Preferential utilization of glucose over melibiose, and vice versa, in a pts mutant of Salmonella typhimurium

Preferential utilization of glucose and melibiose was investigated in wild type cells and in pts mutant (ptsI-leaky) cells of Salmonella typhimurium. A typical diauxic growth and preferential utilization of glucose over melibiose were observed in wild type cells when these two sugars were added as carbon source. Similar results were obtained with a pts mutant (SB1476) although utilization of glucose was slow. When cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) was added to the culture medium to release the catabolite repression, preferential utilization of glucose was still observed in wild type cells. With glucose-induced mutant cells, preferential utilization of glucose was observed in the presence of cAMP. Gradual utilization of melibiose took place when glucose concentration in the medium decreased. Surprisingly, preferential utilization of melibiose over glucose was observed with melibiose-induced and glucose-uninduced mutant cells in the presence of cAMP.

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene (citC) encoding a citrate carrier from several Salmonella serovars

The nucleotide sequence of the citC coding for the citrate carrier in several Salmonella serovars has been determined, and the amino acid sequence of the carrier protein was deduced. The predicted citrate carrier from Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella enteritidis consists of 446 amino acids with a molecular weight of 47,621, whereas that from Salmonella dublin is the same 446 amino acids with the slightly different molecular weight of 47,591, because 1 amino acid residue was substituted. The predicted proteins are highly hydrophobic (69% nonpolar amino acids). The hydropathy profile suggests that the proteins are composed of 11-12 hydrophobic membrane-spanning segments with two hydrophilic cores in the middle of the protein sequence. No homology in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences was found in the molecular structures of citA, citP, and tctI genes. The citC-coding citrate transport activity is Na(+)-dependent and specific for citrate only. The transcript from the citC gene was not detected in the total RNA from several Salmonella serovars except S. dublin in Northern blot analysis, although the promoter of the citC genes appeared to be functional in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium strains using the lacZ fusion assay. These results suggested that the citC gene-coding citrate carrier is probably a TctIII system such as that identified previously in S. typhimurium.

Mapping of antigenic sites to monoclonal antibodies on the primary structure of the F1-ATPase beta subunit from Escherichia coli: concealed amino-terminal region of the subunit in the F1

To analyze relationships between the ternary and primary structures of the beta subunit of Escherichia coli F1 ATPase, we prepared two monoclonal antibodies beta 12 and beta 31 against the beta peptide. These antibodies bind to the beta subunit but do not bind to the F1 ATPase, resulting in no inhibition of the ATPase activities. Several different portions of the beta subunit peptide were prepared by constructing expression plasmids carrying the corresponding DNA segment of the beta subunit gene amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting analysis using these peptides revealed that the antibodies bound to a peptide of 104 amino acid residues from the amino terminal end, which is outside the previously estimated catalytic domain between residues 140 and 350. These results indicated that the amino terminal portion of the maximal 104 residues is not exposed to the surface of the F1 ATPase. The binding spectrum of the antibodies to the subunit from various species including Vibrio alginolyticus and thermophilic bacterium PS3 indicated possible epitope sequences within the 104 residues. The ternary structure of the beta subunit, in terms of cleavage sites by endopeptidases, was analyzed using the antibodies. A 43-kDa peptide without binding ability to beta 12 and beta 31 appeared upon cleavage by lysyl endopeptidase. The results suggested that lysyl residues from around 70 to 100 from the amino terminus are exposed to the surface of the beta subunit.

Myosin phosphorylation-independent contraction induced by phorbol ester in vascular smooth muscle

In isolated rat aorta, carotid artery, tail artery, rabbit aorta and mesenteric artery, but not in ear artery, 1 microM 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB) induced a sustained contraction. However, DPB increased cytosolic Ca++ concentration ([Ca++]i) only in rat aorta and carotid artery. Similar results were obtained with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, although the inactive phorbol ester, 4-alpha-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, was ineffective. In rat aorta, DPB-induced contraction was followed by an increase in 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Both contraction and MLC phosphorylation stimulated by DPB were greater than those due to high K+ for a given increase in [Ca++]i. A Ca++ channel blocker, verapamil, decreased the DPB-induced increments in [Ca++]i and MLC phosphorylation to their respective resting levels, although contraction was inhibited only slightly. In the absence of external Ca++ (with 0.5 mM ethyleneglycol bis(beta-aminoethyl-ether)tetraacetic acid), DPB induced sustained contraction without increasing [Ca++]i or MLC phosphorylation. This contraction was followed by an increase in stiffness and force recovery after a shortening step. These results suggest that the contraction induced by DPB in rat aorta is due to increase in [Ca++]i followed by MLC phosphorylation and Ca++ sensitization of MLC phosphorylation. In the presence of verapamil or in the absence of external Ca++, DPB may increase cross-bridge cycling by activating an unknown mechanism that is not dependent on an increase in MLC phosphorylation.

Receptor agonists induce myosin phosphorylation-dependent and phosphorylation-independent contractions in vascular smooth muscle

In isolated rat aorta, 72.7 mM KCI, 10 microM prostaglandin F2 alpha, 30 nM endothelin-1 and 1 microM norepinephrine increased muscle tension, cytosolic Ca++ concentration ([Ca++]i) and 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. The levels of contractile tension and MLC phosphorylation at a given [Ca++]i were greatest in the presence of endothelin-1 followed by prostaglandin F2 alpha greater than norepinephrine greater than high K+. Verapamil inhibited the high K(+)-induced increments to their respective resting levels. Verapamil also almost completely inhibited the receptor agonist-induced increments in [Ca++]i and MLC phosphorylation, although a part of the contraction was not inhibited. Ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid further decreased [Ca++]i and muscle tension, suggesting that a part of the contraction is regulated by [Ca++]i below a resting level. Receptor agonists induced sustained contraction in the absence of external Ca++ which was not followed by the increase in [Ca++]i or MLC phosphorylation. This contraction was followed by the increments in shortening velocity and stiffness. In the rabbit mesenteric artery permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-toxin, norepinephrine and endothelin-1 shifted the Ca(++)-tension curve to the left in the presence of GTP. From these results, it is suggested that high K(+)-induced sustained contraction of vascular smooth muscle is attributable to an increase in [Ca++]i followed by an increase in MLC phosphorylation. In addition to this fundamental mechanism, receptor agonists increase Ca+ sensitivity of MLC phosphorylation when [Ca++]i is higher than resting level resulting in a greater contraction than that induced by high K+ for a given increase in [Ca++]i.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinicobacteriological study of Pasteurella multocida infection as a zoonosis. (2)--Comparisons of P. multocida separated from patients and their pet dogs and cats]

A total of 17 strains of Pasteurella multocida, of which 13 were isolated from patients treated at Nihon University Itabashi Hospital or Nihon University Surugadai Hospital between April, 1984 and March, 1991 and 4 from 1 dog and 3 cats kept by the patients, were evaluated with respect to their biochemical properties, sensitivity to drugs, and serotype. The isolated strains were all considered to be Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida because of the agreement of their responses to indole, sorbitol and dulcitol with those of this subspecies, except for 1 sorbitol-negative strain of Pasteurella multocida subsp. septica isolated from 1 patient who had been bitten by a cat. All the isolated strains showed high sensitivities to various drugs. The serotype was capsular type A, which is often observed in cats and dogs, in 7 strains, which consisted of 6 of the 7 strains derived from the airway of the patients and 1 of the 6 strains derived from bit or scratch wound. The remaining strains could not be classified. Five morphological types, namely 1, 3, 3.8, 6, and 8 were observed. In 2 patients, Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida of the same serotype was also isolated from their cats. One of these patients had intimate contact with the cat including kissing. Our findings suggest that: 1) Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida has been responsible for most conventional cases of Pasteurella multocida infection. 2) Strains isolated from patients differ in the capsular type according to the disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cheiro-oral syndrome due to lesions in the corona radiata

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We describe three patients with cheiro-oral syndrome caused by a small lesion in the corona radiata confirmed by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

CASE DESCRIPTIONS

Case 1: A 56-year-old hypertensive man who developed hypesthesia and paresthesia in the left perioral area and hand was found to have a small hematoma just lateral to the right internal capsule. Case 2: A 67-year-old man noticed hypesthesia around the left mouth angle and thumb and index finger. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion in the right corona radiata. Case 3: A 45-year-old hypertensive man developed numbness in his perioral region and left hand that later spread to his shoulder. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a recent small infarct in the lower lateral aspect of the right corona radiata.

CONCLUSIONS

A small lesion in the corona radiata can cause cheiro-oral syndrome, whose pathogenetic mechanism in such patients may be explained by the somatotopical location or by the differing vulnerability of the neuropils in the corona radiata.

Developmental aspects of a unique glutathione S-transferase subunit Yx in the liver cytosol from rats with hereditary hyperbilirubinuria. Comparison with rat fetal liver transferase subunit Yfetus

The unique glutathione S-transferase (GST) subunit Yx, which is undetectable in normal adult rat liver cytosol, was shown to occur in the liver cytosol of rats with hereditary hyperbilirubinuria (EHB). The Yx subunit is a member of the Alpha-class GST subunits, and is immunologically closely related to the Yc subunit. The Yx subunit has an apparent M(r) of 26,400, different from those of Ya (M(r) 25,800), Yb1 and Yb2 (both M(r) 27,200) and Yc (M(r) 28,400). During postnatal development in livers of EHB rats, the Yx subunit concentration in either sex was highest during the first week post partum and declined rapidly with age. Although the concentration of subunit Yx at 8 weeks of age accounted for about 60% in females and 40% in males of that observed in 1-week-old 'neonatal' male EHB rats, concentrations in females thereafter increased gradually to almost the neonatal level and remained at this high level at least up to 37 weeks of age, whereas the concentration in males did not increase again. Thus the post-pubertal Yx subunit concentration was 2-fold higher in females than in males. In contrast, in normal Sprague-Dawley rat liver, the Yfetus subunit, with the same M(r) as the Yx subunit, had the highest concentration in 10-day-old animals, declined rapidly thereafter, and was not detectable in the post-pubertal period. The Yfetus subunit was also immunoreactive with an antibody against GST YcYc. The analysis of GST subunits by reverse-phase h.p.l.c. revealed that the Yx subunit was eluted at a retention time different from other known subunits, but coincided with that of Yfetus. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the Yx subunit displayed a high degree of sequence similarity to that of the Yfetus subunit. These data suggest that the Yx subunit in EHB rats may be very similar to, if not identical with, the Yfetus subunit.

Bactericidal action of a glycoprotein from the body surface mucus of giant African snail

1. Bactericidal action of a glycoprotein, Achacin, purified from the giant African snail, Achatina fulica Férussac, has been studied. 2. Achacin kills both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, but only in their growing states. 3. Achacin does not have any bacteriolytic activity. 4. The strain which has no cell wall is a little more sensitive than the native strain and the cell membrane-damaged strain. 5. Achacin was observed on the cytoplasmic membrane and on the cell wall of treated Escherichia coli by immunoelectron microscopy. 6. Achacin attacks the cytoplasmic membrane of the cell.

Synthesis of 7-O-[2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-4-O-(3-fluorotetrahydropyran-2-yl)- alpha-L-talopyranosyl]daunomycinone

7-O-[2,6-Dideoxy-2-fluoro-4-O-(3-fluorotetrahydropyran-2-yl)-alpha -L- talopyranosyl]daunomycinones (7a-7c) have been prepared by condensation of 3'-O-benzoyl derivative of 7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-alpha-L-talopyranosyl)daunomycinone with 2,3-difluorotetrahydropyran as the key reaction. Antitumor activities of these compounds are described.

Ultrasonic evaluation of the site of carotid axis occlusion in patients with acute cardioembolic stroke

PURPOSE

We performed the present study to determine whether the site of cardioembolic occlusion in the carotid axis could be identified by end-diastolic velocity measurements of the common carotid arteries.

SUMMARY OF REPORT

Using duplex carotid ultrasonography, we measured the flow velocity in the common carotid arteries and calculated the side-to-side ratios of the end-diastolic velocity (ED ratio; the end-diastolic velocity of the nonaffected side divided by that of the affected side) in 46 patients with acute cardioembolic stroke. The velocity on the faster side was divided by the slower velocity to obtain the normal values of ED ratio in 30 controls. The ED ratios were compared with the angiographic findings, in which unilateral intracranial internal carotid artery occlusion was present in 20 patients (IC group), occlusion of the horizontal segment of the middle cerebral artery was present in 16 patients (M1 group), and branch occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was present in 10 patients (MBr group). The ED ratios of the control group were less than 1.3; those of the MBr group generally less than 1.3; the IC group greater than 4.0, except in two patients with severe cerebral edema; and those of the M1 group between 1.3 and 4.0. Therefore, the IC group was easily distinguished from the other groups by an ED ratio greater than or equal to 4.0, with an accuracy of 97%, and the M1 group by an ED ratio greater than or equal to 1.3 and less than 4.0, with an accuracy of 93%.

