Thermoregulation during marathon running in cool, moderate, and hot environments.

A well-trained subject, age 38, ran continously for periods ranging from 60 to 165 min on a motor-driven treadmill at 255.7 m/min while confronted with an airflow equivalent to running speed in cool, moderate, and hot environments. After a period of intensive heat acclimatization, treadmill runs were repeated in the moderate and hot conditions. Measurements were also obtained outdoors in a competitive marathon race. Sweat rate (SR) and mean skin temperature (Ts) were linearly related to Tdb. Acclimatization did not alter VO2max or metabolic rate during the treadmill runs, but heart rat (HR),rectal temperature (Tre), and Ts were lower, SR was higher, and maximal run duration longer in the hot environment, postacclimatization. Maximum runs in the hot environment were terminated by a spiralling increase in Tre to hyperthermic levels, due largely to a marked reduction in cutaneous blood flow, probably reflecting cardiovascular overload from the combined muscular and thermoregulatory blood flow demands, coupled with the effects of progressive dehydration. Utilizing partitional calorimetry and the subject's metabolic heat production, two examples of limiting environmental conditions for his marathon running speed were given.


Suppression of ADH during water immersion in normal man.

Since previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that the redistribution of blood volume and concomitant relative central hypervolemia induced by water immersion to the neck causes a profound natriuresis and a suppression of the renin-aldosterone system, it was of interest to assess whether the diuresis induced by immersion was mediated by an analogous inhibition of ADH. The effects of water immersion on renal water handling and urinary ADH excretion were assessed in 10 normal male subjects studied following 14 h of overnight dehydration on two occasions, control and immersion. The conditions of seated posture and time of day were identical. During control ADH persisted at or above prestudy values. Immersion resulted in a progressive decrease in ADH excretion from 80.1 plus or minus 7 (SEM) to 37.3 plus or minus 6.3 muU/min (P smaller than 0.025). Cessation of immersion was associated with a marked increase in ADH from 37.3 +/- 6.3 muU/min to 176.6 +/- 72.6 muU/min during the recovery hour (P smaller than 0.05). Concomitant with these changes urine osmolality decreased significantly beginning as early as the initial hour of immersion from 1044 +/- 36 to 542 +/- 66 mosmol/kg H2O during the final hour of immersion (P smaller than 0.001). Recovery was associated with a significant mean increase in Uosm of 190 +/- 40 mosmol/kg H2O over the final hour of immersion (P smaller than 0.001). The suppression of ADH occurred without concomitant changes in plasma tonicity. These studies are consistent with the suggestion that in hydrated subjects undergoing immersion suppression of ADH release contributes to the enhanced free water clearance, which has been previously documented.


Inhibition of respiratory reflexes by local anesthetic aerosols in dogs and rabbits.

The effects of inhalation of 100 breaths of bupivacaine hydrochloride (5 percent solution in saline) on the cough reflex, the Breuer-Hering inflation, reflex, and the duration of apnea and bronchoconstriction produced by histamine aerosol were studied in nine anesthetized dogs. Cough was abolished in every animal; the duration of the inflation reflex was shortened from 47 +/- 4.6 s (mean plus or minus SE) to 16 +/- 3.4 s. The duration apnea produced by histamine was abolished or shortened and the rise in resistance was diminished from 170 plus or minus 22 per cent (control) to 49 +/- 6 per cent (after bupivacaine). These reflexes returned toward control values within 45 min. Bupivacaine inhibited the bronchoconstriction produced by electrical stimulation of the distal ends of cut vagus nerves both in dogs and in rabbits, but it did not alter the rise in resistance produced by histamine aerosol in vagotomized dogs. We conclude that administration of bupivacaine aerosol produces a reversible blockage of both afferent and efferent nervous activity in airways without abolishing the ability of smooth muscles to contract.


Measurement of gastric  blood flow with radioactive microspheres.

The validity of using radioactive microspheres (15 +/- 5-mum diameter) to measure gastric blood flow and its partition between gastric wall layers was investigated in anesthetized dogs with a chambered segment of gastric corpus. Total flow measured by a venous effluent technique demonstrated close correlation with microsphere-measured flow (r = 0.98, slope = 0.95) in 12 dogs given histamine, gastrin, or isoproterenol. In 12 histamine-stimulated dogs, mucosal flow measured by aminopyrine clearance and by microspheres also showed good agreement (r = 0.96, slope = 0.83). No evidence was found to indicate that microspheres altered hemodynamic or gastric function. In all experiments less than 1% of the total gastric radioactivity passed through arteriovenous shunts. The mucosa always contained a statistically adequate number of spheres (greater than 400), but the submucosa and muscularis frequently did not. Microspheres of all sizes mixed adequately in large arteries, but a significant difference was found in the distribution of 16- and 26 mum spheres between mucosa and submucosa, presumably because of streaming of the larger spheres past mucosal arteries. It was concluded that, with the techniques developed in our laboratory, microspheres could be a highly useful tool for quantitating gastric regional blood flow under a variety of experimental conditions.


Influence of breathing pattern on oxygen exchange during hypoxia and exercise.

During hypoxia, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measured by ear oximeter shows cyclic fluctuations which are related to the pattern and rate of breathing. Continuous recordings of SaO2 may be corrected for distortion, due to circulatory transport, to yield approximate values for pulmonary end-capillary saturation (Sc'O2). This permits calculation of the corresponding end-capillary PO2 (Pc'O2). We have used this technique to study the effect of spontaneous and imposed breathing patterns on mean Pc'O2, amplitude of Pc'O2 (delta Pc'O2) and minute ventilation (VE). The studies were conducted during mild hypoxia, at rest and exercise. The amplitude of delta Pc'O2 is inversely related to breathing frequency. When frequency is constant, patterns with with prolonged expiration or end-expiratory pauses produce large delta Pc'O2 and greater VE. This effect is reversed with prolonged inspiration or end-inspiratory pauses. Spontaneous breathing patterns produced smaller delta Pc'O2, with lower VE than imposed patterns. These findings are compatible with animal studies which suggest the magnitude of PaO2 fluctuations produced by the breathing pattern may act as a feedback stimulus to ventilation. The breathing patterns, which are spontaneously chosen, produce the minimum delta Pc'O2 and VE.


Effect of behavioral variables on cooling rate of man in cold water.

Five different behaviors of man while in cold ocean water (9-10 degrees C) were assessed for their effect on rate of progress into hypothermia. With subjects wearing lifejackets, two thermally protective behaviors were studied which reduce exposure to the water of areas of body surface with high relative heat loss potential. One was huddling of three persons and the other a self-huddle behavior (HELP or Heat Escape Lessening Posture). These two behaviors resulted in significant reductions of rectal temperature cooling rate of 66 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively, of that of a control behavior. With no flotation available, two survival swimming behaviors (treading water and drownproofing) were shown to result in significant increases in cooling rate to 134 per cent and 182 per cent, respectively, of the control behavior. Potential swimming distance of subjects wearing a life-jacket was 0.85 miles in water near 12 degrees C before predicted incapacitation by hypothermia. It was concluded that behavioral variables can be of major importance in determining survival time in  cold water through modulation of cooling rate associated with other variables such as fatness, body size, and clothing.


Thermoregulatory control of finger blood flow.

Three men exercised on a bicycle ergometer at 30, 50, asd 70 per cent of maximal aerobic power in ambient temperatures of 15, 25, and 35 degrees C with water vapor pressure less than 18 Torr. Exercies was used to vary internal temperature during as experiment, and different ambient temperatures were used to vary skin temperatures independently of internal temperature. Finger temperature was fixed at about 35.7 degrees C. Espohageal temperature (Tes) was measured with a thermocouple at the level of the left atrium, and mean skin temperature (Tsk) was calcualted from a weighted mean of thermocouple temperatures at eight skin sites. Finger blood flow (BF) was measured by electrocapacitance plethysmography. Although some subjects showed small and equivocal vasomotor effects of exercise, our data are well accounted for by an equation of the form BF equal to alTes + a2Tsk + b, independent of exercise intensity. For these subjects, the ratios a1/a2 (5.9, 8.6, 9.4) were similar to the ratios of the corresponding coefficients recently reported for thermaoregulatory  sweating (8.6, 10.4) and for forearm blood flow (9.6).


Strength of pulmonary vascular response to regional alveolar hypoxia.

Regional alveolar hypoxia in the lung induces regional pulmonary vasoconstriction which diverts blood flow from the hypoxic area. However, the predominant determinant of the distribution of perfusion in the normal erect lung is gravity so that more perfusion occurs at the base than at the apex. To determine the strength of the regional alveolar hypoxic response in diverting flow with or against the gravity gradient a divided tracheal cannula was placed in anesthetized dogs and unilateral alveolar hypoxia created by venilating one lung with nitrogen while ventilating the other lung with oxygen to preserve normal systemic oxygentation. Scintigrams of the distribution of perfusion obtained with intravenous 13-N and the MGH positron camera revealed a 34 and 32 per cent decrease in perfusion to the hypoxic lung in the supine and erect positions and a 26 per cent decrease in the decubitus position with the hypoxic lung dependent (P equal to 0.94 from supine shift), indicating nearly equal vasoconstriction with shift of perfusion away from the hypoxic lung in all positions. Analysis of regional shifts in perfusion revealed an equal vasoconstrictor response from apex to base in the supine position but a greater response in the lower lung zones in the erect position where perfusion was also greatest.


Nitrogen and bolus closing volumes: differences after histamine-induced bronchoconstriction.

Studies in normal subjects have shown that there is little difference in the size of the closing volume when measured by either the nitrogen methods or a bolus method. In this study we have examined the changes in closing volume following histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. In five normal subjects histamine resulted in a reduction in the vital capacity, an increase in the residual volume, and an increase in the airway resistance. The size of the closing volume measured by a bolus method increased after induced bronchoconstriction (0.52 +/- 0.15 1 to 0.74 +/- 0.17 1). With the nitrogen method the closing volume became smaller (0.51 +/- 0.19 1 to 0.17 +/- 0.17 1). Similar differences between the two methods are demonstrated in patients with asthma. The suggested explanation for these differences lies in the different methods used to establish a concentration gradient of gas in the lung. If there is "air trapping" the nitrogen method may fail to establish a concentration gradient.


2-Deoxy-D-glucose inhibition of prostaglandin E1 hyperthermia and yeast fever in mice.

