Biomedical subjects

N Okamura

Publications and source records attributed to N Okamura.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

Moment analysis of drug disposition in rat kidney: role of basolateral membrane transport in renal transepithelial transport of p-aminohippurate.

The determining step in transepithelial transport of p-aminohippurate (PAH) in renal tubular secretion has been elucidated in the rat isolated perfused kidney. The method was based upon a multiple indicator dilution experiment and non-compartmental moment analysis. Single-pass dilution curves were obtained from venous and urinary effluents after simultaneous intra-arterial injections of Evans blue with albumin, [3H]inulin and [14C]PAH. Probenecid was used as a transport inhibitor and dissolved in both perfusate and injection solution. The urinary excretion of PAH decreased depending on the probenecid concentration, while that of inulin was not affected. No correlation was observed between the amount of secretion and the mean residence time of secreted PAH in renal epithelial cells (Tcell). Since Tcell ought to be affected by the rate of secretion from cells to lumen, it was suggested that the secretion rate was independent of the amount secreted. In contrast, the amount of PAH excreted via tubular secretion showed a linear correlation with the volume of distribution in the kidney and the apparent rate constant for tubular uptake of PAH. Since these kinetic parameters reflect the transport from blood into cells across the basolateral membranes of renal epithelial cells, the present results demonstrated that basolateral membrane transport is a determining step in the transcellular transport of PAH and that the major effect of probenecid is the inhibition of transport from blood into cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

[A provisional serovar of Shigella dysenteriae isolated in Japan from travellers' diarrhea].

A bacterial strain was isolated that possessed the biochemical characteristics of Shigella dysenteriae but did not belong to any of the established S. dysenteriae serovars, from the feces of a diarrheal case who had travelled to Turkey, Pakistan, India and Thailand for about a month. This strain was invasive to tissue culture cells and gave a positive Serény test. Preparing antiserum against this strain and examining the antigenic relationship with the established O antigens of Shigella and Escherichia coli O1-O170, we found that the strain had O antigen identical to that of the E. coli O serogroups 150. The results indicated that this strain could be a provisional serovar of S. dysenteriae. Although our strain could probably be the same serotype as that of the strains reported in Israel, this may be the first report of isolation in Japan.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

[Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli O121: H- isolated from travellers' diarrhea].

A lactose slow-fermenting, non motile Escherichia coli strain was isolated from a diarrheal patient returning from Indonesia. Examination of virulence of the strain showed that it penetrated into tissue culture cells, and were positive in Serény test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of enteroinvasive E. coli. A large plasmid responsible for virulence was also detected. Thus the strain was confirmed to be a typical enteroinvasive E. coli. Analysis of O serotype using the antisera against E. coli O1-O170 revealed that the strain had O121 antigen, whose antiserum is not included in the commercial serotyping kit for the diagnosis of diarrheagenic E. coli.

Diarrhea↗

PubMed1991

Respiratory burst oxidase and three of four oxidase-related polypeptides are associated with the cytoskeleton of human neutrophils.

Resting and phorbol-activated human neutrophils were separated by treatment with Triton X-100 into detergent-extractable and cytoskeleton fractions. Respiratory burst oxidase activity was restricted entirely to the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton also contained approximately 15% of the neutrophil cytochrome b558, an oxidase-associated heme protein, as well as most of the oxidase-related cytosolic polypeptide p67phox. In contrast, the components of the oxidase-associated phosphoprotein family p47phox were found almost exclusively in the detergent extract, suggesting that p47phox is needed for oxidase activation but not for O2- production by the activated oxidase. Activation of the oxidase had no apparent effect on the distribution of any of these species between the cytoskeleton and the detergent extract. Our results support earlier studies implying that the cytoskeleton participates in an important way in regulating the activity of the O2(-)-forming respiratory burst oxidase of neutrophils.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMed1990

A diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor, R 59 022, potentiates superoxide anion production and 46-kDa protein phosphorylation in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

A diacylglycerol (DG) kinase inhibitor, R 59 022, potentiated superoxide anion (O2-) production in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) induced by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). R 59 022 also potentiated O2- production induced by 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, a permeable DG. However, the production induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a direct activator for protein kinase C, was not potentiated by R 59 022. R 59 022 by itself had no significant effects on unstimulated O2- production. The potentiation of FMLP-induced O2- production by R 59 022 was correlated closely with increased formation of DG and decreased formation of phosphatidic acid, a product of DG kinase. R 59 022 had no effect on the breakdown of phosphoinositides. Phosphorylation of 46-kDa protein(s) by protein kinase C was also examined in relation to O2- production in PMNL. In coincidence with the increase in O2- production, the phosphorylation was potentiated by R 59 022 in the response to FMLP, but not in the response to PMA. In addition, staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, inhibited increases in both O2- production and phosphorylation of the 46-kDa protein(s) after PMA stimulation. Similar inhibitory effects of staurosporine were also observed upon stimulation with FMLP, irrespective of the presence of R 59 022. These results indicate that retention of DG as a result of the inhibition of further metabolism induces marked stimulation of O2- production via protein kinase C activation in PMNL. These results also provide further evidence for the close relationship between 46-kDa protein phosphorylation by protein kinase C and stimulation of O2- production in PMNL.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1990

Effects of a membrane-bound trypsin-like proteinase and seminal proteinase inhibitors on the bicarbonate-sensitive adenylate cyclase in porcine sperm plasma membranes.

Plasma membranes were purified from flagella of porcine cauda epididymal sperm and proteolytic regulation of bicarbonate-sensitive adenylate cyclase was studied. It was found that the epididymal sperm plasma membrane contained a trypsin-like proteinase which inactivated adenylate cyclase. Bicarbonate activates adenylate cyclase as reported previously, but, at the same time, the anions enhance the inactivation of the enzyme by the membrane-bound trypsin-like proteinase. This phenomenon is not due to the direct activation of the proteinase, but closely related to the activation of adenylate cyclase by bicarbonate. It was also found that seminal proteinase inhibitors blocked the inactivation of adenylate cyclase and maintained the bicarbonate activation of the enzyme at high level. Actually, bicarbonate keeps adenylate cyclase fully active in ejaculated sperm, because membrane-bound proteinase is completely inhibited by the seminal proteinase inhibitors. These results suggest that the interactions between membrane-bound proteinase and seminal proteinase inhibitor are involved in the regulation of the bicarbonate-sensitive adenylate cyclase system.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

PubMed1990

The enhancing effects of anion channel blockers on sperm activation by bicarbonate.

We found that anion channel blockers such as phosphotungstate and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS) enhanced HCO3(-)-induced activation on porcine epididymal sperm. In the presence of these compounds, HCO3- increased the motility, respiration rate and especially the cAMP content of the sperm to a greater extent than did HCO3- alone. The enhancing effects were not observed in the absence of HCO3-, but were evident when the concentration of HCO3- was low. These compounds did not significantly alter the intracellular pH and did inhibit the adenylate cyclase activity of the sperm plasma membrane. When these compounds were added to sperm homogenate with ATP, the cAMP formed was reduced compared to the control. In addition, these compounds inhibited both the SO4(2-) influx and efflux of the sperm. From these results, we conclude that the anion channel blockers tested principally inhibit the efflux of endogenous HCO3- derived from metabolic CO2, so that HCO3- accumulates intracellularly and stimulates the adenylate cyclase of the sperm.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

PubMed1990

Synergism between platelet-activating factor and diacylglycerol in the induction of superoxide anion production in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The superoxide anion (O2-) production of guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) by platelet-activating factor (PAF) was greatly enhanced by the addition of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), even at low concentrations of OAG at which O2- production was little induced. The enhanced production was biphasic, depending on concentrations of PAF. One was saturable at a lower concentration range of PAF and probably mediated through a putative PAF receptor-islet-activating protein-sensitive GTP-binding protein (G protein) pathway. Another was increased in a concentration-dependent manner at a higher concentration range of PAF and apparently mediated through both receptor-G protein-dependent and -independent pathways. These results suggest that at least two types of action of PAF are involved in the synergistic stimulation of O2- production by PAF and OAG in PMNL.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Effect of glutaraldehyde on NADPH oxidase system of guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

In an attempt to elucidate properties and activation mechanisms of the NADPH oxidase system, which is known to be responsible for the production of superoxide anion (O2-) in cell membranes of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), intact guinea pig PMNL were treated with glutaraldehyde, a protein crosslinking reagent, before or after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Then, PMNL were disrupted and NADPH oxidase activity was measured. After the treatment of resting PMNL with glutaraldehyde, NADPH oxidase was no longer activated by PMA. On the other hand, the NADPH oxidase activity enhanced by PMA in advance was markedly retained by the glutaraldehyde treatment of such PMA-stimulated PMNL as compared to that in untreated cells. Similar retention by glutaraldehyde of the stimulated NADPH oxidase activity was observed in PMNL stimulated by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and cytochalasin D. Furthermore, the oxidase activity of glutaraldehyde-treated PMNL was stable during incubation at 37 degrees C, the half life of the oxidase activity of the treated PMNL being more than 90 min whereas that of the untreated PMNL is about 15 min. This ability of the glutaraldehyde treatment to retain the activity was also observed against inactivation by high concentrations of NaCl and by positively charged alkylamine.

Aldehydes↗

PubMed1990

Involvement of membrane charges in constituting the active form of NADPH oxidase in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

NADPH oxidase activity in a membrane fraction prepared from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was inhibited by positively charged myristylamine. The inhibitory effect of myristylamine was significantly suppressed by simultaneous addition of a negatively charged fatty acid, such as myristic acid. However, the suppression by myristylamine was not sufficiently restored when myristic acid was added later. On the other hand, pretreatment of PMA-stimulated PMNL with glutaraldehyde, a protein crosslinking reagent, stabilized NADPH oxidase activity against inhibition by myristylamine, but not against that by p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid. In a cell-free system of reconstituted plasma membrane and cytosolic fractions prepared from unstimulated PMNL, arachidonic acid-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity was also inhibited by myristylamine. During the activation of NADPH oxidase by PMA in intact PMNL and by arachidonic acid in the cell-free system, cytosolic activation factor(s) translocated to plasma membranes. The bound cytosolic activation factor(s) was released from the membranes by myristylamine, accompanied by a loss of NADPH oxidase activity. It is plausible from these results that the inhibitory effect of alkylamine on NADPH oxidase is due to induction of the decoupling and/or dissociation of the cytosolic activation component(s) from the activated NADPH oxidase complex by increments of positive charges in the membranes, and that the glutaraldehyde treatment prevents the dissociation of component(s).

Amines↗

PubMed1990

Translocation of the 46 kDa protein(s) in response to activation of NADPH oxidase in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Treatment of guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced an increase in phosphorylation of 46 kDa protein(s) in parallel with activation of NADPH oxidase. In response to PMA stimulation, phosphorylated 46 kDa protein(s) increased markedly in the membrane fraction, accompanied by a decrease in the unphosphorylated form(s) in the cytosol. The results indicate that the 46 kDa protein(s) may be translocated concomitantly with its phosphorylation. On the other hand, in a cell-free activation system reconstituted from the cytosol and plasma membranes of unstimulated PMNL, arachidonic acid caused the translocation of the 46 kDa protein(s) from the cytosol to the plasma membranes concomitantly with an enhancement of NADPH oxidase activity. These results suggest that activation of NADPH oxidase is dependent on an association of 46 kDa protein(s) with the membranes both in intact PMNL and in the cell-free system.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1990

The p67-phox cytosolic peptide of the respiratory burst oxidase from human neutrophils. Functional aspects.

Most cases of cytosol-defective chronic granulomatous disease are due to the deficiency of a 47-kD protein (p47-phox) whose phosphorylation normally accompanies the activation of the respiratory burst oxidase. Recently, a form of chronic granulomatous disease was described in which the failure of O2- production was associated with the absence of a 67-kD polypeptide (p67-phox) from the cytosol of affected neutrophils. Using neutrophils obtained from a patient with this form of the disease, we examined the function of p67-phox in the activation of the oxidase. Our studies showed that in whole p67-phox-deficient neutrophils, p47-phox was phosphorylated in a normal fashion. In the cell-free oxidase-activating system, the ability of the p67-phox-deficient cytosol to support oxidase activation was partly restored by the addition of p47-phox-deficient cytosol; the p67-phox-deficient cytosol, however, was not complemented by cytosol inactivated with NADPH dialdehyde, an affinity label previously found to block the NADPH-binding component of the oxidase. Despite these differences, the kinetic properties of the p67-phox-deficient cytosol closely resembled those of the p47-phox-deficient cytosol. Taken together with earlier findings, these results suggest that (a) in the neutrophil cytosol, p67-phox is at least partly complexed to p47-phox; (b) it is in the form of this complex that p67-phox participates in oxidase activation; and (c) p47-phox appears to be translocated from the cytosol to the plasma membrane during oxidase activation, but complexation to p67-phox is not necessary for this translocation, nor for the accompanying extra protein phosphorylation.

Blood Proteins↗

PubMed1990

Mechanism for the inhibitory effect of a seleno-organic compound, Ebselen, and its analogues on superoxide anion production in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Effects of Ebselen and its analogs (PZ-25, NAT06-123, NAT02-761, NAT02-801, NAT06-099, and NAT06-513) on superoxide anion (O2-) production induced by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) were examined in intact guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). Four compounds having a structure of 1,2 benzoisoselenazol-3-(2H) one (Ebselen, NAT06-123, and NAT02-761) and its sulfur-substituted analog (PZ-25), had a potent inhibitory effect on O2- production as compared with others. Ebselen and NAT06-123 also markedly inhibited nicotinamide adenine dinuclestide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity, which is responsible for O2- production in intact cells, and in a particulate fraction prepared from TPA-stimulated PMNL, whereas PZ-25 inhibited this enzyme weakly and NAT02-761 did not. On the other hand, Ebselen and PZ-25 had the same degree of potent inhibitory effect on protein kinase C which was involved in the regulation of NADPH oxidase activation. Thus, it is plausible that inhibition of O2- production in intact PMNL by these compounds were due not only to direct inhibition of NADPH oxidase but also to inhibition of protein kinase C.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

[A study on the effect of water intake of umpires during a baseball game in a summer-heat environment].

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of umpires' intake of water during a summertime baseball game, on serum and urinary biochemical elements, body weight and physiological factors. Twenty-eight umpires were classified into two groups. Group W was composed of 14 umpires who had water while those who did not were group C. Group W had 250 ml of water that was cooled to about 5 degrees C after the 5th inning of the game. The game was played in the following environment: atmosphere temperature was 31 degrees C; wet-bulb temperature was 26 degrees C; blackglove temperature was 40 degrees C; the velocity of the wind was 1.18 m/sec in bright sunshine on a hot and moist day. The results obtained were as follows. In group W, more body weight was lost than in group C, but statistically there was no significant difference. Urinary volume in group W became smaller than in group C, but statistically there was no significant difference. Water in blood increased in group W and decreased in group C but statistically there was significant difference. In both groups, oral temperature decreased, but only in group C was there a statistically significant difference. Although the intake of water increased the volume of perspiration, it did not dilute the concentrated blood, suppress the rise of body temperature, or result in a rise of low blood pressure.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Phosphotungstate shows a heparin-like anticoagulant effect but inhibits heparin.

We examined the anticoagulant effects of phosphotungstate (PTA). PTA inhibited factors IIa and Xa activity only in the presence of antithrombin III (ATIII). The inhibitory effect of PTA on IIa was much smaller than that on Xa. When PTA was added to heparin (Hep), the inhibitory effect of Hep on IIa was reduced. As a result of charge interaction, PTA showed an inhibitory effect on anion transport activity of the erythrocyte, a potent salting-in effect and a metachromatic reaction on toluidine blue (TolB). Silicotungstate (STA) showed almost the same results as PTA. These effects of PTA and STA were not replaced by their constituents, tungstate, silicate and phosphate, but may arise from their high anionic valency.

Anticoagulants↗

PubMed1989

Characterization of novel glycolipids from the giant cockroach (Blaberus colosseus).

A novel class of glycolipids, assigned the trivial name blaberosides, was isolated from whole head tissues of the giant cockroach (Blaberus colosseus). The class consists of two closely related families, blaberoside I and blaberoside II, each containing species differing by 26 atomic mass units. The structure of these gentiobiose-based glycoglycerolipids was elucidated by chromatographic behavior, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and analysis of chemical degradation products and derivatives. Species in the blaberoside I family have been identified as 2-O-[6'-O-(6"-O-3-hydroxy-11-eicosenoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-bet a-D- glucopyranosyl]-3-(hexadecyloxy)-1-(3-hydroxy-11-eicosenoyl)-1,2-p ropanediol (blaberoside Ia) and 2-O-[6'-O-(6"-O-3-hydroxy-11-eicosenoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-bet a- D-glucopyranosyl]-3-(6-octadeceloxy)-1-(3-hydroxy-11-eicosenoyl )-1,2- propanediol (blaberoside Ib). Two smaller homologs of the blaberoside II family were discerned to be 2-O-[6'-O-(6"-O-3-hydroxy-11- eicosenoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-3-(hex ade cyloxy)- 1,2-propanediol (blaberoside IIa), and 2-O-[6'-O-(6"-O-3-hydroxy-11-eicosenoyl-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-3-(4-octadeceloxy)-1,2-prop anediol (blaberoside IIb). These compounds are unique because they are animal origin glyceroglycolipids with a highly flexible gentiobiose backbone, and a beta-linkage of the carbohydrate to the glycerol ether at the 2 position rather than the usual 1 position.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Synergism between protein kinase C activator and fatty acids in stimulating superoxide anion production in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Treatment of guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) with various fatty acids elicited superoxide anion (O2-) production and an increase in intracellular Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i). Both responses, however, were seldom observed when PMNL were treated at lower concentrations. But, simultaneous addition of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), a protein kinase C activator, caused an increase in O2- production even at the lower concentrations of fatty acids. In contrast to the synergism in O2- production, [Ca2+]i remained at almost the basal level irrespective of the presence of OAG. Among saturated fatty acids, those with carbon numbers of 14 to 18 were most effective in stimulating O2- production in combination with OAG. Unsaturated fatty acids with a carbon number of 18 were almost equally effective irrespective of the number of double bonds.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Diffraction rings obtained from a suspension of skeletal myofibrils by laser light illumination. Study of internal structure of sarcomeres.

Diffraction rings corresponding to the first, second, and third order were obtained by laser light illumination from a suspension of rabbit glycerinated psoas myofibrils (diameter, 1-2 microns; average length of the straight region, 44 microns; average sarcomere length, 2.2-2.6 microns) of which the optical thickness was appropriately chosen. Dispersed myofibrils were nearly randomly oriented in two dimensions, so that the effects of muscle volume were minimized; these effects usually interfere significantly with a quantitative analysis of laser optical diffraction in the fiber system. The diameters of diffraction rings represented the average sarcomere length. By using this system, we confirmed the ability of the unit cell (sarcomere) structure model to explain the intensity change of diffraction lines accompanying the dissociation from both ends of thick filaments in a high salt solution. The length of an A-band estimated from the relative intensity of diffraction rings and that directly measured on phase-contrast micrographs coincided well with each other. Also, we found that myofibrils with a long sarcomere length shorten to a slack length accompanying the decrease in overlap between thick and thin filaments produced by the dissociation of thick filaments.

Animals↗