Effect of the nucleotides CMP and UMP on exhaustion in exercise rats

The aetiology of muscle fatigue has yet not been clearly established. Administration of two nucleotides, cytosine monophosphate (CMP) and uridine monophosphate (UMP), has been prescribed for the treatment of neuromuscular affections in humans. Patients treated with CMP/UMP recover from altered neurological functions and experience pain relief, thus the interest to investigate the possible effect of the drug on exhausting exercise. With such aim, we have determined, in exercised rats treated with CMP/UMP, exercise endurance, levels of lactate, glucose and glycogen, and the activity of several metabolic enzymes such as, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Our results show that rats treated with CMP/UMP are able to endure longer periods of exercise (treadmill-run). Before exercise, muscle glucose level is significantly higher in treated rats, suggesting that the administration of CMP/UMP favours the entry of glucose in the muscle. Liver glycogen levels remains unaltered during exercise, suggesting that CMP/UMP may be implicated in maintaining the level of hepatic glycogen constant during exercise. Lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase activity is significantly lower in the liver of treated rats. These results suggest that administration of CMP/UMP enable rats to endure exercise by altering some metabolic parameters.     

Effect of exogenous nucleotides on the candicidin fermentation.

Addition of cyclic-AMP (c-AMP) to Streptomyces griseus fermentations inhibited candicidin formation. In a phosphate-free resting cell system, c-AMP inhibited net candicidin formation and incorporation of labeled propionate and p-aminobenzoic acid into the antibiotic but did not inhibit protein synthesis. All nucleotides tested, regardless of the position of the phosphate ester, were effective inhibitors; nucleosides and free bases were not. Inhibition occurred whether the nucleotide was added early or late. The results indicate that inhibition of antibiotic formation by exogenous nucleotides, including cyclic nucleotides, is similar to the effect produced by inorganic phosphate.     

Effect of plasma components on the feeding response of the mosquito Aedes aegypti L. to adenine nucleotides

ABSTRACT. The gorging response of Aedes aegypti to the ATP dissolved in platelet-poor plasma is greater than that of ATP dissolved in 0.15 m NaCl. The plasma components NaHCO₃ and albumin account for the full effect of the potentiation. Phosphate or tris buffers do not duplicate the bicarbonate effect. In 0.15 m NaCl with bicarbonate but lacking albumin the concentrations inducing 50% feeding are 58 μM ATP, 140 μM ADP, 460 μM AMP and 1500 μM cAMP. Non-adenine nucleotides such as ITP and GTP and phytic acid, and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid had no activity.     

Effect of ricin on acute phase response in rats.

Ricin, a highly toxic protein from castor beans was administered (ip) to rats in a dose of 1.25 micrograms/100 g to selectively deplete at least 60-70% of Kupffer cells. This dose spared hepatocytes. This rat model was used to study acute phase protein synthesis and the role of Kupffer cells in acute phase response (APR). Ricin itself induced an APR, similar in pattern but of lower magnitude, than that induced by turpentine. However, the effect of combination of ricin and turpentine on APR was not additive. Kupffer cells appear to play permissive role in APR through mediators like hepatocytes stimulating factors.     

Effect of cyclic nucleotides on the cyanide-insensitive respiration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

The effects of N6,O2'-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (Bu2-cyclic AMP) and N2,O2'-dibutyrylguanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (Bu2-cyclic GMP) on the cyanide-insensitive respiration of guinea pig peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leucocytes were studied. Bu2-cyclic AMP inhibited the respiration induced both by phagocytosis of E. coli and by the interaction with trypsin-digested rat liver microsomes. The addition of theophylline gave rise to an inhibitory pattern similar to that with Bu2-cyclic AMP against both the respirations induced. On the other hand, Bu2-cyclic GMP did not affect the respiration induced by phagocytosis whereas it inhibited the respiration induced by the addition of myristic acid was inhibited by Bu2-cyclic AMP, which was similar to that with E. coli. The respiration induced by methylene blue was inhibited neither by Bu2-cyclic AMP nor by Bu2-cyclic GMP. These observations suggest that the cyanide-insensitive respiration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes may be classified into at least three types from the inhibitory pattern of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP.     

Effect of fasting on the metabolism of cytidine nucleotides in the liver of intact and alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane-treated rats

The utilization of (2-14C)orotic acid for the synthesis of cytidine components of the acid-soluble extract and for the RNA cytosine is decreased in the liver of rats which fasted for 24 or 72 h. The depression of the specific activity of the cytidine components is greater in animals which received alpha-HCH during the 24-hour interval after removal of food than in the control group; by contrast, the specific activity of the cytidine components again increases in rats fasting for 72 h. Analogous changes also occurred in the specific activity of RNA cytosine. Both the (U-14C)cytidine uptake and its utilization for the synthesis of RNA cytosine are enhanced in fasting rats; the administration of alpha-HCH has a potentiating effect. The total content of cytidine components of the acidsoluble extract of 1 g of liver tissue is enhanced 24 h after the animals of the control and experimental group were deprived of food. There are no marked differences in the concentration of the uridine components. Fasting has an additive effect on the increase of cytochrome P-450 level in the alpha-HCH treated rats. Alpha-HCH = alpha-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane.     

