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Risk of overestimation of free malondialdehyde in perfused rat hearts due to homogenization artifacts.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to determine (1) whether free malondialdehyde (MDA) was artifactually formed during homogenization of myocardial tissue and (2) whether free MDA was increased in reperfused rat hearts. METHODS: Groups of isolated buffer-perfused rat hearts were subjected to control perfusion, or 20 min of ischemia, or 20 min of ischemia followed by 5 or 30 min of reperfusion. The hearts were subsequently assayed for free MDA by ion-pairing high-performance liquid chromatography following homogenization in the absence or presence of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (0.01%). RESULTS: Tissue homogenates prepared in the absence of butylated hydroxytoluene contained significantly higher (P < 0.001) free MDA levels than tissue homogenates from the same hearts prepared in the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene. Free MDA levels of tissue homogenates prepared in the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene were below the detection limit (20 pmol/mg protein) in 27 of 30 tissue homogenates, irrespective of the perfusion protocol. Control experiments showed that the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene did not interfere with the detection of free MDA. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that free MDA was formed artifactually during tissue homogenization in the absence of butylated hydroxytoluene. Furthermore, free MDA could not be detected in perfused rat hearts after control perfusion, or 20 min of ischemia, or 20 min of ischemia followed by 5 or 30 min of reperfusion.

Animals↗

Comparison of minimum inhibitory concentrations to methicillin in heterogeneous and homogeneous methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to methicillin and compare it with the type of methicillin resistance in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from clinical samples, and to evaluate the usefulness of beta-lactamase resistant penicillins such as cloxacillin for treatment of minor MRSA infections. DESIGN: Sixty-five strains of MRSA isolated from clinical samples were studied. Homogeneous and heterogeneous resistance to methicillin of these strains was determined by an efficiency of plating technique. The MICs to methicillin of all homogeneously resistant strains and an equal number of heterogeneously resistant strains were determined by the 'E' test. SETTING: General Hospital, Colombo; De Soysa Maternity Hospital for Women; Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. RESULTS: 171 strains of S aureus were isolated from specimens processed in the laboratory of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Colombo, during a 14-month period. Seventy (40.9%) were methicillin resistant. Fifty-three MRSA strains (81.5%) were heterogeneously resistant to methicillin. Only 12 of 65 strains were homogeneously resistant. Nine of 12 of the homogeneously resistant strains were from surgical wards. MICs for methicillin in the two groups were compared. Six of 12 (50%) homogeneously resistant strains had very high levels of resistance to methicillin (MIC > 200 micrograms/ml). In contrast the MICs of all the heterogeneously resistant strains ranged from 16 micrograms/ml to 96 micrograms/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of clinical isolates of MRSA from hospitals in Colombo, Sri Lanka were heterogeneously resistant to methicillin with lower MICs for methicillin than the homogeneously resistant strains. Thus, beta-lactamase resistance penicillins such as cloxacillin may have a place in the treatment of minor MRSA infections. Surveillance studies to determine if there is an increase of homogeneously methicillin resistant MRSA are required.

Adult↗

Temperature-dependent lipid peroxidation of rat brain homogenate.

When rat brain homogenate was incubated without adding iron, lipid peroxidation occurred temperature dependently between 27 degrees C and 42 degrees C. When homogenates of liver and heart were incubated under the same conditions, lipid peroxidation did not occur. The brain, compared with other organs, seems to be very vulnerable to oxidative damage with fever. Catalase promoted lipid peroxidation. The ability of dihydrolipoic acid and alpha-tocopherol to inhibit lipid peroxidation was very weak. In contrast, iron chelators, such as bathophenanthroline, desferrioxamine and EDTA, strongly inhibited lipid peroxidation, indicating that endogenous iron is involved in lipid peroxidation. Dialysis of brain homogenate depressed the temperature-dependent lipid peroxidation by about 30%. Then, the iron content of the homogenate decreased by about 35%. On the other hand, dialysis of EDTA-treated homogenate completely depressed the lipid peroxidation and the iron content of the homogenate decreased by about 87%. Adding iron to the homogenate dialyzed after EDTA treatment remarkably increased the lipid peroxidation, but the peroxidation reaction proceeded temperature independently. Our results suggest that endogenous iron, which may bind to cell components, causes temperature dependent lipid peroxidation by a site-specific mechanism.

