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Biomedical subjects

R A Akhtar

Publications and source records attributed to R A Akhtar.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Correlative studies on the effect of carbachol on myo-inositol trisphosphate accumulation, myosin light chain phosphorylation and contraction in sphincter smooth muscle of rabbit iris.

Previously, we have reported that activation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the iris smooth muscle results in a rapid breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) into 1,2-diacylglycerol and myo-inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and that the stimulated hydrolysis of this phospholipid correlates well with contraction. To determine whether or not there is a causal relationship between PIP2 breakdown and contraction, we have conducted correlative studies on the effects of carbachol (CCh) on PIP2 breakdown, measured as IP3 accumulation, myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and contraction in the rabbit iris sphincter. We have also investigated the effects of time, temperature, atropine antagonism, Ca++ and C-kinase activators on the three measured responses. The data obtained can be summarized as follows: dose-response studies for IP3 accumulation, MLC phosphorylation and contraction revealed a close correlation between these responses; kinetic data on atropine antagonism showed that the three measured responses are competitively inhibited by the muscarinic antagonist; time course studies conducted at low temperature showed that the CCh-induced IP3 accumulation and MLC phosphorylation may precede contraction; time course studies on the effect of Ca++ on the three measured responses showed that IP3 release may account for the rapid phase of CCh-induced contraction and that extracellular Ca++ is essential for sustained MLC phosphorylation and the slow phase of contraction; the activity of phospholipase C, the enzyme involved in PIP2 hydrolysis, in membrane fragments from 32P-labeled sphincter muscle was found to be highly sensitive to Ca++, with half-maximal stimulation at about 1.1 microM Ca++; and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, but not phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, induced MLC phosphorylation and muscle contraction in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and ionomycin acted in a synergistic manner to elicit contraction. In conclusion, contractions by CCh in the iris sphincter may be explained on the basis of enhanced PIP2 turnover and its derived second messenger molecule(s); that there are consistent correlations, using different concentrations of CCh, atropine antagonism, time, temperature and Ca++, between the stimulated hydrolysis of PIP2, MLC phosphorylation and contraction. Finally, whereas the data presented favor the involvement of IP3 in the phasic component of the contractile response, the studies with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate suggest that contractile regulation by 1,2-diacylglycerol, through activation of C-kinase, may be important during the tonic component of smooth muscle contraction.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Carbachol causes rapid phosphodiesteratic cleavage of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and accumulation of inositol phosphates in rabbit iris smooth muscle; prazosin inhibits noradrenaline- and ionophore A23187-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates.

Rabbit iris smooth muscle was prelabelled with myo-[3H]inositol for 90 min and the effect of carbachol on the accumulation of inositol phosphates from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2], phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) was monitored with anion-exchange chromatography. Carbachol stimulated the accumulation of inositol phosphates and this was blocked by atropine, a muscarinic antagonist, and it was unaffected by 2-deoxyglucose. The data presented demonstrate that, in the iris, carbachol (50 microM) stimulates the rapid breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 into [3H]inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) and diacylglycerol, measured as phosphatidate, and that the accumulation of InsP3 precedes that of [3H]inositol bisphosphate (InsP2) and [3H]inositol phosphate (InsP). This conclusion is based on the following findings. Time course experiments with myo-[3H]inositol revealed that carbachol increased the accumulation of InsP3 by 12% in 15s and by 23% in 30s; in contrast, a significant increase in InsP release was not observed until about 2 min. Time-course experiments with 32P revealed a 10% loss of radioactivity from PtdIns(4,5)P2 and a corresponding 10% increase in phosphatidate labelling by carbachol in 15s; in contrast a significant increase in PtdIns labelling occurred in 5 min. Dose-response studies revealed that 5 microM-carbachol significantly increased (16%) the accumulation of InsP3 whereas a significant increase in accumulation of InsP2 and InsP was observed only at agonist concentrations greater than 10 microM. Studies on the involvement of Ca2+ in the agonist-stimulated breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in the iris revealed the following. Marked stimulation (58-78%) of inositol phosphates accumulation by carbachol in 10 min was observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Like the stimulatory effect of noradrenaline, the ionophore A23187-stimulated accumulation of InsP3 was inhibited by prazosin, an alpha 1-adrenergic blocker, thus suggesting that the ionophore stimulation of PtdIns(4,5)P2 breakdown we reported previously [Akhtar & Abdel-Latif (1978) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 204, 655-688; Akhtar & Abdel-Latif (1980) Biochem. J. 192, 783-791] was secondary to the release of noradrenaline by the ionophore. The carbachol-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates was inhibited by EGTA (0.25 mM) and this inhibition was reversed by excess Ca2+ (1.5 mM), suggesting that EGTA treatment of the tissue chelates extracellular Ca2+ required for polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase activity. K+ depolarization, which causes influx of extracellular Ca2+ in smooth muscle, did not change the level of InsP3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Studies on the mechanism of alteration by propranolol and mepacrine of the metabolism of phosphoinositides and other glycerolipids in the rabbit iris muscle.

