Inhibition of firefly bioluminescence by scavengers of singlet oxygen,superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals

Summary The participation of highly energetic oxygen species in the ATP-induced bioluminescence of a firefly-extract has been investigated. The inhibition of light emission by a variety of specific scavengers suggests that singlet oxygen, superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals are important intermediates in the firefly bioluminescence reaction.Acknowledgments. I thank Prof. R. Bachofen, Institut für Allgemeine Botanik, Abteilung Mikrobiologie, Universität Zürich, Switzerland, in whose laboratory most of these studies have been performed, for his cooperativity. Financial support by the Deutsche Studienstiftung is gratefully acknowledged.     

Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the red blood cells of GSH-normal and GSH-deficient sheep

Levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were measured in the red blood cells of glutathione(GSH)-normal and GSH-deficient sheep. There were no significant differences in any of the 3 enzyme activities measured in the 2 groups of sheep. Also, there was no relationship between GSH level and the enzyme activity. These results suggest that inspite of large differences in GSH levels, the red blood cells from GSH-normal and GSH-deficient Merino sheep appear to have similar response to oxidative stress against which GSH is credited to play a major role.     

Effects of scavengers of superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals on malondialdehyde generation from arachidonic acid by bovine seminal vesicle microsomes

Superoxide dismutase, catalase and sodium formate did not inhibit the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) from arachidonic acid, suggesting that O2-., H2O2 and OH. are not involved in the enzymatical oxidation of arachidonic acid. Sodium azide was found to be an inhibitor of MDA production.     

Effects of scavengers of superoxide radicals,hydrogen peroxide,singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals on malondialdehyde generation from arachidonic acid by bovine seminal vesicle microsomes

Summary Superoxide dismutase, catalase and sodium formate did not inhibit the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) from arachidonic acid, suggesting that O ₂ , H₂O₂ and OH^. are not involved in the enzymatical oxidation of arachidonic acid. Sodium azide was found to be an inhibitor of MDA production.     

Effect of starvation and refeeding on catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in skeletal and cardiac muscles from 12-month-old rats

Summary Catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined in muscles from 12-month-old rats after severe starvation and after subsequent refeeding. Catalase increased in most muscles after starvation and decreased after refeeding, while SOD remained unchanged.This research was supported by the Science and Education Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under grant No. 5901-0410-8-0014-0 from the Competitive Grants Office. We thank Dr Craig Frisk for advice in the care of the animals.Scientific Journal Series No. 11, 191, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Effects of progesterone and estradiol benzoate on superoxide dismutase activity in the brain of male rats

The activities of mitochondrial, manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and cytoplasmic, copper-zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) were measured in subcellular fractions of whole brain homogenates prepared from intact and gonadectomized (GDX) male rats, untreated or treated subcutaneously (sc) with a single dose of 2 mg progesterone (P) and/or 5 g estradiol benzoate (EB). Neither MnSOD nor CuZnSOD was affected by the removal of the testes. Similarly, CuZnSOD activity was steady following systemic administration of P and/or EB to intact and GDX animals 2 h or 24 h prior to sacrifice. On the other hand, both P and EB suppressed MnSOD in the brain of either intact or GDX rats. These results suggest involvement of P and EB in the control of MnSOD activity in the brain of male rats.     

Lymphocyte subpopulations in adjuvant arthritis of rats. Effects of corticoids and gamma irradiation]

Experimental model of human chronic inflammatory arthritis, adjuvant arthritis may be induced only in several strains of inbred Rats: it is well developed in LEW and practically absent in WAG. After adjuvant injection, the PHA-stimulable lymphocytes subpopulation quite disappears from the blood, if polyarthritis is well developed. These cells are probably capted in the tissues implicated in immunological conflict. On the contrary, the ConA-stimulable subpopulation is enhanced in both strains after adjuvant injection, earlier and more intense in WAG than in LEW and that phenomenon is probably linked to a stimulation of suppressor T lymphocytes. Treatment with prednisone or gamma rays inhibits partially and delays the appearance of arthritis in LEW, acting essentially on ConA-stimulable subpopulation.     

Suppression of adjuvant arthritis by estrone in adrenalectomized and ovariectomized rats

Zusammenfassung Die Adjuvans-Arthritis konnte durch Östrontherapie gehemmt werden auf gleiche Weise bei intakten Ratten wie bei Ratten nach bilateraler Adrenalektomie, Ovariektomie oder nach Adrenal- und Ovariektomie. Bei hypophysektomierten Tieren (ohne Östrontherapie) war das Krankheitsbild bedeutend milder als bei intaken Kontrollratten.     

