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Biomedical subjects

A Takanaka

Publications and source records attributed to A Takanaka.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Loss of viability after disulfiram treatment without preceding depletion of intracellular GSH.

Effects of disulfiram (DSF) on freshly isolated hepatocytes were examined. Its effects on the cellular reduced form of glutathione (GSH) were triphasic; GSH decreased instantly after the addition of DSF, returned to subnormal levels within 30 min, and then declined gradually. The initial decrease in GSH after DSF treatment and the subsequent recovery of GSH were accompanied by an increase and decrease in the oxidized form of glutathione (GSSG), respectively. Decreases in cell viability brought about by 0.4 mM of DSF were correlated with the later gradual decrease in GSH. The loss of viability by DSF treatment seemed to appear when the initial GSH levels became lower than approximately 5 nmole/10(6) cells. Hepatocyte toxicity of DSF was potentiated by diethylmaleate (GSH depletor) and inhibited by N-acetylcysteine (GSH biosynthesis precursor). 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), an inhibitor of GSH reductase, inhibited the GSH recovery and potentiated the toxicity. Respiration of hepatocytes was also inhibited by DSF. Free sulfhydryl groups other than GSH showed similar changes to those of GSH. From these results, it seemed that DSF reacted with cellular GSH and other free sulfhydryl groups to form diethyldithiocarbamate and GSSG, GSSG was reduced back to GSH by glutathione reductase, and the decrease in the viability was dependent on the initial loss of GSH.

Animals↗

[Studies on the teratogenic potential of 2,2'-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) in rats].

2,2'-Methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), an antioxidant, was given orally to pregnant Wistar rats by stomach intubation at the dose levels of 93.5, 187 or 375 mg/kg body weight during days 7 to 17 of pregnancy, and the effects of the compound on dams and fetal developments were examined. In the dams at the two higher doses of 187 and 375 mg/kg, toxic signs such as hair fluffing and diarrhoea were observed, and their body weight gain and food consumption were suppressed. Two dams, which showed marked diarrhoea in the highest dose group, died. However, there was no evidence of fetal malformation attributable to treatment with the compound in any of the dose groups treated, although a slight increase in fetal death was found in the highest dose group. It is concluded that 2,2'-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) has a weak lethal effect on fetal development but not a teratogenic effect in the rat.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate-evoked norepinephrine secretion not relating to voltage-gated Ca channels in pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.

Characteristics of extracellular ATP-stimulated norepinephrine (NE) secretion were investigated by the batch method in relation to membrane current measured with the whole cell voltage-clamp technique. Extracellular ATP stimulated [3H]NE secretion from PC12 cells in a concentration range from 10 microM to 1 mM. The maximal effect of ATP was about 5 times larger than that of nicotine. ATP-stimulated secretion was extracellular Ca-dependent, but it was not inhibited by the Ca-channel blockers, cadmium (300 microM) or nicardipine (10 microM). Extracellular ATP activated an inward current in PC12 cells and the peak amplitude of the current was about 5 times larger than that activated by nicotine. These findings suggest that extracellular ATP activates receptor-operated channels and causes NE secretion.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Complete cDNA sequence of a major 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible cytochrome P-450 isozyme (P-450AFB) of Syrian hamsters with high activity toward aflatoxin B1.

Cytochrome P-450AFB is major isozyme inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene in Syrian golden hamsters and shows high potency toward aflatoxin B1 activation. We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones to P-450AFB by immunoscreening a hamster liver cDNA library in lambda gt11. The longest clone contains an open reading frame of 1482 nucleotides and encodes a protein of 494 amino acids with a molecular weight of 57,420. The sequence of P-450AFB shares a 73% and 65% homology with that of mouse P-450 15 alpha (IIA3) and rat P-450a (IIA1), respectively, indicating that P-450AFB is a unique gene of the P-450IIA subfamily. The apparent concentration of a mRNA species hybridizable to the clone as well as the concentration of a protein immunoreactive to P-450AFB was increased significantly by the treatment with 3-methyl-cholanthrene, which indicates that the increase in P-450AFB protein is due mainly to an elevation of the mRNA.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Characterization of three forms of cytochrome P-450 inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene in Golden hamster livers with special reference to aflatoxin B1 activation.

