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Biomedical subjects

D J Hirsch

Publications and source records attributed to D J Hirsch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Response of mouse proximal straight tubule and medullary thick ascending limb to beta-agonist.

Scatchard analysis of (3H)CGP-12177 and (125I)cyanopindolol (CYP) radioligand binding data revealed the presence of specific beta-adrenergic receptor-binding sites on microdissected mouse proximal straight and medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) tubules. beta-Receptor (10(-6) M isoproterenol) stimulation of isolated perfused mTAL tubules produced a consistent hyperpolarization of the transepithelial potential that was blocked by propranolol (10(-6) M), a beta-receptor antagonist, and furosemide (10(-4) M), an inhibitor of the Na+/K+/2 Cl- triporter. In contrast, there was no electrogenic response to isoproterenol stimulation in isolated perfused proximal straight tubules. In summary, radioligand binding data show that both proximal straight and mTAL tubules possess beta-receptor-binding sites. Electrogenic transport in the mTAL can be modulated by beta-agonists, but there was no detectable electrogenic response to beta-receptor stimulation in proximal straight tubules.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1992

Cloned, expressed rat cerebellar nitric oxide synthase contains stoichiometric amounts of heme, which binds carbon monoxide.

The endogenous formation of nitric oxide (NO) has become an area of intense interest as evidence for its biological functions has been obtained in three distinct tissues: circulating macrophages, in which it exerts cytotoxic effects; blood vessels, in which it has been identified as endothelium-derived relaxing factor; and neuronal cells, in which it functions as a neurotransmitter. The formation of NO in brain extracts has been shown to be catalyzed by an enzyme, termed NO synthase, which generates the NO responsible for stimulation of cGMP formation, the highest levels of which occur in the cerebellum. NO synthase catalyzes the formation of citrulline from arginine with the coincident production of NO and has been shown to be a flavoprotein, containing 1 mol each of FAD and FMN, tetrahydrobiopterin, and iron. It is also reported to contain an alpha-helical, calmodulin-binding consensus sequence consistent with its stimulation by calmodulin in the presence of Ca2+. The formation of NO requires incorporation of one of the atoms of molecular oxygen into one of the guanidinium nitrogen atoms of arginine with the coincident formation of citrulline. This communication reports that rat cerebellar NO synthase, cloned and stably expressed in human kidney 293 cells, contains heme in amounts stoichiometric with the flavins FAD and FMN as evidenced by the appearance of a pyridine hemochrome and a reduced CO difference spectrum with an absorbance maximum at approximately 445 nm. The finding of a CO-binding heme moiety explains the presence of iron in the enzyme and suggests a role for prosthetic heme as an oxygenase reaction center. This report also presents evidence for incorporation of delta-[14C]aminolevulinate specifically into immunoprecipitable NO synthase in stably transfected human kidney 293 cells but not in nontransfected cells. Simultaneously, K. A. White and M. A. Marletta [(1992) Biochemistry 31, 6627-6631] have demonstrated a CO-binding heme prosthetic group in purified murine macrophage NO synthase and have suggested the identity of these reaction centers in both the constitutive (cerebellar) and inducible (macrophage) forms of NO synthase.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1992

Calcium pools mobilized by calcium or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate are differentially localized in rat heart and brain.

Calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) pools have been demonstrated in brain and heart microsomes biochemically and autoradiographically by the sensitivity of 45Ca2+ accumulation to Mg2+, ATP, ruthenium red, caffeine, and tetracaine. The CICR pool colocalizes with [3H]ryanodine binding sites, supporting the notion that [3H]ryanodine labels CICR pools. Sites of CICR pools in the brain contrast with those of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive Ca2+ pools with reciprocal localizations between the two Ca2+ pools in several structures. Thus, in the hippocampus CA-1 is enriched in IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pools, whereas CICR pools are highest in CA-3 and the dentate gyrus. The corpus striatum and cerebellum are enriched in IP3 pools, whereas the medial septum and olfactory bulb have high CICR densities. In cardiac tissue, CICR is localized to atrial and ventricular muscle, whereas IP3 pools are concentrated in coronary vessels and cardiac conduction fibers. The reciprocal enrichment of IP3 and CICR Ca2+ pools implies differential regulation of Ca2+ hemostasis in these tissues.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Low-dose subcutaneous erythropoietin corrects the anaemia of renal transplant failure.

