Russell S. Jones

Ornithocholanic Acids—Abnormal Conjugates of Bile Acids.

Summary L-ornithine conjugate of the 2 cholanic acids of the immature and the 3 cholanic acids of the adult guinea pig have been identified in bile following injection of a toxic, C14-labeled capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Preferential conjugation of L-ornithine with cholic acid by rat and guinea pig liver has been demonstrated in vitro.

Factors influencing pathogenicity of Mycoplasma arthritidis (PPLO).

Summary The ability of Mycoplasma (PPLO) to produce polyarthritis in rats has been modified in vitro and in vivo. Pathogenic PPLO recovered from Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcomas became non-virulent upon repeated subculture in commercial media, but the pathogenic properties were restored and maintained by addition of cell- and bacteria-free extract of the tumor tissue. Growth of Mycoplasma in tumor tissue in vivo also restored the pathogenic property. Diffuse and clonal forms of the pathogenic PPLO were isolated. Twice as much interphalangeal polyarthritis followed injection of the diffuse as the clonal form. Prior PPLO arthritis resulted in immunity. Passive transfer of the immunity was accomplished with serum but not with splenic cells.

Ornithocholanic Acids and Cholelithiasis in Man

Ornithocholanic acids and small soft gall stones were found in the bile of patients from which Klebsiella pneumoniae was also isolated. Cholelithiasis may be initiated by metabolic disturbances in the conjugation of bile acids in liver tissue and the subsequent precipitation of cholesterol and bile pigment.

Cholic acid in guinea pig bile.

Summary Cholic (3α, 7α, 12α-trihydroxycholanic) acid has been isolated from the guinea pig bile obtained from gall bladders as well as by biliary fistulae. However, this bile acid was found only in the bile of adult and not of immature guinea pigs. The other 2 bile acids isolated, chenodeoxycholic (3α, 7α-dihydroxycholanic) and 7-ketolithocholic (3α-hydroxy, 7-ketocholanic) acid, occurred in both immature and mature guinea pigs.

Mycoplasmal (PPLO) Polyarthritis and Tumor Regression in Rats.

Summary Sporadic polyarthritis in rats observed during spontaneous and induced regression of a lymphosarcoma has been investigated. Cultural studies of the involved periarticular tissues and the tumor yielded PPLO, Mycoplasma arthritidis. The respective roles of PPLO, tumor-necrotizing bacterial polysaccharide, and tumor regression in production of the polyarthritic lesions have been evaluated. Arthritis occurred only in PPLO-infected rats with concurrent or prior necrosis of tumor tissue. Bacterial polysaccharide and viable tumor were not essential.

Incorporation in Adrenal Cortex of C14 Labeled Fractions of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Summary In the guinea pig the adrenal cortex is the site of the greatest concentration of C14 after the intravenous injection of labeled polysaccharide and protein fractions of Klebsiella pneumoniae. This concentration persists for two months, while the activity of liver, spleen, lung and other organs declines and disappears. In general, the bacterial fraction with the highest incorporation of C14 from the media yields the greatest incorporation in the adrenal.

Immunologic, Chemical and Isotopic Identification of G14-Labeled Bacterial Polysaccharide in Animal Tissues.

Summary Polysaccharide isolated from encapsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae, type B, has been found to consist of glucose, glucuronic acid and rhamnose. C14 was incorporated biosynthetically into these 3 components from acetate- 1-C14 added to the media. Following injection of the C14-labeled polysaccharide into animals, up to 80% of the labeled material has been recovered from animal tissue by a combination of enzymatic and extractive procedures. Much of the C14-la-beled material in tissue retained its original haptenic properties and relative C14 content of the constituent monosaccharides.

Cholesterol-4-C14 and Bile Acids in the Guinea Pig.∗

Summary In adult guinea pigs with biliary tract fistulae and stable enterohepatic bile acid pool, cholesterol-4-C14 was converted into 3 labeled bile acids (3a, 7a, 12a-trihydroxycholanic, 3a, 7a-dihydroxycholanic and 3a-hydroxy, 7-ketocholanic acid). This conversion occurred independently of enteric passage, 3a, 7a, 12a-trihydroxycholanic (cho-lic) acid appearing in relatively low but gradually increasing concentration during the first 9 hours of free flow and of continuous cycling. After one or more days of continuous enterohepatic cycling, 3a, 7a, 12a-trihy-droxycholanic acid was the predominant labeled bile acid, maintaining a relatively high level until termination of the experiment 18 days after injection of cholesterol-4-C14.

Experimental Cholelithiasis in the Guinea Pig.

Summary Within 1 day after intravenous injection of C14-labeled Klebsiella polysaccharide, cholesterol and pigment precipitate and small firm masses appeared in the gall bladder bile of guinea pigs. No C14 was present in the precipitate and less than 1% of the label from the injected bacterial polysaccharide was excreted in the bile during the first 12 hours. Since bacterial polysaccharide could not be identified in the bile, the precipitate was not due to the direct physicochemical effect of this material. The label in bile underwent a single enterohepatic cycle and some of this label was conjugated with bile acids.

C14-Labeled Streptococcal Hyaluronic Acid in the Guinea Pig.

Summary Streptococcal hyaluronic acid was biosynthetically labeled with C14 from acetate-1-C14. Approximately 75% of the label was in the acetyl of N-acetyl glucosamine. After intravenous injection, C14-labeled streptococcal hyaluronic acid was rapidly cleared from the plasma. Electrophoresis disclosed some binding of hyaluronic acid to plasma proteins. The maximal rate of respiratory C14O2 loss and urinary excretion of hyaluronic acid did not occur until the 2nd and 3rd hour following intravenous injection. Only traces of intravenously injected hyaluronic acid appeared in the synovial space, skin or vitreous humor.