bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation induces up‐regulation of multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins (MATEs) in human renal proximal tubular cells
Authors: soodvilai sunnhapas , Wongwan Teerasak , Chatsudthipong Varanuj 
Published: June 2021

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear transcriptional factor which highly expressed in the liver, intestine, and kidney. Its plays an essential role in regulation of membrane transporters to eliminate endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. The previous study has shown that endogenous ligand, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) induced by cholestasis down‐regulated hepatic organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) which plays a critical role in the hepatic secretion of organic cations. It is interesting whether FXR activation regulates multidrug and toxin extrusion protein1 (MATE1) and kidney specific MATE2‐K that play an essential role in the renal cationic drugs efflux into the lumen. The present study showed that treatment with 20 μM CDCA, an endogenous ligand of FXR, for 24 hours stimulated MATE1‐ and MATE2‐K‐mediated 3H‐MPP+ transport in human renal proximal tubular cell line (RPTEC/TERT1 cells). The effect of CDCA was abolished by co‐treatment with a FXR antagonist, Z‐guggulsterone. These data indicated that the stimulatory effect of CDCA on MATEs required FXR‐dependent mechanism. Furthermore, treatment RPTEC/TERT1 cells with CDCA at both physiological level (20 mM) and pathophysiological level (cholestasis) (80 μM) increased mRNA expression of MATE1 and MATE2‐K. Taken together, FXR activation up‐regulates mRNA expression of MATE1 and MATE2‐K resulting in increased cation transports in the proximal tubular cells in both physiological and pathological conditions.Support or Funding InformationThe study was supported by the grant from Mahidol UniversityThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Transepithelial Na and Urea Transport Pathways in Rat Inner Medullary Thin Limbs of Henle's Loop
Authors: Evans Kristen K. , Yu Alan S. L. , Pannabecker Thomas 
Published: June 2021

Identification of key transport pathways for Na and urea in thin limbs of Henle's loops will further explain how solute recycling and countercurrent mechanisms are integrated to produce the corticomedullary osmotic gradient. We studied transepithelial Na and urea fluxes by in vivo microperfusion of papillary descending and ascending thin limbs (DTLs and ATLs, respectively) and by in vitro microperfusion of isolated DTLs and ATLs from the upper and lower 50% of the inner medulla (IM). In vitro studies have shown that transepithelial water permeability (Pf) is high in DTLupper and low in DTLlower, ATLupper and ATLlower. In vivo microperfusion studies confirmed the low Pf in papillary DTLs and ATLs. Mean transepithelial Na and urea permeabilities (PNa, Purea) with in vitro lumen perfusion rates of ~30 nl/min in DTLupper were ~60 E‐5 cm/sec and in DTLlower and ATL were ~350 to 450 E‐5 cm/sec; Na and urea fluxes in DTLlower are directly proportional to lumen perfusion rates between 5 to 30 nl/min. In vivo microperfusion studies confirmed the high PNa and Purea in papillary DTLs and ATLs. With in vitro microperfusion, Purea in DTLupper and DTLlower was not inhibited by peritubular phloretin (0.25 mM) indicating that urea fluxes occur independently of known facilitated urea transporters such as UT‐A1, UT‐A2 or UT‐A3. Furthermore, Purea in DTLlower was not inhibited by ouabain (10 mM) or by a lumen‐to‐bath Na concentration gradient (143 mM/lumen and 0 mM/bath) indicating the absence of Na‐dependent urea transport. On the other hand, Purea in DTLupper and DTLlower were almost completely inhibited by peritubular lanthanum (5 mM), with Purea recovering in both segments following 20 min lanthanum washout. Lanthanum (5 mM) also completely inhibited PNa in DTLlower; however, PNa remained completely inhibited following 20 min washout. Activation energy for transepithelial Na and urea transport determined by in vitro microperfusion during 37°‐ to −16° C temperature transitions was found to be low in DTLupper (~1–2 kJ/mol) compared to DTLlower and ATL (~13 kJ/mol). Urea transport in DTLupper and Na and urea transport in DTLlower and ATL likely occur in large part, by way of a plasma membrane or paracellular channel‐like pathway. The distinctive transport characteristics suggest that there are different mechanisms involved with PNa and Purea in upper and lower DTLs, respectively.Support or Funding InformationNIDDK DK083338 (TP)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Is regulation of microglial functions by T3 dependent on the micro‐environment?: Insights from the brainstem respiratory control network of newborn mice
Authors: Rousseau Jean‐Philippe , Kitazono Kota , Yoshioka Yusaku , Noda Mami , Kinkead Richard 
Published: June 2021

