Effect of tissue specificity of brain soluble fractions on Na+, K+-ATPase activity

Previous evidence from this laboratory indicated that catecholamines and brain endogenous factors modulate Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity of the synaptosomal membranes. The filtration of a brain total soluble fraction through Sephadex G-50 permitted the separation of two fractions-peaks I and II-which stimulated and inhibited Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, respectively (Rodríguez de Lores Arnaiz and Antonelli de Gomez de Lima, Neurochem. Res.11, 1986, 933). In order to study tissue specificity a rat kidney total soluble was fractionated in Sephadex G-50 and kidney peak I and II fractions were separated; as control, a total soluble fraction prepared from rat cerebral cortex was also processed. The UV absorbance profile of the kidney total soluble showed two zones and was similar to the profile of the brain total soluble. Synaptosomal membranes Na⁺, K⁺- and Mg²⁺-ATPases were stimulated 60–100% in the presence of kidney and cerebral cortex peak I; Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was inhibited 35–65% by kidney peak II and 60–80% by brain peak II. Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was not modified by peak II fractions. ATPases activity of a kidney crude microsomal fraction was not modified by kidney peak I or brain peak II, and was slightly increased by kidney peak II or brain peak I. Kidney purified Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was increased 16–20% by brain peak I and II fractions. These findings indicate that modulatory factors of ATPase activity are not exclusive to the brain. On the contrary, there might be tissue specificity with respect to the enzyme source.     

EFFECT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM ON IONIC METABOLISM AND Na-K ACTIVATED ATP PHOSPHOHYDROLASE ACTIVITY IN THE DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN1

The effects of neonatal hypothyroidism on electrolyte contents and the Na⁺ and K⁺ activated ATPase system was studied in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of the developing rat. Neonatal hypothyroidism increased Na⁺ and CI^? contents and decreased K⁺ and Mg²⁺ contents in both brain areas. Hypothyroidism also resulted in a decrease in the specific activity of the Na-K ATPase extracted by deoxycholate treatment from brain homogenate as well as in the specific activity of this enzyme in the heavy microsomal fraction. The decrease in Mg²⁺ content and ATPase activity is discussed in relation to the changes occurring in Na⁺ and K⁺. Both enzymic and ionic changes may underlie the biochemical and physiological abnormalities observed when the brain is deprived of thyroxine at critical stages of its development.     

Effect of retinol deficiency and curcumin or turmeric feeding on brain Na+−K+ adenosine triphosphatase activity

The effect of retinol deficiency and curcumin and turmeric feeding on brain microsomal Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase activity was investigated. The brain Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity registered an increase of 148.5% as compared to the control group. Upon treating retinol deficient rats with curcumin or turmeric, the abnormally elevated activity showed a decrease of 36.9 and 47.1%, respectively, when compared to the retinol deficient group. An increase in V_max by 67% and K_m by 66% for ATP was observed in the retinol deficient group. Curcumin or turmeric fed retinol-deficient groups reduced the V_max by 25 and 33%, while K_m was reduced by 25 and 31%, respectively, compared to the retinol deficient group. Arrhenius plot of Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase showed a typical bi-phasic pattern in all the groups. Cholesterol: Phospholipid ratio showed a decrease in the retinol-deficient group by 67.8%, which showed a marked increase in curcumin or turmeric treated groups. Detergents could increase the Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity more in the control group than in the retinol deficient groups. Curcumin or turmeric improved the detergent action on the enzyme. Subsequent freezing and thawing over a period of 30 min decreased the enzyme activity by 22.8% in the retinol deficient group compared to 15.9% decrease in the control group. Curcumin or turmeric treated groups showed a decrease in the enzyme activity by 22.0 and 19.2%, respectively, when compared to the zero time in each group. In the presence of concanavalin-A (Con-A) there was only 52.4% stimulation in the enzyme activity in retinol deficient groups, compared to 108.0% in the control group. Curcumin or turmeric treated retinol-deficient groups showed a stimulation in the presence of con-A by 70 and 99.5%, respectively.     

