish were visibly thinner. However, no apparent change in protein content expressed as per gram wet weight was detected as the tissue hydration state was maintained constant. The increased degradation of liver and muscle reserves was coupled to an increase in the activities of key gluconeogenic enzymes in the liver (G6Pase, FDPase, PEPCK, MDH and PC). The increase in glucose synthesis was possibly necessary to counteract hypoglycemia brought about by starvation in B. boddaerti.     

土壤盐碱胁迫对春小麦K^＋、Na^＋选择性吸收的影响

通过对2种浓度土壤盐分胁迫下春小麦各品种不同时期各器官K^ 、Na^ 含量以及K^ /Na^ 的变化及其与抗盐性的关系研究,结果表明,随土壤盐浓度的升高,各品种的产量及各农艺性状值均有所下降,但不同品种的下降程度不同。随土壤盐浓度的升高,植株中K^ 、Na^ 含量均有所增加,但K^ 增加的幅度小于Na^ 的增加幅度,因而K^ /Na^ 呈明显下降趋势;在不同土壤盐分胁迫下,小麦品种K^ 、Na^ 随生育进程在体内各器官的分配发生动态变化,在分蘖期地上部K^ /Na^ ＞根部,孕穗期各器官K^ /Na^ 依次为：幼穗＞旗叶＞茎＞倒4叶,而灌浆期则依次为：籽粒＞旗叶＞茎＞倒4叶,说明生长旺盛的器官拒Na^ 能力强于其它器官;不同品种的K^ 、Na^ 含量及K^ /Na^ 不同,一般抗盐性强的品种在各时期均具有较高的K^ /Na^ ,反之则K^ /Na^ 较低;小麦的籽粒产量在一定范围内与其植株地上部各器官的K^ /Na^ 中一定的正相关,其中与分蘖期植株地上部的K^ /Na^ 及叶（K^ /Na^ ）／根（K^ /Na^ ）呈极显著正相关,而与此时期的SNa^ K^ 相关性最强,γ为－0．9670。因而,以分蘖期的K^ /Na^ 尤其是SNa^ K^ 作为小麦田间抗盐性的指标,具有一定的可靠性。     

Effect of drug treatment on liver-slice function following 72-hour hypothermic perfusion

The viability of hypothermically perfused dog liver was evaluated with a tissue-slice technique. After being preserved for 72 hr, slices of liver were incubated at 30 degrees C for as long as 2 hr; then water content, K+/Na+ ratio, and ATP concentration were measured. Dog livers were assigned to the following experimental groups: Group 1 (no preservation; control); Group 2 (livers preserved for 72 hr); Group 3 (donor animals pretreated with 3.5 mg/kg of chlorpromazine (CPZ) and 20 mg/kg of methylprednisolone (MP), and livers preserved for 72 hr); Group 4 (livers pretreated with 2-deoxycoformycin (2-DOC), 50 mg/liter, and preserved for 72 hr); and Group 5 (combination of Group 3 and Group 4 treatments). Livers in Groups 2, 3, and 4 lost K+ during preservation, and the mean K+/Na+ ratio significantly decreased from a control value of 4.2 +/- 0.4 to 1.5-1.9 (P less than 0.05). Group 5 livers did not lose K+; mean K+/Na+ ratio was 3.9 +/- 0.5. Fresh livers (no preservation) rapidly reaccumulated K+ when the tissue slices were incubated for 2 hr at 30 degrees C; mean K+/Na+ ratio was 3.7 +/- 0.5. Tissue slices from Group 2 livers (72 hr preservation), and livers pretreated with CPZ-MP (Group 3) or pretreated with 2-DOC (Group 4) did not significantly reaccumulate K+ at 30 degrees C; mean K+/Na+ ratio was 1.7-2.1. Only slices prepared from liver pretreated with both CPZ-MP and 2-DOC reaccumulated K+; mean K+/Na+ ratio was 4.6 +/- 1.2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Levels of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, and Na+/K+ ATPase in some tissues of rats exposed to a Nigerian-like diet and cadmium

