[Determination of disaccharidase activity in rat serum, bile, urine and various tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography with differential refractometric detection]

A simple and high sensitive method for the determination of disaccharidase in various biological samples of rats by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a differential refractometric detection was developed. This method, as compared with the Dahlqvist method, has the following advantages; 1) There is no necessity for the elimination of biological components which have an influence on the determination of glucose. 2) Only a little enzyme sample is used. 3) The detection limit of a reaction product, glucose, by the HPLC method is about 10 times higher than that by the Dahlqvist method. 4) The maltase activity in the small intestinal mucosa estimated by HPLC method is positively correlated with that estimated by the Dahlqvist method (r = 0.9661, p less than 0.001, n = 8). 5) This method developed in the present study is applicable to not only the small intestinal mucosa, but also serum, bile, urine and various tissues.

[The influences of endogenous bile acids on maltase and alkaline phosphatase activities in intrahepatic cholestasis rats]

The activities of lysosomal maltase in the serum, bile and liver were determined in intrahepatic cholestasis rats induced by alpha-naphtylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 200 mg/kg, i.p.), and compared with changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Moreover, the influences of endogenous bile acids on the release of maltase activity from the liver in intrahepatic cholestasis rats were studied. The maltase activities in the serum and bile significantly increased from 4 and 8 h after the intraperitoneal administration of ANIT, respectively. Conversely, a significant decrease in liver maltase activity was observed from 4 h after the injection of ANIT. On the other hand, total bile acid concentrations in the serum and bile significantly increased immediately after the treatment of ANIT, when biliary bile acid, exogenous bile acid or Triton X-100 was added to lysosomal fraction in the liver, the maltase activity in the supernate after the reaction significantly increased in proportion to the concentration of each substance added to the liver lysosome. These results suggested that maltase might be released from liver lysosomal membrane by surface active-action of bile acid accumulated in the liver after the administration of ANIT. Moreover, the changes in ALP activities in the serum, bile and liver after the administration of ANIT were almost similar to those in maltase activity.

[Effects of insulin on maltase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities of serum and kidney in experimental diabetic rats]

The activities of lysosomal maltase in the serum, urine and kidney were determined in rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 75 mg/kg, i.p.) and compared with the changes in N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity. Moreover, effects of insulin on maltase and NAG activities of the serum, urine and kidney in diabetic rats were studied. The following results were obtained: 1) The serum maltase activity within 24 hr after administration of STZ was influenced by insulin secretion. 2) Significant increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were observed from the 3rd week after a single administration of STZ. The serum insulin level significantly decreased at 3 weeks after treatment of STZ. In this time, maltase activity in the serum rapidly increased, while the enzyme activity in the kidney decreased considerably. On the other hand, the changes in NAG activities in the serum, urine and kidney after administering STZ were almost similar to those in maltase activities. 3) There were positive relationships between maltase and NAG activities in the serum and urine in diabetic rats, respectively. 4) When lente insulin (2U) was subcutaneously injected once daily for 20 days from 24 hr after administration of STZ, NAG activities in the serum and kidney approached to the control levels. However, maltase activities in the group treated with insulin were significantly higher in the serum and kidney than those in the control group.

Determination of cyclosporin A in the serum of kidney transplant patients by rapid-flow fractionation and normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine cyclosporin A (CsA) concentrations in the serum of kidney transplant patients by rapid-flow fractionation (RFF) followed by silica gel normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The extraction of CsA from serum was achieved by RFF using a short diatomaceous earth column eluted with diethyl ether-n-hexane (50:50, v/v). The recovery was more than 80% at concentrations of 50-150 micrograms/l. The concentration of this compound was determined by HPLC using a conventional silica gel column with 3.3 M ammonia solution-ethanol-n-hexane (0.31:10.69:89, v/v) as eluent. Concentration calibration was made on the basis of the peak-height ratio of CsA to CsD as the internal standard. The coefficient of variation of this assay was less than 6.5% and the results were used for the therapeutic drug monitoring of CsA administered to kidney transplant patients. Measurements of the CsA concentrations in 160 serum specimens were also made by conventional radioimmunoassay (RIA) using commercial kits. The data obtained by RIA were on average 2.5 times those obtained by HPLC. Higher values in RIA were observed characteristically with patients with severe disfunction resulting from CsA hepatotoxicity. From the results, it appeared that HPLC rather than RIA provides more precise and reliable values for the concentration of this drug.

