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L M Gomez

Publications and source records attributed to L M Gomez.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Extracellular glucose reduces the responsiveness of mesangial cell ion channels to angiotensin II.

Abnormal cellular ion homeostasis is a well-recognized component of diabetic glomerular disease. In cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells, we have previously shown that insulin regulates Ca(2+)-dependent activation of 4-pS Cl- channels and 27-pS nonselective cation channels (NSCC) by angiotensin II (ANG II). To assess whether extracellular glucose also affects mesangial ion channels, we applied patch-clamp techniques to cells incubated in constant insulin (100 mU/ml) and either "normal" (5 mM) or "high" (30 mM) glucose for 1 wk. In normal glucose, 100 nM ANG II increased Cl- and NSCC activity by > 16-fold and > 60-fold, respectivley. Direct release of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) stores (0.25 microM thapsigargin) mimicked ANG II-induced channel stimulation. In high glucose, Cl- and NSCC stimulation by ANG II was attenuated (< 7-fold), whereas channel activation by thapsigargin was unaffected. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition (30-min exposure to 0.5 microM calphostin) or downregulation (24-h exposure to 0.1 microM 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), but not aldose reductase inhibition (0.5 mM sorbinil), restored channel responsiveness to ANG II despite high glucose. Channel responsiveness was also restored if mesangial cells were coincubated in both high glucose and 500 microM myo-inositol. Acute exposure to a synthetic diacylglycerol (100 microM 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol) reestablished channel unresponsiveness to ANG II. We conclude the following in rat mesangial cell cultures: 1) Activation of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- and NSCCs by ANG II is reduced by high extracellular glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldehyde Reductase

Reference frames in mental rotation.

Four experiments are reported that investigate whether images or reference frames are transformed during a mental rotation task. In all experiments a display of four identical letters (P1) was presented at either +90 degrees or -90 degrees from upright, and subjects had to decide whether the letters were normal or mirror-image reflections. A single letter (P2) was then presented 100 ms later in a variable orientation with the same task instructions. Reaction times to P2 were assessed to determine whether an image of P2 was rotated to upright or whether an internal reference frame was rotated into congruence with P2 from the orientation of P1. The results as a whole suggest that transformations of P2 can be initiated either relative to upright or relative to the orientation of P1. They further indicate that the probability of using each reference orientation can be changed by procedural variations. The findings are most parsimoniously interpreted as suggesting that mental rotation involves the transformation of reference frames rather than the transformation of template-like representations.

Attention

Empty sella associated with inappropriate TSH secretion.

A child diagnosed with long-standing primary hypothyroidism at age 10 and subsequent pseudotumor cerebri after initiation of thyroid therapy developed an empty sella and inappropriate thyrotropin secretion. No other evidence of thyroid hormone resistance was evident nor was there evidence of other endocrine dysfunction. This case confirms previous reports of a relationship between autoimmune thyroid disease, pseudotumor cerebri, empty sella and inappropriate anterior pituitary function.

Adolescent