PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Mousavi

Publications and source records attributed to M Mousavi.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Regional distribution of nicotinic receptors during prenatal development of human brain and spinal cord.

The development of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in brains from human fetuses of 4-12 weeks gestational age was studied. The expression of nAChR subunit mRNAs was analyzed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Expression of alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 7, beta 2, beta 3 and beta 4 mRNA were all detected in the prenatal spinal cord, medulla oblongata, pons, cerebellum, mesencephalon, subcortical forebrain and cortex during first trimester development. Relative quantification of mRNA showed that the highest levels for alpha 3, alpha 4 and alpha 7 were expressed in the spinal cord, alpha 5 was most abundant in the cortex and beta 3 was highest in the cerebellum. beta 4 seemed to be equally distributed in all regions whereas beta 2 was high in the cortex and cerebellum. A comparison of expression of nAChR subunit mRNAs in the cortex and cerebellum of prenatal and aged (54-81 years) brain showed that mRNA levels for alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 7, beta 2 and beta 4 were significantly higher in the prenatal cortex and cerebellum than in aged brain, whereas the level of alpha 3 transcript was similar, and beta 3 significantly higher in aged cortex. Specific binding of [3H]-epibatidine to prenatal brain membranes was detected as early as 4-5 weeks of gestation in the spinal cord, medulla oblongata, pons and subcortical forebrain. A positive correlation between gestational age and [3H]-epibatidine and [3H]-cytisine binding was found in several brain regions. The highest specific binding of [3H]-epibatidine and [3H]-cytisine was detected in the spinal cord, pons and medulla oblongata and the lowest in the cortex. Saturation analysis of [3H]-cytisine binding in both prenatal and aged brain were best fit by a model for a single site, whereas binding data for [3H]-epibatidine revealed two classes of binding sites. The early presence of nAChR proteins and gene transcripts shown in the present study suggests an important role for nAChRs in modulating dendritic outgrowth, establishment of neuronal connections and synaptogenesis during development.

Aged↗

Characterization of the gene for the membrane and secretory form of the IgM heavy-chain constant region gene (C mu) of the cow (Bos taurus).

Our present understanding of the evolution of immunoglobulins is derived from a few vertebrate species. In order to obtain additional information on the development of the humoral immune system, we cloned and determined the nucleotide sequence of the bovine cDNA and genomic IgM heavy-chain constant region gene (C mu). The gene contains four constant region domain-encoding exons (CH1 to CH4) and two exons encoding the transmembrane domain (TM1, TM2), expressed in the membrane-bound receptor form of the IgM. The sequence of a cDNA clone encoding the 3' portion of the membrane form of the mu-chain revealed that the TM1 exon is spliced to the CH4 exon, as occurs in other mammals. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequence data from different vertebrates revealed a high similarity to sheep C mu (88%) and a lower degree of similarity to pig (62%), rat (62%), rabbit (58%) human (56%), hamster (55%), mouse (54%), chicken (28%) and horned shark (22%) C mu.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chronic ethanol treatment decreases [3H]epibatidine and [3H]nicotine binding and differentially regulates mRNA levels of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits expressed in M10 and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

For a study of the underlying mechanisms of a possible interaction between ethanol and nicotinic receptors during ethanol dependence, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of chronic ethanol exposure on nicotinic receptor subtypes in a transfected fibroblast cell line (M10 cells) stably expressing alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor subtype and an SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line expressing alpha3, alpha5, alpha7, beta2, and beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits. A significant dose-related decrease (-30-80%) in number of [3H]nicotine binding sites was observed in ethanol-treated (25-240 mM) compared with untreated M10 cells. Similarly, 4-day treatment with ethanol in concentrations relevant to chronic alcoholism (100 mM) decreased the number of nicotinic receptor binding sites in the SH-SY5Y cells when measured using [3H]epibatidine. When M10 cells were chronically treated with nicotine, ethanol partly inhibited the up-regulation of nicotinic receptors when present in the cells together with nicotine. Chronic treatment for 4 days with 100 mM ethanol significantly decreased the mRNA level for the alpha3 nAChR subunit (-39%), while the mRNA levels for the alpha7 (+30%) and alpha4 (+22%) subunits were significantly increased. Chronic ethanol treatment did not affect the mRNA levels for the beta2 nAChR subunit. Changes in the levels of nAChR protein and mRNA may have adaptive significance and be involved in the development of dependence, tolerance, and addiction to chronic ethanol and nicotine exposure. They also may be targets for therapeutic strategies in the treatment of ethanol and nicotine dependence.

