bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of subchronic pyridostigmine pretreatment on the toxicity of soman
Authors: Shiloff J. D. , Clement J. G.
Published: April 2011

The effect of subchronic pyridostigmine pretreatment on the toxicity of soman, in the absence of supporting therapy (atropine, oxime, and (or) anticonvulsant), as well as its effect on muscarinic cholinoceptor binding characteristics was assessed in the rat. Pretreatment with pyridostigmine by means of an implanted Alzet® osmotic minipump for a 5-day total exposure dose of 12 mg/kg inhibited whole blood acetylcholinesterase activity by 73%. This pyridostigmine pretreatment lowered the soman LD50 from 104 μg/kg in control animals to 82 μg/kg. In addition, the time to onset of soman-induced convulsions in pyridostigmine pretreated animals was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced. Pyridostigmine pretreatment produced no significant effect on muscarinic cholinoceptor binding in brain or ileum. Lower doses of pyridostigmine pretreatment inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity (65 and 25%); however, LD50 and time to onset of convulsions following soman (140 μg/kg) were not significantly different from controls.
Modulation by arginine vasopressin of glutamate excitation in the ventral septal area of the rat brain
Authors: Disturnal J. E. , Veale W. L. , Pittman Q. J.
Published: April 2011

Arginine vasopresin is hypothesized to act as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the ventral septal area of the rat brain. To examine this role of vasopressin further, it was applied by microiontophoresis or micropressure from multiple-barrelled micropipettes onto spontaneously active or glutamate-activated neurons. Applied in this manner, vasopressin reduced glutamate-evoked excitation in 32 of the 47 cells studied. Further, micropressure application of the vasopressin antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP reversed the vasopressin effects. In contrast, administration of vasopressin had no effect on excitations evoked by acetylcholine iontophoresis or on the spontaneous activity of the majority of the ventral septal neurons studied. These observations suggest that vasopressin may be acting on a V1-like receptor on specific neurons in the ventral septal area as a modulator of glutamate actions. Evoked responses were also obtained in the same population of ventral septal cells following stimulation of a variety of limbic areas. Inhibitory input onto most of the vasopressin responsive neurons studied was obtained following electrical stimulation of the paraventricular nucleus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, two cell groupings that are potential sources of vasopressin to the ventral septal area. Thus, the similarity in action of exogenously applied vasopressin and the evoked responses following paraventricular nucleus and bed nucleus stimulation suggests that vasopressin may be a neurotransmitter in this pathway.
Theophylline-induced protection in myoglobinuric acute renal failure: further characterization
Authors: Bidani A. K. , Churchill P. C. , Packer W.
Published: April 2011

We have reported previously that aminophylline has an ameliorating effect on the course and severity of glycerol-induced myoglobinuric acute renal failure in rats. Since aminophylline dissociates into theophylline in biological fluids and since theophylline is an adenosine receptor antagonist, we attributed the ameliorating effects to antagonism of the hemodynamic effects of endogenous adenosine. However, theophylline blocks tubuloglomerular feedback and produces natriuresis, and either of these effects might have accounted for the beneficial effects in acute renal failure. Therefore, this study was designed to further characterize the effects of theophylline in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats. Aminophylline had dose-dependent beneficial effects, as judged by the peak serum creatinine during the 3 days following induction of acute renal failure, by the number of animals with peak serum creatinine >1 mg/dL, and by the mortality rate. Both furosemide and theophylline block tubuloglomerular feedback and produce natriuresis, but aminophylline had protective effects, whereas furosemide actually increased mortality, compared with aminophylline, following induction of myoglobinuric acute renal failure. Therefore, aminophylline's protective effects are independent of tubuloglomerular feedback and natriuresis. These results offer further support for the hypothesis that adenosine-induced hemodynamic changes play a pathogenic role in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats.
The upper esophageal sphincter in the cat: the role of central innervation assessed by transient vagal blockade
Authors: Reynolds R. P. E. , Effer G. W. , Bendeck M. P.
Published: April 2011

Studies were performed on four cats to assess the role of extrinsic innervation via the cervical nerve trunks in the control of upper esophageal sphincter function. Transient vagal nerve blockade was accomplished by cooling the cervical vagosympathetic nerve trunks previously isolated in skin loops on each side of the neck. Upper esophageal sphincter pressure was measured using a multilumen oval manometry tube and a rapid pull-through technique. The upper esophageal sphincter response to cervical intraesophageal balloon distention and acid perfusion was assessed. The feline upper esophageal sphincter has a distinct asymmetric pressure profile, whereby anterior pressure > posterior pressure > left pressure > right pressure. Bilateral vagal nerve blockade lowered the mean upper esophageal sphincter pressure from 18.5 ± 1.5 to 12.0 ± 2.8 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.3 Pa) (p < 0.001), with a significant reduction in pressure in all four quadrants. Intraesophageal balloon distention and acid perfusion both produced a significant increase in upper esophageal sphincter pressure. Bilateral vagal nerve blockade completely abolished the response of the upper esophageal sphincter to balloon distention and acid perfusion. We conclude that (i) normal upper esophageal sphincter tone in the cat is partially mediated by excitatory neural input via the cervical nerve trunks, presumably via the recurrent laryngeal nerves; and (ii) cervical intraesophageal balloon distention and acid perfusion produce reflex contraction of the upper esophageal sphincter, which is dependent on neural pathways via the cervical vagal nerve trunks, but the relative contribution of afferent and efferent pathways remains unknown.
Carbonic anhydrase III inhibition in normocapnic and hypercapnic contracting mouse soleus
Authors: Barclay J. K.
Published: April 2011

