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G Y Sun

Publications and source records attributed to G Y Sun.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Effects of chronic ethanol administration on poly-phosphoinositide metabolism in the mouse brain: variance with age.

Using a procedure in which poly-phosphoinositides (poly-PI) in C57Bl mouse brain were labeled with [32P]Pi or [32P]ATP, the effects of chronic ethanol administration and age on metabolism of these anionic phospholipids were examined. Within 4 h after intracerebral injection, both labeled precursors were effectively incorporated into membrane phospholipids with high proportions of labeling among phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. With few exceptions, the phospholipid labeling patterns in different brain regions, e.g. cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus, were similar. However, when the brain homogenate was subjected to differential and sucrose-Ficoll gradient centrifugation, different phospholipid labeling patterns were observed in the subcellular membrane fractions. Young adult mice given an ethanol (5% w/v) liquid diet for 2 months showed an increase in the levels of labeled phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylserine in the cortex and hippocampus as compared to the pair-fed controls, but these changes were not observed in the hypothalamus. In another study, 12- and 26-month-old mice were administered either an ethanol (8 g/kg in two doses daily) or a control diet by gavage for 3 weeks. The 12-month-old group given the ethanol diet showed an increase in labeled poly-PI which was found largely in the synaptosomal fraction. Surprisingly, the 26-month-old mice given the same ethanol paradigm showed a decrease in labeled poly-PI. Consistent with our previous observations, the 26-month-old mice showed a higher proportion of labeled poly-PI in the synaptosomal fraction as compared to the younger age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effects of chlorpromazine on phosphatidylserine biosynthesis in rat pup brain exposed to ethanol in utero.

Phosphatidylserine biosynthesis in rat pup brain was examined by assaying the serine base-exchange enzyme activity in the microsomal and plasma membrane fractions, and by measuring the incorporation of [3H]serine into phosphatidylserine in brain slices and in the intact brain. Chlorpromazine, either added in vitro into the incubation system or administered to animals via i.p. injection or feeding a liquid diet, gave rise to an increase in the phosphatidylserine biosynthesis activity. Ethanol administered in the form of a liquid diet to pregnant rats (day 11 birth) resulted in a decrease in phosphatidylserine biosynthesis in the newborn and developing brain. The ethanol-induced decrease in phosphatidylserine biosynthetic activity could be reversed by adding chlorpromazine to the ethanol diet. Results demonstrate that phosphatidylserine biosynthesis in the neonatal brain is affected in opposite directions by chlorpromazine and ethanol. This poses the possibility that chlorpromazine administration may be effective in alleviating the deleterious effects caused by the decreased phosphatidylserine biosynthesis in brain due to in utero ethanol exposure.

Animals↗

Endothelin-mediated calcium response and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate release in neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells (NG108-15): cross talk with ATP and bradykinin.

Addition of endothelins (ETs) to neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells (NG108-15) induced increases in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) levels of labeled inositol monophosphates and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. The increases in [Ca2+]i elicited by the three ETs (ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3) were transient and did not show a sustained phase. Chelating extracellular Ca2+ in the medium by adding excess EGTA decreased the ET-mediated Ca2+ response by 40-50%. This result indicates that a substantial portion of the increase in [Ca2+]i was due to influx from an extracellular source. However, the increase in [Ca2+]i was not affected by verapamil or nifedipine (10(-5) M). A rank order potency of ET-1 > ET-2 > ET-3 is shown for the stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i, as well as labeled inositol phosphates, in these cells. ATP (10(-4) M) and bradykinin (10(-7) M) also induced the increases in [Ca2+]i and Ins(1,4,5)P3 in NG108-15 cells, albeit to a different extent. When compared at 10(-7) M, bradykinin elicited a five- to sixfold higher increase in the level of Ins(1,4,5)P3, but less than a twofold higher increase in [Ca2+]i than those induced by ET-1. Additive increases in both Ins(1,4,5)P3 and [Ca2+]i were observed when ET-1, ATP, and bradykinin were added to the cells in different combinations, suggesting that each receptor agonist is responsible for the hydrolysis of a pool of polyphosphoinositide within the membrane. ET-1 exhibited homologous desensitization of the Ca2+ response, but partial heterologous desensitization to the Ca2+ response elicited by ATP. On the contrary, ET-1 did not desensitize the response elicited by bradykinin, although bradykinin exhibited complete heterologous desensitization to the response elicited by ET-1. Taken together, these results illustrate that, in NG108-15 cells, a considerable amount of receptor cross talk occurs between ET and other receptors that transmit signals through the polyphosphoinositide pathway.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Signal transduction pathways coupled to a P2U receptor in neuroblastoma x glioma (NG108-15) cells.

Extracellular ATP has neurotransmitter-like properties in the CNS and PNS that are mediated by a cell-surface P2 purinergic receptor. In the present study, we have extensively characterized the signal transduction pathways that are associated with activation of a P2U receptor in a cultured neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell line (NG108-15 cells). The addition of > or = 1 microM ATP to NG108-15 cells caused a transient increase in [Ca2+]i that was inhibited by 40% when extracellular calcium was chelated by EGTA. ATP concentrations > or = 500 microM also elicited a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i that was inhibited when extracellular calcium was chelated by EGTA. The increase in [Ca2+]i elicited by ATP occurred concomitantly with the hydrolysis of [32P]-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphates and an increase in the level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. ATP also caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in levels of [3H]inositol monophosphates in lithium-treated cells. Separation of the inositol monophosphate isomers by ion chromatography revealed a specific increase in the level of inositol 4-monophosphate. The magnitude of the increase in [Ca2+]i elicited by ATP correlated with the concentration of the fully ionized form of ATP (ATP4-) in the medium and not with the concentration of magnesium-ATP (MgATP2-). Similar to ATP, UTP also induced polyphosphoinositide breakdown, inositol phosphate formation, and an increase in [Ca2+]i. ADP, ITP, TTP, GTP, ATP gamma S, 2-methylthio ATP, beta, gamma-imidoATP or 3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoylATP, but not CTP, AMP, beta, gamma-methylene ATP, or adenosine, also caused an increase in [Ca2+]i. In cells labeled with [32P]P(i) or [14C]-arachidonic acid, ATP caused a transient increase in levels of labeled phosphatidic acids, but had no effect on levels of arachidonic acid. The increase in phosphatidic acid levels elicited by ATP apparently was not due to activation of a phospholipase D because ATP did not induce the formation of phosphatidylethanol in [14C]myristic acid-labeled cells incubated in the presence of ethanol. These findings support the hypothesis that a P2 nucleotide receptor in NG108-15 cells is coupled to a signal transduction pathway involving the activation of a phospholipase C and a plasma membrane calcium channel, but not the activation of phospholipases A2 and D.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effects of acute ethanol administration on polyphosphoinositide turnover and levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in mouse cerebrum and cerebellum.

Although ethanol is known for its central depressant action, its effect on the polyphosphoinositide (poly-PI) signal transduction activity in brain has not been examined in detail. In this study, C57Bl/6J mice were injected intracerebrally with [3H]inositol, and poly-PI turnover in brain was assessed by determining the levels of labeled inositol monophosphates (IP1) accumulated after intraperitoneal injection of LiCl (6 meq/kg body weight) 4 hr before killing. Using this experimental protocol, acute ethanol administration (by gavage) resulted in time- and dose-dependent decreases in the levels of labeled IP1 in both cerebrum and cerebellum as compared with controls. The ethanol-induced decrease in labeled IP1 correlated well with the decrease in levels of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (as measured by the radioreceptor assay) and the increase in blood ethanol concentration. Despite a 4-fold higher accumulation of labeled IP1 in the cerebrum compared with the cerebellum, there were no major differences in the steady-state levels of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (based on tissue weight) in either brain region. Intraperitoneal injection of atropine (50 mg/kg) (a muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist) to the lithium-treated mice resulted in a 34% decrease in labeled IP1 as compared with controls. This result suggests that a substantial proportion of the signals transduced were due to activation of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor. Administration of ethanol (5 g/kg) to the atropine-treated mice resulted in a further decrease in labeled IP1 and longer sleep time as compared with those given ethanol alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcoholism↗

Effects of focal cerebral ischemia on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase and 5-phosphatase activities in rat cortex.

Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase and 5-phosphatase are important enzymes responsible for the metabolism of Ins(1,4,5)P3, a second messenger for mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Focal cerebral ischemia induced in Long Evans rats through occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) and both common carotid arteries resulted in a time-dependent decrease in the 3-kinase activity but not the 5-phosphatase activity. Approximately 50% of the 3-kinase activity in the cerebral cortex of the right MCA territory disappeared after 60 min of ischemia, and the enzyme activity was not restored during reperfusion. Reperfusion for 24 hr after a 60 min ischemic insult almost abolished the 3-kinase activity but the 5-phosphatase activity remained unaltered. These results suggest that the Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase is one of the target enzymes of cerebral ischemia. The changes in Ins(1,4,5)P3 metabolism may be associated with the changes in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis that underlies the pathophysiology of neuronal cell death.

