Direct fluorination of carcinogenic polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons. 6-Fluorobenzo(a)pyrene

Xenon difluoride reacts with benzo[a]pyrene(BaP) in dichloromethane solution in an open system to give 6-fluorobenzo[a]pyrene. This method constitutes a direct route to fluorine substituted carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Adenyl cyclase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities in murine muscular dystrophy

Adenyl cyclase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities were assayed in homogenates of hind leg skeletal muscle from dystrophic and normal mice. Adenyl cyclase activity was stimulated 2.5 times by epinephrine and 6 times by fluoride over the basal activity in both dystrophic and normal mice. The activity of adenyl cyclase from dystrophic muscle of mice was significantly higher than that of normal mice under all the conditions tested (i.e. basal, epinephrine and fluoride). Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from skeletal muscle of mice has two Km's (2.1 and 11 mumol/l) which suggests the existence of either two forms of enzyme or a single enzyme with negative cooperativity. The activity of this enzyme was significantly elevated in the skeletal muscle of dystrophic mice compared to the normal controls. The available evidence suggests that the same cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase is responsible for the hydrolysis of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP.

Comparison of the intermediary metabolism of fatty acids in denervated and dystrophic murine skeletal muscle

Certain aspects of lipid metabolism have been examined in denervated muscle from normal mice and in dystrophic muscle from mice of the Bar Harbor strain 129. A number of parameters show no change or similar changes. For example, the utilization of palmitate-[1-14C] and palmitylcarnitine by mitochondria from denervated and dystrophic hind leg skeletal muscle showed parallel decreased in the oxidation of palmitate (30-42%) and palmitylcarnite (37-66%). A comparable study with acetylcarnitine showed a striking difference with no change evident in mitochondria from denervated muscle and 80-85% decrease in dystrophic muscle. The study of succinate dehydrogenase and the enzymes of beta-oxidation in the above mitochondrial preparation showed similar findings except for acyl CoA dehydrogenase activity (an enzyme with a regulatory role in beta-oxidation) which was significantly diminished (29%) in denervated muscle, whereas no change was observed in dystrophic muscle. The findings show a close parallel in a number of parameters but distinct differences were observed in denervated as compared with dystrophic muscle. It is unlikely that the muscular disorder in murine muscular dystrophy can be explained solely on the basis of denervation or the loss of a neural trophic factor.

Interactions between prostaglandin analogues and a receptor in bovine Corpora lutea. Correlation of dissociation constants with luteolytic potencies in hamsters

The dissociation constants for the interactions between some prostaglandin analogues and a prostaglandin F2 receptor in bovine corpora lutea were determined. These values were compared to the antifertility potencies of these compounds in hamsters and the rates of metabolism by 15-hydro-syprostaglandin dehydrogenase. The most active analogues with regard to both affinity for the receptor and luteolytic potency were 17-phenyl-18, 19, 20-trinorprostaglandin F2alpha and 15-methylprostaglandin F2alpha. The alkyl side chain of prostaglandins could be modified considerably without altering the affinity for the receptor. In this way metabolism by 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase could be blocked. Some of these compounds -ad greatly increased luteolytic effects. Substitution of a phenyl group for the 3 terminal carbon units of the alkyl side chain of prostaglandins increased both the affinity for the receptor and the luteolytic activity in vivo. 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid, an antagonist of the luteolytic effect of prostaglandin F2alpha in vivo was a weak competitive inhibitor of the interation between prostaglandin F2alpha and the receptor.

Antibiotic inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthesis

Fourteen antibiotics have been found to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation and uncoupler-stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase in mitochondria. Four different types of binding sites for these inhibitors have been found. The first (1) binds aurovertin to purified MF1 ATPase in the stoichiometric ratio of two aurovertin molecules per molecule of ATPase. Site II is the locus for efrapeptin (A23871) and may be a catalytic site on purified ATPase. The remaining two sites have been demonstrated only in mitochondria or submitochondrial particles when the APTase is bound to other membrane components. Oligomycin, venturiciden, venturicidin X and ossamycin probably all bind at site III. Leucinostatin (A20668) binds at site IV. At low concentrations, this antibiotic acts like oligomycin; at higher concentrations it uncouples oxidative phosphorylation. Venturicidin appears to prevent leucinostation from binding at site IV for it allows uncoupling to occur at very low concentrations of the latter antibiotic. Venturicidin aglycone, which is a more effective inhibitor than its parent compound, does not exert this effect. It is concluded that sites III and IV are in juxtaposition and that when venturicidin binds at site III its sugar moiety projects into the area of site IV to prevent leucinostation from binding at its inhibitory site.

