Reaction of bovine and equine growth hormones with tetranitromethane.

Bovine and equine growth hormones were chemically modified with tetranitromethane, at pH 7.4 during 5 h and at pH 8.0 in the presence of 8 M urea during 1 h. a) Both hormones have very similar but not identical reactivities. b) The nitration of the reactive tyrosines and tryptophan residues at pH 7.4 produces no detectable changes in their immunological or somatotrophic activities. C) The nitration of all tyrosine residues in both hormones gives rise to a complete loss of somatographic activity with no alteration of the immunological activity.     

Plasma galanin, vasopressin, and oxytocin in patients with Addison's disease.

Galanin is colocalized with adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) in the human pituitary and with corticotrophin releasing hormone, arginine, vasopressin, and oxytocin in the hypothalamus. Galanin, vasopressin, and oxytocin influence the secretion of pituitary ACTH. The aim of this study was to investigate if the endogenous stimulation of ACTH release in Addison's disease was reflected in plasma galanin, vasopressin, and oxytocin. ACTH, galanin, vasopressin, and oxytocin were measured in plasma from 14 patients with Addison's disease, one patient with Nelson's syndrome, and 14 healthy controls. Eight patients had elevated plasma ACTH whereas six patients and all controls had ACTH levels within the reference-range. There was no difference in galanin or vasopressin between patients and controls or between samples with low or high ACTH concentrations. In contrast, oxytocin was higher in patients with elevated plasma ACTH compared to patients and controls with normal or low ACTH. No relation was found between galanin or oxytocin and age or sex. A tendency towards lower vasopressin with increasing age was found among the men (p=0.057). The highest ACTH and galanin levels were found in the patient with Nelson's syndrome. In conclusion, increased plasma ACTH was not reflected in elevated plasma galanin or vasopressin. In contrast, elevated ACTH levels were accompanied by higher oxytocin levels.     

Reaction between tetranitromethane and deoxyribonucleoproteins]

A comparative kinetic study has been made of tetranitromethane nitration of tyrosine residues in deoxyribonucleoprotein preparation (DNP) treated with EDTA and/or UV light at lambda=253.7 nm, as well as obtained by enzymatic digestion of nucleosomes. UV-light-induced protein-DNA linkages stabilize the structure of the preparation, whereas the action of chelate agents causes DNP-200 angstrom leads to DNP-100 angstrom transfer. Comparison of kinetic data and the results of the amino acid analysis of individual fractions of nitrated histones allowed to conclude that the differences observed between the degree and the rate of nitration are due to internucleosomic interactions which form the supernucleosomic structure of DNP.     

催产素和加压素与应激的关系

催产素和加压素是由下丘脑视上核和室旁核大细胞性神经内分泌细胞合成和分泌的一种神经垂体激素。各种应刺激都可以引起催产素和加压素神经元的活动。目前应激后引起的这类神经活动的变化与人类的某结疾病的病理生理相关联正在引起人们的关注。西文总结了近几年在这方面的研究进展。主要内容包括：（1）催产素和加压素神经元在应激中的反应;（2）在大细胞性催产素和加压素神经元的应激反应相关联的神经传递物质;（3）与应激相关联的精神疾病的关系。     

Chromosomal and comparative mapping of rat oxytocin, oxytocin receptor and vasopressin genes

Oxytocin and its receptor are potentially important for cardiovascular functions. In the present paper, we report their chromosome locations in the rat and their comparative mapping with the mouse and human. They are located in chromosome regions previously known to contain quantitative trait loci for blood pressure in various genetic crosses. Thus, they have become valid candidate genes for genetic hypertension.     

Expression of corticosteroid-binding protein in the human hypothalamus, co-localization with oxytocin and vasopressin.

Corticosteroid-binding globulin, a specific steroid carrier in serum with high binding affinity for glucocorticoids, is expressed in various tissues. In the present study, we describe the immunocytochemical distribution of this protein in neurons and nerve fibers in the human hypothalamus. CBG immunoreactive perikarya and fibers were observed in the paraventricular, supraoptic, and sexual dimorphic nuclei in the perifornical region, as well as in the lateral hypothalamic and medial preoptic areas, the region of the diagonal band, suprachiasmatic and ventromedial nuclei, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and some epithelial cells from the choroid plexus and ependymal cells. Stained fibers occurred in the median eminence and infundibulum. Double immunostaining revealed a partial co-localization of corticosteroid-binding globulin with oxytocin and, to a lesser extent, with vasopressin in the paraventricular and the supraoptic nuclei. Double immunofluorescence staining showed coexistence of these substances in axonal varicosities in the median eminence. We conclude that neurons of the human hypothalamus are capable of expressing corticosteroid-binding globulin, in part co-localized with the classical neurohypophyseal hormones. The distribution of CBG immunoreactive neurons, which is widespread but limited to specific nuclei, indicates that CBG has many physiological functions that may include neuroendocrine regulation and stress response.