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Biomedical subjects

A Ray

Publications and source records attributed to A Ray.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

The effects of buspirone, a selective anxiolytic, on stress ulcer formation in rats.

The effects of buspirone hydrochloride were investigated on the formation of cold-immobilization gastric stress ulcers. Low doses significantly attenuated, while higher doses greatly potentiated gastric stress pathology. The dopamine antagonist haloperidol, and the agonist apomorphine respectively, reversed the buspirone effects. The role of dopamine in the expression of buspirone's effects is discussed, although other transmitter systems may mediate some of the actions of buspirone.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The human "interferon-beta 2/hepatocyte stimulating factor/interleukin-6" gene: DNA polymorphism studies and localization to chromosome 7p21.

The human interferon-beta 2 gene (IFNB2) product is identical to that for the B-cell stimulation factor-2 (BSF-2), the hybridoma growth factor (HGF) ("interleukin-6"), and the hepatocyte stimulating factor (HSF). Proteins derived from this gene mediate the plasma protein response to tissue injury (acute-phase response) and regulate the growth and differentiation of both B and T cells. By using the enzymes MspI, BstNI, and BglI, three polymorphic systems were detected with probes for the IFNB2 gene. The MspI and BglI polymorphisms are likely to be due to base pair substitutions; the BstNI polymorphism was revealed by nine other enzymes and is likely to be due to DNA insertions within 1 kb of the 3' flanking region of the gene. This region is rich in AT dinucleotides, and slippage at DNA replication may generate the insertions of between 0.07 and 0.23 kb that were observed. The polymorphic MspI site also lies within the vicinity of the fifth exon. The BglI polymorphic site is likely to lie in 5' flanking DNA. The three polymorphisms are separate, and a variety of haplotypes was observed. A low level of linkage disequilibrium exists between the MspI and the BglI alleles. MspI and BstNI polymorphisms were observed in Caucasoids, CAR Pygmies, Zaire Pygmies, Melanesians, and Chinese but at differing frequencies, and not all alleles were present in all populations. The BglI polymorphism was observed in Caucasoids and Africans only. Linkage studies involving the IFNB2 gene and 27 other chromosome 7 markers have localized it to between D7S135 and D7S370 at 7p22-p21.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alleles↗
PubMed1988

Activation of the human "beta 2-interferon/hepatocyte-stimulating factor/interleukin 6" promoter by cytokines, viruses, and second messenger agonists.

The hallmark of "beta 2-interferon (IFN-beta 2)/hepatocyte-stimulating factor/interleukin 6" gene expression is its inducibility in different types of human cells (fibroblasts, monocytes, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells) by different stimuli, which include cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and platelet-derived growth factor, different viruses, and bacterial products such as endotoxin. The activation by cytokines, viruses, and second messenger agonists of the IFN-beta 2 promoter linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene was studied after transfection into HeLa cells. A chimeric gene containing IFN-beta 2 DNA from -1180 to +13 linked to the CAT gene was inducible approximately 10-fold by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), followed, in decreasing order, by pseudorabies and Sendai viruses (7- to 11-fold each); serum (6- to 9-fold); the cytokines tumor necrosis factor, IL-1, and epidermal growth factor (3- to 5-fold each); the cAMP agonists BrcAMP and forskolin and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (2- to 6-fold each); poly(I).poly(C) (2- to 4-fold); 1,2-diacylglycerol and the calcium ionophore A23187 (1.5- to 2-fold each). Bacterial endotoxin did not activate this IFN-beta 2/CAT fusion gene in HeLa cells. Deletion of the 5' boundary of the IFN-beta 2 DNA from -1180 to -596 in the fusion gene preserved its activation by IL-1, tumor necrosis factor, epidermal growth factor, serum, pseudorabies, and Sendai viruses and by PMA, Br-cAMP, and forskolin; deletion to -225 led to a small reduction (by a factor of 1.5-2) in the responsiveness to serum, PMA, and Sendai virus but not to the other inducers; a further deletion to -112 greatly reduced all responsiveness. Thus, the region between -225 and -113 in IFN-beta 2, which contains DNA motifs similar to the regulatory elements in the human c-fos gene, appears to contain the major cis-acting regulatory elements responsible for the activation of the IFN-beta 2 promoter by several different cytokines, viruses, and second messenger agonists.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Prolactin and thyroid status in prepubertal children with mild to moderate obesity.

