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Relation between parental restrictions on movies and adolescent use of tobacco and alcohol.

CONTEXT: Viewing smoking and drinking in movies may prompt adolescents to initiate these behaviors. Movies with R ratings contain more smoking than do movies in all other rating categories. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent to which parents restrict the exposure of adolescents to R-rated movies and to determine whether such restrictions are associated with decreased tobacco and alcohol use in adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, self-administered survey. PARTICIPANTS: Students in grades 5 through 8 enrolled in New Hampshire and Vermont schools. SAMPLING STRATEGY: Fifteen schools in Vermont and New Hampshire were randomly selected from all middle schools with > or = 150 students. OUTCOME MEASURES: Students who had tried smoking cigarettes or tried drinking alcohol without parental knowledge. RESULTS: Of 4544 students surveyed, 18% had tried cigarettes and 23% had tried alcohol. Although 90% were younger than 14 years of age, only 16% were completely restricted from viewing R-rated movies. The prevalence of having tried smoking was 35% for those with no restrictions on viewing R-rated movies, 12% for those with partial restrictions, and 2% for those with complete restrictions. The prevalence of having tried alcohol was 46% for those with no restrictions on viewing R-rated movies, 16% for those with partial restrictions, and 4% for those with complete restrictions. Even after controlling for other factors, including grade, parental disapproval of smoking, maternal supervision, maternal responsiveness, peer and family smoking, and child personality characteristics, children who were completely restricted from viewing R-rated movies were significantly less likely to smoke (relative risk, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.45) or drink (relative risk, 0.30; CI, 0.21 to 0.42) compared with those who had no restrictions on viewing R-rated movies. CONCLUSION: Limiting the exposure of adolescents to R-rated movies may prevent early use of alcohol and tobacco.

Adolescent↗

Inhibition of skin tumor promotion by restriction of fat and carbohydrate calories in SENCAR mice.

The purpose of this research was to compare the influence of calorie restriction by removal of fat with calorie restriction by removal of carbohydrate on the promotion of skin tumorigenesis in mice. Female SENCAR mice were initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (10 nmol, single topical treatment) and fed calorie-restricted diets during and following promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (2 micrograms, topically, twice a week for 20 weeks). Control diet (American Institute of Nutrition-based formulation) was compared with a diet in which calories from fat and calories from carbohydrate were similar [balanced high fat (BHF)] in ad libitum-fed groups. Restricted animals were fed diets such that 35% of the calories from fat [high carbohydrate, calories restricted from fat (HCR)] or from carbohydrate (high fat, calories restricted from carbohydrate) were restricted, but other intake was equivalent to the BHF group. Results showed an inhibition of papilloma number in both restricted groups and the inhibition was greatest in the HCR mice. Larger papillomas were observed on mice in the control, BHF, and high-fat, calories restricted from carbohydrate diet groups than on mice in the HCR group. The pattern of carcinoma development was similar in the mice in the freely fed control and BHF groups. Restriction of calories from either fat or carbohydrate delayed the rate and reduced the incidence of carcinoma development. Carcinoma incidence did not differ between mice fed the high-fat, calories restricted from carbohydrate and HCR diets.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Cumulative sleepiness, mood disturbance, and psychomotor vigilance performance decrements during a week of sleep restricted to 4-5 hours per night.

