Effects of experimentally induced ischemia on dopamine metabolism in rabbit retina

PURPOSE

To determine the role of dopamine in experimentally induced retinal ischemia. Experiment 1 was designed to study the effects of ischemic levels on dopamine (DA) metabolism. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of ischemic duration on DA metabolism. The effects of recirculation time after ischemia on DA metabolism were investigated in experiment 3.

METHODS

Ischemia was produced by raising intraocular pressure (IOP) in rabbits. Three levels of ischemia were used--level A, level B, and level C--representing 50%, 75%, and 100%, respectively, of the IOP necessary to produce total ischemia. Retinal levels of DA and its main metabolites, homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

RESULTS

Experiment 1 showed that at ischemic level B, DA contents were significantly reduced, but neither DOPAC nor HVA concentrations were altered. The reductions of retinal DA, DOPAC, and HVA concentrations were seen at level C without altering the ratio index. Level A ischemia did not alter DA metabolism. In experiment 2, significant reductions in DA, DOPAC, and HVA concentrations were found at both 30 and 60 minutes in the ischemic group, whereas the ratio DOPAC/DA and (HVA + DOPAC)/DA were significantly decreased only in the 60-minute ischemic group. Five-minute total ischemia did not alter DA metabolism. In experiment 3, concentrations of DA were still significantly decreased at 30 minutes of recirculation after ischemia, but DOPAC and HVA levels were back to normal. However, the ratios of DOPAC/DA, HVA/DA, and (HVA + DOPAC)/DA were significantly elevated. After 90 and 240 minutes of recirculation, retinal DA contents had returned to normal values, but DOPAC and HVA concentrations as well as all ratio indices of DA metabolism were still enhanced.

CONCLUSION

Dopamine metabolism is altered during and after retinal ischemia. Dopamine may play a contributing role in ischemia.

Study of various NH4+/NO3- mixtures for enhancing growth of potatoes

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of various NH4(+)-N/NO3(-)-N percentages on growth and mineral concentrations in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants using a non-recirculating nutrient film system in a controlled environment. The first experiment included six NH4(+)-N/NO3(-)-N percentages at 0/100, 20/80, 40/60, 60/40, 80/20, and 100/0 with the same total N concentration of 4 mM. The second experiment included six NH4(+)-N/NO3(-)-N percentages at 0/100, 4/96, 8/92, 12/88, 16/84, and 20/80 again with the same total N of 4 mM. In each experiment, plants were harvested 35 days after transplanting when tubers had been initiated and started to enlarge. Dry weights of shoots, tubers, and whole plant at the harvest were increased significantly with all mixed nitrogen treatments as compared with single NH4+ or NO3- form. The enhanced growth with mixed nitrogen was greatest at 8% to 20% NH4(+)-N. Also, the concentrations and accumulation of total N in the shoots and roots were greater with mixed nitrogen than with separate NH4+ or NO3- nutrition. With NH4+ present in the solutions, the concentrations of P and Cl in the shoots were increased compared to NO3- alone, whereas the tissue concentrations of Ca and Mg were decreased. It was concluded that nitrogen fertilization provided with combined NH4+ and NO3- forms, even at small proportions of NH4+, can enhance nitrogen uptake and productivity in potato plants.

A genetic comparison of behavioral actions of ethanol and nicotine in the mirrored chamber

Human alcoholics are almost invariably heavy users of tobacco, perhaps because both ethanol and nicotine may have anxiolytic activity. However, studies in humans have not uniformly detected anxiolytic effects because significant individual differences in anxiolytic actions of these agents seem to exist. One factor that seems to contribute to these individual differences is tolerance to ethanol. Individuals who are more sensitive to depressant actions of alcohol seem to show anxiolytic actions more readily. Consequently, we examined the relative sensitivities of the ethanol-sensitive (to the anesthetic actions of ethanol) long-sleep (LS) and ethanol-resistant short-sleep (SS) mouse lines to diazepam, ethanol, nicotine, and ethanol-nicotine combinations in the mirrored chamber test. This test measures approach-conflict behavior. Ethanol and nicotine evoked changes in mirrored chamber activities that resembled those elicited by diazepam. These effects were seen at doses that did not markedly affect locomotor activity, thereby suggesting that these changes in behavior represent anxiolytic actions. The LS-SS mice did not differ in sensitivity to diazepam, but the SS were more uniformly responsive to the other drugs. Only the SS showed clear evidence for interactions between ethanol and nicotine. If the changes in mirrored chamber behavior elicited by ethanol, nicotine, and combinations of the two drugs occur because of anxiety reduction, it seems that the SS mouse line is more responsive to anxiolytic actions of these drugs.

