Synthesis and crystal structures of water-soluble rhodium(III) complexes with 1,4,7-triazacyclononane and 2,2-bipyridine supporting ligands

New water-soluble rhodium(III) complexes with a tacn (1,4,7-triazacyclononane) and a bpy (2,2^′-bipyridine) supporting ligands were synthesized. The reaction of [Rh^III(tacn)Cl₃] (1) with equimolar amount of bpy and two equivalents of AgNO₃ in H₂O at reflux for 10 h gave a water-soluble chloro complex [Rh^III(tacn)(bpy)Cl](NO₃)₂ {2(NO₃)₂}. Complex 2(NO₃)₂ was treated with equimolar amount of AgNO₃ in H₂O at reflux for 10 h to give a water-soluble nitrato complex [Rh^III(tacn)(bpy)(NO₃)](NO₃)₂ {3(NO₃)₂}. Water-solubility of 3 with NO₃ ⁻ ligand (46.5 mg/mL) is high compared with that of 2 with Cl⁻ ligand (14.5 mg/mL) under the same conditions (at pH 7.0 at 25 °C). The structures of 2 and 3 were unequivocally determined by X-ray analysis. Their structures in H₂O were also examined by ¹H NMR, IR, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).     

Mechanisms of dramatic fluctuations of ornithine decarboxylase activity upon tonicity changes in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

We investigated the mechanisms underlying the marked induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity by hypotonic treatment and its rapid decay upon reversal to isotonicity in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. Upon hypotonic treatment, ODC synthesis rate increased progressively whereas the amount of ODC mRNA increased only about twofold. In addition, ODC was stabilized severalfold. ODC activity rapidly decreased upon restoration of isotonicity, owing to immediate and nearly complete suppression of ODC synthesis and 3-6-fold stimulation of ODC decay. The stimulation of ODC decay caused by restoration of isotonicity was mostly independent of time and protein synthesis. ODC decay was also stimulated by putrescine, even under hypotonic conditions, depending on time and new protein synthesis. Restoration of isotonicity and putrescine treatment together caused a synergistic stimulation of ODC decay, confirming that these act by different mechanisms.     

Memory impairment and morphological changes in rats induced by active fragment of anti-nerve growth factor-antibody

Treatment of rats with a specific Fab' fragment of anti-nerve growth factor (NGF)-antibody (anti-NGF, 12, 120 and 400 micrograms/4 weeks, i.c.v.) impaired their learning ability. The distance of swimming of anti-NGF-treated rats in a water maze was shortened more slowly by training than that of control rats. Anti-NGF treatment altered the staining of nuclei of cells in the hippocampus, parietal cortex and dentate gyrus with hematoxylin. It is suggested that the anti-NGF-induced amnesia could be due to change in nuclear morphology.     

A Highly Sensitive Enzyme Immunoassay for Mouse β Nerve Growth Factor

Abstract: A sensitive two-site enzyme immunoassay system for mouse β nerve growth factor (NGF) was developed, based on the sandwiching of the antigen between anti-mouse β NGF antibody IgG coated to a polystyrene tube and anti-mouse β NGF antibody Fab'-linked β- d -galactosidase (β- d -galactoside hydrolase, EC 3.2.1.23). This method has the following advantages: (a) the procedures are simple and rapid compared to bioassay or two-site radioimmunoassay; (b) antibody Fab'-β- d -galactosidase complex is more stable than ¹²⁵I-labeled antibody; (c) purified β NGF is detectable at a concentration as low as 10 pg/ml. Our enzyme immunoassay was used to examine the levels of NGF in some tissues of mice. The submaxillary gland contained a high concentration of NGF. However, other tissues, such as the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle, and serum did not contain detectable NGF. These results support recent findings by other investigators that NGF was not found in the organs/tissues other than the submaxillary gland of mice.     

AMP-activated protein kinase activity and glucose uptake in rat skeletal muscle

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been hypothesized to mediate contraction and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-beta-D-ribonucleoside (AICAR)-induced increases in glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether treadmill exercise and isolated muscle contractions in rat skeletal muscle increase the activity of the AMPK alpha 1 and AMPK alpha 2 catalytic subunits in a dose-dependent manner and to evaluate the effects of the putative AMPK inhibitors adenine 9-beta-D-arabinofuranoside (ara-A), 8-bromo-AMP, and iodotubercidin on AMPK activity and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-MG) uptake. There were dose-dependent increases in AMPK alpha 2 activity and 3-MG uptake in rat epitrochlearis muscles with treadmill running exercise but no effect of exercise on AMPK alpha1 activity. Tetanic contractions of isolated epitrochlearis muscles in vitro significantly increased the activity of both AMPK isoforms in a dose-dependent manner and at a similar rate compared with increases in 3-MG uptake. In isolated muscles, the putative AMPK inhibitors ara-A, 8-bromo-AMP, and iodotubercidin fully inhibited AICAR-stimulated AMPK alpha 2 activity and 3-MG uptake but had little effect on AMPK alpha 1 activity. In contrast, these compounds had absent or minimal effects on contraction-stimulated AMPK alpha 1 and -alpha 2 activity and 3-MG uptake. Although the AMPK alpha 1 and -alpha 2 isoforms are activated during tetanic muscle contractions in vitro, in fast-glycolytic fibers, the activation of AMPK alpha 2-containing complexes may be more important in regulating exercise-mediated skeletal muscle metabolism in vivo. Development of new compounds will be required to study contraction regulation of AMPK by pharmacological inhibition.     

Determination of 9α,11β-prostaglandin F2 by stereospecific antibody in various rat tissues

In view of the recent finding that prostaglandin D₂ is stereospecifically converted to 9α,11β-prostaglandin F₂, an isomer of prostaglandin F₂α, a highly specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for 9α,11β-prostaglandin F₂ was developed and applied to determine the content of this prostaglandin in various rat tissues. Antisera against 9α-11β-prostaglandin F₂ were raised in rabbits immunized with the bovine serum albumin conjugate, and [³H]9α,11β-prostaglandin F₂ was enzymatically prepared from [³H]prostaglandin D₂. The assay detected 9α,11β-prostaglandin F₂ over the range of 20 pg to 1 ng, and the antiserum showed less than 0.04% cross-section with prostaglandin F₂α, prostaglandin F₂β and 9β,11β-prostaglandin F₂. To avoid postmortem changes, tissues were frozen in liquid nitrogen immediately after removal. The basal level of 9α,11β-prostaglandin F₂ was hardly detectable in various tissues of the rat examined, including spleen, lung, liver and brain; although it was found to be 0.31 ± 0.06 ng/g wet weight in the small intestine. During convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazole, enormous amounts of prostaglandin D₂ (ca. 180 ng/g wet weight) and prostaglandin F₂α (ca. 70 ng/g) were produced in the brain; however, 9α,11β-prostaglandin F₂ was detected neither there nor in the blood. This result demonstrates that the conversion to 9α,11β-prostaglandin F₂ is a minor pathway, if one at all, of prostaglandin D₂ metabolism in the rat brain.     

In vitro biocompatibility of dextrin: the addition of a low concentration of dextrin in the medium promotes the cell activity of L929 mouse fibroblasts

To develop a bone substitute with shape-generating properties, we focused our attention on dextrin, which has a low viscosity. After considering methods of evaluation for research and development, we started by using cells that are widely used for safe biological evaluations in the field of dentistry and conducted in vitro evaluations. In this experiment, we variously added concentrations of 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mmol/l of dextrin to a culture medium in order to examine the effects on L929 mouse fibroblasts in vitro. As a result, the proliferative activity of the L929 cells was promoted during the culture period as the concentration of added dextrin became lower, and in particular, the 0.1 and 1 mmol/l addition group showed higher values than those of the control group. From the above results, it was revealed that the addition of a low concentration of dextrin in a medium promotes the cell proliferative activity.     

New developments for the design,synthesis and biological evaluation of potent SARS-CoV 3CLpro inhibitors

A series of trifluoromethyl, benzothiazolyl or thiazolyl ketone-containing peptidic compounds as SARS-CoV 3CL protease inhibitors were developed and their potency was evaluated by in vitro protease inhibitory assays. Three candidates had encouraging results for the development of new anti-SARS compounds.