S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine for the Treatment of Chronic Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

It has been well established that S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) is the principal methyl donor in methyltransferase reactions and that SAMe supplementation restores hepatic glutathione (GSH) deposits and attenuates liver injury. However, the effectiveness of SAMe therapy in chronic liver disease has not been adequately addressed. We searched globally recognized electronic databases, including PubMed, the Cochrane Database and EMBASE, to retrieve relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of chronic liver disease published in the past 20 years. We then performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the enrolled trials that met the inclusion criteria.The results showed that twelve RCTs from 11 studies, which examined 705 patients, were included in this research. For liver function, certain results obtained from data synthesis and independent comparisons demonstrated significant differences between the levels of total bilirubin (TBIL) and aspartate transaminase (AST). However, no studies identified significant differences regarding alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. An analysis of the adverse events and long-term prognosis also indicated no significant differences between the SAMe and the placebo groups. In a subgroup analysis of gravidas and children, several of the included data indicated that there was a significant difference in the pruritus score. Furthermore, the results regarding ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and stronger neo-minophagen C (SNMC) indicated that both treatments were more effective than SAMe was in certain chronic liver diseases. These findings suggest that SAMe could be used as the basis of a medication regimen for liver function improvement because of its safety. However, SAMe also demonstrated limited clinical value in the treatment of certain chronic liver diseases.     

Activities of conjugating and antioxidant enzymes following endotoxin exposure

Endotoxin exposure elicits various responses in mammals including the acute phase response that has been shown to cause changes in the activity of several forms of cytochrome P450s and other enzymes. Therefore, the hepatic conjugating enzyme, glutathione S‐transferase (GST), and UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT), the antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as lipid peroxidation were investigated following the administration of endotoxin to male Sprague–Dawley rats (8 mg/kg body weight). Rats were euthanized at various times following endotoxin administration and the livers removed and processed to assess various enzyme activities. Glutathione S‐transferase, UDPGT, and GSHPx activity showed statistically significant decreases after 24 hours and remained lower than controls for the duration of the study. Decreases in total SOD and catalase activities were seen at 24, 48, and 72 hours following endotoxin administration; however, only catalase activity showed statistically significant differences between control and treated samples at those time points, and total SOD activity showed a statistically significant decrease at 24 hours. No statistically significant changes were seen in the level of lipid peroxidation in the liver microsomes from endotoxin‐treated animals. Changes in the conjugative enzymes and the free‐radical scavenging enzymes following endotoxin exposure may alter the host's metabolism and response to free radicals. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Toxicol 13: 63–69, 1999     

Enzymatic glycosidase activities in experimental obesity.

Glycosidases are lysosomal enzymes that participate in the catabolism of glycoproteins and other glycoconjugates, and in some way may modify their activity in situations in which carbohydrate metabolism could be altered, such as the case of obesity. Using a fluorometric assay, a study was made of four glycosidase activities: N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase (NAG), alpha-mannosidase and alpha- and beta-glucosidase in the serum, pancreas, liver and kidney of 22 Zucker fa/fa genetically obese rats and of 23 fa/? controls, both with ages ranging between 13 and 15 weeks. After 12-14 hours fast and prior anaesthesia with sodium pentobarbital intraperitoneally, blood and the afore-mentioned organs were removed for enzymatic study of the serum and the organs after homogenization and centrifugation. In the serum a statistically significant increase in alpha-mannosidase (p < 0.0001) and alpha-glucosidase (p < 0.02) activities was found in the fa/fa obese rats as compared with the controls. No statistically significant differences were found in serum hexosaminidase activity between the two groups, and no serum beta-glucosidase enzymatic activity was detected. In liver, a decrease was observed in hexosaminidase (p < 0.002) and alpha-glucosidase (p < 0.01) activities in the obese rats as compared with the controls. In whole pancreas an increase was found in alpha-glucosidase activity in the obese rats with respect to the controls (p < 0.001), with no statistically significant differences in the hexosaminidase, alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Non-specific immunity-enhancing effects of tryptic casein hydrolysate versus Fermosorb for treatment/prophylaxis of newborn calf colibacillosis

