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Biomedical subjects

A Chaudhry

Publications and source records attributed to A Chaudhry.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Relationship between Gs alpha messenger ribonucleic acid splice variants and the molecular forms of Gs alpha protein in rat brown adipose tissue.

Recent work indicates that multiple molecular forms of Gs alpha can be produced by alternative splicing of a primary Gs alpha transcript. This study examined the pattern of expression of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding the large (Gs alpha-L) and small (Gs alpha-S) molecular forms of Gs alpha in several rat tissues, including brown adipose tissue. In all tissues examined, Gs alpha-L mRNA was most abundant. This was most pronounced for brain tissue (95% of total), and least for brown adipose tissue (57%). The pattern of Gs alpha isoform expression of a given tissue was strongly correlated with the Gs alpha mRNA splicing pattern in that tissue. Cold exposure and surgical denervation are treatments that have been shown to, respectively, increase or decrease total Gs alpha mRNA in rat brown adipose tissue. Despite producing up to 4-fold differences in total Gs alpha mRNA, these treatments did not affect the proportions of Gs alpha mRNA splice variants in brown fat. In contrast, perinatal stimulation of brown fat was associated with changes in the splicing pattern of Gs alpha mRNA, and these changes were reflected in Gs alpha protein expression. Specifically, during the perinatal period Gs alpha-L mRNA increased significantly but Gs alpha-L protein levels did not change, whereas Gs alpha-S mRNA did not change and Gs alpha-S protein levels significantly declined. These data provide further evidence that the increased Gs alpha mRNA levels that occur in interscapular brown adipose tissue during periods of stimulation serve to maintain membrane levels of Gs alpha protein.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗
PubMed1990

Mediators of Ca2(+)-dependent secretion.

Ca2+, an obligatory mediator of the secretory process, acts in concert with other second messengers that further amplify or inhibit the secretory response. In this overview, we will consider the relative roles of diacylglycerol (DAG), arachidonic acid, and cyclic AMP (cAMP) in modulating Ca2(+)-dependent secretion in nonexcitable cells. DAG, a product of phospholipase C (PLC)-catalyzed breakdown of phosphoinositides, stimulates protein kinase C. Ca2+ ionophores and phorbol esters (or DAG analogues) elicit a synergistic secretory response in the exocrine pancreas and parotid gland. These findings suggest that the complete activation of secretion requires stimulation of both Ca2(+)-dependent and protein kinase C-dependent pathways. Hydrolysis of phospholipids can also lead to the liberation of arachidonic acid in secretory cells. Endogenously generated arachidonic acid inhibits polyphosphoinositide synthesis in exocrine pancreas, leading to inhibition of agonist-induced IP3 formation, Ca2(+)-mobilization and amylase secretion. By contrast, arachidonic acid and its metabolites stimulate PLC in the rabbit peritoneal neutrophil, causing Ca2(+)-mobilization and lysosomal enzyme secretion. Arachidonic acid can thus serve as a positive or negative feedback regulator of secretion induced by Ca2(+)-mobilizing agonists. Finally, in the parotid gland, stimulation of amylase secretion by norepinephrine, the physiological mediator, which stimulates both the alpha and beta adrenoceptors, requires the interaction of both Ca2+ and cAMP pathways to produce a full secretory response. These studies, taken together, indicate that phosphoinositide and cAMP-dependent pathways play coordinate roles in signal transduction, leading to the Ca2(+)-mediated secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Analysis of the regulation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate synthesis by arachidonic acid in exocrine pancreas.

In pancreatic acinar cells prelabeled with either 32Pi or myo-[3H]inositol, arachidonic acid (10-50 microM) rapidly decreased the steady-state levels of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4',5'-bisphosphate [( 32P]PtdIns4,5P2) and inhibited carbachol-stimulated accumulation of [3H]inositol trisphosphate [( 3H]InsP3). Both actions of arachidonic acid were rapidly reversed by bovine serum albumin (BSA). Indomethacin and nordihydoguaiaretic acid failed to block the inhibitory effects of arachidonic acid on [32P]PtdIns4,5P2 levels. Arachidonic acid (10-50 microM) also caused a prompt depletion of cellular ATP which was rapidly reversed by BSA. The ATP-depleting action of arachidonate paralleled in terms of concentration dependence and time course its inhibitory effects on [32P]PtdIns4,5P2 and [3H]InsP3 levels. Exposure of acinar cells to 50 microM arachidonic acid produced an increase in oxygen consumption which exceeded that elicited by either carbachol or ionomycin. Arachidonic acid (10-50 microM) also caused a concentration-dependent rise in cytosolic Ca2+, which was partially obtunded by Ca2+ deprivation. A proposed mechanism involving arachidonic acid as a negative feedback regulator of polyphosphoinositide turnover in exocrine pancreas is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Relationship between circulating antisperm antibodies in women and autoantibodies on the ejaculated sperm of their partners.

The relationship between antibodies on the surface of ejaculated sperm and circulating antibodies in female partners was evaluated. Of 616 couples examined by the immunobead binding test, there was a 12.4% incidence of sperm-surface antibodies in men whose wives had antisperm antibodies in their sera, but only a 6.5% incidence in partners of women who lacked these antibodies (p less than 0.025). Sperm-bound immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A both occurred at a significantly higher frequency (p less than 0.05) in partners of women with serum antisperm antibodies. Increased incidence of both immunoglobulin G (p less than 0.01) and immunoglobulin M (p less than 0.005) circulating antisperm antibodies in females were observed when the male partners had antibody-bound sperm. Antibody-coated sperm may activate lymphocytes in the female partners after coitus, thus leading to the production of antisperm antibodies. This may be an additional mechanism that leads to female isoimmunity to sperm and infertility.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1989

Association between recurrent spontaneous abortions and circulating IgG antibodies to sperm tails in women.

The isotype and regional specificity of antisperm antibodies in the circulation of women with recurrent spontaneous abortions was examined. There was a statistically significant association (P less than 0.005) between the presence of IgG tail-directed antisperm antibodies and a history of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion. These antibodies were detected in 36.4% of 44 women with recurrent abortions and 14.6% of 616 female partners of infertile marriages. In contrast, no differences in IgG sperm head-directed antibodies or in IgA and IgM antisperm antibodies were observed between the two groups. Husbands of women in the miscarriage or infertile groups had similar semen evaluations. Antisperm antibodies may be a marker for defective immunosuppression in women with recurrent miscarriages. Alternatively, exposure of sperm-sensitized pregnant women to sperm may activate the maternal immune system to respond to paternal antigens present on the embryo.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1989

Circulating interferon-gamma in women sensitized to sperm: new mechanisms of infertility.

The relationship between antisperm antibodies and IFN-gamma production was examined. Interferon-gamma was identified in 15 of 40 sera (37.5%) from women with antisperm antibodies, but in only 2 of 28 sera (7.4%) from women who lacked these antibodies. In four of six women with circulating antisperm antibodies, but in zero of six controls, in vitro incubation of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells led to the spontaneous release of both antisperm antibodies and IFN-gamma. In women sensitized to sperm, coitus-induced IFN-gamma production may impair fertility and early embryo development by mechanisms other than a direct effect of antisperm antibodies on the male gamete.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1989

Chromosome aberrations and dominant lethals in Culex fatigans due to mercuric chloride.

The mosquito, Culex fatigans, was used for determining the possible mutagenic potential of mercuric chloride, using chromosome aberrations and frequency of dominant lethals as the parameters. As many as 27.75 +/- 0.85% aberrations against 2.75 +/- 0.35% (P less than 0.001) in the controls were observed in the chromosomes of the animals treated with 0.001 microgram/ml of mercuric chloride. Similarly the frequency of dominant lethals was statistically significant in the treated lot. The results indicate that this compound is genotoxic.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Relationship between delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced arachidonic acid release and secretagogue-evoked phosphoinositide breakdown and Ca2+ mobilization of exocrine pancreas.

We have previously shown that addition of exogenous arachidonic acid to pancreatic acinar cells inhibits the incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol into membrane phosphoinositides and causes a reduction in the steady state levels of [32P]phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns4,5P2). In the present study, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was utilized to raise endogenous levels of arachidonic acid. In acinar cells simultaneously prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid and [32P]Pi, THC (1-20 microM) produced a concentration-dependent increase in free [3H]arachidonic acid release and a reduction in the steady state levels of [32P]Ptd-Ins4,5P2. THC (1-20 microM) also caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of myo-[3H]inositol trisphosphate accumulation, cytoplasmic Ca2+ level, and amylase secretion elicited by 0.1 microM caerulein. The findings that THC (20 microM) was unable to inhibit either the rise in [Ca2+]i elicited by ionomycin, or the secretory response to phorbol myristic acid or ionomycin, indicate that THC exerts a selective inhibitory effect on the phosphoinositide messenger system. These results support the postulate that endogenous arachidonic acid serves as a negative feedback regulator of phosphoinositide turnover in exocrine pancreas.

Amylases↗
PubMed1987

The effects of fatty acids on phosphoinositide synthesis and myo-inositol accumulation in exocrine pancreas.

