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E Shapiro

Publications and source records attributed to E Shapiro.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Aplysia synaptosomes. I. Preparation and biochemical and morphological characterization of subcellular membrane fractions.

We prepared and characterized subcellular membrane fractions from the CNS of Aplysia californica that are enriched in isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Ganglia were homogenized in 1.1 M sucrose and fractionated on a 2-step sucrose gradient, yielding 50 micrograms protein/animal in the synaptosomal fraction (P3), which was enriched 3-fold in plasma membrane as compared with the initial homogenate. Quantitative morphometry of electron micrographs revealed that P3 contained 25% intact synaptosomes, a 5-fold enrichment over the homogenate. Although fractionation on a 5-step sucrose gradient reduced the yield of protein in the synaptosomal fraction to 40 micrograms/animal, this fraction (the 0.35 M/0.75 M interface) was more enriched in plasma membrane than P3 and was less contaminated by lysosomes and free mitochondria. By electron microscopy, the 0.35 M/0.75 M interface contained up to 50% synaptosomes. Synaptosomal fractions contained cAMP-, Ca2+/calmodulin-, and Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activities and were enriched in a Mr 40,000 pertussis toxin substrate, Gi/o. In the accompanying paper, we show that these synaptosomes retain the ability to release transmitters.

Animals↗

Formation and biological activity of 12-ketoeicosatetraenoic acid in the nervous system of Aplysia.

12-Hydroperoxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE), a lipoxygenase product, simulates the synaptic responses produced by the modulatory transmitter, histamine, and the neuroactive peptide, Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide (FMRFamide), in identified neurons of the marine mollusk, Aplysia californica (Piomelli, D., Shapiro, E., Feinmark, S. J., and Schwartz, J. H. (1987) J. Neurosci. 7, 3675-3886; Shapiro, E., Piomelli, D., Feinmark, S., Vogel, S., Chin, G., and Schwartz, J. H. (1988) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 53, in press). The 12-lipoxygenase pathway has not yet been fully characterized, but 12-HPETE is known to be metabolized further. We therefore began to search for other metabolites in order to investigate whether the actions of 12-HPETE might require its conversion to other active products. Here we report the identification of 12-keto-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-KETE), a metabolite of 12-HPETE formed by Aplysia nervous tissue. This product was identified in incubations of the tissue with arachidonic acid using high performance liquid chromatography, UV spectrometry, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. [3H]12-KETE was formed from endogenous lipid stores in nervous tissue, labeled by incubation with [3H]arachidonic acid, when stimulated by application of histamine. In L14 and L10 cells, identified neurons in the abdominal ganglion, applications of 12-KETE elicit changes in membrane potential similar to those evoked by histamine. 12(S)-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, another metabolite of 12-HPETE, is inactive. These results support the hypothesis that 12-HPETE and its metabolite, 12-KETE, participate in transduction of histamine responses in Aplysia neurons.

Animals↗

The alpha adrenergic binding properties of terazosin in the human prostate adenoma and canine brain.

Clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the efficacy of terazosin for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Terazosin is a potent and selective alpha 1 adrenergic blocking agent structurally similar to prazosin. The alpha adrenergic binding properties of terazosin were studied in human prostate adenomas and canine brains using radioligand receptor binding methods. Saturation analyses were performed at varying concentrations of [125I]-Heat and [3H]rauwolscine [( 3H]Ra) in human prostate adenomas and canine brains. The binding of [125I]-Heat and [3H]Ra in the human prostates and canine brains was consistently saturable and of high affinity. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) for [125I]-Heat binding in the canine brains and human prostate adenomas was 84.4 +/- 4.3 pM and 65.4 +/- 19.2 pM, respectively (p greater than 0.05). The (Kd) for [3H]Ra binding in the human prostate adenomas and canine brains was 1.21 +/- 0.23 nM and 1.52 +/- 0.28 nM, respectively (p greater than 0.05). The density of alpha 1 (0.37 +/- 0.15 fmol/mg. wet wt.) and alpha 2 (0.29 +/- 0.09 fmol/mg. wet wt. adrenergic binding sites in the human adenomas were similar (p greater than 0.05). The IC50 corrected (IC50 corr) of terazosin for [125I]-Heat and [3H]Ra binding sites in the human prostate was 2.5 nM and 1.0 micron., respectively. The IC50 corr of terazosin for [125I]-Heat and [3H]Ra binding sites in the canine brain was 2.0 nM and 0.8 microM, respectively. The competitive binding assays indicate that terazosin binds selectively to alpha 1 adrenergic binding sites in the human prostate and canine brain.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

