Inducible trehalase enzyme activity of Morchella conica Persoon mycelium.

Morchella conica Pers. strains of the study were isolated from fruit bodies collected in ash-mixed forests. At first, the strains were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA), then on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) solid agar media. A normal-growing strain was chosen for the trehalase induction experiments. During the trehalase induction treatment, mycelia were grown in liquid culture containing different concentrations of trehalose. After the induction period of trehalase enzymes, physiological state of the mycelium and the oxidative stress were monitored in the vegetative mycelia by measuring the change of the malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase enzyme activity, the fresh and dry weight. The examined Morchella conica strain utilized the trehalose properly. The rising amount of the trehalose triggered the increase of the mycelial trehalase enzyme activity. Our results clearly proved that both neutral and acidic trehalase isoenzyme activity of the Morchella conica mycelium are inducible and are playing important role in the utilization of external trehalose.

On the mechanism of rejuvenation of ageing detached bean leaves by low-concentration stressors.

The effect of low concentrations of some stress-inducing compounds of different toxicity and chemical nature, such as Cd and Pb salts or DCMU, was investigated on the senescence of chloroplasts in detached primary leaves of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). After 1 week of senescence followed by root development from the petiole, these agents stimulated chlorophyll accumulation and photosynthetic activity ((14)CO(2) fixation) as compared to the control, thus inducing rejuvenation. Low-concentration stressors increased the level of active cytokinins in roots and leaves during the treatment, as monitored by the Amaranthus betacyanin bioassay and high-pressure liquid chromatography. The lithium ion, an inhibitor of the PIP(2)-IP(3)/DAG signal transduction pathway, abolished the stimulating effect of stressors, both in roots (retarding cytokinin synthesis) and consequently also in leaves (reducing cytokinin-dependent chlorophyll accumulation). This suggests the involvement of the PIP(2)-IP(3)/DAG signal transduction pathway in generation of these consecutive organ-specific responses.

Involvement of nitric oxide in microcirculatory reactions after ischemia-reperfusion of the rat urinary bladder.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the role of NO in the microcirculatory changes after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) of the bladder using intravital videomicroscopy (IVM). METHODS: In rats, 60 min of bladder ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion was performed in the presence of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the NO precursor L-arginine, or saline pre-treatments. Venular red blood cell velocity (RBCV), functional capillary density (FCD), vessel diameters, and leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in postcapillary venules were determined. Concentrations of nitrite/nitrate in the plasma and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the lungs and the bladder were measured. RESULTS: Elevations of the numbers of rolling and adherent leukocytes, and of plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were found, while FCD and RBCV decreased. L-NAME pretreatment ameliorated the enhanced leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions without influencing the microcirculatory perfusion. In contrast, the L-arginine pretreatment further increased plasma nitrite/nitrate levels and preserved the FCD and RBCV, but did not affect leukocyte-endothelial interactions. None of these treatments influenced MPO activities. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that NO plays an enhancing role in the I/R-induced neutrophil-endothelial interactions of the bladder. Supplementation of NO ameliorates the microcirculatory perfusion deficit without influencing the postischemic microcirculatory inflammatory reactions.

Oxidative burst induced pseudosclerotium formation of Morchella steppicola Zerova on different malt agar media.

Morchella steppicola Zerova mycelia was grown on modified MS (MSK) medium and on MSK medium containing different malt content. Starvation induced an enhanced pseudosclerotium formation in a given zone of the culture. The malondialdehyde content of the mycelium at the site of pseudosclerotium formation was related to the acceleration of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Superoxide dismutase activity was monitored in control and stressed vegetative hyphae subjected to malt withdrawal. In the formation zone of resting bodies, an enhanced oxidative burst was observed. The glucose and trehalose contents of M. steppicola mycelium during pseudosclerotium formation were also investigated. The glucose concentration of the mycelia approached a minimum during pseudosclerotium formation. At the same time, trehalose concentration reached a maximum in the zone of pseudosclerotium formation. The dry mass of mycelia in these zones was higher than average. The dry matter content of the pseudosclerotium-forming zones significantly exceeded the average of the whole culture. The correlation among trehalose accumulation, oxidative burst, and pseudosclerotium formation was clearly demonstrated.

Reciprocal innervation between serotonergic and GABAergic neurons in raphe nuclei of the rat.

Midbrain slices containing the dorsal and medial raphe nuclei were prepared from rat brain in order to study serotonergic-GABAergic interaction. The slices were loaded with either [3H] serotonin or [3H]GABA, superfused and the electrically induced efflux of radioactivity was determined. The GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol (3 to 30 microM) and the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen (30 and 100 microM) inhibited [3H]serotonin and [3H]GABA release. These effects of muscimol were reversed by the GABA(A) antagonists bicuculline (100 microM). The GABA(B) antagonist phaclofen (100 microM) also antagonized the baclofen-induced inhibition of [3H]serotonin and [3H]GABA release. Phaclofen by itself increased [3H]serotonin release but it did not alter [3H]GABA overflow. Muscimol (10 microM) and baclofen (100 microM) also inhibited [3H]serotonin release after depletion of GABAergic neurons by isoniazid pretreatment. These findings indicate the presence of postsynaptic GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors located on serotonergic neurons. The 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.01 to 1 microM) and the 5-HT1B receptor agonist CGS-12066A (0.01 to 1 microM) inhibited the electrically stimulated [3H]serotonin and [3H]GABA release. The 5-HT1A antagonist WAY-100135 (1 microM) was without effect on [3H]serotonin and [3H]GABA efflux by itself but it reversed the 8-OH-DPAT-induced transmitter release inhibition. During KCl (22 mM)-induced depolarization, tetrodotoxin (1 microM) did not alter the inhibitory effect of CGS-12066A (1 microM) on [3H]GABA release, it did blocked, however, the ability of 8-OH-DPAT (1 microM) to reduce [3H]GABA efflux. After depletion of raphe serotonin neurons by p-chlorophenylalanine pretreatment, CGS-12066A (1 microM) still inhibited [3H]GABA release whereas in serotonin-depleted slices, 8-OH-DPAT (1 microM) was without effect on the release. We conclude that reciprocal influence exists between serotonergic projection neurons and the GABAergic interneurons or afferents in the raphe nuclei and these interactions may be mediated by 5-HT1A/B and GABA(A/B) receptors. Both synaptic and non-synaptic neurotransmission may be operative in the 5-HTergic-GABAergic reciprocal interaction which may serve as a local tuning in the neural connection between cerebral cortex and midbrain raphe nuclei.

[Percutaneous gallbladder puncture and drainage]. / Perkután epehólyag-punkció és -drenázs.

The authors present their experience and results of 88 percutaneous cholecystostomies performed on 72 high-risk patients suffering from acute cholecystitis during the last 11 years. The local and general treatment resulted in total recovery in 24 cases, surgery could be abandoned. In 37 patients the improvement of their general condition made elective cholecystectomy possible. In 4 cases urgent operation became necessary because of reappearance of acute symptoms after a temporary relief. 7 patients died during the acute phase. In 51 patients out of all cases treated with long-term drainage, the gallbladder was washed out with cooled saline 2-3 times daily.

New non competitive AMPA antagonists.

New halogen atom substituted 2,3-benzodiazepine derivatives condensed with an azole ring on the seven membered part of the ring system of type 3 and 4 as well as 5 and 6 were synthesized. It was found that chloro-, dichloro- and bromo-substitutions in the benzene ring and additionally imidazole ring condensation on the diazepine ring can successfully substitute the methylenedioxy group in the well known molecules GYKI 52466 (1) and GYKI 53773 (2) and the 3-acetyl-4-methyl structural feature in 2, respectively, preserving the highly active AMPA antagonist characteristic of the original molecules. From the most active compounds (3b,i) 3b (GYKI 47261) was chosen for detailed investigations. 3b revealed an excellent, broad spectrum anticonvulsant activity against seizures evoked by electroshock and different chemoconvulsive agents indicating a possible antiepileptic efficacy. 3b was found to be highly active in a transient model of focal ischemia predictive of a therapeutic value in human stroke. 3b also reversed the dopamine depleting effect of MPTP and antagonized the oxotremorine induced tremor in mice indicating a potential antiparkinson activity.

Mapping of quantitative trait loci for ethanol preference in quasi-congenic strains.

