PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

U Lang

Publications and source records attributed to U Lang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Functional inhibition of protein kinase C-mediated effects in myocardial tissue is due to the phosphatase 2A.

An endogenous protein which inhibits protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated effects has been detected in rat heart ventricular tissue. This functional PKC-inhibitory activity was completely abolished by okadaic acid, making it possible to measure PKC activity in non-purified cell fractions. This suggests that the PKC-inhibitory activity is a type 1 or 2A serine/threonine phosphatase. Confirming this, membrane and cytosolic PKC-inhibitory preparations were found to contain phosphatase activity which was suppressed by okadaic acid, exhibiting an IC50 (concn. required for 50% inhibition) of 1.5-2 nM. Furthermore, okadaic acid stimulated prostacyclin production in rat cardiomyocytes and aortic smooth-muscle cells and, like the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, it augmented the prostacyclin formation induced by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Our results strongly suggest that the endogenous PKC 'inhibitor' is the cellular phosphatase 2A, which plays an important role in regulating the phosphorylation level of PKC target proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of prostacyclin production by [Ca2+]i and protein kinase C in aortic smooth muscle cells.

The respective roles of protein kinase C (PKC) and of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in prostacyclin synthesis were investigated in aortic smooth muscle cells by using A23187 and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to bypass the hormonal receptor. Exposure of the cells to A23187 markedly increased prostacyclin production, which was not affected by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine or by PKC depletion after prolonged incubation (48 h) of cells with PMA. The increase in [Ca2+]i induced by A23187 did not affect membranous or cytosolic PKC activity in control and PMA-stimulated cells. Activation of PKC by PMA, a weak stimulant of prostacyclin production by itself, strongly potentiated A23187-induced prostacyclin production, as well as that induced by the calcium-mobilizing hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP). The potentiating effect persisted for 30 min after the removal of PMA. However, this "memory" effect was not due to sustained levels of membranous PKC activity but probably to the prolonged influence of PKC-induced phosphorylation(s). Taken together, our results suggest that, although an increase in [Ca2+]i is sufficient for inducing prostacyclin production in rat aortic smooth muscle cells, activation of PKC is necessary for AVP-induced prostacyclin production in this same tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Foetal circulatory responses to arrest of uterine blood flow in sheep: effects of chemical sympathectomy.

Acute foetal asphyxia, caused by arrest of uterine blood flow, increases both sympathetic activity and peripheral vascular resistance and decreases blood flow to peripheral organs (Jensen et al., J. Dev. Physiol., 9, 543-559). The rapidity and uniformity of this peripheral vasoconstriction suggest that the sympatho-neuronal system may reflexly cause these initial blood flow changes during acute asphyxia. To test this hypothesis, we studied 5 intact and 6 chemically sympathectomized (6-hydroxy-dopamine, 46.1 +/- 6 mg/kg foetal weight) chronically prepared normoxaemic foetal sheep in utero at 0.9 of gestation. Organ blood flows (microsphere method), plasma concentrations of catecholamines, vasopressin, and angiotensin II, acid-base balance and blood gases were measured before, during and after arrest of uterine blood flow for 2 min, i.e., at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 30 min. In intact foetuses there was a progressive increase in arterial blood pressure and a rapid circulatory centralization in favour of the brain stem and heart and at the expense of most of the peripheral organs. The changes in peripheral blood flow during and after asphyxia were well reflected by those in the skin and scalp. In chemically sympathectomized foetuses, arterial blood pressure fell transiently at 1 min of asphyxia and cardiac output was redistributed towards the carcass and intestinal organs at the expense of the heart, spinal medulla, and placenta. We conclude that in foetal sheep at 0.9 of gestation, the short-term adaptation to arrest of uterine blood flow is a rapid and profound peripheral vasoconstriction to effect an increase in arterial blood pressure. This initial response during circulatory centralization, which is necessary to increase or maintain blood flow to the heart, brain stem, and placenta, is blunted by sympathectomy. Thus, the foetal sympatho-neuronal system is important for short-term adaptation to and intact survival of asphyxia.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1991