The physiological role of carbonic anhydrase III in slow-twitch skeletal muscle was investigated using isolated mouse soleus (N = 30) contracting once every 1.7 min for 75 min in Krebs–Henseleit solution gassed with either 95% oxygen – 5% carbon dioxide (normocapnia) or 90% oxygen – 10% carbon dioxide (hypercapnia). Each contraction was 500 ms in duration at 50 Hz. When muscles contracted in normocapnic solution (pH 7.42), the developed tension decreased an average of 6.1 ± 0.8% over 25 min. For the next 50 min, 15 muscles remained normocapnic, while the remainder contracted in hypercapnic solution (pH 7.20). Tension decreased significantly more with hypercapnia. For the last 25 min, both normocapnic and hypercapnic muscles were divided into three treatment groups (N = 5). One group continued in the same environment, while acetazolamide (final concentration of 10−5 M) was added to the bath of the second and sodium cyanate (final concentration of 10−5 M) was added to the bath of the third group. Acetazolamide had no effect on tension in either carbon dioxide environment. Sodium cyanate significantly decreased tension from the hypercapnic control but had no effect in normocapnia. Thus carbonic anhydrase III inhibition with sodium cyanate increased the effect of hypercapnia implying that carbonic anhydrase III assists in the regulation of free hydrogen ion concentration in slow-twitch skeletal muscle.
Thiol protease and cathepsin D activities in selected tissues and cultured cells from normal and dystrophic mice
Authors: Gopalan P. , Dufresne M. J. , Warner A. H.
Published: April 2011

Thiol protease and cathepsin D activities were studied in extracts from hindlimb muscle of 60-day-old normal and dystrophic mice, strain 129 ReJ, and from cultured normal and dystrophic cells. Total thiol protease activity in dystrophic muscle extracts was 3.5 times higher than in normal muscle extracts, while cathepsin D, activity was 2.2 times greater in dystrophic muscle compared with normal muscle. Activation (pH 4.5, 30 °C) of latent thiol protease activity in extracts of muscle occurred concomitant with the inactivation or dissociation of endogenous protease inhibitors. Thiol protease assays revealed a higher ratio of active to inactive protease activity in extracts from dystrophic muscle than from normal muscle. Cultured myoblasts (L69/1) were found to contain 30-fold more thiol protease(s) and 6-fold more cathepsin D activity than whole muscle. Cells established from dystrophic muscle and grown in culture for periods up to 6 months were more responsive to thiol protease activation conditions than similar cultures derived from normal muscle. From data on the rate and extent of thiol protease activation in extracts from dystrophic cells and hindlimb muscle compared with normal tissue, it appears that cells and tissues from dystrophic mice contain a lower level of protease inhibitors than cells and tissues from normal mice.
The level of dietary protein and carbohydrate has a different effect on intestinal uptake of hexoses and lipids in rabbits with an ileal resection than in those with an intact intestinal tract
Authors: Thomson A. B. R.
Published: April 2011

Either high protein, low carbohydrate (HP) or low protein, high carbohydrate (LP) diets were fed for 6 weeks to rabbits with or without resection of the distal half of the small intestine. Control and resected rabbits fed HP consumed more food and gained more weight than the animals fed LP. The level of dietary protein has a different effect on intestinal transport in animals with an ileal resection than in those with an intact small intestine. With 0.5 mM glucose, the in vitro uptake in control rabbits was greater for the LP than HP diet but was unchanged in resected rabbits; uptake of 0.5 mM galactose and 3-O-methyl glucose was unaffected by HP and LP, whereas in rabbit uptake was lower in LP than HP. The uptake of 40 mM glucose was greater with the LP than HP diet in control rabbits, but lower with LP than HP in resected rabbits. In control rabbits, the uptake of aluric acid was lower on the LP than HP diet; the uptake of octanoic acid, decanoic acid, and cholesterol was unchanged; and the uptake of each fatty acid and cholesterol was greater in resected rabbits fed LP than HP. Feeding a low protein diet to animals with an ileal resection is associated with lower jejunal uptake of high concentrations of glucose, but the higher uptake of glactose and enhanced permeability to fatty acids result in superior weight gain. Thus, recommendations for alterations in dietary protein and carbohydrate levels following ileal resection must be made with the knowledge that these changes may influence intestinal transport function as well as body weight gain.
Influence of right atrial stretch on plasma renin activity in the conscious rat
Authors: Kaufman Susan
Published: April 2011

Rats were prepared with inflatable balloons at the superior vena cava – right atrium junction. After recovery 1 week later, when blood was taken from conscious, normovolaemic animals plasma renin activity was found not to be influenced by right atrial stretch. Plasma renin activity was then measured in rats in which an extracellular fluid deficit had been produced by peritoneal dialysis against a hyperoncotic, isotonic solution. Although basal plasma renin activity was elevated (6.8 ± 0.9 from 1.5 ± 0.2 ng∙mL∙h, n = 19), no depression was observed in the experimental group after 15 or 90 min of balloon inflation. In rats pretreated with isoprenaline (10 μg/kg body wt.) plasma renin activity was also increased over basal levels, but again balloon inflation caused no reduction in plasma renin activity. It would appear that right atrial stretch has little, if any, influence on renin release in the conscious rat.
Membrane controls of epithelial phosphate transport
Authors: Quamme Gary A. , Shapiro R. Jean
Published: April 2011

