Lipid accumulation in smooth muscle cells under LDL loading is independent of LDL receptor pathway and enhanced by hypoxic conditions

OBJECTIVE

The effect of a variety of hypoxic conditions on lipid accumulation in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was studied in an arterial wall coculture and monocultivation model.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) was loaded under various levels of oxygen tension. Oil red O staining of rabbit and human SMCs revealed that lipid accumulation was greater under lower oxygen tension. Cholesterol esters were shown to accumulate in an oxygen tension-dependent manner by high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. Autoradiograms using radiolabeled LDL indicated that LDL uptake was more pronounced under hypoxia. This result holds in the case of LDL receptor-deficient rabbit SMCs. However, cholesterol biosynthesis and cellular cholesterol release were unaffected by oxygen tension.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoxia significantly increases LDL uptake and enhances lipid accumulation in arterial SMCs, exclusive of LDL receptor activity. Although the molecular mechanism is not clear, the model is useful for studying lipid accumulation in arterial wall cells and the difficult-to-elucidate events in the initial stage of atherogenesis.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein expressed in lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase-deficient mice

OBJECTIVE

Regulation of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) concentration was studied in lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)-knockout mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

LCAT-knockout mice were cross-bred with CETP transgenic mice. The offspring (n=63) were classified for LCAT genotype and plasma CETP levels (no CETP, low CETP, and high CETP). High density lipoprotein (HDL) decreased as LCAT decreased in each CETP-level group. In the lcat(+/+) and lcat(+/-) mice, plasma CETP varied from 0 to 30 micro g/mL, whereas it was <10 micro g/mL in the lcat(-/-) mice. HDL cholesterol and phospholipid decreased and HDL triglyceride and apolipoprotein B increased in CETP in the lcat(+/+) and lcat(+/-) mice, whereas there was no difference in HDL between low and high CETP. An effect of CETP on HDL was not detected in the lcat(-/-) mice because of the absence of mature HDL. Genomic DNA and mRNA of CETP were correlated and were similar in the lcat(-/-) and lcat(+/+) mice. Plasma CETP was correlated with its genomic DNA and mRNA, but the slope of the increase was much lower in the lcat(-/-) mice. Whereas plasma CETP mostly associates with HDL in the lcat(+/+) mouse, it is found free in the lcat(-/-) mouse.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma CETP is posttranscriptionally downregulated in the lcat(-/-) mice, presumably by its extremely low HDL.

Purification and characterization of a monohalomethane-producing enzyme S-adenosyl-L-methionine: halide ion methyltransferase from a marine microalga, Pavlova pinguis

A monohalomethane-producing enzyme, S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent halide ion methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.-) was purified from the marine microalga Pavlova pinguis by two anion exchange, hydroxyapatite and gel filtration chromatographies. The methyltransferase was a monomeric molecule having a molecular weight of 29,000. The enzyme had an isoelectric point at 5.3, and was optimally active at pH 8.0. The Km for iodide and SAM were 12 mM and 12 microM, respectively, which were measured using a partially purified enzyme. Various metal ions had no significant effect on methyl iodide production, suggesting that the enzyme does not require metal ions. The enzyme reaction strictly depended on SAM as a methyl donor, and the enzyme catalyzed methylation of the I-, Br-, and Cl- to corresponding monohalomethanes and of bisulfide to methyl mercaptan.

Roles of the glutamate receptor epsilon2 and delta2 subunits in the potentiation and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex

We examined the regulation of the acoustic startle response in mutant mice of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- and delta-subtypes of the glutamate receptor (GluR) channel, which play important roles in neural plasticity in the forebrain and the cerebellum, respectively. Heterozygous mutant mice with reduced GluRepsilon2 subunits of the NMDA receptor showed strongly enhanced startle responses to acoustic stimuli. On the other hand, heterozygous and homozygous mutation of the other NMDA receptor GluRepsilon subunits exerted no, or only small effects on acoustic startle responses. The threshold of the auditory brainstem response of the GluRepsilon2-mutant mice was comparable to that of the wild-type littermates. The primary circuit of the acoustic startle response is a relatively simple oligosynaptic pathway located in the lower brainstem, whilst the expression of GluRepsilon2 is restricted to the forebrain. We thus suggest that the NMDA receptor GluRepsilon2 subunit plays a role in the regulation of the startle reflex. Ablation of the cerebellar Purkinje cell-specific delta2 subunit of the GluR channel exerted little effect on the acoustic startle response but resulted in the enhancement of prepulse inhibition of the reflex. Because inhibition of the acoustic startle response by a weak prepulse is a measure of sensorimotor gating, the process by which an organism filters sensory information, these observations indicate the involvement of the cerebellum in the modulation of sensorimotor gating.

Effect of probucol in lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase-deficient mice: inhibition of 2 independent cellular cholesterol-releasing pathways in vivo

Cellular cholesterol release takes place by at least 2 distinct mechanisms: the lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)-driven net efflux by cholesterol diffusion and the generation of high density lipoprotein (HDL) with cellular cholesterol and phospholipid on the cell-apolipoprotein interaction. Therefore, LCAT deficiency impairs the former pathway, and the latter can be inhibited by probucol, which interferes with the apolipoprotein-cell interaction. Hence, probucol was given to the LCAT-deficient mice in the attempt to suppress both of these pathways. The mice were fed low (0.2%) and high (1.2%) cholesterol diets containing 0.5% probucol for 2 weeks. LCAT deficiency and probucol markedly decreased plasma HDL, and the effects were synergistic. Tissue cholesterol content was lower in the adrenal glands and ovaries in the LCAT-deficient mice and in the probucol-treated mice, suggesting that HDL is a main cholesterol provider for these organs. It was also moderately decreased in the spleen of the low cholesterol-fed female mice and in the thyroid gland of the low cholesterol-fed male mice. On the other hand, the esterified cholesterol content in the liver was substantially increased by the probucol treatment with a high cholesterol diet in the LCAT-deficient mice but not in the wild-type mice. Among the groups, there was no significant difference in the tissue cholesterol levels in other organs, such as the liver, spleen, thymus, brain, erythrocytes, thyroid gland, testis, and aorta, resulting from either LCAT deficiency or probucol. Thus, the apolipoprotein-mediated mechanism plays a significant role in the export of cellular cholesterol in the liver, indicating that the liver is a major site of the HDL assembly. Otherwise, tissue cholesterol homeostasis can largely be maintained in mice even when the assembly of new HDL is inhibited by probucol in the absence of LCAT. Nonspecific diffusion of cholesterol perhaps adequately maintains the homeostasis in the experimental condition.

catena-Poly[[diaqualithium(I)]-mu-[9H-purine-2,6(1H, 3H)-dionato-O2:N7]]

In the title compound, [Li(C(5)H(3)N(4)O(2))(H(2)O)(2)](n), the coordinate geometry about the Li(+) ion is distorted tetrahedral and the Li(+) ion is bonded to N and O atoms of adjacent ligand molecules forming an infinite polymeric chain with Li-O and Li-N bond lengths of 1.901 (5) and 2.043 (6) A, respectively. Tetrahedral coordination at the Li(+) ion is completed by two cis water molecules [Li-O 1.985 (6) and 1.946 (6) A]. The crystal structure is stabilized both by the polymeric structure and by a hydrogen-bond network involving N-H.O, O-H.O and O-H.N hydrogen bonds.

[Anesthetic management for distal aortic arch aneurysm stent grafting]

A 76-year-old woman with thoracic aortic aneurysm involving distal aortic arch was scheduled for graft replacement from ascending to proximal aortic arch with endovascular stent graft to descending aorta. Surgical procedures were performed under median sternotomy with hypothermic systemic circulation arrest and selective cerebral perfusion. The stent graft composed of 30 mm Gianturco Z stent and 27.5 mm woven Dacron graft was introduced into the descending aorta under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and fluoroscopy. Ascending and proximal aortic arch replacement was then performed with four branched woven Dacron graft. The aortic pathology was confirmed by TEE and the extent of the aneurysmal lesion was defined. TEE was also useful to find the dislodgement of the stent graft after deployment. This surgical technique, being less invasive than conventional thoracotomy, would be indicated for elderly patients with distal aortic arch aneurysm. TEE is the vital imaging technique for placement of the stent graft, as well as for intraoperative cardiac monitoring.

