Free radical research communications最新文献

Nitric Oxide (NO) is synthesized in the intestinal tract and may serve as a physiological regulator of intestinal ion transport and/or a pathophysiologic mediator of secretory diarrhea associated with inflammatory mucosal diseases. Indirect approaches, employing inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase or compounds capable of donating NO in solution, have been used to demonstrate the effects on gastrointestinal muscle and the mucosa. To determine directly whether nitric oxide itself is capable of stimulating electrolyte secretion we mounted muscle-stripped rat distal colon in Ussing chambers and monitored short-circuit current (Isc), as an indicator of effects on mucosal ion transport. Comparisons were made to sodium nitroprusside (SNP). NO and SNP stimulated concentration-dependent (0.1 microM to 100 microM) increases in Isc, with NO being more potent than SNP. The EC50 for NO was approximately 8 microM compared to a value < 20 microM for SNP. The response to NO was immediate. In contrast, SNP required a mean lag-time of 41 +/- 4 seconds, and a significantly longer time was required for SNP to reach its maximum effect. The response to both of these agonists was blocked by bumetanide, indicating that they were stimulating a chloride ion secretory response. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor piroxicam, the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin and the inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, methylene blue, all inhibited the response to both agonists. These studies demonstrate that NO itself can stimulate chloride secretion by the rat colonic mucosa through a prostaglandin-dependent, and partially neural mechanism that may involve guanylate cyclase.

The interpretation of EPR and ENDOR measurements on an organic free radical which appears to be a universal concomitant of senescence in plants is discussed. On the basis of EPR spectra obtained at 95 GHz it is speculated that the radical is derived from a quinone.

Oxygen radicals are no doubt involved in the development of many pathological states. Nevertheless, the possibility that oxygen radical production was selected for during biological evolution in order to perform useful roles in relation to cellular metabolism is contemplated; previous data on this subject are briefly reviewed. The concept of an "oxygen radical cycle" is proposed as a useful theoretical model.

The antioxidant action of a series of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids has been investigated. Laudanosoline, protopapaverine, anonaine, apomorphine, glaucine, boldine, bulbocapnine, tetrahydroberberine and stepholidine produced a dose-dependent inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+/ascorbate, CCl4/NADPH or by Fe3+ ADP/NADPH. Apomorphine exerted the highest inhibitory effects in the three systems of induction used, with a potency higher than propyl gallate. Laudanosoline was particularly effective in the first system, while bulbocapnine and anonaine were more potent when CCl4/NADPH or Fe3(+)-ADP/NADPH were used as inducers. Laudanosoline, protopapaverine, apomorphine, tetrahydroberberine and stepholidine were also potent inhibitors of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction. The presence of a free hydroxyl group or preferably of a catechol group is a feature relevant for inhibition of lipid peroxidation and NBT reduction, nevertheless the antioxidant activity of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids cannot be only ascribed to the formation of phenoxy radicals and other free radical species may be formed during aporphine and tetrahydroprotoberberine oxidation. The influence of this series of compounds on the time course of lipid peroxidation suggests that some of them, like apomorphine and boldine act as chain-breaking antioxidants.

Experiments have been carried out to explore the use of a tetrazolium salt, MTT(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide in the detection of intracellularly generated superoxide in HeLa cells. From the use of a low molecular weight lipophilic mimic of superoxide dismutase, as well as superoxide dismutase, and inhibitors of superoxide dismutase, it is suggested that at least 20-30% of the intracellular reduction of MTT is due to superoxide. Whilst this may arise from mitochondria another possible intracellular source in HeLa cells may be xanthine oxidase. The overall rate of intracellular MTT reduction in HeLa cells is inversely dependent on levels of serum in the culture medium. Serum components with a modulatory role in this context are those with antioxidant function. Reduced MTT is also detectable extracellularly in cultures of HeLa cells and at least 80% of this is due to superoxide. Use of inhibitors suggest that whilst a small proportion (30%) may arise through an NADPH-oxidase type enzyme, other sources of extracellular superoxide in HeLa cells remain a possibility.

It is well known that oxygen enhances the relaxation of free radical EPR probes through spin lattice and Heisenberg spin-spin interactions with consequent effect on the line height and width. The two relaxation processes have opposing effects on the signal heights and depend on the concentration of oxygen, the incident microwave power, and the presence of other paramagnetic species. During EPR studies of chemical, biochemical, and cellular processes involving free radicals, molecular oxygen has significant magnetic influence on the EPR signal intensity of the free radical species under investigation in addition to affecting the rates of production of the primary species and the stability of the spin adduct nitroxides. These effects are often overlooked and can cause artifacts and lead to erroneous interpretation. In the present study, the effects of oxygen and ferricyanide on the EPR signal height of stable and persistent spin adduct nitroxides at commonly employed microwave powers were examined. The results show that under commonly adopted EPR spectrometer instrumental conditions, artifactual changes in the EPR signal of spin adducts occur and the best way to avoid them is by keeping the oxygen level constant using a gas-permeable cell.

The ability of neutrophils from a Holstein-Friesian calf with bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (the proband with a genetic deficiency of the Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) glycoprotein corresponding to the receptor of complement iC3b) to generate oxygen radicals was examined using electron spin resonance spectrometry (ESR) combined with a spin-trapping technique and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence spectrometry. When the neutrophils were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an ESR spectrum confirming the generation of superoxide anions (O2-) was clearly observed in both healthy and diseased calves. However, when the neutrophils were stimulated by opsonized zymosan, appearance of the ESR spectrum was recognized in the healthy calves but not in the diseased calf. Similar results were obtained from chemiluminescence experiments.

The objective of this study was to determine whether inhibition of intracellular catalase would decrease the tolerance of the heart to ischemia-reperfusion and hydrogen peroxide-induced injuries. Isolated bicarbonate buffer-perfused rat hearts were used in the study. Intracellular catalase was inhibited with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (ATZ, 1.5 g/kg body weight, two hours prior to heart perfusion). In the ischemia-reperfusion protocol, hearts were arrested with St. Thomas'II cardioplegic solution, made ischemic for 35 min at 37 degrees C, and reperfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer for 30 min. The extent of ischemic injury was assessed using postischemic contractile recovery and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage into reperfusate. In the hydrogen peroxide infusion protocol, hearts were perfused with increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (inflow rates 0.05-1.25 mumol/min). Inhibition of catalase activity (30.4 +/- 1.8 mU/mg protein in control vs 2.4 +/- 0.3 mU/mg in ATZ-treated hearts) affected neither pre-ischemic aerobic cardiac function nor post-ischemic functional recovery and LDH release in hearts subjected to 35 min cardioplegic ischemic arrest. Myocardial contents of lipid hydroperoxides were similar in control and ATZ-treated animals after 20 min aerobic perfusion, ischemia, and ischemia-reperfusion. During hydrogen peroxide perfusion, there was an increase in coronary flow rate followed by an elevation in diastolic pressure and inhibition of contractile function in comparison with control hearts. The functional parameters between control and ATZ-treated groups remained unchanged. The concentrations of myocardial lipid hydroperoxides were the same in both groups. We conclude that inhibition of myocardial catalase activity with ATZ does not predispose the rat heart to ischemia-reperfusion and hydrogen peroxide-induced injury.