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Biomedical subjects

J B Field

Publications and source records attributed to J B Field.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Phospholipid-sensitive Ca2+-dependent protein kinase from bovine thyroid: characteristics and subcellular distribution of the enzyme and its substrates.

Ca2+-phosphatidylserine-dependent protein kinase activity was demonstrated in whole thyroid homogenates, cytosol, particulate, and membrane fractions. Although Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase was difficult to detect in purified thyroid plasma membranes, an EGTA extract of such membranes had this activity. While phosphatidylinositol did not stimulate the enzyme, it enhanced the response to phosphatidylserine in the presence of 10 mmol/L free Ca2+. The enzyme was active at concentrations of free Ca2+ as low as 1 mumol/L but was inhibited at Ca2+ in excess of 500 mumol/L. Bovine thyroid contained endogenous substrates of 38,000 and 33,000 daltons for thyroid or purified spleen Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase. The 38,000 dalton polypeptide was present in all the subcellular fractions while the 33,000 dalton substrate was present only in the whole homogenate and cytosolic fraction. The 38,000 dalton polypeptide, like the Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, was released from thyroid plasma membranes by EGTA. Phosphorylation of this substrate was rapid, highly sensitive to Ca2+, and inhibited by chlorpromazine (100 mumol/L) and trifluoperazine chlorpromazine (100 mumol/L) and trifluoperazine (100 mumol/L). Several substrates of a phospholipid-independent, Ca2+-dependent protein kinase with molecular weights of 51,000, 76,000, and 96,000 were also observed. This Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein phosphorylation system may be important in the membrane-associated functions of the thyroid.

Animals↗

Effects of alpha and beta adrenergic blockade on hepatic glucose balance before and after oral glucose. Role of insulin and glucagon.

In conscious dogs, phentolamine infusion significantly increased fasting portal vein insulin, glucagon, and decreased net hepatic glucose output and plasma glucose. Propranolol significantly decreased portal vein insulin, portal flow, and increased hepatic glucose production and plasma glucose. Phentolamine, propranolol, and combined blockade reduced glucose absorption after oral glucose. alpha, beta, and combined blockade abolished the augmented fractional hepatic insulin extraction after oral glucose. Despite different absolute amounts of glucose absorbed and different amounts of insulin reaching the liver, the percent of the absorbed glucose retained by the liver was similar for control and with alpha- or beta blockade, but markedly decreased with combined blockade. Our conclusions are: (a) phentolamine and propranolol effects on basal hepatic glucose production may predominantly reflect their action on insulin and glucagon secretion; (b) after oral glucose, alpha- and beta-blockers separately or combined decrease glucose release into the portal system; (c) net hepatic glucose uptake is predominantly determined by hyperglycemia but can be modulated by insulin and glucagon; (d) direct correlation does not exist between hepatic delivery and uptake of insulin and net hepatic glucose uptake; (e) alterations in oral glucose tolerance due to adrenergic blockers, beyond their effects on glucose absorption, can be, to a large extent, mediated by their effects on insulin and glucagon secretion reflecting both hepatic and peripheral glucose metabolism.

Administration, Oral↗

Effect of dexamethasone on hepatic glucose and insulin metabolism after oral glucose in conscious dogs.

To examine whether hyperinsulinemia associated with glucocorticoid treatment results solely from hypersecretion of insulin or also involves altered fractional hepatic extraction, oral glucose (1 g/kg body wt) was administered to dogs with or without dexamethasone treatment (2 mg/d for 2 d). Dexamethasone significantly increased basal glucose and insulin concentrations in the portal vein, hepatic vein, and femoral artery, reduced basal fractional hepatic extraction of insulin from 43 +/- 4% to 22 +/- 4%, and, after oral glucose, increased retention by the liver of net glucose released into the portal system from 27 +/- 4% to 53 +/- 13%. Intraportal insulin infusion (1 and 2 mU/kg per min) after 7 d of dexamethasone treatment (2 mg/d) caused less suppression of endogenous glucose production, and less exogenous glucose was required to maintain an euglycemic clamp than in control animals. Dexamethasone treatment is associated with: decreased basal fractional hepatic insulin extraction contributing to hyperinsulinemia; and less suppression of endogenous glucose production and increase in peripheral uptake in response to insulin, but no reduction in net hepatic glucose uptake after oral glucose.

Administration, Oral↗

Dephosphorylation of 19K and 21K polypeptides in response to thyroid-stimulating hormone in cultured thyroid cells.