Effects of ovarian steroids on superoxide dismutase activity in the rat brain

The levels of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) were determined in appropriate subcellular fractions prepared from whole brain homogenates of cycling and long-term (3 week) ovariectomized (OVX) Wistar rats, and were compared to the levels found in corresponding samples prepared from OVX rats treated with progesterone (P) or estradiol 17B-benzoate (EB). The activity of both SODs was steady during the estrous cycle, except at proestrus, when MnSOD activity was elevated significantly. Bilateral ovariectomy resulted three weeks later in an increase of the MnSOD activity even higher than that recorded at proestrus. High post-castration MnSOD activity was lowered profoundly by exogenous P (2 mg) or EB (0.5 g), given s.c. to OVX animals 2 h or 24 h before sacrifice. Neither removal of the ovaries nor the hormone treatments affected the activity of CuZnSOD. These results suggest suppressive effects of ovarian steroids on MnSOD activity in the rat brain.     

The effect ofɛ-aminocaproic acid on adjuvant arthritis in rats

Zusammenfassung Die experimentelle Arthritis bei der Ratte, verursacht durch Injektion von mycobacterialem Adjuvans, wird von-Aminocapronsäure zu einem geringen Grade gehemmt, indem das Krankheitsbild milder und die Dauer der Arthritis kürzer wird.     

Regional and subcellular distribution of superoxide dismutase in brain

Summary Superoxide dismutase has been found to be widely distributed and of approximately the same specific activity in all regions of human brain examined. It is not reduced during degeneration of the basal ganglia in Huntington's Chorea. After subcellular fractionation of human and guinea-pig cerebral cortex, the highest specific activity of the enzyme was found in the soluble fraction.Acknowledgments. We thank the Huntington's Chorea Foundation for financial support. Address reprint requests to the Neurochemistry Lab., V. A. Hospital, Seattle, Wash. 98108, USA.     

Increase in superoxide dismutase activity induced by thyroid hormones in the brains of neonate and adult rats

Summary The activity of cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver was about twice as high in adult rats as it was in neonates. In the brain and in the interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT), SOD activity was not changed during postnatal development, although it was slightly higher in the brain than in the IBAT (p>0.1). Thyroid hormones produced an increase in SOD activity in the brain of newborn rats, as well as in those animals 30 and 60 days old. The same quantity of hormones did not produce any significant changes in the liver or in the IBAT.     

Anti-interleukin-1 and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha synergistically inhibit adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) play dominant roles in mediating the progression of many inflammatory joint diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis in humans, collagen-induced arthritis in mice and rats, and adjuvant arthritis in rats. Blockade of either cytokine partially controls these diseases. The present study investigated the value of combination anti-cytokine therapy in arthritis: the efficacy of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and 30 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated soluble TNF receptor type I (PEG sTNF-RI) given together was assessed in Lewis rats with adjuvant arthritis. Administration of either IL-1ra or PEG sTNF-RI partially alleviated joint inflammation, loss of bone mineral density, and loss of body weight. In contrast, combination of these anti-cytokine treatments exhibited a synergistic capacity to inhibit these changes, even when combining doses of IL-1ra and PEG sTNF-RI that did not affect lesion severity when used alone. Statistical analysis of these adjuvant arthritis data using the isobologram method proved that IL-1ra and PEG sTNF-RI were clearly synergistic in inhibiting inflammation, loss of bone mineral density, loss of body weight, and histopathologic parameters of inflammation and joint destruction. These results suggest that treating autoimmune arthritic diseases with combinations of anti-IL-1 and anti-TNF molecules will achieve superior efficacy compared to the use of a single class of anti-cytokine agent and may allow for dose reductions that could prove useful in minimizing potential side effects.     

Regional and subcellular distribution of superoxide dismutase in brain.

Superoxide dismutase has been found to be widely distributed and of approximately the same specific activity in all regions of human brain examined. It is not reduced during degeneration of the basal ganglia in Huntington's Chorea. After subcellular fractionation of human and guinea-pig cerebral cortex, the highest specific activity of the enzyme was found in the soluble fraction.     

Inverse effect of gibberellin and Amo-1618 on growth,catalase and peroxidase activity in cucumber seedlings

Zusammenfassung Gibberellin beschleunigt das Wachstum von Hypokotylen bei Gurkensämlingen und verlangsamt die Katalase- und Peroxydasetätigkeit in Hypokotylen und Kotyledonen. Amo-1618 verlangsamt das Wachstum, beschleunigt jedoch die Tätigkeit dieser Enzyme in Hypokotylen, Kotyledonen und Wurzelanlagen. Das Ausmass der durch Gibberellin verursachten Verlangsamung, bzw. der durch Amo-1618 verursachten Beschleunigung stand zum Effekt auf die Hypokotyl-Elongation in entsprechender Konzentrationsabhängigkeit. Gleichzeitige Anwendung beider Substanzen führte zu Aufhebung des Retardierungseffektes.     

Differential changes in Cu,Zn and Mn superoxide dismutase activity in developing rat brain and liver

Summary The aim of our study was to assess the pattern of copper and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu, ZnSOD) and manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity from embryonic life to senescence in rat brain and liver. The two isoenzymes showed different profiles in the two organs examined. In particular, the cerebral MnSOD activity profile suggests a primary role during differentiation of this enzymatic form.