The absence of an inhibitory effect of metyrapone (2-methyl-1,2-di (3-pyridyl) propan-1-one) on hepatic microsomal hydroxylation in scurvy

Summary Microsomes from livers of scorbutic guineapigs showed a reduced rate of acetanilide hydroxylation. The response of scorbutic liver microsomes to the inhibitor Metyrapone (2-methyl-1,2 di (3-pyridyl)propan-1-one) was different from that of liver microsomes from non-scorbutic guinea-pigs.     

Kinetic behaviour of microsomal styrene monooxygenase and styrene epoxide hydratase in different animal species

Summary The apparent K_m and V_max values of styrene epoxide forming monooxygenase and styrene epoxide hydratase have been evaluated in the liver microsomes of male rats, mice, guinea-pigs and rabbits. Epoxide hydratase gave much higher and more uniform K_m values than the monooxygenase in the species considered.Acknowledgments. This work has been partially supported by the Fondazione Valenti (Milano). To whom enquiries should be addressed.     

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) reduces the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase in rat liver microsomes

The effect of dried oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on cholesterol (C) content in serum, in lipoproteins and in liver, and on the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase in liver microsomes, was studied in male rats (strain Wistar, initial body weight 75 g) fed on low-cholesterol (9 mg/100 g) and high-cholesterol (0.3%) diets. Addition of 5% oyster mushroom to both diets reduced significantly the C-content in serum (by 30%), in very-low- and low-density lipoproteins (in a 11 ratio to the decrease of total serum C) and in liver (by 50%), as well as the activity of HMG-CoA reductase (by more than 30%).     

Comparative studies on the covalent binding of the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene to DNA in various model systems.

The covalent binding of tritiated benzo(a)pyrene (BP) to DNA has been determined in rat liver in vivo, in rat liver perfused in situ, after incubation of BP with liver single cells, with liver homogenate, with liver microsomes and DNA, with fibroblasts from a rat granuloma pouch, and with 2 cell lines. Liver single cells were found to be a valuable compromise between the most sensitive system (microsomal incubation of BP and DNA) and the biologically most relevant system (in vivo).     

Poly(A) associated RNA from mitochondria and microsomes of rat brain

Summary Rat brain mitochondria contain a significant proportion of poly(A) associated RNA which is higher than that found in microsomes from the same source. When steady state poly(A) RNA of brain mitochondria was analyzed by microelectrophoresis, it displayed a characteristic separation pattern with a large amount of free poly(A).     

Purification of pig kidney diamine oxidase (histaminase) and in vivo effects on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and histamine induced bronchoconstriction of guinea-pigs

Summary Histaminase (diamine oxidase) was purified from pig kidney using cadaverine-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Pretreatment of guinea-pigs with histaminase caused marked inhibition of the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. The effect of histaminase on histamine induced bronchoconstriction in vivo was studied. Histaminase significantly reduced the response in guinea-pigs. Histaminase is effective as a potent antihistaminic agent in vivo.     

Comparative studies on the covalent binding of the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene to DNA in various model systems

Summary The covalent binding of tritiated benzo(a) pyrene (BP) to DNA has been determined in rat liver in vivo, in rat liver perfused in situ, after incubation of BP with liver single cells, with liver homogenate, with liver microsomes and DNA, with fibroblasts from a rat granuloma pouch, and with 2 cell lines. Liver single cells were found to be a valuable compromise between the most sensitive system (microsomal incubation of BP with DNA) and the biologically most relevant system (in vivo).Presented in part at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Union of Swiss Societies of Experimental Biology, Experientia34, 925 (1978), abstract.Acknowledgment. We thank Dr G. Kistler, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, for generously supplying the SIRC and VERO cell lines, and Mr P. Manser for the preparation of the granuloma pouch fibroblasts.     

Concurrent occurrence of elevated ketone body and depressed carnitine level in underfed guinea-pigs

Summary Food ingestion of male guinea-pigs was restricted to 10 g/day. Total carnitine content of liver of the underfed animals fell to 3.75 moles per liver (46.1% of control). Serum level of total carnitine was 35.0 nmoles/ml (64.4%) in the underfed animals while they developed high ketonemia, 384.2 nmoles/ml (555.2%). In restricted animals the carnitine levels also decreased in the muscles.     

The effect of chronic marginal vitamin C deficiency on the α-tocopherol content of the organs and plasma of guinea-pigs

Summary Chronic marginal vitamin C deficiency lasting 270 days induced hypertriglyceridaemia, an abrupt fall of ascorbic acid in all organs and a significant decrease of -tocopherol in the liver and the lungs in guinea-pigs.     

Type III (Arthus) allergic reactions and endotoxin toxicity in guinea-pigs.

Lipoplysaccharide (endotoxin) from E. coli cells produced lethal effects in guinea-pigs. Endotoxin caused no visible dermal change in normal animals, but produced skin reactions characterized by specific Arthus-type (Type III immune hypersensitivity) vascular inflammation in immunized animals. It is concluded that Arthus allergic reactions were evoked by endotoxin, however, endotoxin lethal toxicity appears independent of this process.     

