Nerve growth factor induces development of connective tissue-type mast cells in vitro from murine bone marrow cells.

The effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on proliferation/differentiation of mast cells was investigated in vitro. Although NGF alone neither supported colony formation of bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMCMC) nor induced development of mast cell colonies from nonadherent bone marrow cells (NBMC), addition of NGF to the suboptimal dose of interleukin 3 (IL-3) significantly increased the numbers of mast cell colonies produced by BMCMC or NBMC in methylcellulose. When stimulated by IL-3 alone, cells in mast cell colonies were not stained by berberine sulfate, a fluorescent dye. In contrast, mast cells developing in methylcellulose cultures obtaining both IL-3 and NGF were stained by berberine sulfate. The fluorescence was abolished by the treatment of heparinase but not of chondroitinase ABC, suggesting that mast cells stimulated by IL-3 and NGF produced and stored heparin proteoglycan. The histamine content of BMCMC maintained by IL-3 was also increased by addition of NGF. Since BMCMC showed mucosal mast cell-like phenotype, NGF appeared to induce the phenotypic change to connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMC). In the culture containing BMCMC, 3T3 fibroblasts, and IL-3, the phenotypic change of BMCMC to CTMC was observed as well. Since NGF was detected in this coculture and since addition of anti-NGF monoclonal antibody suppressed the phenotypic change, NGF produced by fibroblasts appeared to induce the phenotypic change. Neither BMCMC alone nor IL-3 alone increased the concentration of NGF. Therefore, there is a possibility that BMCMC stimulated by IL-3 may induce the production and/or release of NGF by fibroblasts.

CD4+ Th2 cells are directly regulated by IL-10 during allergic airway inflammation.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an important regulatory cytokine required to control allergy and asthma. IL-10-mediated regulation of T cell-mediated responses was previously thought to occur indirectly via antigen-presenting cells. However, IL-10 can act directly on regulatory T cells and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells. In the context of allergy, it is therefore unclear whether IL-10 can directly regulate T helper type 2 (Th2) cells and whether this is an important regulatory axis during allergic responses. We sought to determine whether IL-10 signaling in CD4+ Th2 cells was an important mechanism of immune regulation during airway allergy. We demonstrate that IL-10 directly limits Th2 cell differentiation and survival in vitro and in vivo. Ablation of IL-10 signaling in Th2 cells led to enhanced Th2 cell survival and exacerbated pulmonary inflammation in a murine model of house dust mite allergy. Mechanistically, IL-10R signaling regulated the expression of several genes in Th2 cells, including granzyme B. Indeed, IL-10 increased granzyme B expression in Th2 cells and led to increased Th2 cell death, identifying an IL-10-regulated granzyme B axis in Th2 cells controlling Th2 cell survival. This study provides clear evidence that IL-10 exerts direct effects on Th2 cells, regulating the survival of Th2 cells and severity of Th2-mediated allergic airway inflammation.

IL-4-producing ILC2s are required for the differentiation of TH2 cells following Heligmosomoides polygyrus infection.

Immunity to many human and murine gastrointestinal helminth parasites requires interleukin-4 (IL-4)-directed type 2 helper (TH2) differentiation of CD4+ T cells to elicit type-2 immunity. Despite a good understanding of the inflammatory cascade elicited following helminth infection, the initial source of IL-4 is unclear. Previous studies using the rat helminth parasite Nippostronglyus brasiliensis, identified an important role for basophil-derived IL-4 for TH2 differentiation. However, basophils are redundant for TH2 differentiation following infection with the natural helminth parasite of mice Heligmosomoides polygyrus, indicating that other sources of IL-4 are required. In this study using H. polygyrus, which is controlled by IL-4-dependent immunity, we identified that group-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) produced significant amounts of IL-4 and IL-2 following H. polygyrus infection. Leukotriene D4 was sufficient to stimulate IL-4 secretion by ILC2s, and the supernatant from activated ILC2s could potently drive TH2 differentiation in vitro in an IL-4-dependent manner. Furthermore, specific deletion of IL-4 from ILC2s compromised TH2 differentiation in vivo. Overall, this study highlights a previously unrecognized and important role for ILC2-derived IL-4 for TH2 differentiation in a natural TH2-dependent model of human helminthiasis.

Phorbol ester, but not endotoxin, desensitizes mannan-induced glycogenolysis in the perfused rat liver.

Mannan, a ligand for the mannose/N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) receptor, induces suppression of oxygen consumption and increases glucose production in the perfused rat liver, and repeated infusion of mannan causes desensitization of the responses. In this study, we examined whether activation of Kupffer cells by endotoxin and phorbol ester alters the glycogenolytic responses to mannan. Infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 micrograms/ ml) in the perfusate failed to inhibit the responses to mannan. Intravenous administration of LPS (1 mg/kg) 6 and 24 h before perfusion did not desensitize the responses to mannan, suggesting that the responses through mannose/GlcNAc receptors in the liver are retained even after activation of Kupffer cells by LPS. In contrast, prior infusion of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 100 nM) in vitro abolished the glycogenolytic responses to subsequently infused mannan, but not that to norepinephrine (100 nM), while prior infusions of 4-alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (100 nM), A23187 (50 nM), or forskolin (1 microM) had no effect on the mannan-induced responses. H-7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, reduced the glycogenolytic responses to mannan, while it failed to restore the desensitization. These results suggest that protein kinase C may be involved in the process of glycogenolysis by mannan, but is unlikely to be involved in the homologous desensitization of the responses.

Modulation of platelet activating factor-induced glycogenolysis in the perfused rat liver after administration of endotoxin in vivo.

The effect of endotoxin treatment in vivo on platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced glycogenolysis was studied in the perfused rat liver. The addition of PAF (20 nM) to the perfusate increased glucose production concomitant with suppression of oxygen consumption in control rats without endotoxin treatment. At 6 h after endotoxin administration, PAF caused severe suppression of oxygen consumption, but glucose production was greatly inhibited. At 24 h after endotoxin treatment, PAF caused less suppression of oxygen consumption than the control, and glucose production was partially restored. The metabolic responses in the control rat were abolished by the simultaneous presence of cyclooxygenase- and lipoxygenase-inhibitors. Combined use of leukotriene (LT) D4- and thromboxane (Tx) A2-receptor antagonists inhibited the metabolic responses in the rat given endotoxin 6 h before. The efflux of Tx B2 during PAF-infusion decreased 24 h after endotoxin treatment, and Tx A2 receptor antagonist, but not LT D4 receptor antagonist, prevented the suppression of oxygen consumption. These results suggest that different eicosanoids are involved in PAF-induced glycogenolysis in different stages of endotoxemia, and that LT D1 may also play a role in PAF-induced glycogenolysis.

Changes in hepatic nitrogen metabolism in isolated perfused liver during the development of thioacetamide-induced cirrhosis in rats.

Changes in hepatic nitrogen metabolism in isolated perfused liver were studied during the induction of experimental cirrhosis by thioacetamide in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Cirrhosis of the micronodular type developed during 12-week administration of thioacetamide. Despite an increase in food consumption for 4 weeks after the end of administration, the physiological changes characteristic of cirrhosis were maintained. The rate of urea excretion per unit liver weight was significantly decreased compared with pair-fed control rats both during and after thioacetamide treatment. During 4 weeks of thioacetamide treatment, the rate of urea production in perfused liver from a combination of 0.25 mM NH4Cl and 1 mM glutamine decreased slightly, without a decrease in the maximum rate of urea production from 10 mM NH4Cl. In cirrhotic rats, the rate of urea production in perfused liver from NH4Cl and/or glutamine decreased, with a decrease in the maximum rate of urea production. The Km of ureagenesis for NH3 was unchanged in cirrhotic livers. During 4 weeks of thioacetamide treatment, glutamate dehydrogenase activity decreased, but the thioacetamide-induced cirrhotic state had no effect on glutamate dehydrogenase or glutaminase activity. Glutamine synthetase activity was decreased in rats treated with thioacetamide for 4 or 12 weeks. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the capacity for urea production from NH3 and amino acids is decreased in the development of cirrhosis.

Characteristics of nitrogen metabolism in rats with thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis.

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 0.03% thioacetamide (TAA) in their drinking water daily for 4 or 12 weeks, and were then given normal water for 4 weeks after the end of a 12-week TAA treatment to investigate amino acid metabolism. In the malnourished precirrhotic stage (stage 1) and the malnourished cirrhotic stage (stage 2), the aromatic amino acids (AAA), Glu, Asp, Orn, Arg and Cit increased, and the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) decreased slightly. Because these changes normalized in the well-nourished cirrhotic stage (stage 3), they might have resulted from impairment of hepatocytes and malnutrition. The net uptake of BCAA into the liver increased in stage 2, but the AAA uptake did not exceed that in normal controls. Portal venous plasma AAA increased to the same level as arterial plasma AAA. These results suggest that the decrease in BCAA was partially due to liver uptake and that the increase in AAA was induced by reduction of liver uptake and overproduction in extrahepatic tissues. The liver contents of BCAA and AAA were unchanged in all stages, so were fully utilized in the impaired liver. The increases in Glu, Asp, Orn and Cit might have resulted from overproduction in the liver, because these contents of the liver increased in stage 2. In conclusion, the changes in amino acid metabolism in rats with cirrhosis induced by TAA closely resemble those seen in human liver cirrhosis.

Fructose stimulates shedding of cytoplasmic droplets from epididymal boar spermatozoa.

The aim of the present study was to establish the presence of an inducer(s) for the shedding of cytoplasmic droplets from boar spermatozoa after ejaculation. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were incubated with seminal plasma, seminal vesicular fluid (SVF) or chemical agents at 39 degrees C for 30 min. After fixation and staining, percentages of spermatozoa without a droplet were determined. In the samples incubated with seminal plasma, SVF and a filtrate of SVF obtained after passage through an ultrafilter (molecular weight cut-off, 10,000), 43%, 60-69% and 43% of the spermatozoa were without a droplet respectively. The percentage of spermatozoa without a droplet after incubation with D-fructose (1.0 mM), which was one of the energy substrates included in SVF, was 76%. Furthermore, percentages increased to 93% and 90% with the addition of caffeine (2.0 mM) and N6, 2'-O-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (1.0 mM), respectively, but decreased to 48% with the addition of imidazole (2.0 mM). Based on these results, it is suggested that the shedding of cytoplasmic droplets from boar spermatozoa is induced by fructose originating from SVF. It also appears that this event is mediated by increasing the concentration of intracellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

Macrophage-like cell line (HS-P) from a rat histiocytic sarcoma.

With future exploration of macrophage properties in mind, we established a novel cell line (HS-P) from a transplantable histiocytic sarcoma, derived originally from a tumour in an aged F344 rat. HS-P was subjected to 70 serial passages, in which the mean doubling time was 15.7 h. The cells, which were round, oval or polygonal in shape, were arranged in a compact sheet. They reacted to varying degrees for lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase) and with the following antibodies: ED1/ED2 (rat macrophage/histiocyte-specific), OX6 (rat MHC class II-specific), lysozyme antibody and alpha1-antichymotrypsin antibody. Electron microscopically, HS-P cells showed lysosomes and prominent cell projections. These findings indicated that the cultured cells were macrophage-like. Syngeneic rats inoculated subcutaneously or intraperitoneally with HS-P cells invariably developed sarcomatous tumours consisting of monomorphic mononuclear cells, which exhibited cytochemical properties similar to those of cultured HS-P cells. Bioassay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction methods revealed that tumour necrosis factor-alpha increased on addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), indicating that HS-P cells remained LPS-responsive. HS-P cells may prove to be a useful tool for in-vitro studies of macrophage function.

Neurotrophic action of interleukin 3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on murine sympathetic neurons.

We investigated neurotrophic effects of interleukin 3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on cultured sympathetic neurons obtained from mouse superior cervical ganglia. After 1 day of culture with physiological concentrations of mouse recombinant IL-3 and GM-CSF, the numbers of process-bearing neurons were increased. Maximum responses were elicited by 10 U/ml IL-3 and 1 U/ml GM-CSF, which were equivalent to the action of a submaximal dose (5 ng/ml) of nerve growth factor (NGF). The effects of IL-3 and GM-CSF were completely blocked by their corresponding antibodies, but not by anti-NGF, indicting their action is specific and completely independent of NGF. IL-3 and, to a lesser extent, GM-CSF were also able to protect NGF-differentiated neurons from apoptotic cell death caused by NGF withdrawal. The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signal transduction pathway is known to be involved in action of IL-3 and GM-CSF on hemopoietic cells, and thus we examined the participation of this pathway in the neurotrophic activities of IL-3 and GM-CSF. IL-3 and GM-CSF stimulation of the differentiated neurons was found to result in a rapid elevation of MAP kinase activity, and PD98059, an inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase activity, blocked both the neuritogenic and neuroprotective effects of IL-3 and GM-CSF. Immunocytochemical studies showed that IL-3 and GM-CSF receptors were present on the differentiated neurons. Thus, IL-3 and GM-CSF appear to be able to stimulate sympathetic nerve growth, via specific cytokine receptors on neurons, which lead to activation of the MAP kinase pathway that then mediates the observed neurotrophic effects.

