Immunocytochemical analysis of sex differences in calcitonin gene-related peptide in the rat dorsal root ganglion, with special reference to estrogen and its receptor.

Previous studies have shown that the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in the central nervous system (CNS) of adult rats is sexually dimorphic and regulated by sex steroid. In the present study, we used immunocytochemistry to investigate the sex difference in CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The numbers of CGRP-IR neurons at the cervical, lumbar and sacral levels in the female rats were significantly lower than those of the male rats.

A novel phasic contraction induced by dithiothreitol in frog skeletal muscle.

1. Dithiothreitol (DTT), at 50-100 mM, induced a phasic reversible contraction of frog skeletal muscle. 2.

Gold ion inhibits silver ion induced contracture and activates ryanodine receptors in skeletal muscle.

Effects of Au3+ on Ag(+)-induced contractures and Ca2+ release channel activity in the sarcoplasmic reticulum were studied in frog skeletal muscles. Single fibres spontaneously produced phasic and tonic contractures upon addition of 5-20 microM Ag+ or more than 50 microM Au3+. Simultaneous application of 5 microM Ag+ and 20 microM Au3+ inhibited contractures induced by Ag+.

Possible involvement of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release mechanism in Ag(+)-induced contracture in frog skeletal muscle.

To determine if an Ag(+)-induced contracture is associated with the Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release mechanism in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, effects of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release modulators on the Ag(+)-induced contracture were studied with single fibers of frog toe skeletal muscle. The fiber treated with 1 mM caffeine contracted significantly much more than controls without caffeine at Ag+ concentrations below 1 microM. Procaine shifted the Ag+ concentration-tension curve to the right, dose-dependently.

Involvement of thiols in the induction of inward current induced by silver in frog skeletal muscle membrane.

Exposure of voltage-clamped frog skeletal muscle fibres to silver caused a maintained inward current which could be carried by Ca2+, Mg2+ or Na+. Inorganic Ca2+ channel blockers and dithiothreitol (SH reducing agent) diminished this current, but a Na+ channel blocker did not. Thus, silver activates the Ca2+ channel by acting on SH groups in a Ca2+ channel protein.