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Biomedical subjects

S Okuno

Publications and source records attributed to S Okuno.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Calcium/calmodulin-mediated action of calcitonin on lipid metabolism in rats.

The effects of calcitonin on lipid metabolism were investigated in three kinds of rats, one strain of rabbits, and a primary culture of rat hepatocytes. In a short-term experiment, calcitonin decreased serum cholesterol and triglycerides after injection in rats on either an ordinary or high-fat diet. In a long-term experiment, calcitonin decreased the serum cholesterol and triglycerides in uremic rats, hypothalamic obese rats, and Watanabe-heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits. In cultured hepatocytes, calcitonin reduced the incorporation of [14C]acetate into cholesterol and triglycerides in a dose-dependent way. Treatment with W7, a calmodulin inhibitor, overcame the decrease caused by calcitonin in serum lipids in rats and in the synthesis of triglycerides from acetate or palmitate in the hepatocytes, but did not alter the intracellular cAMP level or incorporation of [32P]Pi into PI in the cells. The results suggest that calcitonin lowers serum lipid levels and lipogenesis in hepatocytes in a calcium/calmodulin-dependent way.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effect of tolbutamide and glyburide on cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in rat liver cytosol.

The effect of sulfonylureas tolbutamide and glyburide on adenylate cyclase- and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) was examined in rat liver cytosol. Both tolbutamide and glyburide inhibited the A-kinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Half-maximal inhibition was obtained at 10 mM with tolbutamide and at 0.2 mM with glyburide, indicating that glyburide was 50-fold as potent as tolbutamide. Neither tolbutamide nor glyburide affected [3H]cAMP binding to the protein kinase, but both inhibited the activity of catalytic units of the A-kinase. Lineweaver-Burk double-reciprocal plots revealed that the inhibitory effects of these drugs were noncompetitive with respect to the protein substrate histone, as well as to the phosphate-donor substrate ATP. Thus, tolbutamide and glyburide inhibited the A-kinase activity in rat liver cytosol, and it was suggested that, through the inhibition of A-kinase, the sulfonylureas would affect the carbohydrate metabolism in the liver. In fact, the relative potencies of these two drugs on A-kinase activity corresponded well with those of their reported antidiabetic effects.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1988

Effect of the hydroxyl group of the p-hydroxyphenyl moiety of aspoxicillin, a semisynthetic penicillin, on its pharmacokinetic property.

The serum concentrations, urinary and biliary excretions of six penicillin derivatives including aspoxicillin (ASPC) were studied in rats and the correlation between the values of pharmacokinetic parameters thus obtained and the Rm values measured by means of reversed phase TLC were analyzed. Among the penicillins studied, the hydrophilicity of amoxicillin was the highest (the lowest Rm value), which was followed by those of ASPC, ampicillin, p-hydroxypiperacillin, dehydroxyaspoxicillin and piperacillin in descending order. These Rm values were then correlated with the AUC values at 20 mg/kg of dosing, giving the results that more hydrophilic penicillins having a hydroxyl group show higher serum concentrations as well as greater AUC values. The studies of correlation between the Rm values and the urinary or biliary excretion revealed that hydrophilic penicillins were almost excreted into urine, but more hydrophobic ones were mainly eliminated into bile. From the above results, a hydroxyl group introduced to the phenyl group of ASPC was considered to have a role that increases the hydrophilicity of ASPC, giving higher and longer persistency of the serum levels and increasing the excretion of drugs into urine.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed1987

Biological activity of fluorinated vitamin D analogs at C-26 and C-27 on human promyelocytic leukemia cells, HL-60.

Vitamin D compounds added to the culture medium induce HL-60 cells to differentiate into macrophage/monocytes via a receptor mechanism. This system provides a biologically relevant assay for the study of biopotency of vitamin D analogs. Using this system, the biological activity of various fluorinated derivatives of vitamin D3 was compared with that of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3). As assessed by cell morphology, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and nonspecific esterase activity, 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (26,27-F6-1,25-(OH)2D3) and 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (26,27-F6-1,24-(OH)2D3) were about 10 times as potent as 1,25-(OH)2D3 in suppressing HL-60 cell proliferation and inducing cell differentiation. The biological activity of 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1-hydroxyvitamin D3 (26,27-F6-1-OH-D3) was equal to that of 1,25-(OH)2D3 in this system. 1,25-(OH)2D3 and its fluorinated analogs exerted their effects on HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. HL-60 cells have a specific receptor for 1,25-(OH)2D3 with an apparent Kd of 0.25 nM, identical with that of chick intestinal receptor. While the binding affinities of 26,27-F6-1,25-(OH)2D3 and 26,27-F6-1,24-(OH)2D3 for chick intestinal receptor were lower than that of 1,25-(OH)2D3 by factors of 3 and 1.5, respectively, they were as competent as 1,25-(OH)2D3 in binding to HL-60 cell receptor. The ability of 26,27-F6-1-OH-D3 to compete for receptor protein from HL-60 cells and chick intestine was about 1/70 that of 1,25-(OH)2D3. These results indicate that trifluorination of carbons 26 and 27 of vitamin D3 can markedly enhance the effect on HL-60 cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Reversible conversion of tyrosine hydroxylase to an inactive form by antipain.

Tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamines, was reversibly inactivated by incubation with antipain, which is known as a microbial protease inhibitor. The inactivation was a time-dependent reaction and it was prominent when the enzyme was assayed at a neutral pH but not when assayed at an acidic pH. The inactivated enzyme was markedly activated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Other microbial protease inhibitors such as leupeptin, chymostatin, and pepstatin did not induce such as inactivation of the enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A hereditary dysfibrinogenemia: fibrinogen Awaji.

Abnormal function of fibrinogen was observed in a 25-year-old woman with no symptoms attributable to dysfibrinogenemia. Disturbed polymerization of fibrin monomer was identified, but the release of fibrinopeptide from the purified fibrinogen and the cross-linking by factor XIII were normal. Other abnormal findings included a high value of fibrinogen degradation products, rapid mobility on immunoelectrophoresis and abnormal spot of gamma-chain on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Similar abnormalities were also observed among the patient's family members.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A case of hyponatremia in panhypopituitarism caused by the primary empty sella syndrome.

A 64-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of hyponatremia. She was maintained on hypertonic saline administration. Without this therapy, the serum Na concentration decreased progressively to 127 mEq/L and the plasma osmolality to 254 mOsm/Kg H2O, on Day 3. At that time, the concentration of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was as high as 3.5 pg/ml. A skull radiogram revealed an enlarged sella turcica. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a low density in the sella, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed equal intensity of the sella turcica and the cerebrospinal fluid. A diagnosis of empty sella syndrome was made by metrizamide cisternography in conjunction with CT scanning. A diagnosis of panhypopituitarism was made by endocrine function tests. 123I-thyroidal uptake was 6% when her serum TSH was 10.9 microU/ml, suggesting that she might also have primary hypothyroidism. When this patient was given glucocorticoid before levothyroxine replacement, her serum Na concentration rose up to about 140 mEq/L and a normal relationship between her plasma ADH level (2.4 pg/ml) and plasma osmolality (281 mOsm/kg H2O) was restored. Therefore, it was suggested that ADH hypersecretion induced by the glucocorticoid deficiency might in part contribute to the development of hyponatremia. This is the case of primary empty syndrome associated with panhypopituitarism, in whom initial symptom was caused by hyponatremia.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗
PubMed1987

Induction of anionic glutathione transferases in rat liver by propylthiouracil.

The treatment of rats with propylthiouracil (PTU) resulted in an induction of not only cationic but also anionic glutathione (GSH) transferases. DE-52 column chromatography of the anionic GSH transferases divided into five main peaks (I-V). Peaks I-IV had a high activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). Peak V, which is a new form of the enzyme, showed high activity to ethacrynic acid. PTU induced peaks I and V, whereas phenobarbital increased the activity of only peak I.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Propylthiouracil inducible glutathione transferases. Selective induction of ligandin (glutathione transferase 1-1).

