Postnatal changes in fatty acids composition of brown adipose tissue

It has been demonstrated that thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is higher during the early postnatal period, decreasing towards a low adult level. The present study examined postnatal changes in the lipid composition of BAT. BAT from pre-weaning rats at 4 and 14 days old showed the following differences in lipid composition compared to that from adults of 12 weeks old. (i) Relative weight of interscapular BAT to body weight was markedly greater. (ii) BAT-triglyceride (TG) level was lower, while BAT-phospholipid (PL)level was higher. (iii) In TG fatty acids (FA) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PU; mol %), arachidonate index (AI), unsaturation index (UI) and PU/saturated FA (SA) were higher; rare FA such as eicosadienoate, bishomo--linolenic acid and lignoceric acid in mol % were also higher. (iv) In PL-FA monounsaturated FA (MU) in mol % was lower; PU mol %, AI and UI were higher. These features in BAT of pre-weaning rats resembled those in the cold-acclimated adults, suggesting a close relationship of the PL-FA profile to high activity of BAT.     

Changing Fatty Acid Content of Growth Cone Lipids Prior to Synaptogenesis

The developing mouse was used to assess biochemical changes in membrane lipids during the period when nerve growth cones become synapses. Growth cone particles and synaptosomes were simultaneously obtained from common brain homogenates. Incorporation of the essential fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega-3), was correlated with the developmental changes in endogenous fatty acid content of growth cones and synaptosomes. Analysis of endogenous lipid content indicated that, at all ages studied, the growth cones contained more arachidonoyl acyl chains (20:4 omega-6) than did synaptosomes. Before the onset of synaptogenesis, levels of arachidonoyl chains increased and levels of 22:6, oleoyl and linoleoyl chains decreased in synaptosomes. Although stearoyl and palmitoyl (16:0) remained stable in synaptosomes, 16:0 decreased in growth cones. With the exception of 16:0 and 20:4, endogenous fatty acyl content of growth cones and synaptosomes became similar by postnatal day 10, which coincides with the onset of synaptogenesis. When 5-day-old mouse pups were injected intraperitoneally with [3H]22:6, the incorporation into growth cone and synaptosome phospholipids was greatest in phosphatidylethanolamine, followed by phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine. Nominal labeling was present in phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol. Labeling in neutral lipids was less than that of phospholipids, with triacylglycerol incorporating most of the neutral lipid label, followed by diacylglycerol and free 22:6. Only the growth cone fraction contained detectable amounts of 22:6-labeled cholesterol esters. The distribution of 22:6 label in plasma 72 h after injection indicated that approximately 60% of the label was in phospholipids with approximately 40% in neutral lipids and less than 5% in free fatty acids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of Basal Gastric Acid Secretion on the Pharmacodynamics of Ranitidine

Twelve patients with inactive ulcer disease were administered placebo and ranitidine via bolus and continuous intravenous infusions, at doses ranging from 50 every 8 h, to 12.5 mg/h for 24 h. Gastric acid was collected for 20 min each h for 24 h, and ranitidine serum concentrations were measured ± every 2 h, during each of the six study periods. Cosinor analysis of gastric acid secretion during placebo treatment revealed a significant circadian rhythm in all subjects. Mesor acid output ranged from 1.7 to 11.6 mmol/h (mean 5.6 ± 2.8 mmol/h) and the amplitude ranged from 0.7 to 6.5 mmol/h (mean 2.8 ±1.6 mmol/h). Peak acid output (acrophase) occurred at 10 p.m. ± 3 h. A pharmacodynamic model, relating ranitidine serum concentration to hourly acid secretion, was derived, which incorporated the circadian change in basal acid output. Data for this fractional response model included basal acid secretion-as determined by time of day, measured acid secretion, and associated serum ranitidine concentration. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) for ranitidine ranged from 10-75 ng/ml, with a mean of 44 ng/ml. The variation in IC₅₀ and in basal acid secretion combined to produce a wide variation in the pharmacodynamic response to ranitidine. The model-predicted serum concentrations, required to maintain acid secretion at 0.1 mmol/h, ranged from 250 to 1550 ng/ml, at the time of peak evening acid secretion. Despite a constant degree of acid inhibition by ranitidine during the day, higher serum concentrations are required during times of peak acid output to maintain adequate suppression of hydrogen ion secretion.     

Age dependent alterations in phospholipid composition of a saprophytic and a pathogenic strain of Nocardia

Nocardia polychromogenes (saprophytic) and Nocardia asteroides (pathogenic) showed characteristic patterns in changes of cellular lipids during growth. Total lipids and total phospholipids decreased with the age of the culture in the saprophytic strain, whereas in the pathogenic strain total lipids increased throughout the culture period and the total phospholipids decreased in the late stationary phase. The decrease in total phospholipids in saprophytic strain was reflected in the individual phosphatides. In the pathogenic strain, the phosphatidylinositomannoside content doubled in early stationary phase. Differences were observed in fatty acid composition of phosphatides at various stages of growth, but the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids remained unaltered.     

Mg2+ restores membrane potential in rat liver mitochondria deenergized by Ca2+ and phosphate movements

Cellular ornithine biosynthesis could be expected to play a significant role in putrescine formation and hence in growth. Two enzymes are involved in ornithine biosynthesis: arginase and transamidinase. These enzyme activities were studied in two human melanoma cell lines differing in their K_m of diamine oxidase for putrescine and in their tumorigenicity in nude mice. Arginase activity accounts for the majority of ornithine formed in the highly tumorigenic cell line, while the majority of ornithine is derived from transamidinase action in the poorly tumorigenic cell line, with concomitant formation of methyl guanidine, a potent inhibitor of diamine oxidase.     