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of a wholly compounded Nigerian-like diet on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Na+/K+ ATPase and level of lipid peroxidation in oral cadmium toxicity. Nine-week-old Wistar albino rats (100 +/- 2.0 g) were exposed to 100 ppm cadmium in drinking water and the Nigerian-like diet (low in protein and high in carbohydrates and fiber) for 16 wk. The results obtained indicate that cadmium reduced weight gain and increased fecal output of rats, which was further potentiated by the Nigerian-like diet. Cadmium was concentrated in the intestine, liver, and kidney, with the highest level observed in the kidney, followed by the liver. The Nigerian-like diet reduced the concentration of cadmium in these tissues. Cadmium increased lipid peroxidation and inhibited SOD and Na+/K+ ATPase in the tissues. These were also aggravated in rats fed the Nigerian-like diet. Because the Nigerian-like diet increased lipid peroxidation and inhibited SOD and Na+/K+ ATPase in the tissues, it rendered rats more susceptible to cadmium toxicity.     

Ratio of concentration of ions of uni- and bivalent metals in the tissues of developing chick embryos and 1-day-old chickens]

The ratio of concentrations Na+/K+ decreases in the brain and liver and increases in the cardiac muscle during the chick embryogenesis. The maximum concentration of Ca2+ was noted in the tissues under study on 14th day of chick embryonic development and its content decreased reliably at the subsequent stages. The concentration of Mg2+ in the tissues under study decreased during the embryogenesis as well.     

The effects of starvation and force-feeding on the metabolism of the Northern pike, Esox lucius L.

The effects of starvation and force-feeding on certain tissue and blood constituents were studied in the Northern pike, Esox lucius L. Starvation resulted in a reduction of liver and muscle glycogen and liver lipid. Blood glucose concentration and haematocrit were reduced, total plasma cholesterol levels were increased, while the levels of plasma free fatty acids (FFA), amio acid nitrogen and protein remained unaltered. No significant changes were observed in either muscle protein, muscle water or the response to amino acid loading during the starvation period.
The force-feeding of pike starved for 3 months resulted in liver lipid and muscle glycogen being increased to levels higher than those observed in freshly-captured fish. Liver glycogen, however, increased to values only slightly higher than those of starved animals. Furthermore, while force-feeding had little effect on plasma FFA or protein concentrations, blood glucose, plasma cholesterol and haematocrit returned to the levels found in freshlycaptured fish and those of amino acid nitrogen were higher.
The results indicate that pike are well adapted for periods of prolonged starvation and that hepatic and extra-hepatic lipid and glycogen stores serve for metabolic needs during food shortage, while body protein is conserved. The endocrine basis for these changes in the tissue and blood constituents is discussed.     

Effects of copper, cadmium and chromium cations on the freshwater fish Clarias batrachus L

The data on the effects of cations such as Cu2+, Cd2+ and Cr6+ on the changes in the biochemical parameters in a freshwater fish, Clarias batrachus L., showed an increase of the protein content in the liver, kidney, stomach, intestine, testis and ovary, and a decrease in the muscle after Cu2+ and Cd2+ treatment as compared with control data; but the Cr6+ did not cause any changes of protein concentration in the kidney and testis. The administration of Cu2+ and Cd2+ increased the concentration of free amino acids in all the fish organs, whereas the Cr6+ did not changes this concentration in the muscle. A decrease in dry weight, and an increase in tissue permeability after these treatments were recorded in all the organs studied. In general, the above biochemical parameters of the organs were affected by treatments of the above cations in the following order: Cd greater than Cu greater than Cr over control values of C. batrachus, and their effects were markedly pronounced in the liver and kidney, followed by the intestine, stomach, muscle, testis and ovary in this species.     