Animals↗

Contributions to arachidonic acid release in mouse cerebrum by the phosphoinositide-phospholipase C and phospholipase A2 pathways.

Recent studies have indicated two major mechanisms for the release of arachidonic acid (20:4) from membrane phospholipids: 1) activation of phospholipase A2 and 2) stimulated hydrolysis of poly-phosphoinositides (PI) and diacylglycerols (DG) through phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase, respectively. In mammalian brain both mechanisms seem to be operable, although the relative contributions by these two pathways have not been carefully assessed. In this study three experimental protocols were used to examine 20:4 release in brain due to ischemia and agonist stimulation, as well as the metabolic relationship between this release and the increase in diacylglycerols, lysophospholipids, and inositol phosphates. The preferential release of arachidonic acid during the initial phase after decapitation was attributed mainly to the sequential hydrolysis of poly-PI to DG. During the second phase, the release of 20:4 along with other free fatty acids (FFA) correlated well with the increase in labeled lysophospholipids, suggesting the involvement of phospholipase A2. Diacylglycerols in brain are enriched in 18:0 and 20:4. Decapitation induced a rapid increase in the level of DG, which remained elevated during the 30 min period under study. Between 5 sec and 5 min, the increase in FFA lagged behind that of DG. The parallel increases in 18:0 and 20:4 in the FFA pool further support the notion that, during the early phase, 20:4 could be derived from the sequential hydrolysis of poly-PI and DG. Decapitation also induced a sequential appearance of Ins(1,4,5)P3, Ins(1,4)P2, and Ins(4)P, which peaked at 30 sec, 1 min, and 2 min, respectively. The level of 20:4 in brain was also examined with respect to poly-PI turnover due to stimulation by cholinergic agonists. Administration of pilocarpine to lithium-treated mice resulted in increased accumulation of labeled inositol monophosphate (IP1) compared to the amount in controls receiving lithium alone, as well as a less obvious increase in 20:4. Both pilocarpine-mediated increases (IP1 and 20:4) could be blocked by atropine. These results point to the presence of an active mechanism for poly-PI turnover and for the recycling of 20:4 in brain.

Animals↗

Decapitation ischemia-induced release of free fatty acids in mouse brain. Relationship with diacylglycerols and lysophospholipids.

In this study, the release of lysophospholipids (to depict phospholipase A2 activity) and diacylglycerols (DG) (to depict stimulated hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides) was related to the decapitation-induced release of free fatty acid (FFA) in the mouse brain. To assay for lysophospholipids, Balb/c mice were injected intracerebrally with either [3H]choline or [3H]inositol for 16 h in order to label their respective phospholipids. These lipids were examined at various times (30 s to 30.5 min) after decapitation. Between 30 s and 1.5 min after decapitation, the rate of FFA release (3 micrograms FA/mg FA in phospholipids/min) was three times more rapid than that between 10 and 15 min (0.8 microgram FA/mg FA in phospholipids/min). FFA released during the initial phase were enriched in 20:4 and 18:0 whereas those released during the latter phase were nonspecific. The DG fatty acids are enriched in 18:0 and 20:4. Ischemia induced a rapid release of DG as measured by its fatty acid content (3.2 micrograms FA/mg FA in phospholipids/min). Unlike FFA, the level of DG reached a plateau after 1.5 min and remained elevated for the entire 30.5 min. In agreement with previous notions indicating the involvement of phospholipase A2 in ischemic insult, steady increases in radioactivity of both lysophosphatidylcholines and lysophosphatidylinositols were observed with time after decapitation. Based on the preferential increase in both 18:0 and 20:4 during the initial time period, the results suggest that poly-PI hydrolysis coupled to DG-lipase may contribute to the initial release of FFA, whereas the FFA released subsequent to the initial phase may be mainly a result of activation of phospholipase A2 acting on phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylinositols.

Animals↗

Lithium effects on inositol phospholipids and inositol phosphates: evaluation of an in vivo model for assessing polyphosphoinositide turnover in brain.