The effects of treatment/prophylaxis of newborn calf colibacillosis with tryptic casein hydrolysate (TCH), recently shown to be a novel type of antimicrobial acting through stimulation of the microbial autolytic system, versus an authorized veterinary drug, Fermosorb, were evaluated. Both products showed similar high therapeutic and prophylactic efficacies, but hematological indices and daily weight gain of cured/protected animals were better with TCH. The differences in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, total protein, gamma-globulin and sulfhydryl group quantities, bactericidal and lysozyme activities as well as daily weight gain at the end of treatment/prophylaxis were statistically significant (P<0.05-0.000005). Statistically significant differences (P<0.05-0.0005) in favor of TCH were also observed when bactericidal activity, total protein quantity of serum as well as daily weight gain of the animals were compared on the 90th day after birth. We conclude that TCH acts not only as an antimicrobial, but also as an immunostimulant (and growth promoter). The immunostimulatory activity of TCH most probably derives from a synergistic action of bioactive peptides encrypted in the preparation itself and the cell wall fragments resulting from microbial autolysis induction.     

Ganglioside composition of liver and kidney from rat after pentazocine treatment

1. Female non-pregnant rats were intramuscularly injected with pentazocine for 3 months. Liver showed a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) increase in its ganglioside content after the pentazocine treatment; in addition, no changes were found in the kidney ganglioside content. 2. We have also found changes in the ganglioside pattern of these rats after the pentazocine injection. The GM1 and GD1b liver content was decreased (P less than 0.05) in parallel with an increase (P less than 0.05) in GD3 and GT1b content; kidney showed a decrease (P less than 0.05) in GM1, GD1a and GD1b content and an increase (P less than 0.05) in GM4, GD2, GT1b and GQ content. 3. Female pregnant rats were also injected with pentazocine from the first to the nineteenth day of the gestation period. The total ganglioside content of liver and kidneys from mothers and their newborns did not show statistically significant differences after the treatment. 4. Mothers showed a decrease (P less than 0.05) in the GM1 content of liver and an increase (P less than 0.05) in the GT1b content of liver and GM1, GD3 and GD1a content of kidney. Only the GM3 content from kidney was increased (P less than 0.001). 5. Newborns showed minor changes in their ganglioside pattern. GT1b content from liver and GD2 and GQ content from kidneys were decreased (P less than 0.05).     

不同颜色果袋对‘云红梨2号’果皮色泽形成的影响

研究了不同颜色果袋对‘云红梨2号’果实着色的影响,比较了不同套袋处理下果皮外观着色、叶绿素、类黄酮、总酚、花色素苷含量以及花色素苷合成相关酶活性的差异.结果表明: 发育期的黑暗处理有利于解袋后梨果皮着色;不同套袋处理中,采前解袋自然光照射下梨果皮中花色素苷含量最高,着色最好,白色纸袋次之.不同套袋处理显著影响果皮中叶绿素、类黄酮、总酚和花色素苷含量,从而影响梨果皮的外观色泽.不同套袋处理的花色素苷合成酶活性差异显著;相关性分析表明,果皮中花色素苷含量与二氢黄酮醇-4-还原酶(DFR)和类黄酮3-O-葡萄糖基转移酶(UFGT)活性呈显著正相关,而与苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性相关性不显著.     

Effect of ivermectin on activities of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in mouflon (Ovis musimon) and fallow deer (Dama dama)

