Effect of tritium oxide in a wide range of doses on the nucleic acid metabolism of the rat spleen

A single injection of tritium oxide in a dose of 1.1 MBq/g (0.5 Gy for 30 days) was shown to impair the nucleic acid metabolism in the rat spleen. The changes in the indices under study (e.g. mass, nucleic acid content and biosynthesis) increased with the dose, and the recovery started later and was incomplete. Qualitative differences were found in the effects of tritium oxide and gamma radiation with regard to the rate of DNA biosynthesis: 24 h following the injection of the radionuclide specific activity of DNA increased with dose, whereas this function was inverse in the case of gamma irradiation as it was reported in the literature.     

Differential inhibition of DNA and RNA biosynthesis in HeLa S3 cells by tetaine, a dipeptide antibiotic

A dipeptide antibiotic, tetaine, was found to diminish the rate of incorporation of 3H-labelled precursors into nucleic acids of intact and permeabilized HeLa S3 cells with concomitant negligible effect on protein synthesis. Comparison of the inhibitory effects of tetaine indicates that the antibiotic at 0.03-0.1 mM is a selective inhibitor of cellular DNA biosynthesis and, at higher concentration, of DNA and RNA biosynthesis. Tetaine is also an inhibitor of DNA and RNA polymerase reactions in a cell-free system, as determined using partially purified extracts from HeLa S3 cells that served as a source of the enzymes. The pretreatment experiments showed that tetaine inactivated the polymerases without affecting DNA template function. The tetaine effect on biosynthesis of nucleic acids in HeLa S3 cells can be attributed rather to the intact antibiotic than to the product of its enzymatic cleavage, anticapsin.     

Stimulation of Growth and Nucleic Acid Biosynthesis at Low Concentration of Abscisic Acid in Tissue Culture of Spinacia oleracea

The effect of abscisic acid on growth, ultrastructure and nucleic acid biosynthesis was studied in tissue culture of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Low concentration (0.01 mg l^?1) of abscisic acid increased fresh and dry weight of calluses, whereas 1.0 mg l^?1 was inhibitory. The stimulating effect was observed only in the presence of a relatively high concentration of kinetin (1 mg l^?1). The inhibitory effect was partly overcome by the same kinetin concentration. The low concentration of abscisic acid probably accelerated the induction of callus growth after subculture and stimulated cell division in the exponential phase of growth. Electron microscopy showed the presence of numerous polysomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum in callus cells grown at the stimulating abscisic acid concentration. Control cells and cells at the inhibitory concentration had slightly hyaline cytoplasm and were more vacuolated. Incubation of callus tissue with ³²P in the presence of stimulating concentration of abscisic acid showed a significant increase in the rate of biosynthesis of all nucleic acid classes after 8 h, whereas inhibitory concentration produced a decrease in ³²P incorporation. However, when the tissue was grown in the presence of abscisic acid for 20 days, both concentrations decreased the rate of nucleic acid biosynthesis, as compared to the controls.     

The effect of gamma-irradiation on the viability of Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidium parvum is 1 of the major causative organisms in waterborne diarrheal illness. Not only does C. parvum spread ubiquitously in our environment, it is also highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions and disinfectants. Therefore, a control measure for this protozoon is urgently required. This study investigated the effect of gamma-irradiation, in the range of 1,000-50,000 Gy, on the viability of C. parvum oocysts. Oocyst viability was determined by a combined indirect immunofluorescence and nucleic acid staining and animal infectivity study. The proportion of viable oocysts estimated by nucleic acid staining ranged from 94.2 to 89.4% in the 0- to 10,000-Gy groups, whereas it was reduced significantly to 58.6 or 45.7% in the 25,000- or 50,000-Gy group, respectively, at 24 hr postirradiation. In an animal infectivity study, oocysts irradiated with less than 10,000 Gy induced infections in mice wherein there were low numbers of oocysts per gram of feces amounting to 8-10.8% of the values in control mice, whereas with 50,000 Gy-irradiated oocysts, no oocysts were produced in the mice. This study suggests that at least 50,000 Gy of gamma-irradiation is necessary for the complete elimination of oocyst infectivity in mice.     

