Unique inhibitory profile of platelet activating factor induced calcium mobilization, polyphosphoinositide turnover and granule enzyme secretion in rabbit neutrophils towards pertussis toxin and phorbol ester

Platelet activating factor has been found to increase the intracellular level of free calcium (as monitored by the fluorescent calcium indicator quin-2) and to stimulate the turnover of the polyphosphoinositides in rabbit neutrophils. Calcium mobilization induced by platelet activating factor, in contrast to previous reports with chemotactic factors, is unaffected by pertussis toxin; on the other hand, stimulated polyphosphoinositol hydrolysis and granule enzyme secretion are potently antagonized under the same conditions. The calcium, as well as the secretory responses to the lipid mediator are largely dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium. Internal contributions to the quin-2 signal are only detectable at relatively high concentrations of platelet activating factor. Calcium mobilization and secretion stimulated by platelet activating factor are inhibited following a short incubation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. These results are discussed in terms of the possibility that platelet activating factor activates neutrophils via dual pathways, the first involving direct interaction with phorbol ester inhibitable calcium channels and the other the stimulation in a manner dependent on a guanine nucleotide binding protein of the phospholipase C specific for polyphosphoinositides.     

Specific modulation of the intracellular pH of rabbit neutrophils by chemotactic factors

We have monitored the intracellular pH of rabbit neutrophils by following the distribution of the weak acid, 5,5-Dimethyloxazolidine-2, 4-dione. The synthetic formyl-methionyl chemotactic factors were found to induce complex and specific changes in the intracellular pH of the neutrophils, a rapid drop followed by a slower and more sustained rise. These effects are receptor mediated. The relationship of these events to the physiology of the neutrophils is discussed.     

Quantitative estimation of gibberellic acid by paper chromatography

Метод для количественного определения от gibberellic кислоты в процессе брожения средства массовой информации, с использованием бумаги по убыванию хроматографии в butylacetate воды описана. Образца корректируется, чтобы рН 2.5-3.0, добыто с н-бутанола, и 0,05 мл. органического слоя пятнами на Хроматографический бумагу. После equilibration от Атмосфера в банке, chromatogram Разработана в butylacetate насыщенных с водой, за 7 часов, и растворитель разрешено покинуть капельного нижней части листа. Обнаружение осуществляется путем опрыскивания с 3% раствор серной кислоты в метаноле и после сушки бумаги, пятна с синий u.v. флуоресценции наблюдается. Определенный артикль площадь пятна оценивается с помощью калибровочной кривой, заговор с ценностей, стандартов, соответствующих 20, 60 и 120 μ g. gibberellic кислоты. Погрешность оценки составляет ± 10-15% когда оценки выполняются тщательно. Низкий предел чувствительности 5 μg.     

Different effects of aging on the opioid mechanisms controlling gonadotropin and cortisol secretion in man

The present study was undertaken in order to assess the influence of aging on the endogenous opioid control of gonadotropin and adrenocorticotropin/cortisol secretion in man. For this purpose, the capability of the opioid antagonist naloxone to increase circulating levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and cortisol was tested in male subjects of different ages. Thirty normal men were randomly chosen and divided into 3 groups by age: group I = 22-40 years (n = 10); group II = 41-59 years (n = 10); group III = 62-80 years (n = 10). Since the men of group III showed higher basal serum gonadotropin concentrations than the subjects of group I and group II, we selected from a large population a fourth group of elderly men with normal basal LH and FSH levels: group IV = 61-82 years (n = 7). All subjects were tested for 120 min during the intravenous administration of naloxone (4 mg given in an intravenous bolus at time 0, plus 10 mg infused for 2 h). Control tests with normal saline instead of naloxone were performed in all groups. All subjects had similar blood testosterone and cortisol levels, whereas LH and FSH concentrations were significantly higher in group III than in groups I, II and IV. Naloxone increased plasma cortisol concentrations by 50% in all groups. The cortisol secretory response followed a similar pattern regardless of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

On-line high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry profiling of human milk oligosaccharides derivatized with 2-aminoacridone

A high-resolution normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry separation and structural characterization of the main oligosaccharides along with lactose from human milk samples is described. A total of 22 commercially available oligosaccharides were fluorotagged with 2-aminoacridone and separated on an amide column and identified on the basis of their retention times and mass spectra. Derivatized species having mass lower than approximately 800 to 900 exhibited mainly [M-H](-1) anions, oligomers with mass up to approximately 1000 to 1100 were represented by both [M-H](-1) and [M-2H](-2) anions, and oligomers greater than approximately 1200 to 1300 were characterized by a charge state of -3. Furthermore, the retention times were directly related to the glycans' molecular mass. Human milk samples from the four groups of donors (Se±/Le±) were analyzed for their composition and amount of free oligosaccharides after rapid and simple prepurification and derivatization steps also in the presence of lactose in high content. This analytical approach enabled us to perform the determination of species not detected by traditional techniques, such as sialic acid, as well as of species present in low content easily mistaken with other peaks. Finally, labeled human milk oligosaccharides were analyzed without any interference from excess fluorophore or interference from proteins, peptides, salts, and other impurities normally present in this complex biological fluid.     

Inhibition of chemotactic factor-induced neutrophil responsiveness by arachidonic acid

Arachidonic acid when added simultaneously with the chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f-Met-Leu-Phe) inhibits the ability of the latter to initiate several but not all of its effects on rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. Stimulated neutrophil aggregation, calcium uptake, and increases in the steady state level of exchangeable calcium are all inhibited by 1-10 microM arachidonic acid. The binding of f-Met-Leu-Phe and the parameters of intracellular calcium redistribution (calcium efflux and changes in the steady state level of exchangeable calcium in the absence of extracellular calcium) and of stimulated sodium uptake are, on the other hand, unaffected by the same concentrations of arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid, the saturated analog of arachidonic acid, was found not to inhibit f-Met-Leu-Phe-stimulated aggregation and calcium uptake. Arachidonic acid, therefore, in addition to its well-described agonist properties, also possesses antagonist activities toward rabbit neutrophils. These results add a new level of complexity to the study of the role of arachidonic acid in cell activation.