MPTP toxicity in relation to age, dopamine uptake and MAO-B activity in two rodent species

The effects of single and multidose 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treatment on mice (NMRI and C-57bl) and rats of different ages have been investigated by using the reduction of striatal dopamine uptake rate as a measure of the neurotoxic effect. The possibility that differences in MAO-B activity or in dopamine (DA) uptake rate might explain differences in MPTP toxicity between species, strains or animals of different age was investigated. Single dose MPTP treatment (45 mg/kg) had no effect on 10 day and 3 week old mice, while there was a significant reduction of DA uptake rate at the age of 12 and 40 weeks (both strains). No neurotoxicity of single dose MPTP treatment was observed in the rats, irrespective of their age. Multidose treatment with MPTP (3 x 20-45 mg/kg) caused a reduction of DA uptake rates both in the mice and in the rats at all dose regimens used. The effect of MPTP increased with increasing doses and was most pronounced in the C-57bl mice. Both DA uptake rate and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity increased with age. The increase in MAO-B activity was highest between 10 days and 3 weeks both in the mice and in the rats. Rats had higher (MAO-B) activity than the mice, while the two species had about the same DA uptake rates. No obvious correlations were found either between MAO-B activities or DA uptake rates and the neurotoxic effect of MPTP.

Effect of chlorpheniramine on muricide induced by thiamine deficiency: pharmacokinetic and behavioral studies

Chlorpheniramine (5-10 mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent suppressive effect on muricide induced by thiamine deficiency at 1 hr after oral administration. The ED50 value for muricidal suppression was about 7.1 mg/kg (95% confidence limits, 5.4-9.3 mg/kg). The maximum effect of muricidal suppression lasted for 1-2 hr after oral dosage (10 mg/kg). Chlorpheniramine was detectable at 10 min in the blood and brain of thiamine deficient killer-rats by using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method. Maximum brain and blood levels of chlorpheniramine appeared at 45 and 60 min, respectively. In terms of regional distribution, the highest levels were measured in the limbic system, especially in the hippocampus. Although neither blood nor brain levels of chlorpheniramine reflect its pharmacological activity, it can easily enter the brain and suppress muricide more potently than imipramine.

Effect of concanavalin A on the aspirin concentration and distribution in the brain and plasma of rats

The effects of concanavalin A (Con A) on plasma and brain concentration of aspirin (Asp) were investigated in rats. When Asp was administered in rats treated with Con A, the plasma and brain concentration of Asp and its metabolites (salicylic acid (SA), salicyluric acid (SU) and gentisic acid (GA)) were increased. Distribution of Asp and its metabolites into the hippocampus, striatum and hypothalamus were increased by treatment with Con A. Asp esterase activities in the small intestinal mucosa, liver and brain were increased by pretreatment with Con A, but these enzyme activities were decreased by a high dose of Con A. The inhibitory effect of Asp, SA, SU and GA on the writhing induced by acetic acid in Con A-pretreated mice was stronger than that in the control. A lowering of rectal temperature, after the administration of Asp, was stronger in Con A-treated rats than in control rats. These results suggested that Con A facilitated the absorption of Asp and enhanced the transfer of SA into the brain, and increased Asp esterase activities in various tissues.

Alteration of histamine, serotonin and primary prostaglandin in case of diarrhea induced by endotoxin and gastrointestinal absorption of drug

Effects of endotoxin on the motility, the permeability of mesenteric blood vessel and endogenous substances (electrolyte (Na, K), histamine, serotonin and primary prostaglandin) in the small intestine of mice were investigated. Diarrhea was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Salmonella typhosa endotoxin in mice. It is suggested that the diarrheal action of endotoxin is due to the acceleration of intestinal motility and/or the facilitation of mesenteric blood vessel permeability. On the other hand, from the observation of blood concentration of acetaminophen and sulfisoxazole, inhibition of drug absorption was suggested in cases of diarrhea induced by endotoxin. This inhibition of gastrointestinal absorption is due to the delay of the gastric emptying rate, the increase of intestinal transit time of drug in the absorption site and the acceleration of mesenteric blood vessel permeability. Then it is conceivable that these actions may be mediated by biogenic amines (serotonin and histamine) and primary prostaglandins.

