Microassay of decarboxylation reactions in cultured cells.

The currently described methods for determination of decarboxylation reaction rates in cultured cells require large quantities of cells and often involve cell manipulation prior to assay. We describe a simple microassay for the rapid measurement of various decarboxylation reaction rates in intact cultured cells. The assay is based on the traditional measurement of 14CO2 generated from 14C-labeled substrates.

Chronic hyperdynamic sepsis in the rat. II. Characterization of liver and muscle energy metabolism.

Sepsis was induced in male rats by injections of live Escherichia coli No. 4 (or E. coli No.

Perinatal development of heart, kidney, and liver mitochondrial antioxidant defense.

Development of the mitochondrial antioxidant defense system was studied to assess its potential role in the newborn mammal's tolerance to oxidative challenge and to gain insight into the fetal adaptation to a relatively hyperoxic adult environment. Isolated heart, kidney, and liver mitochondria from fetal, newborn, and adult guinea pigs were used. In situ function of the antioxidant enzymes was estimated in mitochondrial suspensions after the addition to selenite or tert-butyl hydroperoxide by determining NAD(P)H oxidation rates spectrophotometrically at 340-375 nm.

Renal cortical mitochondrial integrity in experimental cyclosporine nephrotoxicity.

The function of renal cortical mitochondria isolated from rats with cyclosporine nephrotoxicity was studied. Renal cortical mitochondria were isolated from 5 male Fischer rats after 14 days of daily intraperitoneal administration of CsA, 25 mg/kg body wt. Compared with the mitochondrial function of 5 pair-fed control rats receiving vehicle alone, state 3 respiration (ADP-dependent) using several substrates was mildly depressed only with pyruvate-malate supported respiration (27 +/- 3 vs.