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Biomedical subjects

E A Lane

Publications and source records attributed to E A Lane.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Alterations in the ability of the bovine pituitary gland to secrete gonadotropins in vitro during the first follicle-stimulating hormone increase of the estrous cycle and in response to exogenous steroids.

The objective was to determine if the endocrine status of the animal dictates the responsiveness of gonadotrophs to estradiol, activin, inhibin and follistatin; hormones implicated in the differential release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Bovine pituitaries were obtained at 13 (n=8), 30 (n=24) and 66 (n=8) h after the onset of estrus, corresponding to before, during and the end of the first FSH increase of the estrous cycle which follows the pre-ovulatory gonadotropin surge in heifers. Heifers slaughtered at 30 h received no treatment, or were treated with progesterone with or without estradiol before slaughter to suppress the first transient FSH increase. Secretion of FSH from cultured pituitary cells, reflecting the prior in vivo status, was greater (P<0.01) at 30 h than 13 or 66 h, whereas, LH secretion was less (P<0.01) at 13 h compared with 30 h. Treatment with exogenous steroids decreased (P<0.05) the pituitary gland's ability to subsequently secrete FSH and LH. Inhibin and, to a greater extent, estradiol decreased (P<0.01) mean FSH secretion but increased (P<0.05) mean LH secretion. These findings suggest that estradiol and inhibin both have the ability to differentially modulate basal gonadotropin secretion during the first FSH increase of the bovine estrous cycle. Differential regulation of LH and FSH is mediated via an alteration in gonadotropin biosynthesis and basal secretion. Furthermore, the secretory capability of cultured pituitary cells and basal gonadotropin secretion reflect the prior endocrine status of the animal from which pituitaries were obtained.

Activins↗

The effect of estradiol benzoate or a synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone used at the start of a progesterone treatment on estrous response in cattle.

The aim was to compare the estrous response in heifers given either gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or estradiol benzoate (EDB) at the start of a progesterone treatment initiated at emergence or dominance of the first or second follicular wave of the estrous cycle. Cross-bred beef heifers (n=134) were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments; 0.75 mg EDB given at insertion of a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (PRID) treatment of 10 days duration (10dE2), 0.75 mg EDB at insertion of a PRID treatment of 8 days duration with 15 mg luprostiol (PGF) a luteolytic agent, given 1 day before PRID removal (8dE2) or 250 microg GnRH at insertion of a PRID treatment of 8 days duration with 15 mg PGF given 1 day before PRID removal (8dGnRH). Treatments were initiated on Days 2, 5, 10 or 13 of the estrous cycle. Estrous detection was conducted six times daily. Twice daily blood samples were taken, from 2 days before PRID insertion until detection of estrus. The proportion of heifers detected in estrus was higher (P < 0.05) for heifers in the 8dE2 treatment group (40/40) compared with those in the 8dGnRH group (38/42) and tended to be higher (P = 0.08) than heifers in the 10dE2 group (38/41). The onset of estrus was earlier (P < 0.05) for heifers in the 10dE2 treatment group (median 41 h, range 92 h) compared with either the 8dE2 (median 49 h, range 64 h) or 8dGnRH groups (median 49 h, range 92 h). Submission rate at 72 h was higher (P < 0.01) in the 8dE2 (95%) group than for those in the 10dE2 (74%) and 8dGnRH (69%) groups. In conclusion, EDB given at PRID insertion, with PGF given 1 day before PRID removal, was more effective at synchronizing estrus than was GnRH at PRID insertion. Decreasing the length of treatment and the use of PGF 1 day before the end of an EDB and progesterone treatment improved estrous synchrony.

Animals↗

The effect of estradiol benzoate on synchrony of estrus and fertility in cattle after removal of a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device.

