[Noninvasive determination of the ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow with two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography: efficacy and limitation]

Noninvasive determination of the ratio of the pulmonary to systemic blood flow (Qp/Qs) was attempted in 31 cases with intracardiac shunt using two-dimensional pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The Qp/Qs of these cases was ranged from 0.99 to 4.55 with an average of 2.63 by cardiac catheterization. Technical problems in the measurement were also studied. Seventeen cases with no shunt were served as controls. Systemic and pulmonary flow volumes, Qp and Qs (ml/min), were calculated by the following equation: Q (ml/min) = mean flow velocity (cm/sec) X cross sectional area of the semilunar valve ring (cm2) X 60 Here, the sample volume was set in the center of the valve ring at the phase when the flow velocity attained its peak in a pulse period. The mean velocity was obtained by dividing the integration of instantaneous mean frequency in the sample volume for a pulse period by RR interval. The ultrasonic incident angle was measured on the echocardiogram. The velocity profile at the valve ring was assumed to be a plane wave. The diameter (D) of the valve ring was measured on the echocardiograms of the long-axis view of the outflow tract. To make a correction referring to the value obtained by angiocardiography, 0.22 cm was added to the value obtained on the echocardiogram (D). The cross sectional area of the valve ring was calculated according to the following formula: Cross sectional area (cm2) = pi X [(D + 0.22/2)]2 The Qp/Qs ratio by the Doppler method in the cases with no intracardiac shunt was 1.11 (S.D. = 0.21) on an average and the Qp/Qs in the cases with an intracardiac shunt was well correlated with that by catheterization (r = 0.82). These results suggested the feasibility of the clinical application of the Doppler method for noninvasive determination of Qp/Qs. In 17 cases, pulmonary and systemic flow volumes measured by the direct Fick method were compared with those by the Doppler method, respectively. Considerable differences were observed between them. There was a tendency that both pulmonary and systemic flow volumes were under-estimated by the Doppler method in cases with a large shunt.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amplification of the Streptococcus faecalis proton-translocating ATPase by a decrease in cytoplasmic pH

When Streptococcus faecalis was grown in the presence of protonophores , an ATPase activity of the membrane was increased at a pH below 8.0 but not at a pH above 8.0. Characteristics of this increased ATPase were identical to those of a proton-translocating ATPase (H+-ATPase) located on the membrane of normal cells. The cytoplasmic pH was regulated at 7.6 to 7.8 but was not regulated in the presence of protonophores . The increase in the H+-ATPase was observed when the cytoplasmic pH was lowered to less than 7.6 by the addition of protonophores and was not related to the dissipation of the proton motive force. Thus, we suggest that the H+-ATPase of the membrane is amplified when the cytoplasmic pH is lowered below the pH at which it is regulated under normal conditions.

Sodium-stimulated ATPase in Streptococcus faecalis

We measured Na+-stimulated ATPase activity in a mutant of Streptococcus faecalis defective in the generation of proton motive force. The activity in membrane vesicles was 62.1 +/- 5.9 nmol of phosphate produced per min per mg of protein when cells were grown on medium containing 0.12 M Na+. Activity decreased as the concentration of Na+ in the growth medium decreased. The decrease in enzyme activity corresponded to the decrease in transport activity for Na+ in both whole cells and membrane vesicles. The effects of pH on both activities were identical. Thus, it is suggested that Na+ movement is mediated by this enzyme. Sodium extrusion and ATPase activity in the wild-type strain were markedly lower than those observed in the mutant strain. Elevated activities of both Na+ extrusion and Na+-stimulated ATPase could be detected in the wild-type strain when cells were grown in the absence of proton motive force. Thus, we propose that the level of ATPase is increased by dissipation of the proton motive force.

Doppler echocardiographic features of coronary arteriovenous fistula. Complementary roles of cross sectional echocardiography and the Doppler technique

The Doppler echocardiographic features of coronary arteriovenous fistula were investigated in eight patients with left or right coronary arteriovenous fistulas who had a continuous heart murmur in the upper precordial area and whose diagnoses were confirmed by coronary angiography. In four patients the dilated lumen of the coronary arteriovenous fistula was visualised by cross sectional echocardiography. Of these, three showed abnormal unidirectional continuous flow signals with broad velocity spectra in the fistula. Abnormal, powerful, unidirectional or bidirectional continuous Doppler signals were detected in part of the pulmonary artery in two of the eight patients, in part of the right ventricle in two, and in part of the right atrium in one; these signals were interpreted as indicating shunt flow. Although the opening of the fistula was difficult to visualise by cross sectional echocardiography, the pulsed Doppler technique helped identify the site in patients with dilatation of the coronary artery. In the remaining three patients with a small shunt no abnormal findings were obtained with cross sectional echocardiography or the Doppler technique. The size of the fistula below which no abnormal findings may be obtained by Doppler echocardiography still needs to be determined.

Analysis of blood flow in pulmonary hypertension with the pulsed Doppler flowmeter combined with cross sectional echocardiography

Blood flow patterns were analysed at nine points in the pulmonary area using the pulsed Doppler technique combined with cross-sectional echocardiography in 53 patients with heart disease and 10 healthy subjects. In subjects with a normal pulmonary artery pressure the blood flow pattern in systole showed a gradual acceleration and deceleration with a rounded summit in mid systole, designated the round type. In patients with pulmonary hypertension it showed a rapid acceleration and early deceleration with a sharp peak in early systole, designated the triangular type. The acceleration time index, defined as the ratio of the time interval from the beginning to the peak of ejection to the ejection time, showed a significant inverse correlation with mean pulmonary artery pressure. In pulmonary hypertension a prominent reverse flow occurred in the right posterior part of the pulmonary trunk during mid-systole and early diastole, indicating the presence of a vortex. Similar flow patterns were also seen in patients with idiopathic pulmonary artery dilatation. The factors responsible for the triangular type were principally the reduced capacitance and increased impedance of the pulmonary vascular tree. Those responsible for the reverse flow were the curved path of the blood flow and dilatation of the pulmonary artery.

Pulsed Doppler echocardiography in the assessment of tricuspid regurgitation

Pulsed Doppler echocardiography is a noninvasive method with high sensitivity and specificity for the assessment of tricuspid regurgitation. In patients with tricuspid regurgitation, pansystolic unusual Doppler signals are detected in the right atrial cavity, which are interpreted as tricuspid regurgitant flow signals. They distributed in a spindle-shaped area from the tricuspid orifice toward the right atrial posterior wall in parallel with the interatrial septum. The orientation of the range where the regurgitant Doppler signals are detected in the right atrial cavity shows the direction of the regurgitant jet. However, such a result is determined mainly in patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation. In regard to patients with organic tricuspid lesion, different considerations may be necessary. Semiquantitative grading of the severity of regurgitation is possible, based on the distance covered by the regurgitant signals from the tricuspid orifice. Tricuspid regurgitation is demonstrated also by contrast echocardiography. The severity is graded based on the distance reached by regurgitant curvilinear contrast echoes from the tricuspid valve in the M-mode echocardiography. If the ultrasound beam is adequately directed through the tricuspid orifice, the grade estimated by the contrast echoes are well correlated with that by the Doppler. However, if the M-mode is performed without the guide by the two-dimensional image, it may miss the most adequate beam direction for the observation, resulting in underestimating severity. The influences of tricuspid regurgitation are generally seen in the flow pattern of the major veins. However, they are more sharply reflected by the flow condition in the right atrial cavity than by the flows patterns in the major veins.

Augmentation of atrial contribution to left ventricular inflow with aging as assessed by intracardiac Doppler flowmetry

The influence of aging on the left ventricular (LV) function in diastole was investigated from the aspect of the mitral inflow pattern using 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. The subjects for the investigation were 69 persons who were diagnosed as healthy by a checkup examination. The peak velocity in the rapid filling phase and that in the atrial contraction phase tended to decrease and to increase with aging, respectively. However, these tendencies were not statistically significant. However, the ratio of the atrial contraction phase to the rapid filling phase showed a significant increase with aging (r = 0.82, p less than 0.001). Therefore, it is considered that the mitral flow conditions are influenced by aging. The result obtained is also interpreted to mean that the LV distensibility in early diastole is impaired with aging and that the contribution of the atrial contraction to LV filling is compensatorily augmented.

Mitral regurgitation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Non-invasive study by two dimensional Doppler echocardiography

Mitral regurgitation and its haemodynamic features were investigated non-invasively in cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by means of two dimensional Doppler echocardiography. There were 28 patients, 14 of whom showed systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral echo; the other 14 did not. The following results were obtained. (1) Mitral regurgitation was detected by the Doppler technique in all cases with systolic anterior motion of the mitral echo and in half of those without it. (2) Doppler signals of mitral regurgitation started immediately after the first heart sound. (3) Mitral regurgitant flow was often distributed from the entire mitral orifice over the entire or the posterior half of the left atrium in the cases with systolic anterior motion. In the cases without systolic anterior motion the regurgitation was usually localised near the mitral orifice. These features differ from those of regurgitation usually seen in rheumatic mitral valve disease and idiopathic mitral valve prolapse. (4) The Doppler technique and left ventriculography were equally efficient in detecting mitral regurgitation. (5) The early systolic component of the murmur of hypertrophic myopathy is considered to result in the main from concomitant mitral regurgitation, but not from turbulent blood flow in the left ventricular outflow tract, so that in cases with mitral regurgitation as a complication, mitral regurgitation may also contribute to the development of the midsystolic portion of the systolic murmur, while the main origin of this portion of the murmur is the left ventricular outflow obstruction.

[Diastolic filling of the right ventricle in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy studied with 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography]

Inflow pattern at the tricuspid orifice was examined using two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. The cases examined consisted of 24 cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 10 cases of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) due to hypertension or aortic valvular stenosis and 23 healthy subjects. The right ventricular inflow pattern in HCM was characterized by a slow deceleration of a rapid filling wave, an increase in the duration of an inflow due to atrial contraction and an increased ratio of the peak velocity in atrial contraction phase to that in rapid filling phase (A/R). No definite difference was noted in the right ventricular inflow pattern between HCM with and without left ventricular obstruction. The abnormalities in the right ventricular inflow pattern in LVH were similar to those in HCM. The abnormal inflow patterns in HCM and LVH suggested a reduced distensibility of the right ventricle in early diastole and the compensatory augmentation of right atrial contraction. The changes in the deceleration of the rapid filling wave and A/R ratio were significantly correlated with interventricular septal thickness (base and papillary muscle levels) in cases with LVH. This result seemed to indicate that the changes in the right ventricular inflow are mainly resulted from the influence of hypertrophy of the interventricular septum on right ventricular function. There was hypertrophy of the interventricular septum in all cases of HCM and, in addition, that of the right ventricular anterior wall in some of them. The changes in the inflow pattern in HCM are also considered to be resulted from hypertrophy of the right ventricular anterior wall and the influence of hypertrophy of the interventricular septum on right ventricular function. However, in the cases of HCM, the extent of the changes showed no significant correlation with right ventricular anterior wall thickness and interventricular septal thickness. In HCM, hypertrophy of the interventricular septum and right ventricular free wall may coexist, and ventricular hypertrophy is often nonuniform and may exhibit disarrangement in myocardial architecture. Therefore, influential factors on the right ventricular inflow are considered to be more complicated in HCM than in LVH, resulting in the absence of significant correlation to the abnormal inflow mentioned above.

Analysis of the portal vein flow with two-dimensional echo-Doppler method

Blood flow of the portal vein was non-invasively studied in healthy and diseased humans with the combined use of the ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique and real-time two-dimensional echography. In addition, the influence of food intake to the portal flow was assessed.

Localisation and direction of mitral regurgitant flow in mitral orifice studied with combined use of ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique and two dimensional echocardiography

Regurgitant flow was analysed in 40 cases of mitral regurgitation, using combined ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique and two dimensional echocardiography. Abnormal Doppler signals indicative of mitral regurgitant flow were detected in reference to the two dimensional image of the long axis view of the heart and the short axis view at the level of the mitral orifice. The overall direction of regurgitant flow into the left atrium was clearly seen in 28 of 40 cases, and the localisation of regurgitant flow in the mitral orifice in 38 cases. In cases with mitral valve prolapse of the anterior leaflet or posterior leaflet the regurgitant flow was directed posteriorly or anteriorly, respectively. The prolapse occurred at the anterolateral commissure or posteromedial commissure and resulted in regurgitant flow located near the anterolateral commissure or posteromedial commissure of the mitral orifice, respectively. In cases with rheumatic mitral regurgitation the regurgitant flow is usually towards the central portion of the left atrium and is sited in the mid-part of the orifice. The Doppler findings were consistent with left ventriculography and surgical findings. The ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique combined with two dimensional echocardiography is useful for non-invasive analysis and preoperative assessment of mitral regurgitation.

Evaluation of tricuspid regurgitation by pulsed Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography

We analyzed tricuspid regurgitation noninvasively using ultrasonic pulsed Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography in 66 patients in whom tricuspid regurgitation was suspected from routine clinical evaluation. All of the patients also underwent right ventriculography. Ten healthy subjects served as controls. In 62 of 66 patients, the study was adequately performed. In 58 of 62 patients, pansystolic abnormal Doppler signals were detected in the right atrial cavity, and were interpreted to indicate tricuspid regurgitant flow. Two-dimensional echocardiograms in the parasternal four-chamber view demonstrated that the region in which the abnormal Doppler signals were detected was spindle-shaped and extended from the tricuspid orifice toward the right atrial posterior wall parallel to the interatrial septum. The severity of regurgitation was graded on a four-point scale, based on the distance reached by the abnormal signals from the tricuspid orifice toward the posterior wall. For comparison, the right ventriculograms were evaluated on a four-point scale similar to the Sellers classification of mitral regurgitation. The grades by the two methods matched exactly in 36 cases, differed by one level in 23 and by two levels in three. Thus, the two methods showed a good correspondence. Similar results were obtained for the grading based on the area covered by the abnormal signals. We conclude that noninvasive grading of tricuspid regurgitation by ultrasonic pulsed Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography is practicable.

[Mitral regurgitation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: an analysis with two-dimensional ultrasonic Doppler echocardiography]

Intracardiac blood flow pattern in the left ventricle and left atrium was noninvasively studied by the ultrasonic pulsed Doppler flowmeter incorporated with a real-time, phased array two-dimensional echocardiography in 28 cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Emphasis was placed on the incidence and characteristic features of mitral regurgitation in this condition. The relationship of mitral regurgitation with an early systolic murmur was also studied. The results were as follows: 1) A mitral regurgitant signal by Doppler technique was noted in all cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and in half of the cases of hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy. 2) The Doppler signal of mitral regurgitation began immediately after the first heart sound. 3) The mitral regurgitant flow spread over the left atrium or directed toward the posterior half of the left atrium in the obstructive cases. However, it was localized in the vicinity of the mitral orifice in the nonobstructive cases. These findings were different from those in rheumatic mitral regurgitation or idiopathic mitral valve prolapse. 4) The findings on mitral regurgitation by the Doppler technique exhibited a satisfactory correspondence to those by left ventriculography. 5) The early part of the systolic murmur in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was considered to be more closely related to mitral regurgitation than a turbulent forward flow due to outflow obstruction. Therefore, mitral regurgitation might have some contribution in causing a murmur in the latter period of systole.

Pulmonary regurgitation studied with the ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique

Sixty patients with pulmonary regurgitation were studied by the pulsed Doppler technique combined with two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. Patients with pulmonary regurgitation had abnormal Doppler signals just below the pulmonic valve in the right ventricular outflow tract in diastole on the two-dimensional image. These signals were considered to indicate the regurgitant flow. There are two patterns of pulmonary regurgitant Doppler signals. In pulmonary hypertension, the maximal component of instantaneous flow velocity is sustained at about the same signal strength throughout diastole, but when the pulmonary arterial pressure is normal, the velocity slows down gradually from early diastole to end-diastole. Pulmonary regurgitation was detected by phonocardiography in about half the patients. In the remaining half, pulmonary regurgitant murmur could not be differentiated from aortic regurgitant murmur or was masked by coexistent aortic regurgitation or patent ductus arteriosus, whereas the Doppler technique indicated pulmonary regurgitation.

[Blood flow analysis with pulsed echo Doppler cardiography in valvular pulmonary stenosis (author's transl)]

Blood flows in the main pulmonary artery, right pulmonary artery and right ventricular outflow tract were analyzed in 11 cases of valvular pulmonary stenosis and 10 healthy subjects by pulsed echo Doppler cardiography (two-dimensional) with the parasternal and suprasternal approaches. 1) The systolic flow in the right pulmonary artery was detected in 7 cases of valvular pulmonary stenosis, in which the flow of both right and main pulmonary arteries was detected in only one case. The flows seemed to be turbulent. These abnormal signals were never detected in healthy subjects and considered to be caused by the narrowing of the pulmonic orifice. 2) Abnormal flow signals were also detected in the right ventricular outflow tract in patients of pulmonary stenosis. Their features were as follows: (1) A systolic turbulent flow was detected in a case with severe hypertrophy of the wall and narrowing of the lumen of the right ventricular outflow tract. (2) A/S ratio, which is a ratio of the peak velocity in atrial contraction (A) to the peak velocity in systole (S), was larger in cases with pulmonary stenosis than in healthy subjects (p less than 0.05). It was considered that the atrial component in the right ventricular filling was augmented in pulmonary stenosis. (3) The PEP/ET (pre-ejection period/ejection time) of the right ventricle was smaller in cases with pulmonary stenosis than in healthy subjects (p less than 0.05). The ratio exhibited a reverse correlation with the pressure gradient between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery (r = 0.74, p less than 0.025). (4) Acceleration time index, a ratio of the time interval between the upstroke and the peak velocity of ejection flow to the ejection time, as a parameter indicating the time delay of the peak velocity exhibited a significant correlation with the pressure gradient between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery (r = 0.67, p less than 0.05). (5) No correspondence was revealed between the time interval of Q-peak velocity in systole and that of Q-peak intensity of the murmur during systole. It was remained to be clarified.

[Evaluation of tricuspid regurgitation by the ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique from a transcutaneous approach (author's transl)]

Severity of tricuspid regurgitation was assessed by using a combined system of the ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique and two-dimensional echocardiography from a transcutaneous approach. The study group comprised 47 patients with various heart diseases, who were clinically presumed to have tricuspid regurgitation, and 10 healthy subjects. 1) Pansystolic abnormal flow signal was detected in an area from the tricuspid valve into the right atrial cavity in 43 patients including 8 patients without definitive signs of tricuspid regurgitation. Such abnormal flow had never been detected in healthy subjects and was considered to represent tricuspid regurgitant flow. Tricuspid regurgitant flow usually exhibited a wide band spectrum of velocity component indicating a disturbed flow. In 4 patients with clinical signs of severe tricuspid regurgitation, a laminar flow was detected in the right atrial cavity, which was considered to indicate a regurgitant jet in the central part of tricuspid regurgitant flow. 2) The area where tricuspid regurgitant flow was detected was interpreted as revealing the main direction and spread of tricuspid regurgitant flow. Based on this finding, severity of TR was classified into 4 grades by the assessment on the basis of the distance reached by tricuspid regurgitant flow in the right atrium. Severity of tricuspid regurgitation was also classified into 4 grades by right ventriculography. The grade of tricuspid regurgitation assessed by Doppler technique was nearly consistent with that assessed by right ventriculography. Severity of tricuspid regurgitation was also classified into 4 grades on the basis of the extent of the area where the regurgitant flow spread, and nearly the same results were obtained as those described above. 3) Thus, the combined use of Doppler flowmetry and two-dimensional echocardiography proved to be useful for detecting tricuspid regurgitant flow and assessing the severity of tricuspid regurgitation.

Formation of a transplacental mutagen, 1,3-Di(4-sulfamoylphenyl)triazene, from sodium nitrite and sulfanilamide in human gastric juice and in the stomachs of hamsters

1,3-Di(4-sulfamoylphenyl)triazene was abundantly produced by incubation of sulfanilamide (SA) and NaNO2 in human gastric juice. This reaction also occurred in acetate buffer (pH approximately 4) at 37 degrees C as well as in hydrochloric acid (pH < 1) under ice cooling, with the product forming in almost the same amount. This phenomenon indicated the broad range of conditions under which the reaction occurs. The intragastric formation of this triazene was also demonstrated in Syrian golden hamsters by the concurrent administration of SA and NaNO2. Mutants resistant to 8-azaguanine were induced in a dose-dependent manner in the culture of embryo cells that were derived from pregnant hamsters 24 hours after ip injection of this triazene.

