The effect of bradykinin (BK) on the release of β-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (β-EpLI) in rats was studied in vivo and in vitro. Intraperitoneal injection of BK at 5 µg/100g body weight resulted in significant increase in the plasma β-EpLI level after 15 min. BK at concentrations of 10–12–10–7M also caused dose-dependent stimulation of β-EpLI release from dispersed cells of rat anterior pituitary. On gel chromatography, the β-EpLI released by incubation of the cells with 10–7M BK separated into two components, eluted in the same positions as human β-lipotropin and human β-endorphin, respectively. BK did not stimulate β-EpLI release in Ca++-free medium. Addition of 10–3 M verapamil or 10–6M dexamethasone to the incubation medium inhibited BK-induced β-EpLI release from the cells. Quabain (10–5M) also stimulated β-EpLI release, but its effect was not additive with that of BK. These results indicate that BK stimulates β-EpLI release and that calcium ion is involved in the mechanism of this effect.
Human liver guanase was purified and a specific antibody against it was raised in rabbits. The antiserum formed a single precipitin line with human liver extract, and also completely inhibited the activity of the liver enzyme. An immunoblotting study showed that the antibody bound specifically to one band of protein with guanase activity and not to other proteins. Therefore, we concluded that this antiserum against the liver enzyme was suitable for use in immunohistochemical demonstration of guanase. In tissue sections, the immunohistochemical reaction with this antibody was positive in the same locations as the histochemical guanase reaction with DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride).
A total of 107 recipients, who did not show any evidence of hepatic disorders in pretransfusional liver function tests and gave a negative reaction for HBsAg, were observed from 3 weeks to 3 months after blood transfusion of 711 units of blood. The blood was judged suitable for use in transfusion because it had a normal level of ALT activity and gave a negative reaction for HBsAg. The guanase activities of the blood used for transfusion were examined. Cases in which an increase of ALT to at least twice the upper limit of normal persisted for at least 3 weeks and the ALT value increased to more than five times the normal upper limit at least once during this period, which also gave a negative reaction for HBsAg, were judged to have posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis. Of 107 recipients, 18 developed posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis. It was detected in 2 of 71 recipients (3%) with blood guanase activities below 3.5 units per liter and in 16 of 36 recipients (44%) with blood guanase activities above 3.6 units per liter. Thus, the incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis was significantly higher in recipients with blood guanase activities above 3.6 units per liter. The incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis increased linearly with increase in the level of guanase activity in donor blood. Thus, a high guanase activity in donor blood is considered to be an important predicting factor for posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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