Effect of chronic ethanol treatment on specific [3H]ouabain binding to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in different areas of cat brain

Chronic ethanol administration to cats increased specific [3H]ouabain binding by 63% in cerebral cortex, 47% in cerebellum, 84% in amygdala, and 100% in hippocampus when the binding assays were performed in the presence of 160 nM [3H]ouabain. There was no significant change in specific [3H]ouabain binding in hypothalamus, thalamus, corpus striatum, and brain stem following chronic ethanol ingestion. Scatchard analysis revealed that enhancement of specific [3H]ouabain binding following chronic ethanol treatment in some areas of cat brain is primarily due to changes in densities of ouabain binding sites. Since ouabain is a specific inhibitor of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase the present observations suggest that the molecular mechanism for the enhancement of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity after chronic ethanol ingestion may be due to increased net rate of synthesis of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase molecules or exposure of non-functional enzyme system following conformational change of plasma membrane.

The detection of nasal carriers of salmonella and other enterobacteria amongst young farm animals

An investigation was conducted to detect the presence of Salmonella nasal carriers amongst young farm animals (Cow-calves, buffalo-calves, lambs, kids, piglets and foals) on farms having a previous history of Salmonellosis. Salmonella could be isolated from nasal swabs of 1.2% of the cow-calves and 2.9% of the piglets studied but not from other young animals. Isolated strains included S. typhimurium and S. weltevreden from cow-calves and piglets, respectively. Other members of family Enterobacriacteeae isolated from nasal passages of these animals were: E. coli (O106:H27 and O153:H12), Serratia rubidiae, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp. and Citrobacter spp. One of the Citrobacter strains from piglet faeces which appear to be a new Citrobacter serotype had Salmonella 45(1), 45(3), 45(5) 'O' antigens. The results indicated that the upper respiratory tract of animals carried Salmonella and other potentially pathogenic enterobacteria which might contribute to the spread of corresponding infections among man and animals.

Electrophoresis of buffalo (bos bubalis) serum proteins including immunoglobulins

Antigenic components of buffalo (Bos bubalis) serum, which were also components of buffalo colostrum, seminal plasma, milk whey, saliva, and tears, were investigated by the ager gel diffusion test and immunoelectrophoresis. Immunoglobulins of buffalo serum were identified by immunoelectrophoresis employing rabbit-anti-buffalo serum and rabbit-anti-buffalo gamma-globulin. Based on immunoelectrophoretic patterns immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgGA, and IgM were detected both in the serum and colostrum of buffaloes. Tears contained both IgG and IgM. Cross-reactions of buffalo serum with seminal plasma, saliva, and milk whey were observed only in the IgG region. By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, lipoprotein (5.2% +/- 0.41), IgM (11.4% +/- 3.1), IgG (9.4% +/- 0.98), haptoglobin 21.8% +/- 3.73), transferrin (10.4% +/- 2.15), ceruloplasmin (7.8% +/- 1.3), postalbumin (20.8% +/- 2.09), and albumin (13.7% +/- 0.75) were identified provisionally.

Rosette formation by buffalo (Bos bubalis) T and B lymphocytes

Buffalo (Bos bubalis) lymphocytes were purified and tested for their E and EAC rosette forming capacity as a marker for the detection of T and B cells, respectively. Sheep erythrocytes were found to form 17.7 per cent of E rosette with buffalo lymphocytes. This population of lymphocytes is believed to be T cell. Erythrocytes of guinea-pig, rabbit, hamster, rat, chicken, dog and donkey formed a lower percentage of rosettes. Five to 18.5 per cent of SRBC-EAC rosettes were detected with buffalo lymphocytes which are believed to be B cells.

Stimulation of specific [3H]-ouabain binding to microsomal preparations from rat heart and skeletal muscle by thyroid hormones: effects of 6-hydroxydopamine

