Determination of the Lumped Constant for the α-Methyltryptophan Method of Estimating the Rate of Serotonin Synthesis

Abstract: The lumped constant (LC) for the α-methyl-l -tryptophan method to convert the brain's uptake of labeled α-methyl-l -tryptophan into the regional rate of serotonin synthesis was estimated. The method involved independently estimating the unidirectional uptake constant of the tracer (α-[¹⁴C]methyl-l -tryptophan) to the tissue and the tracee (tryptophan) (with the addition of a radioactive compound) and calculating their ratio. The LC was estimated from logarithmically transformed data. Similar experiments were performed using rats treated with the drug probenecid, which blocks the efflux of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (a metabolite of serotonin) from the brain. The experiments using probenecid, corrected for the difference in the levels of plasma free tryptophan (increased in probenecid-treated rats) relative to control experiments, gave an average LC for the rat brain of 0.46 ± 0.14 (mean ± SD). This value was not significantly different from the one obtained in controls (0.43 ± 0.13). In addition, the LC was also calculated using unidirectional uptake constants in the probenecid-treated rats for α-methyl-l -tryptophan and l -tryptophan. This LC value was 0.39 ± 0.10. There was no significant difference between these three LC values. Thus, an average ± SD LC of 0.42 ± 0.07 for 28 brain structures investigated in this study was obtained. Statistically the LC obtained in different structures had a variability that could be accounted for by errors in measurements alone. In other words, dispersion in the LC values could be fully accounted for by chance alone. Data confirmed that the LC value did not change when the rate of serotonin synthesis was increased by probenecid treatment. We also showed that the rate of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid accumulation in probenecid-treated rats was 58 pmol g^?1 min^?1 (rat brain), which is about twice as much as reported by others for a normal rat. This difference could also be accounted for by the increase in the plasma level of free tryptophan in probenecid-treated rats.     

Tyrosine protein kinase in preneoplastic and neoplastic rat liver

When rats are subjected to chemical hepatocarcinogenesis according to the protocol of D. Solt and E. Farber ((1976) Nature (London) 263, 701-703), the liver exhibits elevated levels of tyrosine protein kinase activity as early as 3 weeks after the injection of diethylnitrosoamine. A more striking elevation in tyrosine protein kinase activity is noted in rat hepatomas induced by administration of chemical carcinogens, in particular that of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB). Tyrosine protein kinase solubilized from the particulate fraction of 3'-Me-DAB-induced hepatoma has a molecular weight identical to that of p60v-src, cross-reacts with p60v-src immunologically, phosphorylates the heavy chain of anti-p60v-src IgG, and probably belongs to a family of p60c-src. The tyrosine protein kinase from the particulate fraction of normal rat liver is indistinguishable from the hepatoma kinase in these properties; thus it apparently differs only in the level of activity. Whether the liver and hepatoma kinases differ merely quantitatively or whether they differ even qualitatively, however, remains to be elucidated.     

Hyperphosphorylation at serine 199/202 of tau factor in the gerbil hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia

We examined the phosphorylation state of tau factor in hippocampal delayed neuronal death (DND) after transient forebrain ischemia. A transient phosphorylation increase at serine 199/202 but not serine 396 of tau factor after transient ischemia was clearly observed. Intraventricular injections of olomoucine and U-0126 (CDK5 and MAP kinase inhibitors, respectively) inhibited hyperphosphorylation. In contrast, wortmannin (PI3 kinase inhibitor) increased phosphorylation at serine 199/202 and corresponded with an increase in GSK3 phosphorylation. Our findings suggest that CDK5, MAP kinase, and GSK3 phosphorylate these sites after ischemia. We prepared recombinant normal human tau (N-Tau40) with TAT-HA protein and dephosphorylated-form human Tau-40 (D-tau40) in which 199/202 serines were changed to alanine by site-directed mutagenesis. Intraventricularly injected D-tau40 protected somewhat against DND while N-Tau40 did not. These data suggest that hyperphosphorylation at serine 199/202 of tau factor is induced by MAP kinase, CDK5, and GSK3, and contributes to ischemic neuronal injury.