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Magnesium, the second most important intracellular cation is found in all tissues and may affect many function of the body. Magnesium deficiency can affect the behavior of other trace elements and minerals. Magnesium uptake in normal mice were investigated with 28Mg by tissue biodistribution and autoradiography)[1–3]. The present report describes the effect of varying quantities of dietary magnesium and calcium on the behavior of magnesium and 28Mg in mice organs, in particular the myocardium.

The present study was undertaken to clarify the effect of dietary protein level on the response of the taste nerve to NaCl solutions in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The results showed that the taste sensitivity to NaCl in SHRs fed a 5% whole-egg protein diet for 3 weeks was significantly lower than in those fed a 15% protein diet. This observation suggests that chronic feeding of a low-protein diet causes an impairment of salt-taste reception or subsequent transduction.

Our previous experiments have shown that the appetite or preference for alcohol is affected by the rat strain and nutritional status, such as dietary protein levels. To determine the affected factors in alcohol preference, the alcohol metabolism in SHRSP (stroke-prone spontaneous-ly hypertensive rats) and WKY (Wistar-Kyoto) rats fed with the stan-dard level (15%) or low level (5%) purified egg protein diet (PEP) was investigated. The animals were kept on the experimental diets for 4 weeks. After 12 h fasting, a 15% ethanol solution was given in a dose of 100mg ethanol per 100g body weight with a gastric probe to all animals and the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were determined. Compa-red with 15% PEP diet-fed SHRSP, WKY showed higher levels of blood ethanol and acetaldehyde. Furthermore, the same results were also observed in SHRSP and WKY fed with 5% PEP diet. On the other hand, regardless of the rat strain, rats fed a low level protein diet showed higher blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels. We also found that there was no significant change in alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and acetalde-hyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity between SHRSP and WKY. How-ever, both SHRSP and WKY fed a 15% PEP diet showed higher ADH and ALDH activity compared with rats fed the 5 % PEP diet. These results suggested that the affected factors of preference for alcohol may be correlated with blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels after alcohol intake.

To investigate the effect of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on plasma lipoprotein levels, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity and liver acetyl CoA carboxylase activity, highly concentrated EPA (78%) purified from sardine oil was fed to stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) for 30 days. Significantly (P < 0.05) lower systolic blood pressure and plasma total cholesterol were observed in rats fed an EPA diet. In addition, higher HDL cholesterol and lower VLDL cholesterol levels were found in rats fed the EPA diet as compared with rats fed the control diet. However, no significant change of plasma LDL cholesterol was observed in rats between the two dietary groups. EPA supplementation increased the activity of plasma LCAT in rats. In addition, rats fed an EPA diet had lower liver total lipids and adipose tissue weights. However, higher liver acetyl CoA carboxylase activity was observed in rats fed the EPA diet. Results from the present study suggest that dietary EPA might stimulate the plasma lipoprotein metabolism and also alter lipogenesis in the liver of SHRSP rats.

Influences of galactosylsucrose and xylosylfructoside on body mass gain, the digestive tract mass and concentrations of organic acids such as acetic, propionic, butyric, lactic and succinic acid in the cecum were compared among rats fed a cholesterol-enriched fiber-free diet [cholesterol 6 + cholic acid 1.5 (g/kg)] containing either galactosylsucrose, xylosylfructoside or sucrose (100 g/kg) or the above fiber-free diet without test sugar (control) for 21 d. Body mass gain was greater in rats fed sucrose, but not in rats fed galactosylsucrose or xylosylfructoside, than in control rats. The mass of the small intestine and colon plus rectum was larger in rats fed xylosylfructoside than in control rats. Cecal contents and cecal tissue mass were heavier, water content of cecal contents was higher, and pH and ammonia concentration of cecal contents were lower in rats fed diets containing xylosylfructoside than in control rats. Galactosylsucrose had similar effects, although not all differences were significant. The concentration of hydrogen ion in cecal contents positively correlated to total cecal concentration of measured organic acids and to amount of cecal contents. Total concentration of measured organic acids in cecal contents positively correlated to cecal tissue mass. The estimated contribution of galactosylsucrose, xylosylfructoside and sucrose for body mass deposition were 0.19, -0.29 and 0.51 (g body mass gained/g sugar), respectively.