We have investigated the effects and mechanism of action of propranolol and mepacrine, two drugs with local anesthetic-like properties, on phospholipid metabolism in rabbit iris and iris microsomal and soluble fractions. In the iris, propranolol, like mepacrine [A. A. Abdel-Latif and J. P. Smith, Biochim, biophys. Acta 711, 478 (1982)], stimulated the incorporation of [14C]arachidonic acid ( [14C]AA) into phosphatidic acid (PA), CDP-diacylglycerol (CDP-DG), phosphatidylinositol (PI), the polyphosphoinositides (poly PI) and DG, and it inhibited that of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), triacylglycerol (TG) and the prostaglandins. Similarly, mepacrine, like propranolol [A. A. Abdel-Latif and J. P. Smith, Biochem. Pharmac. 25, 1697 (1976)], altered the incorporation of [14C]oleic acid, [3H]glycerol, 32Pi and [14C]choline into glycerolipids of the iris. Time-course studies in iris muscle prelabeled with [14C]AA showed an initial decrease in the production of DG and a corresponding increase in that of PA by the drugs, followed by an increase in accumulation of DG at longer time intervals (60-90 min). The above findings are in accord with the hypothesis that these drugs redirect glycerolipid synthesis by inhibiting PA phosphohydrolase. Propranolol and mepacrine stimulated the activities of DG kinase and phosphoinositide kinases and inhibited that of DG cholinephosphotransferase. The drugs had little effect on the activity of DG acyltransferase. It is concluded that propranolol and mepacrine redirect glycerolipid metabolism in the iris by exerting multiple effects on the enzymes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis. We suggest that these drugs could exert their local anesthetic-like effects by effecting an increase in the synthesis of the acidic phospholipids (PA, PI and the poly PI) and subsequently the binding of Ca2+- to the cell plasma membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Effects of corticotropin-(1-24)-tetracosapeptide on polyphosphoinositide metabolism and protein phosphorylation in rabbit iris subcellular fractions.

Effects of the neuropeptide corticotropin-(1-24)-tetracosapeptide (ACTH) on the endogenous and exogenous phosphorylation of lipids and endogenous phosphorylation of proteins were investigated in microsomes and a 110,000 X g supernatant fraction [30-50% (NH4)2SO4 precipitate; ASP 30-50] obtained from rabbit iris smooth muscle. Subcellular distribution studies revealed that both of these fractions are enriched in diphosphoinositide (DPI) kinase. The 32P labeling of lipids and proteins was measured by incubation of the subcellular fractions with [gamma-32P]ATP. The labeled lipids, which consisted of triphosphoinositide (TPI), DPI, and phosphatidic acid (PA) were isolated by TLC. The microsomal and ASP 30-50 fractions were resolved into six and nine labeled phosphoprotein bands, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The basal labeling of both lipids and proteins was rapid (30-60 s), and it was dependent on the presence of Mg2+ in the incubation medium; in general it was inhibited by high concentrations (greater than 0.2 mM) of Ca2+. ACTH stimulated the labeling of TPI and inhibited that of PA in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal effect observed at 50-100 microM of the peptide. ACTH appears to increase TPI labeling by stimulating the DPI kinase. Under the same experimental conditions ACTH (100 microM) inhibited significantly the endogenous phosphorylation of six microsomal phosphoproteins (100K, 84K, 65K, 53K, 48K, and 17K). In the ASP 30-50 fraction, ACTH inhibited the phosphorylation of three phosphoproteins (53K, 48K, and 17K) and stimulated the labeling of six phosphoprotein bands (117K, 100K, 84K, 65K, 42K, and 35K).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1982

Effects of Na+, Ca2+, and acetylcholine on phosphoinositide- and ATP-phosphate turnover in 32P-labeled rabbit iris smooth muscle.