Genetic and biochemical characterization of ISP6, a small mitochondrial outer membrane protein associated with the protein translocation complex

To search genetically for additional components of the protein translocation apparatus of mitochondria, we have used low fidelity PCR mutagenesis to generate temperature-sensitive mutants in the outer membrane translocation pore component ISP42. A high copy number suppressor of temperature-sensitive isp42 has been isolated and sequenced. This novel gene, denoted ISP6, encodes a 61 amino acid integral membrane protein of the mitochondrial outer membrane, which is oriented with its amino-terminus facing the cytosol. Disruption of the ISP6 gene is without apparent effect in wild type yeast cells, but is lethal in temperature-sensitive isp42 mutants. Immunoprecipitation of the gene product, ISP42p, from mitochondria solubilized under mild conditions reveals a multi-protein complex containing ISP6p and ISP42p.

[Quantitative and qualitative observations of spleens removed from patients]

The spleens of 100 patients (ITP 60 cases, hypersplenism 20 cases, traumatic rupture of spleen 20 cases) were examined histologically and by electron microscopy. Measurements of the spleens removed from ITP patients were taken and compared to those of the other two groups. Short and long term post operative results were compared.

RESULTS

1. Spleens from the ITP group had characteristics different from those from the hypersplenism (hepatocirrhosis) and control groups; 2. the ITP patients whose spleen is twice the weight of average had better long term response to splenectomy; 3. the mean diameter of splenic follicles greater than 500 microns and the average diameter of germinal centers greater than 200 microns were the criteria for long term response to splenectomy. Therefore, histological examination of excised ITP spleen can predict the possible long term effect of splenectomy.

Carbon nutrition and hydrolytic and cellulolytic activities in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius

Four strains of an ectomycorrhizal fungus, Pisolithus tinctorius, were investigated for carbon nutrition, and for production of hydrolytic and cellulolytic enzymes. Glucose, mannose, and cellobiose supported rapid mycelial growth of all four strains. Fructose was utilized by two strains, SMF and S359. Of the 10 hydrolytic enzymes examined, acid phosphatase, acid α-galactosidase, acid esterase, and acid β-glucosidase were found in all four strains. β-Galactosidase was only observed in strain S359. α-Mannosidase, β-mannosidase, α-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, and proteinase were not detected in any of the four strains. Isozyme patterns of β-glucosidase and esterase in the four strains were compared by activity staining after native gradient gel electrophoresis. The isozyme pattern of β-glucosidase showed three major forms in all four strains. In addition, two more isoforms were found in strain S370. All strains shared two esterase bands, while strain S370 had three more isoforms. Study on strain SMF indicated that acid β-glucosidase was expressed constitutively, with increased activity in cellobiose-containing media. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, a low level of endoglucanase and exoglucanase activity was observed in strains SMF and S359. Further study on S359 showed that high concentrations of nitrogen repressed the cellulolytic activity. When cellobiose served as carbon source, higher cellulolytic activity was observed. Cellulose did not induce higher activity.Key words: Pisolithus, ectomycorrhizal, β-glucosidase, hydrolytic enzymes, cellulolytic enzymes.

Crystal structure of cyclophilin A complexed with substrate Ala-Pro suggests a solvent-assisted mechanism of cis-trans isomerization

Cyclophilin is a binding protein for the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A and is also an enzyme with peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity. The crystal structure of cyclophilin A complexed with the substrate Ala-Pro has been determined and refined to an R factor of 0.196 at 1.64-A resolution. The structure shows that only the cis form of Ala-Pro binds cyclophilin A despite the fact that Ala-Pro has an equilibrium majority of the trans form in solution. Simulation of the cis-trans isomerization in an ESV10 graphics system suggests a solvent-assisted mechanism in which first the peptidyl-prolyl bond is desolvated at the ground state by binding to the hydrophobic pocket of the active site, and later the intermediate state is stabilized by a hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen of the amide bond and a bound water molecule.

Dextromethorphan attenuates the effects of ischemia on rabbit electroretinographic oscillatory potentials

Dextromethorphan has been shown to protect against ischemic tissue damage. We investigated the effects of dextromethorphan on electroretinographic oscillatory potentials in retinal ischemia. Retinal ischemia was induced in rabbits by increasing intraocular pressure to 120 mm Hg for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Dextromethorphan was intravenously administered before ischemia and maintained throughout the whole period of experiments. Oscillatory potentials were recorded before and during ischemia as well as 4 hours of recirculation after ischemia. As expected, all oscillatory potentials were decreased after 60 and 90 minutes of ischemia. However, after 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 4 hours of recirculation, amplitudes of P2 were elevated whereas those of P3 and P4 were decreased with normal P1 amplitudes. Dextromethorphan administration diminished the effects of 30 minutes of ischemia on oscillatory potentials and partially attenuated the effects of 60 minutes of ischemia, whereas the effects of 90 minutes of ischemia could not be reversed by dextromethorphan treatment. These results indicate that electroretinographic oscillatory potentials could be useful indicators to evaluate retinal function in the ischemic condition and that dextromethorphan can attenuate the effects of relatively short periods of ischemia on rabbit electroretinographic oscillatory potentials.

Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the rabbit electroretinogram

In order to better understand the role of Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in mammalian retina, the dose related effects of human CGRP (hCGRP) on rabbit electroretinogram (ERG) were examined in the present study. CGRP was administered intraocularly in doses of 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 micrograms. ERG A- and B-wave as well as oscillatory potentials (P1, P2, P3 and P4) were recorded. The highest dose of CGRP (10.0 micrograms) significantly increased the amplitudes of the A-wave and OP components (P1, P2, P3 and P4) produced by relatively high stimulus intensity. The same dose of the peptide also enhanced B-wave amplitude at all intensities studied. The effects of the intermediate dose of CGRP (1.0 microgram) on the B-wave amplitudes were dependent on stimulus intensities. B-wave amplitudes at high stimulus intensities were not affected by 1.0 microgram of CGRP but were significantly increased with relatively lower stimulus intensities. The amplitudes of P3, one of OP components, were significantly increased. However, amplitudes of A-wave and other OP components (P1, P2 and P4) were not affected by 1.0 microgram CGRP. The lowest dose of the peptide (0.1 microgram) did not affect any amplitudes of ERG components. Implicit times of A-wave, B-wave and OP components were not significantly affected by the different doses of CGRP. Taken together, these results indicate that CGRP may play a functional role in modulating retinal responses to photic stimulation.

Purification and some properties of β-glucosidase from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius strain SMF

A cell-associated β-glucosidase was purified 152-fold to homogeneity from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius strain SMF. The apparent molecular weight of the native protein, as determined by size exclusion chromatography, was approximately 450 000. A single band with a molecular weight of 150 000 was obtained after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Thus, the native enzyme may consist of three monomers. The pI of the enzyme was determined to be 3.8 by isoelectric focusing. The enzyme had an optimal pH of 4.0 and an optimal temperature for activity of 65 °C. It showed a high substrate specificity toward aryl-β-glucosides, such as p-nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG), and β-1,6 glucosidic linkages. Cellobiose was hydrolyzed at about two-thirds the rate of PNPG. The Km for hydrolysis of PNPG was 0.87 mM. Strong inhibitors of the enzyme were aluminum, copper, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), deoxynojirimycin, gluconic acid, and SDS. Calcium, manganese, and p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid reduced the activity to a lesser extent. Potassium, mercury, cobalt, dithiothreitol, and glucosamine had no effect on activity. Enzyme activity was slightly increased to 112% in the presence of 1% glycerol. The enzyme was more stable under acidic conditions than under alkaline conditions.Key words: Pisolithus, ectomycorrhizal, β-glucosidase, purification.

Theoretical study on the static performance of piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composites with 2-2 connectivity

The static equilibrium conditions have been derived for piezoelectric-ceramic-polymer composite structures. Rigorous solutions are obtained for a 2-2 composite of lamellar configuration. Under a uniaxial stress or an electric field the strain profile becomes inhomogeneous due to different elastic stiffness of the two components (hard piezoelectric ceramics and soft polymer). The stress transfer between the two components is identified as due to an additional shear stress produced at the ceramic-polymer interface, and the amplification factor is defined for the enhancement of the response of the active piezoelectric ceramic resulting from this stress transfer. It is shown that this enhancement effect not only depends on the volume percentage of the active component but also on the aspect ratio of the two components.

Temperature cycling periods affect growth and tuberization in potatoes under continuous irradiation

Plants of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Denali, Norland, Haig and Kennebec were grown for 42 days under three temperature cycling periods (thermoperiods) with continuous irradiation in two repeated experiments to help determine if temperature cycling might be varied to optimize tuber development of potatoes in controlled environments. Thermoperiods of 6/6 hours, 12/12 hours and 24/24 hours were established with the same temperature change of 22/14C and same controlled vapor pressure deficit of 0.60 kPa. The thermoperiod of 24/24 hours significantly promoted tuber initiation but slowed tuber enlargement in all four cultivars, compared to the thermoperiods of 6/6 hours and 12/12 hours. Denali' produced the highest tuber and total dry weights under the 6/6 hours thermoperiod. Kennebec' produced the highest tuber dry weight under the 12/12 hours thermoperiod. Thermoperiods had no significant effect on shoot and root dry weights of any cultivars. The major effect of thermoperiods was on initiation and enlargement of tubers.

