ADSORPTION AND UPTAKE OF COPPER BY THE GREEN ALGA SCENEDESMUS SUBSPICATUS (CHLOROPHYTA)1

Copper (II) accumulation has been investigated in the green alga Scenedesmus subspicatus G. Brinkmann considering both adsorption and uptake kinetics. Experiments were conducted in a Cu- and PH-buffered medium at different free Cu²⁺ concentrations that were neither growth limiting nor toxic. We distinguished between adsorption on the cell surface and intracellular uptake by extracting copper from the cells with EDTA. Data from short-term experiments were compared with data obtained from experiments under steady state conditions. The accumulation of Cu can be described by two processes, an initial fast adsorption occurring within a minute followed by a slower intracellular uptake. Metal uptake followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and is mediated by two systems, one with low and the other with high affinity. The maximum uptake rates (1.30 × 10^?-¹⁰ mol·[g dry wt algae]^?1· min^?1, 3.67 × 10^?-⁹ mol·[g dry wt algae]^?1·min^?1), and the half-saturation constants (6.84 × 10^?-¹⁴ M, 2.82 × 10^?-¹² M) for the two uptake systems were determined using the Lineweaver-Burk plot. The calculated maximum concentration of binding sites on the surface of the algae is initially higher (9.0 × 10^?-⁶ mol Cu.[g dry wt algae]^?1) than under steady state conditions (2.9 × 10^?-⁶ mol Cu·[g dry wt algae]^?1). This suggests that the initial binding to the algal surface comprises the binding to specific transport ligands as well as to inert adsorption sites. The conditional stability constant of the Cu binding to surface ligands was calculated as log K_Cu= 11.0 at pH 7.9. This freshwater alga has a high ability to accumulate Cu, reflecting its adaptation to the bioavailable concentration of copper.     

SELENIUM: AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT FOR GROWTH OF THE COASTAL MARINE DIATOM THALASSIOSIRA PSEUDONANA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1,2

An obligate requirement for selenium is demonstrated in axenic culture of the coastal marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (clone 3H) (Hust.) Hasle and Heimdal grown in artificial seawater medium. Selenium deficiency was characterized by a reduction in growth rate and eventually by a cessation of cell division. The addition of 10⁻¹⁰ M Na₂SeO₃ to nutrient enriched artificial seawater resulted in excellent growth of T. pseudonana and only a slight inhibition of growth occurred at Na₂SeO₃ concentrations of 10⁻³ and 10⁻² M. By contrast, Na₂SeO₄ failed to support growth of T. pseudonana when supplied at concentrations less than 10⁻⁷ M and the growth rate at this concentration was only one quarter of the maximum growth rate. The addition of 10⁻³ and 10⁻² M Na₂SeO₄ to the culture medium was toxic and cell growth was completely inhibited. Eleven trace elements were tested for their ability to replace the selenium requirement by this alga find all were without effect. In selenium-deficient and selenium-starved cultures of T. pseudonana cell volume increased as much as 10-fold as a result of an increase in cell length (along the pervalvar axis) but cell width was constant. It is concluded that selenium is an indispensable element for the growth of T. pseudonana and it should be included as a nutrient enrichment to artificial seawater medium when culturing this alga.     

Effect of 4-hydroxynonenal on superoxide anion production from primed human neutrophils

HNE (4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal), an aldehydic product of lipid peroxidation, has been reported to modulate different functional parameters of human and rat neutrophils (PMNs), such as chemiluminescence, migration and some enzymatic activities, thus exerting effects that varied according to the concentration tested. Experiments were done to evaluate the effects of HNE on superoxide anion (O₂^?.) production from human PMNs, isolated from healthy volunteers. After having tested that HNE by itself was not able to activate the cells, comparisons were made between its effects on PMNs, stimulated by either a single stimulus, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), or a combination of stimuli, such as FMLP and the neuropeptide substance P (SP; primed PMNs). In the concentration range tested (10^?12–10^?4 M ), HNE inhibited FMLP-evoked O₂^?. production with an IC₅₀ of 11·6 ± 1·5 × 10^?6 M ; at concentrations ≤10^?6 M , HNE enhanced O₂^?. production elicited by FMLP + SP, while higher concentrations were inhibitory. There was a bell-shaped dose–response curve to the enhancing effects of HNE, depending on the incubation time being recorded after only short periods (≤5 min) of the exposure of the cells to HNE; this was not shown by structurally-related aldehydes, such as 2-nonenal and nonanal. These results suggest that low concentrations of HNE may participate in the evolution of the inflammatory process, by contributing to the activation of PMNs. The effects of high concentrations of the aldehyde may represent a mechanism which contributes to the regulation of the extent of the inflammatory response.     

