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Biomedical subjects

M Fiani

Publications and source records attributed to M Fiani.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Effect of clozapine on dopamine-induced inhibition of prolactin release from cultured rat pituitary cells.

Although the atypical antipsychotic agent clozapine has little propensity to induce hyperprolactinemia in humans it increases serum prolactin levels in the rat. In this study, the effects of clozapine and of some typical antipsychotic drugs on basal and dopamine-mediated prolactin secretion from cultured rat pituitary cells were compared. Despite being less potent than the other antipsychotic agents tested, clozapine reverted the effect of dopamine on prolactin secretion in vitro. This finding suggests that clozapine interferes with dopamine receptors in the pituitary gland.

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PubMed1988

Use of ricin A-chain to selectively deplete Kupffer cells.

We used the A-chain of the toxin ricin (RTA) as a toxin specific to Kupffer cells in mice. RTA is specifically taken up by the mannose receptor present exclusively in macrophages. Kupffer cells were quantitated by shifts in beta-glucuronidase clearance and microscopic counts of cells which phagocytosed India ink. When compared to saline controls, 20 mg/kg of RTA intraperitoneally (divided over 4 days) or intraportally (single doses) significantly prolonged the t 1/2 half-life of beta-glucuronidase by 270 +/- 37 and 210 +/- 8%, respectively. Kupffer cell numbers were significantly decreased by 27 +/- 8 and 33 +/- 16%. This effect persisted for at least 3 days after toxin administration. Despite effects on Kupffer cell number, minimal histological damage to liver, spleen, lung, and heart was noted. Higher doses of RTA or doses potentiated by ureteral ligation to prevent renal clearance resulted in prohibitive mortalities and histologic liver damage. Doses of Hura crepitans inhibitor, a toxin similar to RTA but not mannose-receptor specific, did not affect Kupffer cell numbers. We conclude that RTA given both intraperitoneally and intraportally at low doses is toxic specifically to Kupffer cells. Kupffer cell numbers can be indirectly measured by beta-glucuronidase clearance.

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