Animals↗

METABOLISM OF PROPIONATE BY SHEEP LIVER. OXIDATION OF PROPIONATE BY HOMOGENATES.

1. The rate and stability to aging of the metabolism of propionate by sheep-liver slices and sucrose homogenates were examined. Aging for up to 20min. at 37 degrees in the absence of added substrate had little effect with slices, whole homogenates or homogenates without the nuclear fraction. 2. Metabolism of propionate by sucrose homogenates was confined to the mitochondrial fraction, but the mitochondrial supernatant (microsomes plus cell sap) stimulated propionate removal. 3. The rate of propionate metabolism by liver slices was higher in a high potassium phosphate-bicarbonate medium [0.88(+/-s.e.m. 0.16)mumole/mg. of N/hr.] than in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium [0.44(+/-s.e.m. 0.13)mumole/mg. of N/hr.]. 4. Metabolism of propionate by sucrose homogenates freed from nuclei was dependent on the presence of oxygen, carbon dioxide and ATP. Propionate removal was stimulated 250% by Mg(2+) ions and 670% by cytochrome c. 5. In the complete medium 2.39(+/-s.e.m. 0.15)mumoles of propionate were consumed/mg. of N/hr. 6. The ratio of oxygen consumption to propionate utilization was sufficient to account for the complete oxidation of half the propionate consumed. 7. The only products detected under these conditions were succinate, fumarate and malate. Propionate had no effect on the production of lactate from endogenous sources and did not itself give rise to lactate. 8. Methylmalonate did not accumulate when propionate was metabolized and was not oxidized. It was detected as an intermediate in the conversion of propionyl-CoA into succinate. The rate of this reaction sequence was adequate to account for the rate of propionate metabolism by sucrose homogenates or slices, provided that the rate of formation of propionyl-CoA was not limiting. 9. The methylmalonate pathway was predominantly a mitochondrial function. 10. The metabolism of propionate appeared to be dependent on active oxidative phosphorylation.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

An examination of the oxidation of mercury vapor by rat brain homogenate.

The oxidation of mercury vapor (Hg degrees) to divalent inorganic mercury (Hg2+) was studied in rat brain homogenates. By using a "degassing" method, it was possible to speciate the mercury present in the homogenate and, for the first time, to measure the rate of oxidation as a function of the substrate (Hg degrees) concentration. Mercury oxidation was first-order with respect to substrate concentration at all concentrations tested, and the first-order rate constant for the oxidation process was proportional to homogenate concentration. The role of catalase compound I in mercury vapor oxidation by brain homogenate was examined by observing the effects of two inhibitors of catalase (catalase compound I) on homogenate mercury-oxidizing activity and catalase activity. Sodium azide (50 mM) completely inhibited both mercury-oxidizing activity and catalase activity. Aminotriazole (3-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole) (50 mM) completely inhibited only mercury-oxidizing activity; some residual catalase activity was found in the aminotriazole-treated homogenate. It was concluded that catalase compound I plays a major role in the oxidation of Hg degrees, but the possibility that catalase-independent pathways make a minor contribution cannot be excluded.

Amitrole↗

DNA replication in homogenates of Physarum polycephalum.

Homogenates of Physarum polycephalum incorporate [3H]dATP into nuclear DNA at an initial rate of approximately 15% of the in vivo rate. To attain this level of synthesis, cultures, are homogenized in a medium containing Mg++, EGTA, glucose and spermine. Incorporation is strongly stimulated by the addition of ATP and all four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates to homogenates prior to incubation. Various inorganic cations other than Mg++ either do not affect synthesis or are inhibitory. Incorporation is inhibited by a nonionic detergent, Triton X-100. DNA synthesis in this cell-free nuclear system is similar in several respects to that which occurs in vivo: (1) The rate of DNA synthesis in the intact organism at a given time in the mitotic cycle is reflected by the level of synthesis in homogenates prepared from cultures at that time of the cycle; (2) DNA strands labeled in vitro exhibit alkaline sucrose density gradient sedimentation properties similar to those of daughter-strand DNA pulse-labeled in vivo; and (3) Homogenates of cultures which were pre-treated with cycloheximide incorporate [3H]dATP at about 60% of the level observed in homogenates of untreated controls.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Similar metabolites formed from beta-carotene by human gastric mucosal homogenates, lipoxygenase, or linoleic acid hydroperoxide.

