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M Tappaz

Publications and source records attributed to M Tappaz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoantibodies are additional predictive markers of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in high risk individuals.

The prevalence of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies was determined with an immunotrapping enzyme activity assay in newly-diagnosed Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients as well as in first-degree relatives using rat brain homogenate as a source of glutamate decarboxylase. Twenty-six out of 86 islet-cell cytoplasmic auto-antibody positive and one out of 24 islet cell autoantibody negative patients of recent onset, had autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase above the upper 99% confidence limit obtained from 89 control sera. Among 27 islet cell autoantibody positive relatives including 19 siblings and 8 parents, antibodies to glutamate decarboxylase were found in 8 of 9 (89%) relatives and 7 of 8 (87.5%) siblings with islet cell auto-antibody titres above 20 JDF units, in 1 of 19 (5.2%) relatives with islet cell autoantibody titres between 2 and 5 JDF units, in 2 of 263 (0.7%) siblings and 1 of 139 parents without islet cell autoantibodies. In first-degree relatives, high titre islet cell autoantibodies and autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase were tightly associated (X2 = 182, p = 0.0001). None of the relatives with low genetic risk (n = 64), i.e. HLA-different to the diabetic proband, was found to be antibody positive. Antibodies to glutamate decarboxylase were present only in those relatives sharing at least one haplotype with the diabetic proband, including two islet cell autoantibody negative but HLA-identical siblings. Autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase were present in 7 of 9 (77%) relatives who developed the disease, including one islet cell autoantibody negative sibling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Differential time course activation of the brain stem catecholaminergic groups following chronic adrenalectomy.

The activity of the brain stem catecholaminergic (CA) cell groups of the ventrolateral (A1C1) and dorsomedial (A2C2) medulla that are known to contain primarily nonadrenergic neurones (A1 and A2) and a smaller proportion of adrenergic cells (C1 and C2) as well as the noradrenergic group locus ceruleus (LC) in the dorsal pons was determined at various times up to 16 days following surgical adrenalectomy. The activity of the CA cell groups was estimated by the rate of tyrosine hydroxylation in vivo that was assessed by measuring the 3.4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) accumulated 20 min following administration of DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor NSD 1015. In the medullary nuclei noradrenaline content was found around 40- up to 70-fold the adrenaline content. This result was taken as evidence that the noradrenergic cells are likely to provide the main contribution to the tyrosine hydroxylation rate that we measured. Endogenous DOPA content represented between 2 and 10% of the noradrenaline content. NSD 1015 induced an accumulation of DOPA that was linear for at least 20 min and reached at this time more than 10-fold the endogenous level. While no modification of the in vivo tyrosine hydroxylation rate was observed in the LC, a significant increase was found in both medullary groups following adrenalectomy. In the A1C1 group it was detected 8 days after surgery and was then maintained with a maximum that represented up to a 60% increase over the basal value. In the A2C2 group the activation was slightly delayed and less marked. Increase in ACTH level occurred much earlier: it was about 70% of the maximal level already 4 days following adrenalectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenalectomy↗

Relative enrichment of the lighter 59 kDa form of glutamic acid decarboxylase in nerve endings: an immunoblotting study in pituitary neurointermediate lobe.

Previous studies established that glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is present in the brain of higher vertebrates in two forms composed of the homodimeric association of two subunits 59 and 63 kDa, respectively, that were found to be structurally related. We have performed quantitative comparative immunoblotting of whole brain and pituitary neurointermediate lobe (NIL) extracts. While GAD in the brain is present in cell bodies and nerve endings, it is known to be contained in the NIL exclusively in nerve endings that belong to a relatively long gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic pathway of central origin. The relative immunolabelling ratio of the 59 kDa to the 63 kDa subunit was at least 10-fold higher in the NIL when compared to whole brain extracts. Accordingly we suggest that the GAD composed of the 59 kDa subunits, which appears to be greatly enriched in GABAergic nerve endings, might represent the form of GAD on which short term activity regulation is exerted in relation to neuronal activity. It might result from the post-translational processing of the GAD formed from the 63 kDa subunits during the axonal transport.

Animals↗

Stimulation of catecholaminergic neurons in the ventral medulla by various stressors monitored with in vivo electrochemistry.

