This study was performed to find out the influences of ethanol on the metabolism of trichloroethylene(TRI) in rats. TRI in corn oil at the dosage of 150, 300, 600 mg/kg was injected peritoneally once a day for two days to two groups. In one group ethanol(4 g/kg) was taken orally 30 minutes before TRI injection, and the other group ethanol was not. The results of experiments are as follows: 1. The contents of cytochrome P-450 and b5 had inverse relationship with in-jected TRI amounts in both groups. 2. The activity of NADPH P-450 reductase was decreased slowly in TRI injected group related with TRI amount, but decreased drastically in the group pretreated with ethanol. 3. The activity of NADH b5 reductase had relationship with injected TRI amount, but the statistical significance was found only in the groups of 300 and 600 mg/kg of TRI injected without relevance to ethanol when compared with the group that was not injected. 4. The activity of ADH was more decreased and ALDH activity was more increased in groups that TRI injected and ethanol was pretreated with ethanol groups than in group without any treatment. These results suggest that ethanol may inhibit epoxide formulation, the first step or TRI metabolism, and change from TCE-OH to TCA also.
Animals ; Corn Oil ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Ethanol* ; Liver* ; Metabolism ; NAD ; NADP ; Oxidoreductases ; Rats* ; Trichloroethylene*

An extracellular lipase from Aureobasidium pullulans was obtained and purified with a specific activity of 17.7 U/mg of protein using ultrafiltration and a DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column. Characterization of the lipase indicated that it is a novel finding from the species A. pullulans. The molecular weight of the lipase was 39.5 kDa, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfonate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme exhibited its optimum activity at 40 °C and pH of 7. It also showed a remarkable stability in some organic solutions (30%, v/v) including n-propanol, isopropanol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and hexane. The catalytic activity of the lipase was enhanced by Ca²⁺ and was slightly inhibited by Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ at a concentration of 10 mmol/L. The lipase was activated by the anionic surfactant SDS and the non-ionic surfactants Tween 20, Tween 80, and Triton X-100, but it was drastically inhibited by the cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Furthermore, the lipase was able to hydrolyze a wide variety of edible oils, such as peanut oil, corn oil, sunflower seed oil, sesame oil, and olive oil. Our study indicated that the lipase we obtained is a potential biocatalyst for industrial use.
Ascomycota/enzymology* ; Calcium ; Catalysis ; Corn Oil/metabolism* ; Detergents/chemistry* ; Enzyme Stability ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry* ; Glucans/chemistry* ; Hexanes/chemistry* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolysis ; Industrial Microbiology ; Lipase/chemistry* ; Manganese/chemistry* ; Olive Oil/metabolism* ; Peanut Oil/metabolism* ; Sesame Oil/metabolism* ; Substrate Specificity ; Sunflower Oil/metabolism* ; Surface-Active Agents ; Temperature ; Zinc/chemistry*

Trichloroethylene (TRI) is one of the most widely used organic solvent in many industries. It is used a degreasing agent, extract and dillution solvents. TRI is metabolized by liver microsomal cytochrome P4SO to reactive intermediates, which are considered responsible for its hepatotoxicity. Cytochrome P450 is a key enzyme in the first step of TRI metabolism resulting in chloral hydrate (CH) formation, which is a rate-limiting step in TRI metabolism. This study was perfomed to find out the change of hepatic cytochrome P450 levels and of electron transport system for P-450 dependent reaction. Intraperitoneal injections of TRI were done to the male Sprague Dawley rats(mean body wights,170+/-10g) in corn oil at the dosage of 150,300,600 mg/kg for 2 days. The results of experiments are following : 1. The contents of microsomal protein, cytochrome P450 and b(5) are tended to be decreased with increasing amount of TRI, but not significantly (p>0.05) . 2. The activity of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase is slowly decreased by increasing amount of TRI, but not slgnificantly (p>0.05) . On the other hand, the activity of NADH-b(5) reductase is increased with increasing amount of TRI (p<0.05) 3. The activity of 7-ethoxyresolufin 0-deethylase did not show any critical changes (P>0.05) . This result suggests that the inductive pattern of TRI may not be related to P 450IAl and P450IIB.
Animals ; Chloral Hydrate ; Corn Oil ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Cytochromes ; Electron Transport ; Hand ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Liver ; Male ; Metabolism ; NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase ; Oxidoreductases ; Rats* ; Solvents ; Trichloroethylene*

Anti-atherosclerosis effects of perilla oil were investigated, in comparison with lovastatin, in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD). Hypercholesterolemia was induced in rabbits by feeding the HCD containing 0.5% cholesterol and 1% corn oil, and perilla oil (0.1 or 0.3%) was added to the diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 10 weeks. HCD greatly increased blood total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins, and caused thick atheromatous plaques, covering 74% of the aortic wall. Hyper-cholesterolemia also induced lipid accumulation in the liver and kidneys, leading to lipid peroxidation. Perilla oil not only attenuated hypercholesterolemia and atheroma formation, but also reduced fat accumulation and lipid peroxidation in hepatic and renal tissues. The results indicate that perilla oil prevents atherosclerosis and fatty liver by controlling lipid metabolism, and that it could be the first choice oil to improve diet-induced metabolic syndrome.
Atherosclerosis ; Cholesterol ; Corn Oil ; Diet* ; Fatty Liver ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Kidney ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Liver ; Lovastatin ; Perilla* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Rabbits*

