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Biomedical subjects

L Hertz

Publications and source records attributed to L Hertz.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Induction by hydrocortisone of glutamine synthetase in mouse primary astrocyte cultures.

Glutamine synthetase activity was investigated in developing primary astroglial cultures established from newborn mouse cerebral hemispheres. Between the 2nd and 4th week of culture there was little change in activity under our standard culturing conditions; however, when hydrocortisone (10 microM) was added to the cultures for 48 h, the enzyme activity increased two- to fourfold, depending upon the age of the culture, with maximum response in 2-week-old cultures. The addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dBcAMP) to the culture medium caused morphological differentiation of the astroglial cells but eliminated the response of the cells to hydrocortisone. Culturing in elevated serum levels, which delays morphological differentiation and inhibits astroglial cytodifferentiation after exposure to dBcAMP, shifted the time of maximal response to hydrocortisone from 2 to 3 weeks and prevented the abolishment of glutamine synthetase induction by dBcAMP. The induction of glutamine synthetase by hydrocortisone was prevented by actinomycin D (0.5 microgram/ml), indicating its dependence upon RNA and protein synthesis. The present work thus confirms reports in the literature that hydrocortisone induces glutamine synthetase in neural tissues, but differs from the findings of Moscona and co-workers in the chick retina that intact tissues are required for the induction to occur.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

GABA uptake in astrocytes in primary cultures: coupling with two sodium ions.

The influence of sodium ions on GABA uptake into astrocytes in primary cultures has been investigated performing kinetic analysis of GABA uptake at different sodium concentrations in the range 16 to 151 mM. These investigations reveal that sodium affects both the Km and the Vmax of the saturable component of the astroglial GABA uptake. Uptake rates as a function of the sodium concentration at high GABA concentrations (greater than or equal to 50 microM) were clearly sigmoid whereas at lower GABA concentrations this sigmoid shape was not obvious. Accordingly, Hill plots of the sodium dependency at high GABA concentrations exhibited straight lines with slopes of 2.0 to 2.5, suggesting that the coupling ratio between sodium and GABA is at least two. Corresponding Hill plots at lower GABA concentrations exhibited slopes of 1.6 to 1.8. Moreover, plots of 1/v versus 1/Na2 gave better fits to straight lines than plots of 1/v versus 1/Na which were curvilinear upward. Again, this curvilinearity was more pronounced at high GABA concentrations that at low GABA concentrations. From these results it is concluded that GABA uptake into astrocytes in primary cultures requires the binding of at least two sodium ions per GABA molecule transported.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Absence of preferential glutamine uptake into neurons--an indication of a net transfer of TCA constituents from nerve endings to astrocytes?

Uptake kinetics for glutamine were studied in several different neuronal preparations (perikarya prepared by gradient centrifugation, cultured cortical neurons, cultured, presumably glutamatergic cerebellar neurons, and brain prisms). In no case were any indications found of a high affinity uptake but a rather efficient low affinity uptake did occur. A similar, equally efficient low affinity uptake is, however, found in astrocytes. Thus, no preferential glutamine uptake occurs into neurons. It is, therefore, not likely that a net flow of glutamine takes place from astrocytes to neurons, compensating for the loss of TCA constituents when glutamate and GABA are released.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Diazepam receptors on mouse astrocytes in primary cultures: displacement by pharmacologically active concentrations of benzodiazepines or barbiturates.

Astrocytes in primary cultures were found to bind large amounts of [3H]diazepam. More than 90% of the total binding is specific, i.e., displaceable by an excess of nonlabeled diazepam. At saturation the specific binding amounts to about 20 pmol/mg protein and the Kd value is 30 nM. Clonazepam and flurazepam displace [3H]diazepam from its specific binding sites; 20-30% displacement is brought about by 0.1-0.3 microM clonazepam, which is similar to the plasma concentrations encountered in epileptic patients treated with this drug. Barbiturates have a similar effect, but considerably higher concentrations are required.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant, binds to normal, intact astroglial cells in cultures and inhibits the isoproterenol-induced increase in cyclic AMP production.

Doxepin binds to intact astrocytes in primary cultures. The binding is competitively displaceable by excess cold doxepin and it is pronounced (Bmax = 27 nmol/mg protein) but the affinity is rather low (KD = 30 microM). The binding is inhibited by other antidepressants (amitriptyline, desipramine, tranylcypromine, iprindole) and propranolol but not by isoproterenol. Nevertheless, doxepin counteracts effectively the increase in the production of cyclic AMP evoked by isoproterenol.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Polarographic measurement of oxygen uptake by astrocytes in primary cultures using the tissue-culture flask as the respirometer chamber.

Oxygen uptake was measured in primary cultures of astrocytes from the brain hemispheres of newborn DBA mice by the aid of an oxygen electrode inserted directly into the culture flask, i.e. using the flask, completely filled with MEM medium, as the respirometer chamber. The respiration was initially intense (300 mumol per hr per 100 mg protein) but declined somewhat during the 6 hr of measurement, probably due to a depletion of intermediary metabolites released to the large surplus of medium. The respiratory rates were approximately identical in the presence of a CO2/bicarbonate and a HEPES buffer. Exposure to a high concentration of potassium led to a transient stimulation of the oxygen uptake to almost 100%, a response that was very easily observed using the present method. Since no mechanical damage was inflicted upon the cells, culturing could be continued, if so desired, after the measurement.

Animals↗