Effect of chlorine substitution on the bacterial metabolism of various polychlorinated biphenyls

Of 36 pure isomers (chlorine numbers 1 to 5) of polychlorinated biphenyls examined, 23 compounds were metabolized by Alcaligenes sp. strain Y42, and 33 compounds were metabolized by Acinetobacter sp. strain P6. The major pathway of many polychlorinated biphenyl isomers examined was considered to proceed through 2',3'-dihydro-2',3'-diol compounds, concomitant dehydrogenated 2',3'-dihydroxy compounds, subsequently the 1',2'-meta-cleavage compounds (chlorinated derivatives of 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoic acids), and then chlorobenzoic acids. The meta-cleavage products were usually converted to chlorobenzoic acids upon further incubation in many polychlorinated biphenyls, but they accumulated specifically in the metabolism of 2,4'-, 2,4,4'-, and 2,5,4'-chlorobiphenyls, which are all chlorinated at the 2,4'-position in the molecules in common. Dihydroxy compounds accumulated mainly in the metabolism of 2,6-, 2,3,6-, 2,4,2',5'-, 2,5,2',5'-, and 2,4,5,2',5'-chlorobiphenyls by Acinetobacter sp. P6. The 2,3,2',3'-, 2,3,2',5'-, and 2,4,5,2',3'-chlorobiphenyls, which are chlorinated at the 2,3-position of one of the rings, were metabolized in a different fashion. Two major metabolites of a chlorobenzoic acid and an unknown compound accumulated always in the metabolism of this group of polychlorinated biphenyls. 2,4,6-Trichlorobiphenyl was metabolized quite differently between the two organisms. Alcaligenes sp. Y42 metabolized this compound very slowly to trichlorobenzoic acid by the major oxidative route. In contrast, Acinetobacter sp. P6 metabolized it to a trihydroxy compound via a dihydroxy compound.

Pattern of glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins associated with nuclei of regenerating liver of rat

1. Hyaluronic acid was detected as the largest glycosaminoglycan component in the glycosaminoglycan fraction from purified nuclei of regenerating livers as in the case of normal livers (Furukawa, K. and Tarayama, H. (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 499, 278--289). However, the nuclear content of glycosaminoglycans tended to decrease after partial hepatectomy, reaching one-third of the normal liver level at 24--30 h after partial hepatectomy. On the other hand, two new polyanionic components were detected in the glycosaminoglycan fraction from regenerating liver nuclei. 2. One of these new components seems to be a sulfated glycopeptide. The 35SO4 incorporation into this component was stimulated biphasically after partial hepatectomy; the first stimulation occurring immediately after partial hepatectomy and the second stimulation occurring almost in parallel to the DNA synthesis. 3. Another polyacnionic component which also increases in the nuclear content after partial hepatectomy lacks hexuronic acid, sialic acid and 35SO4 and yet it is intensely stained by Alcian Blue. Preliminary investigations revealed the presence of hexose, ribose and phosphate as the major components. 4. In contrast to the primary localization of hyaluronic acid in the chromatin fraction and also in the nonhistone chromosomal protein fraction from it, these new polyanionic components were detected mainly in the karyosol fraction.

Changes in peroxisomes in preneoplastic liver and hepatoma of mice induced by alpha-benzene hexachloride

Peroxisomes in hepatomas and hyperplastic preneoplastic liver lesions induced in mice by 500 ppm alpha-benzene hexachloride were examined histochemically and electron microscopically. Although most of the hepatomas were well-differentiated tumors and contained a considerable number of peroxisomes, the tumor cells did not respond to ethyl-alpha-p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate with proliferation of peroxisomes. At the 16th week of carcinogen feeding, hyperplastic nodules appeared and advanced to further stages. A majority of the nodules showed a considerable number of peroxisomes and the inductive proliferation of peroxisomes. Within the nodules, foci of proliferation of the cells that showed no inducibility of proliferation of peroxisomes appeared. These cells proliferated further, replacing the most part of the nodules, and with this process hepatomas appeared to have been formed. No abnormal matrical inclusions of peroxisomes were formed in the cells of hyperplastic nodules by ethyl-alpha-p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate unlike in the case of rats.