The effects of arachidonic acid (20:4) on phosphoinositide turnover were examined in rat pancreatic acinar cells prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol. Arachidonic acid (50 microM) increased the accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol, but not that of [3H]inositol monophosphate, [3H]inositol bisphosphate, or [3H]inositol trisphosphate. By contrast, 10 microM carbamoylcholine increased the accumulation of all four compounds. A combination of arachidonic acid plus carbamoylcholine caused a selective and marked accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol, which was abolished by 10 mM LiCl. Arachidonic acid (10-100 microM) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of myo-[3H]inositol incorporation into phosphoinositides and markedly depressed carbamoylcholine-induced increases in myo-[3H]inositol incorporation into inositol phospholipids. Several other unsaturated and saturated fatty acids failed to elicit a synergistic response with carbamoylcholine in stimulating myo-[3H]inositol accumulation and did not retard the incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol into phosphoinositides. The fact that eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5), but not arachidic acid (20:0), mimicked the depressant effect of arachidonate on phosphoinositide labeling suggests that the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid, rather than chain length, is important for inhibition of phosphoinositide synthesis. The arachidonate-induced decrease in myo-[3H]inositol incorporation was accompanied by a reduction in the steady state level of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The mass of arachidonic acid liberated in response to carbamoylcholine was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the time course of stimulated arachidonate accumulation paralleled that of inositol phosphate accumulation and amylase release. These observations suggest that in exocrine pancreas, endogenous arachidonic acid serves as a negative feedback regulator of phosphoinositide turnover.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Effect of mitomycin-C and cyclophosphamide on the polytene chromosomes of Anopheles stephensi (Culicidae:Diptera).

Polytene chromosomes from the salivary glands of the mosquito, Anopheles stephensi, were used to evaluate the mutagenic effect of mitomycin-C and cyclophosphamide. Second instar larvae were treated with 1.4 micrograms/ml of mitomycin-C and 20.7 micrograms/ml of cyclophosphamide separately for 24 h. Polytene chromosome preparations were made from the salivary glands of 4th instar larvae. Mitomycin-C treated stocks showed as many as 46.99 +/- 2.48% aberrations compared with 7.5 +/- 0.80% in the controls. Similarly, cyclophosphamide treated larvae showed the aberrated cells to be 36.65 +/- 1.45% as against 7.93 +/- 0.52% in the controls. The results were statistically significant (P less than 0.001) for the two antitumour drugs. Both drugs are mutagenic to polytene chromosomes which are sensitive indicators of DNA damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Characteristics of P2 (nucleotide) receptors mediating contraction and relaxation of rat aortic strips: possible physiological relevance.

ATP and ADP relaxed rat aortic strips precontracted with noradrenaline by an endothelium-dependent mechanism. 5'-AMP was much less potent and adenosine was essentially without effect. The metabolically stable analogues alpha,beta-methylene ATP and beta,gamma-methylene ATP further contracted precontracted aorta. Aortic strips, which had not been precontracted with noradrenaline, contracted when exposed to either ATP or alpha,beta-methylene ATP, the latter nucleotide being much more potent than the former. Removal of the endothelium increased the contractions to ATP. ANAPP3 had no effect on the endothelium-dependent relaxations produced by ATP but it antagonized contractions produced by alpha,beta-methylene ATP. These results provide evidence for the possible existence of two subtypes of P2 receptors in rat aorta; a P2 receptor mediating contraction residing on smooth muscle which can be antagonized by ANAPP3 and where alpha,beta-methylene ATP is more potent than ATP, and a P2 receptor mediating relaxation located on the endothelium which cannot be antagonized by ANAPP3 and where ATP is much more potent than alpha,beta-methylene ATP.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1985

Mechanism and metabolic disposition of verapamil-evoked overflow of radioactivity from isolated atria preloaded with [3H]norepinephrine.

