Biomedical subjects

R Curi

Publications and source records attributed to R Curi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Effect of indole acetic acid on oxygen metabolism in cultured rat neutrophil.

1. Indole acetic acid (IAA) stimulates O2.- and H2O2 production in cells with peroxidase activity, such as neutrophils. The effect of pharmacological IAA concentration on oxygen metabolism and neutrophil functioning and viability in culture was investigated. 2. The results led to the conclusion that: (1) IAA causes death and marked ultrastructural changes in cultured neutrophils but does not affect lymphocytes; (2) these effects are not due to a reduction in the enzymatic antioxidant capacity of the cell, as indicated by catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px); (3) these effects are mainly due to an increase in the production of O2.- and H2O2, as suggested by the protective effect exhibited by the addition of CAT and SOD to cultured neutrophils, and (4) other reactive species (possibly peroxyl radicals) might play a role in the IAA effect on cultivated neutrophil viability.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Leptin increases glucose transport and utilization in skeletal muscle in vitro.

1. The present study examines the effect of leptin on glucose transport and metabolism in incubated soleus muscle from male lean albino rats. 2. Insulin (100 microU/ml) increased glucose uptake by twofold while the leptin group (100 nmol/l) reached 75% of the insulin response after 1 hr of incubation. However, leptin did not potentiate the insulin effect on glucose uptake in soleus muscle. 3. Leptin elicited a significant increase (27.7%) in total lactate production, accompanied by a three-fold increment in glycogen synthesis from [U-14C]D-glucose. 4. Insulin raised glycogen synthesis by sixfold. The leptin plus insulin group increased glycogen synthesis by eightfold, which is equivalent to the sum of the separated leptin and insulin groups. 5. Leptin per se exerts an insulin-like effect stimulating glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, and lactate formation and also seems to potentiate the effect of insulin on glucose incorporation into glycogen in incubated soleus muscle.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1998

Regulation of tumour cell fatty acid oxidation by n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Fatty acids have been shown to regulate the expression of mRNA for both lipogenic and glycolytic enzymes in rat liver. The role of fatty acids in the regulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) I and II activity in tumour cells was investigated. The polyunsaturated fatty acids, gamma-linolenic and arachidonic acid, caused 60-70% inhibition of tumour cell CPT I activity and 45-50% inhibition of [14C]-palmitic acid oxidation to 14CO2. These effects were blocked by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin. Prostaglandins E1 and E2 caused marked inhibition of both CPT I and CPT II activity and inhibition of cell proliferation. Prostaglandin E2 production by tumour cells was increased in the presence of arachidonic acid and inhibited when indomethacin was present. The proliferation of the HT29 cell line was unaffected as was its CPT I and II activity by both fatty acids and prostaglandins. CPT I mRNA expression was not inhibited by fatty acids, indeed it increased-in the presence of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E1. These results strongly suggest that polyunsaturated n-6 fatty acids are able, via prostaglandin products, to regulate the CPT activity of certain tumour cells. This may have a considerable impact on mitochondrial beta-oxidation and cellular metabolism of fatty acids, reflected in the marked inhibition of cell proliferation by these fatty acids.

Alprostadil↗

PubMed1998

In vivo inhibition of Walker 256 tumour carnitine palmitoyltransferase I by soya oil dietary supplementation.

The role of dietary fatty acids in the regulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity has been shown in liver but their role in the regulation of tumour CPT activity in vivo is unknown. The present study investigated the effects of several oils, given as dietary supplements, upon the activity of CPT I and II in the Walker 256 rat tumour and the inhibition or stimulation of tumour growth. CPT I activity was markedly inhibited by soya oil, rich in linoleic acid (70% inhibition vs control). CPT I mRNA expression was not inhibited by any of the oils studied, indeed soya oil caused a marked increase (132% vs control) in expression. These results suggest that soya oil can modulate, in vivo, the beta-oxidative pathway of tumour tissue and further supports the hypothesis of tumour CPT I regulation by polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1998

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II activity is decreased in liver mitochondria of cachectic rats bearing the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma: effect of indomethacin treatment.

