Inhibition of estrogen 2-hydroxylase

The effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES), oestradiol (E2), primaquine (PQ), chloroquine (CQ), 1-methylimidazole (1-MeI), metronidazole (MET) and antipyrine (AP) has been studied on rat liver microsomal metabolism of ethinyloestradiol (EE2) by measuring the formation of 2-hydroxyethinyl-oestradiol (2-OHEE2) using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Using a substrate concentration of 25 microM, PQ, DES and E2 produced the most marked effect with IC50 values of 75, 100 and 100 microM respectively whereas CQ, MET and 1-MeI were less potent with IC50 values of 335, 448 and 448 microM. AP inhibited EE2 metabolism to only a small extent and an IC50 value was not calculated. PQ (75 microM) inhibited the enzyme non-competitively decreasing the Vmax from 1.8 to 1.0 nmol/min/mg protein. E2 (100 microM) inhibited the enzyme competitively with an increase in the Km from 17.9 to 55.6 microM. The results of this study indicate that steroidal and non-steroidal compounds have different affinities for EE2 2-hydroxylase.     

New phenylaniline derivatives as modulators of amyloid protein precursor metabolism

The chloroquinoline scaffold is characteristic of anti-malarial drugs such as chloroquine (CQ) or amodiaquine (AQ). These drugs are also described for their potential effectiveness against prion disease, HCV, EBV, Ebola virus, cancer, Parkinson or Alzheimer diseases. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism is deregulated in Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, CQ modifies amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism by precluding the release of amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ), which accumulate in the brain of Alzheimer patients to form the so-called amyloid plaques. We showed that AQ and analogs have similar effects although having a higher cytotoxicity. Herein, two new series of compounds were synthesized by replacing 7-chloroquinolin-4-amine moiety of AQ by 2-aminomethylaniline and 2-aminomethylphenyle moieties. Their structure activity relationship was based on their ability to modulate APP metabolism, Aβ release, and their cytotoxicity similarly to CQ. Two compounds 15a, 16a showed interesting and potent effect on the redirection of APP metabolism toward a decrease of Aβ peptide release (in the same range compared to AQ), and a 3–10-fold increased stability of APP carboxy terminal fragments (CTFα and AICD) without obvious cellular toxicity at 100?µM.     

Drug induced alterations in some rat hepatic microsomal components: a comparative study of four structurally different antimalarials

Alterations in microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes, microsomal lipids and some serum enzymes following pre-treatment of rats with therapeutic doses of four structurally different antimalarial compounds, chloroquine (CQ), quinine (Q), quinacrine (QK) and primaquine (PQ) have been investigated. CQ and Q significantly decreased the activities of aminopyrene N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase and both microsomal and cytosolic glutathione S-transferases. Only aniline hydroxylase was markedly decreased by QK, while PQ did not have much effect on any of these enzymes. CQ, Q and QK significantly increased the cholesterol:phospholipid ratio while all four compounds decreased the phosphatidyl choline:sphingomyelin (PC/S) ratio. All the drugs increased the activities of the serum enzymes glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase. The possible relationships of these results to structural variations in the four drugs being investigated has been discussed.     

Effect of three structurally related antimalarial drugs on liver microsomal components and lipid peroxidation in rats

Changes in microsomal drug oxidizing enzymes, microsomal lipids, hepatic glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-trans-ferase (GST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation following administration of rats with therapeutic doses of three structurally related antimalarial drugs, amodiaquine (AQ), mefloquine (MQ) and halofantrine (HF) were investigated. There was a significant decrease in the activities of aniline hydroxylase, p-nitroanisole O-demethylase and pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase in AQ, MQ and HF treated rats. AQ elicited the greatest effect with 50, 37 and 67% reductions in the activities of aniline hydroxylase, p-nitroanisole O-demethylase and pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase, respectively. All the drugs prolonged hexobarbital-sleeping time to varying extents. The three drugs increased significantly the cholesterol per phospholipid ratio. AQ, MQ and HF decreased significantly the GSH level, GST activity and increased the formation of MDA. The results indicate that the alterations in hepatic microsomal components and lipid peroxidation caused by the antimalarials are related to the structural differences in the compounds.     