To determine whether a cumulative sleep debt (in a range commonly experienced) would result in cumulative changes in measures of waking neurobehavioral alertness, 16 healthy young adults had their sleep restricted 33% below habitual sleep duration, to an average 4.98 hours per night [standard deviation (SD) = 0.57] for seven consecutive nights. Subjects slept in the laboratory, and sleep and waking were monitored by staff and actigraphy. Three times each day (1000, 1600, and 2200 hours) subjects were assessed for subjective sleepiness (SSS) and mood (POMS) and were evaluated on a brief performance battery that included psychomotor vigilance (PVT), probed memory (PRM), and serial-addition testing, Once each day they completed a series of visual analog scales (VAS) and reported sleepiness and somatic and cognitive/emotional problems. Sleep restriction resulted in statistically robust cumulative effects on waking functions. SSS ratings, subscale scores for fatigue, confusion, tension, and total mood disturbance from the POMS and VAS ratings of mental exhaustion and stress were evaluated across days of restricted sleep (p = 0.009 to p = 0.0001). PVT performance parameters, including the frequency and duration of lapses, were also significantly increased by restriction (p = 0.018 to p = 0.0001). Significant time-of-day effects were evident in SSS and PVT data, but time-of-day did not interact with the effects of sleep restriction across days. The temporal profiles of cumulative changes in neurobehavioral measures of alertness as a function of sleep restriction were generally consistent. Subjective changes tended to precede performance changes by 1 day, but overall changes in both classes of measure were greatest during the first 2 days (P1, P2) and last 2 days (P6, P7) of sleep restriction. Data from subsets of subjects also showed: 1) that significant decreases in the MSLT occurred during sleep restriction, 2) that the elevated sleepiness and performance deficits continued beyond day 7 of restriction, and 3) that recovery from these deficits appeared to require two full nights of sleep. The cumulative increase in performance lapses across days of sleep restriction correlated closely with MSLT results (r = -0.95) from an earlier comparable experiment by Carskadon and Dement (1). These findings suggest that cumulative nocturnal sleep debt had a dynamic and escalating analog in cumulative daytime sleepiness and that asymptotic or steady-state sleepiness was not achieved in response to sleep restriction.

Adult↗

Chronic food restriction and reduced dietary fat: risk factors for bouts of overeating.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of chronic food restriction and reduced dietary fat on feeding behavior and body weight. Young female rats were fed ad lib or food restricted on a low-fat (LF) or a fat-free (FF) diet for 4 weeks. Rats then received 24-h free access to 2 diets, the maintenance diet (LF or FF) plus a novel high-fat (HF) diet (24-h intake test). After the test, all the rats were allowed chronic free access to the HF diet until body weight was stable. During the 24-h test, the restricted groups ate significantly more calories than the ad lib groups, and the FF-restricted rats ate significantly more total food, carbohydrate and protein than the LF-restricted rats; there were no differences between the two ad lib groups. During chronic free access to the HF diet, the formerly restricted rats achieved and defended lower body weights than the formerly non-restricted rats. Throughout the experiment, the ad lib groups had more body fat than the restricted groups independent of the dietary subgroup. Hence, a history of chronic food restriction predisposes to consuming more food in acute feeding situations, particularly when dietary fat is reduced, and lowers the level of body weight maintained and defended. Chronic food restriction accompanied by reduced dietary fat may increase risk for bouts of overeating.

Animals↗

Restriction landmark genomic scanning method and its various applications.

We have developed a new genome scanning method (restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS), based on the new concept of using restriction enzyme sites as landmarks. RLGS employs direct end labeling of the genomic DNA digested with a restriction enzyme and two-dimensional electrophoresis with high-resolution. Its advantages are: (i) high-speed scanning ability, allowing simultaneous scanning of thousands of restriction landmarks; (ii) extension of the scanning field using different kinds of landmarks in an additional series of electrophoresis; (iii) application to any type of organism because of direct-labeling of restriction enzyme sites and no hybridization procedure; and (iv) reflection of the copy number of the restriction landmark by the spot intensity which enables distinction of haploid and diploid genomic DNAs. The RLGS method has various applications because it can be used to scan for physical genomic DNA states, such as amplification, deletion and methylation. The copy number of the locus of a restriction landmark can be estimated by the spot intensity to find either an amplified or deleted region. The methylation state of genomic DNA can also be discovered by use of a methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme sites as a restriction landmark (restriction landmark genomic scanning for screening methylated sites, RLGS-M). This article introduces the basic principle of RLGS and its applications to the analysis of cancer, mouse mutant DNAs and tissue-specific methylation, showing the usefulness of RLGS for a variety of biological fields.

Animals↗

Dietary protein restriction stress in the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) induces hypofunction and remodeling of adrenal steroidogenic tissue.

In the present study, we investigated the influence of dietary protein restriction stress on adrenal steroidogenic function of the domestic turkey. Immature male turkeys (2 weeks old) were fed isocaloric synthetic diets containing either 28% (control) or 8% (restriction) soy protein for 4 weeks. Trunk plasma was processed for the determination of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), corticosterone, aldosterone, and total 3, 5, 3'-triiodothyronine (T3). In addition, adrenal glands were processed for the isolation of defined, density-separable, adrenal steroidogenic cell subpopulations: three low-density adrenal steroidogenic cell subpopulations [LDAC-1 (rho = 1.0350-1.0490 g/ml). LDAC-2 (rho = 1.0490-1.0570 g/ml), and LDAC 3 (rho = 1.0370-1.0585 g/ml)] and a high-density subpopulation [HDAC (rho = 1.0590-1.0720 g/ml)], and the steroidogenic function of these cell subpopulations was evaluated. Protein restriction did not influence plasma ACTH However, it increased relative adrenal weight (mg/100 g body wt) (+37.8%) and plasma corticosterone (+317%). By contrast, it depressed plasma aldosterone (-51.2%). In addition, it caused a modest depression in plasma T3 (-25.9%). At the cellular level, protein restriction induced panhypofunction. Basal corticosteroid (aldosterone and corticosterone) production values of LDAC-1, -2, and -3 and HDAC from protein-restricted birds were, respectively, 42.9, 47.9, 30.8, and 57.5% less than those of corresponding cell subpopulations from control birds. In addition, maximal corticosteroid production values of LDAC-1, -2, and -3 and HDAC from protein-restricted birds, in response to ACTH, angiotensin II (AngII), and 25-hydroxycholesterol support, were depressed by 56.8, 55.1, 22.7, and 42.9%, respectively. Interestingly, LDAC-3 was relatively refractory to the influence of this stressor. By contrast, there was the lack of a concentration-dependent aldosterone response of LDAC-1 and -2 to AngII with protein restriction. This was not due to a failure in cell function since aldosterone responses of these cell subpopulations to ACTH and to 25-hydroxycholesterol support were apparent. In addition, the concentration of AngII receptors of cell subpopulations from protein-restricted turkeys, if anything, was greater than that of cell subpopulations from control turkeys. Protein restriction also altered the cell subpopulation composition of the adrenal gland: compared to control, it decreased the proportion of LDAC-2 by 42.3% and increased the proportion of LDAC-3 and HDAC by 68.7 and 302%, respectively. Thus, dietary protein restriction induces adrenal steroidogenic hypofunction in turkeys. In addition, the present study suggests that this nutritional stressor induces marked remodeling of the steroidogenic tissue in the turkey adrenal gland.

Adrenal Glands↗

The effect of restriction on shotgun cloning and plasmid stability in Bacillus subtilis Marburg.

Using the bifunctional cloning vehicle pHP13, which carries the replication functions of the cryptic Bacillus subtilis plasmid pTA1060, the effects of BsuM restriction on the efficiency of shotgun cloning of heterologous Escherichia coli DNA were studied. In a restriction-deficient but modification-proficient mutant of B. subtilis, clones were obtained at a high frequency, comparable to frequencies normally obtained in E. coli (10(4) clones per microgram target DNA). Large inserts were relatively abundant (26% of the clones contained inserts in the range of 6 to 15 kb), which resulted in a high average insert length (3.6 kb). In the restriction-proficient B. subtilis strain, the class of large inserts was underrepresented. Transformation of B. subtilis with E. coli-derived individual recombinant plasmids was affected by BsuM restriction in two ways. First, the transforming activities of recombinant plasmids carrying inserts larger than 4 kb, were, in comparison with the vector pHP13, reduced to varying degrees in the restricting host. The levels of the reduction increased with insert length, resulting in a 7800-fold reduction for the largest plasmid used (pC23; insert length 16 kb). Second, more than 80% of the pC23 transformants in the restricting strain contained a deleted plasmid. In the non-restricting strain, the transforming activities of the plasmids were fairly constant as a function of insert length (in the range of 0-16 kb), and no structural instability was observed. It is concluded that for shotgun cloning in B. subtilis, the use of restriction-deficient strains is highly preferable. Evidence is presented that in addition to XhoI other sequences are involved in BsuM restriction. It is postulated that AsuII sites are additional target sites for BsuM restriction.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in male Lewis rats subjected to calorie restriction.

