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Biomedical subjects

P Gaudreau

Publications and source records attributed to P Gaudreau.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Identification of viral polypeptides involved in pseudorabies virus ribonucleotide reductase activity.

We studied pseudorabies virus-induced ribonucleotide reductase and found that it exhibited biochemical properties very similar to those of herpes simplex virus reductase. A polyclonal rabbit antiserum (P9) directed against the carboxy terminus of subunit H2 polypeptide (38,000 daltons) of herpes simplex virus reductase neutralized the pseudorabies virus reductase, as well as the herpes simplex virus isozyme. This serum recognized two pseudorabies virus-specified polypeptides of 34,000 and 110,000 daltons, which may represent the two subunits of the enzyme. Furthermore, as already shown for herpes simplex virus reductase (E. A. Cohen, P. Gaudreau, P. Brazeau, and Y. Langelier, Nature [London] 321:441-443, 1986), we show that the nonapeptide itself specifically inhibited pseudorabies reductase activity.

Herpesvirus 1, Suid↗

Dose response of two synthetic human growth hormone-releasing factors on growth hormone release in heifers and pigs.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the biological potency of two synthetic human growth hormone-releasing factors, hGRF (1-44)NH2 and hGRF (1-29)NH2, on growth hormone (GH) release in young dairy heifers (n = 10) and pigs (n = 10). In each species, the GH response to an iv injection (0, .067, .2, .6 and 1.8 nmol.kg-1 body weight) of each peptide was evaluated in a double 5 X 5 Latin square design. In each square, there were five animals injected with either hGRF (1-44)NH2 or hGRF (1-29)NH2. Main effects were doses (n = 5) of hGRF and days (n = 5) of injection. In both species, data indicated that hGRF (1-44)NH2 and hGRF (1-29)NH2 equally stimulate GH secretion at all doses. In dairy heifers, average peak concentrations (81.7, 94.7, 84.5 and 93.7 ng.ml-1 vs 91.5, 81.0, 94.3 and 91.6 ng.ml-1) and area under the GH response curve (3,661, 4,541, 7,196 and 6,788 ng.ml-1.min vs 3,000, 3,982, 5,639 and 6,724 ng.ml-1.min) were not different (P greater than .05) between hGRF(1-44)NH2 and hGRF(1-29)NH2 at .067, .2, .6 and 1.8 nmol.kg-1, respectively. Similarly, in pigs, average peak concentrations (35.6, 38.6, 76.5 and 73.8 ng.ml-1 vs 28.7, 30.0, 41.3 and 80.8 ng.ml-1) and area under the GH curve (1,576, 1,567, 3,299 and 3,622 ng.ml-1.min vs 1,115, 1,658, 1,482 and 2,528 ng.ml-1.min) were not different (P greater than .05) between both peptides. A biphasic release of GH after hGRF (1-44)NH2 and hGRH (1-29)NH2 injection was observed at the highest dose in heifers. The GH response to hGRF injection was much more variable in pigs as compared with dairy heifers. In conclusion, hGRF (1-44)NH2 and its (1-29)NH2 fragment are equipotent in stimulating GH release in dairy heifers and pigs.

Animals↗

Injection of synthetic human growth hormone-releasing factors in dairy cows. 1. Effect on feed intake and milk yield and composition.

Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows in the second half of their lactation were used to determine the effect of human growth hormone-releasing factor (1-44)NH2 and a fragment of growth hormone-releasing factor (1-29)NH2 on lactational performance and feed intake. Saline, the 44-amino acid peptide or the 29-amino acid fragment, at the same dose per injection (.2 nmol.kg-1) was injected intravenously at 4-h intervals for 10 d. Average milk yield, milk composition, feed intake, and feed efficiency were compared for the second half of each 10-d preinjection, injection, and post-injection period. Injections of the 44-amino acid peptide and the 29-amino acid fragment increased milk yield 18.6 and 14.6%, respectively. Feed intake was not changed, but feed efficiency was increased 23.9 and 18.8% over control following 44-amino acid peptide and the 29-amino acid fragment injection, respectively. The lactational response was not different between the two peptides for any of the variables measured. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a growth hormone-releasing factor fragment as an alternative method of elevating milk yield in cattle via somatotropins.

Animals↗

Neutralization of herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase activity by an oligopeptide-induced antiserum directed against subunit H2.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 ribonucleotide reductase is associated with two polypeptides of apparent molecular weights 136,000 and 38,000. The two polypeptides form a tight complex and, therefore, are often coprecipitated by monoclonal antibodies. We report here that immunoglobulins G purified from polyclonal rabbit antisera (P9) raised against a nonapeptide corresponding to the carboxy terminus of the 38,000-dalton polypeptide specifically neutralize the herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase activity. We suggest that the P9 immunoglobulin G neutralizes the reductase activity by impairing the association of the two subunits (H1 and H2) of the enzyme.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗

Possible interactions between dynorphin and dopaminergic systems in rat basal ganglia and substantia nigra.

Chronic haloperidol treatment markedly increases dynorphin-related peptide contents in caudate-putamen, globus pallidus and substantia nigra. Leu-enkephalin levels follow dynorphin-related peptide concentrations in these areas while Met-enkephalin-related peptide contents are unchanged in the substantia nigra following a similar treatment. An acute haloperidol injection had no effect on any opioid peptide levels in the basal ganglia. This suggests that Leu-enkephalin is likely to be derived from prodynorphin in the rat striatonigral pathway. Moreover, the Leu-enkephalin/dynorphin projection appears to be under striatal dopaminergic control.

Animals↗

Strategies in neuropeptide receptor binding research.

Strategies and general approaches used in neuropeptide receptor binding assays are described. Special attention is given to the nature of the ligand, its physical and chemical stability and the demonstration of an appropriate ligand selectivity pattern. Examples are given to illustrate critical aspects of neuropeptide receptor binding assays. Strong correlation between binding and bioassay data is also stressed.

Animals↗

Analysis of the behavioral activity of C- and N-terminal fragments of cholecystokinin octapeptide.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a gut peptide which induces a syndrome of satiety, including reduced food intake and reduced exploratory behaviors. To investigate the minimal active sequence within the octapeptide molecule for reducing exploratory behavior, all C- and N-terminal fragments of CCK 26-33 (CCK8) were synthesized. Only CCK26-33 [H-Asp-Tyr(SO3H)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2] and CCK 27-33 [H-Tyr(SO3H)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2] induced the behavioral effects within a physiological dose range. Smaller fragments as well as unsulfated CCK26-33 and CCK27-33 were inactive in doses as high as 10(-3) mol/kg. The requirement of the entire C-terminal heptapeptide for the behavioral effects of CCK is contrasted against the activity of smaller fragments at pancreatic, gastrointestinal and brain CCK receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Topical clindamycin versus systemic tetracycline in the treatment of acne. Results of a multiclinic trial.

In a multiclinic double-blind trial, 305 patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris were treated with oral tetracycline hydrochloride, 250 mg (N: 103), a 1% solution of clindamycin phosphate (N: 105), or placebo (N: 97) twice daily for 8 weeks. The response to treatment was evaluated by lesion counts and overall clinical improvement at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Both topical clindamycin and oral tetracycline significantly reduced papule and pustule counts compared to placebo; they were rated significantly higher than placebo on the physician's and the patient's overall evaluation at the end of the treatment period. No serious side effects were reported with any of the study medications.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Formation of aminosuccinyl derivative from beta-phenacyl aspartyl peptides catalyzed by sodium thiophenoxide.

In the solid-phase synthesis of cholecystokinin 30-33, Trp-Met-Asp-Phe- amide, the beta-phenacyl ester was used to protect the beta-carboxyl of aspartyl residue. The ester was cleaved, on the solid support, with a 1 M solution of sodium thiophenoxide in DMF, prior to ammonolysis. The product, after purification by countercurrent distribution, was identified as a mixture of isoasparaginyl and aspartyl peptides. A study of the deprotection step, with sodium thiophenoxide, on a model peptide (t-butyloxycarbonyl-beta-phenacyl-aspartyl-phenylalanineamide) showed the rapid formation of the aminosuccinyl derivative, catalyzed by this reagent.

Amino Acids↗

Pharmacological studies of kinins in venous smooth muscles.

The myotropic effects of bradykinin (BK) and other kinins in two isolated veins, the rabbit jugular and the guinea pig anterior mesenteric, have been studied. The effects of degradation on the biological activities of these compounds and the receptor types mediating their myotropic effects have been determined. It has been found that contractions elicited by kinins in these veins result from direct actions on specific receptors. Both veins contain active kininase II (but not active carboxypeptidases A or B) which interferes with the measurement of the myotropic effects and can be blocked by 1-(D-3-mercapto-2-methyl-3-oxopropyl)-L-proline (SQ 14225). The slopes but not the maxima of the concentration-response curves of BK and other kinins measured in the presence of SQ 14225 are different from those recorded in its absence whereas no significant changes are observed in concentration-response curves obtained with the analogue [D-Phe8]-BK, which resists degradation by kininase II. BK is more potent than its fragment sequence des-Arg9-BK and the effects of kinins are antagonized by dihydrochlorprothixene and beta-phenylalanine hexyl ester. These findings suggest that the rabbit jugular and the guinea pig anterior mesenteric veins contain receptors of the B2 type. The findings presented in this paper indicate that the rabbit jugular vein and the guinea pig anterior mesenteric vein are sensitive preparations for kinins and they can be useful for structure-activity studies of these peptides. A correct evaluation of the relative affinities of various kinins is, however, only possible by eliminating the interference of kininase II.

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid↗

Structure-activity study of kinins in vascular smooth muscles.

To explore further relations between the chemical structure and the biological activities of kinins, a series of bradykinin fragments and analogues was prepared by the solid-phase method. Bradykinin and kallidin were also extended at the C- or the N-terminal end by the addition of one or more residues in order to evaluate the importance of peptide chain length and of additional positive charges at the N-terminal end for the biological activity. After purification by cation-exchange chromatography and gel filtration, the compounds were characterized by thin-layer chromatography, paper electrophoresis, elemental analyses, and amino acid analyses. All compounds were tested on three vascular preparations (the dog common carotid artery, the rabbit jugular vein, and the guinea pig anterior mesenteric vein) in order to measure their relative potencies as relaxant (on the dog common carotid artery) or as stimulant (the two veins) of vascular smooth muscles. The compounds were also tested on the cat terminal ileum and the rabbit aorta for comparison. The results reported in this paper indicate that all new analogues of bradykinin as well as some fragments and analogues described before by us and by other workers are full agonists in the three vascular preparations. No partial agonists or antagonists have been identified. The order of potency of the various kinin analogues is similar in the three vascular preparations and follows the same pattern as that found in the cat terminal ileum. It is therefore concluded that (a) the three vascular preparations utilized in the present experiment possess a B2 receptor type that appears to be similar to that of the cat terminal ileum and of the rat uterus described before and (b) receptors of the B2 type are able to mediate both the inhibitory and the excitatory actions of kinins in vascular smooth muscles.

Animals↗

The dog common carotid artery: a sensitive bioassay for studying vasodilator effects of substance P and of kinins.

In order to develop a sensitive pharmacological preparation which would allow the measurement of the inhibitory effects of kinins and substance P (SP) in vascular smooth muscles, several large arteries of the dog were studied in vitro. The common carotid artery was found to be one of the most sensitive preparations to SP and kinins. When contracted with low concentrations of noradrenaline (between 3.0 x 10(-8) and 3.0 x 10(-7) M), this artery responds to SP (6.5 x 10(-11)-6.5 x 10(-9) M) and bradykinin (BK) (8.1 x 10(-11)-9.1 x 10(-8) M) with relaxations that are proportional to the concentrations of the two peptides. SP and BK appear to exert their relaxant effects through the activation of specific receptors as the exposure of the common carotid artery to concentrations of [Leu8]-angiotensin II, propranolol, methysergide, cimetidine, or atropine sufficient to inhibit the effects of the corresponding agonists do not affect the relaxing effect of SP and BK. [Leu8]-des-Arg9-BK (1.0 x 10(-6) M), indomethacin (2.8 x 10(-5) M), and lioresal (4.7 x 10(-5) M) are also inactive. When the dog common carotid artery is desensitized with high concentrations of SP, BK, eledoisin, and physalaemin a cross-desensitization is observed only between SP and physalaemin. These results support the conclusion that SP and kinins act on different receptors. The order of potency of kinins is the following: BK = [Tyr(Me)8]-BK greater than des-Arg9-BK, suggesting that the receptor for kinins is of the B2 type. The order of potency of peptides related to SP is SP greater than C-terminal 4-11 greater than C-terminal hexapeptide 6-11, similar to that observed in other vascular preparations. The results summarized in this paper indicate that the dog common carotid artery is a preparation sensitive to SP and BK and useful for studying the relaxant effect of these two peptides on vascular smooth muscles.

Animals↗

Synthesis of peptides by the solid-phase method. IV. Des-Arg(9)-bradykinin and analogs.

We have synthesized a series of 19 analogs of the octapeptide fragment of bradykinin (BK), des-Arg 9-bradykinin, in order to perform a structure-activity study of this peptide on the newly discovered B1 receptor of bradykinin. The first time, each residue of the octapeptide was replaced by L-alanine to pinpoint biologically important residues. Thereafter, both phenylalanine residues in positions 5 and 8 were substituted by L-tyrosine methyl ether, L-cyclohexylalanine, D-phenylalanine, and L-leucine. This paper describes the synthesis of the analogs by the solid phase method. A Beckman peptide synthesizer was used to assemble the peptides on the resin support. Couplings were performed by the symmetrical anhydribe procedure. After cleavage with liquid HF, the peptides were purified by ion-exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl-cellulose and by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P2 resin. The purity of the octapeptides was then checked by tic, paper electrophoresis, amino acid analysis, and elemental analysis. The new peptides were tested on the rabbit aorta in order to evaluate their kinin-like activities and to see if they act as antagonist. The results of the biological assays are discussed in terms of structure-activity relationships.

Amino Acids↗