PROPERTIES OF TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE IN PERIPHERAL NERVES

Approximately 80 per cent of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in bovine mandibular nerve and rabbit sciatic nerve was soluble, and the rest of the activity was particle-bound. The soluble enzyme in bovine mandibular nerve was isolated by ammonium sulphate fractionation (25–35 per cent saturation). The enzyme had a pH optimum at 5·9 in Tris-acetate buffer, and at 6·5 in Tris-HCl or phosphate buffer. The enzyme required a tetrahydropteridine cofactor. K_m values toward various tetrahydropteridines such as l -erythro-tetrahydrobiopterin (a probable natural cofactor), 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-methyltetrahydropteridine, and 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6,7-dimethyltetrahydropteridine were 2 × 10⁻⁵m , 5 × 10⁻⁵m and 4 × 10⁻⁴m , respectively. The K_m value for tyrosine at 1 × 10⁻³m -2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-methyltetrahydropteridine as a cofactor was 5 × 10⁻⁵m . The enzyme activity was markedly stimulated with Fe²⁺ or catalase, but Fe²⁺ gave higher activity. The activity was inhibited with α, α′-dipyridyl, l -α-methyl-p-tyrosine, and various catecholamines. Among catecholamines, dopamine was the most potent inhibitor. l -5-Hydroxytryptophan was an inhibitor as potent as dopamine. Neither d -5-hydroxytryptophan nor 5-hydroxytryptamine inhibited the enzyme. The inhibition by l -5-hydroxytryptophan was partially competitive with tetrahydrobiopterin at concentrations higher than 9 × 10⁻⁵m , and partially uncompetitive at concentrations lower than 9 × 10⁻⁵m . The addition of heparin or lysolecithin did not affect enzyme activity with tetrahydrobiopterin as cofactor.     

EFFECTS OF HYPOXIA ON TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE ACTIVITY IN RAT CAROTID BODY

Abstract— Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity was measured in the carotid body. superior cervical ganglion and adrenal glands of the rat under normal conditions and at 48 h following exposure of the animals for 1-3 h in a low O₂ atmosphere. Basal TH levels were 5-6 nmol/h/mg tissue for both the carotid body and the ganglion. Forty-eight hours after hypoxia, there was an increase in enzyme activity in both tissues which paralleled the severity of the hypoxia but was greater in the carotid body than the superior cervical ganglion. Thus, following exposure to 5% O₂ in N₂ for two 30-min periods (20-min interim), TH activity had increased by 50% in the carotid body and 33% in the ganglion; after exposure to 10% O₂ in N₂ for 3 h (continuous), TH levels were increased by 37% in the carotid body and 12% in the ganglion. In the adrenal gland, basal TH activity was 3.42 ± 1.87 nmol/h/mg tissue, and this value was unchanged following either level of hypoxia.     

酪氨酸羟化酶基因载体－pCMVTH 质粒的构建及在大鼠骨骼肌内的表达

为用转基因方法治疗巴金森氏病大鼠模型,本研究采用分子克隆技术,将合成多巴胺的关键酶－酪氨酸羟化酶（ＴＨ）的基因,克隆进入以巨细胞病毒ＣＭＶ为启动子的载体质粒内,经限制性内切酶定位分析证实该重组的ＤＮＡ质粒的可靠性。携带ＴＨ基因的ＰＣＭＶＴＨ质粒以ＬＩＰＯ－ＦＥＣＴＩＮ介导,在培养的原代骨骼肌细胞中高效表达。本研究为进一步用转基因的细胞植入脑内以治疗巴金森氏病打下一定基础。     

CHARACTERIZATION OF A DOPAMINE-SENSITIVE ADENYLATE CYCLASE IN THE RAT CAUDATE NUCLEUS

Abstract— An adenylate cyclase present in the caudate nucleus of rat brain, which is selectively stimulated by low concentrations of dopamine, and which is believed to mediate dopaminergic synaptic transmission, has been characterized with respect to several properties. The parameters studied included temperature, pH, ATP concentration, Mg/ATP ratio, and metal ion specificity. The effects of other compounds, including EGTA, NaF and several guanosine nucleotides, were also tested on the dopa-mine-sensitive adenylate cyclase. In addition, the subcellular distribution of the enzyme was studied. The highest specific activity was found in subcellular fractions enriched in nerve endings. A half-maximal increase in the activity of the enzyme in a subcellular fraction occurred in the presence of 4 × 10⁻⁶ M dopamine. Fluphenazine, a dopamine antagonist, competitively inhibited the activity of the enzyme in this fraction, with a calculated inhibition constant ( K_i ) of 8 × 10⁻⁹M.     

外源性TH基因在帕金森氏病鼠脑内的表达——行为和TH免疫组化的研究

用成年大鼠７５只,给右侧黑质区注射６－羟基多巴胺（６－ＯＨＤＡ）,损毁黑质多巴胺能神经元,制备偏侧帕金森氏病（ＰＤ）鼠模型。四周后,注射阿朴吗啡（ＡＰＯ）诱发大鼠向左侧旋转。旋转数为每分钟７次以上的３５只ＰＤ鼠作实验用。其中实验组１５只,对照组２０只。向实验组ＰＤ鼠右侧纹状体多点植入含大鼠酪氨酸羟化酶ｃＤＮＡ（ＴＨｃＤＮＡ）的真核表达载体ｐＳＶＫ３－ＴＨ和脂质体Ｌｉｐｏｆｅｃｔｉｎ混合的基因转染复     

REGULATION OF TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE ACTIVITY IN MOUSE NEUROBLASTOMA CLONE N1E-115

Abstract— Mouse neuroblastoma (clone N1E-115) cells in the logarithmic growth phase were incubated for 12 days. From early log phase to late stationary phase, the specific activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.3a) increased greater than 30-fold. The increase in tyrosine hydroxylase per cell and per dish was 12- and 2700-fold, respectively. When cell division was stopped by removing serum or by adding 0.1 m m -5-fluorodeoxyuridine and 0.1 m m -uridine, the enzyme activity was also found to increase. These results show that tyrosine hydroxylase is regulated in neuroblastoma clone N1E-115.     

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE FROM BOVINE BRAIN CAUDATE NUCLEUS AND SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE HIGHLY PURIFIED ENZYME

Choline acetyltransferase from bovine brain caudate nucleus has been purified to a specific activity of 25–30 μmol ACh formed per min and mg protein. Disc electrophoresis at pH 9.5 of the purified enzyme showed two protein bands localized close to each other. We were not able to show if ChAT was linked to one or both bands. In SDS disc electrophoresis the enzyme preparation showed one major and one minor protein band with molecular weights of 69,000 and 34,000, respectively. Heterogeneity of the enzyme preparation was also demonstrated by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. After ammonium sulphate precipitation no aggregation of the enzyme could be detected by gelfiltration on Ultrogel AC-34 whilst a high molecular weight fraction was occasionally observed by gelfiltration on Sephadex G-200. The enzyme was, however, separated into two molecular forms (A and B) on CM-Sephadex chromatography. Both molecular forms had the same S²_20w but differed in heat stability and affinity for acetyl-CoA. Both forms were inactivated by an antibody preparation raised against either a purified preparation of ChAT, or A and B separately. The highly purified enzyme preparation was inactivated more than 98% by immunoprecipitation. The antibody crossreacted with ChATs from several mammalian species, but only slightly with ChAT from pigeon. The results of binding studies with affinity columns, suggest that the enzyme contains a hydrophobic lobe and a dinucleotide fold, and that a free purine rather than a free ribosyl ring of acetyl-CoA is important for the binding of the substrate to the active site. The hydrophobic lobe may be the same as the dinucleotide fold.     

INHIBITION OF GUINEA-PIG BRAIN TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE BY CATECHOLS AND BIOPTERIN

—The inhibition by catechols and biopterin of tyrosine hydroxylase from guineapig caudate nuclei has been examined. Inhibitory constants of 10–20 μm were obtained for dopamine and noradrena-line and 150–250 μm for l -DOPA and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. When examined under similar conditions homovanillic acid was found not to be inhibitory. Using an acetone dried powder as the source of tyrosine hydroxylase no change in K_m or V_max was observed when cyclic AMP or Ca²⁺ were added to the medium. Enzyme mechanisms and a possible explanation of the mechanisms controlling catechol synthesis are discussed.     

ALLOSTERIC ACTIVATION OF HYPOTHALAMIC TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE BY IONS AND SULPHATED MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES

Abstract— The kinetics of canine hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase were studied in the presence of various ions and sulphated mucopolysaccharides. Enzymic activity was dependent on ionic strength, a specific sulphate effect and the presence of the highly sulphated mucopolysaccharide, heparin. Whereas both sulphate and heparin activated tyrosine hydroxylase by increasing V_max heparin, but not sulphate, also increased the affinity of the enzyme for the synthetic cofactor, 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6,7-dirnethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridine, by nearly an order of magnitude. Other rnucopolysaccharides, such as chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid, were not effective as activators of tyrosine hydroxylase. The allosteric activation of tyrosine hydroxylase by heparin may serve to 'sensitize' the enzyme to low levels of its end product, norepinephrine.     

电刺激兔尾核对丘脑束旁核神经元痛放电的影响

实验在75只家兔上进行。以玻璃微电极记录丘脑束旁核痛放电,以电脉冲(5次/s、0.2ms、8—10V)通过双极同心电极刺激尾核头部,结果表明刺激尾核对束旁核痛放电既产生抑制效应(34/38),也产生易化效应(4/38)。抑制有两种表现方式:1.改变诱发放电的型式,2.跟随着单个刺激脉冲出现对痛放电的短暂压抑。静脉注射纳洛酮或阿托品可以阻断尾核刺激所引起的第一种抑制效应,提示尾核内阿片肽能系统和胆碱能系统活动参与对束旁核痛觉信号活动的调制。本文也观察到尾核刺激可诱发束旁核神经元出现每分钟约6次的周期性锋形电位串。     

刺激大鼠尾核对丘脑束旁核躯体-内脏会聚神经元放电的影响

实验记录大鼠丘脑束旁核躯体-内脏会聚(PfSV)神经元伤害性放电。观察刺激尾核(Cd)对 PfSV 神经元放电的影响。(1)Cd 对刺激内脏大神经诱发 PfSV 神经元伤害性放电有抑制作用(n=19)。(2)Cd 对刺激腓浅神经和内脏大神经诱发同一 PfSV 神经元伤害性放电均有抑制作用(n=11)。结果提示,躯体和内脏痛觉信息可会聚到丘脑束旁核同一神经元,Cd 可能不仅能抑制躯体痛也能抑制内脏痛。     

ACTIVATION OF GLYCOGEN PHOSPHORYLASE IN RAT CAUDATE NUCLEUS SLICES BY l-ISOPROPYLNOREPINEPHERINE AND DIBUTYRYL CYCLIC AMP

Abstract— l -Isopropylnorepinepherine (IPNE), 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and N⁶,O²'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP have been found to stimulate the conversion of glycogen phosphorylase (GPase) from b to a forms in rat caudate nucleus slices. The average percentage of total GPase in the a form in control incubations was 32%. The percentage of total GPase in the a form was increased to 1.5 times the control value in the presence of 1 mM-IBMX, to twice the control value in the presence of 0.05 mM-IPINE and to 2.5 times the control in the presence of 0.05 mM-IPNE and 1 mM-IBMX in combination. The increase in GPase activation correlated well with the elevation of cyclic AMP levels by these agents in caudate slices. The percentage of total GPase in the a form was also increased to 2.5 times the control by 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Dopamine (DA) and 2-chloroadenosine (2-CI-Ado), which also elevate cyclic AMP levels in rat caudate slices, were without significant effect on GPase. The results indicate that the β-adrenergc adenylate cyclase in the rat caudate nucleus plays a role in the regulation of glycogen metabolism, while the DA-stimulated adenylate cyclase is not significantly involved. 2-CI-Ado does have effects on glycogen metabolism in the caudate, but these effects do not appear to be mediated by GPase activation.     

THE EFFECTS OF REPEATED-LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE INJECTIONS ON CATECHOLAMINE LEVELS AND TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE ACTIVITY IN RAT BRAIN REGIONS

Daily injections of 100 μg/kg of d -lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for 14 days produced a significant decrease in the dopamine level in rat brain corpus striatum which was still apparent 15 days after the last LSD treatment. Further LSD injections did not change the amount of dopamine depletion. In cerebral cortex, 14 days of LSD injections produced a significant decrease in the norepinephrine level and a significant increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity. The elevated tyrosine hydroxylase activity was still present 15 days after the final LSD injection but only in those animals receiving daily vehicle injections during this period. Pre-treatment of rats with daily saline injections for 2 weeks before the 2 week period of LSD treatment prevented both the reduced norepinephrine content and elevated tyrosine hydroxylase activity usually found 24 h after the last LSD injection.     

THE DE NOVO SYNTHESIS OF TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE IN RAT SUPERIOR CERVICAL GANGLIA IN VITRO: THE EFFECT OF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR

Abstract— An immunoprecipitation technique has been employed to measure the rate of synthesis of tyrosine hydroxylase in organ cultures of rat superior cervical ganglia and the effect of nerve growth factor on that rate. Ganglia which have been maintained in culture for 16 h without nerve growth factor synthesize tyrosine hydroxylase; the hydroxylase comprises approx 0.2% of the newly synthesized soluble protein. While the total amount of tyrosine hydroxylase synthesized de novo increases in the presence of physiological levels of nerve growth factor, the differential rate of tyrosine hydroxylase synthesis is essentially unchanged. At higher levels of nerve growth factor (3–10 μg/ml) there is a small increase in the differential rate of tyrosine hydroxylase synthesis. The major action of nerve growth factor appears to be on the survival of the tissue, but a small effect on the induction of tyrosine hydroxylase is evident at high levels of nerve growth factor.     

MINIMUM DURATION OF TRANS-SYNAPTIC STIMULATION REQUIRED FOR THE INDUCTION OF TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE BY RESERPINE IN THE RAT SUPERIOR CERVICAL GANGLION

—The period during which trans-synaptic stimulation is required by the rat superior cervical ganglion for induction of tyrosine hydroxylase by reserpine has been studied. Ganglia were decentralized on one side at various times before or after an injection of reserpine. The tyrosine hydroxylase activity of the denervated and control ganglia was assayed 72 h after drug treatment. When decentralization was performed 8 h after an injection of reserpine the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity was blocked in the denervated ganglia. Decentralization 12 h after reserpine treatment or later had no effect on the enzyme induction. The actual increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity occurred between 24 and 48 h after injection of reserpine.     

P物质尾核微量注射抑制小鼠胃肌电活动和胃运动

本文观察了小鼠尾核微量注射Ｐ物质或乙酰胆碱对胃肌电和胃运动的ｍ影响;并初步探讨了两者作用的关系。用双极康铜导线引导胃窦部肌电;用水囊连接压力换能器记录胃窦部运动。上述信息经生物电放大器和载波放大器放大后,由四道记录仪描记曲线,同时输入微机进行采集、贮存和处理。计算出注药前后每分钟胃肌电快波、慢波和胃运动波的频率和总幅度的变化百分数。结果如下：尾核注射ＳＰ或ＡＣｈ胃电快波和胃运动呈明显的抑制效应。用     