Sodium Nitrite Alone Protects the Brain Microsomal Ca2+-ATPase Against Potassium Cyanide-induced Neurotoxicity In Rats

The effect of a short-term oral administration of potassium cyanide (KCN) (200 ppm in diet) with or without sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) pretreatment on rat brain microsomal Ca^2± ATPase was investigated. The specific activity value of the enzyme significantly decreased (p<0.05) by 50% compared with control and by 63% for KCN-treated rats compared with KCN-treated rats pretreated with NaNO₂. There was no significant difference at the h=0.05 level between the values obtained for the control and KCN-treated rats pretreated with NaNO₂. These results show both that feeding lowers brain microsomal Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and that NaNO₂ has a protective role (antidote function) in that respect.     

Na+,K+-ATPase in developing fetal guinea pig brain and the effect of maternal hypoxia

Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was determined in fetal guinea pig brain at 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 days of gestation. The activity remained at a constant level during the early periods (35–45 days) of gestation and increased significantly during 45–60 days. Following maternal hypoxia, the activity of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase in the term (60 days) fetal brain was reduced by 50% whereas the preterm (50 days) brain activity was unaffected. Under identical hypoxic conditions, the enzymatic activity of adult brain was significantly reduced by 20%. Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase obtained from fetal brain (50 days of gestation) has both a low and a high affinity for ATP (K _m values =0.50 and 0.053 mM and correspondingV _max values =10.77 and 2.82 umoles Pi/mg protein/hr), whereas the enzyme in the adult brain has only a low affinity (K _m=1.67 mM andV _max=20.32 umoles Pi/mg protein/hr). The high and low affinity sites for ATP in the fetal brain suggests a mechanism essential for the maintenance of cellular ionic gradients at low concentrations of ATP and which would provide the fetal brain with a greater tolerance to hypoxia. The high sensitivity of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity to hypoxia in guinea pig brain at term suggests that the cell membrane functions of the fetal brain may be more susceptible to hypoxia at term than it is earlier in gestation.     

Changes in the Functioning of Ca2+-ATPases of Rat Exocrine Cells in Experimental Diabetes Mellitus

It is obvious that disruption of functions of the nervous system in diabetes mellitus is to a great extent related to the changes of synthesis or exocytosis of neurotransmitters. Since the mechanisms underlying exocytosis are similar in cells of different types, it may be assumed that studying these mechanisms in secretory cells will allow experimenters to obtain information on ways to control this process in neurons. Based on the supposition that changes in the activity of Ca2+-controlling systems in exocrine cells play an important role in functional disorders in the salivary glands in diabetes mellitus, we demonstrated, using the fura-2/AM dye, that the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺] _i ) in secretory cells of the above glands in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (being in the resting state) is significantly increased (on average, by 65%). In our study, we showed that Ca²⁺-ATPases play an important role in the control of calcium homeostasis in secretory cells of salivary glands in diabetes mellitus. In particular, we demonstrated that the kinetic parameters of microsomal Ca²⁺-ATPases decreased: V ₀, by 50 ± 7, and P _max, by 52 ± 6%, on average. In diabetes mellitus, V _max of Ca²⁺-ATPases also dropped significantly, by 47 ± 8 and 79 ± 9%, on average, for PMCA and SERCA, respectively. The decrease in K _ATP was 71 ± 11% for SERCA and that in K _Ca was 92 ± 3% for PMCA. We concluded that the activity of Ca²⁺-ATPases of secretory cells in diabetes mellitus is suppressed because of a decrease in the turnover and/or in the specific number of active molecules of the enzyme.     

