Proteins from different classes of liver nuclei in normal and thioacetamide-treated rats

Temporal changes in tissue repair upon repeated exposure to thioacetamide

In an earlier study it was reported that a single low dose of thioacetamide (TA, 50 mg/kg) administered 36 h prior to challenge with a high dose of 400 mg/kg offers protection from lethality of high dose (Mangipudy et al., Pharmacol. Toxicol. 77, 1995). The mechanism underlying this protection was found to be preplaced hepatocellular division and tissue repair that peaked by 36 h following the low-dose treatment. In a separate study using the dose-response paradigm, it was established that the rate and the extent of the tissue repair response following infliction of injury after acute exposure has a critical bearing on the ultimate outcome of toxicity (Mangipudy et al., Environ. Health Perspect. 103, 1995). The objective of this study was to investigate the cell proliferation dynamics after repeated exposure to TA (50 mg/kg i.p.). Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-225 g) were administered TA at intervals of 96 h. Liver injury and tissue repair were studied over a time course following each treatment. Tissue repair was estimated by S-phase DNA synthesis measuring 3H-thymidine incorporation into hepatonuclear DNA while liver injury was estimated by serum alanine aminotransferase activity. After the first dose of 50 mg/kg, peak S-phase DNA synthesis was observed at 36 h. This returned to control values by 96 h at which time the rats are known to overcome liver injury. A second dose of TA (repeated dose 1, RD1) resulted in peak S-phase DNA synthesis 12 h later at 48 h. Following the third dose (RD2) a dramatic increase in S-phase DNA synthesis was noted from as early as 12 h. Much higher peak was observed at 72 h. Interestingly, following the fourth dose (RD3) S-phase stimulation did not occur. Instead, a significant latency was observed for cells in the S-phase DNA synthesis even at time points as late as 144 h following the treatment. Liver injury on the other hand exhibited no significant differences between repetitions until RD2. However, injury was sustained in the rats treated with the fourth dose (RD3) while it returned to control levels in the earlier three instances. Sustained prolongation of liver injury after the fourth dose is presumably because tissue repair was not operational. Thus repeated exposure to TA causes a significant increase in tissue repair response although it is temporally delayed until a threshold is reached. Repetition beyond the threshold results in a marked attenuation of the repair response. These findings suggest that toxicodynamics of cell proliferation are altered after repeated exposure.

Microsomal activation of thioacetamide-S-oxide to a metabolite(s) that covalently binds to calf thymus DNA and other polynucleotides

In the presence of NADPH liver microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-pretreated rats catalyze the conversion of [3H]thioacetamide-S-oxide to a reactive intermediate(s) which covalently binds to calf thymus DNA, calf liver RNA, polyguanylic acid (poly(G)) and polyadenylic acid (poly(A)). The highest level of binding of radioactivity was obtained with poly(G), followed by poly(A), RNA and DNA. The incorporation of radioactivity into DNA was linear for 30 min and there was a requirement for NADPH for time-dependent covalent binding to occur. Performing the microsomal incubations in an atmosphere of 80% CO/20% O2 or adding partially purified anti cytochrome P-450 immune serum to the microsomal incubations inhibited the total metabolism of thioacetamide-S-oxide and had a small, but insignificant, inhibitory effect on binding of radioactivity to calf thymus DNA. Using a reconstituted monooxygenase system containing cytochrome P-450 purified from phenobarbital-treated rats we were unable to detect any metabolism of thioacetamide-S-oxide. Only background levels of radio-activity were incorporated into calf thymus DNA when microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-treated rats were incubated with [3H]thioacetamide in the presence of NADPH. These results suggest that thioacetamide-S-oxide is an obligatory intermediate in the metabolic activation of thioacetamide to a reactive metabolite(s) which binds to calf thumus DNA.

