Biomedical subjects

L Gheber

Publications and source records attributed to L Gheber.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Possible mechanism of ciliary stimulation by extracellular ATP: involvement of calcium-dependent potassium channels and exogenous Ca2+.

Ciliary motility was examined optically in tissue cultures from frog palate epithelium and frog's esophagus as a function of extracellular concentration of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and related compounds. The addition of micromolar concentration of ATP caused a strong enhancement of frequency and wave velocity in the direction of the effective stroke. Since adenosine 5'-[beta,gamma imido]-triphosphate (AMP-PNP), a nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP, produces the same effects, ATP hydrolysis is not required. The overall potency is ATP approximately equal to AMP-PNP greater than ADP much greater than adenosine greater than AMP. It is suggested that both the phosphate and the base moieties are involved in ATP binding. The enhancement of ciliary activity by extracellular ATP is dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+, which can be replaced by extracellular Mg2+. The effect of a number of potent inhibitors of the voltage-gated calcium channels on the stimulation of ciliary activity by ATP were examined. No effect was detected in the concentration range within which these agents are specific. On the other hand, quinidine, a potent inhibitor of K+ (calcium-dependent) channels, inhibits the effect of ATP. The following model is suggested: exogenous ATP interacts with a membrane receptor in the presence of Ca2+, a cascade of events occurs which mobilizes intracellular calcium, thereby increasing the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration which consequently opens the calcium-activated K+ channels, which then leads to a change in membrane potential. The ciliary response to these changes is the enhancement of ciliary activity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1990

On metachronism in ciliary systems: a model describing the dependence of the metachronal wave properties on the intrinsic ciliary parameters.

A mathematical model is proposed to explain the dependence of the direction and the length of the metachronal wave on parameters that characterize the ciliary beat, the dimensions of the cilia, and the geometry of their arrangement on the ciliated surface. The metachronal wave is decomposed into two mutually perpendicular components, which are chosen in such a way that the direction of one of them is in the direction of the effective stroke. The magnitudes of the two components are determined by using the concept of the time of delay between adjacent cilia. The properties of the metachronal wave are then calculated as a function of the ciliary parameters. The results obtained with the present model predict that the direction of the wave propagation is strongly dependent on the type of metachronism in the direction of the effective stoke and the polarization in time and in space of the ciliary beat. The metachronal wavelength is found to depend on four parameters: the ciliary length, the angle of the arc projected on the cell surface by the ciliary tip during the recovery stroke, the degree of asymmetry of ciliary beat, and the portion of the cycle occupied by the pause. The metachronal wavelength is also found to be only weakly dependent on the ciliary frequency. At this stage there exists relatively little experimental information with which to characterize fully the metachronal properties of ciliary systems. Even when only partial information exists, the model allows prediction, to within a certain range, of the direction of the wave propagation. It also suggests a possible mechanism for the influence of changes in environmental conditions on wave direction and wavelength. In several cases in which full information does exist, good agreement between the experimental findings and the predictions of the model is found. According to this model it will be worthwhile to invest more effort in measuring the time and space polarization of ciliary beating and times of delay between cilia.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Ciliary activity under normal conditions and under viscous load.

Ciliary metachronism and motility were examined optically in muco-ciliary tissue cultures from three different systems: a) frog's palate epithelium, b) frog's oesophagus, and c) human nasal polyps. In addition, lateral cilia of Mytilus edulis (water transporting cilia) were examined. It was revealed that the degree of synchronization between muco-ciliary systems is lower than that of water transporting cilia. There are no significant differences between different muco-ciliary systems, within the accuracy of our measurement although relatively large statistical ensembles were used. In addition the wavelength and wave direction of the metachronal wave was examined. All four systems exhibit similar wavelength. The metachronal parameters of muco-ciliary systems exhibit fluctuations (as was demonstrated by the degree of synchronization), however, the magnitude and repetitivity of these fluctuations, is dependent on the loading of the ciliary system. We have loaded the system by increasing the viscosity of the medium. Under viscous load the frequency of the beating decreased. The metachronal wavelength became longer and the metachronal coordination type more orthoplectic.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Synchronization between beating cilia.

A novel quantitative parameter is proposed to define and measure the degree of synchronization between two small ciliary areas. These areas can be close to or far from one another. The Pearson correlation factor is used to define the degree of synchronization by a single number. This approach is based on a computerized, dual photoelectric method which simulataneously measures the scattered light from two small areas on the ciliary epithelium or its tissue culture. The measurements were performed on tissue culture from frog's palate epithelium. It was found that: (a) the degree of synchronization decreases, as a function of distance; (b) the correlation is fairly high even at relatively large separations, when measured on the same patch; (c) on a given patch the synchronization factor is independent of the direction of the metachronal wave; (d) close disconnected ciliary cells exhibit fairly high correlation; (e) disconnected randomly choosen ciliary cells at relatively large separation distances exhibit relatively low correlation, smaller by a factor of 2 than the correlation factor at the same distances when measured along the metachronal wave; (f) the average frequencies' ratio and the metachronal wavelength can be used as first-order indicators of ciliary synchronization; (g) there is a spread of metachronal wavelengths even over a single well-organized patch.

Animals↗