Although erythropoietin (Epo) is known to correct anaemia in dialysis and pre-dialysis patients, there is limited experience with its use in immunosuppressed patients suffering from chronic renal graft dysfunction. We report the results of a pilot study of Epo in seven patients with failing grafts and normocytic normochromic anaemia attributable to renal failure. All entering patients had controlled blood pressure and serum ferritin greater than 100 micrograms/l. Three patients were taking triple immunotherapy (prednisone/azathioprine/cyclosporin), two patients prednisone/azathioprine, and two patients CsA monotherapy. Study duration mean was 15 +/- 2 (SEM) weeks, and Epo was started at 4000 units subcutaneously (s.c.) once weekly, adjusted to achieve a target haemoglobin (Hb) of 100 g/l. Mean Hb at initiation was 68 +/- 5 g/l and significantly increased to 96 +/- 6 at end of follow-up, P less than 10(-4). All patients responded. Maintenance Epo dosage was 120 +/- 32 U/kg bodyweight/week, roughly 4000 units/week. There was no significant change in serum creatinine: pre-study 392 +/- 45 mumol/l; post-study 430 +/- 62 mumol/l. There were no complications but blood pressure did rise significantly: pre- 124 +/- 11/74 +/- 4 mmHg to post- 142 +/- 10/86 +/- 3, P less than 0.05 for systolic and diastolic. Low-dose s.c. Epo effectively corrects anaemia in graft failure despite azathioprine and/or CsA therapy, without obvious acceleration of graft failure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Functional integrity of proximal tubule cells. Effects of hypoxia and ischemia.

Effects of warm hypoxia and ischemia on electrophysiologic properties of isolated perfused mouse proximal straight tubules were studied. Oxyrase (5 to 10 microliters/mL) was added to the hypoxic and ischemic solutions to lower the oxygen tension to 5 mm Hg. The ischemic solution also simulated acidosis, K+ and lactate accumulation, and substrate deprivation. Twenty-minute tubular perfusion with the hypoxic and ischemic solutions (lumen and bath) at 37 degrees C did not significantly alter basolateral membrane potential, basolateral K+ transference number, or intracellular Na+ activity from control values of -69 +/- 1 mV (N = 91), 0.71 +/- 0.01 (N = 15), and 15.2 +/- 0.8 mM (N = 12), respectively. However, the hypoxic and ischemic perfusions decreased transepithelial potential by 40% (hypoxia: -1.7 +/- 0.1 to -1.1 +/- 0.1 mV [N = 30; P < 0.001]; ischemia: -1.4 +/- 0.1 to -0.82 +/- 0.05 mV [N = 17; P < 0.001]). A similar extent of reduction in transepithelial resistance was observed (hypoxia: 14.3 +/- 1.0 to 9.2 +/- 1.1 omega.cm2 [N = 7; P < 0.005]; ischemia: 12.6 +/- 1.2 to 8.1 +/- 1.0 omega.cm2 [N = 6; P < 0.03]). In addition, neither apical (R(ap)) nor basolateral (Rbl) cell membrane resistances were significantly altered after the ischemic perfusion (control: R(ap) = 369 +/- 48 omega.cm2; Rbl = 92 +/- 11 omega.cm2 [N = 63]; reperfusion: R(ap) = 454 +/- 88 omega.cm2; Rbl = 101 +/- 16 omega.cm2 [N = 21]). It was concluded that tubular cells are able to maintain their electrogenic ionic transport after short-term exposure to hypoxic or ischemic conditions. However, cell-to-cell junctions are damaged by these insults, which could possibly increase leakage and decrease the efficiency of the active transport.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Late leaks in peritoneal dialysis patients.

