R. H. Rochelle

The possible role of intracellular polyamines in mitochondrial metabolic regulation

Abstract Studies were made on the effects of very low concentrations of the polyamine, spermine, on rat liver mitochondrial metabolism associated with β-hydroxybutyrate. The respiratory control ratio and the rate of respiration during ADP-ATP conversion are significantly altered with shifts in spermine concentrations of as little as 15.7 nMoles/ml within the physiological Mg++ concentration range. These spermine concentration changes are small compared to the estimated hepatic intracellular levels of spermine which have been reported to be between 200 and 1200 nMoles/gm wet weight under normal conditions. There is now evidence that exposure of an animal to certain environmental conditions induces changes of 164 nMoles/gm wet weight in intracellular levels of liver spermine in a few hours. Also there is evidence that the concentration of intracellular polyamines is influenced by endocrines since the levels of the enzymes responsible for their synthesis are markedly affected by hormonal changes. Therefore, alterations of polyamine levels may play a role in mitochondrial metabolic regulation in vivo .

Blood Plasma Cholesterol Changes during a Physical Training Program

Abstract Blood plasma cholesterol levels were followed in six experimental and six control subjects during a five-week training program (two-mile run for time, five days per week) and an eight-week detraining period. Plasma cholesterol levels were determined by the Duboff-Stevenson ultramicro method. Plasma cholesterol levels were significantly reduced during the course of intensive training. A temporary rise in plasma cholesterol occurred during exercise, probably indicative of fat mobilization and ultimate utilization during physical exercise. Plasma cholesterol levels returned to pretraining levels within four weeks after training was stopped. The diurnal and weekly blood cholesterol variations were rather small, 2 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively. The pathways by which exercise assists in the lowering of plasma cholesterol levels are discussed.

Polyamine effects on succinate-linked and αketoglutarate-linked rat liver mitochondrial respiration

Summary At 0.6–1.17 mM Mg ++ , physiological spermine levels strikingly enhance respiratory control ratios of rat liver mitochondria with αketoglutarate by suppressing respiration which occurs after added ADP is converted to ATP. Respiration with added ADP is enhanced at 0.6 but not at 1.17 mM Mg ++ . Conversely, with succinate, spermine at high concentrations depresses respiratory control ratios but only slightly affects respiration. Spermidine with αketoglutarate increases respiratory control ratios but suppresses respiration both during and after added ADP-ATP conversion. However, suppression is greater after this conversion. With succinate, spermidine also increases respiratory control but its effects on respiration during or after added ADP-ATP conversion vary with Mg ++ concentration. Thus, polyamines seem to affect mitochondrial metabolism.

Relationship of Maturation Age to Incidence of Injury in Tackle Football

Abstract X-ray films of the right hand and wrist of 62 boys, age 13 to 16 years, engaged in tackle football (junior high school) were assessed for maturation (skeletal) age. Of this group, 31 were injured and a like number were not injured during a regular season of play. In the injured group, 21 (68%) were advanced, their skeletal age being more than their chronological age, and 10 (32%) were retarded, their skeletal age being less than their chronological age. The average skeletal age of the injured group was 15 years 5 months, and the average chronological age was 14 years 9 months, a difference of 8 months. This difference was found to be significant at the 5 percent level of probability. In the noninjured group, 23 (74%) were advanced, and 8 (26%) were retarded. The average skeletal age of the noninjured group was 15 years 3 months and the average chronological age was 14 years 8½ months. This difference of 6½ months was found to be significant at the 2 percent level of probability. The mean differen...

Effect of Warm-up on Softball Throw for Distance

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of related and unrelated warm-ups on the distance a 12-inch softball could be thrown. The subjects, 77 college men, threw three softballs for distance with no preliminary warm-up, with a preliminary five-minute related throwing warm-up and with a preliminary five-minute non-related general warm-up. The results showed that both types of warm-ups resulted in significantly longer throws. There was no significant difference between the various types of warm-up and no significant warm-up effect was demonstrated between trials 1 and 3 on a particular day of testing. The time spent and the strenuousness of the warm-up appeared to be factors involved in improving the distance the balls were thrown.

Effects of temperature on oxidative phosphorylation of liver mitochondria from hamster, rat and squirrel monkey.

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of temperature on succinoxidase activity have been measured using liver mitochondria from hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), rats and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciurea). 2. 2. These studies reveal changes in the temperature sensitivity of this enzyme system in mitochondria from hibernating hamsters which distinguish them from mitochondria of rats, monkeys and active hamsters. 3. 3. At low temperatures, Q 10 values for monkey and rat mitochondria are higher than those for control or hibernating hamsters. 4. 4. At 20–34°C, the Q 10 for mitochondria from hibernating hamsters is higher than that for non-hibernating animals. 5. 5. Hamster liver mitochondria have a higher ADP/O ratio than rat or monkey liver mitochondria when assayed at low temperatures. 6. 6. These changes may be of adaptive significance both in maintenance of functional integrity of liver cells during hibernation and in contributing to rapid rewarming during arousal.

Performance as Affected by Incentive and Preliminary Warm-Up

Abstract Forty-six male students, ages 18 to 22 years, were given a softball throw for distance without warming up and with a 5-minute related warm-up preceding throwing. The subjects were divided into two groups with the sequence of warm-up and no warm-up alternated on different days in order to reduce the possibility of practice effect, learning, or other unforeseen factors. Three throws for maximum distance were allowed for each testing period. In an attempt to rule out the possible psychological effects of not making a maximum throw without preliminary warm-up, the subject was given a monetary reward for each throw greater than his established average. A significant difference at the 1 percent level of probability was found between trials 1 and 3 when no warm-up preceded throwing. No significant difference was found between trials when throwing was preceded by a warm-up. Despite the significant increase in distance between trials 1 and 3 when no warm-up preceded throwing, subjects threw on the average...

The effects of magnesium on state 3 respiration of liver mitochondria from control and cold-acclimated rats and hamsters.

1. Increasing the Mg2+ concentration results in a depression of succinoxidase-linked state 3 respiration of liver mitochondria from both control and cold-acclimated rats and hamsters. 2. It appears that in the cold-acclimated hamster, liver mitochondrial respiration is more sensitive to changes in Mg2+ levels than that of the rat.

A Comparison of Autonomic Nervous System Activity between Physically Trained and Untrained Individuals

Abstract The study is concerned with the comparison of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity between highly trained collegiate track and field athletes and untrained individuals. An ANS test battery consisting of six individual measures of autonomic activity was used: (a) sublingual temperature, (b) salivary output, (c) volar skin resistance, (d) palmar skin resistance, (e) diastolic blood pressure, and (f) heart period. One group of athletes, track runners, were found to have a mean autonomic balance score significantly higher (at the .02 level) than the norm group of college students. The autonomic scores of field event athletes, however, were not significantly different from the norm. An analysis of the type of ANS activity demonstrated by the runners showed a dominance by the parasympathetic as compared to a mixed pattern demonstrated by the normative sample. It was concluded that highly trained track runners demonstrated a significantly higher autonomic balance score than did normal college student...

Variation in plasma concentration in man.

Abstract Diurnal, day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month variations in plasma cholesterol were measured in normal “free living” individuals who were on ad libitum diets. A small and inconstant diurnal variation (6 mg%) was observed during the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 pm. Three daily cholesterol determinations showed little variability from day to day. The standard deviation of the day-to-day cholesterol measurements was found to be 11 mg%. The average weekly cholesterol variability was 14 percent; the month-to-month variation was 13 percent. The variability of cholesterol levels within an individual was found to be much less than that among subjects. Accordingly, assessment of treatment on an individual basis rather than on a group average must be carefully considered.