Repeated administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) resulted in an increase in glutathione (GSH) transferases activity in rat liver cytosol toward various substrates except for epoxy(p-nitrophenoxy)propane. The enzyme from rat treated with PTU showed high activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and ethacrynic acid. GSH transferases were separated into five forms by CM-Sephadex C-50 column chromatography to detect which isozymes were induced by PTU treatment. Although the activity of the unretained fraction obtained from the column was slightly increased by PTU treatment, the treatment markedly elevated the activity of GSH transferase 1-1. On the other hand, the activities of GSH transferases 1-2, 3-3 and 2-2 were little changed. In addition, an analysis of GSH transferase 1-1 from CM-Sephadex C-50 using SDS-PAGE confirmed that it comprised the 1-1 homodimer. This fraction was then further purified by passing it through a hydroxylapatite column and the partially purified GSH transferase 1-1 from rats treated with PTU was found to have the same characteristics as the control, e.g. the same Km values for GSH and CDNB and the same substrate spectrum. It was concluded that PTU specifically induced GSH transferase 1-1 among the cationic transferases.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Inhibition of hepatic glutathione transferases by propylthiouracil and its metabolites.

The effects of propylthiouracil (PTU) and its metabolites on the activity of GSH transferases were examined using rat liver cytosol. PTU inhibited the enzyme activity toward both CDNB and DCNB in a concentration-dependent manner. At the concentration of 10 mM, PTU caused 25% inhibition, which was the maximum effect. PTU derivatives such as propyluracil and thiouracil showed the same effect as the parent compound. On the other hand, S-oxides of PTU such as PTU-SO2 and PTU-SO3, which were chemically synthesized by the oxidation of PTU, were more potent inhibitors of GSH transferases than the parent PTU. A significant inhibition was observed at a concentration of 0.1 mM of PTU S-oxides. At a concentration of 10 mM the S-oxides caused an 80% inhibition of the enzyme activity. PTU inhibited the transferase activity by competing with GSH but the S-oxides of PTU acted by another mechanism. In contrast to the effect on GSH transferases, PTU-SO3 had a weak inhibitory effect on GSH peroxidase activity. Thus, oxidation of PTU leads to products which are potent inhibitors of GSH transferases.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A new mechanism for regulation of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase by end product and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase activity of the crude extract from rat striatum had a sharp pH optimum at pH 5.4 and showed almost no activity at or above pH 7. When the crude extract was partially purified by pH precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, the enzyme showed a high activity in the pH range of 5.8 to 7.4. Incubation of the partially purified enzyme with catecholamines such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine resulted in a remarkable decrease in the enzyme activity, as assayed at a neutral pH. This suppression of the enzyme activity by catecholamines differed from the well-known feedback inhibition which is competitive with respect to the pterin cofactor; the former occurred at a very much lower concentration of catecholamines even in the presence of a near-saturating concentration of a pterin cofactor, and the former was a time-dependent reaction. The enzyme, the activity of which had been suppressed by the incubation with dopamine, was remarkably activated by the incubation with the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the presence of an ATP-generating system. These results suggest that the activity of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase may be suppressed by its end products in a normal state and it may be stimulated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase as occasion demands.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A comparative study of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase from rat adrenal and brainstem.

Spleen cells from a CBF1 (BALB/c X C57BL/6) mouse immunized with rat tyrosine 3-monooxygenase were fused with NS-1 mouse myeloma cells. From 188 hybrid cells, 2 stable clones secreting anti-tyrosine 3-monooxygenase antibody were obtained. Antibody from one clone was coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B and the monoclonal antibody-Sepharose was shown to be very useful for isolating rat tyrosine 3-monooxygenase from crude preparations. Analyses by monoclonal antibody chromatography followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by gel filtration revealed that tyrosine 3-monooxygenases from nerve cell bodies, nerve terminals, and adrenal medullae were indistinguishable with respect to their molecular structures. However, there were serious differences in the catalytic properties between the enzymes from the brain tissues and adrenal medullae, although there appeared to be no significant difference between the enzymes from nerve cell bodies and nerve terminals. The possibility that the activity of the enzyme may be strongly suppressed especially at the physiological pH in brain tissues is also discussed.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1985

Aspartate aminotransferase of Escherichia coli: nucleotide sequence of the aspC gene.

The nucleotide sequence of the aspartate aminotransferase [EC 2.6.1.1] structural gene, aspC, of Escherichia coli K-12 was determined. The coding region of the aspC gene contained 1,188 nucleotide residues and encoded 396 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence agreed perfectly with that of the protein recently determined for the aspartate aminotransferase of E. coli B (Kondo, K., Wakabayashi, S., Yagi, T., & Kagamiyama, H. (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 122, 62-67).

Amino Acid Sequence↗