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Biomedical subjects

S D Wainwright

Publications and source records attributed to S D Wainwright.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Regulation of the diurnal cycle in activity of serotonin acetyltransferase in the chick pineal gland.

When chick pineal glands were explanted into organ culture at midlight phase of a diurnal cycle of illumination and incubated in the dark, they developed marked increases in serotonin acetyltransferase (acetyl coA:arylamine N-acetyltransferase; EC 2.3.1.5) activity. Either this increase in activity was inhibited or its onset was retarded in glands incubated under constant illumination. Supplements of theophylline, isobutylmethylxanthine, quinidine, and compound Ro 20-1724 (4-(3-butoxyl-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone) elicited very marked increases in serotonin acetyltransferase activity in glands cultured in the dark. Levels of activity attained after 6 h in culture approached or exceeded the maximum levels attained at middark phase of the diurnal cycle in vivo. Effects of theophylline and compound Ro 20-1724 were additive. Supplements of dibutryl cAMP had little or no effect upon levels of serotonin acetyltransferase activity when tested alone or in combination with theophylline but further enhanced the increase in the level of enzyme activity elicited by Ro 20-1724. Adenosine and cAMP had little or no effect upon levels of serotonin acetyltransferase activity. It is concluded that levels of serotonin acetyltransferase activity in the chick pineal gland are regulated by a repressive, negative-control mechanism, which probably involves a membranous adenosine receptor.

4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone↗
PubMed1977

Metabolism of tryptopan and serotonin by the chick pineal gland in organ culture.

Marked differences were seen between the metabolism of L-[3-14C] tryptophan and of [2-14C]serotonin by the intact chick pineal gland in organ culture. The major metabolite of tryptophan recovered by our procedures was melatonin, which accounted for about half the radioactivity recovered as metabolic products. In contrast, the principal product of serotonin metabolism recovered was hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and the yield of products derived through monoamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.4) activity vastly exceeded that of melatonin. Metabolism of tryptophan yielded a much larger proportion of methlated metabolites among the products recovered than did metabolism of serotonin. However, the yield of methoxyindoleacetic acid from serotonin was greater than that from tryptophan. Serotonin formed endogenously and serotonin supplied exogenously appear to enter two or more largely distinct metabolic pools.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1976

The influence of lighting conditions upon the level and course of increase in specific activity of serotonin N-acetyltransferase in the developing chick pineal gland.

A diurnal cycle in level of serotonin acetyltransferase (acetyl-C0A:arylamine N-acety-transferase (EC 2.3.1.5) activity was found in the pineal gland of chicks aged 16 to 20 days maintained under lighting conditions. Diurnal variation in levels of activity was markedly reduced in the pineal gland of birds kept in constant darkness, and suppressed in the gland of chicks under constant illumination. High levels of activity attained during the dark phase of the normal cycle rapidly declined when the birds were transferred to the light. The light phase level of serotonin acetyltransferase of the pineal increased progressively from the 11th day of incubation to about 1 week post-hatch. This course of increase in enzyme activity was largely unaffected by lightning conditions. Under conditions for assay of serotonin acetyltransferase activity in the chick pineal gland and brain, radioactive serotonin gave rise to N-acetylserotonin, 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid and a further unidentified metabolite, which was quantitatively the major product.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1975

Effects of changes in environmental lighting upon levels of hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase activity in the developing-chick gland.

The level of hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) activity in the pienal gland of developing chicks raised under constant illumination rose more rapidly and to higher values than in the gland of birds maintained in constant darkness. Rates of net increase in activity, and levels of activity attained, for birds raised under a diurnal cycle of illumination were intermediate between those maintained in constant light or darkness. Under each of the lighting conditions, the course of increase in enzymic activity was markedly affected by variations in an unidentified factor, the source of which appeared to be the hatching eggs. Birds transferred from constant light to the dark showed either an arrest of increase in enzyme activity or a loss of activity until the levels equalled that observed for chicks of the same age raised in constant darkness. Chicks transferred from constant darkness to constant illumination showed marked increases in levels of enzyme activity at rates comparable with the maximal values observed with birds maintained under constant illumination, regardless of age and without delay. No diurnal cycle in level of HIOMT activity was observed in the pineals of 15-day birds.

Aging↗