Effect of angiotensin II on cytosolic free calcium in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

The effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was studied in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. [Ca2+]i was estimated in groups of one to three cells by dual-wavelength microfluorometry or in cell populations using conventional fluorometry. ANG II (10(-8) M) produced an acute short-lived increase over the control basal diastolic [Ca2+]i and increased the frequency of the [Ca2+]i transients. The amplitude of the [Ca2+]i transients was decreased to 64.4% of basal values. The effect of ANG II on [Ca2+]i was blocked by the selective AT1 receptor subtype antagonist Du Pont 753 but not by the AT2 antagonist PD 123319. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ or blockade of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in cells cultured for 5-7 days abolished the [Ca2+]i transients, but only partially diminished the effect of ANG II on [Ca2+]i. Thapsigargin, an inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase, reduced or abolished the [Ca2+]i response to ANG II. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), 10(-6) and 10(-7) M, also decreased the amplitude of the Ca2+ transients similar to ANG II. Pretreatment with 10(-6) M PMA or 10(-6) M 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG) inhibited the initial rise in [Ca2+]i and the Ca2+ transients. Thus ANG II produces an acute rise in [Ca2+]i which is derived predominantly from sarcoplasmic reticulum intracellular stores. This acute effect is followed by a significant reduction in the amplitude for the Ca2+ transient and may be mediated by activation of protein kinase C.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1991

[Epidural blockade for analgesia and treatment of acute pancreatitis].

The effect of a fractional epidural blockade on acute pancreatitis was investigated in a prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Thoracic (20 patients) or lumbar (six patients) epidural blockade was carried out in 26 patients with severe abdominal conditions comprising sub-ileus in 100%, pancreatic edema indicated by sonography/computer tomography in 57.8%, and necrosis of the pancreas in 34.6%. RESULTS. On average, 3.4 (1-6) injections with single doses of 6-20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine were injected per day. In four patients, morphine (up to 4 mg per 24 h) was added to the local anesthetic. The duration of treatment was between 1 and 15 days. After 10.5% of the injections, the systolic pressure decreased by more than 20%, and after 12.8% of the injections the blood pressure decreased by more than 30%. Hypotension of more than 30% was treated with 0.3 to 0.5 ml theodrenaline (Akrinor) and/or 0.1 to 0.2 mg dihydro-ergotamine (Dihydergot). General analgesics had to be administered in addition on 21.8% of the treatment days and intensive care treatment (artificial ventilation) on 32% of the treatment days. The duration of epidural analgesia varied between 1 and 15 days depending on the intensity of symptoms (pain, ileus). Within 4 days, the enzyme activity of the lipase fell from 8120 to 427 IU, and that of alpha amylase fell from 1401 to 143 IU. In 3 patients laparotomy (for drainage) was performed. An ERCP was carried out in 16 patients. Cardiopulmonary failure necessitated artificial ventilation over a period of 1-15 days in 6 patients; the epidural blockade was continued during the artificial ventilation. Cholecystectomy was carried out as an interval operation in 6 patients. No neurological complications were observed. All patients survived and were discharged from hospital.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

[Transmembrane signal. Respective role of free cytosol calcium and of protein kinase C].

