Biomedical subjects

R S da Silva

Publications and source records attributed to R S da Silva.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1986

Characterization of the insulin-binding sites in turtle thyroid microsomes.

The characteristics of the specific binding of labelled insulin to turtle thyroid microsomes were investigated. Binding experiments were performed in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4) at 25 or 4 degrees C for different periods of time. Dissociation of the labelled insulin from the binding sites was also evaluated. It was found that the binding is dependent on time, temperature and microsomal protein concentration, with an optimum pH of 8.0. Unlabelled insulin and pro-insulin competed with the labelled insulin, binding in direct proportion to their biological activities, while glucagon and growth hormones did not compete for the binding sites. Scatchard plot analysis established the presence of binding sites of high and low affinities, and the rate of dissociation of bound insulin was considerably increased by the addition of unlabelled insulin. Both results are compatible with a negative co-operativity site-site interaction model. Trypsin abolished the insulin binding. These findings indicate that the microsomes from the turtle thyroid gland contain specific binding sites for insulin. However, pre-incubation of microsomes with phospholipase C or S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), or incubation in the presence of 2 mol NaCl/l did not increase the specific insulin binding. Therefore, the binding properties are similar to those observed in mammalian insulin-responsive tissues except for the absence of the effects of 2 mol NaCl/l, phospholipase C or SAM, which suggests the absence of masked insulin-binding sites.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Specific uptake, dissociation, and degradation of 125I-labeled insulin in isolated turtle (Chrysemys dorbigni) thyroid glands.

Thyroid glands from turtles (Chrysemys dorbigni) pretreated with potassium iodide were incubated with 125I-insulin in the presence or absence of unlabeled insulin, in order to study its specific uptake. At 24 degrees, the specific uptake reached a plateau at 180 min of incubation. The dose of bovine insulin that inhibited 50% of the 125I-insulin uptake was 2 micrograms/ml of incubation medium. Most of the radioactive material (71%) extracted from the gland, after 30 min incubation with 125I-insulin, eluted in the same position as labeled insulin on Sephadex G-50. Only 24% eluted in the salt position. After 240 min incubation, increased amount of radioactivity appeared in the Na125I position. When bovine insulin was added together with the labeled hormone, a substantial reduction of radioactivity was observed in the insulin and Na125I elution positions. Dissociation studies were performed at 6 degrees in glands preincubated with 125I-insulin either at 24 or 6 degrees. The percentage of trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble radioactive material in the dissociation medium increased with incubation time at both temperatures. However, the degradation activity was lower at 6 than at 24 degrees. The addition of bovine insulin to the incubation buffer containing 125I-insulin reduced the radioactive degradation products in the dissociated medium. Chloroquine or bacitracin inhibited the degradation activity. Incubation of thyroid glands with 125I-hGH or 125I-BSA showed values of uptake, dissociation, and degradation similar to those experiments in which an excess of bovine insulin was added together with the labeled hormone. Thus, by multiple criteria, such as specific uptake, dissociation, and degradation, the presence of insulin-binding sites in the turtle thyroid gland may be suggested.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Structural changes in composite resins identified using Lugol's solution].

The authors studied the staining of specimens of composite resins, when they were immersed in Lugol solution. In this study, we related chemical and photo-activated resins, and the estructure modifications were analysed in relation to the consulted bibliography. The use of Lugol solution showed a practical way to identify the possible modifications in the polymeric structure of the composite resins.

Composite Resins↗