Comparison of four digoxin immunoassays with respect to interference from digoxin-like immunoreactive factors

OBJECTIVES: Comparison of a new monoclonal digoxin assay with three polyclonal digoxin assays for their cross-reactivity to digoxin-like immunoreactive factors (DLIF) and digoxin metabolites. DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixty-six nondigitalized patient samples from 5 different groups: neonates, women in 3rd trimester pregnancy, and patients with liver or renal diseases, or undergoing organ transplants, and 139 samples from digoxin-treated patients of 4 categories (hospital sick, liver, renal, and outpatients) were compared in 4 different digoxin assays: (a) ACS Digoxin (ACS) developed for the automated chemiluminescent Ciba Corning ACS 180 system, (b) Baxter Stratus (Stratus, a fluoroimmunoassay), (c) Ciba-Corning Magic (Magic, a radioimmunoassay), and (d) an in-house radioimmunoassay (RIA). The ACS and RIA were also compared for their cross-reactivity to four principal digoxin metabolites. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among the nondigitalized specimens, no significant DLIF interference was found for all 4 assays among the pregnant women or liver and transplant patients. However, the neonates registered high DLIF interference with Magic and RIA, but none for ACS or Stratus. DLIF interference in renal samples was highest in the Magic assay and lowest in RIA. Among the specimens with digoxin, a higher number of discrepant samples were found from the sick patients than from outpatients. In 75% of such discrepant samples, the ACS result was less than other assay results, suggesting DLIF as the probable cause. The two assays differed most in their cross-reactivity to the deglycated metabolites, digoxigenin and its mono-digitoxoside.     

Cervical cytology in adolescence

To further define the chemical structure of human endogenous digoxinlike immunoreactive factors (DLIF) we used human pleural effusions as a source of the substance. Digoxinlike immunoreactive factor activity was detected by radioimmunoassay in the pleural fluid of each of four patients; average concentration was 0.35 ng/mL. The chemical profile of DLIF was determined by initial extraction and concentration of DLIF by ion exchange chromatography followed by reverse phase-high-pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) separation and purification. Using high-pressure liquid chromatography cochromatography of DLIF, together with several radioactively marked glycosides, we observed a single peak of DLIF activity that was chromatographically identical to digoxin. The present study further supports the recent finding that DLIF is related structurally to the cardiac glycosides, and for the first time it has been proven that DLIF is present in pleural fluids.     

Purification and characterization of endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive factors in chicken blood

Studies have been performed to determine whether an endogenous material capable of binding to digoxin antibodies is present in the chicken plasma. In the blood of 12 chickens without feed control, endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive factors (DLIF) binding of digoxin antibodies in enzyme immunoassays amounted to 866 / 302 pg digoxin equivalents/mL of plasma (mean +/- SEM). Immunoreactivity of DLIF increased to 1848***331 pg/mL with a double value of control after boiling and acid pretreating the plasma. The major purification steps employed in this report were gel filtration column chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and isoelectric focusing (IEF). Using HPLC for the separation, at least 10 chicken DLIFs with different molecular weight (MW) have been found. The MW of the smallest is 300 daltons (Da) while the largest is 100 kDa. The value of the isoelectric point of the most abundant type of DLIF from untreated chicken plasma is 6.3 as determined by IEF. The partially purified DLIF inhibits Na+, K(+)-ATPase from a porcine cerebral cortex as well as three human red blood cell membrane preparations in a dose-response fashion.     