The aim was to determine the effect of estradiol benzoate (EDB) given after removal of a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (PRID) at either emergence or dominance of a follicle wave, on the interval to estrus, variation in its onset and pregnancy rate in heifers. Heifers (n=186) were assigned randomly to four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial design; emergence or dominance of a follicle wave at PRID removal, with or without 0.5 mg EDB 24 h after PRID removal. Ovarian ultrasonography was performed to confirm follicular status; data from heifers of undeterminable follicular status were excluded (n=36). Mean size of the largest follicle of the new wave at PRID removal was smaller (P < 0.01) in heifers given EDB at emergence (6.3 +/- 0.09 mm) compared with those given it at dominance (10.9 +/- 0.30 mm). The onset of estrus was earlier (P < 0.01) in heifers given EDB at dominance (median 42 h, range 13 h) compared with those not given EDB at dominance (median 43 h, range 42 h). The median interval to estrus was decreased (P < 0.01) in heifers given EDB at emergence (median 48 h, range 73 h) compared with those not given EDB at emergence (median 66 h, range 45 h). Variation in onset of estrus was reduced (P < 0.05) in heifers given EDB compared with those not given EDB. The pregnancy rate was not affected when EDB was given at dominance, however, it was decreased (P < 0.05) when given at emergence (23 of 40 vs 26 of 32, respectively). To determine the effect of EDB on follicular dynamics in heifers treated with EDB at emergence, heifers (n=37) were assigned to two treatments: at emergence with or without EDB and their ovaries were examined daily using ultrasonography. Follicular dynamics were not different (P > 0.05) in EDB-heifers compared with untreated controls. Mean serum estradiol was greater (P < 0.01) in EDB-treated heifers compared with controls. In conclusion, 0.5 mg EDB given 24 h after PRID removal to heifers decreased the interval to estrous onset at emergence or dominance, decreased variation in onset of estrus and decreased pregnancy rates when given at emergence of a follicle wave.

Animals↗

Safety and activity of saquinavir in HIV infection.

We evaluated saquinavir, an orally active, selective inhibitor of HIV proteinase, in a randomised, double-blind, dose-ranging study in 49 zidovudine-naive HIV-positive patients with few or no symptoms and CD4 cell counts of 500 or less. The study was designed to assess the antiviral activity and tolerability of saquinavir. Patients were randomised to receive 25, 75, 200, or 600 mg of saquinavir three times daily for 16 weeks. No serious adverse events occurred. CD4 cell counts showed a trend indicative of a dose response in favour of the 600 mg dosage, the maximum increase being seen around week 4. In none of the 8 patients with positive plasma viraemia at baseline did cultures become negative after treatment; peripheral blood mononuclear cell and plasma-viral load by culture and DNA and RNA PCR all showed a trend towards reduction at higher doses of saquinovir. Saquinavir was well tolerated in this group of previously untreated patients with few or no symptoms; this study shows that an HIV-proteinase inhibitor is active in HIV-infected patients.

CD4 Lymphocyte Count↗

Renal function and the disposition of antidepressants and their metabolites.

Reports of plasma concentrations of antidepressants and their metabolites in patients with reduced renal function have been reviewed. The consequences of alteration of various pharmacokinetic factors on drug and metabolite concentrations have been compared with the observed data. Concentrations of drugs that are more than 95 percent metabolized are not altered by decreased renal function. Concentrations of drugs that are mostly excreted unchanged in urine are greatly increased in patients with reduced renal function. Concentrations of metabolites that account for 10 percent or more of the dose of a parent drug in urine are usually increased. In general, the observations can be explained without hypothesizing an effect of reduced renal function on clearance by metabolism.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Acute noradrenergic effects of desipramine in depression.

As a probe of the noradrenergic system in depression, single oral doses of the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine (100 mg) and placebo were administered to unipolar and bipolar depressed patients and healthy volunteers. Plasma concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) were determined 2-3 hours after dosing, with subjects in supine and upright positions. On the placebo day plasma NE was low in a subset of bipolar patients; both groups of depressives demonstrated an exaggerated increase in plasma NE upon standing. After desipramine dosing, the orthostatic procedure resulted in even greater relative increments in plasma NE in both patient groups, with no change in volunteers. These data are consistent with noradrenergic dysregulation in depression.

Administration, Oral↗

Characterization and purification of a secreted plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1 in normal rat kidney (NRK) cells: decreased PAI-1 expression in transformed NRK cells.

Type 1 transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta 1) was found to be a potent inducer of the secretion of a 49,000 mol wt protein by normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. This protein was related to type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) on the basis of molecular mass, activity in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, immunoprecipitation by antibodies to PAI-1, and N-terminal sequence analysis. PAI-1 levels in the conditioned medium of NRK cells were increased 5- to 11-fold when cells were incubated with picomolar concentrations of TGF beta 1 for 24 h, reaching a concentration of approximately 0.3 microgram/ml. The secreted PAI-1 was deposited in the NRK extracellular matrix as well as released into the culture medium. A spontaneously transformed NRK cell line was found to secrete 3-4 times less PAI-1, in the absence or presence of TGF beta 1, compared to the parent cell line, while PAI-1 secretion in Kirsten sarcoma virus-transformed NRK cells was almost completely abrogated. A novel purification procedure was established, which results in the isolation of highly active and detergent-free TGF beta 1-induced PAI-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Growth stimulation, altered regulation of epidermal growth factor receptors, and autocrine transformation of spontaneously transformed normal rat kidney cells by transforming growth factor beta.

