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Biomedical subjects

J R Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to J R Cooper.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Image analysis in the discrimination of verrucous carcinoma and squamous papilloma.

Verrucous carcinoma is a differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma and may present diagnostic difficulties as it may be erroneously diagnosed as squamous papilloma. In this study, the sizes of the intermediate cells in these two conditions were measured by means of morphometric analysis. Biopsies from 28 patients with verrucous carcinoma, 25 patients with squamous papilloma, and ten squamous cell carcinomas were analysed. A significant difference was shown (P less than 0.001) by an uncorrelated t-test between verrucous carcinoma and squamous papilloma. The former had a mean cell area of 373 microns 2 and the latter 184 microns 2. Squamous cell carcinomas differed from the other two neoplasms by their large range of cell areas both within and between cases. Thus, image analysis can be of diagnostic help in cases where no firm initial histopathological diagnosis can be obtained. The diagnosis should be made on morphological grounds, but a mean cell area greater than 300 microns 2 supports a diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma whereas an area less than 250 microns 2 supports a diagnosis of squamous papilloma.

Adult↗

Inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by cyclopropylamine derivatives of squalene in human hepatoblastoma cells in culture.

Two squalene derivatives, trisnorsqualene cyclopropylamine and trisnorsqualene N-methylcyclopropylamine, were synthesized and tested for inhibition of lanosterol and squalene epoxide formation from squalene in rat hepatic microsomes, and for the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in human cultured hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cells. Trisnorsqualene cyclopropylamine inhibited [3H]-squalene conversion to [3H]squalene epoxide in microsomes (IC50 = 5.0 microM), indicating that this derivative inhibited squalene mono-oxygenase. Trisnorsqualene N-methylcyclopropylamine inhibited [3H]squalene conversion to [3H]lanosterol (IC50 = 12.0 microM) and caused [3H]-squalene epoxide to accumulate in microsomes, indicating that this derivative inhibited 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase. Cholesterol biosynthesis from [14C]acetate in HepG2 cells was inhibited by both derivatives (IC50 = 1.0 microM for trisnorsqualene cyclopropylamine; IC50 = 0.5 microM for trisnorsqualene N-methylcyclopropylamine). Cells incubated with trisnorsqualene cyclopropylamine accumulated [14C]squalene, while cells incubated with trisnorsqualene N-methylcyclopropylamine accumulated [14C]squalene epoxide and [14C]squalene diepoxide. The concentration range of inhibitor which caused these intermediates to accumulate coincided with that which inhibited cholesterol synthesis. The results indicate that cyclopropylamine derivatives of squalene are effective inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis, and that substitutions at the nitrogen affect enzyme selectivity and thus the mechanism of action of the compounds.

Acetates↗

Ionic basis of inhibitory presynaptic modulation in rat cortical synaptosomes.

We have investigated the possibility that, regardless of the involvement of a second messenger system, the ultimate effect of presynaptic, receptor-activated inhibitory modulation is the opening of a K channel. With the consequent hyperpolarization of the terminal, less Ca2+ would enter and this would result in the observed diminished release of a neurotransmitter. This possibility was explored utilizing rat cortical synaptosomes that were prelabeled with either 86Rb or [3H]acetylcholine, depolarizing with either K+ or veratridine, and measuring either efflux of 86Rb or release of [3H]acetylcholine in the presence or absence of inhibitory presynaptic modulators. The modulating agents used were 2-chloroadenosine, carbamylcholine, clonidine, and morphine. In all instances, these agents promoted an increased efflux of 86Rb, indicating hyperpolarization, and decreased release of acetylcholine. These results are compatible with our suggestion that an increase in K conductance may be responsible for presynaptic inhibition of the release of neurotransmitters.

2-Chloroadenosine↗

The ionic basis of inhibitory presynaptic modulation and substance B.