Studies on spermatogenesis in rats. IV. Rates of oxidation of palmitate and pyruvate by various testicular cell populations

Measurements are reported on the rates of oxidation of 14C-1-palmitate, 14C-1-pyruvate, and 14C-2-pyruvate by cell suspensions obtained from testes of normal rats of varying ages and from hypophysectomized regressed rats. Highest conversion rates of labeled pyruvate to CO2 were observed in testes from 24-day-old rats, in which all germinal cells except spermatids and spermatozoa were present. Cell suspensions from testes of adult rats, containing predominantly spermatids, had relatively low rates of palmitate and pyruvate oxidation. These rates were increased in cell suspensions from testes of regressed hypophysectomized rats towards those observed in testicular cell preparations from immature rats. The predominant cell types in testes from hypophysectomized, regressed rats are spermatogonia and early spermatocytes, although early stage spermatids are also present in lesser numbers. The ketogenic enzyme capacity was greatest in particulate preparations obtained from testes of normal 14-day-old rats, in which the predominant germinal cells present are spermatogonia. The activity of succinyl-CoA: 3-oxoacid CoA-transferase was also highest in these preparations. Cell suspensions from testes of 14-day-old rats incorporated significant amounts of labeled palmitate and pyruvate into acetoacetate, whereas cell suspensions from testes of other groups of animals examined did not. The data are discussed in relation to factors controlling rates of fatty acid oxidation in various germinal epithelial cells. It is concluded that spermatocytes have highest rates of pyruvate oxidation, but that both spermatogonia and spermatocytes have relatively high rates of palmitate oxidation. Since spermatogonia also were shown to contain the relatively highest ketogenic enzymic capacity, and since these cells had previously been observed to have lowest levels of carnitine acetyltransferase (CAT), it may be deduced that high CAT activity is not required for fatty acid oxidation or ketogenesis by testicular cells.

Acetyl-1- 14 C-l-carnitine oxidation, carnitine acetyltransferase activity, and CoA content in skeletal muscle mitochondria from normal and dystrophic mice (strain 129)

Mitochondria isolated from the hind leg muscle of normal and dystrophic mice (strain 129) were compared in their capacity to oxidize acetyl-1-14C-l-carnitine. Oxidation in the mitochondria from dystrophic animals was reduced by 80%. Carnitine acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.7) activity in the mitochondria was determined and showed a 35% reduction in the mitochondria from dystrophic muscle. A larger decrease (55%) was observed in the mitochondrial content of acid-soluble CoA. Although the combined decreases in carnitine acetyltransferase and CoA can largely account for the observed decrease in acetylcarnitine oxidation in the mitochondria isolated from dystrophic muscle, it is conceivable that some defect may still exist in the utilization of acetyl groups in the tricarboxylic acid cycle.

Palmitic acid-1- 14 C oxidation by skeletal muscle mitochondria of dystrophic mice

Cofactor requirements for the oxidation of palmitate-1-14C by 600 × g supernatant fraction of mouse skeletal muscle homogenate and by skeletal muscle mitochondria are described. Optimal oxidation of palmitate-1-14C by skeletal muscle mitochondria requires the presence of carnitine, ATP, CoA, and a Krebs cycle intermediate (e.g. succinate). Succinate, malate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and oxaloacetate are all equally effective in supporting the oxidation, but isocitrate is less effective. The oxidation of palmitate-1-14C by 600 × g supernatant fraction of muscle homogenate as well as by skeletal muscle mitochondria from dystrophic mice is significantly decreased compared with that of the normal littermate controls. The present results, together with the previous findings, suggest that the decrease in oxidation of palmitate-1-14C by the dystrophic muscle preparations is most likely due to a defect in one or more of the steps of the Krebs cycle.

Hypothalamic obesity in weanling rats

Bilateral hypothalamic lesions were placed in the ventromedial nuclei of 15 male weanling rats. Nine male littermates were used as controls. Food intake, body weight, and nose-occipital (N-O) length were followed for 90 days. Rats were killed on the 90th postoperative day and stomach weight, body fat content, and femur length were then measured. Although the daily food intake and the rate of body weight gain of the rats with lesions were comparable to those of their controls, all 15 operated rats became obese and their N-O and femur lengths were significantly shorter. It is concluded that hypothalamic obesity of weanling rats is associated with growth impairment.