Dependence of the damage and recovery of nucleic acid metabolism on the dose rate in tritium oxide exposure

Disturbance and normalization of nucleic acid metabolism in rat thymus was studied after the effect of tritium oxide delivered in similar cumulative doses but at different dose rates. Both the disturbance and normalization were shown to be a function of dose rate, the slightest damage and the complete recovery being registered at the lowest dose rate (the amount of tritium oxide administered being 0.37 MBq/g/day). The rate of restoration was also a function of dose rate; with tritium oxide dose of 1.85 MBq/g/day (the dose rate at the stage of the equilibrium tritium content in the aqueous phase being 0.38 Gy/day) it was 9 times as high as that after a dose of 0.37 MBq/g/day (0.11 Gy/day dose rate).     

Inhibition of Nucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis in Mouse Spleen Cells In Vitro by Azathioprine

The effect of azathioprine on macromolecular biosynthesis was studied in mouse spleen cells cultured in vitro. The rate of incorporation of (3)H-thymidine, (3)H-uridine, and (14)C-leucine into acid-insoluble material was used to measure deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and protein synthesis. Results indicate that azathioprine inhibited nucleic acid and protein synthesis at levels which did not decrease cell viability.     

Humoral mechanisms of regulating reparative osteogenesis

The effect of the blood serum of animals with active osteogenesis on the biosynthesis of nucleic acids, protein, and on the mineralization of the regenerating bone tissue was studied in experiments in vivo and in vitro. Incorporation of DNA and protein labeled precursors (3H-thymidine and 14 C-proline, respectively) was increased and the mineralization of the bone callus (85Sr incorporation) was accelerated in the recipients. Comparison of nucleic acids and protein biosynthesis stimulation sequency allows to suppose that the active serum principle promotes the increased cell proliferation in the fracture area.     

Differential effect of phenylhydrazine on the catecholase and cresolase activities of Vitis catechol oxidase

The simultaneous addition of phenylhydrazine and p-cresol to grape catechol oxidase resulted in enhanced oxidation of p-cresol. Carbonyl reagents such as hydrazine, borohydride and semicarbazide also enhanced cresolase activity but had no effect on catecholase activity. Pretreatment of the enzyme with periodate abolished cresolase activity. The effects of periodate and ascorbate or semicarbazide on cresolase activity were mutually reversible. The simultaneous addition of phenylhydrazine and 4-methylcatechol to the enzyme did not result in inhibition of the initial rate of oxidation of the phenolic substrate. It is concluded that phenylhydrazine does not react with a carbonyl group on the enzyme. The possible involvement of conformational changes in the enzyme, determining phenylhydrazine inhibition is discussed.     

Effect of testosterone on nucleic acid synthesis in spermatogenic epithelial cells of irradiated animals

A study was made of changes in nucleic acid synthesis in proliferating germ cell populations of animals irradiated with doses of 2 and 4 Gy. The administration of exogenous testosterone was shown to stimulate DNA synthesis, inhibited by the effect of radiation, in spermatogonium populations of A1-4, intermediate, and B types, and in preleptotene primary spermatocytes; RNA synthesis was increased in the same populations of spermatogonia and pachytene primary spermatocytes. The obtained results indicate that exogenous testosterone exerts a beneficial effect on spermatogenesis damaged by ionizing radiation.     

Mechanisms of the radiation-induced disorder of DNA synthesis. The correlation of biosynthesis, DNA repair and DNA polymerase alpha and beta activity in the bone marrow of rats exposed to gamma quanta and fast neutrons

A study was made of DNA biosynthesis and repair and alpha- and beta-DNA-polymerase activity in rat bone marrow during the first 24 hours following whole-body irradiation with gamma-quanta and fast neutrons (up to 6 Gy). There was a correlation between the post-irradiation inhibition of DNA biosynthesis, a decrease in DNA-polymerase activity and template reparability. The data obtained permitted to consider the radiation-induced disturbance of DNA biosynthesis and the change in beta-polymerase activity as one of the possible mechanisms of formation of high relative biological effectiveness of neutrons.     

Effect of lowered incubation temperatures on nucleic acid and protein synthesis by a mesophilic and a psychrophilic bacterium

The authors studied changes in the synthesis of nucleic acids (RNA, DNA) and protein by a mesophilic strain ofEscherichia coli B and a psychrophilic strain ofPseudomonas fluorescens at a low incubation temperature giving tenfold prolongation of the generation time. It was found that lowering the incubation temperature was followed by an increase in the intracellular nucleic acid content during the lag phase and the phase of accelerated growth, in which maximum nucleic acid (NA) values were reached. As a result, the total NA level in the cell also remained relatively high during further proliferation, when the increase in NA (particularly RNA) slows down at low incubation temperatures. Proteosynthesis, however, fell in the mesophilic culture. The smaller effect of a lowered temperature on DNA biosynthesis was manifested specifically in the lag phase ofEscherichia coli, in which disproportion developed between the amount of DNA (which was synthesized at a relatively higher rate) and RNA; this was afterwards equalized by a temporary break in DNA production. Pronounced differences in the given types of biosynthesis were found only in the mesophilic culture, while at suboptimal temperatures the metabolism of the psychrophilic strain slowed down but no marked changes occurred.     

