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Biomedical subjects

R Tavolaro

Publications and source records attributed to R Tavolaro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Morphological and functional variations of Leydig cells in testis of the domestic pig during the different biological stages of development.

The relationship of morphometrical and androgen receptor evaluations of the main testicular interstitium cellular element (Leydig cells) in the domestic pig provided interesting numerical and morphological features during the different aging stages. As early as 25 days (a period in which the pig is sexually immature) there was a low number of Leydig cells (1.46 x 10(8)) with respect to a 78% and 35% increase in the adult (2.48 x 108) and aged (1.78 x 10(8)) animal, respectively. Interestingly, when the volume density of Leydig cells was considered, the average volume of these cells seemed to be high (75%) in the aged pig with respect to the young immature animal whereas a lower increase (27%) was observed for the adult animal. Moreover, the evaluation of testosterone receptor binding sites in the testis at the various stages of development also displayed a differentiated pattern since elevated testosterone receptor binding levels of the high dissociation affinity type were obtained for the adult pig. Thus, from the combined morphological variations of Leydig cells and testosterone receptor binding activity, it appears that this androgenic receptor component exerts distinct autocrine effects on the different functional features of some testicular tissue constituents at the different aging stages of the domestic pig.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2000

Dimorphic features of the different alpha-containing GABA-A receptor subtypes in the cortico-basal ganglia system of two distantly related mammals (hedgehog and rat)

This investigation represents a first study dealing with the dimorphic differences of the main alpha-containing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptors in the brain of two distantly related mammals (hedgehog and rat). The labeling of these receptors in the presence of zolpidem (highly selective benzodiazepine agonist) and under the different degree of GABA(A)/benzodiazepine allosteric coupling activities accounted for a heterogeneous colocalization of alpha1-enriched and of alpha2/3-enriched and alpha5-enriched GABA(A) receptors in some areas of the cortico-basal ganglia system (including the important ventrolateral thalamic station) of both mammalian sexes. In the hedgehog, the greatest (P<0.001) GABA-dependent reduction of zolpidem inhibition constants was mostly registered in alpha1- and/or alpha5-enriched areas, such as the frontoparietal cortex lamina III (235%), ventrolateral thalamic nucleus (128%), and substantia nigra pars reticulata (110%) of the male. However, the greatest reductions in the rat were instead detected in the male substantia nigra pars reticulata (192%) and female striatum (120%), areas which are enriched either by the colocalization of alpha1- with alpha2/3-subunits or by all three alpha-subunits. These results support the contention that a sex-related alpha-containing GABA(A) receptor sensitivity constitutes an important element in the execution of skilled motor activities during the different socio-sexual behaviors of the two mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Immunoscintigraphy of atherosclerotic uncomplicated lesions in vivo with a monoclonal antibody against D-dimers of insoluble fibrin.

To test the effectiveness of a new F(ab')2 monoclonal antibody against human fragment D-dimer of cross-linked fibrin in the detection of uncomplicated atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid vessel previously documented at echo-color-Doppler and selective arteriographic study, 8 patients underwent a scintigraphic study including dynamic and early and delayed (3 h later) static imaging of the neck after injection of a bolus of 99mTc-labeled monoclonal antibody, and were subsequently operated. Vessel specimens and blood samples were drawn at operation and counted. No adverse reaction occurred after administration of the monoclonal antibody. The atherosclerotic lesion appeared as a focal area of asymmetrical tracer uptake, already visible at early images in four patients, and at delayed images in five. The average tracer uptake ratio between pathological and normal vessels was 1.40+0.24 (P < 0.05) at time-activity curves derived from dynamic images, 2.17+/-0.97 (P < 0.05) at early static images and 2.05+/-0.98 (P < 0.05) at delayed static images, respectively. Mean vessel to blood uptake rate of specimens obtained at operation was 2.22+/-0.59 (P < 0.001). The study shows that the 99mTc-labeled antibody was found to be safe and capable of detecting atherosclerotic plaques in humans.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Immunoscintigraphy of venous thrombi: clinical effectiveness of a new antifibrin D-dimer monoclonal antibody.