Cultured dog thyroid cells incubated with [32P] phosphate contain at least two phosphoproteins of 19 and 21 kDalton (K), as determined by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Myosin light chain appears to be a component of the 19K and 21K phosphoproteins by the following criteria: 1) coextraction with myosin heavy chain from Triton-insoluble cytoskeletons with KCl-ATP, 2) coisolation with myosin heavy chain by immunoprecipitation, and 3) purification of undenatured myosin with pyrophosphate-agarose gel electrophoresis. The phosphorylation state of these proteins is decreased by incubation of cells with TSH. In the basal state, the 19K and 21K proteins from Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton fractions contain 0.86 +/- 0.07 (+/- SE) mol phosphate/mol protein, which is reduced to 0.34 +/- 0.03 in TSH-treated cells. TSH-induced dephosphorylation occurs in 1 min with 2.5 mU/ml TSH and reaches a maximum at 15 min. This TSH effect appears to be mediated by cAMP, since it is mimicked by (Bu)2cAMP, forskolin, cholera toxin, and prostaglandin E1 and is potentiated by isobutylmethylxanthine. Carbamylcholine, ionophore A23187, and norepinephrine, which inhibit TSH stimulation of cAMP, have no effect on basal phosphorylation of the 19K and 21K proteins, but do inhibit the effect of TSH.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effects of phorbol esters on metabolic variables in the thyroid.

Since 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) reproduced some of the effects of TSH on phosphorylation of polypeptides in the thyroid, its effects on several thyroid metabolic variables were investigated. Like TSH, TPA stimulated glucose oxidation, iodide organification, and 32P incorporation into phospholipids in thyroid slices. However, in contrast to TSH, it did not augment cAMP accumulation. An inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol, did not reproduce any of the effects of TPA. An initial incubation of thyroid slices with TPA decreased the stimulation of cAMP, glucose oxidation, and colloid droplet formation induced by TSH. However, an initial incubation with TPA did not modify the subsequent stimulation of glucose oxidation induced by (Bu)2 cAMP. TPA potentiated the ability of TSH to desensitize the adenylate cyclase system. Although both TPA and TSH increased 32P incorporation into phospholipids, the patterns were different when individual phospholipids were examined. These results indicate another regulatory mechanism for thyroid cell functions independent of cAMP.

Animals↗

Prolonged action of regular insulin in diabetic patients: lack of relationship to circulating insulin antibodies.

We previously reported that in insulin-treated diabetic subjects the time course of action of regular insulin injected sc is different from that reported in standard textbooks. The present studies evaluated the role of insulin antibodies (Abs) in the altered pharmacokinetics of regular insulin by comparing the time course of insulin action in 10 patients receiving chronic insulin therapy and having insulin Abs with that in 15 previously untreated patients without detectable Abs. After an overnight fast, the patients were given an infusion of 5% dextrose in water at 100 ml/h. Regular insulin (15 U) was then injected sc in the deltoid region of the arm. The onset of action of sc insulin, as indicated by a 10% fall in serum glucose, was similar in both patient groups [1.9 +/- 0.1 (+/- SEM) hour in Ab-negative and 1.8 +/- 0.1 h in Ab-positive patients]. The peak effect of insulin action, as determined by the nadir of serum glucose, was 4.6 +/- 0.2 h in the previously untreated patients, not significantly different from the value in the diabetic patients with insulin Abs (5.2 +/- 0.4 h). The duration of action of insulin was also similar in both groups (14.7 +/- 0.7 vs. 14.4 +/- 1.0 h). No significant correlations were found between insulin Ab levels and any of these 3 parameters of insulin action. However, the peak effect and total duration of insulin action were significantly correlated with the baseline serum glucose levels. A possible role of insulin Abs was evaluated in these patients by repeating the studies over a 2-year period. During this time, the previously untreated patients were treated with highly purified pork insulin, to which they developed low titers of insulin Abs. The diabetic patients who had been chronically treated with insulin were changed from less purified insulin to highly purified pork insulin, and all had a significant reduction in their Ab titers. No changes in insulin pharmacokinetics were found in either group. These studies demonstrate that the prolonged action of sc injected regular insulin in diabetic patients is not related to the effect of circulating insulin Abs.

Adult↗

The pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous regular insulin in type I diabetic patients: assessment using a glucose clamp technique.