Parallel studies were carried out in the rabbit iris on (a) the effects of Na+ and/or Ca2+ on the acetylcholine-stimulated 32P labeling of phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) and the breakdown of polyphosphoinositides (poly PI), and (b) the effects of these cations on the specific radioactivity of [gamma-32P]ATP. Incorporation of 32P1 into ATP and phosphoinositides is time-dependent, and it is remarkably dependent upon Na+ concentration in the incubation medium. The Na+ effect is reversible. Calcium ion, in the absence of Na+, had no effect on the specific radioactivity of ATP in 32P-labeled iris muscle; however, it moderately stimulated the 32P labeling of PA and PI and the breakdown of poly PI. In contrast, the addition of Na+, in the presence or absence of Ca2+, significantly reduced the specific radioactivity of ATP and 32P labeling of phospholipids in the 32P-labeled iris muscle. Acetylcholine had no measurable effect on the specific radioactivity of ATP. Furthermore, the neurotransmitter stimulated the 32P labeling of PA and PI and the breakdown of poly PI in the 32P-labeled muscle only in the presence of both Na+ and Ca2+. These data provide additional support for the concept that in the rabbit iris receptor-activated Ca2+ fluxes mediate or precede the effects of alpha-adrenergic and cholinergic muscarinic agents on phosphoinositide breakdown into 1,2-diacylglycerol and inositol phosphates and that restoration of the polar head groups to the 1,2-diacylglycerol (i.e., the recovery stage) is probably associated with Na+ outflux, via the Na+ -pump mechanism.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1980

Requirement for calcium ions in acetylcholine-stimulated phosphodiesteratic cleavage of phosphatidyl-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate in rabbit iris smooth muscle.

1. The mechanism of acetylcholine-stimulated breakdown of phosphatidyl-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate and its dependence on extracellular Ca(2+) was investigated in the rabbit iris smooth muscle. 2. Acetylcholine (50mum) increased the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate in [(3)H]inositol-labelled muscle by 28% and the labelling of phosphatidylinositol by 24% of that of the control. Under the same experimental conditions there was a 33 and 48% increase in the production of (3)H-labelled inositol trisphosphate and inositol monophosphate respectively. Similarly carbamoylcholine and ionophore A23187 increased the production of these water-soluble inositol phosphates. Little change was observed in the (3)H radioactivity of inositol bisphosphate. 3. Both inositol trisphosphatase and inositol monophosphatase were demonstrated in subcellular fractions of this tissue and the specific activity of the former was severalfold higher than that of the latter. 4. The acetylcholine-stimulated production of inositol trisphosphate and inositol monophosphate was inhibited by atropine (20mum), but not tubocurarine (100mum); and it was abolished by depletion of extracellular Ca(2+) with EGTA, but restored on addition of low concentrations of Ca(2+) (20mum). 5. Calcium-antagonistic agents, such as verapamil (20mum), dibenamine (20mum) or La(3+) (2mm), also abolished the production of the water-soluble inositol phosphates in response to acetylcholine. 6. Release of inositol trisphosphate from exogenous phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate by iris muscle microsomal fraction (;microsomes') was stimulated by 43% in the presence of 50mum-Ca(2+). 7. The results indicate that increased Ca(2+) influx into the iris smooth muscle by acetylcholine and ionophore A23187 markedly activates phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate phosphodiesterase and subsequently increases the production of inositol trisphosphate and its hydrolytic product inositol monophosphate. The marked increase observed in the production of inositol monophosphate could also result from Ca(2+) activation of phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase. However, there was no concomitant decrease in the (3)H radioactivity of this phospholipid.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1979

Insulin action in isolated fat cells. I. Effects of divalent cations on the stimulation by insulin of glucose uptake.

The effects of divalent cations, in particular Ca2+ and Mg2+, on glucose uptake by rat isolated fat cells in the presence and absence of insulin have been studied. EDTA (disodium salt) was used to deplete the bovine serum albumin present in the incubation medium of endogenous divalent cations prior to incubation with the cells, but was not present in the incubation medium during the incubation of the cells. The removal of Ca2+ and Mg2+ from the incubation medium did not affect the basal glucose uptake, but abolished the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake by the cells. Addition of 25 microM MgCl2 or CaCl2 to the incubation medium restored a significant insulin stimulation, and this stimulation was maximal when 0.1 mM MgCl2 or CaCl2 had been added. SrCl2 and BaCl2 were also effective in restoring the insulin stimulation, but did not substitute fully for Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the incubation medium. Possible explanation for these observations are discussed.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1979

Insulin action in isolated fat cells. II. Effects of divalent cations on stimulation by insulin of protein synthesis, on inhibition of lipolysis by insulin, and on the binding of 125I-labelled insulin to isolated fat cells.

