bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulation of the type-II gonadotrophin α and β subunit mRNAs by œstradiol and testosterone in the European eel
Authors: Quérat B. , Hardy A. , Fontaine Y.A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The gonadotrophic function of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) at the silver stage is very weak: gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion is deficient and, moreover, dopamine inhibition overrides GnRH action. At the silver stage, œstradiol stimulates the biosynthesis of the type-II gonadotrophin (GTH-II). To study the molecular mechanism of this activation further, we examined the effect of testosterone and œstradiol administration on pituitary levels of mRNA encoding GTH-II α and β subunits. Corresponding eel cDNA probes and Northern blot analysis were used. After 2 weeks, testosterone and œstradiol implantation resulted in a strong increase in mRNA encoding the GTH-II β subunit (7-fold and 25-fold, respectively) and in a slight, but non-significant, rise in the a subunit mRNA level (1.8-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively). Co-implantation of these two steroids suggested a potentiation of their effects on the β subunit (104-fold) while an additive effect was indicated on the α mRNA level (2.9-fold). Effects were detectable within 4 days and were maximal 4 weeks after implantation. These results indicate that in the European eel at the silver stage, gonadal steroids stimulate differentially the expression of GTH-II subunit genes at a pretranslational level.
The dopamine D2 receptor is expressed in GH3 cells
Authors: Johnston J. M. , Wood D. F. , Bolaji E. A. , Johnston D. G. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Some pituitary tumours respond to dopamine by decreasing the release of prolactin and/or GH and by inhibition of tumour growth. Certain tumours are unresponsive. Dopamine D2 receptor high-affinity binding is impaired in these tumours, and the rat GH3 cell line behaves in a similar way. The hypothesis that the dopamine-binding defect results from impaired D2 receptor gene expression has been tested in the present study. On Northern blots, D2 receptor mRNA was present in both normal rat pituitary cells and in GH3 cells. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis identified a putative D2 receptor protein in normal and GH3 cell membranes. The lack of effect of dopamine in GH3 cells does not reflect the absence of D2 receptor gene expression.
Studies on an adherent variant of the human promyelomonocytic HL60 leukaemia cell line that constitutively expresses 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase activity which is inhibited by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3
Authors: Hayes M. E. , Bayley D. , Mawer E. B. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The constitutive expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (25-(OH)D3-24-hydroxylase) activity has been studied in an adherent variant (Ad-HL60) of the human promyelomonocytic leukaemia cell line HL60. The Ad-HL60 cells have a more differentiated phenotype than the non-adherent cells from which they were derived, and synthesized 1.88±0.07 (±s.e.m.) pmol 24,25-(OH)2D3/h per 106 cells following culture in RPMI-1640 medium containing <0.02 nm 1α,25-(OH)2D3. They also synthesized 1.66±0.05 pmol 24,25-(OH)2D3/h per 106 cells following culture in 1α,25-(OH)2D3-free medium supplemented with 1 g bovine serum albumin/l instead of 10% serum. In contrast, non-adherent HL60 cells required exposure to 10–100 nm 1α,25-(OH)2D3 to induce equivalent 24,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis. The 25-(OH)D3-24-hydroxylase expressed by Ad-HL60 cells had an apparent Michaelis constant of 1 μm and maximal rate of 20 pmol/h per 106 cells with substrate concentrations from 0.012 to 1.2 μm/incubation (5–500ng/ml). Furthermore, 24,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by ketoconazole (0.01–10 μm), suggesting that the enzyme is cytochrome P-450 dependent.
Ad-HL60 cells expressed approximately 3500 specific receptors for 1α,25-(OH)2D3/cell with a dissociation constant of 40 pm. Following exposure to 0.1–100 nm 1α,25-(OH)2D3, Ad-HL60 cell proliferation was significantly inhibited compared with controls grown in medium containing <0.02 nm 1α,25-(OH)2D3 for 96h. Expression of 25-(OH)D3-24-hydroxylase was also inhibited in a dose- and time-dependent manner; however, expression of non-specific esterase was not induced. Both of these findings are contrary to those previously demonstrated for non-adherent HL60 cells, whereas the dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation by 1α,25-(OH)2D3 occurs in both adherent and non-adherent phenotypes. These observations on Ad-HL60 cells represent the first description of a cell type in which 1α,25-(OH)2D3 appears to inhibit 25-(OH)D3-24-hydroxylase activity. The Ad-HL60 cells also constitutively metabolized 1α,25-(OH)2D3 in a manner consistent with formation of 1α,24,25-(OH)3D3 without previous exposure to 1α,25-(OH)2D3. In contrast, many other cell types, including non-adherent HL60 cells, require exposure to 1α,25-(OH)2D3 to induce metabolism of 1α,25-(OH)2D3 to 1α,24,25-(OH)3D3, a reaction that represents the initial step for catabolism of 1α,25-(OH)2D3 to calcitroic acid.