Growth, carbon dioxide exchange and mineral accumulation in potatoes grown at different magnesium concentrations

Plants of Norland potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) were maintained for 42 days at Mg concentrations of 0.05, 0.125, 0.25, 1, 2, and 4 mM in a nonrecirculating nutrient film system under controlled environment. With the increased Mg supply from 0.05 to 4 mM, Mg concentrations in the leaves of the 42-day old plants increased significantly from 1.1 to 11.2 mg g-1 dry weight. Plant leaf area and plant and tuber dry weights increased with increased Mg concentrations up to 1 mM in solution or 6.7 mg g-1 in leaves, and then decreased with further increases in Mg concentrations. Rates of CO2 assimilation measured on leaflets in situ at ambient and various intercellular CO2 concentrations were consistently lower at 0.05 and 4 mM Mg than at other Mg treatments, which may indicate decreased photosynthetic activity in mesophyll tissues at the lowest and highest Mg concentrations. Dark respiration rates in leaves were highest at 0.05 and 4 mM Mg, lowest at 0.25 and 1 mM Mg, and intermediate at 0.125 and 2 mM Mg. The different Mg treatments also influenced accumulation of other minerals in leaves. Leaf concentrations of Ca and Mn decreased with increased Mg supply except that Ca and Mn were lower at 0.05 mM than at 0.125 mM Mg. Leaf K concentrations were lower at 1, 2 and 4 mM Mg than at other Mg treatments. Foliar concentrations of P, Fe, Zn, and Cu had small but inconsistent variation with different Mg concentrations. Leaf concentrations of N, S, and B were similar at different Mg concentrations. This study demonstrates that various Mg nutrition, along with altered accumulation of other nutrients, could regulate dry matter production in potatoes by affecting not only leaf area but also leaf carbon dioxide assimilation and respiration.

Approaches to immunotoxicologic studies with emphasis on chemical-induced immunomodulation

Immunotoxicology has developed into a subdiscipline of toxicology in a tradition similar to other subdisciplines of toxicology. The use of experimental animals to determine the potential for chemicals to alter the structure and function of the immune system represents a significant part of this subdiscipline. This manuscript describes approaches to assessment of chemical-induced modification of immune status and key issues in interpreting the data for risk assessment.

[Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model of magnesium sulfate in treatment of pregnancy-induced hypertension]

Ten pregnancy-induced hypertension gravidas aged 24-36 (28.1 +/- 3.31) yr were infused iv with fast (7.5 g in 1 h) and slow (7.5 g in 5 h) rates consecutively. Blood pressure were measured and blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 6, 7, 9, 11, 15 h. The drug concentration of each sample in the serum was determined by colorimetric method. The integrated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic model was used to analyze the data. The serum data were fitted to a biexponential equation and the effect data were fitted to a sigmoid Emax model. Their pharmacodynamic parameters were: Kco = 0.52.h-1, T1/2(kco) = 1.33 h, Emax = 20.5% Cc (50) = 6.15 micrograms.ml-1), y = 3.64. kco was not equal to k21 of the mammillary model. It shows that the site of action is situated in the effect compartment. The predicted effect could last 24 h.

Diurnal temperature fluctuation effects on potatoes grown with 12 hr photoperiods

This study was designed to characterize the growth responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to diurnal temperature fluctuations. Potato plants of two cultivars, Norland and Denali, were grown for 90 days under 12 hr photoperiod in walk-in growth rooms at the University of Wisconsin Biotron. The alternating temperature was 22 C light/14 C dark and compared to a constant 18 C as control. At all temperature regimes vapor pressure deficit was maintained at 0.62 kPa (70% relative humidity [correction of humdidity] at 18 C). Plant height, plant dry weight, tuber dry weight, and harvest index were overall greater under the warm light/cool dark alternating temperatures than under the constant temperature. The differences between temperature treatments were greater for Denali than for Norland. Alternating temperatures increased Denali tuber weights by 25%, but no significant increase was found with Norland. Also the total plant weight was increased over 20% with Denali, but increased with Norland in only one of the two replications of the experiment. This study documents that alternating temperatures are a benefit to some cultivars but may not be of benefit to all cultivars.