Discrimination between NK and LAK cytotoxic activities of murine spleen cells by MTT assay: differential inhibition by PGE(2) and EDTA

In the present study we propose a mathematical approach to improve the analysis of NK and LAK activities measured by MTT assay adapted for murine cells. We found that to calculate NK activity, high E:T ratios should be used (up to 50:1) and the phenomenon fits to a linear least-squares analysis. However, 5-fold less effector cells (10:1, E:T) should be used to detect LAK activity and the phenomenon has a nonlinear exponential behavior. Using this approach, we showed that EDTA inhibits LAK but not NK activity whereas PGE(2) inhibits NK but not LAK activity. In conclusion, this analytical approach allowed the discrimination between NK and LAK activities and exposed differences between these two cytotoxic activities.

Apolipoprotein-mediated cellular cholesterol/phospholipid efflux and plasma high density lipoprotein level in mice

Helical apolipoprotein(apo)s generate pre-beta-high density lipoprotein (HDL) by removing cellular cholesterol and phospholipid upon the interaction with cells. To investigate its physiological relevance, we studied the effect of an in vitro inhibitor of this reaction, probucol, in mice on the cell-apo interaction and plasma HDL levels. Plasma HDL severely dropped in a few days with probucol-containing chow while low density protein decreased more mildly over a few weeks. The peritoneal macrophages were assayed for apoA-I binding, apoA-I-mediated release of cellular cholesterol and phospholipid and the reduction by apoA-I of the ACAT-available intracellular cholesterol pool. All of these parameters were strongly suppressed in the probucol-fed mice. In contrast, the mRNA levels of the potential regulatory proteins of the HDL level such as apoA-I, apoE, LCAT, PLTP, SRB1 and ABC1 did not change with probucol. The fractional clearance rate of plasma HDL-cholesteryl ester was uninfluenced by probucol, but that of the HDL-apoprotein was slightly increased. No measurable CETP activity was detected either in the control or probucol-fed mice plasma. The change in these functional parameters is consistent with that observed in the Tangier disease patients. We thus concluded that generation of HDL by apo-cell interaction is a major source of plasma HDL in mice.

Apolipoprotein AI efficiently binds to and mediates cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from human but not rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) from several animal species have been reported to resist depletion of cellular cholesterol by the major apolipoprotein of HDL, apoAI. Resistance of SMC to this protective action of apoAI, if present in humans, could contribute to the overaccumulation of arterial wall cholesterol seen in atherosclerosis. We investigated the ability of human aortic medial SMC to bind and be depleted of cholesterol and phospholipids by apoAI. In contrast to rat aortic SMC, but similar to human fibroblasts, human SMC were readily depleted of cholesterol by apoAI, measured by a marked depletion of intracellular cholesterol available for esterification, and an increase in cholesterol efflux to the medium. Human SMC were also actively depleted of the phospholipids phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin by apoAI. In contrast, rat SMC released only a small fraction of these cellular phospholipids to apoAI-containing medium. (125)I-labeled apoAI bound with high affinity and specificity to human SMC, but failed to bind to rat SMC. Similar levels of expression of class B, type I scavenger receptor (SR-BI) and caveolin in human and rat SMC suggested these proteins do not account for the differences in apoAI binding or lipid efflux seen in these cells. An enhancer of apolipoprotein-mediated cholesterol efflux, tyrosyl radical-oxidized HDL, markedly amplified the depletion of cholesterol available for esterification in human SMC compared to HDL, but had no enhanced effect in rat SMC. These results show that human SMC bind and are readily depleted of cellular lipids by apoAI, and suggest that apoAI-mediated cholesterol efflux from arterial SMC may contribute significantly to the circulating pool of HDL cholesterol in vivo. The marked difference in apoAI binding to human and rat arterial SMC provides an excellent model to study the nature of the apoAI-cell binding interaction.

Cerebellar granule cell-specific and inducible expression of Cre recombinase in the mouse

To develop a cell type-specific and temporal regulation system of gene targeting in the cerebellum, we used the NMDA-type glutamate receptor GluRepsilon3 subunit gene and Cre recombinase-progesterone receptor fusion (CrePR) gene in combination. Injection of the CrePR gene placed under the control of the 10 kb 5' region of the GluRepsilon3 gene into C57BL/6 eggs yielded the ECP25 line that strongly expressed the CrePR mRNA selectively in the granule cells of the cerebellum. Using a transgenic mouse carrying a reporter gene for Cre-mediated recombination, we showed that antiprogestins could induce the recombinase activity of CrePR protein in the cerebellar granule cells of the ECP25 line. Thus, the established mouse line will provide a valuable tool to investigate the mechanism of cerebellar function by manipulating molecules in the temporally regulated and granule cell-specific manner.

Selective down-regulation by protein kinase C inhibitors of apolipoprotein-mediated cellular cholesterol efflux in macrophages

Extracellular apolipoprotein A-I removed cholesterol and phospholipid from cholesterol-loaded mouse peritoneal macrophage and thereby generated a prebeta high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle having a weight ratio of cholesterol to phosphatidylcholine of approximately 1:1. Treatment of the cells with phorbol myristate slightly increased cholesterol efflux by this mechanism without influencing the nonspecific cholesterol efflux to the lipid microemulsion. When the cells were treated by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, H7 and staurosporine, apolipoprotein-mediated cellular cholesterol efflux was substantially reduced without a significant change in phosphatidylcholine efflux, resulting in generation of cholesterol-poor prebeta-HDL particles having a weight ratio of cholesterol to phosphatidylcholine as low as 1:10. In spite of this change, specific binding of apoA-I to the cellular surface was unaffected. Cellular cholesterol available for acylCoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) was rapidly depleted by adding apoA-I to the medium, and the PKC inhibitor treatment reversed this effect. In contrast, nonspecific cellular cholesterol efflux to the lipid microemulsion did not influence the ACAT-available cellular cholesterol pool, and it was not influenced by the PKC inhibitors. Thus, we concluded that apolipoprotein-mediated cellular cholesterol efflux is linked to mobilization of cholesterol from an intracellular pool used by ACAT to a specific pool for apolipoprotein-mediated prebeta-HDL generation, in response to apolipoprotein-cell interaction and subsequent intracellular signaling. Binding of apolipoprotein to the cell surface is required for assembly of the prebeta-HDL particle with cellular phospholipid, and the intracellular cholesterol mobilization is needed for enrichment with cholesterol of the prebeta-HDL. These reactions are largely independent of diffusion-mediated nonspecific cell cholesterol efflux.

Selective inhibition of free apolipoprotein-mediated cellular lipid efflux by probucol

We attempted to demonstrate selective modulation of lipid-free apolipoprotein-mediated cellular lipid efflux in order to test the hypothesis that it is an event independent of nonspecific physicochemical cholesterol exchange. Probucol, a unique cholesterol-lowering drug, was found to selectively suppress this pathway in vitro in mouse peritoneal macrophage. Probucol was given to the cells via the uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) into which it had been incorporated. The uptake of lipoprotein-cholesteryl ester by the macrophage was the same whether the acetylated LDL was probucol-carrying or probucol-free, and probucol accumulated in the cell in parallel to cholesterol when carried by the lipoprotein. Incorporation of [35S]methionine into cell protein was unaffected by probucol accumulated in the cells. The efflux of cellular cholesterol and phospholipid mediated by lipid-free human apolipoproteins (apo) A-I, A-II, and E was all completely inhibited by probucol. Reversible binding of free apoA-I to the cellular surface was also completely blocked by probucol in this condition. On the other hand, nonspecific cholesterol exchange between LDL and macrophage was unaffected by probucol. Thus, probucol selectively inhibited apolipoprotein-mediated cellular lipid efflux by blocking specific binding of free apolipoprotein to the cell without influencing nonspecific lipid exchange. In the absence of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) reaction, apparent cellular cholesterol efflux to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was reduced by probucol by 40-70% while the rate of cholesterol influx from HDL to the cells was unaffected, resulting in cancellation of the net cellular cholesterol efflux to HDL. However, the increase of the net cholesterol efflux to HDL by LCAT was unaffected by probucol. Net cellular cholesterol efflux to HDL in the absence of LCAT, therefore, seems to depend on an apolipoprotein-mediated mechanism.

