Ratpost: a searchable database of protein-inactivating sequence variations in 40 sequenced rat-inbred strains.

Rat-inbred strains are essential as scientific tools. We have analyzed the publicly available genome sequences of 40 rat-inbred strains and provide an overview of sequence variations leading to amino acid changes in protein-coding genes, premature STOP codons or loss of STOP codons, and short in-frame insertions and deletions of all protein-coding genes across all these inbred lines. We provide an overview of the predicted impact on protein function of all these affected proteins in the database, by comparing their sequence with the sequences of the rat reference strain BN/SsNHsdMcwi. We also investigate the flaws of the protein-coding sequences of this reference strain itself, by comparing them with a consensus genome. These data can be retrieved via a searchable website (Ratpost.be) and allow a global, better interpretation of genetic background effects and a source of naturally defective alleles in these 40 sequenced classical and high-priority rat-inbred strains.

A low coefficient of variation in hepatic triglyceride concentration in an inbred rat strain.

BACKGROUND: Inbred strains are characterized by less genetic variation, which suggests usefulness of inbred strains for evaluations of various parameters. In this study, experimental reproducibility in several parameters was compared between an outbred Wistar rat and Wistar King A Hokkaido (WKAH/HkmSlc) rat, the inbred strain that is originated from Wistar rats. METHODS: Difference of variations was investigated in parameters of body compositions and liver functions such as body weight, liver weight, liver triglycerides (TG), liver cholesterol and plasma alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) between WKAH rats and outbred Wistar rats by using the coefficient of variation (CV). RESULTS: There was no difference in the CVs of body weight and relative liver weight between WKAH and Wistar rats. The CVs of body weight and relative liver weight were below 10% in both WKAH and Wistar rats. The CVs of TG, cholesterol, and ALT in Wistar rats were between 30 and 40%, whereas those in WKAH rats were between 10 and 25%. A low CV level of TG was observed in WKAH rats compared to that in Wistar rats regardless of the duration of the experimental period in those rat strains. CONCLUSION: The low CV values in metabolic parameters involved in liver functions in the inbred rats suggested an advantage of using inbred rather than outbred rats for the evaluation of liver lipid metabolism.

Phagocytosis in the retinal pigment epithelium of the RCS rat.

The retinal pigment epithelium of RCS rats, previously thought not to phagocytize photoreceptor outer segments, exhibited a peak of phagocytosis in vivo when animals were kept under conditions of cyclic lighting (12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light). The peak occurred at 1 hour after the onset of light, with maximum and minimum levels of phagocytosis averaging about 5 percent of that found in the pigment epithelium of Osborn-Mendel rats used as a control. Eyecups that were obtained from Osborn-Mendel rats and maintained for up to 3 hours in organ culture demonstrated levels of phagocytosis that were sevenfold greater than those of unincubated controls. Likewise a tenfold increase occurred in incubated as opposed to unicubated RCS eyes, raising the possibility that phagocytosis could be experimentally stimulated in vivo.

Strain differences in rat brain epinephrine synthesis: regulation of alpha-adrenergic receptor number by epinephrine.

Inbred tht strains Fischer 344 (F344) and Buffalo (BUF) differ in serveral physiological and behavioral measures. It was found that the activity of adrenomedullary and regional brain phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase is at least four times higher in F344 rats than in BUF rats; these strain-dependent differences corresponded directly with the epinephrine content of the medulla-pons and hypothalamus. Conversely, alpha-adrenergic receptor density in brain regions containing phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase is two to three times lower in F344 rats than in BUF rats; alpha-receptors in frontal cortex (a brain region lacking phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase activity and epinephrine) are similar in both strains. These findings suggest that strain-dependent differences in alpha-receptors are regulated by inherited differences in presynaptic adrenergic neuronal function in different brain regions.

Strain differences during intraventricular infusion of norepinephrine: possible role of receptor sensitivity.

Two rat strains previously shown to differ with respect to behavioral activity, regional brain tyrosine hydroxylase activity, and norepinephrine-elicited accumulation of adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate exhibited differential behavioral responsiveness during the intraventricular infusion of norepinephrine. The results are interpreted in terms of differential catecholamine receptor sensitivity.

Comparison of the nicotinamide catabolism among rat strains.

We discovered markedly differing catabolism of nicotinamide among rat strains. We compared the catabolism of nicotinamide and also that of the other tryptophan-nicotinamide and water-soluble vitamins among the four strains, Wistar, Sprague-Dawley (SD), August-Copenhagen Irish (ACI) and Fischer 344. The major urinary catabolite of nicotinamide was N(1)-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide in Wistar, SD and ACI, and N(1)-methylnicotinamide in Fischer rats. This phenomenon was attributed to the enzyme activity involved in the reaction of N(1)-methylnicotinamide to N(1)-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide being much lower in Fischer than in the other three strains. With the water-soluble vitamins, this specific phenomenon was only observed in the catabolism of vitamin B(6); the urinary catabolite, 4-pyridoxic acid, was much lower too. It was found for the first time that the activities of oxidase were lower in Fischer than in the other strains. This study showed that Wistar, SD, ACI strains had similar water-soluble vitamin metabolism including nicotinamide catabolism.

Isolation of multiple normal and functionally defective forms of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase from inbred Gunn rats.

Gunn rats are a mutant strain of Wistar rats that have unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to absence of hepatic uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT; EC. 2.4.1.17) activity toward bilirubin. We isolated five UDPGT isoforms from solubilized microsomal fractions from liver of inbred Wistar (RHA) rats and congeneic Gunn rats. UDPGT isoform V (elution pH 7.5) from Wistar (RHA) rats is active toward bilirubin and 4'-hydroxydimethylaminoazobenzene. The corresponding isoform from Gunn rat liver was enzymically inactive but exhibited normal elution pH and mobility on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Mr 53,000), and was recognized by a UDPGT-specific antiserum. UDPGT isoform I (elution pH 8.7) from Wistar (RHA) and Gunn rats was active toward 4-nitrophenol. The isoform from Gunn rat liver had only 10% of normal UDPGT activity, however UDPGT activity increased to normal upon addition of 15 mM diethylnitrosamine in vitro. Isoforms II (elution pH 8.4), III (elution pH 8.0), and IV (elution pH 7.8) from Gunn rats had normal UDPGT activities, except that Isoform IV was inactive toward bilirubin.

Muscle glucose metabolism following exercise in the rat: increased sensitivity to insulin.

Muscle glycogen stores are depleted during exercise and are rapidly repleted during the recovery period. To investigate the mechanism for this phenomenon, untrained male rats were run for 45 min on a motor-driven treadmill and the ability of their muscles to utilize glucose was then assessed during perfusion of their isolated hindquarters. Glucose utilization by the hindquarter was the same in exercised and control rats perfused in the absence of added insulin; however, when insulin (30-40,000 muU/ml) was added to the perfusate, glucose utilization was greater after exercise. Prior exercise lowered both, the concentration of insulin that half-maximally stimulated glucose utilization (exercise, 150 muU/ml; control, 480 muU/ml) and modestly increased its maximum effect. The increase in insulin sensitivity persisted for 4 h following exercise, but was not present after 24 h. The rate-limiting step in glucose utilization enhanced by prior exercise appeared to be glucose transport across the cell membrane, as in neither control nor exercised rats did free glucose accumulate in the muscle cell. Following exercise, the ability of insulin to stimulate the release of lactate into the perfusate was unaltered; however its ability to stimulate the incorporation of [(14)C]glucose into glycogen in certain muscles was enhanced. Thus at a concentration of 75 muU/ml insulin stimulated glycogen synthesis eightfold more in the fast-twitch red fibers of the red gastrocnemius than it did in the same muscle of nonexercised rats. In contrast, insulin only minimally increased glycogen synthesis in the fast-twitch white fibers of the gastrocnemius, which were not glycogen-depleted. The uptake of 2-deoxyglucose by these muscles followed a similar pattern suggesting that glucose transport was also differentially enhanced. Prior exercise did not enhance the ability of insulin to convert glycogen synthase from its glucose-6-phosphate-dependent (D) to its glucose-6-phosphate-independent (1) form. On the other hand, following exercise, insulin prevented a marked decrease in muscle glucose-6-phosphate, which could have diminished synthase activity in situ. The possibility that exercise enhanced the ability of insulin to convert glycogen synthase D to an intermediate form of the enzyme, more sensitive to glucose-6-phosphate, remains to be explored. These results suggest that following exercise, glucose transport and glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle are enhanced due at least in part to an increase in insulin sensitivity. They also suggest that this increase in insulin sensitivity occurs predominantly in muscle fibers that are deglycogenated during exercise.

Glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance: the importance of postbinding events in the regulation of insulin binding, action, and degradation in freshly isolated and primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

We have recently proposed that "down regulation" of the insulin receptor may be one of the many biological responses of a cell to insulin. In an attempt to further explore this hypothesis we have studied insulin action, binding, and degradation in freshly isolated hepatocytes from rats rendered insulin resistant by the administration of dexamethasone, 1.0 mg/kg every other day, for 1 and 4 wk, and in dexamethasone-treated (0.1 muM for 24 h) primary cultures of hepatocytes from normal rats. Dexamethasone treatment for 1 and 4 wk resulted in significant hyperinsulinemia and euglycemia when compared with age- and weight-matched control animals. Freshly isolated hepatocytes from rats treated with dexamethasone for 1 wk bound less insulin than cells from control animals. This decrease in insulin binding was reflected in a decrease in the total number of cellular insulin receptors upon solubilization of the cells. Insulin action was evaluated by the ability of insulin to stimulate the uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid. The basal rate of aminoisobutyrate uptake in freshly isolated hepatocytes was enhanced by 1 wk of dexamethasone treatment, and although there was an apparent shift to the right in the dose-response curve for insulin-stimulated aminoisobutyrate uptake, at no insulin concentration was there a significant difference in the uptake by hepatocytes from control and dexamethasone-treated animals. This was true whether expressed as a percentage or absolute increment above basal. Insulin degradation was enhanced in hepatocytes from animals treated with dexamethasone for 1 wk but could not account for the observed changes in insulin binding. Hepatocytes from animals treated with dexamethasone for 4 wk were resistant to insulin with regard to aminoisobutyrate uptake, yet both insulin binding and insulin degradation returned to the levels observed in hepatocytes from control animals. Primary cultures of hepatocytes from normal rats exposed to dexamethasone, 0.1 muM, in vitro for 24 h were similar to hepatocytes from rats treated with dexamethasone for 4 wk in that they were insulin resistant with regard to aminoisobutyrate uptake and had normal to increased insulin binding. Insulin degradation was also similar. These cells were resistant to the ability of insulin, 0.1 muM, to down regulate its receptor whereas parallel cultures treated with insulin in the absence of dexamethasone had a 52% decrease in insulin binding. These data indicate that hepatocytes that are insulin responsive respond to in vivo hyperinsulinemia by a decrease in the number of insulin receptors and by increased insulin degradation. Hepatocytes rendered resistant to insulin both in vivo and in vitro are resistant to these effects of insulin. These studies emphasize the importance of postbinding events in the modulation of insulin binding, action, and degradation, and support the hypothesis that down regulation of the hepatocyte insulin receptor is one of the many biological actions of insulin. They also help explain how a cell can be insulin resistant and have a normal number of insulin binding sites in the presence of hyperinsulinemia.

Increased cyclic guanosine monophosphate production and overexpression of atrial natriuretic peptide A-receptor mRNA in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) specifically stimulates particulate guanylate cyclase, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) has been recognized as its second messenger. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) have elevated plasma ANP levels, but manifest an exaggerated natriuretic and diuretic response to exogenous ANP when compared to normotensive strains. In isolated glomeruli, the maximal cGMP response to ANP corresponds to a 12- to 14-fold increase over basal levels in normotensive strains (Wistar 13 +/- 2; Wistar-Kyoto 12 +/- 2; Sprague-Dawley 14 +/- 2) while a maximal 33 +/- 3-fold elevation occurs in SHR (P < 0.001). This hyperresponsiveness of cGMP is reproducible in intact glomeruli from SHR from various commercial sources. Furthermore, this abnormality develops early in life, even before hypertension is clearly established, and persists despite pharmacological modulation of blood pressure, indicating that it is a primary event in hypertension. In vitro studies have revealed a higher particulate guanylate cyclase activity in membranes from glomeruli and other tissues from SHR. This increase is not accounted for by different patterns of ANP binding to its receptor subtypes between normotensive and hypertensive strains, as assessed by competitive displacement with C-ANP102-121, an analog which selectively binds to one ANP receptor subtype. The hyperactivity of particulate guanylate cyclase in SHR and its behavior under basal, ligand (ANP), and detergent-enhanced conditions could be attributed either to increased expression or augmented sensitivity of the enzyme. Radiation-inactivation analysis does not evoke a disturbance in the size of regulatory elements normally repressing enzymatic activity, while the expression of particulate guanylate cyclase gene using mutated standard of A- and B-receptors partial cDNAs, quantified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) transcript titration assay, manifests a selective increase of one guanylate cyclase subtype. Our data suggest that in hypertension, genetic overexpression of the ANP A-receptor subtype is related to the exaggerated biological response to ANP in this disease.

Effect of alterations in thyroid status on the metabolism of thyroxine and triiodothyronine by rat pituitary gland in vitro.

The metabolism of thyroxine (T(4)) was studied in slices of rat pituitary gland and liver from the same animal incubated in vitro with [(125)I]T(4) and 10 mM dithiothreitol. In the pituitary gland, generation of (125)I-labeled 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T(3)), as well as overall T(4) degradation, increased significantly at 24 h after thyroidectomy and by 2 wk were approximately five times control values. Conversely, following a single injection of T(3) (1.5 mug/100 g body wt), values for both functions were significantly decreased at 4 h, and reached a nadir of approximately 20% of control values at 12 and 24 h. Net T(3)-neogenesis accounted for approximately 70% of T(4) degradation in control pituitaries from intact rats. This proportion was increased by thyroidectomy and decreased by T(3) replacement. Indirect evidence indicated that thyroidectomy decreased, and T(3) administration increased, non-T(3) generating pathways of T(4) metabolism, probably 5-monodeiodination leading to formation of 3,3'5'-triiodothyronine (rT(3)). As judged from studies by others, the prompt changes in T(4) metabolism that followed thyroidectomy or T(3) administration could not be explained by changes in pituitary cell type. Changes in T(3)-neogenesis in liver were the converse of those in pituitary, and were much slower to occur. In the thyroidectomized rat, administration of cycloheximide resulted in an approximately 60% inhibition of pituitary T(3)-neogenesis and T(4)-degradation at 4 h, a time-course of inhibition similar to that produced by T(3). Unlike T(3), cycloheximide did not alter the proportion of T(4) degradation that could be accounted for by T(3) neogenesis, and appeared, therefore, to inhibit both T(3) generating and non-T(3) generating pathways. The time-course of the inhibitory effect of cycloheximide on the incorporation of [(3)H]leucine into hemipituitaries in vitro was parallel to its effect on T(3)-neogenesis. The inhibition of T(3)-neogenesis that occurred when T(3) and cycloheximide were given together did not exceed the effect of T(3) alone, suggesting a common mechanism of action of the two agents. FROM THE FOREGOING INFORMATION, THE FOLLOWING TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS ARE DRAWN: (a) turnover of the 5'-monodeiodinase for T(4) in rat pituitary is rapid, substantially more so than in liver; (b) thyroidectomy enhances, and T(3) inhibits, the conversion of T(4) to T(3) in the pituitary; these manipulations have opposite effecs on the non-T(3) generating pathways of T(4) metabolism, probably the 5-monodeiodination of T(4) that produces rT(3); (c) these changes are probably the result of parallel effects on the synthesis of the corresponding enzymes; (d) the changes in T(3)-neogenesis described may permit an intrapituitary feedback mechanism that damps the changes in TSH secretion mediated by classical feedback regulatory control; (e) the effects of hypothyroidism and T(3)-replacement on T(3)-neogenesis and overall T(4) degradation in liver were opposite to those produced in the pituitary. Hence, among differing tissues, the same stimuli may produce greatly different responses in pathways of peripheral T(4) metabolism, thus making possible differing metabolic sequelae within each.

Kinetics of N- and C-hydroxylations of 2-acetylaminofluorene in male Sprague-Dawley rat liver microsomes: implications for carcinogenesis.

The metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) has been studied in male Sprague-Dawley rat liver microsomes over a concentration range of 0.02 to 300 microM, and kinetic parameters have been determined for five oxidative pathways. The N-hydroxylation of AAF was best described by a single enzyme system with a mean Km of 0.033 microM and a mean Vmax of 3.63 pmol/mg/min. Pretreatment of animals with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) caused a marked induction of N-hydroxylase activity while phenobarbital had no effect. Biphasic kinetics for the 7-hydroxylation of AAF were observed in both control and TCDD- and phenobarbital-induced microsomes. The high-affinity Km [0.051 +/- 0.015 (S.E.) microM; n = 3] in control microsomes was 3 orders of magnitude lower than the low-affinity Km (103 +/- 16 microM; n = 3) indicating that each isoenzyme predominated at vastly different substrate concentrations. The mean Vmax values for the low- and high-affinity enzymes were 3.5 and 1351 pmol/mg/min, respectively. TCDD pretreatment markedly induced the activity of the low-capacity enzyme and reduced the activity of the high-capacity enzyme. Phenobarbital caused a significant induction of both enzyme pathways. Biphasic kinetics were also observed for the 5-, 3-, and 1-hydroxylations of AAF in control and phenobarbital-induced microsomes, but in TCDD-pretreated microsomes only 1-hydroxylation exhibited biphasic kinetics. TCDD caused a marked induction of these metabolic pathways while phenobarbital had no effect. Nonclassical kinetics were observed for the 9-hydroxylation of AAF, and at high substrate concentrations detoxification via this pathway and 7-hydroxylation predominated. However, at low concentrations, metabolic activation of AAF via N-hydroxylation was a major pathway. These data indicate that multiple forms of cytochrome P-450 are involved in AAF metabolism and that the balance between metabolic activation and detoxification of this substrate is dependent on both concentration and previous exposure to inducers.

Metabolism in the F344 rat of 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, a tobacco-specific carcinogen.

The metabolism of the tobacco-specific carcinogen, 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), was studied in the F344 rat, in which it induces tumors of the nasal cavity, liver, and lung. When NNK was incubated with rat liver microsomes and a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-generating system, metabolites resulting from alpha-hydroxylation, carbonyl reduction, and N-oxidation were isolated. alpha-Hydroxylation at the methylene carbon gave 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butanal, whereas alpha-hydroxylation at the methyl carbon gave myosmine and 4-hydroxyl-1-(3-pyridyl)butan-1-one. The formation of these products involved the intermediacy of electrophilic diazohydroxides or carbonium ions which may be proximate or ultimate carcinogens of NNK. Carbonyl reduction gave 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)butan-1-ol and N-oxidation yielded 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl-N-oxide)-1-butanone. When rats were gavaged with NNK, the microsomal products of alpha-hydroxylation were not detected in the 48-hr urine. Compounds which presumably resulted from further oxidation or reduction of these products, 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid, and 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)butan-1-ol, were isolated. 4-(N-Methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)butan-1-ol and 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl-N-oxide)-1 butanone were also urinary metabolites.

Cytochrome P-450-dependent xenobiotic metabolizing activity in Zymbal's gland, a specialized sebaceous gland of rodents.

Homogenates of Zymbal's glands from beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats and mice have 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity, while those from rats also have aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. Measured concentrations of cytochrome P-450 in microsomes from Zymbal's glands of beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats are not higher than those from untreated rats. Studies of inhibitors of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylation in homogenates of Zymbal's glands from beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats suggest that these enzyme activities are catalyzed by cytochrome P-450. These findings indicate that reactive metabolites of chemical carcinogens may be formed in Zymbal's gland, a target organ for chemical carcinogenesis.

Strain differences in cytochrome P450 mRNA and protein expression, and enzymatic activity among Sprague Dawley, Wistar, Brown Norway and Dark Agouti rats.

Rat cytochrome P450 (CYP) exhibits inter-strain differences, but their analysis has been scattered across studies under different conditions. To identify these strain differences in CYP more comprehensively, mRNA expression, protein expression and metabolic activity among Wistar (WI), Sprague Dawley (SD), Dark Agouti (DA) and Brown Norway (BN) rats were compared. The mRNA level and enzymatic activity of CYP1A1 were highest in SD rats. The rank order of Cyp3a2 mRNA expression mirrored its protein expression, i.e., DA>BN>SD>WI, and was similar to the CYP3A2-dependent warfarin metabolic activity, i.e., DA>SD>BN>WI. These results suggest that the strain differences in CYP3A2 enzymatic activity are caused by differences in mRNA expression. Cyp2b1 mRNA levels, which were higher in DA rats, did not correlate with its protein expression or enzymatic activity. This suggests that the strain differences in enzymatic activity are not related to Cyp2b1 mRNA expression. In conclusion, WI rats tended to have the lowest CYP1A1, 2B1 and 3A2 mRNA expression, protein expression and enzymatic activity among the strains. In addition, SD rats had the highest CYP1A1 mRNA expression and activity, while DA rats had higher CYP2B1 and CYP3A2 mRNA and protein expression. These inter-strain differences in CYP could influence pharmacokinetic considerations in preclinical toxicological studies.

Dynamic genetic architecture of metabolic syndrome attributes in the rat.

The polydactylous rat strain (PD/Cub) is a highly inbred (F > 90) genetic model of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic architecture of the metabolic derangements found in the PD/Cub strain and to assess its dynamics in time and in response to diet and medication. We derived a PD/Cub x BN/Cub (Brown Norway) F2 intercross population of 149 male rats and performed metabolic profiling and genotyping and multiple levels of genetic linkage and statistical analyses at five different stages of ontogenesis and after high-sucrose diet feeding and dexamethasone administration challenges. The interval mapping analysis of 83 metabolic and morphometric traits revealed over 50 regions genomewide with significant or suggestive linkage to one or more of the traits in the segregating PD/Cub x BN/Cub population. The multiple interval mapping showed that, in addition to "single" quantitative train loci, there are more than 30 pairs of loci across the whole genome significantly influencing the variation of particular traits in an epistatic fashion. This study represents the first whole genome analysis of metabolic syndrome in the PD/Cub model and reveals several new loci previously not connected to the genetics of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. In addition, it attempts to present the concept of "dynamic genetic architecture" of metabolic syndrome attributes, evidenced by shifts in the genetic determination of syndrome features during ontogenesis and during adaptation to the dietary and pharmacological influences.

Strain dependence of the metabolism of cis- and trans-isomers of 9-octadecenoic acid in perfused liver and cell-free preparation in rats.

Hepatic metabolism of cis- and trans-9-octadecenoic acid was compared in various strains of rats and under different nutritional states. In Wistar rats triacylglycerol secretion was consistently higher in livers perfused with the cis isomer than with the trans isomer, while the difference was considerably attenuated in Sprague-Dawley rats. The difference in the hepatic triacylglycerol secretion disappeared when rats were fasted for 2 days. The rate of oxidation of trans fatty acid to ketone bodies was remarkably much higher than the cis isomer in Wistar but not in Sprague-Dawley rats. After fasting, the difference in the ketone body production disappeared in Wistar rats, whereas the oxidation rate was rather lower in the trans isomer than in the cis isomer in Sprague-Dawley rats. In isolated mitochondria, ketogenesis from trans-9-octadecenoic acid was markedly lower than that from the cis counterpart, irrespective of the nutritional states or strains of rats, and correlated well with the substrate specificity of carnitine acyltransferase. The molar concentration of malonyl-CoA to cause 50% inhibition of ketogenesis, the rate of peroxisomal beta-oxidation and the activity of acyl-CoA oxidase were all comparable, irrespective of the substrate sources. The Km value for acyl-CoA oxidase to the trans-acyl-CoA was 2-times higher than that of the cis counterpart in both strains of rats. Thus, peroxisomal as well as mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation systems apparently discriminated between the geometrical differences of the fatty acid substrate.

Synthesis and biliary excretion of tyrosine-conjugated bile salts in Wistar rats.