Safety and thrombus imaging capabilities of the 99mTc-labeled form of a new F(ab')2 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against fragment D dimers from cross-linked human fibrin, previously shown to be effective labeled to 131I in detecting venous thrombi in the rabbit, were investigated. Sixteen patients (seven men, mean age: 60+/-7 years) with deep (n = three) and superficial (n = 13) venous thromboses of the lower limbs documented at echo-Doppler study underwent, 24 hours before saphenous vein stripping, a scintigraphic study after IV injection of the 99mTc-MoAb (1,129+/-275 MBq/mL), acquiring dynamic images, as well as early and delayed static images of lower limbs. Tracer activity was compared in normal and pathologic areas. At the operation, vessel wall including the thrombotic lesion was isolated, weighed, and counted. Blood radioactivity and MoAb concentration were also measured. No adverse reaction was observed after MoAb administration. Thrombus site appeared as a focal area (hot spot) of asymmetrically increased tracer uptake, already detectable at early images in all patients. All thrombi detected at echo-Doppler study (n=25) were confirmed at scintigraphic study, which showed four additional hot spots subsequently confirmed to represent thrombi at operation. Average percent ratio between pathologic and normal regions was 1.51+/-1.34 (p < 0.05) at time-activity curves, 2.27+/-1.1 (p < 0.05) at early static images, and 2.15+/-1.2 (p < 0.05) at delayed images, respectively. Thrombus-to-blood uptake ratio was 4.3+/-0.9 (p < 0.01). The F(ab')2 MoAb proved to be safe, and low levels of antimouse antibodies were detected in response, although further studies are needed to assess tolerance and effectiveness in case of a second administration in the same patient. The 99mTc-labeled MoAb was very effective in identifying venous thromboses both at deep and superficial localizations, although its sensitivity and specificity need be evaluated in a more numerous group, including also patients with different and clinically more relevant localizations, such as caval thromboses. However, the possibility of obtaining high-quality images within 4 hours of MoAb administration is clinically relevant, and carries also therapeutic implications, especially in pulmonary thromboembolism.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1998

Preoperative identification of viable myocardium: effectiveness of nitroglycerine-induced changes in myocardial Sestamibi uptake.

In order to predict tissue viability in infarcted myocardial areas, changes induced by nitroglycerine infusion on Sestamibi myocardial uptake were evaluated in 37 patients with previously confirmed myocardial infarction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, and compared with echocardiographic and perfusional changes occurring after the operation. The improvement of Sestamibi uptake after nitroglycerine correctly classified 24/26 (92%) patients showing postoperative improvement of wall motion in the infarcted area, whereas 24/31 (77%) patients with nitroglycerine-induced increase in Sestamibi uptake had improved wall motion after operation. The presence of collateral flow to the infarcted area was associated with a significantly (P < 0.01) higher increase in Sestamibi uptake both during nitroglycerine infusion and postoperatively. An increase in wall motion score after operation was associated with a significantly higher (P < 0.05) increase in Sestamibi uptake score during nitroglycerine infusion. Thus, the results of this study suggest that Sestamibi perfusional myocardial scintigraphy during nitroglycerine infusion is capable of assessing viable but chronically hypoperfused myocardium and predicting postoperative wall motion and perfusional improvement, to yield the best results in patients with evidence of collateral circulation that supplies the infarcted area.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Dimorphic distribution of the two main GABA(A) binding sites in cortical and limbic areas of a rodent living in natural environmental conditions.

