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Biomedical subjects

K Higashi

Publications and source records attributed to K Higashi.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Inhibition of brain adenylate cyclase by barbiturates through the effect on the interaction between guanine nucleotide-binding stimulatory regulatory protein and catalitic unit.

The effect of barbiturates on an adenylate cyclase system in rat brain was examined. The activity of the catalytic unit of this system isolated from the synaptic membrane was inhibited by phenobarbital in dose- and time-dependent manners. The mode of the inhibition was non-competitive with respect to Mg-adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The activity of the synaptic membrane-bound adenylate cyclase was also inhibited by phenobarbital in a similar manner. The inhibitory effect of phenobarbital was more potent on the activation of the enzyme by 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp) than on the basal enzyme activity. The inhibitory effect, however, was not observed in the synaptic membrane preparation in which the guanine nucleotide-binding stimulatory regulatory protein (Ns) and the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase system had been functionally coupled by pretreatment with GppNHp. Similar results were obtained with other pharmacologically active barbiturates. These findings indicate that barbiturates primarily affect the activation of the catalytic unit by an interaction with Ns resulting in the inhibition of the enzyme activity.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

The effect of iopanoic acid on thyrotropin secretion in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Ten patients with liver cirrhosis and six normal subjects were studied to evaluate the effect of iopanoic acid (IA) on thyrotropin secretion. A thyrotropin-releasing-hormone (TRH) test was performed before and 5 days after IA administration (single oral dose of 3 g). After IA administration, a significant increase in TSH response to TRH was observed in normal subjects. In cirrhotics, however, it did not significantly increase after IA administration. The serum T3 and T3/TBG ratio were significantly decreased and the serum T4 and T4/TBG ratio were increased after IA administration in normal subjects and cirrhotics. There was no significant difference in the % decrease in serum T3, % increase in serum T4 or other thyroid hormone parameters including TSH in IA induced TSH responders (R) and non-responders (NR). However, r-T3 before and after IA in R was higher than those in NR. The values for hepatic function tests such as serum albumin, prothrombin time, 45 minutes retention rate of bromsulphalein (BSP 45 min) and the cholinesterase (ChE) level in R were not different from those of NR. These results suggested that in cirrhotics, abnormal regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary system might exist.

Adult↗

Modification of the cysteamine side chain of thienamycin. III.

Thienamycin derivatives (4) having a cyclic amidine moiety at the C-2 position were prepared. The susceptibility to renal dehydropeptidase-1 and the antimicrobial activity of these compounds were determined. Their structure-activity relationships are also discussed.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Modification of the cysteamine side chain of thienamycin. II.

A new type of thienamycin derivatives (3a-3j, 4a, 4b), having a monothioacetal or a thioacetal side chain at the C-2 position was prepared, and the susceptibility to renal dehydropeptidase-1 (DHP-1) and the antimicrobial activity of these compounds were determined. The structure-activity relationships of these derivatives are also discussed.

Bacteria↗

Induction of desensitization by phorbol ester to beta-adrenergic agonist stimulation in adenylate cyclase system of rat reticulocytes.

Treatment of rat reticulocytes with a phorbol ester, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), resulted in the desensitization of adenylate cyclase to the beta-adrenergic agonist stimulation depending on the dose and period of the TPA treatment. Treatment of the reticulocytes with TPA caused approximately 40% reduction in the stimulation by beta-adrenergic agonists of adenylate cyclase activity, whereas the treatment had little effect on the basal activity and the activation by fluoride and guanine nucleotide of the enzyme system. No change in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors was observed after the TPA treatment. Treatment with 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG), an activator of protein kinase C, also caused the desensitization of reticulocyte adenylate cyclase to isoproterenol. On the other hand, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, prevented the desensitization induced by TPA. These results suggest the involvement of protein kinase C in a process of desensitization of adenylate cyclase system to beta-adrenergic agonists in rat reticulocytes.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Forskolin stabilizes a functionally coupled state between activated guanine nucleotide-binding stimulatory regulatory protein, Ns, and catalytic protein of adenylate cyclase system in rat erythrocytes.

