Iron accumulation in tissues of magnesium-deficient rats with dietary iron overload

The mineral imbalances in magnesium-deficient rats with dietary iron overload were studied. Forty-four male Wister rats were divided into six groups and fed six diets, two by three, fully crossed: magnesium adequate or deficient, and iron deficient, adequate, or excess. The concentrations of iron, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus in tissues of the rats were measured. The results were as follows: (1) The excess iron intake reinforced the iron accumulation in liver and spleen of magnesium deficient rats; (2) The saturation of iron binding capacity was enormously elevated in the magnesium deficient rats fed excess iron; and (3) Dietary iron deprivation diminished the degree of calcium deposition in kidney of magnesium deficient rats. These results suggest that magnesium-deprived-rats have abnormal iron metabolism losing homeostatic regulation of plasma iron, and magnesium deficient rats with dietary iron overload may be used as an experimental hemochromatosis model.     

Vitamin adeficiency and keratin biosynthesis in cultured hamster trachea

Summary Tracheas from vitamin A-deficient hamsters in organ culture in vitamin A-free medium developed squamous metaplasia. Addition of retinyl acetate to the medium prevented squamous metaplasia and a mucociliary epithelium was maintained. Indirect immunofluorescent staining with antikeratin antibodies AE1 and AE3 indicated positive reactions with epithelium of tracheas either cultured in vitamin A-free or retinyl acetate (RAc)-containing medium. The “stratum corneum”-like squames in metaplastic tracheas were strongly stained by AE3. Immunoprecipitation of cytoskeletal extracts from [³⁵S]methionine labeled tracheas with a multivalent keratin antiserum indicated that the concentration of keratins synthesized in tracheas cultured in vitamin A-free medium was greater than that observed in tracheas cultured in the presence of RAc. In addition, new species of keratin were expressed in tracheas cultured in RAc-free medium. Alterations in the program of keratin synthesis were clearly detectable after 1 d in vitamin A-free medium, even though squamous metaplasia was not yet obvious. Squamous tracheas were shown by immunoblot analysis to contain keratins of 50, 48, 46.5, and 45 kilodalton (kd) detected with AE1; and 58, 56, and 52 kd detected with AE3. Immunoblot analysis with monospecific antimouse keratin sera also demonstrated the presence of 60, 55, and 50 kd keratins in the metaplastic tracheas. All these various species of keratins were either absent or present in much reduced quantity in mucociliary tracheas in RAc-containing medium. Interestingly, the induction of squamous metaplasia in tracheal epithelium did not result in the expression of the 59 and 67 kd keratins which are characteristically expressed in the differentiated layers of the epidermis. Therefore, this study shows that squamous metaplasia of tracheas due to vitamin A-free cultivation is accompanied by an increase in keratin synthesis as well as by the appearance of keratin species not normally present in mucociliary tracheal epithelium.     

维生素A缺乏致斑马鱼胚胎体节不对称及后脑图式形成异常

视黄酸(RA)在脊椎动物胚胎发生过程中发挥着关键作用。但是脊椎动物不能从头合成RA, 而必须以维生素A为前体通过视黄醇脱氢酶和视黄醛脱氢酶(Aldh1A)先将其氧化为视黄醛再氧化成RA。已知维生素A缺乏(VAD)会导致多种动物出现维生素A缺乏综合征, 但有关VAD对斑马鱼胚胎发育的影响尚未见报道。文章通过用不含维生素A及其他视黄类前体的饲料饲喂斑马鱼获得斑马鱼VAD胚胎。分析表明, 缺乏维生素A可导致斑马鱼胚胎体节出现不对称发育、胚胎的后脑图式形成异常。这些表型虽与aldh1a2基因敲落的及经醛脱氢酶抑制剂处理的斑马鱼胚胎表型类似, 但远不及后二者的严重, 提示VAD胚胎可能只是缺少而不是完全没有维生素A, 且可能存在不依赖视黄醛脱氢酶的RA合成途径。     

Postnatal development and GABA allosteric modulation of benzodiazepine receptor binding in the vitamin B-6 deficient rat brain

We have measured the postnatal development and GABA modulation of benzodiazepine receptors in neuronal membranes from vitamin B-6 deficient and normal rats. In rats fed vitamin B-6 adequate and deficient diets there were age-dependent changes in [³H]flunitrazepam binding site affinity and in the number of binding sites. Vitamin B-6 deficiency produced a significant reduction in the potency of GABA to enhance [³H]flunitrazepam binding to cortical membranes prepared from 14 day old rats. These results suggests an uncoupling of the GABAa/benzodiazepine receptor at a developmental period when the animals are most susceptible to spontaneous seizures.     

Meat diets and fragile bones: Inferences about osteoporosis

Because women supplemented with copper have improved bone density and femurs of rats deficient in copper have decreased mechanical strength, the hypothesis that mice fed meat would have fragile bones was tested. Mice fed sirloin are hypercholesterolemic in comparison to mice fed meat and beef liver because of a relative deficiency of copper compared to zinc. Male, albino, Swiss mice were fed trimmed sirloin or sirloin supplemented with beef liver (3/1 by weight). After 62 days, when hypercholesterolemia was detected, mice were killed and femurs were removed, cleaned and dried. Breaking strength was measured carefully at room temperature. The meat diet produced femurs 23% weaker (8.8 +/- 0.70 N/mg.100 vs 11.4 +/- 0.92, mean +/- SE, p < 0.04) in comparison to meat plus liver. Calcium, copper and phosphorus concentrations were unaffected but zinc was mildly elevated in the weak bones (426 +/- 17.5 pg/g vs 355 +/- 9.23, p < 0.002). These elements generally are unaltered in osteoporotic bones. Because copper deficiency produces osteoporosis in animals and people and because the Western diet often is low in copper, further tests of the hypothesis that diets low in copper contribute to osteoporosis are warranted.     

Alterations in binding characteristics of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in testes by vitamin A deficiency in guinea pigs

The correlation of vitamin A with the binding characteristics of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) in testes have been implicated on the basis of findings of involvement of vitamin A in testicular physiology and the abundance of PBRs in testicular tissue. Both vitamin A and PBRs are involved in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation but no data exists regarding the relationship between them. In the present study, we have examined the effects of vitamin A deficiency on the affinity and density of PBRs in testes of guinea pigs. Weanling guinea pigs were divided into three groups: control, pair-fed control and vitamin A deficient. They were fed a complete semipurified diet. The vitamin A deficient diet was similar to the control diet except vitamin A palmitate was omitted. Vitamin A deficiency status was achieved after 90 days of feeding. Binding of [³H]Ro 5-4864, a specific ligand for peripheral benzodiazepine receptors was determined in whole homogenate of testicular tissue. There was a 77% decrease in the receptor density (B_max) in vitamin A deficient group compared to control. The B_maxvalues for control, pair-fed control and vitamin A deficient groups were: 12.4 ± 0.4, 8.8 ± 0.2 and 3.0 ± 0.6 pmol/g, respectively. The equilibrium dissociation constant (K_D) values were also 86% decreased in the vitamin A deficient group compared to the other groups. The K_D values for control, pair-fed control and vitamin A deficient groups were: 3.4 ± 0.7, 2.8 ± 0.5 and 0.5 ± 0.01, respectively. The decrease in the binding characteristics of PBRs in testes due to vitamin A deficiency was accompanied with a corresponding decrease in the levels of testosterone in plasma. These results suggest a close functional relationship of vitamin A with PBRs in testes.     

A quantitative analysis of germ cells and the histone variants in the testes of vitamin A-deficient rats and during subsequent repletion with vitamin A

A quantitative analysis of the different types of germ cells present in the seminiferous tubules of vitamin A-deficient-retinoate maintained rats revealed that the number of pachytene spermatocytes and spermatogonia was greatly reduced in the deficient rats. Spermatids were virtually absent in the deficient tubules which contained mostly spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes along with the Sertoli cells. There was no change in the number of Sertoli cells present in the tubules of deficient rats as compared to that of normal rats. Following supplementation of retinyl acetate to vitamin A-deficient-retinoate maintained rats, there was an immediate thinning of the germinal epithelium resulting from the sloughing off of the damaged spermatocytes which were beyond repair. However, after 12 days of vitamin A supplementation fresh batch of pachytene spermatocytes started appearing while by day 16 round spermatids could be seen. Analysis of the acid soluble proteins from nuclei on different types of Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic systems has revealed that the levels of the testis specific histone variants Hlt, TH2A and TH2B, synthesized predominantly in the pachytene spermatocytes were greatly reduced in the testes of retinoate maintained rats. Following supplementation of retinyl acetate for either 4 days or 8 days the levels of these histone variants further decreased which correlated with the decrease in the number of pachytene spermatocytes. However, by day 12 of supplementation onwards, their levels started increasing and reached near normal levels by day 24 of vitamin A-supplementation     

Database of neurodegenerative disorders

A neurological disorder is a disorder caused by the deterioration of certain nerve cells called neurons. Changes in these cells cause them to function abnormally, eventually bringing about their death. In this paper we present a comprehensive database for neurodegenerative diseases, a first-of-its kind covering all known or suspected genes, proteins, pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases. This dynamically compiled database allows researchers to link neurological disorders to the candidate genes & proteins. It serves as a tool to navigate potential gene-protein-pathway relationships in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. The neurodegenerative disorder database covers more then 100 disease concepts including synonyms and research topics. The current version of the database provides links to 728 abstracts and over 203 unique genes/proteins with 137 drugs. Also it is integrated well with other related databases. The aim of this database is to provide the researcher with a quick overview of potential links between genes and proteins with related neurodegenerative diseases. Thus DND providing a user-friendly interface is designed as a source to enhance research on neurodegenerative disorders.

Availability     

Differences in lectin binding in squamous metaplasia induced by benzo(a)pyrene and vitamin A deficiency in hamster tracheal explants

Summary Epidermoid metaplasia in the hamster trachea can be produced by treatment with benzo(a)pyrene (BP) or vitamin A deficiency. To elucidate distinguishing features of the two types of lesions, lectin binding to tissue sections of tracheal explants exhibiting metaplastic lesions was assessed. In squamous metaplasia induced by vitamin A deficiency, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and peanut agglutinin (PNA) showed faint (+) to moderate (++) binding in both basal and suprabasal cells; Concanavalin A (Con A) showed moderate binding (++) to suprabasal cells and no binding in basal cells. In the BP-induced lesions, PNA and WGA bound intensely (++++, +++, respectively) in basal cells and faintly (+) to moderately (++) in suprabasal cells. The staining seemed to be predominant at the periphery of the cells. Further, the intensity of PNA and WGA staining increased significantly after the neuraminidase treatment. DBA and Con A showed faint (+) to moderate (++) binding in the BP-induced metaplasia. The results show that in BP-induced metaplasia, cells in the basal region show preferential binding of PNA and WGA. This research was supported by grant RO1-HL32308 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD.     

固定化脂肪酶合成维生素A棕榈酸酯

研究了有机溶剂中脂肪酶催化维生素A棕榈酸酯的合成工艺。采用维生素A醋酸酯和棕榈酸乙酯作为反应底物, 对催化合成维生素A棕榈酸酯反应介质进行了比较, 同时对影响合成维生素A棕榈酸酯反应的因素(温度、初始水含量、底物摩尔比、反应时间和酶量等)进行了探讨, 优化了反应条件: 在10 mL的石油醚中, 体系初始含水量0.2%(体积比V/V), 0.100 g 维生素A醋酸酯和0.433 g 棕榈酸乙酯在酶量为1.1 g的固定化酶催化下, 在30°C、190 r/min下反应12 h, 转化率可以达到83%, 固定化酶可连续使用5次以上。