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Biomedical subjects

D Muller

Publications and source records attributed to D Muller.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Inhibition of evoked acetylcholine release: two different mechanisms in the Torpedo electric organ.

The action of agents inhibiting evoked transmitter release was investigated by analysing the Ca2+ secretion relationship, electrophysiologically and biochemically, and by measuring the stimulation-induced 45Ca accumulation in the tissue. Transmitter release saturated at external Ca2+ concentrations higher than 4 mM, the releasing mechanism probably being the limiting step. Antagonists of Ca2+ entry (Mg2+, Cd2+, diltiazem) decreased the sensitivity of acetylcholine release to Ca2+, acting as competitive inhibitors, and reduced the stimulation-induced 45Ca accumulation. Quinacrine produced similar effects, indicating that it interacts primarily with Ca2+ entry. In contrast, oxotremorine and adenosine depressed transmitter release proportionally at all Ca2+ concentrations, acting as non-competitive inhibitors, and did not modify the stimulation-induced 45Ca accumulation. Their inhibitory effects were additive and reflected a decrease in the quantal content of the responses evoked. It is concluded that both drugs inhibit cholinergic transmission in the electric organ without altering Ca2+ entry into the nerve endings.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1987

Spontaneous quantal and subquantal transmitter release at the Torpedo nerve-electroplaque junction.

Focal electrodes were used to record the spontaneous miniature potentials generated on delimited patches of innervated membrane in the Torpedo electric organ. The main population of miniature potentials followed a bell-shaped amplitude distribution. In addition, we observed a second class of spontaneous events that were smaller and whose amplitude distribution was skewed. These subminiatures formed an homogenous population together with the regular miniatures with respect to their time course versus amplitude relationship. They were thus probably generated at the same sites. The proportion of potentials that were subminiature was less than 10% in resting, freshly excised tissue, but it increased markedly: (i) when the tissue was kept for 24-28 h in vitro after excision; (ii) in the period following a brief heat challenger or (iii) stimulation to exhaustion; and (iv) in the presence of dinitrophenol or dinitrofluorobenzene. In all these conditions, we measured the acetylcholine, adenosine 5'-triphosphate and creatine phosphate content of the tissue and found a correlation between the relative number of subminiature potentials and the lack of energy rich molecules. It is concluded that subminiature potentials are present in the electric organ as in neuromuscular junctions. They are probably produced at the same sites as the regular miniature potentials and their relative occurrence seems to increase greatly when the nerve terminals are in a state of energy deficiency.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1987

Presynaptic effects of 4-aminopyridine and changes following a single giant impulse at the Torpedo nerve-electroplaque junction.

The presynaptic changes caused by 4-aminopyridine were studied in the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata, in the resting state and during the period following transmission of a single giant discharge. Incubation with 4-aminopyridine provoked a 30-40% decrease in the density of synaptic vesicles in nerve terminals, and a similar decrease in the content of vesicular and free acetylcholine. These changes were not observed when 4-aminopyridine was applied in a low-calcium, high-magnesium solution. In the standard medium, 4-aminopyridine treated junctions were able to generate a giant electrical discharge of long duration in response to a single stimulus. During the seconds and minutes following the giant discharge, the number of synaptic vesicles was not found to be significantly altered in the whole population of nerve terminals. However, new membranous structures--looking like sacs with double membranes encircling a part of cytoplasm--were seen in approximately 25% of nerve endings; in those terminals, the number of synaptic vesicles was significantly decreased. At this stage, the junctions had not recovered their capability to generate a second giant discharge of full size and the yield of acetylcholine, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate was diminished. Thirty minutes after the single discharge, the functional recovery was achieved and the membranous sacs had disappeared; but the levels of acetylcholine, ATP and creatine phosphate were still not restored.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1987

Brief occurrence of a population of presynaptic intramembrane particles coincides with transmission of a nerve impulse.

