To investigate the expression of phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) in mouse embryonic tissues, serial tissue sections were prepared routinely for immunocytochemistry for PLC-gamma1. The results showed that PLC-gamma1 was expressed in the cartilage, skeletal muscles, myocardium, the collecting tubule of the kidney, connective tissues and the brain, suggesting the important role PLC-gamma1 and the related signal pathway may play in the development of mouse embryonic tissues.
Animals ; Brain ; embryology ; enzymology ; Cartilage ; embryology ; enzymology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; enzymology ; Female ; Fetal Heart ; enzymology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; embryology ; enzymology ; Mice ; Muscle, Skeletal ; embryology ; enzymology ; Phospholipase C gamma ; biosynthesis ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo observe the ultracytochemical localization of H(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (H(+)-ATPase) in the cell organelles.

METHODSThe localization of H(+)-ATPase in the cell organelles was observed in the hepatocytes and renal cells of Wistar rats using routine ultracytochemical methods.

RESULTSH(+)-ATPase activities were observed on the lysosomal membrane and nuclear envelope of the hepatocytes and proximal tubule epithelial cells of the nephron in Wistar rats.

CONCLUSIONThis finding supports the hypothesis that H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) is present on the plasma membrane and in the endomembrane system.

Animals ; Cell Membrane ; enzymology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; enzymology ; ultrastructure ; Histocytochemistry ; methods ; Kidney ; cytology ; enzymology ; ultrastructure ; Lysosomes ; enzymology ; Male ; Organelles ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the activity of vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase in patients with calcium oxalate (CaOx) urolithiasis compared with healthy individuals and to assess its relationship to the renal calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

METHODSRenal parenchymas were harvested from urolithic patients and renal tumor patients undergoing nephrectomy. The renal carboxylase activity was evaluated as the radioactivity of [(14)C] labeled sodium bicarbonate in carboxylic reactions in vitro using beta-liquid scintillation counting.

RESULTSSignificantly reduced activity of renal vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase was observed in the urolithic group as compared with normal controls (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt suggests that the reduced carboxylase activity observed in the urolithic patients may play an important role in the course of renal calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Calcium Oxalate ; metabolism ; Carbon-Carbon Ligases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney ; enzymology ; Kidney Calculi ; enzymology ; Middle Aged

Renal anemia, mainly caused by the deficiencies of erythropoietin (EPO) and iron metabolism disorder, is one of the most common complications of chronic kidney disease. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a class of transcription factors responsible for maintaining homeostasis during oxygen deprivation. In normoxia, HIF is degraded by prolyl hydroxylase (PHD). While under hypoxic conditions, the hydroxylation activity of PHD is inhibited, and the cellular concentration of HIF is elevated, resulting in an increase in endogenous EPO production and iron absorption. Therefore, this regulating pathway, also termed as the HIF-PHD axis, has become a promising therapeutic target of treating renal anemia. Several innovative drugs acting as selective HIF-PHD inhibitors have been successfully developed in the past years, and some of them are undergoing clinical trials. In this review, we will introduce the definition and regulatory mechanism of HIF-PHD axis, as well as current insights into its physiologic and therapeutic role in renal anemia.
Anemia ; enzymology ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; pathology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; enzymology ; pathology ; Oxygen ; Prolyl Hydroxylases ; metabolism

