Biomedical subjects

L Shum

Publications and source records attributed to L Shum.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Distribution of type I collagen, type II collagen and PNA binding glycoconjugates during chondrogenesis of three distinct embryonic cartilages.

Previous studies of chondrogenesis have been focused on limb bud cartilage, whereas little is known about chondrogenic processes of other cartilages with different developmental fates. We hypothesize that cartilages with various developmental fates might show identical characteristics of chondrogenesis. The chondrogenic processes in the nasal septum, the mandible, and the limb bud of the mouse were examined by means of PNA-binding glycoconjugate, and types I and II collagen expression. Swiss-Webster mouse embryos of 11 days (E11) to 14 days (E14) gestation were fixed and processed for immuno- and lectin histochemistry. The blastema of mesenchymal cell aggregates stained positively with anti-type I collagen, but very weakly with anti-type II collagen in all three models at E12, whereas PNA bound to the blastema in the limb bud but not in nasal septum or mandible. Types I and II collagens coexisted in cartilages at E13. Type II collagen was predominant in E14; type I collagen was confined to the peripheral region. The synchronized transitional expression of the collagen phenotypes in all three embryonic cartilages may be systemically regulated. The presence or absence of the PNA-binding glycoconjugates may be involved in characterizing the nature of the cartilages.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Epigenetic role of epidermal growth factor expression and signalling in embryonic mouse lung morphogenesis.

A major unsolved problem in developmental biology is to determine when and how time- and position-restricted instructions are signaled and received during secondary embryonic inductions such as branching morphogenesis. The mouse embryonic lung rudiment was used to test the hypothesis that endogenous peptide growth factors, specifically epidermal growth factor (EGF), serve as instructive epigenetic signals for morphogenesis. The presence of EGF precursor mRNA transcripts was detected using the reverse-transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction both in E11-E17-day mouse embryo lung tissues in vivo and in E11-day lung cultured for up to 7 days in vitro under chemically defined, serum-free conditions. Immunolocalization identified a position-restricted distribution of EGF in and around the primitive airways both during in vivo lung morphogenesis and in culture. EGF receptors (EGFR) coimmunolocalized with EGF in the primitive airways. Addition of exogenous EGF to lungs in culture resulted in significant concentration-dependent stimulation of branching morphogenesis, DNA, RNA, and protein content, and in [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Conversely, the addition of tyrphostin (specific EGF receptor kinase antagonist) to lungs in culture resulted in concentration-dependent inhibition of branching morphogenesis, DNA, RNA, and protein content, and in [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA without apparent cytotoxicity. The inhibition of the EGF signal by tyrphostin was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of tyrosine phosphoproteins. We conclude that early mouse embryo lungs express EGF transcripts and corresponding EGF peptides in a specific position-restricted distribution which coimmunolocalizes with EGFR in the primitive airways, while stimulatory and inhibitory studies indicate a functional role for the transduced EGF signal in the epigenetic regulation of lung branching morphogenesis. We speculate that the peptide growth factor EGF serves a function in secondary embryonic morphogenetic inductions, which may be modulated by interaction with other growth factors.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Endogenous epidermal growth factor regulates the timing and pattern of embryonic mouse molar tooth morphogenesis.

The tooth organ provides a model for discrete patterns of morphogenesis over short periods of developmental time. Studies were designed to test the hypothesis that endogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF) functions to regulate multiple cusp molar tooth morphogenesis during embryonic mouse development. The relative levels of endogenous EGF and EGF receptor (EGFR) transcripts were determined in both enamel organ epithelia and dental ectomesenchyme by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. EGF and EGFR were localized by immunohistochemistry; both antigenic determinants were demonstrated on the same odontogenic cells in cultured tooth explants. To examine EGF-mediated signal transduction, cap stage mouse molar tooth organs (E16) were cultured in serumless, chemically-defined medium as either (i) controls, or supplemented with (ii) tryphostin (an EGF receptor kinase inhibitor), (iii) tyrphostin plus exogenous EGF, and (iv) exogenous EGF. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) strategy was used to investigate the functions of endogenous EGF employing (i) non-treated control, (ii) sense ODN control, (iii) antisense ODN, (iv) exogenous EGF, (v) sense ODN with exogenous EGF, and (vi) antisense ODN with exogenous EGF. Tyrphostin inhibited DNA synthesis and produced a significant decrease in the volume of the explants. These effects were recovered by addition of exogenous EGF. Antisense ODN inhibition resulted in abnormal cusp formations, decreased DNA synthesis, total DNA, RNA and protein content, and decreased stellate reticulum and tooth explant volumes. The decreased tooth size was not uniform, the most pronounced effect was in the stellate reticulum. This pattern of changes was not seen when antisense ODN treatment was supplemented with exogenous EGF. These results suggest that during cap stage of odontogenesis endogenous EGF acts to stimulate DNA synthesis, which increases the cell number of specific phenotypes within the enamel organ epithelia, and thereby regulates molar tooth morphogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Desmin expression during early mouse tongue morphogenesis.

Occipital somites provide progenitor cells for craniofacial muscle development including the tongue musculature. Serum-derived factors are assumed to be pre-requisite for myogenesis in vitro. To test these assertions, we designed experiments to determine whether early mouse tongue development in general, and desmin localization in particular, were expressed during the development of embryonic mouse first branchial arch explants cultured in serumless, chemically-defined medium. Immunohistochemical techniques determined the chronology and positions of desmin expression during early craniofacial development. Occipital somites expressed desmin at E9 (9 days +/- 2 h post-fertilization, 18-20 somites). A discrete cell migration pathway initiating in the somites and terminating in the lateral lingual processes of the tongue primordium was defined based upon desmin expression patterns in E9-E11 embryos and computer-assisted three dimensional reconstructions. The in vitro model system was permissive for tongue morphogenesis, allowing development and fusion of the lateral lingual processes with the tuberculum impar. During culture myoblasts were not observed to fuse into myotubes with sarcomeric assembly, even though explant myoblasts produced muscle-specific protein. E10 explants cultured for 9 days demonstrated a five-fold increase in cell number that expressed desmin (P less than 0.05) when compared to the E10 starting material. We interpret these results to indicate that the tongue myogenic cell lineage was determined between E8 and E11, and that this resident population expanded within explants cultured in serumless medium by several explanations: (i) cells other than progenitor myoblasts (e.g., satellite cells) were induced to become myoblasts, and/or (ii) progenitor myoblasts within the original explants expanded by cell division in the absence of serum factors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Recovery by mouse embryos following teratogenic exposure to ketosis.

Previous studies have shown that the ketone body D,L,-beta-hydroxybutyrate was teratogenic to mouse embryos exposed in culture during the period of neurulation. Inhibition of closure of the cranial and caudal neuropores was the most frequently occurring defect and these abnormalities were thought to be the forerunner of anencephaly and spina bifida, respectively. However, additional studies demonstrated that embryos could recover morphologically from these effects if the ketone body was removed from the culture medium and if the recovery period was of sufficient duration. In an attempt to define further the phenomenon responsible for this recovery and to determine the extent of the recovery process, the present study examining the cross-sectional area, cell number, and mitotic index of cranial neuroepithelial cells was conducted in mouse embryos cultured from the early somite stage under one of the following conditions: 1) control medium for 60 h; 2) medium containing 32 mmol/l D,L,-beta-hydroxybutyrate for 24 h followed by culture in control medium for an additional 36 h (recovery group); 3) medium containing 32 mmol/l D,L,-beta-hydroxybutyrate for 60 h (continuously exposed group). The results indicate that although neural tube closure occurred in the recovery group, complete recovery was limited to the ventral regions of the forebrain and that the remainder of the prosencephalon as well as the rhombencephalon failed to undergo complete catch-up growth. Thus, cell numbers in these areas were approximately 70% of control values. Therefore, while the gross anatomical disturbances produced by the ketone body may be compensated for, histological alterations in the affected tissues remain. Ultimately, these data suggest that neurological deficits may be an outcome of ketone body exposure during the early stages of embryogenesis.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

PubMed1991

Oral administration of DuP 753, a specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist, to normal male volunteers. Inhibition of pressor response to exogenous angiotensin I and II.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to assess the inhibitory effect of DuP 753, an orally active angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on the pressor action of exogenous angiotensin I and II in healthy male volunteers. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the first study (single-dose study), eight volunteers were included in a 2-day protocol repeated four times at 1-week intervals. In each phase, a different dose of drug (2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 40 mg) or placebo was given. The peak systolic blood pressure response to a test-dose of angiotensin I was determined serially before and after oral administration of DuP 753 by continuously monitoring finger blood pressure using a photoplethysmographic method. DuP 753 reduced the systolic blood pressure response to angiotensin I in a dose-dependent fashion. Three, 6, and 13 hours after the 40-mg dose, blood pressure response decreased to 31 +/- 5%, 37 +/- 6%, and 45 +/- 3% of the control values (mean +/- SEM, n = 7), respectively. In the second study, 29 volunteers were treated for 8 days with either a placebo or DuP 753 (5, 10, 20, or 40 mg p.o. q.d.) and challenged on the first, fourth, and eighth days with bolus injections of angiotensin II. Again, the inhibitory effect on the systolic blood pressure response to angiotensin II was clearly dose dependent. Six hours after 40 mg DuP 753, the systolic blood pressure response to the test-dose of angiotensin II was reduced to 37 +/- 7%, 40 +/- 4%, and 38 +/- 6% of baseline values (mean +/- SEM, n = 6) on days 1, 4, and 8, respectively. With this latter dose, there was still a blocking effect detectable 24 hours after the drug. Similar to angiotensin converting enzyme and renin inhibitors, DuP 753 induced a dose-dependent increase in plasma renin that was more pronounced on the eighth than on the first day of drug administration. In these normal volunteers, no consistent clinically significant side effects were observed. There was no evidence for an agonist effect. CONCLUSIONS: DuP 753 appears to be a well-tolerated, orally active, potent, and long-lasting antagonist of angiotensin II in men.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1991

Verofylline pharmacokinetics in dietary-induced obese rats: role of fat mass and protein binding in determining volume of distribution.

1. Verofylline, a lipophilic polysubstituted methylxanthine, was utilized to examine how severely altered body composition in obesity affects drug disposition; the role of fat-free mass, fat mass and protein binding in determining the volume of distribution (Vss) was investigated. Obesity was induced by feeding Sprague-Dawley rats for 8 months with a calorie-dense diet; the obese rats showed increases of 50% in total body mass and 150% in body fat. 2. Both the absolute Vss and the clearance (Cl) in the obese rats increased 2-fold over control. Since Cl and Vss increased similarly, the half-life of verofylline in obese rats did not change. 3. The increase of Cl in obese rats can be accounted for by metabolic function related to fat-free mass and decreased serum binding. Similarly, an increase in fraction unbound and in total body mass accounted for the increase in Vss. 4. Based on in vitro measurements of muscle and fat tissue uptake of verofylline, and the assumed body space (from tritium dilution method), the predicted values for Vss closely approximated those of observed values. The semi-physiological model proposed here appears adequate to relate changes of body composition and serum protein binding in obesity to Vss.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1990

Biochemical basis for D,L,-beta-hydroxybutyrate-induced teratogenesis.

Previous investigations have demonstrated that a potential mechanism for D,L,-beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB)-induced teratogenesis in neurulating mouse embryos (5-6 somite stage) after 24 hours of exposure in vitro is mediated by an inhibition of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) (Hunter, et al. '87). Employing conceptuses of an earlier stage (2-3 somite stage), the biochemistry of BOHB-induced abnormalities was examined further by exposing embryos to 32 mM BOHB for 24 hour and comparing results with controls with respect to the rate of metabolism via the PPP, de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis (PB), and BOHB utilization. Moreover, the capability of these BOHB-exposed embryos to recover from such an insult was also assessed by transferring them to fresh control medium and allowing them to grow for an additional 36 hours. Both controls and BOHB-exposed embryos showed a progressive increase in rate of BOHB utilization between days 9 and 11.5 of gestation in vitro. Exposure to ketone body produced a 100% rate of neural tube defects and a 25.2% decrease in total embryonic protein content. In contrast to results obtained at the 5-6 somite stage, no inhibition of the PPP in whole conceptuses, embryos, or visceral yolk sacs was observed in the group exposed to BOHB at the 2-3 somite stage. Furthermore, a 7.5 mM D-ribose supplement, an intermediate in the PPP, was unable to rescue the younger embryos from BOHB-induced abnormalities and growth retardation. On the other hand, BOHB produced a 34.3% decrease in pyrimidine biosynthesis in the 2-3 somite embryos, but not in the visceral yolk sac. In addition, embryos recovered biochemically after being transferred to control medium, demonstrating a 25.5% overshoot in pyrimidine biosynthesis. Therefore, the mechanism of BOHB-induced teratogenesis appears to differ depending on the stage of embryonic development at the time of initial exposure.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

PubMed1990

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic comparison of an osmotic release oral metoprolol tablet and the metoprolol conventional tablet.

Four double-blind, Latin-square studies were conducted to compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic bioavailability of metoprolol OROS (oral osmotic) and the conventional tablet (CT) of metoprolol. Metoprolol OROS (7/95 mg or 14/190 mg) was administered once daily in doses equivalent to 100 mg of metoprolol CT given once, twice, thrice, and four times a day. In all four studies, lower peak plasma concentrations and longer times to peak were observed after metoprolol OROS than after metoprolol CT, indicating a controlled-release profile for metoprolol OROS. beta-Adrenergic blockade, as measured by reductions in exercise heart rate, was lower after metoprolol OROS than after metoprolol CT, but metoprolol OROS provided a smoother and more sustained beta-blockade. All four doses of metoprolol OROS at steady state produced relative pharmacodynamic bioavailability that ranged from 87% to 104% of that produced by equivalent doses of metoprolol CT.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1988

Embryonic catch-up growth after exposure to the ketone body D,L,-beta-hydroxybutyrate in vitro.