We previously showed that thyroid hormones (THs) facilitate respiratory control development in newborn rodents. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we tested the hypotheses that TH, more precisely T3, 1) influences microglial functions in the brainstem of newborn mice and 2) this effect is region dependent. Measurements were performed on primary cultured mouse microglia isolated from the mixed glial cultures of postnatal day 3 C57BL/6J mice. Primary cultured neurons from cortex and brainstem were obtained from embryonic day 14–16 C57BL/6J mice. Microglia from cortex and brainstem were either cultured alone (DMEM) or co‐cultured with respective neurons (DMEM + neurobasal medium) under standard conditions (37°C, 5% CO2 / 90% humidity). Microglial motility (μm traveled) was monitored using a time‐lapse video‐microscopy system over 3h with or without T3 (1μM). Phagocytosis was quantified and observed in brainstem microglial cells pre‐incubated with 54 μg/ml Dextran, Rhodamine B (10 000 MW, neutral) in DMEM for 1h followed by incubation in DMEM with or without T3 (1 μM) for 3h. The cells were then fixed by 4% PFA. In the presence of neurons, but not in single culture, exposure to T3 increased brainstem microglial motility by 350% relative to control over the 3 h period (13.0 ± 4.5 vs 45.2 ± 7.8 μm; P=0.004). Exposing cortex cells to T3 also increased microglial motility; however, the effect was less important (156%; 46.0 ± 4.9 vs 72.1 ± 8.8 μm; P=0.009). The region of origin could also influence microglial functions in co‐culture as brainstem microglia showed decreased motility compared to cortex microglia (with and without T3). By comparison with controls, brainstem microglial cells cultured alone responded to T3 exposure by a ~4‐fold increase in phagocytosis as indicated by the fluorescence intensity of Dextran Rhodamine B (average arbitrary unit/area; 5.4 ± 1.1 vs 1.3 ± 0.2 AU/μm2; P=0.001). We conclude that 1) T3 facilitates multiple functional responses of microglia including motility and phagocytosis; both functions are important in regulation of synaptic function during development. 2) Microglial activation is specific to the surrounding environment, such as presence of thyroid hormones and brain regions. Microglia therefore appear as important effectors of TH action in the development of the respiratory network. Understanding the mechanisms by which these cells influence the generation and regulation of respiratory activity offers new approaches to alleviate respiratory disorders in newborn, especially those born pre‐term.Support or Funding InformationSupported by NSERC, Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec and Research Support Center, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Maternal Breathing Dysfunction During Pregnancy Alters Microglial Activities and Increases Risk for Psychiatric Disorders in Her Offspring
Authors: Cahill Michael E. , Vanderplow Amanda , Kiernan Elizabeth , Johnson Stephen , Baker Tracy , Watters Jyoti 
Published: June 2021

Each year, over half a million women develop sleep disordered breathing (SDB) by the third trimester, the prevalence of which is increasing in parallel with the obesity epidemic. While negative consequences of SDB during pregnancy on the health of the mother and newborn are becoming better appreciated, nothing is known about the impact of SDB on the neural function of her offspring. SDB is a potent inflammatory stimulus, inducing chronic inflammation that contributes to many of the morbidities associated with SDB. Since epidemiological studies suggest that maternal inflammation is associated with the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in her offspring, we tested the hypothesis that in utero intermittent hypoxia impairs cognitive behavior in the offspring. Pregnant rat dams were exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (8 hrs/day, 2 min 10.5% O2 separated by 2 min of 21% O2) or normoxia from gestation days 10–21 (GIH and GNX, respectively). Juvenile (3 week) and adult (8 week) offspring were tested in a Y‐maze spontaneous alternation task, a well‐validated index of spatial working memory. We found that spontaneous alternation performance was severely impaired in juvenile and adult male GIH offspring relative to GNX offspring, suggesting GIH results in early developmental emergence of working memory impairments. In contrast, female GIH offspring did not exhibit impairments in spatial working memory at either age. Microglia isolated from the forebrain of male GIH offspring exhibited significant reductions in the expression of the phagocytic receptor gene complement receptor 3 (CD11b), suggesting that GIH impairs microglial synaptic pruning activities. In the same samples, expression levels of DNA methyltransferase enzymes (DNMTs), that are responsible for repressing gene expression, were increased. Since hypoxia enriches the transcriptional activation mark H3K4me3 in microglial cultures, we hypothesize that GIH upregulates DNMT gene expression via epigenetic histone alterations to fetal microglia, which represses microglial phagocytic gene expression. Together, these data suggest that GIH: 1) sex‐dependently alters cognitive phenotypes in GIH offspring, and 2) may induce epigenetic suppression of microglial phagocytic activities that impair microglial synaptic pruning during development, altering forebrain synaptic connectivity in male offspring.Support or Funding InformationSupported by R01 NS085226 (JJW) and HL105511 (TLB)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
“It's Complex”: Student Preconceptions about the Difficulty of Physiology Courses
Authors: Walton Kristen LW. 
Published: June 2021