Phosphate homeostasis involves efficient intestinal absorption of dietary phosphate and sensitive renal conservation of filtered phosphate. Phosphate transport occurs by similar mechanisms across the intestinal and renal epithelium. This includes secondary active uptake across the brush-border membrane, movement of phosphate across the cytosol or into the metabolic phosphate pool, and finally the passive exit from the basolateral membrane. Active transport across the brush-border membrane involves cotransport of phosphate with sodium, which moves down its electrochemical gradient. As this process is the rate-limiting step, it is thought to be the controlling event in intestinal and renal absorption. The interaction of phosphate, sodium, and hydrogen ions with the recognition proteins involved with sodium-dependent phosphate transport is complex and not fully understood. Furthermore, the lipid bilayer structure may play a significant role in controlling the sequence of events in the movement across the brush-border membrane. Transfer of phosphate through the cytosol and exit across the basolateral membrane is less well understood, although the latter transmembrane flux is thought to be carrier mediated. Intestinal phosphate absorption is determined principally by plasma calcium and phosphate concentrations (1,25(OH)2 D3) and dietary availability of phosphate (intrinsic adaptation). On the other hand, renal conservation is determined by the available calcium (PTH), phosphate (intrinsic adaptation), and acid–base balance (hydrogen ions). These controls alter sodium-dependent phosphate cotransport across the brush-border membrane of the epithelial cell. The chemical alterations of the brush-border membrane and the metabolic events leading to changes in the brush-border membrane are not understood. The use of isolated, purified membranes and innovations of current techniques will enhance our understanding of these events and allow us to explain the mechanisms controlling epithelial phosphate absorption.
45Ca2+ uptake in rat brain neurons: absence of sensitivity to the Ca2+ channel ligands nitrendipine and Bay K 8644
Authors: Skattebøl A. , Triggle D. J.
Published: April 2011

K+ -stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake into intact rat brain cells was biphasic, consisting of a fast first phase and a slow second phase; the latter was Na+ dependent. Cobalt and cadmium at 10−4 and 10−3 M produced 19–97% block of first phase 45Ca2+ uptake, but nitrendipine (to 10−6 M) and Bay K 8644 (to 10−6 M) were without effect on uptake and were similarly without effect in cells prepared in the presence of ATP, cAMP, Mg2+, and protease inhibitors. The second phase of K+-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake was inhibited by 3,4-dichlorobenzamil (IC50, 29.6 μM). Depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake into intact rat brain cells occurs by at least two different mechanisms. The first phase probably represents uptake through 1,4-dihydropyridine-insensitive Ca2+ channels, while the second phase is probably due to Na+–Ca2+ exchange.
Hepatic venous resistance site in the dog: localization and validation of intrahepatic pressure measurements
Authors: Legare Dallas J. , Lautt W. Wayne
Published: April 2011

Intrahepatic pressure (9.4 ± 0.3 mmHg; 1 mmHg = 133.32 Pa), measured proximal to a hepatic venous resistance site, was insignificantly different from portal venous pressure (9.6 ± 0.4 mmHg). This lobar venous pressure is not wedged hepatic venous pressure as it is measured from side holes in a catheter with a sealed tip. Validation of the lobar venous pressure measurement was done in a variety of ways and using different sizes and configurations of catheters. The site of hepatic venous resistance in the dog is localized to a narrow sphincterlike region about 0.5 cm in length and within 1–2 cm (usually within 1 cm) of the junction of the vena cava and hepatic veins. Sinusoidal and portal venous resistance appears insignificant in the basal state and large increases in liver blood volume (histamine infusion or passive vena caval occlusion) or large decreases in liver blood volume (passive vascular occlusion) do not alter the insignificant pressure gradient between portal and lobar venous pressures. Norepinephrine infusion (1.25 μg∙kg−1∙min−1 intraportal) and hepatic sympathetic nerve stimulation (10 Hz) led to a significantly greater rise in portal venous pressure than in lobar venous pressure, indicating some presinusoidal (and (or) sinusoidal) constriction and this indicates that lobar venous pressure cannot be assumed under all conditions to accurately reflect portal pressure. However, most of the rise in portal venous pressure induced by intraportal infusion of norepinephrine or nerve stimulation and virtually all of the pressure rise induced by histamine could be attributed to the postsinusoidal resistance site. This site was highly localized since 62% of the pressure drop from the portal vein to the inferior vena cava in the basal state occurred over a 0.5-cm length. However, the anatomical position of this site was different in the dog compared with the cat.
Distribution of amiodarone and its metabolite, desethylamiodarone, in human tissues
Authors: Brien James F. , Jimmo Sandra , Brennan F. James , Ford Sally E. , Armstrong Paul W.
Published: April 2011

