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.     

TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE IN RAT BRAIN: DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract— The development of tyrosine hydroxylase (tyrosine 3-hydroxylase, EC 1.14.3.a) activity has been examined in whole rat brain and in various regions and subcellular fractions thereof. The specific activity of tyrosine hydroxylase increased almost 15-fold from 15 days of gestation to adulthood. With maturation, those regions of the brain that contain only terminals of the catecholaminergic neurons showed the greatest increases in enzyme activity. There was a shift in the subcellular distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase from the soluble fraction in the fetal brain to the synaptosomal fraction in the adult brain. Tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.2.1) and the specific uptake mechanism for norepinephrine appear to develop in a coordinated fashion.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

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     

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.     

刺激家兔尾核对丘脑束旁核痛兴奋和痛抑制单位放电的影响

在51只清醒麻痹家兔身上,记录了丘脑束旁核痛兴奋(PfPE)和痛抑制(PfPI)单位的放电。观察刺激尾核头背部(DHCN)对 PfPE 和 PfPI 单位自发放电和痛放电的影响。(1)刺激 DHCN时,在28个 PfPE 单位中,19个的自发放电发生抑制反应,7个无变化,2个增强;在6个PfPI 单位中,5个的自发放电增加,1个无变化。(2)刺激 DHCN 时,在38个 PfPE 单位中。2个的痛放电兴奋增强,6个无变化,30个被抑制。其中12个呈抑制反应的单位,8个立即发生在刺激 DHCN 之后,并延续700—1600ms,在10个 PfPI 单位中,7个的痛放电发生兴奋反应,3个无变化。这些结果提示,DHCN 对丘脑 PfPE 和 PfPI 单位在处理痛觉信息上具有调制作用。根据抑制的潜伏期短和延续时间长的特点,推测这种调制作用可能既通过直接通路又有间接环路参与。     

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.     

THE RELEASE IN VIVO OF DOPAMINE SYNTHESIZED FROM LABELLED PRECURSORS IN THE CAUDATE NUCLEUS OF THE CAT

Abstract— To study the release of dopamine (DA) evoked in vivo from the caudate nucleus, a push-pull cannula was inserted into the head of the caudate nucleus of cats anaesthetised with pentobarbitone sodium (Nembutal), and the tissue in the vicinity of the cannula tip was continuously irrigated with either l -[¹⁴C]tyrosine or DL-[¹⁴C]3,4-dihydroxyphenylala-nine (DOPA). The contents of [¹⁴C]DA and of the [¹⁴C]acidic metabolites in the perfusates were determined after separation from the labelled precursors by column chromatography, TLC and solvent partition. During perfusion with radioactive tyrosine, only small quantities of [¹⁴C]DA appeared in the effluent while the concentrations of the [¹⁴C]acidic metabolites gradually increased during the course of the experiment. When [¹⁴C]DOPA was substituted for [¹⁴C]tyrosine, the proportion of precursor that was converted to DA and released into the effluent as the amine or as its acidic metabolites was increased ten-fold. In an attempt to increase the resting release of [¹⁴C]DA, D-amphetamine, tropolone or pheniprazine were individually added to the perfusion fluid. Each drug increased the content of [¹⁴C]DA in the perfusate, but the enhanced release was maintained only when pheniprazine was added during perfusion with [¹⁴C]DOPA. Stimulation of the rostral substantia nigra (A5-5) and the medial forebrain bundle caused, in a majority of experiments, a two-to five-fold increase in the concentration of labelled DA in the effluent. Stimulation of the substantia nigra at A4-0 did not enhance the release of [¹⁴C]DA from the caudate nucleus but did enhance the release from the putamen. Since the increase in the output of [¹⁴C]DA was independent of changes in the output of labelled acidic metabolites, the evoked release was apparently not attributable to changes in extracellular fluid dynamics.     

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。     

NERVE GROWTH FACTOR AND THE ACTIVITY OF TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE IN ORGAN CULTURES OF RAT SUPERIOR CERVICAL GANGLIA

Abstract— Superior cervical ganglia from young rats were cultured in the absence of serum. The effect of nerve growth factor on the level of tyrosine hydroxylase was studied. In the absence of nerve growth factor the specific activity of tyrosine hydroxylase fell by more than 50% within 48 h. In the presence of nerve growth factor the total and specific activities were maintained and even increased in the same period. Both the 2.5 S and the 7 S forms of nerve growth factor were effective. Oxidized nerve growth factor had no effect except when present in very high concentration. Purified antibody to nerve growth factor was inhibitory. Insulin had only a slight effect in this system, but dibutyryl CAMP elevated tyrosine hydroxylase activity substantially. Propranolol inhibited the action of nerve growth factor but its action appeared to be nonspecific and unrelated to its action on the β-adrenergic receptor. Changes in the activity of dihydropteridine reductase paralleled those seen in tyrosine hydroxylase.     

