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Biomedical subjects

A Tani

Publications and source records attributed to A Tani.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Changes of plasma atrial and brain natriuretic peptide levels during hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hemodialysis on the plasma concentration of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides, and to determine the two-dimensional echocardiographic parameters affecting the changes of plasma atrial and brain natriuretic peptide levels in patients with chronic renal failure. BACKGROUND: Brain natriuretic peptide has been found in human cardiac tissue and increases in patients with congestive heart failure. However, the factors that stimulate the secretion of plasma brain natriuretic peptide have not yet been fully clarified. METHODS: In 15 patients with chronic renal failure, plasma atrial and brain natriuretic peptide levels and two-dimensional echocardiographic parameters were measured before and after each session of hemodialysis. RESULTS: Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels significantly decreased from 367 +/- 537 pg/mL to 138 +/- 167 pg/mL after hemodialysis (p < 0.01). However, plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels did not significantly change after hemodialysis. Left atrial dimension significantly decreased (41.1 +/- 6.6 vs. 36.3 +/- 6.2 mm, p < 0.01) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension slightly decreased after hemodialysis (57.0 +/- 10.3 vs. 55.7 +/- 9.9 mm, p < 0.05). The decrease of left atrial dimension was greater than that of left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (4.9 +/- 1.6 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.6 mm, p < 0.05). Plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels significantly correlated with fractional shortening both before and after hemodialysis (r = 0.65, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels significantly decreased as the right and left atrial overloads decreased, and plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels did not significantly decrease after hemodialysis. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels were not significantly influenced by acute hemodynamic change, such as hemodialysis. However, plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels were significantly correlated with basic cardiac function.

Adult↗

[A case of metastatic gastrinomas in the liver visualized by 111In-DTPA-D-Phe-octreotide (111In-pentetreotide)].

A 51-year-old woman with metastatic gastrinomas in the liver was intravenously injected with 80.3 MBq of 111In-DTPA-D-Phe-octreotide (111In-pentetreotide). Planar images were obtained at 4 hr, 24 hr and 48 hr after the injection. SPECT was also performed at 24 hr after the injection. Two metastatic lesions in the liver were visualized on each imaging occasion. 111In-pentetreotide imaging is useful to visualize gastrinomas.

Female↗

Ultrastructural evidence of myocardial alterations in the course of heterotopic heart transplantation.

Using a novel model of heterotopic rat heart transplantation, the present study was undertaken to evaluate whether parenchymal and microvascular alterations of the ischemic and reperfused myocardium occurred and could be related to local neutrophil infiltration. In such a model, hearts were rapidly excised from donor rats, maintained in a cold saline solution at 4 degrees C and then reimplanted in recipient animals. Muscle biopsies of the ischemic and reperfused myocardium were analysed by ultrastructural and immunohistochemical techniques. Although the cold storage of the hearts provided a good protection against the ischemic insults, reperfusion with the recipient blood caused severe myocardial cell injury and microvascular damage. In particular, the microvascular endothelium showed numerous discontinuities due to the partial destruction of endothelial cell. The altered endothelial integrity was associated with aggregation and adhesion of platelets to the luminal surface. Contrary to other models of ischemia and reperfusion, where neutrophils are considered the major source of oxygen radicals and cellular dysfunctions at reperfusion, in our samples the burst of these toxic metabolites did not originate from such cells. In fact, no neutrophils were seen to accumulate within the ischemic as well as reperfused myocardium. Accordingly, the microvascular endothelium did not express E-selectin, an adhesive molecule which is responsible for the increased adherence and emigration of neutrophils in the microvasculature.

Animals↗

Sensitivity to dexamethasone and absence of bcl-2 protein in Burkitt's lymphoma cell line (Black93) derived from a patient with acute tumor lysis syndrome: comparative study with other BL and non-BL lines.

An Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell line, designated Black93, was established in culture from a patient who developed acute tumor lysis syndrome (ATLS). Growth inhibition in vitro by dexamethasone (DXM) and the expression of bcl-2 protein (Bcl-2) were investigated in Black93 and 17 other cell lines derived from EBV-negative or -positive BL, pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and EBV-positive lymphoblastoid cell lines of normal B cell origin (B-LCL), assuming an inherent susceptibility of Black93 to cell death. The most marked growth inhibition by DXM was observed in Black93, two other BL, two pre-B-ALL and two FL lines. The other cell lines were less sensitive or were resistant. DNA extracted from the Black93 cells treated with DXM showed a ladder of oligo-nucleosomal DNA on electrophoresis. On testing of fixed smears by indirect immunofluorescence, bcl-2 protein (Bcl-2) was undetectable in Black93 and three BL lines but was detected in all the other cell lines at varying intensity. Western blot analysis showed mostly the same results. In the BL lines, the most DXM-sensitive cell lines lacked Bcl-2 expression, and the DXM-resistant cell lines always expressed Bcl-2. While none of the DXM-resistant cell lines lacked Bcl-2 expression, several pre-B or FL lines that expressed [correction of expessed] Bcl-2 were sensitive to DXM. Black93 is the first reported cell line established from a patient with ATLS. The positive sensitivity to DXM and the lack of Bcl-2 expression observed in Black93 are a major characteristic exhibited frequently by BL lines and, probably, by fresh BL cells. These properties may contribute to the precipitation of ATLS.

Acute Disease↗

[Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive NK cell line YT, and ALL/LBL of NK-lineage].

The YT cells, already known as natural killer (NK) line, were tested for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The simply maintained YT cells (YT-O) and the two different subclones showed and identical length of junctional DNA of terminal repeats in Southern blot with LMP-1 probe, indicating that the 3 had already been positive for EBV before subcloning. YT-O expressed limited amount of EBNA2 or LMP-1 mRNA, whereas the 2 subclones expressed abundant EBNA2 or LMP-1 mRNA in the Northern blot analysis with EBNA2 or LMP-1 probe. Thus, the ex vivo cells were positive for EBV, since the BL (Burkitt lymphoma) type EBV gene expression in the YT-O does not generally occur in in vitro infection. The remaining clinical record indicated that the lymphoma was extranodal (angiocentric lymphoma), involving mediastinum and liver, but not nodal or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL). Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL)/LBL of the NK-lineage has not been defined, although such neoplasms should exist. Since T- and NK-lineages are so close in immature stages of differentiation that ALL/LBL of NK may have been sorted into T-lineage. The phenotypic records of the T-ALL/LBL in our laboratory indicated that CD7+CD5+CD2- is much higher in incidence than CD7+CD5-CD2+. This may reflect the size difference of physiological populations of T- and NK-lineage cells. Furthermore, the latter is of CD45RO type in contrast to the rest of the early-thymic (pro-thymic) T-ALL/LBL groups of CD45RA type. A CD56+ case of 4 CD7+CD5-CD2+ cases have been published as a case of LBL of NK-lineage. It is necessary to scrutinize CD7+CD5-CD2+ cells in order to clarify the phenotype of neoplastic and physiological NK cells in immature stages.

Adolescent↗

Diverse properties of human t(8;14) neoplasms: [1] ATLS and absence of BCL-2 [2] modulation of RAG-1 expression with S-Ig ligation.

An EBV(-) BL (Burkitt lymphoma) line (Black93), established from a patient exhibiting glucocorticoid-induced ATLS (acute tumor lysis syndrome), was highly sensitive to dexamethazone (DX) in vitro in the studies including 18 lymphoid cell lines (10 BL lines). In the BL lines, the highly sensitive ones always lacked Bcl-2(bcl-2 protein), while the DX resistant ones expressed Bcl-2. Black93 is the first BL cell-line derived from a ATLS patient, proving that cell lines can be established in vitro from ATLS patients. Since some pre-B ALL lines expressing Bcl-2 were DX-sensitive, the relationship between Bcl-2 and DX-sensitivity is not straight-forward. In the BL cells, however, the absence of Bcl-2 appears to be responsible for the DX-sensitivity. The DX-sensitivity and the absence of Bcl-2 is a major characteristic carried by t(8;14) neoplasms. In addition, there may be a stage of B-lineage differentiation without Bcl-2. While rare BL cases have been reported to express TdT (terminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase), Tree92 is the first such line, expressing S-Ig(mu, lambda), TdT and RAG (recombination activating gene)-1. When surface mu is ligated with antibody, RAG-1 was suppressed in expression, indicating that the signal through S-Ig can modulate the expression of RAG-1 in the Tree92 cells. Chromosome translocation is known to be associated with a specific stage of differentiation. Such specific stage for t(8;14), however, is broad enough to cover S-Ig(+), TdT(+) and RAG-1(+) stage, too. The phenotypic classification of leukemia/lymphoma and the delineation of differentiation scheme of normal hematopoietic cells, are dependent on each other. The documentation of the properties such as DX-sensitivity, the absence of Bcl-2, the expression of RAG-1 and its modulation by the signal through S-Ig is an example in which the diverse properties of human t(8;14) neoplasms can contribute for delineating the differentiation scheme of normal hematopoietic cells more precisely.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

