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Biomedical subjects

D A Heath

Publications and source records attributed to D A Heath.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Binding characteristics of 125I-labelled human FSH to granulosa cells from Booroola ewes which were homozygous, heterozygous or non-carriers of a major gene(s) influencing their ovulation rate.

At 37 degrees C 125I-labelled human (h) FSH (NIAMDD-hFSH-I-3) bound rapidly to granulosa cells from Booroola and Romney ewes with 50% maximum binding achieved after 3 min and equilibrium being reached within 45 min, irrespective of whether the cells were obtained from the FF, F+ or ++ Booroola genotypes or from Romney ewes. Binding of 125I-labelled FSH followed second order kinetics and there was no effect of follicle diameter (1-2.5 mm vs greater than or equal to 3 mm). Irrespective of breed, genotype or follicle size, the mean (+/- s.e.m.) calculated association rate constant, (ka) was 7.3 (+/- 0.8) x 10(5) litres mol-1 sec-1 (n = 12). Dissociation of receptor bound 125I-labelled hFSH was less than 5% after 30 min and low but variable (i.e. between 0 and 30%) after 2-6 h irrespective of breed, genotype or follicle size. No gene-specific differences were noted in binding specificity between F+ and ++ genotypes: studies were not performed with cells from FF ewes because of insufficient cells. The binding of 125I-labelled hFSH could be displaced with sheep FSH (NIH-FSH-S16; 10% cross-reaction) and FSH-P (2.5% cross-reaction) but other sheep pituitary hormones and hCG showed little or no cross-reaction (less than or equal to 0.1%). The calculated binding capacities (Bmax) and equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) for 125I-labelled hFSH binding to granulosa cells did not differ between the Booroola genotypes or between Booroola or Romney follicles of different diameter (i.e. 1-2.5 mm; or greater than or equal to 3 mm). The overall mean +/- s.e.m. (n = 24) Bmax and Kd values were 16.7 +/- 0.8 fm/mg protein (i.e. approximately 800 available receptor binding sites/cell) and 1.1 +/- 0.1 nM respectively. Collectively, these findings suggest that the earlier maturation of follicles in FF or F+ ewes compared to ++ ewes is unlikely to be due to gene-specific differences in the FSH binding characteristics of the granulosa cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Multiple forms of parathyroid hormone-like proteins in a human tumour.

The extensive chromatographic characterization of four parathyroid hormone (PTH)-like proteins in a human bronchial carcinoid tumour associated with humoral hypercalcaemia and severe osteitis fibrosa is described. PTH-like bioactivity was detected in acetic acid extracts of the tumour using an in-vitro osteo-sarcoma cell bioassay. The active tumour proteins were positively charged at physiological pH and had apparent Mr of approximately 29,000, 16,000, 4000-9000 and less than 4000. The proteins were immunologically distinct from PTH, but each stimulated PTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase in cultured osteoblastic cells. There was no evidence of PTH gene expression by the tumour. These proteins represent different molecular forms of PTH-related protein.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1989

Adenosine 3',5-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity in granulosa cells from Booroola x Romney ewes with and without the F gene.

Granulosa cells from ovarian follicles (greater than or equal to 1 mm diameter) in Booroola ewes which are homozygous (FF) or heterozygous (F+) for the F gene have previously been shown to produce significantly more cAMP in response to FSH or LH than those from similar sized follicles in ewes without the F gene (++). The aim of these studies was to test whether these F gene-specific differences arose because of differences in cAMP-phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE) activity. In the first study using 1 mumol cAMP/l as substrate, no F gene-specific effects were noted in cAMP-PDE activity in granulosa cells from small (1-2.5 mm diameter, n = 4 per genotype) or large (greater than or equal to 3 mm diameter, n = 4 per genotype) follicles from FF, F+ or ++ ewes, despite F gene-specific effects in FSH (1 microgram/ml)- and LH (0.1 microgram/ml)-induced cAMP accumulation in these same cell preparations. The overall mean levels of cAMP-PDE across all genotypes in cells from small and large follicles were 0.47 +/- 0.04 (S.E.M., n = 12) and 0.28 +/- 0.03 pmol cAMP/10(6) cells per min respectively; the mean PDE activity in cells from small follicles was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher compared with that in cells from large follicles. In a second study, granulosa cells from each genotype were pooled over all follicle sizes (greater than or equal to 1 mm diameter, one pool per genotype) and the rates of cAMP hydrolysis tested over a range of substrate concentrations (0-16 mumol/l) but no gene-specific differences with respect to the Michaelis constant and maximum velocity were noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1989

Parathyroid hormone-related proteins in cultured epithelial cells.

The distribution and molecular characteristics of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) in conditioned media and cell extracts of cultured human keratinocytes, and in media from a variety of both normal and transformed epithelial and non-epithelial cell cultures were studied. PTH-rP of Mr 20,000 was observed in keratinocyte-conditioned media, and a larger form, Mr 29,000, in the keratinocyte cell extract. PTH-like bioactivity was also detected in media from 12 out of 17 epithelial cell cultures, but was not present in media from 14 cell cultures of non-epithelial origin. The molecular size of the PTH-like protein present in the epithelial cell media was approximately 20,000, corresponding with the PTH-rP in keratinocyte-conditioned medium. These observations may explain why hypercalcaemia is most commonly associated with tumours of epithelial origin.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1989

Primary hyperparathyroidism. Clinical presentation and factors influencing clinical management.

