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Biomedical subjects

C M Gary-Bobo

Publications and source records attributed to C M Gary-Bobo.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of mucosal lanthanum on electrical parameters of isolated frog skin. Mechanism of action.

The effect of mucosal La3+ on electrical parameters of isolated frog skins was studied on isolated frog skins with normally polarized or depolarized apical membrane. La3+ increases R8, the paracellular or shunt resistance and diminishes RNa, the resistance of the active sodium path, in both polarized and depolarized skins. The stimulatory effect of La3+ on short-circuit current (Is.c.) is correlated with this decrease in RNa. The characteristics of the stimulatory effect are: very rapid onset, ionic strength dependency, the possibility of being elicited by many other ions besides La3+. These features allow us to postulate that La3+ might affect the external interfacial potential which in turn affects the resistance of the sodium path.

Animals

Anion diffusion selectivity in a pore model. The phosphatidylcholine-water lamellar phase.

The diffusion coefficients D(cm2.s-1) of the sodium salts of a series of hydrophilic mono- and dicarboxylic acids, have been measured in the hydrophilic layers of phosphatidylcholine-water lamellar phases, as a function of phase hydration. At pH 9.0, the diffusion rates of the anionic (RCOO-) form of the acid exhibit a prominent increase within a narrow range of water content, specific to each anion. This high diffusion rate seems to occur when the Stokes diameter of an anion is equal to the thickness of the aqueous layer between the two planes formed by the quaternary ammonium groups of the choline phosphate dipoles of two facing layers of phosphatidylcholine molecules. This phenomenon demonstrates the importance of the spatial organization of successive binding sites in the rate constant of diffusional processes in hydrophilic channels.

Anions

Cation diffusion selectivity in a pore model. The phosphatidylcholine/water lamellar phase.

The diffusion coefficients D (cm2/s), of four monovalent cations K+, Na+, Rb+ and Cs+ and of Ca2+ have been measured in phosphatidylcholine/water lamellar phase as a function of phase hydration and temperature and in the presence of divalent cations. Diffusion rates vary strongly with phase hydration, between 10(-7) and 10(-6) cm2/s for monovalent and 10(-8) and 10(-7) for Ca2+. The activation energies obtained are relatively small (5--10 kcal/mol). As the phase water content increases, a series of diffusion sequences is obtained, corresponding to the sequences predicted by Eisenman's theory of alkali ion equilibrium selectivity. This diffusional selectivity, which depends exclusively upon non-equilibrium parameters (mobility) within the hydrophilic path is discussed in respect to current theories of pore selectivity.

Cations

Influence of membrane polarization and hormonal stimulation on the action of lanthanum on frog skin sodium permeability.

The effect of mucosal La3+ on short-circuit current (s.c.c.) has been studied on isolated frog skins with normaly polarized or depolarized apical membrane. With skins in "polarized condition", La3+ stimulates transiently the s.c.c. and after a long-lasting presence on the mucosal side (1 h) attenuates significantly the stimulation promoted by oxytocin. With skins in "depolarized conditions", lanthanum stimulates permanently the s.c.c. and does not modifying the oxytocin effect, even over long period of continuous stimulation. In contrast, an inhibitory action of mucosal La3+ develops, when skins submitted to repetitive hormonal stimulation are forced to oscillate from the stimulated to the normal resting state. The significance of this particular mode of action is discussed in terms of a possible electrical potential variation of apical membrane during oxytocin stimulation.

Animals

Fatty acids diffusion in lecithin multilayers: hydration and PH effects.

The diffusion of the sodium salt of monocarboxylic fatty acids, from formate to stearate, has been studied as a function of water content and pH in lecithin--water lamellar phases. Evolution of the diffusion coefficients with increasing chain length reflects the different localizations of fatty acids in the system. From formate to butyrate, which are mainly restricted to the hydrophilic layer of the phase, diffusion rates decrease rapidly. From butyrate to stearate, fatty acids (anchored at the hydrophilic--lipophilic interface) undergo lateral diffusion and then the decrease of D with increasing chain length is much slower. The diffusion of stereate is already comparable to the diffusion of the lecithin molecule itself. The diffusion rates strongly depend upon phase hydration and pH: it is shown that both parameters control the fatty acid ionization. The variations in diffusion rates observed may be ascribed to the fact that, depending upon their state of ionization, fatty acids assume a different localization and therefore experience different interactions in the lamellar system.

Biological Transport

An ESR study of the anchoring of spin-labeled stearic acid in lecithin multilayers.

In egg lecithin-water lamellar phases, spin-labeled stearic acid gives two superimposed ESR spectra which are only well resolved when the temperature is greater than 30 degrees C. These two spectral components are attributed to the dissociated and non-dissociated forms of the fatty acid carboxylic group, anchored at two different positions in the polar interface constituted by the hydrated lipid polar heads. Results on such interactions of other functional groups (spin-labeled fatty ester and fatty alcohol) are also presented.

Binding Sites