bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide stimulates cyclic AMP accumulation in UMR 106 osteoblast-like cells
Authors: Kovacs C S , Chik C L , Li B , Karpinski E , Ho A K 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) share 68% homology and function as neurotransmitters or neuroendocrine factors. Although VIP immunoreactivity has been detected in bone cells, the presence of PACAP or PACAP receptors in bone has not been determined. In this study, we investigated the role of PACAP and VIP in regulating cAMP accumulation in the UMR 106 osteoblast-like tumor cell line.
PACAP 27 (10−9 to 3 × 10−7 m), PACAP 38 (10−9 to 3 × 10−7 m) and VIP (10−8 to 10−6 m) stimulated cAMP accumulation up to eightfold. PACAP 27 was slightly more potent than PACAP 38, and both were tenfold more potent than VIP. Both PACAP- and VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation were potentiated by 4β-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an activator of protein kinase C. Two PACAP antagonists, PACAP 6–27 (3 × 10−6 m) and PACAP 6–38 (3 × 10−6 m), blocked PACAP- and VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Two VIP antagonists ([Lys1,Pro2,5,Arg3,4,Tyr6]-VIP, and 4 Cl-d-Phe6,Leu17]-VIP) did not reduce the PACAP-or VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Pretreatment with PACAP 27, PACAP 38 or VIP equally blocked PACAP- and VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation.
These results suggest that PACAP is a more potent stimulator of cAMP accumulation than VIP in UMR 106 cells. PACAP and VIP may share a role in the paracrine or neuroendocrine regulation of bone metabolism.
Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 149, 287–295
Monoclonal antibodies specific for the binding site on the LH receptor alter progesterone production in cultured granulosa cells
Authors: Nau E A , Epsaro E M , Scherer M S , Abel J H 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for the LH receptor (LHR) were generated through a modified auto-anti-idiotypic approach in which human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was used as the immunogen followed by cyclophosphamide to induce anti-idiotypic antibodies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of these antibodies to alter progesterone production in porcine granulosa cells in vitro. Anti-LHR mAbs were incubated with granulosa cells in the presence or absence of a stimulatory dose of hCG. Progesterone output by treated cells was measured using a RIA procedure. Most of the mAb could inhibit stimulated progesterone production by cultured granulosa cells. It was speculated that two possible mechanisms may cause the inhibition effect observed. Several of the antibodies appeared to block hCG binding thus removing the stimulatory effects of hCG. However, the most potent inhibiting mAbs for progesterone production had little or no effect on hCG binding, suggesting that some other mechanism was responsible for the observed inhibition. In addition, several of the antibodies were found to have a stimulatory effect on progesterone production by granulosa cells even in the absence of a stimulating dose of hCG. It is proposed that these antibodies were able to mimic hCG.
Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 9–16
Dihydropyridine-sensitive and -insensitive voltage-operated calcium channels participate in the control of glucose-induced insulin release from human pancreatic β cells
Authors: Davalli A M , Biancardi E , Pollo A , Socci C , Pontiroli A E , Pozza G , Clementi F , Sher E , Carbone E 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Calcium ion entry through voltage-operated calcium channels is a crucial step in the coupling of β cell depolarization with insulin secretion. Various calcium channel subtypes have been shown to be coexpressed in single neurons and endocrine cells. Using the patch-clamp technique, we investigated the biophysical and pharmacological properties of calcium channels in freshly dispersed human pancreatic β cells.
Both low and high voltage activated currents were expressed, the two current types being easily distinguishable on the basis of biophysical criteria. The high voltage activated currents were not homogeneous: one component was affected by the dihydropyridine antagonist nitrendipine and the agonist Bay-K-8644; the other was insensitive to both dihydropyridines and ω-conotoxin GVIA. In line with this pharmacology, nitrendipine reduced and Bay-K-8644 increased glucose-induced insulin secretion from perifused human islets, whereas ω-conotoxin GVIA had no effect. However, about 20% of the glucose-induced insulin release was found to be resistant to high nitrendipine concentrations.
These data show that human pancreatic β cells express heterogeneous voltage-operated calcium channels, only one of which is dihydropyridine-sensitive (L type). The L type channels are clearly involved in the control of insulin secretion, but our data suggest that dihydropyridine- and ω-conotoxin GVIA-insensitive channels may also play a role in the stimulus-secretion coupling of human β cells.
Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 195–203
Role of phosphoprotein phosphatases in the corpus luteum: I Identification and characterisation of serine/threonine phosphoprotein phosphatases in isolated rat luteal cells
Authors: Ford S L , Abayasekara D R E , Persaud S J , Jones P M 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Although the role of protein kinases and phosphorylation in steroidogenesis has received much attention, very little is known about the activities of phosphoprotein phosphatases (PP) and dephosphorylation in steroidogenic tissues. The aims of the present study were therefore to identify which of those serine/threonine PPs more commonly involved in intracellular signalling are expressed in rat luteal cells; to quantify, in vitro, the effects of inhibitors on PP activity extracted from purified rat luteal cells; and to measure the effects of PP inhibitors on the phosphorylation of endogenous luteal cell proteins. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the catalytic subunits of PP types 1 and 2A, and a monoclonal antibody raised against the Ca2+-binding subunit of PP2B, were used to identify immunoreactive proteins that migrated on SDS-PAGE with approximate molecular masses of 37, 34 and 16 kDa, corresponding well with the reported molecular mass of PP1, PP2A and PP2B respectively. Five selective inhibitors of PP1/PP2A: okadaic acid, calyculin A, cantharidin, tautomycin and microcystin-RR, each caused a dose-dependent decrease in the activity of PPs in luteal cell homogenates, and also enhanced 32P incorporation into numerous luteal cell proteins; most notably, proteins with approximate molecular masses of 20 and 22 kDa. The results of this study suggest that PPs may play an important role in the regulation of rat luteal cell functions.
Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 205–211
Mediation of the hormone- and serum-dependent regulation of thyroglobulin gene expression by thyroid-transcription factors in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells
Authors: Kambe F , Seo H 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
The molecular mechanism for hormone- and serum-dependent regulation of thyroglobulin (TG) gene expression was studied. A construct of rat TG promoter (−178 to −3) linked to a luciferase gene was transfected into TSH-, insulin- and serum-deprived FRTL-5 cells. Addition of TSH, insulin or serum augmented the luciferase activity. The endogenous TG mRNA level was also increased, indicating that the promoter used confers responsiveness of TG gene to these additives. The possible involvement of thyroid-transcription factors, TTF-1, TTF-2 and Pax-8, in the induction of TG gene transcription was studied using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Since the protein/DNA ratio in FRTL-5 cell extracts was significantly increased by these additives, binding activities of these factors per unit of DNA were examined. It was demonstrated that TSH, insulin or serum increased not only TTF-2 binding activity but also the binding activities of TTF-1 and Pax-8. However, the magnitude of the increase in TTF-1 and Pax-8 mRNA levels per unit of DNA was less than that of the binding activity. Taken together, our results suggest that TSH, insulin and serum increase the binding activities of TTF-1 and Pax-8 to the TG promoter presumably through the posttranslational modification of the factors, thereby enhancing TG gene transcription.
Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 287–298
Lectin-binding assays for the isoforms of human erythropoietin: comparison of urinary and four recombinant erythropoietins
Authors: Storring P L , Tiplady R J , Gaines Das R E , Rafferty B , Mistry Y G 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Assays have been developed for the isoforms of erythropoietin (EPO) based on their binding to eight different lectins. These assays were used to compare the isoform compositions of two preparations of human urinary EPO (uEPO) and four preparations of recombinant DNA-derived human EPO (rEPO), which had been shown to differ in their biological and immunological properties and in their isoform composition as judged by isoelectric focusing and electrophoresis.
Agarose-bound Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA), Erythrina cristagalli agglutinin (ECA), Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin (MAL), Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA), Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin (LEA), concanavalin A (Con A), Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin-L4 (L-PHA) and Agaricus bisporus agglutinin (ABA) were used to bind EPO isoforms possessing: N-glycans containing non-sialylated outer Galβ1–4GlcNAc (RCA and ECA), NeuAcα2-3Galβ1–4GlcNAc (MAL), NeuAcα2–6Gal (SNA), or repeating Galβ1–4GlcNAc sequences (LEA); biantennary N-glycans (Con A); tetraantennary and 2,6-branched triantennary N-glycans (L-PHA); and O-glycans containing NeuAcα2–6GalNAc (SNA) and Galβ1–3GalNAc (ABA). Free EPO was measured by mouse spleen cell bioassay or immunoassay. Estimates from most lectin-binding assays were reproducible between assays and batches of lectin-agarose, although batches of MAL- and ABA-agarose, and to a lesser extent LEA-agarose, differed in their EPO-binding.
Lectin-binding assays showed differences between the isoform compositions of all EPOs, including the two Chinese hamster ovary cell-derived rEPOs, with RCA-and ECA-binding assays being the most discriminating. Lectin-binding estimates provided evidence that uEPO differs from these rEPOs in its lower content of isoforms with biantennary N-glycans and higher content of those with multiantennary N-glycans, and in its lower content of isoforms with N-glycans possessing repeating Galβ1–4GlcNAc sequences and of those with O-glycans containing Galβ1–3GalNAc. Lectin-binding estimates also indicated that, contrary to some reports, uEPO possesses Galβ1–3GalNAc-containing O-glycans but not NeuAcα2–6GalNAc-containing O-glycans or NeuAcα2–6Gal-containing N-glycans.
Most groups of lectin-bound EPO isoforms did not differ in their relative bioactivities and immunoreactivities. However, estimates for ABA-bound EPO isoforms suggested that O-glycans might influence the bioactivity of EPO differently to its immunoreactivity. Furthermore, the bioactivities of some ECA-bound EPO isoforms were higher, and those of some of the MAL-bound EPO isoforms lower, than their immunoreactivities, consistent with the reported enhancement of EPO in vitro bioactivity by desialylation.
Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 150, 401–412
Evidence of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) gene expression in rat anterior pituitaries and modulation by estrogens of TRH-like immunoreactivity and TRH-elongated peptide contents
Authors: Croissandeau G , Schussler N , Grouselle D , Pagesy P , Rauch C , Bayet M C , Peillon F , Le Dafniet M 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
TRH gene expression in the anterior pituitary has previously been reported in the human in vivo and in the rat in vitro. Until now, modulation of this synthesis with glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones has been observed in rats. The present study demonstrates for the first time that the TRH gene is also expressed, in vivo, in the rat anterior pituitary and that anterior pituitary TRH-like immunoreactivity (TRH-LI) and elongated forms of the immediate TRH progenitor sequence (TRH-elongated peptide) contents are also modulated by estrogens (E2). To investigate the presence of proTRH mRNA in the rat anterior pituitary, total RNA was reverse transcribed (RT) and the RT products were then amplified by PCR. Treatments with E2 were performed on intact and ovariectomized (OVX) rats for 2 months. TRH-LI was measured by RIA with an antibody which did not recognize the TRH-like peptide, pGlu-Glu-Pro-NH2 (<EEP-NH2) (cross-reactivity <0·1%) and was characterized further as TRH-LI by HPLC. TRH-elongated peptides were measured by EIA and characterized by Sephadex G-50 chromatography and immunoblotting (molecular mass 25–35 kDa). The plasma prolactin levels and the pituitary sizes were increased by E2 treatment in both intact and OVX rats. Anterior pituitary TRH-LI increased in intact E2-treated rats compared with intact rats (82·7 ± 19·0 versus 39·6 ± 3·6 fmol/mg protein; means ± s.e.m.; P<0·001). This increase was greater when E2 was administered to OVX rats (599·0 ± 98·4 after E2 treatment versus 58·6 ± 3·6 fmol/mg protein; P<0·001). In intact rats, anterior pituitary TRH-elongated peptide contents were not modified by E2 treatment while they were significantly decreased in OVX E2-treated rats (144·6 ±8·8 versus 223·7 ± 9·5 fmol/mg protein; P<0·001). These results demonstrate TRH gene expression in the rat anterior pituitary in vivo and suggest that E2 treatment is responsible for an increase in anterior pituitary TRH-LI, together with a decrease in TRH-elongated peptide contents.
Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 151, 87–96
Effect of oxytocin receptor antagonists on the renal actions of oxytocin and vasopressin in the rat
Authors: Windle R J , Judah J M , Forsling M L 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
The effect of three oxytocin receptor antagonists on the renal actions of oxytocin and vasopressin was investigated in conscious male rats infused with hypotonic saline. Infusion of oxytocin at 100 pg/min produced plasma concentrations of 12·7 ± 3·3 pmol/l and led to significant increases in sodium excretion, urine flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The increase in sodium excretion of 42 ± 9% during oxytocin infusion was significantly decreased by all three antagonists to 15 ± 5% (10 ng [mercapto-proprionic acid1,d-Tyr(Et)2, Thr4,Orn8]-oxytocin/min), 13 ± 5% (5 ng desGly9[d-Trp2,Thr4,Orn8]-dC6oxytocin/min) and 4 ± 5% (1 ng d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4,Orn8,Tyr(NH2)9]-vasotocin/min). Similarly, the increase in urine production of 22 ± 5% associated with oxytocin infusion was significantly decreased to 4 ± 3% (5 ng desGly9[d-Trp2,d-Thr4,Orn8]-dC6oxytocin/min) and 1 ± 4% (1 ng d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4,Orn8,Tyr(NH2)9]-vasotocin/min). All three antagonists blocked the oxytocin-induced increase in GFR when infused at 10 ng/min. Infusion of vasopressin at 160 pg/min produced plasma concentrations of 10·1 ± 2·1 pmol/l and this led to a significant increase in sodium excretion and a significant decrease in urine flow rate. None of the antagonists had any effect on the natriuretic or antidiuretic actions of vasopressin suggesting that different receptors are involved in these renal actions of the two peptides.
Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 152, 257–264
Tri-iodothyronine prevents the amiodarone-induced decrease in the expression of the liver low-density lipoprotein receptor gene
Authors: Hudig F , Bakker O , Wiersinga W M 
Published: December 2004

Treatment with amiodarone, a potent antiarrhythmic drug, is associated with a dose-dependent increase in plasma cholesterol resulting from a decreased number of liver low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors. Similar changes occur in hypothyroidism, and it has been suggested that amiodarone acts via induction of a local 'hypothyroid-like' state in extrathyroidal tissues. The present study was designed to evaluate whether exogenous tri-iodothyronine (T3) could prevent the effects of amiodarone on LDL cholesterol.
Rats were treated for 14 days with water, amiodarone 10 mg/100 g body weight (BW), or amiodarone and 2·5, 5 or 10 μg T3/100 g BW respectively. Relative to controls, amiodarone increased plasma LDL cholesterol by 31% and decreased liver LDL receptor mRNA by 56% and protein by 45%; liver T3 content was reduced by 21%. Addition of T3 to the treatment with amiodarone dose-dependently reversed all these changes, with a return to control values of plasma cholesterol and the number of liver LDL receptors, although LDL receptor mRNA remained slightly lower. Treatment of rats for 14 days with T3 alone (5 μg/100 g BW) decreased plasma LDL cholesterol by 19% and increased liver LDL receptor mRNA by 41%.
In conclusion, T3 prevents the amiodarone-induced changes in plasma LDL cholesterol and liver LDL receptor gene expression. These findings suggest that the inhibitory effect of amiodarone on LDL receptor gene expression is mediated by T3-dependent pathways.
Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 152, 413–421
Gonadotrophs but not somatotrophs carry gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptors: receptor localisation, intracellular calcium, and gonadotrophin and GH release
Authors: Bosma P T , Kolk S M , Rebers F E M , Lescroart O , Roelants I , Willems P H G M , Schulz R W 
Published: December 2004

Gonadotrophs are the primary target cells for GnRH in the pituitary. However, during a limited period of neonatal life in the rat, lactotrophs and somatotrophs respond to GnRH as well. Also, in the adults of a number of teleost fishes (e.g. carp, goldfish, and tilapia but not trout), GnRH is a potent GH secretagogue. In studying hypophysiotrophic actions of the two forms of GnRH present in the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), chicken GnRH-II ([His5,Trp7,Tyr8]GnRH; cGnRH-II) and catfish GnRH ([His5,Asn8]GnRH; cfGnRH), we have investigated the effects of GnRH on catfish gonadotrophs and somatotrophs. GnRH binding was examined by incubating dispersed pituitary cells attached to coverslips with 125I-labelled [d-Arg6,Trp7,Leu8,Pro9-Net]GnRH (sGnRHa), a salmon GnRH analogue with high affinity for the GnRH receptor. Following fixation and immunohistochemistry using antisera against catfish LH and GH, 125I-labelled sGnRHa was localised autoradiographically and silver grains were quantified on gonadotrophs and somatotrophs. Specific binding of 125I-labelled sGnRHa was restricted to gonadotrophs. Both cfGnRH and cGnRH-II dose-dependently inhibited 125I-labelled sGnRHa binding to gonadotrophs. To substantiate the localisation of functional GnRH receptors, the effects of cfGnRH and cGnRH-II on the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were examined in Fura-2-loaded somatotrophs and gonadotrophs. GnRH-induced increases in [Ca2+]i appeared to be confined to gonadotrophs, in which both endogenous GnRHs caused a single and transient increase in [Ca2+]i. The amplitude of this [Ca2+]i transient depended on the GnRH dose and correlated well with the GnRHs' effect on LH release. In vivo experiments demonstrated that GnRH treatments which markedly elevated plasma LH levels had no effect on plasma GH levels, while a dopamine agonist (apomorphine) significantly elevated plasma GH levels. We conclude that the two endogenous forms of GnRH in the African catfish are not directly involved in the regulation of the release of GH, suggesting that GnRHs cannot be considered as GH secretagogues in teleosts in general.
Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 152, 437–446
Effect of pregnancy on rat myometrial β2-adrenoceptor mRNA and isoproterenol-induced relaxation of isolated uterine strips
Authors: Engstrøm T , Bratholm P , Vilhardt H , Christensen N J 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
The altered myometrial contractile activity near term of pregnancy is partly due to changes in the responsiveness to catecholamines. Previous experiments have basically been concerned with uterine adrenoceptor binding characteristics. In the present study we have evaluated total myometrial DNA, β2-adrenoceptor mRNA and isoproterenol-induced relaxation of rat isolated uterine strips pre-contracted with potassium on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 of pregnancy and on day 5 post-partum. Total myometrial DNA expressed per milligram wet tissue peaked at day 14 of pregnancy followed by a decrease at the end of gestation. This suggests that hyperplasia predominates in the growth of the uterus in early gestation, whereas hypertrophy may be more marked in late pregnancy. The concentration of β2-adrenoceptor mRNA decreased linearly throughout the gestational period (0·73 ± 0·20 amol/mg wet tissue on day 0 vs 0·34 ± 0·09 amol/mg wet tissue on day 21, P<0·05). Five days after parturition, at which time the uterus had returned to its pre-pregnant weight, β2-adrenoceptor mRNA was found to have increased 8-fold (2·79 ± 0·14 amol/mg wet tissue, P<0·05) as compared with day 21. The maximal effect of isoproterenol on pre-contracted uterine strips in which α-receptors were blocked by phentolamine showed a similar decrease which on day 21 reached 67% of the day 0 level (P<0·001). EC50 values were unchanged in all groups except day 21 pregnant rats in which an increase was observed. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's t-test showed statistically significant differences only between the day 21 group and either the day 5 post-partum group or the day 14 pregnant group (P<0·05).
The observed alteration in EC50 prior to the end of gestation indicates that the system becomes less sensitive to β2-adrenergic stimulation at this time. We conclude that a reduction of de novo synthesis of β2-adrenoceptors may play a role in contributing to the increased myometrial activity at term. We further suggest that the dramatic up-regulation of β2-adrenoceptor mRNA postpartum may protect the fully involuted uterus against excessive contractions induced by oxytocin secreted during lactation.
Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 153, 393–399