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Tumor necrosis factor-alpha as a contributor in fumonisin B1 toxicity.

Fumonisin B1 is a toxic product of Fusarium moniliforme, which inhibits ceramide synthase, leading to accumulation of free sphingoid bases. Despite its known biochemical action, the mechanism of toxicity is not fully understood. Male BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously with 0 to 6.75 mg/kg/day of fumonisin B1 for 5 days. One day after the last treatment, spleens were collected, and peritoneal macrophages were obtained from separate groups after an intraperitoneal injection of thioglycolate broth. Peripheral leukocyte counts were increased and kidney weights were decreased by fumonisin B1 treatment. Presence of apoptotic cells in the liver and kidney of treated mice was confirmed by enzymatic immunoassay. Macrophages cultured with lipopolysaccharide indicated an increased secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) but not of interleukin-1alpha. No effect was seen on interferon-gamma production when splenocytes were incubated with concanavalin A. Elevation of leukocyte and reticulocyte counts was abrogated by pretreatment with anti-TNF-alpha antibody before a single dose of fumonisin B1 (25 mg/kg), supporting the hypothesis that the fumonisin B1 toxicity involves TNF-alpha. Cultures of J774A.1 cells, when treated with fumonisin B1, produced TNF-alpha in vitro. Results indicate that fumonisin B1 toxicity may involve secretion of TNF-alpha by TNF-alpha-producing cells without altering interleukin-1alpha or interferon-gamma. The influence on TNF-alpha-production may be a contributing factor to fumonisin B1-induced apoptosis and other observed toxic effects in animals.

Animals↗

Furan-2-ylmethylene thiazolidinediones as novel, potent, and selective inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma.

Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), in particular PI3Kgamma, have become attractive drug targets for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here, we disclose a novel series of furan-2-ylmethylene thiazolidinediones as selective, ATP-competitive PI3Kgamma inhibitors. Structure-based design and X-ray crystallography of complexes formed by inhibitors bound to PI3Kgamma identified key pharmacophore features for potency and selectivity. An acidic NH group on the thiazolidinedione moiety and a hydroxy group on the furan-2-yl-phenyl part of the molecule play crucial roles in binding to PI3K and contribute to class IB PI3K selectivity. Compound 26 (AS-252424), a potent and selective small-molecule PI3Kgamma inhibitor emerging from these efforts, was further profiled in three different cellular PI3K assays and shown to be selective for class IB PI3K-mediated cellular effects. Oral administration of 26 in a mouse model of acute peritonitis led to a significant reduction of leukocyte recruitment.

Acute Disease↗

The p17 cleaved form of caspase-3 is present within viable macrophages in vitro and in atherosclerotic plaque.

OBJECTIVE: In vitro studies of macrophage death in response to oxidized LDL (oxLDL) were undertaken as a model for the formation of the necrotic core of atherosclerotic plaque. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages avidly incorporated both oxLDL and acetylated LDL (acLDL) to become foam cells. oxLDL-treated macrophages, but not acLDL-treated macrophages, showed nearly 100% death, with characteristics consistent with apoptosis, including cell surface phosphatidylserine exposure, intracellular caspase-3 activity, cleavage of caspase-3 substrates, and DNA fragmentation, as shown by TUNEL assay. The activated form of caspase-3 (p17 cleaved form) was present in attached, viable macrophages before exposure to oxLDL. This p17 form was also found in apparently viable as well as in TUNEL-positive cells within atherosclerotic lesions of chow-fed apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice. The amount of p17 caspase-3 was reduced by in vitro blockade of FasL with an FasL-blocking antibody and was absent in macrophages from lpr/lpr mice, which lack functional Fas. Moreover, lpr/lpr macrophages resisted oxLDL cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The naturally occurring Fas-FasL induction of caspase-3 cleavage after macrophage attachment may represent an important physiologic mechanism that primes for cytotoxicity by oxLDL and possibly, other death-inducing molecules.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

Metabolic and functional changes in lymphocytes and macrophages as induced by ageing.

