Glucose uptake by individual skeletal muscles during running using whole-body positron emission tomography

The purpose of this study was to examine, by positron emission tomography (PET), the distribution of [¹⁸F]fluoro-deoxy-glucose ([¹⁸F]FDG) uptake by human muscles during 35?min of running. Thirteen healthy male subjects were studied, seven of whom participated in the exercise study. Running intensity was kept constant such that the subjects' heart rates were maintained at between 140 and 150?beats per minute. [¹⁸F]FDG [62.9 (14.8)?MBq, mean (SD)] was injected after 15?min of running. PET imaging was started immediately after the running ended. The ratio of [¹⁸F]FDG uptake by muscles in runners to that in control subjects (r-c ratio) varied from three to six for the muscles of the foot and leg below the knee joint. The r-c ratio of the medial head of the gastrocnemius (MG) was higher than that of its lateral head (LG). The r-c ratio of the rectus femoris (RF) was lower than that of the other three muscles of the quadriceps femoris (QF). The r-c ratio of inactive muscles located above the waist was approximately 0.7. These results suggest that, during the moderate running of this study: (1) glucose uptake by muscles of the foot and leg below the knee joint clearly increases, (2) the r-c ratio differs significantly among the skeletal muscles, which act synergistically, and (3) glucose uptake by inactive skeletal muscles decreases.     

Immunopharmacological study of CCA (Lobenzarit disodium), an anti-arthritis agent--I. Abrogation of IL 1 secretion by LPS-stimulated human monocytes and induction of gamma-interferon production with CCA

In vitro effects of CCA, an anti-arthritis agent, were studied upon autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), lymphocyte mitogenesis, IL 1 and IL 2 production, immunoglobulin production and gamma-interferon (IFN) production. CCA at 50 micrograms/ml, which was not toxic to cells, blocked AMLR, IL 1 production and immunoglobulin production (IgM and IgG) significantly, while CCA at the same dose did not affect IL 2 production and lymphocyte mitogenic responses to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I(SAC) and pokeweed mitogen(PWM). CCA at both 20 ng/ml and 20 micrograms/ml induced human gamma/IFN. Addition of IL 1 and/or IL 2 reversed inhibitory effect of CCA on AMLR. These data suggest that CCA exerts its actions by mainly affecting T cells and monocytes and can be used as an immunomodulator.     

Double antibody enzyme immunoassay for the quantitation of adenosine 3', 5' -cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) in tissue and plasma

A sensitive double antibody enzyme immunoassay for the quantitation of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP is presented. Specific antisera to each nucleotide were raised in rabbits by immunization with succinyl cyclic nucleotide-human serum albumin conjugates. For competitive reaction, antibodies were incubated with a mixture of succinyl cyclic nucleotide labelled with beta-D-galactosidase and unlabelled succinylated standard or sample cyclic nucleotides. The antibody-bound enzyme-hapten was separated from free hapten by anti-rabbit IgG immobilized to a polystyrene ball. Activity of the enzyme on the solid phase was fluorometrically determined. The assay system made it possible to ascertain values as low as 5 fmole of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP. Cyclic nucleotides in plasma could be accurately determined by this method without requiring a deproteinizing reagent as the first step of assay.     

Modulation of neuronal histamine in control of food intake

Neuronal histamine affects physiological functions of the hypothalamus. To investigate involvement of histamine receptors in feeding, histamine antagonists were infused into the rat third cerebroventricle. All H1- but no H2-antagonists tested, induced transient feeding during the early light when concentration of hypothalamic histamine was highest. No periprandial drinking was observed. Ambulation concomitantly increased during feeding. The effect on feeding was attenuated when brain histamine was normally low during the early dark or was decreased by alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (alpha-FMH). Bilateral microinjection indicated that the ventromedial hypothalamus, but not the lateral hypothalamus or the paraventricular nucleus, was a main locus for the induction of feeding by an H1-antagonist. The effect was completely abolished when brain histamine was decreased by pretreatment with alpha-FMH. Hypothalamic neuronal histamine suppresses food intake, at least in part, through H1-receptors in the VMH, and diurnal fluctuations of food intake may mirror neuronal histamine level.     

Coexpression of growth arrest-specific gene 6 and receptor tyrosine kinases,Axl and Sky,in human uterine endometrium and ovarian endometriosis

We demonstrated the expression of Gas6, the protein product of the growth arrest-specific gene 6 (gas6) and a member of the vitamin K-dependent protein family, and its receptor tyrosine kinases, Axl and Sky, in human uterine and ovarian endometriotic endometria using RT-PCR-Southern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Gas6, Axl and Sky mRNA were detected in all samples analysed. There was no significant difference between the levels of Sky mRNA in normal uterine and endometriotic endometria; however, the levels of Gas6 and Axl mRNA in endometriotic endometria were significantly higher than in normal endometria. These mRNA levels showed no significant alteration during the menstrual cycle. In the immunohistochemical study, Gas6, Axl and Sky were found in endometrial glandular cells and stromal cells in all samples analysed. This study demonstrates the coexpression of receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligand, Gas6, in normal uterine and ovarian endometriotic endometria, and the overexpression of Axl and Gas6 in endometriotic endometria. It is suggested that Gas6 and Axl signal transduction is aberrantly stimulated in endometriotic endometria, and is plausibly related to its growth potential.