Decreased nucleic acid synthesis in low-dose-irradiated lymphocytes--effect of TCGF addition

Flow cytometry was used to evaluate nucleic acid synthesis in irradiated mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) compared to nonirradiated control cultures. Two staining methods were used (propidium iodide and acridine orange). We showed that RNA and DNA synthesis are retarded in MLC receiving 0.2 Gy. This effect was reversed by lymphocyte growth factor.     

酪氨酸对大鼠子宫卵巢和睾丸组织核酸合成的影响

据报道,酪氨酸可能影响生殖机能。本实验证明,酪氨酸对大鼠子宫、卵巢、睾丸和肝脏的 RNA 合成有显著抑制作用,同对照组比较,各组P<0.001;对DNA合成也有抑制性影响,各组P<0.05—0.01。而酪氨酸不影响~3H-UR或~3H-TdR 对心脏、脾脏和肾脏核酸的参入。提示酪氨酸对核酸代谢的影响有器官特异性。实验还比较了酪氨酸、孕酮和放线菌素D 对大鼠子宫和卵巢核酸合成的作用,结果表明,三者对DNA和RNA合成均有抑制效应。提示酪氨酸可能是影响大鼠某些性器官核酸生物合成的因子之一。     

Regulation and Coordination of Purine and Pyrimidine Biosyntheses in Yeast: I. Regulation of Purine Biosynthesis and Its Relation to Transient Changes in Intracellular Nucleotide Levels

The control of purine biosynthesis in a yeast mutant deficient for uracil, adenine, and histidine has been studied in vivo. The adenine mutation causes accumulation of aminoimidazole ribotide in the cells. The control curve relating steady-state purine nucleotide level in the cell to rate of synthesis in the de novo purine synthetic pathway has been determined. Control in the cell depends on a feedback mechanism involving end-product inhibition. The transient responses of the purine nucleotide pool to changes in adenine input have been studied. Under certain conditions the pool overshoots when shifting from one steady-state to another. Transient changes in nucleotide levels are followed by inverse changes in the rate of attempted de novo purine synthesis. A study of the transient responses of specific intracellular nucleotides suggests that inosinic acid controls the rate of attempted purine synthesis. The transient response of nucleic acid synthesis rate to changes in nucleotide levels was studied and the implications for regulation of nucleic acid synthesis discussed.     

Adaptive response in embryogenesis: V. Existence of two efficient dose-rate ranges for 0.3 Gy of priming irradiation to adapt mouse fetuses

The adaptive response is an important phenomenon in radiobiology. A study of the conditions essential for the induction of an adaptive response is of critical importance to understanding the novel biological defense mechanisms against the hazardous effects of radiation. In our previous studies, the specific dose and timing of radiation for induction of an adaptive response were studied in ICR mouse fetuses. We found that exposure of the fetuses on embryonic day 11 to a priming dose of 0.3 Gy significantly suppressed prenatal death and malformation induced by a challenging dose of radiation on embryonic day 12. Since a significant dose-rate effect has been observed in a variety of radiobiological phenomena, the effect of dose rate on the effectiveness of induction of an adaptive response by a priming dose of 0.3 Gy administered to fetuses on embryonic day 11 was investigated over the range from 0.06 to 5.0 Gy/min. The occurrence of apoptosis in limb buds, incidences of prenatal death and digital defects, and postnatal mortality induced by a challenging dose of 3.5 Gy given at 1.8 Gy/min to the fetuses on embryonic day 12 were the biological end points examined. Unexpectedly, effective induction of an adaptive response was observed within two dose-rate ranges for the same dose of priming radiation, from 0.18 to 0.98 Gy/ min and from 3.5 to 4.6 Gy/min, for reduction of the detrimental effect induced by a challenging dose of 3.5 Gy. In contrast, when the priming irradiation was delivered at a dose rate outside these two ranges, no protective effect was observed, and at some dose rates elevation of detrimental effects was observed. In general, neither a normal nor a reverse dose- rate effect was found in the dose-rate range tested. These results clearly indicated that the dose rate at which the priming irradiation was delivered played a crucial role in the induction of an adaptive response. This paper provides the first evidence for the existence of two dose-rate ranges for the same dose of priming radiation to successfully induce an adaptive response in mouse fetuses.     