Carbon dioxide is a potent irritant of the oral and nasal mucosa. In the mouth, carbonated solutions produce sensations of tingling, prickling, and burning. While much of this can be accounted for by the contribution of trigeminal innervation to these areas, gustatory nerve input may also be an important component of the total sensation. We have shown that carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity is required for the lingual trigeminal nerve responses to CO2 [1]. In the chorda tympani nerve, however, the acute inhibition of CA produced by an intravenous injection of acetazolamide was not observed, as was the case in the lingual trigeminal nerve. MK-927 (Merck Sharp and Dohme, West Point, PA) is a topically applied carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that decreases intraocular pressure in rabbits and humans [2]. We tested the ability of MK-927 and two CA inhibitor analogs to affect the responses of the chorda tympani nerve to dissolved CO2 stimuli on the tongue.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells [1] are today a very important host for the commercial-scale production of protein pharmaceuticals. Two sub clones of CHO cells, proline-requiring CHO K1 [2] and the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene-deficient CHO DG44 [3], are the most widely used for both scientific research and industrial applications [4][5,6]. Previously, we constructed a genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library from mouse Dhfr-amplified CHO DR1000L-4N cell genome, which was provided 5-fold coverage of the CHO cell genome and analyzed the structure of amplicons of exogenous Dhfr amplification [7]. The BAC clones of this library could be landmarks for a physical map for CHO cell genome that are essential to the basic research and industrial application of CHO cell genome. In this study, we constructed the detail chromosomal physical map of CHO DG44 cell and investigated the chromosome rearrangements among CHO K1, DG44, and primary Chinese hamster cells. Moreover, to determine the effect of the palindrome structure on Dhfr amplification in CHO cells, we constructed three types of expression vectors with or without the junction region of the proposed amplicon and investigated the gene amplification and expression levels in transfected CHO DG44 cells.

The effects of a protein-free diet or food restriction on the immune system were examined in two rat strains, Wistar and Buffalo, in different age-groups. Unlike Wistar rats, Buffalo rats have an unusually hyperplastic thymus and a large number of peripheral T cells. The protein-free diet (PFD) in rats resulted in marked thymic involution together with a reduction of splenic T cells, both in number and in antibody response to sheep red blood cells. The depressive effect of the PFD on the immune system was more serious in young immature rats than in older rats, but less serious in Buffalo rats having enhanced T cell functions regardless of age. Thymic involution wa also accelerated in both strains of rats by feeding them a restricted amount of the control diet containing well-balanced nutrients (food restriction, FR). In the FR experiment, no significant change was observed in immune functions of Wistar rats. A slight reduction was observed in the immune functions of Buffalo rats with FR, but absolute levels were distinctly higher in Buffalo rats than in Wistar rats even after FR. These results suggested (1) that the thymic function is sensitive to protein deficiency; (2) that a well-balanced dietary condition is necessary for immunological maturation in the early stage of life and preservation of immune functions at older age; (3) that animals having higher immune functions are more resistant to malnutrition than ordinary ones.

Rats were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (5% lard, 0.5% cholesterol, and 0.25% sodium cholate) containing 5% of dietary phospholipid as safflower phospholipid (SAP), soybean phospholipid (SOP), or egg yolk phospholipid (EGP), or 5% of soybean oil (SO) as a control for 4 weeks. The concentrations of plasma cholesterol were significantly higher in rats fed the EGP diet than those of the other diets. Similarly, the concentrations of chylomicron plus very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol were higher in rats fed the EGP diet. The phospholipid diets induced a significant increase of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in comparision with the SO diet. The concentrations of liver cholesterol were significantly lower in rats fed the phospholipid diets than those of the SO diet. Among phospholipid-fed rats, the SAP and SOP diets decreased the concentrations of liver cholesterol compared with the EGP diet. The activity of plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyl-transferase (LCAT) was significantly increased in rats fed the phos-pholipid diets. The phospholipid diets caused an enhanced excretion of neutral steroids into feces. Among phospholipid-fed rats, the SAP and SOP diets increased the excretion of fecal neutral steroids compared with the EGP diet. The fatty acid composition of HDL phospholipid was slightly reflected by the major dietary fat source. These results suggest that SAP and SOP inhibit markedly the absorption of dietary cholesterol in the small intestine of hypercholesterolemic rats and that the effect of SAP and SOP on plasma cholesterol metabolism may be different from that of EGP.

The effect of dietary safflower phospholipid (Saf-PL) and soybean phospholipid (Soy-PL) on plasma, liver, and fecal lipids in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet was compared with that of triglyceride mixture (controls). Triglyceride mixture (SP-Oil) of safflower oil and palm oil (8:2) contained almost comparable amounts of linoleic acid to safflower phospholipid or soybean phospholipid. Concentration of total cholesterol in plasma of rats fed the Saf-PL and Soy-PL diets were significantly decreased in comparison with that of the SP-Oil diet. Similarly, both Saf-PL and Soy-PL induced a reduction in the concentration of liver cholesterol compared with SP-Oil; Saf-PL indicated the lowest value. Saf-PL only significantly increased the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The level of chylomicron plus very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol was lower in rats fed the Saf-PL and Soy-PL diets than that of the SP-Oil diet. The activity of plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was increased in rats fed Saf-PL and Soy-PL. Saf-PL and Soy-PL caused an enhanced excretion of fecal neutral steroids, but not acidic steroids compared with SP-Oil. These results suggest that, in addition to soybean phospholipid, safflower phospholipid suppresses the elevation of plasma and liver cholesterol and that this effect may be brought about by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine.

The interaction of rat plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase with lecithin-cholesterol vesicles and with rat apo-A-I was studied in comparison with that of human plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase to clarify the reaction mechanism of rat plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase. The interaction of both human and rat lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase with lecithin-cholesterol vesicles was investigated by gel permeation chromatography on Superose 12. Both enzymes had almost the same affinity to the vesicles. The affinity of rat enzyme to rat apo-A-I was stronger than that of human enzyme to human apo-A-I when estimated on the apo-A-I-Sepharose 4B column. When human apo-A-I was added to the human enzyme/vesicle mixture which contained the enzyme-vesicle complex, the enzyme was effectively dissociated from the complex. But when rat apo-A-I was added to the rat enzyme/vesicle mixture, apo-A-I-enzyme-vesicle complex was still recognized by its elution pattern on gel permeation chromatography. This suggests that the mixture of rat enzyme, rat apo-A-I, and vesicles, which are the major components in the rat lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase reaction, forms a stronger complex than do the components of the human reaction.

The effect of safflower phospholipid (SP) on plasma and liver lipids in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet was examined. Tri-glyceride mixture (SPO) of safflower oil and palm oil (8:2) containing almost comparable amounts of linoleic acid to safflower phospholipid was used as a control diet. Similarly, the effect of paste safflower phospholipid (PSP) which contains approximately 45% of neutral lipid was also compared to safflower oil (SO). Concentrations of total cholesterol in plasma and liver of rats fed the SP diet were markedly decreased in comparison with those of the other diets, but a slight reduction of total cholesterol in plasma and liver was observed in rats fed PSP diet. SP and PSP induced a reduction in the plasma level of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as well as an increase in the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The activity of plasma lecithincholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was greatly increased in rats fed SP diet. These results suggest that the safflower phospholipids suppress the elevation of plasma and liver cholesterol and that this effect may depend on the phospholipid content in dietary lipid.

