The effect of acute restraint stress on regional brain neurotransmitter levels in stress-susceptible pietrain pigs.

Concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), the DA metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) and the main 5-HT metabolite 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured using HPLC in 16 brain areas of control and immobilized Pietrain pigs. The animals were immobilized for 15, 30 and 60 min in the prone position. Control pigs showed patterns of regional distribution of brain monoamines similar to those described for rats, dogs and Duroc pigs. However, the absolute values of NA and A in the hypothalamus and preoptic area were much higher than those in rats and dogs, but similar to those in Duroc pigs. The concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites DOPAC and HVA were highest in the caudate nucleus, the nucleus accumbens, the olfactory tubercle and the ventral tegmental area. The distributions of serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA were similar in all examined structures. DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA ratios were higher in the cornu ammonis, the hippocampus posterior and the raphe nuclei than in other structures, which suggests brain structure-related differences in dopamine turnover. The greatest decreases in NA and A content were observed in the hypothalamus, the preoptic area and the olfactory tuberculum during the first 30 min of immobilization stress. 5-HT turnover was increased in the raphe nuclei, while DA turnover was affected in the raphe nuclei, the septum, the substantia nigra and the olfactory tubercle. We suggest that acute immobilization stress caused differences in regional patterns of brain biogenic amines, thereby maintaining adequate transmitter levels during stress in stress-susceptible pigs.

The influence of restraint immobilization stress on the concentration qf bioamines and cortisol in plasma of Pietrain and Duroc pigs.

Forty-five Duroc (recognized as not susceptible to stress) and 34 Pietrain (susceptible to stress) pigs were subjected to immobilization stress in a prone position for 5, 15, 30 and 60 min. Plasma concentrations of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and cortisol (C) were determined in response to restraint stress. The concentrations of E, NE and DA were different between the two strains of pigs (some significant interactions); the highest response was seen after 5 min of stress. The concentration of plasma C increased with duration of stress and there was a significant interaction between strain of animals and the time of stress. Our data substantiate the use of E, NE, DA and C as indicators of stress in swine as early as 5 min after exposure to the stressor. It is also shown that stress-susceptible Pietrain pigs had higher plasma concentrations of E, NE and DA than Duroc pigs.

Alterations of brain monoamine levels in pigs exposed to acute immobilization stress.

Concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), as well as DA metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) and the main 5HT metabolite, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), were measured using the HPLC technique in 15 brain areas of control and immobilized Duroc pigs. The animals were immobilized for 5, 15, 30 and 60 min in a prone position. Control pigs displayed patterns of regional distribution of brain monoamines similar to those described in other species, especially rats and dogs. However, absolute values of noradrenaline and adrenaline in the hypothalamus were much higher than in other species. Also, in most structures, the DOPAC/DA ratio was relatively high, in comparison to a relatively low HVA/DA ratio, which suggests a species-related difference in the turnover of dopamine. The most conspicuous changes produced by immobilization stress consisted of a substantial decrease in the hypothalamic levels of noradrenaline and adrenaline. Dopamine and 5-HT turnover was affected in the hippocampus (cornu Ammonis), and in the raphe nuclei. These structures are proposed to play a major role in the responsiveness of pigs to acute stress conditions.

[An immunocytochemical analysis of the hormonal status of animals transgenic for growth hormone genes and for a mini-gene of human growth hormone-releasing factor]. / Immunotsitokhimicheskii analiz gormonal'nogo statusa zhivotnykh, transgennykh po genam gormona rosta, i mini-gena rilizing-faktora gormona rosta cheloveka.

An immunocytochemical analysis of hormonal status of transgenic rats containing human growth hormone gene has been done. The enhanced expression of the endogenous growth hormone gene was demonstrated with poly- and monoclonal antibodies inside somatatropes of pituitary. No activity of the heterologous growth hormone gene was revealed in kidney, pancreas or liver as it might be expected according to specificity of MT1 and TAT promotors. Transgenic animals of F0, F1 and F2 generation exhibited disturbance of functional morphology of glucagon and insulin producing cells. Lymphocyte infiltration was found in pancreatic islets. The transgenic rabbits and swine with the gene of releasing factor of human growth hormone did not reveal any severe disturbance. Although one swine demonstrated alterations in glucagon producing cells and one rabbit revealed a disturbed morphology of the stomach tissues. The data are discussed in relation to general problems of transgene activity and interaction with endogenous homolog.

Changes in cathepsin D, acid autolytic activity, RNA, DNA in skeletal muscle and liver of mouse kept on high protein, carbohydrate and lipid diets.

The influence was studied of different diets on the activity of cathepsin D (PSCatD), pepstatin (PIA) and leupeptin (LIA) insensitive acid autolytic activity (AAA), RNA, DNA and protein in skeletal leg muscle (LM) and liver of 37 mice. The diets affected the weight of the liver and content of protein in the liver and LM. The protein:DNA ratio was lowest on high carbohydrate (HC) and commercial (C) diets in both tissues and about 3 times higher in LM than in the liver. The RNA:protein ratio was highest in the high protein-fat (HPF) and recommended (R) diet fed groups. The RNA:DNA ratio was lowest on HC and C diets. In the liver, PSCatD, AAA, LIA were lowest on HPF, and highest on HC diets, but for PIA on high fat-protein (HFP) and C diets, respectively. The highest activities were correlated with the lowest percentage of protein and fat in the diets (low energy diets). For LM, the highest activities were found on a C diet and lowest for PSCatD on HEP but for AAA, PIA, LIA on HC diets. Cathepsin D accounted for about 70% of hemoglobin degradation in the liver and 66% in LM. In AAA, cathepsin D participates in 58.5% and 50.5% in the liver and LM inhibition, respectively, but leupeptin accounted for about 15% and 27% (in the presence of Mg++) of inhibition.

Immunological and biochemical characterization of an epitope of the transferrin receptor involved in the production of interferon-gamma and B-cell growth factor.

We have investigated the effect of a newly developed monoclonal antibody, MoAb NDA9, on human lymphocyte function. This MoAb inhibits the capacity of peripheral blood lymphocytes to display blastogenic responses and to produce immunoglobulins when stimulated in vitro with PWM or with soluble antigens. The inhibitory effect seems to result from the decreased ability of T lymphocytes to produce B cell growth factors (BCGF) in the presence of MoAb NDA9. This antibody also blocks the capacity of polyclonal or monoclonal populations of activated human T cells to produce immune interferon (gamma) but has no direct effect on B cell activation and growth in T-cell-independent systems. Immunochemical studies of the antigen recognized by MoAb NDA9 showed that it is an epitope of the transferrin receptor molecule which is distinct from that recognized by the MoAb OKT9.