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Biomedical subjects

A Scarpa

Publications and source records attributed to A Scarpa.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Various uses of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.). A review.

The ancient and modern medicinal uses of the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae), in about fifty countries worldwide, has been surveyed. The different medicinal uses are grouped separately in relation to their pharmacological action, whether real or presumed, within the various medical specialties. The results show an extensive use of this plant throughout the world and the authors suggest that further research should be carried out to determine the active principles present in the various parts of the plant.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

"The evolution of the solitary ulcer of the rectum"--an endoscopic and histopathological study.

A follow-up study of fourteen out of twenty-seven cases of solitary ulcer syndrome of the rectum was performed at one year's interval from the previous endoscopic and histologic examination. Most of the lesions consistently changed their aspect, resulting in incomplete irregular narrowings, polypoid protrusions or linear ulcers. The symptoms remained unchanged or slightly diminished. A striking difference was found in the histological pattern of the "evolved" ulcer in comparison to the active one, the former showing features of hyperplastic (metaplastic) colonic polyps as well as of the so called "transitional mucosa". It is suggested that chronic ischemia occurring in solitary ulcer of the rectum leads to "transitional mucosa" as an exaggerated regenerative phenomenon, hyperplastic (metaplastic) mucosa representing a later maturative phase. Possibly "transitional" mucosa may undergo dysplastic changes under the influence of environmental factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Transitional polyps of the colon.

Fourteen polps with the gross appearance of small hyperplastic (metaplastic) polyps, not exceeding five mm in diameter, were removed from the rectum and the sigmoid colon of patients during colonscopy, and from surgical specimens. At light microscopy they were seen to be composed of apparently normal mucosa. In most cases some hyperplastic (metaplastic) and adenomatous polyps were also present. HID-AB stain revealed the polyps to be composed of "transitional" mucosa containing almost exclusively sialomucins, in contrast to normal mucosa, in which sulphomucins predominate. It is suggested that these "transitional" polyps may represent a reservoir of hyperplastic (metaplastic) and adenomatous polps, the different fate depending on different environmental situations.

Colonic Neoplasms↗
PubMed1982

Static and time-resolved structural studies of the Ca2+-ATPase of isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum.

X-ray and neutron diffraction studies of oriented multilayers of isolated light sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) have provided the separate profile structures of the lipid bilayer and the Ca2+-ATPase molecule within the membrane profile to approximately 10 A resolution. These studies utilized biosynthetically deuterated SR phospholipids incorporated isomorphously into the isolated SR membranes via exchange proteins. Time-resolved x-ray diffraction studies of these oriented SR membrane multilayers have indicated that significant changes occur in the membrane profile structure within a single turnover of the Ca2+-transport cycle. These studies utilized the flash photolysis of caged ATP to effectively synchronize the ensemble of Ca2+-ATPase molecules in the multilayer, synchrotron x-radiation to provide 100- to 500-millisecond data collection times, and double-beam spectrophotometry to monitor Ca2+ transport in the oriented SR membrane multilayer.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Isolated perfused Brockmann body as a model for studying pancreatic endocrine secretion.

The release of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin was investigated in a newly developed in vitro perfusion preparation of the splenic Brockmann body (principal pancreatic islet) of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The preparation was viable for up to 7 h by functional and morphological criteria. Glucose evoked a biphasic release of insulin and somatostatin, but had no effect on the release of glucagon. Arginine at basal glucose concentration caused a marked release of insulin and glucagon, but only a minor release of somatostatin.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

A model of biogenic amine accumulation into chromaffin granules and ghosts based on coupling to the electrochemical proton gradient.

A model is presented to explain catecholamine uptake into isolated chromaffin granules and ghosts. It is based on the following observations and conclusions: 1) the chromaffin granule maintains one of the lowest permeabilities to cations of any previously isolated subcellular organelle and the lowest permeability to protons, 2) a transmembrane proton gradient delta pH exists across the chromaffin granule membrane that is not media dependent, with a measured internal pH of 5.5; 3) the addition of ATP to a suspension of chromaffin granules results in the generation of a membrane potential of 80-100 mV, positive inside; 4) an H+-translocating ATPase responsible for the generation of this electrochemical proton gradient (delta micro H+) exists within the membrane of the chromaffin granule; 5) net amine accumulation proceeds in the presence of both a delta pH alone and a transmembrane potential gradient delta psi alone, with the maximal rate and extent occurring in the presence of a delta pH and a delta psi together (delta micro H+); 6) when catecholamine uptake is in equilibrium with the delta micro H+, the equilibrium distribution of amines (delta micro A) obeys the relationship delta micro A = delta psi-2Zdelta pH. The model, in its elemental form, states that an H+-translocating ATPase for the generation of a delta pH and delta psi exists within the membrane of the chromaffin granule. This electrochemical proton gradient provides the driving force for amine influx, which proceeds via a reserpine-sensitive antiport carrier mechanism coupled to proton efflux. The model is discussed in terms of its physiological implications and significance for other amine-containing subcellular organelles, with particular respect to the species of catecholamine transported, and other unresolved issues.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The electron transport chain of serotonin-dense granules of platelets.

An electron transport chain has been found and partially characterized in highly purified membranes of serotonin granules isolated from porcine platelets. In these membranes NADH, but not NADPH, is oxidized when ferricyanide or catalytic amounts of cytochrome c were present. The reduced minus oxidized spectrum of these serotonin granule membranes shows a characteristic cytochrome b spectrum with absorbance maxima at 428, 530, and 561 nm. Ascorbate and, at slower rates, NADH are electron donors to cytochrome b561. It is concluded that the electron transport chain present within the membranes of serotonin granules is virtually identical with that of chromaffin granules, and a common physiological role is suggested.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Serotonin transport in isolated platelet granules. Coupling to the electrochemical proton gradient.

The effect of the transmembrane proton gradient (delta pH) and potential gradient (delta psi) upon the rate and extent of amine accumulation was investigated in intact 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) containing dense granules. The granules were isolated and purified from other subcellular organelles under isotonic conditions utilizing a newly developed continuous density gradient of Percoll. As measured by [14C]methylamine distribution, isolated granules suspended in a highly buffered medium at pH 7.0 had an intragranular pH of 5.40, independent of the pH of the external medium. This pH gradient could be collapsed by the addition of 60 mM ammonia. In the presence of Mg-ATP, a transmembrane potential (delta psi) of 30-40 mV, inside positive, was generated and sustained for over 30 min, as measured by [14C]thiocyanate distribution. The addition of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, a proton translocator, resulted in the reversal of the potential to negative values. The Mg-ATP-dependent generation of the delta psi was prevented by addition of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and trimethyltin, inhibitors of proton-translocating ATPases in this and other subcellular organelles. Ammonia (1-50 mM) addition to highly buffered suspensions of serotonin granules caused a dose-dependent decrease in the delta pH, while thiocyanate added at varying concentrations produced a dose-related collapse of the delta psi and had no effect upon the delta pH. Both the delta pH and delta psi were found to independently drive accumulation of [14C]serotonin into the granules; stepwise collapse of each gradient resulted in a corresponding diminution of [14C]serotonin accumulation. The maximum rate and extent of [14C]serotonin uptake, however, were observed in the presence of both the delta pH and delta psi. The conclusions provide support for the existence of a proton-translocating ATPase in the serotonin granule membrane responsible for the generation of the delta pH and delta psi. Moreover, the results demonstrate a primary role for the electrochemical proton gradient (delta mu H+) in the carrier-mediated active transport of 5-hydroxytryptamine into the platelet granule.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1981

Proton: substrate stoichiometries during active transport of biogenic amines in chromaffin ghosts.

The relationship between the electrochemical proton gradient (delta mu-H+) and the electrochemical gradient for biogenic amines (delta mu-A) was investigated in isolated chromaffin ghosts free of endogenous components and gradients. The addition of ATP to a ghost suspension resulted in the generation of a large proton concentration gradient (delta pH), acidic inside (measured by [14C]-methylamine distribution), and a large proton electrical gradient (delta psi), positive inside (measured by [14C]-thiocyanate distribution). In the presence of this large electrochemical proton gradient, the accumulation of [14C]5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and other biogenic amines rapidly reached an apparent steady state level. Collapse of the proton gradients after steady state levels were achieved resulted in the efflux of the accumulated amines. Uptake in the presence of a delta psi alone produced an amine gradient equal to the magnitude of the delta psi, while in the presence of a delta pH alone biogenic amine distribution was equal to twice the magnitude of the delta pH. Using additions of ammonia or thiocyanate, it was possible to vary the magnitude of the electrochemical proton gradient over a wide range of values; the driving force for amine accumulation under these conditions was found to be equal to delta psi--2Z delta pH (where Z = 2.3 RT/F). The results, which provide unequivocal evidence for the primary role of the electrochemical proton gradient in the active transport of biogenic amines, are consistent with a model based on the chemiosmotic hypothesis, of an obligatory coupling of amine influx and proton efflux, mediated via a putative reserpine-sensitive translocator. Measurement of the stoichiometry of this coupling of H+ and amines permits conclusions concerning the molecular mechanism of amino accumulation.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1981

Functional characteristics of reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes as a function of the lipid-to-protein ratio.

The ATP-induced Ca2+ accumulation efficiency and rates of Ca2+ uptake of the reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum (RSR) model membrane system were measured over an extended range of lipid-to-protein (L/P) molar ratios and were compared to those of isolated light sarcoplasmic reticulum (LSR). Highly purified sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), dissociated in the presence of deoxycholate, was reconstituted for several L/P ratios, according to the same procedure, forming closed membranes vesicles composed of greater than 95% Ca2+ pump protein and SR lipids which were capable of ATP-induced Ca2+ accumulation in the absence of oxalate or other Ca2+ precipitating agents. This suggests that dissociation of SR and reconstitution to form RSR does not significantly affect the ability of the Ca2+ pump protein incorporated into the SR lipid bilayer to establish Ca2+ gradients. Electron micrographs of fixed and stained dispersions of RSR revealed a structural organization of the membrane that was dependent upon the L/P molar ratio. RSR with L/P greater than 88 were composed of closed vesicles whose membranes stained asymmetrically, similar to that observed for LSR. Closed vesicles of RSR with L/P less than 88 were composed of membrane that stained symmetrically. In addition, reconstituted SR preparations with well-defined L/P molar ratios greater than 88 possess a functional behavior similar to that of LSR (in the absence of oxalate, energy efficiencies are 60-70% and apparent initial uptake rates are 80% that of isolated LSR controls); RSR preparations with L/P less than 88 are characterized by significantly depressed values of the energy efficiencies and apparent initial uptake rates especially at low L/P ratios. Thus, we are the first to report a reconstituted SR model membrane system capable of attaining rates of Ca2+ uptake comparable to isolated LSR controls at comparable L/P ratios in the absence of oxalate or other Ca2+ precipitating agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Comparison of the profile structures of isolated and reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes.

The profile structures of functional reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum (RSR) membranes were investigated as a function of the lipid/protein (L/P) ratio via x-ray diffraction studies of hydrated oriented multilayers of these membranes to a resolution of 10-15 A, and neutron diffraction studies on these multilayers to lower resolutions. Our results at this stage of investigation indicate that reconstitution of SR with variable amounts of Ca2+ pump protein for L/P ratios greater than 88 results in closed membraneous vesicles in which the Ca2+ pump protein is distributed asymmetrically in the membrane profile; a majority of the protein density is contained primarily in the extravesicular half of the membrane profile whereas a relatively lesser portion of the protein spans the hydrocarbon core of the RSR membranes. These RSR membranes are functionally similar and resemble isolated light sarcoplasmic reticulum in both profile structure and function at a comparable L/P ratio. Reconstitution with greater amounts of Ca2+ pump protein (e. g. L/P approximately 50-60) resulted in substantially less functional membranes with a dramatically thicker profile structure.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

"Transitional" and hyperplastic-metaplastic mucosa occurring in solitary ulcer of the rectum.

Non-polypoid hyperplastic mucosa similar to that adjacent to colorectal carcinomas and adenomas, the so-called "transitional mucosa" (TM), was found in 16 out of 27 cases of solitary ulcer syndrome of the rectum. In 18 cases fully developed hyperplastic (metaplastic) mucosa was also found. It is suggested that chronic ischaemia which takes place in the solitary ulcer syndrome leads to TM as an exaggerated regenerative phenomenon. Later maturation of TM could lead to hyperplastic (metaplastic) changes.

Humans↗