Primary hyperparathyroidism becomes increasingly common with age and affects females four times more commonly than males. We now know that the majority of patients are asymptomatic of the disease and the commonest symptoms are fatigue and lethargy. Because of these facts, it is now appropriate to consider conservative management of primary hyperparathyroidism in the older patient who is asymptomatic or who has only mild symptoms. Further studies are indicated to ascertain whether such a conservative policy is correct.

Bone Diseases↗
PubMed1989

Performance and diagnostic application of a two-site immunoradiometric assay for parathyrin in serum.

The "N-tact" immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) from INCSTAR for parathyrin (PTH) in serum involves a 125I-labeled affinity-purified antiserum to PTH 1-34 and an affinity-purified antiserum to PTH 39-84, the latter bound to a polystyrene bead. The mean detection limit, determined in six consecutive assays, was 4 ng/L. The within-batch CV was less than 7% in the range 15 to 2135 ng/L. The between-batch CV was 11.7% and 5.3% at 30 and 371 ng/L, respectively. Serum PTH in 14 proven cases of primary hyperparathyroidism was 49-808 (median 111) ng/L, undetectable (less than 5 ng/L) in 10 cases of primary hypoparathyroidism and in 10 cases of hypercalcemia associated with malignancy, compared with 7-39 ng/L in 45 normal subjects. PTH was 9 to 19 ng/L in four patients with familial benign hypercalcemia. In 39 patients with renal failure, apparent concentrations were 14 to 857 (median 133) ng/L, but sera from these patients pre-diluted with zero standard did not parallel dilutions of the standard, PTH 1-84. PTH concentrations were not significantly decreased in blood or serum kept at 20 degrees C for up to 6 h. After successful removal of a parathyroid adenoma, the mean half-time for disappearance of PTH in vivo in five hyperparathyroid patients was 3.3 min.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Mapping of ophthalmic lens distortions with a pinhole camera.

Ophthalmic lenses are produced in a variety of forms each having unique effects upon visual space. The foundation for evaluating visual space distortion associated with ophthalmic lenses is an understanding of the optical input to the visual system. We developed a photographic technique to evaluate the effects of ophthalmic lenses on optical imagery. This technique uses a pinhole camera and an associated lens holder to simulate the eye-lens relation and provide an eye-referenced view of optical space. A rectilinear grid was photographed through Varilux progressive addition lenses (PAL's) and with no lenses in place. Comparison of these photographs provides a measure of relative optical space distortion that should closely approximate relative visual distortion under similar viewing conditions. Our technique provides an optical baseline with which more in depth studies of space perception and adaptation may be compared.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Hypomagnesaemia causing myopathy and hypocalcaemia in an alcoholic.

A well-nourished alcoholic patient developed a subacute myopathy which responded rapidly to correction of severe hypomagnesaemia. The finding of profound hypocalcaemia prompted the measurement of serum magnesium. Magnesium deficiency should be looked for in any alcoholic patient with a myopathy as the prognosis seems better than in many other forms of alcoholic myopathy. Correction of the magnesium deficiency corrects the hypocalcaemia without the need for calcium supplementation.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Disappearing hypercalcaemia.

Four women presented with symptomatic hypercalcaemia and raised concentrations of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH). In each case, serum calcium returned spontaneously to normal. In two patients serum PTH also fell to the normal range and biochemical relapse has not occurred despite prolonged follow-up. In the others, serum PTH remained elevated and subsequent symptomatic hypercalcaemia necessitated parathyroidectomy. In the first two cases, autoparathyroidectomy is the most likely explanation; the initial fall in serum calcium in the other two patients is unexplained. Large fluctuations in serum calcium may occur in some patients with hyperparathyroidism and prolonged and careful observation is required when this occurs.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Ovarian follicular activity in Booroola lambs with and without a fecundity gene.

The ovaries of 3-month-old Booroola lambs which were heterozygous carriers of a major gene (F) influencing the ovulation rate in mature ewes (i.e. F + lambs) were compared to those ofsimilarly-aged Booroola lambs which were non-carriers of the F-gene (i.e. ++ lambs). The ovaries of the F + Booroola lambs were significantly lighter (P less than 0.01) than those of ++ lambs even though the mean +/- s.e.m. number of follicles (greater than or equal to 1 mm diam.) in the F + lambs was greater than that in the ++ lambs (i.e. F + lambs, 30.2 +/- 2.5 follicles; ++ lambs, 18.4 +/- 1.2 follicles; P less than 0.01). In granulosa cells from non-atretic follicles (greater than or equal to 1 mm diam.) from F + and ++ Booroola lambs, FSH (NIAMDD-FSH-S16) doses of 100 and 1000 ng/ml caused significant stepwise increases (P less than 0.05) in cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) production compared to that achieved at FSH doses of 0 and 1 ng/ml or at any FSH dose in cells from atretic follicles. However, no significant differences in FSH-induced cAMP production were noted with regard to Booroola genotype or follicular diameter. None of the granulosa cell preparations from non-atretic follicles of 1-2.5 mm diameter from F + lambs (N = 13) or from non-atretic follicles of 1-4.5 mm diameter from ++ lambs (N = 16) responded to LH (NIAMDD-LH-S24; 10 or 1000 ng/ml) to produce significantly more cAMP than did the controls. In contrast, the granulosa cell preparations from non-atretic follicles of 3-4.5 mm diameter from F + lambs (N = 4) and from non-atretic follicles of greater than or equal to 5 mm diameter of ++ lambs (N = 4) produced significantly more cAMP (P less than 0.05) in response to LH (1000 and/or 10 ng/ml) relative to that in the controls. The theca interna from follicles of lambs of both genotypes had functional LH receptors as judged by the androstenedione responses to exogenous LH although no genotypic differences were noted. In F + lambs, the follicular fluid concentrations of testosterone but not oestradiol (i.e. in 1-4.5 mm diam. follicles) and granulosa cell aromatase activity (i.e. in 3-3.5 mm diam. follicles) were significantly higher (both P less than 0.05) than in corresponding follicles or cells from ++ lambs. Collectively the results suggest that the Booroola F-gene influences the composition and function of sheep ovaries before puberty.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Influence of follicular health on the steroidogenic and morphological characteristics of bovine granulosa cells in vitro.

In 24-h cultures, steroid production by cells from non-atretic follicles increased with increasing follicular diameter. Cells from atretic follicles, of all sizes, produced low amounts of oestradiol-17 beta, but very high amounts of progesterone, relative to cells from non-atretic follicles. Increasing the culture period to 72 h caused little change in daily progesterone and oestradiol-17 beta production by granulosa cells from atretic follicles. In contrast, in cells from non-atretic follicles, daily progesterone production increased and daily oestradiol-17 beta production decreased to the levels observed with cells from atretic follicles. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1.0 mM) significantly stimulated progesterone production by cells from atretic, but not from non-atretic, follicles. Testosterone (1 microgram/ml) had no effect on progesterone production by cells from atretic follicles, while oestradiol-17 beta, oestrone, testosterone, androstenedione and 5 alpha-dihydro-testosterone (0-1000 ng/ml) each significantly suppressed progesterone production by cells from non-atretic follicles in a dose-dependent manner. Morphometric analysis revealed few subcellular differences between cells from non-atretic and atretic follicles. Mean cell volume was significantly higher for cells from atretic compared to non-atretic follicles, but the mean volumes of the major subcellular components were not influenced by follicle health. The mean surface area of the plasma and nuclear membrane, and granular endoplasmic reticulum was also significantly higher in cells from atretic compared to non-atretic follicles.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Differences in gonadotrophin-stimulated cyclic AMP production by granulosa cells from booroola x merino ewes which were homozygous, heterozygous or non-carriers of a fecundity gene influencing their ovulation rate.

Granulosa cells from follicles of different sizes from Booroola x Merino ewes which were homozygous (FF), heterozygous (F+) or non-carriers(++) of a fecundity gene were obtained 0-48 h after cloprostenol injection on Day 10 of the oestrous cycle. The highest mean amounts of cAMP produced by the cells did not differ between the genotypes. However, in the ++ ewes it was attained by cells from follicles greater than or equal to 5 mm in diameter, whereas in F+ and FF ewes it was attained by cells from follicles 3-4.5 mm in diameter. Cells from 1-2.5-mm diameter follicles of FF ewes were more sensitive to FSH and LH than were corresponding cells from F+ or ++ ewes. Granulosa cells from greater than or equal to 5 mm diameter follicles of ++ ewes 12-24 h after injection of cloprostenol had a lower mean response to FSH and LH than did cells obtained 0-6 or 36-48 h after cloprostenol. No such effect of time was evident for cells from any size of follicles obtained from F+ or FF ewes. In 1-2.5-mm diameter follicles, the mean aromatase activity of granulosa cells from ++ and F+ ewes was similar, but significantly lower than that of cells from FF ewes. In 3-4.5 mm diameter follicles, the mean aromatase activity of cells from F+ and FF ewes was similar, and significantly higher than that of cells from ++ ewes. For all 3 genotypes, there was a significant positive relationship between FSH or LH stimulation of granulosa cell cAMP production and cellular aromatase activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Studies of the parathyroid hormone gene in normal subjects, and in subjects with primary hyperparathyroidism and familial benign hypercalcaemia.

Familial benign hypercalcaemia (FBH) closely resembles primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) both clinically and biochemically. Using a cDNA probe for the parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene we have studied restriction fragment length polymorphisms in normal British subjects and have shown them to be similar to those found in previous studies in a German population. The pattern of inheritance of these restriction fragment length polymorphisms in a family with FBH shows that the PTH gene is not involved in the pathogenesis of the condition. Limited studies in PHPT indicate that it is unlikely that a major structural defect or rearrangement is responsible for the sporadic form of the disease.

Alleles↗