Effect of hemorrhage on plasma atriopeptin levels in conscious dogs

An increase in atrial pressure has been shown to cause an increase in the concentration of atrial peptides (atriopeptin) in plasma. We therefore hypothesized that a reduction in atrial pressure would decrease the concentration of atriopeptin in plasma. In formulating this hypothesis we assumed that changes in the concentration of other circulating hormones or changes in cardiac nerve activity during hemorrhage would not affect the secretion of atriopeptin. To test the hypothesis, we bled sham-operated conscious dogs at a rate of 0.8 ml.kg-1.min-1 to decrease right and left atrial pressures. Hemorrhage was continued until a total of 30 ml of blood per kilogram body weight had been removed. Identical experiments were performed on conscious cardiac-denervated dogs. The concentration of plasma atriopeptin was decreased in each group of dogs after 10 ml of blood per kilogram of body weight had been removed, but the decrease achieved statistical significance only in the cardiac-denervated dogs. Further hemorrhage, however, produced no further decreases in circulating atriopeptin in either group even though atrial pressures continued to decline as more blood was removed. A comparison of the atriopeptin response to hemorrhage revealed no significant difference between the sham-operated and cardiac-denervated dogs, thus providing no evidence for a specific effect of cardiac nerves on atriopeptin secretion during hemorrhage. Our results demonstrate that the relationship between atrial pressure and plasma atriopeptin that has been observed repeatedly during atrial stretch is not evident during relatively slow, prolonged hemorrhage. There is, however, a small decline in circulating atriopeptin during the initial stage of hemorrhage that could be of biological significance.     

Complement C4 phenotypes in dementia of the Alzheimer type

Complement C4 phenotype distribution was studied in 64 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type. In contrast to reported findings we failed to find a significant association between C4B2 gene frequency and Alzheimer's dementia.     

DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase from human lymphoblasts

The DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase complex from the human lymphoblast line HSC93 has been enriched to near homogeneity by using an immunoaffinity purification protocol which was developed earlier for the purification of the calf thymus enzyme (Nasheuer, H.-P. and Grosse, F. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 8458-8466). Immunoaffinity purified polymerase-primase from human cells consisted of four subunits displaying molecular weights of 195,000 and 180,000 for the DNA synthesizing alpha-subunit, of 68,000 for the beta-subunit, and of 55,000 and 48,000 for the primase-carrying gamma- and delta-subunit, respectively. The isoelectric pH values for the individual subunits were estimated from non-equilibrium pH gradients to be between 5.9 and 5.7 for the alpha-subunit, at 5.5 for the beta-subunit, and at 7.5 and 8.0 for the gamma- and delta-subunit, respectively. The purified polymerase-primase converted single-stranded phi X174 DNA into the double-stranded form in a primase-initiated reaction. During this process, 3-10 RNA primers were formed. RNA primers were about 11 nucleotides long. Elongation of existing RNA primers by the human polymerase-primase was semi-processive; following primer binding the DNA polymerase continuously incorporated 20 to 50 nucleotides, then it dissociated from the template DNA.     

F prostaglandins function as potent olfactory stimulants that comprise the postovulatory female sex pheromone in goldfish

This study establishes that ovulated female goldfish release F type prostaglandins (PGFs) to the water where they stimulate male spawning behavior and comprise the goldfish postovulatory pheromone. We first demonstrated that ovulated and prostaglandin-injected female goldfish release immunoreactive PGFs to the water. Next, using electro-olfactogram recording (EOG), we determined that waterborne prostaglandins function as potent olfactory stimulants for mature male goldfish. Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and its metabolite 15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (15K-PGF2 alpha) were the most potent prostaglandins; the former had a detection threshold of 10(-10) M and the latter a detection threshold of 10(-12) M. Studies of prostaglandin-injected fish indicated that PGF metabolites are an important component of the pheromone. Cross-adaptation experiments using the EOG demonstrated that goldfish have separate olfactory receptor sites for PGF2 alpha and 15K-PGF2 alpha that are independent from those that detect other olfactory stimulants. Finally, we established that male goldfish exposed to low concentrations of waterborne PGFs exhibit reproductive behaviors similar to those elicited by exposure to the odor of ovulated fish. Together with our recent discovery that a steroidal maturational hormone functions as a preovulatory "priming" pheromone for goldfish, these findings suggest that hormones and their metabolites may commonly serve as reproductive pheromones in fish.     

Protease activity in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) follicle walls demonstrated by substrate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Proteolytic activity was demonstrated in the follicle wall surrounding oocytes of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) by an assay system that incorporated protein substrates into sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (substrate-SDS-PAGE). At least six proteolytic enzymes (78, 70, 67, 59, 22 and 20 kDa) were present when follicle wall extracts were electrophoresed and incubated in gels containing gelatin. Of these six enzymes, only two enzymes (20 and 22 kDa) were present when follicle wall extracts were resolved and incubated in gels containing casein. The activities of the 78 and 70 kDa enzymes were completely inhibited with metallo- and collagenolytic protease inhibitors and partially inhibited with serine protease inhibitors. The activities of the 67 and 59 kDa enzymes were completely blocked with metallo- and collagenolytic protease inhibitors. The activities of the 22 and 20 kDa enzymes were only slightly decreased with a serine protease inhibitor.     

Clonazepam and dopamine-related stereotyped behavior

The effect of clonazepam on behavioral stereotypy induced by a number of dopaminergic agonists was investigated. Clonazepam inhibited levodopa- and amphetamine-induced behavior in guinea pigs but did not alter lergotrile- or apomorphine-induced stereotypy. The results suggest that clonazepam influences the central dopaminergic system through a direct effect of dopaminergic presynaptic mechanisms.     

Alterations in central neurotransmitter receptor binding sites following estradiol implantation in female rats

The subcutaneous implantation of an estradiol pellet (10 mg) into female rats induced a hypophyseal hyperplasia with hyperprolactinaemia. Examination of neurotransmitter receptors in the hippocampus, striatum and cerebral cortex one month after the implantation revealed that estrogenization was associated with: an increased density of ³H-domperidone binding sites (D₂ receptors) in the striatum and reduced numbers of ³H-serotonin high affinity sites (5-HT₁ receptors) in the hippocampus and of ³H-muscimol binding sites (GABA receptors) in the hippocampus, striatum and cerebral cortex. In contrast, the characteristics of ³H-spiperone binding to 5-HT₂ receptors (in the cerebral cortex) and those of ³H-flunitrazepam binding to benzodiazepine sites (in the three brain regions examined) were not significantly different in estrogenized and in control female rats. However, the enhancing effect of GABA on ³H-flunitrazepam binding was markedly reduced in brain membranes from estrogenized animals. The respective roles of estradiol and prolactin in mediating these changes in neurotransmitter receptors are discussed notably with regard to the regional heterogeneity of estradiol binding capacity in the rat brain.     

A novel magnetic silica support for use in chromatographic and enzymatic bioprocessing

A limited number of support matrices have so far been developed for use in magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB) applications. We have developed a versatile magnetic silica support which can be derivatized readily for both adsorption chromatography and enzyme immobilization by well-known techniques. A magnetic pellicular bead is prepared by electrostatically depositing alternating layers of colloidal silica and cationic polymer onto macroscopic nickel core particles. The polymer is then burned out and the silica partially sintered to yield a porous shell with 5-80 m(2)/g of surface area. This magnetic composite was tested as a support for immobilizing invertase. Sucrose was continuously converted to its component monosaccharides with nearly constant activity over the first 8 days and retention of 50% of initial activity after 25 days.