Three forms of cytochrome P-450 of liver microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene-treated Golden hamsters were purified and characterized as regards their catalytic activity toward aflatoxin B1-related hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxins. These include two major forms, designated as cytochrome P-450-AFB (P-450-I) and P-450-II, and one minor form, P-450-III. Cytochromes P-450-AFB, P-450-II, and P-450-III have their absorption maximum in the carbon monoxide-complex of the reduced form at 448.5, 447.0, and 448.0 nm, have apparent molecular weights of 56,000, 58,000, and 59,500, and are in the low spin, high spin, and low spin state, respectively. Of these, cytochrome P-450-AFB was shown to be highly active in the mutagenic activation of aflatoxin B1-related hepatocarcinogens such as sterigmatocystin and O-methylsterigmatocystin. Activation of aflatoxin B1 by hepatic microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene-treated hamsters was inhibited almost completely by the antibody against P-450-AFB but not by the antibody against P-450-II, indicating that P-450-AFB is the major component responsible for the activation of aflatoxin B1 by hamster liver. Western blot analysis demonstrated that no protein cross-reacted with the antibody to P-450-AFB in the liver microsomes from guinea pig, rat, mouse, and house musk shrew (Suncus murinus) treated with 3-methylcholanthrene, while one or two proteins cross-reacted with the antibody to P-450-II in the liver microsomes of these animals.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Existence of muscarinic suppression of a K current in PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells.

Muscarinic influence on membrane currents of PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells were investigated with whole cell voltage-clamp methods. An outward K current was observed when depolarizing voltage steps were applied to the cells. Methacholine (MCh, 300 microM), a selective agonist for muscarinic receptors, partially suppressed the K current, and the suppression was enhanced by removal of external Ca. The effect of MCh was antagonized by a low dose (100 nM) of atropine. Nicotine (10 microM) induced an inward current in these cells but did not affect the K current activated by depolarizing voltage steps. A Ba current flowing through voltage-gated Ca channels was not changed by MCh. The results indicate the existence of a MCh-sensitive K current in PC-12 cells and suggest that the membrane currents of these cells are modulated by cholinergic agents through muscarinic mechanisms in addition to well-known nicotinic mechanisms.

Atropine↗

[Effects of extract from a herbal drug, cnidium rhizome (senkyu), on contraction, heart rates and membrane potentials of isolated guinea pig atria].

Effects of extract from a herb, Cnidium rhizome (Senkyu), on isolated guinea pig atria were investigated pharmacologically and electrophysiologically. The methanol extract from Cnidium rhizome decreased the contraction and slightly increased the heart rates of the isolated atria. Extracts from five other herbs, such as Japanese anglica root (Toki), Peony root (Shakuyaku), Moutan bark (Botanpi), Glycyrrhiza (Kanzo), Bupleurum (Saiko), affected neither the contraction nor the heart rates. The methanol extract from Cnidium rhizome was fractionated with chloroform and water fractions. The chloroform fraction exerted potent negative inotropic and chronotropic effects in isolated atria. The contraction was attenuated by two major components in the chloroform fraction, ligustilide and senkyunolide, but the heart rates were scarcely affected by these components. The chloroform fraction induced changes in resting potentials and configurations of normal action potentials recorded in the isolated left atria: the resting potentials were depolarized, and the upstroke velocity of the action potentials decreased. Neither ligustilide nor senkyunolide exerted such effects. The upstroke velocity of action potentials recorded in partially depolarized atria was reduced by the chloroform fraction as well as ligustilide and senkyunolide. The mechanisms underlying the effects of the extract from Cnidium rhizome were discussed.

Animals↗

Induction of cytochrome P-450c and P-450d by metyrapone in the primary culture of rat hepatocytes.

The effects of metyrapone on qualitative changes in cytochrome P-450-dependent drug metabolizing activities in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were investigated. Metyrapone apparently increased benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation and maintained both ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylation and propoxycoumarin-O-depropylation, whereas it had little effect on methoxycoumarin-O-demethylation. Furthermore, P-450d (high spin type of P-448) as well as P-450c (low spin type of P-448) were induced by metyrapone, while P-450b and P-450e were not. In conclusion, metyrapone act as a 3-methylcholanthrene-like inducer in the primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

Animals↗

[Studies on the teratogenic potential of 2,2'-methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-buthylphenol) in rats].