Guanine nucleotide-binding stimulatory regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase system, Ns, in rat erythrocytes was activated by the treatment with guanylyl 5'-imidodiphosphate or NaF-AlCl3 in the presence of Mg2+. The activation was counterbalanced to the basal state either by the removal of Mg2+ or by the addition of beta(gamma)-subunit of N protein of this system. The depression from the activated state was markedly protected by the coexistence of forskolin at the time of the deactivation depending on the dose of forskolin. EC50 of forskolin for the stabilizing effect was much lower than that for the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity. These data indicate that forskolin has an effect on the interaction between Ns and catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase system in addition to the direct effect on the catalytic unit.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the genes for the thermostable direct hemolysin and the thermolabile hemolysin from Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The nucleotide sequences of genes encoding the thermostable direct (TSD) hemolysin and the thermolabile (TL) hemolysin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were determined. From the nucleotide sequence of the TSD hemolysin gene, it was revealed that the preprotein and the mature protein consisted of 189 amino acids and 165 amino acids, and that the molecular weights were 21.1 kDa or 18.5 kDa, respectively. Our data regarding TSD hemolysin were in complete agreement with previously published data. From the nucleotide sequence of the TL hemolysin gene, it was revealed that the preprotein and the mature protein consisted of 418 amino acids and 398 amino acids, and that the molecular weights were 47.5 kDa and 45.3 kDa, respectively. The GC content of the TSD hemolysin gene was 35.6%, while that of the TL hemolysin gene was 47.6% which is almost the same as that of V. parahaemolyticus genome. Maxicell analysis revealed that the molecular weights of the proteins encoded by the TSD hemolysin gene were 22.0 and 19.5 kDa, and that of the protein encoded by the TL hemolysin gene was 45.5 kDa, and that the promoters of these two hemolysin genes of V. parahaemolyticus were functional in Escherichia coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cerebral blood flow and metabolism in experimental hydrocephalus.

Cerebral blood flow and metabolism were studied in experimental hydrocephalus which was produced by intracisternal injection of kaolin in cats, rabbits and rats. Measurements were carried out in varied stages of hydrocephalus. Local cerebral blood flow (l-CBF) was measured by the hydrogen clearance method. Assessment of cerebral metabolism was made biochemically in the brain tissues of various regions, including water content, Na, K, lactate, pyruvate, lipids, ATP, cyclic AMP, catecholamines and monoamine metabolites. Blood flow studies were performed in the cerebral cortex, periventricular white matter, thalamus and midbrain reticular formation in hydrocephalic cats. In all of these regions, l-CBF decreased to about half of the control in both acute and chronic stages of hydrocephalus. CO2 reactivity to CBF was impaired only in the acute stage, while autoregulation of CBF was preserved in the hydrocephalic brain. Water content of the brain tissue increased temporarily only within the periventricular white matter of hydrocephalic rabbits concomitant with increase in Na and decrease in K. Transient increase in the lactate and lactate/pyruvate ratios was also observed in the frontal lobe tissue. In hydrocephalic rats, decrease in phospholipids and cholesterol was observed parallel with the degree of ventricular dilatation. ATP and cyclic AMP decreased biphasically in both acute and chronic stages. On the other hand, increase in concentrations of norepinephrine, dopamine, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid became evident in the chronic stage of hydrocephalus. From the above results, it is concluded that the hydrocephalic brain sustained considerable disturbance of metabolism in all modalities in association with decreased blood flow, which is sufficient to explain the clinical symptoms of hydrocephalus.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Studies of hypothyroidism in patients with high iodine intake.

Twenty-two patients with spontaneously occurring primary hypothyroidism were studied to evaluate the spontaneous reversibility of the hypothyroid state. Twelve (54.5%) became euthyroid after restriction of iodine intake for 3 weeks (reversible type). In the remaining 10 patients, thyroid function did not improve with restriction of iodine alone, and thus, replacement therapy was required, (irreversible type). In the reversible type, 1) radioactive iodine uptake after 1 week of restricted iodine intake was higher than in the irreversible type [50.0 +/- 12.2% (+/- SD) vs. 4.3 +/- 3.2%; P less than 0.01], 2) the perchlorate discharge test was positive in 2 of 10 patients, and 3) the iodine-perchlorate discharge test, carried out in 7 of 8 patients with negative perchlorate discharge test, was positive in 6. Seven patients with the reversible type were given 25 mg iodine daily for 2-4 weeks; all became hypothyroid again. Two patients had a history of habitual ingestion of seaweed (25.4 and 43.1 mg iodine, respectively), but the remaining 10 patients ingested ordinary amounts of iodine (1-5 mg) daily. The patients with reversible hypothyroidism had focal lymphocytic thyroiditis changes in the thyroid biopsy specimen, whereas those with irreversible hypothyroidism had more severe destruction of the thyroid gland. These results indicate the existence of a reversible type of hypothyroidism sensitive to iodine restriction and characterized by relatively minor changes in lymphocytic thyroiditis histologically. Attention should be directed to this type of hypothyroidism, because thyroid function may revert to normal with iodine restriction alone.

Adult↗