Collagen analysis of the ascending aortic dilatation associated with bicuspid aortic valve disease compared with tricuspid aortic valve.

Dilatation of the ascending aorta is a common occurrence in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). The aim of the current study was to characterize collagen content in advanced glycation end products (AGEs) of dilated aortic tissue from two distinct areas, concave and convex aortic sites in patients with BAV and TAV. Collagen contents extracted from 100 mg tissue was isolated by enzymatic digestion using pepsin and the nondigested material was further digested using cyanogen bromide, insoluble collagen fraction (ICF) was extracted by hydrochloric acid hydrolysis.

Electroimmunochemical quantification of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in rat liver microsomes.

Microsomal UDPglucuronosyltransferase(1-naphthol), an enzyme form previously shown to be selectively inducible in rat liver by 3-methylcholanthrene-type inducers, was purified to apparent homogeneity. Rabbit antibodies against this enzyme form precipitated UDPglucuronosyltransferase activities towards 1-naphthol and 4-methylumbelliferone faster and to greater extents than enzyme activities towards bilirubin, oestrone and 4-hydroxybiphenyl. Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis showed immunochemical similarity of the rat liver enzyme with the enzymes from other organs of the rat (kidney, testes) and the mouse liver but not with the enzyme from cat and human liver.

Increased uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase activity in preneoplastic liver nodules and Morris hepatomas.

In preneoplastic rat liver nodules produced by 2-acetylaminofluorene, certain uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT) activities, which are ascribed to a distinct enzyme form, were selectively increased (5-fold). This enzyme form, operationally termed UDP-GT1, accepts 1-naphthol,4-methylumbelliferone, and 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene as substrates and is chiefly inducible in liver by 3-methylcholanthrene-type inducers. Glucuronidation of other substrates (morphine, 4-hydroxybiphenyl, chloramphenicol, bilirubin, and estrone) was only slightly enhanced or decreased in nodular tissue.

Functional heterogeneity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.

Functional heterogeneity of liver microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards 1-naphthol, 4-methylumbelliferone or 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene (UDP-GT1 activities) and morphine or 4-hydroxybiphenyl (UDP-GT2 activities) was studied in two inbred strains of mice which are genetically responsive (C57BL/6) or non-responsive (DBA/2) to 3-methylcholanthrene-induction of drug metabolizing enzymes. 3-Methylcholanthrene preferentially induced UDP-GT1 activities in C57BL/6 mice. Phenobarbital, however, at low doses (50 mg/kg), selectively induced UDP-GT2 activities.