Nobuhiko Mizuno

Effect of neuropeptide Y on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the dog.

There is increasing evidence that neuropeptide Y (NPY) affects the release of pituitary hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The present study was designed to clarify the mechanism by which NPY activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the dog. Mongrel dogs were equipped with a chronic cannula allowing intra-third (i.t.v.) or intra-lateral (i.l.v.) cerebroventricular administration. A 1.19 nmol, i.t.v. dose of NPY produced as great an ACTH and cortisol response as did equimolar ovine corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). This action of NPY was dose-dependent and shared by peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), other members of the PP family peptide. Intravenously (i.v.) administered NPY (1.19-11.9 nmol) was much less potent than i.v. CRF in stimulating ACTH and cortisol secretion. However, i.v. NPY significantly increased plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations, raising the possibility that NPY may modulate the activity of corticotrophs. We have next investigated the possible relationship between NPY and CRF on the HPA axis. Pretreatment with a novel CRF antagonist, alpha-helical CRF9-41 (130.9 nmol i.t.v. or 261.8 nmol i.v.), partly but significantly attenuated the ACTH and cortisol responses to i.t.v. NPY (1.19 nmol). Furthermore, adding a subthreshold dose of i.t.v. NPY (0.119 nmol) to i.t.v. CRF (1.19 nmol) or i.v. NPY (2.38 nmol) to i.v. CRF (0.595 nmol) resulted in the potentiation of CRF-induced ACTH secretion. These results indicate that NPY may activate the HPA axis in concert with CRF probably at hypothalamic and/or pituitary levels. The present findings that NPY evokes ACTH secretion and potentiates the effectiveness of CRF as a secretagogue, together with high concentrations of NPY in the hypothalamus and pituitary portal blood, suggest that NPY is involved in the multihormonal control of ACTH release.

Peptide YY receptors in the brain

Radiolabelled ligand binding studies demonstrated that specific receptors for peptide YY are present in the porcine as well as the canine brains. Peptide YY was bound to brain tissue membranes via high-affinity (dissociation constant, 1.39 X 10(-10)M) and low-affinity (dissociation constant, 3.72 X 10(-8)M) components. The binding sites showed a high specificity for peptide YY and neuropeptide Y, but not for pancreatic polypeptide or structurally unrelated peptides. The specific activity of peptide YY binding was highest in the hippocampus, followed by the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, and the amygdala of the porcine brain, this pattern being similarly observed in the canine brain. The results suggest that peptide YY and neuropeptide Y may regulate the function of these regions of the brain through interaction with a common receptor site.

Immunochemical Studies on the Insulin-degrading Enzyme from Pig and Rat Skeletal Muscle

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), which proteolytically degraded insulin with a high degree of specificity, was purified from pig skeletal muscle by ammonium sulfate precipitation, chromatography on Bio-Gel P-200 and DEAE-cellulose, and finally rechromatography on Sephadex G-200 (rechromatography fraction). The enzyme was also purified by affinity chromatography (affinity fraction). Both fractions migrated as a single component at the same position on polyacrylamidegel disc electrophoresis. Antiserum against pig muscle IDE was obtained by immunization of rabbits using the rechromatography fraction. By means of antiserum, it was shown that pig muscle IDE (affinity fraction), rat muscle cytosol-, and membrane-IDE gave a precipitin band of identity in Ouchterlony double-immunodiffusion systems. Quantitative immunoprecipitin data demonstrated that the antiserum inhibited the activities of the above three IDEs compared with normal rabbit serum. These data suggest that the insulindegrading enzyme from porcine muscle and that from rat muscle have similar immunologic properties. The antiserum described here should be a useful tool for the examination of subcellular distribution and the quantitative analysis of insulin-degrading enzyme. It may also be helpful in determining the physiologic Significance Of IDE.

Physiological antagonism between prostaglandin E2 and neuropeptide Y on thermoregulation in the dog

These experiments were undertaken to determine whether neuropeptide Y (NPY) could suppress a prostaglandin hyperthermia in conscious dogs. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (5 micrograms), injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle (ILV), evoked a hyperthermia of approximately 1 degrees C. Addition of ILV NPY (5 micrograms) significantly attenuated the PGE2-induced hyperthermia, whereas pancreatic polypeptide (PP), another member of the PP family peptide, did not. These results provide evidence for a role of NPY on thermoregulation in the dog.

Mechanism of actions of cholecystokinin octapeptide on food intake and insulin and pancreatic polypeptide release in the dog.

We investigated the mechanism by which CCK-8 injected into the third cerebral ventricle (ITV administration) inhibits food intake and stimulates insulin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) secretion in the dog. ITV administration of CCK-8 (4.08 micrograms/5 min) resulted in a significant elevation of plasma insulin and PP concentrations. This effect was abolished by truncal vagotomy and promptly inhibited by ITV administration of atropine (20 micrograms) and proglumide (10 mg). CCK-8 was less effective in increasing insulin and PP concentrations than in reducing feeding. Thus, 1.36 micrograms of ITV CCK-8 markedly reduced food intake to 14, 15, 29 and 31% of control values at 10, 30, 60 and 120 min, respectively. Atropine and naloxone (50 micrograms) had no blocking effect on CCK-8-induced satiety, whereas proglumide antagonized it. These results indicate that ITV CCK-8 effects the endocrine pancreas and food intake through atropine-sensitive and atropine-insensitive mechanisms, respectively, both of which are likely to be mediated by CNS CCK receptors. Intravenous CCK-8 also stimulated PP and insulin release, through mechanisms that were atropine-sensitive and atropine-insensitive, respectively. However, its mode of action, especially on insulin secretion, was quite different from that of ITV CCK-8. Therefore, exogenous CCK appears to act in the brain and the periphery in concert with and independently from cholinergic systems.

Effects of amino acids on pancreatic polypeptide before and after vagotomy in the dog

SummaryWe have previously indicated a marked influence of the vagus nerve on postprandial pancreatic polypeptide secretion. The present study was designed to determine whether the vagus nerve also plays a role in the regulation of pancreatic polypeptide secretion by absorbed nutrients. The pancreatic polypeptide responses to 17 intravenously administered amino acids, as well as arginine and glucose, were measured and compared with those 1 year after truncal vagotomy in conscious dogs. In response to the infusion of a mixture of amino acids (20 g during 60 min), plasma pancreatic polypeptide concentrations decreased in normal dogs. The effect was, however, completely reversed by vagotomy, with a significant pancreatic polypeptide release being observed (p < 0.05). Arginine (5 g during 60 min) also showed a similar, although not statistically significant, effect. After intravenous bolus-injection of glucose (0.5 g/kg body weight), a transient decrease of pancreatic polypeptide secretion was found; vagotomy abolished this response. These results suggest that the vagus nerve may have a suppressive role in the process of pancreatic polypeptide secretion induced by intravenous amino acid(s) and glucose.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) の視床下部-下垂体-副腎系への作用に関する研究

There is increasing evidence that neuropeptide Y (NPY) affects the release of pituitary hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The present study was designed to clarify the mechanism by which NPY activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the dog. Mongrel dogs were equipped with a chronic cannula allowing intra-third (i.t.v.) or intra-lateral (i.l.v.) cerebroventricular administration. A 1.19 nmol, i.t.v. dose of NPY produced as great an ACTH and cortisol response as did equimolar ovine corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). This action of NPY was dose-dependent and shared by peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), other members of the PP family peptide. Intravenously (i.v.) administered NPY (1.19-11.9 nmol) was much less potent than i.v. CRF in stimulating ACTH and cortisol secretion. However, i.v. NPY significantly increased plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations, raising the possibility that NPY may modulate the activity of corticotrophs. We next investigated the possible relationship between NPY and CRF on the HPA axis. Pretreatment with a novel CRF antagonist, alpha-helical CRF9-41 (130.9 nmol i.t.v. or 261.5 nmol i.v.), partly but significantly attenuated the ACTH and cortisol responses to i.t.v. NPY (1.19 nmol). Furthermore, adding a subthreshold dose of i.t.v. NPY (0.119 nmol) to i.t.v. CRF (1.19 nmol) or i.v. NPY (2.38 nmol) to i.v. CRF (0.595 nmol) resulted in the potentiation of CRF-induced ACTH secretion. These results indicate that NPY may activate the HPA axis in concert with CRF probably at hypothalamic and/or pituitary levels. The present findings that NPY evokes ACTH secretion and potentiates the effectiveness of CRF as a secretagogue, together with high concentrations of NPY in the hypothalamus and pituitary portal blood, suggest the NPY is involved in the multihormonal control of ACTH release.

A CLINICAL STUDY OF FAMILIAL CLUSTERING ON THE HIGH RETENTION OF INDOCYANINE GREEN TEST (ICG)

4人家族(父,母,兄,発端者)のうち, HB抗原陽性,慢性肝炎の発端者,および無症候性HB抗原キャリヤーの兄,および慢性肝障害を持つ母の3人にインドサイアニングリーン(以下ICGと略す)試験高度停滞を示す家族内集積を経験した.このうち,ブロ一ムスルホンフタレーン(以下BSPと略す)試験をなしえた兄と母にBSP (R45)軽度停滞が認められたが, ICGとの間に著明な解離がみられた.また, ICG血漿消失曲線を検討すると, 15分までは直線状に下降し, 20分において変曲点を持ち,一時平坦となり, 25分以後再び直線的に下降する特有な曲線をこれら3症例のいずれにも認められた.また, ICGと血清蛋白との結合様式をSephadex G-200によるゲル濾過法を用いて検討すると,本症例は,基本的に正常対照例と同じ結合パターンおよび結合比を示し,有意の差を認められなかつた.発端者の病態時の組織学的検索で,光顕では慢性肝炎活動型の像を呈し,電顕では慢性肝炎時に見られる変化以外に本症例に特異的所見は得られなかつた. ICG試験高度停滞の病態生理学的意義は現在の所不明であるが,われわれの以上の検討から, ICG試験高度停滞はICGと血清蛋白の結合異常によつて招来されるのではなく,肝細胞膜か,あるいは肝細胞内蛋白,もしくは何らかの転送機転における異常によるものと推定され,この質的異常は,肝障害による変化とは別に遺伝的背景を持つた異常であると考察される.