Increases in hepatic fructose-2,6-bisphosphate level and fructose-6-phosphate,2-kinase activity in rats with ventromedial lesions of the hypothalamus

To investigate altered fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (fructose-2,6-P2) metabolism, we measured fructose-2,6-P2 levels and fructose-6-phosphate,2-kinase (fructose-6-P,2-kinase) activities in various tissues, including liver, kidney, heart, and skeletal muscle, of ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)-lesioned rats during feeding and starvation. The plasma insulin level was 6 times or more higher in these rats than in the controls. The fructose-2,6-P2 level in liver was much greater in VMH-lesioned rats than in the controls: 15.1 +/- 2.2 nmol/g tissue versus 7.7 +/- 0.7 in the fed state, 5.3 +/- 1.1 versus 1.6 +/- 0.4 in the starved state. In kidney, heart, and skeletal muscle, fructose-2,6-P2 levels were not different between the two animal groups. The activity of hepatic fructose-6-P,2-kinase remained high after 20 h of starvation in VMH-lesioned rats, whereas it was decreased markedly in the controls. The hepatic concentration of fructose-6-phosphate was also high in VMH-lesioned rats. Both fructose-6-P,2-kinase activity and fructose-6-phosphate concentration in the liver of starved VMH-lesioned rats were comparable to those of control rats in fed conditions. These results indicate that the alteration of fructose-2,6-P2 metabolism is characteristic of liver in VMH-lesioned rats, and that the increase in hepatic fructose-2,6-P2 may activate hepatic glycolysis not only during feeding but also during starvation, leading to the enhanced lipogenesis in these obese rats.     

The effect of vanadate on the electrogenic Na+/K+ pump, intracellular Na+ concentration and electrophysiological characteristics of mouse skeletal muscle fibre

The present study reports a discrepancy between the effects of vanadate on the membrane Na+-K+-ATPase and the Na+/K+ pump of the skeletal muscle. Vanadate in concentration 4 X 10(-6) mol/l which is necessary to block the enzyme Na+-K+-ATPase activity of membrane fractions failed to inhibit the electrogenic Na+/K+ pump of intact muscle cells. The effect of vanadate on the electrophysiological parameters of the muscle fibre membrane required much higher vanadate levels, but again, Na+/K+ pump was still active. Vanadate in concentrations 4 X 10(-4) and 4 X 10(-5) mol/l depolarized the membrane potential and decreased the membrane resistance [apparently in consequence of enhanced passive membrane permeability for Na+ ions]. Action potentials and the electrical excitability of the muscle fibre membrane were reduced by these vanadate concentrations.     

Kinetics of phosphorylation of Na+/K(+)-ATPase by protein kinase C

The kinetics of phosphorylation of an integral membrane enzyme, Na+/K(+)-ATPase, by calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) were characterized in vitro. The phosphorylation by PKC occurred on the catalytic alpha-subunit of Na+/K(+)-ATPase in preparations of purified enzyme from dog kidney and duck salt-gland and in preparations of duck salt-gland microsomes. The phosphorylation required calcium (Ka approximately 1.0 microM) and was stimulated by tumor-promoting phorbol ester (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate) in the presence of a low concentration of calcium (0.1 microM). PKC phosphorylation of Na+/K(+)-ATPase was rapid and plateaued within 30 min. The apparent Km of PKC for Na+/K(+)-ATPase as a substrate was 0.5 microM for dog kidney enzyme and 0.3 microM for duck salt-gland enzyme. Apparent substrate inhibition of PKC activity was observed at concentrations of purified salt-gland Na+/K(+)-ATPase greater than 1.0 microM. Phosphorylation of purified kidney and salt-gland Na+/K+ ATPases occurred at both serine and threonine residues. The 32P-phosphopeptide pattern on 15% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after hydroxylamine cleavage of pure 32P-phosphorylated alpha subunit was the same for the two sources of enzyme, which suggests that the phosphorylation sites are similar. The results indicate that Na+/K(+)-ATPase may serve as a substrate for PKC phosphorylation in intact cells and that the Na+/K(+)-ATPase could be a useful in vitro model substrate for PKC interaction with integral membrane proteins.     

Effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on the erythrocyte membrane]

We studied 10 patients affected by primary hypercholesterolemia treated with placebo for 1 month and with simvastatin (20 mg die) for 6 months during a double-blind clinical trial. At 1-month intervals we determined the following parameters in the serum: total and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 and B. At the same time intervals, we also determined the cholesterol and phospholipid concentration, the Na+/K+ ATPase activity and the fluidity of the erythrocyte membranes. Our results demonstrated the following modifications in the erythrocyte membranes during simvastatin treatment: 1) an initial increase in the cholesterol concentration and in the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, with a significant decrease only after 4 months; 2) a similar behaviour of membrane fluidity, with an initial decrease and an elevation after 4 months; 3) an increase in the Na+/K+ ATPase activity only after 4 months. We hypothesize that simvastatin not only inhibits the hepatic synthesis of cholesterol, but also modifies the cholesterol exchange between plasma and the erythrocyte membrane.     

Quantification of Rat Cerebral Cortex Na+,K+-ATPase: Effect of Age and Potassium Depletion

Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration in rat cerebral cortex was studied by vanadate-facilitated [3H]ouabain binding to intact samples and by K(+)-dependent 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase activity determinations in crude homogenates. Methodological errors of both methods were evaluated. [3H]Ouabain binding to cerebral cortex obtained from 12-week-old rats measured incubating samples in buffer containing [3H]ouabain, and ouabain at a final concentration of 1 x 10(-6) mol/L gave a value of 11,351 +/- 177 (n = 5) pmol/g wet weight (mean +/- SEM) without any significant variation between the lobes. Evaluation of affinity for ouabain was in agreement with a heterogeneous population of [3H]ouabain binding sites. K(+)-dependent 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase activity in crude cerebral homogenates of age-matched rats was 7.24 +/- 0.14 (n = 5) mumol/min/g wet weight, corresponding to a Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration of 12,209 +/- 236 pmol/g wet weight. It was concluded that the present methods were suitable for quantitative studies of cerebral cortex Na+,K(+)-ATPase. The concentration of rat cerebral cortex Na+,K(+)-ATPase showed approximately 10-fold increase within the first 4 weeks of life to reach a plateau of approximately 11,000-12,000 pmol/g wet weight, indicating a larger synthesis of Na+,K+ pumps than tissue mass in rat cerebral cortex during the first 4 weeks of development. K+ depletion induced by K(+)-deficient fodder for 2 weeks resulted in a slight tendency toward a reduction in K+ content (6%, p > 0.5) and Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration (3%, p > 0.4) in cerebral cortex, whereas soleus muscle K+ content and Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration were decreased by 30 (p < 0.02) and 32% (p < 0.001), respectively. Hence, during K+ depletion, cerebral cortex can maintain almost normal K+ homeostasis, whereas K+ as well as Na+,K+ pumps are lost from skeletal muscles.     

Energy reserves during food deprivation and compensatory growth in juvenile roach: the importance of season and temperature