Quantitative comparison of insulin-like growth factor mRNA levels in human and rat tissues analysed by a solution hybridization assay
Authors: Möller C. , Arner P. , Sonnenfeld T. , Norstedt G. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
In this study a solution hybridization assay was evaluated for its application to the measurement of levels of specific mRNAs. The evaluation included parameters such as incubation time, hybridization stringency and probe concentration/structure. Both short (50 bases derived from synthetic oligonucleotides) and long (125–147 bases) RNA probes, derived from cloned sequences, could be used to obtain quantitative information on specific mRNA species.
The solution hybridization assay was used to compare the levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-II mRNAs in various rat and human tissues. In the rat the liver was the main source of IGF-I mRNA (approximately 400 molecules/cell), but significant levels were also found in extrahepatic tissues such as fat and muscle (3–50 molecules/cell). Human liver contained approximately 100-fold less IGF-I mRNA than rat liver. Human fat, muscle and placenta contained levels of IGF-I mRNA (2–8 molecules/cell) similar to those in the liver. Levels of IGF-II mRNA in rat and human tissues were similar, in that the expression was greatest in the placenta (approximately 200 molecules/cell). Species differences were evident, however, since human liver and fat contained significant amounts of IGF-II mRNA (15–20 molecules/cell), while the rat counterparts had almost undetectable levels. Young and old rats were used to examine the influence of age on the expression of IGF-I and GH receptor mRNAs in the liver. Levels of both IGF-I mRNA and GH receptor mRNA were found to decrease with age (2.8-fold and 1.7-fold respectively).
It is concluded that low levels of IGF mRNAs can be detected using the solution hybridization assay and that there are considerable species differences within and between tissues with regard to steady-state levels of IGF-I and IGF-II mRNAs.
Production and characterization of recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and potent analogues of IGF-I, with Gly or Arg substituted for Glu 3, following their expression in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins
Authors: King R. , Wells J. R. E. , Krieg P. , Snoswell M. , Brazier J. , Bagley C. J. , Wallace J. C. , Ballard F. J. , Ross M. , Francis G. L. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The development of an efficient expression system for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein is described. The fusion protein consists of an N-terminal extension made up of the first 46 amino acids of methionyl porcine GH ([Met1]-pGH) followed by the dipeptide Val-Asn. The latter two residues provide a unique hydroxylamine-sensitive link between [Met1]-pGH(1-46) and the N-terminal Gly of IGF-I. Downstream processing of the fusion proteins involved isolation of inclusion bodies, cleavage at the Asn-Gly bond, refolding of the reduced IGF-I peptide and purification to homogeneity. This expression system was also used to produce two variants of IGF-I in which Glu3 was substituted by either Gly or Arg to give [Gly3]-IGF-I and [Arg3]-IGF-I respectively. Production of milligram quantities of IGF-I peptide was readily achieved. The purity of the IGF-I, [Gly3]-IGF-I and [Arg3]-IGF-I was established by high-performance liquid chromatography and N-terminal sequence analysis. [Gly3]-IGF-I and [Arg3]-IGF-I were more potent than IGF-I in biological assays measuring stimulation of protein synthesis and DNA synthesis or inhibition of protein breakdown in rat L6 myoblasts. Both analogues bound very poorly to bovine IGF-binding protein-2 and slightly less well than IGF-I to the type-1 receptor on rat L6 myoblasts. We conclude that reduced binding to IGF-binding proteins rather than increased receptor binding is the likely explanation for the greater biological potency of the analogues compared with IGF-I.
