Effect of orotic acid on liver glycogen of different animal species.

The effect of orotic acid on the liver glycogen content in the mice, frogs and catfish was studied. It was observed that the orotic acid significantly increases the glycogen content in the liver of mice and catfish as it does in rats. On the other hand it causes a fall of the glycogen level in frogs in experiments made both in autumn and spring. This effect was modified by amino acids administered together with orotic acid.     

Effects of alloxan on orotic acid and glycogen content in various vertebrate species

Summary Alloxan treatment induces a decrease of orotic acid content in various organs of carp, frog, pigeon and rat, parallel to a decrease of liver and muscle glycogen content. Loss of orotic acid and glycogen cannot be prevented by orotic acid and carbamyl phosphate given i.p. Mice, rats and pigeons use up and excrete exogenous orotic acid rapidly, but carps and frogs accumulate it.     

Effects of alloxan on orotic acid and glycogen content in various vertebrate species.

Alloxan treatment induces a decrease of orotic acid content in various organs of carp, frog, pigeon and rat, parallel to a decrease of liver and muscle glycogen content. Loss of orotic acid and glycogen cannot be prevented by orotic acid and carbamyl phosphate given i.p. Mice, rats and pigeons use up and excrete exogenous orotic acid rapidly, but carps and frogs accumulate it.     

Reserpin und Glykogengehalt der Organe

Summary In fasted white mice, 1–18 h after the injection of 5 mg/kg Reserpine the glycogen content of brain, heart, skeletal muscle and liver is significantly increased (about 100%, in liver nearly 300%). It is suggested that this is due to an enhanced synthesis of glycogen from non-carbohydrate material.Concerning the underlying mechanism, it is pointed out that after reserpine there occurs a release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla and-by stimulation of the anterior pituitary-an enhanced production of corticoids.Simultaneously with the increase of the brain glycogen, the level of lactic acid is decreased, whereas the ATP-, ADP- and AMP-content of the brain remains practically unaffected.

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Ausgeführt mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Effect of high lipid diet on circadian rhythms of tissue glycogen

Summary The well defined circadian rhythms of glycogen content in heart, diaphragm and liver of the rat are drastically altered by a high lipid diet as shown by changes in amplitude, phase and tissue glycogen levels. If sampling times had been restricted to certain hours of the day the profound effect of the high fat diet on tissue glycogen would not have been apparent.Supported by USPHS grants HL 16041-03 and HL 07094-03.     

Administration of D-alanine did not cause increase of D-amino acid oxidase activity in mice.

D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) activity was not altered in the liver and kidney by oral administration of D-alanine to adult mice. The enzyme was apparently not induced by the enteric microflora either, since the enzyme activity in the liver and kidney of germ-free mice was not different from that of specific-pathogen-free mice. The times of appearance of DAAO activity and of free D-amino acids in the kidney were elucidated using suckling mice. DAAO activity started to increase 7 days after birth, and reached almost the adult level by 28 days. The content of free neutral D-amino acids also increased with age, in a similar fashion. A possible conclusion is that the enzyme activity normally increases during this period, to eliminate the free D-amino acids which have increased with age in the suckling mice. Consequently, the administration of D-alanine had no further effect in increasing enzyme activity.     

Administration of D-alanine did not cause increase of D-amino acid oxidase activity in mice

D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) activity was not altered in the liver and kidney by oral administration of D-alanine to adult mice. The enzyme was apparently not induced by the enteric microflora either, since the enzyme activity in the liver and kidney of germ-free mice was not different from that of specific-pathogen-free mice. The times of appearance of DAAO activity and of free D-amino acids in the kidney were elucidated using suckling mice. DAAO activity started to increase 7 days after birth, and reached almost the adult level by 28 days. The content of free neutral D-amino acids also increased with age, in a similar fashion. A possible conclusion is that the enzyme activity normally increases during this period, to eliminate the free D-amino acids which have increased with age in the suckling mice. Consequently, the administration of D-alanine had no further effect in increasing enzyme activity.     

The oxygen consumption of some tissues from hypophysectomized goldfish,Carassius auratus L.

Summary Hypophysectomy has no effect on the O₂ consumption of minced brain and white muscle tissue, while liver tissue shows a marked reduction. This reduction in liver O₂ consumption is attributed to the increased glycogen content that follows hypophysectomy which has the effect of increasing the nonmetabolizing dry weight component of the cells.Supported by the National Research Council of Canada, Grant Number A-3744 to P. H. J.     

The effect of endotoxin on membrane fatty acid composition in BCG-sensitized mice

The effects of endotoxin on mouse liver phospholipid fatty acid composition have been investigated. Administration of endotoxin from Salmonella abortus equi led to a decrease in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of livers from mice sensitized with Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG). The content of arachidonic acid fell significantly in both the phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol fractions whereas in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction the linoleic acid content was significantly reduced. The polyunsaturated fatty acids were replaced by increased amounts of oleic acid and palmitic acid, leading to a reduction in the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio.     

The effect of endotoxin on membrane fatty acid composition in BCG-sensitized mice

Summary The effects of endotoxin on mouse liver phospholipid fatty acid composition have been investigated. Administration of endotoxin fromSalmonella abortus equi led to a decrease in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of livers from mice sensitized with Bacille Calmette Guérin (GCG). The content of arachidonic acid fell significantly in both the phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol fractions whereas in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction the linoleic acid content was significantly reduced. The polyunsaturated fatty acids were replaced by increased amounts of oleic acid and palmitic acid, leading to a reduction in the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio.     

