Studies on aorta during development. I. Fetal rabbit aorta under ex vivo and in vitro conditions: rapid changes in smooth muscle cell phenotype, cell proliferation and cholesterol content with organ culture.

The structural development of the already well defined fetal rabbit aortic wall from 22 to 31 days of gestation in vivo consists of increasing aortic wall thickness, elastic lamina continuities, extracellular matrix deposition, and maturing of the fine structure of the medial smooth muscle cells. In vivo at term (31 days), the mature aortic smooth muscle cells demonstrated the characteristic thin, thick and intermediate filaments, dense plaques, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi, plasmalemma vesicles and an incomplete basal lamina. The fetal aorta rapidly responded to organ culture with various changes. Fetal smooth muscle cells modified their phenotype to the synthetic state when cultured in both serum-supplemented and serum-free media. This smooth muscle cell modification occurred after 3 days of culture in fetal explants. The synthetic type smooth muscle cells (fetal) began to proliferate after 6 days of culture. This proliferation resulted in a peripheral outgrowth after 9 days of 10-20 layers in fetal cultures from serum-supplemented media and of 2-4 layers in serum-free media. The orderly arrangement of the internal elastic lamina and alternating medial layers of smooth muscle cells and elastic lamina seen in vivo was disrupted along with increased matrix after 9 days of fetal explant culture. Significant numbers of 'modified' synthetic phenotype smooth muscle cells were not observed in adult aortic explants until after 15 days in culture in serum supplemented media. The mature contractile phenotype smooth muscle cell predominated in adult explants cultured in serum-free media. Significant synthetic phenotype smooth muscle cell proliferation only occurred in adult explants after 15 days culture in serum-supplemented media. When compared to aorta in vivo evidence for increases in cholesterol esterification were observed in both fetal (9 days) and adult (15 days) explants cultured in both serum-supplemented and serum-free media. The fetal aorta in organ culture appeared to be more susceptible than the adult aorta to (a) phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells to the synthetic state, (b) smooth muscle cell proliferation, and (c) early cholesteryl ester accumulation.

Studies on aorta during development. II. Differences in ontogeny of the key enzymes involved in cholesteryl ester synthesis and hydrolysis in rabbit aorta.

It is well known that cholesteryl ester accumulation is dramatically increased in the atherosclerotic artery. The enzymes acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), acid cholesteryl esterase (ACE) and neutral cholesteryl esterase (NCE) may play key roles in the accumulation of cholesteryl esters in the arterial wall. However, very little is known regarding the developmental pattern of the key enzymes involved in cholesteryl ester synthesis and hydrolysis. The total activities of ACAT, ACE and NCE were measured by radioassay using liposomal substrates in rabbit aortic homogenates. Our results indicate that ACAT activity decreases as a quadratic function with age (P less than 0.05). ACAT activity (pmol/100 mg protein/min) decreased from a high value in the fetus at term (63.3 +/- 7.4) to gradually lower values with increasing age. On the other hand, ACE activity (pmol/mg protein/min) was low in the fetus at term, and changed as a quadratic function with age (P less than 0.05) increasing gradually to higher activities with age up to a maximum at 12 weeks then decreased at 21 weeks. NCE activity (pmol/mg protein/min) increased dramatically from a low value in the fetus at term (3.34 +/- 0.48) to a maximum value at 1.5 weeks (14.65 +/- 2.73) then decreased as a linear function with increasing age up to 21 weeks (P less than 0.05). Plasma total cholesterol (mg/dl) also increased sharply from the fetal value at term of 98.5 +/- 5.2 to a maximum value at 1.5 weeks of 666.4 +/- 33.4, then decreased as a quadratic function with increasing age up to 21 weeks (40.8 +/- 6.7) (P less than 0.05). The free cholesterol content (microgram/mg protein) of the aortic tissue was initially high in the fetus (24.8 +/- 5.9) then increased with age. Examination of the ratio of synthesis to hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters as an index of enzyme activity units demonstrated a very high index in the fetus of 6.1 that rapidly decreased with increasing age in the young adult rabbit down to a value of 0.4 by 21 weeks of age. Correlation coefficients between enzyme activities, plasma cholesterol levels and aortic cholesterol levels indicated (a) a positive correlation of NCE activity with plasma cholesterol, (b) a negative correlation of NCE and ACE with aortic-cholesteryl ester content, and (c) no significant correlation of ACAT activity with either plasma cholesterol or aortic cholesterol content, indicating other factors are involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Cholestyramine treatment in early life. Immediate and delayed effects on arterial cholesteryl ester metabolizing enzymes in the rabbit.

Feeding of cholestyramine-enriched diet to weaned normocholesterolemic rabbits resulted in: lowering of plasma cholesterol and distinctly decreased activity of aortic acyl-CoA cholesterol acyl transferase with no changes in aortic acid and neutral cholesteryl esterase activity. At 9 weeks after cessation of cholestyramine treatment enhanced activity of both aortic esterases were noted despite normalization of plasma cholesterol. No evidence for the presence of plasma factor influencing esterases activity was found in lipoprotein-free serum from cholestyramine-treated animals. These studies show that cholestyramine treatment in early life causes immediate and delayed changes in rabbit arterial cholesteryl ester metabolizing enzymes.

Degeneration of the rat and canine adrenal cortex caused by alpha- (1,4-dioxido-3-methylquinoxalin-2-yl) -N-methylnitrone (DMNM).

The antibacterial drug alpha- (1,4-dioxido-3-methylquinoxalin-2-yl)-N-methylnitrone (DMNM) given at a dose of 22.5 mg/kg/bid to 4 dogs for 14 days caused diminished adrenal cortical reserves as determined by decreased plasma corticol (3 dogs) and lower aldosterone levels (4 dogs) following the intravenous infusion of ACTH. A dose of 100 mg/kg/day of DMNM administered to rats for 31 or 35 days resulted in significant decreases in blood glucose. Histologically, the adrenal glands of both species treated with DMNM for a maximum period of 21 days (dogs) and 35 days (rats) had widespread granular and vacuolar degeneration of the cortex. The degeneration, as demonstrated in treated rats, began in the zona reticularis and inner regions of the zona fasciculata and eventually involved the entire cortex including the zona glomerulosa. As a result of treatment, significant ultrastructural alterations within cells of the rat and canine adrenal cortex consisted of degeneration of the mitochondria and an increase in the numbers and lipolysis of lipid droplets. The ultrastructure of the zona reticularis and fasciculata was most severely affected.

High acyl-CoA cholesterol acyl transferase activity in fetal rabbit aorta: evidence for the presence of stimulating factor(s) in amniotic fluid.

The activity of Acyl CoA-cholesterol acyl transferase was markedly high in fetal aortas when compared to maternal and adult male rabbits. This activity dropped by 50% at 1 week of age. This high activity in fetal aorta a) did not appear to be due to changes in plasma cholesterol levels or to the later development of endogenous inhibitor in the aorta, but rather b) due to stimulatory factor(s) present in amniotic fluid.

Degeneration of the rat and canine adrenal cortex caused by alpha-(1,4-dioxido-3-methylquinoxalin-2-yl)-N-methylnitrone (DMNM).

The antibacterial drug alpha-(1,4-dioxido-3-methylquinoxalin-2-yl) N-methylnitrone (DMNM) given at a dose of 22.5 mg/kg bid to four dogs for 14 days caused diminished adrenal cortical reserves as determined by decreased plasma cortisol (three dogs) and lower aldosterone levels (four dogs) following the intravenous infusion of ACTH. A dose of 100 mg/kg/day of DMNM administered to rats for 31 or 35 days resulted in significant decreases in blood glucose. Histologically, the adrenal glands of both species treated with DMNM for a maximum period of 21 days (dogs) and 35 days (rats) had widespread granular and vacuolar degeneration of the cortex. This degeneration in treated rats began in the zona reticularis and inner regions of the zona fasciculata and eventually involved the entire cortex including the zona glomerulosa. As a result of treatment, significant ultrastructural alterations within cells of the rat and canine adrenal cortex consisted of degeneration of the mitochondria and an increase in the numbers and lipolysis of lipid droplets. The ultrastructure of the zona reticularis and fasciculata was most severely affected.

Effect of chenodeoxycholic acid feeding during gestation in the rat on bile acid metabolism and liver morphology.

Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) was fed to pregnant rats at the 0.25% level in the diet from Day 11 of gestation to delivery in order to evaluate the effects on (1) maternal tissue bile acid composition, (2) neonatal tissue bile acid composition and cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase activity, and (3) maternal, neonatal, and postnatal liver morphology. Feeding CDCA increased maternal lithocholic acid while significantly decreasing deoxycholic acid, cholic acid, and total bile acids. Feeding CDCA resulted in a significantly higher chenodeoxycholic acid pool in the neonates while neonatal plasma cholesterol and the 7 alpha-hydroxylation of cholesterol was not significantly affected. Morphological examination of maternal, neonatal, and postnatal rat liver revealed no significant hepatotoxicity. This investigation has shown that (a) neonates of CDCA fed dams have a significantly greater pool of CDCA, suggesting maternal-to-fetal transfer of dihydroxy bile acids, (b) neonatal cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase activity and total tissue bile acid pools are not significantly altered by increased pool of CDCA, and (c) no hepatotoxic effects on maternal, neonatal, and postnatal livers were evident with gestational feeding of CDCA at the 0.25% level in the rat.

Intestinal changes caused by DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase.

Subacute (2 week) oral or intravenous administration of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), caused diarrhea and frequent emesis as early as 4 to 5 days in dogs (dose greater than or equal to 200 mg/kg/day). Diarrhea also occurred in monkeys after 1 week of treatment with an intravenous dose of 1000 mg/kg/day. Especially evident in the treated dogs with diarrhea were fluid loss, hemoconcentration, and decreased serum sodium and chloride which were findings totally reversible about 2 weeks after cessation of dosing. As a result of treatment with the highest intravenous dosage (1000 mg/kg/day), villous atrophy of the mucosa was observed by light and scanning electron microscopy in the canine small intestine. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the most significant alterations of the canine intestinal tract involved the microvilli of epithelial cells which became shorter and were frequently less numerous or absent along focal areas of the plasma membrane. Intestinal mucosal levels of putrescine, especially in the duodenum and jejunum, were decreased as demonstrated in the monkeys following intravenous treatment with 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg/day of DFMO. The results of this investigation are consistent with the hypothesis that the inhibition of ODC activity and subsequent altered polyamine metabolism may lead to delayed maturation of the intestinal epithelial cells and the impaired development of their microvilli, causing fluid loss due to reduced absorptive surface area.

