Toshihiko Suematsu

Synthesis and degradation of active sulfate in liver.

Abstract Subcellular distribution patterns of sulfate-activating and 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′phosphosulfate (PAPS)-degrading enzyme activities were studied in rat liver. 1. 1. The activity of sulfate-activating enzyme was found to be highest in the soluble fraction of healthy rat liver. PAPS-degrading enzyme was shown to be lysosomal from the result of the subcellular fractionation study and of the Triton X-100 treatment of whole liver homogenate and lysome. 2. 2. In the process of chronic hepatic damage, the acitivity of sulfate-activating enzyme was increased in the soluble fraction of the liver and decreased thereafter, nearly to the control level. On the other hand, the activity of PAPS-degrading enzyme was gradually elevated in the soluble fraction. 3. 3. The activity of sulfate-activating enzyme was increased significantly in the soluble fraction of the healthy liver with administration of excess vitamin A, whereas the activity was decreased in damaged liver. With excess of vitamin A, the activity of PAPS-degrading enzyme was decreased in the particle fraction, and increased in the soluble fraction of the rat liver both with and without hepatic damage, the change being more marked in the latter.

Changes in N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity in hepatic damage

Abstract In order to elucidate the mechanisms of the elevation of the serum N -acetyl- β -glucosaminidase activity found in hepatic damage, the intracellular distribution pattern of the enzyme in the liver was investigated. 1. 1.In acute hepatic injury, a significant decrease of the enzyme activity was seen in both the lysosomal and supernatant fractions of the liver while in the serum activity increased simultaneously. 2. 2.In chronic hepatic injury, the enzyme activity in the serum and liver supernatant fraction was found to be increased. This effect was more marked with advance of the damage. Changes in the enzyme activity both in the serum and in the supernatant fraction of the liver were seen to be nearly inversely proportional to the change in enzyme activity in the particle fraction of the liver. 3. 3.In the process of convalescing from chronic hepatic injury, the enzyme activity was markedly increased in both the particle and supernatant fractions of the liver. 4. 4.It was found that the release of the enzyme from the particle fraction of the liver occurs under various conditions; this is discussed in relation to the changes in hepatic acid mucoploysaccharides.

Heterogeneous intrahepatic distribution of blood flow in humans

Color-functional imaging of intrahepatic blood flow was developed using the 133Xe clearance method and a gamma camera with a computer system. During the 2 min after intrasplenic injection of 133Xe in saline solution, 24 sequential gamma images were obtained. After setting the hepatic region, 133Xe clearance curves were extracted from the serial images every 6x6 mm element and regional blood flow for each element was calculated. The calculated regional hepatic blood flow values were displayed as color images in eight color steps. Eleven patients with and without liver diseases were studied. In all the patients studied, heterogeneous intrahepatic distribution of blood flow was clearly demonstrated by the functional image of regional hepatic blood flow. Although a consistent pattern of intrahepatic distribution of blood flow was not obtained, greater-flow regions were frequently observed in the right lobe. Repeat studies in two patients demonstrated that the intrahepatic distribution of blood flow varied. The 10–15 s scintiphotosplenoportograms also showed the existence of restricted or preferential intrahepatic distribution of splenic flow. These results strongly suggest that intrahepatic distribution of blood flow in the human liver is heterogenous and variable.

Proceedings of the 64th annual meeting from May 22 to 24, 1978—Sapporo, Japan

The Ist presumptive evidence that gastrointestinal hormones influence growth is found in a number of studies describing the long term effects of antrectomy on the remaining oxyntic gland mucosa. And, it is reported that gastrin stimulates protein and DNA synthesis, this effect is specific to certain tissue of the digestive tract, and it is dependent of secretory phenomena. From this experiment, it is concluded that the effect of gastrin is mediated by cyclic GMP and in gastric atrophy, the responses of cyclic GMP and protein synthesis to gastrin is diminished.

Studies on the portal circulation by scintiphotosplenoportography: a comparative study of X-ray and endoscopic examinations on esophageal varices

肝硬変32例,慢性肝炎9例,バンチ症候群9例,計50例に対して食道X線,内視鏡検査ならびにScintiphotosplenoportography(SSP)を行い,食道静脈瘤について比較検討した.X線検査による静脈瘤の検出率は50例中27例(54%)と内視鏡検査の37例(74%)に比し劣っていた.SSPによる側副血行路の検出率は33例(66%)であった.内視鏡で静脈瘤と診断され,SSPで側副血行路の存在が示されなかった例が7例存在し,そのうち3例では著明な静脈瘤がX線検査でも認められた.逆にSSPで明らかな側副血行路が認められるにかかわらず,X線ならびに内視鏡検査で静脈瘤が認められなかった例が3例存在した.すなわち食道静脈瘤に関してX線,内視鏡検査による形態診断とSSPYによる循環動態診断との間に明らかな解離が認められた例が10例(20%)存在した.したがって食道静脈瘤の診断,治療方針決定,予後判定には,これらの検査法を併用し,形態ならびに循環動態の両面から診断することが必要と考えられた.

