Reduction of nitro-BT by some components of the chloroform-methanol extract of the grey matter of the rat brain.

An attempt was made to extract the substance present in the nerve fibres of the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia which reduced Nitro-BT in alkaline medium pH 9-5 [4,5]. The investigations were performed on 40 white Wistar rats of both sexes and ca. 200 g of body weight. The brains taken for studies were fixed in Baker's formalin for 1,5 hr, thereafter grinded and homogenized in chloroform-methanol solution supplemented up to 100 ml of final volume after homogenisation. Thus prepared solution was left for 24 hr at 4 degrees C temperature and than centrifuged 2000 g/min. The extract was evaporated and the sediment further investigated. The following fraction were received: 1. fraction soluble in aceton, 2. fraction soluble in ethylalcohol, 3. fraction soluble in ether, 4. fraction soluble in water and 5. the sediment. Each fraction was incubated with a standard medium containing Nitro-BT. After incubation the amount of reduced Nitro-BT in each of the incubation medium was spectrophotometrically measured. The most intense reduction was found in the incubation medium with the water fraction. The spectrophotometrically determined reduction of Nitro-BT of the water fraction compared with that of the gangliosides solution were similar. The addition into the incubation media biogenic amines and N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine enhances the reduction of Nitro-BT significantly. According to the results obtained an interference of gangliosides and of the investigated amines in the reduction of Nitro-BT is suggested.