The tumorigenic NRK-PT14 cell line requires exogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF), but has lost the requirement for transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) for anchorage-independent growth, compared to normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. Development of an optimized serum-free medium for the growth of these cells revealed that NRK-PT14 cells also exhibit a qualitatively altered sensitivity to exogenous type 1 TGF-beta, compared to NRK cells. EGF-induced serum-free monolayer growth of NRK-PT14 cells was stimulated 2-fold by TGF-beta under conditions where growth of NRK cells was inhibited by 67%. TGF-beta only stimulated the growth of NRK-PT14 cells when EGF was present and when EGF was added before TGF-beta. In addition, the stimulation of EGF-induced NRK-PT14 cell growth by TGF-beta was associated with a specific, reversible loss of the high-affinity subpopulation of EGF receptors from the surface of these cells. Treatment of NRK cells with TGF-beta resulted in an increase in this EGF receptor population. Finally, EGF-induced anchorage-independent growth of NRK-PT14 cells was shown to be dependent on secreted TGF-beta, demonstrating an autocrine role for TGF-beta in the transformed phenotype of these cells. Autocrine transformation of NRK-PT14 cells by TGF-beta may result directly from the acquisition of an altered (positive) sensitivity to this growth factor.

Animals↗

Effective pharmacotherapy of alcoholic amnestic disorder with fluvoxamine. Preliminary findings.

Ten patients with alcoholic chronic organic brain disease were categorized as having alcohol amnestic disorder, or Korsakoff's psychosis (n = 6), dementia associated with alcoholism (n = 3), or compensated alcoholic liver disease (n = 1). All patients had severe deficits in memory for recently acquired information (episodic memory). Patients with alcohol dementia also showed global intellectual decline, including decreased performance on measures of semantic (knowledge) memory and reduction in levels of cerebrospinal fluid somatostatin. In a 4-week double-blind crossover design, the serotonin-uptake blocker fluvoxamine maleate (100 to 200 mg/d) was found to improve episodic memory in only the patients with alcohol amnestic disorder. These improvements in memory were significantly correlated with reductions in levels of cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, suggesting that facilitation of serotonergic neurotransmission may ameliorate the episodic memory failure in patients with alcohol amnestic disorder.

Aged↗

Acetylation phenotype in abstinent alcoholics.

No association between acetylation phenotype and alcoholism was discovered. Fifty-four percent of both the alcoholic patients and healthy volunteers were rapid acetylators. Acetylation phenotyping is not helpful to the investigation of the genetics of alcoholism.

Acetylation↗

Alcohol intoxication reduces visual sustained attention.

Effects of alcohol intoxication on visual sustained attention were studied using a vigilance task entailing detection of degraded target stimuli. Data were obtained in separate sessions under four ethanol doses, ranging from 0 (placebo) to 1.05 g/kg lean body weight, with periodic maintenance dosing of 0.12 g/kg. Intoxication lowered the overall level of detection performance, and in addition produced dose-related increases in the rate of performance decrement over time. Analysis of performance data using techniques derived from Signal Detection Theory indicated that the decrements were due specifically to alterations in perceptual sensitivity. Examination of eye movements and blinks indicated that the effects of ethanol were not mediated peripherally. Rather, alcohol appears to have deleterious effects on central processing capacity and the availability of capacity over time. The alcohol-related failure of sustained attention may contribute to increased accident risk in tasks requiring continuous performance.

Adult↗

The aminopyrine breath test for the evaluation of liver function in alcoholic patients: drug pharmacokinetics and environmental factors.

Drug pharmacokinetics and environmental factors contribute to the selection of an ideal drug substrate for the determination of liver function via the carbon dioxide breath test. An ideal drug should be rapidly absorbed, and have an hepatic extraction ratio between 0.2 and 0.5. Its metabolism should not be induced by ethanol or be affected by cigarette smoking. The relative promise of caffeine and methacetin are compared to aminopyrine.

Acetamides↗

Acute effects of ethanol on motor performance and movement-related brain potentials.

The acute effects of ethanol on skilled motor functions were examined in male social drinkers, under four doses ranging from 0 (placebo) to 1.05 g/kg lean body weight. The movement entailed a forewarned choice transitive motion of the arm and hand, aimed at a flanking target. Performance measures disclosed only small effects of ethanol on speed and accuracy of movement. The simultaneously-recorded movement-related brain potentials disclosed decreased involvement of frontal and posterior brain areas, suggesting that ethanol disrupted the planning and regulation of movement despite the overall preservation of reaction speed.

