Plasma arginine vasotocin and angiotensin II in the water deprived Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), Cape gannet (Sula capensis) and Jackass penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

1. The basal levels of the osmoregulatory hormones, arginine vasotocin (AVT) and angiotensin II (AII) were measured (by radioimmunoassay) in the plasma of conscious Kelp gulls, Cape gannets and Jackass penguins. 2. The responses of the hormones to similar degrees of hypertonicity and hypovolemia caused by water deprivation have also been determined. 3. Dehydration elevated plasma AVT and plasma AII in all three species. 4. The AVT concentration was increased by 2-4 fold and although in each case the correlation between plasma osmolality and plasma AVT was highly significant (2P less than 0.01), the sensitivity of release was greater in the gull (1.13 pg/ml per mOsm/kg) than in the gannet (0.36 pg/ml per mOsm/kg) or penguin (0.44 pg/ml per mOsm/kg). 5. Dehydration increased plasma AII 3-fold in the three bird types.     

Adrenergic Regulation of the Reduction in Acetyl Coenzyme A: Arylamine 7V-Acetyltransferase Activity in the Rat Pineal

Abstract: Pharmacologically active agents were employed to study the mechanisms that control the reduction in levels of acetyl-coA: arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity (NAT) (EC 2.3.1.5) in the rat pineal. Pretreatment of rats with phenoxybenzamine or phentolamine prevented the rapid light-mediated decrease in NAT activity, although pretreatment with yohimbine or atropine did not alter this effect of light. Administration of mecamylamine resulted in a rapid reduction in enzyme activity prior to light exposure. When clonidine was administered intraperitoneally to animals with elevated NAT levels, there was a rapid decrease in enzyme activity, mimicking the effects of light. However, intraperitoneal injections of norepinephrine, methoxamine and phenylephrine into similar groups of animals had no significant effect on enzyme acitivity. When clonidine and norepinephrine were administered intraventricularly, there was a rapid reduction in enzyme activity. On the other hand, intraventricular administration of phenylephrine did not result in reduced enzyme activity. Pretreatment of animals with phenoxybenzamine failed to block the reduction in NAT activity precipitated by low doses of clonidine. This clonidine-mediated reduction in enzyme activity was, however, blocked by yohimbine. When animals were simultaneously exposed to light and administered clonidine, the rapid reduction in NAT activity was affected only when animals were pretreated with both yohimbine and phenoxybenzamine. In contrast to the decrease in pineal NAT activity observed in in vivo preparations, incubation of pineals with clonidine in an organ culture system produced a moderate, but consistent, rise in enzyme activity. These results suggest that stimulation of a receptor with α-adrenergic characteristics mediates the reduction in NAT activity produced by light. Stimulation of yet a second adrenergic-like receptor appears to mediate a reduction in pineal NAT activity precipitated by clonidine. Our evidence suggests that one or both of these receptors are located within the central nervous system.     

Suppression of the immune response by Shigella in experimental influenza infection in mice

Experiments in mice have demonstrated that in the presence of influenza infection the suppressing effect of virulent shigellae on the secondary humoral and cell-mediated immune response is enhanced. Under such conditions avirulent shigellae can also show suppressing effect which is usually absent in these organisms.     

Carbamoyl-phosphate synthetases from Neurospora crassa. Immunological relatedness of the enzymes from Neurospora, bacteria, yeast, and mammals

Neurospora crassa contains two carbamoyl-phosphate synthetases: a mitochondrial enzyme (CPS-A) which supplies carbamoyl phosphate for arginine biosynthesis, and a nuclear enzyme whose product is used for the synthesis of pyrimidines. We have prepared antiserum against a highly purified preparation of the large subunit of CPS-A and have used the antiserum to demonstrate that the large subunit is, like most mitochondrially localized proteins, initially synthesized as a higher molecular weight precursor. The CPS-A antiserum cross-reacts with the nuclear enzyme, allowing us to identify the product of the complex N. crassa pyr-3 genetic locus as a protein with a subunit molecular weight of 180,000. Finally, we have found that the CPS-A antiserum also cross-reacts with carbamoyl-phosphate synthetases from bacteria, yeast, and mammals. The immunological relatedness of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetases from such diverse species suggests that the protein sequences required for carbamoyl phosphate production have been highly conserved during the course of evolution.     

Role of carnitine during development

Fatty acids are an important fuel source for neonates. The utilization of long chain fatty acids as a fuel source is dependent upon adequate concentrations of carnitine. Carnitine also has functions in other physiological processes critical to the survival of the neonate such as lipolysis, thermogenesis, ketogenesis, and possibly regulation of certain aspects of nitrogen metabolism. Plasma and tissue carnitine concentrations in neonates are depressed compared with those of older individuals. The capability for carnitine biosynthesis is much less in the neonate than in the adult. Human milk contains carnitine and appears to be the major source of carnitine to meet the neonate's metabolic needs. However, total parenteral nutrition solutions and soy-based infant formulas contain no carnitine. Evidence is accumulating that all infant diets may need to supply carnitine to meet the neonate's metabolic needs.