In vivo and in vitro effects of cadmium on selected enzymes in different organs of the fish Barbus conchonius Ham. (rosy barb).

1. Enzyme modulation by cadmium in selected organs of the fish, Barbus conchonius (rosy barb), was investigated in vivo (48 hr exposure to 12.6 mg/l cadmium chloride) and in vitro (10(-6) M cadmium chloride). 2. The acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was depressed in the gills but stimulated in the skeletal muscles and brain in vivo. The hepatic, branchial, and renal acid phosphatase (AcP) activity decreased marginally in vivo but it was significantly increased in the gut and ovary. In vitro, except for the liver, the AcP activity was depressed in the selected organs. Collaterally, gut alkaline phosphatase (AlP) was significantly inhibited but a pronounced stimulation was noted in the kidneys and ovary in vivo. In vitro, the AlP activity was conspicuously elevated in the kidneys and gut, and moderately in the gills. 3. Cadmium inhibited the glutamate-oxaloacetate and glutamate-pyruvate transaminases (GOT and GPT) in the liver, gills and kidneys in vivo. In vitro, the GOT and GPT activities were decreased in the liver, gills and kidneys. The lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly stimulated by Cd in the heart in vivo but in vitro the metal inhibited the enzyme in the gills. 4. Enzymes in the liver, followed by those in the kidneys and gills seem to be most seriously affected by Cd poisoning in this fish.     

Acid-base state of blood and accumulation of strontium in tissues of rats

It is shown that the increase of strontium content 1.5, 1.7, 2.0, 1.7, and 5.1 times, respectively, in the liver, kidneys, heart, muscles and bones of poisoned rats leads to the state of subcompensated metabolic acidosis in them. Experimental deepening of metabolic acidosis with per os introducing of chloride acid parallel with intramuscular injection of strontium chloride reduces the accumulation of strontium in the muscles and kidneys 1.6, in the liver - 1.5, in bones - 2.7 times. Introduction of rats into metabolic acidosis state after their poisoning with strontium causes acceleration of mentioned metal elimination process from the muscles and kidneys 1.5 times, from the liver 1.3 times, from the bones 1.4 times, on the 20th day of research. The issues concerning subcompensated metabolic alkaloses observed in rats' blood, poisoned by strontium after per os introducing of sodium hydrocarbon. It is proved that this phenomenon does not influence accumulation of strontium both in the heart and bones, and it does not essentially reduce the accumulation of this element in the muscles, liver and kidneys. Therefore, the experimental results performed evidence that in the case of changing the acid-base state indices of blood in the direction of metabolic acidosis, one could reach the reduction of strontium accumulation in poisoned animals' organism, and acceleration of mentioned metal elimination process. It should be mentioned that metabolic alkaloses does not influence the intensity of the mentioned metal elimination process.     

Effects of AET and MEA on the lysosomal hydrolase activities in the mouse organs.

The adult male Swiss mice were injected intraperitoneally with AET (2-aminoethylisothiouronium Br.HBr) or MEA (cysteamine HCl), in a toxic dose of 400 mg/kg body weight. The acid phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.2) and arylsulphatase (E. C. 3.1.6.1) activities in crude homogenates of liver and kidneys were assessed every fourth hour throughout a 24-h period. Different patterns of temporal changes in the acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities in liver and kidneys expressed in nkat per 1 mg of protein, 1 g of fresh tissue and per the whole organ weight, were found. The extent and timing of the alterations in the activity of each of the lysosomal hydrolases were dependent on the particular organ chosen and aminothiol compound given.     

In vivo and in vitro effects of cadmium on selected enzymes in different organs of the fish Barbus conchonius ham. (Rosy Barb)

1. Enzyme modulation by cadmium in selected organs of the fish, Barbus conchonius (rosy barb), was investigated in vivo (48 hr exposure to 12.6 mg/1 cadmium chloride) and in vitro (10⁻⁶M cadmium chloride).2. The acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was depressed in the gills but stimulated in the skeletal muscles and brain in vivo. The hepatic, branchial, and renal acid phosphatase (AcP) activity decreased marginally in vivo but it was significantly increased in the gut and ovary. In vitro, except for the liver, the AcP activity was depressed in the selected organs. Collaterally, gut alkaline phosphatase (A1P) was significantly inhibited but a pronounced stimulation was noted in the kidneys and ovary in vivo. In vitro, the AIP activity was conspicuously elevated in the kidneys and gut, and moderately in the gills.3. Cadmium inhibited the glutamate-oxaloacetate and glutamate-pyruvate transaminases (GOT and OPT) in the liver, gills and kidneys in vivo. In vitro, the GOT and GPT activities were decreased in the liver, gills and kidneys. The lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly stimulated by Cd in the heart in vivo but in vitro the metal inhibited the enzyme in the gills.4. Enzymes in the liver, followed by those in the kidneys and gills seem to be most seriously affected by Cd poisoning in this fish.     

