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Biomedical subjects

M Seno

Publications and source records attributed to M Seno.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Transport of steroid hormones by bovine serum albumin as carrier].

The affinities of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with six kinds of steroid hormones (alpha-estradiol, ethynylestradiol, progesterone, androsterone, dehydroisoandrosterone and testosterone) were studied, and BSA was employed as a carrier to transport these hormones through the liquid membrane system, which consists of a hexane sauce phase (I), a BSA solution phase (1/15 phosphate buffer) and a hexane receiving phase (II). These steroid hormones dissolved in hexane were extensively transferred into a water phase containing BSA compared to the case of control (without added BSA). This suggests that these hormones are bound to BSA in a water phase. The ratio of hormone, BSA-binding form/free-form, is in the following order: ethynylestradiol greater than androsterone greater than testosterone greater than progesterone greater than dehydroisoandrosterone greater than alpha-estradiol in the water phase at the equilibrium conditions. The initial rate of hormone transfer from the hexane phase (I) to the water phase is followed by the first-order kinetics, and BSA induces an increase in the transfer rate except for the case of alpha-estradiol and ethynylestradiol. On the other hand, as for the increase rate of hormone concentration in the hexane phase (II), BSA makes the rate of transfer of progesterone faster than that of control, but it makes the rate of transfer of dehydroisoandrosterone more slowly. The results show the transport behaviors of steroid hormones across a water membrane are governed primarily by the partition coefficient between water and hexane phase and the addition of BSA accelerates the transport of hormones in the case of lower partition coefficients.

Androsterone

Stabilizing basic fibroblast growth factor using protein engineering.

Using site directed mutagenesis, each of the four cysteines present at amino acid residues 26, 70, 88, and 93 of the mature protein of human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was individually changed to serine. The biological activity and heparin binding ability was retained when the serine was substituted for the cysteine residue at either 70 or 88 of the bFGF protein. This finding indicates that the cysteines at these positions are not essential for expressing biological activity. The substitution of the residues at these positions, especially at position 88, reduced the heterogeneity recognized as several peaks of bFGF eluted from a heparin affinity column, even after oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that the cysteines at these positions are exposed to the surface of the molecule to form disulfide bonds that induce heterologous conformations. Furthermore, under acidic conditions, these modified bFGFs are revealed to be more stable in maintaining their activity. These facts suggest that this protein has been successfully modified by protein engineering.

Base Sequence

Effect of DG5128 on epinephrine and glucagon induced glucose output from the isolated perfused rat liver.

The effect of a specific alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist 2-[2-(4,5-dihydro-1.H-imidazol-2-yl)-1-phenyl-ethyl] pyridine dihydrochloride sesquihydrate (DG5128), on the glucose output by epinephrine and/or glucagon was studied using the perfused rat liver. The administration of DG5128 alone did not affect the glucose output. However, DG5128 produced a significant inhibition of the increased glucose output when induced by 10(-6) M epinephrine alone or 10(-6) M epinephrine plus 1.4 x 10(-10) M glucagon. There were no significant changes of the glucose output by 1.4 x 10(-10) M or 7.0 x 10(-11) M glucagon alone. On the other hand, addition of 1 mU/ml insulin to the perfusate suppressed the 7.0 x 10(-11) M glucagon-induced glucose output, but failed to decrease the 1.4 x 10(-10) M glucagon effect. DG5128 suppressed further the glucagon (7.0 x 10(-11) M)-induced increase of glucose output in the presence of insulin. These results suggest that DG5128 produces a hypoglycemic effect partly through an inhibition of the increased hepatic glucose output elicited by epinephrine and glucagon.

Animals

Comparative effect of somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-28 on glucagon-induced glycogenolysis from the perfused rat liver.

The effect of somatostatin (SS)-14 and SS-28 on glycogenolysis was studied, using a rat liver perfusion technique. Livers from nonfasted rats were perfused with 5.5 mmol/L glucose or perfusate without the glucose addition. Glucagon-induced glucose output was lower in the presence of 5.5 mmol/L glucose than in glucose free perfusate at every concentration of glucagon. Under glucose free conditions, SS-14 given at five minutes prior to the glucagon addition reduced the glucagon-induced glucose output dose-dependently. SS-14 given 15 minutes after glucagon addition also inhibited glucagon-induced glucose output significantly. However, various concentrations of SS-28 failed to affect glucose output. On the other hand, in the presence of 5.5 mmol/L glucose, neither SS-14 nor SS-28 affected glucagon-induced glucose output. It is suggested, therefore, that glycogenolysis induced by glucagon from the liver is reduced by SS-14, but not by SS-28, only under glucose free conditions.

