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Biomedical subjects

T Muraki

Publications and source records attributed to T Muraki.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Developmental changes in the response of rat isolated duodenum to nicotine.

Developmental changes in the response to ganglionic stimulants, nicotine and dimethylphenylpiperazinium, were investigated in rat isolated duodenum by recording isotonic mechanical activity. The duodenal response to nicotine/dimethylphenylpiperazinium (3 x 10(-7) to 10(-3) M) in neonatal rats was contraction, which was blocked by hexamethonium, tetrodotoxin and hyoscine. The response to nicotine/dimethylphenylpiperazinium (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) in the adult duodenum was relaxation, which was blocked by tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium, but by neither guanethidine nor hyoscine. The transition of the response to nicotine/dimethylphenylpiperazinium from contraction to relaxation occurred at around the 3rd postnatal week. Nicotine-induced relaxation of adult duodenum was significantly inhibited by preincubation with alpha-chymotrypsin, a proteolytic enzyme, and a combination of nucleotide pyrophosphatase and 8-phenyltheophylline, a P1 purinoceptor antagonist. Nicotine-induced relaxation was desensitized by alpha, beta-methylene ATP, a stable P2x purinoceptor agonist. These results suggest that the contractile response of isolated duodenum to nicotine is mediated through cholinergic transmission in neonatal rats and the relaxant response is mediated through non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic transmission, which involves both peptidergic and purinergic transmission, in adult rats.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Possible involvement of L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in modulating regional blood flow to brown adipose tissue of rats.

To evaluate whether the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway is involved in the regulation of regional blood flow to brown adipose tissue (BAT), the effects of two specific NO synthase inhibitors, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), on the blood flow to interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) were studied in urethane-anesthetized rats. Regional blood flow in IBAT was measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry. An intravenous injection of L-NAME and L-NMMA, but not of either D-enantiomer, caused a transient and dose-dependent increase in IBAT blood flow. Dose-response curves for these NO synthase inhibitors showed that L-NAME was more potent than L-NMMA in increasing IBAT blood flow. We also observed a concomitant pressor effect accompanied by a slight decrease in heart rate following intravenous injection of L-NAME and L-NMMA. An elevation of IBAT blood flow and blood pressure induced by both L-NAME and L-NMMA was reversed by L-arginine in an enantiomerically specific manner. The increase in IBAT blood flow induced by NO synthase inhibitors was of shorter duration and less sensitive to L-arginine than the increase in blood pressure. Our results show that the IBAT blood flow is increased by inhibition of NO synthase and that the response of IBAT vasculature to NO synthase inhibitors is different from that of the resistance vessels which regulate blood pressure. The involvement of L-arginine-NO pathways in modulating microcirculation in IBAT is suggested.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

Possible role of nitric oxide in 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced increase in vascular permeability in mouse skin.

In order to test the hypothesis that a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced increase in vascular permeability results from a cascade triggered by activation of the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), the vascular permeability was investigated using the Pontamine sky blue leakage method in male mice. Subcutaneous injection of 5-HT induced a dose-related increase of vascular permeability at the injection site. The vascular permeability induced by 5-HT was inhibited by pretreatment with intraperitoneal injection of ketanserin (5-HT2A antagonist) and methysergide (5-HT1/2A antagonist), less efficiently by 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2-phthalimido)butyl] piperazine (NAN-190) (5-HT1A antagonist), but not by granisetron (5-HT3 antagonist). Increase in vascular permeability induced by 5-HT was inhibited by concurrent intravenous administration of NO synthase inhibitors NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and methylene blue but not by the inactive enantiomer NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME). These results suggest that 5-HT increases vascular permeability by activating the 5-HT receptors and that endogenous NO is involved in this effect of 5-HT.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Involvement of endogenous nitric oxide in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic contraction elicited by [Met5]-enkephalin in rat isolated duodenum.

