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Biomedical subjects

J A Barry

Publications and source records attributed to J A Barry.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Chronic stimulation accelerates functional recovery of immobilized soleus muscles of the rabbit.

Unilateral immobilization of rabbit hindlimbs was carried out for 2 weeks with an ankle angle of 90 deg. This was followed either by natural recovery for a further 2 or 4 weeks, or by chronic electrical stimulation of the soleus nerve during 2 weeks recovery using a low-frequency pattern of activation. Immobilization caused gross degeneration and functional disruption of soleus. Mean fibre area was reduced by 60% compared with unoperated controls, twitch and tetanic tensions by 90% and there was speeding of the rising phase of contraction. Natural recovery for 2 weeks had little effect; some regeneration occurred but muscle fibres remained atrophied and immature as indicated by the histochemical expression of both fast and slow myosin. Function continued to be grossly impaired, twitch and tetanic tensions were 66 and 79% reduced and the time-to-peak twitch tension 31% faster than controls. Prolonging the natural recovery period to 4 weeks increased muscle fibre area to 60% of normal, and increased the acquisition of mature staining properties but most functional characteristics remained impaired. Stimulated muscles had normal fibre areas, mature appearance and functional improvements which matched and in most cases exceeded those seen after natural recovery for 4 weeks. Thus chronic low-frequency stimulation of soleus muscles accelerates recovery of structure and function following degenerative immobilization atrophy and may represent an important therapeutic aid in patient rehabilitation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Transport of propionate by human ileal brush-border membrane vesicles.

Human ileal brush-border membrane vesicles were employed to study the mechanisms of short-chain fatty acid (propionate) absorption especially to determine the effects of intravesicular HCO3- and the component of nonionic diffusion. Preloading the vesicles with HCO3- resulted in up to 20-fold "overshoots" of transport, and this effect was not seen with other intravesicular anions. This transport process was very fast (peak uptake 6 s) and was not due to intravesicular buffering by HCO3-. Radiolabeled propionate transport demonstrated transstimulation when the vesicles were preloaded with unlabeled propionate. An inward H+ gradient led to stimulation of propionate transport much smaller than in the presence of trans-HCO3-, whereas an inward Na+ gradient had no effect. Propionate transport was attenuated by the anion exchange inhibitors SITS and DIDS. Under HCO3- gradient conditions, propionate transport exhibited saturation kinetics with an apparent Km of 21 +/- 3 mM and a Vmax of 50 +/- 3 nmol.mg protein-1.3 s-1. Propionate transport was inhibited up to 40% by 2-5 carbon short-chain fatty acids (10 mM) but not by other organic anions. Short-chain fatty acid transport in the human ileum is Na+ independent and occurs mostly via a specific anion exchange mechanism with HCO3-. Our results also demonstrate a small component of nonionic diffusion of the protonated fatty acid (or anion exchange for OH-).

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗
PubMed1990

Adenoacanthoma of the endometrium: morphological changes induced by human papillomavirus.

The observation of koilocyte-like features in the squamous epithelium of some endometrial adenoacanthomas prompted an investigation into a possible viral aetiology. These changes closely resemble those that occur in the ectocervical mucosa which are accepted as morphological evidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Sections of 87 hysterectomy specimens removed for endometrial carcinoma over 12 years, together with preoperative curettings, were reviewed for the presence of acanthomatous change and for appearances suggestive of HPV infection. The ages of the women ranged from 36 to 84 years, average age 62.6. Light microscopical examination showed koilocytosis, papillary formations, and intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions of both squamous and glandular epithelium in some tumours. Immunocytochemistry and DNA in situ hybridisation indicated the presence of HPV antigen in squamous and glandular cells, and perinuclear virus particles characteristic of HPV were seen on electron microscopical examination in those cells with nuclear inclusions. HPV probably infects endometrial adenocarcinomas directly from the cervix but it is unlikely that it has an aetiological role. It is possible, however, that in addition to being a "passenger," the virus may stimulate squamous metaplasia in some adenocarcinomas of the endometrium and may also exert some influence on their behaviour.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Characteristics of tripeptide transport in human jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles.

These studies are aimed at characterizing the transport of the tripeptide, glycylglycyl-L-proline (GlyGlyPro) across human jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles. GlyGlyPro (0.65 mM) was hydrolyzed by brush-border membrane vesicles with the extent of hydrolysis per mg protein being 23% at 0.5 min, 57% at 1 min and complete hydrolysis at 60 min. Treatment of the membrane vesicles with gel-complexed papain (to remove membrane peptidases) resulted in minimal hydrolysis of GlyGlyPro up to 10 min of incubation. Measurement of GlyGlyPro influx with papain-treated vesicles in the presence of increasing medium osmolarity showed that uptake occurred into an osmotically reactive intravesicular space. Transport of GlyGlyPro with normal and papain-treated membrane vesicles was similar in the presence of an inward Na+ or K+ gradient. No overshoot phenomenon was observed in the presence of an inward proton gradient (extravesicular pH 5.5; intravesicular pH 7.5). An interior negative membrane potential induced by a K+ diffusion potential in the presence of valinomycin stimulated the uptake of the peptide. The effect of increasing concentrations on initial rates of GlyGlyPro uptake revealed the presence of a saturable component as well as a diffusional component. Preloading the membrane vesicles with 20 mM glycylsarcosylsarcosine stimulated uptake by 4-fold. Uptake of GlyGlyPro was inhibited greater than 50% by dipeptides and tripeptides and less than 15% by free amino acids. These results indicate that GlyGlyPro uptake in jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles is not energized by a Na+ or proton gradient and that transport occurs by carrier-mediated and diffusional processes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Sodium-proton exchange in human ileal brush-border membrane vesicles.