60Co-γ辐照对越南油茶种子发芽及幼苗形态指标的影响

为了研究⁶⁰Co-γ辐照对越南油茶Camellia drupifera种子发芽和表观形态指标的影响,选取越南油茶璠龙3号‘Fanglong 3’和璠龙5号‘Fanglong 5’种子分别进行0、40 Gy、50 Gy、60 Gy、70 Gy ⁶⁰Co-γ辐照并测定种子发芽率和出苗率以及幼苗生长表观形态指标(苗高、地径、叶长、叶宽、叶面积)。结果表明,⁶⁰Co-γ辐照对越南油茶种子发芽率影响小,对其出苗率、苗高、地径以及叶片生长有明显抑制作用,尤其是高剂量(60 Gy、70 Gy)辐照对越南油茶种子损伤较大,严重影响其出苗及幼苗生长。高剂量辐照明显延迟越南油茶的出苗时间,抑制幼苗生长,导致苗木瘦弱、生长缓慢,植株呈现矮化现象。高剂量亦抑制越南油茶叶片生长,导致叶片瘦小,生长缓慢。璠龙3号种子⁶⁰Co-γ辐照半致死剂量为64 Gy,璠龙5号为57 Gy。     

Inhibitory effect of the flavonoid silymarin on the erythrocyte hemolysis induced by phenylhydrazine

The flavonoid silymarin, which is used as a therapeutical agent in the treatment of liver diseases, can inhibit the hemolysis and lipid peroxidation induced by phenylhydrazine on erythrocytes obtained from rats treated with the flavonoid. This effect is ascribed to the antioxidant properties as a free radical scavenger exhibited by the flavonoid. Silymarin failed to inhibit the glutathione depletion induced by phenylhydrazine on erythrocytes. It is proposed that the flavonoid acts at the membrane level of the cell avoiding the lipid peroxidative and fluidizing effect of phenylhydrazine.     

Nucleic acid metabolism in rat liver after single and prolonged exposure to tritium oxide

It was shown that after a single administration of tritium oxide in a dose of 22.2 MBq/g body mass the liver mass increased, the concentration of nucleic acids decreased and the biosynthesis rate increased during a one-month observation. By the end of the observation period (the first year) the parameters under study were normalized. The long-term administration of tritium oxide in daily doses of 0.37, 0.925 and 1.85 MBq/g body mass caused changes in the nucleic acid metabolism which were less manifest (at early times), than in the case of a single injection. At the same time, the long-term administration of tritium oxide in the dose of 0.925 MBq/g caused a substantial disturbance of the nucleic acid metabolism at later times (after 2-9 months).     

口服苯肼致小鼠慢性贫血模型的建立

目的:应用苯肼建立小鼠急性溶血性贫血的方法已经成熟,但用苯肼建立慢性溶血性贫血模型尚未见报道。本研究试图应用苯肼口服法建立慢性溶血性贫血动物模型并探索最适建模的苯肼浓度。方法:42只C57BL/6小鼠随机分为6组通过口服不同浓度的苯肼溶液,于口服后的第0,1,2,3,4,5,6周目内眦采集小鼠外周血检测,记录相关指标变化比较各组之间的差异,筛选出最佳慢性溶血效果的给药浓度。结果:口服苯肼溶液浓度在250 mg/L以下时C57BL/6小鼠没有出现明显的贫血状态,当浓度调至250mg/L-350mg/L时可使C57BL/6小鼠在5-7周内出现溶血性贫血症状,各组小鼠的皮肤和粘膜颜色苍白,外周血红细胞数量、血红蛋白含量、红细胞压积降低网织红细胞比例增高。但是当浓度达到350 mg/L时小鼠贫血情况过重且达不到慢性贫血的要求。当浓度为300 mg/L时小鼠各项血液指标平稳下降。结论:本实验建立了一种新的小鼠慢性贫血模型,且通过实验发现小鼠口服苯肼致慢性贫血的最佳浓度为300mg/L。据我们所知,这是首次使用苯肼建立慢性贫血的动物模型,此模型对研究人类慢性贫血具有重要价值。