[Mechanisms of contraction and relaxation in the response to 5'hydroxytriptamine of isolated rat ileum (author's transl)]

The action of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the rat ileum was analysed pharmacologically. In the isolated rat ileum, either mono or biphasic contraction was induced depending on the concentrations of 5-HT. The former was induced by lower concentrations of 5-HT (less than 6.25 X 10(-7)M) and the latter by higher concentrations of 5-HT (greater than 2.5 X 10 (-6)M). The monophasic contraction and the tonic contraction in response to 5-HT were blocked by methysergide (MTG). The phasic contraction in response to 5-HT after inhibition of muscular receptor with MTG was potentiated by physostigmine and blocked by mecamylamine (MC) or tetrodo-toxin (TTX). The response to 5-HT changed from a contraction to a relaxation by preincubation with MTG plus hyoscine. The relaxation was inhibited by TTX but not by MC and such was provoked even in the ileum from rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine. Therefore, the inhibitory neuronal receptor for 5-HT does not appear to belong to the adrenergic nervous system. At lower concentrations of 5-HT, relaxation was induced with MTG which was only partially inhibited by TTX. These results indicate that the stimulatory response to 5-HT were caused by activations of muscular receptors and of intramural parasympathetic ganglion cells while inhibitory responses were caused by activations of non-adrenergic inhibitory nerve terminals and of non-neuronal elements.

Clinical significance of e-antigen/anti-e, with special reference to HBc-antigen in the liver

e-antigen and anti-e were assayed in sera of asymptomatic HBs-Ag carriers and of patients with liver diseases. Thirteen out of 34 (38.2%) asymptomatic carriers were positive for e-antigen, which was in sharp contrast to the reports from USA and Europe. e-antigen was detected to a greater extent in patients with chronic active hepatitis, reversely anti-e in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis. However, e-antigen was found rarely in patients with cirrhosis and never in 23 cases with hepatoma positive for HBs-Ag. HBc-Ag in the liver was detected in 4 out of 8 e-antigen positive asymptomatic carriers and in 4 out of 5 patients with chronic liver diseases with e-antigen respectively, and moreover in 3 out of 14 anti-e positive cases, so that the presence of anti-e did not necessarily mean the negativity of HBc-Ag in the liver. Anti-HBc titer, however, was lower in anti-e positive sera than in e-antigen positive ones. This may implicate the decreased replication of HBV in cases with anti-e. These results emphasize that the investigation of e-antigen/anti-e is mandatory for the evaluation of the prognosis of asymptomatic carriers and of patients with chronic hepatitis.

Idiopathic enlargement of the right atrium

A huge saccular idiopathic dilatation of the right atrium was detected with angiography and echocardiography in a 75 year old man. Cardiac catheterization data were compared with data obtained 4 years earlier. Idiopathic right atrial enlargement is not usually accompanied by tricuspid valve disease, but in this case tricuspid insufficiency did occur over a period of 4 years, possibly as a complication in the late stage of idiopathic right atrial enlargement.

Isolation and identification of glycosaminoglycans associated with purified nuclei from rat liver

Nuclei isolated from rat liver were purified extensively and then subjected to extraction of glycosaminoglycans by the conventional method with a slight modification including the treatments with amylase, nucleases (DNAase and RNAase), and sialidase in addition to the pronase treatment. The nuclear glycosaminoglycan fraction thus prepared was subjected to chromatography on Dowes 1-X2 (Cl-) and electrophoresis before or after digestion with specific enzymes such as Streptomyces hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC and AC. These results together with the results of chemical analyses have revealed that the purified nuclei from rat liver contain glycosaminoglycans equivalent to 0.2-0.3 microgram hexuronic acid per mg DNA. A major component of the nuclear glycosaminoglycans has been identified as hyaluronic acid, while a minor component as chondroitin sulfate A (OR C). Preliminary investigations have shown that most of the nuclear glycosaminoglycans are associated with the chromatin fraction.

The study of the third heart sound in relation to the left ventricular filling and wall movement by echocardiography

The left ventricular filling and wall movement were investigated in subjects with a third heart sound or ventricular gallop by echocardiography. Nine patients with ventricular gallop, who had left ventricular volume overload disease, and 6 normal subjects with a third heart sound had higher normalized peak rate of increase of the left ventricular dimension (peak dD/dT/D) than 10 normal subjects without a third heart sound (p less than 0.01). The normalized lengthening rate in the rapid filling phase was also higher in patients with ventricular gallop than in normal subjects without a third heart sound (p less than 0.05). The time from the second heart sound to peak dD/dT/D and rapid filling time did not show statistically significant values between subjects with ventricular gallop or a third heart sound and those without a third heart sound. These results suggest that higher peak filling, larger filling volume in the rapid filling phase and more abrupt cessation of the outward movement of the left ventricular wall may be a cause of the production of ventricular gallop in patients with left ventricular volume overload and of the physiological third heart sound.

