Na+ K(+)-ATPase activity in response to exogenous dehydroepiandrosterone administration in aging rat brain.

Influence of exogenously administered dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the activity of Na+ K+ ATPase was investigated in synaptosomal fraction from cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and medulla regions of brain of 12 and 22 months old rats. DHEA was administered daily at the dose of 30 mg/kg/body wt, intraperitonially (ip) in both the age groups of rats for 1 month. Results showed that Na+ K+ ATPase activity, increased in DHEA treated rats in both the age groups. In terms of per cent increase, 22 months old animals showed significant increase in Na+ K+ ATPase activity in the synaptosomal fraction of all the four brain regions than in 12 months old DHEA-treated rats. This showed that exogenous DHEA modulated the activity of Na+ K+ ATPase and also protected the age-related loss of membrane integrity and functions. It was concluded that exogenous DHEA might be beneficial in terms of neuroprotection against age-related loss of Na+ K+ ATPase mediated brain functions like learning and memory.

Anti-lipidperoxidative role of exogenous dehydroepiendrosterone (DHEA) administration in normal ageing rat brain.

Effects of exogenous dehydroepiendrosterone (DHEA) administration on the levels of lipid proxidation products, malondialdyde (MDA)-a thiobarbuteric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in different brain regions viz. cerebral cortex, hippocampus cerebellum, and brain stem of 12 and 22 months old rats were studied. DHEA treatment significantly depressed TBARS and 4-HNE in all the brain regions studied, in both the age group rats. Interestingly, the magnitude of decrease was higher in the 22 months old rats than that in 12 months old rats. The results suggest that older the animal, better will be the response of exogenous DHEA administration against age-related peroxidative products.

Modulation of mRNA levels of liver arginase by insulin and vanadate in experimental diabetes.

This work was carried out to study the modulation of arginase expression in experimental diabetes. Here, we have demonstrated that liver arginase activity and mRNA levels increased significantly in diabetic condition. Insulin treatment reverses the increased activity and mRNA levels nearly to the control values. The reversal effects of vanadate are found to be similar to that of insulin and this observation further reiterates the insulin-like effects of vanadate. ELISA and slot blot assay observations are consistent with biochemical measurements of enzyme activity. These results show an increase in arginase activity and mRNA levels in diabetes and decrease in treated animals may be due to the transcriptional regulation of arginase gene.

Effects of vanadate, insulin and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) on creatine kinase levels in tissues of diabetic rat.

The in vivo effects of insulin, and other insulino mimetic agents like vanadate and fenugreek (T. foenum graecum) were followed on the changes in the activities of creatine kinase in heart, skeletal muscle and liver of experimental diabetic rats. As compared to control rats, creatine kinase activities were found to decrease significantly in the tissues during experimental diabetes. All the antidiabetic compounds used namely, insulin, vanadate and Fenugreek seed powder normalised the decreased activities to almost control values. The effects of insulin and vanadate were comparable in restoring normoglycemia and the creatine kinase activities.

Modulation of some gluconeogenic enzyme activities in diabetic rat liver and kidney: effect of antidiabetic compounds.

The effects of insulin, sodium orthovanadate and a hypoglycemic plant material, Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) seed powder were studied on the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in diabetic liver and kidney. The significantly increased activities of the two enzymes during diabetes in liver and kidney were found to be lowered to almost control values by the use of the antidiabetic compounds. Diabetic liver exhibited a much greater increase in the activities of the two enzymes than diabetic kidney. The highest percentage of reversal to normal values was seen using the combination of vanadate and Trigonella seed powder. The lowered rate of growth of the animals as well as the increased blood sugar were reversed almost to the control levels by the Trigonella seed powder and vanadate treatment. The inclusion of the Trigonella seed powder overcame the toxicity of vanadium encountered when it was given alone as insulin mimetic agent. Much lower levels of vanadate were needed when it was given in combination with Trigonella seed powder. Their combined effects were better at restoring the above parameters than those induced by insulin administration.

Effect of antidiabetic compounds on glyoxalase I activity in experimental diabetic rat liver.

The activity of glyoxalase I from the soluble fraction of diabetic rat liver was found to decrease as compared to the control. Sodium orthovanadate in drinking water and Trigonella foenum graecum seed powder when administered to these diabetic animals were found to reverse the activity of glyoxalase I to control values. A combination of the above two antidiabetic compounds showed a better reversal. Vanadate and Trigonella seed powder treatment separately to diabetic rats also normalized hyperglycemia together with glyoxalase I activity. A combination of vanadate and Trigonella seed powder also restored the other general parameters of the diabetic animals.

Effect of experimental diabetes on the activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and catecholamines in rat erythrocytes of different ages.

Hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were assayed in various circulating age fractions i.e., young, middle-aged and old red cell from control, diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats. An increase in the activity of hexokinase was observed in three age-wise separated fractions of red cells from diabetic animals in comparison to control. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase on the other hand decreased in separated ageing fractions of diabetic red cells when compared to control. Reversal of these two enzymes were observed in insulin-treated diabetic rats. The levels of glycosylated haemoglobin and catecholamines were found to increase with ageing red cells in controls and also increased in red cells plasma.

Regulation and properties of purified glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from rat brain.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from rat brain was purified 13,000 fold to a specific activity of 480 units/mg protein. The molecular weight was 121 kDa. The kinetics of brain glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase are compatible with a model involving two possible states of the enzyme with a low and high affinity for the substrate D-glucose-6-phosphate. NADP+ and ADP offered protection against p-chloromercuribenzoate inhibition. NADPH is a powerful competitive inhibitor with respect to NADP+. The apparent Ki for NADPH inhibition was lower than the Km for NADP+. ADP inhibited the enzyme competitively with respect to NADP+. ATP inhibited the enzyme non-competitively with respect to NADP+, whereas kinetics of mixed inhibition was observed with respect to substrate D-glucose-6-phosphate. The interplay between NADP+ and NADPH leading to enzyme activation or inhibition according to their relative or absolute concentrations as well as the control of enzyme activity by the adenine nucleotide system may contribute a refined mechanism for the regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and therefore the pentose phosphate pathway in brain.

Beta-adrenergic modulation of rat brain insulin receptor activity in normal and hyperglycaemic conditions.

The [125I]Insulin binding and receptor kinase activity were assessed in rat brain in the presence of 10 microM concentrations of the beta agonist isoproterenol. While insulin binding remained unaltered, beta agonist treatment enhanced significantly receptor kinase activity in control and hyperglycaemic conditions. Antihyperglycaemic effects of isoproterenol were discussed in relation to adrenergic effects on insulin action in brain.

Effect of 6-Aminonicotinamide on the activity of hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in regions of the rat brain.

Changes in the activity of hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the three brain regions and heart were studied in the 6-Aminonicotinamide-treated rats. Drug administration decreased the particulate hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity, but increased the soluble hexokinase.

Localization of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1-6-diphosphaiase in subcellular fractions from different regions of the rat brain.

Two key enzymes of gluconeogenesis, glucose-6-phosphatase and fructosp-1-6- diphosphatase, were present in the cerebral hemispheres, the cerebellum and the brain stem of the rat brain. Significant activities of these-enzymes were associated with the particulate fraction.

Hexokinase isoenzymes in diabetes.

Hexokinase is present in the tissues in four isoenzymic forms. Cerebral tissue contains predominantly Type I hexokinase which is believed to be insulin-insensitive. In cerebral tissue about 60 to 70% of the hexokinase is bound to the particulate fraction. The changes in the distribution of hexokinase Type I and Type II together with the bound and free hexokinase have been studied in control, diabetic and diabetic animals treated with insulin. The results indicate that the presence of insulin is essential for the normal binding of the hexokinase to the particulate fraction. In heart tissue, Type II hexokinase bound to the pellet shows a significant decrease in diabetes, which is reversed on insulin administration.