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Biomedical subjects

L G Jones

Publications and source records attributed to L G Jones.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Endothelin stimulates multiple responses in isolated adult ventricular cardiac myocytes.

We have examined the responses to endothelin (ET) in isolated adult cardiac myocytes from both rodent and feline species to assess whether endothelin may have a role in the induction or mediation of cardiac hypertrophy in the adult animal. We have evidence that ET acts by more than one mechanism to promote cell-signaling events believed important in growth regulation. In isolated adult cardiac ventricular myocytes labeled overnight with [3H]inositol, endothelin (ET) promoted a two- to fourfold increase in the accumulation of inositol polyphosphates in a dose-dependent manner with an half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of approximately 5 nM. In contrast, picomolar concentrations of ET promoted an increase in both the extent and velocity of sarcomere shortening in electrically stimulated myocytes. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin had no effect on the ET-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, but blocked the ET-stimulated positive inotropic effect. In addition to these early responses to ET, results obtained by Northern blot analysis demonstrate that exposure of isolated cardiac myocytes to 100 nM ET promoted the expression of c-fos and c-zif in both mammalian species. These data demonstrate that ET stimulates multiple cell-signaling pathways in adult mammalian cardiac myocytes. A paracrine mechanism of regulation of adult myocardium is suggested.

Animals

Further observations on ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

The effect of hepatic granulomas initiated by eggs of Schistosoma mansoni on the ultrastructure of hepatocytes of murine hosts was studied. Specimens of infected livers were collected at half week intervals, starting at week 7 postinfection and terminating at week 9 postinfection. Only the hepatocytes adjacent to granulomas showed any alteration in structure. The most obvious change was the proliferation of smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, especially striking in samples collected 8 1/2 and 9 weeks postinfection. The hypothesis was presented that the material secreted by the egg of the organism might be responsible for what appeared to be a morphologic detoxification response by the hepatocytes. Other alterations evident in the hepatocytes were an increase in the lysosomal population, mitochondrial changes and a slight hypertrophy of the Golgi complexes. Previous related studies by other investigators were explored and the findings compared with the results of this study.

Animals

Oxygen consumption and thyroid function in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).

Thyroidal accumulation of 125I and the biological half-life of 131I-thyroxine were determined in the squirrel monkey. Oxygen consumption and the respiratory quotient were also measured. A peak uptake of 131I by the thyroid of 45.3% of the injected isotope occurred 4 hours after administration of the radioisotope. The biological half-life of the 131I-thyroxine was 22-24 hours. Oxygen consumption was 1.02 cm3 O2/g/hour and the respiratory quotient was 0.82. It was concluded that the squirrel monkey is hypermetabolic when compared with other laboratory animals of the same size.

Animals

Aldosterone dynamics during graded exercise at sea level and high altitude.

Hormonal responses to graded exercise of eight low altitude residents were examined at sea level (SL) and after 1 (acute) and 11 (chronic) days at 4,300 m (HA). Caloric, water, and electrolyte intakes were controlled, as were temperature and humidity. Blood was sampled at rest and during light and moderate upright bicycle exercise (20 min at 40% and 75% of maximal O2 uptake, respectively). Mean VO2 max at HA was 27% lower than at SL. Resting plasma levels of aldosterone (Aldo), renin, and angiotensin II (A II) were significantly lower (P smaller than 0.05) on day 1 at HA compared to SL, but returned to SL values by day 11. Plasma cortisol values at rest were similar at SL and HA and were not significantly altered by light or moderate exercise. Renin, A II, and Aldo rose progressively with increasing workload in each environment. With acute HA, renin and Aldo were lower than at either SL or chronic HA. The chronic HA levels tended to approximate SL findings, implying adaptation. The data suggest that aldosterone is predominantly under the control of the renin-angiotensin system during graded exercise at sea level and that the response of this system is altered on acute high-altitude exposure.

Acclimatization