1. Surgical thyroidectomy decreased specific [3H]-ouabain binding to heart ventricular microsomes by 43% and gastrocnemius muscle microsomes by 34%. Administration of triiodothyronine to euthyroid rats enhanced specific [3H]-ouabain binding to heart and skeletal muscle membrane by 60% and 33% respectively. 2. Treatment of thyroidectomized rats with triiodothyronine increased specific [3H]-ouabain binding by 44% in skeletal muscle membrane preparation and 428% in cardiac microsomes. 3. Specific [3H]-ouabain binding decreased by 55% in heart and 53% in gastrocnemius muscle preparations following chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine. 4. Treatment with triiodothyronine of euthyroid rats which had been sympathectomized did not significantly alter specific [3H]-ouabain binding to heart or skeletal muscle membrane preparations. 5. Administration of triiodothyronine to thyroidectomized and sympathectomized rats increased specific [3H]-ouabain binding by 80% in heart and 83% in skeletal muscle membrane preparations. 6. These results suggest that triiodothyronine may influence specific [3H]-ouabain binding to thyroid hormone nonresponsive tissue such as sympathetic nerve endings. Therefore, the present observations are incompatible with the hypothesis that induction of (Na+ +K+)-adenosine triphosphatase of skeletal muscle membrane is the molecular mechanism for the calorigenic actions of thyroid hormones.

Enterobacteriaceae infections in man and animals and detection of their natural reservoirs in India

The study presents a summary of the results regarding the presence of Enterobacteriaceae in domestic animals and birds, endeavouring to explain the origin of the infections. Wild reptiles, amphibians, mammalia, rodents and birds were examined into the demonstration of Enterobacteriaceae, whereby particular attention was paid to the following species: Arizona, Edwardsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Serratia, Yersinia and Erwinia.

alpha-adrenergic receptor in rat heart. Effects of thyroidectomy

The effects of thyroid status on alpha-adrenergic receptors in the rat myocardium were investigated. The potent antagonist [3H]dihydroergokryptine was used to identify alpha-adrenergic receptors in rat heart particulate and sarcolemmal fractions. Administration of triiodothyronine to thyroidectomized rats decreased specific binding to alpha-adrenergic receptors in heart particulate and sarcolemmal fractions by 41% and 45%, respectively. Scatchard analysis revealed that the cardiac sarcolemmal fraction from thyroidectomized rats contained 29.3 fmol/mg of protein, as compared with 17.0 fmol/mg of protein found in the heart preparation of thyroidectomized rats treated with triiodothyronine. The equilibrium dissociation constants for the interaction of receptors with dihydroergokryptine were similar (about 1.5 nM) in the heart sarcolemmal fractions derived from these two groups of rats. The results of this study demonstrate that thyroid hormone can regulate the number of cardiac alpha-adrenergic receptors. In addition, there appears to be a reciprocal relationship between alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic receptors in the rat myocardium.

beta-Adrenergic receptors in rat skeletal muscle. Effects of thyroidectomy

Thyroid hormones may participate in the regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors in skeletal muscle sarcolemmal membrane. Since skeletal muscles are not innervated by sympathetic nerve endings, the biochemical mechanism involved in the control of beta-adrenergic receptors by thyroid hormones appears to be mediated by thyroid-induced regulation of serum levels of catecholamines.

[3H]-Ouabain binding to peripheral organs of cats: effect of ethanol

1 The specific [3H]-ouabain binding to microsomal fractions derived from cat heart, liver, spleen, and kidney increased significantly following chronic administration of ethanol. 2 Since ouabain binds exclusively to cell membrane (Na+ + K+)-adenosine triphosphatase ((Na+ + K+)-ATPase), these results provide evidence for an increase in number of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase macromolecules during chronic alcoholism. 3 The importance of the increase in number of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase molecules in the adaptive increase in ethanol metabolism and cardiac myopathy in chronic alcoholism is discussed.

Enterobacteria of emerging pathogenic significance from clinical cases in man and animals and detection of toads and wall lizards as their reservoirs

A total of 416 samples comprising faecal samples from diarrhoeic cases of man, calves, sheep and goats, and urine samples from patients with urinary tract infections, were examined for the presence of enterobacteria of emerging pathogenic significance. Citrobacter freundii from 20, C. intermedius biotype-a from four, Serratia marcescens (serotype 05:H13, bactericin type 16) from one and Erwinia herbicola from two human stool samples were isolated. Only two urine samples yielded C. freundii. Citrobacter freundii was isolated from 10 and C. intermedius biotype-a from two calves. From sheep and goats, two isolates of C. freundii and three of C. intermedius biotype-a were obtained. None of these samples yielded Edwarsiella tarda or Yersinia enterocolitica. The examination of 99 toads and 145 wall lizards revealed that toads were reservoirs for C. freundii, C. intermedius biotype-a and Salmonella brijbhumi, whereas wall lizards were reservoirs for C. freundii, C. intermedius biotype-a, E. herbicola, Enterobacter cloacae and Salmonella spp. These bacteria were present in the range of 2.0 x 10(6) to 6.0 x 10(11) organisms per gram of intestinal contents. In addition, toads were carriers for Edwardsiella tarda (new serotypes 04167:H1 and 05159: non-motile). None of the toads and wall lizards proved positive for C. intermedius biotype-b (C. koseri), S. marcescens and Y. entercolitica. C. freundii, C. intermedius biotype-a, E. herbicola and S. marcescens were resistant to penicillin and erythromycin whereas E. tarda isolates were also resistant to gentamycin, neomycin, colistin and sulfamethaxazole.

