Transmural distribution of biochemical markers of total protein and collagen synthesis, myocardial contraction speed and capillary density in the rat left ventricle in angiotensin II-induced hypertension.

The effect of angiotensin II-induced hypertension on selected biochemical parameters was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Angiotensin II infusion at rates of 41.7 micrograms h-1 kg-1 and 12.

Prolonged exercise causes an increase in the activity of galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase and in the concentration of type III procollagen aminopropeptide in human serum.

The effect of prolonged heavy physical exercise on serum galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase activity (S-GGT) and serum type III procollagen aminoterminal propeptide (S-Pro(III)-N-P) concentration was studied in healthy male long-distance runners. S-GGT increased gradually by about 70% (p less than 0.01) during a competitive 24-h run, and a rising trend was also observed in S-Pro(III)-N-P.

Two serum markers of collagen biosynthesis as possible indicators of irreversible pulmonary impairment in farmer's lung.

Serum galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase activity (S-GGT) and serum procollagen type III aminoterminal propeptide concentration (S-PRO(III)-N-P) were measured in 40 patients with farmer's lung at the time of an acute attack of the disease and 6 months later in order to study the usefulness of these serum markers for predicting the development of interstitial lung fibrosis. These 2 serum parameters have previously been found to reflect tissue collagen synthesis, especially in fibrotic hepatic diseases. The mean S-GGT was significantly increased when compared with the reference mean both at the time of the acute attack (p less than 0.

Prevention by zinc of rat lung collagen accumulation in carbon tetrachloride injury.

Orally administered zinc was studied as a protective antifibrotic agent with respect to experimentally caused lung collagen accumulation in rats. Intraperitoneally injected carbon tetrachloride induced a diffuse alveolar damage with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, and the morphologic findings suggested a primary toxic effect on the lungs. The carbon tetrachloride induction increased significantly the lung to body weight ratio, lung total protein and collagen content, lung total prolyl hydroxylase and galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase activities, and daily urinary hydroxyproline excretion.

Elevated serum galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase, a collagen synthesis marker, in fibrosing lung diseases.

The activity of galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase, an enzyme catalyzing collagen biosynthesis, was measured in the sera of 101 patients with various pulmonary diseases to study whether detectable enzyme amounts are liberated into the serum from the lung tissue, and whether this is associated with the development of lung fibrosis. Increased serum galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase activity was found in all the patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and in about half of the patients with acute stages of farmer's lung and infectious pneumonia. In one third of the patients with stage I sarcoidosis the serum enzyme activity was slightly increased, whereas in bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis the values were mostly within the normal range.