Histochemical determination of histone and non-histone protein content in rat liver nuclei

The purpose of this study is to compare the protein content of parenchymal and non-parenchymal nuclei, as isolated from rat liver. The nuclei have been separated by means of a 1 g-sedimentation technique. The protein content of the separated nuclei has been determined cytophotometrically using the Naphthol Yellow S staining procedure after TCA-extraction (corresponding with the total protein content) and directly (corresponding with the non-histone proteins). The ratio of the total protein content of non-parenchymal, parenchymal diploid and parenchymal tetraploid nuclei respectively was found to be 0.65:100:1.90. The ratio of non-histone protein a total protein was the same for all types of nuclei investigated, namely about 55%.

The variation with age of the structure of chromatin in three cell types from rat liver

The organization of chromatin in three rat liver nuclear populations, namely diploid stromal, diploid parenchymal, and tetraploid parenchymal nuclei, which were separated by zonal centrifugation, was studied by digestion with micrococcal nuclease and pancreatic deoxyribonuclease in 3-week-old rats in which the parenchymal cells contain diploid nuclei and in 2-and 4-month-old rats with a high proportion of tetraploid nuclei. Digestion by micrococcal nuclease allowed the estimation of DNA-repeat length in chromatin. Parenchymal nuclei have shorter repeat length than stromal nuclei and DNA-repeat length increases with the age in all three nuclei populations. The kinetics of digestion by micrococcal nuclease showed that nuclei with shorter repeat length are more sensitive to micrococcal nuclease and that the sensitivity of chromatin decreases with age for all the types of nuclei in this study. The kinetics of digestion by pancreatic deoxyribonuclease showed that sensitivity of chromatin is related to the repeat length and that the sensitivity decreases with the ages.

The characterization of the non-histone chromosomal proteins of the main classes of nuclei from rat brain fractionated by zonal centrifugation

1. Non-histone chromosomal proteins were isolated from the cell nuclei of whole rat brain and nuclei from different types of brain cells. 2. Brain nuclei were fractionated by zonal centrifugation into five zones deriving from five main categories of brain cells. These are the neuronals, astrocytes I, astrocytes II, oligodendrocytes I and oligodendrocytes II. 3. The non-histone chromosomal proteins were analysed by (a) sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, (b) electrofocusing electrophoresis and (c) two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results of this analysis showed a limited specific pattern of non-histone chromosomal proteins from the different classes of nuclei. Differences were found to exist between the proteins from neuronal and glial nuclei. In particular one polypeptide band with mol.wt. 10000 and pI8.5 was found to be present in the non-histone protein fractions of neuronal nuclei, and absent from the corresponding fractions of nearly all the other classes of nuclei. 4. Two other classes of nuclear proteins, buffered-saline-soluble and 0.35m-NaCl-soluble, were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis along with the non-histone chromosomal. The similarities and differences among these groups of proteins are discussed. 5. The patterns of non-histone chromosomal proteins during development were investigated by studying them in two age groups of animals: in infant rats (10 days old) and adult rats. The polypeptide that was found to be specific for the proteins of neuronal nuclei of adult rats is present in all the classes of nuclei of infant rats.

Production and characterization of antisera against three individual NHC proteins; a case of a generally distributed NHC protein

In order to assess the selectivity of the distribution patterns of individual nonhistone chromosomal proteins (NHC proteins), immunofluorescent staining experiments were performed on Drosophila polytene chromosomes. Antisera have been prepared against three individual NHC proteins which were isolated by sequential preparative slab gel isoelectric focusing and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In two cases, immunofluorescent staining of the chromosomes indicated a specific limited distribution pattern; apparently the antigen in each case is present at a reproducible and distinct subset of chromomeres. This type of pattern has also been obtained with antisera prepared against molecular weight subfractions of NHC proteins (Silver and Elgin, 1977). Each selective fluorescence distribution pattern obtained so far is reproducible and unique to the antiserum under study. In a third case, an antiserum caused prominant staining at dense chromomeres and the chromocenter in a pattern mimicking DNA (and presumably histone) distribution. Indirect radioimmunostaining of SDS and isoelectric focusing gels on which total NHC proteins had been separated confirmed that this antiserum reacted specifically with a protein(s) of molecular weight 21,000 D and pI 5.2. The data in conjunction with absorption experiments indicates that the chromosomal staining is due to an interaction of antibodies with NHC protein(s) and not with histones. This finding suggests that at least one major acidic NHC protein plays a very general role (comparable to that of the histones) in maintaining chromatin structure.