Nerve growth factor prevents apoptosis of rat peritoneal mast cells through the trk proto-oncogene receptor.

We investigated the inhibitory activity of nerve growth factor (NGF) on apoptosis of rat peritoneal mast cells (PMCs) and compared it with that of recombinant stem cell factor (rSCF), which is a mast cell growth factor. When PMCs were incubated up to 72 hours in the presence of control medium, internucleosomal fragmentation of DNA indicating apoptosis was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The aged PMCs showed morphological changes typical for apoptosis, such as chromatin condensation and loss of microvilli of the cell membrane. Addition of NGF or rSCF prevented development of the characteristic DNA fragmentation and decreased the proportion of apoptotic cells with low DNA content values in a dose-dependent manner. Polyclonal antibody to NGF completely abolished the inhibitory activity of NGF but not of rSCF. NGF-induced PMCs were in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, but rSCF transited them from the G0/G1 phase to the S/G2M phase, suggesting that NGF, unlike rSCF, may have no proliferation activity to PMCs. By flow cytometric analysis with antibodies to NGF receptors p75LNGFR and p140trk, we defined that PMCs expressed p140trk but not p75LNGFR. Addition of herbimycin A or K-252a, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, to NGF resulted in blockage of the NGF-induced p140trk phosphorylation and restriction of the inhibitory activity of NGF on apoptosis of PMCs. These results indicated that NGF suppressed apoptosis of rat PMCs through the p140trk tyrosine phosphorylation and possessed no proliferative activity. Thus, NGF may act as a key factor to promote survival of connective tissue-type mast cells.

Nerve growth factor and cytokines mediate lymphoid tissue-induced neurite outgrowth from mouse superior cervical ganglia in vitro.

Superior cervical ganglia (SCG) from neonatal mice were cultured with adult murine lymphoid tissue explants in Matrigel (Collaborative Biomedical, Bedford, MA). After 1 and 2 days in culture, many neurites grew toward thymus and spleen. Normal mesenteric lymph node (MLN) induced a smaller effect; however, activated MLN (isolated from mice 10 days after infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis; Nb-MLN-10d) caused significantly increased neurite outgrowth. To determine the roles of nerve growth factor (NGF) and cytokines in the promotion of neuritogenesis by lymphoid tissues, anti-NGF and various anti-cytokines were added to cocultures. Anti-NGF inhibited most of the neurite outgrowth toward thymus and spleen but only partially that toward Nb-MLN-10d. Anti-mouse IL-1 beta also significantly reduced the number of neurites growing toward thymus, spleen, and normal MLN. The number of neurites growing toward Nb-MLN-10d was significantly reduced by anti-IL-1 beta, anti-IL-3, anti-IL-6, or anti-GM-CSF. Exogenous IL-1 beta and IL-3 caused neurite outgrowth in single SCG cultures; and the IL-1 beta-, but not the IL-3-, mediated effect was completely blocked by anti-NGF. In one-day thymus/SCG cocultures, endogenous IL-1 was not detectable at concentrations sufficient to cause nerve growth; however, ample NGF was present in the thymic tissues and culture supernatants, but not in SCG. These data suggest that IL-1 mediates NGF production in lymphoid tissues, which in turn induces the growth of sympathetic nerves. Moreover, IL-3, IL-6, or GM-CSF produced during inflammation might also play important roles in the stimulation of nerve growth in vivo.

Murine granulocyte-macrophage and mast cell colony formation promoted by nerve growth factor.