Ethanol preference, a component of alcoholism, has been known for four decades to differ greatly between C57BL/6 and BALB/c inbred mouse strains. For mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that affect ethanol preference, we used a set of B6.C Recombinant QTL Introgression (RQI) strains, which carry about 5% of the donor BALB/cJ (C) genome on a C57BL/6ByJ (B6) background. After characterizing males of the progenitor and RQI strains for variations in ethanol preference, we scanned their genome for polymorphisms at 244 dinucleotide-repeat marker loci known to differ between B6 and C. Because of the introgression of BALB/c-type QTLs onto the B6 background, some strains showed ethanol preference significantly lower or higher than that of the background strain, suggesting that genetic interaction between ethanol preference QTLs and the background can be operative. The genomic region showing the strongest influence on ethanol preference was on mouse chromosome 15, and corresponds to human chr.12q11-q13.

Separation of dihydroxybenzoates, indicators of in-vivo hydroxyl free radical formation, in the presence of transmitter amines and some metabolites in rodent brain, using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Based on a detailed study of retention parameters, reversed-phase ion-pair chromatographic methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of dihydroxybenzoates, indicators of in-vivo hydroxyl free radical formation, transmitter amines and some metabolites to facilitate neurochemical investigations in rodent brain. Coupling of the separation methods with electrochemical detection and the use of short-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids for ion-pairing, allowed for a fast and sensitive determination of salicylate-derived 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acids and the major electroactive, hydroxylated aromatic compounds present in brain samples. Detection limits for the dihydroxybenzoates (signal-to-noise ratio = 2) were 18-22 fmol injected on the column. Basal levels of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate in the the striatum of mice treated with salicylate were 72 +/- 13 and 94 +/- 11 ng/g wet tissue, respectively.

Antipsychotic substances and dopamine in the rat brain; behavioral studies reveal distinct dopamine receptor systems.

Graded doses of apomorphine were injected into terminal areas of the nigrostriatal, mesolimbic and mesocortical dopamine (DA) systems of the rat brain. Injection of high doses of apomorphine into the nucleus caudatus elicited stereotyped sniffing, but did not affect the motility of the rat. Low and high doses of apomorphine injected into the nucleus accumbens decreased and increased motility, respectively, without changing sniffing behavior. Injection of both low and high doses of apomorphine into the pyriform cortex increased sniffing behavior, but did not affect motility. All these apomorphine-induced behavioral responses were antagonized by local pretreatment with the typical neuroleptic, haloperidol, and the atypical neuroleptic, sulpiride, albeit with different potencies as revealed from the calculated ED50 values (ranging from 0.18-20,462 fmol). Local pretreatment with the antipsychotic peptide, des-enkephalin-gamma-endorphin (DE gamma E), antagonized the behavioral changes induced by injecting low and high doses of apomorphine into the pyriform cortex and low doses into the nucleus accumbens (ED50: 0.22-20.6 fmol), but did not affect the behavioral effects elicited by injecting high doses of apomorphine into the nucleus caudatus or the nucleus accumbens. It is proposed that two distinct types of DA receptor systems are present in the rat brain. These are characterized by the slope of the dose-response curve for the substances to antagonize the apomorphine-induced behavioral effects and by the effectiveness of DE gamma E in this respect. The antipsychotic effects of these compounds may be mediated by DA systems in the nucleus accumbens or in the pyriform cortex; this last system is especially sensitive to the three antipsychotic substances and is equally affected by them (ED50 value for the antagonism of the apomorphine-induced effects: 0.18-0.71 fmol).

The CNS effects of 5-aminobenzoic acids inhibiting the biosynthesis of prostaglandins.

It was found that the 2,5-diaminobenzoic acid derivatives 1 activating the biosynthesis of prostaglandins have CNS side effects. The replacement of the 2-NH group in 1 by O or S resulted an inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis and increased CNS activity.

Behavioral evidence for the involvement of endogenous opioids in the interaction between cholecystokinin and brain dopamine systems.

The hyperactivity induced by injection of the dopamine (DA) agonist apomorphine into the nucleus accumbens of rats was dose dependently inhibited by intra-accumbal pretreatment with cholecystokinin (CCK-8) (ED50, 0.34 ng). Local treatment with the opioid antagonist naloxone antagonized this inhibitory action of CCK-8 (ED50, 18 ng), but did not change the blocking effect of haloperidol on the apomorphine-induced hyperactivity. These data show that endogenous opioids are concerned in certain interactions between CCK-8 and DA systems.

Behavioral interaction between endogenous opioids, CCK-8 and dopaminergic systems in the nucleus accumbens of rats.

Injection of apomorphine into the nucleus accumbens of rats elicits hypermotility, presumably by activating postsynaptically located dopamine receptor systems. This behavioral response is inhibited by local treatment with CCK-8 or gamma-endorphin. The action of both peptides is antagonized by intra-accumbal treatment with naloxone. These findings suggest that endogenous opioids are implicated in certain neuroleptic-like effects of CCK-8 and that in the nucleus accumbens a functional interaction exists between CCK-8, endogenous opioids and dopaminergic systems.

Non-opiate beta-endorphin fragments and dopamine--VI. Behavioural analysis of the interaction between gamma-type endorphins and dopaminergic systems in the nucleus accumbens of rats.

Injection of small doses of apomorphine, bromocriptine and the new ergoline compound, GYKI-32887 into the nucleus accumbens decreased locomotor activity when rats were tested in a small open field. This effect was observed following injection of 1 pg of these substances; GYKI-32887 being more potent than bromocriptine. The hypolocomotion induced by the ergoline compound could be prevented by local pretreatment with haloperidol (30 pg), fluphenazine (30 pg), sulpiride (10 pg) or desenkephalin -gamma-endorphin (DE gamma E; 100 pg). Large doses of apomorphine and amphetamine, injected into the nucleus accumbens, increased locomotor activity. This behavioural response was antagonized by pretreatment with haloperidol (30 pg), but not with sulpiride (10 pg) or DE gamma E (100 pg or 10 ng). It is concluded that two dopaminergic receptor systems exist in the nucleus accumbens with different sensitivity to apomorphine. One of these receptor systems, which is activated by small doses of apomorphine and ergoline compounds, can be blocked by classical and atypical neuroleptics and by the neuroleptic-like peptide DE gamma E. This may be of relevance to the antipsychotic action of these substances.

gamma-Endorphin and N alpha-acetyl-gamma-endorphin interfere with distinct dopaminergic systems in the nucleus accumbens via opioid and non-opioid mechanisms.

Low doses (10 ng) of the dopamine agonist apomorphine induced hypolocomotion when injected into the nucleus accumbens of rats. This behavioral response was antagonized by local treatment with either the opioid peptide gamma-endorphin (gamma E) or the non-opioid peptide N alpha-acetyl-gamma-endorphin (Ac gamma E) in a dose of 100 pg. High doses of apomorphine (10 micrograms) r amphetamine (2 micrograms) injected into the nucleus accumbens resulted in hyperlocomotion. This response was blocked by pretreatment with gamma E but not with Ac gamma E. This effect of gamma E could be prevented by local treatment with naloxone. Neither peptides interfered with the apomorphine-induced stereotyped sniffing when the substances were injected into the nucleus caudatus. It is concluded that gamma E and Ac gamma E differentially interact with distinct dopaminergic systems in the nucleus accumbens of the rat brain via an opioid and a non-opioid mechanism, suggesting that the peptide fragments originating from pro-opiomelanocortin may be specifically implicated in the control of dopaminergic activity in this brain area.

Changes in the content of modified nucleotides of total transfer RNA of wheat seedlings during greening.

The contents in minor nucleotides of total transfer RNA (tRNA) of etiolated and light-grown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings and of seedlings illuminated for 24 or 48 h were examined. The total tRNA of seedlings illuminated 24 h contained more, and that from seedlings illuminated 48 h still more modified nucleotides than that from etiolated ones. Thus, the appearance of the characteristic minor nucleotides of tRNA of light-grown wheat seedlings needs a rather long greening period, of at least 48 h.

Further evidence for the neuroleptic-like activity of gamma-endorphin.

gamma-Endorphin inhibits the amphetamine-induced stereotypy in rats with an approximate ED50 of 0.3 mg/kg. SC. The anti-amphetamine effect of gamma-endorphin can be antagonized to a certain extent by both the dopamine receptor stimulant 2-bromo-ergocryptine and the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone.