Fredrik H. Foppen

Catecholamine neurotransmitters and synthetic enzymes in the spinal cord of the rat

Abstract Total catecholamines, norepinephrine and small amounts of dopamine were measured in the spinal cord of rats by sensitive radiometric enzymatic assays. There was a considerable disparity between levels of NE and those of total CA suggesting the presence of significant amounts of another catecholamine in spinal cord. The demonstration of the presence of specific phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase activity in spinal cord suggested that the catecholamine could be epinephrine. The presence of epinephrine in spinal cord was confirmed by quantitative mass fragmentography. Pretreatment with intracisternal and intracerebroventricular 6-hydroxydopamine markedly reduced the contents of total catecholamines, no norepinephrine and dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity when compared to vehicle treated controls. In contrast, the levels of dopamine only fell to 50% of controls after 6-hydroxydopamine. Thus, in addition to descending noradrenergic tracts, adrenergic neurons appear to be present in the spinal cord.

Carotenogenesis in diphenylamine-treated Epicoccum nigrum link

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of diphenylamine (1.0·10−5−1.0·10−3 M) has been studied on culture growth and carotenoid, ergosterol, fatty acid and protein synthesis in Epicoccum nigrum grown in submerged culture. 2. 2. Diphenylamine delayed total glucose uptake from about 80 h in normal cultures to about 160 h in 7.5 · 10−5 M diphenylamine-treated cultures. 3. 3. Carotenoid synthesis was stimulated by diphenylamine. Rhodoxanthin and torularhodin were completely absent in treated cultures, whereas the synthesis occurred of phytoene, lycopene, γ-carotene, β-carotene and of two carotenoids which were identified as 3,4-dehydro-β-carotene and 3,4,3′,4′-bis-dehydro-β-carotene. 4. 4. A hypothetical pathway for the biosynthesis of rhodoxanthin from β-carotene via β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, a double-bond rearrangement and eschscholtzxanthin has been proposed. 5. 5. Ergosterol synthesis diminished, up to 35% in 7.5 · 10−5 M diphenylaminetreated cultures. 6. 6. The fatty acid pattern changed qualitatively. Pentadecanoic and heptadecanoic acid were almost completely absent, whereas a C22:2 fatty acid was present in relatively large amounts in diphenylamine-treated cultures. 7. 7. The total protein content of mycelium and culture fluid was slightly affected by diphenylamine.

Lipid constituents of some Fusarium species

SummaryThe lipid constituents of Fusarium aquaeductuum Lagerh., F. aquaeductuum Lagerh. var. medium and F. sambucinum Fuck. have been studied. In the mycelia of these three fungi γ-carotene, lycopene and rhodoxanthin were present. Ergosterol was also present and the fatty acid pattern showed a slight qualitative difference between the three fungi.Use of the presence of carotenoids in fungi as a taxonomic tool is discussed and it is concluded that it cannot yet be considered reliable.

Stimulation and maintenance by nerve growth factor of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase in superior cervical ganglia of adult rats.

Treatment of newborn rats with nerve growth factor (NGF) results in a striking increase in phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) in the superior cervical ganglia. Between one and three weeks of age there is normally a 10-fold decrease in PNMT activity in ganglia of infant rats. NGF treatment maintains the PNMT in ganglia at levels 10-fold greater than in untreated controls, but the levels of enzyme in the ganglion show the same magnitude of decrease with age. Epinephrine levels are markedly increased in ganglia of NGF-treated rats younger than one week of age, but at older ages the levels of the catecholamine are only slightly greater than the controls. Dexamethasone is less effective than NGF in increasing the levels of PNMT in ganglia of infant rats and, unlike NGF, becomes ineffective by 44 days of age. These results suggest that there may be two types of PNMT-containing cells in ganglia of newborn rats.

Adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine levels in brain and heart after administration of 6-hydroxydopamine and guanethedine to newborn mice

Abstract The adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine levels of the whole brain and heart of mice were measured spectrofluorimetrically after subcutaneous injection at birth with 6-hydroxydopamine or guanethedine. 6-Hydroxydopamine decreased noradrenaline and dopamine levels in brain tissue within 15 days after administration. Dopamine recovered within 45 days to an almost normal level. Both noradrenaline and dopamine decreased initially after guanethedine treatment, but differences from control values were insignificant 7 months after treatment. Dopamine and noradrenaline levels in heart decreased after both 6-hydroxydopamine and guanethedine treatment. The effect on adrenaline levels in brain and heart was statistically insignificant. It is suggested that 6-hydroxydopamine and guanethedine may cause long-lasting lesions in some catecholamine containing neurons in the central nervous system.

The carotenoids of the fungus Epicoccum nigrum link

Abstract From the dark-red coloured mycelium of Epicoccum nigrum Link four carotenoid pigments were isolated. Three of them were identified as β-carotene, γ-carotene and torularhodin. The fourth one with great probability seems to be rhodoxanthin, a keto-carotenoid never found so far as a fungal metabolite.

Nerve growth factor and lipid classes in sensory ganglia.

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of the nerve growth factor on the lipids of 8-day-old chickembryo sensory ganglia has been studied. Total lipids increased, and the ganglionic dry weight remained almost unchanged. 2. 2. Separation of neutral lipids showed that a rise in triglyceride content was accompanied by an increase in esterified and total cholesterol, whereas free fatty acids and a sterol-like compound diminished. 3. 3. Total phospholipids were only slightly affected, but sphingomyelin decreased significantly. A certain tendency towards lyso compounds was observed. 4. 4. The mode of action of the nerve growth factor in the light of the presented results has been discussed as an effect on enzymes concerned with neutral lipid synthesis.

Carotenoids in some ultraviolet mutants of Epicoccum nigrum link

SummaryMutants were produced by ultraviolet irradiation of the mould Epicoccum nigrum Link. The qualitative and quantitative formation of carotenoid pigments was studied. In addition to the four carotenoids present in the wild-type strain 5-I-3 several other carotenoids were isolated and identified.The presence of these pigments is discussed. The results support the proposed pathway for the biosynthesis of rhodoxanthin, 3,3′-diketo-retro-β-carotene, from β-carotene.

Light and temperature effect on Epicoccum nigrum

Abstract The effect of darkness, and different light intensities, 110 lux, 2000 lux and 2500 lux, and of different temperatures, 24° and 28°, on carotenogenesis, ergosterol synthesis and mycelial growth of Epicoccum nigrum grown in submerged culture has been studied. The synthesis of total carotenoids at 24° was inhibited at higher light intensities, but at 28° with higher light intensities the production increased. A regulating effect of light and temperature on the synthesis of the individual carotenoids, β-carotene, γ-carotene, rhodoxantin and torularhodin, has been observed. The ergosterol synthesis was also influenced by light and temperature but no evidence of a correlation between carotenoid and ergosterol synthesis was found. The mycelial growth at 24° did not depend on the light ntensities, but at 28° there was a stimulating influence on the growth by the higher intensities although the level at 24° was never reached.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification of epinine in rat superior cervical ganglia and formation in vivo

Epinine was identified in rat superior cervical ganglia by a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method. The deuterated methyl group of i.v. administered labeled methionine was incorporated into epinine at a slow rate, although epinephrine-CD3 was rapidly formed. These results indicated that epinine found in the ganglia is not a precursor of epinephrine.