Effect of sodium selenite and methyl methanesulfonate or N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene co-exposure on sister-chromatid exchange production in human whole blood cultures

Sodium selenite (Na₂Se0₃) was tested for its sister-chromatid exchange (SCE)-inducing ability in human whole blood cultures and for the effect of its co-exposure with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or N-hydroxy-2-acetyl aminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) on SCE frequency. Long exposure times (77 h and 96 h) to 3.95 × 10^-6 M Na₂SeO₃ resulted in cell death as measured by mitotic indices, but mitotic figures were present after exposure to higher concentrations for a shorter time (19 h). High Na₂SeO₃ concentrations (7.90 × 10^?6 and 1.19 × 10^?5 M) resulted in a three-fold increase in the SCE frequency above background level (6–7 SCEs/cell). Exposure of lymphocytes to 1 × 10^?4 M MMS for the last 19 h of culture yielded an average SCE frequency of 30.17 ± 0.75 while a similar exposure to 2.7 × 10^?5 M N-OH-AAF resulted in 13.61 ± 0.43 SCEs/cell. Simultaneous addition of the high Na₂Se0₃ concentrations and MMS or N-OH-AAF to the cultures resulted in SCE frequencies that were 25–30% and 11–17%, respectively, below the sum of the SCE frequencies produced by the individual compounds.     

SELENIUM: AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT FOR GROWTH OF THE COASTAL MARINE DIATOM THALASSIOSIRA PSEUDONANA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1,2

An obligate requirement for selenium is demonstrated in axenic culture of the coastal marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (clone 3H) (Hust.) Hasle and Heimdal grown in artificial seawater medium. Selenium deficiency was characterized by a reduction in growth rate and eventually by a cessation of cell division. The addition of 10⁻¹⁰ M Na₂eO₃ to nutrient enriched artifical seawater resulted in excellent growth of T. pseudonana and only a slight inhibition of growth occurred at Na₂SeO₃ concentrations of 10⁻³ and 10_-2 M. By contrast, Na₂SeO₄ failed to support growth of T. pseudonana when supplied at concentrations less than 10⁻⁷ M and the growth rate at this concentration was only one quarter of the maximum growth rate. The addition of 10⁻³ and 10⁻² M Na₂SeO₄ to the culture medium was toxic and cell growth was completely inhibited. Eleven trace elements were tested for their ability to replace the selenium requirement by this alga and all were without effect. In selenium-deficient and selenium-starved cultures of T. pseudonana cell volume increased as much as 10-fold as a result of an increase in cell length (along the pervalvar axis) but cell width was constant. It is concluded that selenium is an indispensable element for the growth of T. pseudonana and it should be included as a nutrient enrichment to artificial seawater medium when culturing this alga.     

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN LIGHT,NH4+, AND CO2 IN BUOYANCY REGULATION OF ANABAENA FLOS-AQUAE (CYANOPHYCEAE)1

Buoyancy of the gas-vacuolate alga Anabaena flosaquae Brébisson was measured under various levels of light, NH₄⁺, and CO₂. At high irradiance (50 μE · m^?2·^?1) the alga was non-buoyant regardless of the availability of CO₂ and NH₄⁺. At low irradiance (≤10 μE · m ^?2· s^?1) buoyancy was controlled by the availability of NH₄⁺ and CO₂. When NH₄⁺ was abundant, algal buoyancy was high over a wide range of CO₂ concentrations. In the absence of NH₄⁺, algal buoyancy was reduced at high CO₂ concentrations, however as the CO₂ concentration declined below about 5 μmol · L^?1, algal buoyancy increased. These results help explain why gas vacuolate, nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae often form surface blooms in eutrophic lakes.     