Echocardiographic measurement of aortic root diameter

One hundred and thirty patients with various heart diseases who underwent angiocardiography were studied to assess the clinical usefulness of echocardiographic aortic root diameter. The echocardiographic aortic root diameter was measured from the anterior surface of the anterior wall to the anterior surface of the posterior wall at end-diastole. A significant correlation was found between aortic root diameters measured by angiocardiograms and those by echocardiograms (r = 0.944, p less than 0.001). The aortic root diameter in normal subjects was 15 to 40 mm with a mean value of 29.0 mm. The corrected aortic root diameter by body surface area in normal subjects ranged from 10.1 to 29.5 mm/M2 with a mean value of 19.18 mm/M2. There appeared to be direct relationship between corrected aortic root diameter and the age. Echocardiography is a simple, safe, and reliable noninvasive method for estimating aortic root diameter.

Studies on the metabolism of d-limonene (p-mentha-1,8-diene). IV. Isolation and characterization of new metabolites and species differences in metabolism

1. The main route of elimination of d-limonene administered orally was via the urine in animals and man, 75-95% of the administered radioactivity being excreted in the urine during 2-3 days. Faecal excretion accounted for less than 10% of the dose in animals during 2-3 days. 2. In addition to six metabolites, namely p-mentha-1,8-dien-10-ol (M-I), p-menth-1-ene-8,9-diol (M-II), perillic acid (M-III), perillic acid-8,9-diol (M-IV), p-mentha-1,8-dien-10-yl-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (M-V) and 8-hydroxy-p-meth-1-en-9-yl-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (M-VI) isolated from rabbit urine previously (Kodama et al., 1974), five new metabolites have been isolated from dog and rat urine, and which were characterized as 2-hydroxy-p-menth-8-en-7-oic acid (M-VII), perillylglycine (M-VIII), perillyl-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (M-IX), p-mentha-1,8-dien-6-ol (M-X) and probably p-menth-1-ene-6,8,9-triol (M-XI). 3. The major metabolite of d-limonene in the urine was M-IV in rat and rabbit, M-IX in hamster, M-II in dog and M-VI in guinea pig and man.

Enzymatic conversion of human group O red cells into Group B active cells by alpha-D-galactosyltransferases of sera and salivas from group B and its variant types

Salivas from group B secretor or non-secretor, acting on O red cells in the presence of UDP-galactose, each converted them into B cells, which were agglutinated against anti-B human serum (1:512) at the titre of thirty-two-fold, while secretor or non-secretor group AB salivas converted O red cells into B active cells, which were agglutinated by anti-B human serum (1:512) at the titre of eight- to sixteen-fold. The results indicate that the alpha-galactosyltransferases which participate in the biosynthesis of group B substance are secreted in group B or AB salivas of both secretor and non-secretor types as well as in their sera. Agglutinabilities of enzymatically converted B-active red cells against anti-B human serum indicate that alpha-galactosyltransferase activities of both serum and saliva from a weak B (Bw) individual, who has weak B antigens in red cells and saliva, were lower than those of normal group B. The alpha-galactosyltransferase activities in group Bm sera were lower than those of normal group B, while the enzyme activities in salivas of group Bm were demonstrated to the same degree in normal group B salivas.

Effect of theophylline on monoamine metabolism in the rat brain

The effect of theophylline on brain monoamine metabolism was studied in rats. Single doses of theophylline caused a striking and dose-related increase in the levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol sulfate (MOPEG-SO4) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the brain. The level of brain homovanillic acid was only slightly affected. No appreciable change occurred, however, in the levels of brain norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. The increased level of brain MOPEG-SO4 or 5-HIAA after theophylline does not appear to result from its interference with the transport system for the acids in the brain since the rate of decline of the acid levels following pargyline was not affected. Under the conditions of brain monoamine oxidase inhibition, theophylline enhanced the increase in brain normetanephrine level without causing any change in 3-methoxytyramine level. The enhancement of brain normetanephrine level by theophylline became more pronounced when rats were pretreated with imipramine in addition to pargyline. These results suggest that, in the brain, theophylline may cause a release of serotonin leading to its increased turnover. The results also confirm the previous conclusion that the methylxanthine causes a release of norepinephrine and a concomitant increase in its turnover in the brain.