This work analyzes the effect of calorie restriction on the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats. Plasma levels of ACTH, corticosterone, prolactin and growth hormone (GH) and mitogenic responses in submaxillary lymph nodes were measured. Male Lewis rats (6 weeks-old) were submitted to a calorie restriction equivalent to 66% of food restriction or to a normal diet. Fifteen days later, rats were injected with complete Freund's adjuvant plus spinal chord homogenate (SCH) or with complete Freund's adjuvant alone. Rats were monitored daily for clinical signs of EAE and were killed on day 15 after immunization. Only rats subjected to normal diet exhibited clinical signs of the disease. The increase in plasma ACTH and corticosterone found after SCH immunization in controls was not detectable in calorie restricted rats. Likewise, the correlation between circulating ACTH and corticosterone was no longer found after calorie restriction. Generally, calorie restriction by itself augmented plasma ACTH or corticosterone and this increase was not further amplified by SCH immunization. Only calorie restricted rats exhibited augmented plasma prolactin levels after SCH immunization, and decreased plasma GH levels regardless of immunization. Calorie restriction depressed the mitogenic response of lymphoid cells to concanavalin A but not to lipopolysaccharide. Calorie restricted rats did not exhibit augmented mitogenic response to concanavalin A following SCH immunization as those found in controls. The results are compatible with the view that the course of EAE can be significantly modified by caloric restriction.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Restriction enzyme-mediated DNA integration in Coprinus cinereus.

Restriction enzyme-mediated DNA integration (REMI) has recently received attention as a new technique for the generation of mutants by transformation in fungi. Here we analyse this method in the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus using the homologous pabI gene as a selectable marker and the restriction enzymes BamHI, EcoRI and PstI. Addition of restriction enzymes to transformation mixtures results in an earlier appearance of transformants and influences transformation rates in an enzyme- and concentration-dependent manner. Low concentrations of restriction enzyme result in increased numbers of transformation rates decrease with higher enzyme concentrations. If protoplasts are made from cells stored in the cold, the transformation rates drop drastically even in the presence of low amounts of enzyme. In several transformants, plasmid integration directly correlated with the action of restriction enzyme at random chromosomal restriction sites. In some cases, restriction enzymes appear to reduce the number of integration events per transformant. Simultaneously, mutation rates can be enhanced due to the presence of restriction enzymes. Although restriction enzymes clearly promote plasmid integration into the host genome they also have cytotoxic and possibly mutagenic effects that result from processes other than plasmid integration. In consequence, for any given enzyme used in REMI mutagenesis, the enzyme concentration that gives the highest number of transformants must be defined experimentally. Such optimal transformation conditions should give the highest probability of obtaining mutations caused by a single restriction enzyme-mediated integration of the selection marker.

Blotting, Southern↗

Restriction of bacteriophage plaque formation in Streptomyces spp.

Several Streptomyces species that produce restriction endonucleases were characterized for their ability to propagate 10 different broad host range bacteriophages. Each species displayed a different pattern of plaque formation. A restrictionless mutant of S. albus G allowed plaque formation by all 10 phages, whereas the wild-type strain showed plaques with only 2 phages. DNA isolated from three of the phages was analyzed for the presence of restriction sites for Streptomyces species-encoded enzymes, and a very strong correlation was established between the failure to form plaques on Streptomyces species that produced particular restriction enzymes and the presence of the corresponding restriction sites in the phage DNA. Also, the phages that lacked restriction sites in their DNA generally formed plaques on the corresponding restriction endonuclease-producing hosts at high efficiency. The DNAs from the three phages analyzed also generally contained either many or no restriction sites for the Streptomyces species-produced enzymes, suggesting a strong evolutionary trend to either eliminate all or tolerate many restriction sites. The data indicate that restriction plays a major role in host range determination for Streptomyces phages. Analysis of bacteriophage host ranges of many other uncharacterized Streptomyces hosts has identified four relatively nonrestricting hosts, at least two of which may be suitable hosts for gene cloning. The data also suggest that several restriction systems remain to be identified in the genus Streptomyces.

