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Biomedical subjects

M Knight

Publications and source records attributed to M Knight.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

gamma-Aminobutyric acid in CSF of children with febrile seizures.

Previous studies have suggested that levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may be decreased in children with febrile seizures. We used gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to measure CSF GABA levels in 14 children with febrile seizures. The results were compared with the GABA levels in six children with first-time afebrile seizures, three with recurrent febrile seizures, and 13 controls (febrile children undergoing lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis). Children with central nervous system infections or known neurologic disease were excluded. The CSF GABA levels in children with febrile seizures were not significantly different from those in controls and children with afebrile or recurrent febrile seizures. In the control group, CSF GABA levels correlated with increasing age. There was no correlation with severity of febrile response in any group. The results indicated that the CSF GABA level may not be abnormal in patients with first-time febrile convulsions.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Schistosoma mansoni: antigen preparations which induce antibodies to schistosomula surface antigens.

To determine the easiest method of raising antibodies to antigens exposed on the surface of schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni, several crude preparations of the parasite were used to immunize mice. Schistosomula released products, whole worm homogenate, and parasite eggs all raised antibodies which bound to the surface of live schistosomula, although the anti-egg antiserum did so less strongly. Anti-schistosomula released products antiserum recognized three schistosomula surface antigens of Mr 15,000, 20,000, and 32,000, anti-whole worm homogenate recognized 20,000, 32,000, and 38,000 Mr surface antigens, and anti-egg recognized a less than 200,000 Mr surface antigen. None of these antigens was recognized when the labeled preparation was immunoprecipitated with its homologous antiserum. When these antisera were used to immunoprecipitate cell free translation products of adult worm RNA, the antischistosomula released products and anti-whole worm homogenate recognized an 11,000 Mr doublet while the anti-egg precipitated 14,000 and 44,000 Mr antigens. Other crude preparations were used to immunize rabbits; Formalin-fixed schistosomula, denuded adult worms, and purified worm tegument all induced antibodies which recognized the 20,000, 32,000, and 38,000 Mr schistosomula surface antigens.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Isolation and characterisation of nucleic acids from the hydatid organisms, Echinococcus spp. (Cestoda).

DNA and RNA in combination have been prepared and characterised from the hydatid disease organisms, Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis. The DNA obtained is of high molecular weight, pure and can be cleaved by restriction enzymes, thereby facilitating future production of genomic DNA probes for studies of Echinococcus gene expression. Moreover, cloned DNA segments from Schistosoma mansoni hybridise strongly to Echinococcus DNA following restriction and Southern blot analysis. The extracted RNA is functional and has been translated in vitro. The major translated polypeptides and antigens have been identified, and the technique can now be used to analyse differential gene expression during development and differentiation of the hydatid organisms and to identify specific polypeptide antigens which may have potential as immunodiagnostic reagents.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The schistosomulum surface antigens of Schistosoma haematobium.

Surface antigens of Schistosoma haematobium were identified by 125I-surface labelling of schistosomula followed by immunoprecipitation of the solubilized, labelled surfaces. The major antigens, after electrophoresis, formed a continuous smear corresponding to a molecular weight in the range 35-24 000; in addition, a 17 000 antigen was also identified. These surface antigens, in contrast to somatic antigens, were species-specific, as judged by immunoprecipitation with human anti-S. mansoni serum and serum from mice vaccinated with highly irradiated S. mansoni cercariae. S. haematobium surface antigens, however, were recognized to some extent by serum from mice chronically infected with S. mansoni. It is suggested that this cross-reactivity may reflect the heterologous immunity demonstrated experimentally between these two species, whilst the species-specificity of vaccine sera to surface antigens may mirror the highly specific immunity induced by vaccination.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

CCK26-33 degrading activity in brain and nonneural tissue: a metalloendopeptidase.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK26-33) is metabolized by neural membranes with an initial cleavage to CCK29-33 and subsequent breakdown to CCK31-33 and CCK32-33; this pattern of proteolysis occurs on incubation with either P2 or purified lysed synaptosomal membranes. To determine whether the pattern of CCK26-33 proteolysis is unique to the brain and whether regional brain differences in its pathway or rate exist, we analyzed the proteolysis of CCK by synaptic membranes of various brain areas and cellular membranes of peripheral tissue. The pattern of degradation in brain did not differ among the regions studied. The overall proteolysis rate, as measured by the formation of tryptophan, was higher in the striatum than in the cortex, although CCK29-33 was formed at the same rate in both areas. In nonneural tissue, the rate of degradation was highest in liver membranes and lowest in pancreatic acinar cell preparations. Thus, it appears that degradative peptidases are not necessarily colocalized with CCK receptors. The pattern of product formation is the same in peripheral compared with CNS membranes; thus, the degradative pathway does not appear to be unique to brain tissue. The enzyme present in synaptic membranes that is responsible for CCK29-33 formation requires a metal ion and sulfydryl groups for the catalysis and thus is a metalloendopeptidase. Furthermore, its activity is inhibited by Ac-Gly-Phe-Nle-al, a peptide aldehyde whose sequence bears some homology to the amino acid sequence in the region of CCK26-33 that is cleaved by this enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

N-terminal fragments of CCK-(26-33) as cholecystokinin receptor antagonists in guinea pig pancreatic acini.

In the present study we synthesized different N-terminal fragments and analogues of the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin [CCK-(26-33)] and examined their actions on dispersed acini prepared from guinea pig pancreas. None of the N-terminal fragments or analogues altered basal amylase release. Analogues of CCK-(26-32), CCK-(26-31), and CCK-(26-30) inhibited CCK-(26-33)-stimulated amylase, and there was a close correlation between the ability of an analogue to inhibit stimulated amylase and the analogue's ability to inhibit binding of 125I-cholecystokinin. N-acetyl-CCK-(26-29)-amide at concentrations as high as 100 microM did not inhibit CCK-(26-33)-stimulated amylase release or binding of 125I-CCK. For those analogues that antagonized CCK-(26-33)-stimulated amylase release the antagonism was of the competitive type and was specific for those secretagogues that interact with the cholecystokinin receptor. Removing the C-terminal amide from N-acetyl-CCK-(26-31)-amide caused a 10-fold decrease in the inhibitory potency, whereas removing the C-terminal amide from N-acetyl-CCK-(26-30)-amide did not alter the inhibitory potency of the peptide. Removing the sulfate ester from the tyrosine residue in position 27 of N-acetyl-CCK-(26-31) did not alter the inhibitory potency of the peptide, whereas removing the sulfate ester from the tyrosine residue in position 27 of N-acetyl-(26-30) caused a three- to fivefold decrease in the inhibitory potency of the peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amylases↗
PubMed1984

Cholecystokinin-octapeptide fragments: binding to brain cholecystokinin receptors.

Structural determinants of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) binding to central nervous system receptors have been studied to assess the relative importance of the amino and the carboxyl end of the active peptide sequence, CCK-(26-33). The relative ability to inhibit equilibrium binding of [125I]CCK-33 to guinea pig cortical membranes was determined for a series of amino and carboxyl terminal fragments of CCK-8. While N-acetyl CCK-(26-29), N-acetyl CCK-(26-30) amide and N-acetyl CCK-(26-31) amide were inactive, the N-acetyl CCK-(26-32) amide fragment displayed binding to central receptors. Of the carboxyl terminal peptide fragments, both CCK-(29-33) and CCK-(30-33) bound less potently than CCK-8; CCK-(31-33) interacted more weakly than the tetra- and pentapeptide, but with a higher affinity to brain receptors than to peripheral receptors. The heptapeptide, CCK-(26-32) amide, and the tripeptide, CCK-(31-33), are known to antagonize CCK action at peripheral receptors. The heptapeptide bound to central receptors 25 times more potently than a known peripheral antagonist, dibutyryl cyclic GMP. Thus these peptides may act centrally to oppose CCK-8 mediated functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Cell-free synthesis of Schistosoma mansoni surface antigens: stage specificity of their expression.

Messenger RNA has been extracted from all stages of the life cycle of the parasitic multicellular helminth Schistosoma mansoni. In vitro translation of these mRNA preparations in rabbit reticulocyte lysates yielded in each case a large number of polypeptides. Immunoprecipitation of translation products either by serum from immune mice or from human patients demonstrated that relatively few, approximately 10, polypeptides are recognised as antigens. Two of the in vitro synthesised antigens, of mol. wts. 22 000 and 14 000, were demonstrated to correspond to schistosomula surface antigens. The expression of these antigens may show stage specificity. Both are readily detected from adult and sporocyst translation products, neither from schistosomula and only the 22 000 antigen from miracidia. This is an unexpected finding since similar polypeptide antigens occur on the surface of schistosomula. These results indicate that not only are schistosomula surface antigens preformed at the preceding sporocyst stage, i.e., within the snail host, but they also remain invariant throughout the life cycle in the vertebrate host. Two other prominent schistosomula surface antigens of mol. wts. 38 000 and 32 000, were not recognised amongst cell-free translation products directed by RNA from any life cycle stage. The demonstration that at least two schistosomula surface antigens are detectable amongst adult mRNA cell-free translation products demonstrates the feasibility of identifying the genes encoding them in cDNA libraries from adult worm mRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Derivatives of CCK-(26-32) as cholecystokinin receptor antagonists in guinea pig pancreatic acini.

In the present study we synthesized cholecystokinin-(26-32)-amide [CCK-(26-32)-NH2], N-acetyl-cholecystokinin-(26-32) [Ac-CCK-(26-32)], and N-acetyl-cholecystokinin-(26-32)-amide [Ac-CCK-(26-32)-NH2]. None of these peptides altered amylase secretion from dispersed acini prepared from guinea pig pancreas, but each peptide inhibited the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin [CCK-(26-33)]. Half-maximal inhibition of CCK-(26-33)-stimulated amylase secretion occurred with 10 microM CCK-(26-32)-NH2, with 25 microM Ac-CCK-(26-32)-NH2, and with 100 microM Ac-CCK-(26-32). Ac-CCK-(26-32) caused a parallel rightward shift in the dose-response curve for CCK-(26-33)-stimulated amylase secretion. Ac-CCK-(26-32)-NH2 inhibited the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by CCK-(26-33), caerulein, or gastrin-(2-17) but did not alter the stimulation caused by carbachol, bombesin, physalaemin, A23187, vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin, or 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. There was a close correlation between the abilities of derivatives of CCK-(26-32) to inhibit binding of 125I-cholecystokinin (125I-CCK) to pancreatic acini and their abilities to inhibit the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by CCK-(26-33). Half-maximal inhibition of binding of 125I-CCK occurred with 5 microM CCK-(26-32)-NH2, with 7 microM Ac-CCK-(26-32)-NH2, and with 70 microM Ac-CCK-(26-32). These findings indicate that each of the three derivatives of CCK-(26-32) is a specific competitive antagonist of the interaction of cholecystokinin with its cell surface receptors on pancreatic acini.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amylases↗
PubMed1984

Discovery of a cholecystokinin analogue with partial agonist activity.

In dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas, cholecystokinin-(27-32)-amide [CCK-(27-32)-NH2] did not stimulate amylase secretion and inhibited the stimulation caused by CCK-(26-33). In dispersed acini from mouse or rat pancreas, CCK-(27-32)-NH2 stimulated amylase secretion. The stimulation of amylase secretion caused by a maximally effective concentration of CCK-(27-32)-NH2 was less than that caused by a maximally effective concentration of cholecystokinin-(26-33), and in contrast to the action of cholecystokinin-(26-33) supramaximal concentrations of CCK-(27-32)-NH2 did not cause submaximal stimulation of amylase secretion. Dibutyryl cGMP and proglumide each inhibited the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by CCK-(27-32)-NH2. CCK-(27-32)-NH2 inhibited binding of 125I-labeled CCK to mouse and rat pancreatic acini. These results indicate that, in mouse and rat pancreatic acini, CCK-(27-32)-NH2 is a partial agonist and that this partial agonist activity is produced by occupation of the CCK receptor by CCK-(27-32)-NH2.

Amylases↗
PubMed1984

The modulation of expression of polypeptide surface antigens on developing schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni.

Five low m.w. polypeptide antigens are expressed on the surface of freshly transformed schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni, and were reproducibly identified by surface labeling with 125I by using IODOGEN and immunoprecipitating with immune mouse sera. These molecules have approximate m.w. of 38,000, 32,000, 20,000, 17,000, and 15,000. They correspond to antigens recognized previously by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination. Analysis of the surface of developing schistosomulum demonstrated that the 38,000 and 17,000 dalton antigens were lost from the parasite surface during 48 hr of in vitro culture. This process was not dependent on the presence of host serum. The two antigens were not lost due to shedding into the culture medium but were apparently sequestered to a site where they were no longer available for surface labeling. The 32,000, 20,000, and 15,000 dalton antigens, however, remained exposed on the schistosomulum surface for up to 2 days of in vitro culture. The expression of two new antigens was also induced by culture in vitro: a doublet of approximately 45,000 daltons and an antigen of approximately 11,000 daltons. The expression of the former was dependent on the presence of serum. These results demonstrate that the development of the schistosomula surface is a complex process, with events both dependent and independent of the presence of serum. In addition, the expression of polypeptide antigens is not coordinated, and antigens are lost, retained, or appear on the schistosomulum surface during the early stages of maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Minimized tolerance to the suppressive effects of CCK8 on operant responding.

This study was designed to determine if tolerance to cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) could be prevented or minimized by spacing injections, and if an appetitive operant conditioning paradigm provides a sensitive baseline to test the effects of CCK8. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to press a lever for water according to a fixed-interval 60-sec schedule of reinforcement. After response rate stabilized, rats were given a series of CCK8 (0.04 mg/kg, ip) injections spaced several days apart. The first injection of CCK8 produced complete response suppression during the 30-min test session, while later injections produced partial or complete suppression. Thus, tolerance to CCK8, as measured by operant response rate, may be minimized if injections are appropriately spaced.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Acyclovir.

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Acyclovir↗
PubMed1982

Cholecystokinin-octapeptide effects on conditioned-avoidance behavior, stereotypy and catalepsy.

The effect of peripherally administered cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK8) was tested on signaled-avoidance behavior, apomorphine-induced stereotypy, and catalepsy. Rats were trained to avoid shock in a signaled shuttle-box avoidance task, and then given CCK8, tetragastrin, or haloperidol. CCK8 (20-3840 micrograms/kg i.p.) reduced avoidance in a dose-dependent manner. The impairment at maximal dose levels was approximately 25% from its predrug level compared to 50% with haloperidol (100 micrograms/kg i.p.). Combined injection of CCK8 (320 micrograms/kg i.p.) and haloperidol (75 micrograms/kg i.p.) reduced avoidance significantly more than either drug alone. The effects of CCK8 were relatively brief in that active avoidance was impaired if CCK8 was injected up to 15 min before the avoidance test. CCK8 also facilitated the extinction of avoidance. Tetragastrin (177 micrograms/kg i.p.), which elicits gastrointestinal effects resembling CCK8, did not affect avoidance. In addition, CCK8 diminished apomorphine-induced stereotypy up to 5 min after CCK8 injection. CCK8 (20-1280 micrograms/kg i.p. and s.c.) failed to produce catalepsy in vertical grip tests. These data suggest that peripherally administered CCK8 has sedative and certain neuroleptic-like effects on behavior.

Animals↗