Hepatotoxic effect of thioacetamide (TAM) on NADP-linked enzymes, aminotransferases and glutamate dehydrogenase

NADP-linked dehydrogenases, glucose-6-P dehydrogenase (G 6PDH) 6-P gluconate dehydrogenase (6 PGDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), malate dehydrogenase decarboxylating (ME) and aminotransferases GOT and GPT were analyzed in the soluble fraction of blood free homogenates. Glutmate dehydrogenase (GDH) was assayed in the mitochondrial fraction. TAM was i.p. administered to male albino rats (50 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. enzyme activities were determined as described by Bermeyer 1965 (Methods Enzymatic Analysis. Verlag Chemie. Acad. Press).

Stimulation of hepatocellular proliferation by a serum factor from thioacetamide-treated rats

Rats treated with thioacetamide undergo hepatocellular proliferation reminscent of liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy. 36 h after administration of 50 mg thioacetamide/kg body weight to rats, [3H]thymidine incorporation into hepatic DNA reaches a peak of 78-10(3) dpm/mg DNA compared to a control of 3.2-10(3) dpm/mg DNA. Serum obtained from 6 to 48 h after administration of thioacetamide to rats stimulated hepatic but not kidney DNA synthesis in mice and rats. Autoradiography revealed an increase in the incorporation of labelled thymidine into the nuclei of mouse hepatocytes. The mitotic index of the liver was also increased. The serum factor stimulating these changes in the liver was non-dialyzable and heat stable. These results indicate that thioacetamide induced liver injury results in a humoral factor which stimulates DNA synthesis in rat and mouse identified in the serum from partially hepatectomized rats.

Studies in vitro of the effects of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate on the phosphorylation of nuclear proteins in isolated rat heart nuclei

Isolated rat heart nuclei were prepared by homogenization and sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. The protein/DNA ratio of these nuclei was 3.1:1 (w/w), and the histones/non-histone proteins/DNA proportions were 1.4:1.6:1 (by wt.). Non-histone proteins were fractionated into six major groups by elution on a quaternized anion-exchanger (QAE-Sephadex A-50 column with increasing concentrations of NaCl in 5M-urea/0.01 M-Tris/HCl buffer (pH8.3). When isolated nuclei were incubated in a medium containing [gamma-32P]ATP, a differential distribution of 32P was observed in the six fractions of nonhistone proteins. The fractions eluted from the Sephadex column with 0.35M- and 0.6M-NaCl contained contained 80% of the total radioactivity incorporated into the non-histone proteins. This incorporation into the 0.35M- and 0.6M-NaCl fractions was increased by 66 and 112% respectively in the presence of cyclic AMP. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of these two particular fractions showed a selective increase in labelling of five protein bands in the presence of cyclic AMP.

Separation of intact rat hepatocytes and rat liver nuclei into ploidy classes by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity

A system is described which permits the separation of isolated hepatocytes and isolated rat liver nuclei belonging to different ploidy classes by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity. The problem of obtaining single cells suspensions is discussed and preparations were obtained that contained 96% single hepatocytes. By improving the sedimentation method, it took 2.5 h to separate rat liver nuclei on sucrose gradients into diploid and tetraploid ploidy classes. Recoveries were generally over 95%. The diploid band was 99% pure. DNA and protein content of the ploidy classes were measured. After partial hepatectomy and [3H]thymidine injection it was found that the label moved largely into the tetraploid compartment. Isolated hepatocytes were fractionated in 1 h on Ficoll gradients. Erythrocytes were separated from small nucleated cells and the population of hepatocytes was clearly separated from these two cell populations. Diploid hepatocytes were 80% and tetraploid hepatocytes were 99% pure. Viability was about 80% after fractionation. The gene dosage of NADPH cytochrome c reductase, succinate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase was estimated in diploid and tetraploid hepatocytes. Gene dosage was equal in diploid and tetraploid hepatocytes for succinate dehydrogenase and NADPH cytochrome c reductase. It is suggested, after correcting for non-viable tetraploid hepatocytes, that the gene dosage of lactate dehydrogenase was significantly lower in diploid than in tetraploid hepatocytes.