Previously we found that appetite or preference for sodium chloride depends not only on a genetic factor, but also on the nutritional status, i.e., dietary protein levels. To determine whether all kinds of protein had reducing effects on sodium chloride intake, the effect of dietary protein source on appetite or preference for sodium chloride was studied. It was found that the effect depended not only on protein levels, but also on the protein sources, i.e., amino acid patterns of diets. On the other hand, the turnover time of gustatory taste bud cells was measured by the pulse-labeled method using 3H-thymidine. It was found that the turnover time of gustatory cells in the taste buds of rats fed a low-protein diet was longer than in rats fed a high-protein diet. This suggested that some reduction of receptor functions may occur with low-protein diet. It was found that the dietary protein levels and umami also modified appetite or preference for alcohol solutions.

The therapeutic efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of malignant tumors utilizing is related to the capability of the photosensitizer to produce excited singlet molecular oxygen(1-0). This work is devoted to the study on detection of 102 molecules produced by two chlorin-type dyes, pheophorbide a (PPa) and chlorin e6Na (Chl) using a highly sensitive near-infrared spectrometer and comparison of their emitted intensity was made with hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) and Rhordamin 123 (Rd) in water and methanol. By the irradiation of an Ar or Kr laser light, near-infrared emission spectra around 1.27 jim from the 102 molecules were detected in HpD and Chi aqueous solutions, as well as in Chl, PPa, and Rd methanol solutions. The ratio of their emission intensities at 1.27 jim is found to be 1 : 3.7 : 22 : 15 1 for HpD and Chi aqueous solutions and Chl, PPa, and Rd methanol solutions, respectively. These quantitative results support the conclusion that because of greater production of 102 molecules, PPa and Chl provide more effective SPIE Vol. 1203 Photodynamic Therapy: Mechanisms 11(1990) / 97 photosensitized dyes for the PDT following 102 molecule generation than HpD or Rd when used in conjunction with the laser-excitation and endoscopy.

[48V]Vanadyl-chlorine e6Na (48V-Chl) which was synthesized by insertion of 48V (positron emitter) into chlorine e6Na (Chl), a chlorophyll derivative having a similar structure to pheophorbide-a (Pheo), localized rapidly in experimental mammary carcinoma. The tumor-to-organ ratios of 48V-Chl were higher than those of 48V-labeled Pheo (48V-Pheo), and 48V-Chl showed a clear tumor image with low accumulation in liver, depending on the biodistribution of metal-free Chl having an affinity with tumor. 48V-Chl seems to be more suitable than 48V-Pheo as a tumor-imaging agent for photodynamic therapy of tumors.

The positron emitting metal-chelates were synthesized, and they were evaluated as a tumor imaging agents in tumor-bearing animals. [48V]vanadylpheophorbide a (48V-Pheo) was synthesized by insertion of 48V into pheophorbide (Pheo), a decomposition of product from chlorophyll. Furthermore, as a new derivative, 48V was inserted into Chlorine e6Na (Chi) which was similar to Pheo but it has hydrophilic properties. The time for attaining the maximum uptake of [48V]vanadyl-chlorin e6Na [48V-Chl] in tumor tissue after injection was 12 hrs, while that of 48V-Pheo was 24 hrs. These results suggested that 48V-Chl may be useful as a positron emitting agent for diagnosis and phototheraphy for tumors. On the other hand, it was shown that [45xi] titanium ascorbate (45Ti-AsA) is also useful diagnostic agent for brain tumor. Both 48V- and 45Ti- chelate compounds may be applied to positron tomography as tumor imaging agent.

