Altered metabolism in the melatonin-related receptor (GPR50) knockout mouse.

The X-linked orphan receptor GPR50 shares 45% homology with the melatonin receptors, yet its ligand and physiological function remain unknown. Here we report that mice lacking functional GPR50 through insertion of a lacZ gene into the coding sequence of GPR50 exhibit an altered metabolic phenotype. GPR50 knockout mice maintained on normal chow exhibit lower body weight than age-matched wild-type littermates by 10 wk of age.

Epidermal growth factor and sphingosine-1-phosphate stimulate Na+/H+ exchanger activity in the human placental syncytiotrophoblast.

The Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) has a key role in intracellular pH ([pH]i) regulation of the syncytiotrophoblast in the human placenta and may have a role in the life cycle of this cell. In other cells the NHE (actually a family of up to 9 isoforms) is regulated by a variety of factors, but its regulation in the syncytiotrophoblast has not been studied. Here, we tested the hypotheses that EGF and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), both of which affect trophoblast apoptosis and, in other cell types, NHE activity, stimulate syncytiotrophoblast NHE activity.

Oxidant-impaired intracellular Ca2+ signaling in pancreatic acinar cells: role of the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase.

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of pancreatic acinar cells whereby intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) signaling and enzyme secretion are impaired. Increased oxidative stress has been suggested to mediate the associated cell injury. The present study tested the effects of the oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, on [Ca(2+)](i) signaling in rat pancreatic acinar cells by simultaneously imaging fura-2, to measure [Ca(2+)](i), and dichlorofluorescein, to measure oxidative stress.

Subsecond observations of EIT voltage changes on the human scalp due to brain stimulus.

A pilot study has investigated the feasibility of imaging human brain function using an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system time-locked to an evoked response (ER) system. A sixteen-electrode planar EIT configuration was used with polar current injection. We report here measurements on two volunteer patients who were fully awake in all tests.

Acute regulation of mUT-A3 urea transporter expressed in a MDCK cell line.

Renal facilitative urea transporters play a vital role in the urinary concentrating mechanism. UT-A3 is a phloretin-sensitive urea transporter that in the mouse is expressed on the basolateral membrane of renal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells. In this study, we engineered a Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) I cell line that stably expresses mouse UT-A3 (MDCK-mUT-A3).

Spatial disruption and enhanced degradation of collagen with the transition from compensated ventricular hypertrophy to symptomatic congestive heart failure.

The cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) maintains the structural and mechanical integrity of the myocardium. We determined the alterations in the composition of the ECM coincident with the transition from compensated left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) to symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF) and the mechanisms underlying such changes. Heart failure was induced in ferrets by aortic banding.

Computational evaluation of the roles of Na+ current, iNa, and cell death in cardiac pacemaking and driving.

Voltage-dependent sodium (Na(+)) channels are heterogeneously distributed through the pacemaker of the heart, the sinoatrial node (SA node). The measured sodium channel current (i(Na)) density is higher in the periphery but low or zero in the center of the SA node. The functional roles of i(Na) in initiation and conduction of cardiac pacemaker activity remain uncertain.

Ca2+-sensing receptor induces Rho kinase-mediated actin stress fiber assembly and altered cell morphology, but not in response to aromatic amino acids.

The Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaR) is a pleiotropic, type III G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that associates functionally with the cytoskeletal protein filamin. To investigate the effect of CaR signaling on the cytoskeleton, human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells stably transfected with CaR (CaR-HEK) were incubated with CaR agonists in serum-free medium for up to 3 h. Addition of the calcimimetic NPS R-467 or exposure to high extracellular Ca2+ or Mg2+ levels elicited actin stress fiber assembly and process retraction in otherwise stellate cells.

Purinergic receptors in human placenta: evidence for functionally active P2X4, P2X7, P2Y2, and P2Y6.

Appropriate regulation of ion transport by the human placental syncytiotrophoblast is important for fetal growth throughout pregnancy. In nonplacental tissues, ion transport can be modulated by extracellular nucleotides that raise intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) via activation of purinergic receptors. We tested the hypothesis that purinergic receptors are expressed by human placental cytotrophoblast cells and that their activation by extracellular nucleotides modulates ion (K+) efflux and [Ca2+]i.

Rapid natriuretic action of aldosterone in the rat.

Rapid, nongenomic actions of aldosterone have been demonstrated in a number of cell types in vitro, including renal cell lines, but there remains little direct evidence that it is able to exert rapid effects on the kidney in the whole animal. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine whether aldosterone induces rapid changes in the renal handling of electrolytes or acid-base balance in the anesthetized rat. With the use of a servo-controlled fluid replacement system, spontaneous urine output by anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats was replaced with 2.

Repeated administration of the anorectic factor prolactin-releasing peptide leads to tolerance to its effects on energy homeostasis.

Central administration of a single dose of prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) causes a reduction in both fast-induced and nocturnal food intake and body weight gain. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of repeated administration of PrRP on energy homeostasis, including a measure of the expression of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) in brown adipose tissue. Conscious, free-feeding animals received central injections of PrRP (4 nmol icv) or vehicle.

Modulation of calcium signalling by intracellular pH in exocrine acinar cells.

Cell-permeant weak acids and bases alter the rate of fluid and electrolyte secretion by a range of epithelia, including the exocrine glands. It is widely assumed that weak acids and bases exert these effects by participating in the ion transport mechanism, or by changing intracellular pH (pHi) and hence modulating electrolyte (ion) transporters. An alternative possibility is that these substances act by modifying the intracellular calcium signals which control fluid secretion.

Approximation properties of fuzzy systems generated by the min inference.

This paper discusses the approximation properties of fuzzy systems generated by the min inference. Firstly, the paper analyzes the properties of fuzzy basis functions (FBFs); Then based on the properties of FBPs, several basic approximation properties concerning approximation mechanisms, uniform approximation bounds, uniform convergency, and universal approximation are obtained. Further, the similarity and difference between the fuzzy systems generated by the product inference and by the min inference are discussed.

A relationship between membership functions and approximation accuracy in fuzzy systems.

This paper presents a relationship between membership functions and approximation accuracy in fuzzy systems. This relationship suggests an idea to design membership functions such that the approximation accuracy of fuzzy systems is improved.

[Use of low-molecular fluorescent dyes for localizing tumor cells].

A novel fluorescence microscopic technique, based on the application of low-molecular fluorescent dyes, was used to study the expression of the enzyme guanidinobenzoatase in malignant tumors of the head and neck area. Frozen sections have shown that moderately and highly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas express this enzyme, particularly in the area of tumor invasion. The protease is capable of breaking down fibronectin, an important component of the extracellular matrix.

Antagonism of the algesic action of bradykinin on the human blister base.

The effect of bradykinin (BK) and some analogues of BK on the human blister base was studied. BK produced reproducible dose-related increases in pain responses. A characteristic delay, which was not dose-related occurred between application of BK and the resultant response.

Exposimetry of low-frequency ultrasonic dental devices.

In low-frequency (20-40-kHz) ultrasonic devices used in dentistry the ultrasound is conducted to the tooth either via a metal waveguide oscillating predominantly in its longitudinal mode or via metal files or reamers driven to vibrate transversely or longitudinally at the same frequency as the transducer. All of these arrangements have unique coupling problems, so that it is difficult to estimate how much ultrasonic energy enters the tooth and therefore what its biological effects might be. As a first step, it is proposed that the maximum displacement amplitudes of that part of the instrument that contacts the tooth be measured to obtain some estimate of the ;acoustic output' of each instrument.