Laurence J. King

Cysteine conjugate β-lyase of rat kidney cytosol: Characterization, immunocytochemical localization, and correlation with hexachlorobutadiene nephrotoxicity

Cysteine conjugate beta-lyase (beta-lyase) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from the kidney cytosol of male Wistar rats. The highly purified enzyme exhibited a monomeric molecular weight of 50,000 Da and was active in the alpha-beta elimination of cysteine conjugates including S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), S-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-L-cysteine (TFEC), and S-(2-benzothiazolyl)-L-cysteine, particularly toward DCVC and TFEC. The purified enzyme also exhibited glutamine transaminase K activity with phenylalanine and alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate as substrates. An antibody was raised to the purified rat protein in sheep and the crude immune serum affinity purified, yielding a specific antibody that recognized only the beta-lyase protein in whole kidney homogenates. Immunocytochemical studies on rat kidney sections stained with the purified antibody revealed that the cytosolic beta-lyase enzyme was mainly localized in the pars recta of the proximal tubule in untreated rats. This localization is coincident with the site-specific kidney necrosis produced by hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (HCBD). These results indicate that the tissue localization of beta-lyase in the proximal tubule plays an important role in determining the specific nephrotoxicity produced by halogenated alkenes such as HCBD.

The Measurement of D-Fenfluramine and Its Metabolite, D-Norfenfluramine in Plasma and Urine with an Application of the Method to Pharmacokinetic Studies

1. A specific and sensitive gas chromatographic assay is described for the measurement of d-fenfluramine and its de-ethylated metabolite, d-norfenfluramine, in biological fluids, together with some data on its application to the oral pharmacokinetics of the drug. 2. The analytical method developed has advantages over the previously described methods since it uses nitrogen specific detection and, when applied routinely, enables smaller sample volumes to be used (typically 1 ml of plasma) with a shorter chromatography time and an improved sensitivity (minimum quantifiable level of 2.5 ng ml-1). 3. Peak plasma concentrations of 22 and 24 ng ml-1 of intact drug were reached at 4 h after an oral dose of 14C-d-fenfluramine hydrochloride (30 mg) given to two volunteers as part of a metabolism and disposition study. Subsequently, concentrations of intact drug declined monoexponentially with a half-life of approximately 13 h. Peak concentrations of 10 and 8 ng ml-1 of the metabolite, d-norfenfluramine, were reached after 4 and 6 h and were maintained as a plateau for a further 4-6 h. Assessment of the half-life of the metabolite could not be made because of lack of data on the terminal portion of the curves. 4. The urinary excretion of d-fenfluramine (6.0 and 10.6% of the dose) and d-norfenfluramine (5.8 and 8.8% of the dose) was low, indicating extensive metabolism of the parent drug.

The induction of autoxidative tissue damage by iron nitrilotriacetate in rats and mice

Iron nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA) is a potent initiator of lipid peroxidation, and, when injected intraperitoneally into mice, it greatly increased ethane and pentane exhalation within 30 min. The time course and dose-response of the exhalation of ethane were studied and compared with the increase in tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Production of MDA was greater in mouse kidney than liver and correlated better with the exhalation of ethane. In rats FeNTA also increased ethane exhalation and MDA, but the rat was less susceptible than the mouse to FeNTA toxicity. MDA production was greater in rat liver than kidney and both correlated well with ethane exhalation (r = 0.97 and 0.98, respectively). Renal proximal tubular damage was observed histologically 35 min after mice were given FeNTA, but in rats the lesion appeared 24 hr after dosage. Histopathological assessment of kidney damage at these times showed fair correlation with ethane exhalation in mice (r = 0.73) and rats (r = 0.62), respectively. Activities of kidney brush-border marker enzymes were decreased in mice, 35 min after FeNTA administration, and showed a similar trend in rats. Some rats also showed periportal necrosis of the liver, 24 hr after FeNTA administration. The very rapid onset of autoxidative damage suggests that FeNTA itself is the causative agent rather than subsequently formed, less reactive complexes, such as transferrin. The site of damage in the kidney tubule is consistent with the region of concentration of filtered FeNTA. It is suggested that FeNTA supports the formation of superoxide ion from dissolved oxygen and may be responsible for the subsequent formation of hydroxyl radical which initiates lipid peroxidation. The species difference between rat and mouse may be due to the greater resistance of the rat kidney to FeNTA-induced autoxidative damage.

Effect of acute administration of cadmium on the disposition of copper, zinc, and iron in the rat.

Abstract Acute administration of subcutaneous doses of cadmium (0.1–1.5 mg/kg) to male rats resulted in high plasma concentrations of copper 24 hr after treatment. In contrast, plasma zinc and iron levels were markedly reduced. The magnitude and significance of the changes in plasma metal ion concentrations were dependent upon the dose of cadmium administered. Liver copper levels were slightly but not significantly increased, but circulating ceruloplasmin levels increased as the total plasma copper increased. Biliary excretion of copper was markedly inhibited after cadmium administration (subcutaneous and oral) and the degree of inhibition was directly related to the dose. Simultaneous parenteral administration of zinc did not counteract this effect. These results suggest that cadmium blocks the excretion of copper into the bile leading to an accumulation of copper in the liver, which in turn, stimulates the synthesis of ceruloplasmin. The mechanisms by which cadmium may inhibit biliary copper excretion are discussed.

The tissue disposition and urinary excretion of cadmium, zinc, copper and iron, following repeated parenteral administration of cadmium to rats

The effect of repeated parenteral administration of cadmium (0.75, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg) on tissue disposition and urinary excretion of cadmium, zinc, copper and iron has been studied in the male rat. Cadmium, zinc and copper accumulated in liver and kidney, but the concentration of iron did not alter significantly. The kidney weight relative to body weight showed a dose-related increase in weight of 25--65%. Excretion of cadmium in the urine increased directly with dosage and the increase was most significant when kidney damage had probably occurred. Administration of cadmium also resulted in dose-related increases in the urinary excretion of zinc, copper and iron. The cadmium concentration of blood increased with dosage of cadmium, and the plasma concentrations of zinc and copper were also raised but plasma iron concentration was diminished.

The effect of dietary cadmium on zinc, copper and iron levels in the bone of rats

The effect of continuous oral administration of cadium (Cd) (75 ppm) on the concentrations of zinc (ZN), Copper (CU) and iron (Fe) in the bone of rats was investigated. Accumulation of Cd in the femur was low but increased with time. After 8 weeks of Cd exposure, femur Zn and Fe levels were significantly decreased and remained low throughout the period of cadmium treatment. After 48 weeks, Cd exposed animals had Zn and Fe concentrations in the femur of 63% and 51% of controls, respectively. The femur Cu concentration was unchanged at 36 weeks but at 48 weeks it was 76% of control animals.

Cadmium-induced reduction of bone alkaline phosphatase and its prevention by zinc

The dietary exposure of rats to cadmium (75 ppm) for periods of up to 48 weeks caused an accumulation of cadmium in the femur, and an inhibition of the accumulation of zinc in the bone. After 48 weeks of cadmium treatment, there was a decreased activity of alkaline phosphatase in the femur. This effect was prevented by a simultaneous dietary supplement of zinc (300 ppm).

Solubilisation, purification and reconstitution of hepatic microsomal azoreductase activity

Microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase and cytochrome P-450 were purified from the livers of phenobarbitone-treated rats. Purified NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase effected the NADPH-dependent reduction of FMN and FAD under anaerobic conditions in a non-enzymic manner, but was unable to reduce directly the azo dye, amaranth. In the presence of FMN, the purified reductase effected reduction of amaranth through the production of reduced FMN. Incorporation of NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase into the microsomal fraction increased the azoreductase activity of liver preparations from phenobarbitone-treated rats, but had no effect on azoreductase activity in preparations from control animals. Azoreductase activity was reconstituted into dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing purified cytochrome P-450 and purified NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase. In the absence of supplementary FMN, amaranth reduction was completely dependent upon all three components, but in the presence of FMN, the omission of any one component failed to abolish completely azoreductase activity.

Effects of acute and sub-chronic administration of iron nitrilotriacetate in the rat

Parenteral administration of iron nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA) to rats resulted in marked loss in body weight, and increases in liver/and kidney/body weight ratios. Fatalities, due to renal failure, depended on dosage and age of the animals, and were greater (70%) after a single large dose (12 mg iron) than after repeated smaller doses (30%). FeNTA administered subchronically gave rise to an increase in ethane exhalation, and to decreased liver glutathione peroxidase activity, and decreased cytochrome P-450 concentration and benzphetamine N-demethylase activity. It also resulted in severe renal tubular necrosis, with deposition of iron in the tubular cells and loss of brush border alkaline phosphatase activity, resulting in a dose-dependent diuresis, with increased urinary excretion of glucose, iron and lipid peroxidation products, and decreased urine creatinine concentration. NTA alone had none of these effects but slightly decreased the hepatic concentration of iron.

The urinary excretion of enzymes following repeated parenteral administration of cadmium to rats.

Abstract The effect of daily parenteral administration of cadmium (0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 mg/kg) on the urinary excretion of enzymes has been studied in the young male rat. Aspartate amino-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and leucine aminopeptidase all showed an initial significant increase around the second day of dosage, the intensity of which was dose related. A second phase of enzymuria occurred later, the onset of which was dose related. High-dose-group animals (3.0 mg/kg) exhibited this increase around Day 15, while the median (1.5 mg/kg) and low- (0.75 mg/kg) dose-group animals developed enzymuria around Days 21 and 38, respectively. This second phase of elevated enzyme levels in the urine was persistent, and is believed to represent the development of renal damage.