We have investigated the possibility that, regardless of the involvement of a second messenger system, the ultimate effect of presynaptic, receptor-activated inhibitory modulation is the opening of a K channel. This possibility was explored utilizing rat cortical synaptosomes that were prelabeled with either 86Rb or [3H]acetylcholine, depolarizing with either K+ or veratridine, and measuring either efflux of 86Rb or release of [3H]acetylcholine in the presence or absence of inhibitory presynaptic modulators. The modulating agents used were 2-chloroadenosine, carbamylcholine, clonidine, and morphine. In all instances, these agents promoted an increased efflux of 86Rb, indicating hyperpolarization, and decreased release of acetylcholine. These results support our contention that an increase in K conductance may be responsible for presynaptic inhibition of the release of neurotransmitters. We have also found that substance B, a compound that reverses presynaptic modulation, appears to act by closing K channels.

Acetylcholine↗

The spectrophotometric determination of diacetyl.

A new assay for the determination of diacetyl based on the colorimetric reaction with creatine and alpha-naphthol in an alkaline medium was developed. After a determination of optimal concentrations of the necessary reagents, the assay could easily detect as little as 0.5 micrograms of diacetyl. Since mammalian tissue extracts inhibit the reaction, distillation of the tissue filtrates before the assay was required. Rat heart, kidney, and liver were shown to contain diacetyl while brain was negative.

Animals↗

A simple method to determine released acetylcholine in the presence of choline.

In experiments where the release of labeled acetylcholine is to be determined, the addition of choline oxidase to the incubation medium prevents any reuptake of choline. In addition, since betaine, the oxidation product of choline is not extractable into tetraphenylboron - butyronitrile, no further procedure to eliminate choline is required.

Acetylcholine↗

Substance B: an endogenous brain factor that reverses presynaptic inhibition of acetylcholine release.

Evidence is presented of the existence of a substance in brain (substance B) that reverses presynaptic inhibition of evoked acetylcholine (AcCho) release. Addition of guinea pig brain synaptosomal incubation medium or whole brain extracts to assays in which 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium-evoked release of [3H]AcCho from guinea pig myenteric plexus synaptosomes reversed purinergic, muscarinic, and alpha 2-adrenergic agonist inhibition. However, the extracts did not increase basal or evoked release of AcCho. Results of chromatography on Bio-Gel P-2 of a concentrated whole brain extract suggest this factor has an Mr of 700. Substance B was resistant to boiling under acid or alkaline conditions as well as incubation with phospholipase C and various proteases; ashing, however, completely destroyed activity. This endogenous factor was also found to antagonize agonist-mediated inhibition of electrically evoked contractions of myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle strips from the guinea pig ileum. The demonstration of substance B with its ability to reverse presynaptic inhibition of AcCho release reveals one mode of presynaptic modulation.

2-Chloroadenosine↗

The gastrointestinal absorption of organically bound forms of plutonium in fed and fasted hamsters.

Values of about 0.005-0.01 per cent were obtained for the absorption in fed hamsters of plutonium ingested as Pu4+ citrate, isocitrate, phytate and malate complexes and Pu3+ ascorbate compared with about 0.003-0.004 per cent for Pu4+ nitrate. Replacing drinking water with tea did not affect the result for Pu4+ nitrate. Fasting hamsters for 8 h before the administration of plutonium citrate increased absorption to 0.1-0.2 per cent. An extra period of fasting for 4 h after administration did not lead to a further increase in absorption. Similar values were also obtained when plutonium citrate was administered after a 24 h fast, followed either by immediate access to food or a further 4 h fast. In hamsters fasted for 24 h before administration of either Pu3+ ascorbate or Pu4+ nitrate, about 6-7 per cent of the ingested plutonium was retained in the gastrointestinal tract after one week. At three weeks after ingestion of Pu3+ ascorbate, gastrointestinal retention had fallen 100-fold without an increase in absorption.

Animals↗

Isolation of a factor that reverses presynaptic inhibition of acetylcholine release.

A factor (Substance B) has been isolated from brain which reverses the presynaptically-modulated inhibition of evoked ACh release from both guinea-pig myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle synaptosomes and the intact strip. Inhibitory modulating agents whose activity is reversed by Substance B include oxotremorine, 2-chloroadenosine, clonidine, and morphine. In addition to brain, Substance B is also present in heart and ileum but not in liver or kidney. As determined by Biogel P2 chromatography, this factor appears to have a molecular weight of around 700. It is not destroyed by preincubation with periodate, amylase, adenosine deaminase, pronase, trypsin, phospholipase C or carboxypeptidase Y.

2-Chloroadenosine↗