Biomedical subjects

T Hashimoto

Publications and source records attributed to T Hashimoto.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

On the mechanism of mergocryptine-induced suppression of dopamine turnover in the rat striatum.

The effect of mergocryptine, a new ergot alkaloid, on the cerebral dopaminergic systems was examined using Wistar rats. The administration of mergocryptine (1 and 10 mg/kg i.p.) induced a significant suppression of striatal dopamine (DA) turnover. In vitro addition of mergocryptine (0.01-100 microM) induced a dose-dependent suppression of the release of [3H]DA from striatal slices. Mergocryptine inhibited [3H]apomorphine binding to a striatal synaptosomal fraction, and its IC50 value was found to be 0.23 microM. Pretreatment with apomorphine (100 micrograms/kg s.c.) showed an additive effect on the mergocryptine (10 mg/kg)-induced suppression of DA turnover. These results suggest that mergocryptine may induce the suppression of striatal DA turnover by reducing DA release via the stimulation of presynaptic dopaminergic autoreceptors.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Immunochemical and biochemical studies of fatty acid oxidation in fibroblasts of Zellweger and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients.

Immunoblot analyses of peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes showed that subunit A of acyl-CoA oxidase gave a stronger immunoreaction in fibroblasts of Zellweger and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients than in those of controls. Subunits B and C and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase were detected in fibroblasts of controls and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients, but not of Zellweger patients. Total oxidation of palmitic and lignoceric acid was normal in homogenates of fibroblasts from Zellweger and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients. The peroxisomal oxidation of both acids was only deficient in Zellweger patients. These data may not reflect the situation in vivo, as is evident from the accumulation of very-long-chain fatty acids in Zellweger and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase↗

PubMed1991

Yeast ribosomal proteins: XII. YS11 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a homologue to E. coli S4 according to the gene analysis.

We isolated and sequenced a gene, YS11A, encoding ribosomal protein YS11 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. YS11A is one of two functional copies of the YS11 gene, located on chromosome XVI and transcribed in a lower amount than the other copy which is located on chromosome II. The disruption of YS11A has no effect on the growth of yeast. The 5'-flanking region contains a similar sequence to consensus UASrpg and the T-rich region. The open reading frame is interrupted with an intron located near the 5'-end. The predicted amino acid sequence reveals that yeast YS11 is a homologue to E. coli S4, one of the ram proteins, three chloroplast S4s and others out of the ribosomal protein sequences currently available.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Molecular cloning of hyoscyamine 6 beta-hydroxylase, a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, from cultured roots of Hyoscyamus niger.

Roots of several solanaceous plants produce anticholinergic alkaloids, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Hyoscyamine 6 beta-hydroxylase, a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (EC 1.14.11.11), catalyzes hydroxylation of hyoscyamine in the biosynthetic pathway leading to scopolamine. We report here on the isolation of cDNA clones encoding the hydroxylase from a cDNA library made from mRNA of the cultured roots of Hyoscyamus niger. The library was screened with three synthetic oligonucleotides that encode amino acid sequences of internal peptide fragments of the purified hydroxylase. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned cDNA revealed an open reading frame that encodes 344 amino acids (Mr = 38,999). All 12 internal peptide fragments determined in the purified enzyme were found in the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA. With computer-aided comparison to other proteins we found that the hydroxylase is homologous to two synthases involved in the biosynthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics in some microorganisms and the gene products of tomato pTOM13 cDNA and maize A2 locus which had been proposed to catalyze oxidative reactions in the biosynthesis of ethylene and anthocyan, respectively. RNA blotting hybridization showed that mRNA of the hydroxylase is abundant in cultured roots and present in plant roots, but absent in leaves, stems, and cultured cells of H. niger.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Two cis-acting regulatory sequences in the peroxisome proliferator-responsive enhancer region of rat acyl-CoA oxidase gene.

To clarify the mechanism of transcriptional induction of the rat liver acyl-CoA oxidase gene by hypolipidemic agents, we searched for cis-acting regulatory sequences in the 5' upstream region of the gene by transfection studies. We found that the sequence between -639 and -472 acts as a peroxisome proliferator-responsive, tissue-specific enhancer. Footprint analysis revealed two protein binding sites in this region. One of these sequences exhibited a positive, whereas the other a negative, regulatory activity in transcription assays.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗

PubMed1991

Ischemic neuronal injury in the rat hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia: evaluation using in vivo microdialysis.

Neuronal vulnerability to ischemia in the rat hippocampus was investigated by the measurement of high potassium evoked overflow of neurotransmitters using in vivo microdialysis. Changes in the extracellular level of amino acids caused by high potassium (100 mM) stimulation were measured on the 5th day after 20 min of forebrain ischemia, and the ratio of stimulated to basal levels or the peak concentration following the stimulation were correlated to neuronal activities. The responses to high potassium stimulation of glutamate and aspartate were reduced to 35-40% of the control values on the 5th day after 20 min ischemia, whereas the responses of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine were not reduced on the 5th day after the ischemia. These results suggest that excitatory amino acid neurons (glutamatergic and aspartatergic) are more vulnerable than inhibitory amino acid neurons (GABAergic and taurinergic) in the hippocampus. Histologically, hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, which are believed to be glutamatergic or aspartatergic, demonstrated a marked neuronal necrosis on the 5th days after 20 min ischemia. Biochemical features revealed by high potassium stimulation may be an expression of 'delayed neuronal death' in the hippocampal CA1 area.

Alanine↗

PubMed1991

Thyromimetic effect of peroxisomal proliferators in rat liver.

Amphipathic carboxylates, of varying hydrophobic backbones, which act as peroxisomal proliferators (aryloxyalkanoic acids, methyl-substituted dicarboxylic acid) induce in euthyroid or thyroidectomized rats, as well as in rat hepatocytes cultured in 3,5,3'-tri-iodo-L-thyronine (T3)-free media, liver enzyme activities that are classically considered to be thyroid-hormone-dependent (malic enzyme, mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and S14). The dose required in vivo for the thyromimetic effect of peroxisomal proliferators was 10(3)-fold higher than the dose of T3 required. Similarly, peroxisomal proliferators were active in culture in the range 1-100 microM compared with 1 nM for T3. Their maximal inductive capacities were, however, similar to or greater than that of T3. The thyromimetic effect of peroxisomal proliferators was only partially correlated with their capacities as inducers of liver peroxisomal enzymes. The thyromimetic effect with respect to liver malate dehydrogenase and S14 resulted from an increase in their mRNA contents. The increase in liver S14 mRNA was accounted for by transcriptional activation of the S14 gene. T3 binding to isolated liver nuclei or nuclear extract was competitively displaced by some but not all of the non-thyroidal inducers of the above liver activities. In contrast with the thyromimetic effect induced in liver cells, no increase in growth hormone mRNA was observed in cultured GH1 pituitary cells incubated in the presence of non-thyroidal amphipathic carboxylates. The characteristics of the thyromimetic effect of amphipathic carboxylic peroxisomal proliferators indicate that these agents may act as transcriptional activators of thyroid-hormone-dependent genes in the rat liver.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Hyoscyamine 6 beta-hydroxylase, an enzyme involved in tropane alkaloid biosynthesis, is localized at the pericycle of the root.

Hyoscyamine 6 beta-hydroxylase (H6H; EC 1.14.11.11) catalyzes the first reaction in the biosynthetic pathway from hyoscyamine to scopolamine in several solanaceous plants. Four monoclonal antibodies were raised against H6H purified from cultured roots of Hyoscyamus niger. The IgG1 antibody mAb5 inhibited H6H activities present in cell-free extracts of H. niger roots and specifically recognized 38-40-kDa proteins from six different scopolamine-producing plant species in Western blot analysis after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The other three monoclonal antibodies all recognized SDS-denatured H6H protein from Hyoscyamus species, but did not bind to native H6H. Western blot analysis of protein extracts from various tissues of H. niger using these antibodies showed that H6H is abundant in cultured roots, present in plant roots, but absent in leaf, stem, calyx, cultured cells, and cultured shoots. Immunohistochemical studies using monoclonal antibody and immunogold-silver enhancement detected H6H only in the pericycle cells of the young root in several scopolamine-producing plants. Mature roots that underwent secondary growth and lacked the pericycle did not react with the antibody. This pericycle-specific localization of scopolamine biosynthesis provides an anatomical explanation for the tissue-specific biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids and may be important for translocation of tropane alkaloids from the root to the aerial parts.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1991

Effects of standing on the induction of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

To evaluate the effects of standing on induction of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, electrophysiologic studies were performed in both the supine and standing positions in 22 patients with atrioventricular (AV) reciprocating tachycardia and in 11 with AV node reentrant tachycardia. AV reciprocating tachycardia was induced in 9 of the 22 patients with AV reciprocating tachycardia when they were in the supine position and in 17 when standing. The effective refractory period of the AV node markedly shortened, from 275 +/- 72 to 203 +/- 30 ms (n = 16, p less than 0.005) after standing. The effective refractory period of the accessory pathway shortened slightly, from 293 +/- 75 to 278 +/- 77 ms (n = 8, p less than 0.005), after standing. AV node reentrant tachycardia was induced in 3 of the 11 patients with AV node reentrant tachycardia when they were in the supine position and in 6 when standing. The effective refractory periods of the slow pathway and fast pathway shortened markedly, from 293 +/- 72 to 216 +/- 40 ms (n = 6, p less than 0.025) and from 416 +/- 85 to 277 +/- 50 ms (n = 10, p less than 0.005), respectively, after standing. Plasma norepinephrine levels increased during standing both in patients with AV reciprocating and in those with AV node reentrant tachycardia (n = 11, p less than 0.005, n = 8, p less than 0.005, respectively). In conclusion, standing, which is associated with increased sympathetic tone, changed the electrophysiologic properties of the reentrant circuits, facilitating induction of AV reciprocating tachycardia and AV node reentrant tachycardia.

Blood Pressure↗

PubMed1991

Effects of sodium 2-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)pentyl]-oxirane-2-carboxylate (POCA) on fatty acid oxidation in fibroblasts from patients with peroxisomal diseases.

The effects of sodium 2-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)pentyl]oxirane-2-carboxylate (POCA), a potent inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, on fatty acid oxidation were investigated using fibroblasts from control subjects and from patients with peroxisomal disorders. [1-14C]Palmitate oxidation was inhibited by 8% of the control value when 15 microM POCA was added to the medium. The inhibition by POCA was significantly (P less than 0.05) stronger in fibroblasts from patients with Zellweger syndrome or with neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy, in which peroxisomes and peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes were absent. However, the inhibition in fibroblasts from patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, in which a specific defect of peroxisomal lignoceroyl-CoA synthetase was speculated, was similar to that in the controls. [1-14C]Lignocerate oxidation was not influenced by the addition of POCA, in samples from the controls and from the patients. These results indicate that peroxisomes account for a small but demonstrable proportion of palmitate oxidation, and add new evidence to the concept that lignocerate is oxidized exclusively in the peroxisomes. Our findings also support the hypotheses that the activity of palmitoyl-CoA synthetase and the enzymes of beta-oxidation cycle in peroxisomes are normal in patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy and that a specific defect of lignoceroyl-CoA synthetase is responsible for the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids in these patients.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗

PubMed1991

Contribution of serotonin neurons to the functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats.

The contribution of serotonin neurons to the functional recovery after spinal cord injury was studied pharmacologically in rats with moderately severe neurologic impairment (complete paraplegia but responsive to tail pinching) 24 h after thoracic spinal cord (T11) compression-induced injury. Fourteen days after cord injury the levels of endogenous norepinephrine (NE, -33%), dopamine (DA, -50%) and serotonin (5-HT, -55%) in the lumbar cord in the injury control rats were decreased and there were significant correlations between the neurologic score and the NE level (rs = 0.562, P less than 0.01) and the 5-HT level (rs = 0.745, P less than 0.001) but not the DA level. Bilateral i.c.v. injection of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (200 micrograms/rat) 24 h after cord injury significantly retarded the neurologic recovery during the 14 days after injury, accompanied by a further reduction in the 5-HT level (-86%) but not in the NE or DA level. On the other hand, neither p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) (300 mg/kg, i.p., once daily starting 24 h after injury for 13 consecutive days) nor reserpine (1 mg/kg, i.p., 4 times, once 24 h after injury and then every fourth day) had any influence on the time course of the neurologic recovery during the 14 days after injury, although PCPA treatment further reduced the levels of NE (-50%) and 5-HT (-91%), and reserpine treatment further reduced the levels of NE (-95%), DA (-73%) and 5-HT (-85%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗

PubMed1991

Intercellular IgA dermatosis of childhood. Selective deposition of monomer IgA1 in the intercellular space of the epidermis.

We describe a 7-year-old girl with recurrent pruritic vesiculopustular lesions involving the trunk, extremities, face, and oral mucosa. Histopathologic examination revealed intraepidermal bullae containing neutrophils and eosinophils, and direct immunofluorescence test showed the deposition of IgA in the intercellular space of the epidermis. Circulating IgA anti-intercellular antibodies were also detected by indirect immunofluorescence test. Immunofluorescence studies using monoclonal antibodies to human IgA subclasses showed that these IgA antibodies belonged to IgA1. Antisera against J chain and secretory component did not show any specific intercellular staining. Surface IgA(+)-B cells were transiently increased in the peripheral blood during the active stage of the disease. These results indicated the extragut origin of these IgA antibodies. Dapsone therapy was shown to be very effective.

Child↗

PubMed1991

Apparent response of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis to intrathecal interferon alpha.

An 8-year-old boy with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) was treated with 1.0 to 3.0 x 10(6) IU human interferon alpha (IFN) by the intrathecal route weekly or fortnightly. Pronounced improvement of clinical and electroencephalographic findings were observed in a dose-dependent manner. Our patient raises hope that IFN can induce sustained remission in patients with SSPE.

Child↗

PubMed1991

Central sleep apnea and arterial compression of the medulla.

We report a 5-year-old with central sleep apnea associated with compression of the medulla oblongata by abnormal looping of the left vertebral artery. The magnetic resonance imaging findings raise the possibility that compression of the respiratory center by an aberrant vertebral artery might cause central sleep apnea.

Brain Diseases↗

PubMed1991

Estrogen and estrogen receptors in thyroid carcinomas.

Thyroid tissues, composed of normal thyroid (10 cases), Graves' thyroid (4), and papillary carcinoma (10), were measured for the presence of receptors for estrogen (ER) using an enzyme-immunoassay method. The mean value of ER in papillary carcinoma tissues (4.0 +/- 3.6 fmol/mg protein) was higher than that in normal thyroid tissues (0.8 +/- 0.4 fmol/mg protein) or that in Graves' thyroids (2.6 +/- 0.9 fmol/mg protein). In 10 papillary carcinomas, 3 were from male patients and 7 were from females. The mean value of ER in the tumors from male patients (7.2 +/- 5.1 fmol/mg protein) was higher than that from female patients (2.6 +/- 1.7 fmol/mg protein). Another set of 100 thyroid tissues from normal (20 cases), Graves' disease (10), follicular adenoma (8), and papillary carcinoma (62) was also examined for the presence of estradiol (E2) using an immunohistochemical method on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. E2-positive tissues were found in 4 (40%) of 10 Graves' thyroids, 4 (50%) of 8 adenomas, and 47 (76%) of 62 papillary carcinomas. In 62 papillary carcinomas, E2-positive tissues were found in 37 (73%) of 51 female patients and 10 (91%) of 11 male patients. In relation to relapse of the carcinomas, E2-positive carcinomas were found in 10 (71%) of 14 patients with relapse of the disease and in 14 (54%) of 26 patients with no relapse (the difference was not significant). The findings indicate that thyroid carcinomas may be estrogen-dependent, but no definite conclusions could be drawn between the biological behavior of the tumors and the E2-positivity.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1991

