Distribution of glutamine-like immunoreactivity in the cerebellum of rat and baboon (Papio anubis) with reference to the issue of metabolic compartmentation

Summary The cellular and subcellular localization of glutamine, a major glutamate precursor, was studied by means of an antiserum raised against glutaraldehydefixed glutamine. Ultrathin sections from the cerebellar cortex of rat and baboon (Papio anubis) were incubated sequentially in the primary antiserum and in a secondary antibody coupled to colloidal gold particles. The labelling intensity was quantified by computer-aided calculation of gold particle densities. High levels of immunoreactivity occurred in glial cells (Bergmann fibres, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes), intermediate levels in cell bodies and processes of granule cells, and low levels in terminals of presumed GABAergic or glutamatergic fibres (terminals of basket and Golgi cells, and of parallel, mossy, and climbing fibres). The labelling intensity of Purkinje cells showed some variation, but never exceeded that in glial cells. Within the nerve fibre terminals, the glutamine-like immunoreactivity showed some preference for mitochondria, but was otherwise evenly distributed. The predominant glial localization of glutamine was also obvious in light microscopic preparations processed according to the postembedding peroxidase-antiperoxidase procedure. Gold particle densities over different types of profile in glutamine immunolabelled sections were compared with particle densities over the corresponding types of profiles in neighbouring sections labelled with an antiserum to glutaraldehyde-fixed glutamate. The glutamate/glutamine ratio, expressed arbitrarily by the ratio between the respective gold particle densities, varied by a factor of about 6, with the highest ratio in the putative glutamatergic mossy and parallel fibre terminals, and the lowest ratio in glial elements. The remaining tissue components displayed intermediate ratios. The present study provides direct morphological evidence for the existence in the brain of distinct compartments with differing glutamate/glutamine ratios.This paper is dedicated to Professor Fred Walberg on the occasion of his 70th birthdayOn leave of absence from Department of Anatomy, Capital Institute of Medicine, You An Men Street, Beijing, China     

慢性丙型肝炎患者血清NO、NOS检测及其与内毒素的关系

目的:探讨了慢性丙型肝炎患者血清一氧化氮(NO)、一氧化氮酶(NOS)的含量变化及其与内毒素的关系.方法:分别应用酶法和比色法测定38例慢性丙型肝炎患者血清NO、NOS及内毒素的含量,并与35名正常健康人作比较.结果:慢性丙型肝炎患者血清NO、NOS和内毒素水平明显地高于正常人水平(P＜0.01)内毒素水平与NO水平呈明显正相关(r=0.7122,P＜0.01).结论:检测慢性丙型肝炎患者血清NO、NOS和内毒素水平对疾病的诊断、治疗是一个十分有用的检测指标.     

Protective effect of 3-aminobenzamide,an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase,against streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Summary The addition of 3-aminobenzamide (a potent inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose)synthetase) into the incubation medium, prevents streptozotocin-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin release from isolated islets [control 142±14U·islet^–1·h^–1; streptozotocin (0.5mg/ml) 31±8; 3-aminobenzamide (l.0 mg/ml) 96±11; streptozotocin plus 3-aminobenzamide 122±19]. In vivo, intraperitoneal 3-aminobenzamide 300 mg/kg body weight prevents the appearance of overt diabetes in streptozotocin-treated rats. These protective effects of 3-aminobenzamide are dose-dependent and are similar to those exerted by nicotinamide. Taking into account that poly ADP-ribosylation is involved in the repair of damaged DNA, the protection exerted by 3-aminobenzamide against the diabetogenic effect of streptozotocin strongly supports the view that this acute effect may be a major consequence of the activation of DNA repair mechanisms in islet cells.     