Roxithromycin potentiates the effects of chloroquine and mefloquine on multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

Chloroquine (CQ) and mefloquine (MQ) are no longer potent antimalarial drugs due to the emergence of resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Combination therapy has become the standard for many regimes in overcoming drug resistance. Roxithromycin (ROM), a known p-glycoprotein inhibitor, is reported to have antimalarial activity and it is hoped it will potentiate the effects of both CQ/MQ and reverse CQ/MQ-resistance. We assayed the effects of CQ and MQ individually and in combination with ROM on synchronized P. falciparum (Dd2 strain) cultures. The IC(50) values of CQ and MQ were 60.0+/-5.0 and 16.0+/-3.0 ng/ml; these were decreased substantially when combined with ROM. Isobolograms indicate that CQ-ROM combinations were relatively more synergistic (mean FICI 0.70) than MQ-ROM (mean FICI 0.85) with their synergistic effect at par with CQ-verapamil (VRP) (mean FICI 0.64) and MQ-VRP (mean FICI 0.60) combinations. We conclude that ROM potentiates the CQ/MQ response on multidrug-resistant P. falciparum.     

Antimalarial Drugs Exacerbate Rat Liver Microsomal Lipid Peroxidation in the Presence of Oxidants

The study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of prior treatment of rats with the antimalarial drugs amodiaquine (AQ) mefloquine (MQ) and halofantrine (HF) on rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation in the presence of 1 mM FeSO4, 1 mM ascorbate and 0.2 mM H₂O₂ (oxidants). Ingestion of -tocopheral, a radical chain-breaking antioxidant was also included to assess the role of antioxidants in the drug treatment. In the presence of oxidants AQ, MQ and HF elicited 288%, 175% and 225% increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation while the drugs induced 125%, 63% and 31% increases in the absence of oxidants respectively. Similarly, AQ, MQ and HF induced lipid hydroperoxide formation by 380%, 256%, 360% respectively in the presence of oxidants and 172%, 136% and 92% in the absence of exogenously added oxidants respectively. -tocopherol reduced AQ, MQ and HF-induced MDA formation by 40%, 55% and 52% respectively and lipid hydroperoxide formation by 53%, 59% and 54% respectively. Similarly, -tocopherol attenuated the AQ, MQ and HF-induced MDA formation by 49%, 51% and 51% in the presence of oxidants and lipid hydroperoxide formation by 61%, 62% and 47% respectively. The results indicate that rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation could be enhanced by antimalarial drugs in the presence of reactive oxygen species and this effect could be ameliorated by treatment with antioxidants.     

The effects of cyclopropane carboxylate on hepatic pyruvate metabolism

The effects of cyclopropane carboxylate on gluconeogenesis and pyruvate decarboxylation from [1-14C]-labeled pyruvate and lactate were investigated in perfused livers from fasted rats. With high concentrations of pyruvate (greater than or equal to 0.5 mM) in the perfusion medium, infusion of cyclopropane carboxylate inhibited pyruvate decarboxylation and gluconeogenesis by 30 and 40%, respectively. With low, more physiological concentrations of pyruvate (50 microM) or with lactate (1 mM), cyclopropane carboxylate, at a concentration which elicits maximal inhibition of pyruvate decarboxylation from pyruvate (greater than or equal to 0.5 mM), did not affect either pyruvate decarboxylation or gluconeogenesis. Evidence is presented for the rapid formation of the coenzyme-A ester of cyclopropane carboxylate in perfused livers. Infusion of l-(-)carnitine (20 mM) prevented the inhibitory effects of cyclopropane carboxylate on pyruvate decarboxylation and gluconeogenesis from pyruvate (greater than or equal to 0.5 mM). Interestingly, no decrease in the tissue level of cyclopropanecarboxyl-CoA occurs under these conditions. The present study suggests that cyclopropane carboxylate, through a presently ill-defined mediator, inhibits pyruvate decarboxylation and gluconeogenesis by interfering with the pyruvate----oxalacetate----phosphoenolpyruvate----pyruvate cycle when pyruvate (greater than or equal to 0.5mM) supports gluconeogenesis.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimalarial activity of quinoline–pyrimidine hybrids

The aim of this study was to synthesize a series of quinoline–pyrimidine hybrids and to evaluate their in vitro antimalarial activity as well as cytotoxicity. The hybrids were brought about in a two-step nucleophilic substitution process involving quinoline and pyrimidine moieties. They were screened alongside chloroquine (CQ), pyrimethamine (PM) and fixed combinations thereof against the D10 and Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The cytotoxicity was determined against the mammalian Chinese Hamster Ovarian cell line. The compounds were all active against both strains. However, hybrid (21) featuring piperazine linker stood as the most active of all. It was found as potent as CQ and PM against the D10 strain, and possessed a moderately superior potency over CQ against the Dd2 strain (IC₅₀: 0.157 vs 0.417 μM, ～threefold), and also displayed activity comparable to that of the equimolar fixed combination of CQ and PM against both strains.     

Biotransformation of quinoline and methylquinolines in anoxic freshwater sediment

Quinoline (Q) and some isomers of methylquinoline (MQ) were transformed to hydroxylated products in freshwater sediment slurries incubated under methanogenic conditions at 25 °C. Methylquinoline transformation was not affected by a methyl group on the C-3 or C-4 carbon atom of the pyridine ring; 2-MQ, however, was not transformed. All isomers of dimethylquinoline (DMQ) tested (2,4-, 2,6-, 2,7-, and 2,8-DMQ) with a methyl group at the number 2 carbon also persisted in sediments after anaerobic incubation for one year at 25 °C.In most experiments, quinoline initially was transformed to 2-hydroxyquinoline (2-OH-Q), which was further metabolized to unidentified products. A second product, 4-CH₃-2-OH-Q, was detected in some experiments. This product accumulated and was not further transformed. 6-, 7-, and 8-Methylquinoline (6-, 7-, 8-MQ) were hydroxylated to form the respective 2-OH-MQ products. These hydroxylated products accumulated and were not further transformed. Hydroxylation of Q and 6-, 7- and 8-MQ at the 2-carbon position was confirmed by GC/FTIR and GC/MS analyses. The transformations of Q and MQs were pH dependent with an optimal pH of 7–8.The results of this study suggest that two pathways may exist for the anaerobic transformation of quinoline; one pathway leads to the formation of a hydroxylated intermediate and the other to a methylated and hydroxylated intermediate. In addition, our results suggest that a methyl substituent on the number 2 carbon inhibits the anaerobic transformation of quinoline derivatives.Abbreviations GC gas chromatography - GC/FTIR gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared spectrometry - GC/MS gas chromatography/mass spectrometry - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - MQ methylquinoline - Q quinoline     

Drug protein conjugates--III. Inhibition of the irreversible binding of ethinylestradiol to rat liver microsomal protein by mixed-function oxidase inhibitors, ascorbic acid and thiols

The metabolism of [6,7-3H]ethinylestradiol [( 3H]EE2) by rat liver microsomes was studied in vitro. After incubation of [3H]EE2 with rat liver microsomes for 20 min, 90% of the substrate was metabolised and 18% of the 3H-labelled material irreversibly bound to microsomal protein. Ascorbic acid (1 mM) decreased irreversible binding of 3H and produced an accumulation of 2-hydroxyethinylestradiol (2OH-EE2), while mixed-function oxidase inhibitors (0.5 mM) decreased binding of 3H to protein by inhibiting EE2 2-hydroxylation. Addition of thiols gave water-soluble metabolites which were characterised as 1(4)-thioether derivatives of 2OH-EE2 by co-chromatography with synthetic products. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the chemically reactive metabolite of EE2 formed in vitro is either a quinone or o-semiquinone derived from 2OH-EE2 [1].     

Gametocytaemia in Senegalese children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria treated with chloroquine, amodiaquine or sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine

Plasmodium falciparum gametocytaemia was studied in 266 Senegalese children (median 4 years, range 0.5-16) with uncomplicated malaria treated with chloroquine (CQ), amodiaquine (AQ) or sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine (SP). The proportion of resistant infections in vivo to these drugs was 44%, 16% and 7%, respectively. Gametocytes were counted by microscopy in thick smears on days 0, 4, 7 and 14 after treatment. There was a peak of gametocytaemia one week after treatment; on days 0, 7 and 14 the gametocyte prevalences were 35%, 73% and 63%, and the geometric means of gametocyte densities were 1.3, 12.5 and 5.6/microliter of blood. Three factors were found to influence gametocytaemia: treatment, efficacy of treatment, and duration of symptoms before treatment. Gametocyte prevalence and density significantly appeared higher in children treated with SP than with CQ, and higher with CQ than with AQ. Gametocyte prevalence and density were higher in resistant than in sensitive infections. The period between the appearance of the first clinical symptoms and treatment was positively and significantly linked to gametocyte prevalence and density on days 0 and 4. Early treatment with AQ, against sensitive infection, was followed by the lowest gametocytaemia. By contrast, treatment with SP against resistant infection was followed by the highest gametocytaemia. No clear relationship was observed between the density of asexual stages on day 0 and the gametocytaemia at any day between days 0 and 14. The epidemiological significance of post-therapeutic gametocytaemia and its possible role in the spread of resistant parasites are underlined. Solutions are proposed in order to avoid or reduce this gametocytaemia.     

Low doses of paraquat and polyphenols prolong life span and locomotor activity in knock-down parkin Drosophila melanogaster exposed to oxidative stress stimuli: Implication in autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism

Previous studies have shown that polyphenols might be potent neuroprotective agents in Drosophila melanogaster wild type Canton-S acutely or chronically treated with paraquat (PQ), a selective toxin for elimination of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons by oxidative stress (OS), as model of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study reports for the first time that knock-down (K-D) parkin Drosophila melanogaster (TH-GAL4; UAS-RNAi-parkin) chronically exposed to PQ (0.1–0.25 mM), FeSO₄ (Fe, 0.1 mM), deferoxamine (DFO, 0.01 mM) alone or (0.1 mM) PQ in combination with polyphenols propyl gallate (PG, 0.1 mM) and epigallocathecin gallate (EGCG, 0.1, 0.5 mM) showed significantly higher life span and locomotor activity than untreated K-D flies or treated with (1, 5, 20 mM) PQ alone. Whilst gallic acid (GA, 0.1, 0.5 mM) alone or in the presence of PQ provoked no effect on K-D flies, epicathecin (EC, 0.5 mM) only showed a positive effect on prolonging K-D flies’ life span. It is shown that PG (and EGCG) protected protocerebral posterolateral 1 (PPL1) DAergic neurons against PQ. Interestingly, the protective effect of low PQ concentrations, DFO and iron might be explained by a phenomenon known as “hormesis.” However, pre-fed K-D flies with (0.1 mM) PQ for 7 days and then exposed to (0.25 mM) for additional 8 days affect neither survival nor climbing of K-D Drosophila compared to flies treated with (0.25 mM) PQ alone. Remarkably, K-D flies treated with 0.1 mM PQ (7 days) and then with (0.25 mM) PQ plus PG (8 days) behaved almost as flies treated with (0.25 mM) PQ. Taken these data suggest that antioxidant supplements that synergistically act with low pro-oxidant stimuli to prolong and increase locomotor activity become inefficient once a threshold of OS has been reached in K-D flies. Our present findings support the notion that genetically altered Drosophila melanogaster as suitable model to study genetic and environmental factors as causal and/or modulators in the development of autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism (AR-JD)/PD. Most importantly, we have shown for the first time that low amounts of stressors induce a health-promoting extending effect in K-D parkin flies. Altogether our present results open new avenues for the screening, testing and development of novel antioxidant drugs against OS stimuli in neurodegenerative disorders.     

Defining Plasmodium falciparum treatment in South West Asia: a randomized trial comparing artesunate or primaquine combined with chloroquine or SP

Introduction

Antimalarial resistance has led to a global policy of artemisinin-based combination therapy. Despite growing resistance chloroquine (CQ) remained until recently the official first-line treatment for falciparum malaria in Pakistan, with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) second-line. Co-treatment with the gametocytocidal primaquine (PQ) is recommended for transmission control in South Asia. The relative effect of artesunate (AS) or primaquine, as partner drugs, on clinical outcomes and gametocyte carriage in this setting were unknown.

Methods

A single-blinded, randomized trial among Afghan refugees in Pakistan compared six treatment arms: CQ; CQ+(single-dose)PQ; CQ+(3 d)AS; SP; SP+(single-dose)PQ, and SP+(3 d)AS. The objectives were to compare treatment failure rates and effect on gametocyte carriage, of CQ or SP monotherapy against the respective combinations (PQ or AS). Outcomes included trophozoite and gametocyte clearance (read by light microscopy), and clinical and parasitological failure.

Findings

A total of 308 (87%) patients completed the trial. Failure rates by day 28 were: CQ 55/68 (81%); CQ+AS 19/67 (28%), SP 4/41 (9.8%), SP+AS 1/41 (2.4%). The addition of PQ to CQ or SP did not affect failure rates (CQ+PQ 49/67 (73%) failed; SP+PQ 5/33 (16%) failed). AS was superior to PQ at clearing gametocytes; gametocytes were seen on d7 in 85% of CQ, 40% of CQ+PQ, 21% of CQ+AS, 91% of SP, 76% of SP+PQ and 23% of SP+AS treated patients. PQ was more effective at clearing older gametocyte infections whereas AS was more effective at preventing emergence of mature gametocytes, except in cases that recrudesced.

Conclusions

CQ is no longer appropriate by itself or in combination. These findings influenced the replacement of CQ with SP+AS for first-line treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. The threat of SP resistance remains as SP monotherapy is still common. Three day AS was superior to single-dose PQ for reducing gametocyte carriage.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov bold>     

Isolation of a mutant TOL plasmid with increased activity and transmissibility from Pseudomonas putida (arvilla) mt-2.

Strains with greater ability to dissimilate m-toluate were obtained from the wild-type Pseudomonas putida (arvilla) mt-2 that harbors the TOL plasmid. Increased growth of a mutant strain on aromatic substrates was coupled with simultaneous increase in the activity of metapyrocatechase, an enzyme coded by the TOL plasmid, without changing its catalytic properties. In the mutant and the wild-type strains, the inducer specificity and the induction kinetics of metapyrocatechase synthesis were the same, and a half-maximal effect of m-toluate on the enzyme synthesis was observed at 0.25 mM. Thus, the increased utilizability seen in a mutant strain appeared to be due to an increased quantity of the enzymes coded by the TOL plasmid. The properties of the mutant strain were dependent upon the mutation on the TOL plasmid but not on the chromosome mutation. Transfer experiments with a strain carrying the mutant TOL (TOL-H) or the wild-type TOL plasmid revealed that the TOL-H transfer was 1,000 times greater than that of the wild type.     

Drug Resistance and in Vitro Susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum in Thailand during 1988-2003

The aim of the present study was to investigate antimalarial drug pressure resulting from the clinical use of different antimalarials in Thailand. The phenotypic diversity of the susceptibility profiles of antimalarials, i.e., chloroquine (CQ), quinine (QN), mefloquine (MQ), and artesunate (ARS) in Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected during the period from 1988 to 2003 were studied. P. falciparum isolates from infected patients were collected from the Thai-Cambodian border area at different time periods (1988-1989, 1991-1992, and 2003), during which 3 different patterns of drug use had been implemented: MQ + sulphadoxine (S) + pyrimethamine (P), MQ alone and MQ + ARS, respectively. The in vitro drug susceptibilities were investigated using a method based on the incorporation of [³H] hypoxanthine. A total of 50 isolates were tested for susceptibilities to CQ, QN, MQ, and ARS. Of these isolates, 19, 16, and 15 were adapted during the periods 1988-1989, 1991-1993, and 2003, respectively. P. falciparum isolates collected during the 3 periods were resistant to CQ. Sensitivities to MQ declined from 1988 to 2003. In contrast, the parasite was sensitive to QN, and similar sensitivity profile patterns were observed during the 3 time periods. There was a significantly positive but weak correlation between the IC₅₀ values of CQ and QN, as well as between the IC₅₀ values of QN and MQ. Drug pressure has impact on sensitivity of P. falciparum to MQ. A combination therapy of MQ and ARS is being applied to reduce the parasite resistance, and also increasing the efficacy of the drug.     

The action of dopamine receptor antagonists on the secretory response of the cockroach salivary gland in vitro

1. A study has been made of the potency of a number of dopamine antagonists to inhibit dopamine-induced secretion from the cockroach salivary gland in vitro. 2. Chlorpromazine (0.5-5 microM), SCH23390 (10-100 microM), haloperidol (10-100 microM) and metoclopramide (2 mM) competitively inhibited the secretory response to dopamine. In contrast (+/-)sulpiride (1-100 microM) and domperidone (1-100 microM) had no effect on either basal or dopamine-induced secretion. 3. Apparent dissociation constants (KDapp) were obtained using a 'three point assay'. The rank order of potency (KDapp in parentheses) was as follows: chlorpromazine (0.2 microM) greater than SCH23390 (2.2 microM) greater than haloperidol (17.5 microM) much greater than metoclopramide (1.2 mM). 4. It is concluded that the receptor mediating dopamine-induced secretion in the cockroach salivary gland is similar to the D1/DA1 dopamine receptor and distinct from the D2/DA2 receptor found in mammalian systems.     