Temperatur als wesentlicher Parameter für die Grössenabhängigkeit von Lebensvorgängen

Summary (1) The influence of temperature on the dependence of tissue-respiration upon body-size is examined in those tissues of cold- and warm-blooded animals, which are similar with respect to their general enzymatic activity, namely the skin of frogs (intraspecific comparison) and the liver of mice, rats, and guinea pigs (interspecific comparison).(2) In both tissues the respiration decreases more, with increasing body-size, at higher temperature than at lower temperature.(3) This effect of temperature on size-dependent activities is possibly rather common. When poikilothermic and homoiothermic animals are compared, these relationships must be considered.     

The role of maternal parathyroids and vitamin D3 metabolites in fetal growth and the deposition of glycogen reserves in the maternal and fetal liver in rats]

Thyro-parathyroidectomy of pregnant Rats at 12.5 days of gestation decreased maternal liver glycogen on 21.5 days of gestation and fetal weight as well as fetal liver glycogen stores. The graft of one parathyroid gland or the injection of 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol in these thyro-parathyroidectomized mothers increased their liver glycogen stores at 21.5 days of gestation. These treatments also markedly increased both fetal weight and fetal liver glycogen stores. It was concluded that maternal 1,25-dihydorxycholecalciferol, which is synthesized under the control of parathyroid hormone secretion, controls fetal growth and liver glycogen stores. The mechanism of these effects (direct or indirect) requires further investigations.     

Antagonistic effect of progesterone towards estradiol dipropionate-induced changes in glycogen content in uterus and vagina of P-mice

Summary Estradiol dipropionate induces an increase (3-fold) in the uterine glycogen content and a decrease (4-fold) in the vaginal glycogen content of Parkes (P) mice. Progesterone antagonizes this estradiol dipropionate-induced response in both the uterine and vaginal tissue. The degree of this antagonism is more pronounced in the uterus than in the vagina.Acknowledgments. The authors are extremely grateful to Prof. C.J. Dominic for his suggestions and guidance during experimentation.     

Freeze tolerance in the frog,Rana sylvatica

Summary Wood frogs survive extracellular freezing at moderate subzero temperatures (–4°C) for at least 11 days. Freezing survival is aided by the accumulation of high concentrations of glucose as a cryoprotectant in blood and tissues. Glucose production was accompanied by a rapid decline in liver, but not muscle, glycogen levels suggesting that liver is the organ controlling cryoprotectant synthesis.Acknowledgments. This study was supported by grants to L.M.G. from the Kroc Foundation (Santa Ynez, California) and from the National Institute of Dental Research (Grant No. DE-03987). The authors wish to thank K. Yorko, M. Shakin, J. Finan and Mrs N. Manivannan for their technical and secretarial assistance.Acknowledgments. I thank Dr J. Ballantyne, Dr F. Schueler and I. McMurray for help with frog collections and Dr. W. Schmid, Dr J. Bogart and Dr F. Cook for helpful discussions. Supported by an N.S.E.R.C. operating grant and by a grant from the Atkinson Charitable Foundation.     

Studies on the biochemical effects of glibenclamide on alloxan diabetic rabbits

Summary Treatment of alloxan diabetic rabbits with glibenclamide, the most potent of the sulfonylureas, for a period of 2 months, significantly ameliorated the diabetic condition. It produced a decrease in serum and liver lipids, amino acids, serum urea, blood sugar and urine sugar; increase in body weight, serum and liver proteins, liver glycogen, glucose tolerance and serum and liver acid labile phosphates. The possible mechanism of action of this hypoglycemic agent is discussed.     

Studies on the biochemical effects of glibenclamide on alloxan diabetic rabbits

Treatment of alloxan diabetic rabbits with glibenclamide, the most potent of the sulfonylureas, for a period of 2 months, significantly ameliorated the diabetic condition. It produced a decrease in serum and liver lipids, amino acids, serum urea, blood sugar and urine sugar; increase in body weight, serum and liver proteins, liver glycogen, glucose tolerance and serum and liver acid labile phosphates. The possible mechanism of action of this hypoglycemic agent is discussed.     

Effects of gonadal hormones on the lipid contents of the frogRana esculenta

Summary The effects of exogenous gonadal hormones on the lipid contents of the liver and ovary and also on water content in the frog,Rana esculenta, were studied. Estrogen treatment significantly enhanced, whereas testosterone treatment reduced, the lipid and cholesterol contents. Water content of the frogs increased significantly after treatment by either hormone.Acknowledgment. I wish to thank Dr Hussain Al-Adhub, College of Science for providing all necessary laboratory facillities. Present address: Physiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Patna University, Patna-80005, Bihar (India).     

Glycogenolytic effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the rat in vivo

Summary The effects of VIP (300 pmol/kg), injected via the portal vein, on the glycogen content of the liver and on glycemia, were studied in the rat in vivo. VIP enhanced glycogenolysis and caused hyperglycemia in a time-dependent manner.     

Influence of oral glucose feeding on endotoxin lethality in mice

Summary Prolonged feeding of physiological solutions of glucose (5%) by gavage did not protect against either endotoxin death or liver glycogen depletion in mice.Supported by grants from the INSERM (CL 76.5.001.4), the CNRS (03 7860) and the DGRST. Thanks are due to M. Philippe for technical assistance.Maitre de Recherche au CNRS, to whom all correspondance should be addressed.     

Evidence for synergism in steroid hormone-receptor association.

A number of glucocorticoids stimulated oestradiol binding to liver cytosol receptor; oestradiol activated glucocorticoid receptor association at a time when it reversed triamcinolone mediated increase in liver glycogen synthesis.