The effect of 21 days of starvation, followed by a period of compensatory growth during refeeding, was studied in juvenile roach Rutilus rutilus during winter and summer, at 4, 20 and 27° C acclimation temperature and at a constant photoperiod (12L : 12D). Although light conditions were the same during summer and winter experiments and fish were acclimated to the same temperatures, there were significant differences in a range of variables between summer and winter. Generally winter fish were better prepared to face starvation than summer fish, especially when acclimated at a realistic cold season water temperature of 4° C. In winter, the cold acclimated fish had a two to three‐fold larger relative liver size with an approximately double fractional lipid content, in comparison to summer animals at the same temperature. Their white muscle protein and glycogen concentration, but not their lipid content, were significantly higher. Season, independent of photoperiod or reproductive cycle, was therefore an important factor that determined the physiological status of the animal, and should generally be taken into account when fish are acclimated to different temperature regimes. There were no significant differences between seasons with respect to growth. Juvenile roach showed compensatory growth at all three acclimation temperatures with maximal rates of compensatory growth at 27° C. The replenishment of body energy stores, which were utilized during the starvation period, was responsible for the observed mass gain at 4° C. The contribution of the different energy resources (protein, glycogen and lipid) was dependent on acclimation temperature. In 20 and 27° C acclimated roach, the energetic needs during food deprivation were met by metabolizing white muscle energy stores. While the concentration of white muscle glycogen had decreased after the fasting period, the concentrations of white muscle lipid and protein remained more or less constant. The mobilization of protein and fat was revealed by the reduced size of the muscle after fasting, which was reflected in a decrease in condition factor. At 20° C, liver lipids and glycogen were mobilized, which caused a decrease both in the relative liver size and in the concentration of these substrates. Liver size was also decreased after fasting in the 4° C acclimated fish, but the substrate concentrations remained stable. This experimental group additionally utilized white muscle glycogen during food deprivation. Almost all measured variables were back at the control level within 7 days of refeeding.     

越冬饥饿胁迫对草鱼机体生化组成和糖脂蛋白代谢相关基因转录水平的影响

为了探讨草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)在越冬期间能量利用的代谢适应机制, 将草鱼初始体重[(1053.33±16.11) g]置于室外水泥培育池, 分别在自然越冬饥饿0、1、2、4、8、12和16周后进行采样, 进行肌肉常规成分、血清能量代谢物、组织糖原、甘油三酯含量及AMP活化蛋白激酶和糖脂蛋白代谢相关基因转录水平的检测。结果显示: 越冬饥饿1周后, 草鱼肌肉各常规成分含量显著变化(P<0.05); 随着越冬饥饿时间的延长, 血清甘油三酯(TG)、甘油(Glycerol)、总蛋白(TP)、总胆固醇(TCHO)和血糖(GLU)含量先显著降低(P<0.05), 随后保持稳定, 游离脂肪酸(Free fatty acids)含量显著上升(P<0.05); 肝胰脏糖原和肌肉糖原及肝胰脏、肌肉和脂肪组织TG含量显著降低(P<0.05); 血清ATP、ADP和AMP含量显著降低, ADP+AMP/ATP比值显著升高(P<0.05); 肝胰脏、肌肉及腹腔脂肪ampk α1、ampk α2基因表达显著上升(P<0.05), 下游糖脂及蛋白代谢相关基因转录水平显著上升(包括atgl、hsl、cpt1α、cd36等脂分解相关基因; gk、pfk、pk等糖酵解相关基因; gldh、 igf-1等蛋白分解相关基因)或显著下调(acc、fas等脂合成相关基因; creb、foxo1、pgc-1α、pepck、g6pase、glut2等糖异生相关基因; tor、s6k等蛋白合成相关基因)(P<0.05)。研究表明, 草鱼在越冬饥饿期间, 血清、肝胰脏、肌肉和脂肪组织生化组成发生了上述变化的同时, 越冬饥饿胁迫激活了AMPK通路, 促进了各组织糖酵解、脂质分解、脂肪酸β氧化、脂肪酸转运及蛋白分解的进程, 抑制了糖原合成、脂质合成和蛋白合成的过程, 进而维持了机体能量稳态。     

Rabbit tissue distribution of 3H-ouabain by digital radioautography.

3H-ouabain is useful to evaluate the tissue localization of Na,K-ATPase. In this work we determined the distribution of 3H-ouabain in rabbit tissue by digital radioautography. Using this method, we were able to obtain a comparison of various organs in a relatively short time (6.5 days), while with traditional radioautography, only the kidney was detectable after seven months of film exposure. The kidney has the highest intensity (concentration of 3H-ouabain), followed by the heart, liver, muscle, lung, spleen and finally brain, which was almost undetectable. In kidney the activity was higher in the cortex, while the other tissues displayed a more uniform intensity, suggesting that Na,K-ATPase was evenly distributed.     