Key enzyme activities of glycolysis, pentosephosphate pathway, Krebs cycle, and glutaminolysis were measured in lymphocytes and macrophages of 3- and 15-month-old rats from the control, thioglycollate-injected, and Walker 256 tumor-implanted groups. The percentage of phagocytosis, phagocytic index, and production of H2O2 in macrophages and the rates of [2-14C]-thymidine and [5-3H]-uridine incorporation in cultured lymphocytes were also determined. The results indicate that the percentage of phagocytosis was not affected but the phagocytic index increased by twofold as a consequence of ageing, whereas the production of H2O2 reduced. The rates of both [2-14C]-thymidine and [5-3H]-uridine incorporation in lymphocytes from aged rats were lower as compared to those of mature animals in the three groups. Taken as a whole, the results of enzyme activities suggest that ageing may reduce the capacity for glucose utilization in lymphocytes and macrophages under the three conditions. Lymphocyte and macrophage glutamine metabolism was not markedly affected by ageing. Therefore, an impaired glucose metabolism during ageing may be one important mechanism for the alteration in lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage phagocytosis observed and also for the modification of the response to inflammatory and tumor challenges.

Aging↗

Macronutrient selection following 2-deoxy-D-glucose and mercaptoacetate administration in rats.

Mercaptoacetate (MA) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), which block fatty acid oxidation and glucose utilization respectively, were injected in rats that were maintained on a macronutrient self-selection diet consisting of separate jars of carbohydrate, protein, and fat. Rats were divided into two groups based on their baseline preference for carbohydrate or fat. MA increased intake of carbohydrate and protein and decreased intake of fat regardless of the rats' baseline preference. 2-DG increased intake of carbohydrate in rats regardless of baseline preference. Protein and fat intakes were not changed after 2-DG administration. If fat was the only macronutrient source available, 2-DG treated rats consumed significantly more fat compared to the saline control, whereas MA treated rats did not. When protein was the only macronutrient source available, both 2-DG and MA treated rats increased protein intake. MA increases the intake of nutrients which can be utilized by peripheral tissues except fat, which is not being oxidized. 2-DG increases the intake of carbohydrate which may be necessary to overcome the central glucoprivation caused by this drug.

Animals↗

Effect of sodium ascorbate on the chemiluminescent response of murine peritoneal exudate cells.

Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant that neutralizes reactive oxygen radicals. The purpose of this study was to determine if sodium ascorbate would neutralize the reactive oxygen products generated during the respiratory burst of thioglycollate-elicited murine peritoneal exudate cells (PEC). In vitro and in vivo studies were done. Cells treated in vitro showed a significant, dose-dependent reduction in chemiluminescence (CL) after activation with opsonized zymosan. Higher concentrations of sodium ascorbate (24.2 mM) produced a significantly greater reduction in CL than did lower concentrations (0.242 mM). This range of sodium ascorbate concentrations overlaps those found in normal leukocytes (1-4 mM). Sodium ascorbate at physiological plasma concentrations (0.09 mM) did not reduce CL. Cells incubated with 500 mM sodium ascorbate in vitro and then washed once prior to zymosan activation also showed a significant reduction in CL. In contrast, PEC harvested from mice treated in vivo with sodium ascorbate (one or five daily doses of 1.0 M sodium ascorbate, 0.01 ml/g body weight) did not show a reduction in CL. This concentration of sodium ascorbate represents a dose that is 2310 times greater than the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). These studies show that physiological doses of sodium ascorbate can quench CL in vitro, but even large doses of sodium ascorbate administered in vivo do not affect the CL of harvested murine PEC.

Animals↗

Inhibition of metallo-beta-lactamases by a series of mercaptoacetic acid thiol ester derivatives.

A series of mercaptoacetic acid thiol esters have been identified as metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) has shown that irreversible inhibition of the Bacillus cereus II metallo-beta-lactamase by SB214751, SB214752, and SB213079 was concomitant with a 90-Da increase in mass of the enzyme. Tryptic digestion of the B. cereus II inhibited with SB214751 illustrated that the peptide fragment, containing the only cysteine of the enzyme, had undergone a mass increment of 90 Da. It was further demonstrated that B. cereus II hydrolyzed this type of compound across the thiol ester bond to yield mercaptoacetic acid. Mercaptoacetic acid is the only molecular fragment common to SB214751, SB214752, and SB213079, and free mercaptoacetic acid does not bind covalently to B. cereus II. Therefore, it is concluded that these compounds inhibit B. cereus II by the mechanism-based delivery of mercaptoacetic acid, forming a disulfide linkage with the active sites cysteine (predicted mass shift = +90 Da) under the aerobic conditions of the assay. The different thiol esters examined had a broad range of potencies against the metallo-beta-lactamases tested. For example SB214751, SB214752, and SB213079 all had 50% inhibitory concentrations of < 10 and > 1,000 microM for the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia L-1 and Bacteroides fragilis CfiA enzymes, respectively. SB216968 was particularly active against the Aeromonas hydrophila CphA metallo-beta-lactamase and was found to be an uncompetitive inhibitor of this enzyme (Ki = 3.9 microM), whereas it exhibited irreversible inhibition of the L-1 enzyme. These observations with this series of compounds have revealed subtle differences between the active sites of different metallo-beta-lactamases. Finally, a novel application for isothermal titration calorimetry for assessing the zinc chelating activity of candidate inhibitors is also presented.