Bacteriophages↗

Phasic coronary flow characteristics in patients with constrictive pericarditis: comparison with restrictive cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Phasic coronary flow characteristics have been reported in patients with aortic valve disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in coronary flow characteristics between patients with constrictive pericarditis and those with restrictive cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study populations consisted of 7 case patients with constrictive pericarditis, 8 with restrictive cardiomyopathy, and 11 control subjects with chest pain and normal coronary arteries. Five minutes after injection of 3 mg of isosorbide dinitrate, phasic coronary flow velocity patterns were analyzed in the proximal segment of the angiographically normal left anterior descending coronary artery at rest using a 0.014-in, 15-MHz Doppler guidewire. Coronary flow reserve was obtained from the ratio of adenosine-induced (0.14 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) I.V.) hyperemic/baseline time-averaged peak velocity. Although in case patients with constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy maximal hyperemic time-averaged peak velocity (21+/-8 and 31+/-17 versus 60+/-19 cm/s, respectively; P<.001) and coronary flow reserve (1.3+/-0.4 and 1.6+/-0.6 versus 3.6+/-0.4, respectively, P<.001) were significantly lower than in control subjects, there were no significant differences in these indexes between the two groups of case patients. Velocity half-time of diastolic flow velocity corrected by square root(RR), which indicates deceleration of diastolic flow, in the groups of case patients with constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy was significantly less than that in control subjects (6.2+/-2.6 and 10.6+/-1.5 versus 16.9+/-2.7, respectively; P<.001); this was also significantly smaller in constrictive pericarditis than restrictive cardiomyopathy (P<.001). This index <9.5 could distinguish constrictive pericarditis from restrictive cardiomyopathy with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 88%. Furthermore, time from the beginning of diastole to diastolic peak velocity corrected by square root(RR) indicating acceleration of diastolic flow velocity in constrictive pericarditis was significantly less than that in restrictive cardiomyopathy and control subjects (2.8+/-1.2 versus 4.8+/-0.8 and 4.4+/-0.6, respectively; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although coronary flow reserve is limited in both constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy because of restriction of hyperemic response, rapid acceleration and more rapid deceleration of diastolic flow velocity are more characteristic in constrictive pericarditis than in restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗

S-adenosyl-L-methionine is required for DNA cleavage by type III restriction enzymes.

The requirement of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) in the cleavage reaction carried out by type III restriction-modification enzymes has been investigated. We show that DNA restriction by EcoPI restriction enzyme does not take place in the absence of exogenously added AdoMet. Interestingly, the closely related EcoP15I enzyme has endogenously bound AdoMet and therefore does not require the addition of the cofactor for DNA cleavage. By employing a variety of AdoMet analogs, which differ structurally from AdoMet, this study demonstrates that the carboxyl group and any substitution at the epsilon carbon of methionine is absolutely essential for DNA cleavage. Such analogs could bring about the necessary conformational change(s) in the enzyme, which make the enzyme proficient in DNA cleavage. Our studies, which include native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, molecular size exclusion chromatography, UV, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, clearly demonstrate that the holoenzyme and apoenzyme forms of EcoP15I restriction enzyme have different conformations. Furthermore, the Res and Mod subunits of the EcoP15I restriction enzyme can be separated by gel filtration chromatography in the presence of 2 M NaCl. Reconstitution experiments, which involve mixing of the isolated subunits, result in an apoenzyme form, which is restriction proficient in the presence of AdoMet. However, mixing the Res subunit with Mod subunit deficient in AdoMet binding does not result in a functional restriction enzyme. These observations are consistent with the fact that AdoMet is required for DNA cleavage. In vivo complementation of the defective mod allele with a wild-type mod allele showed that an active restriction enzyme could be formed. Furthermore, we show that while the purified c2-134 mutant restriction enzyme is unable to cleave DNA, the c2-440 mutant enzyme is able to cleave DNA albeit poorly. Taken together, these results suggest that AdoMet binding causes conformational changes in the restriction enzyme and is necessary to bring about DNA cleavage.

Alleles↗

Effects of water restriction on digestive function in two macropodid marsupials from divergent habitats and the feral goat.

The effects of water restriction on digestive function in the euro (Macropus robustus erubescens) found in the arid zone of inland Australia, the eastern wallaroo (M.r.robustus) from more mesic regions of eastern Australia, and the feral goat (Capra hircus) found throughout the range of M. robustus, were compared in order to examine some physiological adaptations required by herbivores for the exploitation of arid environments. Eight animals of each species were held in individual metabolism cages in temperature-moderated rooms and given a chopped hay diet ad libitum. Half the animals were restricted to 40 ml water.kg-0.80.day-1. This was 40%, 32% and 57% of voluntary drinking water intake in the euro, wallaroo and goat, respectively. All species responded to water restriction by reducing faecal, urinary and evaporative water losses in association with reductions in feed intake. All animals increased urine osmolality and electrolyte concentrations but not to maximal levels, while packed-cell volume and plasma osmolality and electrolyte concentrations were unaffected by water restriction. The euro displayed a suite of characteristics that separated it from the wallaroo in terms of physiological adaptation, including lower voluntary water intake, an increase in fibre digestibility and maintenance of nitrogen balance during water restriction, and lower faecal water efflux associated with a consistently lower faecal water content (54% versus 59% water in the wallaroo during water restriction, P < 0.05). The euro's colon was 37% longer (P < 0.01) than that of the wallaroo. The goat had the lowest faecal water efflux (P < 0.05) and the longest colon (P < 0.001). Water restriction did not affect water content in digesta, nor short-chain fatty acid concentrations or production rates in vitro. Total body water, as a proportion of body mass, was depressed (P < 0.05) in the macropodids, but not in the goat. The reduction in dietary nitrogen intake, which accompanied water restriction, was partially compensated by an increase in urea degradation in the gut from 68% to 76% of urea synthesis water-restricted macropodids. These responses to water restriction are discussed in relation to those reported in other macropodid and ruminant species.