This study examines the characteristics of Na+ and H+ transport as well as Na+-H+ exchange in human ileal brush-border membrane vesicles from organ donor intestine. 22Na+ uptake into vesicles and the fluorescence quenching of Acridine orange were employed to measure Na+ and H+ transport, respectively. Concentrative uptake of 22Na+ (4-fold overshoot above equilibrium) was observed under conditions of an outward proton gradient (pHi 5.5; pHo 7.5). Voltage-clamping (Ki+ = Ko+ + valinomycin) reduced the uptake of 22Na+ by 40-50% indicating the presence of Na+ conductance. Dissipation of the Acridine orange fluorescence quench in ileal vesicles with a preformed pH gradient (pHi 5.5; pHo 7.5) was accelerated by either external Na+ or voltage-clamping in the absence of Na+. The effects of Na+ and voltage-clamping were additive under the above conditions. In the absence of a pH gradient, Acridine orange quenching was induced by intravesicular Na+ as well as an interior negative K+ diffusion potential. In voltage-clamped BBMV, pH-driven Na+ uptake was inhibited by amiloride (Ki = 140 microM). The initial rate of pH-driven Na+ uptake was saturable and conformed to Michaelis-Menten kinetics with apparent Km and Vmax values of 27 +/- 1 mM and 47 +/- 1 nmol.(mg protein)-1.(3 s)-1, respectively. Li+ and NH4+, but not Cs+, K+, Rb+ or choline+ inhibited pH gradient-driven 22Na+ uptake. The results demonstrate in human ileal brush-border membrane vesicles the presence of an Na+/H+ exchanger and conductive transport pathways for Na+ and H+.

Amiloride↗
PubMed1989

D-glucose and L-leucine transport by human intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.

This study utilized intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles obtained from organ donor intestine to characterize the absorption of D-glucose and L-leucine in the human intestine. Both D-glucose and L-leucine were taken up by sodium gradient-dependent active transport along the entire length of the small intestine. The relative magnitude of transport for both substrates under sodium gradient conditions followed the order distal jejunum greater than proximal jejunum greater than distal ileum. The number of carrier systems in these brush-border membrane vesicles was estimated by Eadie-Hofstee plot analysis. This analysis revealed that L-leucine was actively transported via a single high-affinity transport system for the length of the human small intestine. In contrast, the transport of D-glucose occurred via a high-affinity system along the length of the intestine and via a low-affinity, high-flux transport system that was limited to the proximal intestine. Both glucose transport systems were sodium dependent and phlorizin sensitive. The locations and apparent kinetic parameters of these transport systems indicated that these systems function efficiently in vivo as important mechanisms for carbohydrate and protein assimilation in humans. The presence of these active transport systems along the entire small intestine explains the formidable capacity for carbohydrate and protein assimilation in humans.

Biological Transport, Active↗
PubMed1988

Na+ and H+ transport in human jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles.

We have examined pH gradient-driven Na+ uptake and Na+-driven H+ transport in brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from jejunal tissue obtained from organ donors by measuring the influx of 22Na and the fluorescence quenching of acridine orange (AO). Vesicle preparation by either Ca2+ or Mg2+ precipitation showed no difference in 22Na uptake or AO fluorescence quenching and dissipation. An outward H+ gradient [intravesicular pH (pHi) 5.5; extravesicular pH (pHo) 7.5] induced a Na+ uptake "overshoot" of threefold over equilibrium, whereas the absence of an H+ gradient (at either pH 5.5 or 7.5) did not produce an overshoot. Voltage clamping by Ki+ = Ko+ plus valinomycin reduced the overshoot by 50%. The initial rate of pH-driven Na+ uptake in voltage-clamped vesicles was related to [Nao+] (Km = 29 mM and Vmax = 9.5 nmol.mg protein-1.3 s-1). Amiloride inhibited this uptake in voltage-clamped vesicles (Ki = 99 microM). Dissipation of AO fluorescence quench in vesicles with a preformed internal acid gradient was hastened by Nao+ as well as voltage clamping in the absence of Na+. In vesicles without a pH gradient, internal Na+, as well as a diffusion potential (Ki+ 100; Ko+ 0 plus valinomycin) in the absence of Na+, induced AO quenching. External Na+ and Li+, but not choline, acted to dissipate AO quenching induced by a diffusion potential, and the rate of dissipation was unaffected by the presence of Cl-.Li+ and NH4+, but not Cs+, K+, Rb+, or choline+, inhibited pH gradient-driven 22Na uptake. We conclude that human jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles contain conductive pathways for both Na+ and H+ and an Na+-H+ exchanger.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed1987

Proton gradient-dependent transport of glycine in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles.

