Quenching of singlet oxygen (1deltag) by cobalt complexes with four nitrogen atoms in the equatorial plane.

The quenching of singlet oxygen (1deltag) by cobalt(III)-bis-1,2-benzosemiquinone-diiminato complexes (general structure LCo(111)(BQDI)2ClO4) has been studied in different solvents by measuring the singlet oxygen phosphorescence decay in time-resolved experiments. The axial ligand (Ph3As, Ph3Sb, N-methyl-imidazole, pyrrolidine) has practically no influence on the quenching; however, the chlorinated benzosemiquinone-diiminato complex has a markedly lower quenching rate constant. The solvent effects can be fully explained by the difference in viscosity, which supports the assumption that the quenching is diffusion controlled. The reactive radius of the encounter pair has been estimated to be 0.3 nm, shorter than the radius of the complex itself, which points to the fact that singlet oxygen must approach the central cobalt atom at the (partially) open axial position. The significance of these results regarding the quenching of singlet oxygen by vitamin B12 derivatives is discussed.

[Iron deficiency anemia caused by occult intestinal bleeding due to milk allergy (author's transl)]. / Eisenmangelanämie infolge okkulter Darmblutungen bei Milchallergie.

With the passive hemagglutination method the authors proved antibodies against milkprotein fractions in three of nine patients with hypochrome anemia aged 7, 12 and 17 months. In these children the X-ray examination showed an intestinal allergy, presumably the reason for occult intestinal bleeding which inturn caused hypochrome anemia. After milk was eliminated from the diet iron therapy restored a normal haemoglobin content. Iron therapy alone only improved the anemia, since continuing intestinal bleeding prevented fullrecovery.

Activity alterations of metabolic enzymes in the anterior pituitary of female rats during acute and chronic starvation, as well as after refeeding.

The activity of glycolysis and hexose monophosphate shunt decreases while the activity of some oxydative enzymes and acid phosphatase increases in the anterior pituitary of adult female rats during starvation. The alterations depend on the severity of starvation. The polypeptide hormone production also decreases. A close relationship exists between the metabolic activity of the gland and its endocrine function.

The role of estrogens in the regulation of lactate dehydrogenase activity and its submolecular organization in rat anterior pituitary.

Estrogens increase LDH activity and decrease H/M subunit ratio in rat anterior pituitary in both the experimental circumstances and the physiological conditions. The cellular messengers mediating estrogenic effect are structure- and stereospecific. The activity increasing and subunit ratio decreasing potency of the three tested estrogens was of following decreasing order: 17 beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. 17 alpha-estradiol did not affect activity parameters and submolecular organisation of the enzyme. The estrogen induced activity increase is consequence of the enhanced de novo enzyme protein synthesis which could be inhibited by Actinomycin-D. The lack of adrenocorticoids did not involve the alteration of LDH activity and H/M ratio in female rat anterior pituitary. Accordingly, these steroids do not mediate estrogenic action. 17 beta-estradiol had a substantial increasing effect on LDH activity in the subrenal implanted pituitary homografts and decreased H/M subunit ratio. Pituitary LDH activity in androgenized female rats decreased only after the removal of the polycystic ovaries. The two latter observations suggest that hypothalamic hormones are not involved in the regulation of pituitary LDH activity and its submolecular organization. De novo synthesis of LDH enzyme protein and the regulation its submolecular organization is induced by the direct action on anterior pituitary cells of the estrogens.

Changes of lactic dehydrogenase activity and combination of its subunits in rat anterior pituitary during puberty and in maturity, as well as during estrous cycle on the actue effect of estradiol and after castration.

LDH activity in the female rat anterior pituitary increases substantially at the opening of the vagina, after the gradual increase up to the 90st day no important change occurs. During the estrous cycle activity reaches its peak during the estrus, and lowest in ghe proestrus. Molecular organization of the enzyme shows a change only at the opening of the vagina, i. e. a sudden decrease of H/M ratio occurs, value of which does not change during the estrous cycle. Pituitary LDH activity and subunit ratio in males remains constant during life. LDH activity excess in mature female rat pituitary, being about the double as compared to males, develops at the age of about three months, the difference in H/M ratio however is manifest already during puberty. Anterior pituitary LDH activity and structure of the enzyme are affected by sexual hormones, primarily by estradiol, under physiological conditions, too. After ovariectomy LDH activity decreases gradually. The value before the opening of the vagina to be considered as basal level, develops in the 4th postoperative week. H/M ratio decreases by 20 per cent one week after the operation and shows no change thereafter. Orchidectomy involves but a minor activity and H/M ratio decrease. Experimental findings on activity and subunit ratio are related presumably to prolactin cells and suggest that sexual hormone feedback effects in addition to polypeptide production pituitary metabolism.

Correlation between sexual steroid effect and activity changes and isoenzyme distribution of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) in rat anterior pituitary.

Sexual steroid feed-back is a fundamental regulating factor oification of pituitary metabolism in rat. Oestrogen synthesis and/or activity of M subunif testosterone, in males testosterone treatment as well as lack of oestrogen result in characteristic pituitary LDH activity and isoenzyme distribution. Physiological doses of sexual steroids affect, directly or indirectly, pituitary LDH activity, oxydative metabolism, and imply different biochemical bases for the polypeptide hormone production in the anterior pituitary gland.

Sexual difference in pituitary pyruvic acid content, as well as of lactic acid/pyruvic acid quotient.

The lactic acid/pyruvic acid quotient of rat anterior pituitary varies betweeen 30 and 80. The dominance of lactic acid is in accordance with the earlier observation that pituitary lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in rat are made up, in majority, of M subunits. The pituitary lactic acid concentration in female and male animals shows no appreciable difference and does not change 2 and 4 weeks after castration. In males the pituitary pyruvic acid concentration was almost double of that in females. Pyruvic acid content increases after ovariectomy and decreases after orchidectomy. The sexual differences having been observed in lactic acid/pyruvic acid quotient are in correlation with the discrepancy of pyruvic acid concentration.