The present study is aimed to investigate the in vitro metabolic interconversion between baicalin (BG) and baicalein (B) in rat liver, kidney, intestine and bladder. BG and B were separately incubated with rat hepatic, renal, and intestinal microsomes, as well as bladder homogenates, for 30 min. The metabolites were identified and quantified by HPLC and metabolic kinetic parameters were obtained by fitting the data to the Michaelis-Menten equation. In hepatic microsomes, renal microsomes and bladder homogenates, but not in intestinal microsomes, BG was transformed into B, the hydrolysis metabolite of BG, with K(m) values being (44.65 +/- 6.01), (92.73 +/- 11.41), (74.60 +/- 3.68) micromol x L(-1), respectively, and V(max) values being (12.32 +/- 0.56), (3.30 +/- 0.18), (5.93 +/- 0.12) micromol x min(-1) x g(-1) (protein), respectively. In incubations with hepatic, renal, and intestinal microsomes and bladder homogenates, B was also transformed into BG, the glucuronidation metabolite of B, with K(m) values being (67.46 +/- 10.49), (226.7 +/- 71.59), (177.3 +/- 35.85), and (18.33 +/- 2.53) micromol x L(-1), respectively, and V(max) values being (14.74 +/- 0.97), (5.91 +/- 1.03), (38.14 +/- 3.60), and (1.22 +/- 0.05) micromol x min(-1) x g(-1) (protein), respectively. The results showed that the activity of UDP-glucuronosyltranferase (UGT) in intestinal microsomes was the highest among the four organs, and the activities of UGT were higher than that of glucuronidase (GUS) in hepatic, renal and intestinal microsomes, but the activity of GUS was higher than that of UGT in bladder homogenates.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; Antioxidants ; pharmacokinetics ; Biotransformation ; Flavanones ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavonoids ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronidase ; metabolism ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; Intestines ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Kidney ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Liver ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Microsomes ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder ; enzymology ; metabolism

The effects of thyroid hormone on hepatic and gastric alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activities (nM of NADH/min/mg of cytosolic protein) have been investigated in male Sprague Dawley rats treated with thyroxine (1 mg/kg, po) for 14 days. Whereas hepatic ADH activity in thyroxine-treated rats decreased by 61.3% of control rats (26.4 vs 43.2, p<0.001), gastric ADH activity increased by 262.9% of control rats (4.9 vs 1.9, p<0.001). As for the activities of the lung and kidney, thyroxine treatment did not produce any statistically significant changes. These data suggest that thyrotoxicosis causes a decrease of hepatic alcohol metabolism, and that the increase of gastric ADH activity in thyrotoxic rats can partly restore the first-pass metabolism of ethanol.
Alcohol Dehydrogenase/*metabolism ; Animal ; Gastric Mucosa/enzymology ; Kidney/enzymology ; Liver/drug effects/*enzymology ; Lung/enzymology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach/drug effects/*enzymology ; Thyrotoxicosis/chemically induced/metabolism ; Thyroxine/administration & dosage/*metabolism/pharmacology

This project was designed to investigate the role of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the diabetic renal injury by observing the expression of ACE2 in the kidney and the level of angiotensin II (AngII) in the circulatory system and kidney tissue of rats with diabetes. SD rats were randomly divided into control group and diabetes group. Diabetic nephropathy model was established by i.p. injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were sacrificed separately on the 15th or 30th day after STZ injection. Biochemical parameters including blood glucose and renal function were examined. The expression of ACE2 in the kidney was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. The contents of AngII in plasma and kidney were detected by radioimmunoassay. The results are as follows: (1) 48-72 h after STZ injection, the rats showed polyuria, polydipsia and their activity reduced. (2) Blood glucose levels were 4.9-6.5 mmol/L in the control rats, 14.0-17.5 mmol/L in the diabetes group rats on the 15th day, and higher than 24 mmol/L in the diabetes group rats on the 30th day; (3) There was a significant increase of urine glucose level (P < 0.05), and a slight but not significant increase of urine protein level (P > 0.05) in the diabetes group on the 15th day; On the 30th day, the levels of urine glucose and urine protein were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01); (4) Compared with the control group, the expression of ACE2 mRNA was slightly increased (P > 0.05), and the expression of ACE2 protein was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the rats of diabetic model group on the 15th day; however, on the 30th day, ACE2 mRNA expression in the rats of diabetic model group was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05), and the expression of ACE2 protein was slightly lower than the control group (P = 0.0718). (5) Compared with the control group, the levels of AngII in plasma and kidney of the diabetic rats increased slightly on the 15th day (P > 0.05); while the AngII levels in diabetic model group rats were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in control rats on the 30th day. These results suggest that ACE2 plays a positive role in the protection against the pathogenesis of early renal damage. ACE2 expression is reduced gradually with the deepened degree of diabetic kidney damage, leading to the accumulation of AngII in the kidney, thereby increasing the renal injury.
Angiotensin II ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Acute Kidney Injury ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gentamicins ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; metabolism ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of nitric oxide synthase III (NOS III) mRNA in the heart, aorta, kidney and liver of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

METHODSTwo hundred and ninety-four total RNA samples were obtained from the tissues of ventricle, aortic smooth muscle, kidney and liver of SHR and normotensive rats (Wistar-Kyoto rats, WKY). RNA array was used to determine the mRNA levels of NOS III of the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with WKY, the systolic blood pressure increased significantly in SHR at 6-week-old, 8-week-old, 10-week-old and 12-week-old [(158.50 +/-7.69 vs 108.67 +/-5.89) mmHg, (174.33 +/-4.46 vs 128.50 +/-4.97) mmHg, (198.00 +/-13.45 vs 142.00 +/-3.58) mmHg, (216.67 +/-8.91 vs 141.17 +/-4.92) mmHg, P<0.01], and the ventricle/body weight ratio was significant higher at 10-week-old and 12-week-old [(4.08 +/-0.17 vs 3.59 +/-0.11, 4.05 +/-0.18 vs 3.40 +/-0.19)mg/g, P<0.01]. In the heart tissue and the kidney, the mRNA levels of NOS III were significantly increased at 6-week-old, 8-week-old, 10-week-old and 12-week-old (1.12 +/-0.18 vs 0.90 +/- 0.15, 1.46 +/- 0.34 vs 1.06 +/-0.18, 1.66 +/- 0.31 vs 1.21 +/- 0.30, 1.98 +/- 0.40 vs 1.31 +/-0.38, P <0.05) and at 4-week-old, 6-week-old, 8-week-old, 10-week-old and 12-week-old (1.10 +/- 0.21 vs 0.81 +/-0.11, 1.28 +/-0.18 vs 0.95 +/-0.13,1.31 +/-0.23 vs 0.99 +/-0.23, 1.70 +/-0.30 vs 1.08 +/-0.25, 1.83 +/-0.33 vs 1.15 +/-0.20, P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. There was no significant difference of the NOS III expression in the liver and no significant signals were detected in the aortic smooth muscle.

CONCLUSIONThe results provide the evidence of the increased expression of NOS III in different tissues in SHR and suggests the progressive nature of essential hypertension.

Animals ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; genetics ; Kidney ; enzymology ; Liver ; enzymology ; Male ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY

Scleroderma (SSc) renal crisis has been reported to be associated with anti-RNA polymerase I and III (RNAP I/III) antibodies in Caucasians and the Japanese. However, no report is available for Korean SSc patients. Here, we describe the case of a 65-yr-old female SSc patient who developed renal crisis and whose serum contained anti-RNAP I/III antibodies. She was finally diagnosed as having diffuse cutaneous SSc based on skin thickening proximal to the elbows and knees. Sudden hypertension, oliguria, and pulmonary edema were features of her renal crisis. Despite the use of captopril and adequate blood pressure control, her renal function deteriorated. Subsequent renal biopsy findings showed severe fibrinoid necrosis with luminal obliteration in interlobar arteries and arterioles consistent with SSc renal crisis. Serum anti-RNAP I/III antibodies were detected by radioimmunoprecipitation. This is the first report of a renal crisis in a Korean SSc patient with RNAP I/III antibodies.
Scleroderma, Systemic/*complications/enzymology/*immunology ; RNA Polymerase III/*immunology ; RNA Polymerase I/*immunology ; Korea ; Kidney Failure, Acute/*complications/enzymology/*immunology ; Humans ; Female ; Critical Care ; Autoantibodies/*blood ; Aged