Angiotensin II (Ang II) belongs to the family of the calcium-mobilizing hormones which includes other vasoactive hormones such as vasopressin, endothelin, serotonin. Angiotensin can be considered as an archetype for ligands activating the calcium messenger system. Observation of the changes occurring in the two branches of the calcium messenger system--the inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate/calcium branch and the diacylglycerol/protein kinase branch--upon activation by Ang II in various target cells (adrenal zona glomerulosa cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes) emphasized common features but also revealed variation in the responses and in the interaction between the two branches (so-called cross-talk). For example, the use of single cell microfluorometry with fura-2 shows that, in adrenal glomerulosa cells, Ang II induces sinusoidal oscillations of cytosolic free calcium concentration which are typical of excitable cells; by contrast in vascular smooth muscle cells, one observes transient oscillations indicative of a mechanism of calcium-induced calcium release. Furthermore, the activation of protein kinase C by angiotensin II leads to negative feed-back mechanisms on the final biological response in adrenal cells and cardiomyocytes, whereas it has a potentiating effect in vascular smooth muscle cells. On-line video microscopy allows one to follow in real time the changes in cytosolic free calcium concentration in vascular smooth muscle cells and spontaneous beating cultured cardiomyocytes thereby revealing the spatial origin of the calcium "tide" spreading throughout the cytosol. The task is now to superimpose these calcium signals, these biochemical triggers and the framework of the cytoskeleton and intracellular organelles forming the stage of this play.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1990

Inhibitory and stimulatory effects of phorbol ester on vasopressin-induced cellular responses in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

In rat aortic smooth muscle cells, vasopressin (AVP) induces prostacyclin (PGI2) production, probably as the consequence of phospholipase C activation. Our study analyzes the effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced protein kinase C (PKC) activation on AVP-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation, cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]c), and PGI2 production. PMA rapidly decreased PKC activity in the cytosol of smooth muscle cells, while increasing it transiently in the membranes with a maximum around 20 min. Prior exposure of the cells to PMA resulted in a transient inhibition of both AVP-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation and [Ca2+]c rise. This was inversely correlated with membraneous PKC activity and partially reversed by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine. In contrast, pretreating the cells with PMA markedly potentiated A23187 or AVP-induced PGI2 production. Under those conditions, AVP-induced PGI2 production did not correlate either with PMA-induced membranous PKC activity or with AVP-induced PLC activation. However, this potentiating effect of PMA was reversed by staurosporine and was not mimicked by the 4 alpha-phorbol, an inactive analogue of PMA. Thus, the possibility is raised that, while inhibiting AVP-induced PLC activation, PMA-induced PKC activation increases the Ca2+ sensitivity of the cellular signaling system leading to PGI2 production.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1990

Postnatal development of nonpyramidal neurons in the rat hippocampus (areas CA1 and CA3): a combined Golgi/electron microscope study.

This study describes the morphological differentiation of nonpyramidal neurons in areas CA1 and CA3 of the rat hippocampus as seen after Golgi-impregnation. Representative neurons were gold-toned and processed for an electron microscopic study of identified cells. We analyzed the postnatal stages P0 (day of birth), P5, P10 and P20. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. On the day of birth nonpyramidal neurons display relatively large cell bodies with short, clumsy dendrites. Great variability of the shape of the cell body and of the orientation of dendrites was observed when compared with the more stereotyped pyramidal neurons. Electron microscopy of identified nonpyramidal neurons revealed small infoldings of the nuclear membrane and immature synapses on the short dendritic shafts of these cells. 2. Developing nonpyramidal neurons from P0 and P5 display growth cones, filopodia, preterminal growth buds, and irregular varicose swellings along the dendrites. 3. Further postnatal development of nonpyramidal neurons is mainly characterized by an increase in dendritic length, paralleled by a decrease in growth cones and preterminal growth buds. By means of the electron microscope an increase in the number of mature input synapses on the gold-toned dendritic shafts of identified nonpyramidal neurons was observed. 4. There is a significant developmental difference between nonpyramidal neurons in CA1 and CA3 that was most obvious on P5. Nonpyramidal neurons in CA3 appear more mature, displaying longer dendrites that sometimes traverse through several hippocampal layers. In contrast, the dendrites of nonpyramidal neurons in CA1 are still restricted to the layer of the parent cell body. The earlier differentiation of nonpyramidal neurons in CA3 may result from the earlier formation of neurons in CA3 than in CA1. Longer dendrites of nonpyramidal neurons in CA3, together with an earlier arrival of afferent fibers in this region, suggest that nonpyramidal neurons in CA3 are integrated into inhibitory hippocampal circuits earlier than their counterparts in CA1. 5. On P20, hippocampal nonpyramidal neurons showed all structural characteristics as observed in adult animals both at light and electron microscopic levels. It is concluded that the structural maturation of hippocampal nonpyramidal cells is completed by that postnatal age.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Mode of action of angiotensin II and vasopressin on their target cells.

In this short review, the cellular mode of action of angiotensin II and arginine-vasopressin is described with emphasis on the transmembrane signalling system. Two target cells are considered: the zona glomerulosa cell of the adrenal gland and the vascular smooth muscle cell. The information provided should help practitioners in endocrinology and hypertension to understand the physiological concepts which are expected to form the basis for future therapeutic developments.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1990

Effects of atrial natriuretic factor on angiotensin-II-and phorbol ester-stimulated protein kinase-C and prostacyclin production in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

The vasoconstrictor hormone angiotensin-II (AII) raises cytosolic free calcium and stimulates protein kinase-C (PKC) activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) directly activates PKC in these cells. Both of these agonists stimulate prostacyclin production. Several studies have shown that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) does not interfere with the AII-induced early calcium response. We, therefore, examined the effects of ANF on PKC activity and prostacyclin production in cultured rat aortic VSMC. PKC activity was determined in the membranous and cytosolic fractions after anion exchange chromatography. ANF (10(-7) M) inhibited by 44 +/- 3% and 39 +/- 8% the increase in membranous PKC activity induced by AII and PMA, respectively. ANF (10(-7) M) inhibited PMA-stimulated prostacyclin production, whereas AII-induced prostacyclin production remained unaffected. Thus, our results suggest that some biological effects induced by ANF in VSMC are mediated by an inhibition of membranous PKC activity.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1990

Synthetic tumor-associated glycopeptide antigens.

Glycopeptides with TN antigen (GalNAc)Ser/Thr and T-antigen structures (beta Gall-3GalNAc)Ser/Thr, described as tumor-associated antigens, were synthesized and coupled to bovine serum albumin. Alternatively, synthetic methods for the construction of beta-anomeric analogues of the TN and T-antigen glycopeptides were developed, aiming at antigenic structures having a varied stereochemistry of the linkage between the carbohydrate and the peptide moiety. As a further type of potential tumor-associated antigen, fucosyl-chitobiose asparagine glycopeptides were synthesized, deprotected, and coupled to bovine serum albumin. The chemical methods developed now make the complex sensitive glycoprotein partial structures accessible in analytically pure form and in preparative amounts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Alinidine antagonizes the myocardial effects of adenosine.

The bradycardiac drug alinidine (2.8-182.3 microM) antagonized the negative inotropic effect of adenosine in isolated left rat atria in a non-competitive fashion. A 50% reduction of the maximal adenosine effect was achieved with 64.6 microM alinidine. The shortening of the action potential duration and the suppression of slow action potentials in guinea pig atria by 1-10 microM adenosine could be abolished by 5.7 microM alinidine. Adenosine (1 mM) exerted a negative inotropic effect on isolated strips from the right ventricle of rat heart exposed to 0.36 microM isoproterenol, an effect which was fully antagonized by 91.1 microM alinidine. Addition of 1 mM adenosine to spontaneously beating isolated rat atria induced pronounced bradycardia. Under these conditions, the bradycardiac agent alinidine increased the contractile rate concentration dependently (11.4-182.3 microM), while the chemically unrelated bradycardiac compound UL-FS 49 did not accelerate the beat frequency. As alinidine antagonized all the cardiac actions of adenosine that we tested, it may be concluded that the drug interferes with A1-receptor-mediated effects.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1989

Effects of angiotensin II and of phorbol ester on protein kinase C activity and on prostacyclin production in cultured rat aortic smooth-muscle cells.

The role of the Ca2+-sensitive phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) was studied in cultured rat aortic smooth-muscle cells, known to respond to angiotensin II (Ang II) by producing prostacyclin, determined by the release of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha. PKC activity was measured in the cytosol and the solubilized membrane fraction after DEAE-cellulose chromatography using a linear NaCl gradient. Ang II stimulated the activity of PKC in the cytosolic and in the membrane fractions of aortic smooth-muscle cells. These increases in PKC activity were concentration-dependent and occurred rapidly, reaching a plateau within 10 min. In contrast, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) rapidly decreased cytosolic PKC activity and at the same time increased membrane PKC activity to reach a plateau after 20 min. Cytosolic PKC activity from control and Ang II-stimulated cells was found to be less dependent on [Ca2+] than was the highly [Ca2+]-dependent membrane PKC activity from the same cells. In contrast, membrane PKC activity from PMA-treated cells was largely [Ca2+]-independent. In the presence of 10 nM-PMA, the sensitivity of cultured smooth-muscle cells towards Ang II was increased, and maximal values of Ang II-induced prostacyclin production were enhanced by about 60%. In cells incubated with both Ang II and PMA, an additive effect on membrane PKC activity was observed, whereas cytosolic PKC activity was suppressed as in cells treated with PMA alone. These results suggest that an increase of the membrane, but not the cytosolic, PKC activity represents a positive signal in the prostacyclin production induced by Ang II stimulation of aortic smooth-muscle cells. PMA seems to induce a state of activation of membrane PKC which does not need increased intracellular [Ca2+] to be fully expressed, whereas Ang II-stimulated membrane PKC activity requires higher Ca2+ concentrations. The possibility exists that the addition of both signals leads to the augmentation of Ang II-stimulated prostacyclin production.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1989

[Diseases caused by group G beta-hemolytic streptococci].

Group G beta-haemolytic streptococci were isolated from two patients, one with life-threatening septicaemia and meningitis, the other with puerperal sepsis and endometritis. The bacteria were isolated by blood culture and from cerebrospinal fluid in one patient, and from cervical swabs and urine in the other. In both treatment with a cephalosporin followed by penicillin G promptly led to recovery. These cases may signal an increasing incidence of severe infections caused by group G beta-haemolytic streptococci.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Alinidine reverses the descending staircase of isolated rat atria by an antimuscarinic action.

Contractile force of isolated atria from most mammalian species increases with the rate of electrical stimulation, resulting in an ascending staircase. In contrast, in the rat, contractile force decreases with increasing rate of stimulation (descending staircase). The bradycardic and antianginal drug alinidine (5.7-91.2 mumol/l) reversed the descending staircase to ascending by a positive inotropic effect at higher stimulation rates. Maximal positive inotropy was obtained with 45.6 mumol/l, a concentration which also caused maximal bradycardia in spontaneously beating atria. Concentrations of 1 mumol/l of the antimuscarinic compounds atropine as well as the quaternary salt ipratropium bromide also reversed the descending staircase of rat atria. Addition of alinidine did not cause any further increase in force of contraction under these conditions. Addition of 1 mumol/l physostigmine to isolated left atria from guinea pigs for blockade of acetylcholinesterase decreased contractility at all stimulation rates, but did not change the ascending character of the staircase. Alinidine antagonized the negative inotropic effect of physostigmine. The known antimuscarinic action of alinidine was quantified in electrically driven (0.25 Hz) left rat atria by antagonism of the negative inotropic effect of oxotremorine (0.01-10 mumol/l). Alinidine acted as a strictly competitive antagonist with a pA2 of 5.82. In isolated papillary muscle from guinea pigs, pretreated with reserpine for depletion of catecholamines, carbachol (0.1-3000 mumol/l) exerted positive inotropic effects. Alinidine antagonized also this effect in a competitive fashion with a pA2 value of 5.58.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