The capability of rodent embryos to recover in growth and development subsequent to exposure to an insult was investigated employing whole embryo culture. Early somite stage mouse embryos were exposed to 32 mM D,L,-beta-hydroxybutyrate (D,L,-beta OHB) for 24 hr (Period I), and were then transferred and maintained in control medium for an additional 36 hr maximum (Period II). Growth of this recovery group (Group B) was monitored at various time points of Period II and the results were compared with an unexposed control group (Group A) and another continuously-exposed reference group (Group C). At the end of Period I, 100% of D,L,-beta OHB-exposed embryos exhibited neural tube closure defects and were growth retarded. At 36 hr of Period II, cranial and caudal neural tube defects of Group B embryos were reduced to 3-7% and 0%, respectively. These embryos also demonstrated an excess in growth velocity during recovery so that at the end of Period II, total protein content was comparable to control values. In contrast, Group C embryos remained growth retarded and showed a significant increase in cranial and caudal neural tube defects (20 and 75%, respectively). Thus, neurulating mouse embryos were capable of catch-up growth following an embryotoxic exposure to D,L,-beta OHB. The progression of development of total protein values and morphological features such as elimination of neural tube defects was intimately related to the amount of time allowed for recovery. Moreover, an elevation of growth rate over normality, which is characteristic of catch-up growth, was observed.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

PubMed1988

An area function method for estimating the apparent absorption rate constant.

A new method for calculation of the apparent absorption rate constant of a drug has been derived based on the relationship between the plasma concentrations after an oral dose and the area intervals under both the oral and the intravenous plasma concentration-time curves. The method is a noncompartmental technique evolved from the convolution integral and does not use any theoretical approximation. It has been evaluated and compared with nonlinear regression analysis using NONLIN84 and moment analysis using both errorless and errant data. The approach is as adequate as nonlinear regression analysis under a variety of conditions but offers ease and simplicity in handling experimental data.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1987

Acetaminophen sulfation deficit in obese rats overfed an energy-dense cafeteria diet.

The current studies examine acetaminophen pharmacokinetics and biotransformation in obese animals for possible shifts in metabolic conjugation reactions. Obesity was produced in Sprague-Dawley rats with an energy-dense cafeteria feeding regimen. Acetaminophen half-life remained unchanged and apparent volume of distribution increased slightly in obese versus pellet-fed control rats following an ip dose of 287 mg/kg. However, obese animals exhibited lower plasma concentrations of acetaminophen sulfate and excreted less sulfate conjugate but more glucuronide conjugate in urine. Absolute clearance of acetaminophen from plasma was similar for both groups of rats but formation clearance of acetaminophen sulfate was lower and formation clearance of acetaminophen glucuronide and was higher than control in obese rats. Renal clearance of unchanged drug and both conjugated metabolites appeared to rise with the degree of obesity. The many parallels in acetaminophen disposition shared with the obese human show the overfed rat to be a promising model for metabolic and physiologic changes associated with human obesity.

Acetaminophen↗

PubMed1986

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of verofylline in rat serum.

A simple and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure has been developed for the determination of verofylline in rat serum. This assay procedure, which is suitable for the analysis of microsamples (0.05 or 0.1 ml serum), involves a single extraction followed by isocratic chromatography on an RP-18 analytical column with ultraviolet detection at 280 nm. The calibration curve is linear within the study range 0.25-75 micrograms/ml. The intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation were below 5.7%. The specificity of the assay was confirmed by comparing the lipophilicity, absorbance, and chromatographic property of the apparent and authentic verofylline.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of obesity and ancillary variables (dialysis time, drug, albumin, and fatty acid concentrations) on theophylline serum protein binding.

The effect of obesity on the serum protein binding of theophylline was investigated in man and rat along with other ancillary variables such as dialysis time, theophylline concentration, albumin concentration, and fatty acid type and concentration. The percent binding of theophylline first increased with dialysis time, reached equilibrium over 2 to 6 h, then diminished. This decrease was not due to instability of theophylline. Theophylline binding was linear over a concentration range of 15 to 150 micrograms ml-1. A similar degree of binding was found in normal humans (44.4 +/- 1.0%) and rats (41.5 +/- 0.5%). The binding ratio (bound/free) of theophylline was proportional to the albumin concentration (1 to 5%) and yielded a binding parameter (NK) of 1.47 x 10(-3) M-1. Over a normal physiological range, individual and mixed fatty acids had minimal effects on theophylline binding to albumin. However, binding significantly decreased as fatty acid (FFA) concentrations increased. The magnitude of the effect appeared to parallel the carbon chain number of the fatty acid. Theophylline binding in obese subjects decreased to a mean (SD) of 35.8 +/- 8.0 per cent compared to 43.0 +/- 6.1 per cent in normal subjects (p less than 0.05). Similar decreases were found in normal versus obese rats and in the saliva: serum ratio following theophylline administration to normal and obese human subjects. Obesity causes a moderate decrease in serum binding of theophylline which may be attributed to increased FFA rather than in vitro artifacts.

Animals↗