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Biomedical subjects

A Tremblay

Publications and source records attributed to A Tremblay.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Physical and genetic mapping of cloned ribosomal DNA from Toxoplasma gondii: primary and secondary structure of the 5S gene.

The ribosomal DNA (rDNA encoding rRNA) of the obligately intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, was identified, cloned, physically mapped, its copy number determined, and the 5S gene sequenced. Using total RNA as a probe, a collection of recombinant lambda phages containing copies of rDNA were isolated from a lambda 2001 tachyzoite genomic library. Northern gel hybridization confirmed specific homology of the 7.5-kb rDNA unit, subcloned into pTZ18R, to T. gondii rRNA. The mapped rDNA found in pTOX1 contained small ribosomal subunit (SS; 18S)- and large ribosomal subunit (LS; 26S)-encoding genes localized using intragenic heterologous probes from the conserved sequences of the SS (18S) and LS (28S) Xenopus laevis genes. the physical mapping data, together with partial digestion experiments and Southern gel hybridization, confirmed a 7.5-kb rDNA unit arranged in a simple head-to-tail fashion that is tandemly repeated. We estimated the rDNA repeat copy number in T. gondii to be 110 copies per haploid tachyzoite genome. Parts of the SS gene and the complete 5S gene were sequenced. The 5S gene was found to be within the rDNA locus, a rare occurrence found only in some fungi and protozoa. Secondary-structure analysis revealed an organization remarkably similar to the 5S RNA of eukaryotes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Distinct oxidoresistance phenotype of human T47D cells transfected by rat glutathione S-transferase Yc expression vectors.

We have investigated the role of a glutathione S-transferase (GST) with inherent peroxidase activity in the cellular defense against lipid peroxidation and free radical-mediated oxidative damage. Stable transfectants of human T47D cells were generated which express recombinant rat GST-Yc from a human cytomegalovirus promoter-based expression vector. Among several GST-Yc transfectants characterized, two of them contained, respectively, 2- and 3-fold higher GST activity than parental cells or control transfectants and, respectively, 4-5- and 8-10-fold higher selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase activity. Cellular growth kinetics and rates of [3H]thymidine incorporation showed that both transfectants were more resistant to oxidative shocks mediated by cumene hydroperoxide or singlet oxygen generated by photosensitized rose bengal than were T47D cells and control transfectants. In contrast, a T47D transfectant, which expressed high levels of recombinant selenoglutathione peroxidase and showed enhanced resistance to cumene hydroperoxide (Mirault, M.-E., Tremblay, A., Beaudoin, N., and Tremblay, M. J. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 20752-20760), was as sensitive as parental cells to singlet oxygen. No difference was found in growth sensitivity to 1-h shock treatments with the quinonoid drug daunomycin, irrespective of GST-Yc or selenoglutathione peroxidase overexpression in these cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Heterogeneous glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to oral glucose in non-diabetic men: interactions between duration of obesity, body fat distribution and family history of diabetes mellitus.

The interaction between environmental and genetic factors in the alterations of glucose-insulin homeostasis was studied in 104 non-diabetic men. Family history of diabetes mellitus was used as an index of genetic predisposition to diabetes. Body composition was measured by underwater weighing whereas subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue areas were measured at the abdominal and femoral levels by computed tomography. The sample was first divided into two groups. The first group included subjects with "normal" glycaemic and insulinaemic responses during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The second group was composed of subjects either with a high glucose response or high insulin response or both. Men included in the second group were different from the "normal" subjects for almost all body fatness variables. They also presented a prevalence of a positive family history of diabetes which was significantly higher than "normal" subjects. The second group was then divided into three distinct subgroups based on insulin and glucose responses of the subjects during the oral glucose tolerance test. Subjects with high insulin but "normal" glucose responses were characterized by significantly higher levels of total body fat and deep abdominal adipose tissue when compared to the "normal" group (p less than 0.05). Men with both high insulinaemic and glycaemic responses displayed higher body fatness values and higher deep and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue areas (p less than 0.05) in comparison with "normal" subjects. They also had a higher body mass index at age 20 years than control subjects and subjects with high insulin but "normal" glucose responses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Is body fat loss a determinant factor in the improvement of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism following aerobic exercise training in obese women?

Thirty-one obese, premenopausal women aged 35.4 +/- 5.1 (SD) years exercised for 90 minutes at approximately 55% of maximal aerobic power (VO2max) four to five times a week for a period of 6 months. The training program induced a significant increase in VO2max (P < .001) and significant improvements in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as reflected by decreased plasma insulin (INS) concentrations measured in the fasting state and after glucose (GLU) ingestion (INS area, P < .001), by reduced plasma cholesterol (C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (P < .001), and by increased ratios of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)/LDL-C and HDL2-C/HDL3-C (P < .05 and P < .001, respectively). Changes in body fat mass were positively associated with changes in the INS area/GLU area ratio (r = .49, P < .05) and with changes in very-low-density lipoprotein triglycerides ([VLDL-TG] r = .49, P < .05). Furthermore, changes in the INS area were positively associated with changes in VLDL-TG (r = .51, P < .05). Although no significant mean change in body composition was observed, important individual variation was noted. Twenty women showed a reduction in body fat mass (mean reduction, 2.63 +/- 2.2 kg), whereas 11 women showed an increase in adipose mass (mean increase, 2.79 +/- 2.36 kg). Comparable increases in VO2max were observed between the two groups. The group that showed a decrease in body fat mass with exercise also had significant improvements in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Influence of captopril on adrenal cytochrome P-450s and adrenodoxin expression in high potassium or low sodium intake.

To investigate the role of the renin-angiotensin system in steroidogenic enzyme expression, the angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitor captopril was administered in conjunction with high potassium (K+) or low (Na+) intake to rats for a 7-day period. Northern blot analysis of adrenocortical zona glomerulosa RNA revealed that sodium restriction markedly increased mRNA production of P-450scc (3.1-fold) and P-450(11 beta) (3.4-fold) as well as of the electron donor adrenodoxin (2.0-fold). Captopril combined to the low Na+ diet led to suppression of these effects and, as also seen with captopril alone, further diminished P-450(11 beta) mRNA levels below controls. These responses were accompanied by parallel changes in respective protein levels of the enzymes as indicated by Western blot analyses. Captopril was also shown to inhibit the K(+)-stimulated levels of P-450(11 beta) mRNA (3.3-fold) and protein (1.4-fold) beneath control values (0.6- and 0.8-fold, respectively). On the other hand, increased P-450scc mRNA and protein levels by K+ loading were not affected by captopril treatment. No response was observed in any steroidogenic enzyme expression in zona fasciculata-reticularis following either diet with or without captopril. Thus, the inhibitory effect of captopril on stimulated steroidogenesis seemed to be mediated in part through transcriptional regulation of P450s. In addition, it appeared that P-450(11 beta) expression might be under the control of the renin-angiotensin system in both high K+ and low Na+ diets as opposed to the K+ stimulation of P-450scc where other mechanisms seemed to be involved.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1992

Role of fat oxidation in the long-term stabilization of body weight in obese women.

Two studies were performed to investigate the association between body fat mass and fat oxidation. The first, a cross-sectional study of 106 obese women maintaining stable body weight, showed that these two variables were significantly correlated (r = 0.56, P less than 0.001) and the regression coefficient indicated that a 10-kg change in fat mass corresponded to a change in fat oxidation of approximately 20 g/d. The second, a prospective study, validated this estimate and quantifies the long-term adaptations in fat oxidation resulting from body fat loss. Twenty-four moderately obese women were studied under controlled dietary conditions at stable weight before and after mean weight and fat losses of 12.7 and 9.8 kg, respectively. The reduction in fat oxidation was identical to that predicted by the above regression. We conclude that changes in fat mass significantly affect fat oxidation and that this process may contribute to the long-term regulation of fat and energy balance in obese individuals.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Lean-body-mass composition and resting energy expenditure before and after long-term overfeeding.

This report deals with the association between the constituents of lean body mass (LBM) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) before and after a 100-d overfeeding period. Computed-tomography (CT) scan of 22 young adult males at nine different body levels were used to estimate adipose tissue mass (ATMCT), LBMCT, skeletal-muscle mass (SMMCT), and non-muscular LBMCT (NM-LBMCT). Before overfeeding, all body constituents, except ATMCT, were significantly correlated with RMR. Only body mass changes were significantly correlated with RMR changes. Comparison of these results with those of several studies in the literature reveals that the relationship between RMR and fat-free mass is highly influenced by the size of the SD for the latter variable. In stepwise-multiple-regression analysis, only SMMCT could be used to predict RMR. It was concluded that SMMCT and ATMCT, but not NM-LBMCT, increased during overfeeding and that the best correlates of RMR remain LBMCT, SMMCT, and body mass.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Overfeeding and energy expenditure in humans.

