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Biomedical subjects

M Costa

Publications and source records attributed to M Costa.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

The peristaltic reflex: an analysis of the nerve pathways and their pharmacology.

The enteric reflexes in isolated segments of the distal colon and rectum of the guinea-pig were studied by applying localized distensions and recording the consequent changes in circular muscle activity, and by recording tension changes in the circular muscle during the propulsion of a bolus in vitro. Lesions of the wall of the colon were made to locate nerve pathways involved in the reflexes and pharmacological tests were applied to investigate the natures of transmitters released and the types of receptors involved. Distension produced a transient contraction of the circular muscle on the oral side and sustained relaxation on the anal side. Both reflexes were nerve-mediated. They were elicited in segments deprived of mucosa and submucosa. Interruption of Auerbach's plexus, but not interruption of the submucosal plexus, prevented their conduction. The ascending excitatory reflex was partly blocked by hyoscine and was also partly blocked by methysergide or by making the preparation tachyphylactic to the excitatory action of 5-hydroxytryptamine. The ascending excitatory pathways apparently involve neurons releasing a 5-HT-like transmitter as well as cholinergic neurons. The descending inhibitory reflex was not antagonized by hyoscine, guanethidine, methysergide or mepyramine. It is assumed that the inhibitory neurons activated in this reflex are identical with the non-cholinergic, non-adrenergic, enteric inhibitory neurons found throughout the intestine. If both the ascending excitatory and descending inhibitory reflexes acted simultaneously on the same area of circular muscle, the inhibitory response tended to dominate. Pellets of faeces, covered by a thin layer of resin, were introduced into the oral ends of isolated segments of colon. They were propelled analwards at speeds of 0.5-1.6 mm/s. Tension records showed that the pellets were preceded by relaxation and followed by a ring of contraction. The propulsion was blocked by both hyoscine and methysergide. Descending waves of contraction were also observed in empty segments of colon. These occurred spontaneously or were initiated by stretch. They did not occur in the presence of hyoscine or tetrodotoxin. It is postulated that three factors may contribute to propulsion in the guinea-pig distal colon: ascending excitatory reflexes which evoke contractions above a bolus; descending inhibitory reflexes which cause relaxations below; and contractions which, once set up in the circular muscle, travel in an anal direction.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Activation of 3':5'-cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and induction of ornithine decarboxylase as early events in induction of mixed-function oxygenases.

The parenteral administration of a single dose of 3-methylcholanthrene to rats caused an increase in the liver of the concentration of 3', 5'-cAMP and of the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37). These events were followed by an increased activity of ornithine decarboxylase (L-ornithine carboxy-lase, EC 4.1.1.17), the enzyme that controls the biosynthesis of polyamines. Finally, the activity of benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase, as well as the amount of cytochrome P-448, was increased. Similarly, after the administration of phenobarbital, there was first an increase in the cAMP concentration and in the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, then the induction of ornithine decarboxylase, and finally, an enhanced activity of ethylmorphine N-demethylase and an increased content of cytochrome P-450. These data suggest that the drug-induced processes in liver that increase the activities of the oxidative, and presumably other, drug-metabolizing enzymes include the following sequence of events: (1) increase in cAMP concentration and/or activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase; (2) induction of ornithine decarboxylase; and, (3) induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Inactivation of rhodanese by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and other aromatic aldehydes inactivate rhodanese. The inactivation reaches higher extents if the enzyme is in the sulfur-free form. The identification of the reactive residue as an amino group has been made by spectrophotometric determination of the 5'-phosphorylated pyridoxyl derivative of the enzyme. The inactivation increases with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate concentration and can be partially removed by adding thiosulfate or valine. Prolonged dialysis against phosphate buffer also leads to the enzyme reactivation. The absorption spectra of the pyridoxal phosphate - rhodanese complex show a peak at 410 nm related to the Schiff base and a shoulder in the 330 nm region which is probably due to the reaction between pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and both the amino and thiol groups of the enzyme that appear reasonably close to each other. The relationship betweenloss of activity and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding to the enzyme shows that complete inactivation is achieved when four lysyl residues are linked to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The use of glyoxylic acid for the fluorescence histochemical demonstration of peripheral stores of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine in whole mounts.

The reactions of glyoxylic acid with peripheral stores of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine to provide a fluorescence histochemical method for their localization have been investigated. Incubation in glyoxylic acid, followed by drying and heating of whole mount preparations gives an intense and well localized reaction. For incubation, a concentration of 2% glyoxylic acid, buffered to pH 7 at room temperature for 30 minutes gives ideal results. The method is equally good if the pH is varied in the range 6 to 9 or if the tissue is stored in the incubation mixture for up to 6 hours. Ideal development of the fluorophore requires an initial excess of moisture in the tissue, that this moisture is driven off during development, and that the tissue is protected from further moistening. A suitable method of achieving these ends is to heat partially dried tissue at 100 degrees C for 4 minutes and then cover it with paraffin oil. 5-hydroxytryptamine can be readily distinguished from noradrenaline because it forms a fluorophore after reaction at pH 3.5, whereas noradrenaline does not. Both amines can be visualized after incubation at neutral pH. Comparison with the formaldehyde vapour technique reveals three main advantages (and no disadvantages) of the glyoxylic acid method: (1) it gives a finer localization with higher fluorescence yield, (2) the glyoxylic acid method is less susceptible to variations in procedure and, (3) it is both simpler and quicker to apply.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Potentiation by cocaine of relaxations of the guinea-pig colon caused by noradrenaline and by stimulation of adrenergic nerves.

The distal colon of the guinea-pig is relaxed by noradrenaline, by isoprenaline and by the stimulation of fibres running with the colonic nerves or intramurally. The relaxations in response to stimulation of the colonic nerves have a guanethidine-sensitive (adrenergic) and a guanethidine-insensitive (non-adrenergic) component. Cocaine causes a three-fold sensitization of the muscle to noradrenaline but no sensitization to isoprenaline. Cocaine increases the duration, but does not affect the amplitude, of the relaxation observed when adrenergic nerves are stimulated, and affects neither duration nor amplitude of the non-adrenergic response. The adrenergic nerve terminals lie in Auerbach's plexus, not in the longitudinal muscle. It is concluded that the sensitization to noradrenaline and the increases in durations of responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation are due to inhibition of catecholamine uptake into adrenergic nerves by cocaine. It appears that, even where the neuromuscular separation is large as it is in the colon, the concentration of exogenous noradrenaline at the receptors can be decreased by neuronal uptake, and the uptake mechanism can modify responses to nerve stimulation in vitro.

Animals↗