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Circadian locomotor analysis of male mice lacking the gene for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS-/-)

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous gas that functions as a neurotransmitter. Because NO is very labile with a half-life of less than 5 sec, most functional studies of NO have manipulated its synthetic enzyme, NO synthase (NOS). Three isoforms of NOS have been identified: (1) in the endothelial lining of blood vessels (eNOS), (2) an inducible form found in macrophages (iNOS), and (3) in neurons (nNOS). Most pharmacological studies to date have blocked all three isoforms of NOS. Previous studies using such agents have revealed that NO might be necessary for photic entrainment of circadian rhythms; general NOS inhibitors attenuate phase shifts of free-running behavior, light-induced c-fos expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and phase shifts of neural firing activity in SCN maintained in vitro. To assess the specific role of nNOS in mediating entrainment of circadian rhythms, mice with targeted deletion of the gene encoding the neuronal isoform of NOS (nNOS-/-) were used. Wild-type (WT) and nNOS-/- mice initially were entrained to a 14:10 light:dark (LD) cycle. After 3 weeks, the LD cycle was either phase advanced or phase delayed. After an additional 3 weeks, animals were held in either constant dim light or constant dark. WT and nNOS-/- animals did not differ in their ability to entrain to the LD cycle, phase shift locomotor activity, or free run in constant conditions. Animals held in constant dark were killed after light exposure during either the subjective day or subjective night to assess c-fos induction in the SCN. Light exposure during the subjective night increased c-fos expression in the SCN of both WT and nNOS-/- mice relative to animals killed after light exposure during the subjective day. Taken together, these findings suggest that NO from neurons might not be necessary for photic entrainment.

Animals↗

Regulation of the expression of ferredoxin-glutamate synthase in barley.

We have investigated the regulation of ferredoxin-glutamate synthase (Fd-GOGAT) in leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Maris Mink) at the mRNA, protein and enzyme activity levels. Studies of the changes in Fd-GOGAT during plant development showed that the activity in shoots increases rapidly after germination to reach a maximum (on a fresh-weight basis) at day 10 and then declines markedly to less than 50% of the maximal activity by day 30, this decline being correlated with an equivalent loss of Fd-GOGAT protein. Growing the plants in darkness reduced the maximum activity attained in the shoots, but did not affect the overall pattern of the changes or their timing. The activity of Fd-GOGAT increased two- to three-fold within 48 h when etiolated leaves were exposed to light, and Northern blots indicated that the induction occurred at the mRNA level. However, whilst a carbon source could at least partially substitute for light in the induction of nitrate reductase activity, no induction of Fd-GOGAT activity was seen when etiolated leaves were treated with either sucrose or glucose. Interestingly, the levels of Fd-GOGAT mRNA and activity remained high up to a period of 16 h or 72 h darkness, respectively. Compared with plants grown in N-free medium, light-grown plants supplied with nitrate had almost two-fold higher Fd-GOGAT activities and increased Fd-GOGAT mRNA levels, but nitrate had no effect on the abundance of the enzyme or its mRNA in etiolated plants, indicating that light is required for nitrate induction of barley Fd-GOGAT.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Induction of vascular haemostasis by Nd:YAG laser light in melanin-rich and melanin-free tissue.

Haemostasis was effected in vessels of melanin-rich (MR: choroid) and melanin-free (MF: mesentery) rabbit tissue irradiated with a cw-Nd:YAG laser. The following parameters were employed: - pulse duration: 200 ms (MR) and 100 ms (MF); focal spot diameter: 200 microns (MR) and 80 microns (MF); pulse energies: 100-250 mJ (MR) and 0.5-1 J (MF); irradiances: 1.6-4.0 kW cm-2 (MR) and 1-2 x 10(2) kW cm-2 (MF). In melanin-rich tissue, laser energy is absorbed principally by melanin granules contained within the stromal melanocytes. The heat generated in these structures radiates into the surrounding tissue where it is dissipated. The damage thus incurred by the endothelium of blood vessels encompassed within this field triggers the haemostatic mechanism whereby blood flow is arrested. This effect is realized by the formation of an occluding plug of platelets, which is stabilized by the deposition of fibrin, particularly in capillaries, and to a lesser degree in larger vessels of the vascular lamina. In melanin-free tissue, haemoglobin serves as the primary site of energy absorption, which is thus shifted from the stroma to the vessel lumen. Irradiation of vessels in such tissue leads to thermocoagulation of plasma proteins and consequent stasis of blood flow.