Catecholaminergic metabolism in the A1 cell group of the ventrolateral medulla oblongata was followed after application of 3 interoceptive stressful stimuli by monitoring the extracellular concentration of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) with an in vivo voltammetric approach. These stimuli provoked an increase of the DOPAC signal with different time course and amplitude. Histamine led to a maximal 200% increase that vanished within two hours. Insulin induced a long-lasting increase of up to 350% that could be reversed by glucose infusion. Electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve triggered an immediate increase of up to 140% which stopped with the ending of the stimulation. The time-course of this activation is compatible with a possible involvement of catecholaminergic afferents from the A1 group projecting to the paraventricular nucleus in the stimulation of the hypothalamic neurosecretory cells elicited by the stressors.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Localization of GAD-like immunoreactivity in the pancreas and stomach of the rat and mouse.

The aim of this study was to localize cells immunoreactive for glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme of GABA synthesis, in pyloric and oxyntic regions of the rat stomach as well as in the rat and mouse pancreas. GAD immunocytochemistry was carried out on polyethylene glycol or cryostat sections of alkaline paraformaldehyde fixed tissue, with simultaneous immunolabelling of various gastro-pancreatic hormones for topographical comparison. In the rat stomach, nerve fibers displaying intense GAD-like immunoreactivity were seen in the myenteric plexus, the circular muscular layer, the submucosa and the lamina propria of the mucosa. But, they were absent from the submucous plexus. Colchicine treatment of the rats allowed to detect some labelled perikarya in the myenteric plexus suggesting that the GABAergic innervation is at least partly intrinsic to the stomach. In the oxyntic and pyloric mucosa, endocrine cells appeared immunostained for GAD. However, the nature of their hormones remained unknown since double immunodetections revealed that they were immunoreactive neither for gastrin nor for somatostatin. In the rat and mouse pancreas, GAD-like immunoreactivity was found in islet cells which corresponded only to insulin-secreting cells. Somatostatin-, glucagon- and pancreatic polypeptide-immunopositive cells were devoid of GAD immunolabelling. No GAD-like immunoreactivity was detected in the exocrine tissue and innervation. These results strenghten the hypothesis that GABA is not only a neurotransmitter in the stomach but that it could also be an endocrine or paracrine factor in the stomach and pancreas.

Animals↗

Immunocytochemistry of the taurine biosynthesis enzyme, cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase, in the cerebellum: evidence for a glial localization.

Immunocytochemistry of cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase was developed in the cerebellum with an antiserum that we have recently produced using as immunogen a homogeneous fraction purified about 2000-fold from liver. In the rat, this antiserum immunoprecipitated the enzymatic activity from brain, labeled one band (molecular weight = 51,000) on immunoblots of an enriched fraction from brain but none with a brain crude extract and thus appeared to be specific. In the cerebellum numerous immunolabeled cells were found in the white matter that were typically arranged in rows like oligodendrocytes. A few immunolabeled cells were scattered in the granular layer. Around the Purkinje cells numerous small satellite cells were immunostained that sent faintly labeled radial fibers through the molecular layer. These cells were thus identified as Golgi epithelial cells with their Bergmann fibers. Purkinje cells were not labeled either at the cell body or at the nerve ending levels. In the molecular layer no cells were found consistently and convincingly immunolabeled that could correspond to the stellate cells. No immunopositive punctae typical of the interneuron nerve endings were ever observed. A significant cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase activity was also measured in glial cell fractions enriched in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes respectively. The glial localization of taurine biosynthesis enzyme in the cerebellum does not support the hypothesis that it could be involved in neurotransmission, but rather suggests that taurine is manufactured by glial cells and accordingly may play a physiological role in relation to glial function.

Animals↗

Morphofunctional evidence for the involvement of hypothalamic dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons in the mechanisms of photoperiod-dependent prolactin release in the mink.

This study was designed to examine possible relationships between the photoperiodic regulation of prolactin secretion and the activity of dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons projecting to the external layer of the median eminence. The study was carried out on the mink whose remarkable photosensitivity has been clearly demonstrated. The animals were reared in short (4L:20D) or long (20L:4D) photoperiods. The experiment began in November when day length is short (9.5 h). Dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons were studied using immunocytochemical methods allowing evaluation of the immunoreactivities of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), which are respective markers of these neurons. The results were quantified by image analysis. The plasma prolactin level of animals maintained in 4L:20D decreased after 60 days and TH and GAD immunoreactivity were strongly stimulated. After 110 days, the prolactin concentration and TH and GAD immunoreactivity recovered their starting levels. In animals maintained in 20L:4D, the prolactin level was 3 times higher than at the beginning of the photoperiodic treatment but only dopaminergic neurons showed a change, i.e. a decrease in immunoreactivity. At the end of the experiment, prolactin secretion was no longer affected by the stimulatory effect of long-day treatment, and TH immunoreactivity remained low. These results confirm the generally accepted concept that dopaminergic neurons are potent PIF-producing components. GABAergic hypothalamic system appears to be implicated in photoperiodic PRL regulation, but this remains to be clearly demonstrated.