The Influence of pH on the Cadmium-Repressed Growth of the Alga Coelastrum proboscideum

The inhibition of growth by different concentrations of CdCl₂ in the range 4,5 × 10^?7 to 5.6 × 10^?7M was studied in the green alga Coelastrum proboscideum Bohlin in inorganic media at pH 4.3, 5.3 and 6.2. The factorial destgn of the experiments was evaluated as an analysis of 2² factors. Below pH 4.0 and above pH 6.5 growth was depressed without adding Cd. Cd concentrations exceeding 5.6 × 10^?8M reduced algal growth significantly with a 50% inhibition at 5.6 × 10^?7M Cd. The Cd concentration of 5.6 × 10^?7M was less toxic at pH 6.2 than at pH 5.3 and 4.3, thus revealing a negative interaction between protons and Cd.     

EFFECT OF VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION AND PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF POLY- WITH MONO-UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN PIG DIETS ON MUSCLE,AND MICROSOME EXTRACT a-TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATION AND LIPID OXIDATION

The experiment was organized in a 3×2 factorial arrangement with three dietary fat blends and a basal (20 mg kg^?1 diet) or supplemented (220 mg kg^?1) level of α-tocopheryl acetate. Dietary vitamin E and monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio (dietary MUFA/PUFA) affected muscle α-tocopherol concentration (α-tocopherol [log μg g^?1]=0.18 (±0.105)+0.0034 (±0.0003)·dietary α-tocopherol [mg kg^?1 diet] (P<0.0001)+0.39 (±0.122)·dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.0036)). An interaction between dietary α-tocopherol and dietary MUFA/PUFA exists for microsome α-tocopherol concentration (α-tocopherol [log μg g^?1]=1.14 (±0.169) (P<0.0001)+0.0056 (±0.00099)·dietary α-tocopherol [mg kg^?1 diet] (P<0.0001)+0.54 (±0.206)·dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.0131)?0.0033 (±0.0011)·dietary α-tocopherol [mg kg^?1)]×dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.0067)), and hexanal concentration in meat (hexanal [ng·g^?1]=14807.9 (±1489.8)?28.8 (±10.6) dietary α-tocopherol [mg·kg^?1] (P<0.01)?8436.6 (±1701.6)·dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.001)+24.0 (±11.22)·dietary α-tocopherol·dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.0416)). It is concluded that partial substitution of dietary PUFA with MUFA lead to an increase in the concentration of α-tocopherol in muscle and microsome extracts. An interaction between dietary α-tocopherol and fatty acids exists, in which at low level of dietary vitamin E inclusion, a low MUFA/PUFA ratio leads to a reduction in the concentration of α-tocopherol in microsome extracts and a concentration of hexanal in meat above the expected values.     

Kinetics of phosphate uptake in excised maize root

The short term uptake of phosphate involving 10 min absorption followed by 5 min desorption, both at 30 °C, in the concentration range 1.0×10^?9 to 7.5×10^?2 M KH₂PO₄ by fresh and washed maize (Zea mays L. cv. Ganga Safed-2) roots can be described by a single isotherm having five phases (0 and I–IV) with regularly spaced kinetic constants. Almost identical kinetics were observed in both fresh and washed maize roots. The kinetics of phase 0 in the concentration range 1.0×10^?9–3.0×10^?5 M. was sigmoidal in fresh maize roots, however, in washed tissue exhibited 2 phases termed here as 0a and 0b. 0a covered the concentration range 1.0×10^?9–5.0×10^?6 M and 0b 6.0×10^?6–3.0×10^?5 M. In the concentration range 1.0×10^?4–7.5×10^?2 M four distinct phases, termed as I, II, III and IV were evident in both fresh and washed maize roots. Each phase obeyed Michaelis—Menten kinetics. The values of K_m and V_max have been estimated for each phase. The uptake isotherm was accompanied by discontinuous transitions.     