The nerve growth factor (NGF) is widely distributed in the target tissues of sympathetic neurons. Hemopoietic organs such as the bone marrow (BM) and spleens are known to be innervated by noradrenergic sympathetic neurons. Some of their constitutive cells express NGF receptors (lymphocytes and stroma cells) and its biologic effects have been extensively studied in the immune system and inflammatory responses. However, the effects of NGF on hemopoiesis have been little examined. Recently, we demonstrated that NGF promoted mast cell colony formation from murine BM cells (BMC) or BMC-derived cultured mast cells and induced the phenotypic changes in standard hemopoietic assays. Besides, we demonstrated NGF-enhanced murine neutrophil survival and functional properties. In this study, in order to investigate NGF activities on neutrophil differentiation, we examined granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony formation from murine BMC or spleen cells (SC) in the methylcellulose culture. We also assessed mast cell colony formation. GM colonies were counted on day 5 and mast cell colonies were counted on day 20 in culture. Although NGF alone (50 ng/ml) neither supported GM nor mast cell colony formation, addition of various doses of NGF to the suboptimal dose of pokeweed mitogen-stimulated SC-conditioned medium (2.5%) or interleukin 3 (50 U/ml), well-known colony-stimulating factors, increased the number of GM and mast cell colonies from both BMC and SC in a dose-dependent manner. These colony formation-enhancing effects of NGF were inhibited by the addition of neutralizing sheep anti-NGF antibodies. The results suggest that NGF may act to develop granulopoiesis including neutrophil and mast cell differentiation in cooperation with hemopoietic factor(s) during inflammatory processes.

Lymphoid tissues induce NGF-dependent and NGF-independent neurite outgrowth from rat superior cervical ganglia explants in culture.

Induction of neurite outgrowth from superior cervical ganglia (SCG) by rat lymphoid tissues was studied using a tissue culture model. Neonatal rat SCG were cultured with 6-12-week-old rat thymus, spleen, or mesenteric lymph node (MLN) explants in a Matrigel layer, in defined culture medium without exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF). SCG were also co-cultured with neonatal rat heart (as positive control) or spinal cord (SC; as negative control). To determine whether inflammation affects the ability of lymphoid tissues to induce neurite outgrowth, we also examined MLN at various times after infecting rats with Nip-postrongylus brasiliensis (Nb-MLN). In one series of experiments, a single lymphoid tissue explant was surrounded by four SCG at a distance of 1 mm. The extent of neurite outgrowth was determined by counting the number of neurites 0.5 mm away from each ganglion at several time points. Adult thymus and, to a lesser extent, spleen had strong stimulatory effects on neurite outgrowth from SCG after 12 hr or more in culture. For thymus tissue, this was similar to the positive control heart explants. MLN from normal rats had minimal effect on neurite outgrowth; however, Nb-MLN showed a time-dependent enhancement of the neurite outgrowth, maximal at 3 weeks after infection. The relative efficacy of neurite outgrowth induction (heart > or = thymus > or = Nb-MLN > or spleen > or = MLN > or = SC) was confirmed in a second series of experiments where one SCG was surrounded by three different tissue explants. We then examined the role of 2.5S NGF, a well-known trophic factor for sympathetic nerves, in the lymphoid tissue-induced neurite outgrowth. Anti-NGF treatment of co-cultures of SCG and heart almost completely blocked the neurite outgrowth. Anti-NGF also significantly inhibited thymus- and spleen-induced neurite outgrowth, but not as effectively as heart-induced neuritogenesis (93, 80, and 77% inhibition at 24 hr; 86, 70, and 68% inhibition at 48 hr for heart, thymus, and spleen, respectively). On the other hand, anti-NGF inhibited only 8% of neurite outgrowth induced by 3-week post-infection Nb-MLN at 24 hr, and 41% at 48 hr. These data show that several adult rat lymphoid tissues exert neurotrophic/tropic effects. The predominant growth factor in thymus and spleen is NGF, while Nb-MLN produces factor(s) which is (are) immunologically distinguishable from NGF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Nerve growth factor suppresses apoptosis of murine neutrophils.

We investigated inhibitory activity of nerve growth factor (NGF) on apoptosis of murine peritoneal exudate neutrophils. During culture for 9 h, apoptotic cells were identified by morphological changes under a light microscope: nuclear pyknosis and chromatin condensation with or without cytoplasmic vacuolation. The apoptotic state was confirmed by DNA fragmentation indicating the endogenous endonuclease activation. When neutrophils were incubated in the presence of NGF, the proportion of cells with the morphological changes was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and the development of the characteristic DNA fragmentation was restricted. The apoptosis-suppressing activity of NGF was abolished by the addition of anti-NGF monoclonal antibody. These results suggest that NGF may suppress neutrophil apoptosis by preventing the endogenous endonuclease activation.