We recently reported that the peak effect and duration of action of regular insulin injected sc were prolonged in diabetic patients and were not related to the presence of insulin antibodies. The results suggested that the ambient level of plasma glucose might be an important factor in determining the pharmacokinetics of regular insulin. In the present study we used a glucose clamp technique, which minimizes interference by counterregulatory phenomena, to study the pharmacokinetics of regular insulin injected sc at 2 different blood glucose concentrations [276 +/- 7 (+/- SEM) and 130 +/- 5 mg/dl] in 10 insulin-dependent diabetic patients. The patient's blood glucose concentration was maintained constant by means of a variable rate iv infusion of 20% dextrose in water after sc injection of regular insulin (0.2 U/kg) in the deltoid region of the arm. The onset of insulin action occurred at similar times at both glucose concentrations (0.6 +/- 0.1 h at 276 mg/dl vs. 0.5 +/- 0.1 h at 130 mg/dl; P greater than 0.05). Peak insulin action (determined from the time of the maximal glucose infusion rate) was delayed in the studies done at 276 mg/dl (4.7 +/- 0.2 h) compared to that in studies done at mean glucose concentrations of 130 mg/dl (4.3 +/- 0.2 h; P less than 0.05). The duration of insulin action was also significantly prolonged in the studies done at the higher glucose concentrations (9.1 +/- 0.3 h at 276 mg/dl vs. 7.7 +/- 0.2 h at 130 mg/dl; P less than 0.01). These results confirm previous reports of prolonged insulin action in diabetic patients, especially in the presence of hyperglycemia.

Adult↗

Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the human insulin gene region among type II diabetic Mexican-Americans and Tunisians.

The human insulin gene is flanked by a polymorphic locus that is located approximately 500 base pairs (bp) from the 5' end of the point where transcription begins (Bell et al. 1981; Bell et al, 1982). Its occurrence is due to an insertion-deletion region which gives rise to two major classes of alleles: those containing small insertions of 0-600 bp and those containing larger insertions of 1,600-2,200 bp (Owerbach and Nerup, 1982). Insertions of 600-1,600 bp are rare (Rotwein et al., 1983). The larger insertions have previously been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes (Owerbach and Nerup, 1982). We have conducted studies on a Mexican-American population in Starr County, Texas (98% Mexican-American) and a Tunisian population in Tunis, Tunisia, to determine if the frequency distribution of these classes of insulin gene alleles are similar to the previously reported frequency distributions and if any of the classes of alleles are associated with type 2 diabetes in these populations. We conclude that none of the classes of insulin gene alleles are associated with type II diabetes among Mexican-Americans or Tunisians, and that the frequency distributions of the insulin gene alleles do not vary significantly between the Tunisians, Mexican-Americans, or the aggregate data resulting from combining the insulin gene frequencies of several of the populations described thus far (Bell et al., 1984).

Adult↗

Thyroid cell responses to thyrotropin and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate: translocation of protein kinase C and phosphorylation of thyroid cell polypeptide substrates.

Not all of the effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on the thyroid are mediated by activation of the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system, indicating that other control systems must also exist. Although a calcium-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) and specific substrates had been identified in thyroid tissue, their responsiveness to TSH and other stimulators has not been determined. In thyroid cells which had been preloaded with [32P]orthophosphate, TSH and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) increased the phosphorylation of a 33K polypeptide substrate within 5 min in a dose-dependent fashion. The effect was observed with 1 mU/ml TSH and 3 nM TPA and was maximal with 100 mU/ml TSH and 100 nM TPA. The biologically inactive analog of TPA, 4 alpha-phorbol, had no effect. Isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) decreased the phosphorylation of the 33K polypeptide and inhibited the effect of TSH and TPA, indicating that the phosphorylation is not mediated by cyclic AMP. TSH and IBMX, but not TPA, augmented phosphorylation of a 38K polypeptide, suggesting involvement of cyclic AMP. In contrast TPA, but not TSH, increased the phosphorylation of 58K and 28K polypeptides. TSH, but not TPA or 4 alpha-phorbol, elevated the cyclic AMP level of thyroid slices. Incubation of thyroid slices with TSH or TPA significantly decreased protein kinase C activity in the 100,000g cytosol fraction and increased it in an extract of plasma membranes. The effect was present within 5 min and was maximal by 30 min. The effect was observed with 100 mU/ml TSH or 1 nM TPA. The stimulation by TSH or TPA of protein kinase C and its translocation from the cytosol to the plasma membranes of thyroid tissue may provide another mechanism for control of thyroid cell metabolism.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Effects of acetylcholine, TSH and other stimulators on intracellular calcium concentration in dog thyroid cells.

