Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Pearson

Publications and source records attributed to D Pearson.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex in organ culture: morphologic and biochemical characteristics.

Organ cultures of the guinea pig hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex could be maintained for periods as long as 3 weeks. Morphological studies using conventional light microscopy as well as electron microscopy indicate that neurosecretory cells remain viable during this time. Biochemical studies show that the capability of the cultures to synthesize a normal spectrum of cellular RNA species is impaired during the initial day in culture, but that this capability is restored after 4-5 days. Similarly, protein synthesis proceeds at low levels during initial days of culture, but increases after 5 days. These phenomena appear to be independent of changes in the specific radioactivity of precursor pools and were also observed when outgrowth of non-neuronal cells is inhibited with fluorodeoxyuridine. The content of vasopressin, a product of a specific class of neurosecretory neurons, was found to decrease in the posterior pituitary during 7 - 10 days in culture by 50-70 percent; the levels then plateaued and were maintained for up to 3 weeks. The hypothalamic content of the hormone was relatively constant throughout the culture period. Of most importance was the demonstration that the organ cultures were capable of vasopressin biosynthesis. This capability paralleled the biosynthetic activity of RNA and gross protein metabolism in that there was an initial refractory period of several days duration.

Animals↗

The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex in organ culture: effects of metabolic inhibitors, biologic and pharmacologic agents.

Organ cultures of the guinea pig hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex synthesize the octapeptide hormone, vasopressin, a specific product of the neurosecretory cells of the supraoptic nucleus. Inhibitors of both protein and RNA synthesis (cycloheximide and bromotubercidin respectively) were found to block vasopressin biosynthesis. In the presence of bromotubercidin, the apparent half-time of decline in the rate of hormone biosynthesis was about 28 h. Colchicine inhibited the distal transport of vasopressin into the posterior pituitary. Ultrastructural studies on colchicine-treated cultures indicated the neuronal stalks were intact and that neurotubules were still present. The narcotic drug, levorphanol at 10-7 M and 10-9 M was found to inhibit RNA synthesis by 20 percent. At these concentrations it had no demonstrable effect on vasopressin synthesis. Cultures established from animals that had been rendered tolerant to narcotics also had no observable alterations in vasopressin biosynthesis, although the initial pituitary vasopressin content of these cultures was reduced by about 35 percent. Various pharmacologic and biologic compounds were tested for their effects on vasopressin biosynthesis in organ cultures. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP, estradiol-17beta, nicotine, nerve growth factor (NGF), and pineal extract all had no effects under the present experimental regimen. Medium conditioned by the presence of fetal hypothalami of 40-55 days gestation produced a 2-4 fold increase in vasopressin biosynthesis in cultures established from adult animals. Medium conditioned by fetal cerebral cortex, liver, or hypothalamic tissue from fetuses of less than 33 days gestation did not have this stimulatory effect.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Facial pain.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Amitriptyline↗