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Biomedical subjects

P H Snell

Publications and source records attributed to P H Snell.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Is there consensus on the placement of older adults?

In implementing Caring for People, local authorities and health authorities must decide the most appropriate source of provision of long-stay residential care for older adults. A review of the planning and funding arrangements introduced by Caring for People was conducted, referenced by professional opinion, to find how far a consensus on the above could be achieved.

Aged

Characterization of bradykinin receptors solubilized from rat uterus and NG108-15 cells.

In this paper we report the solubilization of bradykinin B2 binding sites from membranes prepared from NG 108-15 tumours and rat uterus with retention of binding activity. Digitonin was found to solubilize the receptors from both tissues, and the addition of CHAPS increased the yield of soluble receptor from rat uterus only. The affinity of a range of bradykinin analogues has been shown to have the same rank order for both the soluble and membrane receptors from both tissues, and in corresponding functional assays. In addition, the binding of bradykinin ligands to the soluble and membrane receptors is similarly modulated by the presence of sodium ions. We conclude that the soluble binding sites correspond to the physiological bradykinin B2 receptor present in these tissues.

Animals

Construction of a physiologically active photoaffinity probe based on the structure of bradykinin: labelling of angiotensin converting enzyme but not candidate bradykinin receptors on NG108-15 cells.

The peptides bradykinin and kallidin are released in response to noxious stimuli and mediate various physiological effects, including a direct stimulation of nociceptive afferent neurones. The nature of the receptor molecules through which these ligands act is presently unknown. We synthesised an iodinatable photoaffinity probe, N epsilon-4-azidosalicylylkallidin, and used it in an attempt to identify candidate bradykinin receptors on the NG108-15 neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cell line. The ligand bound in subdued light to a particulate fraction of NG108-15 tumours and could be displaced by bradykinin with an IC50 of 0.33 nM. In a physiological assay, it behaved as an agonist equipotent with bradykinin. Gel analysis of the labelled products after photolysis of the iodinated ligand in the presence of NG108-15 cells or tumour membranes revealed bradykinin-blockable labelling of a glycoprotein with an Mr of 166,000. The probe was also able to label purified commercial angiotensin converting enzyme. The band labelled in NG108-15 cells was immunoprecipitable with a polyclonal antiserum to angiotensin converting enzyme, an enzyme shown to be present in low amounts in these preparations by direct binding using the iodinatable specific ligand MK351A.

Affinity Labels

Stereospecific binding sites for [3H]nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in the rat brain.

NAD is a potent inhibitor of electrical activity in the dentate gyrus of the guinea pig hippocampus. NAD is rapidly degraded by an NADase enzyme present on synaptosomal membranes that we have recently found to be inhibited by nicotinamide mononucleotide. In this report we have characterised the binding sites present on brain membranes for [3H]NAD in the presence of this inhibitor. We have demonstrated two binding sites of KdS 49 nM and 4.26 microM that are modulated by GTP. From structure-activity studies we have shown the binding to be stereospecific for the beta-isomer of NAD requiring the whole of the molecule for full receptor affinity. The binding sites are distinct from those reported for adenosine and their presence has significance for the physiological role of NAD in the mammalian brain.

Animals

Degradation of NAD by synaptosomes and its inhibition by nicotinamide mononucleotide: implications for the role of NAD as a synaptic modulator.

We have found NAD to be rapidly degraded by extracellular enzymes present on intact rat brain synaptosomes. The enzyme involved had the specificity of an NADase cleaving the molecule at the nicotinamide-glycoside linkage and was inhibited by nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). This inhibitor did not displace specific binding of NAD to rat brain membranes or affect electrical activity in the guinea pig hippocampus. Therefore, inclusion of NMN in binding assays allowed unambiguous demonstration of two specific NAD binding sites on rat brain synaptosomal membranes (KD1, 82 nM, KD2, 1.98 microM). The depressant action of NAD on the evoked synaptic activity of the guinea pig hippocampus was not blocked after inhibition of NAD degradation with NMN. The physiological implications of these results for the function of NAD as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the CNS are discussed.

Adenosine

Benzodiazepines modulate the A2 adenosine binding sites on 108CC15 neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells.

We have demonstrated high affinity diazepam binding sites of the Ro5-4864 benzodiazepine receptor subtype on 108CC15 neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells. These cells were previously shown to have purinoceptors of the A2 adenosine subtype and we have now found that [3H]-adenosine can be displaced from this binding site by the benzodiazepines and related compounds that can also bind to the Ro5-4864 site. Diazepam was found to have no intrinsic activity at the A2-receptor as measured by the stimulation of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) production in this cell line. At concentrations sufficient to compete for the A2-receptor, diazepam was shown to facilitate, by approximately 2 fold, the stimulation of cyclic AMP by adenosine. These effects are not due to inhibition of adenosine uptake or phosphodiesterase activity, but are probably a consequence of modulation of the coupling of the A2-receptor to cyclic AMP production in this hybrid cell line.

Animals

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide depresses synaptic transmission in the hippocampus and has specific binding sites on the synaptic membranes.

The electrical activity of transverse slices of hippocampus was used as a bioassay in which extracts of fresh brain tissue were screened for biological activity. A factor that depressed synaptic transmission was identified as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). This depressant action of NAD could be observed at concentrations in the range 1-10 microM and the degree of depression was monotonically related to the concentration of NAD in the bathing medium. NAD did not affect the antidromic invasion of the granule cells nor did it alter the relationship between the electrically evoked excitatory postsynaptic field potential (e.p.s.p.) and the population discharge of the granule cells (population spike). These results suggest that NAD did not affect the electrical excitability of the neuronal membranes. NAD had little effect on the sensitivity of granule cells to iontophoretically applied L-glutamate, the putative excitatory transmitter for the perforant path-granule cell pathway. Pure synaptosomal membranes, free of mitochondria, had two binding sites for NAD: a high affinity site with a Kd of 1 microM and a low affinity site with a Kd of 17 microM. These sites were similar in affinity to those of mitochondria, although the density of the high affinity sites was 5 X greater in the synaptosomal membranes. Adenosine had a relatively weak affinity for the NAD binding sites. It was concluded that NAD probably depressed synaptic transmission in the dentate gyrus by binding to sites on the presynaptic nerve terminal and reducing the amount of transmitter released by a nerve impulse. The physiological significance of this view is discussed.

Animals