The intracellular free calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, has been measured in dog thyroid cells using the fluorescent Ca2+-indicator, quin2. Acetylcholine or its non-hydrolyzable analog, carbamylcholine rapidly increased [Ca2+]i by 40 +/- 4% (mean +/- SE) over the basal level of 81 +/- 2 nM. This increase was totally abolished by atropine, a muscarinic cholinergic receptor blocker, but was not influenced by verapamil, a voltage dependent-calcium channel blocker. Depletion of extracellular Ca2+ by the addition of EGTA, diminished but did not abolish the response to carbamylcholine. These data suggest that cholinergic effectors increase [Ca2+]i by mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores rather than from an influx of Ca2+. Addition of TSH, isoproterenol, phorbol ester, dibutyryl cyclic GMP or cyclic AMP did not elicit any change in [Ca2+]i suggesting that their action may not involve any mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. These data provide direct evidence that in the thyroid cell, cholinergic agents act via their receptors to cause a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i, which may mediate their metabolic effects.

Acetylcholine↗

The role of calcium in the induction of refractoriness to cyclic AMP stimulation by TSH.

An initial exposure of beef thyroid slices to 25 mU/mL thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) for two hours induces a diminished stimulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) production upon subsequent readdition of TSH but does not modify the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). Incubation of thyroid slices in calcium-free buffer with or without 2 mmol/L ethylene glycol bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)--N,N' = tetracetic acid (EGTA) prevented desensitization induced by TSH and PGE1, to the subsequent stimulation by TSH and PGE1, respectively, despite the presence of calcium in subsequent incubations. TSH-induced desensitization was not modified by increasing the calcium concentration up to 50 mmol/L in the initial incubation. However, the stimulatory effect of TSH upon cyclic AMP levels was decreased as the calcium concentration in the first incubation was increased. In the presence of at least 1 mmol/L calcium, an initial incubation of thyroid slices with 20 mumol/L ionophore A-23187 decreased the stimulation of cyclic AMP by 25 mU/mL TSH added to the slices for the first time during a subsequent incubation. Under these conditions, A-23187 had no effect on PGE1 stimulation of cyclic AMP. These results indicate that calcium may play a role in the TSH-induced, but not PGE1, desensitization of cyclic AMP formation.

Alprostadil↗

Role of the endocrine pancreas in the kalemic response to acute metabolic acidosis in conscious dogs.

Metabolic acidosis due to organic acids infusion fails to elicit hyperkalemia. Although plasma potassium levels may rise, the increase is smaller than in mineral acid acidosis. The mechanisms responsible for the different effects of organic acid acidosis and mineral acid acidosis remain undefined, although dissimilar hormonal responses by the pancreas may explain dissimilar hormonal responses by the pancreas may explain the phenomena. To test this hypothesis, beta-hydroxybutyric acid (7 meq/kg) or hydrochloric acid (3 meq/kg) was infused over 30 min into conscious dogs (n = 12) with chronically implanted catheters in the portal, hepatic, and systemic circulation, and flow probes were placed around the portal vein and hepatic artery. Acid infusion studies in two groups of anesthetized dogs were also done to assess the urinary excretion of potassium (n = 14), and to evaluate the effects of acute suppression of renal electrolyte excretion on plasma potassium and on the release/uptake of potassium in peripheral tissues of the hindleg (n = 17). Ketoacid infusion caused hypokalemia and a significant increase in portal vein plasma insulin, from the basal level of 27 +/- 4 microU/ml to a maximum of 84 +/- 22 microU/ml at 10 min, without changes in glucagon levels. By contrast, mineral acid acidosis of similar severity resulted in hyperkalemia and did not increase portal insulin levels but enhanced portal glucagon concentration from control values of 132 +/- 25 pg/ml to 251 +/- 39 pg/ml at 40 min. A significant decrease in plasma glucose levels due to suppression of hepatic release was observed during ketoacid infusion, while no changes were observed with mineral acid infusion. Plasma flows in the portal vein and hepatic artery remained unchanged from control values in both acid infusion studies. Differences in renal potassium excretion were ruled out as determinants of the disparate kalemic responses to organic acid infusion compared with HCl acidosis. Evaluation of the arteriovenous potassium difference across the hindleg during ketoacid infusion demonstrates that peripheral uptake of potassium is unlikely to be responsible for the observed hypokalemia. Although the tissue responsible for the different kalemic responses could not be defined with certainty, the data are compatible with an hepatic role in response to alterations in the portal vein insulin and/or glucagon levels in both acid infusion studies. We propose that cellular uptake of potassium is enhanced by hyperinsulinemia in ketoacid infusion, and release of potassium results from increased glucagon levels in HCl acidosis. Whether the changes in plasma potassium that other types od organic acid acidosis produce are accounted for by a similar hormonal mechanism remains to be determined.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Effects of atropine and gastric inhibitory polypeptide on hepatic glucose uptake and insulin extraction in conscious dogs.