2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and sodium salicylate were evaluated relative to their effects on body temperature in mice with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)hyperthermia or yeast fever. Injection of 2-DG into the cerebral ventricles of conscious mice abolished the hyperthermia of PGE1 and reduced the fever produced by yeast, while sodium salicylate was effective only in yeast fever. The data are suggestive of glucose dependency of thermoregulatory centers in the brain.


Normal values for hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilaroty drives in man.

To better determine the range of normal values of hypoxic and hypercapni ventilatroy drives in man, these drives were measured in 40 males and 4 females between 21 and 51 yr of age. The average hypoxic drive, expressed as parameter A, was 186  plus or minus 12.8 (SEM). The average hypercapnic drive, expressed as the slope S, was 2.69 plus or minus 0.19. The range of values for these individuals was large and could not be accounted for by variations in maximal oxygen uptake, age, or sex. However, positive correlations were found between these drives and height and weight, and a positive correlation was found between hypoxic and hypercapnic drive.


Effect of heart rate on left atrial systolic shortening in the dog.

The relationship between heart rate and left atrial end-diastolic diameter (LAEDD) and left atrial systolic shortening (LASS) was investigated in 12 conscious dogs. Atrial pacing, vagal blockade, isoproterenol, and beta-adrenergic blockade were used to change heart rate and the inotropic state of the atrium. LAEDD decreased linearly as heart rate increased. LAEDD averaged 33.0 mm (+/- 0.6 mm SEM) and decreased by 3.2 mm (+/- 0.4 mm SEM) with a change in heart rate of 50 beats/min. The ratio of LASS/LAEDD decreased as LAEDD decreased with increasing heart rate, but there was less of a reduction in the ratio at the extreme levels of LAEDD change with isoproterenol and vagal blockade. Propranolol reduced LASS at any LAEDD. At lower heart rates the reduction of LASS with pacing could be corrected by returning LAEDD to near control levels with a rapid infusion of fluid. It is concluded that LASS is primarily dependent on LAEDD and the inotropic state of the atrium. At higher heart rates, though, some effect of frequency can be observed. Isoproterenol and vagal blockade (increased contractile state) reduced the dependence of LASS on LAEDD.


Demonstration of airway closure in man.

After partial equilibration of the lung with a N2O gas mixture absorption of N2O by the pulmonary circulation results in a flow of gas into the lungs during breath holding. A bolus of 133Xe introduced at the mouth at the beginning of the breath hold is carried in by the gas flow and distributed according to regional perfusion. In three subjects, breath holding at FRC, apex-to-base distribution of a 133Xe bolud delivered by N2O absorption (Xecar) was similar to that of a bolus injected intravenously (Xeiv). Near RV however, much less of Xecar penetrated into dependent zones than expected from the distribution of Xeiv. In fact, distribution of Xecar did not differ from that of a slowly inhaled bolus. Correction for Compton scatter in the chest wall, measured in one subject, accounted only in part for the radioactivity recorded over dependent lung regions. The findings indicate that near RV some but not all of the dependent airways must be closed. Furthermore, the distribution of airway closure completely accounts for the distribution of a bolus inhaled from RV.


Muscular efficiency during steady-rate exercise: effects of speed and work rate.

In a comparison of traditional and theoretical exercise efficiency calculations male subjects were studied during steady-rate cycle ergometer exercises of "0," 200, 400, 600, and 800 kgm/min while pedaling at 40, 60, 80, and 100 rpm. Gross (no base-line correction), net (resting metabolism as base-line correction), work (unloading cycling as base-line correction), and delta (measurable work rate as base-line correction) efficiencies were computed. The result that gross (range 7.5-20.4%) and net (9.8-24.1%) efficiencies increased with increments in work rate was considered to be an artifact of calculation. A LINEAR OR SLIGHTLY EXPONENTIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CALORIC OUTPUT AND WORK RATE DICTATES EITHER CONSTANT OR DECREASING EFFICIENCY WITH INCREMENTS IN WORK. The delta efficiency (24.4-34.0%) definition produced this result. Due to the difficulty in obtaining 0 work equivalents, the work efficiency definition proved difficult to apply. All definitions yielded the result of decreasing efficiency with increments in speed. Since the theoretical-thermodynamic computation (assuming mitochondrial P/O = 3.0 and delta G = -11.0 kcal/mol for ATP) holds only for CHO, the traditional mode of computation (based upon VO2 and R) was judged to be superior since R less than 1.0. Assuming a constant phosphorylative-coupling efficiency of 60%, the mechanical contraction-coupling efficiency appears to vary between 41 and 57%.


Comparison of of techniques for measuring +Gz tolerance in man.

Two objective methods and one subjective method for measuring +Gz tolerance (inertial vector in a head-to-foot direction) were compared on the human centrifuge. Direct eye-level blood pressure (Pa), blood flow velocity in the superficial temporal artery (Qta), and subjective visual symptoms were used to determine tolerance to rapid onset acceleration (1 G/s) on the USAFSAM human centrifuge. Seven "relaxed" subjects with extensive centrifuge experience were exposed to gradually increasing +Gz plateaus until the subject reported 100% loss of peripheral centrifuge gondola lights (PLL) and 50% loss of central light (CLD); viz., blackout. Zero forward Qta occurred 6 s (range 4-9 s) before subjective blackout and when mean eye-level blood pressure had reached 20 +/- 1 mmHg (SE). The results of this study indicate that flow changes in the superficial temporal artery reflect flow changes in the retinal circulation during +Gz stress.


A blood pressure-regulating device for inducing hemorrhagic shock.

An instrument for producing closely controlled and repeatable hemorrhagic shock in laboratory animals is described. A Sarns roller pump, controlled by an electronic device, is used to pump blood in and out of the animal at a constant rate. Photoelectric cells are used to sense pressure changes and depending on their configuration, the pump runs forward or backward or stops. Pressures are accurately maintained, bleeding and reinfusion rates are controlled, and a record of bleeding patterns is provided.


Lung volumes, mechanics, and single-breath diffusing capacity in anesthetized cats.

We measured lung weight, lung volumes, pulmonary mechanics, and carbon monoxide transfer (DLCO, single-breath method) in healthy cats (3.3 +/- 0.4 kg) that were anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated through a tracheal cannula. Compared with Stahl's predicted values which were based on regression analyses of data collected from several species, our cats had larger and more compliant lungs in relation to body weight, higher DLCO per unit body weight, and similar DLCO/TLC (size independent constant). Compared with Robinson et al.'s values derived entirely from studies on dogs, our cats had significantly smaller lung volumes and DLCO per unit body weight, DLCO/TLC and similar ratios of CL/FRC. Several factors appear to contribute to the functional variations among mammalian species: differences in the relation of lung to body weight, differences in the relation of chest wall compliance to lung compliance, and differences in the fundamental structure and design of the respiratory systems. Differences in methodology are acknowledged to be an additional factor.


Nontraumatic aortic blood flow sensing by use of an ultrasonic esophageal probe.

The measurement of blood velocity fields, volume flow, and arterial wall motion in the descending thoracic aorta provides essential hemodynamic information for both research and clinical diagnosis. The close proximity of the esophagus to the aorta in the dog makes it possible to obtain such data nonsurgically using an ultrasonic esophageal probe; however, the accuracy of such a probe is limited if the angle between the sound beam and the flow axis, known as the Doppler angle, is not precisely known. By use of a pulsed Doppler velocity meter (PUDVM) and a triangulation procedure, accurate empirical measurement of the Doppler angle has been obtained, allowing quantification of blood velocity scans across the aorta. Volume flow is obtained by integration of blood velocity profiles and arterial wall motion is measured with an ultrasonic echo tracking device. Accuracy of the probe was substantiated by comparison with ultrasonic and electromagnetic implanted flow cuff measurements. Use of the probe in measurement of blood velocity, volume flow and arterial wall motion at various locations along the 8- and 10-cm length of the descending thoracic aorta in adult beagle dogs is detailed. The simplicity, accuracy, and nontraumatic aspect of the technique should allow increasing use of such a probe in numerous research and clinical applications.


Effect of dry swallows and wet swallows of different volumes on esophageal peristalsis.

The effect of dry swallows and wet swallows of various volumes on esophageal function was studied in normal subjects. An intraesophageal transducer assembly was used to measure the dynamics of esophageal peristalsis. The strength of esophageal contraction (amplitude) following a 1-ml liquid bolus was similar to that following a dry swallow but was significantly less than that following a wet swallow of a larger volume. There was no difference in strength of esophageal squeeze following swallows ranging from 2 to 20 ml. In addition, a wet swallow was associated with slower wave speed, greater duration of the contraction wave, and later time of appearance of the peristaltic wave in the distal esophagus than a dry swallow. Futhermore, the incidence of peristalsis was greater with a wet swallow than a dry swallow. The results of our studies indicate that although the act of swallowing alone in man initiates peristalsis, afferent information contributes to the regulation of primary peristalsis.


Effect of altered G levels on deposition of particulates in the human respiratory tract.

The primary mode of depositon of particles in the respiratory tract in the size range 0.5-10 mum diam (unit density) is sedimentation. The rate of sedimentation is directly proportional to the velocity of settling of the particle. Therefore, the total deposition of particles in the respiratory tract as well as the region of deposition is affected by changes in gravity. Human subjects were exposed to aerosols of 2.02-mum-diam polyvinyltoluene particles at 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 G. Total deposition was measured at each G level. Results indicate an almost linear increase in total deposition with increasing G levels over the range studied. The deposition measured at 1 G was less than reported in earlier experiments and the deposition at levels less than 1 G was less than had been calculated by Muir and Beeckmans. These data show that although sedimentation plays the major role in depostion of 2.02 mum particles, it is less than previously described.


Effect of resistive loading on ventilatory response to hypoxia.

Ventilatory responses to hypoxia, with and without an inspiratory resistive load, were measured in eight normal subjects, using a rebreathing technique. During the studies, the end-tidal P-CO2 was kept constant at mixed venous level (Pv-CO2) by drawing expired gas through a variable CO2-absorbing bypass. The initial bag O2 concentration was 24% and rebreathing was continued until the O2 concentration in the bag fell to 6% or the subject's arterial oxygen saturation (Sa-O2), monitored continuously by ear oximetry, fell to 70%. Studies with and without the load were performed in a formally randomized order for each subject. Linear regressions for rise in ventilation against fall in Sa-O2 were calculated. The range of unloaded responses was 0.78-3.59 1/min per 1% fall in Sa-O2 and loaded responses 0.37-1.68 1/min per 1% fall in Sa-O2. In each subject, the slope of the response curve during loading fell by an almost constant fraction of the unloaded response, such that the ratio of loaded to unloaded slope in all subjects ranged from 0.41 to 0.48. However, the extrapolated intercept of the response curve on the Sa-O2 axis did not alter significantly indicating that the P-CO2 did not alter between experiments. These results suggest that the change in ventilatory response to hypoxia during inspiratory resistive loading is related to the mechanical load applied, with the loaded slope being directly proportional to the unloaded one.


