Energy status of isolated hepatocytes after long-term cold storage in various types of media

Using of isolated hepatocytes for investigation of the effects of hypothermia, it has been demonstrated that sucrose-base solution provides of maintenance of the energetic parameters (level of ATP, glucose synthesis, rate of gluconeogenesis) within 48 hrs of storage at 4 degrees C. It efficiency was compared with effect on the energetic status of isolated hepatocytes widely used preservation solution--solution of University Wisconsin (UW). After long-term of cold storage of isolated hepatocytes (72 hrs) at 4 degrees C in both solutions, it has been shown sharp decrease of ATP level (on two time). Viability of the liver cells (in both cases) was practically without change.     

Cardiac hypothermia: 31P and 1H NMR spectroscopic studies of the effect of buffer on preservation of human heart atrial appendages.

31P and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used to follow noninvasively the time course of energetic metabolite levels in human heart atrial appendages preserved under various temperatures and buffer conditions. From sample harvest up to the normal 5-h time limit for heart preservation, ATP levels in human atrial appendages are much better maintained in 0.9% saline and PIPES-buffered preservation solutions at 12 degrees C than at 4 degrees C. Furthermore, preservation at 12 degrees C can be improved considerably by using high extracellular buffer concentrations. The increased buffer concentration allows better maintenance of the intracellular pH and leads to a faster glycolytic rate as measured by lactate production. At 4 degrees C, ATP levels decline rapidly during the first 5 h but reached a stable plateau, which is well maintained over 15-20 h. At this temperature, the rate of lactate production is similar at all buffer concentrations (20, 60, and 100 mM PIPES). As a consequence of these observations, we postulate that the mechanisms of ATP production and utilization at 4 degrees C and at 12 degrees C are different. At 4 degrees C, the rate of glycolysis is temperature limited whereas at 12 degrees C, low intracellular pH inhibits glycolysis.     

The action of extracellular calcium and the temperature of the isolation of lymphocytes on their viability

The effect of extracellular calcium binding and temperature of isolation and storage of thymus lymphocytes on their viability was studied. The last was evaluated by the fluorescence intensity of fluoresceindiacetate stained cells and by the intracellular ATP content. The rise of temperature of isolation and storage of lymphocytes from 1 degree to 22 degrees C significantly lowered the intracellular ATP concentration in cells storing in dense suspension [(3-4) x 10(9) lymphocytes/ml]. However, the ATP content in lymphocytes increased as a result of short-term incubation by diluted suspension (3 x 10(7) lymphocytes/ml) at 22 degrees C. The fluorescence of fluorescein introduced into lymphocytes decrease in the presence of 1-5 mM EGTA (EDTA).     

The effect of inosine, inorganic phosphates and pyruvate on erythrocyte glycolysis metabolites under conditions of preservation]

Human erythrocytes were stored as resuspensions in solutions containing citrate (Z), inosine + citrate (I), inosine + phosphate (IP), and inosine + phosphate + pyruvate (IPP). The storage was made at + 4 degrees C for 6 weeks; the initial pH-value amounted to 7.4 at + 4 degrees C. The cellular concentrations of 2.3 DPG, ATP, G6P, FDP and DOAP + GAP were determined. The following results were obtained: 1. During the storage in stored Z-blood the 2.3 DPG concentration will fall below 10% of its initial value; it will remain nearly unchanged in stored I-blood and will increase to 170% in stored IP-blood, to 270% of its initial value in stored IPP-blood. 2. The ATP concentration of cells will fall to about 50% of its initial value at the beginning of the storage of all stored blood. After that it will only increase to about 80% of its initial value in stored IP- and IPP-blood. 3. During the storage the G6P concentration will increase to the highest degree in stored IPP-blood and if high pyruvate concentrations are not present, it will have a reciprocal behaviour towards the FDP and triosephosphate level. The results were discussed in view of the regulation of glycolysis under storage conditions.     