电针对大鼠尾核痛兴奋,痛抑制神经元放电和甩尾反射的影响

浅麻醉ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠２５只,用Ｇ－６８０５型治疗仪电针刺激双侧“足三里”。以辐射热照尾部作为伤害性刺激,将痛兴奋神经元（ＰＥＮ）诱发放电频率减少,痛抑制神经元（ＰＩＮ）诱发放电频率增加和甩尾反射潜伏期（ＴＦＬ）延长作为镇痛效应,观察电针刺激“足三里”对尾核中ＰＥＮ、ＰＩＮ及ＴＦＬ的影响。结果表明,电针刺激“足三里”,尾核中ＰＥＮ、ＰＩＮ放电及ＴＦＬ均显示镇痛效应;电针对ＰＥＮ、ＰＩＮ放电及ＴＦＬ的影响高峰均出现在电针后即刻;电针前ＰＥＮ放电频率增加、ＰＩＮ放电频率减少与甩尾反射（ＴＦ）相伴行。放电变化发生在ＴＦ之前,结束在ＴＦ之后,ＰＥＮ、ＰＩＮ放电变化与ＴＦＬ呈高度正相关。镇痛作用高峰期ＰＥＮ、ＰＩＮ放电变化仍在ＴＦ前,结束在ＴＦ之后,两者呈高度正相关。提示尾核中的ＰＥＮ、ＰＩＮ是痛觉调节中枢的一部分,可能参与对ＴＦ的调节。     

ACETYLATION OF TYROSINE IN PEPSIN

Crystalline 60 per cent active acetyl pepsin has 7 acetyl groups per mol of pepsin, 3 of which are readily hydrolyzed in acid at pH 0.0 or in weak alkali at pH 10.0. The tyrosine-tryptophane content of this acetylated pepsin, measured colorimetrically, is less than pepsin by three tyrosine equivalents. Hydrolysis at pH 0.0 or pH 10.0 of the 3 acetyl groups results in a concomitant increase in the number of tyrosine equivalents. In the pH 0.0 hydrolysis experiment there is also a simultaneous increase in specific activity. The phenol group of glycyl tyrosine is acetylated by ketene under the conditions used in the acetylation of pepsin and the effect of pH on the rate of acetylation is similar in the two cases. It is concluded that the acetyl groups in the 60 per cent active acetyl pepsin, which are responsible for the decrease in specific enzymatic activity, are 3 in number and are attached to 3 tyrosine phenol groups of the pepsin molecule.     

MOUSE BRAIN TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE AND GLUTAMIC ACID DECARBOXYLASE FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC HORMONE, VASOPRESSIN OR CORTICOSTERONE

The activities of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) from several mouse brain regions were assayed following repeated administration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), lysine vasopressin (LVP) or corticosterone. Although similar treatments with ACTH have been shown to result in changes of catecholamine turnover and GABA content, no changes in the activity of either TH or GAD were observed in any brain region. Likewise LVP had no effect on either enzyme. Since the assays for TH were performed with concentrations of tyrosine and tetrahydrobiopterin cofactor below their respective Michaelis constants, this suggests that the changes of catecholamine turnover are not mediated by changes of TH activity. Twice daily corticosterone adrninistration for four days increased TH activity in the hypothalamus but not in any other brain region.     

尾核P物质对胃运动的抑制效应系通过黑质,迷走背核经迷走神经所介导

本工作观察损毁下丘脑外侧区,黑质,迷走背核及其传出神经对尾核微量注射Ｐ物质引起的胃肌电快波和胃运动抑制效应的影响。实验结果：该抑制效应不依赖于下丘脑外侧区的完整但可被损毁黑质,迷走背核或迷走上所消除。用利血平耗竭交感神经递质则不影响该效应。这些结果表明：尾核ＳＰ的抑胃效应系通过黑质、迷走背核经迷走神经所传出。