The altered expression of GABA shunt enzymes in the gerbil hippocampus before and after seizure generation.

In the present study, the distribution of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) and succinic semialdehyde reductase (SSAR) in the hippocampus of the Mongolian gerbil and its association with various sequelae of spontaneous seizure were investigated in order to identify the roles of GABA shunt in the epileptogenesis and the recovery mechanisms in these animals. Both SSADH and SSAR immunoreactivities in the GABAergic neurons were significantly higher in the pre-seizure groups of seizure sensitive (SS) gerbil as compared to those seen in the seizure resistant (SR) gerbils. The distributions of both SSADH and SSAR immunoreactivities in the hippocampus showed significant differences after the on-set of seizure.

13-Hydroxy-9Z,11E,15E-octadecatrienoic acid from the leaves of Cucurbita moschata.

A new unsaturated hydroxy fatty acid was isolated from the leaves of Cucurbita moschata through repeated silica gel column chromatography and chemical methods. The structure of the new fatty acid was determined as 13-hydroxy-9,11,15-octadecatrienoic acid on the basis of several spectral data including 2D-NMR. The stererostructures of double bonds were determined to be 9Z, 11E and 15E by coupling patterns of related proton signals in the 1H-NMR and NOESY experiments.

Chronological changes in pyridoxine-5'-phosphate oxidase immunoreactivity in the seizure-sensitive gerbil hippocampus.

To identify the roles of pyridoxine-5'-phosphate (PNP) oxidase in epileptogenesis and the recovery mechanisms in spontaneous seizure, a chronological and comparative analysis of PNP oxidase expression was conducted. PNP oxidase immunoreactivity in a preseizure group of seizure-sensitive (SS) gerbils was detected more strongly than that in a seizure-resistant (SR) group. The density of PNP oxidase immunoreactivity in a 30 min postictal group was significantly lower than that in a preseizure group.

Aceriphyllic acid A, A new ACAT inhibitory triterpenoid, from Aceriphyllum rossii.

Two new triterpenoids along with three known ones, 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid (1), 3alpha-hydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (2) and 3beta-hydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (3), were isolated from Aceriphyllum rossii. The structures of the new compounds were determined to be a 3alpha,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (4) and a 3alpha,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid (5) by spectroscopic and chemical methods; they were designated aceriphyllic acids A and B, respectively. Compounds 2, 3 and 4 remarkably inhibited the activity of ACAT.