The syndrome of cancer cachexia is accompanied by several alterations of lipid metabolism, especially that in the liver. In this study we have investigated a possible mechanism whereby the presence of the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma affects hepatic fatty acid oxidative capacity in tumour-bearing rats. Hepatic mitochondrial outer membrane carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I), generally accepted as the main site of regulation of fatty acid oxidation, was unaffected by the presence of the extra-hepatic tumour. However, mitochondrial inner-membrane carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) activity was markedly decreased in mitochondria isolated from the liver of tumour-bearing rats. Immuno-detection by Western blotting using a CPT II-specific antibody identified two bands (corresponding to M(r) 69,000 and 54,000) in tumour-bearing rats whereas only the normal-sized CPT II was present (at the expected M(r) 69,000) in mitochondria from control rats. It is suggested that the emergence of the second, smaller protein may represent a catalytically less active protein that arises in vivo, since its appearance was not affected by the inclusion of proteolysis inhibitors in the mitochondrial preparation buffers. Treatment of the tumour-bearing rats with indomethacin, a prostaglandin (including PGE2) synthesis inhibitor, increased CPT II activity to levels even higher than those found in the control animals. It is suggested that PGE2 may play a role in the control of CPT II expression in the liver of tumour-bearing rats. Indomethacin treatment did not affect either of the two CPT activities of the mitochondria isolated from tumour tissue.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Transfer of cholesterol from macrophages to lymphocytes in culture.

A major feature of macrophage metabolism is its capacity to produce and export cholesterol. Several reports have shown that the manipulation of lymphocyte cholesterol content elicits important changes in lymphocyte proliferation. These findings lead to an inquiry as to whether macrophage-derived cholesterol released into the lymphocyte surroundings may be transferred to the latter thus affecting lymphocyte function. In this study, cholesterol transfer from macrophages to lymphocytes was examined in vitro using rat cells in culture. The findings indicate that there may be a significant transfer of cholesterol from [4-14C]cholesterol labeled resident peritoneal macrophages to mesenteric lymph node resting lymphocytes (up to 173.9 +/- 2.7 pmol/10(7) lymphocytes/10(7) macrophages when co-cultivated for 48 h), in a lipoprotein-dependent manner. This represents the mass transfer of ca. 17 nmoles of cholesterol molecules per 10(7) lymphocytes from 10(7) macrophages (calculated on the basis of specific radioactivity incorporated into macrophages after the pre-labelling period), which suggests that macrophages are capable of replacing the whole lymphocyte cholesterol pool every 21 h. Moreover, an 111%-increase in the total cholesterol content of lymphocytes was found after co-cultivation with macrophages for 48 h. When compared to peritoneal cells, monocytes/macrophages obtained from circulating blood leukocytes presented a much higher cholesterol transfer capacity to lymphocytes (3.06 +/- 0.10 nmol/10(7) lymphocytes/10(7) macrophages co-cultivated for 24 h). Interestingly, inflammatory macrophages dramatically reduced their cholesterol transfer ability (by up to 91%, as compared to resident macrophages). Cholesterol transfer may involve a humoral influence, since it is not only observed when cells are co-cultivated in a single-well chamber system (cells in direct contact), but also in a two-compartment system (where cells can communicate but not by direct contact). Co-cultivation with macrophages decreased the basal incorporation of [2-14C]thymidine into lymphocyte DNA and the addition of cholesterol to lymphocyte culture media also impaired the lymphocyte proliferative response to the mitogens concanavalin A (Con A) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The above results suggest that macrophages may transfer cholesterol to lymphocytes (from both lymph nodes and blood), thus regulating lymphocyte function by raising the intracellular cholesterol content and suppressing lymphocyte proliferative activity. If this is so, a modulatory role for the transfer of cholesterol in both physiological (e.g. immune response) and pathological conditions (e.g. atherosclerosis) may be postulated. This hypothesis is currently under investigation in our laboratory.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Glutathione metabolism and glutathione S-conjugate export ATPase (MRP1/GS-X pump) activity in cancer. I. Differential expression in human cancer cell lines.