Formation of methylnitrosocyanamide from methylguanidine and sodium nitrite in simulated gastric juice and in stomachs of rats: quantitative estimation by a mutagenicity assay

The formation of methylnitrosocyanamide (MNC), a carcionogenic N-nitroso compound, from methylguanidine (MG) and NaNO2 in simulated gastric juice (SGJ) and in the stomachs of rats was quantitatively investigated. With a reverse mutation assay in which a tester strain of Salmonella typhimurium was used, MNC formation was shown to increase linearly for about 40--60 minutes after the incubation of MG with NaNO2 in SGJ. However, it decreased rapidly thereafter. The initial rate of MNC formation was directly proportional to the initial molar ratio of MG to NaNO2, but the yields of MNC depended only on the amount of MG added and were fairly constant (0.3--0.5% of the initial MG). MNC did not form at a pH above 2.5 or in the presence of 2% casein in SGJ at pH 1.2. It decomposed rapidly in SGJ at pH 1.2 with a half-life of approximately 2 minutes, whereas it was stable in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. Following concurrent administration of MG and NaNO2 via stomach tube, MNC formation was detected in the pylorus-ligated stomachs of rats preconditioned with a casein-free dextrin diet but not in those of rats preconditioned with a casein-containing or synthetic diet. The yields of MNC observed 40--60 minutes after administration of reactants ranged from 0.02 to 0.05% of the initial MG. The possible environment significance of MNC formation in vivo was considered.

beta-Glucuronidase catalyzed hydrolysis of benzo(a)pyrene-3-glucuronide and binding to DNA

beta-Glucuronidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of benzo[a]pyrene-3-glucuronide to 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene. During the enzymatic hydrolysis, a benzo[a]pyrene derivative is formed which binds to DNA to a far greater extent than either the 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene or its glucuronide. These results suggest that conjugates of benzo(a)pyrene may be converted by beta-glucuronidase at intracellular and organ sites distal to the initial sites of oxygenation and conjugation of benzo(a)pyrene to activated intermediates that are possibly carcinogenic.

Effect of protein kinase modulator on cAMP-dependent protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of phospholamban and stimulation of calcium transport in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

The heat-stable protein (protein kinase modulator), partially purified from fresh bovine heart, possessed the ability to inhibit and stimulate adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase and guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase activities, respectively. The inhibitory activity of protein kinase modulator on cAMP-dependent protein kinase was abolished almost completely by trypsin treatment, while the ability to stimulate cGMP-dependent protein kinase activity was resistant to trypsin. Fractionation by a linear potassium phosphate gradient on DEAE-cellulose column did not clearly separate both activities. Phosphorylation of cardiac microsomal component, "phospholamban" (molecular weight = 22,000), was inhibited almost completely by the saturating amounts of protein kinase modulator. This inhibition of phospholamban phosphorylation by protein kinase modulator was accompanied by a decreased Ca uptake rate that had been stimulated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. These findings indicate that protein kinase modulator is functional in controlling the cAMP-dependent protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of phospholamban and the rate of calcium transport, lending further support for the previously proposed mechanism, in which phospholamban is assumed to serve as a regulator of calcium transport in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and polycyclic hydrocarbon tumorigenesis: effect of the enzyme inhibitor 7,8-benzoflavone on tumorigenesis and macromolecule binding

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase is present and is inducible in mouse skin. 7,8-Benzoflavone, an inhibitor of the enzyme, markedly inhibits tumorigenesis by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, but has either no effect on or stimulates benzo(a)pyrene tumorigenesis. Thus, the role of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase appears highly specific for each polycyclic hydrocarbon, in respect to detoxification and/or activation of the hydrocarbon to a carcinogenic form. In parallel studies, we found that 7,8-benzoflavone significantly reduces the amount of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene binding to mouse skin DNA, RNA, and protein, and the binding of benzo(a)pyrene to RNA and protein of mouse skin. 7,8-Benzoflavone exhibited a markedly lesser effect on the binding of benzo(a)pyrene to DNA.