Animals

Detection of antibodies against wheat germ agglutinin bound glycoproteins on the islet-cell membrane.

An attempt was made to detect islet cell surface antibodies (ICSAb) using solubilized islet-cell glycoproteins as antigens. Isolated rat islets were labelled with 125I-wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and solubilized by Nonidet P-40 with sonication. 125I-WGA-bound islet-cell proteins were incubated with test sera, and bound antibodies were precipitated with anti-human IgG or IgM immunobeads. Serum which had a bound percent beyond the mean plus 2SD of control sera was defined as antibody-positive. Results obtained by this method correlated well with those by the immunofluorescence method of detecting ICSAb. Prevalences of antibodies were 21/114 (18%) for IgG antibodies and 9/114 (8%) for IgM antibodies in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The prevalence was highest for both IgG and IgM antibodies in patients within a year of the onset of disease (38 and 25%, respectively), and decreased thereafter. The prevalence of IgM antibodies was lower than that of IgG antibodies at all stages. In NIDDM patients, the prevalence of antibodies was 5/72 (7%) for both IgG and IgM antibodies. If these preliminary results are confirmed, this radioassay may be developed to detect antibodies against islet cell membrane proteins on a large scale.

Animals

Degradation and conversion of somatostatin in normal and diabetic rats in vivo and in vitro.

Plasma somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the portal and jugular veins of streptozotocin diabetic rats was compared with that in normal control rats. In the diabetic group, somatostatin levels in the portal (p less than 0.05) and jugular (p less than 0.01) veins were both elevated compared with those in the control group. Moreover, the degree of elevation was greater in the jugular vein than in the portal vein. To further investigate the role of the liver in the clearance of somatostatin-28 in vivo, 2 micrograms of somatostatin-28 was administered as a bolus into the external jugular vein of intact and functionally hepatectomized rats. The mean half-time of somatostatin-28 was significantly longer in intact diabetic rats than in controls (p less than 0.05). The functional hepatectomy did not cause a significant difference in the half-time in diabetic rats but made it longer in control rats. These results suggest that the longer half-time of somatostatin-28 in diabetic rats in vivo is due to its slower hepatic clearance. The hepatic clearance of somatostatin-28 and somatostatin-14 was further studied in vitro using a recirculating liver perfusion method. The hepatic clearance of 1.2 nM of either somatostatin-28 or somatostatin-14 was significantly lower in diabetic rats than in controls (p less than 0.01). This indicates that elevated plasma somatostatin levels in diabetic rats are caused at least in part by decreased hepatic clearance of somatostatin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Effects of naloxone on basal and vagus nerve-induced secretions of GRP, gastrin, and somatostatin from the isolated perfused rat stomach.

The effects of naloxone, an opiate antagonist, on basal and vagus nerve-induced secretions of GRP, gastrin, and somatostatin were examined using the isolated perfused rat stomach prepared with vagal innervation. Naloxone (10(-6) M) significantly inhibited basal somatostatin secretion in the presence and absence of atropine and of hexamethonium, whereas basal GRP and gastrin secretion was not affected by naloxone. Electrical stimulation (10 Hz, lms duration, 10V) of the distal end of the subdiaphragmatic vagal trunks elicited a significant increase in both GRP and gastrin but a decrease in somatostatin. Naloxone (10(-6) M) failed to affect these responses in the presence or absence of atropine. On the other hand, when hexamethonium was infused, naloxone significantly inhibited both the GRP and gastrin responses to electrical vagal stimulation. Somatostatin secretion was unchanged by vagal stimulation during the infusion of hexamethonium with or without naloxone. These findings suggest that basal somatostatin secretion is under the control of an opiate neuron and that opioid peptides might be involved in vagal regulation of GRP and gastrin secretion.

Animals

Expression of cDNA encoding human basic fibroblast growth factor in E. coli.

The cDNA encoding human basic fibroblast growth factor was expressed in E. coli under the control of trp promoter. Bacterially synthesized hbFGF was highly purified using a heparin affinity HPLC column. By this chromatography, hbFGF was eluted as four distinct forms, which were indistinguishable by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino acid composition, and partial terminal sequence analysis. These molecules stimulated the growth of fibroblasts and endothelial cells although their specific activities varied. The angiogenesis activity of these molecules was also confirmed.

Amino Acid Sequence

Vagal regulation of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin secretion in vitro in the rat.

Using a new in vitro procedure of the isolated perfused rat pancreas with vagal innervation, electrical vagal stimulation produced an increase in both insulin and glucagon secretion in proportion to the pulse frequency, but an inhibition in somatostatin release. When atropine was infused, both insulin and glucagon responses to vagal stimulation were partially suppressed, whereas somatostatin release was enhanced. In the presence of hexamethonium, vagal stimulation failed to affect insulin, glucagon, or somatostatin secretion. Propranolol partially blocked both insulin and glucagon responses but did not influence somatostatin response. Phentolamine had no significant effect on release of hormones. Simultaneous administration of propranolol and phentolamine tended to inhibit both insulin and glucagon responses to vagal stimulation. These findings suggest that not only a cholinergic but also a noncholinergic neuron may be involved in vagal regulation of pancreatic hormone secretion and that these neurons may be under the control of preganglionic vagal fibers via nicotinic receptors.

Animals

A hybrid protein between IFN-gamma and IL-2.

The complementary DNAs encoding human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and human interleukin-2 (IL-2), two different proteins involved in the same immune system, were fused to code a hybrid protein, which was expressed in E. coli to investigate the interactions of these two proteins at the molecular level. Through immunoprecipitation analysis, this protein was revealed to be of about 31 kDa, which was expected from nucleotide sequencing, and to have the antigenicities of both IFN-gamma and IL-2. The extract from bacteria expressing this hybrid protein showed at least two biological activities: an antiviral activity derived from IFN-gamma and the ability to support the growth of natural killer (NK) cells derived from IL-2. Comparing the enhancement of NK cell activity of this hybrid protein with IFN-gamma and IL-2, this hybrid protein appears to conserve each activity almost completely without diminishing the other.

Amino Acid Sequence

Comparison of somatostatin-28 and somatostatin-14 clearance by the perfused rat liver.

The hepatic clearances of somatostatin (SS)-28 and SS-14 by the perfused rat liver were compared, using a recirculating, plasma-free, erythrocyte-containing perfusion system. The disappearance rate constant, half time, clearance, and hepatic extraction ratio when 1.2 nM SS-28 was added to the perfusate were 0.0221 +/- 0.0051 min-1, 36.6 +/- 7.6 min, 0.34 +/- 0.08 mL/min, and 17.2 +/- 3.9%, respectively. The corresponding values obtained when SS-14 was added to the perfusate were 0.0405 +/- 0.0022 min-1, 17.3 +/- 1.0 min, 0.71 +/- 0.05 mL/min, and 35.4 +/- 2.6%, respectively. The differences between the SS-28 and SS-14 indices were all statistically significant. In addition, the perfusates with SS-28 added were eluted on Sephadex G-25 fine columns and somatostatinlike immunoreactivity (SLI) was determined. No SS-14 was found in perfusate containing SS-28 at both 5 and 30 min after the beginning of the perfusion. To investigate whether or not the liver plays an important role in the clearance of SS-28 or the conversion of SS-14 in vivo, the plasma disappearance of 2 micrograms SS-28 was compared in the whole rat and the functionally hepatectomized model. The half time of plasma SS-28 was 1.43 +/- 0.12 min in the whole rat, significantly shorter than the 2.20 +/- 0.14 min in the hepatectomized model. Gel filtration of plasma extract samples at 0.5 min after the SS-28 injection showed two major peaks of SLI: a first peak corresponding to SS-28 and a second peak coeluted in the position of SS-14 in both the whole rat and the hepatectomized model. At 4 min after the SS-28 injection, the first peak disappeared and only a small second peak was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Vagal regulation of GRP, gastric somatostatin, and gastrin secretion in vitro.

The effect of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerves on the release of immunoreactive gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), gastrin, and somatostatin was investigated using the isolated perfused rat stomach. Electrical stimulation (10 Hz, 1 ms duration, 10 V) of the peripheral end of the subdiaphragmatic vagal trunks produced a significant increase in both GRP and gastrin but a decrease in somatostatin. The infusion of atropine sulfate at a concentration of 10(-5) M augmented GRP release and reversed the decrease in somatostatin release in response to vagal stimulation to an increase above basal levels. However, the gastrin response to vagal stimulation was not affected by atropine. The infusion of hexamethonium bromide at a concentration of 10(-4) M significantly suppressed GRP release but did not affect gastrin secretion in response to vagal stimulation. On the other hand, the somatostatin response to vagal stimulation was completely abolished by hexamethonium. These findings lead us to conclude that the intramural GRP neurons might play an important role in the regulation of gastrin as well as somatostatin secretion and that somatostatin secretion may be controlled not only by a cholinergic inhibitory neuron but also by a noncholinergic, e.g., peptidergic stimulatory neuron, both of which may be regulated through preganglionic vagal fibers via nicotinic receptors. In addition, because the infusion of 10(-7) M GRP suppressed the somatostatin secretion, we suggest that either GRP should be excluded from the list of candidates for the noncholinergic stimulatory neurotransmitter for somatostatin secretion or that there are different mechanisms of action for endogenous and exogenous GRP.

Animals

Effects of insulin on altered mineral and vitamin D metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

In order to ascertain whether or not abnormal mineral and vitamin D metabolism in diabetes can be reversed by insulin therapy, plasma calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D metabolites were measured in control, streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels in diabetic rats treated with insulin decreased to normal. The low plasma calcium and ionized calcium levels in diabetic rats were found to be normal in insulin-treated diabetic rats. An elevated PTH level was observed in the diabetic group, but it was at normal levels in the insulin-treated diabetic group. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25(OH)2D) in the diabetic group were decreased compared to those in control rats, but these were also fully restored to control levels by insulin therapy. However, plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) levels in the untreated diabetic group tended to be lower than in controls, and the values in insulin-treated rats were significantly decreased compared to the control group. The ratio of 1,25(OH)2D to 25(OH)D in diabetic rats was higher than in controls, but it was decreased after insulin therapy and was significantly lower than in the control group. It is suggested, therefore, that the negative calcium balance and decreased 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH)2D levels are derived from the metabolic derangement due to the insulin deficiency. Furthermore, insulin seems to suppress the conversion of 25(OH)D to 1,25(OH)2D in experimental diabetes in vivo.

Animals

A teratogenicity study of Phloxine B in ICR mice.

Pregnant Jcl:ICR mice were given Phloxine B in the diet at concentrations of 0, 1, 3 and 5% from the morning of day 6 through day 16 of gestation. The mice were killed on day 18 and foetuses were examined for external, visceral and skeletal anomalies. A significant decrease in body-weight gain was observed in all of the treated groups. Among the dams in the high-dose group, two maternal deaths, one abortion and a significant increase in liver weight were observed. A dose-related incidence of splitting of the cervical vertebral arches (nos 3-6) was noted in all of the treated groups, but this anomaly was not found in the controls. The total incidence of skeletal anomalies was also dose related and was significantly increased at the 3 and 5% dose levels. It was concluded that Phloxine B was teratogenic in mice at dietary levels of 3 and 5%, levels which resulted in maternal toxicity, and that a finding suggesting a teratogenic effect (split cervical arches) was also noted at the 1% dose level.

Animals

Changes in insulin, somatostatin, and glucagon secretion during the development of obesity in ventromedial hypothalamic-lesioned rats.

Changes in insulin, somatostatin, and glucagon secretion during the development of obesity in rats after ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions were evaluated by measuring fasting hormone levels and their secretion from the isolated perfused pancreas. Fasting peripheral insulin levels were not altered 1 week after the VMH lesions but became progressively elevated at 3-4, 8-9, and 11-12 weeks compared to the values in sham-operated and age-matched control rats. In the portal vein, insulin levels also progressively increased in VMH-lesioned rats, but the portal-peripheral gradient of insulin in the later phase of VMH obesity was significantly lower than in the early phase after VMH lesions. On the contrary, the arginine-induced insulin release from the perfused pancreas was highest at 1 week and gradually decreased thereafter, although it continued to remain higher than that of controls. The perfusate somatostatin response to arginine also was exaggerated in the VMH-lesioned rats. However, both the peripheral glucagon level and the glucagon secretion from the perfused pancreas of the VMH-lesioned rats were not significantly different from the controls. These results show that VMH lesions result in an increased insulin and somatostatin secretion. Using the cyclically perfused liver in situ, we have found that the hepatic extraction rate of insulin is indeed reduced in rats 8-9 weeks after VMH lesioning, and so have at least partly accounted for the decreased portal-peripheral gradient of insulin in the later VMH postoperative phase.

Animals

Relationship between bactericidal and phagocytic activities of peritoneal macrophages induced by irritants.

Cellular accumulation to the peritoneal cavity and modification of various functions of peritoneal macrophages were observed in mice injected intraperitoneally (ip) with thioglycollate medium (TG), liquid paraffin, proteose peptone and Corynebacterium parvum. The cellular composition of peritoneal exudates at 4 days after injection of irritants was almost the same in all the groups and the proportion of macrophages was increased approximately 4 times more than nontreated controls. The ability to kill Listeria monocytogenes and to generate chemiluminescence (CL) were augmented strongly in C. parvum-induced macrophages, while depressed in TG-induced macrophages. The activities of liquid paraffin- or proteose peptone-induced macrophages were almost the same as those in nontreated controls. However, the ability to phagocytose native sheep erythrocytes was greatly augmented both in C. parvum- and TG-induced macrophages. There is thus a discrepancy between bactericidal activity and phagocytic activity among macrophages induced with various irritants.

Animals