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M Parr

Publications and source records attributed to M Parr.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

An improved method for the preparation of liposomal gadolinium-DTPA. Ionophore-mediated active entrapment of gadolinium.

We have developed an improved method for the production of liposomal gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA). The ionophore A23187 facilitates the uptake of externally added Gd into the interior aqueous space of a unilamellar lipid vesicle, where it is chelated by passively entrapped DTPA to form the Gd-DTPA chelate in situ. The presence of a pH gradient across the vesicle membrane is not essential for Gd uptake, the extent of which apparently is limited only by the interior concentration of the chelator. Once formed internally, the Gd-DTPA complex is retained within the vesicles for at least several days at room temperature. Biodistribution studies in mice indicate that liposomal Gd-DTPA prepared by this ionophoretic loading procedure exhibits biodistribution and clearance characteristics similar to 153Gd-DTPA-labeled liposomes prepared by means of passive entrapment of the preformed chelate.

Calcimycin↗

Continuous variability of fetal PO2 in the chronically catheterized fetal sheep.

A method of continuous monitoring of fetal intravascular PO2 at various sites in the circulation in the chronically catheterized fetal sheep for up to 41 days (mean 11.1 days) has been compared with values obtained in blood samples measured extracorporeally in a standard blood gas analyzer. A double-blind comparison of the two methods showed that there was no bias between the two methods and correlation was 0.94. The stability of the electrodes was superior to that of a conventional blood gas analyzer. In every animal there was continuous variability of fetal vascular PO2. In the period from 105 to 126 days' gestation we noted the presence of slow increases in basal uterine tone that we have called "contractures". The frequency of these contractures was very regular at approximately one per hour. The frequency of these contracutres was very regular at approximately one per hour. There is a statistically significant related fall in fetal vascular PO2 in relation to these contractures. Well-coordinated uterine contractions during labor also produced a fall in fetal vascular PO2 that was related to the uterine activity.

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A morphometric analysis of microtubules in relation to the inhibition of lysosome movement caused by colchicine.

Colchicine was administered intraperitoneally to rats in doses which are known to inhibit the basal migration of lysosomes in uterine epithelial cells. The fractional volume of microtubules in the cells was then measured by morphometry. Colchicine at 0.10 mg/kg reduced the microtubule content of the cells from 0.22% down to 0.15%, and 1.0 mg/kg reduced microtubule content to 0.03%. Microtubules were essentially absent from the cells after colchicine doses of 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg. The microtubule content of uterine epithelial cells thus decreased in the colchicine dose range from about 0.10 to 1.0 mg/kg, the same dose range in which an inhibition of lysosome migration has been observed. These results support the suggestion that microtubules are necessary for the basal migration of lysosomes in uterine epithelial cells. In addition, colchicine at 1.0 mg/kg caused a redistribution of the Golgi complex and a class of electron-transparent, 130 to 450 nm vesicles. These organelles were restricted to the apical halves of the cells in untreated rats, but they were dispersed throughout the cells after drug treatment. The change in the position of the organelles may be caused by a loss of cytoskeletal function of the microtubules.

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