Muscarinic cholinergic receptors in rat heart. Effects of thyroidectomy

The effects of thyroid status on muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the rat myocardium were investigated. The potent muscarinic antagonist [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate was used to identify muscarinic cholinergic receptors in rat heart particulate fractions from control, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid rats. Thyroidectomy increased specific [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to heart particulate fractions by about 60% as compared to euthyroid rat cardiac preparations. Administration of triiodothyronine to euthyroid rats decreased specific binding to muscarinic cholinergic receptors by about 20%. Scatchard analysis revealed that the cardiac particulate fraction from thyroidectomized rats contained 134 fmol of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding sites per mg of protein, as compared with 85 fmol/mg of protein found in the heart preparation of thyroidectomized rats chrinically treated with triiodothyronine. The equilibrium dissociation constant for the interaction of receptors with quinuclidinyl benzilate was the same (1 nM) in the heart particulate fractions derived from these two groups of rats. The results of this study demonstrate that thyroid hormone can regulate the number of cardiac muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Thus, the parasympathetic nervous system may participate in the cardiovascular abnormalities in different thyroid states.

Toads as natural reservoir of salmonella

The investigation conducted on 329 toads for the presence of Salmonella, Arizona and Edwardsiella revealed that 36.7% toads were intestinal carriers of Salmonella. None of the toads proved positive for Arizona and Edwardsiella. The Salmonella population (S. brijbhumi) in the intestines of 5 of the 27 toads ranged from 1.5 X 10(9) to 2.5 X 10(10) organisms per gram of faecal matter. Some of the serotypes viz: S. tel-hashomer, S. brijbhumi and S. goverdhan were recovered more frequently than others. An unnamed serotype (4, 12, 27:k:-) and S. goverdhan var 1 + (1,9,12:k:1,6), hitherto undescribed in the literature, have also been reported.

[3H]-ouabain binding to denervated and innervated skeletal muscle

In cat skeletal muscles, the major part of specific [3H]-ouabain binding was found in the sympathetic nerve endings of red, slow muscle fibres. Skeletal muscle denervation increased specific [3H]-ouabain binding to muscle membrane preparation. This increase may be involved in the development of spontaneous fibrillation in the denervated muscle.

Inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake in peripheral organs of some mammalian species by ouabain

In order to demonstrate the possible involvement of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the high affinity uptake of [3H]-norepinephrine in the sympathetic nerve endings, the effect of ouabain on [3H]norepinephrine uptake in spleen and heart slices of five mammalian species was examined. The ouabain sensitivity of [3H]norepinephrine uptake in the heart slices form various species, as determined by the estimation of IC52, was, in increasing order, lamb (2,3 muM) less than calf (2.5 muM) less than guinea pig (4 muM) less than rabbit (10muM) less than rat (greater than 500 muM). The IC50 values in the spleen slices were: lamb (1 muM) less than calf (3.2 muM) less than rabbit (9.5 muM) less than guinea pig (25 muM) less than rat (greater than 500 muM). The IC50 values for the inhibition of specific [3H]ouabain binding in the microsomal fractions of spleen and heart of the five mammalian species by ouabain were similar to the IC50 values for the inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake by the cardiac glycoside. Since ouabain is known to bind exclusively to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of a microsomal fraction, these results suggest that the inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake in the sympathetic nerve endings by ouabain is mediated by the inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.

Evidence of morphological and physiological transformation of mammalian cells by strong magnetic fields

Cultures of L-929 and WI-38 cells, frozen to 4.2 degrees K and exposed for 4 to 8 hours to 5000-oersted magnetic fields, were markedly inhibited in their growth as compared to controls. In cultures grown on cover slips, approximately 7 days after exposure, morphologically distinct cells emerged and were propagated from generation to generation; 3 weeks later, in flask cultures, contact inhibition was abolished. It is concluded that under certain experimental conditions, strong magnetic fields induce morphological and physiological transformations of target cells.