Quenching Effect of Tocopherols on the Methyl Linoleate Photooxidation and Their Oxidation Products

The quenching effect of α-, γ- and δ-tocopherols on the methylene blue sensitized photo- oxidation of methyl linoleate was investigated, and the ¹O₂. quenching ability of tocopherols was determined. The ¹O₂ quenching rate constants for α-, γ- and δ-tocopherols in ethanol were estimated to be 2.6 × 10⁸ m^?1 sec^?1, 1.8 × 10⁸ m^?1 sec^?1 and 1.0 × 10⁸ m^?1 sec^?1, respectively. And the rate constants for the chemical reaction between each tocopherol and ¹O₂ were 6.6 × 10⁶ m^?1 sec^?1, 2.6 × 10⁶ m^?1 sec^?1 and 0.7 × 10⁶ m^?1 sec^?1 for α-, γ- and δ-tocopherols, respectively. The results show that α-tocopherol is the most effective compound toward ¹O₂ among the three tocopherols. The photooxidation of each tocopherol produced two peroxides which, after chemical reduction, were identified to be tocopherol hydroquinone by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The photooxidation mechanism of these tocopherols was assumed to be different from that of autoxidation.     

PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN PORPHYRIDIUM CRUENTUM: EVIDENCE FOR BICARBONATE TRANSPORT IN A UNICELLULAR RED ALGA1

Various physiological characteristics of photosynthesis in the unicellular red alga Porphyridium cruentum Naegeli have been investigated. The rate of photosynthesis was optimal at 25° C and pH 7.5 and was not inhibited by 21% oxygen over a temperature range of 5 to 35° C. Kinetics of whole cell photosynthesis as a function of substrate concentration gave a K_1/2, (CO₂) of 0.3 μM. CO₂ compensation point, measured in a closed system at pH 7.5, was a constant 6.7 m?L · L^?1 over the temperature range 15 to 30° C and was unaffected by O₂ concentration. Whole cell photosynthesis, measured in a closed system at alkaline pH, showed that the rates of oxygen evolution were greatly in excess of the rate of CO₂ supply from the spontaneous dehydration of HCO₃^? in the medium. This indicates that bicarbonate is utilized by the cell to support this photosynthetic rate. These physiological characteristics of Porphyridium cruentum are consistent with the hypothesis that this alga transports bicarbonate across the plasmalemma.     

Studies of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protein from rat brain

Specific binding of ¹²⁵I-labeled α-bungarotoxin to a 34 800 × g pellet of a whole rat brain homogenate has been obtained at levels 2 pmol toxin per g of whole brain with a K_d of 8·10^?9 M. Binding is reduced 90% by 10^?5 M (+)- tubocurarine chloride and 10^?4 M nicotine, whereas concentrations of 10^?4 M choline chloride, atropine sulfate and eserine sulfate have essentially no effect on toxin binding. These results compare closely with those obtained from binding studies with ¹²⁵I-labeled α-bungarotoxin and soluble acetylcholine receptor protein preparations form Torpedo nobiliana; suggesting that this mammalian receptor protein is nicotinic in character.Extraction of the 34 800 × g pellet with 1% Emulphogene yields a soluble fraction with specifically binds ¹²⁵I-labeled α-bungarotoxin with a K_d of 5·10^?9 M. Nicotine and α-bungarotoxin at concentrations of 10^?5 M abolish toxin- receptor complex formation and carbachol and (+)-tubocurarine chloride reduce complex formation 35–40% at similar concentrations. Eserine sulfate, atropine sulfate, decamethonium, and pilocarpine had no effect on complex formation at concentrations of 10^?5 M.     

PHOTOMOVEMENT RESPONSES OF PORPHYRIDIUM PURPUREUM1

The influence of light quality on positive phototopotaxis by the gliding, unicellular red alga Porphyridium purpureum was obtained using interference filters. Cells exposed to 3 × 10^?7 mol · m²· s^?1 of various wavelengths for 72 h showed maximum topotaxis at 420 and 440 nm. The lower threshold for positive, movement was approximately 5 × 10^?8 mol · m^?2· s^?1. Random movement occurred at nonactinic wavelengths, and no movement occurred in the dark. Cell motility appeared to be unaffected by light polarity, suggesting that the photoreceptor(s) for topotaxis and photokinesis are randomly oriented.     