Previous studies comparing the effects of oral, intraportal, and peripheral venous administration of glucose in conscious dogs demonstrated a significant increase in hepatic extraction of insulin only after oral glucose, but similar hepatic uptake of glucose after oral and intraportal glucose, which was greater than that after peripheral intravenous glucose infusion. This study evaluated the effect of atropine blockade of the parasympathetic nervous system on the increased fractional hepatic extraction of insulin and the role of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) on augmented hepatic uptake of oral glucose in conscious dogs with chronically implanted Doppler flow probes on the portal vein and hepatic artery, and catheters in the portal and hepatic veins and carotid artery. Since atropine infusion decreased absorption of glucose, and in order to achieve comparable portal vein levels of glucose and insulin, the dogs receiving atropine were given 1.9 +/- 0.1 g/kg glucose, compared with the control dogs who received 1.1 +/- 0.1 g/kg. The percentage of the glucose load that was absorbed was greater in the dogs not given atropine (80 +/- 4 vs. 44 +/- 7%), but because of the different loads, the absolute amount of glucose absorbed was similar in both groups (20.2 +/- 1.6 vs. 21.7 +/- 4.1 g). Although delayed by atropine, the peak portal vein glucose and insulin concentrations and the amounts presented to the liver were similar in both groups. However, the increased portal vein plasma flow and fractional hepatic extraction of insulin observed after oral glucose was not observed in the dogs infused with atropine. The net hepatic glucose uptake after oral glucose was significantly less at 10, 20, and 45 min in the atropine-treated dogs, and the area under the curve over the 180-min period was 44% less. However, the latter was not statistically significant. Infusion of GIP with peripheral intravenous glucose did not increase hepatic uptake of glucose or the fractional hepatic extraction of insulin compared with peripheral intravenous glucose alone. These results indicate an important role for parasympathetic innervation in the augmented fractional hepatic extraction of insulin, and increased portal vein plasma flow after oral glucose. Although a relationship between the augmented fractional extraction of insulin and the net hepatic glucose uptake may exist, it does not necessarily indicate that the former is required for the latter. Such parasympathetic innervation may be involved in the greater removal of glucose by the liver after oral compared with peripheral glucose administration. The augmented hepatic uptake of glucose and fractional hepatic extraction of insulin after oral glucose doesn not appear to be mediated by gastric inhibitory polypeptide.

Administration, Oral↗

Effect of metabolic clearance rate and hepatic extraction of insulin on hepatic and peripheral contributions to hypoglycemia.

Effects of alterations in metabolic clearance rates, hepatic extraction, and plasma concentrations of insulin on hepatic and peripheral contribution to hypoglycemia and glucose counterregulation were studied in conscious dogs. Since insulin and sulfated insulin had markedly different metabolic clearance rates (34 +/- 1 vs. 16 +/- 1 ml/kg per min, respectively) and fractional hepatic extraction (42 +/- 1% vs. 15 +/- 2%, respectively), biologically equivalent amounts infused intraportally produced twofold higher hepatic vein and artery sulphated insulin concentrations and concentrations that were 30% higher in the portal vein. This significantly larger arterial/portal concentration ratio (0.67 vs. 0.45, respectively) permitted assessment of differential distribution of insulin on glucose turnover using [3-3H]glucose. Insulin and sulfated insulin (1 and 2 mU/kg per min) caused similar hypoglycemia. While insulin transiently suppressed glucose production and increased glucose disappearance, sulfated insulin had significantly greater effects on glucose disappearance and clearance, without suppression of glucose production. Despite similar hypoglycemia, sulfated insulin caused greater increment in glucagon. 3 mU/kg per min insulin caused more rapid and greater hypoglycemia, greater glucose clearance, and greater glucagon increments without suppression of glucose production, which indicates that with larger doses of insulin counterregulation can absolutely mask the suppressive effect of insulin. The effects of insulin and sulfated insulin were evaluated using euglycemic clamp to eliminate interference from stimulated counterregulation. Sequential infusion of 1 and 2 mU/kg per min of both insulins suppressed endogenous glucose production to 0 at 150 min, which indicates that the apparent lack of a hepatic effect of sulfated insulin during hypoglycemia was masked by greater counterregulation. This greater counterregulation may reflect greater peripheral glucose clearance, and prevented greater hypoglycemia than after the same insulin doses. The results indicate that the different rates of removal and the total metabolic clearance rate caused different concentrations and relative distribution between the portal and arterial blood compartments, leading to the significantly different contributions by the liver and peripheral tissues to the same hypoglycemia.