Small pieces of Torpedo electric organ were cryofixed at 1-ms time intervals in a liquid medium at -190 degrees C before, during, and after the passage of a single nerve impulse. In contrast to studies using this or other preparations, these experiments were done without 4-aminopyridine or other drugs that potentiate transmitter release. Freeze-fracture replicas were made from the most superficial layers of the tissue, where the rate of cooling was rapid enough to retain ultrastructure in the absence of chemical fixation. We found that the transmission of an impulse was accompanied by the momentary appearance of a population of large intramembrane particles in both the protoplasmic (P) and the external (E) leaflets of the presynaptic plasma membrane. The change was very brief, appearing soon after the stimulus artifact. It lasted for 2-3 ms. Large pits denoting vesicle openings at the presynaptic membrane were found in a small proportion of nerve terminals; their number did not increase during transmission of the nerve impulse. Reducing the temperature from 16 to 5 degrees C slowed the time course of both the electrophysiological response and the change in intramembrane particles. The number of large particles did not increase when stimulation was applied in a low-Ca medium, a condition where the nerve terminals were still depolarized by the action potential but did not release the neurotransmitter. From these and other observations, we conclude that this transient change of intramembrane particles is closely linked to the mechanism of acetylcholine release at the nerve-electroplaque junction.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of cell types in human breast tumor primary cultures.

Primary cultures of cells from breast carcinomas were attempted in 74 cases. Growth was observed in 46 cases. Using immunochemical demonstration of keratin proteins (KER), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), three morphologically distinct cell populations were characterized and described. Two cell types (E- and E'-cells) were identified as epithelial by their positive staining for KER and EMA. The third type (F cells) displayed a negative staining for these two epithelial markers; they were considered as stromal cells (fibroblasts). More than 50% of the cultures consisted of pure epithelial cells. Positive CEA staining was observed only in KER- and EMA-positive cells. Out of the 30 cultures, 15 displayed positive staining for CEA. In 7 of these, 30-50% of cells displayed positive, diffuse staining for CEA. The other 8 cultures consisted of more than 50% CEA-positive cells. Strong and homogeneous positivity was restricted to the E-cells, while in the same cultures, E'-cells displayed heterogeneous and diffuse staining. Efficiency and value of this cell culture system are discussed, in comparison with other human breast tumor cell (HBTC) culture techniques. Identification of growing cells and cellular composition of primary cultures are emphasized.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1987

Botulinum toxin inhibits quantal acetylcholine release and energy metabolism in the Torpedo electric organ.

1. Type A Botulinum toxin (BoTX) blocked nerve-electroplaque transmission in small fragments of Torpedo marmorata electric organ incubated in vitro. The effect was observed either with the crystalline toxin complex (associated with haemagglutinin) or with the purified neurotoxin (molecular weight approximately 150,000). 2. The quantal content of the evoked post-synaptic response was reduced by BoTX but the quantum size remained unchanged till complete blockade of the evoked response. 3. Spontaneous electroplaque potentials were composed of two populations: one with a bell-shaped amplitude distribution (miniature potentials or quanta) and a population of small events with a skewed distribution (subminiatures). In BoTX-poisoned tissue, the bell-distributed miniatures progressively disappeared, but the subminiatures kept on occurring. Occasionally, larger spontaneous potentials with a slow time course were recorded; they were also BoTX resistant. 4. A biochemical assay showed that evoked acetylcholine (ACh) release was impaired by BoTX. During the period when evoked transmission was blocked, spontaneous ACh release transiently increased. 5. At the time of transmission blockade, there was no significant change of ACh content, of ACh turnover, of ACh repartition in the vesicle-bound and free compartments, or of the number of synaptic vesicles. 6. The amount of ATP was reduced to 50% by BoTX, and that of creatine phosphate (CrP) to less than 20%. The ATP-CrP-converting enzyme, creatine kinase, was inhibited in BoTX-poisoned tissue. 7. Thus, the electrophysiological effects of BoTX are very similar at the nerve-electroplaque and the neuromuscular junctions. The present work suggests in addition that suppression of quantal release by BoTX is related to marked alterations of the energy metabolism in the tissue.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1986

Thrombin purification by one-step preparative affinity chromatography on modified polystyrenes.

Insoluble polystyrenes substituted with sulphonate and L-arginyl methyl ester have been synthesized. Using their specific affinity for thrombin, we developed a simple one-step chromatographic procedure for thrombin purification. As a control, insoluble polystyrenes substituted only with sulphonate groups were tested. The results obtained confirmed the importance of the arginyl residues grafted onto these polymers to obtain an affinity matrix useful for purifying thrombin with a high specific activity and a good recovery.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMed1986

High-performance affinity chromatography of human thrombin on modified polystyrene resins.

Cross-linked polystyrenes modified with L-arginyl methyl ester mimic the binding site of antithrombin III and thrombin substrates. They can be used as stationary phases in high-performance affinity chromatography of thrombin. Under isocratic conditions, thrombin is strongly adsorbed on the resins when the sodium chloride concentration is lower than 0.5 M. The bound enzyme can be selectively desorbed when the salt concentration is raised to about 1.2 M. With a linear salt gradient, the specific elution of thrombin can be effected with a high recovery of its enzymatic activity. The decomposition products of thrombin, when treated with sodium dodecyl sulphate, are not retained by the stationary phase. The effects of the flow-rate and salt gradient slope on the adsorption and desorption of alpha-thrombin demonstrate the importance of kinetic parameters.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1986

Affinity chromatography of thrombin on modified polystyrene resins.

Insoluble polystyrenes substituted with sulphonate and L-arginyl methyl ester (PAOM) present substituents mimicking the reactive binding site of antithrombin III. These materials have a specific affinity for thrombin. The binding of the enzyme is reversible and the eluted thrombin remains active. Consequently, these resins can be used as stationary phases in affinity liquid chromatography in order to purify thrombin with a high biological activity. The influence of different characteristics of such polymers (substitution ratio, average particle size, affinity constant, synthesis conditions) on the purification performance is studied. Human prothrombin complex concentrate is activated and applied onto the gel. A purified human thrombin of high specific activity is separated with a high recovery of biological activity of the enzyme.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMed1986

Kunjin virus encephalomyelitis.

Kunjin virus encephalomyelitis is described in a 49-year-old man who presented with an episode of acute encephalitis. He developed profound bulbar, truncal and proximal muscle weakness suggestive of damage to cranial motor nuclei and anterior horn cells. This resolved very slowly. A marked rise in antibody titres to Kunjin virus was shown by haemagglutination inhibition tests. Specific IgM antibodies were detected only against Kunjin virus.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1986

Increase in the number of presynaptic large intramembrane particles during synaptic transmission at the Torpedo nerve-electroplaque junction.

Small pieces of Torpedo electric organ were treated with 4-aminopyridine, a drug which greatly increases the duration of transmitter release in a single nerve impulse, transforming the normally brief electroplaque potential to a giant discharge. Specimens of tissue were cryofixed by rapid freezing using liquid coolants at precise time intervals during transmission of a single giant discharge, and then examined by freeze fracture. In each experiment, we monitored the electrical response of one specimen during the freezing run to check the physiological responsiveness of the tissue and to determine the precise time of contact with the cryogenic liquid. The general appearance of nerve terminals after cryofixation was similar to that of terminals from chemically fixed and cryoprotected tissue. The major morphological change observed during the time course of the giant discharge was a marked increase in the density of intramembrane particles larger than 10 nm on both the protoplasmic and external faces of the presynaptic membrane. This change appeared in specimens frozen within the first few milliseconds after the stimulus, that is, at a time corresponding to the onset of the rising phase of the potential (3 ms). At the end of the giant discharge, the particle density returned to control values with the same time course as the potential trace. Pits of 20 nm or larger, probably due to vesicle-membrane interaction, were found in a small proportion of nerve terminals. Their occurrence increased only at 120-150 ms after the stimulus, that is, a long time after the beginning of the giant potential and of the change in intramembrane particles. The size distribution of particles was also determined in the membrane of synaptic vesicles exposed by cross fracture of terminal boutons; it was found to be similar to that of the unstimulated presynaptic membrane and it did not change during the giant discharge. Stimulation experiments were also carried out in a modified solution containing no added calcium, 20 mM magnesium and 4-aminopyridine. The propagation of impulses along the nerves to the electric organ was not inhibited in the modified solution but acetylcholine release was prevented and no increase in particle density was found on the presynaptic membrane. These and previous biochemical experiments on this tissue suggest that the release of the neuro-transmitter acetylcholine is associated with a transient occurrence of large intramembrane particles on the two fracture faces of the presynaptic membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1986

Quantal release of acetylcholine evoked by focal depolarization at the Torpedo nerve-electroplaque junction.