Animals↗

Differential early time course activation of the brainstem catecholaminergic groups in response to various stresses.

The effects of various stressors (restraint, ether, histamine and insulin-induced hypoglycemia stress) on the early time course activation of the different catecholaminergic (CA) cell groups A1/C1, A2/C2 and locus ceruleus (LC) from the brainstem were studied. The activity of the central noradrenergic neurons was assessed by measuring in tissue punches the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) level, a side metabolite of noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline biosynthesis that is thought to reflect the activity of NA cells. Short 5 min restraint stress led to an immediate increase of DOPAC level in the three CA groups. In the A1/C1 and A2/C2 groups the maximal increase, respectively +75 and +50%, was already reached at the end of the application of the stress while for the LC the maximum (+84%) was obtained 15 min after the onset of the stress. Return to baseline level was achieved within 2 h. Continuous immobilization stress did not further alter the DOPAC concentration in the LC and the A1/C1 while a progressive increase up to 85% in the A2/C2 group was seen over 20 min. Following a 2-min exposure to ether, DOPAC was increased in all three structures within 5 min. At this time the maximum was already reached in the A1/C1 and LC, respectively +99 and +43%. After histamine or insulin injection DOPAC level increased in the A1/C1 and A2/C2 in the +25/+50% range but was not significantly affected in the LC. In all the stress situations studied the increase in DOPAC level, particularly in the A1/C1 group always preceded or was concomitant to the increase of plasma corticosterone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Specific antiserum and monoclonal antibodies against the taurine biosynthesis enzyme cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase: identity of brain and liver enzyme.

Cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD), the putative biosynthetic enzyme for taurine, was purified 1,800-fold with a 1% yield from rat liver, where it was found to be 20-fold enriched compared with brain. The final fraction was homogeneous, as ascertained through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse-phase HPLC. An antiserum was raised in the rabbit that (a) quantitatively immunoprecipitated CSD activity and (b) immunolabeled only one band (MW = 51,000) on an immunoblot from liver homogenate. Monoclonal antibodies were also raised that recognized the CSD protein and immunolabeled the same 51-kilodalton protein on an immunoblot from liver homogenate. In a brain extract, two CSD activities had been previously found and named CSDI and CSDII, according to their chromatographic elution patterns. We have compared the properties of CSDI from brain--the most likely enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of taurine in the brain, according to previous investigations-and CSD from liver: Both activities (a) were similarly eluted on ion-exchange and hydroxyapatite chromatographies, (b) showed the same elution pattern on gel filtration with an apparent native molecular weight of approximately 63,000, and (c) were immunoprecipitated in a strictly identical manner by the antiserum against liver CSD. Moreover, this antiserum as well as the monoclonal antibodies immunolabeled a single band (51 kilodaltons) on an immunoblot from brain CSD-enriched fraction or liver fraction. All these data show that CSDI from brain and liver CSD are the same monomeric enzyme. They also indicate that a specific antiserum against rat liver CSD has been raised that can be used for immunocytochemical visualization of CSD-containing cells in the brain.

Animals↗

Comparison through immunoblotting of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) from newborn and adult rat brain.

Immunochemical characterization of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) from brain extracts of newborn and adult rats was investigated using a GAD antiserum that was previously raised against brain GAD from adult rats. According to the immunoprecipitation and saturation curves, no significant differences could be found as to the recognition of newborn and adult GAD by the antiserum. On immunoblots, both extracts revealed the same two immunolabelled bands (mol.wt. 59,000 and 62,000 +/- 2000 Da). In both cases, the lightest band showed the strongest staining. Quantitative analysis of the immunolabelling indicated that each immunolabelled band was enriched about 10-fold in the adult brain extract. These data did not reveal any difference between newborn and adult GAD that was reminiscent of the difference found in an earlier study between GAD from lower and higher vertebrates. Whatever the regulatory mechanism responsible for the presence of two forms of GAD in the adult brain, it is already fully operative in newborn animals.

Aging↗

GABAergic biochemical parameters of the tuberoinfundibular neurons following chronic hyperprolactinemia.

