Microbial transformations of the tetracyclic diterpenoid isosteviol (ent-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid) (2) have revealed that isosteviol is metabolized by Cunninghamella bainieri, Actinoplanes sp., Mucor recurvatus, and Cunninghamella blakesleeana to yield five new metabolites, ent-11alpha,12alpha-dihydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (5), ent-11alpha,12alpha,17-trihydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (6), ent-12alpha,15alpha-dihydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (7), ent-7alpha,15alpha-dihydroxy-16- ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (8), and ent-9alpha-hydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (9), together with three known metabolites, ent-7alpha-hydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (3), ent-7beta-hydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (4), and ent-12alpha-hydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (10). The structures of these metabolites were established on the basis of HRFABMS and 1D and 2D NMR spectral data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate the direct effect of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) on the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) mRNA and production of ET-1 peptides in cultured bovine carotid endothelial cells (BCEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The mineralocorticoid, DOCA, was administered to BCEC and HUVEC with or without additional salt (200 mmol/l). The ET-1 mRNA was elevated to 150% and 180% after a 24-hour incubation with DOCA (5 micromol/l) in BCEC and HUVEC, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the role of sorbitol, a metabolic product of glucose, in the pathogenesis of rat diabetic cystopathy. Three-month-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1) normal controls; 2) rats rendered diabetic by streptozotocin; 3) rats fed with glucose; and 4) rats injected with sorbitol. The M(2) muscarinic receptor (M(2)-mAChR) protein and mRNA densities of the bladder tissue were measured by Western immunoblot and Northern blot, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOpioid plays an important role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis in diabetic rats lacking insulin. The present study investigated the changes of beta-endorphin biosynthesis in the adrenal medulla of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ-diabetic rats) by determination of the gene expression of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and the amount of beta-endorphin. Expression of the distinct mRNA that encodes proteins of POMC was studied using reverse transcription combined with polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe M(3) receptor (M(3)-mAChR) is the major muscarinic subtype in the animal bladder responsible for detrusor contraction. The alterations in its protein quantity and biosynthesis during diabetic cystopathy were investigated. 3-month-old male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: (1) 2-week diabetic rats and (2) normoglycemic control rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF