Interaction of cyproterone acetate with sex hormone binding globulin of monkey plasma

Cyproterone acetate (CA), an antiandrogen, has been used clinically for treatment of hirsute women. In vitro competitive binding assay has revealed that CA displaces estradiol selectively from sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) of female monkey plasma.

Levonorgestrel as a new radioligand for determination of sex hormone binding globulin in human plasma

Levonorgestrel which binds with high affinity to SHBG, is suggested as a new radioligand for estimation of SHBG in human plasma. Using 3H-levonorgestrel as a ligand, a number of samples from men, women pregnant and non-pregnant were analysed. The SHBG content was lowest in men, low in women and rose to higher level during pregnancy. The results of the present study suggest that levonorgestrel appears to be a better ligand than dihydrotestosterone for measuring SHBG.

Malathion induced hematological and biochemical changes in the Indian catfish Heteropneustes fossilis

The acute toxicity and effects of duration of sublethal exposure to malathion were determined in the Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossils). Fish exposed to the pesticide for 2, 6, 12, 48, and 96 hr showed muscle glycogenolysis with concomitant hyperglycemia at all intervals; hepatic glycogen was unaffected. Malathion was also associated with hypochloremia at 2 and 6 hr and hyperchloremia at 48 and 96 hr; blood chloride concentration was unaffected at 12 hr. Fish developed erythropenia and leukopenia; lowered hematocrit and hemoglobin content and hypercoagulability of blood were also observed. The data show that homeostatic and hemostatic mechanisms are disturbed after malathion treatment and could be helpful for evaluating pesticide toxicosis in fish.

Effects of fenthion on the blood and tissue chemistry of a teleost fish (Heteropneustes fossilis)

Exposure of a freshwater teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis, to a concentration of 14 . 625 mg per 1 (0.9 of 96 h LC50) fenthion induced muscle and hepatic glycogenolysis with concomitant hyperglycaemia at 2, 6, 12 and 48 h after treatment. The pesticide evoked an initial fall (at 2 and 6 h) and later a rise (at 48 and 96 h) in blood chloride concentration. The treatment also caused anaemia with simultaneous increase in ESR and hypo-coagulability of whole-blood. The results are compared with organophosphate poisoning in this and in other fish species.

Immunodiagnosis of Bancroftian filariasis by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using Litomosoides carinii and Setaria cervi antigens

An ELISA was developed using cross-reacting antigens of Litomosoides carinii and Setaria cervi to detect antibodies in filarial patients. The diagnostic potential of the test was investigated in 80 symptomatic cases of filariasis, 40 asymptomatic carriers and 50 normal subjects of an area around Lucknow endemic for Bancroftian filariasis. By the criteria laid down for ELISA positivity for filariasis, 86.2% of the symptomatic cases could be detected by this test. Only four of 40 asymptomatic carriers and one of 50 normal subjects gave a positive ELISA response. Purified antigenic fractions of S. cervi are also promising for detecting asymptomatic carriers.

Influence of sex and oral contraceptive steroids on antipyrine metabolite formation

Our study was undertaken to determine the influence of sex and the use of oral contraceptive steroids on antipyrine clearance and metabolite formation. Our subjects were eight men (M), eight women (F), and eight women who had been using oral contraceptive steroids (OC) for at least 6 mo; all were healthy. The groups were matched for age and smoking and drinking habits. Antipyrine elimination half-life (t1/2) was longer in the OC than in the F group (12.9 +/- 2.0 and 9.7 +/- 1.7 hr) and clearance was lower (2.0 +/- 0.1 and 2.8 +/- 0.5 l/hr), while volume of distribution (Vd) was essentially the same (37.1 +/- 5.7 and 38.5 +/- 4.6 l). The M group had longer t1/2s than the F (11.8 +/- 1.2 and 9.7 +/- 1.7 hr) and greater Vds (47.1 +/- 5.4 and 38.5 +/- 4.6 l), but clearance values were the same (2.8 +/- 0.5 and 2.8 +/- 0.5 l/hr) in the two groups. Compared to the F, the three metabolic pathways of antipyrine appeared to be inhibited in the OC group. Partial clearances for production for the F and OC groups were (l/hr); norantipyrine (NORA) 0.70 +/- 0.13 and 0.42 +/- 0.12, 4-hydroxyantipyrine (OHA) 1.19 +/- 0.37 and 0.83 +/- 0.25, and 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA) 0.45 +/- 0.10 and 0.33 +/- 0.09. Partial clearance for production in the F group was higher than in the M for OHA (1.19 +/- 0.37 and 0.78 +/- 0.15 l/hr) and NORA (0.07 +/- 0.13 and 0.56 +/- 0.13 l/hr), but not for HMA (0.45 +/- 0.10 and 0.40 +/- 0.05 l/hr). In the F group, total metabolite recovery was higher than the M. We conclude that sex and OC steroids have differential effect on the several metabolic pathways of antipyrine.

Acute toxicity of propoxur on carbohydrate metabolism of Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)

Exposure of Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) to 5.20 ppm propoxur for 3, 6, 12, 48 and 96 h caused muscle glycogen depletion at 12 h and hepatic glycogenolysis at 3, 12, 48 and 96 h; hyperglycemia developed at all time-intervals. Blood pyruvate levels increased significantly at 12 and 48 h. Hyperlacticemia was observed at 6 h but hypolacticemia resulted at 12, 48 and 96 h in pesticide-treated fish. The observed effects are explained in terms of acute stress syndrome; possible mechanisms underlying the effect of anticholinesterase action of propoxur on carbohydrate metabolism are also discussed.

Effect of aldrin on carbohydrate metabolism in Indian catfish

Exposure of the Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) to a sublethal concentration of 0.14 p.p.m. aldrin for 3, 6, 12, 48, and 96 hrs affected carbohydrate metabolism. Muscle glycogenolysis and glycogenesis were obtained at 3 and 12 hrs, respectively. Hepatic glycogenolysis occurred at 3, 48, and 96 hrs. The treatment caused hyperglycaemia at 3, 6, 48, and 96 hrs, and hypoglycaemia at 12 hrs. Blood pyruvate values increased significantly at 3, 6, and 96 hrs. Hyperlacticaemia was observed at 3 and 12 hrs but hypolacticaemia developed at 96 hrs. The results are discussed in relation to acute stress syndrome. Also, impairment of carbohydrate metabolism by aldrin may be involved in the biochemical mechanism for its toxic action. It is concluded that evaluation of carbohydrate metabolites in fish could prove useful as a rapid method for assessing acute toxicity of pesticides.

Justicisaponin-I, a new triterpenoid saponin from Justicia simplex

A new triterpenoid saponin, named justicisaponin-I, has been isolated from Justicia simplex D. Don. (Acanthaceae). It has been assigned oleanolic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4'-O-ferulate structure (1) on the basis of chemical transformation and comprehensive spectral evidence. Justicisaponin-I has produced significant sperm acrosomal membrane stabilizing action and may prove to be a potent antifertility agent.

Chromosomal anomaly of 6q in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

Anomalies of chromosome 6q, along with other chromosomal anomalies, are described in the bone marrow cells of two patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). One patient a 14-year-old male, developed the karyotype 46,XY,t(1;6)(p36;q15),del(3)(q25), del(17)(p11),? inv(17)(q12q24) during blastic crisis of his disease. The other patient, a 24-year-old male, had the karyotype 46,XY,del(6)(q13),5(9;22)(q34;q11) during the early phase of his disease and evolution of i(17q) in the karyotype late in the disease.

Effects of acute exposure to methyl parathion on carbohydrate metabolism of Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)

Exposure of the Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) to a high sublethal concentration of 5.6 p.p.m. (0.8 of the 96 hr LC50) of methyl parathion for 3, 6, 12, 48, and 96 hrs affected carbohydrate metabolism. Muscle glycogen levels decreased significantly at 3, 6, 12 and 96 hrs; liver glycogen content declined at 6 hrs but there was a resynthesis of hepatic glycogen stores at 12 hrs. Blood glucose levels in fish were elevated at 3 and 6 hrs. Mean values for blood pyruvate were elevated significantly at 6, 12, and 96 hrs. Blood lactate level was elevated at 3 hrs but hypolactaemia resulted at 48 and 96 hrs in pesticide-treated fish. The observed effects of methyl parathion on carbohydrate metabolism in fish are discussed in relation to acute stress syndrome. Measurement of carbohydrate metabolites in fish for 3 hrs or longer could prove useful as a rapid method for evaluating toxicity of pesticides and other toxicants.

Use of modified double-reciprocal plot for enzyme kinetic parameters. A pitfall

The modified double-reciprocal plot suggested by Lee and Wilson (Lee, H.J. and Wilson, I.B. (1971) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 242, 519--522) has until now been accepted as giving a simple and accurate method for the determination of enzyme kinetic parameters V and Km, which can be used with little error even when as much as 50% of the substrate is consumed. In this paper it has been shown with analytical proof that the errors in the application of their method can in fact be much higher and that the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation should be used in its complete form.

A simple reliable procedure for obtaining metaphases from human leukemic bone-marrow aspirates suitable for Giemsa banding

Short incubation of heparinized human leukemic bone-marrow cells in phosphate buffered saline containing colcemid and overnight chilling of fixed cells yields metaphases with elongated and well-spread chromosomes. This technique enables us to do trypsin-Giemsa banding of chromosomes obtained from leukemic marrow cells otherwise difficult to band.

Haematological responses in a fresh water fish to experimental manganese poisoning

Blood dyscrasia in a fish exposed to experimental manganese poisoning is described. Colisa fasciatus, a fresh water teleost, showed significant decreases in the total erythrocyte count, number of erythrocytes/1000 blood cells of all types, and in the hepatosomatic index (relative liver wt) after exposure for 90 h to 2500 mg/l manganese sulphate; the 96 h LC50 value was 2850 mg/l. The exposure also evoked leucocytosis due to an increase in the number of small lymphocytes. Other haematological characteristics, viz., total count of thrombocytes, distribution of immature red blood cells, thrombocytes and large lymphocytes/1000 blood cells, haematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haemoglobin, and clotting time, did not differ significantly from the controls.