Aeromonas hydrophila↗

Enhancement of phagocytosis by neurotensin, a newly found biological activity of the neuropeptide.

Specific binding of neurotensin (NT) to mouse peritoneal thioglycollate-elicited macrophages and macrophages differentiated in vitro from bone marrow cells was demonstrated and characterized. NT binding to these phagocytes modulated their phagocytic capacity in a biphasic manner. At concentrations of 10(-14) to 10(-9) M NT, a dose-dependent augmentation of phagocytosis (up to 2-fold) was observed. Further increases in the concentration of NT resulted in a gradual decrease of the augmented response until the basal phagocytic activity (in the absence of NT) was reached. Three partial sequences of NT, NT (8-13), NT (6-13) and NT (1-10), were also effective in augmenting the phagocytic response of thioglycollate elicited macrophages, but the maximal effect was attained at about 10(-7) M and stayed at that level up to a concentration of 10(-5) M. The activity of the three NT partial sequences was comparable to that of substance P and tuftsin. Scatchard analysis of (3H)NT binding to macrophages suggested the existence of two populations of binding sites, a major population of relatively low affinity binding sites and a small population of high affinity binding sites. NT (8-13), NT (6-13), substance P and tuftsin competed with (3H)NT binding to the low affinity sites with a comparable KI to that of NT. NT (1-10) did not compete for the binding at the low affinity sites. It is suggested that NT binding to the high affinity sites leads to enhancement of phagocytosis, whereas its binding to the low affinity sites leads to inhibition of the augmented response. However, the low affinity sites are the sites of interaction of NT (8-13), NT (6-13), substance P and tuftsin with the phagocytes and their saturation with the peptides leads to augmentation of phagocytosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protection by F, I, Sr, and combinations against fermentation attack by Streptococcus sobrinus artificial plaque on bovine enamel.

Labial surfaces of 64 bovine incisors (8 teeth/treatment) were subjected to 1-min treatment with (1) 500 ppm Sr, (2) 0.5% I2 plus 1% KI solution, (3) F varnish treatment (Duraphat) for 24 h, or (4) combined treatments. The treated teeth were incubated under an artificial Streptococcus sobrinus plaque for 10 days. The 'oral fluid' with maleate buffer (pH 5.8) partially saturated with Ca3(PO4)2 and with or without 3.3% sucrose or sucrose plus 25 ppm F, was replaced by a mixture containing thioglycolate broth and the buffer for 4 h daily. This was done in an attempt to maintain the viability of the plaque as it was not renewed. Analysis of the Ca and inorganic P in the fluid phase taken after the 1st and the 10th day of incubation indicated that complete protection was obtained with F varnishing plus 25 ppm F in the fluid, with added sucrose. The Sr plus F treatment was more protective than F or Sr alone. The iodine treatment was slightly protective when combined with F varnishing. The results of the enamel surface and subsurface F and Sr as well as measurements of surface microhardness also indicated the highest protective effect with the double-F treatment and a marked protection provided by the Sr plus F treatment. The efficacy of the double-F treatment was partly explained by the prevention of a fall in 'plaque' pH and partly by the release of bacterial inorganic P in the extracellular fluid. The present caries model is versatile in quantification of changes in numerous parameters (14 parameters measured) involved in the caries-like process and its inhibition.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Augmentation of macrophage recognition of oxidatively damaged erythrocytes by substratum-bound fibronectin and macrophage surface fibronectin.

