Polymorphism of the polyalanine tract of thyroid transcription factor-2 gene in patients with thyroid dysgenesis

OBJECTIVE: We studied the significance of BsmI restriction enzyme polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and the XbaI and PvuII polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene in patients with type 2 diabetes (n=49), android type obesity with normal carbohydrate metabolism (n=29) and healthy controls (n=138). METHODS: The distribution of genotypes in the study groups, as well as their relationship to fasting and 1 h postprandial serum C-peptide levels were analyzed. RESULTS: Postprandial serum C-peptide levels of BB genotypes were significantly higher in the diabetes and obese groups (6.18+/-5.09 ng/ml) compared with other genotypes (2.71+/-2.45 vs. 1.72+/-1.97 ng/ml, respectively, P=0.05). Among patients with type 2 diabetes and obese subjects, the XX allelic variant of the ER gene was more frequent (P=0.00015). Postprandial C-peptide levels of subjects exhibiting XX genotype were significantly lower compared with those with Xx genotype (1.67+/-2.16 vs. 3.8+/-3.72 ng/ml, P=0.021). The BBXx allelic combination of the VDR/ER receptor genes was less frequent in diabetic patients than in healthy subjects or in obese patients. The BBXx genotype was associated with significantly elevated postprandial C-peptide levels in all subjects compared with other combinations (9.65+/-3.14 vs. 1.35+/-2.82 ng/ml, P=0.003). No difference was found in the distribution of the PvuII polymorphism of the ER gene or in the association with the C-peptide levels among study groups. CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms of the VDR/ER receptor genes might play a role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes by influencing the secretory capacity of beta-cells.     

Novel regulation of muscarinic receptors and their coupling with G proteins in smooth muscle: transient resensitization during desensitizing process.

1. Muscarinic stimulation of the smooth muscle of guinea-pig taenia caeci was produced with 10(-4) M carbachol for 15 s, 30 s, 1 min, 2 min and 30 min, and the time course of developing desensitization was studied by measuring the muscle contractility and the binding characteristics of muscarinic receptors. 2. The contractile response to carbachol was analyzed using dose-response curves. The response to 10(-7) M carbachol was reduced by treatment for 15 s with 10(-4) M carbachol (fast desensitization), but recovered partially after 30 s treatment and completely after 1 min treatment (resensitization). Contractility was reduced again after 2 min and 30 min treatment (re-desensitization). 3. The affinity of carbachol for muscarinic receptors was changed by the carbachol treatment in a manner similar to the contractility. Thus, the affinity was reduced at 15 s, restored slightly at 30 s and completely at 1 and 2 min, and was reduced again at 30 min. 4. 5'-Guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp), a non-hydrolysable analogue of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) reduced the affinity of muscarinic receptors for carbachol via guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins). A similar effect was observed in tissues desensitized by 15 s carbachol treatment. This effect disappeared after 30 s, recovered completely after 1 and 2 min, and disappeared again after 30 min carbachol treatment. 5. Neither the dissociation constant (Kd value) nor the maximal binding (Bmax) of [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-QNB) to muscarinic receptors were changed by the carbachol treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of local anaesthetics on short-term desensitization of guinea-pig taenia caecum to histamine.

1 Short-term desensitization to histamine was induced by incubating guinea-pig taenia caecum with 10(-4)M histamine for 30 min (desensitizing incubation) in normal Locke-Ringer solution or Ca-free Locke-Ringer solution containing 0.2 mM EGTA. This desensitization was measured as a reduction of the maximal contractile response. 2 The effects of the presence of local anaesthetics during the desensitizing incubation were examined. Results showed that tetracaine, procaine, procainamide, oxybuprocaine and lignocaine inhibited the desensitization, whereas dibucaine, benzocaine and mepivacaine did not. 3 The inhibitory effects of these drugs on the desensitization were not correlated with their lipid solubility nor with the potency of their known effects, such as membrane stabilization, Ca channel blockade, calmodulin antagonism, or inhibition of C-kinase. 4 It is concluded that the inhibitory effects of local anaesthetics on the desensitization are not due to their non-specific membrane-stabilizing effects per se, but to some other action.     

Effects of E-3123, a new protease inhibitor, on several protease activities and on experimental acute pancreatitis

4-(2-Succinimidoethylthio) phenyl 4-guanidinobenzoate (E-3123) potently inhibited trypsin, plasmin and thrombin with IC50 values of 3.9 x 10(-8) M, 9.5 x 10(-7) M and 1.9 x 10(-6) M, respectively. Experimental acute pancreatitis was induced by injection of a mixture of trypsin and taurocholate into the pancreas in rats and rabbits or by an application of a closed duodenal loop in dogs. Intravenous infusion of E-3123 at 0.03-0.3 mg/kg in rats or at 0.3-3.0 mg/kg in rabbits reduced mortality after the induction of pancreatitis in a dose-dependent manner. Light microscopy of the pancreas in the E-3123-treated rabbits revealed marked decrease in cell necrosis and acinar cell vacuolation. Increase in plasma lipase activities associated with the progression of pancreatitis in rabbits was also reduced by the infusion of E-3123. In dogs with pancreatitis, increases in serum trypsin and lipase activities were significantly reduced by infusion of E-3123 at 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg. The efficacies of E-3123 in the in vivo experiments were higher than those of nafamostat mesilate. These results show that E-3123 may possess suppressing effects on pathogenesis and development of acute pancreatitis.     

