Biomedical subjects

E Carlini

Publications and source records attributed to E Carlini.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Transport of phosphatidylserine from microsomes to the inner mitochondrial membrane in brain tissue.

Phosphatidylserine was labeled by incubating rat brain homogenates with [3-14C]serine in the presence of Ca2+ (base-exchange conditions). Some labeled phosphatidylethanolamine also forms, in spite of the inhibition of Ca2+ on phosphatidylserine decarboxylase. Phosphatidylserine labeling and decarboxylation also occur on incubating a mixture of purified mitochondria and microsomes, suggesting that no soluble factors are necessary for the synthesis and the decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine. Ca2+ favors the transfer of phosphatidylserine from microsomes (where it forms) to mitochondria (where it is decarboxylated). The specific radioactivity of the phosphatidylserine transferred to mitochondria is higher than that of microsomal phosphatidylserine. This finding supports the hypothesis that the lipid is compartmentalized in microsomes and that radioactive, newly synthesized phosphatidylserine is much better exported than the bulk of microsomal phospholipid.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

[Gallstone ileus].

Gallstone ileus is a rare condition whose diagnosis may be difficult. From January 1976 to December 1991 4 cases of gallstone ileus were treated in our hospital, representing 1% of all patients admitted with mechanical bowel obstruction during that period. Three patients were treated by enterolithotomy alone to remove the impacted stone. In one patient intestinal resection of the bowel tract was associated followed by end to end anastomosis. One patient died (33%) seven days after surgery for cardiopulmonary failure. In one patient the obstruction resolved with the passage of a stone per rectum. The Authors conclude that enterolithotomy alone should be the standard procedure for gallstone ileus. The repair of cholecyst-enteric fistula should be done later only if there are continuing or recurrent symptoms.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

The fate of phosphatidylethanolamine formed by decarboxylation in rat brain mitochondria.

In the liver, the synthesis and the decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine (PS) are a part of a metabolic cycle forming choline from serine. Yet, in the brain, the methylation of PE to phosphatidylcholine is a minor path. Therefore it is possible that the decarboxylation of PS has different biological meanings in the two organs. In this paper, we follow the formation and the fate of radioactive PE; to this purpose, we load brain mitochondria with PS by incubating cell homogenates with labelled serine in base-exchange conditions. Then, we isolate mitochondria and incubate them for PS decarboxylase. We also subfractionate mitochondria to investigate the distribution of PE in inner and outer membranes. We conclude that newly formed PE slowly moves from its site of synthesis (inner mitochondrial membranes). Besides, it reacts better with TNBS and with FLA than the pre-existing PE. This suggests that the newly-synthesised lipid does not mix quickly with the rest of mitochondrial PE. Therefore, our data demonstrate that the fate of PE formed through the decarboxylation path in the brain is different from that reported for the liver where newly-formed PE is rapidly exported to outer mitochondrial membranes.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Lung inhalation scintigraphy: development of a new aerosol system.

A new technique for lung inhalation scintigraphy is reported, developing a new aerosol system, based on the original system of Taplin [1]. With two small compact polypropylene reservoirs, this 99Tcm DTPA technique allowed continuous breathing during the inhalation period. This system proved to be a useful alternative to that using radioactive gases and the system of Taplin, due to its low cost and the ease with which several projections may be obtained.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of human prostasomes in the activation of spermatozoa.

Prostasomes are small vesicles of prostatic origin contained in human semen. Their composition is peculiar under many aspects. Cholesterol is abundant and many proteins are endowed with enzymatic or other activities. The function of prostasomes has been amply debated and several hypotheses have been put forward. The liquefaction of semen, spermatozoa motility, antibacterial activity and immunological functions have been related to prostasomes. Under certain aspects, prostasomes resemble synaptosomes. The fusion of prostasomes to spermatozoa enriches spermatozoa with cholesterol and causes bursts of cytoplasmic sperm calcium. The interaction of spermatozoa and prostasomes should be limited to vagina since prostasomes are immobile and do not follow spermatozoa in the superior female genital tract. Calcium bursts would increase spermatozoa motility, where cholesterol would decapacitate spermatozoa, so preventing untimely activation. Since spermatozoa receive many different molecules from prostasomes, additional effects are also possible. Prostasomes makes spermatozoa more apt to be activated by progesterone in the proximity of the ovum. Therefore, the fusion between spermatozoa and prostasomes would influence spermatozoa behaviour under many aspects and might be relevant for fecundation. The richness of molecular species in prostasomes is amazing and these small vesicles are expected to lead to many more discoveries in the field of human reproduction.

Acrosome Reaction↗