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[Thymus-hypophysis-thyroid interrelation in rats after administration of a heterologous extract of thymus gland].

The Authors have investigated the effects of a thymus chromatographic fraction on TSH, T3, T4 serum values in thyroidectomized and normal controls rats before and after thymus treatment. The decrease in TSH values of thyroidectomized rats points out a possible inhibitory effect which the thymus extract may have at either the level of the adenohypophysis or hypothalamus. Moreover the TSH values in the euthyroid rats after thymus treatment showed a slight decrease, this changes are much more evident in the thyroidectomized rats after thymus treatment. In fact the plasma TSH of thyroidectomized rats drops from 97.5 +/- 4 microU/ml before thymus treatment, to 76.25 +/- 10 microU/ml after thymus treatment.

Animals↗

Resolution of synthetic Holliday junctions in DNA by an endonuclease activity from calf thymus.

Extracts of calf thymus have been fractionated to reveal a nuclease activity that specifically cleaves model Holliday junctions in vitro. The products of cleavage are unbranched linear duplex DNA molecules. Using synthetic four-way junctions, we show that the major sites of cutting are diametrically opposed, at sites one nucleotide from the base of the junction. Other types of four-way junctions, including pseudo-cruciform structures and cruciforms extruded from supercoiled plasmids, are also cleaved by the nuclease. The Mr of the partially purified activity, determined by gel filtration, is approximately 75,000. The calf thymus enzyme provides the first example of an endonuclease from a higher eukaryote that acts specifically on branch points in DNA, and indicates that junction-resolving proteins are normal constituents of somatic cells.

Animals↗

Antispasmodic activity of Thymus vulgaris extract on the isolated guinea-pig trachea: discrimination between drug and ethanol effects.

The effect of an extract of Thymus vulgaris on induced spasms was investigated on guinea-pig trachea preparations. By the experimental setup used, effects of ethanol as the vehicle could be differentiated from the activity of the herbal constituents. The extract reversibly and concentration-dependently antagonized the contraction of the Musculus transversus tracheae, provoked by four different spasmogens (BaCl2, carbachol, histamine, prostaglandin F2 alpha). The degree of the antispasmodic activity was dependent on the individual spasmogen with prostaglandin F2 alpha being most efficiently antagonized.

Animals↗

Effects on rat uterine and aorta strip smooth muscle of Thymus leptophyllus extract.

The diethylether extract from Thymus leptophyllus was found to be more active on uterine smooth muscle than on aorta strips. Rat uterus experiments with and without extracellular calcium, yielded similar IC50 values. A nonspecific mechanism for the relaxant activity can therefore be postulated. In rat aorta and in the presence of extracellular calcium the extract inhibited the contractile response induced by K+ depolarizing solution and had a less inhibitory effect on noradrenaline (NA) contraction. In a Ca(2+)-free solution the extract strongly reduced the Ca(2+)-release induced by NA, but it did not affect the transient contraction caused by caffeine (CAF).

Acetylcholine↗

Anti-thyroid activity of purified thymus gland extract in male Wistar rats.

The effect of a purified bovine thymus gland extract (Dr. Kurt Mulli, GmbH, Hamburg, West Germany) was studied in 12-week old male Wistar rats on the following: thyroid weights and morphology, T3-T4 serum levels, thyroid lactic dehydrogenase, ATP-ase, acid phosphatase, and non-specific esterase activities. Thymus extract was administered intramuscularly daily for 21 days at doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ml/kg. Measurements were made on day 3, 7, 14 and 21 of treatment. Thyroid histology and enzyme activity were studied only on 21-day specimens. Thymus extract significantly decreased average thyroid gland weights in a dose-dependent manner irrespective of treatment duration. T3 serum levels were consistently lower in thymus-treated rats irrespective of treatment dose or duration. Changes from control levels were not statistically significant due to large standard deviations. T4 serum levels were significantly lower than control levels in rats treated with thymus extract for 14 and 21 days. Histology of thyroids from 21-day treated animals revealed a marked reduction in both thyroid follicle size and colloid content with an increase in connective tissue, resorption vacuoles and hyperemia. Histochemical study of thyroid enzyme activity showed lactic dehydrogenase increase in follicle epithelial cells, acid phosphatase increase in follicle epithelial cells and decrease in interstitium, ATP-ase increase in granular storage area and non-specific esterase increase in follicle epithelial cell. The data suggest the presence of an unidentified specific anti-thyroid factor(s) in the thymus gland extract.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Inhibition of Aeromonas caviae and A. sobria by sodium choloride, citric acid, ascorbic acid, potassium sorbate and extracts of Thymus vulgaris.

The respective and combined effects of sodium chloride, ascorbic acid, citric acid, potassium sorbate, and Thymus vulgaris extract on the growth of Aeromonas caviae and Aeromonas sobria were investigated. Sodium chloride (3%) significantly reduced the growth and 4% NaCl inhibited growth of the tested strains. Ascorbic acid (0. 1%), potassium sorbate (0.05%), and citric acid (0.03%) slightly inhibited growth. T. vulgaris extract (0.3%) greatly reduced the growth. Various combinations of these compounds prevented growth of the tested strains. A combination of NaCl (3%) and ascorbic acid (0. 1%), citric acid (0.03%) and potassium sorbate (0.05%), or citric acid (0.03%) and ascorbic acid (0.1%) inhibited growth of A. caviae and A. sobria. In fish homogenates, the addition of ascorbic acid (0. 1%) and citric acid (0.03%) was the most effective combination tested.

Aeromonas↗

Pharmacological properties of the extract of thymus gland (Thymomodulin-TFX) and its effect on reproduction.

The effect of Thymomodulin-TFX on pentetrazole convulsions, tremorine-induced tremor, pain response to intraperitoneal acetic acid injection, hexobarbital sleeping time, isolated guinea pig ileum, isolated rat uterus, rabbit skeletal muscle response, diuresis and corneal response was tested. In addition the effect of TFX on reproduction of albino rats was investigated. In doses up to 20 mg/kg, 8 times higher than clinical doses, TFX did not reveal any unwanted effects. The results of tests widen the security margin for TFX's usage.

Animals↗

Stimulation of anti-influenza serum antibody formation in the rat using bovine thymus polypeptide extract.

The authors show that a thymus polypeptide extract, TP1, prepared by them has the effedt of stimulating the formation of anti-influenza serum antibodies and do not show antigenic properties. The extract causes increase of serum lymphocytes. Electrophoretic analysis in polyacrylamide gel reveals a number of 11 fraction, while paper chromatography for amino acids, a number of 12 spots.

Amino Acids↗

[Isolation, purification and identification of an immunomodulating polypeptide from human and calf thymus].

A comparison of human and calf thymus extracts was carried out. The thymus extracts and the fractions isolated from them differ in their physico-chemical properties, amino acid composition and biological activity. The extracts tested contain different amounts of the thymus factor, which stimulates the reactions of cellular and humoral immunity. The results obtained suggests that calf and human thymus contain only one immunomodulating factor, namely thymarin, a component of thymus extracts from various sources, in particular of thymosin. In some of its physico-chemical properties thymarin is similar to histone H1 from calf thymus, thus suggesting an essential role of this histone in the formation and differentiation of T-lymphocytes. A possibility of quantitative estimation and identification of the immunomodulating polypeptide in thymus extracts obtained by various methods is postulated.

Animals↗

In vivo topical anti-inflammatory and in vitro antioxidant activities of two extracts of Thymus satureioides leaves.

Four extracts at increasing polarity were prepared from the leaves of Thymus satureioides Coss. (Labiatae) and assayed for the in vivo topical anti-inflammatory effect using the croton oil ear test in mice, and for in vitro both antioxidant (DPPH degrees test) and anti-bacterial (broth microdilution method) activities. The chloroform extract showed a topical anti-inflammatory activity (ID50=282 microg cm(-2)), only three times lower than that of the reference drug indomethacin (ID50=93 microg cm(-2)) and its active components were identified as ursolic and oleanolic acids. The methanol extract, showing a significant radical-scavenging effect (SC50=14.54 microg), was characterized by the isolation and identification of some flavonoids. On the contrary, the extracts did not show any anti-bacterial effect against four standard aerobial bacteria strains.

Administration, Topical↗

Immunoreactivity of aqueous extracts of rat and mouse tissue with anti-thymosin alpha 1, anti-bovine thymopoietin and anti-thymulin antibodies. Studies using immunoblotting.

Anti-thymosin alpha 1 monoclonal antibodies recognized, on immunoblots, 1 to 2 bands corresponding to molecules of 34 and 35 Kd when using aqueous extracts of thymus, spleen, kidney, liver, brain, pituitary and adrenal glands from rats or mice. Anti-bovine thymopoietin polyclonal antibodies, in the same conditions, labelled analogous 34, 35 and 35.5 Kd molecules in brain and thymus extracts but also a 40 Kd molecules in thymus and a 90 Kd in brain extracts. Anti-synthetic thymulin monoclonal antibodies recognized irregularly and poorly a 52 Kd molecule from thymus and brain extracts. These results suggest that thymopoietin, thymulin and specially Thymosin alpha 1 are first synthesized in large precursors. Finally, other organs seem capable of synthesizing thymosin alpha 1 and probably thymopoietin, but for thymulin, the results are too irregular to conclude.

Animals↗

Further purification and chemical characterization of the lymphocyte-inhibiting-factor extracted from thymus (LIFT).

A thymic extract which was previously demonstrated to contain a lymphocyte-inhibiting-factor (LIFT) based on its immunosuppressive activity in vivo and its antiproliferative properties on lymphocytes in vitro, has been purified using ultrafiltration procedures. Most of the activity measured by the ability to inhibit DNA synthesis in short term cultures of mouse thymocytes, was recovered in the 10,000-50,000 m. wt fraction (I fraction). In contrast, similar extracts from non-lymphoid organs were always ineffective in decreasing DNA synthesis in thymocytes. The I fraction was also inhibitory of DNA synthesis in mouse spleen cells stimulated by PHA whatever the time at which the fraction was added after the mitogen stimulation. This fraction, as well as the crude thymic extract, was ineffective in decreasing DNA synthesis in non-lymphoid target cells. The I fraction was further purified by Sephadex G50 filtration and DEAE Sephadex chromatography. The active molecule seemed to be a heat resistant basic peptide probably bound to a ribonucleotide moiety.

Animals↗

Characterization of RNP and Sm ribonucleoprotein nuclear antigens.

Antibodies to the RNase-sensitive RNP and to the RNase-resistant Sm nuclear antigens were used to affinity purify these antigens from a saline extract of rabbit thymus acetone powder. Determination of the protein subunits recovered by either glycine-HCl, pH 2.8, or 2.5 M MgCl2 elution on gradient sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis containing mercaptoethanol revealed that RNP was composed of five proteins with mol. wts from 10,000 to 15,000 whereas Sm contained the same or similar five chains plus six additional subunits with mol. wts from 21,000 to 42,000. RNase treatment of the thymus extract increased the recovery in Sm of the same bands compared to untreated extract. Thus, RNP and Sm appear to have different numbers of protein components and RNP may be a subset of Sm. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of the 125I-labeled, pH 2.8 eluted antigens gave peaks of 3 and 6S for RNP and Sm, respectively. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of the crude untreated thymus extract followed by quantitative single radial immunodiffusion analysis of each fraction produced a broad peak from 16S to the top of the gradient while pretreatment of the extract with RNase resulted in a discrete 6S peak. These results indicate that in rabbit thymus acetone powder native RNP and Sm exist as larger polydisperse complexes with additional material including RNA and that after acid elution or RNase treatment the antigens are found in a smaller monodisperse form.

Antigens↗

[Original studies on anti-tumor and immunological effect of extracts from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-tumor and immunological effect of extracts from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak on mice transplanted S180 tumor cells. METHODS: Different doses of volatile oil and alcohol extracted substances from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak were given to mice bearing S180 tumor for 9 days. Tumor inhibition rates and coefficients of spleen and thymus were determined. RESULTS: Tumor inhibition rates of the groups with alcohol extracts (40 g crude drug.kg(-1).d(-1) and 20 g crude drug.kg(-1).d(-1)) were 51.5% (P<0.01) and 36.4% (P<0.05) respectively, and those of the groups with volatile oil (40 g crude drug.kg(-1).d(-1) and 20 g crude drug.kg(-1).d(-1))were both 39.4% (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The extracts from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak have anti-tumor activities. The coefficient of spleen in group with alcohol extracts (40 g crude drug.kg(-1).d(-1))was close to normal value, and its coefficient of thymus was between that of the negative control group and the group with cyclophosphamide (0.02 g.kg(-1).d(-1)). The anti-tumor activity of the alcohol extracts was significantly higher than that of the control group and the tumor inhibition rate was depending on drug concentration. Depending on index of immunity,the extracts from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak may have some influences on immunity.

Animals↗