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Biomedical subjects

S Uchida

Publications and source records attributed to S Uchida.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Deposition velocity of gaseous I to rice grains.

Among the routes of gaseous I transfer to rice grains, direct deposition to the hull of rice plants and the subsequent transfer to brown rice and polished rice should be more critical than leaf absorption-translocation. A grain number normalized deposition velocity (Vs) is recommended as a key parameter to assess the amount of gaseous I deposited on the rough rice. This parameter is given as "iodine content per unit number of grain per unit time" divided by "iodine concentration per unit volume of the air." After the heading period the surface area of rough rice is almost constant but weight increases with time. Therefore, mass normalized deposition velocity (VD) varies with time. By introducing Vs instead of VD, the variations could be converged into narrow ranges. The contribution of gaseous I from the atmosphere to rough rice, brown rice and polished rice were estimated using Vs values obtained experimentally and gaseous I concentration in the air.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1988

Effect of the 'antidementia drug' pantoyl-GABA on high affinity transport of choline and on the contents of choline and acetylcholine in rat brain.

1. Effect of pantoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid (pantoyl-GABA) on high affinity transport of choline into synaptosomes and on the choline (Ch) and acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations of rat brain were studied. 2. Pantoyl-GABA was injected intraperitoneally four times at a dose of 500 mg kg-1 at intervals of 30 min. One hour after the last injection, rats were killed by decapitation for measurement of high affinity transport of Ch into synaptosomes or by microwave irradiation for the measurement of Ch and ACh concentrations. 3. Transport of Ch was increased into synaptosomes prepared from the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, but not into those from the striatum. 4. In the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, Ch concentration was increased and ACh concentration decreased. 5. Since treatments that enhance the activity of cholinergic neurones in vivo are reported to increase high affinity transport of Ch measured in vitro, the present results suggest that pantoyl-GABA may increase cholinergic activity in vivo. This action of the drug may be related to changes in the Ch and ACh concentrations.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1988

Substrate specificity to maintain cellular ATP along the mouse nephron.

To evaluate substrate utilization along the mouse nephron, cellular ATP content was measured under various conditions by the luciferin-luciferase technique. Individual micro-dissected nephron segments were incubated in a modified Hanks' solution (pH 7.4) with or without each of the following substrates: D-glucose, DL-lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate (HBA), and L-glutamine. ATP production from glucose was minimal in the early proximal tubule (S1), but was substantial in the late proximal tubule (S3). Glutamine and lactate were the preferred substrates in proximal tubules. In contrast, ATP production from glutamine was less than that from the other substrates in distal nephron segments, including medullary and cortical thick ascending limbs of Henle's loop (MTAL and CTAL), distal tubule including the connecting tubule (DT), and cortical and medullary collecting tubules (CCT and MCT). Lactate and HBA were preferred substrates for ATP maintenance in CTAL, MTAL, and DT. Glucose was the best substrate in CCT. In addition, the specific contribution of anaerobic metabolism to maintaining cellular ATP was low in MTAL and CTAL. On the other hand, the glycolytic capacity of CCT and MCT was high. The above results demonstrate the substrate requirements for maintaining cellular ATP content within specific nephron segments.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗
PubMed1987

Role of a protein regulating guanine nucleotide binding in phosphoinositide breakdown and calcium mobilization by bradykinin in neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells: effects of pertussis toxin and cholera toxin on receptor-mediated signal transduction.

The addition of bradykinin to NG108-15 cells resulted in an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) and the formation of inositol monophosphate, inositol bisphosphate, and inositol trisphosphate in these cells. The bradykinin-stimulated formation of inositol polyphosphates in plasma membrane preparations was dependent on the presence of GTP or guanosine-5'-O-thiotriphosphate (GTP gamma S) but not of GDP. GTP gamma S, unlike GTP, increased the basal formation of inositol polyphosphate in NG108-15 membranes. Iontophoretic injection of GTP gamma S into single cells induced increases in [Ca2+]i. These effects of bradykinin and GTP gamma S on [Ca2+]i and the formation of inositol phosphates in the intact cells and membranes were not affected by treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin or cholera toxin. Data on binding of bradykinin to membrane preparations indicated the presence of two classes of binding sites with Kd values of 0.80 +/- 0.26 and 9.63 +/- 0.13 nM. Approximately 74% of the receptors were in the high affinity state. In the presence of guanyl-5'-yl-imidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p], the high affinity sites in the membrane preparations were converted to low affinity sites with no change in the total receptor number. These toxin treatments had no effect on binding of bradykinin to its receptors. Thus, these results indicate that a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, which is not a substrate of pertussis toxin or cholera toxin, is involved in mediating the effects of bradykinin on membrane-bound phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C to induce the increase of cytosolic calcium.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Cardiac M2 receptors consist of two different types, both regulated by GTP.