Prolactin (PRL) response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) in 21 prepubertal children with mild to moderate obesity was compared with that in 21 normal prepubertal children (controls). Basal PRL levels were normal but the mean peak PRL response and mean increment in PRL levels following TRH administration were significantly lower in prepubertal obese children (p less than 0.001). The mean PRL responses to TRH were significantly impaired at all time intervals in prepubertal obese boys and girls compared to the control subjects. Linear regression and correlation coefficient analysis did not reveal any significant relation between the percent overweight and PRL response. Basal T4, T3 levels and T3 and TSH response to TRH were similar in both groups. The findings suggest that neuroendocrine regulation of prolactin is impaired in prepubertal children even with mild to moderate obesity. This could be secondary to altered neurotransmitter status at the hypothalamic level. Further studies are needed to determine whether the defect is innate or acquired, primary or secondary.

Child↗
PubMed1988

Effect of aldrin on spermatogenesis, plasma gonadotrophins and testosterone, and testicular testosterone in the rat.

Quantitative evaluation of the different varieties of germ cells at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, namely type-A spermatogonia (ASg), preleptotene spermatocytes (pLSc), mid-pachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and step 7 spermatids (7Sd), along with radioimmunoassay of plasma gonadotrophins (FSH and LH), testosterone and testicular testosterone were performed in Wistar rats following treatment with aldrin (polycyclic chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide) for approximately one (13 days) or two cycles (26 days) of the seminiferous epithelium. Extensive degeneration of all varieties of germ cells at stage VII, reduction in the sperm count and significant reductions in plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone were observed following aldrin treatment. The reduction in plasma concentrations of FSH was statistically significant only after treatment for two cycles. The inhibitory effect of aldrin on plasma gonadotrophins, testosterone levels, testicular testosterone content and numbers of 7Sd and ASg was maximum after treatment for two cycles. Administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin along with aldrin treatment for two cycles partially prevented the degeneration of germ cells and enhanced testosterone production. The results indicate that aldrin may have a direct inhibitory influence on gonadotrophin release, but the possibility of a direct action of the insecticide at the level of the testes is also discussed.

Aldrin↗
PubMed1988

[Langerhans cell: CD1 antigens and the Birbeck granule].

Langerhans cells are characterized by two types of markers: an ultrastructural marker, the Birbeck granule and different membrane markers: HLA-D antigens, T4 antigen, and some of the CD1 antigens. These antigens which are specific for the epidermal Langerhans cells, are not expressed by the other epidermal cells. Three CD1 antigens are biochemically defined on human thymocytes, they display a glycoprotein chain non covalently attached to beta-2-microglobulin. Only two of these glycoproteins: the T6 and M241 molecules have been detected on Langerhans cells. The presence of these CD1 antigens on Langerhans cells enhances their relationships to thymocytes, in contrast, Langerhans cells cannot be any more easily associated with the macrophage-monocyte lineage. The physiology of the ultrastructural marker is not well known. Its membrane origin has been experimentally proved since T6 antigen has been found closely associated to newly formed Birbeck granules.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The central amygdala and immobilization stress-induced gastric pathology in rats: neurotensin and dopamine.

Bilateral microinjections of neurotensin (3, 10 and 30 micrograms) into the central amygdala had a dose-related attenuating effect on cold-restraint gastric ulcers in rats. Similar inhibitory effects were also observed with intra-amygdalar dopamine (3, 10 and 30 micrograms). Pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (10 micrograms) or haloperidol (1 mg/kg), however, reversed the ulcer attenuating effect of neurotensin. The results indicate that the central amygdala is important in the mediation of the cytoprotective effects of neurotensin and dopamine.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1987

Involvement of brain transmitters in the modulation of shock-induced aggression in rats by propranolol and related drugs.

(+/-)Propranolol (1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg) exhibited a differential effect on footshock aggression (FSA) in rats. Lower doses (1 and 3 mg/kg) of the drug facilitated FSA, whereas an inhibitory effect was observed with higher doses (10 and 30 mg/kg) of the same. (+)Propranolol (30 mg/kg) and UM-272 (1 and 10 mg/kg) as well as physostigmine (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg) all produced inhibition of FSA. Similar FSA inhibitory effects were also observed with salbutamol (1 and 5 mg/kg). Pretreatment with atropine and not methylatropine attenuated the anti-aggressive effect of (+/-)propranolol (10 mg/kg) without appreciably altering the facilitatory effect (1 mg/kg) of the drug on FSA. In addition, at the anti-aggressive doses, (+/-)propranolol (10 mg/kg) and UM-272 (10 mg/kg), significantly inhibited brain cholinesterase enzyme activity when compared to saline controls. (+/-)Propranolol (10 mg/kg) also inhibited significantly the aggression induced by reserpine-apomorphine treatment. It is inferred that a central cholinergic and dopaminergic mechanism is involved in the anti-aggressive effect of (+/-)propranolol, whereas the low dose induced facilitation of affective aggression could be attributed to central beta-adrenoceptor blockade.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1987

Adrenergic modulation of gastric stress pathology in rats: a cholinergic link.