N-linked oligosaccharide of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) of C6 glioma cells: putative regulatory role in beta APP processing.

To determine the N-linked oligosaccharide structure of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP), soluble derivative of beta APP (APPs) was purified from the conditioned medium of beta APP cDNA-transfected C6 glioma cells. Two types of APPs with different molecular weight (larger APPs, L-APPs; smaller APPs, S-APPs) were obtained. The antibody against the N-terminal half of amyloid beta-protein showed no immunoreactivity with S-APPs, suggesting extensive truncation at the carboxyl terminus. From lectin blot analysis, the main structure of the N-linked oligosaccharide shared by L- and S-APPs was deduced to be of bi- or triantennary complex type with a fucosylated trimannosyl core and a bisecting GlcNAc residue. Additionally L-APPs was deduced to have Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc, Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta and Sia alpha 2-->6Gal beta structures on its outer chains. However, lectins which recognize Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta and Sia alpha 2-->6Gal beta structures showed no reactivity with S-APPs. The present results suggest that the processing of beta APP may be regulated via the heterogeneity in the fine structure of its sugar chains.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

Expression pattern of CD45 RA/RO isoformic antigens in T-lineage neoplasms.

The expression of CD45 RA/RO antigen was investigated in neoplasms including cases expressing CD7 antigen as the sole pan-T antigen (n = 8), T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)/lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) at various stages of differentiation (n = 32), peripheral stage T-lineage leukemia (n = 10) and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) (n = 14). The p56lck gene expression was also investigated in selected cases. The expression pattern of CD45 RA/RO antigen was defined as of RA, mixed, or RO type. All but one CD7+ CD5- CD2- case were of the RA type. The CD7+ CD5+ CD2- prothymic stage included seven RA and one mixed type cases. One CD7+ CD5- CD2+ case was of the RA type, but the other was of the RO type. The CD7+ CD5+ CD2+ prothymic stage included three RA and four mixed type cases. All seven CD3- CD4+ CD8+ (double-positive) thymic cases were of the RO type. The CD3+ CD4+ CD8+ (triple-positive) stage included two RO and three mixed-type cases. One CD3+ CD4+ CD8- late thymic case was of the mixed type. The peripheral stage cases included five RA, three RO, and two mixed type cases. All ATL cases were of the RO type. The expression of p56lck gene in the prothymic stage was less marked than that in the thymic stage. On the basis of these results, the following sequence of pattern of the CD45 RA/RO antigen expression along with T-lineage differentiation was reconstructed: prothymic stage [RA and mixed type]-->double-positive thymic stage [RO type]-->triple-positive thymic stage [RO and mixed type]-->peripheral stage [RA, mixed, and RO type]. While one RO-type CD7+ CD5- CD2- and one RO-type CD7+ CD5- CD2+ cases were not in accord with this sequence, the pattern of CD45 RA/RO antigen expression in most of T-lineage neoplasms could be determined by the respective stage of differentiation. The poor expression of the p56lck gene by the prothymic blasts compared with the thymic blasts may be related to the expression pattern of the CD45 RA/RO molecules, which exhibits phosphatase activity. The consistent RO-type expression in the ATL cases may reflect the activated status of the neoplastic T cells due to the presence of the HTLV-I gene. Alternatively, the target cells for HTLV-I-induced neoplastic transformation may possible be of the RO type.