CONCLUSIONS

We found the ED ratio useful to identify internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery occlusion in patients with cardioembolic stroke unless severe cerebral edema was present.

Comparative studies by cell culture and in vivo implantation test on the toxicity of natural rubber latex materials

Colony assay using V79 cells, the agar diffusion assay with L929 cells, and the 7-day rabbit muscle implantation test were employed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and tissue toxicity of natural rubber latex (NRL) materials. The in vivo implantation test showed that, among 13 histological parameters, thickness of inflammatory layer was the most useful index to evaluate tissue responses quantitatively. A comparison of the in vivo and in vitro parameters revealed the following correlations between the thickness of the inflammatory layer and cytotoxicity indices: Colony assay of the extracts, IC50: r = 0.80; Agar diffusion assay, Zone index: r = 0.73; Lysis index: r = 0.61. From these results, it appears that the colony assay provides a more reliable prediction of the tissue response than the agar diffusion assay.

A synthetic study of methyl 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-alpha-D-glucopyranosides from methyl 2,3-anhydro-alpha-D-allopyranosides, and synthesis of 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorokanamycin A and 3'-chloro-3'-deoxykanamycin A

Reactions of 4,6-disubstituted 2,3-anhydro-alpha-D-allopyranosides with potassium hydrogenfluoride (KHF2) in ethane-1,2-diol gave, by oxirane-ring opening, the corresponding 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-alpha-D-altro- and 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-alpha-D-gluco-pyranosyl derivatives, with the latter always in preponderance. The influence of the substituents at C-4 and C-6 on the D-gluco-D-altro ratio (r) have been studied by molecular mechanics, and the discrepancy between the experimental and calculated r values has been positively utilized to measure the effects of solvation and hydrogen bonding relative to the C-4 and C-6 substituents. By application of this reaction, 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorokanamycin A has been prepared by treatment of a 2',3'-anhydro-3'-epikanamycin A derivative (35) with KHF2. 3'-Chloro-3'-deoxykanamycin A was also prepared.

Teratogenicity of arotinoids (retinoids) in the rat whole embryo culture

Structural modifications of the arotinoid molecule RO 13-7410 led to a difference in the teratogenic potencies of more than five orders of magnitude in mice in vivo and in micromass cultures of rat embryonic limb bud cells (Kistler et al. 1990). Five of these retinoids were selected and tested in rat whole embryo culture to determine the suitability of this in vitro test system for the identification of potentially non-teratogenic derivatives among this class of chemicals. The highest concentrations of the compounds with no effects (NOAEL) on general conceptus growth, on differentiation and on the frequency of dysmorphogenic embryos in vitro were compared with the lowest effective teratogenic doses in vivo (LOAEL) or with the concentrations leading to 50% inhibition of limb bud cell differentiation (IC50) in vitro. NOAEL's for the parameters of conceptus development ranged from 10(-5) micrograms/ml (0.03 nM) to 10 micrograms/ml (28.7 microM) for the compounds tested. These correlated very well with LOAEL and IC50 (R greater than 0.95). The types of dysmorphogenesis in vitro were those typical for retinoids, and for the most part resembled the malformations found in vivo. We conclude that the whole embryo culture system is a useful tool for the preliminary testing of retinoids.

Production and cytological studies of nine-paired barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Several barley plants with 2n = 18 chromosomes (9 II) were developed from crosses between two lines with 2n = 16 chromosomes (8 II). Cytological studies of the 18-chromosome plants showed nine bivalents at metaphase I and normal 9:9 segregation at anaphase I. Morphologically, these plants with 18 chromosomes were qualitatively similar to normal diploids (2n = 14), in spite of a duplication of a small proximal segment of the short arm of chromosome 3. However, the 18-chromosome plants were as vigorous as some normal diploid cultivars and more vigorous than 16-chromosome parental lines. If the duplicated segment carried beneficial gene(s), it might be useful for enhancement of germplasm in barley genetics and breeding. The significance of the establishment of this new 18-chromosome barley in karyotype evolution is discussed.Key words: nine-paired barley, aneuploid, trisomic, duplication, Hordeum.