Biochemical characterization of a paraquat-tolerant mutant of Escherichia coli

The biochemical basis for paraquat tolerance was investigated using one of the paraquat-resistant Escherichia coli mutants previously isolated. When grown in the absence of paraquat (PQ2+), the specific activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NADPH:PQ2+-diaphorase, both required for the expression of PQ2+ toxicity, were comparable in the wild type and the mutant. However, growth in the presence of 1 mM PQ2+ resulted in greater induction of these two enzymes in the wild type than in the mutant. Nevertheless, when the mutant was grown in 50 mM PQ2+, the activities of these two enzymes were comparable to those of the wild type grown in the presence of 1 mM PQ2+. Measurement of cyanide-resistant respiration, an indication of intracellular superoxide generation, showed that the intracellular flux of superoxide mediated by subsaturating concentrations of paraquat was significantly lower in the mutant than in the wild type. Extracellular superoxide formation, as measured by superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction, was higher in the wild type than in the mutant whether grown in the absence or the presence of PQ2+. The mutant did not show cross-resistance toward juglone or plumbagin, compounds known to exacerbate superoxide generation. The kinetics of [14C]PQ2+ uptake showed that the wild type accumulated PQ2+ against a concentration gradient, whereas the mutant seemed to do so only by facilitated diffusion. The results indicate that the impaired paraquat uptake system in the mutant results in the physiological and biochemical differences observed between the wild type and mutant.     

Neuropeptide Y receptor in bovine hippocampus is a Y2 receptor.

[125I]NPY bound to a single class of saturable binding sites on bovine hippocampus membranes with a KD of 0.1 mM and Bmax of 165 fmol/mg of protein. The rank order of potency of NPY fragments and other structurally related peptides to inhibit [125I]NPY binding was: PYY greater than or equal to NPY much greater than BPP greater than or equal to APP and NPY greater than NPY-(13-36) greater than NPY-(18-36) greater than or equal to NPY-(20-36) much greater than NPY-(26-36) greater than NPY-(free acid). The identity of the NPY binding site was investigated by affinity labeling. Gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography revealed a band with a mol mass of 50 kDa. Unlabeled NPY or PYY, but not BPP, HPP and APP, inhibited labeling of [125I]NPY to the 50 kDa protein band. Moreover, labeling was inhibited by NPY greater than NPY-(18-36) greater than or equal to NPY-(13-36) greater than or equal to NPY-(20-36) greater than NPY-(26-36) greater than NPY-(free acid). The binding of [125I]NPY and the intensity of the cross-linked band were reduced in parallel by increasing concentrations of unlabeled NPY (IC50 = 0.7 nM and 0.6 mM, respectively). These studies demonstrate that bovine hippocampal membranes contain a 50 kDa [125I]NPY binding site that has the ligand specificity characteristic of the Y2 receptor subtype.     

Salinity tolerance and antioxidant status in cotton cultures

This investigation focuses upon cell growth and antioxidant status in cultured cells of cotton (Gossypium herbaceum) cvs. Dhumad (salt-tolerant, TOL), H-14 (medium salt-tolerant, MED), and RAhs-2 (salt-sensitive, SEN) exposed to saline stress (50-200 mM NaCl). Mean (+/- SEM) callus fresh weight (f.wt.) and dry weight (d.wt.) gains were significantly (p <.05) greater on Murashige and Skoog (MS) [1]-based medium with 50 mM NaCl for the TOL cv. (62% and 16%, respectively) over NaCl-free controls (2020 +/- 45 and 166 +/- 4 mg, respectively); comparable differences were not observed for the MED cv. A significant (p <.05) decrease in mean f.wt. occurred with the SEN cv. exposed to 50 mM NaCl. For all cvs., there were (p <.05) reductions in mean f.wts. in medium with >or=100 mM NaCl. At 200 mM NaCl, mean f.wt. decreases were 52% (TOL), 89% (MED), and 91% (SEN), respectively. A strong correlation existed between antioxidant status and growth of cells with NaCl. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase activities increased with increasing salinity in the TOL cv. to maximum values of 26.3 +/- 1.1 U mg(-1) protein and 1.05 +/- 0.01 AB(340 nm) min(-1) mg(-1) protein, respectively, at 150 mM NaCl; for the MED and SEN cvs., there were no changes in activities of these enzymes between control and salt treatments. Catalase activity decreased progressively with increasing salt concentration in all cvs. except for SEN with 100 mM NaCl, where mean catalase activity (1.75 +/- 0.04 AB(240 nm) min(-1) mg(-1) protein) was greater (p <.05) than control (1.13 +/- 0.08). Overall, cultured cotton cells provide an experimental system for investigating the role of antioxidants in salt tolerance at the cellular level.