An AMP nucleosidase gene knockout in Escherichia coli elevates intracellular ATP levels and increases cold tolerance

Disparate psychrophiles (e.g. glacier ice worms, bacteria, algae and fungi) elevate steady-state intracellular ATP levels as temperatures decline, which has been interpreted as a compensatory mechanism to offset reductions in molecular motion and Gibb's free energy of ATP hydrolysis. In this study, we sought to manipulate steady-state ATP levels in the mesophilic bacterium, Escherichia coli, to investigate the relationship between cold temperature survivability and elevated intracellular ATP. Based on known energetic pathways and feedback loops, we targeted the AMP nucleotidase (amn) gene, which is thought to encode the primary AMP degradative enzyme in prokaryotes. By knocking out amn in wild-type E. coli DY330 cells using recombineering methodology, we generated a mutant (AMNk) that elevated intracellular ATP levels by more than 30% across its viable temperature range. As temperature was lowered, the relative ATP disparity between AMNk and DY330 cells increased to approximately 66% at 10 degrees C, and was approximately 100% after storage at 0 degrees C for 5-7 days. AMNk cells stored at 0 degrees C for 7 days displayed approximately fivefold higher cell viability than wild-type DY330 cells treated in the same manner.     

Cold culture of different stage mouse embryos in bicarbonated and bicarbonate-free media

Mouse embryos of different stages of development were cultured to expanded blastocysts following storage (1 to 8 d) at 4 degrees C in the presence or absence of HCO(3)(-). The effect of oxygen tension on the cold storage of one- and two-cell mouse embryos at 4 degrees C was evaluated by 37 degrees C culture and transfer to pseudopregnant recipients. Survival at 4 degrees C of early, one- to four-cell mouse embryos was improved with HCO(3)(-) in the medium. The presence of HCO(3)(-) was not of benefit for morulae or blastocyst survival following cold storage. Reducing the oxygen atmosphere from 20 to 5% O(2) improved survival of one-cell mouse embryos stored at 4 degrees C. The survival of two- and four-cell embryos, morulae and blastocysts at 4 degrees C was similar in 90% N(2), 5% CO(2) and 5% CO(2) in air, but it was significantly poorer in air alone. The collapse of morulae and blastocysts during cold storage up to 5 d was reduced with HCO(3)(-) in the storage medium. Blastocysts stored for 6 d at 4 degrees C failed to survive following immediate transfer to pseudopregnant recipients. Blastocyst survival was improved compared to controls (direct transfer of unstored blastocysts to recipients) when cultured for 36 h at 37 degrees C following 6 d of cold storage. This result suggests that cold-stored mouse blastocysts may require a metabolic period of readjustment to survive following transfer to synchronized recipients.     

Effect of dihydroxyacetone on metabolic parameters and survival of resuspended erythrocytes after storage at 25 degrees and 4 degrees]

Erythrocyte concentrates from CPD blood were resuspended after separating the leukocyte-thrombocyte layer and stored at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C. The solutions for resuspension differed in the content of substrate, pH, condition of sterilization and the resuspension volume used, 1 or 4 volumes of cell concentrate to 1 volume of resuspension solution. At 4 degrees C, there was no effect of DHA on the the 2.3 bisphosphoglycerate content (P2G content). The decreased activity of triokinase at low temperature, phosphate deficiency and a partial disintegration of DHA during the autoclave as well as the difference of the commercial DHA preparations are discussed as underlying causes. At 25 degrees C DHA delayed the P2G decrease during storage. The enhanced triokinase activity above 15 degrees C is principally considered to be the cause for it. High rates of haemolysis, rapid ATP decrease, survival rates of 56% after a storage of three weeks for erythrocyte resuspensions with DHA in used compositions render a clinical application impossible at present. It could be well suitable as a substrate for resynthesizing P2G. An addition of ascorbate + nicotinamid + adenin at a storage temperature of 4 degrees C had no influence on the P2G content. A resuspension solution on the basis of xylitol with additions of sorbitol, bicarbonate, inorganic phosphate, pyruvate, adenine and guanosine showed the best properties in the content of P2G and ATP, lactate formation and survival rate during a storage at 4 degrees C.     

Cold storage of mouse embryos of different stages of development

Experiments were designed to evaluate the survival rates of preimplantation mouse embryos of different stages of development in cold culture at 4 degrees C. Several developmental stages, from one-cell to the blastocyst, were stored at 4 degrees C from 1 to 8 d. Viability following cold culture was determined by blastocyst expansion during culture in Whitten's medium at 37 degrees C. Blastocyst formation of nonstored controls ranged from 93 to 100% for all developmental stages tested. Only 3% of one-cell embryos survived 1 d and none survived 2 days at 4 degrees C. Survival improved using two-cell embryos, with 84, 69 and 15% forming expanded blastocysts following storage for 1, 2 and 3 d, respectively. Eighty five and 38% of eight-cell embryos formed expanded blastocysts following cold storage for 3 and 4 d, respectively. Survival rates for cold stored morulae and blastocysts remained above 75% for 6 d but decreased significantly to 30 and 36%, respectively, when stored for 8 d. A large percentage of blastocysts were observed to collapse when placed in cold storage from 1 to 8 d but almost all expanded when placed in culture at 37 degrees C. This study showed that one-cell embryos were particularly sensitive to cold storage compared to later-stage mouse embryos. Cold storage survival increased with increasing age of the embryo; morula and blastocyst survival rate was similar.     

Mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivative SkQ<Subscript>1</Subscript> decreases ischemia-reperfusion injury during liver hypothermic storage for transplantation

The ability of the mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivative 10-(6′-plastoquinonyl)decyl triphenylphosphonium (SkQ₁) to decrease ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolated liver during hypothermic storage (HS) was studied. Rat liver was stored for 24 h at 4°C without or in the presence of 1 μM SkQ₁ with following reperfusion for 60 min at 37°C. The presence in the storage medium of SkQ₁ significantly decreased spontaneous production of reactive oxygen species and intensity of lipid peroxidation in the liver during HS and reperfusion. The GSH level after HS in solution with SkQ₁ was reliably higher, but reperfusion leveled this effect. At all stages of experiment the presence of SkQ₁ did not prevent the decrease of antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase, GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The addition of SkQ₁ to the storage medium improved energetic function of the liver, as was revealed in increased respiratory control index of mitochondria and ATP level. SkQ₁ exhibited positive effect on the liver secretory function and morphology after HS as revealed in enhanced bile flow rate during reperfusion and partial recovery of organ architectonics and state of liver sinusoids and hepatocytes. The data point to promising application of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants for correction of the ischemia-reperfusion injury of isolated liver during long-term cold storage before transplantation.     

The phosphate pool of isolated dog heart during global ischaemia: comparison of two cardioplegic solutions with 31P NMR spectroscopy.

31P NMR spectroscopy was used to study the time course of changes in the concentration of high-energy metabolites and intracellular pH in the dog myocardium during hypothermic ischaemia at 9 degrees C in Bretschneider (HTK-B) and St. Thomas' Hospital (StTH) cardioplegic solutions. It was found that ATP and phosphocreatine degrade slowlier in HTK-B than in StTH, with phosphocreatine depletion occurring within 7.9 +/- 1.4 h in HTK-B and within 6.2 +/- 1.4 h in StTH. The values are virtually identical with the time intervals at which ATP concentration falls below the critical level (60% of initial ATP concentration). In agreement with biochemical analysis, a higher concentration of phosphomonoesters was noted until the 180th minute of ischaemia in HTK-B, a finding suggesting more rapid glycogen degradation in HTK-B. Even though HTK-B contains a high concentration of histidine buffer, higher values of intracellular pH were found during ischaemia in StTH. The effect of extracellular concentration of sodium ions on intracellular pH is discussed.     