Fine structural and functional consequences of deglycosylation of the platelet adhesion receptor GPIb-IX (CD 42b)

To investigate the role of the glycosylation of the platelet receptor glycoprotein Ib (GPIb, CD 42b), platelets and purified GPIb were deglycosylated by neuraminidase, O- and N-glycosidases. N-deglycosylation and neuraminic-acid cleavage had little effect on ristocetin and botrocetin-induced platelet agglutination. However, O-deglycosylation reduced the response by approximately 50%, and total deglycosylation (the combination of all three glycosidases) fully abolished the response to ristocetin. Interestingly, binding of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) to purified GPIb in the presence of ristocetin and botrocetin in a standardized microtiter plate assay was not altered by partial or even by total deglycosylation. Electron microscopy indicated that the normally stretched approximately 50 nm long molecule was approximately 32 nm after N-deglycosylation, approximately 20 nm after O-deglycosylation, and reduced in a approximately 15 nm long collapse by total deglycosylation. These results suggest that deglycosylation has major structural impacts on GPIb, strongly impairing platelet-vWF interactions; however, vWF binding to isolated GPIb remains unaffected.     

Atrial natriuretic factor and digoxin-like immunoreactive factor in diabetic patients: their interrelation and the influence of the autonomic nervous system

In diabetic patients, several factors contribute to volume expansion and have to be counteracted by humoral and neuronal feedback control systems. We investigated N-terminal proatrial natriuretic factor (ANF1-98) and digoxin-like immunoreactive factor (DLIF), which are two counteracting hormones, and their interrelationship, with additional consideration given to autonomic nervous function in diabetic patients. ANF1-98 and DLIF were measured in 64 diabetic patients. Autonomic nervous function was assessed using nine autonomic nervous function tests. The patients were subdivided into two groups, one with four or more (group 1) and one with less than four abnormal results in autonomic function tests (group 2). Compared with group 2, group 1 demonstrated detectable DLIF levels less often (17.2 vs. 45.7, P = 0.0195) and increased levels of ANF1-98 (mean +/- SEM: 850.0 +/- 108.8 vs. 554.8 +/- 45.9 pmol/L, P = 0.0099). However, the groups did not differ in blood pressure, daily sodium, and daily potassium excretion. The number of abnormal autonomic function tests correlated significantly with ANF1-98 (P = 0.0002). In patients with detectable DLIF, DLIF correlated with ANF1-98 (P = 0.0080). These results demonstrate close interactions between the autonomic nervous system and the two natriuretic hormones. In patients with autonomic nervous dysfunction, higher levels of ANF may possibly compensate for the lack of the natriuretic DLIF to counteract hypertension and chronic volume expansion.     

Effects of macrocyclic lactones on ingestion in susceptible and resistant Haemonchus contortus larvae

The effects of ivermectin and ivermectin aglycone on pharyngeal uptake of a carbohydrate substrate (3H-inulin) were measured in larvae of a macrocyclic lactone (ML)-susceptible isolate and 2 ML-resistant isolates of Haemonchus contortus. The resistant isolates showed a tolerance (in terms of the concentration of compound required to reduce feeding to 50%) toward ivermectin of approximately 4.5- and 9-fold and toward ivermectin aglycone of approximately 14-fold, compared to the susceptible isolate. This indicates that susceptible and resistant isolates can be readily distinguished on the basis of the sensitivity of pharyngeal uptake to MLs. The use of various metabolic inhibitors in this assay system did not reveal the nature of the resistance mechanism. Pretreatment of resistant larvae with inhibitors of multidrug resistance mechanisms (P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance protein) and detoxification enzymes (monooxygenases, esterases, and glutathione transferases) did not reduce their level of tolerance to the ivermectin aglycone.     

Structure analysis of acetylated and non-acetylated O-linked MUC1-glycopeptides by post-source decay matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

We have investigated the potential of structural elucidation of O-linked glycopeptides by post-source decay matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (PSD-MALDI-MS). In order to establish detailed fragmentation patterns and to dissect fragment ions with and without carbohydrate content, the same O-linked MUC1-derived glycopeptides with acetylated and non-acetylated sugars were analysed and compared. Furthermore, we were interested to examine possible differences in the fragmentation between glycopeptides with acetylated and non-acetylated sugars. The obtained PSD-MALDI-MS spectra showed a rather complete set of fragmentation data which allows to localize the glycan on the peptide, in parallel with sequencing a short glycan and the backbone peptide. Fragmentations of the sugars were dominated by inter-ring cleavages at the glycosidic bond. Intra-ring cleavage did also occur from the non-reducing end, but to a much lower extent. The fragmentation of the peptide backbone was not changed either by acetylated or non-acetylated sugars. Glycosylated peptide fragments occurred as fully glycosylated fragment ions, partially deglycosylated ions and completely deglycosylated ions, and was not influenced by the acetylation of sugars. However, differences occurred in the quality and quantity of fragment ions from the non-reducing end of the glycan part when comparing acetylated with non-acetylated glycopeptides.     

Application of high-performance liquid chromatograph-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in combination with selective enzymatic modifications in the characterization of glycosylation patterns in single-chain plasminogen activator

The application of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and selective enzymatic deglycosylation treatments is demonstrated in the analysis of glycosylation patterns in recombinant Desmodus salivary plasminogen activator, a heterogeneous glycoprotein. The sample was initially digested with a proteolytic enzyme (endoproteinase Lys-C) and then further treated with either PNGase F to remove N-linked carbohydrates or a combination of neuraminidase and O-glycosidase to remove sialic acid and O-linked carbohydrates. By comparison of the LC-ESI-MS peptide maps for the fully glycosylated and deglycosylated samples, it was possible to unambiguously identify the sites of N-linked glycosylation as well a number of N-linked glycopeptides. The O-link glycopeptides, which are present at low level ( < 1%), were not detected prior to the deglycosylation, nor could changes in peptide elution in the map following deglycosylation be correlated with potential O-linked glycosylation sites.     

Glycosylation of bombesin receptors: characterization, effect on binding, and G-protein coupling

In the present study, we investigated the nature and the importance of glycosylation of two mammalian bombesin receptors, the neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R) and the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R), using chemical cross-linking and enzymatic deglycosylation. [125I]-(D-Tyr0)NMB cross-linked to native NMB-R on rat C-6 glioblastoma cells or rat NMB-R transfected into BALB 3T3 cells revealed a single broad band, M(r) = 63,000, on both cell types that was not altered by DTT. NMB inhibited cross-linking specifically and saturably with an IC50 of 4.8 and 6.1 nM for C-6 and NMB-R transfected cells, respectively, and there was a close correlation between its ability to inhibit binding and its ability to inhibit cross-linking. A single broad band of M(r) = 82,000 was cross-linked with [125I]GRP on mouse GRP-R transfected BALB 3T3 cells. Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta- glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F (PNGase F) digestion increased the mobility of the original band in C-6, NMB-R, and GRP-R transfected cell membranes. Endoglycosidase H (Endo-H) and endoglycosidase F2 (Endo-F2) digestion had no effect on both transfected cells. Neuraminidase digestion slightly increased the mobility of the original band in NMB-R transfected cell membranes; however, it had no effect on GRP-R transfected cell membranes. Endo-alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (O-glycanase) digestion subsequent to neuraminidase treatment showed no additional effect on either receptor. Serial partial deglycosylation of cross-linked NMB-Rs with PNGase F treatment for different incubation periods revealed one band of partially glycosylated receptor (53 kDa) besides the fully glycosylated and fully deglycosylated ones, showing that NMB-R has two oligosaccharide chains. Similarly, three partially deglycosylated species (72, 62, and 52 kDa) are seen with the GRP-R, indicating that the GRP-R has four oligosaccharide chains. Treatment of unlabeled membranes with PNGase F followed by affinity labeling resulted in fully deglycosylated NMB-R or 75% deglycosylated GRP-R. Deglycosylation of the NMB-R did not alter its affinity for NMB or alter G-protein coupling; however, 75% deglycosylation of the GRP-R both decreased its affinity for GRP and altered its ability to couple to G-proteins. The present results demonstrate that NMB-R on native and transfected cells is an N-linked sialoglycoprotein with two triantenary and/or tetraantenary complex oligosaccharide chains. The apparent M(r) of this sialoglycoprotein is 63,000, and this protein does not contain disulfide-linked subunits or O-linked carbohydrates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Biochemical maturation of Spam1 (PH-20) during epididymal transit of mouse sperm involves modifications of N-linked oligosaccharides