Prevention of cerebral vasospasm with OKY-046 an imidazole derivative and a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor. A preliminary co-operative clinical study

Summary The prevention of cerebral vasospasm with OKY-046, an imidazole derivative and a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, was studied co-operatively at ten neurosurgical services. Intravenous administrations of 2, 5 or 10 /kg/minute of OKY-046 were given continuously from the earliest possible day to the 14th SAH-day to 82 pateints with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Sixty-eight patients (83%) showed moderate to high high-density (SAH) in their initial CTs. Angiographic vasospasms were seen in 58 patients, representing 71% of all cases or 81% of the 72 cases for which angiograms were available; the vasospasms of 45 patients (55 or 63%) were moderate to severe. Symptomatic vasospasm occurred, however, only in 27 patients (33%); in 18 of those cases, moreover, the symptoms were mild or transient. The conditions of the patients at one month after the SAH were classified into 9 grades from 0 (normal) to 8 (deceased). Fifty-two patients (63%) were classified as 0 or 1, and 64 (78%) as better than 3 (possible daily life unaided). The administration of OKY-046 was proven to decrease TXB₂ in the blood.This paper emphasizes the effectiveness of the drug for symptomatic vasospasm, and supports our previous contention that cerebral microthrombosis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm.     

氟尿嘧啶对大鼠小肠的损伤作用研究

目的：探讨氟尿嘧啶对大鼠小肠的损伤作用,方法：通过胃管连续2d给予大鼠尿嘧啶125mk/kg.d,观察给药后第1天－第7天大鼠每日饮食量的变化,给药前和给药后的第8天分别称大鼠体重,给药后第8天测定门静脉血流量及门静脉压,分析小肠形态学变化,观察小肠对色氨酸吸收能力,测定动脉血谷氨酰胺的浓度,结果：给药后第1天－第7天大鼠饮食量均明显低于正常,尤其是第2天－第4天最为严重,第8天大鼠体重下降,小肠结构有明显损伤,门静脉血流量减少,门静脉压下降,小肠对色氨酸的吸收及动脉血谷氨酸胺浓度明显下降,与对照组相比的均有显著差异,结论：氟尿嘧啶可导致大鼠小肠结构和功能的明显障碍。     

短肠综合征的康复治疗

目的总结27例短肠综合征病人康复治疗的经验,介绍短肠康复治疗的具体方法,探讨改善短肠病人营养状况、促进肠功能代偿的措施。方法短肠康复治疗包括营养支持、应用谷氨酰胺和生长激素促进肠粘膜生长、富含膳食纤维的短肠康复饮食、减轻短肠临床症状以及预防和治疗短肠并发症等措施。1997年1月至2000年7月间共27例短肠患者接受了29次康复治疗,患者平均年龄38.5岁±19.3岁。剩余小肠长度范围15～80cm,平均46.8cm±23.4cm,15例有回盲瓣。从肠切除至接受康复治疗的平均时间为86d±105d。结果治疗后病人的营养状况明显改善,肠道吸收功能有所增强。随访超过2年者8例,4例完全脱离肠外营养,随访时间超过1年者13例,有10例完全脱离肠外营养。结论短肠康复治疗能够有效地改善短肠病人的营养状况、并能促进肠功能代偿,治疗效果与残留小肠长度、治疗开始的时间和病人年龄有关,及早进行康复治疗能够促进肠功能代偿,减少病人对肠外营养的依赖。     

表皮生长因子对放射性肠炎全肠外营养大鼠谷氨酰胺代谢酶的影响

目的：探讨表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）对接受长期全肠外营养（ＴＰＮ）的放射性肠炎大鼠组织谷氨酰胺代谢酶的影响,方法大鼠皮下注射ＥＧＦ,观察其对大鼠肝,骨骼肌及小肠粘膜组织内谷酰胺酶和谷氨酰胺合成酶的变化。结果应用ＥＧＦ后大鼠肝、,骨骼肌肉的谷氨酰胺合成酶及肝、小肠粘膜的谷氨酰胺酶活性,动脉血、小肠和肝谷氨酰胺浓度增加,小肠谷氨酰胺摄取率增加。结论ＥＧＦ显著增加谷氨酰胺代谢酶的活性,增加肠粘膜代谢的主要能     

The protective effect of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor against ischemic liver injury