Metabolic pathway of magnetized fluid-induced relaxation effects on heart muscle

The effect of magnetized physiological solution (MPS) on isolated, perfused snail heart muscle contractility, (45)Ca uptake and intracellular level of cAMP, and cGMP was studied. The existence of the relaxing effect of MPS on heart muscle at room temperature (22 degrees C) and its absence in cold medium (4 degrees C) was shown. The MPS had a depressing effect on (45)Ca uptake by muscles and intracellular cAMP content and an elevating effect on intracellular cGMP level. It is suggested that the relaxing effect of MPS on heart muscle is due to the decrease of intracellular Ca ions as the result of activation of cGMP-dependent Ca efflux. The MPS induced decrease of intracellular cAMP content can be considered as a consequence of intracellular Ca loss, leading to the Na + K-ATPase reactivation, and causing the decrease of the intracellular level of ATP, serving as a substrate and positive modulator of cyclase activity.     

31P-NMR studies of the freeze-tolerant larvae of the gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis

31P NMR was applied to an examination of the freeze-tolerant larvae of the gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis. Resonances from sugar phosphates, inorganic phosphate, adenylates and arginine phosphate were identified. Two peaks of Pi were identified corresponding to intracellular and extracellular Pi. Anoxia produced an expected decrease in peak intensities of ATP and arginine phosphate while the peak of intracellular Pi was enhanced and shifted to indicate intracellular acidification during anoxia. Spectra of whole larvae were monitored over a temperature range from -30 degrees to +25 degrees C. No abrupt alterations in the spectra were seen at the point of extracellular freezing which occurs at about -8 degrees C but temperature had dramatic effects upon the peak intensities of ATP and arginine phosphate. A reversible increase/decrease in peak intensities, relative to Pi, was observed as temperature was raised/lowered. At 15 degrees and -20 degrees C, the beta peak of ATP was 64% and 2% of the peak intensity of Pi while that of arginine phosphate was 78% and 11%, respectively. This temperature effect was not an artifact of instrumentation (as model solutions containing Pi, ATP and arginine phosphate did not show this effect) or a result of changes in the total amounts of these compounds in the cell with temperature. Rather it is apparent that these molecules become restricted in their rotational movement as temperature is lowered perhaps via binding to subcellular components. Changes in the amounts of freely soluble ATP and arginine phosphate with temperature could have important implications for metabolism and its control. Analysis of the effect of temperature on the chemical shift of Pi was also used to determine pH in the intracellular and extracellular compartments. Temperature change had no effect on extracellular (hemolymph) pH which remained constant at 6.1-6.3. Intracellular pH varied with temperature, however, from pH 6.8 at 15 degrees C to pH 7.3 at -12 degrees C with a change, delta pH/delta 0, of -0.0185 degrees C consistent with alphastat regulation.     

Subcellular distribution and movement of 5''-nucleotidase in rat cells.

1. Cell-surface 5'-nucleotidase was assayed by incubating whole-cell suspensions with 5'[3H]-AMP in iso-osmotic buffer and measuring [3H]adenosine production. The activity of cell-surface 5'-nucleotidase in hepatocytes, adipocytes and lymphocytes isolated from the rat was 15.0, 0.5 and 0.8pmol/min per cell at 37 degrees C respectively. 2. Disruption of the cells by vigorous mechanical homogenization or detergent treatment exposed additional 5'-nucleotidase activity, which represented 52%, 25% and 21% of the total activity in the three cell types respectively. This increase in 5'-nucleotidase activity which occurred when the cells were homogenized was due to a second pool of 5'-nucleotidase within the cell, rather than activation of the cell-surface enzyme. 3. In hepatocytes the intracellular 5'-nucleotidase activity was membrane-bound, indistinguishable from cell-surface 5'-nucleotidase in its inhibition by rabbit anti-(rat liver 5'-nucleotidase) serum and its kinetics with AMP, and was located on the extracytoplasmic face of vesicles within the cell. 4. The cell-surface 5'-nucleotidase of rat hepatocytes was rapidly inhibited when rabbit anti-(rat liver 5'-nucleotidase) serum or concanavalin A was added to the medium at 37 degrees C. Incubation with antiserum for 5 min at 37 degrees C inhibited 83 +/- 3% of the cell-surface enzyme. 5. Incubation of hepatocytes with exogenous antiserum or concanavalin A for 30 min at 37 degrees C resulted in over 50% inhibition of the intracellular enzyme. This inhibition was not prevented by disruption of the cytoskeleton or by ATP depletion. 6. Incubation of hepatocytes with exogenous antiserum or concanavalin A for up to 2h at 0 degrees C caused little or no inhibition of the intracellular enzyme, but over 75% inhibition of the cell-surface enzyme. 7. When surface-inhibited hepatocytes were washed and resuspended in buffer at 37 degrees C, 5'-nucleotidase was observed to redistribute from the intracellular pool to the cell surface.     