Determination of peptidoaminobenzophenone (2-o-chlorobenzoyl-4-chloro-N-methyl-N'-glycylglycinanilide) and its metabolites in human plasma by capillary gas chromatography negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry--2

The capillary gas chromatographic negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometric assay of peptidoaminobenzophenone (2-o-chlorobenzoyl-4-chloro-N-methyl-N'-glycylglycinanilide) (1) and its three metabolites in human plasma reported in Part 1 was changed as follows: (1) the reagent gas was changed to ammonia from isobutane; (2) each unlabelled compound (1%) was added to the deuterium-labelled compound used as the internal standard; (3) all samples were injected in the splitless mode; (4) one more metabolite, lormetazepam, was determined; (5) day-to-day reproducibility was checked in the range of 1-50 ng ml-1. Points 1 to 3 improved the preciseness with small-sized samples. Calibration curves were prepared in the range of 0.5-50 ng ml-1. Plasma levels of compound 1 and its four metabolites in 10 volunteers were measured.

Determination of peptidoaminobenzophenone (2-o-chlorobenzoyl-4-chloro-N-methyl-N'-glycylglycinanilide) and its metabolites in human plasma by glass capillary gas chromatography negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry--1

A highly sensitive and selective glass capillary gas chromatographic negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometric assay was developed to measure peptidoaminobenzophenone(2-o-chlorobenzoyl-4-chloro-N-methyl-N'-glycylglycinanilide) and its metabolites; chlorodiazepam, chlorodesmethyldiazepam and lorazepam in human plasma. As peptidoaminobenzophenone underwent pyrolysis during gas chromatography, it was converted to a thermally stable aminoquinolone. Internal standards for these compounds were the respective deuterium labelled compounds. Calibration curves were prepared for the range of 1-100 ng ml-1. Interference by endogenous substances was negligible in the isobutane negative ion chemical ionization mode in contrast to the electron impact or positive ion chemical ionization mode. This method was used to determine the plasma levels in humans following oral administration of two 5 mg doses.

Dual electrochemical detector for micro high-performance liquid chromatography and its application to the selective detection of catecholamines

A dual electrochemical detector having two working electrodes (anode and cathode) suitable for micro high-performance liquid chromatography has been characterized for the selective detection of catecholamines on the basis of their electrochemical reversibility. The rapid determination of applied potentials for such electrochemical detectors in liquid chromatography by means of cyclic semi-differential voltammetry is described. The dual electrochemical detector has been successfully utilized for the selective determination of catecholamines in human urine injected directly into a micro high-performance liquid chromatograph with an alumina preconcentration micro-column.

Fibrinolytic and plasmin inhibitor activities in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Fibrinolytic activity and plasmin inhibitor activity were determined by Blue Dextran-fibrin method in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The normal values of fibrinolytic activity and plasmin inhibitor activity were 3.34 +/- 0.74 units and 10.10 +/- 2.39 units (mean +/- SD), respectively. The fibrinolytic activity in normal women (3.63 +/- 0.99 units) was slightly higher than that in normal men (3.17 +/- 0.79 units), but the plasmin inhibitor was not significantly different in the two sexes statistically. Neither activity varied significantly with age. The blood fibrinolytic activity was depressed in the first week after acute myocardial infarction, the decrease being maximal 3 to 4 days after the event (1.73 +/- 0.31 units). The mean plasmin inhibitor activity remained normal after acute myocardial infarction, but it was increased in 3, and decreased in 4 of 7 patients in whom it was measured 3 to 4 days after the event.

[Alteration of biogenic amines, serotonin, histamine and polyamines, in cases of diarrhea induced by various cathartics (author's transl)]

Effects of various cathartics on charcoal transport, permeability of blood vessels and biogenic amines (serotonin (5-HT), histamine (His), polyamines) in the small intestine of mice were investigated. Diarrhea was induced in mice by oral administration of magnesium sulfate, mannitol, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS), castor oil and pilocarpine. In diarrhea following ingestion of magnesium sulfate and mannitol, vascular permeability in the intestinal membrane accompanied release of His from the small intestine, but such was not so when diarrhea was induced by DSS and castor oil. In diarrhea induced by various cathartics, 5-HT and His were apparently not related to intestinal motility. Thus, alteration in polyamine metabolism in the small intestine may exert an influence on transport of substances in cases of diarrhea in mice.