Effect of nitrogen nutrition on amino acid composition of xylem sap and stem wood in Alnus glutinosa

Citrulline was the major amino acid in root pressure sap, stem sap and stem wood from Alnus glutinosa L. Gaertn. plants relying on fixed nitrogen or, partly or wholly, on mineral nitrogen for growth. Glutamine increased in prominence in plants assimilating mineral nitrogen but asparagine remained a relatively insignificant component. Differences in the relative amounts of the free amino compounds of stem sap from nitrogen-fixing and mineral nitrogen-fed plants were usually small compared to differences between plants fed different sources of mineral nitrogen. In contrast, relatively high values for the ratios of citrulline/total free amino nitrogen compounds and particularly of citrulline/amides in root pressure sap distinguished nitrogen-fixing plants from those receiving mineral nitrogen. Although the amino acid ratios of stem wood extracts showed closer similarity to those for root pressure sap than stem sap, the seasonal accumulation of citrulline, possibly as a storage amino acid, in stem wood from field-grown plants negated the possibility of utilising stem wood analyses as an indicator of the form of nitrogen assimilation. Comparative data on the levels of citrulline or other free amino acids in Alnus glutinosa are unlikely to be useful as an index of nitrogen fixation, under most experimental conditions.     

Retrograde amnesia produced by electron beam exposure: causal parameters and duration of memory loss

The production of retrograde amnesia (RA) upon electron beam exposure has been investigated. RA production was evaluated using a single-trial avoidance task across a 10(4) dose range for 10-, 1-, and 0.1-microsecond pulsed exposures. The dose-response curve obtained at each pulse duration showed significant RA production. The most effective dose range was 0.1-10 rad at a dose rate of 10(6) rad/sec. By employing a 10 rad (10(6) rad/sec) pulse, a memory loss of the events occurring in the previous 4 sec was demonstrated. The conclusion was that the RA effect might be due to sensory system activation which provided a novel stimulus that masked previous stimuli.     

The relative abundance of a salivary protein, bSP30, is correlated with susceptibility to bloat in cattle herds selected for high or low bloat susceptibility

Pasture bloat is a serious economic and animal welfare problem in cattle grazed on legumes in New Zealand. Analysis of salivary proteins from dairy cattle in herds bred for either low or high susceptibility to bloat has resulted in the identification of a 30 kilodalton protein, which we term bSP30, whose relative abundance is negatively correlated with bloat score (r = -0.40 ± 0.12). From 74 animals sampled, relative abundance of bSP30 was 66 ± 15% higher in the low-susceptibility herd than in the high-susceptibility herd. Relative abundance of bSP30 also varied significantly within individuals, according to feeding or time of day, and from day to day, A sequence homology search of 38 amino acids derived from three tryptic fragments of the protein suggests that the amino acid sequence of bSP30 has not been described previously. Amino acid analysis indicates that bSP30 is not a member of the proline-rich family of salivary proteins. The function of bSP30 is unknown but it is conceivable that it plays a role in the aetiology of bloat.     

Hypothalamic site of action for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on LH secretion

Excitatory amino acids have been shown to increase luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion following ventricular or systemic administration. In the present study we attempted to determine possible hypothalamic sites of action for the potent excitatory amino acid agonist, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). The ability of NMDA to enhance LH release was tested in male rats following infusion into the medial preoptic nucleus (MPO), anterior hypothalamic nucleus (AHY), ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), and arcuate nucleus (ARC). In the MPO, infusion of 50 or 500 pmole NMDA increased pituitary LH secretion, resulting in a 2-7 fold increase in plasma LH. The 50 pmole dose was selected to test more caudal hypothalamic sites. Plasma LH levels were not affected following microinfusion of NMDA (50 pmole) into the AHY, VMH, and ARC. The present results indicate a regional specificity for NMDA in the enhancement of LH secretion. This regional specificity may reflect either a greater density of LHRH perikarya in the MPO or the presence of specific amino acid receptors on neuronal elements in the MPO, but not on neuronal elements in the other areas tested.     

Electrochemical determination of N-oxidized procainamide metabolites and functional assessment of effects on murine cells in vitro

Because of the implication of N-oxidized metabolites of procainamide in the induction of drug-related lupus, we have studied the electrochemical behavior of these metabolites and developed an electrochemical synthesis of nitrosoprocainamide. This synthesis was developed using procainamide hydroxylamine as the starting material which was oxidized to the nitroso species at an applied potential of 700 mV vs Ag/AgCl using a carbon packed bed bulk electrolysis flow cell. Conversion efficiencies of greater than 95% were achieved with this method. Subsequent studies with a chemically diverse series of biocompounds were used to investigate possible reactions between the procainamide hydroxylamine and nitroso species and these selected molecules. Only antioxidants such as cysteine, glutathione and ascorbic acid were found to react with the nitroso compound as determined by electrochemical methods, and this reaction was characterized as primarily a simple redox reaction at physiological pH. Animal studies conducted with murine spleen cells incubated with mitogens and various procainamide compounds demonstrated that the N-oxidized metabolites are the active immunopharmacologic agents.