Importance of storage conditions for the stability of zinc- and cadmium-induced metallothionein

We examined the storage stability of metallothionein (MT), a cysteine-rich protein that has diagnostic potential as a cancer marker and in the assessment of Zn status and heavy-metal toxicity. MT was rapidly degraded in samples of rat whole liver at -20 degrees C or -70 degrees C. MT in supernatants from heat-treated rat liver homogenates stored as 1:5 dilutions of liver from Zn- or Cd-induced rats were stable (recovery >98%) for 100 d at temperatures of -70 degrees C and -196 degrees C but not at -20 degrees C, regardless of the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT) or argon. The variability of MT measurement by the 109Cd-hemoglobin affinity assay was however greatest in samples from Zn-induced rats stored without DTT. The integrity of the MT protein in supernatants of heat-treated homogenates stored for 100 d was demonstrated by Sephadex G-75 chromatography. When heat-treated supernatants were stored as dilute solutions (1:125 of liver), MT was unstable regardless of treatment or storage temperature. Our findings show that liver MT is stable for at least 4 mo as a supernatant of a heat-treated homogenate (1:5 dilution of liver) when stored at or below -70 degrees C and in the presence of DTT.     

Dynamics of the changes in homogenate respiratory activity after rat whole liver storage at 4 degrees C

Homogenate respiratory activity was studied after different storage terms of the whole rat liver at 4 degrees C in sucrose-based solution and following normothermic reperfusion. Preservation of homogenate respiratory activity in all metabolic states after normothermic reperfusion of the control liver (60 min, 4 degrees C) is shown. Further storage (6 and 24 hrs) of isolated liver under the mentioned above conditions strengthens the substrate respiration of homogenate both after storage and after normothermic reperfusion. At the same time oxidative phosphorylation does not practically change. No change was noted in respiratory activity in the states 3, 4ADP and 3DNP after 24 hrs of liver storage in respect of a previous term. Following normothermic liver reperfusion contributes to a statistically true reduction of mentioned parameters of respiration, that correlates with a decrease in the degree of respiration and phosphorylation coupled of the studied system.     

Measurement of ATP generation and decay in Mycobacterium leprae in vitro

The intracellular ATP content of Mycobacterium leprae isolated from armadillo tissue was approximately 1.5 X 10(-16) g per bacillus. During in vitro incubation of bacilli at 4 degrees C, 33 degrees C or 37 degrees C there was an exponential decrease in ATP content, the rate depending on the medium and the temperature. M. leprae incorporated phosphate into ATP and into other nucleotide materials during in vitro incubation.     

Standardization of salt aggregation test for reproducible determination of cell-surface hydrophobicity with special reference to Staphylococcus species

The laboratory conditions for reproducible routine determination of staphylococcal cell-surface hydrophobicity by the salt aggregation test were standardized. Fresh bacterial suspensions standardized to 5 x 10(9) cfu/ml gave the most reproducible results with both Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. For relatively hydrophobic strains a 5-min reading time was necessary to detect bacterial aggregation in ammonium sulphate solutions ranging from 0.1 M to 1.5 M, pH 6.8. A x 10 hand lens facilitated reading aggregations. Overnight storage of bacterial suspensions at 20 degrees C reduced cell-surface hydrophobicity of all species, while storage at 4 degrees C reduced the hydrophobic nature of Staph. aureus strains. The hydrophobicity of coagulase-negative staphylococci rarely changed at 4 degrees C. A 10-fold dilution of fresh, standardized bacterial suspensions made it impossible to detect bacterial aggregation in ammonium sulphate solutions even with a hand lens. Under standardized conditions three types of staphylococcal cell aggregations were observed. The first looked like the slide agglutination for O antigens of Enterobacteriaceae, the second resembled H-agglutination, while the third had a filamentous appearance. These patterns indicated that more than one component might contribute to cell-surface hydrophobicity of both Staph. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, or the same component might have different position on the cell surface.     