Adolescent↗

Lysine-49-phospholipases A2 from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom are membrane-acting enzymes.

Basic proteins I and II (BP-I and BP-II) isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake) are isozymes of highly active Asp-49 phospholipase A2 (Asp-49-PLA2) and classified into the group Lys-49-PLA2. BP-II was found to elicit a strong contraction of guinea pig ileum, and this activity was inhibited completely by 1 microM indomethacin, an inhibitor of the arachidonate cascade. BP-II was inactive in the Ca(2+)-free medium, and p-bromphenacylated His-48-BP-II was also inactive. BP-II exhibited no binding affinity for the cells expressing PLA2 receptors. These results indicated that the contraction elicited by BP-II is due to the hydrolytic action of BP-II, liberating arachidonic acid from the ileum phospholipid biomembranes. In spite of its limited lipolytic activities (av. 0.9% of Asp-49-PLA2) against monomers and micelles of synthetic phospholipids, BP-II hydrolyzed considerably strongly the phospholipids in the artificial bilayer vesicles. Arachidonic acid released from liposomes of beta-arachidonoyl-gamma-stearoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine was determined by HPLC, and the activity of BP-II was estimated to be about 75% as compared to Asp-49-PLA2. Liposomes encapsulating carboxyfluorescein exhibited a strong dye-leakage induced by BP-II in a concentration-dependent manner, only in the Ca(2+)-containing buffer. The net result from all these observations was that BP-II, a Lys-49-PLA2, is an enzyme that hydrolyzes the membrane phospholipids. In contrast to BP-II, BP-I was found to be considerably weak in hydrolyzing membrane phospholipids, although its activities were distinct. BP-I and BP-II share a common sequence with the sole exception of Asp-67 (BP-I) and Asn-67 (BP-II) in the aligned sequences. This implies that the amino acid at position 67 of Lys-49-PLA2s is the residue required for discriminatory recognition of beta-arachidonoyl-phospholipid membranes.

Animals↗

Interaction of the fragments characteristic of bactenecin 7 with phospholipid bilayers and their antimicrobial activity.

Bactenecin 7 (Bac7), a cationic polypeptide from large granules of bovine neutrophils, exhibits antimicrobial activity mainly against Gram-negative bacteria. This peptide is characterized by high contents of Arg and Pro and by a unique sequence with an Arg-clustered region and three tandem repeats. In order to investigate the structure-function relationship of Bac7, two peptide fragments, which correspond to residues 1-17 (RRIRPRPPRLPRPRPRP, an Arg-clustered region) and 46-59 (LPFPRPGPRPIPRP, one of three tandem repeats), respectively, were synthesized. Circular dichroism (CD) measurements of the two fragments indicated that they took particular conformations, although these were not defined. These peptides can bind to acidic phospholipid bilayers without marked conformational changes. When acidic phospholipid bilayers entrapping 5,6-carboxyfluorescein were treated with the peptides, no trace of the dye leaked out, indicating that the peptides lack the ability to disrupt lipid membranes. Fragment 1-17 showed weak antimicrobial activity against several bacteria, but fragment 46-59 was almost inactive. The present results suggest that longer fragments or the entire molecule of Bac7 may be required for full expression of antimicrobial activity and that Bac7 may manifest its activity by a bacteriostatic rather than a bacteriolytic mechanism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Trace gases generated in closed plant cultivation systems and their effects on plant growth.

