Sex difference of N-Acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in the kidney, urine, and plasma of mice

N-Acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities in urine, kidney, and plasma were compared in an age-matched group of male and female ds mice. In males, the NAG activity in the kidney was significantly higher (p less than 0.001), and the urinary NAG activity (unit/g creatinine) was 8-fold higher than those for females, while plasma NAG levels were significantly lower (p less than 0.001). These findings indicate that when using urinary NAG activity to detect drug nephrotoxicity in mice, the different basal levels between males and females should be considered before drug administration.

Vacuoles in macrophages and reticular cells of regional lymph nodes of the rat after injection of large doses of steroids

The ultrastructure of macrophages and reticular cells of regional lymph nodes of the rat after administration of large doses of cortisone acetate, estrone, progesterone, and cholesterol in aqueous suspensions was investigated. A large number of vacuoles, most of which were surrounded by unit membrane, and lipid droplets not surrounded by unit membrane were observed in the cytoplasm of both macrophages and reticular cells. They were not seen in these cells of control animals and in experimental animals that had received smaller doses of these steroid hormones. After cholesterol injection, many lipid droplets were observed in the cytoplasm of macrophages. These observations suggest that steroids injected in suspension accumulate in macrophages and reticular cells of the regional lymph nodes. Electron-dense material was often present in vacuoles of macrophages but not in those of reticular cells.

Cinoxacin: competitive inhibitory effect on p-aminohippurate transport and its uptake in renal cortical slices

The effect of cinoxacin on p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport and the accumulation of cinoxacin were examined in renal cortical slices. Cinoxacin significantly inhibited the uptake of PAH by the slices from rats and rabbits. Cinoxacin increased the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) but did not affect Vmax for PAH uptake by rat kidney cortical slices, suggesting that cinoxacin inhibited PAH transport in a competitive manner. Cinoxacin was taken up but did not affect the cellular metabolism of Na+, K+ and ATP in the slices from rats and rabbits, except that 740 microM cinoxacin increased net Na+ efflux. These data indicate that cinoxacin is transported by the same process as that of PAH in renal cortical slices. Lastly, repeated administration of cinoxacin to rats did not affect the uptake of the drug by the slices.

Effect of cinoxacin on cellular metabolism and p-aminohippurate transport in kidney cortical slices in terms of its nephrotoxic action

Cinoxacin is a drug which, at very high doses, causes renal damage only in rats. This study compared the in vitro effects of cinoxacin and nalidixic acid on cellular metabolism and p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in renal cortical slices. Cinoxacin had no effect on Na+ transport, ATP content, oxygen consumption, inulin space and tissue water content, in rat renal cortical slices in vitro, while nalidixic acid affected most of the parameters tested. PAH uptake by slices from rats pre-treated with a nephrotoxic dose of cinoxacin was decreased. This renal damage appeared to be due to physical trauma resulting from deposition of cinoxacin crystals in the urinary tract.

Myocardial energy metabolism of congestive and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in man

A key enzyme of glycolysis (pyruvate kinase) and main enzymes of the electron transport system (NADH cytochrome c reductase, succinic cytochrome c reductase, and cytochrome c oxidase) were measured in left ventricular biopsy specimens from six hypertrophic (HCM) and six congestive (CCM) cardiomyopathy. Pyruvate kinase was 104.0 and 45.0 mU/mg protein in HCM and CCM, respectively. NADH cytochrome c reductase, succinic cytochrome c reductase, and cytochrome c oxidase were 146.0, 9.9, and 775.0 mU/mg protein in HCM and 87.4, 5.2, and 502.0 mU/mg protein in CCM, respectively. From these data, it is evident that glycolysis and enzyme activities of the electron transport system are increased in HCM and decreased in CCM. Cardiac function reflects the state of these energy metabolism pathways in the myocardium. The changing energy metabolism in the right ventricle of the emphysema hamster seems to support this concept.

Characterization of cephalosporinases from Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Bacteroides vulgatus

The susceptibility of 80 Bacteroides fragilis group strains isolated from clinical specimens to beta-lactam antibiotics was investigated by agar dilution method. Twenty strains showed high resistance to the antibiotics. The resistance level of the isolates to cephaloridine was related to the amount of beta-lactamase activity (cephalosporinase; CSase) produced. B. fragilis GN-11477, B. thetaiotaomicron GN11478 and B. vulgatus GN11479 were selected from among the CSase producing strains, and the enzymes were purified about 300-fold by affinity chromatography employed ampicillin as ligand bound to activated CH Sepharose 4B. The enzyme preparations gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the three enzymes were estimated to be approximately 32,000 and their isoelectric points were 5.2, 4.9 and 4.5, respectively. The optimal pH and the optimal temperature of the enzymes were 7.2 and 37 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme activities were inhibited by iodine, some divalent ions, p-chloromercuribenzoate, clavulanic acid, cephamycin derivatives and cloxacillin. The enzymes showed hydrolytic activity against cephaloridine, cephalothin, cefazolin, cefuroxime and also newly introduced cephalosporins such as cefotaxime, cefoperazone and cefmenoxime. Each mouse antisera obtained against the purified enzymes showed cross-reactions with its each enzyme and others in neutralization test.

Difference in urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity between male and female beagle dogs

Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity differed greatly between male and female beagle dogs in an age-matched group. The NAG activity in males per animal, per body weight, or per 16-hour urine sample was approximately double that in females and was 2.4-fold higher when the activity was considered relative to urinary creatinine. On the other hand, alanine aminopeptidase activity relative to urinary creatinine was not significantly different between males and females. These findings indicate that when using urinary NAG activity to detect drug nephrotoxicity in dogs, some consideration must be given to different control levels between males and females before starting drug administration.

Circulating immune complexes in rheumatic fever

We measured the circulating immune complex levels in patients with rheumatic fever using the following three methods: the C1q binding test, the conglutinin binding test and Raji cell radioimmunoassay. Thirty-four samples from 21 patients with rheumatic fever were examined, and circulating immune complexes were detected in 47.6% of the patients by one or more of these methods. Especially by the C1q binding test, the sera obtained in the acute phase were found to contain the circulating immune complexes with higher frequency than those obtained in the post-acute phase. Therefore, the C1q binding test was more likely to be useful in the acute phase of this disease. The present study suggests that the circulating immune complexes are related to the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever.

Cytotoxicity of antiserum sensitized hemolytic streptococcal M protein fraction on cultured myocardial cells

We have studied cytotoxicity of antisera of monkeys sensitized to streptococcal M protein fraction, which was prepared by the method of Lancefield et al., on cultured myocardial cells. These antisera exerted a significantly higher cytotoxic effect on the myocardial cells than normal monkey sera, and this cytotoxic effect seemed to be organ-specific. In the presence of normal monkey lymphocytes, the antisera had a cytotoxic effect on myocardial cells, but normal sera in the presence of normal monkey lymphocytes had no cytotoxic effects. These data suggest that M protein fraction of hemolytic streptococcus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic carditis.

Elastic fibers associated with collagenous fibrils surrounded by reticular cells in lymph nodes of the rat as revealed by electron microscopy after orcein staining

Electron microscopy of the rat lymph node disclosed reticular cells in close association with bundles of collagenous fibrils 30-45 nm in diameter, and electron lucent "amorphous" substances surrounded by microfibrils 11 nm in diameter, with junctional complexes. The amorphous substances, distinctly revealed by orcein staining, and the microfibrils showed morphological characteristics of elastic fibers. Since elastase digestion of 2% glutaraldehyde fixed specimens induced the selective disappearance of the orcein-stainable substances, it was concluded that they are elastin. Elastin often had a close contact with the plasma membrane of reticular cells. It is suggested that reticular cells synthesize elastic fibers.

Interaction between Serratia protease and human plasma alpha 2 macroglobulin

Serratia protease (TSP) [EC 3.4.24] was bound stoichiometrically to alpha 2 macroglobulin (alpha 2M), which was purified and crystallized from human plasma, but apo TSP was not bound. On formation of the TSP-alpha 2M complex the enzymatic activity of the bound TSP was affected with respect to substrates; Km values of the bound TSP were unchanged but Vmax values were reduced. alpha 2M was cleft at the mid-region of its subunits chains by TSP, which resulted in a conformational change of the alpha 2M molecule with TSP.

Stimulation of glycosaminoglycan sulfotransferase from chick embryo cartilage by basic proteins and polyamines

A soluble glycosaminoglycan sulfotransferase (3'-phosphoadenylylsulfate:chondroitin 4'-sulfotransferase, EC 2.8.2.5) from chick embryo cartilage has been prepared free from endogenous acceptor. The reaction with this enzyme preparation was stimulated by basic proteins and polyamines, the degree of stimulation being dependent on the chemical nature of both basic compounds and acceptor glycosaminoglycans. A maximum stimulation was obtained when protamine (basic compound) and chondroitin (acceptor) were involved in the reaction mixture at a molar ratio of protamine to repeating disaccharide units of chondroitin, 1:100. The stimulation of sulfotransferase activity by basic substances was much higher than that by Mn2+. However, increasing the Mn2+ concentration immediately reduced the stimulation by basic substances. The Km value for 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate of the sulfotransferase, when chondroitin was used as acceptor, was 1 . 10(-6) M in the presence of 25 microgram/ml protamine, compared to 2 . 10(-5) M in the absence of protamine. These observations indicate that the basic proteins and polyamines may interact with acceptor polysaccharide, thereby causing an increase in the affinity of the enzyme toward 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate.

Effects of strong electrolytes on the iron alum--Alcian Blue--Safranin staining of mast cell granules of the rat

Rat mast cells fixed in Carnoy's fluid were stained with iron alum-Alcian Blue--Safranin solution after pre-treatment with strong electrolyte solutions including acids, neutral salts and alkalis. Although both red and blue mast cells were observed without pre-treatment, most mast cells were stained blue and a few red when they were stained after the pre-treatment. Mast cell granules contain salt complexes formed between basic proteins and acidic polysaccharides through ionic linkages between protein basic groups and polysaccharide sulphate and carboxylic acid groups. It is suggested that when sections are treated with strong electrolyte solutions, complexes are broken by disruption of ionic linkages and sulphate and carboxylic acid groups of polysaccharides masked by basic proteins become available for binding Alcian Blue. This was confirmed by model experiments performed with smears of a heparin-lysozyme complex. When mast cells were fixed in aldehyde-containing fixatives, no effects of strong electrolyte solutions on the staining properties of mast cell granules were revealed.

Effects of testosterone and orchiectomy on the development of gonadotrophs in neonatal rats with hypophysial stalk section

The development of gonadotrophs in newborn Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to a hypophysial stalk section (SS) by an electrical cauterization of the infundibulum of the hypothalamus was examined throughout the first 12 postnatal days. The electrical cauterization of the infundibulum was performed during 24 to 30 h after birth, and the pituitaries were studied by immunohistochemical procedures 11 days later. In several animals orchiectomy or an administration of testosterone propionate (TP) was performed simultaneously with the cauterization. The SS animals showed remarkable retardation in body growth and in pituitary development. In males the development of gonadotrophs was strongly suppressed in number and in size after the cauterization, whereas in females the suppression was less prominent. Orchiectomy promoted the development of gonadotrophs in the SS males, while TP administration suppressed it in the SS females. These findings indicate that there is sexual difference in the neonatal development of gonadotrophs even in the pituitary isolated from the hypothalamus and that testosterone inhibits the development of gonadotrophs at the level of the hypophysis during the neonatal period in rats.

A case of carcinoma of the common bile duct, diagnosed at the non-icteric stage of the disease

It is rather seldom to detect a cancer of the common bile duct at the non-icteric stage of the disease. This report presents a non-icteric case of carcinoma of the choledochus. A 70-year-old woman complained of r-hypochondralgia with occasional fever. Laboratory examination revealed an increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity without any elevation of serum bilirubin content. The oral cholecystography failed to visualize the gallbladder. By endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a bilateral filling defect was demonstrated at the common bile duct. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed and the resected specimen showed a 1 X 2 cm tumor (adenocarcinoma) at the choledochus. She is now in good health over 13 months after operation.

Peripheral nerves controlling the closure of internal urethral orifice during ejaculation

The peripheral nervous pathways controlling seminal emission and closure of the internal urethral orifice during ejaculation were examined experimentally using male adolescent dogs. The experimental methods were measurement of the contraction of the internal urethral orifice and measurement of the change of the posterior urethral pressure induced by selective stimulation of the nerves related to the hypogastric nerve. Further, the change of actual ejaculation caused by manual stimulation of the penis was observed after excision of the nerves. Results included the following: (1) The seminal emission and the closure of the internal urethral orifice on ejaculation were controlled by the hypogastric nerve. (2) The nerve fibers which controlled these two phenomena took different paths above the lower mesenteric plexus. (3) Seminal emission was controlled by the splanchnic nerves which originated from the lower thoracic and upper lumbar ganglia of the sympathetic trunk, and the closure of the internal urethral orifice by those which originated from the lower lumbar ganglia of the trunk.