A series of eight patients with leakage of dialysate around the exit site of their peritoneal dialysis catheters is reviewed. In all cases the leak occurred at least 1 month after catheter placement. There were no risk factors allowing prediction of leakage. Four cases required surgical intervention, and all patients returned to CAPD.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sodium transport in salamander proximal tubule at 5.5 degrees C.

Na+ transport and electrophysiology of isolated perfused proximal tubules of the salamander Ambystoma tigrinum were compared at 22 and 5.5 degrees C, a range over which these animals normally live. Both intracellular Na+ activity and basolateral membrane potential were unaffected by temperature, whereas transepithelial potential depolarized from -6.5 +/- 0.8 mV at 22 degrees C to -3.5 +/- 0.6 mV at 5.5 degrees C (P less than 0.05). Compared with 22 degrees C, reduction of temperature to 5.5 degrees C included major increases in apical membrane resistance (2,052 +/- 473 omega.cm2 to 18,464 +/- 2,667 omega.cm2) and basolateral membrane resistance (491 +/- 113 omega.cm2 to 1,780 +/- 256 omega.cm2) (P less than 0.01). Sequential increases of luminal glucose concentration allowed characterization of the Na(+) -glucose cotransporter at both temperatures. The Km was stable (2 mM), but the maximal activity (Vmax) at 5.5 degrees C of 167 peq/5 cm2 increased to 1,000 peq/5 cm2 at 22 degrees C (P less than 0.05). In parallel with this temperature sensitivity of apical Na+ entry, basolateral Na+ pump activity was reduced at low temperature. Rubidium uptake at 22 degrees C was reduced by 40% at 5.5 degrees C. The rate of decrease of intracellular Na+ activity when tubules were perfused with substrate-free solution was -2.6 +/- 0.7 mM/min at 5.5 degrees C, compared with -4.9 +/- 1.2 mM/min at 22 degrees C. We conclude that low temperature reduces both Na+ uptake and efflux, allowing stability of intracellular milieu despite reduction in net transepithelial transport.

Ambystoma↗
PubMed1991

[3H]opipramol labels a novel binding site and sigma receptors in rat brain membranes.

Opipramol (OP), a clinically effective antidepressant with a tricyclic structure, is inactive as an inhibitor of biogenic amine uptake. [3H]Opipramol binds saturably to rat brain membranes (apparent KD = 4 nM, Bmax = 3 pmol/mg of protein). [3H]Opipramol binding can be differentiated into haloperidol-sensitive and -resistant components, with Ki values for haloperidol of 1 nM (Bmax = 1 pmol/mg of protein) and 350 nM (Bmax = 1.9 pmol/mg of protein), respectively. The drug specificity of the haloperidol-sensitive component is the same as that of sigma receptors labeled with (+)-[3H]3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperdine. The haloperidol-resistant component does not correspond to any known neurotransmitter receptor or uptake recognition site. It displays high affinity for phenothiazines and related structures such as perphenazine, clopenthixol, and flupenthixol, whose potencies are comparable to that of opipramol. Because certain of these drugs are more potent at the haloperidol-resistant opipramol site than in exerting any other action, it is possible that this opipramol-selective site may mediate their therapeutic effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Inositol trisphosphate and thapsigargin discriminate endoplasmic reticulum stores of calcium in rat brain.

ATP dependent Ca2+ accumulation into oxalate-loaded rat brain microsomes is potently inhibited by thapsigargin with an IC50 of 2 nM and maximal inhibition at 10 nM. Approximately 15% of the total A23187-releasable microsomal calcium store is insensitive to thapsigargin concentrations up to 100 microM. Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) maximally inhibits 40% of the net Ca2+ accumulation by whole brain microsomes. Its effects are non-additive with thapsigargin suggesting that the IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pool is a subset of the thapsigargin sensitive Ca2+ pool. Marked regional differences occur in Ca2+ transport rates and sensitivity to both thapsigargin and IP3.

Animals↗