Characterization of dopamine receptors associated with steroid secretion in frog adrenocortical cells
Authors: Morra M. , Leboulenger F. , Vaudry H. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
We investigated the type of receptors involved in the mechanism of action of dopamine on corticosteroid secretion from the frog interrenal (adrenal) gland, using the in-vitro perifusion technique. Exposure of dispersed interrenal cells to 50 μm dopamine for 20 min had a biphasic effect on corticosterone and aldosterone secretion, i.e. a transient stimulation followed by an inhibitory phase. Repeated administration of equimolar pulses of dopamine, given at 150-min intervals, resulted in an enhancement of corticosteroid secretion followed by a subsequent blockade of the stimulatory phase of the response. In contrast, the dopamine-evoked inhibition of corticosteroid release did not show any sensitization or desensitization phenomena. Infusion of repeated pulses of the D1 receptor agonist SKF38393 (32 μm) stimulated corticosteroid release and mimicked the sensitization-desensitization phenomenon induced by dopamine. Repeated administration of the D2 receptor agonist LY171555 (50μm) resulted in a reproducible inhibition of corticosterone and aldosterone secretion. These results suggested the presence of two different receptors for dopamine, i.e. D1 and D2, on frog adrenocortical cells, responsible respectively for the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of dopamine on steroid secretion. However, bromocriptine (50 μm) and CV205-502 (50 μm), two other D2 receptor agonists, had no effect on corticosteroid release. In addition, several classical D2 receptor antagonists failed to block the effect of dopamine on steroidogenesis. It was also observed that (−)sulpiride, a specific D2 antagonist, did not alter dopamine-induced inhibition of inositol phosphate formation. On the other hand, dopamine and the selective D1 and D2 agonists SKF38393 and LY171555 did not affect the formation of cyclic AMP by interrenal tissue.
Taken together, these data indicate that dopamine directly regulates corticosteroid secretion from frog adrenocortical cells. The effect of dopamine is not coupled to adenylate cyclase activity but is probably mediated through the phosphoinositide-turnover pathway. The pharmacological characteristics of the receptors involved in the mechanism of action of dopamine clearly differ from those of the D1 and D2 subtypes previously described in mammals.
Arachidonic acid-induced insulin secretion from rat islets of Langerhans
Authors: Band A. M. , Jones P. M. , Howell S. L. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
There is growing evidence that arachidonic acid (AA) and/or its metabolites may be involved in the control of insulin secretion. We have now investigated the effect of AA on insulin secretion from rat islets, and the possible involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in this process. Exogenous AA stimulated insulin secretion from intact islets at a substimulatory concentration of glucose (2 mm), but did not further enhance glucose-induced (20 mm) insulin secretion. AA-induced insulin secretion was temperature dependent. The secretory responses seen at 37°C were totally abolished by reducing the incubation temperature to ≤34°C. AA-induced insulin secretion was not dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ and was potentiated by omission of Ca2+ or bovine serum albumin from the media. PKC in rat islets can thus be stimulated by AA, but the stimulation of PKC is not required for AA-induced insulin secretion.
Stimulation of insulin release by vasopressin in the clonal β-cell line, HIT-T15: the role of protein kinase C
Authors: Hughes S. J. , Carpinelli A. , Niki I. , Nicks J. L. , Ashcroft S. J. H. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
We have studied the effects of vasopressin and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) on cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and insulin release in HIT-T15 β-cells. Saturable binding of [3H] [Arg8]-vasopressin to HIT cell microsomes indicated a single class of receptors with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 2.5 nm and a total number of binding sites (Bmax) equal to 120 fmol/mg protein. [Arg8]-vasopressin (0.1–100 nm) elicited dose-dependent insulin release from HIT cells by up to 25-fold. This increase was dependent on the presence of extracellular glucose and was blocked by omission of extracellular Ca2+ or addition of verapamil. The stimulation was biphasic; a rapid but short-lived large increase in release was followed by a smaller sustained rise. Vasopressin also evoked a marked, concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i which was also biphasic; an initial spike was followed by a sustained elevation. This increase also required glucose and was blocked by the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or the addition of verapamil. Pretreatment of the cells with TPA overnight to deplete protein kinase C activity did not affect the [Ca2+]i or insulin responses to vasopressin. However, short-term exposure to TPA markedly reduced glucose-induced steady-state [Ca2+]i, despite potentiating glucose-stimulated insulin release sevenfold, and blocked the [Ca2+]i increase induced by vasopressin. These inhibitory effects of TPA were absent in protein kinase C-depleted cells and were prevented by staurosporine. TPA had no significant effect on vasopressin-induced insulin release. Vasopressin did not modify the activity of ATP-sensitive K+ channels. These data indicate that vasopressin-induced insulin release is associated with a large increase in [Ca2+]i via increased Ca2+ entry and that this signal is markedly reduced by protein kinase C activation. Thus, protein kinase C does not have a direct role in vasopressin-induced insulin release. Simultaneous addition of vasopressin and TPA promotes insulin release, possibly through increased sensitivity of the secretory system to Ca2+ on activation of protein kinase C by TPA.
Characterization of an ovine glucocorticoid receptor cDNA and developmental changes in its mRNA levels in the fetal sheep hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal
Authors: Yang K. , Hammond G. L. , Challis J. R. G. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Fetal sheep tissues possess glucocorticoid receptors (GR), and these change in number during the last two-thirds of gestation. There is, however, no information about developmental changes in tissue GR mRNA levels which might account for alterations in fetal GR content. We have therefore cloned and sequenced a 942 bp GR cDNA from a sheep liver cDNA library, and used it to study the relative abundance of GR mRNA in fetal and neonatal sheep tissues. Analysis of the cDNA revealed a partial sequence of the ovine GR which displayed over 80% identity with residues 143–453 in human GR and 163–472 in rat GR. Furthermore, the first zinc finger motif in these receptors was perfectly conserved among species. The relative abundance of GR mRNA was studied in hypothalami, anterior pituitary glands and adrenals in fetuses at days 60–70, 100–110, 125–130 and at term (approximately 145 days), and in newborn lambs. Total RNA extracts (20 μg) were analysed by Northern blot analysis. A single 5.6kb transcript was detected in all three fetal tissues, and its relative abundance did not change significantly throughout gestation. However, in newborn lambs, levels of GR mRNA increased significantly in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland but decreased to undetectable levels in the adrenal. These tissue-specific changes in the relative abundance of GR mRNA did not correlate with alterations in GR content in fetal tissues, which suggests that the latter may reflect alterations in GR mRNA translation, subsequent modifications and/or GR turnover. In addition, the pattern of developmental changes in GR mRNA content of the adrenal differs from that of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in neonatal lambs, and indicates that tissue-specific factors may influence GR gene expression in neonatal sheep.
RNA—protein interactions in the 5′ untranslated region of preproinsulin mRNA
Authors: Knight S. W. , Docherty K. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
A comparison between species of the 5′ untranslated region of preproinsulin mRNA revealed conserved sequences associated with a potential stem—loop structure. The present study was undertaken to determine whether specific protein interactions exist with mRNA sequences involved in the formation or stabilization of this structure in the 5′ untranslated region. 32P-Labelled RNA probes corresponding to sequences from this region were synthesized by an in-vitro transcription reaction and used in electrophoretic mobility shift and u.v.-crosslinking studies with cytoplasmic protein extracts from a number of cell lines. Specific protein—RNA interactions were mapped to a sequence located between nucleotides –21 and –50 upstream of the AUG start codon. A number of proteins of molecular mass 25kDa, 40kDa, 46kDa, 58kDa, 69kDa, 97kDa, 110kDa and 160kDa were specifically crosslinked to this sequence. The observed specific protein—RNA interactions in the 5′ untranslated region may affect the activity of preproinsulin mRNA.
Regulation of steady-state follistatin mRNA levels in rat granulosa cells in vitro
Authors: Michel U. , McMaster J. W. , Findlay J. K. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The regulation of steady-state follistatin mRNA levels by different pituitary hormones and peptide factors was examined in granulosa cell cultures derived from diethylstilboestrol-treated immature rats. Cytosolic RNA from cell cultures was prepared by lysis and equal amounts of RNA from all samples were analysed with a solution—hybridization assay using a 32P-labelled antisense probe corresponding to a part of exon 5 together with a part of the 5′ end of exon 6 of the rat follistatin gene. In addition, a specific 35S-labelled probe for cyclophilin was used as an internal standard.
The results show that 5 μg FSH/1 for 24 to 72 h stimulated steady-state follistatin mRNA levels, reaching levels 18·5-fold higher than controls. LH (0·2-100 μg/l) had only minor effects on follistatin mRNA levels in FSH-primed granulosa cells and prolactin, GH and IGF-I did not show any significant effects. Activin raised basal as well as FSH-stimulated steady-state follistatin mRNA levels up to ten- and twofold above controls respectively, whereas epidermal growth factor was found to inhibit FSH-stimulated follistatin mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner.
It is concluded that follistatin mRNA levels in granulosa cells are regulated by FSH rather than LH, and that the stimulation by FSH can be inhibited by epidermal growth factor but enhanced by activin. Activin alone was also capable of stimulating follistatin mRNA.