Interactions between plants and trace gases, especially ethylene, were investigated from two different viewpoints; ethylene is toxic for plant growth, whereas the ethylene release rate of plants can be utilized as a plant growth indicator. When lettuce plants and shiitake mushroom mycelium were cultivated in closed chambers, ethylene concentration increased with time. Ethylene was released both from lettuce plant and from shiitake mushroom mycelium. Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were detected, and these concentrations reached 3.7 ngL-1 for DOP and 2.4 ngL-1 for DBP 4 days after closing. Organic solvents such as xylene and toluene and organic siloxane were detected with GCMS. Visible injury was observed in lettuce plants cultivated in the chambers and it seemed to result from trace contaminants such as DOP, DBP, organic solvents, dimethylsiloxane polymer, and ethylene. In order to obtain basic data of ethylene evolution from plants, ethylene concentration in a closed chamber in which the plants were cultivated under a controlled environment (25 degrees C air temperature, 60-70% relative humidity, 250-300 micromoles m-2 s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD)) was measured. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Okayama) released ethylene more than Brassica rapa var. pervidis, Brassica campestris var. communis, and Brassica campestris var. narinosa. Ethylene release rate of intact lettuce plant was highly correlated with plant growth parameters such as dry weight, leaf area and photosynthetic rate. Ethylene release rates of intact lettuce plant were affected by cultivation conditions such as ambient CO2 concentration, light intensity and light/dark period. Increase in ambient ethylene level influenced lettuce growth even at the concentration of 0.1 microliter L-1. The level of ethylene inhibited leaf expansion and slightly accelerated chlorophyll degradation. It did not affect photosynthesis and transpiration, and also little affected dry matter accumulation. Thus, ethylene release characteristics were clarified and an effect of ethylene on lettuce growth was revealed. These findings are useful for determination of a threshold level of ethylene and a capacity of ethylene removal system in CELSS. On the other hand, a possibility of plant growth diagnosis by measuring ethylene concentrations was evaluated. As a result, it became clear that the measurement of ethylene concentration in CELSS is one of the useful non-destructive measurement methods for plant growth diagnosis. Further research is needed to investigate the applicability of the method to environmental stresses other than Ni and Co in nutrient solution.

Basidiomycota↗

Plant growth and gas balance in a plant and mushroom cultivation system.

In order to obtain basic data for construction of a plant cultivation system incorporating a mushroom cultivation subsystem in the CELSS, plant growth and atmospheric CO2 balance in the system were investigated. The plant growth was promoted by a high level of CO2 which resulted from the respiration of the mushroom mycelium in the system. The atmospheric CO2 concentration inside the system changed significantly due to the slight change in the net photosynthetic rate of plants and/or the respiration rate of the mushroom when the plant cultivation system combined directly with the mushroom cultivation subsystem.

Basidiomycota↗

BIG-1: a new TAG-1/F3-related member of the immunoglobulin superfamily with neurite outgrowth-promoting activity.

We have cloned a rat cDNA for a novel brain-derived immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily molecule, BIG-1, by using PCR based on the amino acid sequences of the two closely related and well-known Ig superfamily members, rat TAG-1 and mouse F3. BIG-1 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein with six Ig-like domains and four fibronectin type III repeats, belonging to the TAG-1/F3 subgroup. The expression of BIG-1 mRNA is developmentally regulated with the highest level in the adult brain. It is restricted to subsets of neurons such as Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, granule cells of the dentate gyrus, and neurons in the superficial layers of the cerebral cortex. Recombinant BIG-1 protein has a neurite outgrowth-promoting activity when used as a substrate for neurons in vitro. These results suggest that BIG-1 may be involved in the formation and maintenance of neuron type-specific networks in the brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Coding of odor molecules by mitral/tufted cells in rabbit olfactory bulb. II. Aromatic compounds.

