Membrane stretch and salivary glands - facts and theories.

Cell shape in salivary glands is affected by mechanical forces. In the acini and ducts cell shape is modified by the contractions of the myoepithelial cells in both the secretory and ductal portions of the glands. At the organ level shape changes are due to muscle contraction during mastication, food intake and speech.

Expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) water channels in human labial salivary glands.

Aquaporin (AQP) water channels are widely expressed in the membranes of fluid-transporting epithelia. Despite the fact that salivary glands are the site of considerable water movement, relatively little is known about the role of aquaporins in human salivary glands. We have examined the expression of AQP1 in human parotid, sublingual and labial salivary glands.

Secretion from minor salivary glands following ablation of the major salivary glands in rats.

Since minor salivary glands are tiny and dispersed, ductal cannulation cannot be used when studying their function. The present study was devised to develop a method of measuring minor salivary gland function by excision of the major glands. Female rats (230-280 g) were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbital.

Glucose kinetic responses to protein supplementation and exogenous somatotropin in late gestation dairy cows.

Glucose kinetics were measured in late gestation multiparous Holstein dairy cows fed diets with different amounts of dietary crude protein (13.3 vs. 17.

Metabolic and production responses to dietary protein and exogenous somatotropin in late gestation dairy cows.

Forty-three multiparous Holstein cows were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of protein supplementation and the use of bovine somatotropin (bST; Posilac, Monsanto Co., St. Louis, MO) in late gestation on animal metabolism and productivity in the periparturient period.

Nitric oxide modulates salivary amylase and fluid, but not epidermal growth factor secretion in conscious rats.

The involvement of the L-arginine/NO pathway in the control of salivary fluid, amylase and epidermal growth factor (EGF) secretion was investigated in conscious rats. For the collection of saliva, an oesophageal cannula was implanted. To obtain steady secretion, submaximal carbachol background infusion was given.

Effect of deramciclane, a new 5-HT receptor antagonist, on cholecystokinin-induced changes in rat gastrointestinal function.

Recent studies suggested that serotonin receptors may be involved in modulating the actions of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the gastrointestinal tract. The present work was designed to compare the effects of deramciclane, a recently developed serotonin-2 (5-HT2A/2C) receptor antagonist, and lorglumide, a CCK(A) receptor antagonist, on exogenous and endogenous CCK-induced pancreatic enzyme secretion and pancreatic growth, as well as on the emptying of the stomach and the gallbladder. Pancreatic secretory function was tested while CCK release was evoked by diversion of bile-pancreatic juice in rats.

Residual solvents determination in pharmaceutical products by GC-HS and GC-MS-SPME.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been applied to the residual solvents determination in pharmaceutical products and was compared with the static headspace. Three fibers with different polymer films were compared and the polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene coated fiber was found to be the most sensitive for the analyzed analytes. Between the investigated sample preparation techniques, gastight-SPME proved to be the most sensitive, with DL values ranging from 5 pg ml(-1) to 2 ng ml(-1).

Agonists and antagonists of regulatory peptides as tools to study regulation of pancreatic exocrine secretion, cell proliferation and gene expression.

For more than two decades, our research group has been studying the pancreatic actions of three groups of regulatory peptides: members of the cholecystokinin/gastrin family, bombesin-like peptides and somatostatin. Investigating these peptides, our work has focused on three particularly interesting aspects: peptidergic regulation of pancreatic enzyme secretion and growth in adult rats, peptidergic control of pancreatic enzyme secretion and growth during postnatal development in rats, and peptidergic regulation of proliferation and differential gene expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Our data confirmed that the control of the exocrine function of the pancreas is complex, and that it involves peptides such as the cholecystokinin/gastrin-like peptides, bombesin-like peptides and somatostatin.

Crohn's disease presenting as pyogenic liver abscess with review of previous case reports.

A 40-yr-old male doctor from India presented with pyogenic liver abscesses as the first manifestation of Crohn's disease. The Crohn's disease itself was limited to the appendix and the adjacent cecum and could be diagnosed only 6 months after the presentation with liver abscess. This single case highlights three unusual features of Crohn's disease, and stresses the importance of meticulous search for a cause for pyogenic liver abscess when it occurs in an otherwise healthy adult.

The use of fiber concentrations for ration formulation.

Dairy cattle require fibrous feedstuffs in the diet. However, defining the fiber requirements requires knowledge of many interacting components within the diet as well as how the feed is allocated and processed. To meet the demands of high producing dairy cows for energy, diets consist of large quantities of concentrates and high quality forages containing relatively low amounts of fiber.

Synchronization of ruminal degradation of supplemental carbohydrate with pasture nitrogen in lactating dairy cows.

Twelve Holstein cows in early to midlactation (8 fitted with ruminal cannulas) were used to test the hypothesis that the synchronization of the rate of ruminal degradation of supplemental carbohydrate and N from fresh pasture would increase the amount of N retained for growth and milk production. A concentrate based on ground shelled corn was fed either at the time that pasture was fed at 0900 and 1700 h (synchronous) or 4 h after pasture was fed at 1300 and 2100 h (asynchronous). The crossover design included a 6-d adjustment period and a 10-d milk sampling period.

Longitudinal monthly body measurements from 1 to 12 months of age: a study by practitioners for practitioners. Zurich Association of Practicing Paediatricians.

Unlabelled: A longitudinal growth study with monthly measurements during the 1st year of life was conducted by nine paediatricians working in private practice in Zurich. Of 92 children, none was lost to the study and only 32 of 1104 planned visits were missed; the quality of the measurements was comparable to that of a specialised university clinic. Compared to the Zurich Longitudinal Growth Studies, children of this study were considerably heavier and taller.

Protein density and its influence on metabolite concentration and nitrogen retention by Holstein cows in late gestation.

Multiparous Holstein cows in late gestation were used in a completely randomized design to test the effects of prepartum protein supply on prepartum N balance, blood metabolite and hormone concentrations, and postpartum intake and milk production. Cows were assigned to one of three isocaloric diets that differed in amount of total dietary crude protein (CP) (10.6, 12.

Different actions of CCK on pancreatic and gastric growth in the rat: effect of CCK(A) receptor blockade.

1. It is now well established that cholecystokinin (CCK) has a major physiological role in the regulation of pancreatic secretion and gastro-intestinal (GI) motility. Both these actions are mediated by stimulation of CCK(A)-receptors located on pancreatic acini and GI smooth muscle cells.

[Surgical trauma induced by laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

The objective demonstration of improved postoperative recovery suggests that surgical injury induced by the laparoscopic approach is less intense than that after open surgery. Forty-two patients diagnosed as having noncomplicated gallstones were studied prospectively. They were operated on by laparoscopy (LC, n = 21) or open surgery (OC, n = 21).

Role of different bombesin receptor subtypes mediating contractile activity in cat upper gastrointestinal tract.

Mammalian bombesin-like peptides, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B (NMB) are known to increase the motility of different segments in the gut. The present study was carried out to identify the bombesin receptor subtypes mediating the contractions induced by exogenous bombesin-like peptides in muscle strips isolated from cat esophagus, fundus, and duodenum. Both GRP-10 and NMB evoked concentration-dependent contractions in circular strips of esophagus and fundus and in longitudinal strips of the duodenum.

Cloning of novel transcripts of the human guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor Mss4: in situ chromosomal mapping and expression in pancreatic cancer.

In a previous large-scale analysis of gene expression in pancreatic cancer using gridded arrays of cDNA libraries and differential hybridizations, a gene that was a homolog to human mss4 was identified. Mss4 is a guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor for the Sec4/ Ypt1/Rab family of small GTP-binding proteins involved in the regulation of intracellular vesicular transport. By fluorescence in situ hybridization the human mss4 gene was assigned to chromosome 1q32-q41.

Varying degradation rates of total nonstructural carbohydrates: effects on nutrient uptake and utilization by the mammary gland in high producing Holstein cows.

Six ruminally cannulated Holstein cows at 56 to 77 d of lactation were fed three total mixed rations that varied in ruminal degradation rates of total nonstructural carbohydrates (6.04, 6.98, and 7.

Varying degradation rates of total nonstructural carbohydrates: effects on ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, and milk production and composition in high producing Holstein cows.

Twelve multiparous Holstein cows (6 ruminally cannulated and 6 intact) at 56 to 77 d of lactation were used in an experiment with a 3 x 6 Latin square design. Cows were fed three total mixed rations that varied in degradation rates of total nonstructural carbohydrates (6.04, 6.

Cloning of a new Kunitz-type protease inhibitor with a putative transmembrane domain overexpressed in pancreatic cancer.

In a previous large scale screen for differentially expressed genes in pancreatic cancer, we identified a gene highly overexpressed in cancer encoding a novel putative transmembrane protein with two Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor domains. The identified gene named kop (Kunitz domain containing protein overexpressed in pancreatic cancer) was assigned to chromosome 19 in the region 19q13.1.

Cloning of a gene highly overexpressed in cancer coding for a novel KH-domain containing protein.

In a previous large scale screen for differentially expressed genes in pancreatic cancer, we identified a gene highly overexpressed in cancer encoding a novel protein with four K-homologous (KH) domains. KH-domains are found in a subset of RNA-binding proteins, including pre-mRNA-binding (hnRNP) K protein and the fragile X mental retardation gene product (FMR1). By fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) the identified gene named koc (KH domain containing protein overexpressed in cancer) was assigned to chromosome 7p11.

Effect of a new CCK-A receptor antagonist, dexloxiglumide, on the exocrine pancreas in the rat.

The effect of dexloxiglumide, a new potent cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist, on pancreatic enzyme secretion and growth was studied in the rat. Pancreatic exocrine secretion was studied both in vitro (isolated and perfused pancreatic segments) and in vivo (anaesthetized animals with cannulation of the common bile duct) whereas the trophic effect was investigated after short-term (7 days) administration of the CCK-agonist, caerulein, or camostate (a potent trypsin inhibitor), with or without dexloxiglumide. CCK-8 stimulated amylase release from in vitro pancreatic segments in a concentration-dependent manner.

Effect of somatostatin immunoneutralization on gastric acid and pancreatic enzyme secretion in anesthetized rats.

The involvement of somatostatin in urethane-anesthesia-evoked suppression of gastric acid secretion has been described. The present study has examined the role of endogenous somatostatin in diminished pancreatic enzyme secretion during anesthesia, while monitoring acid secretion concurrently. Rats were anesthetized with either urethane or sodium pentobarbital.

The effect of L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway on salivary amylase secretion in conscious rats.

In a recent study we have demonstrated the presence of nitric oxide synthase immunoreactive neurons and also perivascular, periacinar and periductal nerve fibres in feline submandibular salivary gland. The role of nitric oxide (NO) in salivary vasoregulation has been suggested by other data too, but the effect of NO on salivary amylase secretion has not been investigated yet. Under ether anaesthesia a catheter was introduced into the oesophagus for salivary juice collections, and a cannula was inserted into the jugular vein for infusions.