Thioglycollate-induced mouse peritoneal macrophages plated on a coverglass bind oxidized mouse erythrocytes in the absence of serum. Macrophages plated on a coverglass pre-coated with fibronectin (FN) were more active in binding of the oxidized erythrocytes. This effect of FN-coated coverglass was due to specific binding of an RGD-containing sequence of FN to FN-receptors on the macrophage, since GRGDSP hexapeptide in solution inhibited this effect, and GRGDSP-coated coverglass exhibited the same effect as FN-coated coverglass. Removal of FN originally present on the macrophage surface by trypsinization, prior to attachment to the coverglass, resulted in diminution of their ability of recognition of the oxidized erythrocytes, but the diminished ability was restored when the trypsinized macrophages were plated on a FN-coated coverglass, indicating that the cell surface FN is required for the macrophage recognition. Attachment to the coverglass was necessary for the cell surface FN to be effective. These results suggest that solid-phase FN, produced either by deposition of soluble FN to substratum or attachment of macrophage surface FN to substratum, activates the macrophages and augments their ability to recognize the oxidized erythrocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Biosynthesis of paf-acether: VIII: Impairment of paf-acether production in activated macrophages does not depend upon acetyltransferase activity.

Activated peritoneal macrophages (M phi) from mice injected with Bacilli Calmette-Guérin, trehalose dimycolate, a defined immunostimulant derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or streptococci C74 (St), synthesized two to three times less paf-acether (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) in response to a zymosan challenge than did (0.7 +/- 0.2 nmol/mg protein) resident-M phi (R-M phi). To assess at which step the paf-acether biosynthetic pathway was impaired, the content in phospholipid paf-acether precursors was evaluated. The alkyl-acyl-glycerophosphocholine content was comparable in R-M phi (50.4 +/- 18.6 nmol/mg protein) and activated-M phi (40.0 +/- 6.5 to 63.9 +/- 7.7 nmol/mg protein), as well as the lyso paf-acether content (0.85 +/- 0.18 nmol/mg protein for R-M phi vs 0.63 +/- 0.16 to 1.23 +/- 0.21 nmol/mg protein for activated macrophages). The nonlimiting rate of the phospholipid substrate was strengthened by experiments showing that incubation of the various populations with lyso paf-acether did not yield increased amounts of paf-acether. Similarly, incubation of R-M phi or St-M phi with sodium acetate increased paf-acether production to the same extent in both populations, ruling out the acetate substrate deficiency as the cause of the impaired production. The level of acetyltransferase activity, the enzyme that transfers an acetate moiety of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) onto lyso paf-acether, was very low in thioglycolate (TG)-elicited M phi but high in R-M phi and activated ones. In all cases, it was increased by two to three times upon zymosan challenge. This suggested that increased paf-acether catabolism and not impaired anabolism could be responsible for the marked reduced formation noted in activated macrophages. The addition of acetyl-CoA (200 microM) to the various macrophage monolayers restored paf-acether formation by activated cells to R-M phi values but with delayed kinetics as compared with paf-acether formation induced by zymosan. The enhancing effect of acetyl-CoA on paf-acether production was inhibited upon oleyl-CoA addition, suggesting that acetyl-CoA may increase paf-acether production by preventing the reacylation of lyso paf-acether resulting from paf-acether degradation. In conclusion, the paf-acether output in some inflammatory macrophages may be regulated by the level of acetyltransferase activity, because it is observed in TG-M phi. However, we present the first evidence for another mechanism of regulation, most probably related to the deacylation/reacylation of paf-acether precursors and metabolites.

Acetates↗

Post-transcriptional regulation of syndecan-1 expression by cAMP in peritoneal macrophages.

Syndecan-1 is a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is proposed to serve in cell-cell adhesion, cell-matrix anchorage, and growth factor signaling. Its expression is temporally and spatially regulated during epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in many developing tissues. In some cases, this regulation appears to be achieved at the level of transcription. However, induction of syndecan-1 expression in the embryonic kidney mesenchyme is suggested to occur at the level of mRNA translation (Vainio, S., M. Jalkanen, M. Bernfield, and L. Saxén. 1992. Dev. Biol. 152:221-232). To identify a system in which the regulatory mechanisms controlling syndecan-1 expression can be studied, cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, which regulate the expression of many cell surface receptors, were screened for syndecan-1 expression. The syndecan-1 gene is active in blood monocytes as well as resident and thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages, but expression of the proteoglycan is regulated at two levels. First, elicited macrophages accumulate nine-fold more syndecan-1 mRNA than do resident macrophages or circulating blood monocytes. Another member of the syndecan family of proteoglycans, syndecan-4, shows a distinct pattern of expression, suggesting that this regulation is specific for syndecan-1. Second, utilization of the mRNA for syndecan-1 production encounters a post-transcriptional block in the elicited macrophages that can be overcome by triggering agents such as E-type prostaglandins or dibutyryl cAMP, which raise intracellular cAMP levels. Dibutyryl cAMP does not induce syndecan-1 expression in resident peritoneal macrophages, which lack a pool of stored mRNA. This suggests that this agent promotes the post-transcriptional utilization of stored syndecan-1 mRNA. The induced proteoglycan appears at the cell surface as a integral of 100-kD heparan sulfate-rich isoform of syndecan-1. This suggests that a cAMP-dependent post-transcriptional control mechanism may be present in a variety of tissues when syndecan-1 expression is regulated.

Animals↗

Binding and uptake of oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) by macrophage scavenger receptors are enhanced by substrate-bound fibronectin.

The uptake of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) by macrophages and the resulting accumulation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) lipids within the cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The effect of fibronectin (FN) on the binding and uptake of ox-LDL by macrophages was investigated using thioglycollate-induced mouse peritoneal macrophages. The ability of the macrophages to bind ox-LDL was assessed by the binding of mouse red blood cells (RBC) pre-coated with ox-LDL (ox-LDL-RBC) prepared in vitro to macrophages at 37 degrees C. The binding of ox-LDL-RBC to macrophages was significantly enhanced when the macrophages were plated on a FN-coated substrate. Similar enhancement was observed when the macrophages were plated on a substrate pre-coated with Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (GRGDSP) peptide, an adhesive sequence of FN involved in binding to the cells, but not with the control Gly-Arg-Gly-Glu-Ser-Pro (GRGESP) peptide. The effect of FN was inhibited when GRGDSP, but not GRGESP, was present during the macrophage attachment to the FN-coated substrate, suggesting that the specific interaction of this sequence and the FN-receptor is responsible for the effect of FN. The addition of FN or GRGDSP in solution to the macrophage layers on an uncoated substrate was ineffective. Thus, attachment to a substrate is necessary for FN to be effective on the macrophages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inactivation of beef plasma amine oxidase by sulfide.

Sulfide irreversibly inactivates beef plasma amine oxidase in a time-dependent reaction. Mercaptoacetic acid and 2-mercaptoethanol do not inactivate the enzyme. The sulfide complex displayed an intense absorption band at 360 nm (epsilon = 6000 M-1 cm-1, per mol of copper) that is assigned as sigma S leads to Cu(II) ligand to metal charge-transfer transition. However, this band slowly decreased in intensity; the final spectrum resembles the spectrum of the dithionite-reduced enzyme. Bleaching at approximately 450-500 nm specifically indicates that the organic cofactor is reduced. EPR parameters for the sulfide complex differ significantly from those observed for the native amine oxidase. Superhyperfine structure, attributable to coordinated nitrogens, is clearly evident. Time-dependent reduction of Cu(II) that parallels the kinetics and absorbance changes was also observed by EPR. The amine oxidaseazide complex was inactivated by sulfide at a considerably slower rate than the resting enzyme. Since azide is known to coordinate to Cu(II) in beef plasma amine oxidase, the data strongly suggest that enzyme-bound copper is the site of action for inhibition by sulfide.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

Mechanism of augmentation of the antibody response in vitro by 2-mercaptoethanol in murine lymphocytes. II. A major role of the mixed disulfide between 2-mercaptoethanol and cysteine.

Five thiol compounds including 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) were examined for their augmenting effects on in vitro antibody response to sheep erythrocytes. Three compounds were effective with the following order of activity; 2-ME greater than dithiothreitol greater than cysteamine. Glutathione and thioglycollate failed to enhance the response. The same order or effectiveness was seen in the stimulation of [35S]cystine uptake by murine lymphocytes by these thiols. Murine lymphocytes took up cysteine five to six times more rapidly than cystine. It is, however, unlikely that 2-ME stimulation of cystine uptake is solely due to the reduction of cystine into cysteine, because 2-ME was still stimulatory after free thiol groups had disappeared in the medium containing 2-ME and [35S]cystine. The mixed disulfide of cysteine with 2-ME (Cys-2-ME) was found to be an only product after free thiols had been oxidized. [35S]Cys-2-ME was taken up by the lymphocytes with a comparable rate to cysteine via a transport system common to that of leucine and phenylalanine. Cysteine was, however, transported via a different route. It was observed that Cys-2-ME was readily metabolized to cysteine and glutathione after the uptake. Cys-2-ME added to cystine-free RPMI 1640 medium could support the antibody response as efficiently as cystine plus 2-ME. These observations strongly suggest that 2-Me stimulates cystine uptake and, therefore, enhances the antibody response through the formation of the mixed disulfide with cysteine.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Feasibility of using food-grade additives to control the growth of Clostridium perfringens.