Labeling of the two more important gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABA(A)) supramolecular sites with [3H] muscimol (GABA(A)) and [3H] flunitrazepam (benzodiazepine) provided saturable, stable, and dimorphic binding activities in cortical and limbic regions of the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus. Of the cortical layers, which contained the highest [3H] muscimol binding levels, only the female lamina V supplied a greater (51%; P <0.01) receptor density than in the male. Areas of the limbic system instead proved to be the more favorable targets for differential GABA(A) binding levels. The highest (P <0.001) and higher levels were found in the oriens-pyramidalis CA1 layer of the hippocampus (65%) and in the vertical limb diagonal band-medial septal nucleus (48%), basolateral amygdala nucleus (45%), and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (43%), respectively, of the female. A similar pattern was obtained for [3H]flunitrazepam binding activity, especially in the presence of GABA. The highest and higher binding activities were obtained in the female central amygdala nucleus (78%) and in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (52%), basolateral amygdala nucleus (48%), and oriens-pyramidalis CA1 layer of the hippocampus (47%), respectively, whereas higher levels were observed only in the male vertical limb diagonal band-medial septal nucleus (56%). Even in the cortical regions, the female exhibited higher (42%; cortex lamina V) and moderately higher (38%; cortex lamina VI) levels, with binding differences in the latter site plus in the basolateral amygdala nucleus occurring in a GABA-nondependent manner. From the saturation binding analyses it was possible to reveal that both maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) and mean dissociation constant (K(D)) modifications were responsible for receptor differences of the two GABAergic sites. These findings tend to suggest that dimorphic variations of the GABA(A) supramolecular sites, in some cortical and limbic regions, are strongly involved in sex-specific aggressive and reproductive activities of rodents living in their natural habitats.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial tomography based on dipyridamole echocardiography testing in hypertensive patients with chest pain.

The non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease in hypertensives with chest pain is an important clinical concern because all exercise-dependent tests display limited feasibility and diagnostic accuracy; by contrast, dipyridamole echocardiography testing has been shown to have a similar feasibility and accuracy in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic capability of technetium-99m sestamibi tomography based on dipyridamole echocardiography testing in hypertensives with chest pain, and to compare the scintigraphic results with those of coronary angiography, exercise electrocardiography and dipyridamole echocardiography. Forty subjects with mild to moderate hypertension, chest pain and no previous myocardial infarction were submitted to 99mTc-sestamibi tomography (at rest and after high-dose dipyridamole echocardiography) and to exercise electrocardiography testing. At coronary angiography 22 patients (group A) had significant epicardial coronary artery disease (>/=70% stenosis of at least one major vessel) and 18 normal main coronary vessels (group B). Dipyridamole 99mTc-sestamibi imaging was positive in 21/22 patients of group A and in 5/18 of group B. Dipyridamole echocardiography was positive in 18/22 patients of group A and in 5/18 of group B. Exercise electrocardiography was positive in 15/22 patients of group A and in 11/18 of group B. Four out of five subjects in group B with positive results in all the tests showed a slow run-off of angiographic contrast medium, probably due to small-vessel disease. Significant epicardial coronary artery disease in hypertensives with chest pain is unlikely when dipyridamole 99mTc-sestamibi tomography is negative. When scintigraphy is positive, either epicardial coronary artery disease or a small-vessel disease condition is possible. The association of scintigraphy with dipyridamole echocardiography testing allows the assessment of contractile function and myocardial perfusion by a single pharmacological stress.

Chest Pain↗
PubMed1997

99Tcm-sestamibi scintimammography in patients with suspicious breast lesions: comparison of SPET and planar images in the detection of primary tumours and axillary lymph node involvement.

Planar scintimammography with 99Tcm-sestamibi (99Tcm-MIBI) has been shown to be useful in diagnosing breast carcinoma. The aim of this study was to compare single photon emission tomography (SPET) and planar imaging for scintimammography with 99Tcm-MIBI in the detection of primary breast cancer and axillary lymph node involvement. Sixty-three females with mammographically suspicious lesions and 12 controls were evaluated. Dynamic images were acquired commencing immediately after the injection of the radiopharmaceutical, followed by multiple planar images in the supine and prone positions plus SPET supine imaging. A final histopathological diagnosis was achieved after surgery. A total of 66 breast lesions were considered. No focal uptake of 99Tcm-MIBI was observed in the breasts or axillas of the controls. In the patients with breast cancer, the sensitivity was 92.9% (39/42) for SPET, 71.4% (30/42) for supine and 85.7% (36/42) for prone planar imaging, respectively; the specificity was 87.5% for SPET and 91.6% for the planar scans. Metastatic axillary lymph node involvement was seen in 19 patients: the sensitivity was 84.2% (16/19) for SPET and 63.2% (12/19) for planar images; the specificity was 91.3% and 95.7% respectively. Our results confirm the high diagnostic accuracy of 99Tcm scintimammography in the diagnosis of breast cancer, and suggest that SPET is more sensitive than planar images, especially in detecting axillary lymph node involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

99mTc anti-D-dimer MoAb detects venous thrombi in man.