Characterization of the extracellular region of the human thyrotrophin receptor expressed as a recombinant protein
Authors: Harfst E. , Johnstone A. P. , Nussey S. S. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
DNA encoding the N-terminal 415 residues of the human thyrotrophin receptor (predicted to code for the large extracellular region) was introduced into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using the glutamine synthetase/cytomegalovirus amplifiable expression system, and into E. coli using the pGEX-3X expression vector. Substantial quantities of insoluble fusion protein product resulted from bacterial expression; by Western blot analysis, this was shown to be reactive with anti-receptor antibodies raised against a peptide corresponding to residues 313–330. Immunoreactivity was not retained by the solubilized protein. In eukaryotic expression, several successful CHO transfectants were observed and one (ExG2) was characterized thoroughly. Using agarose-bound Concanavalin A, a glycoprotein with an Mr of approximately 60 000 was detected in a detergent extract of metabolically labelled ExG2 cells, agreeing with the predicted molecular size of 45 000, plus carbohydrate. The same protein could also be detected by immunoprecipitation using the experimental anti-peptide antisera and also sera from patients with Graves' disease. The protein was immunoreactive in Western blot analyses of ExG2 cells using the experimental antisera but not the pathological sera, supporting the view that linear sequences are not sufficient for autoantibody binding. These are the first studies in which visualization of eukaryotically expressed recombinant receptor by such immunological techniques has been possible, presumably because of the higher expression of the glutamine synthetase system.
Surprisingly, the recombinant protein was retained within the cells rather than being secreted. The recombinant protein was very effective at absorbing the adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity of the sera from patients with Graves' disease, but not that of thyrotrophin. This suggests that the large N-terminal extracellular region contains epitopes for stimulatory autoantibodies, but that high affinity thyrotrophin binding requires additional components.
Microheterogeneity of thyroid-stimulating hormone from the pituitaries of euthyroid, hypothyroid and hyperthyroid rats
Authors: Pickles A. J. , Peers N. , Robertson W. R. , Lambert A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The microheterogeneity of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is dependent on variations in the hormone's carbohydrate moieties. In this study, changes in the pattern of heterogeneity have been assessed by chromatofocusing, which separates the isospecies on the basis of their isoelectric points (pI). Rats (n = 6 per group) were either untreated or rendered hypo- or hyperthyroid by including in the drinking water either propylthiouracil (0·05% for 8 weeks) or thyroxine (T4; 4 mg/l for 6 weeks) before they were killed at 16 weeks. On autopsy, serum TSH and total T4 were (means±s.e.m.): 2±0·3 μg TSH/l and 64±5 nmol T4/l (control); <1 μg TSH/1 and 133±6 nmol T4/l (hyperthyroid); 58±6 μg TSH/1 and 32±6 nmol T4/l (hypothyroid). The pituitaries were individually homogenized and the TSH isoforms separated by chromatofocusing over a pH range of 7–4. Fractions were assayed for TSH by radioimmunoassay. TSH from the control group was distributed into seven major peaks with pI values of (means ±s.e.m., n=6) 6·9±0·1, 6·6±0·1, 6·2±0·1, 5·8±0·1, 5·5±0·1, 5·2±0·1 and 4·8±0·1; 7±3% of the TSH had a pI of <40. Six peaks of TSH were conserved in the hypothyroid group (with pI values of 6·8±0·1, 6·5±0·1, 6·2±0·1, 5·8±0·1, 5·4±0·1 and 5·2±0·1), and 11±4% of the hormone had a pI of <40. In contrast to the other two groups, only one major peak (with a pI of 5·8±0·1) was detected in the pituitaries from the hyperthyroid group; 13 ± 5% of the TSH had a pI of <40. In the pH range of 5·5– 60, the per cent distribution of TSH was 58±15 (hyperthyroid) compared with 17 ± 3 (hypothyroid) and 22±3 (euthyroid). Above pH 6, only 25±13% of the TSH (hyperthyroid) was present compared with 46±5% (hypothyroid) and 45±5% (euthyroid). Below pH 5·5, the per cent distribution of TSH was 19±5 (hyperthyroid), 37±5 (hypothyroid) and 35±3 (euthyroid). In conclusion, both hyper- and hypothyroidism are associated with changes in the composition of pituitary TSH. This change was most marked in the hyperthyroid group, where there was a selective loss of several isoforms of TSH.