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Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase. ADMA accumulation, mainly due to a decreased dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activity, has been related to the development of cardiovascular diseases. We investigate whether estradiol prevents the changes induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) on the DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway in human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC). HUAEC were exposed to estradiol, native LDL (nLDL), oxLDL and their combinations for 24 h. In some experiments, cells were also exposed to the unspecific estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780, the specific ERα antagonist MPP or specific agonists for ERα, ERβ and GPER. ADMA concentration was measured by HPLC and concentration of NO by amperometry. Protein expression and DDAH activity were measured by immunoblotting and an enzymatic method, respectively. oxLDL, but not nLDL, increased ADMA concentration with a concomitant decrease on DDAH activity. oxLDL reduced eNOS protein and NO production. Estradiol alone had no effects on DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway, but increased the attenuated endothelial NO production induced by oxLDL by reduction in ADMA and preventing loss of eNOS protein levels. ICI 182780 and MPP completely abolished these effects of estradiol on oxLDL-exposed cells. ERα agonist, but not ERβ and GPER agonists, mirrored estradiol effects on NO production. In conclusion, estradiol restores (1) DDAH activity, and therefore ADMA levels, and (2) NO production impaired by oxLDL in HUAEC acting through ERα.

Nervous tissue, central and peripheral, is, as any other, subject to variations in oxygen tension, and to the attack of different xenobiotics; these situations may promote the generation of activated oxygen species of free radical character. Results are presented showing that the content of total glutathione (GSH) in brain is 10-fold that found in the sciatic nerve of the rat (2620 vs. 261 nmol/g wet weight, respectively). The existence of a relatively high superoxide dismutase activity in peripheral nervous tissue, when compared with brain or liver, in combination with the DT-diaphorase activity detected in the sciatic nerve might represent an effective defense mechanism against quinone toxicity, as is also discussed. Nervous tissue, both central and peripheral lack Se-independent GSH peroxidase activity. Finally, the activities of other glutathione-related enzymes studied in the sciatic nerve are very low, when compared with the central nervous tissue, thus suggesting a higher susceptibility of peripheral tissue to oxidative stress damage, since GSH concentration and/or any GSH-related enzymatic activities, e.g. GSH peroxidase or glutathione disulfide reductase, might become limiting.

Procambarus clarkii, the American red crayfish, is used as species for the study of the effect of mercury contamination. The glutathione (GSH) system has been involved in mercury toxicity in different species. This system has been partially characterized in different organs of Procambarus clarkii (Almar et al., Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 89B, 471., 1988), and shown to be sensitive to other heavy metals poisoning (Almar et al., Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 87C, 433, 1987; Almar et al., Biochem. Soc. Trans. 16, 23, 1988). Mercuric chloride treatment with 1/10 of the previously reported LC50 for Procambarus clarkii does not decrease the glutathione content of midgut and green glands since the stoichiometric amount necessary for that is much higher. Some kinetic characteristics of the GSH S‐transferase activity of the cytosolic fraction of the midgut gland (also called hepatopancreas) are presented (pH‐and temperature‐dependence).

Objective: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, is a novel cardiovascular risk factor produced by endothelial cells. ADMA levels are mainly regulated by the activity of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH). Endothelial release of ADMA is increased in the presence of oxidized LDL cholesterol (oxLDL), whereas estrogens stimulate NO production by endothelial cells by increasing both expression and activity of NO synthase and by reducing ADMA levels. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the estradiol effects on the DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to LDL. Methods: After 24 h of exposure to various treatments, culture medium was collected to measure NO production by using an amperometric sensor specific for NO, and to measure dimethylarginines by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). DDAH-I and II mRNA expression and protein content were quantified by real-time PCR assay and immunoblotting, respectively. Results: Exposure of HUVEC to 100 μg/mL oxLDL, but not to 100 μg/mL of native LDL (nLDL), reduced DDAH-II expression at both the mRNA as well as the protein levels, which in turn increased ADMA levels and reduced NO production. Estradiol (1 nM) alone increased DDAH-II mRNA and protein expression, which reduced ADMA levels and increased NO production. In cells exposed to estradiol in combination with either nLDL or oxLDL, levels of DDAH-II, ADMA, and NO were the same as those for estradiol alone. Conclusion: Estradiol completely reverses the effects induced by oxLDL on the DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway.

The present work tries to establish the antioxidant capacity of the peripheral nervous tissue of the rat, in terms of the enzymatic activities present in this tissue that either prevent the formation of activated species as the semiquinone radical (DT-diaphorase), protect against activated oxygen species (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), conjugate natural toxic products or xenobiotics (glutathione S-transferases, especially the activity conjugating 4-hydroxy-nonenal), or complete the glutathione system metabolism (glutathione disulfide reductase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase). All the activities studied are lower in this tissue than they are in liver, except for γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. The relevance of the results obtained and its possible relationship with different neuropathies is discussed. It is concluded that the peripheral nervous tissue is by far less protected than the liver against oxidative damage.