The distribution of the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone and its principal lipophilic metabolite, desethylamiodarone, was determined in postmortem tissues of six patients who received amiodarone therapy (treatment period, 6–189 days; total dose, 4.8–127.0 g). Amiodarone concentration was highest in liver, lung, adipose tissue, and pancreas, followed by kidney, heart (left ventricle), and thyroid gland, and lowest in antemortem plasma. There was no measurable amiodarone in brain (<1.0 μg/g). Desethylamiodarone concentration was highest in liver and lung, followed by pancreas, adipose tissue, kidney, heart, thyroid gland, and brain, and lowest in plasma. For most patients, the desethylamiodarone concentration was higher than the amiodarone concentration in liver, lung, kidney, heart, thyroid gland, and brain, whereas the parent drug concentration was higher than the metabolite concentration in adipose tissue, pancreas, and plasma. Tissue amiodarone and desethylamiodarone concentrations appeared to be related more closely to the total dose of amiodarone than to their respective plasma concentrations. One patient died of apparent amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity after an 18-day period of pharmacotherapy. Clinical evidence of pulmonary dysfunction appeared at 15 days after the initiation of amiodarone therapy, and the patient died at 23 days. Histologic assessment of a lung necropsy specimen revealed acute alveolar interstitial damage. This case represents the earliest reported incident of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity.
A biophysical and histological analysis of factors that lead to aortic rupture in normal and lathyritic turkeys
Authors: Terpin Teresa , Roach Margot R.
Published: April 2011

These experiments were designed to determine if local differences in elastic properties or wall structure contributed to the development of aortic rupture in turkeys. Static elastic properties were measured from pressure–volume curves of cylindrical segments of upper and lower thoracic aorta and innominate artery in two groups of lathyritic birds and two age-matched control groups. The biggest changes were in the young lathyritic group that was on 0.04% β-aminoproprionitrile at 3 weeks of age and continued for 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Much smaller changes were seen in the older group that started on 0.05% β-aminoproprionitrile at 6 weeks of age for 10 days and then 0.02% β-aminoproprionitrile for the next 9–12 weeks. The biggest changes were seen in the abdominal aorta, which ruptured spontaneously in 50% of the young lathyritic group. The birds had a marked decrease in the number of elastin layers per unit wall thickness. Analysis of the elastic diagrams showed that the elastance of both elastin and collagen were altered in the young lathyritic group. Rupture appeared to follow partial dissection of plaques, but true longitudinal dissection did not occur.
Renal ammonium production—une vue canadienne
Authors: Brosnan J. T. , Lowry M. , Vinay P. , Gougoux A. , Halperin M. L.
Published: April 2011

The purpose of this review is to examine the factors regulating ammonium production in the kidney and to place these factors in the perspective of acid–base balance. Renal ammonium production and excretion are required to maintain acid–base balance. However, only a portion of renal ammonium production is specifically stimulated by metabolic acidosis. One should examine urinary ammonium excretion at three levels: distribution of ammonium between blood and urine, augmented glutamine metabolism, and an energy constraint due to ATP balance considerations. With respect to the biochemical regulation of acid–base renal ammonium production, an acute stimulation of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase by a fall in pH seems to be important but this may not be the entire story. In chronic metabolic acidosis augmented glutamine entry into mitochondria (dog) or increased phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity (rat) become critical to support a high flux rate. Metabolic alterations, which diminish the rate of oxidation of alternate fuels, might also be important. The above principles are discussed in the ketoacidosis of fasting, the clinically important situation of high rates of renal ammonium production.
Enzymatic formation of angiotensins II and III in the hindlimb circulation of dogs
Authors: Metting Patricia J. , Britton Steven L.
Published: April 2011

Experiments were performed in 14 anesthetized dogs to (1) to determine if the reductions in hindlimb blood flow produced by [des-Asp1] angiotensin I were due to its local enzymatic (kininase II) conversion to angiotensin III and (2) to quantitate the extent of conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and of [des-Asp1] angiotensin I to angiotensin III in the hindlimb circulation. Graded doses of these peptides were administered as bolus injections directly into the left external iliac artery while measuring flow in this artery electromagnetically. Dose-response relationships were determined before and during the inhibition of kininase II activity with captopril or antagonism of angiotensin receptor sites with [Ile7] angiotensin III. Captopril inhibited the vasoconstrictor responses to angiotensin I and [des-Asp1] angiotensin I, but did not affect the responses to angiotensins II or III, or norepinephrine. [Ile7] angiotensin III inhibited the vasoconstrictor responses to all four angiotensin peptides but did not alter the responses to norepinephrine. These findings indicate that the hindlimb vasoconstrictor responses to [des-Asp1] angiotensin I were due to the local formation of angiotensin III. The extent of conversion of [des-Asp1] angiotensin I to angiotensin III that occurred in one transit through the hindlimb arterial circulation was estimated to be 36.7%, which was not different from the estimated 36.4% conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. We conclude that angiotensin I and [des-Asp1] angiotensin I are converted to their respective vasoactive forms (angiotensins II and III) to a similar extent in the hindlimb circulation via the action of kininase II.
Role of the different calcium sources in the excitation–contraction coupling in crab muscle fibers
Authors: Mounier Y. , Goblet C.
Published: April 2011

Excitation–contraction coupling in crab muscle fibers was studied in voltage-clamp conditions. Extracellular calcium is essential for the mechanical activity. Two calcium influxes induced by membrane depolarization contribute to tension development: one is the inward calcium current responsible for the phasic tension, the other is a calcium influx dependent on extracellular sodium and calcium concentrations and is responsible for the tonic tension. These calcium influxes are not sufficient to activate contractile proteins. Experiments with procaine and caffeine show that a calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum is required.
Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and contraction in crustacean muscle
Authors: Rojas Eduardo , Nassar-Gentina Verónica , Luxoro Mario , Pollard Michael E. , Carrasco M. Angélica
Published: April 2011

Intracellular applications of a fixed amount (0.2 to 8 nmol) of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) over a brief period (2 s) into barnacle muscle fibers induced vigorous contractures. Peak tension attained during the first application depended on [InsP3]; the maximum tension evoked by the injection of 8 nmol was 1.6 kg/cm2. Peak tension during a second application of a high dose of InsP3 (> 10 μM) was always smaller than that during the first application. Extracellular Ca2+ could be omitted with no measurable effects on either the amplitude or time course of the contractures evoked by InsP3. Aequorin was used to measure InsP3-evoked Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in minced muscle fibers from lobster and in skinned muscle fibers from barnacle. Provided the sarcoplasmic reticulum was preloaded with Ca2+, application of InsP3 induced a transient Ca2+ release that was [InsP3] dependent. During each transient, [Ca2+] rose rapidly to a peak value (t1/2 < 5 s) and then slowly returned (t1/2 < 100 s) to a basal level. Maximum Ca2+ release was obtained at [InsP3] < 100 μM and amounted to 4 nmol Ca2+/g of muscle, enough to increase [Ca2+]i from 0.1 to 8 μM had the Ca2+ release occurred in the intact fiber. Successive applications of a fixed amount of InsP3 elicited successive transient increases in Ca2+. The effects of [Ca2+] on the incorporation of [3H]inositol into the pools of phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate pools were measured. At 1 μM [Ca2+] the levels of the labelled phosphoinositides increased from 0.98, 0.40, and 0.17 pmol/μmol phosphorus (measured at 0.1 μM) to 1.63, 0.54, and 0.46 pmol/μmol lipid phosphorus, for phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate, respectively. These data support the hypothesis that InsP3 could be an intracellular messenger, presumably between the site of Ca2+ entry at the level of the transverse tubular membrane and the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane, which causes Ca2+ release from Ca2+-loaded sarcoplasmic reticulum in crustacean muscle.
Pharmacological studies of excitation–contraction coupling in skeletal muscle
Authors: Frank George B.
Published: April 2011

The use of drugs in the study of excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling in skeletal muscle during the 25–30 years and the role of these studies in the development of the "trigger-calcium" hypothesis was reviewed. In early studies, caffeine was used as a tool to test the function of the intracellular contraction apparatus when the twitch or depolarization contracture was eliminated by a procedure that was thought to block the coupling part of the E–C coupling process. Later it was shown that caffeine produced contractures by releasing Ca2+ ions from intracellular binding sites and then that caffeine produced this effect by sensitizing the sarcoplasmic reticulum to Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release. More recently, organic calcium channel blocking drugs (verapamil, D-600, and nitrendipine) were used to confirm earlier results showing that depolarization contractures but not twitches require the entrance into the cells via the slow Ca2+ channels of extracellular calcium ions for E–C coupling. Most recently, we have investigated the effects of TMB-8 (8-(diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate) on E–C coupling in frog skeletal muscle. This compound was shown by other workers to act in several tissues by stablilizing Ca2+ bound at intracellular sites. It was found that at the appropriate concentration TMB-8 blocked twitches but neither high K+ nor caffeine induced contractures. These results suggest that TMB-8 blocks twitches by preventing the release of Ca2+ ions bound to the intracellular surface of the t-tubular membrane, which is often called the store of "trigger-calcium" ions. At higher concentrations, TMB-8 also blocked the slow calcium channels and at still higher concentrations it blocked caffeine contractures. The conclusions drawn from these findings are discussed in detail.
Differences in presynaptic action of 4-aminopyridine and tetraethylammonium at frog neuromuscular junction
Authors: Glavinović M. I.
Published: April 2011

4-Aminopyridine markedly potentiates transmitter release at the frog cutaneous pectoris neuromuscular junction by increasing the quantal content even when applied at low concentrations (5–20 μM). This enhancement of transmitter release is associated with greater minimum synaptic latency, but the dispersion of the synaptic latencies does not appear much affected. This is in contrast with the action of tetraethylammonium (0.2–0.5 mM) in which case similar enhancement of transmitter release results not only in larger minimum synaptic latency but also in greater dispersion of the synaptic latencies. The time course of transmitter release associated with enhanced transmitter output is hence much more prolonged in the presence of tetraethylammonium than 4-aminopyridine, at least for low concentrations of 4-aminopyridine (5–20 μM). This indicates that their presynaptic actions differ significantly. This conclusion is further strengthened by the finding that unlike tetraethylammonium, 4-aminopyridine induces bursts of release, presumably by producing multiple action potentials in the nerve terminal. Tetraethylammonium probably acts by blocking the delayed potassium conductance, but the blockade of Ca2+-activated K+ conductance cannot be excluded. 4-Aminopyridine, however, probably blocks the fast inactivating (IA) K+ current, but it also may be acting directly on the voltage-dependent Ca2+ conductance or on the intracellular Ca2+ buffering.
A method to study pulmonary vascular response in the conscious newborn piglet
Authors: Coe J. Y. , Olley P. M. , Hamilton F. , Vanhelder T. , Coceani F.
Published: April 2011