Tyrosine-labelled free and glycine-conjugated bile acids were synthesized and radiolabelled with 125I to high purity. The synthetic method utilized excess tyrosine methyl ester hydrochloride (1.4 equiv.) and bile acid (one equiv.) via dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (1.4 equiv.) with yields of 90-93% for tyrosine bile acid conjugates and glycyltyrosine conjugates and 56-60% yields for the glycylglycyltyrosine conjugates. All of the eight iodinated tyrosine bile acids tested were rapidly excreted into bile following intravenous injection. In bile duct-cannulated rats with ligated renal pedicles under pentobarbital anaesthesia the percentages of injected dose recovered from bile within 20 min were as follows: cholylglycine ([14C]cholylGly), 81.2 +/- 1.3%; taurocholate ([14C]taurocholate), 94.3 +/- 1.0%; cholyltyrosine (125I-cholylTyr), 85.5 +/- 3.3%; deoxycholyltyrosine (125I-deoxycholylTyr), 87.9 +/- 6.3%; chenodeoxycholyltyrosine (125I-chenodeoxycholylTyr), 93.4 +/- 2.9; cholylglycyltyrosine (125I-cholylGlyTyr), 95.7 +/- 6.7%; deoxycholylglycyltyrosine (125I-deoxylcholylGlyTyr), 92.5 +/- 3.2%; chenodeoxycholylglycyltyrosine (125I-chenodeoxycholylGlyTyr), 94.1 +/- 3.1%; cholyldiglycyltyrosine (125I-cholylGlyGlyTyr), 85.2 +/- 3.6%, and deoxycholyldiglycyltyrosine (125I-deoxycholylGlyGlyTyr), 85.5 +/- 2.7%. Values are means +/- SD. Thus the biliary excretion of 125I-chenodeoxycholylGlyTyr, 125I-chenodeoxycholylTyr, 125I-deoxycholylGlyTyr and 125I-cholylGlyTyr was similar to that of [14C]taurocholate, the major naturally occurring bile acid in the rat, and the biliary excretion of all the tyrosine conjugates was similar to or exceeded that of [14C]cholylglycine. Conjugation with tyrosine enhanced the efficiency of plasma-to-bile transport of most naturally occurring bile acids. Comparison of glycyltyrosine conjugates with glycylglycyltyrosine conjugates suggests that any additional benefit derived by elongation of the side-chain is probably negated by obscuring the 12 alpha-hydroxyl function on the steroid nucleus in the bile acid glycylglycyltyrosine conjugates.

Lipids of plasma membranes from rat thymic lymphoid cells: deficiency of sphingomyelin.

Plasma membranes were isolated from normal thymocytes of Wistar-King-A rats and from Moloney virus-induced rat thymic leukemias (RML11 and RML30 cells) using a simplified method developed by us. All the isolated plasma membranes were electron-microscopically pure and enriched in the specific activities of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase in comparison with those of the corresponding whole cell homogenates. These plasma membranes as well as the original cells were analyzed for phopholipid composition and contents of phospholipid, cholesterol and plasmalogen. There was no difference in the phospholipid composition among the three plasma membranes. However, all the plasma membranes were deficient in sphingomyelin, namely, 1.8% for the normal thymocytes, 2.2% for the RML11 cells and 1.9% for the RML30 cells as percentage of the total phospholipid phosphorus. The contents of phospholipid (mumol per mg protein), cholesterol (mumol per mg protein) and plasmalogen (mol% to phospholipid) of the plasma membranes from both lines of malignant cells were lower than those of the normal thymocyte membranes. The molar ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid of the malignant cell membranes was also lower than that of the normal membranes, because in the former membranes the degree of decrease in the cholesterol content was higher than that in phospholipid content.

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine-induced alterations in colonic plasma membrane fluidity: restriction to the luminal region.

Recently, work in this laboratory has shown that changes in the 'dynamic' component of fluidity, lipid composition and phospholipid methylation activity of distal colonic brush-border membranes could be detected after administration of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine to rats of the Sherman strain for 5-15 weeks, i.e., before the development of colon cancer. The present experiments were therefore conducted to: determine whether similar 'premalignant' biochemical changes could be detected in basolateral membranes of Sherman rats treated with this agent; and clarify the relationship of these membrane changes to the malignant transformation process by examining the effect of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine on these biochemical parameters in colonic antipodal plasma membranes of rats of the Lobund-Wistar strain. This particular strain of rats has previously been shown to be total resistant to the induction of tumors by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. The results of the present experiments demonstrate that similar biochemical alterations could not be detected in the colonic plasma membranes prepared from either strain of rat treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. These data support the contention that the prior biochemical membrane alterations noted in brush-border membranes of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-treated animals are, in fact, related to the malignant transformation process and, furthermore, are confined to the luminal surface of distal colonic epithelial cells.