Animals↗

Specific amino acid restriction inhibits attachment and spreading of human melanoma via modulation of the integrin/focal adhesion kinase pathway and actin cytoskeleton remodeling.

We had previously found that selective restriction of amino acids inhibits invasion of human A375 melanoma. Integrins, cell surface receptors for the components of extracellular matrix (ECM), are activated during cell adhesion and spreading, and initiate signaling pathways that control growth and invasion of tumor cells. We examined the effect of tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe), methionine (Met) or glutamine (Gln) restriction on attachment and spreading of A375 and MeWo melanoma cell lines on fibronectin and laminin. In A375 cells, restriction of Tyr/Phe or Met inhibited attachment to and spreading on laminin and fibronectin, inhibited alpha3 and alpha4 integrin expression, and inhibited accumulation of FAK-Tyr397 and F-actin at leading edges of cell protrusions. Tyr/Phe restriction also inhibited attachment-induced autophosporylation of FAK-Tyr397. In MeWo cells, the order of inhibition by amino acid restriction on cell attachment and spreading was as follows: Gln > Tyr/Phe > Met. Restriction of Gln reduced alpha5 integrin expression. All amino acid restrictions similarly inhibited phosphorylation of FAK-Tyr397, FAK-Tyr577, FAK-Tyr861 and paxillin-Tyr31. Gln restriction exhibited the strongest inhibition of actin cytoskeleton remodeling during the cell spreading. The present study reveals that specific amino acid restriction inhibits attachment and spreading of melanoma via inhibition of specific integrin expression, inhibition of integrin-mediated FAK phosphorylation, and modulation of actin cytoskeleton remodeling. These data provide additional understanding of the mechanism by which specific amino acid restriction controls invasion and migration of melanoma.

Amino Acids↗

Food ingestion is more important to plasma corticosterone dynamics than water intake in rats under restricted daily feeding.

The roles of food and/or water ingestion in the regulation of plasma corticosterone level were examined in rats under restricted daily feeding. When the time of food-pellets and water supply was restricted to 2 hours in the early light period (meal feeding) for 2 weeks, the corticosterone level increased prior to meal (prefeeding peak). A similar prefeeding hormone peak was observed when supply of food-pellets was restricted to 2 hours with free-access to water (food restriction). In contrast, when water supply was restricted to 2 hours with free-access to food-pellets (water restriction), the hormone level before water supply did not increase as much as that under meal feeding or food restriction. Shortening of an available time for water under water restriction or prolongation of the restriction schedule failed to elevate the hormone level furthermore. On the other hand, the high prefeeding corticosterone level before meal decreased subsequently to meal feeding (prandial fall), which was not observed when rats were kept fasting during the meal time. This prandial fall of the hormone level was not observed by water intake alone, and closely related to food-pellets ingestion. It is concluded that food ingestion is more important than water intake to the formation of the prefeeding corticosterone peak and to the prandial fall of the hormone level under restricted daily feeding.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

An HLA-DRB alpha-helix motif shared by DR11 and DR8 alleles is implicated in the pluriallelic restriction of peptide-specific T-cell lines.

