The measurement of myo-inositol, myo-inosose-2 and scyllo-inositol in mammalian tissues

Concentration of myo-inositol in skeletal muscle of the rat occurs without active transport

The cellular uptake of nonphosphorylated myo-inositol (MI) and its incorporation into phosphoinositide in the rat epitrochlearis muscle was measured. Cellular uptake of [2-(3)H]MI was determined by the difference between total uptake and [2-(3)H]MI present in the extracellular fluid determined with [1-(14)C]mannitol. Cellular uptake was parabolic and directly proportional to medium MI concentrations between 25 and 3,200 muM. Saturation of a MI carrier was not evident. Moreover, uptake was not inhibited by 2 mM ouabain, 0.3 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol, or 22 mM glucose. Insulin, 100 mU/ml, was without effect on either cellular uptake of [2-(3)H]MI or its incorporation into phosphoinositides. In muscles that were preloaded with [2-(3)H]MI and then incubated in media that contained a constant amount of MI but no [2-(3)H]MI, 44.3% of the [2-(3)H]MI was released after 10 min increasing to 62.5% by 120 min. Cellular MI concentrations were 0.18 mumol/g wet tissue (four times plasma levels) in rapidly isolated and frozen epitrochlearis muscle. When muscle was incubated without MI, 48% of endogenous MI was lost rapidly. Restoration of cellular MI in 50 muM MI media occurred in two phases, a rapid uptake phase lasting 10 min and a subsequent slow phase of MI uptake. It is concluded that MI enters and leaves skeletal muscle cells freely by a process that does not involve active transport. Neither insulin nor hyperglycemia affected MI transport nor its incorporation into phosphoinositides. The intracellular to medium concentration gradient may be dependent on reversible binding to tubulin and possibly to other intracellular components.

Monosaccharides and monosaccharide derivatives in human seminal plasma

Gas chromatography--mass spectrometry with an on-line data system was used to identify monosaccharides and monosaccharide derivatives in human seminal plasma. The carbohydrates were converted into the methoxime-trimethylsilyl derivatives before separation in open tubular glass capillary columns coated with SE-30. Twenty-one different compounds were detected in the seminal fluid, of which twelve have not been recognized before. Seventeen of the monosaccharides have previously been identified in urine. Similar patterns of sugars were found both in fertile and infertile individuals, including one with azoospermia. The compounds identified are, with the possible exception of D-ribose, present as free monosaccharides at the time of ejaculation, and they do not seem to be preformed by spermatozoa.

scyllo-inositol and myo-inositol levels in tissues of the skate Raja erinacea

1. Many organs of the skate Raja erinacea have been found to contain scyllo-inositol levels that are much higher than myo-inositol, the opposite to that found in mammals. 2. Both inositols were found in all skate organs studied. 3. myo-Inosose-2 was found to accompany the inositols in many of these organs.

Quantitative determination of myoinositol, inositol 1-phosphate, inositol cyclic 1 : 2-phosphate and glycerylphosphoinositol in normal and Rous-sarcoma-virus-transformed quail fibroblasts under different growth conditions

Myoinositol and its phosphorylated derivatives have been quantitatively determined in normal and Rous-sarcoma-virus-transformed quail cells under various growth conditions using [2-(3)H]myoinositol at isotope equilibrium conditions. The following amounts were determined (nmol/mumol phospholipid, as a unit of cell mass): exponentially growing normal and tumor cells contained 25--40 nmol free inositol, 0.40--0.45 nmol myoinositol 1-phosphate, 0.30--0.50 nmol glycerylphosphoinositol, and 0.03--0.04 nmol myoinositol cyclic 1 : 2-phosphate. At high cell populations in the absence of serum, conditions which result in cessation of growth by normal but not by tumor cells, changed levels were found for glycerylphosphoinositol and free inositol. In tumor cells the levels of these two compounds increased to 0.64 nmol and 64 nmol, respectively. In normal cells glycerylphosphoinositol increased to 0.95 nmol and free inositol showed highly elevated levels of 144 nmol. At short pulses the specific activities of inositol 1-phosphate and inositol cyclic 1 : 2-phosphate were found to be higher than that of phosphatidylinositol. This was not the case for glycerylphosphoinositol.

Different pools of free myoinositol in chick-embryo cells as indicated by infection with Newcastle-disease virus

Infection of chicken fibroblasts with Newcastle-disease virus indicates that cellular inositol is compartmented in at least two pools. Only the smaller pool is directly connected with the biosynthesis of phosphatidylinositol. Entrance of exogenous inositol into this pool is inhibited by phlorizin but not by the virus. Three hours after infection Newcastle-disease virus blocks the entrance of inositol from the small pool into one (or more) subsequent larger pool(s). About five hours after infection the virus enhances the catabolism of phosphatidylinositol in chicken cells and about seven hours after infection the permeability of the plasma membrane increases.

Gas chromatographic study of free polyols and aldoses in cataractous human lens tissue

An analytical procedure for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of human lens tissue for polyol and aldose content is described. Profile samples are obtained by direct derivatization of lyophilized lenses. The components are analyzed as per-O-acetylpolyols (from the polyols) and per-O-acetylaldononitriles (from the aldoses). This procedure converts each component into a single derivative and terminal dissymmetry for each aldose is retained. The derivatives form in quantitative yield, give good chromatographic peaks, are thermally stable and readily volatilized. They are not subject to adsorption on gas chromatographic columns and are suitable for both qualitative and quantitative analytical studies. Six non-cataractous lenses and fourteen lenses from patients with senile cataract (in seven instances complicated by diabetic pathology) were analyzed. Thermostable borosilicate glass open-tubular capillary columns, coated with the nonpolar phase SE-30, and containing dispersed particles of silanized silicic acid, were used for the gas chromatographic separations. The results are discussed in relation to what is known from earlier studies of human and animal cataracts. A gas chromatographic method for determining the polyol and aldose excretion levels of controlled diabetics is also reported along with a typical metabolic profile.