The effects of some adrenergic drugs were evaluated on cold restraint-induced gastric ulcers in rats. The beta-adrenergic antagonist, (+/-)-propranolol (1 and 10 mg/kg), as well as the beta-agonist, isoproterenol (0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg) potentiated the gastric pathology. On the other hand, the alpha-agonist, clonidine (0.5 mg/kg) attenuated and the alpha-antagonist, yohimbine (1 mg/kg) aggravated stress ulcer development. The anticholinergic agent, atropine methylnitrate (1 mg/kg), reduced both the frequency and severity of stress ulcers and also antagonized the potentiating effects of (+/-)-propranolol, isoproterenol and yohimbine. The results suggest a cholinergic role in the adrenergic modulation of gastric stress pathology.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Protein and 28S ribosomal RNA fractional turnover rates in the rat heart after abdominal aortic stenosis.

The rate of synthesis of myocardial proteins and ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) was measured during the development of cardiac hypertrophy in rats using a continuous intracardiac infusion of 14C-tyrosine and 3H-uridine in unanaesthetised animals. Cardiac overload was induced by abdominal aortic stenosis. Left ventricular weight and total myocardial RNA concentration were significantly increased on day 4 after aortic stenosis (+19% and +18% respectively). On day 8 left ventricular weight reached +52% whereas RNA concentration had not increased further (+13%). The fractional turnover rates were calculated using the specific activities of intracellular free tyrosine and free uracil nucleotides (precursors) and those of protein bound tyrosine and 28S rRNA bound uridine monophosphate (products) respectively. The fractional rate of synthesis of proteins and rRNA (expressed as percentage per day) increased from 24% to 45% for proteins and from 25% to 34% for rRNA and peaked by day 2. The RNA activity, expressed as gram of protein synthesised per day and per gram of total RNA, was unchanged on day 1 and reached a maximal value on day 2 (+107%). These results suggest that the pre-existing ribosomal RNA could be underutilized under control conditions and that the boosting of RNA transcription, associated with that of protein translation, is a complementary process rather than a prerequisite for the transition period leading to hypertrophy.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Replication and packaging of choleraphage phi 149 DNA.

The intercellular replication of the circularly permuted DNA of choleraphage phi 149 involves a concatemeric DNA structure with a size equivalent to six genome lengths. The synthesis of both monomeric and concatemeric DNAs during replication of phi 149 occurred in the cytoplasm. The concatemers served as the substrate for the synthesis of mature phage DNA, which was eventually packaged by a headful mechanism starting from a unique pac site in the concatemeric DNA. Packaging of DNA into phage heads involved binding of concatemeric DNA to the cell membrane. A scheme involving sequential packaging of five headfuls proceeding in the counterclockwise direction from the pac site is proposed. After infection under high-phosphate conditions, the concatemeric DNA intermediates were not formed, although synthesis of monomeric molecules was unaffected.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1987

Quantitative structure-activity relationship study on amsacrine derivatives.

Various biological activities of amsacrine derivatives were analyzed in relation to various physico-chemical parameters. The in vitro activity parameters like DNA-binding and cell inhibition constants were found to have significant correlations but with varying physico-chemical parameters. DNA-binding constants were found to be the function of van der Waals volume and the cell inhibition constant to be the function of the hydrophobic parameter. But the in vivo antitumor activity parameters like optimal dose administered intraperitoneally in mice injected with P388 leukemia cells and the percentage increase in life span of treated animals over that of control animals were not found to be related with any property of the molecules.

Amsacrine↗
PubMed1986

An F-derived conjugative cosmid: analysis of tra polypeptides in cosmid-infected cells.

The genes involved in the conjugational transfer of F plasmid DNA are organized into three closely linked operons spanning an overall length of approximately 33 kilobase pairs of F. The entire transfer (tra) region comprising all three operons has been cloned into the cosmid vector pHC79 by in vitro recombination and packaging techniques. The transfer-proficient chimeric cosmid pRS2405 was packaged into lambda capsids, and uv-irradiated E. coli cells were infected with these DNA-filled particles. A number of polypeptides programmed by the infecting DNA were identified as tra-specified products; a traJ90 mutation on pRS2405 resulted in the significant reduction of synthesis of all detectable pRS2405-specified tra polypeptides, with the exception of TraTp.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1986

Expression of F plasmid traT: independence of traY----Z promoter and traJ control.

We have shown, using an F-derived Tra+ cosmid in conjunction with the infected-cell translational system and a time-course study, that one of the surface exclusion genes, traT, can be expressed independently of the promoter of the traY----Z operon, PYZ, and in the absence of a normal quantity of traJ gene product. Studies with deleted derivatives of the cosmid pRS2405 confirmed this independence and also indicated that expression of traD can be independent of PYZ. We propose that the expression of traT by these deleted plasmids is directed from a traJ-independent promoter, PT, located adjacent to traT.

Bacterial Proteins↗