Oxidation and reduction of glutathione in rat organs during the administration of ethonium

An intramuscular administration of ethonium in a dose of 5 and 10 mg/kg 4-6 h later decreases the level of the reduced glutathione and increases that of oxidized glutathione and the glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver and kidneys of albino rats. The duration of the preparation effect depends on the dose and organ, changes in the glutathione reductase activity in the liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen and heart are not found. Participation of ethonium in formation of peroxides in the organism tissues is shown possible.     

Role of Liv-52 in protection against beryllium intoxication

An ayurvedic medicine, Liv-52, was studied as a prophylactic agent against beryllium-induced toxicity in rats. Administration of berylliumper se caused severe degenerative and necrotic changes in kidneys, liver, and uterus. Beryllium exposure also reduced glycogen content, activities of alkaline phosphatase, succinate-dehydrogenase, and adenosine-triphosphatase in these organs. On the contrary, activities of acid phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase showed marginal increase. Liv-52-primed rats exhibited comparatively less marked toxic effects.     

Modifications of the Portoscuso ecosystem. Distribution, accumulation,and dynamics of pollutants. I. Observations on animal tissues]

In order to assess the extent of environmental pollution by Pb, Cd and Zn in the industrial area of Portoscuso (Southwestern Sardinia-Italy), anatomohistopathological, histochemical and chemical tests were carried out on the heart, liver, kidneys and bones of sheep slaughtered in the local abattoir. On microscopic examination, degenerative lesions were severe in liver and kidneys and slight in the heart; histochemical stainings clearly showed a notable presence of Zn, while spectrophotometric examination confirmed, besides Zn pollution, very high tissue concentrations of Pb and Cd. The Authors conclude that other trial observations over larger areas are necessary.     

Status of phosphatase activities in the liver and kidney of rats treated with isosaline leaf and stem-bark extracts of Harungana madagascariensis (L)

The activities of phosphatases and other biochemical parameters were examined in rats treated with isosaline leaf and stem-bark extracts of Harungana madagascariensis (L). Results show that both the leaf and stem-bark extracts significantly increased the activities of serum and liver alkaline phosphatase, liver acid phosphatase, liver and kidney glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase and glycogen in the treated rats. While the stem-bark extract significantly elevated the activities of fructose-1,6-diphosphatase and glycogen in the kidney, these biochemical parameters were not affected by treatment with the leaf extract. The activity of serum acid phosphatase was unaffected by the two extracts. The results obtained clearly show that these extracts caused a marked increase in gluconeogenesis in the liver and kidney of the treated rats. While the stem-bark extract increased gluconeogenesis in both liver and kidney, the leaf extract caused an increase in gluconeogenesis only in the liver. The increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity caused by these extracts may, aside from having other tissues contributing to it, be due to damage caused by these extracts to the hepatocytes. The extent of pathological changes as well as the implications of these findings to folklore medicine requires further investigation.     

Severe hypophosphatasia due to mutations in the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene

Hypophosphatasia is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism characterized by a defective bone mineralisation and deficiency of serum and tissue liver/bone/kidney alkaline phosphatase activity. We report the characterisation of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene mutation in a patient affected by infantile hypophosphatasia. This boy was the first child of non affected, non related parents. At 1 month of age he presented with palsy of the left upper limb with hypotonia. Length was - 2SD. The anterior fontanel was large. There was a markedly decreased ossification of all bones. All limbs were shortened. Ultrasonographic examination of the kidneys showed nephrocalcinosis. Level of alkaline phosphatases was decreased in the child as well as in the parents. Bone density was decreased. At 2 years of age development was delayed. Weight was - 3,5 SD and OFC - 3SD. The child had craniosynostosis. Molecular studies showed 2 missense mutations, both in exon 6 of the TNSALP gene.     

Change in the activity of the key gluconeogenesis enzymes in the rat liver and kidneys during the action of subextreme and extreme factors on the body]

The activity of glucogenesis key enzymes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxinase, fructoso-1,6-siphosphatase, glucoso-6-phosphatase) of the rat liver and kidneys was studied simultaneously under the effect of extreme and subextreme factors on the organism. The low initial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxikinase activity in the liver and its high inductivity under extreme conditions suggest a role of this enzyme as limiting link in glyconeogenesis. The activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxinase in the kidneys is comparable to that of fructoso-1,6-diphosphatase; it is considerably higher than the activity of glucoso-6-phosphatase. The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxinase activity in the kidneys is 5--6 times higher than in the liver. The activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxinase and glucoso-6-phosphatase is increased under the effect of extreme factors, and that of fructoso-1,6-diphosphatase remains unchanged. The lack of clear synchronous changes in the activity of glucogenesis key enzymes in the liver and kidneys indicates that the cells of these organs do not provide the united operon for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxinase, fructoso-1,6-diphosphatase and glucoso-6-phosphatase with common regulation mechanism.     

纳米氧化锌经口染毒对C57BL/6J小鼠外周脏器的影响*

目的:探讨纳米氧化锌经口染毒60 d对C57BL/6J小鼠多种外周脏器的损伤作用。方法:20只雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为对照组和实验组,每组10只,实验组将纳米氧化锌溶液以20 mg/kg体重的剂量连续灌胃染毒60 d,对照组给予相应量的生理盐水;小鼠每周称重一次,染毒结束后,眼球取血,检测血糖、血脂、肝功能和肾功能相关指标,以及血清中炎症因子PAF、IL-6和TNF-α含量;取心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺、肾脏和小肠组织制备病理切片,HE染色后,观察组织形态学变化。结果:实验组和对照组之间的体重无显著性差异;与正常对照组比较,实验组大鼠血中白蛋白(ALB)、白蛋白/球蛋白比值(A/G)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、谷草/谷丙转氨酶比值(S/L)、尿酸(UA)和尿素氮(BUN)含量明显升高(P＜0.05或 P＜0.01);两组间血清中炎症因子含量无显著差异。病理学检查发现,实验组心肌中部分区域出现浊肿,肝脏出现轻度炎性病变(灶性或小灶性坏死),脾脏色素沉着减少,肺部出现轻或中度间质性炎症,肾脏和小肠未见明显病理改变。结论:纳米氧化锌经口染毒60 d未引起C57BL/6J小鼠血液系统炎症,但可诱导心脏、肝脏、脾脏和肺脏出现轻度的病理变化,并导致肝脏和肾脏的功能异常。     

Phosphorylation of purified bovine heart and rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase by protein kinase C and comparison of the fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity of the two enzymes.

Purified bovine heart 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase can be phosphorylated in the presence of protein kinase C and dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase; changes in phosphorylation state have no effect on enzyme activity. By contrast, the rat liver enzyme is a poor substrate for protein kinase C. Unlike the liver enzyme, which is bifunctional and is phosphorylated by fructose 2,6-[2-32P]bisphosphate, the heart enzyme contains 10 times less fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase activity and is phosphorylated at a slower rate and to a lesser extent than the liver enzyme. Both rat liver and bovine heart enzymes catalyse a similar exchange reaction between [U-14C]ADP and ATP.     

The subcellular localization of the changes in ribonuclease and phosphatase activities of the mouse kidney produced by castration and testosterone

Male mice were castrated at 2 months of age and a pellet of testosterone propionate was implanted subcutaneously ten days later. After 14 days, normal, castrated and androgen treated mice were autopsied simultaneously. The kidneys of each group were homogenized, pooled and fractionated by centrifugation into the various subcellular components. The alkaline ribonuclease and phosphatase activities were localized in the microsomal fraction and changed in inverse relationship to the previously observed changes in the rate of protein biosynthesis and the concentration of microsomal and polysomal RNA induced by castration and androgen administration. Esterase activity also was localized in the microsomal fraction and its specific activity decreased after castration and was restored to normal by testosterone. The activities of acid ribonuclease, acid phosphatase and the several marker enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase, nucleotidase, succinic dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) changed in direct proportion to the changes in weight of the kidney after castration and androgen stimulation.     

Biochemical Mechanism of Gallium on Prevention of Fatal Cage-Layer Osteoporosis

The possible biochemical mechanism of gallium was studied in this paper. One-day-old hens were fed to up to 68 weeks on a control diet and diets containing gallium. Serum calcium and phosphorus, serum alkaline phosphatase, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), serum osteocalcin, homocysteine, C-terminal crosslinked telopeptides of collagen type I, and bone mineral content were measured, respectively. The beneficial effects of gallium supplementation on improvement of cage layer osteoporosis were attributable mainly to decrease TRAP activity, C-terminal crosslinked telopeptides of collagen type I level, plasma calcium and phosphate concentrations, and increase the mineral content in the bones and osteocalcin level in plasma.     

Altered physiological responsiveness and decreased cyclic AMP levels in rat atria after dietary cod liver oil supplementation and its possible association with an increased membrane phospholipid n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio

Rats were given a cod liver oil supplemented diet and a standard diet for 4 months. The cod liver oil supplementation resulted in a marked increase in the 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3) fatty acids and a marked decrease in the 20:4(n-6) fatty acid in phosphatidylcholine and ethanolamine of the atrial membrane. Atria from the cod liver oil treated rats showed a marked decrease in contractile force, heart rate and cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels under basal conditions. Stimulation with noradrenaline (1 X 10(-6) M) during high oxygen saturation and reoxygenation resulted in an equal increase in the mechanical responses of the two groups in spite of the significantly different levels of cAMP, whereas in hypoxia, both the cAMP level and the contractile force were significantly lower in the cod liver oil treated group. These results indicate that changes in the fatty acid composition of heart membrane phospholipids is associated with changes in adenylate cyclase activity and physiological function of the rat heart and that an increase in the n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio in membrane phospholipids of the heart results, when oxygen is abundant in enhanced cAMP-independent contractile activity.     

