Gibberellic Acid Initiates ER Stress and Activation of Differentiation in Cultured Human Immortalized Keratinocytes HaCaT and Epidermoid Carcinoma Cells A431.

Diterpenoid plant hormone gibberellic acid (GA) plays an important role in regulation of plant growth and development and is commonly used in agriculture for activation of plant growth and food production. It is known that many plant-derived compounds have miscellaneous biological effects on animals and humans, influencing specific cellular functions and metabolic pathways. However, the effect of GA on animal and human cells remains controversial.

Selection of stable expressed reference genes in native and vitrified/thawed human ovarian tissue for analysis by qRT-PCR and Western blot.

Purpose: To select reference genes with stable messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of vitrified/thawed human ovarian tissue and to evaluate in human ovarian tissue the levels of key proteins which are commonly used as reference proteins.

Methods: Pieces of ovarian tissue were obtained during laparoscopy from patients (n = 10, 24-36 years old) who suffered from types of cancer that does not affect reproductive system. Tissue strips from the intact group were immediately placed into liquid nitrogen.

[Follicular cells of the amphibian ovary: origin, structure, and functions].

Formation of the follicular envelopes surrounding oocytes in the developing ovary and their subsequent morphological differentiation go hand-in-hand with succession of the steroidogenesis stages, arrest of meiosis and its maintenance, establishment of the conditions necessary for vitellogenesis, oocyte growth, and maturation. Metabolites are exchanged via gap junctions and receptor-mediated transport through the perioocytic space. The ion transport in follicular cells (FCs) regulates the plasma membrane potential, creating the conditions for efficient directed transport through gap junctions.

Expression of serotonergic system components during early Xenopus embryogenesis.

Despite abundant research studies on the physiological and biochemical nature of embryonic neurotransmitter function, little is known about the molecular genetic mechanisms involved. The expression of the main components of the serotonergic system during early Xenopus embryogenesis was investigated using RT-PCR, real time PCR and in situ hybridization. Transcripts encoding the serotonin receptors HTR2C and HTR7, as well as the vesicular monoamine transporter VMAT2, the serotonin transporter (SERT) and the serotonin synthesis enzymes tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2) and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) were found to be expressed during the cleavage division stages, whereas the degradation enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) was absent.