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug widely used in veterinary and human medicine. We have found earlier that repeated treatments of rats with high doses of this drug led to significant increase of cytochrome P450-dependent 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities in hepatic microsomes. In the present study, the effects of ivermectin on cytochrome P450 (CYP) activities were investigated in mouflon (Ovis musimon) and fallow deer (Dama dama). This study was conducted also to point out general lack of information on both basal levels of CYP enzymes and their inducibilities by veterinary drugs in wild ruminants. Liver microsomes were prepared from control animals, mouflons, after single or repeated (six doses in six consecutive days) treatments with therapeutic doses of ivermectin (0.5 mg kg(-1) of body weight), and fallow deer exposed to repeated doses of ivermectin under the same conditions. Alkyloxyresorufins, testosterone and chlorzoxazone were used as the specific substrate probes of activities of the CYP isoenzymes. A single therapeutic dose of ivermectin significantly induced (300-400% of the control group) the activities of all alkyloxyresorufin dealkylases tested in mouflon liver microsomes. Repeated doses of ivermectin also caused an increase of these activities, but due to fair inter-individual differences, this increase was not significant. The administration of ivermectin led to an induction (170-210% of the control) of the testosterone 6beta- and 16alpha-hydroxylase activities in mouflon liver but no significant modulation of chlorzoxazone hydroxylase (CZXOH) activity was found in mouflon liver. CYP-dependent activities in hepatic microsomes were generally higher in fallow deer than in mouflons. However, with the exception of slight increase in the 7-benzyloxyresorufin O-dealkylase (BROD) activities, no significant modulation of the other activities was observed. The induction of CYP3A-like isoenzyme was confirmed by immunoblotting only in the microsomes from mouflons administered with repeated doses of ivermectin; however, no significant increase of CYP1A isoenzymes was observed due to a weak cross-reactivity of anti-rat CYP1A1/2 polyclonal antibodies used in the study. The results indicate that ivermectin should be considered as an inducer of several cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, including CYP1A, 2B and 3A subfamilies, in mouflons. The comparison of induction effect of ivermectin in rat, mouflon and fallow deer also demonstrates the inter-species differences in inducibility of CYP enzymes.     

Toxic levels of selenium in enzymes and selenium uptake in tissues of a marine fish

Acute toxicity of selenium as selenite inZosterisessor ophiocephalus by ip injection was studied. The 50% lethal dose and 50% lethal time were measured to be 0.29 ppm and 96 h, respectively. Se concentrations in liver, gill, skin and muscle, and Cyt. P450 level, Se-GPx, and Total GPx enzyme activities in liver were also assessed at different doses and times after injection. Starting at 0.3 ppm injected dose, enzyme activities and Se concentration in tissues but not in muscle, showed significant differences from the control group. A threshold behavior was inferred. Normal conditions of enzyme activities and Se concentration in tissues were restored about 1 wk after injection. Biological elimination half-lives were about 2 d for liver and gill, and 5 d for skin.     

Primary structures of adult hemoglobins of silvery marmoset, Callithrix argentatus, and cotton-headed tamarin, Saguinus oedipus

In fetal mouse liver fragments maintained in organ culture, the activities of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase and glucose 6-phosphatase are elevated in the presence of dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (Bt2-cAMP). Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine at 2.5 mM increased the two enzyme activities. The enzyme activities returned to the normal levels following removal of Bt2-cAMP from the culture medium. Glucagon at concentrations from 10(-11) M to 10(-6) M induced both enzyme activities. The developmental increases in the two gluconeogenic enzymes are supported by cyclic AMP elevated by glucagon. Only at unphysiologically high concentrations did prostaglandin-E1 show weak stimulatory effects. alpha-Adreno-agonists did not stimulate the enzyme activities. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide reduced the enzyme activities stimulated by Bt2-cAMP. Both inhibitors and removal of Bt2-cAMP prevented the incorporation of [3H]leucine into the bisphosphatase. The kinetic properties, subunit-size, and antigenic nature of the bisphosphate showed that the type of enzyme induced by Bt2-cAMP in vitro is identical to the adult liver type. The results are interpreted as indicating that cyclic AMP acts at certain sites in the syntheses of these two gluconeogenic enzymes in the fetal mouse liver.     

Time course for cryoprotectant synthesis in the freeze-tolerant chorus frog, Pseudacris triseriata

Increases in liver glycogen phosphorylase activity, along with inhibition of glycogen synthetase and phosphofructokinase-1, are associated with elevated cryoprotectant (glucose) levels during freezing in some freeze-tolerant anurans. In contrast, freeze-tolerant chorus frogs, Pseudacris triseriata, accumulate glucose during freezing but exhibit no increase in phosphorylase activity following 24-h freezing bouts. In the present study, chorus frogs were frozen for 5- and 30-min and 2- and 24-h durations. After freezing, glucose, glycogen, and glycogen phosphorylase and synthetase activities were measured in leg muscle and liver to determine if enzyme activities varied over shorter freezing durations, along with glucose accumulation. Liver and muscle glucose levels rose significantly (5-12-fold) during freezing. Glycogen showed no significant temporal variation in liver, but in muscle, glycogen was significantly elevated after 24 h of freezing relative to 5 and 30 min-frozen treatments. Hepatic phosphorylase a and total phosphorylase activities, as well as the percent of the enzyme in the active form, showed no significant temporal variation following freezing. Muscle phosphorylase a activity and percent active form increased significantly after 24 h of freezing, suggesting some enhancement of enzyme function following freezing in muscle. However, the significance of this enhanced activity is uncertain because of the concurrent increase in muscle glycogen with freezing. Neither glucose 6-phosphate independent (I) nor total glycogen synthetase activities were reduced in liver or muscle during freezing. Thus, chorus frogs displayed typical cryoprotectant accumulation compared with other freeze-tolerant anurans, but freezing did not significantly alter activities of hepatic enzymes associated with glycogen metabolism.     

Phospholipid,ester-linked fatty acid profiles as reproducible assays for changes in prokaryotic community structure of estuarine sediments

Phospholipid, ester-linked fatty acid profiles showed changes in benthic prokaryotic community structure reflecting culture manipulations that were both quantitative and statistically significant. Fatty acid structures, including the position and cis/ trans geometry of double bonds, were chemically verified by GC/MS after appropriate derivatization. The fatty acid profiles of independent flasks showed reproducible shifts when manipulated identically and significant differences when manipulated with different treatments. The absence of polyunsaturated fatty acids indicated that the consortia were predominantly prokaryotic. The prokaryotic consortia of different treatments could be differentiated by the proportions of cyclopropyl fatty acids and the proportions and geometry of monounsaturated fatty acids.     

Use of palm-oil by-products in chicken and rabbit feeds: effect on the fatty acid and tocol composition of meat, liver and plasma

This study was undertaken in the framework of a larger European project dealing with the characterization of fat co- and by-products from the food chain, available for feed uses. In this study, we compare the effects, on the fatty acid (FA) and tocol composition of chicken and rabbit tissues, of the addition to feeds of a palm fatty acid distillate, very low in trans fatty acids (TFA), and two levels of the corresponding hydrogenated by-product, containing intermediate and high levels of TFA. Thus, the experimental design included three treatments, formulated for each species, containing the three levels of TFA defined above. Obviously, due to the use of hydrogenated fats, the levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) show clear differences between the three dietary treatments. The results show that diets high in TFA (76 g/kg fat) compared with those low in TFA (4.4 g/kg fat) led to a lower content of tocopherols and tocotrienols in tissues, although these differences were not always statistically significant, and show a different pattern for rabbit and chicken. The TFA content in meat, liver and plasma increased from low-to-high TFA feeds in both chicken and rabbit. However, the transfer ratios from feed were not proportional to the TFA levels in feeds, reflecting certain differences according to the animal species. Moreover, feeds containing fats higher in TFA induced significant changes in tissue SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids composition, but different patterns can be described for chicken and rabbit and for each type of tissue.     

A comparative study of superoxide dismutase in various animal species

1. Superoxide dismutase activity has been determined in liver homogenates of five species. There were no significant differences in the activities of the enzyme in the rat, rainbow lizard, wall gecko and chicken. The activity was significantly lower in the fish. 2. The order of activity of the enzyme in the organs/tissues of the rat was liver greater than kidney greater than heart greater than skeletal muscle greater than brain greater than lung greater than spleen greater than spinal cord greater than retina greater than pancrease greater than lens greater than small intestine. 3. Inhibition studies with cyanide showed that the enzyme in the liver of the various animal species was inhibited by cyanide. 4. The developmental pattern for the enzyme showed no significant changes in the liver of the rat from birth and up to 7 weeks after. However, the activity increased at about 8 weeks and remained constant to adult life.     

Induction of drug metabolism-related enzymes by methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital in transgenic mice carrying human prototype c-Ha-ras gene and their wild type littermates.

Transgenic mice hemizygously carrying human c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene, Tg-rasH2 show very sensitive and facilitated carcinogenicity to various carcinogens. In this study, activities of certain enzymes related to drug metabolism and energy metabolism were measured in microsome and cytosol fractions of livers of Tg-rasH2 mice and their wild type littermates with both sexes treated with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) and phenobarbital (PB). Aminopyrine N-demethylase activities increased significantly in livers of all mice treated with PB. MC and PB treatments induced significant increases in activities of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and S-adenosyl homocysteinase compared to those in the non-treated groups in microsome fractions from all mice. In cytosol fractions of livers of all mice, glutathione S-transferase activity was significantly induced in the PB treated groups. There were no significant differences in activities of lactate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase and glucose 6-phosphatase related to energy metabolism in livers and kidneys among all mice. Tg-rasH2 mice showed stable activities of enzymes related to drug detoxication and energy metabolism similar to those of non-transgenic mice. These results suggest that the human c-Ha-ras transgene may not affect drug metabolism-related enzymes, and the facilitated carcinogenic response in the Tg-rasH2 mouse is not due to these enzymatic disorders.     

Increase of sialyltransferase activity in the small intestine following thermal injury in rats

The acute phase protein response following inflammation is associated with an increased total protein-bound carbohydrate content in plasma in the form of glycoproteins. Glycosyltransferases in liver may serve as a regulator of this increased glycosylation activity in the plasma and may also serve as a marker for the acute phase response. Sialyltransferase is an example of a glycosyltransferases in which sialic acid is transferred to oligosaccharides of glycopeptides in the Golgi prior to glycopeptide secretion. In this study, sialyltransferase activities were determined in plasma, liver, and intestinal mucosa following a standardized 25% body surface area thermal injury in the rat. A statistically significant increase in sialyltransferase activity was found in liver and small intestine which were maximal at 24 hours after the injury. These increased sialyltransferase activities were accompanied by a statistically significant 2 to 4 fold elevation in plasma sialyltransferase activity at 24 hours. The plasma and liver elevations in these activities were similar to elevations seen in other models of acute inflammation using turpentine injections and bacterial infections. The increased sialyltransferase activity within the rat intestine was comparable to increases in intestinal sialyltransferase activity following colchicine treatment and may represent a similar mechanism(s).     

超声造影对肝硬化和肝纤维化的应用价值

目的：评估超声造影对于肝硬化和肝纤维化的I临床应用价值。方法：选取2011年5月至2013年5月在我院接受诊治的慢性病毒性肝炎患者32例,其中肝纤维化24例,肝硬化12例,均经过超声造影下的肝功能检测和肝穿刺病理证实。另选取10例到我院经检查身体健康的志愿者作为对照组,无任何肝脏病史。采用实时灰阶造影,经肘静脉注射造影SonoVue,记录测定造影剂进入肝静脉到达时间（HVAT）、肝动脉到达时间（HAAT）及肝动静脉渡越时间（HAVTT）。结果：肝纤维化组超声造影剂到达肝静脉的时间较对照组明显延长,肝硬化组较对照组和肝纤维化组的超声造影剂到达肝静脉的时间要明显缩短,差异符合统计学意义（P〈0．05）;造影剂到达肝动脉的时间组间比较无统计学差异;肝硬化组肝动静脉渡越时间（HAVTT）较对照组时间明显缩短,组间比较具有统计学差异（P〈0．05）;HAVTT随着肝纤维化程度的升高而缩短,中、重度肝纤维化患者的时间缩短较明显,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：超声造影在肝硬化和肝纤维化诊断上具有一定的临床诊断价值,尤其是对于诊断肝纤维化程度具有重要的参考价值,可以更好地指导临床治疗,但是对于轻度的肝纤维化的诊断的准确性上有些缺陷。     

成人脂肪肝与体重指数和血脂水平的关系研究

目的:研究成人脂肪肝与体重指数(BMI)和血脂水平的关系。方法:选取2012年1月到2014年11月我社区成年人800例,检测所有入选者的体重和身高,并计算BMI,检测入选者的血脂水平和脂肪肝情况,应用Logistic回归分析来分析脂肪肝与BMI和血脂之间的关系。结果:共检测出脂肪肝376例,占47.0%,肥胖者532例,占66.5%;肥胖者伴随脂肪肝的发生率64.7%,显著高于非肥胖者脂肪肝的发生率11.9%,两者比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);脂肪肝者总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)显著高于非脂肪肝者,而高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)显著低于非脂肪肝者,两者比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);Logistic回归分析显示:脂肪肝与BMI和血脂之间存在相关关系(P0.05)。结论:BMI和血脂水平与成人脂肪肝存在较大关系,应该注意控制体重,进而降低脂肪肝的发生率,改善脂肪肝的情况。     