Animals↗

Induction of mutations in the zebrafish with ultraviolet light.

Recessive lethal germline and specific locus somatic mutations were induced efficiently in the zebrafish by exposure of mature sperm to UV light. Mutagenesis of sperm yielded mosaic individuals: clones bearing novel mutations represented approximately 12-25% of the haploid germ cells and 25-50% of the somatic tissue. Simple methods are described for the reliable identification and propagation of newly arising developmental mutations in zebrafish.

Animals↗

Induction of retinal degeneration in a crab by light and okadaic acid in vitro: comparison with the Drosophila light-dependent retinal degeneration mutant w rdgBKS222.

Retinae of the crab Leptograpsus which had been maintained on a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle were cultured in vitro and exposed to 1 microM okadaic acid (OKA) at 0.75 h before light onset. Control retinae were subjected to the same routine and sampled at the same times without OKA treatment. At the concentration used, OKA totally inhibits types 1 and 2A protein phosphatases, minimally inhibits type 2B, and does not affect type 2C. 1 microM OKA provoked a diminution of rhabdom diameter measured at the level of the photoreceptor nuclei in the dark, some ommatidial cartridges being stripped of rhabdomeral microvilli altogether. After 1-h illumination (225-320 lux), further reduction of rhabdom diameter was modest in control retinae but precipitate in those treated with OKA. After 2 h, control rhabdom diameters showed a further, not significant, decline, but OKA had induced a resynthesis of massive structures with the light-microscopic appearance of rhabdoms. Electron microscopy revealed that they were heterogeneous and of the following kinds: (1) a minority of rhabdoms with normally disposed but distorted microvilli; (2) rhabdoms in the throes of events that parody normal assembly; and (3) rhabdomal volumes occupied by saccular organelles or by pleats or ruffles of irregular architecture. The cytoplasm of all such receptors was packed with free and bound ribosomes and endomembranes. The sequence of events parallels that seen during light-induced degeneration of photoreceptors of the Drosophila mutant w rdgBKS222. Preliminary experiments show that a protein kinase activator SC-9 mimics many of these effects in the dark in the presence of 1 microM OKA. As a working hypothesis, it is proposed that light activates protein kinases via diacylglycerols generated by the phototransduction cascade, and that in both crab retinas challenged with OKA and retinas of rdg BKS222 activation of a nuclear regulatory protein by hyperphosphorylation provokes a runaway transcription whose selectivity and extent remain to be determined.

Animals↗

Circadian organization in male mice lacking the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS-/-).

Circadian (approximately 24 h) rhythms in physiology and behavior are generated by the bilateral suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus. For these endogenous rhythms to be synchronized with the external environment, light information must be transmitted to pacemaker cells within the SCN. This transmission of light information is accomplished via a direct retino-hypothalamic tract (RHT). Nitric oxide (NO), an endogenous gas that functions as a neurotransmitter, has been implicated as a messenger necessary for photic entrainment. Three isoforms of the enzyme that form NO, NO synthase, have been identified (a) in neurons (nNOS), (b) in the endothelial lining of blood vessels (eNOS), and (c) as an inducible form in macrophages (iNOS). The present study was undertaken to determine the specific role of eNOS in circadian organization and photic entrainment. Wild-type (WT) and eNOS-/- mice were initially entrained to a 14:10 light:dark (LD) cycle. After 3 weeks, the LD cycle was phase advanced. After an additional 3 weeks, animals were held in constant darkness (DD). eNOS-/- animals did not exhibit a deficit in the ability to entrain to the LD cycle, phase-shift locomotor activity, or free-run in constant conditions. Animals held in DD were killed after light exposure during either the subjective day or the subjective night to assess c-fos induction in the SCN. Light exposure during the subjective night increased c-fos protein expression in the SCN of both WT and eNOS-/- mice relative to animals killed after light exposure during the subjective day. Taken together, these findings suggest that endothelial isoform of NOS may not be necessary for photic entrainment in mice.