This study describes evidence for the existence of a H+/glycine symport system in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles. An inward proton gradient stimulates glycine transport across the brush-border membrane, and this H+-driven glycine uptake is attenuated by the protonophore carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. It is a positive rheogenic process, i.e. the H+-dependent glycine uptake is further enhanced by an intravesicular negative potential. Glycine uptake is stimulated to a lesser degree by an inward Na+ gradient. H+-dependent glycine uptake is inhibited by sarcosine (69%), an analog amino acid, imino acids (proline 81%, hydroxy proline 67%), and beta-alanine (31%), but not by neutral (L-leucine) or basic (L-lysine) amino acids. The results demonstrate that H+ glycine co-transport system in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles is a carrier-mediated electrogenic process and that transport is shared by imino acids and partially by beta-alanine.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1987

Transport characteristics of L-glutamate in human jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles.

Previous work using human jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles has demonstrated the existence of a distinct transport system in man for acidic amino acids. This system is energized by an inwardly directed Na+ gradient and an outwardly directed K+ gradient. These studies further characterize the transport of L-glutamate in the human jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles. Efflux studies were performed by loading the brush-border membrane vesicles with radiolabeled L-glutamate and sodium chloride. Extravesicular K+ accelerated the efflux of L-glutamate when compared to extravesicular Na+ or choline, indicating that potassium serves to recycle the carrier. Unlabeled extravesicular L-glutamate (but not D-glutamate) also enhanced the efflux of radiolabeled L-glutamate demonstrating that there is a bidirectional similarity to the transport system. The effect of pH on the transport system was also investigated by varying the intravesicular and extravesicular pH from 5.5 to 9. A pH environment of 6.5 produced the highest initial uptake rates as well as the greatest overshoots for transport of L-glutamate into brush-border membrane vesicles. The imposition of an inwardly directed pH gradient (5.5 outside, 7.5 inside) accelerated both the influx and efflux of L-glutamate. These results demonstrate that the L-glutamate carrier system in human jejunum appears to have similar energizing characteristics in either direction across the brush-border membrane. In addition, the system operates at an optimal pH of 6.5 and protonation of the system may enhance its mobility.

Biological Transport, Active↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo 31P NMR study of early cellular responses to hyperosmotic shock in cultured glioma cells.

Cell volume regulation in the face of osmotic stress is a fundamental homeostatic activity, and is most critical in brain, which is spatially constrained. Despite the importance of this phenomenon, little is known about volume regulation in the brain, primarily because of the cellular heterogeneity in the tissue. We describe here simultaneous in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of cell volume, intracellular pH and phosphate metabolites during early responses to hyperosmotic stress in C6 glioma cells perfused in NMR-compatible bioreactors. Cell volume was measured using dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) as a probe which has an intracellular NMR resonance shifted upfield from the extracellular resonance. The sensitivity of these measurements allowed 31P NMR spectra to be collected every 30 s. Following an increase in osmolarity from 320 to 480 mOsm by addition of NaCl to the perfusate, C6 glioma cells shrank to 67% of their original volume. We also observed a simultaneous increase of intracellular pH coincident with the decrease in cell volume. The signals from ATP decreased by 10%, but those from phosphocreatine (PCr) increased by 31% after hyperosmotic shock. However, correcting the ATP signals for the decrease in cell volume indicated that its intracellular concentrations increased after treatment. Signals from glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) and glycerophosphorylethanolamine (GPE) were not changed significantly. This is the first in vivo report of early cellular responses monitored by NMR spectroscopy following hyperosmotic shock in cultured cells.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of interactions at the lipid-water interface for domain formation.

The lipid-water interface is critical for the packing of lipid molecules in membranes. We have demonstrated that lateral phase separation in membranes can be driven by electrostatic interactions such as those involving charged lipid species and oppositely charged peptides, in addition to hydration effects at the lipid-water interface. By using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy we have shown that binding of a 21-amino acid peptide containing six positively charged arginine residues to mixed phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidylglycerol (PG) membranes results in a conformational change in the peptide from a random coil to a helical structure and causes the formation of domains of negatively charged PG. Binding of the peptide to PG membranes disorders the lipid hydrocarbon chains. The strength of lipid-peptide binding at the interface, the conformational change in the peptide, and domain formation with the negatively charged lipid are coupled energetically. The lipid-peptide association constant is lower for membranes containing 20 mol% PG in PC/PG mixtures than for 100% PG membranes. We suggest that one of the factors that lower the association constant in PC/PG membranes is entropic energy of formation of PG domains. Besides electrostatic interactions, hydration of lipids is important for domain formation. We have shown that dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine separate under conditions of decreased water activity. Furthermore, water activity controls lipid packing stress in the hydrocarbon core and the headgroups of membranes as demonstrated by induction of an inverse-hexagonal-to-lamellar phase transition in dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