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Biomedical subjects

C T Hsu

Publications and source records attributed to C T Hsu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Development of the muscarinic receptor in rabbit gastric smooth muscle.

We used binding of [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine ( [3H]-NMS) to tissue homogenates and isometric contraction of muscle strips to characterize perinatal changes in the muscarinic receptor on rabbit gastric smooth muscle. In homogenates from fetal (28 days of gestation), 1-, 3-, and 7-day, 4- and 11-wk-old rabbits, specific binding was saturable and temperature dependent, achieved equilibrium by 10 min at 30 degrees C, and was linearly related to tissue concentration. Specific binding was 80 +/- 2% of total binding at 0.2 nM [3H]NMS. The number of binding sites was 120,000 receptors/cell, maximal during the first week of life compared with the fetus or older animals. Affinity of [3H]NMS was highest in the first week of life (Kd = 345 +/- 24 pM, 1 day old). Age did not affect Hill coefficients or Ki values; secoverine and 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide were 50-fold more potent than pirenzepine. In muscle strips, bethanechol stimulated dose-dependent atropine-inhibitable isometric contraction. The doses required for half-maximal contraction were similar in both age groups (5-6 microM), but maximal contraction was fivefold greater in weanlings compared with neonates. Increasing extracellular potassium concentration resulted in similar differences, suggesting that the differences were not receptor related. These results suggest that well-differentiated M2-muscarinic receptors are functional on rabbit gastric smooth muscle during the perinatal period.

Animals↗

[3H]QNB binding and contraction of rabbit colonic smooth muscle cells.

We used radioligand binding and studies of cell contraction to characterize muscarinic receptors on dispersed smooth muscle cells from rabbit proximal and distal colon. Cells obtained after serial incubations in collagenase were used to measure binding of tritiated quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB). AT 37 degrees C, specific [3H]QNB binding was saturable and linearly related to cell number. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to determine the affinity of [3H]QNB for its receptor. In the distal colon the Kd was 60 pM, and the mean number of receptors was 1.2 X 10(6)/cell. Compared with cells from the distal colon, cells from the proximal colon had a lower affinity (Kd = 337 pM) but similar numbers of receptors. The concentrations of the antagonists atropine, secovorine, and pirenzepine, which were required for inhibition of 50% [3H]QNB binding (IC50), were 8, 5, and 870 nM, respectively, suggesting that the receptors are of the M2-muscarinic subclass. Hill coefficients for these agents were 1.1, 0.9, and 1.1, suggesting binding to a single receptor. The IC50 for the muscarinic agonists bethanechol and oxotremorine were 80 and 0.57 microM, respectively. Hill coefficients were 0.67 for both, suggesting more complex interactions involving receptors of different affinities. In studies of cell contraction, bethanechol stimulated a dose-dependent decrease in cell length with half the maximal contraction occurring at 100 pM. These results suggest that 1) contraction is mediated by binding of bethanechol to M2-muscarinic receptors and that 2) there are a large number of spare receptors in colonic smooth muscle.

Animals↗

Changes of serum protein and immunoglobulins in ovarian agenesis.

The levels of serum proteins and immunoglobulins were determined in five cases of Turner's syndrome, in five secondary amenorrheic patients who responded to progesterone, and in five healthy women as controls. Compared with the controls, the patients with secondary amenorrhea showed significantly lower albumin, but higher alpha 1- and beta-globulins; IgG was also lower. In the Turner's syndrome group, gamma globulin, IgG and IgM levels were significantly lower. These results support the suggestion that at least some of the serum proteins and immunoglobulins are related to estrogen.

Adolescent↗

Synthesis of [5,6-3H]arachidonic acid and its use in development of a sensitive assay for prostacyclin synthetase.

[5,6-3H]arachidonic acid has been prepared by catalytic reduction of eicosa-cis-8,11,14-trien-5-ynoic acid (IV) over Lindlar catalyst. When either [5,6-3H]arachidonic acid or [5,6-3H]PGH2 is converted into PGI2 by swine aortic microsomes, the tritium at C-6 is lost to the medium. Thus, the progress of this enzymic rearrangement may be monitored by following the rate of tritium release. As swine aortic microsomes contain only low levels of cyclooxygenase, it is necessary to fortify the system with ram seminal vesicular microsomes (rich in cyclooxygenase) when [5,6-3H]arachidonic acid is used as the indirect substrate.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

Changes of serum protein and immunoglobulin in toxemia of pregnancy.

The immune mechanism theoretically may play an important role in toxemia of pregnancy. Serum proteins, immunoglobulins and C3 were measured in 20 women with normal pregnancy and in 10 women with toxemia of pregnancy. Compared with the normal pregnancy, the toxemia group exhibited decreased albumin and IgG, and significant increases in alpha 1 globulin and IgE. The immunological implication of these changes deserves further investigation.

Blood Proteins↗