Diurnal variations in endogenous RNA polymerase activity and amounts of nuclear non-histone protein, DNA and cytoplasmic protein in rat liver

From rats fed ad libitum and kept under a 12 + 12 h light/dark regimen, the DNA dependent RNA polymerase activity of liver cell nuclei was determined avery four hours. From identical rats, nuclear non-histone protein and DNA, and cytoplasmic protein was determined by Feulgen-Naphthol Yellow S cytophotometry of isolated liver cells. The minimum: maximum ratio of the RNA polymerase activity is 0.77; the min:max ratio of nuclear non-histone protein is 0.84. These two parameters have identical time courses with a gradual decline during the light period and a sharp rise after the onset of the dark period. The variations in nuclear DNA content, estimated as the amount of Feulgen stain bound, closely parallel those of the RNA polymerase activity and nuclear non-histone protein content (min:max = 0.96). The amount of cytoplasmic protein per cell also varies throughout the day, but its time curve lags behind those of nuclear non-histone content and RNA polymerase activity. These results are consistent with the concept of nuclear non-histone proteins as de-repressors of the DNA template in differentiated, non-proliferating cells, and support the validity of using Feulgen-Naphthol Yellow S cytophotometry of nuclear non-histone proteins as an estimate of gene expression in such cells.

Nuclear proteins. II. Similarity of nonhistone proteins in nuclear sap and chromatin, and essential absence of contractile proteins from mouse liver nuclei

High resolution SDS slab gel electrophoresis has been used to examine the distribution of nonhistone proteins (NHP) in the saline-EDTA, Tris, and 0.35 M NaCl washes of isolated mouse liver nuclei. These studies led to the following conclusions: (a) all the prominent NHP which remain bound to DNA are also present in somewhat similar proportions in the saline-EDTA, Tris, and 0.35 M NaCl washes of nuclei; (b) a protein comigrating with actin is prominent in the first saline-EDTA wash of nuclei, but present as only a minor band in the subsequent washes and on washed chromatin; (c) the presence of nuclear matrix proteins in all the nuclear washes and cytosol indicates that these proteins are distributed throughout the cell; (d) a histone-binding protein (J2) analogous to the HMG1 protein of K. V. Shooter, G.H. Goodwin, and E.W. Johns (Eur J. Biochem. 47:236-270) is a prominent nucleoplasmic protein; (e) quantitation of the major NHP indicates that they are present in a range of 2.2 X 10(5)-5.2 X 10(6) copies per diploid nucleus. Most of the electrophoretically visible NHP are probably structural rather than regulatory proteins; (f) actin, myosin, tubulin, and tropomyosin, if present at all, constitute a very minor fraction of the nuclear NHP. Contractile proteins constitute a major portion of the NHP only when the chromatin is prepared from crude cell lysates instead of from purified nuclei. These studies support the conclusion that there are no clear differences between many nucleoplasmic and chromatin-bound nonhistone proteins. Except for the histones, many of the intranuclear proteins appear to be in equilibrium between DNA, HnRNA, and the nucleoplasm.

Ultrastructural alterations and modifications of nuclear RNA of rat liver by the combined action of thioacetamide and aflatoxin

When aflatoxin is administered to thioacetamide-treated rats, the synthesis of nuclear RNA not only stops but the RNA that had accumulated in the nuclei by thioacetamide action disappears, probably by degradation "in situ" as none appears in the cytoplasm. Morphologically, the lesions provoked by aflatoxin add to those caused by thioacetamide. In the gigantic nucleoli that develop upon exposure to thioacetamide, aflatoxin provokes atypical segregations that result in the formation of larger and larger spaces in the nucleoli.