The effect of electrocautery on neurotransmitter receptor binding assays in the canine prostate.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether resection of the prostate with electrocautery alters the binding properties of various neurotransmitter ligands. Prostate glands were removed from four adult male dogs. The prostates were divided in the midsaggital plane and one half of the prostate was resected using a resectoscope. Saturation experiments were performed on the resected and control prostatic tissue using 3H-NMS, 125I-Heat, and 3H-rauwolscine. The mean equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) and the mean densities of 3H-NMS, 125I-Heat, and 3H-Rauwolscine binding sites were similar in tissue homogenates obtained from control and resected portions of the prostate (p greater than 0.05). Resection of the prostate using electrocautery did not alter the binding properties of various neurotransmitter ligands for characterizing and quantifying muscarinic cholinergic, alpha 1 adrenergic, and alpha 2 adrenergic binding sites in the canine prostate. Approximately 90% of prostatectomies for symptomatic BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) are performed transurethrally. The ability to accurately measure neurotransmitter receptor densities in prostate tissues obtained following transurethral resection is imperative for our future studies designed to elucidate the role of alpha adrenergic receptors in the development of bladder outlet obstruction in men with BPH.

Animals↗

Optimal use of 99mtechnetium-glucoheptonate scintigraphy in the detection of pyelonephritic scarring in children: a preliminary report.

Renal scintigraphy represents the optimal modality for the detection of renal scars. 99mTechnetium-glucoheptonate is rapidly accumulated by the kidney through glomerular filtration and active transport by renal tubular cells. This permits rapid visualization of the renal parenchyma in the early phase (1 to 3-minute images) and subsequent imaging of the collecting system and ureters. About 10 to 15 per cent of the injected activity remains in the kidney, labeling the cells of the proximal convoluted tubules (late phase or 1 to 2-hour images). The late phase has been used more commonly to assess renal parenchymal damage. Early and late phase glucoheptonate scanning was performed in 42 children as part of the evaluation of recurrent febrile urinary tract infections with or without a history of vesicoureteral reflux. Inter-observer reliability to interpret glucoheptonate scans was good (early, 83 per cent agreement and late, 93 per cent agreement). The ability of glucoheptonate scanning to detect renal scarring in children with febrile urinary tract infections was equivalent with the early or late phase of the study. In 6 patients renal scarring was detected on only the early phase scan and in 7 scarring was detected only in the late phase. Although the detection rates are equivalent the over-all detection of scarring is improved by using both phases. Therefore, the early phase of the glucoheptonate scan may be a valuable adjunct to conventional glucoheptonate scan methodology used for the detection of renal scarring in children with recurrent urinary tract infections.

Adolescent↗

Median and radial sensory latencies to digit I as compared with other screening tests in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Fifty two patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome were evaluated electrodiagnostically by using a variety of screening tests. The criteria of normalcy were as follows: distal median motor latency lower than 4.2 ms, distal median sensory latency wrist-to-third finger at 14 cm higher than 3.2 ms for the onset and than 3.8 ms to the peak, median sensory conduction velocity wrist-to-palm at 7 cm higher than 40 m/s peak-to-peak and difference between median and radial sensory latencies wrist-to-first digit at 11 cm using an intermediate position as site of stimulation and measured peak-to-peak ("bactrian sign") higher than 0.4 ms. Other tests such as median-ulnar comparison using finger 4 were considered less reliable based primarily on the frequent association of carpal tunnel syndrome and Guyon canal entrapment. Carpal tunnel syndrome was confirmed in 49 of 52 suspected cases (94.2%) by at least one abnormal screening test. Bilateral involvement was noted in 65.3% of the cases (32 patients). The "bactrian" (two-hump camels) sign was the single most sensitive test used, being positive in 83.7% of cases. The second most sensitive test was median SNAP (wrist-to-finger) latency and the third, sensory conduction velocity across the carpal tunnel.

Adult↗

The stereospecificity of LY253352 for alpha 1-adrenoceptor binding sites in the brain and prostate.

1. The stereospecificity of the enantiomers of LY253352, a potent and selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, were studied in the human prostate and canine brain using radioligand receptor binding methods. 2. The mean equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) in the canine brain and human prostatic adenoma was 84.4 pM and 65.4 pM, respectively. 3. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor density in the canine brain was approximately eight fold greater than in the human prostatic adenoma. 4. The mean Ki values of (-)-LY253352 and (+)-LY253352 in the prostate were 0.19 nM and 5.79 nM, respectively. 5. The mean Ki values of (-)-LY253352 and (+)-LY253352 in the brain were 0.29 nM and 34.7 nM, respectively. 6. This study indicates that the stereochemical specificity of the optical isomers of LY253352 is a manifestation of differential affinities of the enantiomers for alpha 1-adrenoceptor binding sites. 7. The differential affinities of (+)-LY253352 in the brain and prostate are suggestive of subtle unique properties of adrenoceptor binding sites in these tissues.

Animals↗

Laboratory assessment of terazosin and alpha-1 blockade in prostatic hyperplasia.

The alpha-1 adrenergic innervation of the human prostate has been studied using radioligand receptor binding methods and in vitro contractile experiments. The density of alpha-1 adrenergic binding sites is of the same order of magnitude as alpha-2 adrenergic and muscarinic-cholinergic (MCh) receptors in the human prostate adenoma. The contractile response of human prostate adenomas to selective alpha-1, alpha-2, and MCh agonists indicated that smooth muscle contraction of the human prostate is mediated by alpha-1 adrenoceptors. The selective affinities of terazosin for alpha-1 and alpha-2 binding sites were determined using competitive displacement assays. Terazosin was shown to have a four hundred-fold greater affinity for alpha-1 binding sites. The concentration of terazosin-inhibiting phenylephrine-induced contractions suggested that terazosin inhibits prostate smooth muscle contraction via alpha-1 adrenoceptors.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in canine lower genitourinary tissues: insight into development and function.

Radioligand receptor binding methods were used to characterize the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor in the bladder body, bladder base, prostate and urethra of the male dog. Saturation experiments were performed in tissue homogenates using [125iodine]-Heat, an alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist of high specific activity (2,200 Ci. per mmol.). The equilibrium dissociation constant Kd for [125iodine]-Heat binding in the bladder body (0.56 pM.), bladder base (0.81 +/- 0.11 pM.), prostate (0.86 +/- 0.19 pM.) and urethra (0.55 pM.) was similar, suggesting homogeneity of alpha 1-adrenergic binding sites in lower genitourinary tissues. The receptor density in the bladder body, bladder base, prostate and urethra, expressed as fmol. per mg. wet weight, was 0.22 +/- 0.02, 0.82 +/- 0.09, 0.55 +/- 0.06 and 0.27 +/- 0.06, respectively (mean +/- standard error of mean). Competitive binding experiments with [125iodine]-Heat and unlabeled prazosin and clonidine confirmed the selectivity of Heat for alpha 1-adrenergic binding sites. Anatomical dissections have revealed that a major component of the smooth muscle of the bladder base and prostate originates from the ureter, whereas a major component of the smooth muscle of the urethra originates from the bladder. The measured alpha 1-adrenergic receptor densities support these developmental theories.

Animals↗

Identification and characterization of alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in the canine prostate using [125I]-Heat.

We have recently utilized radioligand receptor binding methods to characterize muscarinic cholinergic and alpha adrenergic receptors in human prostate adenomas. The primary advantages of radioligand receptor binding methods are that neurotransmitter receptor density is quantitated, the affinity of unlabelled drugs for receptor sites is determined, and receptors can be localized using autoradiography on slide-mounted tissue sections. Recently, [125I]-Heat, a selective and high affinity ligand with high specific activity (2200 Ci/mmole) has been used to characterize alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in the brain. In this study alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in the dog prostate were characterized using [125I]-Heat. The Scatchard plots were linear indicating homogeneity of [125I]-Heat binding sites. The mean alpha 1 adrenergic receptor density determined from these Scatchard plots was 0.61 +/- 0.07 fmol/mg. wet wt. +/- S.E.M. The binding of [125I]-Heat to canine prostate alpha 1 adrenergic binding sites was of high affinity (Kd = 86 +/- 19 pM). Steady state conditions were reached following an incubation interval of 30 minutes and specific binding and tissue concentration were linear within the range of tissue concentrations assayed. The specificity of [125I]-Heat for alpha 1 adrenergic binding sites was confirmed by competitive displacement assays using unlabelled clonidine and prazosin. Retrospective analysis of the saturation experiments demonstrated that Bmax can be accurately calculated by determining specific [125I]-Heat binding at a single ligand concentration. [125I]-Heat is an ideal ligand for studying alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in the prostate and its favorable properties should facilitate the autoradiographic localization of alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in the prostate.

Animals↗

Alpha 2 adrenergic receptors in canine prostate: biochemical and functional correlations.

The sympathetic innervation of human prostate adenomas has been previously demonstrated using fluorescence microscopy and in vitro isometric studies. A clinical implication of these observations is that bladder outlet obstruction in men with benign prostatic hypertrophy may be subject to pharmacologic manipulation using adrenergic drugs. Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of alpha adrenergic antagonists for symptomatic BPH. We have previously characterized the alpha1 and alpha2 adrenergic receptors in the human prostate using [3H]prazosin and [3H]rauwolscine, respectively. The mean alpha1 and alpha2 receptor densities in the adenomas studied were equivalent. The effect of alpha2 adrenergic drugs on prostatic urethral pressure has not been examined in the human or in an animal model. In this study a canine model was used to define the effect of alpha2 drugs on prostatic urethral pressure. Intravenous administration of clonidine, a selective alpha2 agonist, resulted in a dose dependent increase in prostatic urethral pressure. The maximal increase in urethral pressure ranged between 18 to 30 cm. H2O. The maximal response to clonidine was approximately 50% less than the response to epinephrine, indicating that clonidine acts as a partial agonist. Pretreatment with yohimbine, a selective alpha2 adrenergic antagonist, abolished the effects of clonidine and epinephrine. The alpha2 adrenergic receptors were then studied in the canine prostates using [3H]rauwolscine. The equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd, ranged between 0.68 to 1.80 nM and the receptor density ranged between 14.8 to 69.3 fmol./mg. protein. The receptor density was homogeneous in specimens obtained from the proximal, midportion, and distal canine prostate suggesting that the effect of alpha2 drugs is not sphincter mediated. These in vitro and in vivo studies provide the basis for investigating the effects of alpha2 antagonists in men with symptomatic BPH.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Do nursing homes reduce hospital use?

This study applies data from the Manitoba Longitudinal Study on Aging for two purposes. First examined were the hospital-utilization patterns of elderly nursing home admissions during the 2 years before and 2 years after entrance into a facility. In addition, use of the hospital by these new admissions and by long-term nursing home residents was compared with that of the use by the elderly living in the community. When age, sex, and mortality rate are taken into account, the results indicate that, although both new admissions and long-term nursing home residents are sicker than their community counterparts, they are significantly less frequently hospitalized.

Age Factors↗