[Clinicobacteriological study of Pasteurella multocida as a zoonosis (1). Condition of dog and cat carriers of Pasteurella, and the influence for human carrier rate by kiss with the pets]

Pasteurella multocida is a gram-negative short rod-shaped bacteria, which is a part of the indigenous flora of the oral cavity of many animals other than man. The number of reports on cases of infections with this bacterium due to animal bites and/or scratches, bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, sepsis due to this organism and death caused by the bacteria have been increasing in recent years. We investigated P. multocida in the hair and oral cavity of 3 dogs and 29 cats according to the classification of Mutters et al.. We also studied the relationship between the carrier rate for Pasteurella in the oral cavity and kissing of pets in 24 pet owners (3 dogs and 11 cats). No P. multocida was isolated from the hair of neither dogs nor cats. One strain of P. multocida subsp. multocida and two strains of P. stomatis, were isolated from the oral cavity of dogs, and 35 strains of Pasteurella were isolated from the oral cavity of cats. Two strains of P. multocida subsp. multocida, whose biochemical properties were different, were detected in the oral cavity of one cat. In three cats, Pasteurella other than P. multocida subsp. multocida was isolated from the same oral cavity. No Pasteurella was detected in the oral cavity of 19 pet owners who had not kissed their cats, whereas P. stomatis was isolated from the oral cavity of one of 2 pet owners who had kissed their cats and in 2 of 3 pet owners who had kissed their dogs (the same bacteria was isolated from a dog that was being kept by some of these positive pet owners).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The first report of human chronic sinusitis by Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida in Japan]

A 53-year-old male visited our hospital due to nasal obstruction persisting for 6 months and constant rhinorrhea. Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida was isolated from his nasal discharge and lavage fluid of the maxillary sinus, and also from the oral cavity of the dog he kept. The bacterial strains isolated from the patient and dog were identical in terms of biochemical properties, and drug sensitivity. Although serotype was different, the strain from the patient showed (A:6) and that from his dog showed (A:5). The microorganism is not present in the general environment. The patient had contact with his dog such as he kissed it frequently, gave it food with his chopsticks et al.. From the mouth of the people who kiss one's dog, we detected Pasteurella of the same character of bacteria as from the mouth of the dog. We detected two Pasteurella multocida of different character from only one mouth of a cat. Pasteurella multocida was checked in only one colony for sero type. Sero type A is the popular type for dogs and cats. The above suggest that their was a high possibility that the Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida found in the patient was from his dog. In Japan, the incidence of Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida infection has been increasing. In 1969, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare officially communicated this infection as a zoonosis to related institutions. At both medical and surgical departments, wither the patient keeps a pet should be confirmed during interview, and guidance of pet keeping methods is important in some cases from the aspect of clinical bacteriology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Membrane topology of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

The minimum structural information necessary to formulate and assess mechanistic models of integral membrane protein function is that of membrane topology. This paper characterizes the topological structure of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli based on constraints provided by genetic fusions to the compartment-specific reporter protein alkaline phosphatase. Twenty-eight unique chimeras exhibiting either low alkaline phosphatase activity (cytoplasmic location of the fusion joint) or high alkaline phosphatase activity (periplasmic location of the fusion joint) were characterized and used in conjunction with Goldman-Engelman-Steitz hydropathy analysis to model topological structure. The melibiose carrier is predicted to have a cytoplasmic amino terminus, two sets of six transmembrane domains separated by an unusually large cytoplasmic loop ("six-loop-six" arrangement), and a 45-residue cytoplasmic carboxyl tail. Remarkably, the identical six-loop-six arrangement is predicted from the hydrophobicity plots of the H(+)-coupled lactose, arabinose, xylose, and citrate cotransporters of E. coli, the glucose transporter from rat brain, the family of glucose transporters isolated from various human tissues and cell lines, and the human, mouse, and hamster multidrug resistance transporters (Henderson, P.J.F. (1990) Res. Microbiol. 141, 316-328; Maloney, P.C. (1990) Res. Microbiol. 141, 374-383). Such a broad degree of conservation (or convergence) suggests a distinct structural and/or mechanistic advantage associated with the six-loop-six motif. The nature of this advantage is as yet unknown.

In vitro reconstitution of an erythropoietin gene transcription system using its 5'-flanking sequence and a nuclear extract from anemic kidney

We have developed an in vitro transcription system for the erythropoietin (Epo) gene. This system uses a plasmid carrying 0.2 kb of 5'-flanking sequence from the human Epo gene, rNTPs and a nuclear extract from mouse kidney. The transcribed RNA was assayed by primer extension with an end-labeled primer complementary to the sequence of the plasmid, dNTPs and reverse transcriptase. The primer extension product corresponding to the transcript was detected on a sequencing gel. The in vitro promoter activity of the Epo 5'-flanking sequence was observed with a nuclear extract from anemic kidney but not with that from normal kidney.

Somatic afferent regulation of plasma luteinizing hormone and testosterone in anesthetized rats

The effects of cutaneous stimulation on plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone were examined in adult male Wistar rats anesthetized with pentobarbital. Under the resting condition without somatic sensory stimulation, plasma LH and testosterone measured every 30 min between 1400 and 1730 h revealed no significant fluctuations. Nociceptive mechanical stimulation of bilateral hindpaws by pinching for 10 min significantly increased plasma LH and testosterone. Plasma LH was increased 30 and 60 min after stimulation, while plasma testosterone was increased 60-150 min after stimulation. However, innocuous mechanical stimulation of bilateral hindlimbs by brushing for 10 min did not significantly change either plasma LH or testosterone. These results indicate that, when emotional factors were eliminated by anesthetization, cutaneous nociceptive information led to the increased secretion of LH from the anterior pituitary, resulting in an increase in testosterone secretion from the testes into the plasma.

Effects of olfactory stimulation with jasmin and its component chemicals on the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice

The effect of olfactory stimulation with jasmin and its component chemicals on pentobarbital sleep time was investigated using mice. In the present study we sought to determine which component of jasmin influences pentobarbital sleep time via olfactory stimulation. Sleep time was defined as the time elapsed between intraperitoneal pentobarbital administration and the first time that the animal was able to spontaneously right itself. Sleep time was significantly decreased by olfactory stimulation with jasmin, and also by one of the fractions obtained by fractional distillation at 150 degrees C and 0.1 mmHg. The fraction which influenced the sleep time was found to consist of benzyl benzoate, isophytol, geranyl linalool, phytol and phytyl acetate, which were identified using gas chromatography with mass and infrared spectrometry. In experiments using authentic samples of these components, phytol significantly shortened the pentobarbital sleep time, while the others had no effect. We conclude that phytol is the component of jasmin which reduces the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep.

Somatic afferent stimulation-plasma corticosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone responses in aged male rats under anesthetization

Our previous studies have demonstrated that somatic sensory stimulation can produce increases in secretions of corticosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone in young male Wistar rats of 13-22 weeks old even after emotional factors are eliminated by pentobarbital-anesthetizing of the subjects. In the present study, we examined the effects of somatic sensory stimulation on plasma corticosterone, LH, and testosterone using aged male Wistar rats (24-27 months old) under the same anesthetizing condition as employed in our previous studies. We compared the reflex responses in aged rats with those previously measured in young rats. Nociceptive mechanical stimulation of both hindpaws by pinching for 10 min significantly increased plasma corticosterone levels in aged rats. The magnitude and time-course of this response were equivalent to those in young rats. On the other hand, neither plasma LH nor testosterone levels were changed by nociceptive mechanical stimulation of the hindpaws of aged rats. This is in sharp contrast to the increase in both plasma LH and testosterone caused by the stimulation of young rats. These results indicate a functional dissociation induced by aging between the secretory responses of the anterior pituitary, testes on the one hand and the adrenal cortex on the other hand, to nociceptive somatic sensory stimulation. Aging does not alter corticosterone release from the adrenal cortex to nociceptive somatic sensory stimulation; however, LH secretion from the anterior pituitary and testosterone secretion from the testes to nociceptive somatic sensory stimulation are subject to dysfunction with aging.