In this study the mechanism and metabolic profile of verapamil-evoked release of radioactivity was investigated in the rat isolated atria preloaded with [3H]norepinephrine [( 3H]NE). Verapamil (10(-7) to 10(-3) M) caused a dose-related increase in the outflow (or the fractional release) of 3H. The fractional 3H-release produced by verapamil was reduced markedly in tissues which had been preloaded with [3H]NE in the presence of cocaine (10 microM) or after pretreatment of animals with reserpine (5 mg/kg i.p., 24 hr before sacrifice). Verapamil-evoked fractional 3H-release was unchanged in the presence of tetrodotoxin (5 X 10(-6) M) or in Ca++-free Krebs' medium containing 2 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N'-tetraacetic acid. Whereas greater than 90% of tissue 3H-content consisted of unchanged [3H]NE, 60 to 75% of the spontaneous outflow and the verapamil-evoked overflow consisted of [3H]-3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol and 2 to 10% was unchanged [3H]NE. When both cocaine (10 microM) and hydrocortisone (28 microM) (uptake-1 and uptake-2 blockers, respectively) were present, although the spontaneous outflow, as well as verapamil-evoked overflow, of radioactivity was increased, the metabolic profiles remained essentially unchanged. The addition of pargyline (10 microM), a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, in addition to the uptake-1 and uptake-2 blockers to the Krebs' solution significantly depressed both the spontaneous outflow and verapamil-evoked overflow of 3H; the verapamil-evoked overflow under this condition, however, consisted of unchanged [3H]NE (greater than 90%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Tetrodotoxin-resistant release of ATP from superfused rabbit detrusor muscle during electrical field stimulation in the presence of luciferin-luciferase.

The present study was carried out to assess the possible role of ATP in the noncholinergic, nonadrenergic transmission in the rabbit urinary bladder. When rabbit detrusor muscle strips were superfused with medium containing firefly luciferin-luciferase and stimulated transmurally at low stimulation parameters, tetrodotoxin-sensitive contractions were obtained but no release of ATP could be detected. However, at somewhat higher stimulation parameters, release of ATP was observed. This release of ATP was not diminished by tetrodotoxin indicating that ATP was not likely released as a result of propagated action potentials in nerves. Because contractions persisted in the presence of tetrodotoxin, it is possible that the ATP might have been released as a result of direct electrical stimulation of the muscle. These results do not support the idea that ATP is released as a neurotransmitter in the rabbit bladder.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1984

Depletion of cardiac noradrenaline stores by the calcium-channel blocker D-600.

The actions of the calcium-channel blocker D-600 on cardiac noradrenaline stores were investigated by giving rats the drug systemically and then using a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with an electrochemical detector to determine the noradrenaline content of their hearts. A single 5-mg/kg dose of D-600 caused a significant depletion of noradrenaline content of the ventricles (approximately 31%) but not of the auricles. However, when multiple doses of D-600 were given at 12-h intervals, the depletion of cardiac noradrenaline content was more marked and both the auricular and ventricular contents were significantly decreased. Depletion of noradrenaline content was maximal 4 h after administration of D-600. A partial recovery of noradrenaline content occurred 16 h after administration of D-600, indicating that this effect of D-600 is reversible. In in vitro studies, D-600 (10(-7) to 10(-3) M) evoked a dose-related increase in the basal outflow of tritium from the rat isolated atria preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NA), indicating that depletion of cardiac noradrenaline stores by D-600 may be due to a direct action on sympathetic nerves rather than to increased reflex sympathetic activity secondary to profound vasodilation caused by the drug. The metabolic profile of tissue 3H content and of D-600-evoked 3H overflow was also examined. Whereas greater than 90% of tissue 3H content consisted of unchanged [3H]NA, 60-70% of the D-600-evoked overflow consisted of [3,4-3H]dihydroxyphenylglycol, and approximately 5% was unchanged NA, thus indicating that D-600 causes release of [3H]NA intraneuronally.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Antagonism by the tetramine disulfide benextramine of the inhibitory effects mediated by prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors and by postjunctional histamine H2 receptors in the mouse vas deferens.

The actions of benextramine, which blocks postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptors noncompetitively and irreversibly (non-equilibrium type) on prejunctional alpha-adrenoceptors (alpha 2) and postjunctional histamine H2 receptors, were studied in the mouse vas deferens, using clonidine and histamine, respectively, as the agonists. Both agonists caused a dose-related inhibition of the electrically evoked twitch responses, an inhibition that their respective antagonists (yohimbine or phentolamine, and cimetidine) antagonized competitively. Benextramine, however, antagonized the agonists' inhibitory effect noncompetitively. At the concentrations used, while clonidine or yohimbine and phentolamine protected the prejunctional alpha-adrenoceptors (alpha 2) against the benextramine noncompetitive blockade, histamine or cimetidine failed to protect the histamine H2 receptor against benextramine blockade. Therefore, although benextramine acts prejunctionally to block the alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the mouse vas deferens either by interacting directly with the same site as clonidine or yohimbine and phentolamine, or allosterically with a site close to it, it does not appear to act irreversibly, either directly or allosterically, with the same site as histamine or cimetidine. The mechanism by which benextramine blocks the histamine-induced inhibition of the electrically evoked twitch response in the mouse vas deferens remains to be established.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