The effect of overfeeding on energy expenditure was investigated in 23 young men subjected to a 353-MJ energy intake surplus over 100 d. The major part of this excess (222 MJ) was stored as body energy. The increase in energy cost of weight maintenance amounted to 52 MJ and was proportional to body weight gain. When it was added to the obligatory cost of fat and fat-free mass gains, the overall increase in energy expenditure amounted to a mean of 100 MJ. Four months after overfeeding, subjects had lost 82%, 74%, and 100% of the overfeeding gain in body weight, fat mass, and fat-free mass, respectively. We conclude that 1) in response to overfeeding, two-thirds of the excess energy intake is stored as body energy; 2) overfeeding induces an increase in energy cost of weight maintenance proportional to body weight gain, and 3) preoverfeeding energy balance tends to be restored when nonobese individuals return to their normal daily-life habits.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

A study of some potential correlates of the hypotensive effects of prolonged submaximal exercise in normotensive men.

This study was undertaken (1) to examine the relation of plasma catecholamine and insulin levels to the blood pressure response during and after submaximal exercise, (2) to verify whether the blood pressure response to an epinephrine infusion is associated with the blood pressure response to a prolonged submaximal exercise, and (3) to study some potential correlates of the hypotensive effect of prolonged aerobic exercise. Nine normotensive young men (mean age 22.0 +/- 1.4 years) were subjected to a 1-h epinephrine infusion protocol and a 1-h submaximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. The two tests were performed 1 week apart. The physiological and hormonal responses observed during the submaximal exercise test were generally greater than those observed during the epinephrine infusion test. Blood pressure responses in both tests showed no significant association with changes in plasma insulin levels. Changes in plasma norepinephrine concentration were positively correlated with changes in systolic blood pressure during the submaximal exercise test but not during the epinephrine infusion. Results also showed that the blood pressure response to epinephrine infusion was not correlated with the blood pressure response to submaximal exercise. However, post-exercise and post-infusion systolic blood pressure responses (differences between "post-test" and "resting" values) were significantly associated (r = 0.81, p less than 0.01). In addition, a significant hypotensive effect of submaximal exercise was observed for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Increased resting metabolic rate and lipid oxidation in exercise-trained individuals: evidence for a role of beta-adrenergic stimulation.

This study investigated the contribution of beta-adrenergic stimulation to the increase in resting metabolic rate (RMR) and lipid oxidation observed in exercise-trained individuals. Nine trained and eight sedentary men were subjected to two testing sessions, during which these variables were measured before and for 3 h after the oral administration of propranolol or placebo. As expected, RMR and lipid oxidation were significantly higher in the trained subjects before the administration of propranolol and throughout the placebo test in comparison with sedentary controls. A significant decrease in RMR and lipid oxidation was induced by propranolol in the trained subjects, whereas no change was observed in the untrained group, and this effect of propranolol was sufficient to abolish the difference between the two groups at baseline and under the placebo condition. Propranolol also induced a significant reduction in heart rate and systolic blood pressure, but the response was comparable in the two groups. In conclusion, the results of this study show that beta-adrenergic stimulation is involved in the increase in RMR and lipid oxidation observed in highly trained individuals. Moreover, the absence of a training-propranolol interaction effect on heart rate and systolic blood pressure suggests the existence of some dissociation between the metabolic and cardiovascular effects of prolonged exercise training.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Dietary potassium supplementation and sodium restriction stimulate aldosterone synthase but not 11 beta-hydroxylase P-450 messenger ribonucleic acid accumulation in rat adrenals and require angiotensin II production.