Mg(2+)-dependent vanadate-sensitive glutathione S-conjugate ATPase (GS-X pump) activity is a common feature of some ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, such as the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) gene product, that exports biologically active electrophiles after their conjugation with intracellular glutathione (GSH) from normal and cancer cells. Antitumor electrophiles (e.g. naturally occurring cyclopentenone prostaglandins and anticancer chemicals) can be intracellularly conjugated with GSH via a glutathione S-transferase catalyzed reaction and be eliminated through GS-X pumps thus threatening cancer chemotherapeutics. Since different sensitivities to antitumor electrophiles are shown by different cell types, the ability of several human cancer cell lines to produce and export S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-glutathione (DNP-SG) conjugate through the GS-X pump, using whole cells and inside-out membrane vesicle preparations, is investigated. Different cancer cell lines exhibited characteristically different GS-X pump activity. In particular, HEp-2 larynx carcinoma cells possess an elevated DNP-SG export rate through the GS-X pump compared with HeLa, K562, U937 or HL-60 cells, which exhibit the lowest activity. The differences in DNP-SG export rates are not due to decreased glutathione S-transferase activity or impaired de novo synthesis of GSH. The findings suggest that the GS-X pump may be involved in the modulation of the biological activity of both naturally occurring electrophiles and anticancer drugs. The differential expression of GS-X pumps may lead to an improved understanding of multidrug resistance and may be exploited in the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer patients.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1998

Effects of the antiproliferative cyclopentenone prostaglandin A1 on glutathione metabolism in human cancer cells in culture.

Homeostatic mechanisms for the maintenance of glutathione (GSH) are fundamental in the provision of a cellular defense against electrophilic/oxidant challenges. Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (CP-PGs) are powerful antiproliferative endogenous substances that may act as electrophilic regulating compounds, by virtue of the presence of an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group in the cyclopentane ring. Nevertheless, differential resistance to CP-PG cytotoxic/cytostatic effect has been reported in different cell types. It is reported that the activity/expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS, the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH biosynthesis) can be inducibly activated by electrophiles, including CP-PGs. The response of the human cancer strains HEp-2 (larynx carcinoma) and HL-60 (promyelocytic leukemia) cells to treatment with the CP-PG PGA1 in culture was investigated by evaluating the time-course of GSH synthesis and activity of enzymes of GSH metabolism, other than gamma-GCS, after PGA1 addition. HEp-2 cells, being more resistant to PGA1 cytotoxic and cytostatic effects, have basal GSH levels that were 2.4-fold higher than that of HL-60 cells. The activities of GSH S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GSRd) and glutathione peroxidase (GSPx) are constitutively higher in HL-60 cells than in HEp-2 cells (respectively, 17.0-, 28.5- and 12.3-fold). When challenged with PGA1, both cell types exhibited a dose-dependent rise in GSH content that was maximal 18 h after PGA1 addition and was preceded by a rise in GST and GSRd activities in both cell types (at 12 h). GSPx activity increased only in HEp-2 (PGA1 evoked a 93.4%-inhibition in HL-60 cells). Moreover only HEp-2 cells exhibited early capacity to enhance GSH content (1-2 h just after PGA1 addition). These results and earlier data showing that leukemia cells are sensitive to CP-PG treatment suggest that deficiencies in GSH metabolism may be strategically in therapeutic approaches to the treatment of human leukemias.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1998

Dietary fats alter the activity and expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in rat lymphoid cells and tissues.

The effect of diets enriched with fat containing different fatty acids on the activity and expression of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) of mesenteric lymph nodes lymphocytes and intraperitoneal macrophages was examined. Measurements of the enzyme were also performed using spleen, thymus and liver for comparison. The following fat rich diets containing a variety of fatty acids were used: 1-standard chow (CC); 2-medium chain saturated fatty acids (MS)-coconut fat-oil; 3-long chain saturated fatty acids (LS)-cocoa butter; 4-monounsaturated fatty acids (MU)-canola oil (n-9); 5-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PU)-soybean oil (n-6). Of the fat-rich diets tested, MS had the least effect. The G6PDH activity of lymphocytes was reduced by all the fat-rich diets; 16% for MS, 38% for LS, and 54% for MU. Similarly, the enzyme activity was reduced in macrophages; 35%, 86%, and 73%, for LS, MU, and PU, respectively. In contrast, the fat-rich diets elevated G6PDH activity in the lymphoid organs; by 42% in the spleen due to LS and by 131%, 35%, and 56% in the thymus due to LS, MU, and PU, respectively. Fat-rich diets decreased the activity of G6PDH in liver; 42%, 68%, and 39% for MS, MU, and PU, respectively. Some of the changes in G6PDH activity induced by the fat-rich diets occur through the mechanisms of mRNA abundance.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Effects of prostaglandins and nitric oxide on rat macrophage lipid metabolism in culture: implications for arterial wall-leukocyte interplay in atherosclerosis.

Macrophages/foam cells have a pivotal role in atherogenesis although little is known about the way lipid imbalance, a hallmark of atherosclerosis, leads to lipid accumulation in these cells. Modified low-density lipoproteins are associated with macrophage lipid dysfunction in atherosclerosis, but a possible role for altered lipogenesis leading to lipid accumulation remains to be elucidated. Since endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGs) are physiological autacoids whose production may be impaired in atherosclerosis, the effects of these mediators on de novo lipid synthesis in 24-h cultured rat peritoneal macrophages is investigated. In resident (unstimulated) cells, 1 microM PGE2 and the stable analog of PGI2 carbaprostacyclin (cPGI2, 1 microM) deviated the overall [1-14C]acetate from incorporation into cholesterol, free fatty acids and triacylglycerols favoring the formation of phospholipids. In inflammatory (thioglycollate-elicited) macrophages, these eicosanoids likewise reduced 14C-incorporations into all the lipid fractions tested. Also, cPGI2 and PGE2 reduced [4-14C]cholesterol uptake from inflammatory cells but did not interfere in 14C-cholesterol export. The PGE2-derivative PGA2 (10-20 microM) reduced 14C-incorporations into all the lipids in resident cells while it enhanced phospholipid synthesis by up to 129% at the expense of reduced incorporations into the other test lipids. The NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP, 1-10 microM), when added to macrophages in the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD, to avoid the reaction of superoxide with NO), significantly reduced lipogenesis especially in inflammatory cells. These findings suggest that endothelium-derived NO and PGs may be associated with macrophage lipid accumulation by modulating lipogenesis and cholesterol uptake within these cells.

Acetates↗

PubMed1998

Pivotal role of leptin in insulin effects.

The OB protein, also known as leptin, is secreted by adipose tissue, circulates in the blood, probably bound to a family of binding proteins, and acts on central neural networks regulating ingestive behavior and energy balance. The two forms of leptin receptors (long and short forms) have been identified in various peripheral tissues, a fact that makes them possible target sites for a direct action of leptin. It has been shown that the OB protein interferes with insulin secretion from pancreatic islets, reduces insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes, and increases glucose transport, glycogen synthesis and fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle. Under normoglycemic and normoinsulinemic conditions, leptin seems to shift the flux of metabolites from adipose tissue to skeletal muscle. This may function as a peripheral mechanism that helps control body weight and prevents obesity. Data that substantiate this hypothesis are presented in this review.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed1998

Changes in the TBARs content and superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the lymphoid organs and skeletal muscles of adrenodemedullated rats.

Thiobarbituric acid reactant substances (TBARs) content, and the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDh), citrate synthase (CS), Cu/Zn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were measured in the lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN)) and skeletal muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) of adrenodemedullated (ADM) rats. The results were compared with those obtained for sham-operated rats. TBARs content was reduced by adrenodemedullation in the lymphoid organs (MLN) (28%), thymus (40%) and spleen (42%)) and gastrocnemius muscle (67%). G6PDh activity was enhanced in the MLN (69%) and reduced in the spleen (28%) and soleus muscle (75%). CS activity was reduced in all tissues (MLN (75%), spleen (71%), gastrocnemius (61%) and soleus (43%)), except in the thymus which displayed an increment of 56%. Cu/Zn-SOD activity was increased in the MLN (126%), thymus (223%), spleen (80%) and gastrocnemius muscle (360%) and was reduced in the soleus muscle (31%). Mn-SOD activity was decreased in the MLN (67%) and spleen (26%) and increased in the thymus (142%), whereas catalase activity was reduced in the MLN (76%), thymus (54%) and soleus muscle (47%). It is particularly noteworthy that in ADM rats the activity of glutathione peroxidase was not detectable by the method used. These data are consistent with the possibility that epinephrine might play a role in the oxidative stress of the lymphoid organs. Whether this fact represents an important mechanism for the establishment of impaired immune function during stress remains to be elucidated.

Adrenal Medulla↗

PubMed1998

Leptin inhibits insulin-stimulated incorporation of glucose into lipids and stimulates glucose decarboxylation in isolated rat adipocytes.

Leptin is an adipocyte hormone involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Generally accepted biological effects of leptin are inhibition of food intake and stimulation of metabolic rate in ob/ob mice, that are defective in the leptin gene. In contrast to these centrally mediated effects of leptin, we are reporting here on leptin effects on glucose incorporation into lipids and glucose decarboxylation in adipocytes isolated from male lean albino rats. Adipocytes previously cultivated (15 h) in the presence of leptin presented a 25% (P < 0.05) reduction of the insulin stimulated incorporation of glucose into lipids. Concurrently, the basal conversion of (U-14C)D-glucose into 14CO2 increased (110%) in the leptin cultivated adipocytes and reached values (1.54 nmol/10(5) cells) similar to the insulin stimulated group (not cultivated with leptin) (1.40 nmol/10(5) cells). In addition, in the presence of insulin, the leptin cultivated adipocytes elicited a 162% (P < 0.05) increase in 14CO2 production that was significantly higher than the increase observed for the not-leptin-cultivated insulin group (92%). We conclude that leptin: 1) directly inhibits the insulin stimulated glucose incorporation into lipids; 2) stimulates glucose decarboxylation, and also potentiates the effect of insulin on glucose decarboxylation in isolated adipocytes. Leptin per se does not alter glucose incorporation into lipids.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed1998

Swimming-exercise increases the capacity of perfused rat liver to produce urea from ammonia and L-glutamine.

We designed this study to determine whether the capacity of the liver to uptake ammonia and produce urea was affected by exercise (swimming at 24 degrees C with a 2.5% extra body-weight load). For this purpose, livers from sedentary rats at rest were perfused with a buffer containing increasing concentration of NH4Cl. The maximal hepatic capacity to produce urea was found at an NH4Cl concentration of 0.25 mM. Based on this finding all experiments with livers obtained from rats subject to swimming exercise were also carried out with a NH4Cl concentration of 0.25 mM. Thus, employing this concentration of ammonia, livers from sedentary and endurance trained rats, (for a period of 11 days ), that had either been resting or had been subjected to swimming exercise for 5 min or until exhaustion, were perfused in situ and ammonia uptake and urea production were measured. Clearly, both parameters were increased by exercise. However, these changes were not affected by swimming training. In addition, we demonstrate that the effect of an acute exercise on hepatic metabolism is not restricted to ammonia metabolism since livers from sedentary rats which had been subjected to swimming exercise for 5 min or until exhaustion showed higher urea production from L-glutamine. Our results also suggest that part of the changes in ureogenesis induced by exercise is mediated by cortisol (increased ammonia uptake) and part of the changes is mediated by glucagon (urea production).

Ammonia↗

PubMed1998

Glutathione metabolism and glutathione S-conjugate export ATPase (MRP1/GS-X pump) activity in cancer. II. Cell-to-cell variability, relation with cellular activation state and functional absence of GS-X pump in lymphocytes.