To determine the basis for the formation of excentric cleavage products of beta-carotene (beta-C) after incubation with human gastric mucosal homogenates, we have studied the effect of lipoxygenase in beta-C metabolism. beta-C was incubated with human gastric mucosal homogenates, soybean lipoxygenase with linoleic acid, or the lipoxygenase primary product, 13(S)-hydroperoxycis,trans-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-LOOH). The beta-C metabolites, beta-apo-14', -12', -10', and -8'-carotenals, beta-apo-13-carotenone, retinoic acid, and retinal were detected and quantified by HPLC after a 30-min incubation with 1.8 microM beta-C. The products from the lipoxygenase plus linoleic acid incubation and from the lipoxygenase primary product, 13-LOOH, with beta-C were exactly the same as the products from a human gastric mucosal homogenate incubation. Significantly larger amounts of the same beta-C metabolites were formed when beta-C was incubated with gastric mucosal homogenates and lipoxygenase together. Furthermore, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a specific lipoxygenase inhibitor, was found to significantly inhibit the formation of beta-apo-carotenoids and retinoids produced by gastric mucosal homogenates incubated with beta-C. The similarity of the beta-C metabolites when beta-C was incubated with human gastric mucosal homogenate, lipoxygenase plus linoleic acid, or 13-LOOH and the inhibition of beta-C metabolite production by NDGA in gastric tissue incubation with beta-C suggest that lipoxygenase is involved in beta-C metabolism in gastric mucosa. The activity of 13-LOOH in our hands would indicate that an enzyme-linked process is occurring in gastric tissue producing fatty acid hydroperoxides, and that the hydroperoxide, or a radical species derived from it, is able to carry out the oxidation of beta-C independently of the enzyme.

Biotransformation↗

Evaluation of total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) of tissue homogenates and their cytosols.

This study evaluates the possibility of obtaining total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) indexes in homogenates and their cytosolic fractions by a procedure based on the quenching of luminol luminescence induced by the thermolysis of 2,2'-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane). Measurements were performed in rat brain, liver, kidney, and heart homogenates. TRAP indexes can be easily determined both in homogenates and their cytosolic fractions. The results obtained indicate that heart homogenates are the least and liver homogenates the most protected of the systems considered. Glutathione is the measured antioxidant that contributes the most to TRAP values, while uric acid makes a significant contribution only in liver. A calculation of theoretical TRAP values from the measured concentrations of the main antioxidants (glutathione, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol) for the different homogenates shows that, in most tissues (liver, brain, and kidney), nearly 50% of the experimentally determined TRAP values are not accounted for. This difference is mainly due to the contribution of proteins to the measured TRAP.

Animals↗

Measurement of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity and E-type Mg2+-ATPase activity in rat heart homogenates.

The presence of a high and nonlinear Ca2+-independent (or basal) ATPase activity in rat heart preparations makes difficult the reliable measurement of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase activity by usual methods. A spectrophotometric assay for the accurate determination of SR Ca2+-ATPase activity in unfractionated homogenates from rat heart is described. The procedure is based on that reported by Simonides and van Hardeveld (1990, Anal. Biochem. 191, 321-331) for skeletal muscle homogenates. To avoid overestimation of the Ca2+-ATPase activity of cardiac homogenates that occurs when sequential measurements of total and basal ATPase activities are performed, two parallel and independent assays are required: one with low (micromolar) and other high (millimolar) calcium concentration. Addition of thapsigargin (0.2 microM) blocked totally the activity considered as Ca2+-ATPase activity. Using this method, the rat heart homogenate Ca2+-ATPase activity was 10.5 +/- 2.0 micromol. min-1 x g-1 tissue wet weight (n = 8). Likewise, a spectrophotometric assay for measuring E-type Mg2+-ATPase activity in cardiac total homogenates has been developed, comparing the following characteristics of the enzymatic activity in homogenate and a membrane-enriched fraction: first-order rate constant for ATP-dependent inactivation, Km for ATP, and effects of concanavalin A, Triton X-100, and specific inhibitors.