We have studied the biochemical and immunohistochemical changes of DT-diaphorase in diethylstilbestrol (DES)-induced hamster kidney tumours and human biopsies from normal kidneys and renal clear cell carcinoma. The activities of primary and secondary antioxidants in these hamster and human tissues are also reported. DT-diaphorase is decreased in the different subcellular fractions of hamster and human tissues. In hamster kidney the activities of the one-electron quinone reductases show a nearly two-fold increase. Immunohistochemical findings confirm the decrease in DT-diaphorase in hamster and human tissues. This image is of special interest in the case of nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumour), since it has been proposed that the DES-induced tumour is a 'nephroblastoma-like' one. Primary anti oxidant enzymatic activities, i.e. superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, are increased in hamster kidney bearing DES-induced tumours and decreased in human renal clear cell carcinoma. Glutathione disulphide reductase is decreased in hamster and human tumours. The role of these enzymatic activities in the carcinogenic process is also discussed.

The level of quinone oxidoreductases (microsomal and cytosolic DT-diaphorase, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase), superoxide dismutase and glutathione-related enzymatic activities in diethylstilbestrol (DES)-induced carcinogenesis in kidney from Syrian golden hamsters are presented. Animals that exhibited two different stages of DES-induced carcinogenesis in kidney--pre- and neoplastic lesions and tumorous lesions (after 6 and 8 months of continuous exposure to DES respectively)--were studied in comparison to kidneys from control animals. A dramatic decrease in microsomal and cytosolic DT-diaphorase activities (13.6 and 37.8% of controls), as well as in glutathione disulphide reductase (39.5%), and less marked in superoxide dismutase (45.6%), NADH cytochrome b5 reductase (61.9%) glutathione transferase (GST) towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) (66.2%) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (80%) activities, were observed in kidneys with pre- and neoplastic lesions. NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and GST activity towards 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal (4-HNE) showed no statistically significant variation at this stage of carcinogenesis. In kidney from animals with tumorous lesions, all the enzymatic activities mentioned above decreased, except for superoxide dismutase, which was increased to 186% of the control activity. GST activity towards 4-HNE again showed no statistically significant variation. These results suggest that if one-electron reduction of diethylstilbestrol-4',4''-quinone (DESQ) occurs, it may play a very important role in the development of DES carcinogenesis (pre- and neoplastic lesions), since at this stage of carcinogenesis the primary defense mechanisms against the oxygen free radicals generated in this way, i.e. SOD activity, is reduced to less than a half of control values. Both cytosolic and microsomal DT-diaphorase activities are unable at this stage of carcinogenesis to promote effectively the two-electron reduction of DESQ, which would avoid the initial formation of superoxide anion. The consequences of these decreases may be an increased steady-state concentration of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, which in the presence of iron might lead to lipid peroxidation. GST activity towards 4-HNE could be responsible for the possible higher steady-state concentration of this lipid peroxidation product during DES treatment. The induction of DT-diaphorase and its protective role in the prevention of the development of pre- and neoplastic lesions in kidney from Syrian golden hamster during DES treatment is also discussed.

1. 1The glutathione S -transferase activity in hepatopancreas of the American red crayfish Procambarus clarkii after 15 days' acclimatization in tap water aquaria was measured in specimens collected monthly for a whole year, and shows seasonal variation. 2. 2. Previous data on the environmental pollution of Lake Albufera suggest a possible correlation with the activity tested in the different seasons of the year considering the results of non-acclimatized animals.

Ebselcn (PZ 5 1 : 2-phenyl1.2-benzisoelenazol-3-( 2H)-one 1 is ii synthetic organoselenium compound with anti-inflammatory activity ( I . 21, which exhibits glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)-like activity, catalysing the reduction o f hydrogen peroxide as well as other organic peroxides [3-5]. Its antiinflammatory effect may be mediated by either the GSH-Px activity, the inhibition of leukotriene B4 formation [6], the antioxidant capacity, or a combination of all of them. Many attempts have been made to increase the antioxidant capacity of the myocardium, since free radical generation has been demonstrated in ischaemia-reperfusion damage [7, 81; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase have been used to decrease myocardial reperfusion injury [9]. Moreover, glutathione (GSH) decreases in the myocardium under ischaemic conditions [ 101 and a possible involvement of the myocardial mitochondria1 pool of GSH has also been recently discussed ( I 1 1. This evidence and hypothesis led us to investigate some aspects of the cardiac antioxidant defence, as well as the effect of Ebselen treatment on the peroxidase activity of the myocardium, which are preliminary results necessary for a rationale of the use of Ebselen to prevent or ameliorate ischaemic or reperfusion damage.