Chronic suppression of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase by dietary chenodeoxycholic acid in neonatal guinea pigs: its effect on subsequent bile acid metabolism in the adult.

Treatment of neonatal guinea pigs with cholestyramine persistently increases the activity of hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CH-7 alpha), the rate-limiting enzyme of bile acid biosynthesis. In this study, we examined whether CH-7 alpha activity could be persistently inhibited by manipulations (chenodeoxycholic acid feeding) during neonatal life. Male Hartley guinea pigs (2-3 days old) were fed 0.25% chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)-supplemented diet for 10 days or 6 weeks. Feeding CDCA for 10 days increased plasma cholesterol [controls (C), 25 +/- 3 vs. CDCA, 34 +/- 2 mg/dl]. Bile acid pool in animals fed CDCA for 10 days was nearly fivefold greater than controls (C, 5.8 +/- 0.3 vs. CDCA, 29.1 +/- 0.9 mg/100 g body weight), whereas CH-7 alpha activity was almost completely inhibited [C, 1.83 +/- 0.4 vs. CDCA, 0.02 +/- 0.02 pmol/(mg . minute)]. Four weeks after stopping CDCA feeding, CH-7 alpha was greater in the CDCA-fed animals (C, 0.47 +/- 0.03 vs. CDCA, 0.67 +/- 0.05). This was associated with a greater bile acid pool in these animals (C, 3.0 +/- 0.2 vs. CDCA, 5.8 +/- 0.4). We conclude that CDCA fed to neonatal guinea pigs inhibits CH-7 alpha activity. This inhibition is not permanent, however, since CH-7 alpha activity increases following withdrawal from chronic CDCA feeding.

Structure of the polysaccharide formed by incubating glycogen with D-[14C]glucose in the presence of the glycogen debranching enzyme [amylo-(1 linked to 6)-glucosidase-4-alpha-glucanotransferase].

[14C]Glycogen has been synthetized in vitro by incubating D-[14C]glucose with rabbit-liver glycogen in the presence of a pure preparation of the glycogen debranching enzyme [amylo-(1 linked to 6)-glucosidase-4-alpha-glucanotransferase]. The course of the reaction has been monitored and 14C-products isolated after 30 min and 5 h. The distribution of D-[14C]glucose groups in the polysaccharides has been determined by debranching the molecules with a crystalline isoamylase from Pseudomonas. The quantities of unlabeled and 14C-linear unit chains containing D-[14C]glucose at their reducing ends have been determined by paper chromatography followed by enzymic degradation and analysis. In the 30-min product, between 65 and 85% of the D-[14C]glucose groups were covered by unlabeled groups because of transferase action. In the 5-h product, the extent of covering approached 100%. Extensive redistribution of unlabeled groups also was found to have occurred, even in the early stages of the reaction. It is concluded that the D-[14C]glucose incorporation assay for amylo-(1 linked to 6)-glucosidase, as ordinarily carried out, is probably not specific just for the hydrolytic action of this enzyme, but that it depends indirectly on its transferase activity as well.

Effect of CO 2 concentration on phospholipid metabolism in the isolated perfused rat lung.

Studies have been carried out on the incorporation of [U-(14)C]glucose, [2-(14)C]pyruvate, [2-(14)C]acetate, and [1-(14)C]-palmitate into the phospholipids of the isolated perfused rat lung in the presence of either 6 or 45 mm total CO(2) concentration in the perfusion medium. Incorporation of [U-(14)C]glucose into total phospholipid and into the phosphatidylcholine fraction was increased 19-53% over the 2-hr perfusion period in lungs perfused with medium containing 45 as compared with 6 mm CO(2). The incorporation of [2-(14)C]acetate, [2-(14)C]-pyruvate, and [1-(14)C]palmitate was not affected by the change in medium CO(2) concentration. Increased incorporation of [U-(14)C]glucose combined with a shift toward greater incorporation into the fatty acids of the phosphatidylcholine fraction produced a maximum increase of 90% in [U-(14)C]glucose incorporation into the fatty acids of phosphatidylcholine after 2 hr of perfusion in the presence of medium containing 45 mm CO(2) as compared with 6 mm CO(2). The increase in medium CO(2) concentration produced as much as a 150% increase in [U-(14)C]glucose incorporation into palmitate derived from the phosphatidylcholine fraction. The results provide evidence that glucose functions as an important precursor of palmitate in the phosphatidylcholine fraction of lung phospholipids and that the CO(2) concentration of the perfusion medium affects the incorporation of glucose into palmitate.