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Biomedical subjects

M Ramasamy

Publications and source records attributed to M Ramasamy.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Anticarcinogenic activity of Withania somnifera Dunal against Dalton's ascitic lymphoma.

The effect of ethanolic extract of the root of Withania somnifera Dunal (REWS) against Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma has been evaluated in Swiss albino mice. A significant increase in the life span and a decrease in the cancer cell number and tumour weight were noted in the tumour-induced mice after treatment with REWS. The hematological parameters were also corrected by REWS in tumour-induced mice. These observations are suggestive of the protective effect of REWS in Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma (DAL).

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Enlargement of the processus vaginalis during testicular descent in rats.

The role of the processus vaginalis (PV) during inguinoscrotal testicular descent remains controversial. Some authors propose passive dragging of the PV by the migrating testis, while others suggest active elongation. In addition, the exact site of growth is unknown. Our aim was to determine whether the PV actively proliferates at its tip or stretches passively during the inguinoscrotal phase of descent in the rat. Gubernacula were removed from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and congenitally-cryptorchid TS mutants. Animals (at days 3, 7, 10, and 11) were treated with bromo-uridine deoxyribose (BUdR) 2 h before death. BUdR incorporation into newly-synthesised DNA served as a marker for cell division. The gubernacula were processed for haematoxylin and eosin and immunoperoxidase staining. Three sites were examined: (1) the tip of the PV on either side of the gubernacular bulb; (2) the proximal gubernacular cord; and (3) the proximal parietal PV. At each site, 50 adjacent cells were counted and the number of positive cells recorded. The highest BUdR labelling in SD rats was at the tip (site 1) on day 3 (17/50) compared with sites 2 (11/50) and 3 (9/50) (P < 0.05). Labelling decreased by 7 and 11 days to similar levels in all three sites. In TS rats, labelling rates were lower at day 3 and were highest at the tip at day 11. These results suggest active growth of the caudal tip of the PV during testicular descent. In normal rats, the growth rate slows as the testis approaches the scrotum. By contrast, in TS rats growth continued longer. We propose that the PV elongates actively from the tip to allow the intraperitoneal testis to leave the abdomen in a special peritoneal diverticulum.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Antibodies and Plasmodium falciparum merozoites.

There is considerable interest in using merozoite proteins in a vaccine against falciparum malaria. Observations that antibodies to merozoite surface proteins block invasion are a basis for optimism. This article draws attention to important and varied aspects of how antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum merozoites affect red blood cell invasion.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Expression of cobalamin transport proteins and cobalamin transcytosis by colon adenocarcinoma cells.

Human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells express both intrinsic factor-cobalamin receptor and transcobalamin II (TC II). The expression of these activities began to rise by day 6 and reached peak levels between 10 and 15 days in culture. The postconfluent Caco-2 cell membranes bound approximately 30-35 fmol of intrinsic factor (IF) [57Co]Cbl/mg protein. The size of the mature receptor expressed in the apical brush border had a relative molecular mass of 230 kDa. The intracellular form of TC II had a Mr of 43, 5 higher than the secreted form of TC II. TC II was secreted unidirectionally via the basolateral direction when Caco-2 cells were grown on culture inserts. When grown on culture inserts, the Caco-2 cells were polarized (electrical resistance greater than 200 omega/cm2) and transcytosed [57Co]Cbl bound to IF from apical-to-basal but not from basal-to-apical direction. Under these conditions, [57Co]Cbl complexed to haptocorrin was not transported. These cells also transcytosed free [57Co]Cbl, although less efficiently. The [57Co]Cbl transcytosed using either IF[57Co]Cbl or free [57Co]Cbl as ligands was bound exclusively to TC II. Intracellular [57Co]Cbl decreased during transcytosis with a slow (t1/2 = 4 h) transfer of [57Co]Cbl from IF to TC II. These results show that the transport of Cbl in Caco-2 cells is very similar to the human enterocyte system.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Renal brush border membrane bound intrinsic factor.

A highly active receptor for intrinsic factor (IF)-cobalamin (Cbl) complex has been detected and reported in mammalian kidney earlier (Seetharam, B., et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 4443-4449). The physiological role of this receptor in normal Cbl homeostasis is not known. In addition to binding of exogenously added IF-[57Co]Cbl, the renal apical membranes contain endogenous IF or IF-Cbl. Washing with pH 5/EDTA buffer enhanced the binding of exogenously added IF-[57Co]Cbl to renal apical but not basolateral membranes. The pH 5/EDTA extract from renal apical membranes bound [57Co]Cbl. The complex also bound to rat ileal brush border membrane and promoted ileal transport of [57Co]Cbl. On immunoblots using monospecific antiserum to IF a 62 kDa protein was identified in renal and intestinal apical membranes, serum and in tissue extracts of unperfused rat liver, kidney and heart. The 62 kDa band was eliminated from the renal apical membranes following pH 5/EDTA wash. Rat urine demonstrated unsaturated [57Co]Cbl binding (0.2 to 0.4 pmol/day) of which only 30-40% was immunoprecipitated with anti IF and could be identified on immunoblots. The identification of IF in rat renal apical membranes (160-200 ng/mg protein) and secretion of only traces of IF in urine suggest that the renal IF-Cbl receptor may play a role in sequestering IF/IF-Cbl and prevent urinary loss of Cbl.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of lectins on the cobalamin-protein binding reactions: implications for the tissue uptake of cobalamin.

Plant lectins have been thought to impair nutrient absorption, both by specific and nonspecific interference in the absorptive process. The main objective of this investigation was to study the effect of lectins on the various binding reactions involving cobalamin (cbl)-protein complexes and their receptors, and to identify the rate-limiting step important in maintaining tissue levels of cobalamin. Among the lectins tested in vivo, only concanavalin A (ConA) was able to inhibit the transport of cobalamin to the tissues and caused a 70% to 75% inhibition of [(57)Co] cobalamin transported to the liver and kidney. The inhibition of transport to the tissues was independent of route of administration of cobalamin, whether intragastric or systemic, and was not due to decreased gastrointestinal uptake. When tested in vitro, concanavalin A inhibited the binding of transcobalamin II-cbl to its receptor, but not the binding of cobalamin to intrinsic factor or intrinsic factor-cobalamin complex to the ileal receptor. These results suggest that late events during transcellular transport of cobalamin through the enterocytes is the rate-limiting step determining tissue levels of cobalamin and that ConA inhibits these latter events.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide tension difference during anaesthesia in early pregnancy.

Sixteen patients requiring general anaesthesia for termination of pregnancy by dilatation and evacuation of the uterus were studied. Arterial and end-tidal carbon dioxide tensions were determined during anaesthesia. The mean arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide tension difference was 0.07 kPa (-0.02-0.16, 5-95 per cent confidence limits). These results were similar to those observed during Caesarean section and those during anaesthesia for post-delivery tubal ligations. The physiological changes such as increased cardiac output, haemodilution, and increased blood volume which manifest by 12 weeks of gestation probably result in a reduced (a-E')PCO2 value.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1989

Cobalamin release from intrinsic factor and transfer to transcobalamin II within the rat enterocyte.

To ascertain the mechanism of release of cobalamin (Cbl) from intrinsic factor (IF) and subsequent formation of transcobalamin II (TC-II)-Cbl complex, we studied the intracellular distribution of 57Co-labeled Cbl after its uptake in suckling and adult rats. The amount of Cbl bound to IF, to the IF-Cbl receptor via IF, and to TC-II was determined by immunoprecipitation with monospecific antisera raised to these proteins. IF-Cbl receptor activity was found to be very low in suckling rats up to 12 days after birth. Oral administration of leupeptin in amounts known to alter protein turnover had no effect on the release of Cbl from IF nor did it inhibit the formation of the TC-II-Cbl complex in either adult or suckling animals. However, oral administration of chloroquine resulted in a transient increase in the intestinal concentration of Cbl in both adult and suckling rats and in total inhibition of Cbl released from IF in adults rats. Chloroquine prevented completely the transfer of Cbl to TC-II in adult rats and inhibited the transfer by 50% in suckling rats. These data demonstrate that in adult mucosa utilizing receptor-mediated endocytosis, Cbl is transferred from IF to TC-II. This transfer does not require the IF-Cbl receptor, as it occurs in suckling rats. Finally, transfer of Cbl to TC-II is decreased by a drug that alters vesicular pH. Because Cbl can be released at acid pH from IF, it is proposed that release of Cbl from IF and its transfer to TC-II occurs in an acidic vesicle.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Purification, properties, and immunochemical localization of a receptor for intrinsic factor-cobalamin complex in the rat kidney.