The possible role of soluble salts in chemical evolution

Summary A model is proposed for a prebiotic environment in which concentration, condensation, and chemical evolution of biomolecules could have taken place. The main reactions expected of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and some of their precursors in this environment are examined.The model is based on our previously developed concept of a fluctuating system in which hydration and dehydration processes take place in a cyclic manner. In the present model, however, high concentrations of soluble salts, such as chlorides and sulfates, are taken into account, whereas previously a more or less salt-free system had been assumed. Thus the preponderance of surfaces of soluble salts is implied, even though sparingly soluble minerals, such as clay minerals or quartz, are also present.During the dehydration stage biomolecules tend to leave the solution and concentrate at certain microenvironments, such as in micelles and aggregates, at the liquid-gas surface and, possibly, at the emerging solid surfaces. Moreover, in these brines, and especially during the last stages of dehydration, high temperatures are attainable, which may enhance certain reactions between the organic molecules, and result in a net increase of condensation over degradation.In the dehydrated state, solid-state condensation and synthesis reactions are possible in which the surface of soluble salts may serve as a catalyst. Several reports in the literature support this hypothesis. Hydration brings about dissolution of the minerals and redistribution of the biomolecules. In such a system, evolutionary processes like those postulated by White (1980) and by Lahav and White (1980) are possible. Moreover, since several soluble salts of known geological occurrence are optically active in their crystalline state, the involvement of the model system in the selection and evolution of chiral organic compounds should also be considered. In addition, organic molecules in the above microenvironments are also expected to undergo selective interactions based on factors such as molecular pattern and chiral recognition and hydrophobicity. The proposed system emphasizes the need to develop the theoretical background and experimental methods for the study of interactions among biomolecules in the presence of high salt concentrations and solid surfaces of soluble salts, as well as interactions between the biomolecules and these surfaces.     

Fatty Acid Incorporation in Normal and Degenerating Rat Sciatic Nerve In Vivo

Abstract: Labeled palmitic acid ([16-¹⁴C]palmitate) (0).5 μCi) was injected into rat sciatic nerves in vivo to characterize thc incorporation of this fatty acid into complex peripheral nerve lipids after time lapses of 1 min to 2 weeks. For the first 30 min after intraneural injection, the label was concentrated in nerve diglycerides. Thereafter, the relative diglyccride label declined rapidly, and phospholipid radioactivity rose steadily. After 120 min, phospholipids contained over 70% of the total lipid radioactivity. Among the phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine had the largest percentage of total phospholipid label, and acylation of lysophosphatidylcholine accounted for approximately 75% of this label. With time, there was conversion of [16-¹⁴C]palmitate to other long-chain fatty acids by elongation and desaturation. Phosphatidic acid was labeled also, suggesting the operation of the de novo biosynthetic mechanism. However, the specific radioactivity of 1,2-diacylglycerol was much higher than that of phosphatidic acid, suggesting phosphorylation of diglycerides by diglyceride kinase. After nerve section and survival of 2 h to 50 days, the injection of [16-¹⁴C]palmitate into the degenerating distal segment revealed an overall decline of phospholipid labeling and a commensurate increase of triglyceride radioactivity. Phosphatidylcholine in degenerating nerve contained a larger percentage of the fatty acid label than that in normal nerve. Almost all of the labeling was due to acylation of lysophosphatidylcholine, implying a much smaller contribution of the de novo pathway. Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine showed a relative loss of radioactivity. The changes were apparent at 1 day, but not at 2 h, suggesting loss of homeostatic control, presumably by interruption of axonal flow. An incidental observation was the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis by acylation of lysophosphatidylcholine in the contralateral unoperated sciatic nerve.     

Alternative Pathways of Glucose Utilization in Brain; Changes in the Pattern of Glucose Utilization in Brain Resulting from Treatment of Rats with 6-Aminonicotinamide

The effect of 6-aminonicotinamide (6AN) treatment on the activities of alternative pathways of glucose metabolism in 20-day-old rat brain was evaluated by measurements of yields of 14CO2 from glucose labeled with 14C on carbons 1, 2, 3 + 4, or 6 and uniformly labeled glucose, and from the incorporation of 14C from specifically labeled glucose into lipids by brain slices from cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum. At the highest dose of 6AN used (35 mg/kg body weight) there was a significant decrease in the 14CO2 yields via the pentose phosphate pathway, the glycolytic route, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and via the glutamate-gamma-aminobutyric acid pathway. Giving a graded series of doses (20-35 mg 6AN/kg body weight) revealed a hierarchy of responses in which the pentose phosphate pathway, lactate, glyceride-glycerol, and fatty acid formation were most sensitive, followed, in sequence, by the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction, the glutamate-gamma-aminobutyrate route and, finally, the TCA cycle. The nature of the blocks in the various pathways was examined by the use of metabolite profiles.     

Correlations between proton-efflux patterns and growth patterns during geotropism and phototropism in maize and sunflower

By placing seedlings of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) or maize (Zea mays L.) on agar plates containing a pH indicator dye it is possible to observe surface pH patterns along the growing seedling by observing color changes of the indicator dye. Using this method we find that in geotropically stimulated sunflower hypocotyls or maize coleoptiles there is enhanced proton efflux on the lower surface of the organ prior to the initiation of curvature. As curvature develops the pattern of differential acid efflux becomes more intense. A similar phenomenon is observed when these organs are exposed to unilateral illumination, i.e. enhanced acid efflux occurs on the dark side of the organ prior to the initiation of phototropic curvature and the pattern of differential acid efflux intensifies as phototropic curvature develops. These observations indicate that differential acid efflux occurs in response to tropistic stimuli and that the acid efflux pattern may mediate the development of tropistic curvatures.