New methods for chronic instrumentation of the newborn piglet are described, which allow continuous monitoring of not only pressures in the pulmonary artery and aorta but also in the left and right atria, pulmonary vein, as well as main branch pulmonary artery flows. Changes in pulmonary vascular tone to short-acting vasoactive agents can be recognized by redistribution of flow between lungs and localized to the precapillary vessels or pulmonary veins. Furthermore, vasoactive response in small pulmonary veins may be investigated as well as selective metabolic studies across the right lung. Methods are also described for the chronic cannulation of the neck vessels permitting repeated introduction of catheters on separate study days in the conscious piglet. The pulmonary circulation of the piglet constricts briskly to moderate hypoxemia ([Formula: see text], 1 Torr = 133.32 Pa) with little change in cardiac output or systemic resistance. The piglet demonstrated responses to dilator and constrictor prostaglandins generally similar to the lambs and other species. None of these agents significantly affect pulmonary venous tone.
Mechanism of hypocalcemia induced by intraperitoneal, intragastric, and intravenous administration of ethanol to the rat
Authors: Krishnamra Nateetip , Limlomwongse Liangchai , Thimaporn Jantana
Published: April 2011

Acute hypocalcemic effects of intraperitoneal administration of 3 and 5 g ethanol/kg body weight; intragastric administration of 3, 5, and 7 g ethanol/kg body weight; and intravenous administration of 2.5 g ethanol/kg body weight were investigated in 20 h fasted female Wistar rats. Dose-dependent hypocalcemia was similarly induced by intraperitoneal and intragastric routes of administration. Net calcium efflux from plasma, as indicated by the plasma 45Ca activity, was unaffected by 3 g ethanol/kg body weight but was delayed at higher doses of ethanol. Intragastric, but not intraperitoneal, administration of ethanol increased the gastrointestinal luminal calcium content partly by enhancing calcium secretion. Significantly increased tissue 45Ca content 30 min after ethanol administration was evident in the duodenum (31%), jejunum (27%), and colon (33%) in the intragastric ethanol-treated group and in the duodenum (40%), jejunum (38%), ileum (45%), colon (39%), and liver (25%) in the intraperitoneal ethanol-treated group. Thus, the hypocalcemia induced by both intraperitoneal and intragastric administration of ethanol could be partly accounted for by the suppression of calcium efflux from some soft tissues. In contrast, intravenous administration of ethanol was found to enhance the calcium efflux from plasma without affecting the net 45Ca content in the soft tissues. The mechanism(s) by which ethanol affects calcium transport has yet to be elucidated.
Acute effects of ethanol on baroreceptor reflex control of heart rate and on pressor and depressor responsiveness in rats
Authors: Abdel-Rahman A-R. A. , Russ Roy , Strickland J. A. , Wooles W. R.
Published: April 2011

In rats anesthetized with α-chloralose, doses of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 g/kg of ethanol produced an upward shift of baroreflex curves constructed by plotting the heart rate response against mean arterial pressure following evoked rises in mean arterial pressures by phenylephrine or angiotensin II. Whereas the upward shift of baroreceptor curves may be related, at least in part, to a higher base-line heart rate after ethanol, the data showed that the 1 g/kg dose of ethanol significantly depressed baroreflex sensitivity, suggesting that higher doses of ethanol impair baroreflex-mediated bradycardia. The phenylephrine, but not the angiotensin II or the nitroprusside, dose–response curves were shifted to the right after ethanol, indicating a decreased pressor responsiveness and suggesting that ethanol may have α-adrenergic blocking activity. This effect was also obtained in conscious rats. That this effect was not influenced by changes in baroreflex sensitivity was supported by the finding that a similar shift of the phenylephrine pressor–response curve was obtained in bilaterally vagotomized and hexamethonium-treated rats. Whether this effect of ethanol on baroreflex control of heart rate was influenced by anesthesia was investigated in conscious rats; the 1 g/kg dose of ethanol that produced the most significant decrease in baroreflex sensitivity was used in these experiments. Ethanol was still able to significantly inhibit baroreflex sensitivity in conscious rats, but the upward shift of the baroreflex curve and the elevated base-line heart rate no longer occurred. On the other hand, none of the three doses of ethanol had any significant effect on baroreflex-mediated tachycardia (in response to nitroprusside-evoked hypotension). The data suggest that high doses of ethanol selectively inhibit baroreflex-mediated bradycardia and that ethanol has an α-blocking-like activity in conscious and anesthetized rats.
Diabetes and intestinal cholesterol uptake from bile salt solutions
Authors: Thomson A. B. R.
Published: April 2011