Clinical evaluation of long-term treatment using cernitin pollen extract in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Seventy-nine patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated with cernitin pollen extract. Patient ages ranged from 62 to 89 years (mean, 68 years). Mean baseline prostatic volume was 33.2 cm3. Cernitin pollen extract was administered in a dosage of 126 mg (2 tablets, 63 mg each), three times a day, for more than 12 weeks. Symptom scores, based on a modified Boyarsky scoring scale, uroflowmetry, prostatic volume, residual urine volume, and urinalysis results were examined before and after administration of cernitin pollen extract. Symptom scores significantly decreased from baseline, and the favorable results continued during the treatment period. Urine maximum flow rate and average flow rate increased significantly from 9.3 mL/s to 11 mL/s and from 5.1 mL/s to 6 mL/s, respectively. Residual urine volume decreased significantly from 54.2 mL to less than 30 mL. There was no change in prostatic volume. However, 28 patients treated for more than 1 year showed a mean decrease of prostatic volume to 26.5 cm3. No adverse reactions were observed. Clinical efficacy at 12 weeks was rated excellent, good, satisfactory, and poor in 11%, 39%, 35%, and 15% of patients, respectively. Overall clinical efficacy was 85%. In conclusion, cernitin pollen extract showed a mild beneficial effect on prostatic volume and urination variables in patients with symptomatic BPH.

[A case of hydronephrosis caused by renal stones with elevated serum levels of CA-19-9 and CA-125]

A case of hydronephrosis caused by renal stones with elevated serum levels of carbohydrate antigens 19-9 (CA-19-9) and 125 (CA-125) is reported. A 74-year-old woman was hospitalized with pyelonephritis. The results of computerized tomography and endoscopy suggested that the patient did not have pancreatic or ovarian cancer, but laboratory tests were significant for serum CA-19-9 greater than 1,000 U/ml (normal less than 37) and serum CA-125 78 U/ml (normal less than 35), which are markers for such tumors. Abdominal X-ray films showed stones in the pelvis of the right kidney. Excretory urography showed that the right kidney was not functioning. Computerized tomography showed severe right hydronephrosis with a thin renal cortex. Complete obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction of the kidney was seen by retrograde pyelography. During percutaneous pyelography, aspiration of the pelvic urine was done, and the sample had a high concentration of CA-19-9 (250,000 U/ml), but no cancer cells. The patients underwent right nephrectomy. The pelvic urine was tested for both CA-19-9 and CA-125 this time, and both were high (190,000 U/ml and 5,100 U/ml, respectively). Pathological evaluation showed no evidence of a malignant tumor. The epithelium lining the renal pelvis was stained for both CA-19-9 and CA-125 using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Serum levels of the markers returned to normal after nephrectomy.

[Endocrine chemotherapy for prostatic cancer]

We carried out a randomized joint study on endocrine therapy and endocrine chemotherapy for prostatic cancer at our department and 17 affiliated institutions. Of 80 patients entered, 39 patients were treated with chlormadinone acetate alone (group A) and 41 patients were treated with chlormadinone acetate in combination with UFT (group B). After excluding 10 inappropriate patients, Stage C was observed in 14 patients in group A and 13 in group B, and stage D in 20 patients in group A and 23 in group B. Side effects were observed in 8.8% (3/34) in group A and 22.2% (8/30) in group B without a significant difference. The anti-tumor effects (response rate) and clinical effects with respect to each item did not significantly differ between the two groups. The non-recurrence rate and survival rate were significantly higher in group B than in group A. These findings suggest the usefulness of endocrine chemotherapy using UFT.

Characteristic properties of retinal oxidase (retinoic acid synthase) from rabbit hepatocytes