The effect of chronic hyperprolactinemia was studied on (a) GABA concentration in the pituitary anterior lobe; (b) GABA biosynthesis enzyme, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity in the hypothalamic median eminence, and (c) GABA degradation enzyme GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) activity at both levels. In male rats bearing the prolactin-secreting tumor MtTF4 for 1 month or treated for 5 days with estradiol benzoate, the plasma prolactin concentration was markedly increased (between 4- and 10-fold basal values). In both cases, GABA concentration was significantly increased (40-60%) in the anterior pituitary lobe. A slight reduction (20-30%) in GABA-T activity was observed in the anterior lobe while no change in GAD or GABA-T activity was measured in the median eminence. These results are discussed in relationship to a possible feedback input of prolactin on the tuberoinfundibular GABAergic system.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗

Molecular cloning, expression and in situ hybridization of rat brain glutamic acid decarboxylase messenger RNA.

A cDNA library was generated in the expression vector lambda GT11 from rat brain poly(A)+ RNAs and screened with a GAD antiserum. Two clones reacted positively. One of them was shown to express a GAD activity which was specifically trapped on anti-GAD immunogel and was inhibited by gamma-acetylenic-GABA. Blot hybridization analysis of RNAs from rat brain revealed a single 4 kilobases band. Preliminary in situ hybridizations showed numerous cells labelled by the GAD probe such as the Purkinje and stellate cells in the cerebellar cortex and the cells of the reticular thalamic nucleus.

Animals↗

Taurine biosynthesis in rat brain in vivo: lack of relationship with cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase glutamate decarboxylase-associated activity (GAD/CSDII).

Two distinct forms of cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD), respectively, CSDI and CSDII, have already been separated in rat brain. One of them, CSDII, appeared to be closely associated with glutamate decarboxylase (GAD). We have investigated whether the taurine concentration in brain was dependent on CSDII activity in vivo. CSDI and CSDII activities were specifically measured in crude brain extracts after selective immunotrapping. After 4 days of chronic treatment of mice with gamma-acetylenic gamma-aminobutyric acid, a drastic and identical decrease in CSDII and GAD activities was observed in the brain. Taurine concentration and CSDI activities were not significantly altered. Following striato-nigral pathway lesioning in the rat brain, GAD and CSDII show an identical 80% decrease in the substantia nigra. In contrast, CSDI activity and taurine concentration in the substantia nigra were similarly but only slightly affected with an about 30% decrease. Our results provide further evidence that GAD and CSDII are indeed the same enzyme. They show that CSDII does not play any role in the biosynthesis of taurine in vivo. Our findings suggest that CSDI might be the biosynthetic enzyme for taurine in vivo and that there might be some endings projecting into the substantia nigra that contain CSDI and taurine.

Alkynes↗

Evidence for two distinct forms of native glutamic acid decarboxylase in rat brain soluble extract: an immunoblotting study.

Immunoblots of the soluble proteins from a rat brain high-speed supernatant dissociated under reducing conditions showed two monomers (molecular weights, 59,000 and 62,000 +/- 2,000) immunolabeled by a glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antiserum. In this extract, a GAD monoclonal antibody trapped the same two monomers, thus confirming that they are both constitutive subunits of GAD. Without treatment under reducing conditions, two additional bands were stained by immunoblotting. Their molecular weights were estimated to be 115,000 and 122,000 +/- 5,000. These results demonstrate the presence, in rat brain soluble extract, of two distinct forms of native GAD. They further support our previous hypothesis that each form is composed by the homodimeric association of each constitutive subunit through disulfide bridges.

Animals↗

GABAergic regulation of melanocyte-stimulating hormone secretion from the pars intermedia of Xenopus laevis: immunocytochemical and physiological evidence.

alpha-MSH secretion from the amphibian pars intermedia is under inhibitory hypothalamic control, and the catecholamine dopamine is thought to be the physiological MSH release-inhibiting factor. In the present study we evaluated the possible role of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the regulation of the pars intermedia of Xenopus laevis. Immunocytochemical staining with antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase showed the presence of a rich GABAergic network in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland. Administration of GABA to superfused neurointermediate lobes caused a rapid and dose-dependent inhibition of basal release of MSH and immunoreactive endorphin. Pulse-chase experiments revealed that GABA gave a coordinate inhibition of the release of all peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin. In vivo administration of GABA resulted in almost complete pigment aggregation in dermal melanophores of both adults and larvae. Altogether, our results indicate that GABA is a physiologically important factor for regulation of the pars intermedia in Xenopus laevis.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