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE,LIGHT AND pH ON GROWTH,PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION OF THE DINOFLAGELLATE PERIDINIUM CINCTUM FA. WESTII IN LABORATORY CULTURES1

Optimum light, temperature, and pH conditions for growth, photosynthetic, and respiratory activities of Peridinium cinctum fa. westii (Lemm.) Lef were investigated by using axenic clones in batch cultures. The results are discussed and compared with data from Lake Kinneret (Israel) where it produces heavy blooms in spring. Highest biomass development and growth rates occurred at ca. 23° C and ≥50 μE· m^?2·s¹ of fluorescent light with energy peaks at 440–575 and 665 nm. Photosynthetic oxygen release was more efficient in filtered light of blue (BG 12) and red (RG 2) than in green (VG 9) qualities. Photosynthetic oxygen production occurred at temperatures ranging from 5° to 32° C in white fluorescent light from 10 to 105 μE·m^?2·s^?1 with a gross maximum value of 1500 × 10^?12 g·cell^?1·h^?1 at the highest irradiance. The average respiration amounted to ca. 12% of the gross production and reached a maximum value of ca. 270·10^?12 g·cell^?1·h^?1 at 31° C. A comparison of photosynthetic and respiratory Q₁₀-values showed that in the upper temperature range the increase in gross production was only a third of the corresponding increase in respiration, although the gross production was at maximum. Short intermittent periods of dark (>7 min) before high light exposures from a halogen lamp greatly increased oxygen production. Depending on the physiological status of the alga, light saturation values were reached at 500–1000 μE·m^?2·s^?1 of halogen light with compensation points at 20–40 μE·m^?2·s^?1 and I_k-values at 100–200 μE·m^?2·s^?1. The corresponding values in fluorescent light in which it was cultured and adapted, were 25 to 75% lower indicating the ability of the alga to efficiently utilize varying light conditions, if the adaptation time is sufficient. Carbon fixation was most efficient at ca. pH 7, but the growth rates and biomass development were highest at pH 8.3.     

Effect of alpha-MSH on the corticosteroid production of isolated zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata cells

α-MSH (10^?9 ? 6×10^?7M) potentiates the effect of ACTH (10^?11 ? 5×10^?9M) on adrenocortical steroidogenesis decreassng ED₅₀ of ACTH from 220 to 183 pg/ml on zona fasciculata corticosterone-, and from 739 to 437 pg/ml on zona glomerulosa aldosterone production. α-MSH alone increases aldosterone production of zona glomerulosa cells in doses (10^?9 ? 6×10^?7M) that do not stimulate zona fasciculata corticosterone production. The response of zona glomerulosa aldosterone production to α-MSH can be characterized by a bi-phase dose-response curve.     

Phospholipase A2 from Trypanosoma congolense: Characterization and haematological properties

Phospholipase A₂ was isolated from Trypanosoma congolense and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The enzyme appeared to exist in a dimeric form with subunit molecular weights of 16 500 and 18 000. It had a pH optimum of 6·8. Kinetic analysis with different substrates, showed that the enzyme had exceptional specificity for 1,2,dimyristoyl-sn-phosphatidylcholine and 1,2,dioleoyl-sn-phosphatidylcholine with K_m values of 1·85 × 10^?3 M and 2·12 × 10^?3 M respectively. The Arrhenius plot was linear with an activation energy of 5·8 kcal mol^?1. Inhibition studies with parahydroxymercuribenzoate and tri-butyltinoxide were positive thus implicating a thiol group at the catalytic site of the enzyme. The enzyme was stable to heat treatment and possessed haemolytic and anticoagulating properties.     