Haematological effects of nickel toxicity on a fresh water teleost, Colisa fasciatus

Colisa fasciatus, a freshwater teleost, were exposed for 90 hrs to 45 p.p.m. nickel sulphate under static test conditions. The treatment resulted in leucopenia due to reduction in the number of small lymphocytes and polycythemia with concomitant increases in the haematocrit and haemoglobin values, and in retardation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate of the moribund fish. No differences in total thrombocyte count, clotting time, and hepatosomatic index were found between the control and the treated fish. Lymphopenia and erythrocytosis may be used in presumptive monitoring nickel toxicity in fish.

Phosphorylation and inactivation of glycogen synthase by phosphorylase kinase

Skeletal muscle glycogen a4-synthase (EC 2.4.1.11) has been purified free of all synthase kinase and phosphatase activities by chromatography on a Glc-N-6-P-Sepharose affinity column and then on a phosphocellulose column. This preparation of glycogen synthase was tested as a substrate for purified skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase (ATP:phosphorylase-b phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.38). Phosphorylase kinase (1-10 microgram/ml or 0.03-0.3 microM) catalyzes rapid phosphorylation of glycogen synthase (4.5 microM) associated with conversion of the active a form to the less active b form. In the reaction, greater than 95% of the 32P incorporation from [gamma-32P]ATP goes into the synthase subunit almost exclusively in the trypsin-insensitive region which is responsible for synthase a-to-b conversion. Synthase phosphorylation or inactivations catalyzed by phosphorylase kinase is blocked by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, is ATP dependent, is 10-fold more rapid at pH 8.6 than at pH 6.8, and is increased 10-fold by prior activation of the phosphorylase kinase with MgATP and cyclic AMP. With activated phosphorylase kinase at pH 8.2 the apparent Km and Vmax are approximately 70 microM and 4 mumol/min per mg with glycogen synthase and 70 microM and 9 mumol/min per mg with phosphorylase as substrate. It is concluded that glycogen synthase is a substrate in vitro for phosphorylase kinase, a Ca2+-dependent enzyme. The possible physiological significance of this reaction is discussed.

An unexpected albumin-bilirubin band in cellulose acetate electrophoresis for alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes

In 4 out of 202 consecutive electrophoretic patterns for serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes, an extra band was observed in the albumin zone. Subsequent heat inactivation tests and comparison studies with an albumin-based bilirubin standard indicated that the band was due to staining of an albumin-bilirubin complex. The band should not be mistaken for an isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase.

Haematological anomalies in a fresh water teleost, Colisa fasciatus, on acute exposure to cobalt

Colisa fasciatus, a fresh water teleost, when exposed for 90 hrs to a sublethal concentration of 195 p.p.m. (0.87 of the 96 hrs LC50 value) cobalt elicited leucopenia due to reduction in the number of circulating small lymphocytes. The treatment also caused decline in blood clotting time with a concomitant increase in the abundance of circulating thrombocytes. No differences in total erythrocyte count, haematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and haemoglobin values were found between the control and treated fish. The hepatosomatic index of fish increased significantly after exposure to cobalt. Results are discussed in terms of fish's reaction to acute stress.

Stimulation of glycogen synthase phosphorylation by calcium-dependent regulator protein

Phosphorylation of skeletal muscle glycogen synthase catalyzed by a protein kinase is stimulated up to 10-fold by the calcium-dependent regulator (CDR) protein. Half-maximal stimulation requires about 1 microgram of CDR/ml. Phosphorylation by the CDR-dependent synthase kinase is more rapid at pH 8.6 than at pH 6.8 and is blocked by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl-ether)N,N'-tetraacetic acid and trifuloperazine. Approximately 60 to 70% of the phosphate is incorporated into the trypsin-insensitive region of glycogen synthase resulting in conversion of the a form to the b form of the enzyme. The CDR-dependent synthase kinase is not myosin light chain kinase, as this enzyme does not phosphorylate glycogen synthase. Furthermore, synthase phosphorylation by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit is not affected by CDR. The possibility that CDR-dependent synthase kinase may be phosphorylase kinase is being investigated.

Presence of the sites for interacting with cyclic AMP and with catalytic subunit on small fragments of protein kinase regulatory subunit

During the purification of cyclic AMP binding proteins from rat liver, some smaller active fragments were obtained, possibly as the result of proteolysis. The binding proteins detected had approximate molecular weights of 50,000, 36,000, and 10,000. Each of these components bound cyclic [3H]AMP with high affinity (apparent dissociation constants ranging from 2 to 10 nM) and had a similar ability to inhibit the purified catalytic subunit of rat liver protein kinase. Cyclic AMP prevented this inhibition in each instance. These results suggest that the binding site for cyclic AMP and the site for interacting with catalytic subunit occur relatively close to one another on the regulatory subunit and can remain functional when a substantial fraction of the subunit is lost.