Previously, it was demonstrated that the combination of sucrose laurate (SL) ethylenediaminetetraacetate (E) and butylated hydroxyl anisole (B) (SLEB) was an effective antimicrobial agent against both gram-negative (aerobes) and gram-positive (facultative anaerobes) foodborne bacteria. This investigation examines the sensitivity of Clostridium perfringens to SLEB relative to: (1) the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SLEB required to inhibit the growth of C. perfringens and (2) the antibacterial effectiveness of different combination ratios of SLEB in fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM). Results indicated that the MIC of SLEB (1:1:1, v/v/v) against C. perfringens on tryptose sulfite cycloserine (TSC) agar was > 150 ppm at 37 degrees C. However, in FTM, a SLEB (1:1:1, v/v/v) concentration of > 100 ppm inhibited C. perfringens during an incubation (anaerobic) period of 196 h at 37 degrees C. The sensitivity of C. perfringens to different combination ratios was also investigated in FTM. The results showed that, when the concentrations of SL and E were held at 75 ppm in the SLEB combination, and the concentration of B increased from 0 to 75 ppm, C. perfringens growth increased initially during the first 24 h of incubation (37 degrees C) but remained constant during the next 48 h. Similarly, when concentrations of SL and E were held constant at 150 ppm in the SLEB combination and the B ratio increased from 50 to 150 ppm in FTM, C. perfringens viability decreased in all of the treated samples during 72-h incubation at 37 degrees C. The results indicated that SLEB was an effective inhibitor of C. perfringens growth activities, and the ratios of the components of SLEB can be adjusted to meet specific preservation needs.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole↗

2-Mercaptoacetate, an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation, decreases the membrane potential in rat liver in vivo.

In former work, intraperitoneal injection of 2-mercaptoacetate (MA), an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation, increased food intake in rats, which was attenuated by hepatic branch vagotomy, and intraportal injection of MA increased the discharge rate in hepatic vagal afferents. In the present study, we investigated, whether intraperitoneal injection or intraportal infusion of MA affects the hepatic membrane potential in rats in vivo. The liver cell membrane potential was measured in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats with the microelectrode technique. Intraperitoneal injection of MA at a dose of 800 micromol/kg body wt significantly decreased the hepatocyte membrane potential by 3.8 mV, whereas at a dose of 400 micromol/kg, the depolarization (1.5 mV) of the membrane was not significant. In another strain of Sprague-Dawley rats, however, MA (400 micromol/kg) produced a significant depolarization of the hepatocyte membrane 50 min (2.6 mV) and 2 h (2.9 mV) after intraperitoneal injection. Intraportal infusion of MA (400 micromol/kg) significantly depolarized the membrane 20 and 50 min after infusion by 3.3 and 4.1 mV, respectively. MA at a dose of 800 micromol/kg also depolarized the membrane (4.8 mV after 50 min). These findings in principle are consistent with the "potentiostatic" hypothesis, postulating a link between the hepatic membrane potential, afferent vagal activity, and the control of food intake.

Animals↗

Development of a PCR-ELISA assay for diagnosis of Perkinsus marinus and Perkinsus atlanticus infections in bivalve molluscs.

Perkinsus atlanticus and P. marinus have been associated with mass mortality of bivalve molluscs. Perkinsus infections are routinely diagnosed by histology or the fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM) assay. In this study, we describe the development of a PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for amplification and rapid detection of Perkinsus species. The PCR reactions were selected to either amplify an IGS sequence region shared by currently accepted Perkinsus species or to simultaneously amplify IGS regions specific to either P. atlanticus or P. marinus. The specific hybridisation of DIG-labelled amplified products to species-specific capture probes was detected colorimetrically. This assay is able to specifically detect P. atlanticus and P. marinus, and the intensity of the colorimetric signal is dependent upon the amount of amplified product. The PCR-ELISA assay format is 100-fold more sensitive than visualisation of PCR products on ethidium bromide (EtdBr)-stained agarose gels, and as sensitive as Southern hybridisation. The sensitivity limit of PCR-ELISA was 1 pg of DNA from P. atlanticus. No cross-reactivity of the assay was observed against the host DNA. When applied to the detection of P. atlanticus in clams, 39 samples out of 45 yielded concordant results for FTM assay and PCR-ELISA detection.

Animals↗