Indirect immunofluorescence of mouse caput and caudal sperm shows distinctly different distributions of Spaml protein, which is associated with structural and functional differences of the molecule. Spam1 is uniformly distributed over the surface of the head of caput sperm while in caudal sperm, light and confocal microscopy demonstrate that it is localized to the anterior and posterior regions. The hyaluronidase activity of Spaml in acrosome-intact caput sperm was significantly lower (4.3-fold; P < 0.0001) than that of caudal sperm. The increase in enzymatic activity in caudal sperm is accompanied by a reduction in the molecular weight (MW): in extracts from caput sperm there was a major band at approximately 74 kDa and a minor band at approximately 67 kDa; while for the cauda there was a major band at approximately 67 kDa and minor bands at approximately 70 and -56 kDa. Additionally, the bands from caput sperm were 4.9 to 7.7-fold less intense than those from caudal sperm. This decreased affinity for the polyclonal anti-Spaml suggests the presence of different surface characteristics of the molecule from the two epididymal regions. Computer analysis of the protein structure from Spam1 cDNA sequence reveals four putative N-linked glycosylation sites, and enzymatic deglycosylation suggests that all sites are functional. After endoglycosidase activity of extracts from caput and caudal sperm, both show a major band with a MW of approximately 56 kDa, the size of the membrane-anchored polypeptide backbone. Based on the difference in size and intensity of the Spaml bands and hyaluronidase activities from caput and caudal sperm, the data suggest that the activation of Spaml during epididymal maturation is regulated by deglycosylation.     

Binding characteristics of bovine lactoferrin to the cell surface of Clostridium species and identification of the lactoferrin-binding protein

The binding characteristics of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) to cells of the Clostridium species were observed by using a horseradish peroxidase-bLf conjugate. A bLf-binding protein (BP) having a relative molecular mass of about 33 kDa was confirmed in the surface layer components from 7 strains of the Clostridium species. The binding of the conjugate to bLf-BP or C. perfringens was strongly blocked by intact Lfs, lysine or arginine residues modified bLf, and deglycosylated bLf, but was not by other milk proteins or by the constituent sugars of glycan. Bacterial growth was inhibited by bLf, but was slightly inhibited by lysine residues modified bLf or deglycosylated bLf. Lactoferricin B did not block the binding of the conjugate, but strongly inhibited the bacterial growth. This suggests that the lysine or arginine residues and glycan of bLf hardly participated in binding bLf to the bacterial cells, but that the amino acid residues and glycan played an important role in inhibiting the growth of bacteria.     

Examination of extraintestinal tissue cysts of Isospora belli

A highly polar saponin mixture from pods of Acacia concinna (Leguminosae) was hydrolyzed with alkali to yield five new triterpenoidal prosapogenols named concinnosides A (6), B (3), C (7), D (4), and E (8), together with four known glycosides, acaciaside, (2), julibroside A1 (10) julibroside A3 (9), albiziasaponin C (5), and their aglycone, acacic acid lactone (1). The structures of these new prosapogenols were elucidated based on spectroscopic means. A less polar saponin fraction from the pods gave spinasteryl glucoside and its dihydro derivative.     

Role of N-glycosylation in human angiotensinogen

Human angiotensinogen, the specific substrate of renin, is a heterogeneous glycoprotein constitutively secreted by the liver. Different glycosylation levels may be responsible for its heterogeneity. It contains four putative asparagine-linked glycosylation sites (Asn-X-Ser/Thr). Systematic site-directed mutagenesis (Asn replaced with Gln) of these four sites was undertaken, and 11 (single, double, triple, and quadruple (N-4)) mutants were produced in COS-7 and/or CHO-K1 cells and characterized. All of the sites were N-glycosylated with preferential glycosylation of the Asn14 and the Asn271. The suppression of the Asn14 glycosylation site led to 5 times lower Km and a 10 times lower kcat. Angiotensinogen heterogeneity was much lower for the N-4 mutant protein, which produced a single form at 48 kDa. Pulse-chase experiments showed slight intracellular retention (15%) of the deglycosylated protein after 24 h. Interestingly, the N-4 mutant had a higher catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km = 5.0 versus 1.6 microM-1 . s-1) than the wild-type protein. The thermal stability of the N-4 protein was unaffected by deglycosylation, suggesting that it was correctly folded. This deglycosylated recombinant human angiotensinogen could be of value for x-ray crystallography studies.     

GABA- and glutamate-immunoreactive synapses on sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the superior cervical ganglion

Our previous work suggests that virtually all of the synapses on sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the rat adrenal medulla are immunoreactive for either the inhibitory amino acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or the excitatory amino acid, L-glutamate. To investigate whether or not this is true for other groups of sympathetic preganglionic neurons, and to determine whether or not the proportion of inputs containing each type of amino acid neurotransmitter is the same for different groups of sympathetic preganglionic neurons, we retrogradely labelled rat and rabbit sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the superior cervical ganglion and used post-embedding immunogold on ultrathin sections to localise GABA- and glutamate-immunoreactivity. The cell bodies and dendrites of both rat and rabbit sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the superior cervical ganglion received synapses and direct contacts from nerve fibres immunoreactive for GABA and from nerve fibres immunoreactive for glutamate. In the rat, GABA was present in 48.9% of the inputs to sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the superior cervical ganglion, and glutamate was present in 51.7% of inputs. Double immunogold labelling for glutamate and GABA on the same section, as well as labelling of consecutive serial sections for the two antigens, indicated that GABA and glutamate occur in separate populations of nerve fibres that provide input to rat sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the superior cervical ganglion. We now have shown that GABA or glutamate is present in virtually all of the inputs to sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the superior cervical ganglion and in essentially all of the inputs to sympathetic preganglionic neurons supplying the adrenal medulla. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that all fast synaptic transmission in central autonomic pathways may be mediated by either excitatory or inhibitory amino acids. Furthermore, we showed a statistically significant difference in the proportion of glutamate-immunoreactive inputs between sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the superior cervical ganglion and sympathoadrenal neurons (data from Llewellyn-Smith et al. [Llewellyn-Smith, I.J., Phend, K.D., Minson, J.B., Pilowsky, P.M., Chalmers, J.P., 1992. Glutamate immunoreactive synapses on retrogradely labelled sympathetic neurons in rat thoracic spinal cord. Brain Res. 581, 67-80]), with preganglionics supplying the adrenal medulla receiving more excitatory inputs than those supplying the superior cervical ganglion. This increased excitatory input to sympathoadrenal neurons may explain the predominant activation of these neurons following baroreceptor unloading.     

Induction of adrenal scavenger receptor BI and increased high density lipoprotein-cholesteryl ether uptake by in vivo inhibition of hepatic lipase

