DNP complex of the spermatogenic cells of rats with hypovitaminosis A

Retinol deficiency in rats was shown to cause atypical changes of DNP-complex in spermatogenic cells and a decrease in their fertility. The final stages of spermiogenesis were found to be the most sensitive: ca. 25% of testicular sperms were characterized by abnormal chromatin structure and deficiency in spermiospecific argininerich histones what might be related to a sharp decrease in arginine content in blood plasma. Similar results were obtained with rats kept on retinoic acid. Thus, retinoic acid fails to restore retinol-dependent processes involved in the formation of sperms with normal DNP-complex.     

The sequential synthesis of the polypeptide chain of serum albumin by the microsome fraction of rat liver

1. The isolated microsome fraction of regenerating rat liver was incubated with cell sap, a source of energy and [³⁵S]methionine, [¹⁴C]isoleucine or [¹⁴C]leucine for different periods of time, and microsomal albumin isolated. 2. The distribution of these isotopes in albumin was determined by separation of tryptic peptides from the protein. Radioactivity was measured in peptides either qualitatively by radioautography or quantitatively by labelling with both ³H and ¹⁴C. 3. A gradient of radioactivity existed at all times in albumin isolated after incubating microsomes. 4. The shorter the incubation time the fewer the peptides labelled in albumin, but the peptides with highest specific activity after short incubation times corresponded to those with highest specific activities after long incubation times. 5. Leucine released from the C-terminus of albumin had a higher specific activity than the mean specific activity of the remaining leucine residues in albumin. 6. The peptide with the highest specific activity in albumin is probably derived from the C-terminus of the protein. 7. [¹⁴C]Glutamic acid is incorporated into the N-terminus of albumin after incubating the microsome fraction with this isotopically labelled amino acid, cell sap and a source of energy. The specific activity of the N-terminal glutamic acid under these conditions is less than the mean specific activity of the remaining glutamic acid and glutamine residues in albumin. 8. The results are interpreted as reflecting a sequential synthesis of serum albumin in the isolated microsome fraction of rat liver. The direction of synthesis of albumin is from the N-terminus towards the C-terminus. 9. The bulk of incorporation of radioactive amino acid into albumin in the isolated microsome fraction is due to completion of partially completed, pre-existing peptide and polypeptide chains. A limited synthesis of new chains of albumin does, however, occur.     

Effect of heparin on the activity of liver microsome oxidative enzyme systems in healthy rats and rats with experimental glomerulonephritis]

In experiments on mongrel rats it was found that heparin in doses of 2, 5, and 10 mg/kg had an inducing effect on the oxidative systems of hepatic microsomes: hexenal test period was shortened, cytochrome P450 content increased, relative liver weight rose; the activity of histochemically-detectable NAD-enzymes of hepatocytes became greater. Heparin was capable of considerable (2-3-fold) stimulation of antitoxic activity of the liver reduced in experimental glomerulonephritis. The effect of heparin on the antitoxic function of the liver did not correlate with its effect, on the blood coagulation system.     

Regression of the Pliss lymphosarcoma in rats and biochemical indices in hypovitaminosis A

It has been shown that in rats with alimentary hypovitaminosis A, with a sufficiently pronounced decrease in the content of free retinol in blood serum (below 140 ng/ml) and in the liver tissue (below 360 ng/g), there is a complete regression of Pliss's lymphosarcoma. Under the conditions indicated, retinoic acid, in contradistinction to retinol, does not promote the tumor growth. A relative and absolute reduction in blood plasma of the essential amino acids, arginine, methionine and lysine, might be one of the reasons for tumor regression under hypovitaminosis A.     

Fractionation of the nucleotides of the acid-soluble liver fraction of rats

A method for separation of rat liver acid-soluble nucleotides was developed including ion exchange polyethyleneimine cellulose chromatography, followed by rechromatography of the separate fractions on Dowex 1 and Aminex MS resins. It is simple, reproducible and does not require expensive reagents and devices. The sensitivity of the method in respect to orotate is 100 pM in a sample. Data on the content of liver basic 5'-ribonucleotides and their derivatives were obtained by the proposed method.     

An increase of CDP-choline: diglyceride phosphocholine transferase reaction in microsome fraction and its decrease in nuclear membranes of the rat liver after treatment with hydrocortisone

The availability of CDP-choline: diaglyceride phosphocholine transpherase activity in the rat liver nuclear membrane fraction is shown. It is established that the enzyme activity in nuclear membrane fraction makes up less than 1/3 of the analogous activity in microsomes. The hydrocortisone treatment of animals leads to an increase of the enzyme activity in microsomes and to a decrease in the nuclear membranes. The obtained data indicate the existence of the own enzyme of phosphatidyl choline synthesis in the nuclear membranes. This enzyme is, probably, responsible for the nuclear membrane structure when the functional status of cell changes.