Thiaminpyrophosphatase bei der experimentellen Diphtherieintoxikation

Summary The determinations of thiamine pyrophosphatase activity were carried out in the liver homogenates of normal guinea-pigs and those poisoned with diphtheria toxin.The enzyme activity in the toxaemic liver tissue is twice that of normal guinea-pigs. It is supposed that this result may partly explain the increased level of pyruvic acid in the blood of patients with diphtheria. Further studies on this problem are under way.     

Type III (Arthus) allergic reactions and endotoxin toxicity in guinea-pigs

Summary Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) fromE. coli cells produced lethal effects in guinea-pigs. Endotoxin caused no visible dermal change in normal animals, but produced skin reactions characterized by specific Arthus-type (Type III immune hypersensitivity) vascular inflammation in immunized animals. It is concluded that Arthus allergic reactions were evoked by endotoxin, however, endotoxin lethal toxicity appears independent of this process.Acknowledgment. Supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.     

Effect of liver damage by thioacetamide on microsomal aromatization of testosterone in rats (author's transl)]

Rat liver microsomes, NADPH-regenerating system, and 1beta, 2beta-3H-testosterone have been incubated in vitro. The loss of tritium from the steroid, associated with aromatization of testosterone, was linear with time for 20 min and required NADPH. Pre-treatment of the rats with thioacetamide raised the liberation of tritium from 1beta, 2beta-3H-testosterone. The results suggest that liver damage by thioacetamide in rats may give rise to increased aromatization of testosterone.     

Perinatal changes in plasma carnitine levels in 4 species of mammal

Summary Plasma levels of carnitine, acetylcarnitine, and -hydroxybutyrate rise perinatally in rats, guinea-pigs and sheep but not in rabbits. In the fetus, carnitine levels are high in rabbits and guinea-pigs but not in rats and sheep.     

Age-dependent change in the ability of protein synthesis,by rat liver microsomes-significance of 2 associated factors

Summary An activator and an inhibitor of polypeptide synthesis were isolated from microsomes of rat liver. The young rat contained a higher level of the activator but a lower level of the inhibitor than the aged rat. The significantly higher ratio of the specific activity of the activator to inhibitor in the young microsomes helps explain the higher capacity for protein synthesis of these microsomes as compared to the microsomes of the aged animal.The author thanks Mrs. M. Guillier for her technical help in this work.     

Etude de la glucose-6-phosphatase dans la membrane chorioallantoïdienne traitée par des microsomes du foie

Summary In order to test the possibility for microsomes to multiply like viruses, microsomes of chick liver were inoculated on chorioallantoïc membranes. The glucose-6-phosphatase activity, an enzyme located in the liver microsomes, was determined in the treated membranes. The activity decreased during the first 24 h after inoculation. It reached, after 48 h, from two to six times the value attained after 24 h.A suspension of heated granules, or of heatedTétrahymèna géléii, though producing the same lesions of the membrane, did not increase the phosphatase activity of the microsome fraction after 48 h.The present results are compatible with the idea that liver microsomes multiply by autoduplication.     

Ascorbic acid and cholesterol: Effect of graded oral intakes on cholesterol conversion to bile acids in guinea-pigs

Summary A significant correlation between liver ascorbic acid (AA) and total bile acids or liver bile acids has been established in guinea-pigs by direct determination of the bile acids, confirming an earlier hypothesis. The oxidation of cholesterol to bile acids is dependent on the AA status, but it cannot be further stimulated by AA when the animals are already on an adequate intake of the vitamin. This suggests that AA has a hypocholesterolaemic effect over a limited range of AA status.     

Effect of some derivatives of naphthalene on aryl hydrocarbon (Benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase in vitro

Résumé L'effet du naphthalène et certains de ses dérivés a été étudié in vitro sur l'action de l'aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase. Les isomères naphthylphosphordicloridat-(1), naphthylphosphordicloridat-(2) et 2-methyl--naphtothioazol inhibent l'enzyme dans les microsomes des rats controles et des rats traités avec le méthylcholanthrène, sans un effet différentiel. Cette inhibition suggère l'occupation du site commun sur l'enzyme. Cependant le naphtalène, le naphthol-(1), le naphthol-(2) le naphthonitrile-(1), le naphthonitrile-(2) ont un effet negligeable sur l'activité enzymatique.     

Effect of host age on the expression of acquired resistance to ticks

Summary Young guinea-pigs (350 g) expressed significantly greater levels of acquired resistance to challenge by larvalAmblyomma americanum ticks than older guinea-pigs (520–800 g). This finding suggests that younger guinea-pigs are immunologically more responsive to tick infestation than older mature individuals. Therefore, host age is an important variable in evaluating acquired resistance to ticks.Supported in part by grants from the United States Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health No. AI 17555, AI 19657, RR 05443 and from the Rockefeller Foundation.     

Die Wirkung einer Leberschädigung durch Thioacetamid auf die mikrosomale Aromatisierung von Testosteron bei der Ratte

Summary Rat liver microsomes, NADPH-regenerating system, and 1, 2-³H-testosterone have been incubated in vitro. The loss of tritium from the steroid, associated with aromatization of testosterone, was linear with time for 20 min and required NADPH. Pre-treatment of the rats with thioacetamide raised the liberation of tritium from 1, 2-³H-testosterone. The results suggest that liver damage by thioacetamide in rats may give rise to increased aromatization of testosterone.