Retinal oxidase (retinoic acid synthase) (EC 1.2.3.11) was purified electrophoretically, as a single protein band, from rabbit liver cytosol. The characteristic properties, enzymatic reaction mechanism, substrate specificity and kinetic parameters for retinals and molecular oxygen of the retinal oxidase were investigated. The Km values for all-trans-retinal of the retinal oxidase was the lowest than those for the other retinal derivatives. The retinal oxidase is a metalloflavoenzyme containing 2 FADs as the coenzyme, and 8 irons, 2 molybdenums, 2 disulfide bonds and 8 inorganic sulfurs. Its relative molecular mass was determined to be 270 kDa by gel filtration HPLC on a TSKgel G3000swXL column. Its minimum molecular mass was estimated to be 135 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optical spectrum of the retinal oxidase showed absorption peaks at 275, 340 and 450 nm, and shoulders at 420 and 473 nm, in the oxidized form. The molecular extinction coefficients of the oxidase at selected wavelengths were determined. Circular dichroism spectra of the retinal oxidase were measured in the ultraviolet and visible regions. These spectra showed positive absorption in the visible region. The amino-acid composition was determined. The activity of the oxidase was not affected by any cofactors, such as NADP+, NAD+, NADPH and NADH, and it did not occur under anaerobic conditions. The oxidase was not inhibited by BOF-4272, a potent inhibitor of xanthine dehydrogenase, or rat anti-xanthine dehydrogenase IgG. Experiments on retinoic acid formation under 18O2 or H2(18)O demonstrated that the oxygen of water was incorporated into retinoic acid by the retinal oxidase, but not molecular oxygen.

Retinal oxidase is identical to aldehyde oxidase

Retinal oxidase (EC 1.2.3.11) and aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1) were compared with respect to their enzymatic and physiochemical properties. It was found that the molecular weights, subunits, optical spectra, chemical and immunological properties, cellular localization and substrate specificities of the two oxidases are identical on almost all points. The physiological function of aldehyde oxidase appears to be the synthesis of retinoic acid from retinal.

Identification of a microsomal retinoic acid synthase as a microsomal cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase system

1. To characterize an enzyme which metabolizes retinal in liver microsomes, several properties of the enzymatic reaction from retinal to retinoic acid were investigated using rabbit liver microsomes. 2. The maximum pH of the reaction in the liver microsomes was 7.6. 3. The Km and Vmax values for all-trans, 9-cis and 13-cis-retinals were determined. 4. The reaction proceeded in the presence of NADPH and molecular oxygen. 5. The incorporation of one atom of molecular oxygen into retinal was confirmed by using oxygen-18, showing that the reaction comprised monooxygenation, not dehydrogenation. 6. The monooxygenase activity was inhibited by carbon monoxide, phenylisocyanide and anti-NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase IgG, but not by anti-cytochrome b5 IgG. 7. The enzymatic activity inhibited by carbon monoxide was photoreversibly restored by light of a wavelength of around 450 nm. 8. The retinal-induced spectra of liver microsomes with three isomeric retinals were type I spectra. 9. The microsomal monooxygenase activity induced by phenobarbital or ethanol were more effective than that by 3-methylcholanthrene, clotrimazole or beta-naphthoflavone. 10. These results showed that the monooxygenase reaction from retinal to retinoic acid in liver microsomes is catalyzed by a cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase system.

Substrate-binding region of cytochrome P-450SCC (P-450 XIA1). Identification and primary structure of the cholesterol binding region in cytochrome P-450SCC

Cytochrome P-450SCC (P-450 XIA1) from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria was investigated using a suicide substrate: [14C]methoxychlor. [14C]Methoxychlor irreversibly abolished the activity of the side-chain cleavage enzyme for cholesterol (P-450SCC) and the inactivation was prevented in the presence of cholesterol. The binding of [14C]methoxychlor and cytochrome P-450SCC occurred in a molar ratio of 1:1 and the cholesterol-induced difference spectrum of cytochrome P-450SCC was similar with the methoxychlor-induced difference spectrum. [14C]Methoxychlor-binding peptides were purified from tryptic-digested cytochrome P-450SCC modified with [14C]methoxychlor. Determination of the sequence of the amino-acid residues of a [14C]methoxychlor-binding peptide allowed identification of the peptide comprising the amino-terminal amino-acid residues 8 to 28.

[Clinical study of terodiline hydrochloride for the treatment of urinary frequency and urinary incontinence, and its cardiovascular adverse effects]

We evaluated the effectiveness and side effects of terodiline hydrochloride in 109 patients with urinary frequency and urinary incontinence. The drug was administered at a dose of 24 mg once a day or 12 mg twice a day for 4 weeks. Symptoms such as urinary frequency and urinary incontinence were alleviated in 101 out of 109 patients (92.7%). Mild side effects such as thirst, dysuria, sense of residual urine, orthostatic hypotension and arrhythmia were observed in 9 out of 109 patients (8.2%). Side effects such as orthostatic hypotension and arrhythmia were observed on the 28th day or the 20th day of the administration, but these symptoms disappeared with discontinued use of this medicine. The results obtained from this study suggest that terodiline hydrochloride may be greatly useful for the patients with urinary frequency and urinary incontinence. But we must take account of the side effects such as orthostatic hypotension and arrhythmia.

