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V Hammond

Publications and source records attributed to V Hammond.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

disabled-1 functions cell autonomously during radial migration and cortical layering of pyramidal neurons.

Genetic mosaics offer an excellent opportunity to analyze complex gene functions. Chimeras consisting of mutant and wild-type cells provide not only the avenue for lineage-specific gene rescue but can also distinguish cell-autonomous from non-cell-autonomous gene functions. Using an independent genetic marker for wild-type cells, we constructed Dab1(+/+) <--> Dab1(-/-) chimeras with the aim of discovering whether or not the function of Dab1 during neuronal migration and cortical layering is cell autonomous. Dab1(+/+) cells were capable of radial migration and columnar formation in a Dab1(-/-)environment. Most Dab1(+/+) cells segregated to the superficial part of the mutant cortex, forming a multilayered supercortex. Neuronal birth-dating studies indicate that supercortex neurons were correctly layered, although adjacent mutant cortex neurons were in reversed order. Immunocytochemistry using Emx1, a marker for pyramidal neurons, indicates that the vast majority of Dab1(+/+) neurons in the supercortex were Emx1 immunoreactive. Confirmation of the pyramidal phenotype was demonstrated by the absence of GABA immunoreactivity among Dab1(+/+) cells in the supercortex. Myelin staining using 2'3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase showed the supercortex was supported by a secondary white matter from which thick fiber tracts appear connected to the underlying mutant white matter. The presence of Dab1(+/+) cells failed to rescue inversion of cortical layers and the abnormal infiltration of the marginal zone by Dab1(-/-) cells. Conversely, mutant cells did not impose a mutant phenotype on adjacent wild-type neurons. These results suggest that Dab1 functions cell autonomously with respect to radial migration and cortical layering of pyramidal neurons.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1996

The role of fetal parathyroid hormone-related protein in transplacental calcium transport.

During pregnancy, a placental calcium pump maintains the fetus in a hypercalcaemic state relative to the mother, a condition which has been thought to facilitate normal development of the fetal skeleton. Based on experiments performed in the sheep, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has been implicated as the hormone responsible for maintaining the placental calcium pump. In the present study on mice in which the PTHrP gene has been ablated by homologous recombination, we have measured both fetal and maternal circulating total and ionised calcium levels, as well as fetal total body calcium, in order to determine whether absence of PTHrP during fetal development has an effect on fetal calcium levels. Our results show that, in fetuses lacking PTHrP, circulating ionised calcium levels are significantly lower than those of heterozygote and wild-type littermates, but circulating total calcium levels show no difference. Total body calcium levels of null mutants are significantly higher than those of normal littermates. The role of PTHrP in maintaining the integrity of the transplacental calcium pump in the rodent thus remains unclear. It may be that the lower levels of fetal blood ionised calcium in mutant animals are due to disruption of the placental pump, but, if this is the case, compensatory mechanisms have operated to allow the excessive calcium deposition seen in the skeletons of these animals. Alternatively, the increased avidity of the bones for calcium may in itself have produced a lower equilibrium level of available ionised calcium.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Metabolic and hormonal responses during squash.

The metabolic and hormonal response during squash was observed in eight normal men. Significant increases from resting were found for blood glucose, lactate, pyruvate, alanine and glycerol while total ketone bodies and plasma nonesterified fatty acids rose after play stopped. Insulin and C-peptide decreased significantly and catecholamines, ACTH, prolactin and growth hormone increased.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Interactions of stress hormones on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in man with partial insulin deficiency.

The metabolic responses to 4-h infusions of adrenaline (3 micrograms kg-1 h-1) and cortisol (10 mg m-2 h-1 for 2 h followed by 5 mg m-2 h-1 for 2 h), separately and in combination, have been studied in six healthy subjects with concurrent somatostatin infusion (250 micrograms h-1). A combined infusion of adrenaline, cortisol, glucagon (180 ng kg-1 h-1) and somatostatin has also been studied. Somatostatin plus adrenaline and somatostatin plus cortisol resulted in hyperglycaemia (at 240 min, somatostatin plus adrenaline 11.4 +/- 0.4 mmol l-1, P less than 0.001; somatostatin plus cortisol 6.7 +/- 0.3 mmol l-1, P less than 0.05; somatostatin alone 4.9 +/- 0.4 mmol l-1). No synergistic effect on blood glucose was seen with adrenaline and cortisol together. When glucagon was added, blood glucose rose more rapidly than without glucagon (9.3 +/- 0.4 mmol l-1 v. 7.2 +/- 0.5 mmol l-1 at 45 min, P less than 0.001), but plateau values were similar. Plasma NEFA levels were raised by somatostatin plus adrenaline (0.55 +/- 0.04-1.82 +/- 0.11 mmol l-1 at 60 min). Somatostatin plus cortisol had no more effect on plasma NEFA than somatostatin alone. During the combined infusion of somatostatin plus adrenaline plus cortisol, a synergistic effect on plasma NEFA was observed (2.30 +/- 0.11 mmol l-1 at 60 min, P less than 0.01 v. somatostatin plus adrenaline). This occurred despite a small escape of insulin secretion. The lipolytic actions of adrenaline are potentiated by elevated circulating cortisol levels in insulin-deficient man.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A comparison of 3 methods for assessing insulin sensitivity in subjects with normal and abnormal glucose tolerance.

The euglycaemic clamp, insulin sensitivity test with somatostatin, and insulin sensitivity test without somatostatin, were compared as in vivo methods of assessing insulin sensitivity. Fifteen subjects with varying degrees of glucose tolerance were studied. Somatostatin was not found to influence the assessment of insulin sensitivity by the insulin sensitivity test. When glucose disposal was expressed as metabolic clearance rate significant strong correlations were found between the euglycaemic clamp technique and the insulin sensitivity test with (r = 0.90) and without (r = 0.83) somatostatin. The effects of the tests on intermediary metabolism were also similar, and all 3 tests showed a similar impairment of insulin sensitivity in subjects with abnormal glucose tolerance. The insulin sensitivity test without somatostatin thus provides a simple and economical tool for studying insulin sensitivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Metabolism of somatostatin and its analogues by the liver.

The rate of degradation of 125I-labelled [Tyr11]somatostatin by isolated rat hepatocytes was similar to that of unlabelled somatostatin. Reaction was dependent upon cell concentration and temperature, being rapid at 37 degrees C and negligible at 0 degrees C. The apparent Km for the overall degradative process was approximately the same for degradation by hepatocytes and by partially-purified liver plasma membranes. Extracellular breakdown of somatostatin, by proteases released from cells into the incubation medium, represented less than 10% of the cell-associated degradation. Homogenization of hepatocytes resulted in a 10--20-fold increase in the degrading ability of the cells. After incubation of 125I-labelled [Tyr11]somatostatin and 125I-labelled [Tyr1]somatostatin with hepatocytes, 125I-labelled tyrosine was the major radioactive product identified in the incubation medium. The rate of release of 125I-labelled tyrosine from the labelled [Tyr1]analogue was approximately 11 times greater than from the labelled [Tyr11] analogue. 125I-labelled [Tyr11]somatostatin bound to the cells in a non-saturable manner and approx. 70% of the cell-associated radioactivity could be dissociated by dilute acid. The rate of degradation of somatostatin was unchanged by reagents that inhibit the internalisation and lysosomal degradation of polypeptides by cell suspensions but was reduced by reagents that inhibit sulphydryl-dependent proteases. It is proposed that plasma-membrane associated proteolysis, involving both endo- and exopeptidases may represent the predominant degradative pathway of somatostatin in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Impaired insulin binding to isolated adipocytes in experimental diabetic ketoacidosis.

Insulin sensitivity in vivo and insulin binding in vitro to adipocytes have been studied in streptozotocin diabetic rats with ketoacidosis. Insulin sensitivity in vivo measured as the acute (20 min) fall in blood glucose in response to an insulin infusion of 1 U/kg body weight per hour correlated positively with arterial blood pH (r = 0.92, p less than 0.01: n - 38). At pH less than 6.9 there was no fall in blood glucose. For studies in insulin binding to adipocytes ketoacidotic animals were divided into a group with moderate ketoacidosis (pH greater than 7.0) and a second group with severe ketoacidosis (pH less than 6.9). Insulin binding to adipocytes was maximal in cells from both ketoacidotic and from normal rats at pH 7.6-7.8. Total binding was decreased in he diabetic rats (P less than 0.01) and this was more marked in the severely diabetic group (p less than 0.001) at all pHs studied. At pH 7.4, 125I-insulin binding was decreased in diabetics compared with normal rats (0.89 +/- 0.14 versus 2.0 +/- 0.24% with 2 x 10(5) cells/ml: n = 6;p less than 0.01) and also in the severe compared with the moderate ketoacidotic rats (0.5 +/- 0.08%/2 X 10(5) cells; n = 6, p less than 0.05). Equilibrium binding studies showed that there was a small decrease in apparent affinity in adipocytes from both groups of diabetics (KD = 2.8 +/#- 0.2 X 10-9 mol/l, n = 6 in moderate ketoacidosis; 2.5 +/- 0.3 X 10-9 mol/l, n = 6 in severe ketoacidosis) compared with control animals (KD = 1.8 +/- 0.15 X 10-9 mol/l, n = 6). Scatchard analysis revealed that there was also a decrease in receptor concentration which was greater in the severely ketoacidotic group. These findings may explain in part the insulin resistance of severe ketoacidosis.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1969

Reversible stimulation of sodium transport in the toad bladder by stretch.

Short-circuit current and transepithelial potential difference were measured in toad hemibladders mounted as sacs on glass cannulae. When sac volume was changed by adding or removing fluid, short circuit current responded by increasing or decreasing during the ensuing half-hour. The time course of the response and its magnitude indicated that it was not artefactual. Furthermore, net sodium flux responded similarly. Sac volume, and thus bladder surface area, could be varied from 0.03 to 0.4 cm(2)/mg wet weight. The mean response to either decreases or increases was 10 muA/cm(2). Everted hemibladders, however, responded less. Neither hydrostatic pressure, nor increased chloride conductance, nor increased access of oxygen or glucose to the mucosa was responsible for the response. Tissue conductance did vary markedly with volume, and may have played a role, but sodium conductance did not vary with volume in a consistent manner. The results indicate the existence of an intrinsic mechanism in this tissue which alters sodium transport in response to stretch.

Animals↗