High levels of receptor for intrinsic factor-cobalamin (vitamin B12) were detected in human, canine, and rat kidneys. The ratio of specific activity (picomoles/mg of protein) for kidney relative to intestine was 116, 20, and 797, respectively, in these species. The receptor was purified about 3000-fold from 200 g of rat kidney with a recovery of 16% and exhibited a single band on nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. Quantitative amino acid analysis of the receptor gave a value of 457,310 g of amino acid/mol of intrinsic factor-cobalamin binding activity. The pure receptor revealed an Mr of 430,000, as assessed by filtration with Bio-Gel A-5m. Treatment with papain resulted in the production of active monomers of Mr to about 205,000-210,000. Electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate confirmed the monomer Mr to be 230,000. The monomer receptor did not reveal the presence of any further subunits upon reductive alkylation. Following cyanogen bromide cleavage the kidney receptor revealed three peptides of Mr 115,000, 60,000, and 54,000. The pI of these peptides was 5.17, 6.17, and 6.17, respectively. Western blot analysis using antiserum raised to the receptor demonstrated a protein with an Mr of 175,000 and 230,000 for intestinal and kidney membrane receptors, respectively. Immunologically, the rat kidney receptor was identical to the rat ileal receptor but was distinct from the canine ileal receptor. Ultrastructural localization revealed the presence of the receptor in the apical surface membrane of proximal tubular cells of the kidney and absorptive cells of the ileum. The kidney is the best source for obtaining this receptor in reasonable quantities.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1988

Isolation and characterization of a relevant Aspergillus fumigatus antigen with IgG- and IgE-binding activity.

An immunologically relevant antigen fraction was isolated from a cytoplasmic extract of Aspergillus fumigatus mycelium. The fraction was obtained by concanavalin-A affinity chromatography and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Two protein bands were discernible in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis while two precipitin peaks were detected in crossed immunoelectrophoresis. When tested against sera from patients with Aspergillus-induced diseases, the fraction showed both IgG and IgE antibody-binding activity. All of the sera studied from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) showed high IgG and IgE antibody titers, while sera from patients with aspergilloma and cystic fibrosis with ABPA demonstrated high IgG titers and only a moderate increase in IgE titers. None of the other groups showed any significant antibody titers against this antigen in their sera. Because of its binding to both IgG and IgE antibodies this fraction was found to be useful in the immunodiagnosis of Aspergillus-induced diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A partially purified antigen from Faenia rectivirgula in the diagnosis of farmer's lung disease.

An antigen fraction from Faenia rectivirgula (Micropolyspora faeni) having diagnostic significance for farmer's lung disease was isolated by Sephadex G-200 and G-100 fractionations. Antibody raised against this antigen fraction was used to make an immunoaffinity column to purify crude culture filtrate antigens of F. rectivirgula. The antigen has a molecular weight of 66,000 and an isoelectric point between pH 6.0 and 6.5. The yield of this antigen fraction was 1.02% of the total protein of the crude antigen. Although the crude antigen showed activity for several enzymes, the purified antigen showed enhanced activity for acid phosphatase and beta-glucosidase. Using this antigen fraction, an ELISA was developed for detecting circulating specific IgG antibody in farmer's lung patients. The antigen can be standardized by its immunochemical characteristics and may be used to detect circulating antibodies in the sera of patients with dependability and reproducibility.

Antigens, Bacterial↗