[On-line, high-speeded data analysis of cardiovascular function using hybrid systems (author's transl)]

In recent years application of computer techniques to various problems in biology has increased. In the field of anesthesia, where rapid changes appearing in a short time must be followed, the conventional, mannual methods are not applicable. So we have developed on-line computer analytical methods of cardiovascular function. Hybrid systems are the preferred methods in many biological problems, either because of efficiency and lower cost, or because of real time, on-line, closed-loop capabilities for direct use during experiments. As a computer output we used a graphic display computer and cathod ray tube devices. We applied these systems to analize and calculate cardiac work with other circulatory parameters. We got a ventricular function curve in visible form on CRT within 30 seconds after introducing the signals of left ventricular work and ventricular end-diastolic pressure into the analog computer. It was also useful to calculate vascular input impedence and myocardial maximal velocity of shortening. Finally causes of input errors in these analytical methods were discussed.

A double column procedure for the simultaneous estimation of norepinephrine, normetanephrine, dopamine, 3-methoxytyramine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in brain tissue

A double column procedure was devised for simultaneous estimation of norepinephrine, normetanephrine, dopamine, 3-methoxytyramine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine in brain tissue. Columns of aluminum oxide were placed on columns of Amberlite CG-50 by use of a specially devised column holder so that the effluent from the upper columns could flow directly into the lower ones. Perchloric acid extracts of brain samples were passed through the doubled columns after the pH was adjusted with K2CO3. Norepinephrine and dopamine in the extracts were adsorbed on aluminum oxide in the upper columns while normetanephrine, 3-methoxytyramine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine were retained by Amberlite CG-50 placed under the aluminum oxide columns. The amines adsorbed on both columns were eluted in a small volume of dilute HC1 and each of the amines was determined fluorometrically. Some modifications were incorporated into the existing methods for developing fluorescence from the amines to increase the sensitivity. The recovery rate throughout the entire procedure for the authentic amines added to brain homogenates was in the neighborhood of 90% or higher with little column to column variation. The procedure was tested in the estimation of the five amines on various parts of single brains of normal or pargyline-treated rats.

Metabolism of 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (H-88). II. Abosorption, distribution and excretion in rat, mouse, rabbit, monkey and man

1. The maximum concentration radioactivity in blood occurred 2-4 h after oral administration of [14C]H-88 in mouse, rabbit and man. With rat, a maximum concentration was obtained 24 h after administration of the drug at a dose level of 60 mg/kg, but only 4 h at a dose of 6 mg/kg. Unchanged H-88 comprised about 50% of serum radioactivity in rat and mouse during the first few hours, but only a small proportion of the serum radioactivity in rabbit and man. 2. The distribution pattern of the radioactivity in rat given the drug at two dose levels was similar, and this differed slightly from mouse and considerably from rabbit. Autoradiograms in rat and rabbit confirmed the findings from the distribution studies, and the autoradiographic distribution pattern in monkey was similar to that in rabbit. 3. Of the administered radioactivity 25-30% was recovered from bile within 48 h in bile-duct-cannulated rats and rabbits. Excretion of radioactivity in respiratory CO2 was negligible in the rat.

Metabolism of 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl) quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (H-88). I. Species differences in metabolism

1. Following oral administration of [14C] H-88 to rat, mouse, quinea-pig and hamster, 40-65% and 5-15% of radioactivity was excreted in urine and faeces respectively during 3 or 4 days. In rabbit, monkey and man, more than 80% of radioactivity was excreted in urine during 2 or 3 days, and faecal excretion was negligible. 2. Rabbit, rat or guinea-pig excreted non-labelled H-88 in urine as unchanged H-88 (M-I), 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl) quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione-3-acetic acid (M-II), H-88 glucuronide (M-III) and 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-6-hydroxyguinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (M-IV). 3. The carboxylic acid (M-II) was the major metabolite of H-88 in rat, mouse, guinea-pig and hamster urine and faeces, while the major metabolite in urine of rabbit, monkey and man was H-88 glucuronide (M-III). The 6-hydroxy compound (M-IV) was a major metabolite only in guinea-pig.