Activity-dependent survival and enhanced turnover of calcium in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons

Neurons survive when their activity is maintained. An influential hypothesis on the cellular mechanism underlying this phenomenon is that there is an appropriate range of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) for survival. The rat cerebellar granule neuron in culture serves as the most often used model system for the analysis of activity-dependent survival, since it does not survive unless an excitant (KCl or glutamate) is added to the culture medium. Against the above-mentioned hypothesis, we found in our previous examination no difference between steady-state [Ca²⁺]i in granule neurons cultured under high KCl (i.e., survival) and low KCl (i.e., death) conditions. In this report, we present the quantitative background of unchanged [Ca²⁺]i between the two culture conditions. Influx of Ca²⁺ due predominantly to L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels was higher in high KCl cultures than in low KCl cultures. At the same time, efflux of Ca²⁺ due to the activity of Ca²⁺/Na⁺ antiport was also higher in high KCl cultures. Additionally, we found that the endocytotic activity was greater in high KCl cultures than in low KCl cultures, as monitored by the rate of uptake of horseradish peroxidase added to medium. Since the uptake was blocked by an internal Ca²⁺ chelator, the increased endocytotic activity in high KCl cultures might be a consequence of the enhanced Ca²⁺ turnover.     

The effect of high sodium intake on bone mineral content in rats fed a normal calcium or a low calcium diet

The effect of high sodium intake on bone mineral content of rats fed a normal (0.6% Ca) or a low (0.02% Ca) calcium diet was studied. Rats on a normal calcium diet given 1.8% sodium chloride to drink showed persistent and significant hypercalciuria and subnormal bone mineral content. Total calcium content of femur was significantly lower after 4 months (p<0.02) and 12 months (p<0.001). In rats maintained on a low calcium diet (0.02% Ca), a high sodium diet for 8 weeks caused a significant loss of calcium in bone similar to that seen in animals fed a normal calcium diet for 4 months. We conclude that high sodium intake reduces bone mineral content, especially if the diet is low in calcium.     

The effects of an intracellular calcium antagonist HA 1077 on delayed cerebral vasospasm in dogs

Summary The effectiveness of calcium antagonists on a chronic cerebral vasospasm after an SAH is still under debate. Calcium channel blockers such as nimodipine, nefedipine etc. can dilate spastic arteries by intrathecal administration, but not by systemic (iv or po) use. HA 1077 is a novel and potent calcium antagonist vasodilator which is considered to act by employing different mechanisms from the usual calcium channel blockers since it inhibits 1. calcium ionophore A 23187 induced contraction in arterial strips and 2. phenylephrine induced contraction in calcium free media, suggesting that its site of action is in the intracellular space. HA 1077 is water soluble and relatively stable in light.In the present study, the efficacy of HA 1077 was evaluated on dogs by using the spiral arterial strips in vitro and by angiography in vivo. In the arterial strips from the control dogs, a 50% relaxation of KCl (15 mM) induced contraction was obtained by a 10^–6 M HA 1077 for the intracranial basilar and middle cerebral arteries, while a 10^–5 M was needed to obtain the same effect for the extracranial common carotid and vertebral arteries, indicating that HA 1077 is more effective for the intracranial arteries. A vasospasm was produced by the two haemorrhage model of Varsoset al. The average angiographic diameter of the basilar artery was reduced to 60% of the control on SAH day 7. Intravenous infusion of HA 1077 (0.5–3 mg/kg/30 min) significantly dilated the spastic basilar artery (up to 20–30%), for over 2 hours. A fall in the systemic BP remained less than 20% during this time. Such spasmolytic effects by intravenous administration could not have been obtained with the usual calcium channel blockers. HA 1077 may be suitable for the treatment of a vasospasm in humans as well.     

Circulating 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol After Intravenous Injections of l{alpha}-Hydroxycholecalciferol in Patients on Regular Haemodialysis

The formation of 1.25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1.25-(OH)₂D₃after single intravenous injections of 1-hydroxycholecalciferol(1-OHD₃) was examined in four patients with chronic renal failureon regular haemodialysis. Following 1–3µg 1-OHD₃administered at weekly intervals, 1.25-(OH)₂D₃ appeared in thecirculation within 1 h, and peak concentrations were reachedbetween 2 h and 5 h. By 8 h serum 1.25-(OH)₂D₃ concentrationshad started declining and by 44 h they had returned to baselineafter 1µg 1-OHD₃ but they were still above basal after2 and 3 µg by an average of 30 pmol/l. One week afterinjections, concentrations were back to basal in all patientsstudied. The serum 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ dose response to injected la-OHDwas linear, indicating ample capacity of the liver 25-hydroxylaseto further hydroxylate 1-OHD. However, examination of the individualresponses revealed lower increments in serum 1.25-(OH)₃ concentrationsin the patients with the highest basal serum 25-hydroxyvitaminD concen trations. Intravenous 1-OHD₃ may be useful in the furtherstudy of the interactions between 1.25-(OH)₂₃ calcium and PTHin chronic renal failure, as well as of the hepatic metabolismof vitamin D.     

Stimulation of spontaneous transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate occurs in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and is enhanced by depolarization

Summary The effect of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the release of transmitter at the frog neuromuscular junction has been investigated electrophysiologically. TPA (100 nmol/l) caused a gradual rise in miniature end-plate potential (MEPP) frequency. After 20–30 min MEPP frequency had risen by approximately 40%. This action of the drug was not inhibited by bathing preparations in either Ca²⁺-free medium (0 Ca²⁺-1 mmol/l EGTA) or high Mg²⁺ medium, or by pretreatment with verapamil (5 mol/l). The inactive TPA analogue 4--TPA had no effect on release rate. There was no indication of any positive correlation between resting MEPP frequency and the size of the subsequent response to TPA treatment. Any synergism between [Ca²⁺]_i and TPA treatment is therefore likely to occur at a site other than that which determines spontaneous release rate.The stimulatory effect of TPA was enhanced 2-fold by carrying out the experiments in a partially depolarising saline (10 mmol/l K⁺). When TPA was applied to preparations bathed in Ca²⁺-free depolarising saline, the response to the drug was still significantly greater than that in non-depolarised preparations. It is concluded that responsiveness to TPA is enhanced by depolarisation, but that little, if any, of this enhancement can be attributed to the consequent influx of Ca²⁺.Send offprint requests to S. J. Publicover at the above addressPEL was in receipt of an S.E.R.C. postgraduate awardZYS was in receipt of financial support from Umm Al Qura University, Saudi Arabia     

血小板活化因子、癌胚抗原、糖类抗原724在结直肠癌中的表达及与临床病理特征的关系

目的:探讨血小板活化因子(PAF)、癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原724(CA-724)在结直肠癌(CRC)患者术前血清中的阳性表达率及与临床病理特征的关系、发病的独立危险因素。方法:选取2019年12月至2021年10月于包头医学院第一附属医院就诊的CRC患者75例为CRC组,另选取同时期在本院体检的健康志愿者75例为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法分别检测CRC患者术前及对照组的晨空腹外周静脉血PAF含量;回顾性分析上述入组患者术前血清CEA、CA-724含量,进行统计分析。结果:(1)CRC组PAF、CEA、CA-724单独检测和联合检测的阳性率分别为25.33%、42.67%、30.67%、74.67%,均高于对照组,且联合检测的阳性率均高于单独检测指标的阳性率,组间差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05);(2)单因素方差分析结果显示,血清CEA表达水平的影响因素为患者的淋巴结转移(P<0.05);血清CA-724表达水平的影响因素为患者的年龄(P<0.05);(3)二元Logistic回归分析结果显示,PAF表达在临床病理特征之间的差异无统计学意义(P&...     

香萱解郁方对血清剥夺诱导HT22细胞损伤模型的神经保护作用

探讨香萱解郁方含药血清对血清剥夺致小鼠海马神经元HT22细胞损伤模型的影响。方法 采用血清剥夺培养HT22细胞建立神经损伤体外模型,实验分为对照组、模型组和中药组［中药组A（含药血清15%浓度）、中药组B（含药血清20%浓度）］,各组血清剥夺12 h后,通过CCK8法检测各组细胞活力,确定15%浓度含药血清干预后细胞的存活率最高,设定为后续实验中药组的药物浓度。免疫荧光染色法检测神经元特异性微管蛋白（β-Tubulin Ⅲ）在各组中的表达,蛋白质免疫印迹法及qPCR法检测脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）蛋白及其mRNA在各组中的表达。结果 在加药后培养12 h,中药组的细胞活力明显高于对照组与模型组（P＜0.001）。培养24 h,模型组细胞活力较对照组明显下降（P＜0.001）,中药组较模型组明显提高（P＜0.001）。培养36 h,模型组细胞活力较对照组显著下降（P＜0.001）,中药组较模型组明显提高（P＜0.001）。模型组BDNF蛋白含量及 BDNF mRNA表达量较对照组显著降低（P＜0.05,P＜0.001）,模型组少数神经元长出突起;中药组BDNF蛋白含量及BDNF mRNA表达量较模型组显著增加（P＜0.05）,中药组HT22细胞轴突突起长度和分支增加,β-Tubulin Ⅲ阳性表达明显增多。结论 香萱解郁方含药血清对血清剥夺诱导小鼠海马神经元HT22细胞损伤具有神经保护作用,可能与促进BDNF蛋白表达有关     

超声弹性成像技术联合血清学标志物预测2型糖尿病的应用价值

<正>多项研究表明,非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者(NAFLD)发生2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM)的风险是正常人的5倍^[1-3]。在T2DM患者中,NAFLD的患病率可高达70%^[4]。肝脏瞬时弹性成像技术(tran-sient elastography,TE)是近年来新兴的超声无创检查方法,主要基于超声信号在肝组织中传播受肝细胞中脂滴的影响而出现显著衰减的原理来评估肝脏脂肪性病变,     

Improved diastolic function with the calcium antagonist nisoldipine (coat-core) in patients post myocardial infarction: results of the DEFIANT study

A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,parallel-group trial was undertaken in 135 patients to determinewhether 4 weeks of treatment with long-acting nisoldipine coat-core(20 mg once a day) could alter diastolic function in patientswith a recent myocardial infarction and with mild left ventriculardysfunction as indicated by a left ventricular ejection fraction50%. The primary endpoint was the change in diastolic fillingparameters assessed by Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography. The mean time of admission to the study was 20 days (range 7–35)after myocardial infarction. Mean left ventricular ejectionfraction was 41%. The drug increased early diastolic peak velocityat the tips of the mitral leaflet by 0·06 m . s^–1(95% confidence intervals (CI): 0·01, 0·11). Thetime velocity integral was increased by 1·2 cm (95% CI:0·16, 2·27). These findings are indicative ofincreased early diastolic flow across the mitral valve. An importantdeterminant appeared to be a reduced isovolumic relaxation time(by 14·7 ms, 95% CI: -22·5, -6·9). As therewas no change in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressureor cardiac output, after load reduction appeared unlikely asan explanation. Peak workload on exercise was 12 watts higherin the group on nisoldipine (95% CI: 0·8, 23·3).Thus, nisoldipine was shown to improve indices of diastolicventricular function, as well as exercise capacity, in thisgroup of patients. The observed effects of nisoldipine may reflectan anti-ischaemic effect or be due to improved relaxation ofthe myocardium.     

Differential potentiation by calcium antagonists of neuromuscular blockade induced by pancuronium and succinylcholine in cats in vivo

Summary The effects of several calcium antagonists (verapamil, nicardipine and two diltiazem isomers, d-cis and l-cis diltiazem) alone and associated to non-depolarizing (pancuronium) and depolarizing (succinylcholine) neuromuscular blockers, were evaluated on sciatic nerve-tibialis anterior muscle preparations from cats in vivo. The calcium antagonists used (at 0.1 and 0.5mg/kg iv) did not modify the height of muscular twitches elicited indirectly. However, these agents potentiated in a dose-dependent way the neuromuscular blockade induced by iv pancuronium (2–40g/kg) and succinylcholine (6–200g/kg). The order of potency in increasing the effects of pancuronium was nicardipine d-cis diltiazem verapamil, whereas the order of potency in enhancing succinylcholine effects was d-cis diltiazem verapamil nicardipine. The effects of diltiazem were stereoselective, thus the potentiation induced by d-cis diltiazem was significantly greater in all cases than that induced by l-cis diltiazem, which suggests that calcium channel blockade plays a role in these interactions. However, other mechanisms such as calcium antagonists-induced nicotinic receptor desensitization may also be involved.