Platelet-activating factor contracts human myometrium in vitro

The myometrial contractile responses to synthetic 1-0-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (platelet-activating factor, PAF) and to oxytocin were evaluated in vitro on uterine (lower segment) strips obtained from pregnant women at term (39th week), undergoing elective cesarean section. Contractility was measured isometrically in an isolated organ bath using a superfusion technique. PAF in a concentration range between 5 and 100 nM as well as oxytocin (0.1-10 mU/ml) induced a dose-dependent contraction which could be categorized in two patterns, depending on whether spontaneous activity was present. In resting strips, oxytocin induced a prompt (0.5-1 min) development of active tension, followed by a prolonged (6-18 min), slow contraction and a final relaxation. However, at variance with oxytocin, PAF-induced contractions were rhythmic (3-8/hr), and characterized by a prompt (0.5-2 min) development of tension, followed by a brief (0.5-2 min) plateau, and a final, rapid relaxation. In spontaneously active strips, both stimuli induced a marked potentiation of the contractile activity. PAF response was dependent on both cyclooxygenase- and lipoxygenase-derived products as inferred from the abrogating effects of indomethacin and FPL 55712. A receptor-mediated mechanism of action was inferred from the occurrence of specific desensitization to PAF (but not to oxytocin), and from the blocking effect of CV 3988, a specific PAF receptor antagonist. The present study indicates that PAF stimulates the contraction of human myometrium in vitro and suggests that this mediator may have a role in labor.     

Genetic relationship between o6 and pro-1 mutants in maize

Summary This paper reports that the opaque-6 (o6) mutation of maize, which causes seedling lethality and interferes in the endosperm with the synthesis of zeins and b-32 protein, is a proline requiring mutant functionally allelic to proline-1 (pro-1). Furthermore, immunological studies on the b-32 content of ten independently originated o6 and pro-1 alleles demonstrated that four alleles contain an apparently normal b-32 protein while the others are either devoid of it or contain trace amounts of cross-reacting proteins of lower molecular weight.     

Production of pectinases byAspergillus sp using differently pretreated lemon peel as the carbon source

Summary Aspergillus sp strains from decaying lemons were tested for extracellular pectinase production, testing differently pretreated lemon peel as the carbon source instead of pectin. It was found that the production of extracellular polygalacturonase was about the same and that of pectinesterase substantially higher when unwashed fresh lemon peel was used instead of pectin. The culture filtrate obtained showed a clarifying capacity similar to that of a commercial pectinase preparation, but the vitamin C of the juice was less affected by the treatment.     

Glutathione redox cycle enzyme activities in erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients

The erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients with elevated superoxide dismutase levels were tested for the activities of glutathione redox cycle enzymes. No differences were observed between multiple sclerosis and normal control erythrocytes when the activities were referred to either hemoglobin concentration or lactate dehydrogenase content. Our results indicate that no adaptative changes occur in the activities of glutathione redox cycle enzymes in erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis subjects as a consequence of an elevated superoxide dismutase level.     

Spontaneously active and ATPMg-dependent protein phosphatase activity in vascular smooth muscle

A spontaneously active (Mr greater than 350,000) and an ATPMg-dependent phosphatase (Mr congruent to 140,000) were identified in bovine aortic smooth muscle. The spontaneously active phosphatase was effective in dephosphorylating both phosphorylase a (240nmol32P/min/mg) and phosphorylated myosin light chains (1000nmol32P/min/mg). In contrast, the ATPMg-dependent phosphatase was only effective in dephosphorylating phosphorylase a (400nmol32P/min/mg). Phosphorylase phosphatase activity of the ATPMg-dependent enzyme was suppressed by the well-characterized modulator protein (inhibitor-2), whereas the activity of the spontaneously active enzyme was unaffected. The aortic spontaneously active phosphatase did not convert to an ATPMg-dependent form when it was stored at 4 degrees or incubated at 30 degrees C in either the presence or absence of modulator protein. These findings suggest that spontaneous and ATPMg-dependent phosphatase activities described in these studies are probably ascribable to different enzymes. Since both phosphorylase and myosin light chains are phosphorylated when smooth muscle contracts these phosphatases may participate in coordinating arterial contractility and metabolism.     

Increased GH responsiveness to dopamine receptor stimulation in alcohol addicts during the late withdrawal syndrome

In humans the release of growth hormone (GH) elicited by dopamine (DA) and DA agonists may represent a reliable model to assess change in sensitivity of DA receptors. We now report that in chronic alcoholics, 4–7 days after the suspension of alcohol consumption, the increase of GH response to DA infusion was higher than that seen in non alcoholic volunteers. The specificity of this GH response to DA administration was demonstrated by the use of domperidone, a novel peripheral antagonist of DA receptors. These results suggest the development of hyper-responsiveness of DA receptors involved in the control of GH secretion in chronic alcoholics during the later phases of the “withdrawal syndrome”.     

Glucose compensation, serum lipids and thyroid hormones (rT3 and rT3/T3 ratio in non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetics: 2

In 45 type 2 diabetics it was unable to be found a relation between the plasma lipids and the fasting blood glucose (G), HbA1c, reverse T3 (rT3), rT3/T3 ratio, and relative body weight (R.B.W.). The conclusion was reached that the alteration of the lipoprotein metabolism and the thyroid hormones in type 2 diabetics could be primitive and independent from the availability of the insulin.     

The steroids and fatty acids of the basidiomycete Scleroderma polyrhizum

The fruit bodies of the Basidiomycete Scleroderma polyrhizum have been shown to contain the steroids ergosta-4,6,8(14) 22-tetraen-3-one and 5α,8α-epidoxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol and also palmitic and oleic acids.     

Acid phosphatase from maize scutellum: Negative cooperativity suppression by glucose

Acid phosphatase purified from maize scutellum, upon acylation with succinic anhydride, still shows negative co-operativity for the hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate at pH 5.4. This phenomenon is abolished by glucose, for both native and succinylated enzymes, through stimulation of the initial velocities at sub-optimal substrate concentrations. However, negative co-operativity for the enzymatic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylphosphate at pH 5.4 is suppressed only at high concentrations of glucose. Furthermore, the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylphosphate is noncompetitively inhibited (low affinity form of the enzyme molecule) by glucose, which suggests the existence of different substrate binding sites.