Administration of lithium chloride to rats injected intracerebrally with [3H]inositol led to time- and dose-dependent increases in levels of labeled inositol monophosphates in brain. Quantitative analysis of the inositol phosphates by ion chromatography revealed 37- and 20-fold increases in the mass of myo-inositol 1-phosphate and 4-phosphate, respectively, at 4 h intraperitoneal after injections of 6 mEq/kg of lithium chloride. Albeit to a much lesser extent, lithium administration also resulted in an increase in the level of myo-inositol, 1,4-bisphosphate in brain. The lithium-induced increase in content of labeled inositol monophosphates was marked by a concomitant decrease in content of labeled inositol, and after injections of high doses of lithium, e.g., 10 mEq/kg, this was followed by a general decrease in labeling of the inositol phospholipids. In general, animals injected with [3H]inositol but not lithium did not reveal obvious differences in labeling of inositol monophosphates on stimulation by mecamylamine or pilocarpine. However, when animals were injected with [3H]inositol and then lithium, there were large increases in the levels of labeled inositol monophosphates on administration of these compounds. Administration of atropine to the lithium-treated mice led to a partial reduction in the amount of labeled inositol monophosphates accumulated due to the administration of lithium alone. Furthermore, atropine was able to block the pilocarpine-induced increase in level of labeled inositol monophosphates. These results demonstrate the suitable use of the radiotracer technique together with lithium administration for assessing the effects of drugs and receptor agonists on the signaling system involving polyphosphoinositide turnover in brain.

Animals↗

In utero ethanol exposure decreases the biosynthesis of phosphatidylserine in rat pup cerebrum.

Phosphatidylserine is enriched in the brain and has been implicated to play a role in regulating neuronal membrane functions. In this study, three experimental protocols were used to examine the effects of in utero ethanol exposure on phosphatidylserine biosynthesis in rat pup brain, namely, (1) assay of the serine base-exchange enzyme activity in brain microsomes, (2) incubation of brain slices with [3H] serine, and (3) incorporation in vivo of [3H]serine into phosphatidylserine as well as serine-related phospholipids in brain. Results from all three protocols point to a decrease in phosphatidylserine biosynthesis in newborn rat pup cerebrum on exposure to ethanol in utero compared with the pair-fed controls. When in utero ethanol-exposed pups were nursed by mothers given a chow diet, the differences gradually returned to control levels by 17 days of age. The decrease in phosphatidylserine biosynthesis may be important in explaining some of the neuronal deficits associated with in utero ethanol exposure.

Animals↗

Brief chronic effects of lithium administration on rat brain phosphoinositides and phospholipids.

Lithium is known to exert its biochemical action on cells and tissues by inhibiting the enzymic conversion of inositol monophosphates to inositol. However, it is not clear whether this inhibitory action may lead to changes in the de novo biosynthesis of phosphatidylinositol and its phosphorylated derivatives. This biosynthetic scheme may have an important bearing with regard to the receptor-mediated signal transduction mechanism involving hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides and release of inositol trisphosphate as second messenger for mobilization of intracellular calcium. In this study, the effects of brief chronic lithium administration on metabolism of brain phosphoinositides and other phospholipids were examined using the radiotracer technique with 32Pi as precursor. Sprague Dawley rats that were treated with lithium (3-4 meq/kg body wt) twice daily for 2-6 days consistently indicated an increase in the labeling of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphates and a decrease in labeling of phosphatidylinositols and phosphatidylethanolamines. These phospholipid changes were found in both cortex and hippocampus and appeared to occur primarily in the synaptosomal fraction. Although the extent of the phospholipid changes could vary depending on both duration and dose levels of the lithium administered, these results demonstrated subtle effects of lithium on depressing the biosynthesis of phosphatidylinositol as well as phosphatidylethanolamine but perhaps a compensative increase in the synthesis of the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphates.

Animals↗

Lysophosphatidylserine enhances the transfer of 22:6n3 to lysophosphatidic acid in rat brain microsomes.

Although the acyl groups of phosphatidylserine in brain are uniquely enriched in docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3), the mechanism for this enrichment is not well understood. When rat brain homogenates and microsomes were incubated in the presence of lysophosphatidylserine (LPS) together with [14C]22:6n3 and cofactors for activation to its acylCoA, very little radioactivity was incorporated into phosphatidylserine (PS). On the other hand, [14C]20:4n6 was more actively incorporated into PS. Addition of LPS (1-10 uM), however, resulted in a 2-5 fold enhancement of the transfer of labeled 22:6n3 and 20:4n6 to phosphatidic acid (PA). Kinetic analysis indicated the ability of LPS to lower the Km and increase the Vmax of the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) acyltransferase reaction. Among other lysophospholipids tested, lysophosphatidylserine was most effective in enhancing PA biosynthesis. Since PA is an important intermediate for de novo biosynthesis of phospholipids, these results reveal a novel mechanism for promoting synthesis of PA enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids in brain.