Authors' work is based on the ability of a 99mTc labelled antibody (MoAb) against D-Dimer (D-D) to visualize thrombi in man. D-Dimer is a specific epitope created during the cross-linking process of fibrin strains. Five normal volunteers and 5 patients with leg varices were given 10 mCi of 99mTc anti-D-Dimer MoAb (research approved by our Ethical Committee). Each patient gave his informed consent. Scintigraphic images were taken at 5, 60, 180 min. No adverse reaction was observed. Two patients underwent saphenous stripping 3 hrs after injection, in the other 4 patients scintigraphic images were acquired at 6 and 8 hrs. Twelve hot spots were visualized. Of these, 5 were localized during operation with a pencil-like probe and exsected. Specific activity of exsected thrombi, saphenal walls and blood samples was measured. Thrombus to vein wall ratio of 2.2 +/- 0.6 and a thrombus to blood of 3.1 +/- 0.8 was measured. In non operated patients the best scintigraphic images were obtained between 60 and 180 min. 99mTc anti-D-Dimer MoAb is a promising agent for localization of thrombi.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

Effects of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on benzodiazepine binding in some limbic areas of hyperlipidaemic rats.

Quantitative autoradiography techniques were used to evaluate the chronic effects of the potent nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, on the binding pattern of [3H]flunitrazepam (benzodiazepine agonist) in some behaviorally key limbic areas of the genetic hyperlipidaemic Pittsburg Yoshida rat. Administration of this potent synthase inhibitor was capable of supplying higher and moderately higher binding levels in the basolateral amygdala nucleus (+52%) and in the oriens-pyramidalis CA1 hippocampus layer (+38%), respectively. When we tested for the binding changes in the presence of GABA (principal benzodiazepine modulator) we noticed that a physiological concentration (20 microM) of this inhibitory neurotransmitter was sufficient to induce notable changes in other limbic areas. In fact, lower binding values (-65%) were reported for the bed nucleus of stria terminalis whereas moderately higher values (+38%) were obtained for the radiatum-lacunosum molecular CA1 hippocampus layer. From the saturation studies, it was possible to observe that the major receptor variations provoked by the potent synthase inhibitor were not only due to changes in the total number of binding sites because there were variations, as in the case of the basolateral amygdala nucleus, that were instead due to differences in the affinity binding state. These results provide evidences of a GABAergic-nitric oxide synthase inhibitor interaction that might also be involved in the regulation of convulsive, anxiolytic, and aggressive behaviors that are modulated at the benzodiazepine site.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Sexual dimorphism of GABAA receptor levels in subcortical brain regions of a woodland rodent (Apodemus sylvaticus).

This is the first report of quantitative autoradiography results showing sex differences of GABAA receptor levels in brain regions of a wild rodent (wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus) living in its natural habitat. The labeling of this GABAergic site with its specific high affinity radioligand [3H] muscimol provided a heterogeneous and dimorphic binding pattern in some of the neural centers. In the female, higher (> or = 50 < or = 65%) to moderately higher (< 50%) binding levels than in the male, even after correction of the specific binding values using the calculated quenching coefficients, were observed in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and ventral lateral thalamic nucleus, brain centers that are relays of motor circuits. In the male, on the other hand, a higher level was only obtained in the caudateputamen. Relays of the stria terminalis-hypothalamic-central gray pathway such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the pontine central gray and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, were among the other female brain areas with an extremely higher (> 65%) to higher and moderately higher binding activity than in the male. From the saturation analyses, it appeared that the binding differences were mainly due to Bmax variations, although closer examinations revealed that changes in the KD might have also accounted for [3H] muscimol binding differences, as shown by the high KD and Bmax values in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the substantia nigra pars reticulata and the pontine central gray of the female wood mouse. These findings suggest that the dimorphic binding activity of GABAA receptors in the above brain regions might be involved in neuronal circuitry mechanisms related to sex-specific social behaviors in rodents living in their natural environmental conditions.

Aggression↗
PubMed1996

SPECT improves accuracy of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in abdominal carcinoid tumors.