1. Recordings of extracellular spike responses were made from single mitral/tufted cells in the ventromedial region of the main olfactory bulb of urethan-chloralose-anesthetized rabbits. Using periodic artificial inhalations, the olfactory epithelium was stimulated with series of aromatic and aliphatic compounds systematically varying in molecular conformation. 2. Analysis of response specificity of single mitral/tufted cells for alkylbenzenes indicated that the length of the hydrocarbon side chain attached to the benzene ring plays a role in determining the specificity of excitatory spike responses. 3. For a panel of isomeric (ortho-, meta-, and para-positions) disubstituted benzenes, single mitral/tufted cells tended to be activated selectively by one or two specific structural isomer(s). For a panel that contained both alkylbenzenes and disubstituted benzenes, single mitral/tufted cells were activated by subsets of odor molecules having similar conformations. These observations suggest that the overall conformation of the aromatic compounds plays an important role in determining tuning specificity of individual mitral/tufted cells. 4. For a panel of monosubstituted benzenes with various functional groups, single mitral/tufted cells in the ventromedial region tended to be activated not only by molecules having a hydrocarbon side chain (alkylbenzenes), but also by those having a methoxy group (--O--CH3), a bromine (--Br), or a chlorine (--Cl). However, most of the neurons were not activated by those having an amino group (--NH2), a hydroxy group (--OH), nor a carboxyl group (--COOH). 5. Examination with an expanded panel of stimulus odor molecules that included both aromatic and aliphatic compounds indicated that single mitral/tufted cells show excitatory spike responses to a range of odor molecules (molecular receptive range) having similar conformations. Different mitral/tufted cells in the ventromedial region typically showed different molecular receptive ranges. 6. In mitral/tufted cells with relatively high spontaneous discharges, single neurons in the ventromedial region showed inhibitory responses to subsets of odor molecules in addition to the excitatory response to other subsets of odor molecules. The odor molecules that caused inhibitory responses in single mitral/tufted cells showed molecular conformations resembling each other. 7. The present results together with previous studies indicate that determination of the molecular receptive range properties (both excitatory extent and inhibitory extent) of single mitral/tufted cells is a useful method for characterizing individual bulbar neurons. These results further support the hypothesis that conformational parameters of ligand odor molecules play a key role in sensory processing in the main olfactory bulb.

Animals↗

[Significance of amniotic fluid cytokines measurement in threatened preterm labor and premature rupture of the membranes].

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the significance of measurements of cytokines in the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid was retrieved by transabdominal amniocentesis from 113 women in the following groups: Preterm labor (N = 58), PROM (N = 21) and term elective C/S (N = 34). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), were measured with a commercially available ELISA. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured by bioassay and newly developed "luminescencer EIA". 1. Amniotic fluid concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 in cases of term elective C/S were 22.8 +/- 19.2 pg/ml, 8.1 +/- 5.2 pg/ml and 166.8 +/- 126.1 pg/ml, respectively. 2. Significantly higher levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 were found among the cases who failed to respond to tocolysis (i.e. delivery within 48 hrs of amniocentesis). In contrast, no significant difference in such conventional markers of infection as maternal serum CRP was noted. 3. According to the degree of histopathologic chorioamnionitis (Blanc), significantly higher concentrations of IL-1 beta, IL-6 were found among the of stage III cases than those in stage II irrespective of the rupture of the membranes (IL-1 beta: 1.36 +/- 0.41 ng/ml vs 76.6 +/- 20.1 pg/ml, IL-6: 31.98 +/- 4.55 ng/ml vs 5.22 +/- 0.92 ng/ml). Significant correlation was also found between the concentrations of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and the pathological degree of funitis (Nakayama, stage 0 < stage I, stage II < stage III).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abortion, Threatened↗

Increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ elicited by noradrenalin and serotonin in cultured local interneurons of mouse olfactory bulb.

Effects of noradrenalin and serotonin on cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were studied by using the fluorescent indicator fura-2 in cultured local interneurons of mouse olfactory bulb. Application of noradrenalin (0.1-100 microM) caused a rapid and concentration-dependent rise in [Ca2+]i, while isoproterenol was ineffective at concentrations up to 100 microM. The noradrenalin (1 microM)-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was completely inhibited by pretreatment with alpha 1-antagonist, prazosin (100 nM), whereas the inhibitory effect of alpha 2-antagonist, yohimbine, was about 100-times less potent. Serotonin (0.1-100 microM) also caused the dose-dependent rise in [Ca2+]i, which was inhibited by serotonin2 antagonist, ketanserin. Even in the absence of the extracellular calcium, the noradrenalin- or serotonin-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was observed. These results indicate that both noradrenalin and serotonin elicit the rise in [Ca2+]i in local interneurons of the olfactory bulb. They also suggest that the rise in [Ca2+]i is mediated by alpha 1-adrenergic and serotonin2 receptors, and that the increased calcium is mainly derived from intracellular calcium storage sites. The above results provide evidence to suggest that in the olfactory bulb, noradrenergic and serotonergic centrifugal fibers exert modulatory influences on synaptic interactions between mitral/tufted cells and local interneurons by increasing cytoplasmic Ca2+ in local interneurons.

Animals↗