The presence and distribution of regulatory peptides in nerves and endocrine cells of the stomach, intestine and rectum of a urodele amphibian, the mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus, was studied immunohistochemically in sections or whole-mount preparations of the gut wall. The effect of the occurring peptides on gut motility was studied in isolated strip preparations of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle from different parts of the gut. Bombesin-, neurotensin-, substance P- and VIP-like immunoreactivity was present in abundant nerve fibres in the myenteric plexus of both stomach, intestine and rectum. Single fibres or bundles were present in the circular muscle layer and in a well-developed deep muscular plexus in the intestine and rectum. Immunoreactive nerve cells were found in the myenteric plexus of the stomach, intestine (neurotensin only) and rectum. Gastrin/CCK-like immunoreactivity was observed only in a few fibres in stomach and rectum. Endocrine cells containing bombesin-, met-enkephalin-, gastrin/CCK-, neurotensin-, somatostatin- or substance P- like immunoreactivity were present in the mucosa. The effect of bombesin was an inhibition of the rhythmic activity in circular muscle preparations and in longitudinal muscle from the rectum, while longitudinal muscle from the stomach usually responded with a weak increase in tonus. Neurotensin, like-bombesin, was inhibitory on the spontaneous rhythmic activity of circular muscle throughout the gut, while the effect on longitudinal muscle was an increase in tonus. Met-enkephalin and substance P increased the tonus of all types of preparations, and often, in addition, initiated a rhythmic activity superimposed on this maintained tonus. VIP had a general inhibitory effect on the preparations, decreasing tonus and/or abolishing rhythmic activity. It is concluded that bombesin-, neurotensin-, substance P- and VIP-like peptides are present in nerves throughout the urodele gut and may have physiological functions in regulating the motility of the gut. The gastrin/CCK-like peptide present in nerves of the stomach and rectum may affect the function of these parts of the gut. The regulatory peptides present in endocrine cells may, perhaps with the exception of the somatostatin-like peptide, affect the motility humorally.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Neurotransmitters in the intestine of the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua.

The effects of the putative neurotransmitters acetylcholine, adrenaline, adenosine, ATP, bombesin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, met-enkephalin, neurotensin, somatostatin, substance P and VIP have been investigated in the perfused intestine of the cod, Gadus morhua. The presence and distribution of the different types of nerves was investigated with immunohistochemistry and Falck-Hillarp fluorescence histochemistry. A spontaneous rhythmic activity of the perfused preparations usually occurred within a few minutes from the start of the experiment. This activity was diminished or abolished by addition of atropine, methysergide or tetrodotoxin to the perfusion fluid. Acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytryptamine or substance P caused a contraction of the intestinal wall. The response to acetylcholine was blocked by atropine but not by tetrodotoxin, while the response to 5-hydroxytryptamine was blocked by methysergide and usually also by tetrodotoxin. This indicates that the effect of acetylcholine is direct on the muscle cells, while the effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine may be at least partly via a second neuron. All adrenergic agonists (adrenaline, isoprenaline and phenylephrine) had a dominating inhibitory effect on the intestine. Experiments with antagonists showed that the inhibition is due to stimulation of both alpha-adrenoceptors and beta-adrenoceptors. ATP, adenosine and somatostatin also caused a relaxation of the intestinal wall, often followed by a contraction. Met-enkephalin produced variable responses, either a relaxation, a contraction or both. Bombesin caused a weak inhibition, if anything. Neurotensin and VIP did not visibly affect the intestinal motility. 5-HT-, substance P- and VIP-like immunoreactivity and catecholamine fluorescence were observed in the myenteric plexus, submucosa and muscle layers in all parts of the intestine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1985

A quantitative in vivo assay for bacterial adherence to the urethra.

Bacterial adherence to urinary tract mucosal surfaces is thought to be the initiating event in ascending urinary tract infection. To study this process, we have developed a physiologic, quantitative, in vivo assay for bacterial adherence to the urethra. The effect of local (vaginal mucosa) immunization on the adherence of E. coli to the urethra was studied. Local immunization with a formalinized E. coli vaccine significantly reduced the capacity of viable cells of the immunizing strain to adhere to the urethra. Immunization-induced decrease in bacterial adherence to urethral mucosa is in agreement with our previous observations that immunization of the vaginal mucosa decreases the adherence of E. coli to the rat bladder. These data provide further evidence of a protective effect from local immunization against ascending urinary tract infection. No obvious change in indigenous urethral flora occurred after mucosal immunization.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

In vitro effect of 4-methylpyrazole and pyruvate on ethanol interaction with propoxyphene metabolism in suspensions of isolated rat hepatocytes.

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Animals↗

PubMed1985

An autopsy study of radial scar in the female breast.

In a study of breasts from 83 consecutive, unselected female autopsies, 23 women (28%) were found to have radial scars. The lesion was multicentric in 67% and bilateral in 43%. The frequency of radial scar was significantly increased among women with fibrocystic disease (43%) compared to women without this lesion (17%). No difference in the frequency of radial scar was registered between women with primary breast malignancy and women with either normal breasts or benign breast abnormalities. No radial scar demonstrated transition to invasive or in situ carcinoma. No evidence was found of any association between radial scar and breast carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

The effects of age and body composition on circulating serum oestrogens and androstenedione after the menopause.

Circulating levels of oestrone, oestradiol and androstenedione were measured in two large groups of postmenopausal women, in one group the women were between 46 and 56 years of age and in the second, older group they were 70 years of age. In addition the fat mass was calculated from the height, weight and age of the women. Serum concentrations of both oestrogens did not change with age, whereas the serum androstenedione concentration decreased significantly. A change in body composition included decreased height and increased fat mass in the older group. Serum concentrations of both oestrogens correlated significantly with the fat mass and serum androstenedione as well as with each other. From the correlation analysis it may be concluded that the conversion rate of androstenedione to oestrone, and of oestrone to oestradiol, increases with age, which presumably explains the unchanged concentrations of the circulating oestrogens in relation to postmenopausal age, although the precursor decreases during the same period.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1985

Gynecomasty: estrogen and androgen receptors. A clinical-pathological investigation.

The histology, estrogen (ER)- and androgen (AR)- receptor content, s-FSH, s-LH, s-17-beta-estradiol, U-17-ketosteroid and U-17-ketogenic steroid patterns were measured in a consecutive series of 20 patients operated on for gynecomasty. Two out of 22 specimens were ER-positive, and 4 out of 22 were AR-positive. No relationship was demonstrated between the histopathologic features, ie. active-intermediate-inactive gynecomasty, and the steroid receptor content in the present limited number of cases. In addition, there was no marked relationship between the histopathologic features and the hormone values.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗

PubMed1985

Non-specific immunotherapy and specific hyposensitization in severe atopic dermatitis.

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Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1985

Contribution of the cortex to epiphyseal strength. The upper tibia studied in cadavers.

Non-destructive measurements of compressive stiffness were carried out on 20 proximal tibial autopsy specimens. The tibial epiphyses were first loaded through a template covering all but the peripheral 2 mm of the subchondral resection surface, then through the whole resection surface, and finally, after removal of the peripheral shell. A slight increase of the stiffness coefficient resulted from peripheral contact. Stiffness increased significantly after removal of the shell, but several potential sources of systematic error in this part of the investigation raise questions as to the validity of this finding. The area-corrected stiffness showed a decrease as a result of peripheral contact; this result indicates that the peripheral rim of bone has a lower area-corrected stiffness than the central bone, a finding which is incompatible with the concept of a true cortical shell at the epiphyseal level.

Cadaver↗