The T-cell recognition of HLA-DR-peptide complexes is generally restricted by the polymorphism of the DRB molecules but pluriallelic restriction has been described. The molecular basis of restriction and promiscuity of such peptide-specific responses is poorly understood. We isolated a panel of T-cell lines specific for the tetanus toxin peptide p2 (TT830-843) exhibiting pluriallelic restriction by DR11 and DR8 alleles. Fine restriction specificity of the T-cell lines was examined in functional assays against DR oligotyped APCs expressing different variants of DR11 and DR8 alleles. Our results show that (a) polymorphisms between serologically related alleles are relevant in terms of restriction of the peptide-specific T-cell response; in some instances, a single amino acid substitution can determine the restriction of a T-cell line; (b) different patterns of restriction are not the result of specific differences in DR-p2 binding as p2 peptide binds to all DR11 and DR8 alleles tested (DRB1* 1101, -1102, -1103, -1104, 110X, -0801, -0802, -0803, and -0806); and (c) pluriallelic restriction of the peptide-specific T-cell response correlates with the presence of a DRB1 alpha-helix motif (67-71-86) shared by some DR11 and DR8 alleles. Possible implications of pluriallelic restriction of peptide-specific T-cell response in autoimmune disorders associated with DR11 and DR8 are discussed.

Alleles↗

Effects of caloric restriction on rodent drug and carcinogen metabolizing enzymes: implications for mutagenesis and cancer.

Caloric restriction in rodents results in increased longevity and a decreased rate of spontaneous and chemically induced neoplasia. The low rates of spontaneous neoplasia and other pathologies have made calorically restricted rodents attractive for use in chronic bioassays. However, caloric restriction also alters hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme (DME) expression and so may also alter the biotransformation rates of test chemicals. These alterations in DME expression may be divided into two types: (1) those that are the direct result of caloric restriction itself and are detectable from shortly after the restriction is initiated; (2) those which are the result of pathological conditions that are delayed by caloric restriction. These latter alterations do not usually become apparent until late in the life of the organism. In rats, the largest direct effect of caloric restriction on liver DMEs is an apparent de-differentiation of sex-specific enzyme expression. This includes a 40-70% decrease in cytochrome P450 2C11 (CYP2C11) expression in males and a 20-30% reduction of corticosterone sulfotransferase activity in females. Changes in DME activities that occur late in life in calorically restricted rats include a stimulation of CYP2E1-dependent 4-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity and a delay in the disappearance of male-specific enzyme activities in senescent males. It is probable that altered DME expression is associated with altered metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens. For example the relative expression of hepatic CYP2C11 in ad libitum-fed or calorically restricted rats of different ages is closely correlated with the amount of genetic damage in 2-acetylaminofluorene- or aflatoxin B1-pretreated hepatocytes isolated from rats of the same age and caloric intake. This suggests that altered hepatic drug and carcinogen metabolism in calorically restricted rats can influence the carcinogenicity of test chemicals.

Animals↗

A molecular variant of angiotensinogen is associated with idiopathic intrauterine growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: Intrauterine growth restriction has been associated with failed maternal physiologic changes such as abnormal spiral artery remodeling and reduced maternal blood volume. A polymorphism of angiotensinogen Thr235 has been considered a risk factor for preeclampsia. We genotyped maternal and fetal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for angiotensinogen Thr235 to estimate whether the polymorphism is also a risk factor for intrauterine growth restriction. METHODS: We examined maternal blood DNA in 174 patients with intrauterine growth restriction and 60 patients with both preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The control group comprised 400 consecutive cases of women with term pregnancies and infants with birth weight between the fifth and 95th percentiles. We also examined 162 DNA samples from fetal blood with intrauterine growth restriction for the Thr235 polymorphism, and 240 normal fetuses were used as the control group. The angiotensinogen genotype was determined using mutagenically separated polymerase chain reaction. The products were size fractionated on an agarose gel. Angiotensinogen genotypes were divided into three groups: MM (homozygous for angiotensinogen Met235 allele), TT (homozygous for angiotensinogen Thr235 allele), and MT (heterozygous). RESULTS: Maternal genotyping revealed a significantly higher Thr235 allele frequency in intrauterine growth restriction (.60) and preeclampsia/intrauterine growth restriction (.63) than in the control group (.36) (P <.001). Fetal genotyping revealed a Thr235 allele frequency of.59 in intrauterine growth restriction fetuses, as compared with the control group (.38) (P <.001). CONCLUSION: Maternal and fetal angiotensinogen Thr235 genotypes are associated with an increased risk of intrauterine growth restriction in our study population. The angiotensinogen Thr235 allele may predispose women to deliver growth-restricted fetuses.

Adolescent↗