Animals↗

Morphological and biochemical responses of cultured thyroid cells to thyrotropin.

In the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates cAMP formation, exocytosis of precursor (noniodinated) thyroglobulin, endocytosis of thyroglobulin, and proteolytic processing of the thyroglobulin to form thyroid hormones. In this report we describe TSH effects on cAMP levels, microtubules, microfilaments, myosin fibrils, and the morphology of cultured thyroid follicle cells. The cells were normally cultured in the presence of 10 mU/ml TSH, and fresh TSH produced no stimulation when assayed for cAMP production in a 15-min assay. When such cells were cultured for up to 72 h in the absence of TSH and then assayed for cAMP production, the basal levels were much reduced, but fresh TSH stimulated cAMP levels half-maximally at 1 mU/ml and up to 50-fold at 20 mU/ml. Microtubules, myosin fibers, and microfilaments were demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Fluorescent staining of fibers was observed in cells fixed before lysis and in cells lysed before fixation. In control cells grown without hormone, microtubules originated near the nucleus and extended to the cell periphery. Myosin-containing fibrils traversed the cell or radiated from foci. Microfilaments spanned the cell in a stress fiber pattern. After incubation with 20 mU/ml TSH and 4 mM isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) for 10-20 min, the microtubules in up to half of the cells appeared altered and more granular, and the cell periphery was scalloped. After 15-30 min with TSH and IBMX, normal myosin fibers were replaced with a fine lattice-work, peripheral staining disappeared, and the proportion of nonfibrous myosin increased. Stress fibers demonstrated with antibody to actin also disappeared, and the peripheral structures observed in normal cells became fragmented. Incubation with forskolin or TSH and IBMX for 2-3 h resulted in arborization of 30-60% of the cells that contained bundles of microtubules, myosin fibers, or microfilaments into dendrite-like processes and increased staining near the nucleus. At 5 h, more than 80% of the cells were arborized. These morphological changes were less pronounced with IBMX alone and minimal with TSH alone. The time course of cAMP levels observed basally or after TSH, forskolin, or TSH and IBMX was consistent with the relative effects of these agents on arborization. These studies are consistent with effects of cAMP on microtubules, myosin-containing fibrils, and microfilaments and may provide a basis for the morphological response to TSH.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Ontogeny of immunoreactive insulin in the fetal bovine pancreas.

The aim of this study was to characterize the development of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) in the fetal bovine pancreas. Pancreatic IRI was acid extracted, and both pancreatic and serum IRI were quantitated by RIA. The amount of pancreatic IRI per wet tissue wt in first trimester fetuses was similar to that in the adult animal (8.2 +/- 0.7 and 5.9 +/- 1.7 U/g pancreas, respectively). IRI increased progressively during gestation, attaining 39.2 +/- 6.5 U/g pancreas in the third trimester, 7-fold higher than that in the adult. When pancreatic IRI concentrations were standardized for protein content of the extracts, a decrease was noted between the midsecond and third trimesters. This is most likely the result of dilution of the endocrine portion of the pancreas by the rapidly growing exocrine pancreas. IRI was also detectable in fetal sera from all three trimesters. In contrast to the profile for pancreatic concentrations of IRI, serum concentrations remained constant throughout gestation at approximately 20 microU/ml. Poly(A+)RNA was isolated from adult and fetal pancreata, and the relative levels of preproinsulin mRNA were assessed by DNA/RNA filter hybridization. There was a 2- to 3-fold increase in the relative level of preproinsulin mRNA in fetal pancreata between the first and second trimesters which was maintained through the third trimester. In the adult pancreas, preproinsulin mRNA levels were similar to those in the first trimester fetus. This profile for the ontogeny of pancreatic preproinsulin mRNA was similar to that for pancreatic IRI (units per pancreas) during fetal maturation. We conclude that in the bovine fetus: the endocrine pancreas synthesizes IRI during all three trimesters of development; pancreatic (units per g pancreas), but not serum, concentrations of IRI increase progressively as development proceeds; and the ontogeny of preproinsulin mRNA is paralleled by that of pancreatic IRI (units per pancreas).

Animals↗