The effects of ommission of Ca2+ and Mg2+ from the incubation medium on three aspects of insulin action in isolated fat cells have been investigated. In the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-free incubation medium incorporation of L-[14C]leucine into fat cell protein was reduced in the absence of insulin. Insulin stimulated L-[14C]leucine incorporation only in the presence of added CaCl2 or MgCl2. Incubation of the cells in the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-free medium reduced but did not abolish the ability of adrenaline to stimulate lipolysis or the ability of insulin to inhibit the adrenaline-stimulated lipolysis. Specific binding of 125I-labelled insulin to the fat cells was reduced in the absence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ but was not abolished, even in the presence of EDTA. Ca2+ was routinely the most effective divalent cation in supporting these aspects of insulin action, but similar responses were obtained with Mg2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+. Since insulin still binds to the cells under conditions in which some of the cellular effects of the hormone are abolished, it is suggested that divalent cations may have a role, either direct or indirect, in the processes linking the insulin-insulin receptor complex to certain effector systems in the cells. It is tentatively suggested that this action occurs at the level of the fat cell plasma membrane.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1978

Studies on the properties of triphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase of rabbit iris smooth muscle.

The rabbit iris smooth muscle has been shown to contain triphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase (phosphatidyl-myo-inositol-4,5-bisphosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.36) and phosphodiesterase (triphosphoinositide inositoltrisphosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.11) activities. Under our experimental conditions about 77% of the phosphomonoesterase and 61% of the phosphodiesterase activities were localized in the particulate fraction. The kinetic properties of the enzymes in the microsomal fraction were examined. The enzyme preparation was specific to polyphosphoinositides; it did not attack phosphatidylinositol under the present assay condition. The effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ were also studied. Although the microsomal enzymes did not require added divalent cations for their activities, both the phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase were appreciably inhibited by 1 mM EDTA. Phosphodiesterase and phosphomonoesterase were stimulated by Ca2+ and Mg2+, respectively. The demonstration of triphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase in the iris muscle, coupled with the findings that this enzyme is activated by Ca2+ and is not influenced by acetylcholine add further support to our previous conclusion (J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. (1978) 204, 655--668; J. Neurochem. (1978) 30, 517--525) that an increased Ca2+ influx, following the interaction between the neurotransmitter and its receptor, could act to stimulate the phosphodiesterase, thus leading to increased triphosphoinositide breakdown and increased phosphatidic acid via increased diacylglycerol.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Delayed peak of the posterior wall. A new echocardiographic index of posterior wall aneurysm.

Delayed posterior wall (PW) peak in the detection of PW asynergy was studied by M-mode echocardiography in 53 patients with angiographically proven PW aneurysm, hypokinesis and normal PW. The timing of the PW peak was evaluated by the intervals between (1) the aortic valve closure (Ac) and the PW peak, and (2) the R wave of the electrocardiogram and the PW peak (R-peak). The PW excursion predicted only 39 percent with aneurysm and none with hypokinesis. In contrast, 13 of 18 patients with aneurysm and 4 of 13 patients with hypokinesis demonstrated significantly delayed PW peaks occurring between 0.05 and 0.1 sec following Ac (normal 0 to 0.05 sec). A new index, a ratio of R-peak to ejection time (R-peak/ET) of 1.35 or greater was found to be highly indicative of PW aneurysm in 16 of 18 patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Calcium ion requirement for acetylcholine-stimulated breakdown of triphosphoinositide in rabbit iris smooth muscle.