Mice fed a 40% restricted diet until 1 year of age showed a 35% drop in body weight and markedly lower weights in the central lymphoid organs such as spleen and thymus than those of unrestricted mice. In contrast, the percentage of splenic Thy 1.2+ T cells was dramatically increased by dietary restriction. Splenic Ly 1+ T cells were also increased in the restricted mice. Spleen cells of the restricted mice revealed significantly higher responses not only in macrophage (MP)-dependent responses such as concanavalin A response and mixed-lymphocyte reaction but also in MP-independent T cell responses to recombinant interleukin 2 even at 1 year of age. These results strongly suggest that dietary restriction causes an enrichment of Thy 1.2+ T cells in spleen and augments the functions of T cells in mice.

Subcutaneous administration of capsaicin (5 mg/kg) immediately increased the temperature of the tail skin (Tsk) for 2 h in urethan-anesthetized rats, suggesting an increase in heat loss. O2 consumption, an index of heat production, also immediately increased after the capsaicin injection, and this increase lasted for >10 h. Colonic temperature (Tco) decreased within 1 h after the injection, and this decrease was followed by a long-lasting hyperthermic period. Adrenal demedullation largely attenuated the capsaicin-induced increase in O2consumption, and sympathetic denervation of the interscapular brown adipose tissue partly attenuated the increase in O2 consumption. However, capsaicin-induced heat loss was normal in these rats. In rats with cutaneous vasodilation maximized by warming and administration of hexamethonium, capsaicin did not further increase Tsk but normally induced heat production, and Tco gradually rose without a hypothermic period. Thus capsaicin simultaneously increased heat loss and heat production, and inhibition of one response did not affect the other. These findings suggest that capsaicin simultaneously activates independent networks for heat loss and heat production.

1日の摂取食品数が多くなるにつれて, 栄養素の摂取量も多くなり, 栄養所要量が満たされる傾向がある。ビタミンE (VE) に関しても, 1日の食品数を30以上摂取した場合, 必要量が摂取されるならば, 栄養指導法として簡単で普及しやすい。1日の食事中の摂取食品の数およびVE含有量と他の食物要因との関係を調査するため, 秋田県に居住する健康な子ども (女子13名, 男子12名: 調査時の年齢2歳11ヵ月～3歳2ヵ月) とその母親 (年齢23～35歳, 平均年齢29.6±2.5歳) の25組 (50名) について検討を行った。その結果は以下の如くである。1) 1日の摂取食品数は, 子ども23.2±5.0, 母親25.9±4.9, 母子合わせたものでは24.5±5.1であり, 30品目以上摂取しているものは14%にすぎなかった。2) 動物性食品数の摂取状況は, 子どもと母親において, 各々5.4±1.4, 5.7±2.2であり, また, 植物性食品数は各々17.8±4.2, 20.2±4.2であり, 植物性食品数の摂取食品数に占める割合は77.6%であった。3) 食事中の摂取α-トコフェロール当量 (α-Toc-eq) 値と摂取食品数との相関関係はγ=0.5であった。日本人の必要量を満たすためには (米国のVE勧奨値を参考にして考えると), 子どもでは26, 母親では30以上の食品数を毎日摂取することにより, 必要なVE量が摂取できる可能性が示唆された。4) 摂取α-Toc-eq値と植物性食品数との相関関係はγ=0.5であり, 上述の必要量を満たすためには, 植物性食品数は子どもでは20, 母親では23以上を摂取することにより, 必要なVE量が摂取できる可能性が示唆された。5) VEの必要量を摂取するためには, 動物性脂肪比を36%以下に抑える努力が必要であると考えられる。6) 摂取α-Toc-eq値と他の食物要因との相関関係については, 植物性食品とは正の関係, 一方, 動物性食品とは負の関係にあった。

The preparation of no-carrier-added48V(IV) and48V(V) from a natural titanium target irradiated by a proton beam has been developed. The48V recovered from the target by solvent extraction was purified as48V(V) with a cation exchange column and then converted to48V(IV) by reduction with ethanol. One hour irradiations at 10 μA of 18 MeV protons gave approximately 2mCi (a radiochemical yield of 41%) of radiochemically pure and almost salt-free48V(IV) and48V(V) with high specific activities. They were shown to be suitable for biological tracer use.