Cardiac muscarinic receptors are predominantly M2 receptors, and have three agonist binding sites (super-high(SH), high(H) and low(L) affinity agonist binding sites). Treatment of cardiac membranes with 50 nM propylbenzilyl choline mustard (PrBCM) caused 88% loss of binding sites for [3H]QNB. Carbamyl choline (CCh) inhibits this alkylation dose dependently and, theoretically, generates uneven alkylation of multiple agonist binding sites. Pretreatment of the membranes with 50 nM PrBCM and 0.5 mM CCh resulted in almost complete disappearance of L sites with similar degrees of conservation of H sites and SH sites. In these pretreated membranes, guanine nucleotide and sulfhydryl reagent caused a change in the ratio of residual SH and H sites but not of L sites though previous studies showed that, in intact membranes, these reagents affected the ratio of SH and L sites without significantly changing that of the H site. These results indicate the existence of two equilibria regulated by guanine nucleotide and sulfhydryl reagent in cardiac muscarinic receptors: one between SH and H sites and the other between H and L sites. The participation of GTP binding protein(s) in all cardiac muscarinic responses is suggested.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1987

Calcitonin gene related peptide stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in rat striated muscle.

Rat calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and salmon calcitonin (CT) stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent manner in the rat diaphragm and in the kidney. The ED50 value of rat CGRP was lower and that of salmon CT was higher in the diaphragm than in the kidney. These results suggest that CGRP stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in the striated muscle by reacting with sites distinct from the site in the kidney.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1987

Blockade of cholinergic receptors by an irreversible antagonist, propylbenzilylcholine mustard (PrBCM), in the rat cerebral cortex causes deficits in passive avoidance learning.

Studies were made on the effects of blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh) receptors in the rat cerebral cortex on learning and memory assessed by performance of a step-through passive avoidance task. Bilateral injection of propylbenzilylcholine mustard (PrBCM) into both the frontal and parietal cortex at doses of 2.25 X 4 to 22.5 X 4 micrograms decreased mACh receptors dose-dependently, as assessed by [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding studies. When the training trial of a step-through passive avoidance task was performed 24 h after injection of 7.5 X 4 to 22.5 X 4 micrograms PrBCM into the frontal and parietal cortex, and then a retention test was made 24 h after the training trial, the treated rats showed shorter latencies than controls. In contrast, injection of PrBCM into the occipital cortex had no significant effect on performance in the test. These results confirm the notion that cholinergic neurotransmission in the cerebral cortex, especially the frontoparietal cortex, is important in learning and memory. The effects of injection of PrBCM (22.5 X 4 micrograms) into the frontoparietal cortex on 3 postulated phases of the learning and memory process (i.e. registration, retention and recall) were also examined. When PrBCM was injected 24 h before the training trial, no retention of the task was observed 14 days after the training trial. However, when PrBCM was injected 24 h after the training trial, retention of the task 14 days after the training trial was not affected. When PrBCM was injected 3-24 h after the initial training trial, the latencies in the retention test examined 24 h later were shorter than those of control rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

T cytotoxic and helper cells are markedly increased, and T suppressor and inducer cells are markedly decreased, in rheumatoid synovial fluids.

Synovial fluid lymphocytes and paired peripheral blood lymphocytes from 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were analyzed by 2-dimensional flow cytometry. We found that the composition of the lymphocyte population is different in synovial fluid compared with that in peripheral blood, in that there were increased proportions of Ia+ Leu-2a+/Leu-15- (T cytotoxic) cells and Leu-3a+/Leu-8- (T helper) cells, together with marked decreases in Leu-2a+/Leu-15+ (T suppressor) cells and Leu-3a+/Leu-8+ (T inducer) cells. These findings suggest that the unique composition of synovial fluid lymphocytes might be the result of T cell activation by some mechanism that is not known.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Induction of aldose reductase and sorbitol in renal inner medullary cells by elevated extracellular NaCl.

Aldose reductase [aldehyde reductase 2; alditol:NAD(P)+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.21] catalyzes conversion of glucose to sorbitol. Although its activity is implicated in the progression of ocular and neurological complications of diabetes, the normal function of the enzyme in most cells is unknown. Both aldose reductase activity and substantial levels of sorbitol were previously reported in renal inner medullary cells. In this tissue, the extracellular NaCl concentration normally is high and varies considerably depending on the urine concentration. We report here on a line of renal medullary cells in which medium that is high in NaCl greatly increases both aldose reductase activity and intracellular sorbitol. In these tissue culture cells (and presumably also in the renal inner medulla), the intracellular sorbitol helps balance the osmotic pressure of elevated extracellular NaCl and thus prevents cellular dehydration.

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of fibre digestion and digesta retention time between rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats and hamsters.

1. Digestive efficiencies of fibre components and retention time of digesta in the whole gut and in the large intestine were measured in rabbits, guinea-pigs, hamsters and rats when given a lucerne (Medicago sativa)-containing diet. 2. Co-EDTA and chromium-mordanted cell-wall constituents of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) were used as liquid- and solid-phase markers respectively. Both markers were mixed with the experimental diet and given after digestion trials. 3. Mean retention times of each marker were calculated from time-course changes in concentrations of the markers in faeces. The mean retention times of the markers in the large intestine were calculated from exponential slopes fitted to the time-course changes of faecal concentrations of the markers. 4. The digestibilities of crude fibre, neutral-detergent fibre and acid-detergent fibre were highest in the guinea-pigs, followed by the hamsters, and lowest in the rabbits and rats. 5. The mean retention times of Cr in the whole tract were longer in the larger animals and shortest in the hamsters. The mean retention times of Cr in the large intestine were longest in the guinea-pig followed by the hamsters and the rats. The rabbits had an extremely short retention time of Cr in the large intestine. 6. These results suggest that the retention time of solid digesta in the large intestine can explain the difference in the digestive efficiencies of fibre components amongst non-ruminant small herbivores whereas retention of digesta in the whole gut is not related to the digestibility of fibre components.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

High NaCl induces stable changes in phenotype and karyotype of renal cells in culture.

Extracellular fluid in the renal medulla normally is hyperosmotic. To test adaptation to such an environment, a continuous line of rabbit renal inner medullary epithelial cells (GRB-PAP1), which had been established in isosmotic medium, was switched to a medium containing high NaCl. The origin of these cells is described. When the osmolality was raised from 300 to 600 mosmol/kg by adding NaCl, cells eventually survived and proliferated, but unexpectedly, they underwent major changes in phenotype and karyotype that persisted during proliferation in isosmotic or hyperosmotic medium for at least 7 months. The threshold concentration for the changes was approximately 500 mosmol/kg. Cells of a typical strain (PAP-HT25) that formed in hyperosmotic medium were much larger and more often multinucleated than were GRB-PAP1. GRB-PAP1 cells were near diploid; PAP-HT25 cells were polyploid. The changes, since they occurred in most clones, were due to adaptation of the majority of cells and not to selection of a minority of cells already having these characteristics. Cloning efficiency was higher for GRB-PAP1 than PAP-HT25 in isosmotic medium, but the reverse occurred in hyperosmotic medium. Thus exposure to the hyperosmotic medium induced greater ability to clone in it. We suggest that these changes may involve persistent alterations in gene regulation, possibly like those previously reported in chicken embryo fibroblast cells after hyperosmotic NaCl (Cell 30: 131-139, 1982).

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Inhibitory effects of condensed tannins on angiotensin converting enzyme.

Effects of condensed tannins isolated from Rhei Rhizoma on the activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and various proteases were examined in vitro. Among the various condensed tannins tested, procyanidin B-5 3,3'-di-O-gallate and procyanidin C-1 3,3',3"-tri-O-gallate strongly inhibited the activity of ACE. The concentration of procyanidin B-5 3,3'-di-O-gallate required for 50% inhibition of ACE was 1.3 X 10(-6) M. The inhibition of ACE by condensed tannins was reversible and non-competitive, according to dialysis and to Dixon plots. However, over one hundred times the concentration was required to inhibit activities of other proteases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, carboxypeptidase A and urinary kallikrein. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of condensed tannins on the activities of ACE are specific.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1987

Effects of pantoyl-GABA on GABAA and GABAB receptors in the rat brain.

The interactions of the "antidementia drug" pantoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid (pantoyl-GABA) with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors were investigated by studies on bindings of radiolabelled ligands in rat brain. Pantoyl-GABA inhibited the binding of [3H]GABA to GABAA receptors and those of [3H]baclofen and [3H]GABA to GABAB receptors in the rat cerebral cortex. These data suggest that pantoyl-GABA interacts with both types of GABA-receptors in the rat brain.

Animals↗