Increase in calcium content and Ca2+-ATPase activity in the brain of fasted rats: Comparison with different ages

The effect of fasting on calcium content and Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in the brain tissues of 5 weeks and 50 weeks old rats was investigated. Brain calcium content and Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions of the brain homogenate from young and elderly rats were significantly increased by overnight–fasting. These increases were appreciably restored by a single oral administration of glucose solution (400 mg/100 g body weight) to fasted rats. In comparison with young and elderly rats, brain calcium content and microsomal Ca²⁺-ATPase activity were significantly elevated by increasing ages. The effect of ageing was not seen in the brain mitochondrial Ca²⁺-ATPase activity. When calcium (50 mg/100 g) was orally administered to young and elderly rats, brain calcium content was significantly elevated. The calcium administration–induced increase in brain calcium content was greater in elderly r crease in Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions of brain homogenates from young rats. In aged rats, the microsomal Ca²⁺-ATPase activity was not further enhanced by calcium administration, although the mitochondrial enzyme activity was significantly raised. The present study demonstrates that the fasting–induced increase in brain calcium content is involved in Ca²⁺-ATPase activity raised in the brain microsomes and mitochondria of rats with different ages, supporting a energy–dependent mechanism in brain calcium accumulation.     

Estrogens and the Hypothalamus: Nuclear Receptor and RNA Polymerase Activation

Abstract

To further the understanding of estrogen action in the central nervous system, we have developed a procedure for quantitation of nuclear estrogen receptor (R_nE) in adult rat brain. Crude chromatin is separated from soluble and membranous fractions by centrifugation of brain homogenate through 1.2 M sucrose pads. Incubation of the pellet with [³H] estradiol at elevated temperature and precipitation of receptor-steroid complexes with protamine sulfate allows measurement of R_nE. The yield of DNA by this procedure is 70–80% and the amount of R_nE measured is linear with respect to the amount of DNA added. Using this procedure, we have measured hypothalamic R_nE in the ovariectomized adult rat as a function of time after injection of 5 ug estradiol and found a peak R_nE accumulation of about 30 fmol/hypothalamus at 1 h. By 12 h, the levels of R_nE return to control (uninjected) values.

We have also measured the time course of estradiol induced activation of hypothalamic endogenous nuclear RNA polymerases I and of II, suggested to be initial steps in estrogen action. RNA polymerase I activity was unaffected by estrogen treatment, while RNA polymerase II activity showed a transient activation with a time course approximating that of R_nE accumulation. For early times after estrogen treatment (10–90 min), the amount of R_nE present in the hypothalamus is correlated with the extent of RNA polymerase II activation. The absence of sustained activation of RNA polymerases I or II in the hypothalamus is consistent with the lack of long term retention of R_nE in nuclei of this, tissue and the lack of estrogen induced hypertrophy and hyperplasia.     

Regulation of cardiac sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels and Ca2+ transporters by thyroid hormone

In order to examine the regulatory role of thyroid hormone on sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-channels, Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange and Ca²⁺-pump as well as heart function, the effects of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on rat heart performance and sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-handling were studied. Hyperthyroid rats showed higher values for heart rate (HR), maximal rates of ventricular pressure development+(dP/dt)max and pressure fall–(dP/dt)max, but shorter time to peak ventricular pressure (TPVP) and contraction time (CT) when compared with euthyroid rats. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), as well as aortic systolic and diastolic pressures (ASP and ADP, respectively) were not significantly altered. Hypothyroid rats exhibited decreased values of LVSP, HR, ASP, ADP, +(dP/dt)max and –(dP/dt)max but higher CT when compared with euthyroid rats; the values of LVEDP and TPVP were not changed. Studies with isolated-perfused hearts showed that while hypothyroidism did not modulate the inotropic response to extracellular Ca²⁺ and Ca²⁺ channel blocker verapamil, hyperthyroidism increased sensitivity to Ca²⁺ and decreased sensitivity to verapamil in comparison to euthyroid hearts. Studies of [³H]-nitrendipine binding with purified cardiac sarcolemmal membrane revealed decreased number of high affinity binding sites (B_max) without any change in the dissociation constant for receptor-ligand complex (K_d) in the hyperthyroid group when compared with euthyroid sarcolemma; hypothyroidism had no effect on these parameters. The activities of sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-stimulated ATPase, ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake and ouabain-sensitive Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase were decreased whereas the Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was increased in hypothyroid hearts. On the other hand, sarcolemmal membranes from hyperthyroid samples exhibited increased ouabain-sensitive Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity, whereas Ca²⁺-stimulated ATPase, ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake, and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities were unchanged. The V_max and K_a for Ca²⁺ of cardiac sarcolemmal Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange were not altered in both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid states. These results indicate that the status of sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-transport processes is regulated by thyroid hormones and the modification of Ca²⁺-fluxes across the sarcolemmal membrane may play a crucial role in the development of thyroid state-dependent contractile changes in the heart.     

The neuroprotective role of l-cysteine towards the effects of short-term exposure to lanthanum on the adult rat brain antioxidant status and the activities of acetylcholinesterase, (Na+,K+)- and Mg2+-ATPase

Lanthanum (La) is a rare earth element that is widely used for industrial, medical and agricultural purposes. Its neurotoxic effects are linked to its physical and chemical properties and its interaction with certain trace elements and membrane-bound enzymes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term La-administration (as LaCl₃, 53 mg/kg) on the adult rat whole brain total antioxidant status (TAS) and the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase, as well as the potential effect of the co-administration of the antioxidant l-cysteine (Cys, 7 mg/kg) on the above parameters. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: A (saline-treated control), B (La), C (Cys),and D (La and Cys). All rats were treated once daily with intraperitoneal injections of the tested compounds, for 1-week. Rats were sacrificed by decapitation and the above mentioned parameters were measured spectrophotometrically. Rats treated with La exhibited a significant reduction in brain TAS (−36%, P < 0.001, BvsA), that was partially limited by the co-administration of Cys (−13%, P < 0.01, DvsA), while Cys (group C) had no effect on TAS. The rat brain AChE activity was found significantly increased by both La (+23%, P < 0.001, BvsA) and Cys (+59%, P < 0.001, CvsA), while it was adjusted to control levels by the co-administration of La and Cys. The activity of rat brain Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase was significantly decreased by La-administration (−28%, P < 0.001, BvsA), while Cys supplementation could not reverse this decrease. The activity of Mg²⁺-ATPase exhibited a slight but statistically significant reduction due to La (−8%, P < 0.01, BvsA), that was further reduced by Cys co-administration (−25%, P < 0.001, DvsA). The above findings suggest that La short-term in vivo administration causes a statistically significant decrease in the rat brain TAS and an increase in AChE activity. Both effects can be, partially or totally, reversed into control levels by Cys co-administration, which could thus be considered for future applications as a neuroprotective agent against chronic exposure to La. The activities of Na⁺,K⁺- and Mg²⁺-ATPase that were inhibited by La, could not be reversed by Cys co-administration. A role for the already reported concentration-dependent interaction of La with Ca-binding sites (such as Ca²⁺-ATPase) might be considered for certain of the above phenomena.     

(Na++K+)-adenosinetriphosphatase in the brain of Shiverer (Shi/Shi) mice

The myelin-deficient Shiverer (Shi/Shi) mutant mouse may be a useful model in assessing the dependence of brain (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase concentration and composition on myelin membrane formation. Brain microsomal membranes from age-matched control (+/+) and Shiverer (Shi/Shi) mice were fractionated by differential centrifugation and sucrose gradient sedimentation. No reduction in (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase specific activity was measured in whole homogenates, high-and low-speed fractions or gradient fractions from brains of Shi/Shi mice as compared to those of +/+ mice. In addition, sodium dodecylsulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting with antisera specific for mouse brain (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase revealed no significant difference in catalytic subunit composition between fractions of +/+ and Shi/Shi brains. The similar results obtained for both +/+ and myelin-deficient Shi/Shi mice suggest that myelin contributes little to total brain (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase.     

RNA polymerase activity in isolated nuclei ofNicotiana sanderae callus: Characteristics and modulation during differentiation

Isolated nuclei from differentiating cultures ofNicotiana sanderae showed increased levels of RNA polymerase activity as compared to the nuclei from callus cultures. The RNA synthetic activity was dependent on nucleotide triphosphates and Mg²⁺ and was destroyed by RNase. Maximum activity was obtained in the presence of 50 mM (NH₄)₂ SO₄ and α-amanitin inhibited 40% and 55% of the activity in the nuclei from callus and differentiating tissue respectively. The nuclei from differentiating tissue elicited a 3-fold increase in RNA polymerase I and a 4-fold augmentation in RNA polymerase II activities.     

The enhancement by pervanadate of tyrosine phosphorylation on prostatic proteins occurs through the inhibition of membrane-associated tyrosine phosphatases

The Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity and SH group content were decreased whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased upon treating the porcine cardiac sarcolemma with xanthine plus xanthine oxidase, which is known to generate superoxide and other oxyradicals. Superoxide dismutase either alone or in combination with catalase and mannitol fully prevented changes in SH group content but the xanthine plus xanthine oxidase-induced depression in Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity as well as increase in MDA content were prevented partially. The Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis of the data for Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity in the presence of different concentrations of MgATP or Na⁺ revealed that the xanthine plus xanthine oxidase-induced depression in the enzyme activity was associated with a decrease in V_max and an increase in K_m for MgATP; however, K_a value for Na⁺ was decreased. Treatment of sarcolemma with H₂O₂ plus Fe²⁺, an hydroxyl and other radical generating system, increased MDA content but decreased both Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity and SH group content; mannitol alone or in combination with catalase prevented changes in SH group content fully but the depression in Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity and increase in MDA content were prevented partially. The depression in the enzyme activity by H₂O₂ plus Fe²⁺ was associated with a decrease in V_max and an increase in K_m for MgATP. These results indicate that the depressant effect of xanthine plus xanthine oxidase on sarcolemmal Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase may be due to the formation of superoxide, hydroxyl and other radicals. Furthermore, the oxyradical-induced depression in Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity may be due to a decrease in the affinity of substrate in the sarcolemmal membrane.     

Postnatal ontogeny of uridine kinase in the cerebellum,hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex of the rat

Postnatal developmental patterns of uridine kinase were determined in crude subcellular fractions of the rat cerebellum, hypothalamus and cerebral cortex at ages 3 through 60 days. The highest specific activity and predominant distribution of enzyme was in the 105,000g supernatant of the 3 brain regions. Enzyme activity in hypothalamus and cerebral cortex was maximum at 3 days and decreased with age; in cerebellum it increased through 13 days and decreased thereafter. Thus, the pattern of activity in hypothalamus and cerebral cortex paralleled changes in DNA and RNA synthesis through age 60 days; in cerebellum, it more closely approximated changes in DNA synthesis during early development. Changes inK _m with aging suggest that the brain regions contain more than one form of enzyme. The highest particulate activity was in the microsomal fraction of the cerebellum and hypothalamus at all ages and in the cortex at 35 and 60 days. Relative specific activity for microsomal fractions of the brain regions at 60 days indicate a concentration of the enzyme which may be relevant in the maintenance of RNA activity in adult brain.     

Further characterization of the effects of 3-methylcholanthrene administration upon hepatic ribonucleic acid polymerase activities

The administration of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) to rats results in a marked increase in the specific activities of hepatic RNA polymerases I and II. In the present study, we were able to show that this increase was not caused by a shift in the ratio of ‘free’ to ‘template-engaged’ RNA polymerase. By means of binding studies with [³H]amatoxin, we were unable to demonstrate any increase in the number of RNA polymerase II molecules in liver after MC administration to the rats. RNA polymerase I was purified in excess of 3000-fold from hepatic nuclei isolated both from control and MC-treated rats. The stimulation in activity was demonstrated at each step in the purification scheme until glycerol sedimentation analysis. Results from cation-exchange chromatography on phosphocellulose indicated that the polycyclic hydrocarbon increased the enzyme activity of RNA polymerase I_b somewhat specifically. Subsequent to glycerol gradient centrifugation, this stimulatory advantage was no longer evident. Reconstitution experiments revealed the presence of a stimulatory component, which was demonstrated in low molecular weight fractions from both control and experimental preparations.     

Enhanced 5-HT<Subscript>2A</Subscript> Receptors in Brain Stem and ALDH Activity in Brain Stem and Liver: 5-HT<Subscript>2A</Subscript> Regulation on ALDH in Primary Hepatocytes Cultures In Vitro

Brain serotonin (5-HT) modulates the neural effects of ethanol. In the present study, we investigated the changes in 5-HT level, 5-HT_2A receptor binding and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity in brain stem and liver of ethanol treated rats and 5-HT_2A regulation on ALDH in hepatocyte cultures in vitro. The 5-HT content in the brain stem and liver significantly decreased with an increased 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio in the ethanol treated rats compared to control. Scatchard analysis of [³H] (±)2,3-dimethoxyphenyl-1-[2-(-4-piperidine)-methanol] [³H] MDL 100907 against ketanserin in brain stem of ethanol treated rats showed a significant increase in B _max without any change in K _d compared to control. The competition curve for [³H] MDL 100907 against ketanserin fitted one-site model in both control and ethanol treated rats with unity as Hill slope value. A significant increase in V _max of ALDH activity in liver and a significant decrease in K _m in liver and brain stem of ethanol treated rats compared to control was observed. In 24 h culture studies, an increase in enzyme activity was observed in cells in medium with 10% ethanol. The elevated ALDH activity in ethanol treated cells was reversed to control level in presence of 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁷ M 5-HT. Ketanserin, an antagonist of 5-HT_2A, reversed the effect of 5HT on 10% ethanol induced ALDH activity in hepatocytes. Our results showed that there was a decreased 5-HT content with an enhanced 5-HT_2A receptor and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in the brain stem of alcohol treated rats and in vitro hepatocyte cultures. The enhanced ALDH activity in ethanol supplemented hepatocytes was reversed to control level in presence of 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁷ M 5-HT.     

Inhibition of a novel subspecies of DNA polymerase α by 2′-deoxy-2′-azidoadenosine 5′-triphosphate

DNA polymerase α₁, a subspecies of DNA polymerase α of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, was associated with a novel RNA polymerase activity and utilized poly(dT) and single-stranded circular fd DNA as a template without added primer in the presence of ribonucleoside triphosphates and a specific stimulating factor. DNA synthesis in the above system was inhibited by the ATP analogue, 2′-deoxy-2′-azidoadenosine 5′-triphosphate more than the DNA synthesis with poly(dT)·oligo(rA) by DNA polymerase α₁ and RNA synthesis by mouse RNA polymerases I and II. Kinetic analysis showed that the analogue inhibited DNA polymerase α₁ activity on poly(dT) competitively with respect to ATP, suggesting that the analogue inhibited RNA synthesis by the associated RNA polymerase activity.     

65Zinc uptake from blood into brain and other tissues in the rat

Zinc is essential for normal growth, development and brain function although little is known about brain zinc homeostasis. Therefore, in this investigation we have studied⁶⁵Zn uptake from blood into brain and other tissues and have measured the blood-brain barrier permeability to⁶⁵Zn in the anaesthetized rat in vivo. Adult male Wistar within the weight range 500–600 g were used.⁶⁵ZnCl₂ and [¹²⁵I]albumin, the latter serving as a vascular marker, were injected in a bolus of normal saline I.V. Sequential arterial blood samples were taken during experiments that lasted between 5 min and 5 hr. At termination, samples from the liver, spleen, pancreas, lung, heart, muscle, kidney, bone, testis, ileum, blood cells, csf, and whole brain were taken and analysed for radio-isotope activity. Data have been analysed by Graphical Analysis which suggests⁶⁵Zn uptake from blood by all tissues sampled was unidirectional during this experimental period except brain, where at circulation times<30 min,⁶⁵Zn fluxes were bidirectional. In addition to the blood space, the brain appears to contain a rapidly exchanging compartment(s) for⁶⁵Zn of about 4 ml/100g which is not csf.