Temperature-dependent membrane fatty acid and cell physiology changes in coccoid forms of Campylobacter jejuni.

The effect of temperature and the availability of nutrients on the transition of spiral Campylobacter jejuni cells to coccoid forms was investigated. Ageing of spiral C. jejuni cells in either nutrient-poor or nutrient-rich environments resulted in the formation of nonculturable coccoid cells at 4, 12, and 25 degrees C after different periods, with the cells incubated at 4 degrees C in nutrient-deficient media remaining culturable the longest. To study the phenomenon, ATP levels, protein profiles, and fatty acid compositions were monitored under conditions where the transition from spiral to coccoid cells occurred. During storage, the levels of intracellular ATP were highest in cells incubated at low temperatures (4 and 12 degrees C) and remained constant after a small initial decrease. During the transformation from spiral to coccoid forms, no alteration in protein profiles could be detected; indeed, inhibition of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol did not influence the transition. Furthermore, DNA damage by gamma irradiation had no effect on the process. Membrane fatty acid composition of cocci formed at low temperatures was found to be almost identical to that of spiral cells, whereas that of cocci formed at 25 degrees C was clearly different. Combining these results, it is concluded that the formation of cocci is not an active process. However, distinctions between cocci formed at different temperatures were observed. Cocci formed at 4 degrees C show characteristics comparable to those of spirals, and these cocci may well play a role in the contamination cycle of C. jejuni.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Regulation of prolyl endopeptidase activity by the intracellular redox state

The activity of prolyl endopeptidase was markedly decreased during incubation of intact murine erythroleukemia cells at 45 degrees C, but not during incubation of sonicated cells or during incubation at 42 degrees C. The thermal inactivation of prolyl endopeptidase in situ required neither the synthesis of proteins and polynucleotides nor the synergistic activation of inhibitors. Moreover, inhibition of lysosomal proteinases and calpains or depletion of ATP did not affect the thermal inactivation of prolyl endopeptidase. This specific inactivation of prolyl endopeptidase was also observed following the addition to the culture medium of menadione or diamide, compounds known to increase intracellular oxidized glutathione levels. The activity of prolyl endopeptidase in the cell lysate was also dose-dependently decreased by the addition of glutathione disulfide and the decrease of the activity was prevented by coexistence of reduced glutathione. Furthermore, the level of intracellular oxidized glutathione was increased during incubation at 45 degrees C for 15 min, but not at 42 degrees C for 30 min. These results strongly suggest that the activity of prolyl endopeptidase is regulated by changes in the intracellular redox potential.     

Reoxygenation after cold hypoxic storage of cultured precision-cut rat liver slices: effects on cellular metabolism and drug biotransformation.

Cultured rat precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) were used to study the influence of hypothermic preservation and reoxygenation at 37 degrees C on cellular metabolism and drug biotransformation. Cold hypoxic storage caused a depressed metabolism in rat liver slices, but reoxygenation for 8 h at 37 degrees C partially restored the levels of both ATP and GSH and totally restored the capacity to synthesize proteins. Metabolism of midazolam (CYP3A-dependent oxidation) by cold preserved liver slices was decreased by 30% but no further affected by reoxygenation, showing the same profile as freshly cut slices. Such a reoxygenation at 37 degrees C is accompanied by a dramatic loss of CYP3A2 protein while CYP3A1 protein was unaffected. These results suggest that CYP3A2 did not play a major role in midazolam oxidation. Such results are not consistent with a putative reoxygenation injury but rather with cold hypoxic damage. Since cold preserved liver slices did not respond to bacterial endotoxin stimulation (lipopolysaccharides), a minor role of non-parenchymal cells is suggested as mediators for deleterious effects developed during the cold storage.