To analyse evoked acetylcholine (ACh) release in the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata, a loose patch-clamp technique was used that allowed with a single extracellular electrode both focal depolarization of nerve endings and recording of the post-synaptic currents produced by the released transmitter. Two different types of post-synaptic response could be evoked by depolarizing pulses of increasing intensity: a graded response appearing with a delay of 0.6 ms (pulses of 0.2 ms duration), and an all-or-none response characterized by a mean delay of 1.4 ms. Both responses had a similar maximal amplitude and a similar rise time of 0.6 ms. The graded response was evoked in all places where spontaneous miniature electroplaque currents (m.e.e.s) could be recorded. It was not modified by 1 microM-tetrodotoxin (TTX), but was Ca2+ dependent and was abolished by Cd2+ (0.2 mM) or Mg2+ (10 mM). The all-or-none response could be evoked in only 30% of places where m.e.c.s. were recorded, it was highly TTX sensitive, Ca2+ dependent, and abolished by Cd2+ (0.2 mM) or Mg2+ (10 mM). K+ channel blocking agents, such as 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) or tetraethylammonium (TEA), which are known to prolong the duration of action potentials, prolonged the delay of the all-or-none response, but not that of the graded response. At low strength stimulation, the graded response was clearly evoked in a quantal way, with the quantum corresponding to the amplitude of spontaneous m.e.c.s. The amplitude distribution of the evoked responses closely followed a Poisson distribution. The maximum synchronous release of transmitter was found to be approximately 1.3 quanta/micron2 of presynaptic membrane and a mean quantal size of about 7000 ACh molecules was estimated from the charge transfer of m.e.c.s. The nerve terminal time constant was calculated from strength-duration curves obtained with depolarizing pulses just able to evoke either the all-or-none response or the first few quanta of the graded response. Respective mean values of 0.22 and 0.40 ms were found. Increasing the duration of the depolarizing pulse had two consequences: it differently affected the delay of the all-or-none response and that of the graded response; it increased the mean quantal content of the graded response. Both effects could not simply be accounted for by the influence of the nerve terminal time constant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1986

Potentiation by 4-aminopyridine of quantal acetylcholine release at the Torpedo nerve-electroplaque junction.

The effects of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on electrophysiological post-synaptic responses evoked by field stimulation or evoked focally using a loose patch-clamp technique, and on radiolabelled transmitter release were studied in the Torpedo electric organ. In this preparation, 4-AP had three major effects: it greatly potentiated the amount of acetylcholine (ACh) released by a nerve impulse, it prolonged the duration of the post-synaptic electroplaque current (e.c.) by several hundreds of milliseconds, and it increased the delay of responses triggered by a presynaptic action potential. Noise analysis performed at different times during the focally recorded giant response showed that it was made of a sustained release of ACh quanta. The maximum synchronous release of transmitter, expressed as the maximum number of quanta simultaneously delivered/micron2 of presynaptic membrane, was apparently not modified by 4-AP. A slightly different dose dependence was found for the effects of 4-AP on the potentiation of transmitter release and on the prolongation of the synaptic delay. The effects of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and other K+ channel blockers on these parameters were similar to those of 4-AP. Strong depolarizing pulses applied focally to a nerve ending were able to evoke a giant response even in the presence of 1 microM-tetrodotoxin (TTX). The prolongation of the discharge by 4-AP was therefore not caused by repetitive re-excitation of the nerve branches. Both the amplitude and the time course of the giant response were Ca2+ dependent. At a low Mg2+ concentration, the Ca2+ dependence of transmitter release was identical in the presence or absence of 4-AP. Paradoxically, in the presence of 4-AP, addition of 4 mM-Mg2+ considerably increased the Ca2+ dependence of release, whereas in the absence of 4-AP, Mg2+ blocked transmitter release by decreasing its sensitivity to Ca2+. This potentiating interaction between Mg2+ and 4-AP was not seen with TEA or guanidine. In conclusion, 4-AP potentiates ACh release in two different ways in the Torpedo electric organ: it promotes a sustained quantal release of transmitter during several hundreds of milliseconds without any significant change in the maximal synchronous release, it interacts with Mg2+ in such a manner that the sensitivity to Ca2+ of the nerve terminals is increased.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1984

High-pressure size-exclusion chromatography of anticoagulant materials.

A comparative determination of molecular weights of anticoagulant materials is made on different types of high-performance liquid chromatographic stationary phases in aqueous media. The influence of different elution parameters is reported. Narrow-molecular-weight-distribution polystyrenesulphonates are used as standards for the calibration curves. Slight retentions are observed on unmodified silica supports. The commercially available grafted silica columns give similar results for the molecular weight values of heparin. A retention of pentosan polysulphate is observed on a TSK column. However, the size of this anticoagulant polymer is determined on the other grafted silica columns.

Anticoagulants↗