It has been known that the intestinal epithelial cell is characterized by a rapid cell turnover and by a gradient of differentiation from crypt to villas. The present study was undertaken to clarity the effect of diet on the migration and the maturation of the intestinal epithelial cells. The transit time from the crypt to the extrusion zone at the villus tip was determined with tritiated thymidine. To study the maturation of the cells the distribution of the terminal digestive enzymes, maltase [EC 3. 2. 1. 20] and leucylnaphthylamidase [EC 3. 4. 1. 1], along the villus and crypt was analyzed quantitatively. And total activities of the same enzymes were assayed also in the mucosal homogenates. It was observed that the decrease in the migrating speed of villus cells was brought by energy restriction and the decrease in the migrating speed was associated with an increase of the enzyme activities in the upper zone of villus. And the result was that the intestinal epithelial cells which decrease in migrating speed by dietary restriction become more mature on the upper villus than those with unrestricted control.

Chlorin e6Na (Chl), a hydrophilic chlorophyll derivative structurally similar to pheophorbide a (Pheo), had less cell-killing effect on FM3A cells than Pheo. Its cell-killing effect was suggested to be based on the damage of the cell membrane through the same mechanism as that of Pheo, because Chl was distributed mainly in the plasma membrane fraction.The time required for the maximum build-up of Chl in FM3A tumor tissue after injection was 2-8h. The photodynamic therapy (PDT) at 6 or 24h following administration of Chl caused shorter survival of FM3A tumor-bearing mice in comparison with that obtained when Pheo was used. However, the tumor-to-organ ratios of Chl at 24h after injection were higher than those of Pheo, and Chl was excreted more rapidly from normal tissues than from tumor tissue and had little phototoxicity on normal organs. From these characteristics, Chl may be more suitable as a photosensitizing agent in PDT than Pheo.

The inhibition rate of L (-) pantothenate as an antagonist of D (+) pantothenate was discussed from the viewpoint of growth and lipid metabolism. The growth rate of mice given pantothenate-deficient diets containing L (-) pantothenate (300 mg per 100 g diet) was markedly decreased, and such pantothenate-deficient symptoms as “spectacle eyes” appeared. However, it was recovered by the simultaneous addition of D (+)pantothenate. This result suggests that L (-) pantothenate is an antagonist of D (+) pantothenate. The same phenomenon was observed in a rat experiment. The growth of rats given L (-) pantothenate was extremely poor but recovered by the simultaneous addition of D (+) pantothenate. Its complete recovery was seen when the ratio of L (-) pantothenate to D (+) pantothenate reached 100:1. The same tendencies were observed in the liver levels of total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride, and also in the lipoperoxide values. This experiment suggests that the inhibition rate of L (-) pantothenate to D (+)pantothenate in animals is similar to that of DL-ω-methyl pantothenate.

The effects of vitamin A deficiency, which results in a substantial decrease in the level of serum retinol binding protein, on the existent state of serum thyroxine and thyroid function were examined. In the vitamin A-deficient rats, the thyroid weight increased and the level of serum thyroxine decreased to one half that of the control rats. Normal thyroid weight and serum thyroxine levels were recovered by the replenishment of retinyl palmitate in the vitamin A-deficient rats. In addition, decreased hormone synthesis was observed in the thyroid glands of the vitamin A-deficient rats. The determination of thyroxine distribution in rat serum proteins in vivo showed that thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) is a major thyroxine transport protein in the control rats, whereas in the deficient rats the amount of thyroxine bound to TBPA decreased and the thyroxine bound to thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) increased significantly as compared with observations in control rats. These findings suggest that the existent state of serum thyroxine and thyroid function is affected by the serum level of vitamin A.

