The influence of homologous plasma and fetal calf serum on human lymphocytic cortisol metabolism

Summary The influence of a) tissue culture medium (RPMI), b) homologous plasma (HP), and c) fetal calf serum (FCS) on lymphocytic cortisol metabolism was compared to that of phosphate buffered saline alone. RPMI was found to enhance the conversion rate 1.71 times, whereas HP and FCS enhanced it about 3.2 times. Raising the temperature of the HP and FCS to 100°C before incubation reduced the enhancing effect to the level of that obtained with RPMI.This work was supported by The Israel Cancer Research Fund N.Y. (George and Rose Blumenthal Research Fellowship for Hodgkins Disease). The authors are grateful to Dr Malchi and his staff from the Beilinson Hospital Blood Bank, for supplying us with buffy coats and to Mr Z. Klein for drawing the figure.     

The influence of homologous plasma and fetal calf serum on human lymphocytic cortisol metabolism.

The influence of a) tissue culture medium (RPMI), b) homologous plasma (HP), and c) fetal calf serum (FCS) on lymphocytic cortisol metabolism was compared to that of phosphate buffered saline alone. RPMI was found to enhance the conversion rate 1.71 times, whereas HP and FCS enhanced it about 3.2 times. Raising the temperature of the HP and FCS to 100 degrees C before incubation reduced the enhancing effect to the level of that obtained with RPMI.     

In vitro cAMP,aldosterone and cortisol responses of adult human adrenocortical tissue to ACTH and human growth hormone

Summary The acute in vitro effects of ACTH and HGH in human adrenals were examined. HGH acts synergistically with ACTH in augmenting adrenal aldosterone output. This effect is not due to cAMP alterations in response to HGH. HGH slightly depresses the human adrenal cortisol response to ACTH.     

Effects of estradiol and cortisol on neural tissue in culture

Résumé L'activité acétylcholinestérasique et la teneur globale en protéines de fragments de cervelet et de moelle d'embryon de poulet de 16 jours diminue lorsqu'ils sont maintenus en culture organotypique dans le milieu standard deEagle. Après addition de cortisol ou d'oestradiol au milieu, les caractéristiques des tissus ne sont pas alterées par la mise en culture.

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This work was partially supported by contract AT (11-1), Project 82, between U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and University of California, Berkeley.     

Direct metabolism of 7α-3H-dehydroepiandrosteron-35S-sulphate in human ovarian tissue

Zusammenfassung Nach Inkubation von menschlichem Ovarialgewebe mit 7-³H-DHEA-³⁵S-sulfat konnten als Metaboliten 5 verschiedene C₁₉- und 2 phenolische C₁₈-Steroide isoliert und identifiziert werden, die als Sulfokonjugate einen gegenüber dem Substrat unveränderten³H/³⁵S-Quotienten aufwiesen.

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These investigations were supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg (Germany).     

Methionine metabolism in apple tissue

Summary A metabolic intermediate isolated from apple tissue fed either methionine or 5-methylthioadenosine has been tentatively identified as a methionine-pyridoxal Schiff base. The formation of this compound is discussed in relation to ethylene biosynthesis.Acknowledgments. This investigation was supported by Research Grant AO-150 from the National Research Council of Canada.     

The metabolism of 3-hydroxytyramine-1-C14 in brain tissue homogenates

Zusammenfassung Homogenate aus Gehirn wurden mit 3-Hydroxytyramine-1-C¹⁴ inkubiert. Als Stoffwechselprodukt wurde aus der sauren Fraktion radioaktive 3,4-Dioxyphenylessigsäure isoliert. Aus der basischen Fraktion wurden drei radioaktive Zonen papierchromatographisch isoliert. Die erste Zone konnte noch nicht identifiziert werden. Die zweite wurde als 3-Hydroxytyramin und die dritte als 3-Methoxytyramin erkannt. Die mögliche Rolle der Stoffwechselprodukte von 3-Hydroxytyramin beim Parkinson-Syndrom wird diskutiert.

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This study was supported in part by United States Public Health Service Grant M 2717.The authors are grateful toR. J. Floody, M. D. of Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., for providing us with iproniazid.     

The response of human skeletal muscle tissue to hypoxia

Hypoxia refers to environmental or clinical settings that potentially threaten tissue oxygen homeostasis. One unique aspect of skeletal muscle is that, in addition to hypoxia, oxygen balance in this tissue may be further compromised when exercise is superimposed on hypoxia. This review focuses on the cellular and molecular responses of human skeletal muscle to acute and chronic hypoxia, with emphasis on physical exercise and training. Based on published work, it is suggested that hypoxia does not appear to promote angiogenesis or to greatly alter oxidative enzymes in skeletal muscle at rest. Although the HIF-1 pathway in skeletal muscle is still poorly documented, emerging evidence suggests that muscle HIF-1 signaling is only activated to a minor degree by hypoxia. On the other hand, combining hypoxia with exercise appears to improve some aspects of muscle O₂ transport and/or metabolism.     