Animals↗

Quantitative immunoblots of proteins resolved from brain homogenates: underestimation of specific protein concentration and of treatment effects.

Estimation of the concentration of a specific protein in a biological sample often is obtained by analysis of immunoblots. We used this technique to estimate the concentration of three proteins present in homogenates of brain: glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), myelin basic protein (MBP), and synapsin I. Homogenates prepared from rat brains known to contain more than 6-fold increases in GFAP, based on a GFAP enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), showed only small relative increases in this protein when the same samples were subjected to immunoblot analysis with polyclonal or monoclonal anti-GFAP; quantification was based on PhosphorImager analysis of [(125)I] protein A bound to the antibodies. Estimates of GFAP in the GFAP-enriched samples approached the expected 6-fold increase when the total protein load per gel lane was reduced from 30 to 1 microgram. Pure GFAP run as standard was not affected by 10-fold increases in protein load, but spiking brain homogenates with pure GFAP "quenched" the values obtained for the standard run alone. Examination of the quenching potential of pure brain tubulin, a protein that nearly comigrates with GFAP on SDS gels, showed that it may be one component of brain homogenates that contributes to masking of immunodetection of GFAP. The effect of total brain homogenate proteins on the signal obtained for a specific protein was not limited to GFAP; similar effects were observed for MBP and synapsin I. The data indicate that estimates of the concentration of a specific protein, whether as a function of its relative amount in a given protein mixture or its relative amount in one mixture compared to another, are influenced by other homogenate proteins present in the mixture.

Adrenal Glands↗

Development of clenbuterol reference materials: lyophilized bovine eye samples free of clenbuterol (CRM 673) and containing clenbuterol (CRM 674). Part 1. Preparation, homogeneity and stability.

Within the EU Standards, Measurement and Testing Program (SMT) two clenbuterol reference materials (RMs) were developed. Since clenbuterol readily accumulates and is slowly depleted from pigmented tissues such as the retina, homogenized eye liquid content is the most sensitive tissue for the detection of clenbuterol misuse. Therefore, both of the RMs were produced from bovine eye matrix: a negative control--RM 673 eye reference material, clenbuterol free (<0.50 microg/kg eye matrix) and a positive--RM 674 eye reference material containing clenbuterol (approximately 10 microg/kg eye matrix). Eyes were sampled from 103 German Simmental cattle and the inner liquid content was homogenized to a wet homogenized liquid content (HLC). This clenbuterol negative pool was divided into two sub-pools, one of which was spiked with clenbuterol to a final concentration of 10 microg clenbuterol/kg HLC. Of each pool exactly 2.0 +/- 0.01 g (+/- 0.5%) portions were weighed into 790 containers. Lyophilization of the 1,580 containers was performed in one batch. Parameters for the filling of containers, dry matter content, and residual moisture were in accordance with EU requirements. A three-year stability study and two homogeneity studies at various storage temperatures (-60 degrees C, -20 degrees C, +4 degrees C, +20 degrees C, and +37 degrees C) were performed. Low variation was observed within all of the homogeneity studies, proving that each of the RMs were homogeneous and that this was independent of storage temperature and storage time. In the stability studies, measured clenbuterol concentrations remained constant for RM 673 under the detection limit at 0.15 +/- 0.01 microg clenbuterol equivalent/kg HLC (n = 110) and were also constant for RM 674 at 11.21 +/- 0.15 microg clenbuterol/kg HLC (n=150; measured as duplicates). These studies demonstrate that clenbuterol-containing and clenbuterol-free RMs in bovine eye matrix can be successfully produced. Based on the results described above, it is concluded that both RMs may be suitable as candidates for certification.

Animals↗

Effects of sediment homogenization on interstitial water PCB geochemistry.