Bleomycin-detectable iron in brain tissue

The normal brain contains regions with high concentrations of iron, part of which appears to be in a low molecular mass chelatable form. Iron complexes with a molecular mass of below 10,000, were measured in ultrafiltrates of homogenized gerbil brains using the bleomycin assay, and were found to average 20.5 +/- 3.5 microM (n = 8). As expected, no bleomycin detectable iron was found in the plasma of these animals. No obvious difference in the tissue levels of bleomycin-detectable iron was recorded following ischaemia and reperfusion. This is probably due to the already abundant presence of iron in the brain and the likely release of iron from protected sites due to structural damage inherent in the preparative procedures used.

Experimental studies of the hematologic and immune system toxicity of nucleoside derivatives used against HIV infection

Adverse effects stemming from the therapeutic use of dideoxynucleoside derivatives continue to occur in patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex. For example, the continued use of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2',3'-didoxycytidine (ddC), both of which confer clinical benefits in AIDS patients, may be complicated by anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and ddC also causes peripheral neuropathy. Subsequently, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) has undertaken efforts to define and characterize the toxicities associated with currently employed and potential AIDS therapeutics in experimental animals, with particular emphasis on the hematopoietic and immune systems. In addition to AZT and ddC, 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (ddA), 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) and 2',3'-didehydrodideoxythymidine (d4T) have been examined. The present studies describe: (1) the development of a poorly regenerative macrocytic anemia in mice exposed to AZT or ddC. This anemia demonstrates a rapid and progressive time course of toxicity and reversibility after cessation of treatment; (2) the selective suppression of erythroid progenitor cells in mice exposed to d4T without concomitant effects on myeloid stem cells. Myelotoxicity appears to show metabolism-dependent strain-specificity and is more evident following in vitro exposure than in vivo exposure; and (3) the immunosuppressive effects following subchronic (30-day) exposure. Of the nucleoside derivatives studied, only ddA and ddI altered immune function and these changes were confined to suppression of antibody responses. It can be concluded that the overall similarities in the hematopoietic and immune system effects between rodents and humans indicate that such animal toxicology studies provide important information relevant to the toxicity of these drugs.

Potassium concentration effect on growth, gas exchange and mineral accumulation in potatoes

This study was conducted to evaluate the responses of potatoes to six K solution concentrations maintained with a flow-through nutrient film system. Potato plants were grown for 42 days in sloping shallow trays containing a 1 cm layer of quartz gravel with a continuous flow of 4 ml min-1 of nutrient solutions having K concentrations of 0.10, 0.55, 1.59, 3.16, 6.44, 9.77 meq L-1. Plant leaf area, total and tuber dry weights were reduced over 25% at 0.10 meq L-1 of K and over 17% at 9.77 meq L-1 of K compared to concentrations of 0.55, 1.59, 3.16 and 6.44 meq L-1 of K. Gas exchange measurements on leaflets in situ after 39 days of growth demonstrated no significant differences among different K treatments in CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, and transpiration. Further measurements made only on plants grown at 0.10, 1.59, 6.44 meq L-1 of K showed similar responses of CO2 assimilation rate to different intercellular CO2 concentrations. This suggested that the photosynthetic systems were not affected by different K nutrition. The leaves of plants accumulated about 60% less K at 0.10 meq L-1 of K than at higher K concentrations. However, Ca and Mg levels in the leaves were higher at 0.10 meq L-1 of K than at higher K concentrations. This indicates that low K nutrition not only reduced plant growth, but also affected nutrient balance between major cations.

Physiological responses in potato plants under continuous irradiation

The physiological responses of four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars to continuous irradiation were determined in a controlled environment. Under a constant 18C and a constant photoperiod of 470 micromoles s-1 m-2 of photosynthetic photon flux, 'Denali' and 'Haig' grew well and produced large plant and tuber dry weights when harvested 56 days after transplanting. 'Kennebec' and 'Superior' were severely stunted, producing only 10% of the plant dry matter produced by 'Denali' and 'Haig'. The differences in leaf chlorophyll concentration and stomatal conductance were not consistent between these two groups of cultivars. The leaf net CO2 assimilation rates in 'Kennebec' and 'Superior' were lower, and intercellular CO2 partial pressures were higher than in 'Denali' and 'Haig'. These results indicate that inhibition of net CO2 assimilation in 'Kennebec' and 'Superior' was not due to a limiting amount of chlorophyll or to CO2 in the leaf tissues. Concentrations of starch in leaflets of 'Kennebec' and 'Superior' plants were only 10% of those in 'Denali' and 'Haig' plants, although soluble sugar concentrations were similar in the four cultivars. Therefore, the lower net CO2 assimilation rates in stunted 'Kennebec' and 'Superior' plants were not associated with an excess carbohydrate accumulation in the leaves.