Synergistic relationship of temperature, air, velocity, and mercury in the chicken.

Juvenile chickens that had previously received mercuric chloride intramuscularly were subjected to an acute exposure of high ambient temperature in the presence or absence of a 140 mpm air velocity. This level of mercury did not retard growth of affect the resting body temperature. However, following heating the birds experienced a greater hyperthermia than similarly heated controls and consequently thermal death occurred earlier. When a high air velocity was maintained during heating the hyperthermic condition was further amplified, as was the event of thermal death. It is concluded that a synergistic relationship exists between mercury, when administered at a nontoxic level, and the climatic factors of temperature and air velocity.


Changes in lung mechanics during asthma induced by exercise.

Pulmonary and airway mechanics were assessed in seven asthmatic patients in remission, when asthma was induced by exercise and again after spontaneous recovery or bronchodilator treatment. After exercise there was a sustained fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1.0) in all patients, varying  from 30 to 80 percent of the initial value. Total lung capacity (TLC) increased significantly in four of the seven patients. In one of the four patients the increase in TLC was associated with an increase in static transpulmonary pressure at full inflation but in the remaining three patients it was associated with a parallel shift of the pressure-volume curve of the lung without change in its slope. In all patients residual volume increased, regardless of change in TLC; both pressure-volume and maximum expiratory flow-volume curves suggested that widespread airway closure (or virtual closure) occurred at positive transpulmonary pressures when asthma was induced. Loss of lung recoli pressure sometimes contributed to the reduction in maximum expiratory flow but diffuse airway narrowing was probably the dominant abnormality. When air-flow obstruction became more severe the ratio of expiratory to inspiratory time was increased and although expiratory flow limitation was present excessive expiratory pressures were not generated.


Branching pattern of airways and air spaces of a single human terminal bronchiole.

A polyurethane-foam enlarged reconstruction was made from serial sections of a portion of young adult human lung parenchyman. Study of the progeny of a terminal bronchiole disclosed three generations of respiratory bronchioles and an irregular branching pattern of eight generations of alveolar ducts. Sacs and alveoli arose from the lateral and distal aspects of all generations of ducts. There were an average of 3.5 alveoli per sac. Considering the terminal bronchiole as the first generation branch of the acinus, over 60 per cent of the alveoli counted and predicted were members of the 10-12th generations. The acinus contained one terminal bronchiole and approximately 14 respiratory bronchioles, 1,200-1,500 ducts, 2,500-4,500 sacs, and 14,000-20,000 alveoli.


Human air space shapes, sizes, areas, and volumes.

The geometry of an enlarged reconstructed human acinus (i.e., a terminal bronchiole and distal airways and air spaces) was studied. Alveoli were categorized in six shapes: three-fourths of a spheroid, a slightly truncated cone, one-fourth of a spheroid, a cylindroid with a hemispherical bottom, a shallow cylindroid with a flat bottom, and a truncated deep ellipsoid. Sacs were usually either hemispheroids or shallow truncated cones. Ducts of eight generations were spheroid and gradually decreased in diameter (D) and length (L) as the generation number (z) increased. Considering the terminal bronchiole as the 15th generation and using Weibel's data for the first 10 generations, the dimensions, in mm, for z of 1-10 and 10-26 were reasonably described by D-z = 12e-(0.27-0.005z)z and L-z = 25e-0.187z. The predicted volume of the acinus at three-fourths total lung volume was 182.8 mm3, a volume equivalent to that of a sphere 7.04 mm in diameter. The reconstruction demonstrated a great increase in respiratory bronchiolar and ductal cross-sectional area and alveolar surface area, considerably more rapid than predicted by Weibel's model A.


Exercise responses following ozone exposure.

We have tested the response of 28 subjects to a three-stage ergometer test, with loads adjusted to 45, 60, and 75% of maximum aerobic power following ozone exposure. The subjects were exposed to one of 0.37, 0.50, or 0.75 ppm O3 for 2 h either at rest (R) or while exercising intermittently (IE) (15 min rest alternated with 15 min exercise at approximately 50 W. sufficient to increase VE by a factor of 2.5). Also, all subjects completed a mock exposure VE, respiratory frequency (fR), mixed expired PO2 and PCO2, and electrocardiogram were monitored continuously during the exercise test. Neither submaximal exercise oxygen consumption nor minute ventilation was significantly altered following any level of ozone exposure. The major response noted was an increase in respiratory frequency during exercise following ozone exposure. The increase in fR was closely correlated with the total dose of ozone (r = 0.98) and was accompanied by a decrease in tidal volume (r = 0.91) so that minute volume was unchanged. It is concluded that through its irritant properties, ozone modifies the normal ventilatory response to exercise, and that this effect is dose dependent.


Preparative method for gas chromatographic/mass spectral analysis of trace quantities of pesticides in fish tissue.

A large capacity, low efficiency pesticide cleanup method is combined with a small capacity, high efficiency method for gas chromatographic/mass spectral analysis of fish tissue. Trace chemicals are extracted from the tissue, removed from the bulk of the co-extracted lipids through selective desorption from Micro Cel-E, and isolated from the remaining lipids by gel permeation chromatography. The procedure is capable of cleaning up the extract from several hundred grams of fish, minimizes sample contamination, and permits identification of xenobiotic chemicals present at ng/g concentrations.


Determination of altosid insect growth regulator in waters, soils, plants, and animals by gas-liquid chromatography.

Residues of isopropyl (2E,4E)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoate (Altosid) insect growth regulator are determined in waters, soils, plants, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, poultry and cattle tissues, blood, urine, and feces. Acetonitrile is the primary extraction solvent for all samples. Residues are extracted by high-speed blending followed by vacuum filtration. Fatty extracts are subjected to cold-temperature precipitation and filtration. Samples are cleaned up by petroleum ether partitioning and Florisil and neutral alumina chromatography. The concentrated eluants are analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) on columns of differing polarity, using hydrogen flame ionization detectors. The identity of suspected residues is confirmed by additional GLC and by mass fragmentography. The lower limits of detection were: water samples, 0.0004-0.001 ppm; soils, blood, and urine, 0.001 ppm; forage grasses, forage legumes, and rice foliage, 0.005 ppm; and milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, poultry and cattle tissues, and feces, 0.010 ppm.


Automated analysis of vitamin C in pharmaceutical products.

The determination of total vitamin C in the form of both l-ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) present in pharmaceutical preparations has been automated. Total vitamin C (completely oxidized to DHAA) was determined by reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine while blanks utilized the same reagent after reducing all DHAA to AA. The automated method was applicable to a variety of multivitamin preparations including those containing iron and copper. The mean recovery of L-ascorbic acid added to 11 multivitamin preparations was 99.4% with a coefficient of variation of 2.5%. In the analysis of these products, results obtained by the automated method were essentially the same as those obtained by the original manual method. For preparations containing no copper salts, the results were also comparable to those obtainable by titration with 2,6-dichloroindophenol except in 1 product which contained some DHAA.


Collaborative study of a method for chemical confirmation of the identity of aflatoxin.

The chemical method for confirmation of the identity of aflatoxin by derivative formation directly on the TLC plate was studied collaboratively by 8 participants. The results show that aflatoxin B-1 was confirmed in 17 of 17 sample extracts representing 15 mu-g aflatoxin B-1/kg peanut butter, in 13 of 16 extracts representing 5 mu-g/kg, and in none of the 7 aflatoxin-free extracts. Collaborators commented that the method was easily performed and gave good results. The method has been adopted as official first action.


Rapid screening method for aflatoxins and zearalenone in corn.

The methanol-water extraction system used in AOAC Method II for aflatoxins extracts both the aflatoxins and zearalenone from corn. Using this methanol-water extraction system as a base, a rapid screening procedure has been developed for these mycotoxins. The methanol-water extract is defatted with hexane and the pigments are precipitated with copper carbonate. The aflatoxins and zearalenone are subsequently extracted into chloroform and are then detected by half-plate TLC. An elapsed time of about 1 hr is required to analyze 1 sample. The sensitivity of the method is about 2 mu-g/kg for aflatoxin B-1 and 100 mu-g/kg for zearalenone.


Proposed standard methods for ink identification.

Two methods are presented for the identification of ink, both of which are currently being used by laboratories involved in ink analysis. Both methods incorporate physical and chemical procedures. The differences are primarily in chemical methods involving spot tests and thin layer chromatographic (TLC) techniques. Furthermore, one method utilizes spectrophotometric scanning of the TLC plate whereas the other method utilizes solution spectrophotometry. It is recommended that both methods be evaluated by several laboratories.


Development of latent fingerprints on a nonporous surface, using standard brushing method for powders: second collaborative study.

Twelve latent fingerprint examiners participated in a collaborative study of a modification of the official first action powder brushing method for the development of latent fingerprints. Latent images were placed on glass slides by the examiners, using male and femal subjects. The standard brushing method, using black, copper, and gray powders provided by the Associate Referee, was used to develop the fingerprints at various times up to 120 hr after the images were placed on the slides. Conclusive results were obtained: 139 of the 160 images (86.9%) were considered suitable for identification purposes. The method has been adopted as official final action.


Automated fluorometric determination of thiabendazole.

An automated fluorometric method is presented for the determination of thiabendazole (2-(4'-thiazolyl)benzimidazole) in 0.1N HCl solutions. Test solutions of at least 1.1 ml starting volume are sampled and pumped successively at the rate of 60/hr into a fluorometer equipped with a simple flowcell. The minimum level of detection of the fungicide is about 0.05 mu-g/ml.


Formation of aflatoxin derivatives on thin layer chromatographic plates.

Rapid confirmation of the presence of aflatoxins B-1 and G-1 in foods is provided by reaction with trifluoroacetic acid at the origin of a thin layer chromatographic plate. The procedure has been used successfully with various nuts, grains, coffee and cocoa beans, and other foods.


Hazardous substances. Determination of pentachlorophenol in toy paints.

A simple procedure is described for the routine determination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in various types of toy paints. PCP can be determined in water colors, body colors, showcard paints, gouache paints, and colored inks. PCP is extracted from the sample with acetone, followed by quantitative gas chromatographic analysis of the concentrated acetone extract on stainless steel columns containing 15% Carbo-wax 20M on 60-80 mesh Chromosorb P (AW). As little as 1 ppm PCP can be determined with recoveries ranging from 50 to 100%, depending on the type of paint. The presence of PCP in samples is confirmed by thin layer chromatography, using dansyl chloride as a fluorescent labeling compound. By this method as little as 4 ppm can be determined. The results of PCP determinations in 65 commerical samples are presented.


Fats and oils. Determination of fat in body tissues and in food mixtures.

The official final action acid hydrolysis method, 14.019, for the determination of fat in foods was successfully applied, with slight modifications, to the analysis of homogenates of food, feces, and animal tissues as well as dry samples of mixed foods. In samples containing sucrose or fructose, it was necessary to carry out a fermentation procedure before acid hydrolysis to avoid problems encountered when these sugars were present.


Collaborative study of the gravimetric method for the determination of mercury in chlorinated pesticide formulations.

The official first action AOAC gravimetric method for mercury, 6.C01-6.C03, and the official CIPAC titrimetric method, M2.3, were collaboratively studied by 4 CIPAC laboratories, using the same 4 samples analyzed by AOAC collaboration in 1972. Averages at the 3.7 and 3.4% level were the same by both methods whereas the CIPAC method produced, on the average, 4% higher results, all levels included. The AOAC method performs well in the presence of copper and chlorinated pesticides and is less complex to use than the present CIPAC method for mercury in these mixtures. The method has been adopted as official final action.


Collaborative study of a method for the analysis of dry methoxychlor formulations.

A collaborative study has been completed on a method for determining methoxychlor content in dry formulations. The method is based on a total halogen determination plus a selective, qualitative thin lay chromatographic (TLC) measurement to establish the p,p'-methoxychlor is the primary halogen-containing organic species present in the formulation. After extraction of the sample with toluene, the toluene solution of methoxychlor is treated with sodium biphenyl to convert all halogen to the halide. The halide is then extracted with a solution of nitric acid and titrated with silver nitrate according to the Volhard procedure or potentiometrically, using a pH meter assembly. Based on the results obtained from 7 collaborators, the standard deviation of the method is about 0.48% at the 50% level. The qualitative TLC measurement is made on an aliquot of the initial toluene extract, using a selective halogen detection system. The method has been adopted as official first action.


A screening method for sulfonamides extracted from animal tissues.

A screening method for the estimation of possible residues of sulfonamides in poultry tissues is described. The method utilizes thin layer chromatography (TLC) to separate Bratton-Marshall positive reactants. In the absence of interference and the identification of 1 sulfonamide by TLC, the colorimetric method is recommended for quantitation. When interferences are present, TLC should be used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The screening method has a sensitivity of less than 0.05 ppm and a recovery of greater than 80%.


Fast, short-column separation and fluorometric determination of monosodium glutamate in foods.

In a simple and fast procedure, monosodium glutamate in food products is first separated by a short ion exchange column and subsequently determined fluorometrically with fluorescamine. An average recovery of 90.8% with a standard deviation of plus or minus 6.67% was obtained for added monosodium glutamate in a series of 8 products. As little as 0.05% monosodium glutamate can be determined. The method is faster than the official method and saves 5 hr/determination.


Isolation and characterization of the photoalteration products of cis- and trans-chlordane.

Ultraviolet irradiation of cis- and trans-chlordane yielded 3 photolysis products. The expected half-caged analog of cis-chlordane was formed in high yield, and 2 minor photoproducts of trans-chlordane were observed. One of these products was a half-caged isomer. The individual photoproducts were isolated by thin layer chromatography and characterized by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry.


Identification of the N-methylated analogs of the hallucinogenic amphetamines and some isomers.

The drugs 2-, 3-, and 4-methoxy-N-methylamphetamine, 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine are identified by spectroscopic techniques. The ultraviolet and mass spectra of isomers are similar, but proton magnetic resonance and infrared spectra are distinctly different, and reference spectra and data are provided. Gas-liquid and thin layer chromatographic systems for the analysis are discussed.


Collaborative study of a semiautomated colorimetric analysis of digoxin tablets.

A semiautomated thiobarbituric acid colorimetric analysis for digoxin was collaboratively studied by 6 laboratories. Collaborators were supplied with 3 composites of tablets of different dosage levels. Results agreed with the USP method. The coefficients of variation ranged from 0.46 to 2.73%. The method has been adopted as official first action.


Colorimetric determination of mestranol in combination with ethynodiol diacetate.

Mestranol in combination with ethynodiol diacetate, an oral contraceptive formulation, is isolated from the sample on a partition chromatographic column prior to colorimetric determination. The color reaction which is specific for estrogens is formed by shaking an aliquot of the heptane eluate of mestranol with a 30% methanol-sulfuric acid solution. A collaborative study of the method gave results of 99.8% of added mestranol for the simulated mix and 100.7% of labelled mestranol for the commercial tablet. The method has been adopted as official first aciton.


Determination of procaine and related local anesthetics. II. Collaborative study.

The ion-pairing chromatographic method reported previously for the isolation and spectrophotometric determination of the local anesthetics, alone and in combination, was studied collaboratively. Three solutions were assayed. One containing procaine as the single active component gave an average recovery of 99.8 plus or minus 1.7%. A mixture of procaine and tetracaine gave results of 99.3 plus or minus 1.6 and 98.9 plus or minus 8.82%, respectively. A third solution containing procaine and propoxycaine assayed 100.0 plus or minus 1.5 and 99.1 plus or minus 1.9%, respectively. It was shown that low results for tetracaine were due to loss during the final evaporative step. The method for samples containing tetracaine should be studied further. The other methods have been adopted as official first action.


Agar well technique for antibiotics in animal feeds.

The agar well technique compares favorably with the cylinder plate assay in accuracy, sensitivity, and precision. It is more flexible and more rugged, and growth of seed organism is not inhibited. The wells are precision cut with Grafar gel punch assembly with sets (6) of 10, 7, 5, 4, and 3 mm cutters. The wells are easily and rapidly filled with short, disposable Pasteur pipets fitted with rubber bulbs. The smaller wells are filled with capillary pipets. The diameter of the well (independent of volume) appears to be a function of concentration. For every decrease in the diameter size of the well, concentration can be increased, at least to the next higher level of the standard response line. Extracts of chlortetracycline containing as much as 3.2 mu-g/ml can be analyzed if the 3 mm wells are used and with no sacrifice in accuracy or precision. This works especially well for antibiotic premixes. The technique has been used successfully for penicillin, streptomycin, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, oleandomycin, and tylosin.


Effect of particle size on the biological availability of reduced iron.

A sample of reduced iron was separated by air elutriation into several fractions based on particle size; and the relative biological values (RBVs) of 3 fractions containing fine, medium, and coarse particles were determined with rats and chicks, using diets containing either skim milk powder or casein as the major source of protein. The RBV of reduced iron for rats was shown to be dependent on particle size by curative and prophylactic assay procedures, with the source of protein having no marked effect. In contrast to rats, chicks utilized reduced iron to a higher degree, especially the iron from coarse particles. Prophylactic assays with rats indicated that a 3-4 week feeding period from weaning at 21 days of age gave RBVs which were not significantly different from those obtained by repletion of hemoglobin of anemic animals. After 5 weeks on the test diets, however, the rats lost their ability to distinguish between coarse and medium particles of reduced iron when fed with a diet containing casein as the source of protein.


Collaborative study of a method for the determination of ochratoxin A in green coffee.

A method for the semiquantitative determination of ochratoxin A in green coffee has been studied collaboratively by 11 laboratories. The average recovery for the 7 samples spiked at 3 levels of ochratoxin A was 69.1%, ranging from 60.5 to 85.6%. This is comparable to other visual thin layer chromatographic methods of mycotoxin detection. The method has been adopted as official first action for the determination of ochratoxin A in green coffee beans.


Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of vinyl chloride in alcoholic beverages, vegetable oils, and vinegars.

Vinyl chloride in foods is determined by gas-liquid chromatography either by direct injection of vinegars and alcoholic beverages or by headspace analysis of vegetable oils. The lower limit of detection is 10-15 ng/ml for direct injection and 1-10 ppb for headspace analysis. Confirmation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, single ion monitoring at m/c 62, is possible at 50 ppb for either method. The levels of vinyl chloride bottles were 0.0-1.6 mu-g/ml for alcoholic beverages, 0.0-8.4 mu-g/ml for vinegars, and 0.3-3.3 ppm for peanut oil.


Quantitative determination of FD&C colors in foods.

A published procedure using Amberlite LA-2 (a liquid anion exchange resin) solutions to extract colors from food and the salt solution cellulose chromatographic technique to separate colors from each other were updated and submitted to collaborative study. Three batches of cookies and 4 purchased products were analyzed by 13 collaborators. The 3 batches of cookies contained different color mixtures requiring the selection of various procedures. The 4 purchased products were selected principally to include a variety of foods. Some results were partially deficient. The deficiencies reflect certain inadequacies in the directions as written rather than basic flaws in the method. Some improvements were suggested by the collaborators. The Assocaite Referee recommends that the method be further revised to correct the present inadequacies and to include some improvements, and that the revised method be submitted to another collaborative study.


Collaborative study of the determination of boric acid in caviar by emission spectroscopy.

Caviar samples were spiked at the 0.1 and 0.2% levels and digested with nitric acid in a closed Teflon-lined digestion vessel to prevent volatility losses. The boron was complexed with 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and extracted into methylisobulty ketone. The emission of the boron oxide band was measured in a nitrous oxidehydrogen flame. The mean recoveries at the 0.1 and 0.2% levels for 6 collaborators were 95.7 and 97.1%, respectively.


Gas chromatographic resolution of organochlorine insecticides on OV-1/OV-17, OV-210/OV-17, and OV-225/OV-17 mixed phase systems.