Sediment homogenization is a common practice in many contaminated sediment toxicity testing and chemical analysis protocols. A primary goal of sediment homogenization is to reduce inter-replicate variability. In this study, the geochemical effects of sediment homogenization were evaluated by measuring the concentration and distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in environmentally contaminated marine sediment interstitial waters. Sediment homogenization, prior to isolation of interstitial waters, was found to significantly increase the concentration of PCBs in the dissolved and colloidal phases-generally by a factor of two. Long-term storage (i.e., several months) of sediments following mixing appeared to allow interstitial water distributions of PCBs to return to "normal," although a storage artifact may also be present. This study indicates that homogenization results in significant changes in the concentration of PCBs in environmentally contaminated sediment interstitial waters. Consequences of these changes on inferences made based on toxicity tests or chemical analyses using homogenized sediments need to be considered and studied further.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls↗

Applicability of homogeneous exposure groups for exposure assessment in the chemical industry.

The purpose of the study was to assess occupational exposure to chemicals, by taking the aspects presented in European standard EN 689 into account, especially with respect to homogeneous exposure groups and their suitability as the basis for exposure assessment. In addition, dermal exposure to chemicals was assessed when appropriate. The industries studied included a plywood factory, a paint factory and a sewage treatment plant of an oil refinery. The workers were classified into homogeneous exposure groups by the persons in charge of occupational health issues in the respective workplaces. The concentrations of the contaminants were measured in workplace air by breathing-zone and stationary sampling, and these approaches were compared. Dermal exposure was measured when applicable. The homogeneity of the grouping was tested with analysis of variance whenever possible. The tasks studied in plywood manufacturing fulfilled the criteria of homogeneous exposure groups for both respiratory and dermal exposure. The group of operators in the sewage treatment plant was highly homogeneous. The complicated organization of the tasks made the use of homogeneous exposure groups (HEG) unsuitable at the paint factory. These findings show that reliable exposure assessment cannot be achieved with a formal standard; instead, comprehensive occupational hygiene evaluation is needed. It should also have a great importance when exposure models are developed.

Chemical Industry↗

Striking differentiation of sub-populations within a genetically homogeneous isolate (Ogliastra) in Sardinia as revealed by mtDNA analysis.

Since the reduced genetic diversity found in isolates should simplify the study of complex traits, analyses of patterns of homogeneity within populations are of particular interest. We analysed the mtDNA haplogroups and hypervariable segment I (HVS-I) sequences of 475 individuals from a geographically restricted and isolated area (Ogliastra) within Sardinia, comprehending 175 random samples from 20 out of 23 villages. The remaining 300 subjects were chosen from the other three villages, Talana, Urzulei and Perdasdefogu, by sampling all maternal lineages. A comparison with other European populations reveals that Ogliastra ranks among the most genetically homogenous population and that it has been small and isolated throughout its history. The lack of variation and the high genetic homogeneity indicate that an important founder event and a demographic expansion took place during the Neolithic (approximately 7700 years before present) in Ogliastra's mtDNA gene pool. We present highly resolved phylogenetic networks for Ogliastra and for the three sub-isolates. MtDNA differentiation in the sub-populations versus Ogliastra is revealed by a strong demarcation in their genetic pools due to distinctive founder effects and genetic drift. We found that genetic homogeneity strictly depends on a scale factor in population size and on sampling methodology. The outstanding homogeneity and the reduced female gene pool observed in Ogliastra, in the European context, hide an extremely marked differentiation in sub-isolates originated from the same archaic population. Although Ogliastra can be considered a genetically homogeneous isolate, small villages' divergent genetic histories underline the importance of more systematic analysis of DNA variation between and within populations.

DNA↗

Micronization of insulin by high pressure homogenization.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish the high pressure homogenization of proteins in non-aqueous suspension as an alternative method for classical micronization strategies and to investigate the effect of high pressure on protein stability and bioactivity. METHODS: The influence of drug loading, homogenization pressure and cycles on particle size reduction was investigated by experimental design using a Box Behnken matrix with insulin as a model compound. Particle size measurements were performed by laser light scattering. Protein stability was investigated by HPLC and HPLC-MS analysis and the bioactivity of insulin was tested in a chondrocyte proliferation assay. For investigations into the effect of temperature on protein stability, insulin was micronized in molten lipid at 75 degrees C in one cycle at 1,000 bar. RESULTS: Within one homogenization cycle at 1,500 bar, the particle size of insulin could be reduced from 15.8 to 7.3 microm, six cycles resulted in a particle size of 3.7 microm d(0.5) (50% of the particles are smaller than the indicated value). Evaluation of the response surface diagram revealed that the homogenization pressure had the highest impact on micronization efficiency, followed by the number of homogenization cycles. Protein stability was maintained during the micronization process as well as bioactivity. Micronization at elevated temperature (75 degrees C) had no effect on protein stability. CONCLUSION: High pressure homogenization of protein suspensions can be used as an alternative method for the micronization of proteins without affecting protein stability or bioactivity.