Animals↗

Induction of balanced immunoglobulin chain synthesis in free light chain-producing lymphocytes by mitogen stimulation.

Neoplastic cells from 2 cases of CLL synthesized and secreted excess free Ig light chain in culture, confirmed by precipitation with anti-idiotypic antibody. Small and medium sized normal human spleen cell subpopulations, staining predominantly for surface IgM and D, also synthesized and secreted excess free light chain. PWM stimulation induced balanced synthesis of heavy and light chains in CLL and normal spleen subpopulations after 6 days in culture, accompanied in spleen but not CLL by the appearance of mature plasma cells. These data demonstrate that normal cell counterparts of neoplastic lymphoid synthesis patterns can be identified in spleen. Furthermore, the synthesis pattern alteration after PWM stimulation suggests a relationship between free light chain synthesis and B cell immaturity. The failure of CLL cells to develop into detectable plasma cells suggests a restricted maturation response to mitogen compared with normal spleen.

Chemical Precipitation↗

Susceptibility to phenobarbital promotion of hepatotumorigenesis: correlation with differential expression and induction of hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in heavy and light male (C3H x VY) F1 hybrid mice.

Higher body and carcass (body - liver) weights in sodium phenobarbital (PB) treated mice correlate with formation of multiple hepatocellular adenomas in yellow Avy/A and agouti A/a (C3H x VY) F1 hybrid male mice. To assess differences in PB induction of hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes, yellow Avy/A (C3H x VY) F1 hybrid male mice were fed 0.05% sodium PB in NIH-31 diet for 7 months. Livers from the heaviest and lightest mice in the untreated and PB groups were assayed. Total cytochrome P450 content, cytochrome P450IA-selective 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and P450IIIA-selective testosterone-6 beta-hydroxylase activities were preferentially induced in the light mice. In contrast, P450IIB-selective 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase activity was increased only 3-fold by PB in the light mice but 6-fold in the heavy mice. Testosterone UDP-glucuronyltransferase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activities were induced in the light mice but not in the heavy mice. Glutathione-S-transferase N1:1-dependent activity was induced preferentially in the heavy mice. Significant differences also occurred in constitutive expression of P450IIIA-selective testosterone-6 beta-hydroxylase, P450IA-selective 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and testosterone UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities between the untreated weight groups. Thus, expression of constitutive and PB-inducible forms of hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes differs between heavy and light Avy/A (C3H x VY) F1 hybrid subpopulations. This suggests that differential susceptibility to PB promotion of hepatocellular adenomas among genetically identical mice is accompanied by differences in the regulation of gene expression.

Adenoma↗

Regulation of the vgf gene in the golden hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus by light and by the circadian clock.

By using in situ hybridization in the golden hamster brain, we have found that vgf mRNA levels are induced as a response to light stimulation in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the site of the mammalian circadian pacemaker. The induction exhibits delayed kinetics relative to known light-induced immediate early genes: induction of vgf mRNA occurs over a period of 3 to 9 hours after light exposure. Photic induction of vgf expression does not occur in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, though this nucleus expresses vgf at the mRNA and protein levels. Photic induction of vgf in the SCN occurs only at circadian times when light also causes a phase shift of the circadian system. The irradiance threshold of vgf induction in the SCN closely matches that of the behavioral phase shifting response. In addition, basal expression of vgf in the SCN, but not in the PVN, exhibits a circadian rhythm in constant darkness. The photic induction and circadian rhythm of vgf expression are anatomically separated in the caudal and rostral portions of the SCN, respectively. These results represent the first example of a delayed response to light relative to light-induced immediate early genes at the mRNA level in the SCN.

Animals↗