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Biomedical subjects

S A Hunter

Publications and source records attributed to S A Hunter.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Elevation of prostaglandin and cyclic AMP levels by arachidonic acid in primary epithelial cell cultures of C3H mouse mammary tumors.

Arachidonic acid causes a sharp transient increase in cyclic AMP levels in primary epithelial cell cultures obtained from C3H mouse mammary tumors. The effect is evident within two minutes and is enhanced by theophylline or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Maximum increase in cyclic AMP levels are observed with a dose of 100 mug/ml of arachidonic acid (AA). At higher dose levels the increase in cyclic AMP levels is reduced. Naproxen, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis in this system markedly reduces the stimulation of cyclic AMP by arachidonic acid but it does not affect the increase in cyclic AMP levels observed after the addition of prostaglandin E's, epinephrine or cholera enterotoxin. Arachidonic acid, under the same conditions, also causes a significant elevation of PGE and PGF media levels which is slower and more sustained than the cAMP response. The data strongly suggest that a metabolic of arachidonic acid is responsible for the cyclic rise, however, it is not certain whether this is due to PGE2 or some other product.

Animals↗

Prostaglandin biosynthesis and stimulation of cyclic AMP in primary monolayer cultures of epithelial cells from mouse mammary gland.

Cyclic AMP levels in primary monolayer cultures of epithelial cells prepared from mid-pregnant mice are stimulated by prostaglandin E1 and E2. Prostaglandin F1alpha and F2alpha have only a slight effect upon cyclic AMP levels. In the absence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors the rise in cyclic AMP produced by PGE1 is only transient and the levels return to normal within 30 minutes. High concentrations (16 mM) of theophylline are needed to prevent this decline, suggesting that the phosphodiesterase activity of epithelial cells in culture is high. However, theophylline alone produced only a small increase in basal cyclic AMP levels even over a 2-hour period indicating that basal cyclic AMP is turned over more slowly than cyclic AMP produced in response to stimulation with PGE1. Both PGE and PGF synthesis were monitored using radioimmunoassay procedures previously reported. The observed levels were found to decrease as cell density increased and were sensitive to the addition of agents such as collagen and naproxen.

Animals↗

Metabolism of 11-oxygenated steroids. Metabolism in vitro by preparations of liver.

1. The isolation and partial purification of 11beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase from rat and guinea-pig liver microsomes has been achieved by conventional methods. 2. The efficiency of different 11-oxygenated steroids as substrates has been examined. The relative efficiencies confirm in the main the stereochemical theory of the enzyme-coenzyme-substrate complex that was proposed earlier on the basis of studies in vivo. Delta(4)-3-Ketones and 5alpha-hydrogen steroids are readily metabolized by the enzyme. 5beta-Hydrogen steroids and Delta(4)-3-ketones with certain large alpha-substituents are metabolized to a limited extent or not at all. Halogen substitution in the 9alpha-position enhances the rate of reduction of 11-ketones but blocks the oxidation of the related 11beta-ols. 3. 9alpha-Fluorocortisol is a competitive inhibitor of the oxidation of cortisol, but 9alpha-fluorocortisone is reduced at five to ten times the initial velocity of cortisone. 4. 11beta-Hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase activity has been found in liver microsomes of rat, guinea pig, rabbit and calf. 5. Relative substrate efficiencies and K(m) values are similar in whole (debris-free) homogenates, washed microsomes and acetone-dried powders of washed microsomes. 6. A variety of conditions have been examined for the observation of 11beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase activity. NADP(H) is an efficient and NAD(H) a very poor coenzyme for the reaction.

Animals↗

Prostaglandins and cannabis--VIII. Elevation of phospholipase A2 activity by cannabinoids in whole cells and subcellular preparations.

The previously reported release of arachidonic acid by THC has now been demonstrated in murine Leydig cells and WI-38 human lung fibroblasts showing the generality of the effect. The release reaction could be antagonized by phospholipase A2 inhibitors such as quinacrine and quinine, suggesting that THC can stimulate the activity of this enzyme. Further evidence for this possibility was obtained by demonstrating the release effect on a subcellular fraction which contained the phospholipase A2 activity. The stimulation of this enzyme could have profound effects on prostaglandin synthesis and/or on the integrity of various membrane structures.

Animals↗