Cold exposure: Effects on hepatic tryptophan oxygenase and tyrosine aminotransferase,plasma tryptophan and tyrosine,and brain monoamines

Résumé L'exposition des souris à une basse temp'erature a abouti à la production rapide de tryptophane oxygénase et de tyrosine aminotransférase. Malgré l'augmentation de l'activité enzymatique, les niveaux plasmatiques de tryptophane et de tyrosine furent augmentés d'une manière significative pendant le temps de l'exposition. Les niveaux de norepinéphrine et de sérotonine du cerveau n'en ont cependant pas été affectés.

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Acknowledgment. The authors would like to thank Army SP'sM. Devine, T. Nielson, andG. Johnson for expert technical assistance.

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In counducting the research described in this report, the investigators adhered to the Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care, as promulgated by the Committee on the Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Academy of Sciences — National Research Council.     

Enhancement of virus growth produced by thiols and disulphides

Summary Several thiols and disulphides have been found able both to shorten the latency phase and to increase the growth of several virus strains in cell cultures.This work has been supported by a grant of Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma (Italy).     

Naloxone and intestinal motility.

It was supposed that the inhibition of intestinal peristalsis seen in animals and humans after abdominal surgery might be related to the release of endorphins, endogenous opiate receptor agonists, caused by the surgical stress and pain. However, naloxone, a potent morphine and endorphin antagonist, failed to block this peristaltic inhibition in rats, which leaves the mechanism of this inhibition, and thus the function of intestinal endorphins, still very much in doubt.     

Effect of Tween 80 on lipids of Mycobacterium phlei ATCC 354

Addition of Tween 80 to the growth medium brings about qualitative and quantitative changes in the lipids of Mycobacterium phlei ATCC 354. The results suggest that Tween 80 itself may be a variant in the system.     

(−)-Epigallocatechin gallate,a polyphenolic tea antioxidant,inhibits peroxynitritemediated formation of 8-oxodeoxyguanosine and 3-nitrotyrosine

Reaction with peroxynitrite at pH 7.4 and 37°C was found to increase the 8-oxodeoxyguanosine levels in calf thymus DNA 35-38-fold. This oxidation of deoxyguanosine, as well as the peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of tyrosine to 3-nitrotyrosine, was significantly inhibited by ascorbic acid, glutathione and (–)-epigallocatechin gallate, a polyphenolic antioxidant present in tea. For 50% inhibition of the oxidation of deoxyguanosine to 8-oxodeoxyguanosine, 1.1, 7.6 of 0.25 mM ascorbate, glutathione or (–)-epigallocatechin gallate, respectively, was required. For 50% inhibition of tyrosine nitration, the respective concentrations were 1.4, 4.6 or 0.11 mM. Thus, (–)-epigallocatechin gallate is a significantly better inhibitor of both reactions than either ascorbate or glutathione. Reaction of (–)-epigallocatechin gallate with peroxynitrite alone resulted in the formation of a number of products. Ultraviolet spectra of two of these suggest that the tea polyphenol and/or its oxidation products are nitrated by peroxynitrite.     

EGF-induced programmed cell death of human mammary carcinoma MDA-MB-468 cells is preceded by activation of AP-1

MDA-MB-468 is a human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line that overexpresses the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and undergoes programmed cell death (apoptosis) in response to EGF treatment. Programmed cell death was shown to be greatly enhanced when cells were growth-arrested prior to EGF treatment. Apoptosis was characterized by an initial rounding up and detachment of the cells from their substrate starting about 12 h after EGF treatment, followed by chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and oligonucleosomal fragmentation of the DNA at about 24 to 48 h. Cell death was dependent on de novo protein synthesis. We found a rapid induction of c-fos, c-jun and junB at the mRNA level after about 30 min of EGF treatment and a more delayed upregulation of fosB and fra-1. The junD gene was expressed in the absence of EGF, and it was moderately induced within 30 min of growth factor addition. The increase of the different fos and jun mRNAs were paralleled by an increase of activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding activity. A characterization of the AP-1 complex revealed similar levels of several Fos and Jun proteins. Based on the kinetics of AP-1 accumulation and cell death, it seems likely that AP-1 contributes to the apoptotic cell death of EGF receptor-overexpressing MDA-MB-468 cells. Received 21 July 1997; received after revision 6 November 1997; accepted 6 November 1997     

Effect of spike disease on the 5′-and 3′-nucleotidase activities in sandal plants

Summary In the sandal plant affected by spike disease, caused by mycoplasma-like organisms, the changes occurring in the 5-and 3-nucleotidase activities were studied and their possible significance discussed.