Increasing evidence indicates that the adrenal cortex of most mammalian species expresses distinct forms of cytochrome P-450(11 beta), a steroidogenic enzyme that catalyses the terminal steps in the biosynthesis of both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. In the human, mouse, and rat, two genes have been isolated, designated CYP11B1 and CYP11B2. The product of CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) is required for the successive 11 beta-, 18-hydroxylations and 18-oxidation of deoxycorticosterone that lead to the production of aldosterone in the zona glomerulosa. In contrast, the product of CYP11B1 (11 beta-hydroxylase) mediates only the 11 beta-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol. The recent identification of these two P-450(11 beta) isozymes mandates further analysis of their expression in different zones of the adrenal cortex, both under basal conditions and in response to conditions known to alter mineralocorticoid biosynthesis. To evaluate the expression of the two isozymes in different adrenocortical zones, we performed Northern blotting analyses with specific oligonucleotide probes that discriminated between the two forms of rat P-450(11 beta). The transcripts detected by the two probes were of similar size (2.7 kilobase), but differed in their zonal distribution: aldosterone synthase P-450 messenger RNA (mRNA) was detected only in zona glomerulosa, whereas 11 beta-hydroxylase P-450 was expressed in both zona fasciculata-reticularis and zona glomerulosa. Next, we analyzed the response of these two genes to various physiological and pharmacological interventions known to affect aldosterone biosynthesis. High potassium or low sodium diet given to rats for 1 week increased aldosterone synthase P-450 mRNA levels by approximately 5- and 6-fold, respectively. These increases, moreover, were significantly attenuated by treatment with captopril, an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme. In contrast, neither dietary manipulation significantly affected 11 beta-hydroxylase P-450 mRNA levels in any zone. Thus, stimulation of the terminal steps of aldosterone biosynthesis by variations in dietary intake of monovalent cations involves regulation of aldosterone synthase P-450 mRNA levels. Finally, captopril inhibited potassium induction of aldosterone synthase P-450 mRNA levels despite the presence of low plasma renin activity in the potassium-treated rats. This finding implicates intraadrenal angiotensin II formation in the effect of potassium on mineralocorticoid production.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1992

Visceral obesity in men. Associations with glucose tolerance, plasma insulin, and lipoprotein levels.

The relations of regional adipose tissue (AT) distribution measured by computed tomography (CT) to plasma insulin-glucose homeostasis and lipoprotein-lipid levels were studied in 58 obese and 29 lean control men. In the group of obese men, the visceral AT area measured by CT was positively correlated with fasting plasma triglyceride and insulin levels and with glucose and insulin areas under the curves measured during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Visceral AT area was also negatively associated with plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and HDL2 cholesterol levels. The relative accumulation of abdominal fat, estimated by the ratio of abdominal to femoral AT areas obtained by CT, was also a significant correlate of indices of carbohydrate metabolism and was the best univariate correlate of plasma lipoprotein levels. No significant associations were observed between the visceral AT area, the ratio of abdominal to femoral AT areas, and indices of carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism in the group of lean men. On the other hand, the subcutaneous abdominal AT area was a significant correlate of the glucose area under the curve in both groups of men, but this association was not independent from the percentage of total body fat. No relationship was observed between the femoral AT area and indices of carbohydrate metabolism in either lean or obese groups. In obese men, however, the femoral AT area was negatively correlated with plasma triglyceride concentration and positively correlated with plasma HDL and HDL2 cholesterol levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdomen↗
PubMed1992

Does lipid oxidation differ in gynoid and android obese women?

This study was performed to investigate whether body fat distribution influences resting metabolic rate and lipid oxidation in obese individuals. Eighty-nine obese women were divided in two groups (android obese, n = 36, BMI = 31.1 +/- 4.5 kg/m2 (mean +/- s.d.); gynoid obese, n = 53, BMI = 29.9 +/- 4.5 kg/m2 on the basis of their waist/hip ratio (0.86 +/- 0.05 vs 0.75 +/- 0.04 respectively). Body weight, per cent body fat and fat-free mass were similar in the two groups. Moreover, resting metabolic rate and respiratory quotient were also identical in android and gynoid obese women, indicating that there was no intergroup difference in the absolute level of lipid oxidation. If, like most other android obese women, they had higher rates of lipolysis and plasma FFA concentrations, the failure of android obese individuals to exhibit a higher lipid oxidation than gynoid obese women may partly explain their increased risk to develop metabolic complications.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Adipose tissue lipolysis after long-term overfeeding in identical twins.

Ten pairs of young male sedentary, non-obese, monozygotic (MZ) twins, aged 21 +/- 2 years (mean +/- s.d.), were overfed for a period of 100 days during which they ingested 4.2 MJ (1000 kcal) per day above their individual energy needs, 6 days per week. There was a mean 8.4 kg increase in body weight and the average gain in body fat reaches 5.6 kg (P less than 0.0001). A biopsy of subcutaneous abdominal fat was performed, before and after the treatment, to determine fat cell weight as well as basal and catecholamine stimulated lipolyses from collagenase isolated adipocytes. Although analysis of variance revealed an increase in abdominal fat cell weight, no significant changes were noted in basal and catecholamine-stimulated lipolyses, due to large variation among individuals, results being expressed either per cell number or corrected for cell surface area. However, significant intrapair resemblance was observed in the changes of basal and epinephrine stimulated lipolyses (ri of about 0.60 in both cases), suggesting a concordant within-pair response, despite large between-pair variation. These results support the notion that the genotype may play an important role in regulating the response of abdominal adipose cells lipolytic activity to caloric excess.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1992

Human obesity: a defect in lipid oxidation or in thermogenesis?

Numerous animal studies have shown that the development of obesity can depend on a decreased sympathetic nervous system activity but it has not been possible to convincingly demonstrate in humans that an excessive accumulation of adipose tissue might also be attributable to this factor. However, results from recent studies suggest that the contribution of the sympathetic nervous system to the development of human obesity may be greater than that generally believed by the scientific community. Indeed, experimental data show that the decrease in lipid oxidation induced by beta adrenergic blockade under free living conditions is substantially higher than the decrease in energy expenditure. Moreover, there are individual variations in the relative capacity to use lipid as an energy substrate under standardized conditions of diet composition. If the contribution of lipid to daily energy expenditure is reduced, there are two options to reach energy balance if physical activity habits are not modified. The first possibility is reduction in the relative lipid content of the diet to match the lipid content of the fuel mix oxidized. The second option is a gain in body weight and fat until the associated increase in the lipid content of the substrate mix is sufficient to re-equilibrate substrate and energy balance. Under high fat diet conditions, this gain in body weight and fat can be large enough to lead to an obese state. As described in this report, an integration of these observations suggests that further research pertaining to the role of sympathetic nervous system activity in human obesity should be focused as much on lipid oxidation as on thermogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Relation of abdominal obesity to hyperinsulinemia and high blood pressure in men.

The relationships between body fatness, adipose tissue distribution, plasma glucose, insulin levels, lipoprotein levels, and resting blood pressure were studied in 81 men aged 36.0 +/- 3.3 years (mean +/- s.d.) (body mass index (BMI): 27.4 +/- 3.8 kg/m2, percentage body fat: 26.4 +/- 6.6%). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BP) were significantly associated with the BMI (r = 0.31, r = 0.33, P < 0.01), the waist circumference (r = 0.33, r = 0.27; P < 0.01) as well as with adipose tissue areas measured by computerized tomography (CT) (0.27 < or = r < or = 0.36, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the relative accumulation of subcutaneous abdominal fat, as estimated by the ratio of abdominal to femoral adipose tissue areas measured by CT, was positively correlated with systolic and diastolic BP (P < 0.01). Fasting plasma insulin level (r = 0.30, P < 0.01) as well as the insulin area measured during an oral glucose tolerance test (0.34 < or = r < or = 0.37, P < 0.01) were significantly correlated with blood pressure. Systolic and diastolic BP were significantly associated with HDL2-cholesterol (C) as well as with the HDL2-C/HDL3-C ratio (-0.24 < or = r < or = -0.34), whereas triglycerides (r = 0.23) and the HDL-C/C ratio (r = -0.23) were significantly correlated with diastolic BP only (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that the insulin area was the most important variable associated with blood pressure and that this association was independent of total body fatness and regional adipose tissue distribution. Plasma insulin levels explained 14% and 11% of the variance observed in the systolic and diastolic blood pressures respectively. These results suggest that most of the association between abdominal obesity and high blood pressure is mediated by the hyperinsulinemia and/or the related insulin resistant state.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1992

Sex does not influence serum osteocalcin levels in standardbred horses of different ages.

The influence of sex on serum osteocalcin levels was studied in 99 Standardbred horses, 52 males and 47 females. The age varied between the day of birth and five years old. A significant inverse correlation (r = -0.87, p < 0.01) was observed between serum osteocalcin level and the age of the animal. Sex did not influence serum osteocalcin level (p > 0.05). When the subjects were divided into five age groups of six months or less, 6 to 18, 18 to 24, 24 to 36 and between 36 and 60 months, no significant influence of sex was noted. A predictive model for serum osteocalcin levels (y = 52.19 - 0.026 age in days, r2 = 0.76) for Standardbred horses aged between the day of birth and five years is described.

Aging↗