大鼠尾核微量注射γ—氨基丁酸对尾核痛反应神经元放电的影响

在５３只成年Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠上,用玻璃微电极引导神经元放电,观察了尾核内注射γ－氨基丁酸后,尾核痛反应经元放电的变化和印防己毒素对ＧＡＢＡ作用的阻断效应。尾核内每２分钟分别注射ＧＡＢＡ２５,５０,１００μｇ／２μｌ,尾核痛兴奋神经元诱发放电频率减少,潜伏期延长;痛抑制神经元放诱发放电频率减少,潜伏期延长;痛抑制神经元放电抑制时程缩短,放电频率增加。ＰＥＮ和ＰＩＮ电活动反应与ＧＡＢＡ剂量间呈量效关系     

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.     

A COMPARISON OF THE NEURAL REGULATION OF TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE ACTIVITY IN SYMPATHETIc GANGLIA OF ADULT MICE AND RATS

Surgical decentralization of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) in rats and mice led to a fall in ganglionic tyrosine hydroxylase (T-OH) activity, and a loss of more than 90 per cent of the preganglionic neurone marker, choline acetyl transferase. T-OH activity was reduced by more than 50 per cent in mice SCG ten days after surgery, but fell by only 25 per cent in rat SCG after 21 days. The surgical procedure did not cause obvious histo-logical damage or loss of SCG cells in either species. Both T-OH and choline acetyl transferase activities in rat and mouse SCG recovered to normal three months after surgery. Reserpine treatment was more effective in rats in causing increased ganglionic T-OH activity than in mice. Neither decentralization nor reserpine treatment caused any changes in DOPA-decarboxylase or monoamine oxidase activities in rat SCG. These results demonstrate that T-OH activity in SCG is subject to trans-synaptic regulation in both rats and mice; this regulation does not apply to DOPA-decarboxylase or monoamine oxidase. Differences in basal sympathetic tone may explain the different results obtained in mice and rats.     

SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF DOPAMINE-β-HYDROXYLASE AND INHIBITORS IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS AND CAUDATE NUCLEUS IN SHEEP BRAIN

—The enzyme dopamine-β-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.17.1) which converts dopamine to noradrenaline was found to be present in substantial amounts in sheep brain hypothalamus and caudate nucleus and was located to the synaptic vesicle fractions in these two brain regions by subcellular fractionation. This dopamine-β-hydroxylase was associated with paniculate matter in these two brain regions since it was resistant to solubilization with butan-1-ol and 0.1% Triton X-100. As highly significant levels of dopamine-β-hydroxylase were present in the caudate nucleus, factors other than a simple lack of this enzyme must operate to maintain the low levels of noradrenaline and high levels of dopamine in the caudate nucleus. Purified adrenal dopamine-β-hydroxylase was substantially inhibited by two factors prepared from sheep brain hypothalamus and caudate nucleus. These were found to be cupric ions and a sulphydryl inhibitor. High levels of the sulphydryl inhibitor of dopamine-β-hydroxylase were found in synaptosomal fractions from sheep brain hypothalamus and caudate nucleus and the levels were comparable in both regions. Upon subfractionation of a synaptosome-containing fraction from the hypothalamus, the inhibitor was located predominantly in the soluble fraction, although there were significant levels in the synaptic vesicle fraction. Therefore, the sulphydryl inhibitor must be considered as a possible regulator of dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity. Free cupric ion concentrations as low as 2·5 μM were found to inhibit purified adrenal dopamine-β-hydroxylase in vitro and the concentration of copper in the soluble tissue component of hypothalamus and caudate nucleus was well above this minimal copper concentration. The percentage content of soluble copper in the caudate nucleus was significantly higher than in the hypothalamus. The importance of the soluble to particulate-bound ratio of copper in brain was shown in studies of the developing rat brain. A rapid increase in the level of copper in brain was found in the first 4 weeks but the level was constant by 2 months of age. The percentage of soluble copper, however, was maximal soon after birth and had declined to a constant figure by 2 months of age. A scheme for the regulation of dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity involving these factors is proposed.