Previous studies from this laboratory have established that addition of acetylcholine (ACh) or norepinephrine to 32P-labeled rabbit iris smooth muscle increases significantly the breakdown of triphosphoinositide (TPI) and that these stimulatory effects are blocked by atropine and phentolamine, respectively. The present studies were undertaken in order to show the effect of Ca++ on the ACh-stimulated breakdown of TPI ("TPI effect") in this tissue. Paired iris smooth muscles were prelabeled with 32Pi for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C in Ca++-free iso-osmotic salt medium. The prelabeled irises were then washed and incubated for 10 minutes in nonradioactive Ca++-free medium which contained 10 mM 2-deoxyglucose under various conditions. The phospholipids were isolated by means of two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and their radioactivities were determined. In the absence of Ca++, 50 micrometer ACh increased TPI breakdown and phosphatidic acid (PA) labeling by 16 and 38%, respectively. In the absence of ACh, 0.75 micrometer Ca++ increased TPI breakdown and PA labeling by 11 and 20%, respectively. When both ACh and Ca++ were added, the increase in TPI breakdown and PA labeling rose to 32 and 74%, respectively. The labeling of phosphatidylinositol was found to be insensitive to the presence of Ca++. Ca++ was determined in the iris smooth muscle and it was found to contain 3.13 mumol of Ca++ per g of tissue. This was reduced by 80% after the muscle was washed and incubated in a medium which contained 0.25 micrometer ethyleneglycol bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The TPI effect was abolished by 0.25 micrometer EGTA and restored when excess Ca++ (1.25 micrometer) was added. Concentrations of Ca++ as low as 50 micrometer provoked a TPI effect. Sr++ (2 micrometer), but not Ba++ or Mn++, was found to substitute partially for Ca++. Ionophore A-23187 (20 micrometer) was found to increase the breakdown of TPI and labeling of PA by 11 and 24%, respectively. High concentrations of Ca++ (20 mM) exerted similar effects. The increase in TPI breakdown and PA labeling in response to these agents, in contrast to the TPI effect in response to ACh, was not blocked by atropine. This suggests that the observed effects are not caused by the release of endogenous ACh from the muscle. A possible interpretation for the above observations on the role of Ca++ in the TPI effect at the postsynaptic membrane of the iris smooth muscle could be: (formula: see text).

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1977

Studies in vitro of the effects of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate on the phosphorylation of nuclear proteins in isolated rat heart nuclei.

Isolated rat heart nuclei were prepared by homogenization and sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. The protein/DNA ratio of these nuclei was 3.1:1 (w/w), and the histones/non-histone proteins/DNA proportions were 1.4:1.6:1 (by wt.). Non-histone proteins were fractionated into six major groups by elution on a quaternized anion-exchanger (QAE-Sephadex A-50 column with increasing concentrations of NaCl in 5M-urea/0.01 M-Tris/HCl buffer (pH8.3). When isolated nuclei were incubated in a medium containing [gamma-32P]ATP, a differential distribution of 32P was observed in the six fractions of nonhistone proteins. The fractions eluted from the Sephadex column with 0.35M- and 0.6M-NaCl contained contained 80% of the total radioactivity incorporated into the non-histone proteins. This incorporation into the 0.35M- and 0.6M-NaCl fractions was increased by 66 and 112% respectively in the presence of cyclic AMP. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of these two particular fractions showed a selective increase in labelling of five protein bands in the presence of cyclic AMP.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1977

Acetylcholine increases the breakdown of triphosphoinositide of rabbit iris muscle prelabelled with [32P] phosphate.

1. Paired iris smooth muscles from rabbits were incubated for 30 min at 37 degrees C in an iso-osmotic salt medium containg glucose, inositol, cytidine and [32P]phosphate. 2. One of the pair was then incubated at 37 degrees C for 10 min in unlabelled medium containing 10mM-2-deoxyglucose and the other was incubated in the presence of acetylcholine plus eserine (0.05mM each). 2-Deoxyglucose, which was included in the incubation medium to minimize the biosynthesis of triphosphoinositide from ATP and diphosphoinositide, decreased the amount of labelled ATP by 71% and inhibited further 32P incorporation from ATP into triphosphoinositide by almost 30%. 3. Acetylcholine (0.05mM) increased significantly the loss of 32P from triphosphoinositide (the 'triphosphoinositide effect') in 32P-labelled iris muscle. This effect was measured both chemically and radiochemically. It was also observed when 32Pi was replaced by myo-[3H]inositol in the incubation medium. 4. The triphosphoinositide effect was blocked by atropine but not by D-tubocurarine. Further, muscarinic but not nicotinic agonists were found to provoke this effect. 5. Acetylcholine decreased by 28% the 32P incorporation into triphosphoinositide, presumably by stimulating its breakdown. This decrement in triphosphoinositide was blocked by atropine, but not by D-tubocurarine. 6. The triphosphoinositide effect was accompanied by a significant increase in 32P labelling, but not tissue concentration, of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid. The possible relationship between the loss of 32P label from triphosphoinositide in response to acetylcholine and the concomitant increase in that of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid is discussed. 7. The presence of triphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase, the enzyme that might be stimulated in the iris smooth muscle by the neurotransmitter, was demonstrated, and, under our methods of homogenization and assay, more than 80% of its activity was localized in the particulate fraction.

Acetylcholine↗