George N. Catravas

Highly reactive impurities in Triton X-100 and Brij 35: Partial characterization and removal☆

Abstract Triton X-100 (from three different suppliers) and Brij 35, substituted ethers of polyoxyethylene alcohols, were found to contain variable amounts of powerful oxidizing impurities representing a range of 0.04-0.22% H2O2 equivalents. These detergents contain also a considerable quantity of carbonyl compounds (0.5-2%) originating from carboxylic acids and ketones or aldehydes. Tween 20, also a polyoxyethylene detergent, and sodium dodecyl sulfate were free from oxidizing contamination. Aqueous solutions of Triton X-100 and Brij 35 (1–4%) reacted readily with SH groups of protein and nonprotein molecules as well as with Fe2+ ion. Both detergents were purified from the oxidizing impurities by treating aqueous solution of detergent with either NaHSO3 or SnCl2 followed by an extraction procedure. The present findings may clarify as well as complicate the interpretation of previous studies where these detergents were used for biological purposes, especially in enzyme and protein purifications, or when present in assay procedures that are based on the formation or consumption of reducing reagents.

Membranes as sensitive targets in thymocyte apoptosis

The role of cellular membranes in thymocyte apoptosis has been examined. Trolox, a water soluble analogue of vitamin E and inhibitor of membrane damage, inhibits DNA fragmentation in thymocytes exposed to gamma-radiation. Trolox is most effective in inhibiting DNA fragmentation when added to cells within 30 min post-irradiation. Exposure to trolox only during irradiation did not prevent DNA fragmentation, suggesting that it does not work by scavenging free radicals generated during radiation exposure. Incubation of the irradiated cell suspension with trolox for 2 h post-irradiation was sufficient to prevent DNA fragmentation measured at 24 h in irradiated cells. This suggests that trolox irreversibly inhibits a cellular lesion required for apoptosis. The induction of DNA fragmentation appears to be related to a concurrent, pronounced flow of Ca2+ into the cell. At 3 h post-irradiation the amount of Ca2+ in irradiated thymocytes was more than twice that of unirradiated thymocytes. Membrane damage has been shown to affect the transport of Ca2+. Trolox treatment completely blocked the radiation-induced influx of Ca2+ into the thymocytes. These results suggest that membrane damage is a critical lesion that is involved in DNA fragmentation in thymocyte apoptosis.

Radioprotection of Hematopoietic Tissues in Mice by Lipoic Acid

Lipoic acid is a lipophilic antioxidant that participates in many enzymatic reactions and is used clinically to treat mushroom poisoning and metal toxicity. In this report the protective effect of lipoic acid (oxidized form) against radiation injury to hematopoietic tissues in mice was assessed by the endogenous and exogenous spleen colony assays and survival (LD50/30) assay. Intraperitoneal administration of lipoic acid at a nonlethal concentration of 200 mg/kg body wt, 30 min before irradiation increased the LD50/30 from 8.67 to 10.93 Gy in male CD2F1 mice. Following a 9-Gy irradiation, the yield of endogenous spleen colony-forming units in mice treated with saline and lipoic acid was 0.75 +/- 0.5 and 8.9 +/- 1.6, respectively. Using the exogenous spleen colony assay, lipoic acid treatment increased the D0 from 0.81 +/- 0.01 to 1.09 +/- 0.01 Gy, yielding a dose modification factor of 1.34 +/- 0.01. Dihydrolipoic acid (reduced form) has no radioprotective effect in CD2F1 mice.

Seizure-induced changes in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier following administration of anticholinesterase drugs to rats

Abstract Powerful inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (phospholine iodide, paraoxon, and Soman) were used either separately or in combination with an anesthetizing drug (nembutal), an acetylcholine antagonist (atropine sulfate), or a convulsive drug (metrazole) to study the resistance of the blood-brain barrier to their effects. On the basis of measurements of acetylcholinesterase inhibition in rat brain stem and corpus striatum, it was concluded that these anticholinesterase drugs increased the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, provided that seizures were manifested shortly after administration of these drugs. Rats that were treated prophylactically with either nembutal or atropine sulfate did not convulse and, consequently, damage to the blood-brain barrier integrity was reduced significantly, despite a high degree of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition. It is suggested that anticholinesterase drugs enhance brain AChE inhibition by inducing strong convulsions and, thereby, increase their own penetration through the blood-brain barrier. It does not appear likely that acetyl- or butyrylcholinesterase located in the walls of the brain capillaries is involved in maintenance of the blood-brain barrier.

Reversal of Morphine Tolerance after Medial Thalamic Lesions in the Rat

Tolerance, manifested by a diminished electroencephalographic response at cortical and subcortical recording sites, was found in rats subjected to repeated systemic injections of morphine sulfate. Reversal of tolerance to morphine resulted from destruction of the medial thalamus.

Circadian Rhythms in Catecholamine Metabolites and Cyclic Nucleotide Production

Circadian rhythms in noradrenergic (NE) and dopaminergic (DA) metabolites and in cyclic nucleotide production were measured in discrete regions of rat brain. A circadian rhythm was found in the concentration of the NE metabolite, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), in the hippocampus. No MHPG rhythm was found in frontal, cingulate, parietal, piriform, insular or temporal cortex, or in hypothalamus. Circadian rhythms in the concentration of the NE metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), occurred in occipital and parietal cortex and hypothalamus, with no rhythm observable in temporal or insular cortex, hippocampus, pons-medulla or cerebellum. The 24-hr mean concentration of MHPG varied 3.5-fold, highest in cingulate and lowest in parietal, temporal and occipital cortex. The 24-hr mean concentration of DHPG varied 6-fold, highest in hypothalamus and lowest in parietal cortex. Circadian rhythms in the concentration of the DA metabolite, homovanillic acid (HVA), were found in olfactory tubercle, amygdala and caudate-putamen, but not in nucleus accumbens. A circadian rhythm in the concentration of the DA metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), occurred in nucleus accumbens, but not in olfactory tubercle or caudate-putamen. The mean 24-hr concentration of HVA was highest in caudate-putamen, intermediate in nucleus accumbens, and lowest in olfactory tubercle and amygdala. The mean 24-hr concentration of DOPAC was highest in nucleus accumbens and lower in olfactory tubercle and caudate-putamen. Circadian rhythms were found in the concentration of cyclic GMP (cGMP) in all regions measured except parietal cortex. The mean 24-hr concentration varied 128-fold, highest in nucleus accumbens, frontal poles, and hypothalamus and lowest in cingulate cortex. Circadian rhythms in cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentration were found in piriform, temporal, occipital, cingulate, and parietal cortex, amygdala and nucleus accumbens. No rhythms were found in frontal or insular cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, caudate-putamen or olfactory tubercle. The 24-hr mean cAMP concentration varied 4-fold, highest in parietal cortex and lowest in caudate-putamen and amygdala. Norepinephrine metabolites and dopamine metabolites were rhythmic in few regions. It is, therefore, unlikely that the rhythmicity measured in adrenergic receptors is, in general, a response to rhythmic changes in adrenergic transmitter release. The putative second messenger response systems, especially cGMP, were more often rhythmic. The rhythms in cGMP are parallel in form and region to those in the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor and may act as 2nd messenger for that receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effect of chronic administration of morphine on monoamine oxidase activity in discrete regions of the brain of rats

Abstract The effect of chronic administration of morphine on the activity of monoamine oxidase in specific regions of the brain of rats has been investigated. It was found that, shortly after the last administration of morphine, brain monoamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.4) was drastically reduced in rats which had been chronically treated with morphine and which had exhibited a hyperactivity syndrome manifested by compulsive gnawing and spasmodic jumping. The lowest values were seen at approximately 30 min and they returned to nearly normal levels by 6 hr after the last injection. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in the activity of this enzyme in animals that did not exhibit this syndrome after morphine administration.

Radiation-induced alterations in prostaglandin excretion in the rat

Dose-related alterations in the levels of prostaglandins (PGF2 alpha and PGE) and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) were observed in the urine of unanesthetized rats following whole-body gamma radiation. Exposure doses of 100 and 900 rads resulted in significant changes in urinary levels of these cyclooxygenase products. These findings suggest the potential use of radioimmunoassay measurement of urinary prostaglandins and thromboxane as a noninvasive indicator of radiation exposure.

Optimization of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent concentration in an automated Lowry protein assay

Abstract The Lowry method ( G. H. Lowry, N. J. Rosebrough, A. L. Farr, and R. J. Randall, 1951 , J. Biol. Chem. 193 , 265–275) for protein concentration measurement has been automated to permit assay of samples with concentrations from 1 to 400 μg/ml. Calibration with solutions of bovine serum albumin resulted in a nonlinear (quadratic) curve. The quantity of color developed in the assay was found to be strongly dependent on the concentration of the Folin-Ciocalteu phenol reagent. Color yield peaked sharply at a reagent concentration 40% lower than that used in the Lowry procedure. Optimization of the reagent concentration is necessary to obtain maximum sensitivity from the Lowry assay.

Development of a model system to study leukotriene-induced modification of radiation sensitivity in mammalian cells

Leukotrienes (LT) are an important class of biological mediators, for which no information exists concerning their synthesis following a radiation insult, or on their ability to modify cellular response to a subsequent radiation exposure. LT are derived from arachidonic acid, as are prostaglandins, although by a separate enzyme system. Prostaglandins are able to modify radiosensitivity of mammalian cells in vivo and in vitro. In addition, the cytoprotective effect induced by prostaglandins may have significance in cancer therapy since certain breast cancers which secrete elevated levels of prostaglandins are more resistant to therapy than similar tumors without the prostaglandin elevation. The objective of this study was to define a model system in which the metabolic fate of the LT could be monitored, and the effort of LT on the ionizing radiation sensitivity of mammalian cells in vitro could also be characterized.