The role of mitochondria in apoptosis.

It has recently become apparent that mitochondria play a pivotal role in the process of cell death. In the absence of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) cells die by necrosis, but if sufficient ATP is available, a cascade of changes is initiated that lead to a much more orderly process of cell death (apoptosis). In addition to providing energy to the cell, mitochondria serve to sequester Ca(2+).

Functional genomics.

We are in the midst of a genomics revolution. The first chapter of this revolution will end later this year with the completion of the first draft of the entire human genome; estimates for the exact number of genes in the human genome vary from 50,000 to 140,000. This endeavor has been a major catalyst for the genomics revolution and has moved science into uncharted territories, which has led to the need to establish both new disciplines and a new vocabulary.

The influence of gender and age on neonatal rat hypothalamic 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors.

1. Rat hypothalamic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations are transiently sexually differentiated in the second week postpartum (pp), with higher levels in the female. In this report we investigate the possibility that 5-HT receptors may also exhibit sexual dimorphism in the neonatal period.

Comparison of serotonin receptor numbers and activity in specific hypothalamic areas of sexually active and inactive female rats.

In a previous study we have shown that a positive correlation exists between 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) activity and female sexual receptivity in the pre-optic area (POA) and median eminence (ME) and that there is a negative correlation in the ventromedial nucleus (VMN), zona incerta (ZI) and arcuate nucleus (ARC). In this report, the possibility that 5-HT receptor density and affinity alter with sexual receptivity has been investigated. Micropunches of the POA, VMN, ARC, ME and the anterior hypothalamus were dissected from ovariectomised rats primed with a submaximal steroid regime (2 microg oestradiol benzoate, OB, followed at 48 h by 0.

Plant polyphenols: biologically active compounds or non-selective binders to protein?

Twenty phenolic compounds, representatives of proanthocyanidins and gallic acid/hexahydroxyldiphenic acid esters of glucose, have been assessed for their ability to inhibit binding of specific radioligands to 16 receptors. The receptors utilized were alpha 1-, alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors, adenosine 1, dopamine 1 and 2, muscarinic, Ca2+ channel, sulphonylureas, 5HT1, 5HT1A, 5HT2, histamine 1, benzodiazepine, opiate and Na+/K/ATPase. These phenolic compounds failed to inhibit ligands binding to 10 of the receptors under the test conditions.