The role of preoperative embolization in renal cell carcinoma

In 84 cases of renal cell carcinoma, the effect of embolization was assessed by dividing the patients into two groups: those having undergone (42 cases) or not having undergone (42 cases) embolization. A 16% decrease in tumor volume following embolization using an MMC-micro capsule was noted. In patients without metastasis at nephrectomy, a tendency was observed for the incidence of postoperative metastasis to be lower with more favorable survival for the group with embolization than that without. On the other hand, among cases with metastasis at nephrectomy, there were more patients who survived for a longer period in the embolization group.     

Monoclonal antibodies reveal cell-type-specific antigens in the sexually dimorphic olfactory system of Manduca sexta. II. Expression of antigens during postembryonic development

Two classes of monoclonal antibodies specific to the olfactory system of Manduca sexta have been isolated: the olfactory-specific antibody (OSA), which specifically recognizes many or all olfactory receptor cells (ORCs) in both males and females, and the male olfactory-specific antibody (MOSA), which stains male-specific receptor cells (principally or exclusively sex-pheromone receptors present only in antennae of males; Hishinuma et al., 1988). In the investigation reported here, we examined the expression of the antigens during postembryonic development in order to correlate the presence of particular antigens with the status of differentiation of the ORCs or with their acquisition of particular functions. As assessed immunocytochemically, the OSA recognizes certain epithelial cells in the antennal imaginal disk of the fifth-instar larva. Later, during the first 70 hr of adult development, when differentiative cell divisions are occurring in the antennal epithelium to generate ORCs and the other cells that make up olfactory sensilla, no cells are stained. Immediately after this period of mitoses, the OSA immunoreactivity reappears exclusively in the ORCs, which begin to elaborate axons as an early event in their differentiation. On immunoblots, the OSA recognizes specific sets of molecules (distinguished on the basis of their apparent molecular weights): 53,000 and 59,000 Da antigens in the disk epithelial cells in the last-instar larva; 53,000, 59,000, and 66,000 Da antigens in the ORCs from 15 to 60% of metamorphic adult development; and 42,000, 59,000, and 66,000 Da antigens in the ORCs from 60 to 100% of adult development. The MOSA also recognizes a subset of the epithelial cells in the antennal disks in male and female larvae.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Protective effects of E3330, a novel quinone derivative, on galactosamine/tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced hepatitis in mice.

Oral pretreatment with E3330, a novel quinone derivative, attenuated liver injury induced with tumor necrosis factor-alpha in galactosamine-sensitized mice. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is known to induce inflammatory mediators such as leukotrienes and prostanoids. An in vitro study showed that E3330 inhibited the generation of leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2, but enhanced prostaglandin E2 generation from rat peritoneal exudate cells stimulated with the Ca(2+)-ionophore, A23187. These findings suggest that the protective effect of E3330 on galactosamine/tumor necrosis factor-alpha hepatitis is due at least in part to its inhibition of the generation of leukotrienes. The inhibition of thromboxane B2 generation or the enhancement of prostaglandin E2 generation by E3330 may also contribute to its hepatoprotective effect.     

High sensitive analysis of rat serum bile acids by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Sensitive liquid chromatography (LC)/electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS) can be used to analyze the bile acid composition of rat serum. This method can analyze eight common bile acids and their glycine and taurine conjugates in 100 μl rodent serum by gradient elution on a reversed-phase column using a mixture of 20 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 8.0), acetonitrile and methanol as a mobile phase. Selected reaction monitoring analysis under negative ion detection mode allowed the achievement of a high sensitive assay with a simple solid phase extraction using an ODS cartridge column. We used this method to investigate the effect of a one-day fast on the concentration and composition of serum bile acids in rats. The results suggested that the method described here is useful for the dynamic analysis of serum bile acids in rats.     

Differential roles of ryanodine- and thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular CA2+ stores in excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle of guinea-pig taenia caeci

1. To explore roles of intracellular Ca(2+) stores in excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle, we examined the effects of ryanodine, a fixer of ryanodine receptor-Ca(2+) channels to an open state, and thapsigargin, a selective inhibitor of the Ca(2+) pump in the intracellular stores, on smooth muscle contraction in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca(2+) in guinea-pig taenia caeci. 2. In Ca(2+) -free solution, contractions induced by 0.1 mmol/L carbachol and 0.1 mmol/L histamine were reduced to approximately 65% of control by either 1 micro mol/L thapsigargin or 10 micro mol/L ryanodine. In contrast, caffeine-induced contraction was reduced to approximately 40% of control by ryanodine, but was not affected by thapsigargin. 3. In the presence of extracellular Ca(2+), thapsigargin slowly induced a large and sustained contraction. In contrast, ryanodine did not induce an apparent contraction, but increased the sensitivity of contractile responses to receptor agonists (carbachol, AHR-602 and histamine) or depolarizing high K(+) with no changes in the maximal contraction. 4. These results suggest that there are pharmacological and physiological differences between ryanodine- and thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular Ca(2+) stores in excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle, which may be responsible for their differential effects on the Ca(2+) -influx pathway.     

Augmentation of superoxide generation in phagocytosing murine peritoneal macrophages by dietary restriction

The effects of dietary restriction on the generation of superoxide anion (O2-) in phagocytosing mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPs) were investigated. MPs obtained from diet-restricted mice generated larger amount of O2- during phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan than those from unrestricted mice. This augmentation of the O2- generation was not inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7). However, the augmentation was clearly disappeared when the calmodulin (CaM) antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) was added. These results strongly suggest that the augmentation of O2- generation in phagocytosing MPs by dietary restriction is due to the increased activity of CaM in the MPs, and that PKC is not involved in the augmentation. It is thought that one of the major factors for the reduced incidence of tumor and infection in diet-restricted animals is the augmentation of O2- generation in MPs.