A severe complication in late-stage cancer patients is host immunosuppression. It is suggested that overproduction of the highly cytostatic and cytotoxic antiproliferative cyclopentenone prostaglandins (CP-PGs) within the plasma of cancer-bearing subjects may contribute to immunosuppression. Lymphoid tissues of Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats accumulate large amounts of CP-PGs while the tumor tissue itself does not. Moreover, tumor cells may present differential sensitivity to CP-PGs due to the expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) gene product which shows a Mg(2+)-dependent vanadate-sensitive glutathione S-conjugate export ATPase (GS-X pump) activity that extrudes CP-PGs from cells as glutathione S-conjugates. In this study, the possibility that deficient GS-X pump activity in immune cells that may be involved in the accumulation of CP-PGs is investigated. Rat lymph node lymphocytes do not exhibit any notable activity even when mitogen-stimulated. Conversely, although rat peritoneal resident (quiescent) or thioglycollate-stimulated (inflammatory) macrophages exhibit low GS-X pump activity, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-activated macrophages show a notable rise in the activity of the ATPase, suggesting that the cellular activation state may modulate GS-X pump activity/expression and that, under appropriate stimuli (e.g., during immune response) macrophages may provide a self-defense against electrophilic CP-PGs by forming GS-conjugates that can be extruded from cells through the GS-X pump. ras oncogene expression may be linked with MRP1/GS-X pump expression/activity, since C2C12 promyoblasts transformed by v-H-ras transfection doubled GS-X pump activity. These results support the proposition that the accumulation of CP-PGs and the immunosuppression of tumor-bearing subjects may be attributed to a lack of GS-X pump activity/expression in lymphocytes.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1997

Gonadectomy impairs lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage function in male and female rats. Correlation with key enzyme activities of glucose and glutamine metabolism.

The effect of gonadectomy on lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage function (hydrogen peroxide production and phagocytosis capacity) of male and female rats was examined and the results correlated with the activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase and phosphate-dependent glutaminase. Also, the reversion of the changes by the treatment with oestrogen or progesterone or a combination of both was addressed. Taken as a whole, ovariectomy reduced hydrogen peroxide production and phagocytosis capacity by macrophages and also lymphocyte proliferation. Castration of male rats reduced the proliferation of lymphocytes and raised macrophage phagocytosis capacity. The effects on macrophage function were correlated with changes in glucose metabolism, particularly, in the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Fatty acid composition of lymphocytes and macrophages from rats fed fiber-rich diets: a comparison between oat bran- and wheat bran-enriched diets.

The effect of oat bran- (OBD) and wheat bran-enriched diets (WBD) on fatty acid composition of neutral lipids and phospholipids of rat lymphocytes and macrophages was investigated. In neutral lipids of lymphocytes, OBD reduced the proportion of palmitoleic acid (48%), whereas WBD reduced by 43% palmitoleic acid and raised oleic (18%), linoleic (52%), and arachidonic (2.5-fold) acids. In neutral lipids of macrophages, OBD increased palmitic (16%) and linoleic (29%) acids and slightly decreased oleic acid (15%). The effect of WBD, however, was more pronounced: It reduced myristic (60%), stearic (24%) and arachidonic (63%) acids, and it raised palmitic (30%) and linoleic (2.3-fold) acids. Neither OBD nor WBD modified the composition of fatty acids in phospholipids of lymphocytes. In contrast, both diets had a marked effect on composition of fatty acids in macrophage phospholipids. OBD raised the proportion of myristic (42%) and linoleic (2.4-fold) acids and decreased that of lauric (31%), palmitoleic (43%), and arachidonic (29%) acids. WBD increased palmitic (18%) and stearic (23%) acids and lowered palmitoleic (35%) and arachidonic (78%) acids. Of both cells, macrophages were more responsive to the effect of the fiber-rich diets on fatty acid composition of phospholipids. The high turnover of fatty acids in macrophage membranes may explain the differences between both cells. The modifications observed due to the effects of both diets were similar in few cases: an increase in palmitic and linoleic acids of total neutral lipids occurred and a decrease in palmitoleic and arachidonic acids of phospholipid. Therefore, the mechanism involved in the effect of both diets might be different.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Glucose metabolism in the erythrocytes of the buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

14CO2 production from [1-14C] glucose, the rate of glycolysis measured by the value of lactate production and the activities of various enzymes were determined in buffalo erythrocytes. Buffalo red cell glycolytic metabolites were estimated and used for the calculation of the mass action ratios of reactions catalyzed by the glycolytic enzymes of Bubalus bubalis. A comparison of the values of the mass action ratios with the equilibrium constants of the various glycolytic reactions indicate that hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate kinase reactions are displaced from equilibrium, suggesting a regulatory role for each of these enzymes in buffalo erythrocyte glycolysis.

Animals↗