Inhibition of cortisol metabolism in vitro by 2-methylnaphthoquinone (menadione): A possible interpretation of the potentiation of cortisol activity in vivo

Résumé Le degré de réduction du noyeau A du cortisole par les microsomes du foie du rat et par le NADPH est inhibé du 50% par le méthyle-2-naphtoquinone (ménadione). L'inhibition est partiellement allégée par l'addition de NADPH ce qui indique que la ménadione gêne la disponibilité du NADPH. En effet, il s'est trouvé que la ménadione active la diminution de NADPH par les microsomes du foie. Il est possible que l'augmentation précédemment signalée de l'activité pharmacologique du cortisole par la ménadione est apparentée à l'inhibition du métabolisme du cortisole.     

The permeability of tumour vessels

Summary Experimental proof that tumour vessels are permeable to humoral agents but impermeable to cellular elements viz. leucocytes. The cause of this impermeability is believed to be the deposition of immunosuppressive alpha globulin on the walls of tumour vessels. This concept is of relevance in organ transplantation and cancer immunotherapy.     

Antigenic characterization of a heterotransplanted human tumour,GW-127

Zusammenfassung Zweidimensionale Immunodiffusionsteste nachOuchterlony zeigten, dass das im Hamster überpflanzte menschliche Ovarialkarzinom, GW-127, nach über 5 Monaten Tierpassagen noch humanes Antigen beibehalten hat. Die Möglichkeit einer Hybridisation von Humantumor- mit normalen Hamsterchromosomen wird zur Diskussion gestellt.     

Regulation of pyruvate metabolism and human disease

Pyruvate is a keystone molecule critical for numerous aspects of eukaryotic and human metabolism. Pyruvate is the end-product of glycolysis, is derived from additional sources in the cellular cytoplasm, and is ultimately destined for transport into mitochondria as a master fuel input undergirding citric acid cycle carbon flux. In mitochondria, pyruvate drives ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation and multiple biosynthetic pathways intersecting the citric acid cycle. Mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism is regulated by many enzymes, including the recently discovered mitochondria pyruvate carrier, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and pyruvate carboxylase, to modulate overall pyruvate carbon flux. Mutations in any of the genes encoding for proteins regulating pyruvate metabolism may lead to disease. Numerous cases have been described. Aberrant pyruvate metabolism plays an especially prominent role in cancer, heart failure, and neurodegeneration. Because most major diseases involve aberrant metabolism, understanding and exploiting pyruvate carbon flux may yield novel treatments that enhance human health.     

Dopamine-induced relaxation in human pulmonary arteries

Dose-dependent relaxations were induced by dopamine in human pulmonary arteries that had been contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha without alpha-adrenergic blocking agents. The dopamine-induced relaxation was inhibited by haloperidol and fluphenazine, but not by domperidone, suggesting that this relaxation was mediated via DA1 receptors.     

Histamine formation in human wound tissue

Zusammenfassung Wund- und Granulationsgewebe bildet beim Menschen nach Hautschnitt in den ersten Tagen erhebliche Mengen von Histamin durch Dekarboxylierung von Histidin. Diese Fähigkeit zur gesteigerten Histaminbildung kann dabei nicht den Mastzellen zugeschrieben werden.     

Factor in human urine inhibiting lipid metabolism

Zusammenfassung Ein im Urin hungernder oder kachektischer Personen vorhandener Faktor, führt bei Mäusen nach s.c. Injektion im Blut zur Senkung des Ketonkörperspiegels. Der Leberfettgehalt wird herabgesetzt und eine schwache, jedoch regelmässig auftretende Erhöhung des Blutzuckerspiegels herbeigeführt. Bei der Ratte hemmt der Faktorin vitro die Freisetzung von Fettsäuren aus dem epididymalen Fettgewebe. Er beeinflusst möglicherweise den im Harn hungernder Menschen vorhandenen lipid mobilizing factor antagonistisch.     

Synthesis of maleimide derivative of cortisol for enzyme coupling in cortisol enzyme immunoassay

Summary A new cortisol derivative, cortisol-21-m-maleimidobenzoate (CMB), was synthesized and conjugated with sulfhydryl groups of -galactosidase (BG). Both CMB-BG and CHS-BG conjugates have a high immunoreactivity to cortisol antibody, and although CHS-BG does not displace well with the added cortisol, CMB-BG does.Acknowledgments. This work was supported in part by Grant 884M from the Council for Tobacco Research. We wish to thank Miss Laura Morbach and Mrs Tatsue Monji for their assistance on this project.Address reprint requests to A. Castro.     

Testosterone metabolism by homogenates of human and rat placenta

Résumé Presque toute la testosterone a été métabolisée dans les incubations avec les homogenates du placenta humain à terme que le cofactor NADPH y ait été ajouté ou non. Mais, les échantillons humains d'une grossesse moins de 24 semaines et aussi les homogenates placentaires du rat à terme et prématuré étaient tous moins actifs dans ce respect.     

Creatinine metabolism byClostridium welchii isolated from human faeces

Summary AClostridium welchii has been isolated from human faeces which can deaminate creatinine to N-methyl hydantoin. Evidence suggests the reaction is inducible since the rate of conversion is increased by growth of the organism in creatinine-rich media.