The resolution of organochlorine insecticides and their related compounds on OV-1/OV-17, OV-210/OV-17, and OV-225/OV-17 mixed phase column systems was investigated. Four BHC isomers and p,p'-DDT, its isomer, and their metabolites (except p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE) were resolved on the OV-210/OV-17 system. Heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide were separated on 5% OV-1/2% OV-17 or OV-225/2% OV-17. Resolution of aldrin, dieldrin, and endrin was obtained on 5% OV-210/2% OV-17, p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDE could not be separated by any of the systems studied.


Preservatives and artifical sweeteners.

Twenty saccharin-containing table sweeteners, in the form of tablets, liquids, crystals, or blends, and manufactured or distributed by 15 different companies, were analyzed for their o-toluenesulfonamide (o-TS) content. A previously described procedure for the determination of o-TS in commercial saccharin was found to be applicable to the determination of o-TS in these preparations. o-TS was found in all analyzed samples, in amounts ranging from 57 to 3811 ppm. In some cases the concentration of o-TS varied even from lot to lot from the same manufacturer. One pair of lots contained 57 and 67 ppm o-TS, respectively, while in another 711 and 3003 PPM O-TS were found. Gas-liquid chromatographic patterns of samples from the same distributor (or manufacturer) were similar and characteristic of the brand. Recoveries of o-TS from liquid and tablet preparations were almost quantitative, while recoveries from saccharin blends were in the 95-103% range.


Collaborative study of a method for the isolation of light filth from breading of frozen food products.

A method has been developed for the isolation of light filth from food breadings. The method involves a detergent boil, wet sieving, and flotation in an acid-alcohol, mineral oil flotation system in a Corning percolator. Collaborative studies resulted in clean filter papers and acceptable recoveries of added rodent hairs and insect fragments. The method has been adopted as official first action.


Limited collaborative study of an optional method for the isolation of light filth from fig and fruit paste.

The present official first action method for the isolation of light filth from fig and fruit paste, 44.083(a), occasionally yields excessive plant debris on filter papers, which causes difficulty in effectively counting insect filth. The proposed method provides the option of an additional flotation of trapped off material in a Corning percolator. This revision has been adopted as official first action as an alternative to 44.083(a).


Collaborative study of speaker identiication by the voiceprint method.

In the voiceprint method known and unknown voices are compared to determine if they are the same speaker. An unknown voice is recorded over the telephone onto a quality recorder. The known voice is similarly recorded, repeating the questioned message verbatim. An examiner determines, by means of acoustic spectrography and aural analysis, the similarities or differences existing between the known and unknown speakers. A positive conclusion is based on at least 10 pairs of like sounds. Five decisions are available for the examiner to make: positive identification, positive elimination, probable identification, probable elimination, and unable to make a decision with the sample submitted. Seven collaborators, chosen from various parts of the United States, were given recordings of 4 unknown speakers, 2 male and 2 female, to compare with similar recordings of 6 known speakers, 3 male and 3 female. A total of 21 positive identifications and 63 positive eliminations was possible. Twenty correct identifications and 47 correct positive eliminations were made. In 16 tasks, all involving the same unknown sample, collaborators reported they could not make a determination due to the poor quality of the sample. No false identifications were made; however, a trainee examiner, with less than 2 years experience, eliminated a known speaker when in fact a match did exist, thereby falsely eliminating the speaker. Examiners with more than 2 years of experience correctly identified all existing matches. This study indicates that a trained examiner can make very reliable decisions, using the aural and visual methods of comparing known and unknown voices. The voiceprint method has been adopted as official first action.


Sensitive trapping and gas chromatographic method for vinyl chloride in air samples.

A simple and sensitive method is described for determining vinyl chloride monomer in air. Vinyl chloride monomer from a sample of air is trapped onto a Tenax GC trap cooled with Dry Ice. The trap is installed on a gas chromatograph by a simple valve arrangement. The trap is heated, and the entire sample is flushed onto the gas chromatographic column. Vinyl chloride is determined at 6 and 60 ppb (v/v) levels with recoveries ranging from 79 to 104%.


Fluorometric determination of nitrite in cured meats.

An indirect fluorometric method for determining sodium nitrite in meat products is presented. The extracted sodium nitrite is consumed in a diazotization reaction with a measured excess of sulfanilic acid. Fluorescamine, which acts selectively with primary amines such as sulfanilic acid, is a fluorogenic reagent for the excess amine. The amine consumed, calculated by difference from the total originally present, is directly related to the sodium nitrite content of the sample. Interferences from amino acids and soluble proteins in the meat extract are eliminated by judicious use of a secondary peak in the fluorescence spectra (436 nm excitation, 495 nm fluorescence) combined with measurement at low pH (3.30). The recoveries of sodium nitrite ranged from 83.2 to 99.6% with an average of 93.4 and a standard deviation of +/- 5.28% for 11 determinations.


Reduction of aflatoxins B1 and B2 with sodium borohydride.

Reduction of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin B2 with sodium borohydride quantitatively yielded new fluorescent derivatives, designated as aflatoxin RB1 and aflatoxin RB2. Mass spectrometric data showed that RB1 and RB2 were trihydroxy derivatives of B1 and B2, respectively. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that new chemical shifts were present in aflatoxins RB1 and RB2 in addition to those of the parent aflatoxins. The new compounds had lower melting points and different ultraviolet and infrared spectra compared to aflatoxins B1 and B2 and the monohydroxy derivative aflatoxicol. They were lses toxic to chick embryos than the parent toxins. Since the reduction yields were quantitative and since the reduction products could be detected at low levels comparable to those for B1 and B2, the reduction reaction could be used as a confirmatory test for both aflatoxins B1 and B2. Preliminary results obtained from gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) analysis of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of aflatoxins RB1 and RB2 indicated that these compounds could furnish the basis for developing an analytical GLC method for aflatoxins B1 and B2.


Screening method for the detection of aflatoxins in mixed feeds and other agricultural commodities with subsequent confirmation and quantitative measurement of aflatoxins in positive samples.

The method described will detect total aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) in mixed feeds, grains nuts, and fruit products in samples containing as little as 5-15 mug/kg. In addition, the presence of aflatoxins in the positive samples can be confirmed and the toxins can be quantitatively measured, using the same extract as that used for the screening method. In the screening method, aflatoxins are extracted with acetone-water (85+15), and interferences are removed by adding cupric carbonate and ferric chloride gel. The aflatoxins are extracted from the aqueous phase with chloroform and the chloroform extract is washed with a basic aqueous solution. A Velasco-type minicolumn is used to further purify the extract and capture the aflatoxins in a tight band. The screening method has been successfully applied to 24 different agricultural commodities. Quantitative thin layer chromatography was also performed with extracts of each of these commodities. An average recovery of 94% B1, 108% B2, 130% G1, and 103% G2 was obtained compared to the official final action AOAC method for cottonseed products, 26.048-26.056. Within-laboratory coefficients of variation of 10-15% were obtained for each of the aflatoxins and total aflatoxins in a sample of peanut meal naturally contaminated with 11 mug B1+3 mug B2+11 mug G1+5 mug G2/kg.


Collaborative study of a spectrofluorometric method for lasalocid sodium in feeds.

A collaborative study has been completed on a spectrofluorometric method for determining lasalocid sodium in finished poultry feeds. After a brief treatment of feed samples with pH 4.7 buffer, the drug is extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate extract is further cleaned up by treatment with HCI and NaOH and quantitatively measured by spectrofluorometry. Nonspecific fluorescence is corrected for via the lasalocid-boric acid complex. The method is rapid, sensitive, and free of interference. A number of other feed additives, including monensin and ethoxyquin, do not interfere. Nine collaborators participated in the study and agreement between laboratories was satisfactory. The average recoveries of lasalocid sodium from the mash feeds added at levels of 0.0064, 0.0080, and 0.0096% were 100, 98, and 99%, respectively, and the corresponding coefficients of variation were 12.8, 8.2, and 8.0% (all results included). The method has been adopted as official first action.


Collaborative study of a gas-liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of propazine.

A gas-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of propazine in wettable powder formulations containing about 80% active ingredient was collaboratively studied, using a matched pair scheme. The propazine was extracted from the powder with chloroform, with dieldrin as an internal standard, and chromatographed on Carbowax 20M, using a flame ionization detector. Two samples were analyzed using peak height measurements with the following results (13 collaborators): 1.2% overall coefficient of variation and 1.2% coefficient of variation for the random error. Statistical evaluation of these factors reveals no evidence of systematic error contribution. The method has been adopted as official first action.


Collaborative study of a gas-liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of chlorobenzilate and chloropropylate.

A gas-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of chlorobenzilate and chloropropylate in liquid formulations containing about 46 and 26% active ingredient, respectively, was collaboratively studied, using a matched pair scheme. The samples were dissolved in acetone containing debenzyl succinate as an internal standard and chromatographed on Carbowax 20M, using a flame ionization detector. Analyses of 4 samples by 13 collaborators using peak height measurements showed the following results: chlorobenzilate-2.5% overall coefficient of variation, 1.0% coefficient of variation for the random error, and 0.7% systematic error; chloropropylate-2.0, 1.4, and 0.4%, respectively. The method has been adopted as official first action.


The confirmation of diethylstilbestrol residues in beff liver by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A  confirmatory test for the presence of the growth-promoting hormone, diethylstilbestrol (DES), in beef liver is described, Samples are subjected to a published electron capture gas chromatographic method that involves the formation and measurement of the bis-dichloroacetyl derivative of DES. The presence of the derivative is then confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, using a repetitive scanning technique to maximize response. The isotope pattern of the tetrachlorinated molecular ion greatly facilitates the confirmation.


Column chromatographic analysis of barbiturates in their dosage forms. II. secobarbital, amobarbital, and pentobarbital.

A general method for the analysis of barbiturates, using column parition chromatography, was extended to the assay of secobarbital, amobarbital, and pentobarbital. A solution of the barbiturate constitutes the immobile phase in the chromatographic system. It is eluted with ether-isooctane (1+9) and passed onto a K3PO4 column, which retains the barbiturate while extraneous materials are washed out. The barbiturate is removed from the column with etherisooctane (3+1), extracted from the eluate with NH3, and measured spectrophotometrically.


Estimation of glycoalkaloids as solasodine in Solanum laciniatum.

Solasodine is isolated from Solanum laciniatum leaves by a rapid, one-step procedure which involves extraction and hydrolysis of the glycoalkaloids. The resulting steroidal aglycone is directly estimated by the formation of a colored complex with bromocresol green. The method is applicable to concentrations of 25-125 mug solasodine/7ml.


The analysis of pharmaceuticals by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. I. The analysis of a medicated aerosol spray.

A medicated aerosol product was qualitatively analyzed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The data were processed by a minicomputer. Ten of the 11 peaks in the gas chromatogram were identified with the assistance of the National Institutes of Health/Division of Computer Research and Technology/Chemical Information System mass spectral search system. The unidentified peak is probably a member of the terpene class. The aerosol propellants were also partially analyzed by infrared spectrophotometry.


Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of N-methylcarbamate insecticides, some of their metabolites, and related compounds.

The chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra with methane as the reagent gas are reported for 25 N-methylcarbamate insecticides or related compounds. The [M + 1]+ ions in the CI spectra are larger than the parent ions in the corresponding electron impact (EI) spectra of N-methyl- and N,N-dimethylcarbamates, but the contrary is true with N-hydroxymethylcarbamates. CI but not EI fragmentation of substituted-phenyl N-hydroxymethylcarbamates [ROC (O) NHCH2OH] appears to involve a 4-membered [ROC(O)NHCH2]+ intermediate which rearranges to give a [ROCH2]+ fragment. Other fragmentations unique to the CI spectra are also discussed.


Rapid method for extracting aldrin, dieldrin, and endrin from visceral material.

A simple method is described for purifying aldrin, dieldrin, and endrin from visceral material by using a Celite column. Celite retains all interfering materials including Lipids whereas the chlorinated Insecticides are eluted from the column with n-hexane. This extract can be used directly for gas chromatographic analysis.


Determination of residues from the herbicide 2,4-dichloro-1-(4-nitrophenoxy)-benzene in rice and wheat by electron capture gas-liquid chromatography.

A residue method has been developed which is capable of determining not only 2,4-dichloro-1-(4-nitrophenoxy)-benzene but a majority of the known metabolites of this compound. The residues are reduced to a common amine intermediate which is further derivatized and quantitatively measured by electron capture gas-liquid chromatography. The method is sensitive to 0.01 ppm and is readily suited to routine use. The method has been used on rice and wheat samples.


Determination of coumaphos and its oxygen analog in eggs by in situ fluorometry.

A method is reported for the simultaneous determination of coumaphos (o,o-diethyl o(3-chloro-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-7-yl)phosphorothioate) and its oxygen analog, Coroxon, in eggs in the ppb range. The residues are extracted with acetone and chloroform. The extract is purified by liquid-liquid partition followed by column chromatography and then by 2-dimensional thin layer chromatography. The fluorescence is measured directly on the chromatogram.


Evaluation of a selective medium for hydrogen sulfide production by salmonella.

An evaluation was made of Padron-Dock-Stader sulfide (PDS) agar for the rapid detection of Salmonella and Arizona microorganisms in foods. Analysts from 9 Food and Drug Administration District laboratories determined the reaction of 638 Salmonella cultures, 30 Arizona cultures, and 1754 non-Salmonella and non-Arizona cultures isolated from 157 food samples in PDS agar. The degree of positive reactions of these cultures in this agar was scored on a scale of "-" to "+++". The highest percentage of Salmonella isolates (64.1%) was in the category of +++ reactions. Progressively lower percentages of Salmonella isolates occurred in the more negative reaction categories. The highest percentage of Arizona isolates (66.7%) occurred in the intermediate ++ category. The majority of non-Salmonella and non-Arizona isolates occurred in the minus (41.0%) and plus or minus (44.8%) categories. Advantages of using the PDS agar are that it is simple to use, requires no specialized training or equipment, and alerts analysts to those Salmonella cultures which produce atypical reactions in triple sugar iron agar particularly the lactosepositive Salmonella. However, in this study the occurrence of false-negative reactions ranged from 4.3 to 13.9% for Salmonella and from 0 to 6.7% for Arizona, according to the criteria used to interpret the reactions in PDS agar.


Identification of d- or dl-alpha-tocopherol in pharmaceuticals, food supplements, or feed supplements: a collaborative study.

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate a method for identifying d- or dl-alpha-tocopherol in pharmaceuticals, food supplements, or feed supplements. The sample is extracted and saponified, the extraneous color is removed by chromatography, and the sample is assayed for vitamin E. Optical rotations are determined before and after formation of the ferricyanide oxidation product. The specific optical rotation of the oxidation product is negligible for the dl-form and +25.5 degrees for the d-form. Statistical analysis of the data reported by 8 collaborators for the standard d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and for 6 unknown samples indicates a significant interaction between laboratories and samples. The mean coefficients of variation among laboratories for the determinations of the corrected specific optical rotation of the standard and the rotation ratio for the unknown samples containing d-alpha-tocopherol were 11.7 and 21.6%, respectively, for all laboratories and 5.8 and 11.8%, respectively, for experienced laboratories. This identification test for vitamin E is acceptable for determining the form of vitamin E as either d or dl, but is not acceptable for accurately determining mixtures of the 2 forms. The method has been adopted as official first action for the identification of d- or dl-alpha-tocopherol.


A specific method for the determination of provitamin A carotenoids in orange juice.

A method has been developed for rapidly determining the amounts of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and cryptoxanthin in orange juice. The procedure includes extraction, saponification, and high-speed liquid chromatography. Limits of detection for the 3 carotenoids are 0.04, 0.02, and 0.04 mug/ml, respectively.


Microbiological turbidimetric analysis of low chlortetracycline concentrations in feeds.

Recovery studies in which chlortetracycline hydrochloride (CTC-HCI) standard was added to cattle and swine feed supplements at 4.09-9.99 g/ton showed lower antibiotic recovery turbidimetrically (80.6-98.7%) than by the AOAC modified standard as in 38.179(d) (91.2-98.7%) and the plain buffer as in 38.179(b) (93.8-133.0%) methods. Three feeds fortified with a commercial premix at the levels of 5.0 and 10.0 g CTC-HCI/ton showed an overall CTC-HCI recovery of 87.6-110.6% by manual turbidimetric assay. Results were 89.1-108.7% by the AOAC inactivated feed diluent standard and 95.4-125.4% by the plain buffer methods. For some sample extracts (as in cattle feed) the use of heat to stop bacterial growth in the turbidimetric method caused formation of a precipitate. Cooling of cultures to room temperature and rapid reading of sample turbidity followed by standard curve concentrations minimized this interference. The manual turbidimetric assay of low levels of CTC-HCI in feeds appears to offer advantages over other methods.


New confirmatory test for aflatoxins B1 and B2.

A new confirmatory test for aflatoxins B1 and B2 is described. The test involves treatment of aflatoxins with excess sodium borohydride for 10 min at room temperature, to yield a fluorescent trihydroxy derivative of each aflatoxin. The test is sensitive and simple and gives no side reactions. The test is also applicable to aflatoxins G1 and G2.


Production of sterigmatocystin.

A procedure for the isolation of pure sterigmatocystin is described. It involves cultivation of an appropriate fungus on sterile maize, and extraction and column chromatographic purification of the crude extract. With this method sterigmatocystin may be obtained at a fraction of its commercial cost. Aspergillus versicolor seemed to be the best producer (5-12 g/kg) in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks. The yield dropped markedly with increasing flask size.


Mutant of the yeast Saccharomycopsis lipolytica that accumulates and excretes protorphyrin IX.

The red, water-insoluble pigment excreted by a mutant strain of the yeast Saccharomycopsis lipolytica is show to be protoporphyrin IX. In genetic crosses the red phenotype has the properties characteristic of a defect in a single, recessive nuclear gene. The yield and ease of harvest of protoporphyrin IX from the yeast mutant indicate that this strain or its derivatives may be a valuable source of this substance.


Nuclease content of group H Streptococcus strain Challis cell surface extracts inactivating transforming deoxyribonucleic acid.

Besides the competence factor (cpf), the activity of nuclease present in cell surface extracts (iF) is most likely necessary for the occurrence of competence in transformation of Challis strain and other group H streptococci. Very small amounts of iF activity were available. For this reason there were no data on nucleases occurring in iF preparations. In our previous studies, three deoxyribonucleases (endonucleases) were isolated and partly purified from stationary Challis strain cells. In the present work, due to the application of stationary-phase cell endonucleases, gel electrophoresis, and the immunological method, we found that two of these nucleases occur in Challis strain iF preparations. These two nucleases are present in larger amounts at the cell surface only in cells originating from the early-logarithmic-phase culture. Only in this phase does competence occur in the Challis strain. Antibodies against the three endonucleases of the Challis strain do not block the occurrence of competence. We suggest that an increase in the permeability of the cell membrane for intracellular nucleases independent of cpf activity is a stage in the maturation of competence.


Oxygen metabolism of catalase-negative and catalase-positive strains of Lactobacillus plantarum.

Two catalase-negative strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and a strain producing the atypical, nonheme catalase were studied to determine if the ability to produce the atypical catalase conferred any growth advantage upon the producing strain. Both catalase-negative strains grew more rapidly than the catalase-positive strain under aerobic or anaerobic conditions in a glucose-containing, complex medium. Upon exhaustion of glucose from the medium, all three strains continued growth under aerobic but not under anaerobic conditions. The continued aerobic growth was accompanied by production of acetic acid in addition to the lactic acid produced during growth on glucose. Oxygen was taken up by exponential phase-cell suspensions grown on glucose when glucose or glycerol were used as substrates. Cells harvested from glucose-exhausted medium oxidized glucose, glycerol, and pyruvate. Oxygen utilization by a catalase-negative strain increased as did the specific activity of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide peroxidase during late growth in the glucose-exhausted medium. The catalase-positive strain and the catalase-negative strain tested both possessed low but readily detectable levels of superoxide dismutase throughout growth. The growth responses are discussed in terms of the presence of enzymes which would allow the cells to remove potentially damaging reduction products of O2.


