Nitric oxide modulates microglial activation.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) has important physiological regulatory roles, i.e, vasodilation, neurotransmitter release, etc. Little is known about the processes in neural tissues, which stabilize microglia.

The role of the estrogen in neuroprotection: implications for neurodegenerative diseases.

In trying to rectify the differences in the risk, onset, and progression of neurodegenerative diseases between men and women, the gonadal hormone estrogen has been the primary focus of investigation for many years. Although this gender difference may encompass disparate and overlapping reasons, estrogen and signaling events mediated by its receptor have been shown to be neuroprotective in a number of neurodegenerative disease models such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Schizophrenia. Although data from human studies remains highly controversial, a large body of research findings suggests that this hormone plays a pivotal role in retarding and preventing the formation of neurodegenerative diseases through its receptor.

The presence of 17-beta estradiol in Mytilus edulis gonadal tissues: evidence for estradiol isoforms.

Objectives: In earlier studies, we demonstrate that 17-beta -estradiol and an estrogen cell surface receptor can be found on various human cells, i.e., vascular endothelial, monocytes, and granulocytes, where they are coupled to nitric oxide release.

17-beta estradiol down regulates ganglionic microglial cells via nitric oxide release: presence of an estrogen receptor beta transcript.

Objectives: In earlier studies we have demonstrated that 17-beta-estradiol and an estrogen cell surface receptor can be found on various human cells where they are coupled to nitric oxide release. We also demonstrated the presence of estrogen signaling in Mytilus edulis ganglia. In the present report, we sought to determine a function for these ganglionic estrogen receptors, transcending a reproductive role for estrogen.

Religion and its effects on crime and delinquency.

This review is an attempt to explore the relationship between two complex areas of behavioral research, namely that of religion and crime and delinquency. We will also examine supporting research from the area of physiological belief and relaxation systems as a means of understanding the posited negative correlation between religiosity and crime. Our central thesis is that ones level of participation in religious activities is negatively correlated to participation in criminal activity.

Risk factors for breast cancer and the prognosis of African American women: estrogen's role.

Archival reports demonstrate that black females are in the minority of reported breast cancer cases, yet are given a significantly poorer prognosis than their white counterparts. Numerous studies have been conducted in an attempt to explain this discrepancy. In the past, socio-economic variables such as economic status and access to adequate health care have been the focus of attention.

Mechanisms of knowledge learning and acquisition.

The mechanism by which knowledge enters into memory has been a source of debate for some time. Theorists have proposed several models that aim at explaining the sequence of events from the perception of a stimulus, to its entrance into long-term storage. Much of this work was prompted by early research into the nuances of classical conditioning where it was first firmly established that organisms are capable of detecting covariations of stimuli within their environment.

Cyclic nitric oxide release by human granulocytes, and invertebrate ganglia and immunocytes: nano-technological enhancement of amperometric nitric oxide determination.

Background: Various tissues from vertebrates and invertebrates respond to external signal molecules by rapid release of nitric oxide (NO) mediated by constitutive nitric oxide synthase.

Material/methods: Invertebrate immunocytes were collected from maintained stock and human granulocytes were isolated from leukocyte-enriched blood obtained from the Long Island Blood Services. The invertebrate ganglionic tissue was either extracted or exposed for ex vivo and in vivo evaluation.

A hormonal role for endogenous opiate alkaloids: vascular tissues.

The distribution of morphine-containing cells in the central nervous system, adrenal gland, and its presence in blood may serve to demonstrate that this signal molecule can act as a hormone besides its role in cell-to-cell signaling within the brain. This speculative review is the result of a literature evaluation with an emphasis on studies from our laboratory. Opioid peptides and opiate alkaloids have been found to influence cardiac and vascular function.

Salicylate inhibits the translation and transcription of ompF in Escherichia coli.

OmpF is a major outer membrane protein in Escherichia coli whose expression is regulated by a large number of factors, including the osmolarity of the growth medium and the concentration of salicylate. We have previously shown that at low osmolarity, OmpF is post-transcriptionally regulated by micF mRNA, and that at high osmolarity, regulation occurs primarily by the inhibition of transcription by OmpR (Ramani et al. 1994).

The biochemical substrate of nitric oxide signaling is present in primitive non-cognitive organisms.

Nitric oxide has been shown to have diverse actions in the mammalian nervous, immune and vascular systems. These include antimicrobial and antiviral activities as well as the modulation of cell adherence. In the nervous system, nitric oxide modulates neurotransmitter release, neurosecretion and behavioral activities such as feeding.

Ischemic preconditioning - an opiate constitutive nitric oxide molecular hypothesis.

Coronary artery disease is the number one cause of adult mortality due to a medical illness in the United States. Exciting new studies are looking at the role transient ischemia may play in preconditioning the myocardium to reduce the degree of infarction following a sustained ischemic insult. In this speculative review, we surmise ischemic preconditioning and the resulting protection afforded by it in response to abnormal insults arises from an already existing physiological process that may be associated with exercise.

Macrophage behavior associated with acute and chronic exposure to HIV GP120, morphine and anandamide: endothelial implications.

We demonstrate that immediate exposure to gp120 (5 min; 0.1 microg/ml) results in a significant shift of the macrophage population to an amoeboid and motile category (P<0.01; 91.

Long-term exposure of human blood vessels to HIV gp120, morphine, and anandamide increases endothelial adhesion of monocytes: uncoupling of nitric oxide release.

Acute exposure of human saphenous vein or internal thoracic artery endothelium to either morphine [27.4 +/- 3.7 and 35.

Inhibitory effect of morphine on granulocyte stimulation by tumor necrosis factor and substance P.

We demonstrate that morphine, at higher concentrations than that effective in the inhibition of spontaneously active cells, can antagonize stimulation of human granulocytes by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or substance P. The antagonistic effect appears to occur indirectly by way of downregulation of the cells' responsiveness to these stimulatory substances. We have previously shown that neutral endopeptidase 24.

Neuropeptide Y inhibits human and invertebrate immunocyte chemotaxis, chemokinesis, and spontaneous activation.

1. In a concentration-dependent manner neuropeptide Y was found to be a potent inhibitor of the spontaneous activation of human granulocytes and macrophages as well as Mytilus edulis immunocytes. 2.

Human neutrophil and macrophage chemokinesis induced by cardiopulmonary bypass: loss of DAME and IL-1 chemotaxis.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces both cellular immunosuppression and an inflammatory response. In an effort to better characterize CPB-induced immune dysfunction, we examined the chemotaxic ability of human granulocytes and macrophages to D-Ala2-Met-enkephalin (DAME) and interleukin (IL)-1 alpha with computer-assisted microscopic image analysis before, during and after CPB. Spontaneous granulocyte and macrophage activation increased from 6% and 8% (before) to 52% and 44% (during) and then 39% and 31% after (38 h) CPB, respectively.

High affinity dopamine binding to mouse thymocytes and Mytilus edulis (Bivalvia) hemocytes.

The present report demonstrates that both mouse thymocytes and Mytilus edulis hemocytes contain a novel type of dopamine receptor. Scatchard analysis of these data revealed a single class of high-affinity binding sites with an affinity constant (Kd) of 6.6 nM, and a binding site density (Bmax) of 141 pmol/g protein in mice and a Kd of 7.

Evidence for the involvement of opioid neuropeptides in the adherence and migration of immunocompetent invertebrate hemocytes.

Evidence for the participation of opioid neuropeptides in immunoregulatory activities, especially cellular adherence and migration, has been obtained in representatives of two phyla of invertebrates, the mollusc Mytilus edulis and the insect Leucophaea maderae. The injection of a synthetic analog of [Met]enkephalin [( D-Ala2,Met5]enkephalinamide, DAMA; 10(-6) M) had a stimulatory, naloxone-reversible effect on the directed migration of immunocompetent hemocytes. Incubation of hemolymph in the presence of exogenous or endogenous opioid material significantly enhanced the adherence of hemocytes on albumin-coated slides as demonstrated by use of indirect Zeiss-Zonax reflectance computer analysis.

Opiates stimulate food consumption in the land snail Helix aspersa.

Morphine stimulates food consumption in the land snail Helix aspersa. This stimulation of food consumption can be blocked by naloxone, the potent opiate antagonist. In addition, this opiate-induced food consumption exhibits tolerance by the sixth day of treatment.