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Biomedical subjects

N Seiler

Publications and source records attributed to N Seiler.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Determination of serotonin and bufotenin as their dansyl derivatives.

A method is described which permits the determination of serotonin and bufotenin in the same tissue sample. It comprises the following steps: (a) tissue extraction with acetone-0.1 M hydrochloric acid (19:1); (b) reaction of the tissue extract with dansyl (Dns) chloride; (c) pre-separation of O-Dns-bufotenin from O,N-bis-Dns-serotonin and other Dns-amides on a small silica gel column (this step is dispensable if only serotonin or bufotonin is being determined); (d) TLC separation of O-Dns-bufotenin and O,N-bis-Dns-serotonin from other Dns derivatives; (e) quantitative evaluation of the separated compounds by fluorimetry for O-Dns-bufotenin and by fluorimetry or mass spectrometry for the serotonin derivative. The photometer response is linear within the range 0.1-300 nmole. With the mass spectrometric method, 2 pmole of O,N-bis-Dns-serotonin could be determined with a standard deivation of +/-9%. The recovery of the amines from tissue was better than 85%. Reserpine treatment of toads caused a concomitant decrease in serotonin and bufotenin in the brain, but not in the skin of the animals. Repletion of bufotenin in the brain occurs at a higher rate than the repletion of the serotonin pool.

Animals↗

4-aminobutyrate in mammalian putrescine catabolism.

The effects of inhibitors of diamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6), monoamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.4) and 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.19) on the catabolism of putrescine in mice in vivo were studied. Diamine oxidase inhibitors and carboxymethoxylamine (amino-oxyacetate) markedly inhibit the metabolism of [(14)C]putrescine to (14)CO(2), but affect different enzymes. Aminoguanidine specifically inhibits the mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial diamine oxidases, whereas carboxymethoxylamine specifically inhibits 4-aminobutyrate transamination by the mitochondrial pathway. Hydrazine inhibits at both sites, and results in increased concentrations of 4-aminobutyrate in brain and liver. Pretreatment of mice with carboxymethoxylamine and [(14)C]putrescine leads to the urinary excretion of amino[(14)C]butyrate. Carboxymethoxylamine does not affect the non-mitochondrial pathway of putrescine catabolism, as the product of oxidative deamination of putrescine in the extramitochondrial compartment is not further oxidized but is excreted in the urine as derivatives of 4-aminobutyraldehyde. Another catabolic pathway of putrescine involves monoamine oxidase, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline, decreases the metabolism of [(14)C]putrescine to (14)CO(2)in vivo. Catabolism of putrescine to CO(2)in vivo occurs along different pathways, both of which have 4-aminobutyrate as a common intermediate, in contrast with the non-mitochondrial catabolism of putrescine, which terminates in the excretion of 4-aminobutyraldehyde derivatives. The significance of the different pathways is discussed.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗

Regulatory effects of polyamines on membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase.

The effects of putrescene, spermidine and spermine on membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase from human erythrocyte ;ghosts' and the solubilized enzyme of the electric organ of the electric eel were studied by kinetic methods. Measurements were made by using a photometric method which made it possible to record the enzyme reaction in the steady-state phase. Substrate-concentration-dependent activation and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by polyamines is similar to that by Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and certain quaternary and bisquaternary amines. The kinetics suggest an allosteric reaction mechanism. On the basis of the kinetic results a role for the polyamines as modulators of synaptic acetylcholinesterase is proposed.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Putrescine catabolism in mammalian brain.

In contrast with putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane), which is a substrate of diamine oxidase, monoacetylputrescine is oxidatively deaminated both in vitro and in vivo by monoamine oxidase. The product of this reaction is N-acetyl-gamma-aminobutyrate. The existence of a degradative pathway in mammalian brain for putrescine is shown, which comprises acetylation of putrescine, oxidative deamination of monoacetylputrescine to N-acetyl-gamma-aminobutyrate, transformation of N-acetyl-gamma-aminobutyrate to gamma-aminobutyrate and degradation of gamma-aminobutyrate to CO(2) via the tricarboxylic acid cycle.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