Plasmid required for virulence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

The irreversible loss of crown gall-inducing ability of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C-58 during growth at 37 C is shown to be due to loss of a large plasmid (1.2 X 10-8 daltons). The gene responsible for this high rate of plasmid loss at elevated temperatures seems to be located on the plasmid. In addition, another spontaneous avirulent variant, A. tumefaciens strain IIBNV6 is shown to lack the virulence plasmid which its virulent sibling strain, IIBV7, possesses. Deoxyribonucleic acid reassociation measurements prove that the plasmid is eliminated, not integrated into the chromosome, in both of the avirulent derivatives. Transfer of virulence from donor strain C-58 to avirulent recipient strain A136 results from the transfer of a plasmid, which appears identical to the donor plasmid by deoxyribonucleic acid reassociation measurements. The transfer of virulence in another cross, K27 X A136, was also shown to result from the transfer of a large plasmid. These findings establish unequivocally that the large plasmid determines virulence. Two additional genetic determinants have been located on the virulence plasmid of A. tumefaciens strain C-58: the ability to utilize nopaline and sensitivity to a bacteriocin produced by strain 84. The latter trait can be exploited for selection of avirulent plasmid-free derivatives of strain C-58. The trait of nopaline utilization appears to be on the virulence plasmid also in strains IIBV7 and K27.


Phospholipid composition and cardiolipin synthesis in fermentative and nonfermentative marine bacteria.

Twenty biochemically distinct isolates of marine bacteria, comprising a collection of gram-negative, motile, straight and curved rod-shaped organisms, were separated into fermentative and nonfermentative groups. The isolates were analyzed fro phospholipid composition and the activities of the enzymes, cardiolipin synthetase, and a phosphilipase were determined. The phospholipid compositions of all isolates were generally similar. Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol were the major phospholipid classes detected. The absence of cardiolipin in most of the nonfermentative isolates was the most striking observation noted. This was verified chromatographically and by the absence of cardiolipin synthetase activity. In isolates which had cardiolipin, it apparently was synthesized by the condensation of two molecules of phosphatidylglycerol, a mechanism similar to that observed in terrestrial bacteria. Possible correlations between the presence of cardiolipin and Mg-2+ requirements for growth are discussed.


Identification of bisphosphatidic acid and its plasmalogen analogues in the phospholipids of a marine bacterium.

A relatively nonpolar unidentified phospholipid (phospholipid X) , isolated from the gram-negative marine bacterium MB 45, was characterized both chromatographically and by chemical analysis. Phospholipid X was shown to be an acidic phospholipid without vicinal hydroxyl, free-amino, or amide groups. The presence of O-alkenyl groups was indicated by a positive reaction for plasmalogen. Mild alkaline methanolysis of phospholipid X yielded only glycerophosphoryglycerol as the derivative. Acetolysis produced only diacyl-glycerol monoacetate. Clevage of O-alkenyl chains by methanolic hydrochloride resulted in the formation of three lyso derivatives. It was estimated that 18.2% of phospholipid X was plasmalogen. From these data, together with chromatographic comparisons with standards, infrared spectra, a molecular weight estimation, and the determination of the glycerol-phosphate-acyl ester ratio, it was concluded that phospholipid X was bisphosphatidic acid mixed with its plasmalogen analogues.


Nitrate reductase system in Staphylococcus aureus wild type and mutants.

Respiratory nitrate reductase with lactate as a hydrogen donor has been studied in cells and spheroplast preparations of wild type and heme-deficienct mutants of Staphylococcus aureus. The activity is rapidly induced when suspensions of aerobically grown cells are incubated without aeration in a complete medium with nitrate. In ruptured spheroplast preparations, the activity with lactate as the donor is located in the membrane fraction, whereas at least 50% of the activity assayed with reduced benzyl viologen is in the cytoplasm. The reductase is inhibited by azide and cyanide, and the lactate-linked system is also sensitive to oxamate, 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, dicoumarol, and p-chloromercuribenzoate. An inactive form of the reductase is apparently made during induction with tungstate; this can be activated by subsequent incubation with molybdate in the presence of chloramphenicol. Nitrate reductase activity with reduced benzyl viologen as the donor is induced in suspensions of heme-deficient mutants in the presence or absence of heme. The proportion of cytoplasmic activity is increased in the absence of heme. The staphylococcal nitrate reductase has many of the characteristics commonly associated with the respiratory enzyme in other organisms, but the apparent predominance of cytoplasmic activity is unusual.


Are thiosulfate and trithionate intermediates in dissimilatory sulfate reduction?

The fate of 35-S during anaerobic metabolism of [35-S]sulfate, [35-S]thiosulfate, and [35-S]sulfate plus unlabeled thiosulfate by washed cell suspensions of Desulfovibrio spp, and of [35-S]thiosulfate by growing D. desulfuricans was examined. The results appear to be inconsistent with the hypothesis that thiosulfate is an intermediate in sulfate reduction. Since thiosulfate was produced from trithionate, the latter is also unlikely to be an intermediate in the reduction pathway. Extracts of D. desulfuricans catalysed exchange between sulfite and the sulfonate group of thiosulfate.


Evidence for a nonrandom base sequence in a Bacillus pumilus plasmid: EcoR1 endonuclease digestion of pPL576.

EcoR1 endonuclease digested the Bacillus pumilus plasmid pPL576 (molecular weight similar to 28 X 10-6) into three distinct size classes of linear fragments. The molecular weights of the fragments are 13.0 X 10-6, 0.5 X 10-6, and 6.5 X 10-6 by sucrose gradient analysis. By electron microscope analysis the three fragments account for about 99% of the intact plasmid. These results indicate that pPL576 molecules contain a nonrandom base sequence, and are consistent with the interpretation that pPL576 is autonomous and not the result of cyclization of random chromosome fragments.


Identification of cytidine diphosphate-diglyceride in the pineal gland of the rat and its accumulation in the presence of DL-propranolol.

CDP-diglyceride, an important metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of phospholipids, has been isolated for the first time from a mammalian tissue. The isolated material, labeled in incubations of intact rat pineal glands with 32P, [3H]cytidine, or [3H]CTP in the presence of DL-propranolol, was chromatographically identical with authentic CDP-diglyceride and was able to serve as phosphatidyl donor in the enzymatic synthesis of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidyglycerol. It yielded the expected products upon enzymatic and chemical degradation. No dCDP-diglyceride was detected No radioactive CDP-diglyceride was detected following incubations in the absence of propranolol. Stimulation of CDP-diglyceride labeling from 32P1 occurred at propranolol concentrations between 0.03 and 1.0 mM. Net synthesis of the liponucleotide was shown. At 0.1 mM, propranolol incrased the incorporation of radioactivity into phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid. When inositol (10 mM) and propranolol (0.1 mM) were both present, phosphatidylinositol labeling was further increased, wheas stimulation of phosphatidylglycerol and CPD-diglyceride labeling was abolished. Since CDP-diglyceride did not accumulate in the absence of the drug, its availability may normally be the limiting factor in phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol biosynthesis. When propranol is present, inositol may become limiting and thus may lead to the observed labeling pattern.


Sheep kidney pyruvate carboxylase. Studies on the coupling of adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis and CO2 fixation.

Initial velocity and isotope exchange studies confirmed that the over-all reaction, like that catalyzed by pyruvate carboxylase purified from rat liver and chicken liver, was a nonclassical Ping Pong Bi Bi Uni Uni sequence with ATP and HCO3-binding randomly in the Bi Bi partial reaction. Three possible mechanisms for the coupling of ATP hydrolysis and CO2 fixation are considered: (i) Mechanism i, a concerted mechanism without the formation of a kinetically significant or detectable intermediate; (ii) Mechanism ii, activation of the enzyme by ATP to form an activated phosphoenzyme complex which can react with HCO3- by formation of a phosphorylated intermediate. On the basis of other evidence, an activated intermediate containing the ADP moiety was considered improbable. Evidence is presented which indicates that an isotopic exchange between ATP and ADP in the absence of added orthophosphate is not a property of the sheep kidney enzyme. This observation removed the need to postulate either that this exchange is an abortive reaction, or that there is a compulsory formation of a phosphoenzyme intermediate. Two analogues of ADP, alpha,beta-methylene adenosine diphosphate, and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate, have been used to provide further evidence against Mechanism ii. Both compounds were competitive inhibitors with respect to MgATP2- (Ki values respectively, 0.58 mM and 3.0 mM, compared with 0.17 mM for ADP), but neither could be phosphorylated by the enzyme. Neither analogue could replace ADP in the HCO3-: oxalacetate isotopic exchange reaction, indicating that phosphorylation of ADP is necessary for this exchange to occur, and that Mechanism ii is not applicable. Since Mechanism iii involves formation of a carbonly phosphate intermediate, analogues of this compound, namely, carbamyl phosphate and phosphonacetic acid were used to examine this pathway. The fact that the enzyme catalyzed the synthesis of ATP from ADP and carbamyl phosphate, and that phosphonacetic acid was a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to MgATP2- (Ki = 0.5 mM) provides strong evidence that a carbonyl phosphate derivative is involved in the reaction mechanism. However, we have not found from initial velocity studies evidence for the formation of this intermediate, and it may therefore have only a transient existence in an essentially concerted reaction.


Growth hormone stimulation of amino acid transport and utilization by the perfused rat liver.

The effects of growth hormone, administered in vivo or added in vitro, on amino acid transport and utilization have been studied in perfused livers of normal and hypophysectomized rats. A perfusion system employing a nonrecirculating medium was used in all of the studies. Two nonmetalbolizable amino acid analogues, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (cycloleucine) were used to study transport. Accumulation of AIB increased linearly over a 60-min perfusion period, reaching distribution ratios of between 1 and 2 for both groups of animals. Treatment of both normal and hypophysectomized rats with growth hormone 60 min prior to the start of perfusion increased AIB distribution ratios by up to 84 and 108%, respectively. Accumulation of cycloleucine was linear for only about 20 min of perfusion and then plateaued. Steady state distribution ratios of this analogue ranged between 1 and 2 for both groups of animals. Growth hormone treatment had no apparent effect on the time necessary to reach these steady state levels, but significantly increased them in livers of both normal and hypophysectomized rats by 16 and 42%, respectively. Studies designed to analyze the kinetic properties of these hormone effects revealed that growth hormone treatment caused 2-fold i-crease in the maximum velocities of both the AIB and cycloleucine transport systems. The substrate concentration for half-maximal transport velocity was increased slightly for both systems by growth hormone. Direct effects of growth hormone were demonstrated in studies where livers of hypophysectomized rats were perfused under conditions simulationg those of experiments in which the hormone was administered in vivo. Following an initial 45-min period of perfusion the medium during the 20 min. Growth hormone added to the medium during the entire 65-min perfusion at a concentration of 1 mug per ml caused a 30% increase in the cycloleucine distribution ratio. Under similar experimental conditions growth hormone directly stimulated three hepatic pathways of amino acid utilization: (a) incorporation of [14C]valine into protein, (b) urea formation and (c) conversion of 14-C-amino-acids to labeled glucose. Intracellular concentrations of seven amino acids, including threonine, serine, proline, glycine, alanine, lysine, and arginine, were increased significantly in livers perfused with medium containing growth hormone...