To evaluate the role of thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂) in ischemic liver injury, the serum changes in thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F₁ alpha (6-K-PGF₁) following warm ischemia of the total canine liver were examined, and the protective effect of a TXA₂ synthetase inhibitor was assessed. Total liver ischemia was performed for 60 min on two groups of dogs: a control group, in which ischemia alone was performed, and an OKY-046 group, which received a TXA₂ synthetase inhibitor. A temporary active portacaval shunt was used to eliminate the effects of splanchnic venous stasis during clamping of the hepatic pedicle. Postoperative changes in liver function, assessed by the transaminase enzyme levels, and in prostaglandins were recorded and the histologic liver findings of both groups 1 week after ischemia were compared. The levels of 6-K-PGF₁ increased after reperfusion in both groups, while those of TXB₂ increased in the control group but maintained low levels in the OKY-046 group. Liver function was better and histologic changes less marked in the OKY-046 group than in the control group, suggesting the important role of TXA₂ in ischemic liver injury and the usefulness of a TXA₂ synthetase inhibitor for protecting the liver against ischemic injury.     

Liver Targeting of Interferon Through Pullulan Conjugation

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to actively target interferon (IFN) to the liver through its chemical conjugation with pullulan, a water-soluble polysaccharide with a high affinity for the liver. Methods. Chemical conjugation of IFN with pullulan was achieved by a cyanuric chloride method. Following intravenous injection of the conjugates to mice, their body distribution and the activity of an IFN-induced enzyme, 2,5-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase in the liver and other organs, were evaluated. Results. The cyanuric chloride method enabled us to prepare an IFN-pullulan conjugate that retained approximately 7–9 % of the biological activity of IFN. Pullulan conjugation enhanced the liver accumulation of IFN and the retention period with the results being reproducible. When injected intravenously to mice, the IFN-pullulan conjugate enhanced the activity of 2-5A synthetase in the liver. The activity could be induced at IFN doses much lower than those of free IFN injection. In addition, the liver 2-5A synthetase induced by conjugate injection was retained for 3 days, whereas it was lost within the first day for the free IFN-injected mice. Conclusions. IFN-pullulan conjugation was promising for IFN targeting to the liver with efficient exertion of its antiviral activity therein.     

Interferon-β inhibits proliferation and progression through S phase of the cell cycle in five glioma cell lines

Summary The growth inhibitory effect of IFN- was evaluated in 5 human glioma cell lines (AO2V4, GJC, GJR, NN and NNR) and in normal astrocyte cultures (SC and TM). All 5 glioma cell lines showed an anti-proliferative response to IFN- whereas normal glial cells were non-responsive. IFN- at 10, 100 and 500 U/ml lead to a 30%,70% and 80% relative decrease in cell number after 12 days, respectively in AO2V4 cells. GJC and GJR cell lines also responded significantly to the lowest concentration of IFN- tested and at 500 U/ml the relative cell number decreased 55%. The NN and NNR cells were the least responsive to IFN- with maximum growth inhibition of 30% at 500 U IFN-/ml. Following treatment with IFN-, AO2V4, GJC, GJR and normal astrocytes all expressed mRNA encoding the anti-viral protein, 2-5A synthetase demonstrating that IFN- bound to receptors on all four cell lines and activated signal transduction pathways required for induction of an anti-viral protein. A determination of the relative number of viable cells showed that none of these cells exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability. Since the antiproliferative response to IFN- was not primarily due to cell death, the effect of IFN- on cell cycle progression was evaluated by flow cytometry. All treated glioma cell lines showed a relative increase in proportion of cells in S phase. AO2V4 cells had a 50%–80% increase in the percentage of cells in S phase, whereas GJC, GJR and NNR had percentage increases of 20%–40%. IFN- treatment of normal astrocytes did not significantly alter their cell cycle profile. These data suggest that IFN- exerts its antiproliferative effect on glioma cells by arresting the ordered progression through S phase or decreasing entry into G₂/M phase of the cell cycle.