scholarly journals A radiochemical assay for glutamine synthetase, and activity of the enzyme in rat tissues

1970 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Lund

1. A radiochemical assay for glutamine synthetase has been developed in which an ATP-regenerating system is incorporated to prevent accumulation of inhibitory amounts of ADP. It is particularly suitable for assay of the enzyme in crude tissue extracts containing high adenosine triphosphatase activity. 2. A survey of the distribution of the enzyme in tissues from normal male rats showed that activity is present in liver, brain cortex, kidney cortex, spleen, testis and retina. 3. The Km of the enzyme for l-glutamate is approx. 1.5×10−2m.

Endocrinology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
pp. 2891-2897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivo P. Nnane ◽  
Katsuya Kato ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Brian J. Long ◽  
Qing Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract The C17,20-lyase and 5α-reductase are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of androgens. The effects of novel steroidal compounds were evaluated as inhibitors against both human C17,20-lyase and 5α-reductase in vitro. The concentrations of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate, testis and serum and changes in the tissue weights were also determined in rats treated with the novel inhibitors. L-12 and L-26 showed potent inhibition of human testicular C17,20-lyase with IC50 values of 50 and 25 nm, respectively. L-12, L-38, and I-47 showed moderate inhibition of human testicular C17,20-lyase with IC50 values of 75, 108, and 70 nm, respectively similar to ketoconazole (78 nm). Interestingly, L-6, L-26, and L-38 also showed some inhibitory activity against 5α-reductase with IC50 values of 75, 125, and 377 nm, respectively. Finasteride, an inhibitor of 5α-reductase had an IC50 value of 33 nm. However, ketoconazole did not inhibit 5α-reductase nor did finasteride inhibit C17,20-lyase. Treatment of normal male rats with several of these novel inhibitors (50 mg/kg·day, sc, for 14 consecutive days) caused about 45–91% decrease in serum, testicular and prostatic T concentration. Similarly, serum and prostatic DHT concentration were significantly decreased in rats treated with these novel compounds by 50–90% compared with controls. Surgical castration caused almost complete elimination of circulating T and DHT concentration in rat tissues. L-6 and L-12 were the most effective and reduced the wet weight of the prostate by 50%. Although future improvements in their bioavailability are necessary, these novel steroidal compounds show promise as potential agents for reducing T and DHT levels in patients with androgen dependent diseases.


1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (02) ◽  
pp. 726-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Utako Okamoto ◽  
Jun-ichiro Yamamoto ◽  
Yoko Nagamatsu ◽  
Noboru Horie

SummaryProtease-like activity which split plasminogen-free fibrin was demonstrated in 2 M KSCN extracts of the lung and spleen of conventional rats. The activity was virtually undetectable in tissue extracts from germ-free rats. The extracts from the conventional rat tissues split fibrin and fibrinogen remarkably at neutral pH, but not casein, when examined using fibrin, fibrinogen-agar and casein-agar plates. The fibrinolytic activity was inhibited by STI and DFP, indicating a serine protease nature. The activity was not inhibited by TLCK, t-AMCHA or dansyl-L-arginine-methylpiperidine amide (a selective synthetic thrombin inhibitor, OM189). It was neither activated nor inhibited by cysteine, KCN or iodoacetic acid. The results obtained indicate that the protease-like activity of the lung and spleen extracted with 2 M KSCN from conventional rats has properties which differ from those of trypsin, plasmin, plasminogen-activator, thrombin, and cathepsin A, B and C.


1962 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-430
Author(s):  
H. L. Krüskemper ◽  
F. J. Kessler ◽  
E. Steinkrüger

ABSTRACT 1. Reserpine does not inhibit the tissue respiration of liver in normal male rats (in vitro). 2. The decrease of tissue respiration of the liver with simultaneous morphological stimulation of the thyroid gland after long administration of reserpine is due to a minute inhibition of the hormone synthesis in the thyroid gland. 3. The morphological alterations of the thyroid in experimental hypothyroidism due to perchlorate can not be prevented with reserpine.


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