剪叶及昆虫取食对兴安落叶松蛋白酶抑制剂的影响

植物蛋白酶抑制剂是植物重要的防御物质之一。为了研究不同程度剪叶及昆虫取食诱导与兴安落叶松Larix gmelinii针叶内蛋白酶抑制剂活性变化的关系,分别以剪叶及落叶松毛虫Dendrolimus superans取食处理兴安落叶松幼苗,用紫外分光光度法测定不同处理后针叶内胰蛋白酶抑制剂(TI)和胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂(CI)活性变化。结果表明：落叶松毛虫取食及剪叶可诱导兴安落叶松产生系统性防御反应,处理后的1～20天,苗木针叶内TI和CI两种抑制剂活性产生显著变化,诱导产生的TI和CI的活性与损伤程度无显著相关性。相同损伤程度下,虫害诱导的TI活性高于剪叶损伤诱导的活性,但二者差异不显著;3种取食程度诱导的CI活性,只在第5天同时显著高于剪叶损伤诱导的抑制剂的活性。由此可见,可以通过适当的损伤处理取得与昆虫取食相似的植物抗性反应,这为林木病虫防治提供了新的思路。     

Calcium translocation by fatty acid derivatives in a two-phase partition model. Structure-activity relationships

The relationship between structures of fatty acid derivatives, long-chain fatty alcohols, phospholipids and their calcium-transporting activity was investigated using the two-phase model system in which ⁴⁵Ca is transported from an aqueous to an immiscible organic phase. Calcium translocation by all saturated and unsaturated fatty acids was significant only at 10 mM concentrations, but minimal or negligible below 1 mM; the corresponding methyl esters and alcohols were inactive at 10 mM. Polyunsaturated fatty acid derivatives, prepared by incubation with lipoxygenase (linoleate: oxygen oxidoreductase; EC 1.13.11.12) or by autoxidation in air, showed a markedly increased potency over the parent compounds. The oxidation products of linoleic and arachidonic acids were most potent. For example, the equieffective concentrations were 10 mM for linoleic acid, 0.4 mM for its lipoxygenase metabolites and 0.094 mM for its autoxidation products. Similarly, for arachidonic acid and its derivatives, equieffective concentrations were 10, 0.104 and 0.112 mM, respectively. The potency of the autoxidized fatty acid derivatives varied with both duration of autoxidation and the specific structure. Methyloleate and oleyl alcohol remained inactive even after a prolonged oxidation, whereas methyllinoleate and linoleyl alcohol were very potent only after 4 weeks but not after 1 week autoxidation. The potency of esters and alcohols with three or more double bonds increased significantly even after a short-term autoxidation, reflecting the differences in both the rate of formation and the contribution to calcium-transporting properties of the primary and secondary oxidation products. All phospholipids tested, with the exception of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine, showed considerable calcium-transporting activities at 0.01 mM or greater concentrations; some members were of similar or greater potencies than the classical calcium ionophores, X537A and A23187.     

Catalase enzymatic activity and electrophoretic patterns in adult amphibians--a comparative study

Catalase electrophoretic patterns and enzymatic activities were measured in four organs of two anuran species, Rana ridibunda perezii and Discoglossus pictus. The D. pictus enzyme appeared as two distinguishable bands, whereas R. ridibunda catalase was monomorphic. Electrophoretic mobility of the major D. pictus catalase band was greater than that of R. ridibunda. Enzymes from both species showed slower mobility than that from bovine liver. Catalase activities did not show significant differences according to sex in any of the organs tested in R. ridibunda. Enzyme activities were similar in liver, kidney and brain when both species were compared. Only the heart showed much higher activity in D. pictus than in R. ridibunda. The catalase activity levels followed the order: liver greater than kidney greater than heart in both species. The heart showed higher activity than the brain in D. pictus but not in R. ridibunda.