A previously validated in vitro technique was used to determine the effect of diabetes mellitus on the intestinal uptake of cholesterol from various micellar bile salt solutions. The bile salts studied included cholic (C), taurocholic (TC), glycocolic (GC), chenodeoxycholic (CDC), taurochenodeoxycholic (TCDC), glycochenodeoxycholic (GCDC), deoxycholic (DC), taurodeoxycholic (TDC), and glycodeoxycholic (GDC). In control rats there was a reciprocal decline in cholesterol uptake with increasing concentrations of these nine bile acids, and cholesterol uptake was greater from the conjugated primary bile acids than from the unconjugated ones. With a 5 mM concentration of bile acids, the ratios of the uptake of 0.2 mM cholesterol in control rats were C=CDC=DC, TCDC>TC>TDC, and GC=GCDC>GDC; with 20 mM concentrations, the ratios of cholesterol uptake in control rats were C>CDC>DC, TC>TCDC>TDC, and GC=GCDC>GDC. In the diabetic animals cholesterol uptake was higher than in control rats when using 5 or 20 mM of each of the conjugated bile acids and with cholic acid. In contrast, cholesterol uptake was similar in diabetic and control animals when cholesterol was solubilized with 5 or 20 mM CDC or DC. These differences in cholesterol uptake using the various bile acids and the failure of CDC and DC to facilitate the enhanced uptake of cholesterol in diabetic animals remains unexplained. Thus the modification of the concentration and type of the bile acids available for micelle formation in the intestinal lumen may influence the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and may determine whether cholesterol uptake is increased in diabetes mellitus.
Intracellular sodium ion activity: reliable measurement and stimulation-induced change in cardiac Purkinje fibers
Authors: Lee Chin O. , Im Wook B. , Sonn Jong K.
Published: April 2011

Recently Na+-selective microelectrodes (NaSM) have been used to measure quantitatively small changes in intracellular sodium ion activity [Formula: see text] and to determine a precise time course of comparatively rapid change in [Formula: see text]. In such studies, accurate measurement of [Formula: see text] requires the following criteria: (i) NaSM should have a fast response time and (ii) an NaSM and a conventional voltage microelectrode should measure the same membrane potential. These criteria were evaluated by measuring [Formula: see text] when membrane potential of cardiac Purkinje fibers was suddenly hyperpolarized and depolarized by changing stimulation rate. The NaSM coated with a conductive silver paint had fast response times so that rapid changes in [Formula: see text] could be reliably measured. The cardiac Purkinje fibers stimulated at a constant rate generated uniform membrane voltage and the NaSM and conventional microelectrode measured virtually the same membrane potential. This result is somewhat different from that reported under voltage-clamp condition by other investigators. The [Formula: see text] of the fibers increased as the stimulation rate was increased over the range of 0.5–3 Hz. In fibers stimulated at 1 Hz, cessation of stimulation was immediately followed by an exponential decline of [Formula: see text] with an average time constant of 53 ± 9 s (SD, n = 8), or rate constant of 0.020 ± 0.004/s. Restimulation of the fibers produced an exponential rise of [Formula: see text] with an average time constant of 65 ± 12 s (n = 8). Similar results were obtained in fibers stimulated at 2 Hz. The average rates of rise of [Formula: see text] after the onset of stimulations at 1 and 2 Hz were 1.0 and 1.5 mM/min, equivalent to increments in net sodium influx of 13.2 and 19.8 pmol∙cm−2∙s−1, respectively. The average maximum rate of [Formula: see text] rise produced by the application of 10−5 M strophanthidin to the fibers stimulated at 1 Hz was 1.3 ± 0.5 mM/min, equivalent to a net sodium influx of 17.2 pmol∙cm−2∙s−1.
Effects of intracellular pH and calcium activity on ion currents in internally perfused neurons of the snail Lymnaea stagnalis
Authors: Moody William J. , Byerly Lou
Published: April 2011

The suction pipet method of intracellular dialysis and voltage clamp of cells has proven extremely useful in analysing the electrical properties of cells too small for the application of conventional microelectrode techniques and in larger cells for studying the effects of alterations in the internal ionic composition. Using neurons of the snail Lymnaea stagnalis, we have analysed several problems involved in the latter application of this technique and present several solutions to them. One major problem centers around the degree of control over the ionic composition of the cytoplasm achieved by altering the pipet solution. Using ion-sensitive microelectrodes during internal dialysis, we found that the efficiency of exchange between pipet and cytoplasm was much poorer for highly buffered ions such as H+ and Ca2+, than for K+, for example. Special precautions are described that can help this situation. The second problem involves the study of the effects of low internal pH on ion-channel properties. We summarize evidence for a specific voltage-dependent hydrogen ion channel, current through which becomes prominent at low internal pH. We analyse how the presence of this heretofore unrecognized current can seriously confuse the results of experiments designed to study the effects of low internal pH on other voltage-dependent currents.
Sources and sinks of light-evoked Δ[K+]o in the vertebrate retina
Authors: Karwoski Chester J. , Proenza Luis M.
Published: April 2011

In the vertebrate retina, recordings of light-evoked changes in extracellular K+ concentration Δ[K+]o are of particular interest because this tissue is complex and multilayered, yet can be activated routinely with its "natural" stimulus (i.e., light). This review identifies the components of the spatiotemporal profile of retinal light-evoked Δ[K+]o and then presents evidence concerning the specific neural origins of these components as well as the mechanisms by which these Δ[K+]o are dispersed from extracellular space. Finally, to gain improved resolution of K+ sources and sinks, the technique of ion source density is introduced and applied to both model and real spatiotemporal distributions of Δ[K+]o.
K+ and Cl− uptake by cultured oligodendrocytes
Authors: Kettenmann H.
Published: April 2011

