Determination of ornithine carbamoyl transferase (EC 2.1.3.3) activity in plasma is important for detection of liver diseases. The assay established in this paper has been made optimum. A blank is needed containing both substrates, carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine. We used a new colorimetric assay, based on a complex with a phosphoferric-antipyrine reagent and diacetyl monoxime, to measure the...

The focal source hypothesis of ventricular fibrillation (VF) posits that rapid activation from a focal source, rather than action potential duration (APD) restitution properties, is responsible for the maintenance of VF. We injected aconitine (100 microg) into normal isolated perfused swine right ventricles (RVs) stained with 4-[beta-[2-(di-n-butylamino)-6-naphthyl]vinyl]pyridinium (di-4-ANEPPS...

Left ventricular (LV) myocardial slices were isolated from murine hearts (300 microm thick) and were stimulated at 1 Hz without external load. Mean myocardial slice O(2) consumption (MVo(2)) per minute (mMVo(2)) without stimulation was 0.97 +/- 0.14 ml O(2).min(-1).100 g LV(-1) and mean mMVo(2) with stimulation increased to 1.80 +/- 0.17 ml O(2).min(-1).100 g LV(-1) in normal Tyrode solution. M...

Excessive dopamine (DA) is known to cause hypoxic/ischemic damage to mammalian brain. The freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta, however, maintains basal striatal DA levels in anoxia. We investigated DA balance during early anoxia when energy status in the turtle brain is compromised. The roles of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels and adenosine (AD) receptors were investigated as these fa...

Rosenthal (1955) has described in great detail a method using diacetyl monoxime which is generally satisfactory for the routine estimation of urea in blood and urine except that complete colour development requires prolonged heating in boiling water. This disadvantage can be overcome by the use of a pressure cooker. The tubes of reaction mixture are immersed in a beaker filled with hot water to...

In a previous paper,3) a colorimetric method for the determination of urea nitrogen in blood and urine was presented on the basis of a color reaction of urea with diacetyl monoxime (DAM) in phosphoric acid solution in the presence of D-glucuronolactone (GL), which served to produce a photo-stable color and eliminate the sigmoidal nature of calibration curve observed usually in the DAM method.4)...

Overexpression of beta-actin is known to alter cell morphology, though its effect on cell motility has not been documented previously. Here we show that overexpressing beta-actin in myoblasts has striking effects on motility, increasing cell speed to almost double that of control cells. This occurs by increasing the areas of protrusion and retraction and is accompanied by raised levels of beta-...

There is evidence that the stretch-induced residual force enhancement observed in skeletal muscles is associated with 1) cross-bridge dynamics and 2) an increase in passive force. The purpose of this study was to characterize the total and passive force enhancement and to evaluate whether these phenomena may be associated with a slow detachment of cross bridges. Single fibers from frog lumbrica...

Negative inotropic agents may differentially modulate indexes of cytosolic [Ca(2+)]-left ventricular (LV) pressure (LVP) relationships when given before and after ischemia. We measured and calculated [Ca(2+)], LVP, velocity ratios [[(d[Ca(2+)]/dt(max))/(dLVP/dt(max)); VR(max)] and [(d[Ca(2+)]/dt(min))/(dLVP/dt(min)); VR(min)]], and area ratio (AR; area [Ca(2+)]/area LVP per beat) before and aft...

The measurement of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) as serum or plasma urea is one of the most frequently ordered laboratory tests for evaluating renal functions. Conventional analysis of reactions of urea with diacetyl monoxime or urease with the Berthelot reaction [1] is rapidly giving way to the totally enzymatic reactions that are more convenient to perform and more easily adapted to modern instru...