Hepatic lipase (HL) and scavenger receptor type B class I (SR-BI) have both been implicated in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesteryl ester uptake in cholesterol-utilizing tissues. Inactivation of HL by gene-directed targeting in mice results in up-regulation of SR-BI expression in adrenal gland (Wang, N., Weng, W., Breslow, J. L., and Tall, A. R. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 21001-21004). The net effect on HDL-cholesteryl ester uptake is not known. We determined the impact of acute in vivo inhibition of rat adrenal HL activity by antibodies on SR-BI expression and on human and rat HDL-[3H]cholesteryl ether (CEth) uptake in the adrenal gland. Rat HDL was isolated from rats in which HL activity had been inhibited for 1 h. The rats were studied under basal conditions (not ACTH-treated) and after previous treatment with ACTH for 6 days (ACTH-treated). Intravenous injection of anti-HL resulted in 70% lowering of adrenal HL activity in both conditions which were maintained for at least 8 h. In not ACTH-treated rats, inhibition of adrenal HL increased adrenal SR-BI mRNA (5.2-fold) and mass (1. 6-fold) within 4 h. HL inhibition resulted in 41% and 14% more adrenal accumulation of human HDL-[3H]CEth during 4 and 24 h, respectively. The adrenal uptake of rat HDL-[3H]CEth increased by 68%, 4 h after the antibody injection. ACTH treatment increased total adrenal HL activity from 3.7 +/- 0.5 milliunits to 34.0 +/- 17. 2 milliunits, as well as adrenal SR-BI mRNA from 2.9 +/- 0.7 arbitrary units (A.U.) to 86.8 +/- 41.1 A.U. and SR-BI mass from 7.7 +/- 1.8 A.U. to 63.16 +/- 46.7 A.U. The human HDL-[3H]CEth uptake by adrenals was also significantly increased from 0.58 +/- 0.11% of injected dose to 7.24 +/- 1.58% of injected dose. Inhibition of adrenal HL activity did not result in further induction of SR-BI expression and did not affect human HDL-[3H]CEth uptake. These findings indicate that SR-BI expression may be influenced by changes in HL activity. HL activity is not needed for the SR-BI-mediated HDL-cholesteryl ester uptake by rat adrenal glands.     

Delusions in Alzheimer''s disease: a review

To understand the developing processes of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing chromaffin cells and nerve fibers in the mouse adrenal gland, we examined the tissues in various postnatal stages by immunohistochemistry using a GABA antibody. From birth until postnatal week 1, GABA-immunoreactivity was seen in very few nerve fibers, and in none of the chromaffin cells. At postnatal week 2, GABA-immunoreactivity appeared weakly in clusters of chromaffin cells and strongly in relatively numerous varicose nerve fibers. The immunoreactive nerve fibers were densely distributed in the small immunonegative chromaffin cells and large ganglion cells, but only sparsely so in the weak immunoreactive chromaffin cells. At postnatal week 3, the number of the immunoreactive chromaffin cells and nerve fibers further increased compared to that at postnatal week 2. The staining pattern of GABA-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the medullas was similar to that at postnatal week 2. From postnatal week 4 until postnatal week 8, the distribution and frequency of the immunoreactive chromaffin cells and nerve fibers were also similar to those at postnatal week 3. These results suggest that the expression of GABA in the chromaffin cells and in the nerve fibers of the mouse adrenal gland may be completed by postnatal week 3.     

Association of increased QT dispersion with coronary atherosclerosis in patients with aortic stenosis

The structure of UCH9, which is a novel antitumor agent, was determined by spectroscopic methods. UCH9 consists of an aglycone and five 2,6-dideoxy sugars (three D-olivoses, one 4-O-methyl-D-olivose and one D-oliose). Four of the five sugars are sequentially connected through a beta 1-->3 linkage (olivose-1-->3-4-O-methyl-olivose-1-->3-oliose-1-->3-+ ++olivose). On the basis of the results of spectroscopic analysis, it was found that UCH9 belongs to the aureolic acid family of antibiotics. The structure of UCH9 is unique in that mono- and tetrasaccharide moieties, and a long hydrophobic side chain (sec-butyl group) are attached to the aglycone, while di- and trisaccharide moieties and a methyl or a hydrogen are attached in the case of the known aureolic acid analogs. It is known that aureolic acid analogs from a dimer in the presence of Mg2+. NMR, FAB-MS and atomic absorption analysis revealed that UCH9 isolated from Streptomyces also forms a dimer, containing one equivalent molar Mg2+.     

Bioavailability and bacterial degradation of rectally administered 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine

2-Chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (CdA) is a new drug for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia and other lymphoproliferative diseases. It is generally administered as a continuous intravenous infusion during 5-7 days. The oral bioavailability is only 50%. The bioavailability after rectal administration was investigated in two patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Five milligrams per square metre was given i.v. as a 2-h infusion and 24 h later the same dose was administered rectally in a gel formulation. The mean bioavailability was only 21% due to deglycosylation of CdA to 2-chloroadenine (CAde). To further elucidate the factors which are important for the rectal availability of CdA, the in vitro stability of CdA in bacterial cultures was tested. Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli as well as whole feces rapidly deglycosylated CdA to CAde while Bacteroides fragilis, Enterococcus faecalis as well as saliva only degraded CdA slowly or not at all. It is concluded that, due to bacterial degradation, rectal administration of CdA has no advantage over oral administration.     

The localization of somatostatin receptor 1 (sst1) immunoreactivity in the rat brain using an N-terminal specific antibody

The biological actions of somatostatin are mediated via a family of G protein-coupled receptors named sst1 to sst5. We used an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody AS-65, directed against a specific N-terminal peptide sequence of sst1 to determine the immunohistochemical distribution of N-terminal sst1 immunoreactivity in the rat brain. The specificity of the antibody was shown by western blotting experiments using an N-terminal sst1 fusion protein. Enzymatic deglycosylation experiments were combined with blotting experiments on a sst1-transfected cell line and rat brain membrane proteins and with immunocytochemistry on an sst1-transfected cell line. These studies showed that the antibody detected the deglycosylated sst1 receptor protein. Immunohistochemical staining showed that sst1 immunoreactivity (presumably the deglycosylated receptor) recognised by this N-terminal antiserum was widely distributed throughout the brain with cells and processes labelled in the cerebral cortex, regions of the limbic system (including the hippocampal formation and some basal ganglia nuclei), the epithalamus, the thalamus, different subthalamic structures (subthalamic nucleus, zona incerta), the colliculi, the hypothalamus, the reticular formation, the cerebellum and regions of the trigeminal nerve complex. The distribution of immunoreactivity was in good general agreement with that predicted from the localization of sst1 messenger RNA and radioligand binding studies. This study on the immunohistochemical distribution of the sst1 receptor in the brain will provide a better understanding of the central actions of somatostatin at its receptor types.     

Structure and function of repetitive sequence elements associated with a highly polymorphic domain of the Neisseria meningitidis PilQ protein

A reliable and sensitive radioreceptor assay based on rat lung homogenate as receptor preparation was developed to determine the angiotensin-II antagonistic profile of losartan and its main active metabolite EXP 3174 as well as its congeners exemplified by UP 269-6 and SL 91.0102-90 DL. This method proved to be precise with an intra- and interday variability of less than 10% and a limit of quantification < or = 1 ng ml-1. The analysis of the Ki values in protein-free Hepes-buffer versus blank human or rat plasma revealed the distinct high plasma-protein binding of EXP 3174 which consequently caused a dramatic drop of potency from 10-15-fold in the buffer to only about 2-fold in control plasma, when compared to the parent compound losartan and the two congeners investigated. Upon evaluation of clinical samples by both the reported radioreceptor assay (RRA) and the established high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the correlation of the normalized data pairs (concentration equivalents) suggested the contribution of active metabolites to the angiotensin-II antagonistic effect of SL 91.0102-90 DL, but not to the effect of UP 269-6. In the context of an extended preclinical study in rats, the correlation of RRA with the respective HPLC concentration equivalents of losartan and its main active metabolite EXP 3174 confirmed previous findings that only losartan and EXP 3174 exert the angiotensin-II-AT1 receptor blockade without the contribution of other metabolites (P.C. Wong, W.A. Price, A.T. Chiu et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 255 (1990) 211-217).