2,2'-Methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-buthylphenol), an antioxidant, was given orally to pregnant Wistar rats by stomach intubation at the dose levels of 187, 375 or 750 mg/kg body weight during days 7 to 17 of gestation, and the effects of the compound on dams and fetal development were examined. In dams at the two higher doses of 375 and 750 mg/kg, toxic signs such as hair fluffing and diarrhoea were observed, and their body weight gain and food consumption were suppressed. Two dams which showed marked diarrhoea in the highest dose group of 750 mg/kg died. However, there was no evidence of fetal malformations attributable to the treatment of the compound in any of the dose group tested, though a slight increase in fetal death was found in the highest dose group. It is concluded that 2,2'-methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-buthylphenol) has a weak lethal effect on fetal development but not a teratogenic effect in the rat.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against a form of hamster liver cytochrome P-450 highly specific to aflatoxin B1.

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against a form of cytochrome P-450 (designated as cytochrome P-450-I) purified from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated hamster livers which is highly specific to aflatoxin B1. The cytochrome P-450-I was detected in ELISA and Western blots in liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated hamsters and also from non-treated and phenobarbital-treated hamsters in smaller amounts. However, none of the liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rat, rabbit, guinea pig and Suncus murinus contained the cytochrome P-450-I. These results suggest that cytochrome P-450-I is specific to hamster and is induced mainly by 3-methylcholanthrene.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Effects of various inducers on the activities of cytochrome P-450-mixed function oxidases and aflatoxin B1 activation in microsomes of hamster livers.

The effects of various inducers on the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes including aflatoxin B1 activation were studied in Syrian golden hamsters. Activity for aflatoxin B1 was determined by aflatoxin B1-DNA adducts formation. The treatments of hamsters with 3-methylcholanthrene, alpha-naphthoflavone and benzo(a)pyrene elevated markedly the activity for aflatoxin B1 by 2460, 1380 and 450%, respectively. Phenobarbital induced slightly and isosafrole and ethanol did not induce the activity for aflatoxin B1. Pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile decreased aflatoxin B1 activation to 51% of that of the non-treated animals. These results were in good accordance with the induction rate of a form of cytochrome P-450 (P-450AFB) which has potent activity to aflatoxin B1. Characteristics in the induction of mixed function oxidases of hamsters by these inducers, especially in respect to benzo(a) pyrene metabolizing enzyme, seemed to differ from those of rats. These results suggest that the activity for aflatoxin B1 in hamster is inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene-type inducers and that hamster is a suitable animals model to study the mechanism of aflatoxin B1-hepatocarcinogenesis.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Different effects of chemicals on metabolism of N-nitrosamines in rat liver.

The effects of phenobarbital (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), pyrazole (PY) and ethanol (EtOH) pretreatment on N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosobutylmethylamine (NBMA) and N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBzA) metabolism were examined in rats. In isolated hepatocytes, PB increased the metabolic decomposition of NBMA and NMBzA, and MC increased that of NBMA; PY and EtOH increased only that of NDMA. In studies of hepatic microsomal dealkylation, PB increased NBMA debutylation and NMBzA debenzylation, and MC increased NBMA debutylation; PY and EtOH increased NDMA demethylation selectively. Several cytochrome P450 (P450) species were active in dealkylating nitrosamines, indicating that the organ-specific carcinogenicity of nitrosamines might be changed by various P450 inducers.

Animals↗

Morphine metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes and its implications for hepatotoxicity.

Isolated rat hepatocytes metabolized morphine to its glucuronide conjugate, morphinone-glutathione conjugate, normorphine and morphinone. Addition of morphine to the isolated hepatocytes induced a marked decrease in the level of glutathione in the cells and resulted in cell death. The formation of glutathione conjugate was correlated well with the loss of intracellular glutathione. The cytotoxicity of morphinone was higher than that of morphine. Naloxone and normorphine showed no cytotoxic effect on the cells. Naloxone inhibited the formation of morphinone-glutathione conjugate and prevented the morphine-induced cytotoxicity. Naloxone also blocked morphine-induced liver damage in vivo. In contrast, the morphinone-induced hepatotoxicity was not prevented by naloxone. It is concluded that morphine has a hepatotoxic effect, that the morphine-induced hepatotoxicity is due to its metabolic activation, and that naloxone acts as an inhibitor of an enzyme converting morphine to morphinone.

Animals↗