The effects of voluntary exercise on growth and food intake, body composition, organ weight, and fatty acid composition of adipose tissue of mice fed on a 20% casein diet or a 10% casein diet were examined. The weight gain was greater for the 20% casein nonexercise group (20% NE) than that for the 20% casein exercise group (20% E), 10% casein exercise group (10% E) and 10% casein nonexercise group (10% NE). There were no significant differences between the groups except the 20% NE. In 20% E and 10% E, body fats decreased markedly. On the other hand, a very high ratio of protein was present in the body composition of both groups. In the 20% and 10% casein diet groups, food intake was increased by voluntary exercise, but there was no significant difference between 1000 E and 10% NE except occasional periods during these experiments. After 6 weeks of age, 1000 E had a tendency to undertake more voluntary exercise than 20% E, though the difference was not statistically significant. Development of the heart and gastrocnemius muscles was accelerated by voluntary exercise and epididymal fat tissue was markedly decreased.

The effect of voluntary exercise on serum lipoprotein distributions, lecitin:cholesterol acryltransferase (LCAT) activity and serum electrophoretic patterns of mice fed different levels of dietary protein were investigated. Serum cholesterol of all exercise groups (E) showed a lower value than that of the non-exercise groups (NE). Ratios of cholesteryl ester to serum total cholesterol tended to be higher in the exercise groups than in non-exercise groups. High density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol/serum total cholesterol ratios and HDL-cholesterol/low density lipoprotein(LDL)-cholesterol ratios were increased by voluntary exercise. With regard to low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, there were significant differences between 20% E and 20% NE groups, 4% NE groups, respectively. It was found that HDL fractions in serum lipoprotein patterns of exercise groups differed from those of non-exercise groups. This seemed to be prominent in low protein diet groups. LCAT acitivity showed decreasing values as dietary protein levels decreased and its activity was raised by voluntary exercise in all groups.

The concentrations of plasma glucose, lactate and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) (EC 4.1.1.32) were studied in caesarian-delivered newborn rats of diabetic mothers (IDM) and normal mothers, at time-intervals up to 6 hr after delivery. Glucose concentrations in plasma of cord blood of IDM were significantly higher than those in normal newborn rats. The glucose concentration of normal newborn rats decreased markedly during 1 hr after delivery and thereafter increased gradually. However, the glucose concentration of IDM decreased to a minimum at 4 hr after delivery and thereafter increased. Lactate concentration in plasma of cord blood was high at delivery. Plasma lactate concentration of normal newborn rats decreased rapidly during 2 hr after delivery. However, plasma lactate concentration of IDM increased during 1 hr after delivery and thereafter decreased markedly over the next 5 hr. Hepatic soluble PEPCK activity in caesarian delivered rats was low at birth. The activity of normal infants increased after a lag of 2 hr whereas the activity of IDM increased after a lag of 4 hr. The concentrations of plasma glucose and hepatic PEPCK activity were measured as a function of time after the administration of glucose (5 g/kg body weight) to caesarian-delivered newborn rats. The glucose concentration increased to a maximum at 2 hr after administration and decreased markedly over the next 2 hr. The development of enzyme activity was delayed in administered rats. The glucose concentration and hepatic PEPCK activity were measured as a function of time after the intraperitoneal injection of insulin (250 mU/rat) into caesarian-delivered rats from diabetic pregnant rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The inhibitory effect of pheophorbide on the mutagenicity of benzo (a) pyrene with or without light irradiation was studied. Without light irradiation, 250 μg pheophorbide reduced the mutagenicity of benzo (a) pyrene to about 90%. This inhibitory effect was the same or stronger than that of hemin. On the other hand, pheophorbide was rendered mutagenic by exposure to light, and the mutagenicity was 40% that of 5 μg benzo (a) pyrene. When 5 μg benzo (a) pyrene coexisted with 250 μg pheophorbide under light irradiation, the mutagenicity of benzo (a) pyrene was apparently reduced to 30% because of the antimutagenic effect of pheophorbide.