Algorithms↗

An assay for sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase activity in muscle homogenates.

A spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2(+)-ATPase activity (EC 3.1.6.38) in unfractionated muscle homogenates. Conditions were established that give maximal SR Ca2(+)-ATPase activity, while eliminating Ca2(+)-dependent myofibrillar ATPase activity and reducing Ca2(+)-independent or background ATPase activity. High [Ca2+] (20 mM) could be used to selectively inhibit the SR Ca2+ ATPase. Identification of the Ca2(+)-dependent ATPase activity in muscle homogenates as being SR Ca2+ ATPase was based on a comparison of several parameters using homogenate material and purified SR. The following parameters were compared and found to be the same in homogenate and SR: activation and inactivation between 0 and 20 mM Ca2+, temperature dependence, sensitivity toward Triton X-100, and the maximal level of inhibition of ATPase activity achieved by an antibody specific for SR Ca2+ ATPase. The method is illustrated with the analysis of homogenates prepared from freeze-dried muscle fibers and thin sections of muscles typically used in microscope analyses as well as an analysis of freshly prepared homogenates from various types of muscle, which shows a good correlation over a wide range between SR specific Ca2(+)-uptake and -ATPase activities. In addition, a simple, easily constructed cuvette is described which allows the analysis of less than 5 micrograms of tissue (wet weight) in a volume of 25 microliters.

Animals↗

A simple binding assay for the determination of low-density lipoprotein receptors in cell homogenates.

A convenient binding assay has been developed for the determination of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in homogenates of cultured and freshly-isolated normal and malignant human cells. Cell homogenates were incubated with 125I-labeled LDL and the ligand bound to the homogenate particulates was separated from the unbound ligand by filtration. When the particulates of the homogenates were subsequently incubated with heparin, a fraction of the bound 125I-LDL was released. Previous studies on intact cells have shown that heparin exclusively releases LDL bound to its cell surface receptor. The heparin-sensitive binding of 125I-LDL to cell homogenate particulates represents LDL bound to its cell surface receptor as judged from the following criteria: (a) it was quantitatively similar to the heparin-sensitive binding of 125I-LDL to intact cells, (b) it showed a direct correlation to the receptor-mediated degradation of 125I-LDL by intact cells, (c) no heparin-sensitive binding could be detected in homogenates prepared from normal erythrocytes or from cultured fibroblasts from a patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (two types of cell lacking LDL receptors), (d) it was dependent on calcium and inhibited by EDTA, (e) it was susceptible to treatment with pronase, and (f) it was heat-labile. The assay developed should be of value in determining the number of LDL receptors in tissues, since it is far less time-consuming and requires less material than currently available methods.

Adult↗

Oxidation of oleic and elaidic acids in rat and human heart homogenates.

Parallel incubations with uniformly 14C-labeled oleic and elaidic acids were conducted to compare oxidation rates in tissue homogenates prepared from rat and human hearts. Radioactivity in 14CO2 and 14C-labeled chain-shortened acid-soluble products was used to measure the extent of oxidation. Oxidation rates (pmol/min per mg heart protein) determined on 14C-labeled acid-soluble products suggest that oleic acid was oxidized 35-40% faster than elaidic acid by both male and female rat heart homogenates, whereas human heart homogenates oxidized these fatty acids at equal rates. Rates for female heart homogenates were somewhat higher than those for males in rats and humans. Rates of formation of 14CO2 were the same for each acid in rat and human heart tissue. Comparative rates of formation of oxidation products expressed as oleic/elaidic ratios from parallel incubations confirm that preferential oxidation of oleic acid occurred with rat heart homogenates, but not with the human heart homogenates. These data suggest that the presence of the trans double bond in elaidic acid does not impair its utilization for energy by human heart muscle.

Aged↗