[Isolation and comparative characteristics of rat transcortin in normal conditions and during experimental circulatory insufficiency].

Corticosteroid binding protein, transcortin, was isolated using biospecific and hydroxyapatite chromatographic procedures. Mr-60,000 of transcortin was evaluated by means of electrophoresis; isoelectric points of the protein and of its complexes were detected. The association constants of transcortin with cortisol at 4 degrees constituted 2.

[Functional activity of the adrenal glands and the hormone-protein interactions in patients with hypertension with a complicated course].

Patients with essential hypertension and hypertension complicated by coronary heart disease showed adrenal glucocorticoid activation along with reduced transcortin binding capacity (TBC). The addition of circulatory insufficiency (stage I and IIB) resulted in a decrease of the functional adrenal reserve and further diminution of TBC due to a reduction of protein binding sites concentration, and sometimes (stage IIB) also a decrease in the protein affinity of steroids. A correlation between TBC and plasma protein level was found.

[Enzyme activity of thiamine pyrophosphate in the rat after oxythiamine administration].

Intraperitoneal injection of hydroxythiamine to rats (1 mmol per kg bw) resulted after 2-4 h in a more than 4-fold decrease in the activity of the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase in adrenal mitochondria. Inhibition of hyaloplasmic transketolase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase occurred later. Based on the correlation of the time course of enzymatic activity in the adrenals and the decreased concentration of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids in the blood the paramount role in the maintenance of the steroidogenesis among thiamine pyrophosphate-containing enzymes is assigned to the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes.