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Biomedical subjects

P Hellstrand

Publications and source records attributed to P Hellstrand.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Dissociation of phosphorylase a activation and contractile activity in rat portal vein.

Isometric force, glycogen phosphorylase activity and lactate production were measured under conditions known to alter intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP to assess the role of these messengers in the coordination of metabolism with contractility in rat portal vein. Total phosphorylase (a + b) activity, was independent of treatment. The activity ratio phosphorylase activity ratio in the presence of isoproterenol and papaverine was dependent on or high-K+ medium, and 0.57 after 20 min treatment with 10(-5) M isoproterenol + 10(-4) M papaverine. Under both of these conditions the muscle was totally relaxed. The phosphorylase activity ratio in the presence of isoproterenol and papaverine was dependent on extracellular Ca2+, both in normal and depolarizing medium. This suggests a lower Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile than the phosphorylase system under these conditions, known to be associated with raised intracellular cAMP. During spontaneous activity and high-K+ induced contractures phosphorylase activity was increased compared to the relaxed state in Ca2+-free medium. A high level of phosphorylase activity (0.48) was elicited by the addition of 300 mM sucrose, which induces a contracture in Ca2+-free medium. Lactate production was in general parallel to phosphorylase activity, except for a relative increase in anoxia. The results suggest that in the intact cell the Ca2+-mediated linkage of contraction and phosphorylase may be modified by cAMP changing the Ca2+ sensitivities of the two systems in opposite directions.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Phosphorus-31 NMR studies of smooth muscle from guinea-pig taenia coli.

Phosphorus-31 NMR spectra of superfused isometrically mounted guinea-pig taenia coli were obtained using a horizontal probe at 103.2 MHz. The spectra showed resonances for ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr), and a sugar phosphate resonance. The PCr/ATP ratio was between 1.5 and 2.0 consistent with chemical analysis of tissue extracts. The level of PCr, but not of ATP, decreases reversibly during contraction or inhibition of respiration. These conditions did not cause substantial changes in the intracellular pH, which was 7.0 +/- 0.1.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1983

Activation of contraction and ATPase activity in intact and chemically skinned smooth muscle of rat portal vein. Dependence on Ca++ and muscle length.

The mechanical manifestations of muscle contraction (force development or shortening) are accompanied by an increased turnover of chemical energy (ATPase activity, JATP). In intact rat portal veins activated by high potassium medium to produce graded contractions at different levels of extracellular calcium, a linear dependence of oxygen consumption on force was found. The slope of the relation (metabolic tension cost) was higher during early stages than during late stages of contraction, possibly reflecting a transient high crossbridge ATP turnover rate. Chemically skinned (Triton X-100) rat portal vein preparations were used to study the energy turnover of the smooth muscle contractile system under constant activation. In these preparations, JATP increased on activation by calcium in the presence of 1 microM calmodulin, remained constant for maintained contractures, and decreased promptly on relaxation. Force declined with each repeated contraction at optimal calcium level (10(-4.5) M), but the relation between force and JATP remained invariant and agreed with that of the intact muscle during the transient of high ATP turnover. Calcium activation in the range 10(-9) to 10(-4.5) M caused a progressively steeper (nonlinear) increase in JATP with force. Length-force relations showed a lower relative force at muscle lengths below L0 in the intact than in the skinned tissue, possibly indicating depression of excitation-contraction coupling. The slope of the relation between JATP and force was lower when length was varied than when calcium was varied. At a length where no external force was produced, the activated muscle had a significantly higher JATP than while relaxed (10(-9) M Ca++).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1982

VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide)--immunoreactive innervation of the portal vein.

Nerve fibres displaying immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were found in the wall of the portal vein in cats, guinea pigs, rats and mice. In whole-mount preparations a sparse network of VIP fibres was seen in the vessel wall. Electrical field stimulation of the rat portal vein in vitro caused a significant release of VIP. The results suggest that VIP ergic nerve fibres play a role in the regulation of portal blood flow.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Neural beta-adrenergic dilatation of the facial vein in man. Possible mechanism in emotional blushing.

Ring preparations of the superficial buccal segment of the human facial vein, taken from extirpated tissue in 12 patients during neck surgery, were studied in vitro. The vein developed a maintained intrinsic myogenic tone in response to passive stretch and was supplied with alpha- as well as beta-adrenoceptors, both of which could be influenced by transmural nerve stimulation (TNS) and noradrenaline. These unusual characteristics for a vein are basically similar to the ones described for the rabbit facial vein by Pegram, Bevan & Bevan (1976). In man there seemed to be an inter-individual difference with regard to the abundance of 'innervated' alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. Facial vein specimens from some subjects thus responded with prompt and pronounced net dilatation to TNS with maximum at 4 Hz and those from others with net constriction with maximum at 16 Hz. The latter showed a reversal into neural beta-adrenergic dilatation after alpha-adrenergic blockade. The human external jugular vein was devoid of intrinsic tone and beta-adrenoceptors. It is tentatively proposed that a beta-adrenergic neuro-effector mechanism in superficial ramifications of the facial vein in man might be involved in the emotional blushing reaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Responses to ions and vasoconstrictor agents and changes of potassium fluxes in vascular smooth muscle during hypoxia.

An inhibitory effect of hypoxia (Po2 less than 5 mmHg) on electrical and mechanical activity of the smooth muscle of the rat portal vein has been described by Hellstrand, Johansson & Norberg (1977). The present study using the sucrose gap method confirmed their finding that spontaneous activity was completely (or almost completely) abolished by the low Po2. Increased [K+]0 from 6 to 24 mM or decreased [Na+]0 from 137.5 to 76.5 mM reinitiated electrical and mechanical activity during hypoxia. If muscle activity had already been increased by 24 mM K+ or 76.5 mM Na+ solutions in the aerobic situation, switching to hypoxia caused only partial inhibition. In hypoxic solutions of such altered ionic composition a gradual increase in muscle activity with time was seen especially in the low Na+-solution. Stimulating agents such as noradrenaline, acetylcholine, 4-aminopyridine, and Ba2+ could reinitiate spike activity and contractions under hypoxic conditions. Ouabain stimulated the activity in normoxia but no effect was seen in hypoxia. Uptake and washout of 42K+ was studied. No difference in uptake was found between normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The rate of 42K+ efflux was decreased under hypoxia. A similar decrease was produced by Mn2+ (0.4 mM) which, like hypoxia abolished phasic muscle activity. In both cases the reduction in 42K+ efflux may just reflect the elimination of action potentials. It is concluded from these results that profound hypoxia exerts its inhibitory effect on the smooth muscle to a large extent through membrane mechanisms responsible for pacemaker activity or spike generation. The electrophysiological response may be secondary to change in intracellular [Na+] or [Ca2+].

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Energy turnover and mechanical properties of resting and contracting aortas and portal veins from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aortas and portal veins from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were studied with respect to their energy turnover and mechanical properties. Relaxed aortas fom SHR 16--17 weeks and 20--25 weeks of age were stiffer, had smaller circumference, and greater maximal active wall tension compared to WKY aortas. Active stress (forced/areas) was not different. Passive and active length-force relations of portal veins from 16 to 17-week-old SHR and WKY were not different. O2 consumption (JO2) and lactate production (JLA) were studied in aortas and portal veins from 20- to 25-week-old rats. In relaxed aortas, JO2 was 0.63 +/- 0.03 (n = 1) and 0.54 +/- 0.03 (n = 10) mu mol/min per g dry wt in SHR and WKY, respectively (P less than 0.05). On activation by high-K+ solution, JO2 increased with tension in a similar way in both groups. In contrast, JLA, about 0.85 mu mol/min per g, did not differ, and decreased with tension development. JO2 of relaxed portal veins, about 1.5 mu mol/min per g dry wt, and the increase in JO2 with contraction were not different between SHR and WKY, but the JO2-active stress relation was steeper in spontaneous activity than in Kv+ contractures. JLA was similar in SHR and WKY portal veins, about 1 mu mol/min per g, and unlike behavior of the aortas, it increased with tension. Thus it is evident that SHR show increased arterial metabolism, which is not accounted for by an increased energy demand of the contractile system.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Immunohistochemical localization and vascular effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in skeletal muscle of the cat.

Scattered vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerves were found in the striated muscle of the hind limb of the cat, where they usually were associated with small blood vessels. VIP-immunoreactive nerves were also demonstrated in the sciatic nerve; after ligation an abundance of intensely immunoreactive VIP fibres were seen proximal to the ligation. Intraarterial infusion of VIP into isolated hind limb of the cat had dramatic effects on different sections of the vascular bed. Thus, VIP dilated the resistance vessels leading to a marked increment in muscle blood flow. VIP also relaxed the capacitance vessels causing regional pooling of blood; it increased the capillary surface area available for fluid exchange. Infusions of VIP at a dose of 8 microgram/min significantly inhibited the vasoconstriction, induced by electrical stimulation of the regional sympathetic nerves. It is suggested that local nervous release of VIP may act as a modulator of vascular tone in skeletal muscle.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effects of phasic and tonic activation on contraction dynamics in smooth muscle.

Responses to isotonic quick releases of rabbit urinary bladder strips and rat portal veins activated by AC-stimulation and K+-high medium were studied. The AC stimulation was adjusted to give the same tension as th K+-contractures. Releases were performed at peak of the contractions (which was attained after 1.5-4.5 s AC-stimulation or 2-3 min in K+-high solution). The length response consisted of 3 parts: (1) elastic recoil, (2) isotonic transient, (3) steady shortening. Shortening velocity was determined at 100 ms after the release, as phase (2) had subsided by then. Characteristics of the initial elastic response was virtually unaffected by the mode of stimulation for both preparations. Vmax was significantly higher for the AC-stimulations than for the K+-contractures (bladder: 0.37 l/s vs. 0.26 l/s, portal vein: 0.46 l/s vs. 0.33 l/s). By means of computer analysis a fast exponential shortening component comprising the larger part of phase (2) could be separated from the subsequent slower shortening (see further in Hellstrand & Johansson 1979). In each preparation the amplitude of this exponential was the same for both modes of activation. The time constant was, however, smaller for the AC-stimulation preparations. Our results thus indicate that in response to a sudden decrease in force the initial elastic recoil is the same whereas the rate of transition to steady shortening, and the steady shortening velocity itself, are lower for preparations activated by K+-high medium compared to AC-stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effects of nine different gastrointestinal polypeptides on vascular smooth muscle in vitro.

Nine polypeptides of gastrointestinal origin were tested for their possible effect on vascular smooth muscle of the rat portal vein. The substances tested were bombesin, caerulein, glucagon, insulin, pentagastrin, secretin, somatostatin, substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Cumulative dose-response relations of integrated mechanical activity (mean tension) were obtained with maximal concentrations of the various peptides of 1-10 microgram/ml. Within this concentration range, only substance P and VIP showed clearcut effects; substance P causing contraction and VIP relaxation. The dose of substance P needed to produce contraction was high (ED50 greater than 1 microM) so that the physiological importance of this response is doubtful. On the other hand, ED50 for the relaxing effect of VIP was about 15 nM, which is in accordance with concentrations reported to produce significant vasodilatation in vivo. The results support the view that vascular effects which have been reported to occur in response to the other 7 peptides are mainly of indirect origin and not mediated via direct action on vascular smooth muscle.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Infection with Mycobacterium cheloni following injections.

A 14-month-old girl with subcutaneous abscesses and purulent lymphadenitis caused by Mycobacterium cheloni following penicillin injections is presented. The case brings to the fore the differential diagnosis of mycobacterial infection in abscesses after injections.

Abscess↗
PubMed1979

Analysis of the length response to a force step in smooth muscle from rabbit urinary bladder.

Responses to isotonic quick release of AC-stimulated smooth muscle strips from rabbit urinary bladder were analysed. Releases were performed at the peak of contraction and at a preset tension level in the contraction and relaxation phase. In other expts. responses at 37 degrees C and 27 degrees C were compared. The length response always consisted of 3 parts: (1) elastic recoil, (2) rapid length change (isotonic transient), (3) steady length change. Qualitatively, phases (1)-(3) could be distinguished also in responses to isotonic quick stretch. The immediate elastic recoils, phase (1), were described by exponential stress-strain relations. Stiffness was found to be somewhat lower during relaxation than during contraction. No effect of temperature on the elastic recoil was seen. The initial velocity in phase (2) was 2-3 times greater than the velocity 100 ms after release. By means of computer analysis of the length records during phases (2) and (3) two decaying exponential processes with widely different time constants could be separated. The time constant of the faster process was of the order of 15-30 ms at 37 degrees C. It decreased with increasing force steps and with increasing temperature. The amount of shortening associated with this process was correlated with the size of the force step, reaching a maximum of about 1.2% of the muscle length. The shortening velocities in phase (3), measured 100 ms after release, were described by Hill's equation. Vmax in the rising part and at the peak of contraction were 0.7 and 0.6 L/s respectively at 37 degrees C. Lower values were found during relaxation and at 27 degrees C. We suggest that part of the elastic recoil in phase (1) occurs in structures associated with the individual cross-bridges, that phase (2) is dominated by a change in the distribution of conformations of bridges in the attached position and that the shortening rate in phase (3) is determined by the entire cycle of events during turnover of bridges after the muscle has adapted to the new load. Observations on the force response to length steps and on shifts from isometric to afterloaded isotonic contraction and vice versa are consistent with this interpretation.

Animals↗