花后盐与渍水逆境对小麦植株钾钠吸收和籽粒淀粉积累的影响

以扬麦12和淮麦17为材料,研究花后渍水、盐胁迫及盐渍逆境条件对离子平衡、小麦籽粒淀粉及营养器官碳氮代谢的影响。结果表明,盐胁迫和盐渍处理下,小麦叶片和茎鞘Na+含量快速上升,K+含量相对下降,K+/Na+比快速下降,导致离子平衡失调和Na+离子毒害;花后渍水、盐胁迫及盐渍处理降低了籽粒总糖、蔗糖、游离氨基酸含量及花前营养器官可溶性总糖转运量和转运率,从而抑制籽粒灌浆,导致籽粒干物质积累下降,淀粉含量降低,尤以盐胁迫和盐渍处理更为严重;盐胁迫和盐渍处理对淮麦17的抑制作用大于扬麦12,其中盐胁迫和盐渍处理导致成熟期淮麦17籽粒重分别下降60.3%和61.1%,而扬麦12下降46.6%和43.7%;此外,盐胁迫对扬麦12影响大于盐渍处理,而盐渍处理对淮麦17影响大于盐胁迫处理。     

Increased (Na+,K+)-ATPase concentrations in various tissues of rats caused by thyroid hormone treatment.

Effects of triiodothyronine treatment on (Na+,K+)-ATPase in the brain, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle were studied in the rat. The number of (Na+,K+)-ATPase units in the particulate fractions obtained from deoxycholate-treated homogenates was estimated from the concentration of [3H]ouabain binding sites assayed with a labeled drug-displacement method. The concentration of [3H]ouabain binding sites was highest in the brain tissue, intermediate in the kidney, and relatively low in the liver and skeletal muscle. The affinity of the binding sites for ouabain was highest in the brain, intermediate in the skeletal muscle, low in the kidney, and lowest in the liver. Triiodothyronine treatment increased the [3H]ouabain binding site concentration in the liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle but failed to affect it in the brain. Affinity of the binding sites for ouabain was unchanged by the triiodothyronine treatment in all tissues studied. These data indicate that triiodothyronine treatment of rats results in an increased tissue concentration of (Na+,K+)-ATPase in the liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle, but not in the brain. These changes do not accompany marked changes in the characteristics of the enzyme.     

The effect of starvation on tissue adenosine 3'-5' monophosphate levels

The effect of starvation on intracellular levels of 3′–5′, cAMP in liver, kidney, muscle, fat and isolated islets of Langerhans was studied. It was found that the concentration of cAMP increased in liver, kidney, muscle and fat, but decreased in the islets after 48–72 hours of starvation. Similar studies were conducted on liver, kidney, muscle and fat of hypophysectomized rats and identical results were obtained.     

Stimulation of Na,K-activated adenosine triphosphatase and active transport by low external K+ in a rat liver cell line

Exposure of ARL 15 cells, an established line from adult rat liver, to concentrations of external K+ below 1 mM caused a rapid fall in intracellular K+ and a corresponding rise in intracellular Na+ that became maximal within 12 h. Upon continued exposure to low external K+, these initial changes were followed by a striking recovery such that, by 24 h, intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations approached their control values. Concomitant with this recovery, there was a substantial increase in Na,K-ATPase specific activity that was detectable at 12 h and maximal at 24 h. After restoration of the external K+ concentration, the elevated level of enzyme activity showed little change for at least 24 h. In contrast, restoration of external K+ resulted in a rapid rise in intracellular K+ and a fall in Na+ such that within 30 min the Na+/K+ ratio was lower than in control cells. This overshoot, together with a demonstrated increase in active 86Rb+ uptake under "Vmax" conditions, confirms that the enhancement in Na,K-ATPase specific activity in response to low external K+ represents an increase in functional Na,K pumping capacity.