Immobilized ferredoxins for affinity chromatography of ferredoxin-dependent enzymes

An immobilized ferredoxin more stable than the conventional immobilized spinach ferrodoxin was prepared by reacting CNBr-Sepharose with ferredoxins isolated from barley and Synechococcus vulcanus, a thermophilic blue-green alga. The dissociation constants of immobilized ferredoxin from spinach, barley and S. vulcanus for spinach ferredoxin-NADP reductase were 0.922, 2.505 and 5.209 microM, respectively, whereas those for barley ferredoxin-NADP reductase were 1.159, 0.579 and 2.851 microM, respectively. The order of stability was S. vulcanus greater than barley greater than spinach. The immobilized ferredoxin was applied to the simultaneous detection of ferredoxin-dependent enzymes in spinach chloroplasts. Over 20 polypeptides were detected. Synechococcus ferredoxin could also be immobilized on a Toyopearl gel and repeatedly used in an automated high-performance liquid chromatographic system.

Expression cloning of a sheep adreno-ferredoxin using the polymerase chain reaction

In addition to the selective amplification of cDNA from total RNA by the PCR method, the distinctive properties of ferredoxin-expressing colonies can be used for cloning a ferredoxin cDNA. This strategy for cloning and expressing cDNA in E. coli was applied to a sheep adreno-ferredoxin. The expressed sheep ferredoxin showed a spectral pattern typical of [2Fe-2S] proteins. The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA sequence showed that the mature form of sheep ferredoxin consists of 128 amino acid residues. This rapid and simple method for cloning and expressing cDNA can be applied to other ferredoxins.

[Tunica albuginea cyst: a case report]

A 47-year-old male visited our hospital complaining of painless swelling of the right scrotum. Ultrasonography demonstrated hydrocele and a 13 x 12 x 10 mm cystic space along the margin of the right testis. Hydrocelectomy and simple resection of the cyst were performed. Pathologic examination of the excised cyst showed a serous cyst lined with simple flattened epithelium. Ultrasonography is useful for the diagnosis of tunica albuginea cyst.

[Results of Kock pouch construction fully utilizing an auto-suture instrument]

From March 1987 to the end of February 1991, we performed Koch pouch construction as a urinary diversion on 20 patients who had undergone radical cystectomy due to bladder cancer. The operation was done according to the method of Skinner et al. We fully utilized an auto-suture instrument to ensure safe and stable suturing of the ileum and to shorten the operating time. It was of great concern that the staples placed at several portions might cause stone formation or aggravate infection. However, stone formation was observed only in one patient (5%) at the tip of a nipple valve in which a staple became the nucleus of the stone. Staples are usually not regarded as an obstacle as they are usually covered by the mucous membrane. In all patients, the maximum capacity of the pouch was more than 500 ml, intra-pouch pressure was kept low even when the pouch was inflated up to the maximum capacity, and reflux of urine into the upper urinary tract was not observed. As for complications, there was a slight degree of obstructive uropathy in 4 patients (20%), difficulty in catheter insertion was noted in 3 patients (15%), and stress incontinence-like urinary leakage was present in one patient when the capacity exceeded 500 ml. However, there were no complications which necessitated reoperation. In terms of blood chemistry, although there was a tendency towards a slight increase in BUN or hyperchloremia, no specific treatment was necessary as far as the kidney function was normal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Proteolytic degradation of ferredoxin-NADP reductase during purification from spinach