BACKGROUND: The molecular pathways of how endocrine disruptors affect bone mineral density (BMD) and bone remodeling are still unclear. The purpose of this experimental study is to determine the effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) on bone metabolism in ovariectomized mice. METHODS: Twenty-six-month-old female CD-1 mice were divided into 4 groups: control, low-dose DEHP, high-dose DEHP, and estrogen groups (n=5, each group). All mice were subjected to ovariectomy for the induction of artificial menopause and then exposed to corn oil, DEHP, and estrogen for 2 months. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) of the bone and analysis of blood samples for bone markers were performed to observe the changes in bone metabolism. RESULTS: Osteocalcin level was decreased in the control, low-dose and high-dose DEHP group, the reduction width was greater in the high-dose DEHP group (−0.219 ng/mL) than control group (−0.077 ng/mL, P<0.05). C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen level was increased in the control, low-dose and high-dose DEHP group, the increase range of low-dose DEHP group (0.329 ng/mL) showed greater than control group (0.093 ng/mL, P<0.05). Micro-CT analysis revealed that the BMD was significantly lower in the high-dose DEHP group (19.8×10⁻² g/cm³) than control group (27.2×10⁻² g/cm³, P<0.05). The structure model index was significantly higher in the high-dose DEHP group (2.737) than low-dose DEHP group (2.648) and estrogen group (2.63, P<0.05). It means the progression of osteoporosis in the high-dose DEHP group. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the negative effects of DEHP on bone health in ovariectomized mice. Further continuous studies on genetic pathways and other endocrine disruptors will be necessary to validate these findings.
Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; Collagen Type I ; Corn Oil ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoporosis ; Ovariectomy ; X-Ray Microtomography

The effects of liquid culture of Coriolus versicolor on weight gain, food intakes, food efficiency ratios, serum and hepatic lipid concentrations, serum protein levels and serum enzyme activities, were studied in growing male rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were given four different types of diets for a succeeding period of 5 weeks, respectively : a normal diet group (7% corn oil), a high fat diet group (7% corn oil + 15% lard), a 20% or 30% C. versicolor diet groups (high fat diet + 20% or 30% C. versicolor in water) according to the levels of C. versicolor supplementation. The body weight gains of the rats fed the 30% C. versicolor diets were lower than those in the rats fed high fat diet. The epididymal fat pad weight of the rats fed high fat diet and 20% or 30% C. versicolor diets were significantly higher than that of the rats fed normal diet. The concentrations of triglyceride in the serum and the liver of the rats fed the 30% C. versicolor diets were more significantly decreased compared to rats on the high fat diet. The concentrations of total cholesterol in the serum and the liver of rats fed the high fat diet, 20% and 30% C. versicolor diets were similar to those of rats fed the normal diet. The HDL-cholesterol concentration and the HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol ratio of the rats fed 20% and 30% C. versicolor diets were significantly lower than those of the rats fed high fat diet. But the atherogenic index of the rats fed 20% or 30% C. versicolor diets were significantly higher than those of the rats fed high fat diet. There were no differences in the activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in the serum among the experimental groups. These results showed that the 30% C. versicolor diet feeding decreased the triglyceride in serum and liver of the rats.
Adipose Tissue ; Agaricales ; Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Corn Oil ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat* ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Liver ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; Weight Gain ; Zea mays

This study investigated how dietary fat affects muscle atrophy and lipid metabolism in various muscles during hindlimb immobilization in rats. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats had their left hindlimb immobilized and were divided into four groups by dietary fat content and composition. The contralateral hindlimb (control) was compared with the immobilized limb in all dietary groups. Rats (n = 6/group) were fed a 4% corn oil diet (CO), 2.6% corn oil + 1.4% fish oil diet (FO), 30% corn oil diet (HCO), or a 30% beef tallow diet (HBT)after their hind limbs were immobilized for 10 days. Data were collected for the gastrocnemius, plantaris and soleus muscles. Muscle atrophy was induced significantly after 10 days of hindlimb immobilization, resulting in significantly decreased muscle mass and total muscle protein content. The protein levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor delta (PPARdelta) in the plantaris, gastrocnemius, and soleus increased following hindlimb immobilization irrespective of dietary fat intake. Interestingly, the PPARdelta mRNA level in the plantaris decreased significantly in all groups and that in the FO group was lower than that in the other groups. The soleus PPARdelta mRNA level decreased significantly following hindlimb immobilization in the FO group only. Muscle carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (mCPT1) mRNA level was not affected by hindlimb immobilization. However, the mCPT1 mRNA level in the FO group was significantly lower in the plantaris but higher in the soleus than that in the other groups. The pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) mRNA level in the plantaris decreased significantly, whereas that in the soleus increased significantly following hindlimb immobilization. The plantaris, but not soleus, PDK4 mRNA level was significantly higher in the FO group than that in the CO group. The increased PPARdelta protein level following hindlimb immobilization may have suppressed triglyceride accumulation in muscles and different types of dietary fat may have differentially affected muscle atrophy according to muscle type. Our results suggest that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may suppress muscle atrophy and lipid accumulation by positively affecting the expression level and activity of PPARdelta and PPARdelta-related enzymes, which are supposed to play an important role in muscle lipid metabolism.
Animals ; Carnitine ; Corn Oil ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Dietary Fats ; Extremities ; Fats ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Hindlimb ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; Muscle Proteins ; Muscles ; Muscular Atrophy ; Oxidoreductases ; Phosphotransferases ; PPAR delta ; Protein Kinases ; Pyruvic Acid ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Transferases