Effect of serotonin on cyclic nucleotides of human platelets.

Serotonin produced a 6 to 10 fold increase of cyclic GMP over baseline levels of this nucleotide in platelets. Maximum stimulation was reached within 30 sec to 1 min after addition of serotonin and was dependent upon its concentration in the medium. Inhibition of serotonin uptake by methysergide, dihydroergotamine and chloroimipramine did not influence the serotonin-induced stimulation of cyclic GMP but glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde blocked it completely. Cyclic AMP levels in platelets were not affected by serotonin. The serotonin-induced stimulation of cyclic GMP is independent of the uptake of this biogenic amine by platelets and is not due to platelet aggregation.     

Effect of adenine nucleotides and pyrophosphate on the exchange of transferrin-bound carbonate.

1. ATP, ADP and pyrophosphate accelerate the exchange of carbonate of the transferrin-iron-carbonate ternary complex, while AMP, cyclic AMP and phosphate have no effect. 2. ATP promotes carbonate exchange without removing iron from transferrin, whereas pyrophosphate effectiely attacks both the anion and iron components of the ternary complex. 3. Transferrin readily takes over iron from its ATP or pyrophosphate complex. 4. Neither ATP nor pyrophosphate can substitute for carbonate of the ternary complex. These results fit in well with the concept that ATP may play a direct role in the iron uptake by reticulocytes.     

Cyclic nucleotides levels in the liver of rats treated with CCl4.

Treatment of rats with two different doses of CCl4 (respectively 2.5 and 0.5 ml/kg body wt. intragastrically) is followed by a rapid increase in the cAMP content of the liver. With 0.5 ml of CCl4, the increase occurs as early as 30 min after poisoning, namely about 4-5 h before the onset of triglyceride accumulation in the liver. The maximum increase has been at 6 h after administration of the hepatotoxin. In both experimental conditions, normal values are recovered only after 36-48 h. cGMP level appears unmodified during the whole observation period. Therefore the ratio cGMP/CAMP decreases consistently. The ATP level decreases significantly between 2 and 12 h. The increase in liver triglycerides level after CCl4 can be also a consequence of an impairment of microtubule function, leading to a decreased release of lipoprotein micelles from hepatocytes into the blood stream.     

Effect of RNA nucleotides on Shigella biology

Sodium nucleinate and its mononucleotides have been found capable of stimulating the multiplication and virulence of shigellae, as well as their sensitivity to antibiotics, in cultures grown in nutrient media.     

Effect of bed rest on the adenine nucleotides concentration in human blood platelets.

The effect of immobilization in bed on metabolism and function of human blood platelet was studied. Blood platelets taken from patients with bone fractures after long term bed rest (14 days and 28 days) demonstrated significantly reduced concentration of total adenine nucleotides (after 28 days reduction about 30%). This decrease of total platelet adenine nucleotides after immobilization in bed is probably caused by stimulation of platelet secretory process. Thrombin which released from control platelets 58.2% +/- 1.5% of total adenine nucleotides liberated decreased amounts (only 23.1% +/- 3.3% of total) of nucleotides from patient platelets isolated after 28 days of immobilization in bed. Loss of nucleotides from platelets was accompanied by slightly increased extent of platelet aggregation. It is concluded that during bed rest the reactivity of blood platelets (aggregation and release reaction) is stimulated.     

Effect of guanine nucleotides on the hydrophobic interaction of tubulin

The influence of guanine nucleotides on the binding of tubulin to hydrophobic components is investigated. Tubulin binds to a hydrophobic phenyl-Sepharose gel in a reversible, nucleotide-dependent way. Assembly-competent tubulin is released with ion-free water as eluent. It contains one guanosine triphosphate per dimer. More denatured tubulin needs a mixture of ethanol-water to elute. Consequently, hydrophobic interaction chromatography over phenyl-Sepharose represents an easy method for preparing polymerizable tubulin free of nucleotides at the exchangeable sites. While, in the absence of guanine nucleotide, the binding of tubulin to phenyl-Sepharose is rapid and immediately reversible on nucleotide addition, the binding of the nucleotide-dependent hydrophobic sites of tubulin to 1,8-ANS is slow, and its dissociation on nucleotide addition is poor. No differences are observed between the shielding of hydrophobic sites in the presence of GTP or GDP. Neither inorganic phosphate nor A1F4- is found to directly influence guanine nucleotides in their ability to shield hydrophobic sites.     

Effect of adenine nucleotides on the activator function of streptokinase

The addition of ATP or 3,5-AMP (but not UTP, GTP, CTP, AMP, 2,3-AMP, ADP, inorganic pyrophosphate) at a final concentration of 10(-1) M into streptokinase solution, pH 7.0 or 9.5, causes a dramatic inhibition of streptokinase-induced fibrinolysis. The specificity of ATP effect is fully lost at pH 3.0, when all nucleotides completely inhibit the activating function of streptokinase. Ribose-5-phosphate causes a similar effect at pH 3.0. The character of nucleotide action on the activating function of streptokinase considerably differs from their influence on proteolytic reactions.