Students' pre‐conceived ideas about the difficulty of specific classes can affect their experience in these courses. Anxiety, uncertain motivation, and potential reticence to engage with topics regarded as difficult to learn can impact student success in these courses. In our student population, informal student feedback suggests that our physiology courses are widely regarded as difficult and challenging. Faculty who teach physiology at other institutions have noted this student perception as well, and suggest that students find this discipline difficult because of its complexity and the requirement for mechanistic reasoning (J. Michael, Adv Physiol Edu 2006). This study aimed to evaluate students' perceptions about physiology, including its relevance to other aspects of biology, levels of biological organization that it encompasses, and overall difficulty. The study population was drawn from students enrolled in two different biology majors courses at Missouri Western State University, a regional, comprehensive, primarily undergraduate institution with a large proportion of first‐generation college students. An anonymous survey, using 10 questions scored on a Likert‐type scale plus an open‐ended question, was administered on the first day of class. 40% of the respondents had previously taken a physiology course (anatomy & physiology, animal physiology, or plant physiology). Ninety‐seven percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that it is important to understand how cells communicate with each other to understand organismal function. However, interestingly, fewer students (71% of respondents) agreed or strongly agreed that “it is important to understand the molecules and ions that are involved in specific organ functions.” Survey responses to the statement “numbers and equations are rarely used when describing physiological events” were neutral on the Likert scale, suggesting that students may not anticipate using math in physiology courses. Open‐ended responses to the question “Do you view physiology as a difficult subject to learn?” frequently included comments about “complexity of the organism” and “a lot of information to learn”. Data from this survey can be used to help address specific student concerns about course content and may be useful to inform teaching strategies.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
A Drosophila based teaching laboratory used to investigate potential obesogens
Authors: Daggett Melissa A. F. 
Published: June 2021

Drosophila is an emerging model organism for studying the effects of genetics, diet, and suspected environmental obesogens on the regulation of metabolism and physiological function. Obesogens are chemicals that are suspected endocrine disruptors thought to interfere with mechanisms involved in lipid metabolism and may be partly responsible for the increase in obesity. This teaching laboratory uses a modified version of the floating larvae or density assay originally developed as a genetic screen in Drosophila that identified genes that influence the metabolism and accumulation of lipids. This is a simple, inexpensive assay that can be used by undergraduate students to screen potential environmental obesogens by adding them to a standard fly diet and recording results that a highly reproducible and easily observed. The assay is suitable for incorporation into a course based undergraduate research project (CURE).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Middle School Females Have More Efficient Multitasking Abilities than Males
Authors: Rascon Jozelyn , Pena Francisco J. , Ramirez Juliana A. , Pena Marcelo , Trujillo Elizabeth , Melendez Gladys , Lazcano Cameron , Morales Acuna Francisco J. , Gurovich Benjamin , Valencia Carolina , Gurovich Alvaro N. 
Published: June 2021

This project was created to educate seventh grade students about their capacity of multitasking. This was a part of the American Physiological Society's PhUn week activities and we used reaction time (RT) as a way to illustrate the physiology behind multitasking. Sixteen students (10 boys and 6 girls) from a seventh‐grade science class at Dr. Hornedo Middle School, El Paso, TX were able to interact with the Biopac MP40 system. The Biopac MP40 is an interactive system that collects electrical impulse data, physiological response, via electromyograph electrodes and calculate RT based on the time of the response from an auditive stimulus. In order to carry out the reaction time activity, the researchers demonstrated how to properly execute the procedure using the Biopac MP40. An acoustic signal was produced from the Biopac MP40 system and was heard by the students through the use of headphones. Once the students heard the acoustic signal they lifted their finger producing an electrical signal released through the nerves and picked up via electrodes placed on the inner forearm of the student's dominant arm.This procedure was repeated twice. During the first trial the students had their eyes closed and were able to focus on the signal. However, during the second trial, the students had their eyes open and were simultaneously asked questions while they reacted to the acoustic signal. The data gathered demonstrated that, overall, the slowest and the mean RT were higher with eyes open and distraction (0.5±0.0 vs. 0.4±0.1 ms, 0.4±0.0 vs. 0.3±0.1 ms, respectively, both p<0.001). Similar results were observed in boys but not in girls. In fact, girls did not have any differences when having their eyes open and distracted. Overall, these results showed that distraction did affect RT, which could indicate a lower multitasking capacity. However, girls were able to focus better than boys, showing better multitasking abilities than boys.Support or Funding InformationThis work was partially supported by the National Institute of General Medicine Sciences of the National Institute of Health under linked Awards Numbers RL5GM118969, TL4GM118971, and UL1GM118970.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Human Cadaver Observational Anatomy Outreach Activity for TWU Undergraduates
Authors: Sola Maryvi Gonzalez , Rosario Martin G. 
Published: June 2021

