Photic control of nitric oxide synthase activity in golden hamster retina.

A characterization of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the golden hamster retina was performed. Enzymatic activity was partially Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent, required NADPH, and was inhibited by L-arginine analogs. Retinal NOS activity was higher at midnight than at midday. When the hamster were placed under constant darkness for 24 or 48 h, and killed at equivalent time points, representing subjective day and subjective night respectively, the differences in NOS activity disappeared. One hour of darkness during the day increased, while the same period of light during the night decreased, retinal NOS activity. From these results, it might be presumed that hamster retinal NOS activity is regulated by the photic stimulus.

[Effect of pepstatin A on Candida albicans infection in the mouse]. / Die Wirkung von Pepstatin A auf die Candida-albicans-Infektion der Maus.

The intravenous injection of 10(6) to 10(7) Candida albicans cells revealed to be a reliable model in mice produce infections of the kidney. Higher germ contents could be yielded in the kidney after the application of protease positive Candida-strains as compared to protease negative ones. Additionally, after the infection with protease positive strains a proteolytic activity could be found in the kidney homogenates in vitro on casein plates. The modulation of this Candida infection by pepstatin A, an inhibitor of extracellular yeast proteases in vitro, has also been studied in the same mice model in vivo. The growth rate of Candida albicans has been measured in the left kidney by counting the germ content as described by Haenel. Infections could be reduced after single doses of 120 micrograms pepstatin A contrary to 60 micrograms pepstatin A. The same was with three doses of 180 micrograms at 24 h intervals. This protease inhibitory effect could also be found in kidney homogenates in vitro on casein plates and lasted until 48 h post injection. On the basis of this positive effects on the Candida infection in mice pepstatin A should be considered as an adjuvans in the therapy of severe yeast infections.