Increased intracellular calcium mobilization in platelets from patients with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Enhanced platelet functions have been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus. Our recent study demonstrated that phosphoinositide turnover is increased in platelets from diabetic patients. In the present study, we evaluated the abnormality in platelet intracellular calcium mobilization in patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus using fura-2, a fluorescent calcium indicator. Washed platelets were prepared from six diabetic patients with increased platelet aggregation rates (DM-A group), seven diabetic patients with normal platelet aggregation rates (DM-B group), and eight age-matched healthy control subjects. The basal intracellular free calcium concentrations in platelets were similar among the three groups. Thrombin (0.025-0.1 U/ml) induced a dose-dependent increase in intracellular calcium in both the presence and the absence of extracellular calcium. This increase in the presence of extracellular calcium, which depends on calcium influx and release, was significantly higher in the DM-A group than in the DM-B and control groups. However, there was no significant difference between the control group and the DM-B group. In the absence of extracellular calcium, thrombin-induced calcium increase, which depends only on calcium release, was also significantly enhanced in the DM-A group. Furthermore, the calcium increase stimulated by platelet-activating factor (10 nmol/l) with and without extracellular calcium was significantly higher in the DM-A group than in the other groups. Additionally, calcium ionophore A23187 (100 nmol/l) caused a significantly higher calcium increase in the DM-A group with extracellular calcium, while the calcium increase without extracellular calcium showed no significant difference among the three groups. These observations suggest that enhanced intracellular calcium mobilization due to increased calcium influx and release may be closely related to platelet hyperfunctions in diabetes mellitus.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1991

Intracolonic fat inhibits gastric acid secretion independent of gastrin release in the dog.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perfusion of the colon with a fatty acid (oleic acid) on peptone-stimulated gastric acid secretion and release of gastrin in conscious dogs. Gastric acid secretion was monitored by continuous intragastric titration. Perfusion of the colon with sodium oleate (24 mmol/hr) inhibited gastric acid secretion (14.2 +/- 2.6 meq/hr) stimulated by a peptone meal (1%) significantly (P less than 0.05) when compared to perfusion of the colon with saline alone (20.1 +/- 1.6 meq/hr). The serum elevation in gastrin in response to intragastric instillation of the peptone meal was not affected by the colonic perfusion of oleic acid. Plasma concentrations of peptide YY (PYY) increased significantly in response to perfusion of the colon with saline or sodium oleate, and the integrated release of PYY in response to sodium oleate [6.9 +/- 2.8 ng (60-120) min/ml] was significantly greater than the response to saline [3.1 +/- 0.7 ng (60-120) min/ml]. The results of this study indicate that inhibition of gastric acid secretion by perfusion of the colon with fat is not due to an inhibition of gastrin release. In addition, because PYY is an inhibitor of gastric acid secretion, it is possible that PYY participates as an inhibitor of gastric acid secretion by the colon.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Characterization of secretin release in response to food and intraduodenal administration of fat and hydrochloric acid.

The development and validation of a radioimmunoassay that detects release of secretin in plasma in response to low doses of secretagogues [intraduodenal HCl (0.033 meq/min); intraduodenal sodium oleate (0.04 mmol/min)] or an oral mixed meal in conscious dogs is described. Plasma secretin levels increased significantly (P less than 0.05) in response to an oral mixed meal in conscious dogs from a basal level of 4.0 to a peak level of 12.3 pg/ml at 15 min. Infusion of graded doses of HCl (2, 4, 8, 16, meq/hr for 30 min) intraduodenally in six dogs resulted in significant elevation of plasma secretin levels in a dose-dependent manner. The pancreatic bicarbonate and volume outputs correlated with the dosage of HCl administered and with the elevations in plasma secretin concentrations. Intraduodenal infusion of increasing doses of sodium oleate (2.4, 4.8, 9.6, and 19.2 mmol in 15-min periods) resulted in a significant (P less than 0.05) elevation of plasma levels of secretin.

Animals↗