Ferredoxin-NADP reductase (FNR) was rapidly isolated from spinach leaves with special care to suppress proteolytic degradation. The molecular mass of this FNR preparation was estimated to be 35 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Limited proteolysis of 35-kDa FNR to 33-kDa FNR was effectively suppressed by high pH (at pH 9.3), concentrated salts, and low temperature. On the basis of these observations, a new isolation procedure was designed to obtain 35-kDa FNR in a preparative scale. The resulting final preparation still contained two FNR components. One appeared to correspond to the longest polypeptide so far reported for spinach FNR (Karplus et al., 1984, Biochemistry 23, 6576-6583) while the other lacked a gamma-pyroglutamyl residue from its amino terminus. Conventional preparation procedure without suppression of proteolytic action yielded an FNR preparation with a molecular mass of 33 kDa. This FNR preparation consisted of three components. They lacked 11 to 17 amino-terminal residues, while their carboxyl-terminal structure was retained intact. These results showed that proteolytic degradation of the spinach FNR molecule during purification took place exclusively at its amino-terminal moiety and further suggested that 35-kDa FNR with Karplus' structure should be the mature FNR molecule functional in the chloroplast thylakoids.

[Clinical study on cefmenoxime (CMX) in urology]

Basic and clinical studies were made on Cefmenoxime (CMX), a new cephalosporin antibiotic, and the following results were obtained. The serum concentration of CMX was examined in four healthy adults after administration of 250 mg of CMX by intramuscular injection, intravenous injection and one-hour intravenous drip infusion (cross over). In the case of intramuscular injection, the peak value of 5.9 micrograms/ml was obtained 30 minutes after administration, and the half-life in serum was 1.41 hours. In the case of intravenous drip infusion, injection, a concentration value of 11.1 micrograms/ml on the average was obtained after 15 minutes of administration, and the half-life in serum was 1.26 hours. In the case of intravenous drip infusion, the concentration was 12.4 micrograms/ml upon completion of drip infusion, and CMX disappeared from serum at a half-life of 0.94 hour. The urinary recovery up to 6 hours was from 60 to 70% in each The efficacy rate of this preparation was 100% for 4 cases of acute simple cystitis. The efficacy rate of CMX was 70% for 10 cases of complicated urinary tract infection; the 3 cases in which CMX was not effective were patients with a residual catheter and Pseudomonas persisting or appearing as superinfection. It was noted that Serratia, which was resistant to the conventional cephalosporin antibiotics, became negative. No subjective side effects due to the administration of this preparation were observed. As for abnormal laboratory findings, a slight and transient rise in transaminases was observed in one case. On the basis of the above-mentioned results, it was concluded that CMX is an effective preparation for the treatment of urinary tract infections.

Relationship between gastric secretion and serum gastrin levels in dogs anesthetized with morphine and urethane

The serum levels of immunoreactive gastrin (IRG) and secretion of gastric juice were simultaneously determined in dogs anesthetized with morphine and urethane. There was a significant positive linear correlation between secretion and serum IRG level in these dogs. Serum IRG level and gastric secretion were reduced by bilateral vagotomy at the neck. The amount of gastric juice was reduced dose-dependently by an intravenous injection of atropine (0.001--0.016 mg/kg), hexamethonium (0.064--1 mg/kg) and secretin (2--8 U/kg). The reduction of gastric secretion paralleled that of the serum IRG level. However, the reduction of gastric secretion did not parallel that of serum IRG level under the influence of prostaglandin E1 (0.002--0.008 mg/kg i.v.) and duodenal acidification. Prostaglandin E1 and duodenal acidification reduced gastric secretion without the reducing serum IRG level. These findings were discussed in relation to the mechanism of gastric juice stimulation by morphine, and it is suggested that endogenous gastrin release through the vagal and non-vagal pathways participates in morphine-induced gastric secretion. The difference in inhibitory effect between duodenal acidification and secretin suggests the possibility that substances other than secretin may participate in the regulation of gastric secretion in dogs.

[Clinical study of carfecillin in chronic urinary tract infection (author's transl)]

1. Ten patients with chronic urinary tract infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Proteus species were treated with carfecillin. Excellent response was seen in one case, fairly good in 5 cases and clinical effective rate was 60%. 2. The recurrence suppression effect of carfecillin was examined in two patients suffering from complicated urinary tract infection. In both cases, recurrence was not found when carfecillin was administered for a week after the effective pretreatment of carbenicillin, but found when administered for two weeks. 3. Side effects were observed in 3 cases (itching, tinnitus, diarrhea).