Cultured oligodendrocytes take up K+ triggered by an increase in [K+]o. Simultaneously [Cl−]i increases in the majority of the oligodendrocytes. This KCl uptake, which is not furosemide sensitive, can be explained by the following model. The first event is the entry of Cl− into the cell driven by the discrepancy between the membrane and Cl− equilibrium potential. As a consequence of the movement of negative charge across the membrane, K+ is driven into the cell. The prerequisites of this model, a passive Cl− distribution at resting membrane potential and a Cl− conductance of the membrane were found to exist in most cultured oligodendrocytes. The chloride equilibrium potential (−61 mV, SD ± 10 mV) was slightly more positive than the membrane potential (−64 ± 8 mV), Since cell input resistance determined with two independent electrodes increased by 11% (SD ± 0.07) when [Cl−]o was reduced to 10 mM, part of the membrane conductance appears to be mediated by Cl−. Differences between membrane potential and Cl− equilibrium potential therefore will lead to Cl− fluxes across the membrane. In contrast with oligodendroyctes, [Cl−]i in astrocytes is significantly increased (from 20 to 40 mM) above the equilibrium distribution owing to the activity of an inward directed Cl− pump; this suggests a different mechanism of K+ uptake in these cells.
Pathophysiology of pH and Ca2+ in bloodstream and brain
Authors: Somjen G. G. , Allen B. W. , Balestrino M. , Aitken P. G.
Published: April 2011

The highlights of the literature and our work on tetany and hyperventilation are reviewed. Our studies concern the following: (1) the changes of [Ca2+] in circulating plasma caused by respiratory and "metabolic" acidosis and alkalosis; (2) critical plasma [Ca2+] levels associated with signs of tetany and neuromuscular blockade; (3) changes in cerebral [Ca2+]o caused by hypo- and hyper-calcaemia, and the changes in cerebral [Ca2+]o and pHo caused by acute systemic acidosis and alkalosis; and (4) effects of changing [Ca2+]o and pHo levels on synaptic transmission in hippocampal formation. Our main conclusions are (1) changes of plasma [Ca2+] caused by "metabolic" pH changes are greater than those associated with varying CO2 concentration; (2) acute systemic [Ca2+] changes are associated with small cerebral [Ca2+]o changes; (3) the decreases in systemic and cerebral [Ca2]o caused by hyperventilation are too small to account for the signs and symptoms of hypocapnic tetany; (4) moderate decrease of [Ca2+]o depresses and its increase enhances synaptic transmission in hippocampal formation; and (5) H+ ions in extracellular fluid have a weak depressant effect on neuronal excitability. CO2 is a strong depressant, which is only partly explained by the acidity of its solution. CO2 concentration is a significant factor in controlling cerebral function.
Expiratory flow pattern and respiratory mechanics
Authors: Mortola Jacopo P. , Lauzon Anne Marie , Mott Brian
Published: April 2011

During resting breathing, expiration is characterized by the narrowing of the vocal folds which, by increasing the expiratory resistance, raises mean lung volume and airway pressure. This is even more pronounced in the neonatal period, during which expirations with short complete airway closure are commonly occurring. We asked to which extent differences in expiratory flow pattern may modify the inspiratory impedance of the respiratory system. To this aim, newborn puppies, piglets, and adult rats were anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated with different expiratory patterns, (a) no expiratory load, (b) expiratory resistive load, and (c) end-inspiratory pause. The stroke volume of the ventilator and inspiratory and expiratory times were maintained constant, and the loads were adjusted in such a way that inflation always started from the resting volume of the respiratory system. After 1 min of each ventilatory pattern, mean inspiratory impedance and compliance of lung and respiratory system were measured. The values were unchanged or minimally altered by changing the type of ventilation. We conclude that the expiratory laryngeal loading is not primarily aimed to decrease the work of breathing. It is conceivable that the expiratory pattern is oriented to increase and control mean airway pressure in the regulation of pulmonary fluid reabsorption, distribution of ventilation, and diffusion of gases.
A comparative study of glyceryl trinitrate biotransformation and glyceryl trinitrate induced relaxation in bovine pulmonary artery and vein
Authors: Kawamoto J. H. , Brien J. F. , Marks G. S. , Nakatsu K.
Published: April 2011

Recent evidence supports the hypothesis that the mechanism by which glyceryl trinitrate induces relaxation of vascular smooth muscle involves the biotransformation of glyceryl trinitrate. This study was conducted to determine if there was a direct correlation between the capacity of vascular smooth muscle preparations to biotransform glyceryl trinitrate and their sensitivity to the relaxant effect of this organic nitrate. Isolated bovine pulmonary arteries and veins were contracted subtnaxirnally and cumulative dose–response relationships to glyceryl trinitrate were obtained; the vein was approximately 10 times more sensitive than the artery to glyceryl trinitrate induced relaxation. In a separate series of experiments, these vascular tissues were contracted submaximally and incubated with 0.5 μM [14C]glyceryl trinitrate for 2 min, during which glyceryl trinitrate induced relaxation was monitored. At 2 min, tissue samples were taken for determination of glyceryl trinitrate and glyceryl-1,2- and 1,3-dinitrate content by thin-layer chromatography and liquid scintillation spectrometry. Biotransformation of glyceryl trinitrate to glyceryl dinitrate occurred concomitantly with relaxation of these blood vessels. The concentration of glyceryl dinitrate in the vein was significantly less than that in the artery (p ≤ 0.05), even though significantly greater relaxation of the vein than the artery was observed (p ≤ 0.05). From these data, a simple linear relationship between glyceryl trinitrate biotransformation and relaxation is not apparent.