Precolumn derivatization with OPA was used for the analysis of brain and plasma free amino acids of mice after the administration of different doses (0.25 LD50, 0.5 LD50 and LD50) of methyl isocyanate (MIC) for different durations (45 min, 4 h, 4 days and 7 days). In general, there were a dose-dependent decrease in brain free amino acid content with the exception of glycine and arginine (increased above the control level with 0.25 LD50 and 0.5 LD50 doses), and taurine which increased with 0.5 LD50 and LD50 doses in 45 min. All the amino acids from plasma were increased with all the three doses, with the exception of arginine which decreased at the 0.25 LD50 dose in 45 min. With increase in duration of observation to 4 h, 4 days and 7 days, the brain amino acid content was still below the control levels and plasma levels were higher as compared to the respective controls. The only exceptions were serine, histidine, alanine and arginine, which decreased on the 7th day. This study suggests that MIC produced an imbalance of both the brain and plasma amino acids, suggesting neurotoxic and systemic effects.

Amino Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Alterations in hepatic biochemistry of mice intoxicated with MIC, carbaryl and thiram.

The effect of different doses of methyl isocyanate (MIC), carbaryl and thiram on liver microsomal mixed-function oxygenases (MFO) was studied in adult Swiss Portan mice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection for different durations. The LD50 dose of all three toxicants after 0.75 h of administration could increase cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 contents (82-143%), and the 1/4 LD50 of these compounds could elicit the same effect after 168 h (168-393%). The 1/4 LD50 dose of thiram decreased the cytochrome P-450 content below the control level (69.62%) in 0.75 h and the same dose of MIC could decrease the cytochrome P-450 level by 40% compared to the control after 3 days of consecutive injection. The activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes (aminopyrine demethylase--NADH and NADPH-linked--and aniline hydroxylase) were found to increase with all three compounds in general. Marked changes in the activity of the marker enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase were also seen after i.p. injection if MIC, carbaryl and thiram. These findings suggested that these compounds were hepatotoxic, which could be due to their carbamylating nature.

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sympathetic control of cardiac myosin heavy chain gene expression.

Several neuroendocrine factors have been shown to influence the muscle phenotype. Various physiological reports have suggested the role of adrenergic nervous system for cardiac myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression. We have used cultured fetal rat heart myocytes to investigate the role of cAMP on the alpha- and beta-MHC gene expression. In low density cultures, addition of 1 mM 8 Br cAMP resulted in up regulation of alpha-MHC and down regulation of beta-MHC mRNA. This antithetic effect of cAMP depends on the basal expression of both expression of both MHC transcripts. In transient transfection analysis employing a series of alpha-MHC gene promoter/reporter constructs, we identified a 13 bp E-box M-CAT hybrid motif (EM element) which conferred a basal muscle specific and cAMP-inducible expression of the alpha-MHC gene. Data obtained from the mobility gel-shift analysis indicated that one of the factor(s) binding to the EM element is related to troponin T M-CAT binding factor (TEF-1). To test whether the protein binding to this sequence could be a substrate for cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, the cardiac nuclear proteins were preincubated in a kinase reaction buffer either with a catalytic subunit of PKA (CatPKA) or with cAMP, and binding activity of proteins to the EM element was evaluated by mobility gel shift assay. In a concentration dependent manner, a twofold increase in the intensity of the retarded band was observed. Furthermore, at 100 units of CatPKA, an additional band of faster mobility was observed which was not present either when phosphorylated nuclear extract was incubated with alkaline phosphatase or when ATP was absent in kinase reaction buffer. These results strongly suggest that factor(s) binding to the EM element is a substrate for cAMP dependent phosphorylation.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Catecholamines and cardiac growth.

The present knowledge concerning the alpha- and beta-adrenergic systems in the regulation of cardiac growth and gene expression is reviewed. To investigate the mechanism by which cAMP regulates the expression of cardiac genes we have used cultured myocytes derived from fetal rat hearts. We have shown previously that the addition of Br cAMP to the culture medium produced an increase in alpha-myosin heavy chain (alpha-MHC) mRNA level, in its rate of transcription as well as in the amount of V1 isomyosin. To characterize the promoter element(s) involved in cAMP responsive regulation of alpha-MHC expression we performed transient transfection analysis with a series of alpha-MHC gene promoter-CAT constructs. We have identified a 13 bp E-box/M-CAT hybrid motif (EM element) which conferred a basal muscle specific and cAMP inducible expression of the alpha-MHC gene. Using mobility shift assay we have documented that one of the EM element binding protein is TEF-1. Moreover, by incubating cardiac nuclear extracts with the catalytic subunit of PK-A we have found that factor(s) binding to the EM element is a substrate for cAMP dependent phosphorylation.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