Metabolism of sulfated acid mucopolysaccharides in the liver with chronic carbon tetrachloride injury: Estimation of the turn-over rate using35S-sodium sulfate

We reported the characteristic changes in acid mucopolysaccharides in the liver during experimental chronic hepatic damage. A marked increase of sulfated acid mucopolysaccharides, especially dermatan sulfate, was noted in the process of hepatic fibrogenesis. However, the dynamic metabolism of hepatic acid mucopolysaccharides is yet unknown. To study the turn-over rate of sulfated acid mucopolysaccharides in the liver, 35S-sodium sulfate (1 I0 uCi/rat) was injected intraperitoneally to healthy rats, rats with chronic hepatic damage caused by carbon tetrachloride inhalation and rats during convalescent stage from chronic hepatic damage. After 1, 4, 12 and 24 hours, 3-5 animals in each group were sacrificed, and counts of 3~S incorporated into liver acid mucopolysaccharides were measured. At 4 hours after the injection, counts of 3sS in hepatic acid mucopolysaccharides reached maximum and decreased rapidly thereafter. After 24 hours, only 10% of the maximum radioactivity remained in acid mucopolysaccharides fraction in healthy liver and about one-fourth remained in the liver with chronic hepatic damage. The Briggsian logarithms of the ass radioactivities incorporated into liver acid mucopolysaccharides were plotted against the incorporation periods and the biological half-lives were estimated. The half-lives of hepatic sulfated acid mucopolysaccharides were 6 hours in healthy liver, l0 hours in the liver with chronic hepatic damage and 6.5 hours in the liver during convalescent stage. These results indicate that the biological half-life of liver acid mucopolysaccharides is much shorter than that reported on other connective tissues such as cartilage, vessel wall and skin, and that the turn-over rate of sulfated acid mucopolysaccharides is significantly slower in the liver with chronic carbon tetrachloride injury compared with healthy liver.

Focal fibrosis in liver of rat with hepatic injury

Four hundred and fifty cases of cholelithiasis operated in the past 12 years were reviewed. Even in mild cases with no abnormal hepatic functions preoperatively histologic findings of portal inflammation, bile duct proliferation, extension of portal fibrosis: termed biliary portal fibrosis for the convenience to understand histogenesis of this kind, appeared to be more evident, when compared, than those associated with gastric ulcers or carcinomas but not complicated with cholellthiasis. In some of cases with cholelithiasis hepatic injuries became superimposed, as a result, leading to secondary biliary cirrhosis. The cause of death of the majority of fatal cases with cholelithiasis was due to hepatic failure following severe cholestasis and development of an ascending infection via portal system. From the above, to improve therapeutic results, it should be emphasized that early surgical intervention is the treatment of choice tbr the cases with longstanding cholelithiasis.

Effect of methylcobalamin on protein content in liver and serum of partially hepatectomized rat

Die Zunahme der Leber- und Serumeiweissmenge bei chronischer Leberstörung von Ratten mit partiel extirpierter Leber wird nach Applikation von Methylcobalamin gefördert. Eine Methylcobalamin induzierte Förderung der Eiweißsynthese in der Leber wird angenommen.

Effect of endoxan on AH 130 hepatoma combined with vitamin a and lysozyme

The technique of pneumoperitoneum-tomography is as follows: After fast ing and enema the patient was usually made to lie in the dorsal position. The puncture was made at external 1/3 of the line connecting the navel and anterior iliac spine or the middle of the line connecting the navel and pubic symphysis, and 1,000~1,500cc of air was injected. Tomography was taken in the ventral, dorsal, r ight or left lateral or oblique position that allows to give the clearest contour of the organ. The results from the 6 cases are as follows: The tumefaction was clearly demonstrated in 4 casesin 2 on the phrenic surface of the liver, in each 1 on the frontal surface and lower edge of the right lobe. In the other 2, the swelling was found in the interior of the liver, but its presence could be est imated by this method because it was as large as an egg. The pneumoperitoneum-tomography was thus diagnostic for superficial tumefaction of the liver, and could est imate its size, form and extension. This method is especially useful to find out the tumefactions on the phrenic and posterior surface or lower edge of the liver which are difficult to know by palpation. But when the swelling is in the interior of the organ, its diagnosis is generally difficult unless it is grown to such an extent as to elicit change in the contour of the organ. It is also difficult in general to judge by this method whether the tumor is benign or malignant. Any significant side effect was not produced by this method.

Studies on hepaticfibrogenesis (XXII) the mechanism of acid mucopolysaccharide sulfation

Hyaluronidase is an endo-mucopolysaccharidase which is widely distr ibuted among various tissues. This study was designed in rats with chronic hepatic damage, for clarifying the interrelation between the change of the enzyme activity and the change in hepatic acid mucopolysaccharides which was reported from our laboratory1). The enzyme activity showed the highest value in the liver compared with other tissues, such as kidney, spleen, intestine and brain. The fractionation study of the liver showed that the enzyme activity was located in lysosomal fraction in healthy liver. In damaged liver, the activity was increased in supernatant fraction and decreased in lysosomal fraction. It is likely, f rom these results, that the release of the enzyme in the liver might occur in chronic hepatic damage. A remarkable increase in total activity and the activity of the lysosomal fraction was seen inhealthy rat liver after 4 days administrat ion of vitamin A which is known to be a libilizer of lysosomal membrane. Whereas, in the liver with chronic damage, this change occurred more rapidly, with one dose of vitamin A, and the enzyme activity was decreased after 4 days administration. The anount of non-sulfated fraction of acid mucopolysaccharides in the liver was seen to be decreased after the t reatment of vitamin A. The results seem to show a close relationship between the hepatic hyaluronidase activity and the change in hepatic acid mucopolysaccharides in the process of the connective tissue proliferation of the liver. REFERENCE 1) T. Koizumi, N. Nakamura and H. Abe: Biochim. Biophys. Acta 148, 749 1967.