UNLABELLED: Abdominal carcinoid tumors are often small and difficult to localize. Somatostatin receptors have been detected in carcinoids, thus enabling their in vivo visualization by scintigraphy with 111In pentetreotide, a radiolabeled somatostatin analog. The aim of this study was to determine the value of 111In-pentetreotide SPECT in the detection of abdominal carcinoids and to compare these results with the outcomes from planar scans and conventional imaging techniques. METHODS: Eighteen patients with a present, or previously operated, abdominal carcinoid were evaluated. Abdominal SPECT scans were acquired 4 hr postinjection of 111In-pentetreotide and multiple planar views were performed at 4, 24, and 48 hr. RESULTS: No adverse reactions were observed after radiopharmaceutical injection. In 13 of 18 patients, abnormal sites of uptake were found by SPECT, which localized 9 abdominal extrahepatic lesions (in 7 patients) and 33 hepatic lesions (in 10 patients). No pathologic accumulation was seen in the five patients considered in complete remission after surgery. Planar scans visualized 5 abdominal extrahepatic sites (in 4 patients) and 21 liver tumor sites (in 7 patients), while conventional procedures detected 3 abdominal extrahepatic lesions (in 2 patients) and 30 hepatic lesions (in 7 patients). CONCLUSION: Indium-111-pentetreotide scintigraphy is a safe and practical procedure. SPECT appears to be more sensitive than planar scintigraphy and conventional methods to detect abdominal carcinoids; it can increase the number of visualized tumor sites and that of patients with positive findings and may therefore have a role not only in the mapping of tumor spread but also in therapeutic decisions.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of melatonin-binding sites in the brain of two amphibians: an autoradiographic study.

Neuroanatomic comparison of the binding capability of 2-[125I] iodomelatonin in the crested newt Triturus carnifex Laur. and the green frog Rana esculenta, using quantitative autoradiographic techniques, revealed a heterogeneous distribution pattern. The highest and relatively high binding activities were shown to occur in the optic tracts and in the suprachiasmatic area of the hypothalamus and the optic tectum, respectively, of both species. Low or no 2-[125I] iodomelatonin binding values were obtained in the preoptic nucleus, the tuberal hypothalamus, the medulla oblongata, the septum and the dorsal pallium. A differential binding pattern was observed in the amygdaloid nucleus pars lateralis, the striatum and the hindbrain of these amphibians. Indeed, notably high binding levels were shown to occur in the former two brain areas of the crested newt, whereas high levels were displayed in the latter brain region of the green frog. On the basis of elevated quantities of melatonin receptors in mesencephalic, hypothalamic and telencephalic sites, it seems plausible to ascribe some important sensory functions to this receptor system in both species. The remarkably different binding activities in the brain of the two amphibians could be correlated with the simpler cytoarchitectonic brain structure of urodeles and with species-specific variations.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Myocardial scintigraphy with 99mTc-sestamibi in children with Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis syndrome of early childhood. It involves particularly the coronary arteries and may cause aneurysms and thrombotic occlusions. Echocardiography is the most useful method of detecting coronary aneurysms. Nevertheless, obstructive lesions are difficult to evaluate and often need invasive coronary angiography. An important feature of this disease is the possibility of finding coronary pathology several years after the onset. This characteristic makes KD an important cause of coronary artery disease (CAD) in young adults. Thus patients with KD and previously diseased coronary arteries should be kept under long-term control. However, coronary angiography is invasive and cannot be performed repeatedly, especially in young patients. As an alternative, thallium 201 scintigraphy has been employed, but its low-energy photons are suboptimal for standard gamma-camera imaging, particularly in children aged less than three years. To verify the usefulness of a noninvasive assessment of myocardial perfusion, the authors used rest and dipyridamole 99mTc-Sestamibi scan in 15 children (ranging from one to six years of age) with Kawasaki's cardiac involvement. Coronary aneurysms have been demonstrated by echocardiography in 12 patients; 8 patients were also submitted to cardiac catheterization. The sensitivity of 99mTc-Sestamibi imaging for detection of overall coronary lesions was 88% and the specificity was 93%. These data suggest that rest/dipyridamole 99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy is an accurate and noninvasive method for the detection and follow-up of Kawasaki's cardiac damage even in patients aged one year.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Combined gonadal and photic influences on 2-[125I] iodomelatonin-binding level changes in some brain areas of the quail.