Carbonate ions appear to neither inhibit nor stimulate use of bicarbonate ions in photosynthesis by Ulva lactuca

Rates of photosynthesis by the marine macroalga Ulva lactuca were measured in a factorial experiment at five concentrations of HCO₃^? and CO₃^2- between 0·20 and 1·26 mol m^?3, but very low concentrations of CO₂. The results demonstrated that HCO₃^? was available for use, but an analysis of variance showed that CO₃^2- had neither an inhibiting nor a stimulating effect on rates of photosynthesis over this concentration range. Over the experiment, pH varied from 8·46 to 10·06 and this also had no significant effect on rates of photosynthesis. The lack of a stimulatory effect of high concentrations of CO₃^2- on the rate of photosynthesis at low concentrations of HCO₃^? was taken as circumstantial evidence for direct uptake of HCO₃^? rather than proton extrusion and external production of CO₂. In the rockpools in which U. lactuca grows, pH values up to 10·35 have been recorded, and for much of the time, CO₃^2- was the major form of inorganic carbon available. The apparent lack of an ability to use CO₃^2- under these conditions suggests that direct use of CO₃^2- as a source of inorganic carbon for photosynthesis is unlikely to be widespread.     

A new quaternary photoluminescence enhancement system of Eu−N‐(o‐vanillin)‐1,8‐diaminonaphthalene−1,10‐phenanthroline−Zn and its application in determining trace amounts of europium and zinc

A new sensitive quaternary photoluminescence enhancement system has been successfully developed to determine trace amounts of Eu³⁺ and Zn²⁺. The photoluminescence intensity of Eu ? N‐(o‐vanilin)‐1,8‐diaminonaphthalene systems was greatly increased by the addition of specific concentrations of 1, 10‐phenanthroline and Zn²⁺. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 274 and 617 nm, respectively. Under optimal system conditions, the photoluminescence intensity showed a linear response toward Eu³⁺ in the range of 5.0 × 10^–6 ~ 2.0 × 10^–5 M with a limit of detection (= 2.2 × 10^–9 M) and the photoluminescence intensity of the system decreased linearly by increasing the Zn²⁺ concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10^–8 ~ 1.0 × 10^–6 M with a limit of detection (= 8.8 × 10^–11 M). This system was successfully applied for the determination of trace amounts of Eu³⁺ in a high purity La₂O₃ matrix and in the synthetic rare earth oxide mixture, and of Zn²⁺ in a high purity Mg(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O matrix and in synthetic coexisting ionic matrixes. The energy transfer mechanism, photoluminescence enhancement of the system and interference of other lanthanide ions and common coexisting ions were also studied in detail. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct chemiluminescence determination of penicillin G potassium and a chemometrical optimization approach

A highly selective and simple chemiluminescence (CL) method for determination of penicillin G potassium (PGK) was developed. In the proposed method, CL was elicited from PGK upon its oxidation with H₂O₂. The light emission was enhanced in the presence of N‐cetyl‐N,N,N‐trimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB). An experimental design, central composite design (CCD), was used to realize the optimized variables, including pH, surfactant (CTMAB) and H₂O₂ concentrations. Under optimum condition, the calibration graph was linear in the range 3.3 × 10^?3–3.3 × 10^?1 mmol/L, with a detection limit of 8.8 × 10^?4 mmol/L for PGK. The precision was calculated by analysing samples containing 1.6 × 10^?1 mmol/L PGK (n = 5) and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.40%. The utility of this method was demonstrated by determining PGK in pharmaceutical formulations for injection. The proposed method was validated by a reference method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring the electrochemiluminescent behavior of procaterol hydrochloride in the presence of Ru(bpy)32+ and its analytical application in pharmaceutical preparation

Based on the strong enhancement effect of procaterol hydrochloride on the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ (bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) in an alkaline H₃PO₄–NaOH buffer solution on a bare Pt electrode, a simple, rapid and sensitive method was developed for the determination of procaterol hydrochloride. The optimum conditions for the enhanced ECL have been developed in detail in this work. Under optimum conditions, the logarithmic ECL enhancement vs. the logarithmic concentration of procaterol hydrochloride is linear over a wide concentration range of 2.0 × 10^?7 to 2.0 × 10^?4 M (r =  0.9976), with a limit of detection of 1.1 × 10^?8 M (S/N =  3), and a relative standard deviation of 2.1% (n =  7, c =  5.0 × 10^?6 M). The proposed method was applied to the determination of this drug in tablets with recoveries of 89.7%–98.5%. In addition, a possible mechanism for the enhanced ECL of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, which is caused by ProH, has also been proposed.