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Biomedical subjects

A M Gorman

Publications and source records attributed to A M Gorman.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Modulation by ionotropic excitatory amino acids and potassium of (+/-)-1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in mouse cerebellar granule cells.

The effect of ionotropic excitatory amino acids and potassium on the formation of inositol phosphates elicited by the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist (+/-)-1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD) was studied in mouse cerebellar granule cells. In Mg(2+)-containing buffers, NMDA (50-100 microM), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA; 10-1,000 microM), and high potassium (10-30 mM) enhanced synergistically the response to a maximally effective concentration of 500 microM trans-ACPD. Potentiation of the trans-ACPD response was blocked by higher concentrations of NMDA (> 500 microM) and potassium (> 35 mM) but not by AMPA (up to 1 mM). The potentiation by NMDA of the trans-ACPD-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis was blocked by D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV), a competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist. Under Mg(2+)-free conditions, the accumulation of inositol phosphates in the presence of trans-ACPD alone was equal to that attained by trans-ACPD in Mg(2+)-containing buffers when costimulated with maximally enhancing concentrations of NMDA (50 microM). trans-ACPD potentiated synergistically the NMDA-evoked increases in cytosolic free-Ca2+ levels in Mg(2+)-containing but not in Mg(2+)-free solutions, and moreover did not enhance the AMPA-evoked increases in cytosolic free-Ca2+ levels. The calcium ionophore A23187 caused a dose-dependent increase in inositol phosphate accumulation but did not enhance the response stimulated by trans-ACPD alone. These results demonstrate the existence of cross talk between metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors in cerebellar granule cells. The exact mechanism remains unclear but appears to involve interplay of G protein-coupled phospholipase C activation and regulated elevation of cytosolic free-Ca2+ levels. This study may provide a framework for future investigations at the cellular and molecular level that clarify the functional relevance and molecular mechanisms that are described.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The effects of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine acceptor ligands, Ro 5-4864 and PK 11195, on mitochondrial respiration.

The role of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine acceptor is unclear. It has been suggested that the acceptor ligands, Ro 5-4864 and PK 11195, stimulate mitochondrial respiration by binding to the peripheral-type benzodiazepine acceptor. We determined the effect of the benzodiazepine Ro 5-4864 and of the isoquinoline carboxamide PK 11195 on the respiration rates of liver, kidney and adrenal mitochondria during coupled, uncoupled and phosphorylating respiration. These ligands inhibited uncoupled and phosphorylating respiration, but only at concentrations substantially greater than their KD values for binding to the acceptor. There was a slight stimulation of coupled respiration by these ligands at concentrations similar to their KD values for the acceptor, but this stimulation was markedly greater at higher concentrations. These results suggest that the ligands Ro 5-4864 and PK 11195 affect respiration in a non-specific way, independently of binding to the acceptor. There was no correlation between the effect of these ligands on respiration and the density of the acceptor in mitochondria from liver, kidney and adrenals. We suggest that the earlier reported alteration of respiration by these ligands was due to non-specific effects and was not mediated by the peripheral-type benzodiazepine acceptor.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1991

The structure of schizotypy: a pilot multitrait twin study.

This report of a pilot study examines 29 pairs of twins from a population-based registry on whom four domains of schizotypy have been measured: personal interview using the Structured Interview for Schizotypy, self-report questionnaire formed from eight published self-report scales, attentional battery of eight individual tests, and root mean square error on smooth pursuit eye tracking. Analyzing the twins as individuals revealed two independent dimensions of clinically rated schizotypy (positive symptom schizotypy and negative symptom schizotypy) and two independent dimensions of self-rated schizotypy (positive trait schizotypy and trait anhedonia). Positive symptom schizotypy was highly correlated with positive trait schizotypy, but not with attentional dysfunction or eye-tracking error. By contrast, negative symptom schizotypy was significantly related to trait anhedonia, attentional dysfunction, and eye-tracking error. Correlations in monozygotic and dizygotic twins suggested that genetic factors were important in all four domains of schizotypy. Except for eye-tracking error, the results are more consistent with a dimensional than a "disease" model of schizotypy. Replication of these results with a larger group of subjects is needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

In vitro screening for anticonvulsant-induced teratogenesis in neural primary cultures and cell lines.

To establish inherent potential for the induction of neural tube defects the ability of selected anticonvulsant agents to interfere with cell division has been established in vitro using an antiproliferative assay in clonal cell lines and a cytotoxicity assay using primary cultures of cerebral cortex neurons at different stages of development. In order to evaluate the relative toxicities of these agents their in vitro effects were determined at 2-3 times the plasma therapeutic level. By these procedures valproate and the benzodiazepines, diazepam and clonazepam, exerted a potent antiproliferative action which could not be attributed to increased cytotoxicity. In contrast phenytoin was markedly cytotoxic but was without an antiproliferative action. This cytotoxicity was most pronounced during the periods of extensive fibre outgrowth. When compared to epidemiological and animal study data, agents which inhibited cell proliferation within twice therapeutic concentration were consistently associated with major neural tube malformations. However phenytoin, found to be positive in the cell cytotoxicity assay, is not associated with neural tube malformations but rather is primarily associated with mental retardation. Thus assessment of antiproliferative activity of anticonvulsant drugs may be one criterion for identification of teratogenic potential during neurulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Antiproliferative action of benzodiazepines in cultured brain cells is not mediated through the peripheral-type benzodiazepine acceptor.

The benzodiazepines, Ro 5-4864, diazepam, clonazepam, and also PK-11195, inhibited, at micromolar concentrations, the proliferation of rat C6 glioma and mouse neuro-2A neuroblastoma cells in culture. The cells possessed high levels of "peripheral-type" high-affinity benzodiazepine binding sites as judged by binding assays and displacement potencies. However, the different potencies and specificities of compounds for the antiproliferative actions and binding affinities for the binding site suggest that the antiproliferative actions were not mediated through the peripheral-type binding site. In support of this, these compounds have also been shown to inhibit proliferation of some nonneuronal cultured cell lines, e.g., mouse SP2/O-Ag 14 hybridoma and rat NCTC epithelial cells, which have no detectable high-affinity peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding sites.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nursing care of the resident with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

This article encompasses care of the resident and family and dealing with the staff's concerns regarding this rare, infectious dementia. Comparison is made between Alzheimer's disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the symptoms and causative agent, precautions that need to be followed, nursing care and medications used in maintaining the resident's comfort, and the maximum quality of life possible during the course of this terminal disease.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification, display, and use of symmetry elements in atomic and electronic structure models.

Crystallographic symmetry plays an important role in structure determination from diffraction or scattering data, in spectroscopy and in simulations. It is convenient and insightful to integrate the display and use of such symmetry data with data analysis and modeling methods. We outline the integration of a suite of crystallographic algorithms, closely coupled with interactive graphical displays. These include techniques for identifying the unit cell of a solid, for automatically determining space and point group symmetries, for generalized displays of symmetry elements overlaid on structural models, and for construction, editing, and transformation of models subject to symmetry constraints. In addition, electron densities derived from periodic density functional calculations can be symmetrized and displayed with the corresponding symmetry elements. Applications of these various capabilities in crystallographic research are illustrated by topical examples.

Aluminum Oxide↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of mitochondria in neuronal apoptosis.

Apoptosis is a controlled form of cell death that participates in the demise of neuronal cells during development, neurodegenerative disorders and exposure to neurotoxic agents. In recent years, the mitochondria have emerged as being pivotal in controlling apoptosis. They house a number of apoptogenic molecules that are released into the cytoplasm at the onset of apoptosis. These include cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor and various caspases. Mitochondria also play an important role in intracellular Ca(2+) regulation, which is crucial to excitotoxic neurodegeneration. Alterations in energy (ATP) production by mitochondria (due to hypoxia or mutations in genes encoding mitochondrial proteins of the electron transport chain) can induce apoptosis in neurons or increase their sensitivity to apoptosis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