Beneficial effects of troglitazone on neutrophil dysfunction in multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Patients with poorly controlled diabetes are at high risk of acquiring bacterial infections. However, conflicting results have been reported on neutrophil function in diabetes. We periodically evaluated neutrophil dysfunction in multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, and then evaluated the effects of troglitazone and other thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on the decline of neutrophil function. Zymosan was injected intraperitoneally and neutrophil infiltration and phagocytosis were evaluated. While phagocytosis of zymosan by peritoneal neutrophils was consistently reduced in diabetic mice, neutrophil infiltration was decreased on day 30, but increased on day 40 after STZ injection. The in vitro chemotactic and phagocytic activities of blood neutrophils in mice that did not receive zymosan were consistently reduced in diabetic mice. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated superoxide production by zymosan-induced peritoneal neutrophils and the levels of zymosan-induced tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta in peritoneal exudate fluids were also reduced in the diabetic mice. Treatment of the diabetic mice with troglitazone beginning 2 weeks after STZ injection did not improve hyperglycaemia but did prevent the decline of zymosan-induced neutrophil infiltration on day 30, and additionally promoted the increased infiltration on day 40. Troglitazone also promoted the chemotactic activity of blood neutrophils isolated from normal mice in vitro. Rosiglitazone but not pioglitazone induced a similar effect. Neutrophil phagocytosis was not enhanced by troglitazone either in vivo or in vitro. Taken together, neutrophil function is impaired by STZ-induced diabetes, but inflammatory infiltration does not always vary with the chemotactic disability or cytokine levels. Furthermore, troglitazone and rosiglitazone were suggested to improve at least neutrophil chemotactic activity in these animals.

Change from beta- to alpha-adrenergic glycogenolysis induced by corticosteroids in female rat liver.

The conversion of beta- to alpha-adrenergic glycogenolysis by corticosteroids was studied in perfused livers of mature female rats. Isoproterenol stimulated glucose production more effectively in female rats than in male rats, but the difference in its stimulatory effect disappeared in adrenalectomized (ADX) rats, whereas it remained in adrenodemedulated rats. When ADX female rats were treated with dexamethasone sulfate, alpha-responses increased and beta-responses decreased, depending on the concentration of dexamethasone sulfate. The treatment of female rats with 1.5 mg/kg dexamethasone sulfate changed the levels of the alpha- and beta-responses to those observed in male rats, and the changes were associated with changes in the number of receptors. Although periodicity of changes in plasma corticosterone levels was observed in both male and female rats, the extent of circadian variations was significantly lower in female rats during the estrous cycle than in male rats. The variations in plasma corticosterone levels and in both alpha- and beta-responses after ovariectomy approached those in male rats. The results suggest that the level of plasma corticosterone might play an important role in the regulation of the relative levels of alpha- and beta-adrenergic responses in female rats.

Changes in fructose-induced production of glucose in the rat liver following partial hepatectomy.

The fructose-induced production of glucose in the liver after partial hepatectomy (PH) was evaluated by using the liver-perfusion system. There was no significant difference in plasma glucose level between hepatectomized (HX) and sham-operated (SO) rats at 24 h after surgery, and, thereafter, almost similar levels were obtained in both groups. However, the level of serum free fatty acids (FFA) was significantly higher in HX rats than that in SO rats at 24 and 48 h after surgery. When both groups of rats were given fructose by gavage, the increment of plasma glucose was significantly larger in HX rats than in SO rats. Lactate infusion failed to increase the rate of glucose production in perfused livers of both HX and SO rats and there was no significant difference in the activity of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. By contrast, fructose infusion elicited a large increase in glucose production in the perfused livers of HX rats at 24 and 48 h after PH. The increase was closely associated with not the change in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels but the increment of the intracellular levels of citrate. Treatment of octanoate or oleate, which supplies acetyl-CoA via fatty acid oxidation, mimicked the fructose-induced increase in glucose production in SO rats with a concomitant increase in hepatic levels of citrate. These results suggest that the oxidation of FFA may play an important role in glucose production induced by fructose administration during the early phase of liver regeneration.

Endotoxin modulates arachidonic acid-induced glycogenolysis in the perfused rat liver.

Effects of endotoxin on arachidonic acid (AA)-induced hepatic glycogenolysis were examined in perfused rat liver. In normal rat liver, infusion of AA increased oxygen consumption and glucose production concurrently. In rats injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 6 h before, AA increased glucose production but suppressed oxygen consumption. The changes in LPS-injected rat were abolished by a thromboxane (Tx) A2 receptor antagonist. The release of Tx B2 by AA increased after LPS-injection. These results suggest that priming of hepatic macrophage by endotoxin in vivo enhances Tx synthesis, resulting in modulating hepatic glycogenolysis.