Evidence that cholic acid CoA ligase is located asymmetrically on the cytoplasmic surface of hepatic microsomal vesicles.

The cholic acid CoA ligase activity of rat liver was quantitatively inactivated by proteolysis with pronase, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, or proteinase K in intact microsomal vesicles. Under the conditions employed, less than 14% of the lumenal mannose-6-phosphate phosphatase activity was lost, and the mannose-6-phosphate phosphatase activity remained highly latent. After microsomal integrity was disrupted with sodium deoxycholate, protease treatment resulted in a loss of greater than 74% of the mannose-6-phosphate phosphatase activity. Cholic acid CoA ligase activity was unaffected by preincubation of microsomes with sodium taurocholate under conditions that led to the complete expression of latent mannose-6-phosphate phosphatase activity. The data suggest that cholic acid CoA ligase activity is located on the cytoplasmic surface of hepatic microsomal vesicles.     

The mechanism of activation of heart fructose 6-phosphate,2-kinase:fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase

Partially purified fructose-6-P,2-kinase:fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase from beef heart was phosphorylated by cAMP protein kinase. The phosphorylated fructose-6-P,2-kinase shows lower Km for Fru-6-P (43 versus 105 microM) and for ATP (0.55 versus 1.3 mM) but no change in the Vmax, compared to those for unphosphorylated enzyme. There was no detectable change in Km or Vmax of fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity by the phosphorylation. These changes in heart fructose-6-P,2-kinase were in direct contrast to previous results for the liver isozyme in which phosphorylation led to inhibition of the kinase activity and activation of the phosphatase activity.     

Effect of the antioxidant dibunol on the electron paramagnetic resonance signals in the tissues of rats of different ages

Changes in the intensity of EPR signals from the skeletal and heart muscles, liver, kidneys, thyroid, adrenal cortex, and blood were studied in relation to the animals age and the effect of the antioxidant dibunol. Essential changes were revealed in metabolic activity of the majority of the tissues under study as early as within the first 6 hours after antioxidant administration.     

A major phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase from bovine heart is associated with a low-molecular-weight acid phosphatase

The phosphotyrosyl [Tyr(P)]-immunoglobulin G (IgG) phosphatase activity in the extracts of bovine heart, bovine brain, human kidney, and rabbit liver can be separated by DEAE-cellulose at neutral pH into two fractions. The unbound fraction exhibits a higher activity at acidic than neutral pH while the reverse is true for the bound fraction. Of all tissues examined, the Tyr(P)-IgG phosphatase activity in the unbound fraction measured at pH 5.0 is higher than that in the bound fraction measured at pH 7.2. The acid Tyr(P)-IgG phosphatase activity has been extensively purified from bovine heart. It copurified with an acid phosphatase activity (p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) as a substrate) throughout the purification procedure. These two activities coelute from various ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies and comigrate on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that they reside on the same protein molecule. The phosphatase has a Mr = 15,000 by gel filtration and exhibits an optimum between pH 5.0 and 6.0 when either Tyr(P)-IgG-casein or PNPP is the substrate. It is highly specific for Tyr(P)-protein with little activities toward phosphoseryl [Ser(P)]- or phosphothreonyl [Thr(P)]-protein. The enzyme activities toward Tyr(P)-casein and PNPP are strongly inhibited by microM molybdate and vanadate but insensitive to inhibition by L(+)-tartrate, NaF, or Zn2+. The molecular and catalytic properties of the acid Tyr(P)-protein phosphatase purified from bovine heart are very similar to those of the low-molecular-weight acid phosphatases of Mr = 14,000 previously identified and purified from the cytosolic fraction of human liver, placenta, and other animal tissues.     

Glycogen autophagy in newborn rat hepatocytes

Glycogen autophagy in newborn rat hepatocytes was studied by using enzyme determinations and electron microscopy. Cyclic AMP induced glycogen autophagy in these cells. Glycogen-hydrolyzing acid glucosidase activity increased whereas acid mannose 6-phosphatase activity decreased in the liver of these animals. Parenteral glucose, which prevents postnatal glucagon secretion and tissue cyclic AMP elevation, and propranolol which antagonizes cyclic AMP, inhibited glycogen autophagy. Glucosidase activity decreased and phosphatase activity increased. These findings raise the possibility that cyclic AMP-induced autophagic mechanisms in newborn rat hepatocytes are associated with changes in the activity of acid mannose 6-phosphatase.