The outreach initiative was to target undergraduate students with interest in learning advance human anatomy in Texas Woman's University (TWU) Denton Campus, in collaboration with Dallas Campus. The primary purpose was to enhance student learning of anatomy through observation and identification of human cadavers, as well as encourage students to pursue Graduate or Health Allied Careers. We had the participation of 42 female students in total. Our methods included 1) having students take a 10 question pre‐test (10 points total) before going to the anatomy laboratory, and a brief orientation. Then 2) the students were further allocated into smaller groups to observe human cadavers (guided by Dr. González and Dr. Rosario), and identified the structures related to the following anatomical systems: muscular, skeletal, nervous system (among others). After the anatomy laboratory experience, 3) students answered a post‐test [same questions in pre‐test (10 points total)] with the purpose of quantifying learning parameters. Finally, to measure the attainment of the activity, 4) students were asked to respond to a ten question survey (no points assigned) self‐reporting their experience of the activity. Results of the comparisons between pre‐test (average of 5.88 out of 10 points) and post‐test (average of 7.78 out of 10 points) indicate that there was a significant increase in learning (P Value p<.05) after the activity took place. Survey results indicated the following; 38 out of 42 students assigned an A grade (excellence) to the activity and 35 out of 42 students indicated an interest in applying to graduate school, with 25 students who reported that definitely will apply. Thus, we conclude that the outreach activity assisted students to understand the different anatomical systems in a human body in a real setting, measured by obtaining a better grade at post‐test and satisfactory survey responses. Our future goals are to establish the outreach as the TWU Anatomy Week one time during the school year and to encourage and inspire students, especially minority scholars, to continue further graduate studies or health allied careers.Support or Funding InformationPhysical Therapy Department, Texas Woman's University, Dallas CampusThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Meeting the Medical Students: Transformation and Closure for Donor Families
Authors: Moon Mary Brennan , O'Donoghue Daniel L. , Halliday Nancy 
Published: June 2021

Beginning in 2000, our institution inaugurated the Anatomical Donor Luncheon. This event occurs during orientation week for all incoming first‐year medical students. The families of our anatomical donors are invited to lunch where they meet the medical students who have been assigned to their deceased family member to learn human anatomy through dissection. Both students and donor families are informed that the venue provides an opportunity to promote the humanistic aspects of medicine. The families are asked to provide the medical students with the social history of their deceased family member, but are not given specific instructions on how to do so. The effect of this encounter on student attitudes has been previously reported. In the current study, we evaluated the reactions and attitudes of the donor families after meeting the medical students. Focus group questions were developed to explore the experience of donor families who met with first year medical students during the luncheon. The focus group comments were digitally recorded and transcribed, keeping the identities of responders anonymous. The audio data was subsequently destroyed. The constant comparative method was used for coding the textual data. One meta‐theme and three sub‐themes were identified. The meta‐theme was Donor Family Participants Experience Transformation and Closure. The subthemes included Motivating Factors for Donor Luncheon Participation, Impressions of the Venue, and Positive or Negative Experiences. Our data suggests that the Donor Luncheon was a mechanism for families to find closure on the death of their loved one and transformed their hesitation regarding body donation into excitement and appreciation. The institutional review board of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center approved this study.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
A rapid histology station in the gross laboratory can assist students in understanding the value of microanatomy
Authors: Rae Guenevere 
Published: June 2021

The integration of gross anatomy and histopathology is a recent trend in anatomical sciences education. For this study, a rapid histology station was set up in the gross anatomy laboratory that allowed medical students to create and stain microscope slides directly from cadaveric tissues. The students (n=200) were instructed on the purpose behind tissue preparation and routine hematoxylin and eosin staining methods. Students were also given access to a microscope to examine the crude architecture of the tissue immediately after slide preparation. The slides were utilized during the next semester histology course for clinical application and self‐directed activities. A survey was given to participants to determine the impact that slide preparation activities have on medical students' understanding of microanatomy and also to assess whether using a rapid histology station can assist in horizontal integration of the anatomical sciences. The surveys included both restricted response items (n=20) and open‐ended items (n=5) that necessitated a quantitative and qualitative analysis. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data resulted in several key themes being identified and suggest that student involvement in histology slide preparation can benefit students in unique educational ways beyond the traditional identification of anatomic structures.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.