Quantitative receptor autoradiography was used to study the binding of 2-[125I] iodomelatonin in the brain of the castrated and gonadally intact male Japanese quail Coturnix japonica exposed to both long- and short-day photoperiod cycles. The distribution study displayed that these conditions were responsible for a heterogeneous binding pattern as shown by elevated receptor levels being located in visual brain centers, such as the stratum opticum, nucleus pretectalis, and nucleus geniculatus lateralis, pars ventralis, while lower values were found in the nucleus lateralis hypothalami and nucleus isthmi pars magnocellularis. Closer examination of the 2-[125I] iodomelatonin-binding pattern following the different gonadal and photic influences showed that combination of the gonadally intact condition and a 16L:8D (long-day) photoperiod cycle was required for the greater binding changes. These differences occurred in brain sites such as the area preoptica, paleostriatum primitivum, and nucleus ectomamillaris. Saturation binding studies, which were carried out only in some of the above areas, revealed that the combined gonadal- and photic-induced changes are basically due to the modifications of total number of binding sites. The importance of a gonadal steroid modulatory role in the photic-dependent melatonin binding activity suggests that other types of neuronal mechanisms might be involved in the regulation of neuroendocrine and socio-sexual behaviors in nonmammalian vertebrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Gonadal-GABAergic interaction is an important factor involved in photoperiod-induced 2-[125I] iodomelatonin binding changes in the Japanese quail brain.

The type of mechanism(s) by which melatonin alone and/or through the intervention of other putative neurotransmitters is able to control circadian rhythms remains unresolved. Comparison of 2-[125I]iodomelatonin binding pattern in the brain of castrated and gonadally intact Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), using quantitative receptor autoradiography, displayed that the combination of the intact gonadal condition and a long-day (16L:8D) photostimulatory schedule is responsible for major binding changes. In fact, high and low binding levels were obtained in the suprachiasmatic area and nucleus ectomamillaris (p < 0.01) and in the nucleus preopticus anterior and paleostriatum primitivum (p < 0.001), respectively. A gonadal modulatory role was not always evident in all brain areas as revealed by long-day photic cycles producing diminished (p < 0.01) binding levels in the anterior neostriatum and the nucleus rotundus of both castrated and gonadally intact animals, although elevated values were also found in the substantia grisea centralis (p < 0.05) of the same animals. Saturation binding studies revealed that gonadal and/or photic effects induce alterations in the number of binding sites, whereas the affinity constant varied only in some hypothalamic sites. Testing of GABAergic activity on 2-[125I] iodomelatonin binding levels showed that this inhibitory neurotransmitter was responsible for increasing low receptor values. Moreover, GABA-dependent influences were shown to be mediated via a GABAA receptor subtype since bicuculline (specific antagonist of this site) inhibited the elevated GABA-induced melatonin binding levels in the above brain sites of the gonadally intact quail exposed to both photoperiod cycles. Even in this case, melatonin binding changes were due to the variations in the number of binding sites. The apparent GABAergic-gonadal influence resulting in changes of the 2-[125I] iodomelatonin binding values, under the different photic conditions, provides evidences of other probable neural mechanisms that entrain circadian rhythmicity in neuroendocrine activities and in sociosexual behaviors.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The neuroanatomic binding pattern of [125I]atrial natriuretic factor in the Japanese quail brain.

Application of quantitative autoradiography technique provided a discrete anatomical distribution pattern of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, brain. The highest binding levels of [125I]ANF were shown to occur in telencephalon areas, such as fasciculus diagonalis Brocae (232 fmol/mg protein), septum (194 fmol/mg protein) and olfactory bulb (153 fmol/mg protein), and in posterior sites, such as nucleus interpeduncularis (177 fmol/mg protein), while lower levels (> 51 < 87 fmol/mg protein) were found in the hypothalamic sites of the diencephalon. The similar ANF receptor density levels in some brain areas of the quail as well as both mammalian and non-mammalian species suggest that this peptide might be involved in osmoregulatory activities (at the brain level) and furthermore indicate a probable functional conservation of ANF in vertebrates.

Animals↗