Animals↗

Characterization of the bovine epsilon gene.

Immunoglobulin E is quantitatively a minor immunoglobulin class in serum, but nevertheless the major class of antibody mediating type I hypersensitivity reactions and hence, type I allergic phenomena. The bovine epsilon gene is one of the as yet uncharacterized mammalian immunoglobulin genes. We have therefore cloned and determined the cDNA sequence and genomic organization of the gene. It contains four constant region domain-encoding exons (CH1 to CH4) with a high homology to sheep C epsilon (87%) and to a lower degree to dog (62%), horse (58%), chimpanzee, orangutan, human (55%), mouse (52%) and rat (52%) C epsilon genes. Southern blot analysis of bovine genomic DNA, revealed the existence of a single C epsilon gene with a presence of allelic restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Long-term results of replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament in comparison with conservative therapy].

Between January 1980 and February 1987 92 patients (group I) with chronic anterior instability of the knee joint underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using midthird patellar tendon autografts (BTB). 39 patients (group II) with the same injury were treated conservatively. The patients were followed up postoperatively within a mean period of 8.5 years and stability, grade of postoperative arthrosis, subjective view of patients and ability to sport were evaluated. In group I the clinical examination showed in 77% the same stability on both sides, whereas in group II no cases of bilateral stability of same grade were found. Pivot shifting was repaired in 91% of group I and only in 17% of group II patients. The apparative examination of the stability (KT 2000-arthrometer testing) measuring the anterior drawer phenomenon on both knees showed stable joint conditions (anterior tibia displacement < or = 3 mm) in 86% of operatively treated and only in 8% of conservatively treated patients. Postoperative x-rays showed no arthrotic changes in 55% of group I patients. All patients of group II showed signs of progredient arthrosis in their postoperative x-rays. Subjective clinical results were good to excellent in all group I patients. Only 50% in group II had a good to excellent result. 67% of group I and only 25% of group II patients practiced their former sports activities again. In our retrospective review we could observe significant better clinical results of surgically treated old isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears with patellar tendon autografts (BTB) compared to those with conservative treatment.

Adult↗

Ventricular arrhythmias after reperfusion: is there a correlation with infarct size?

The aim of this investigation was to examine whether any correlation exists between enzymatically estimated infarct size and arrhythmias arising in response to coronary reperfusion. Four hour occlusion of the left anterior coronary artery followed by reperfusion was carried out in conscious dogs. Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) analysis and planimetric determination of infarct size were performed. The Holter monitoring technique was used to analyze the arrhythmias. A good correlation was observed between the number of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) occurring during 4-h coronary artery occlusion and peak serum CPK values (CPKmax; r = 0.74). While PVC in the early 2-h reperfusion phase and on days 1 and 2 of the late reperfusion phase did not show a correlation with CPKmax nor with occlusion arrhythmias, arrhythmic activity on day 3 of the late reperfusion phase correlated well with CPKmax (r = 0.71) and occlusion arrhythmias (r = 0.75). Whereas it cannot be ruled out that arrhythmias on days 1 and 2 are related to coronary reperfusion as well as to the established infarction, we speculated that arrhythmias on day 3 are delayed arrhythmias in response to the occlusion procedure and not a consequence of reperfusion. Providing that arrhythmias occurring in the early reperfusion phase are almost exclusively induced by the arrhythmogenic phenomenon of reperfusion, we conclude that in contrast to occlusion arrhythmias, reperfusion arrhythmias are not markers of infarct size. Thus, a higher number of arrhythmias after reperfusion is not necessarily associated with a larger infarct size.

Animals↗