Animals↗

Leukotriene C4-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat basophilic leukemia cell.

Leukotriene C4 (LTC4), one of the major constituents of the slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis, induced a dose-dependent hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in [3H]inositol-prelabeled rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells. The EC50 for LTC4 to elicit the half maximum accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates (IPs) was around 20 nM. The increase in the formation of [3H]inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and [3H]inositol trisphosphate (IP3) was detectable at 2 min after the stimulation and progressed up to 30 min. Accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate (IP1) was observed only during the late phase of 5-30 min in the presence of LiCl. When cells were stimulated with LTC4 and LTD4 together, there was no additive accumulation in [3H]IPs. Pretreatment of cells with either LTC4 or LTD4 resulted in a decrease in production of [3H]IPs on further stimulation with the same agonist. The desensitization appeared to be heterologous since pretreatment of cells with LTC4 attenuated the responsiveness to LTD4. Conversely, pretreatment with LTD4 also diminished the responsiveness to LTC4 markedly. These results suggest that both LTC4- and LTD4-induced hydrolysis of phosphoinositides are mediated through the same effector in RBL-1 cells.

Animals↗

Effects of cholesterol and fat modification of self-selected diets on serum lipids and their specific fatty acids in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic humans.

A 6-month crossover diet plan was employed to study the effects on human serum lipids of adding margarine or butter to otherwise self-selected diets that included two eggs daily. Two groups of subjects were studied: 51 free-living normocholesterolemic and 20 hypercholesterolemic (greater than 240 mg dl). Four-day diet records in each interval showed that subjects ate about 16% of total dietary fat as either butter or margarine. Blood samples taken every 6 weeks showed variable mean serum total cholesterol (SCHOL), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and serum triglycerides (STG). The normocholesterolemic subjects who ate butter first had by 24 weeks mean SCHOL values equal to their entry values; those who ate margarine first had increased SCHOL values throughout the study. By the end of the study, the hypercholesterolemic subjects showed either no change or a slight decrease in both SCHOL and HDL-C values. Specific fatty acids were distributed differently in the serum fractions of triacylglycerol (TGFA), cholesteryl esters (CEFA), and phospholipids (PLFA). These distributions remained constant in both normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic subjects regardless of the type and amount of fat consumed.

Adult↗

Brain polyphosphoinositide metabolism during focal ischemia in rat cortex.

Using a rat model of stroke, we examined the effects of focal cerebral ischemia on the metabolism of polyphosphoinositides by injecting 32Pi into both the left and right cortices. After equilibration of the label for 2-3 hours, ischemia induced a significant decrease (p less than 0.001) in the concentrations of labeled phosphatidyl 4,5-bisphosphates (66-78%) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (64-67%) in the right middle cerebral artery cortex of four rats. The phospholipid labeling pattern in the left middle cerebral artery cortex, which sustained only mild ischemia and no permanent tissue damage, was not different from that of two sham-operated controls. However, when 32Pi was injected 1 hour after the ischemic insult, there was a significant decrease (p less than 0.01) in the incorporation of label into the phospholipids in both cortices of four ischemic rats compared with four sham-operated controls. Furthermore, differences in the phospholipid labeling pattern were observed in the left cortex compared with the sham-operated controls. The change in labeling pattern was attributed to the partial reduction in blood flow following ligation of the common carotid arteries. We provide a sensitive procedure for probing the effects of focal cerebral ischemia on the polyphosphoinositide signaling pathway in the brain, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of tissue injury.

Animals↗

Effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration on phosphoinositide metabolism in mouse brain.

A radiotracer technique in combination with lithium injection was used to probe the effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration on poly-phosphoinositide turnover in mouse brain. C57Bl/6J mice were injected intracerebrally with 3H-inositol to label the inositol phospholipids and inositol phosphates in brain. Subsequently, the accumulation of labeled inositol monophosphates was assessed 4 hr after i.p. injection of lithium (6 meq/kg body wt). Using this experimental paradigm, results indicated a significant increase in labeled inositol monophosphates in the chronic ethanol group and a decrease in the same compound in animals after acute ethanol intoxication.

Animals↗