Publications by authors named "Silvia M Varas"

The chloride channels, sodium and bicarbonate channels, and aquaporin water channels are coordinated to maintain the airway surface liquid that is necessary for mucociliary clearance. The general mechanism for the transport of electrolytes and fluids depends mainly on the differential expression and distribution of ion transporters and pumps. Ions and water move through the paracellular or transcellular pathways.

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Objective: We studied the effect of dietary vitamin A deprivation on lipid composition and mRNA expression of regulatory enzymes involved in rat heart energetic lipid metabolism and its relation to the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) genes.

Methods: Male Wistar 21-d-old rats were fed for 3 mo with a vitamin A-free diet (vitamin A-deficient group) and the same diet plus 8 mg of retinol palmitate per kilogram of diet (control group). One group of deficient animals received the control diet 15 d before sacrifice (vitamin A-refed group).

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We investigated the effect of exposition to cadmium (Cd, 15ppm for 8 weeks) through drinking water on liver lipid metabolism in adult male Wistar rats. As compared to metal non-exposed (control) rats, the serum triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL+VLDL cholesterol concentrations increased. This was associated to a decrease of lipoprotein lipase activity in post heparinic plasma.

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Objective: The profound impairment in litter growth produced by untreated maternal hypothyroidism (HypoT) may be a consequence of maternal metabolic dysfunctions affecting lactation. In this work we studied the effects of HypoT on mammary and liver lipid metabolism and its consequences on milk quality.

Design: We studied the effects of prolonged 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-induced HypoT (0.

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The aim of this study was to examine, using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) the changes in mRNA expression of the two estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes, ERalpha and ERbeta, prolactin receptor long and short form, and progesterone (Pg) receptor (PgR), in liver and mammary gland during gestation, early lactation, and weaning in both hyperthyroid (HT) and normal rats. Pregnancy increased long prolactin receptors (PRL-R(L)) and ERalpha mRNAs in liver and PRL-R(I) in mammary gland. Lactation decreased PRL-R(L) in liver and ERbeta and PgR in mammary gland.

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Untreated maternal hypothyroidism (hypoT) has serious consequences in offspring development that may result from the effect on lactation of maternal metabolism dysfunction. We studied the effects of prolonged propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypoT (0.1% PTU in drinking water starting 8 days before mating until day 21 of pregnancy or for 30 days in virgin rats) on liver and mammary lipid metabolism and serum lipid concentrations.

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