Contingent Negative Variation↗

Acute and chronic effects of desipramine administration to rhesus monkeys.

Rhesus monkeys were studied for changes in noradrenergic functioning before and after chronic oral administration (28 days) of the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine (DMI). Decreases in cerebrospinal fluid concentration of the norepinephrine metabolite MHPG were evident following the first dose (5.0 mg/kg) of DMI, but not after chronic administration of the drug. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine reduced plasma norepinephrine prior to DMI treatment, but not after 28 days of treatment with DMI. These adaptive changes in noradrenergic function were evident in spite of very low plasma levels of DMI due to rapid metabolism of the drug in the rhesus monkey. The development of changes compatible with alpha 2-adrenoceptor subsensitivity in the presence of plasma levels of the drug that are well below those considered therapeutic in the treatment of depression suggests that such a receptor change may be dissociated from the drug's antidepressant effect.

Animals↗

Drug pharmacokinetics and the carbon dioxide breath test.

The interrelationship of the pharmacokinetics of a drug and the expiration of carbon dioxide formed as a metabolite have been studied. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of the drug that affect the usefulness of the carbon dioxide excretion as a measure of liver function were examined by means of computer simulations. The parent drug extraction ratio, fraction demethylated, volume of distribution, and absorption rate of an oral dosage form all contribute to the carbon dioxide breath test result. A drug that would be a useful substrate when the carbon dioxide breath test is used as a probe for changes in liver function should be at least 50% metabolized by demethylation, have a hepatic extraction ratio of 0.2-0.5, and be administered in a form that is rapidly absorbed.

Aminopyrine↗

Clinical studies on norepinephrine metabolism: how to interpret the numbers.

Metabolism, synthesis rates, and pharmacokinetics of major metabolites of endogenous norepinephrine were investigated in 38 drug-free depressed patients receiving a low monoamine diet on a closed ward. In a group of 21 patients, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl-glycol (MHPG) correlated positively, but not significantly. In two groups of eight patients each, effects of desipramine and zimelidine on the central production rate of MHPG were examined using CSF and urine data. Both desipramine and zimelidine significantly reduced the central production rate of MHPG.

Adult↗

Reinterpretation of the pharmacokinetic mechanism of oral benzodiazepine ethanol interaction.

Previously published studies investigating the oral benzodiazepine ethanol interaction have utilized a single dose of ethanol, a single dose of oral benzodiazepine, and measured plasma benzodiazepine concentration over varying time periods. Most studies reported an increase or no change in benzodiazepine plasma concentrations following ethanol administration, which the investigators usually ascribed to an ethanol-induced increase in the benzodiazepine absorption rate constant. However, ethanol decreases the hepatic clearance of benzodiazepines that are biotransformed via the P450 enzyme system and this effect was not taken into account in evaluation of the results of these studies. Computer simulations have been used to investigate possible mechanisms of the oral benzodiazepine-ethanol interaction. The effects of a constant or transient decrease in clearance and an increase in absorption rate constant upon maximum concentration, time of maximum concentration, and area under the benzodiazepine plasma concentration curve (AUC) have been examined. A transient 75% decrease in benzodiazepine clearance resulted in a 13.6% increase in AUC (0-36 hr), a 3.4% increase in Cmax and a 5.7% increase in tmax. These changes are qualitatively consistent with, but quantitatively shy, of those observed in most studies. Consequently, an effect of ethanol upon benzodiazepine absorption must still be considered.

Absorption↗

Induction of anchorage-independent growth by epidermal growth factor and altered sensitivity to type beta transforming growth factor in partially transformed rat kidney cells.

A partially transformed cell line (NRK-PT14) was isolated from normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. Like NRK cells, NRK-PT14 cells required epidermal growth factor for anchorage-independent growth, but lost the additional requirement for exogenous type beta transforming growth factor (TGF-beta). Compared to NRK cells, NRK-PT14 cells did not secrete elevated levels of TGF-beta, but exhibited an altered response to this growth factor. Monolayer growth of NRK cells in a serum-free medium was inhibited by TGF-beta, whereas growth of NRK-PT14 cells was stimulated by TGF-beta. In addition, TGF-beta stimulated epidermal growth factor binding to high affinity sites in NRK cells, but decreased epidermal growth factor binding to NRK-PT14 cells during growth of the cells in serum-free medium. These qualitative changes in the response to TGF-beta may be representative of an intermediate stage in the spontaneous transformation of NRK cells.

Animals↗