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Biomedical subjects

J H Ottaway

Publications and source records attributed to J H Ottaway.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Improved mineral balance and skeletal metabolism in postmenopausal women treated with potassium bicarbonate.

BACKGROUND: In normal subjects, a low level of metabolic acidosis and positive acid balance (the production of more acid than is excreted) are typically present and correlate in degree with the amount of endogenous acid produced by the metabolism of foods in ordinary diets abundant in protein. Over a lifetime, the counteraction of retained endogenous acid by base mobilized from the skeleton may contribute to the decrease in bone mass that occurs normally with aging. METHODS: To test that possibility, we administered potassium bicarbonate to 18 postmenopausal women who were given a constant diet (652 mg [16 mmol] of calcium and 96 g of protein per 60 kg of body weight). The potassium bicarbonate was given orally for 18 days in doses (60 to 120 mmol per day) that nearly completely neutralized the endogenous acid. RESULTS: During the administration of potassium bicarbonate, the calcium and phosphorus balance became less negative or more positive--that is, less was excreted in comparison with the amount ingested (mean [+/- SD] change in calcium balance, +56 +/- 76 mg [1.4 +/- 1.9 mmol] per day per 60 kg; P = 0.009; change in phosphorus balance, +47 +/- 64 mg [1.5 +/- 2.1 mmol] per day per 60 kg; P = 0.007) because of reductions in urinary calcium and phosphorus excretion. The changes in calcium and phosphorus balance were positively correlated (P < 0.001). Serum osteocalcin concentrations increased from 5.5 +/- 2.8 to 6.1 +/- 2.8 ng per milliliter (P < 0.001), and urinary hydroxyproline excretion decreased from 28.9 +/- 12.3 to 26.7 +/- 10.8 mg per day (220 +/- 94 to 204 +/- 82 mumol per day; P = 0.05). Net renal acid excretion decreased from 70.9 +/- 10.1 to 12.8 +/- 21.8 mmol per day, indicating nearly complete neutralization of endogenous acid. CONCLUSIONS: In postmenopausal women, the oral administration of potassium bicarbonate at a dose sufficient to neutralize endogenous acid improves calcium and phosphorus balance, reduces bone resorption, and increases the rate of bone formation.

Aged↗

Turnover of sarcoplasmic proteins in the breast muscle of rapidly growing chicks.

1. Turnover of the sarcoplasmic proteins aldolase, phosphoglycerate mutase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase isolated from chicken breast muscle was investigated using a pulse labelling technique. 2. A single injection of [U-14C]leucine was given and the proteins were extracted and purified at 2, 6, 15, 30, 48 and 72 hr following administration. Specific radioactivity in all of these isolated enzymes showed unexpected multiple peak profiles which did not intersect with the specific radioactivity profile of the blood plasma. 3. These results were interpreted as showing that either a large proportion of these proteins was not turned over in rapidly growing muscle or that the plasma amino acid pool was not the precursor pool for muscle protein synthesis. 4. The results also suggested that at least two sub-populations of the proteins exist within the muscle tissue. 5. A further conclusion drawn from these data was that established techniques of pulse labelling may seriously overestimate the rate of protein synthesis in growing muscle.

Animals↗

Succinate thiokinase in pigeon breast muscle mitochondria.

Succinate thiokinase has been purified from pigeon breast muscle. It has been confirmed that the enzyme is entirely specific for ATP, and Km is very high (approximately 0.8 mM). Activity in mitochondrial sonicates is low enough for it to be doubtful whether the enzyme can support citric acid cycle flux in the tissue. The enzyme appears to have an Mr of 80 000-100 000, and to have two unequal subunits. As determined by SDS gel electrophoresis one subunit certainly has an Mr of 40 000.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Studies on the mechanism and kinetics of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase system from pig heart.

1. The kinetic properties of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase system were investigated. To this end, initial-velocity studies were carried out by the method of Fromm [(1967) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 139, 221-230]. Reciprocal plots of the results did not agree with those expected for the Hexa Uni Ping Pong mechanism previously proposed for the system. 2. The measured initial velocities were fitted to initial-rate equations corresponding to several possible mechanisms by using a computer optimization technique. Statistical analyses performed on the results of the optimization studies indicated that one mechanism was a significantly better fit to the experimental data than the other mechanisms tested. This mechanism is one in which there is a random order of binding of NAD+ and CoA and release of succinyl-CoA, although the binding of 2-oxoglutarate and release of CO2 is still given a Ping Pong mechanism, which precedes the binding of the other substrates. These conclusions were supported by NADH-inhibition studies. 3. The usefulness of the method of fitting initial-rate data to rate equations and the applicability of the proposed enzymic mechanism to the enzyme complex are discussed.

Animals↗

Localization in cardiac muscle of some enzymes related to glutamate metabolism.

A tetrazolium staining medium incorporated in a gel has been used in a histochemical study of enzymes in thin sections of heart muscle. Formazan distribution patterns given by mitochondrial enzymes were inconsistent with the location of these enzymes revealed by the extraction of whole tissue. Similar stain distributions were given by lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase. The distribution given by succinate dehydrogenase was not the same as that given by cytochrome oxidase stained by a different technique. Alcohol dehydrogenase added to the tissue assumed a distribution which suggested some adsorption of the enzyme to the tissue. But experiments suggested that this enzyme was not firmly bound to muscle proteins in the manner of some glycolytic enzymes.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