Relationship of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 side chain structure to biological activity.

27-nor-25-Hydroxyvitamin D3, 26,27-bisnor-25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and 22-27-hexanor-20-hydroxyvitamin D3 and the corresponding 5,6-trans isomers have been synthesized. All compounds were tested for their ability to induce intestinal calcium transport and bone calcium mobilization in normal and anephric rats. The 27-nor- and 26,27-bisnor-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 analog are capable of stimulating intestinal calcium transport and bone calcium mobilization in normal rats but are 10 to 100 times less active than 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Although these analogs are inactive in anephric rats, their corresponding 5,6-trans isomer are capable of stimulating both intestine and bone activity in these animals. The 22-27-hexanor-20-hydroxyvitamin D3 and its corresponding 5,6-trans isomer are incapable of stimulating either intestinal calcium transport or bone calcium mobilization. These results suggest that minor alterations in the side chain significantly decrease the biopotency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Since these analogs are biologically active in normal but not in anephric animals, it appears that the kidney 1alpha-hydroxylation is necessary for activity. Since 22-27-hexanor=20-hydroxyvitamin D3 and its corresponding 5,6-trans analog are biologically inactive, it is likely that at least part of the side chain is necessary for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to stimulate intestinal calcium transport and bone calcium mobilization.


Concentration-dependent association of delta5-3-ketosteroid isomerase of Pseudomonas testosteroni.

Gel chromatography and ultracentrifugation studies show that delta5-3-ketosteroid isomerase of Pseudomonas testosteroni a dimer with a molecular weight of 26,800 at concentrations below 1 mg per ml, undergoes reversible, concentration-dependent association at higher enzyme concentrations. In the concentration range between 0.04 and 15.6 mg per ml, apparent molecular radii of 23 A to 36 A and molecular weights of 26,000 to 69,000 were observed. The latter value represents the weight average molecular weight of two or more ploymerization species in rapid equilibrium, rather than a discrete polymeric form of the enzyme. The isomerase dimer has been found to be unusually stable to dissociation upon dilution, even at concentrations in the nanogram per ml range. Evidence is presented which suggests that the enzyme is present as a dimer in P. testosteroni cells and that this is a catalytically active species. The isomerase monomer has been obtained and its molecular weight studied by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. A new determination of the extinction coefficient of the isomerase gives the value of 0.336 for the absorbance at 280 nm in a 1-cm light path of a solution containing 1 mg of the isomerase per ml.


Mechanics of chromatin template activation. Physical evidence for destabilization of nucleoproteins by polyanions.

Thermal denaturation profiles were used to quantitate the destabilizing activity of five classes of polyanions in an effort to explain previously reported differences in activity among apparently similar polymers. This physical assay for polyanion action on chromatin is free of the biochemical complications associated with template assay systems. Most polyanions tested caused a thermal destabilization of the normal nucleohistone complexes of rat thymus chromatin and exposed free or weakly complexed DNA. Polyphosphates dissociated chromatin even when their net charge was as low as 6, and activity per unit of weight increased with chain length only for polymers containing less than about 20 phosphate units; pyrophosphate was inactive. Two polymers which had no influence on chromatin had a low negative charge density. Some, such as polycytidlate and denatured DNA, possessed a high charge but caused only minor changes in the shape of denaturation profiles and exposed little or no free DNA. The highly active nucleic acids, ribosomal RNA and polyguanylate, were distinguishable from inactive nucleic acids by having more secondary structure and potentially less steric hindrance for anionic interaction with chromatin. There was evidence that some polyanions dissociate certain histones before others. Although data obtained show that some histones may be redistributed from chromatin onto added double-stranded DNA in a medium containing urea, this does not appear to interfere significantly with the interpretation of typical thermal denaturation profiles of chromatin.


Effects of insulin, glucose, and amino acids on protein turnover in rat diaphragm.

A simple method is described for measuring rates of protein synthesis and degradation in isolated rat diaphragm. Muscles incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer showed a linear rate of synthesis for 3 hours. At the same time, the muscle released tyrosine and ninhydrin-positive material, primarily amino acids, at a linear rate. This release was not a nonspecific leakage of material from the intracellular pools, but reflected net protein degradation. Tyrosine was chosen for studies of protein turnover, since it rapidly equilibrates between intracellular pools and the medium, it can be measured fluorometrically, and it is neither synthesized nor degraded by this tissue. To follow protein degradation independently of synthesis, muscles were incubated in the presence of cycloheximide. Under these conditions, the amount of tyrosine in the intracellular pools was constant, while the muscle released tyrosine at a linear rate. This tyrosine release was used as a measure of degradation. This preparation was used to study the influence of various factors known to be important for muscle growth on protein synthesis and degradation. Similar effects were obtained with diaphragms of normal and fasted rats although the latter showed decreased synthesis and increased protein degradation. Insulin by itself not only stimulated synthesis but also inhibited protein degradation (even in the presence of cycloheximide). These two effects served to reduce the net release of tyrosine from muscle protein to comparable extents. Effects of insulin on synthesis and degradation were greater when glucose was also present in the medium. Glucose by itself inhibited protein degradation but in the absence of insulin glucose had no significant effect on synthesis. Nevertheless, glucose stimulated incorporation of radioactivive tyrosine into protein, but this effect was due to an increased intracellular specific activity. Unlike glucose neither beta-hydroxybutyrate or octanoic acid had any demonstrable effects on protein degradion. The addition of amino acids at plasma concentrations both promoted protein synthesis and inhibited degradation in the diaphragm. Five times normal plasma concentrations of the amino acids had larger effects. The three branched chain amino acids together stimulated synthesis and reduced degradation, while the remaining plasma amino acids did not affect either process significantly. Thus leucine, isoleucine, and valine appear responsible for the effects of plasma amino or isoleucine and valine together, also were able to inhibit protein degradation and promote synthesis.


Widespread, specific binding of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in rat tissues.

In the vitamin D-depleted rat, all nucleated tissues examined (brain, lung, heart, pancreas, liver, cartilage, muscle, bone, kidney, and intestine) contained a soluble substance which bound 25-hydroxy[3H]cholecalciferol in vitro specifically and sedimented at 6.3 S in linear sucrose gradients. The serum-steroid complex sedimented a 4.1 S, and erythrocyte lysates were apparently devoid of specific binding activity. The ability of these cytosols to specifically bind the steroid was destroyed by treatment with trypsin, but not by RNase, DNase, or 1 mM p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. The sedimentation pattern was not altered in sucrose gradients containing 0.5 M KCl or following cytosol preparation and ultracentrifugation in gradients containing 0.012 M dithiothreitol. The apparent avidity for 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (KA similar to 2 times 10- M) was slightly higher in muscle and kidney cytosols than in serum, but serum contained a large number of specific binding sites. The presence of widespread, high affinity binding proteins for 25-hydroxycholecalciferol raises the possibility that tissues other than the intestine, bone, and kidney may respond directly to vitamin D metabolites.


Transformation of sperm histone during formation and maturation of rat spermatozoa.

Changes of chromosomal basic proteins of rats have been followed during transformation of spermatids into spermatozoa in the testis and during maturation of spermatozoa in the epididymis. Rat testis chromatin has been fractionated on the basis of differing sensitivity to shearing, yielding a soluble fraction and a condensed fraction. The sperm histone is found in the condense fraction. Somatic-type histones are found in both fractions. The somatic-type histones in the condensed fraction contains much more lysine-rich histone I, than does the somatic-type histones in the soluble fraction. This may suggest that the lysine-rich histone I is the last histone to be displaced during the replacement of somatic-type histones by sperm histone. After extensive shearing followed by sucrose centrifugation, the condensed portion of testis chromatin can be further fractionated into two morphologically distinctive fractions. One is a heavy fraction possessing an elongated shape typical of the head of late spermatids. The other is a light fraction which is presumably derived from spermatids at earlier stages of chromatin condensation and which is seen as a beaded structure in the light microscope. Sperm histone of testis chromatin can be extractable completely by guanidinium chloride without a thiol, wheras 2-mercaptoethanol is required for extraction of sperm histone from caput and cauda epididymal spermatozoa. The light fraction of the condensed testis chromatin contains unmodified and monophospho-sperm histone. The sperm histones of the heavy fraction is mainly of monophospho and diphospho species, whereas unmodified and monophosphosperm histones are found in caput and cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Labeling of cysteine sulfhydryl groups of sperm histone releases by 2-mercaptoethanol treatment shows that essentially all of the cysteine residues of sperm histone in testis chromatin are present as sulfhydryl groups, while those of sperm histone isolated from mature (cauda epididymal) spermatozoa are present as disulfide forms and approximately 50% of the cysteine residues of sperm histone obtained from caput epididymal spermatozoa are in disulfide forms. These results suggest that phosphorylation of sperm histone is involved in the process of chromatin condensation during transformation of spermatozoa in the epididymis.


Crystallographic structure refinement of Chromatium high potential iron protein at two Angstroms resolution.

The structure of Chromatium high potential iron protein (HiPIP) has been refined by semiautomatic Fo-Fc (observed minus calculated structure amplitude Fourier methods to a convential R index, R=sum of the absolute value of Fo-Fc divided by the sum of Fo, of 24.7% for a model in which bond distances and angles are constrained to standard values. Bond length and angle constraints were applied only intermittenly during the computations. At a late stage of the refinement, atomic parameters for only the Fe4S4 cluster plus the 4 associated cystein S-gamma atoms were adjusted by least squares methods and kept fixed during the rest of the refinement. The refined model consists of 625 of the 632 nonhydrogen atoms in the protein plus 75 water molecules. Seven side chain atoms could not be located in the final electron density map. A computer program rather than visual inspection was used wherever possible in the refinement: for locating water molecules, for removing water molecules that too closely approach other atoms, for deleting atoms that lay in regions of low electron density, and for evaluating the progress of refinement. Fo-Fc Fourier refinement is sufficiently economical to be applied routinely in protein crystal structure determinations. The complete HiPIP refinement required approximately 12 hours of CDC 3600 computer time and cost less than $3000 starting from a "trial structure," based upon multipe isomorphoous replacement phases, which gave an R of 43%...