To investigate the possible neuromodulatory role of nitric oxide (NO) in the gastrointestinal tract, an examination was made of the effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), an inhibitor of NO synthase, on the intestinal response to [Met5]-enkephalin (ENK) by recording the mechanical activity of the isolated duodenum from rats. [Met5]-enkephalin elicited a biphasic response of the duodenum, i.e. transient relaxation followed by contraction. The relaxation induced by ENK was blocked by naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, but not by tetrodotoxin (TTX). The contractile response of the duodenum to ENK was blocked by TTX but not by naloxone. The contractile response was not affected by hyoscine, a muscarinic antagonist, or guanethidine, an adrenergic neuron blocking agent, indicating mediation by non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves. The contractile but not the relaxant response to ENK was blocked by L- but not D-NOARG. The contractile response was also inhibited by methylene blue, an inhibitor of both NO synthase and guanylate cyclase, and by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Thus, endogenous NO and prostaglandins are involved in the contractile response to ENK. Endogenous NO may modulate the release of excitatory NANC transmitters via a prejunctional mechanism.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Sensitization to sugar cane pollen in Okinawan allergic children.

Specific IgE antibodies to sugar cane pollen were investigated in seventy-four Okinawan children who suffered from allergic disorders. Only two (2.7%) with asthma of the 74 patients had specific IgE antibodies to sugar cane pollen as well as house dust and Dermatophagoides farinae. However, they have no histories of their symptoms being aggravated when sugar cane flowers bloom. From these results, the sensitization to sugar cane pollen exists in a small number of Okinawan allergic children, however, the low incidence of positivity could reflect lack of exposure to sensitizing doses of sugar cane pollen in these children.

Adolescent↗

Quantitative morphological analysis of the pituitary gland in protein-calorie malnourished rats.

A quantitative analysis of the pituitary gland was conducted to ascertain the effects of protein-calorie malnutrition on the morphology of the somatotrophs, gonadotrophs, thyrotrophs, and corticotrophs. Male rats were fed a low, 8% protein diet from 20 to 50 days of age, while their age-matched controls were given a diet containing 27% protein. The hypophyses were then processed for light microscopic immunocytochemical staining using antibodies to growth hormone, the beta subunits of luteinizing hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone, and adrenal corticotrophic hormone. The number of each cell type along with an evaluation of the cell, cytoplasmic, and nuclear areas was conducted using a computerized image analyzer. All of these parameters were reduced significantly in the somatotrophs as a result of the low protein diet, while in the gonadotrophs, the cell, cytoplasmic, and nuclear areas were similarly affected. Smaller cell number, cell area, and nuclear area were noted in the corticotrophs of the malnourished animals, while in the thyrotrophs, only the cell and nuclear areas were reduced. The data demonstrate that each pituitary cell type responds in a unique manner to undernutrition.

Adrenal Glands↗

Crohn's disease monocytes are primed for accentuated release of toxic oxygen metabolites.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease occurs in regions of the intestine characterized by a bowel content high in bacteria. Intestinal bacteria synthesize cell wall products such as lipopolysaccharide; when normal monocytes or macrophages come in contact with these products, they can be primed to release a number of inflammatory mediators. Mediators such as toxic oxygen metabolites released as part of the respiratory burst may contribute to inflammatory tissue damage. The aim of this study was to determine if monocytes from patients with Crohn's disease are primed by lipopolysaccharide for a greater respiratory burst. METHODS: The generation of superoxide anion was measured by superoxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c. RESULTS: Freshly isolated monocytes from active untreated Crohn's disease patients (n = 8) showed enhanced stimulated release of superoxide anion when compared with normal monocytes (n = 15; 3.80 +/- 0.12 vs. 1.02 +/- 0.06 nmol/5 min; P < 0.001). We tested the hypothesis that the monocyte priming factor in Crohn's disease serum may be lipopolysaccharide by showing that Crohn's disease serum lost its ability to prime normal monocytes after lipopolysaccharide was removed (0.25 +/- 0.25 nmol/5 min, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These studies indicate that bacterial cell wall products may be important proinflammatory molecules involved in the initiation and/or perpetuation of Crohn's disease.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of the MAST chemiluminescent assay system with RAST and skin tests in allergic children.

The MAST chemiluminescent assay (CLA) system uses enzyme-linked antihuman IgE and a chemiluminogenic substance to determine specific IgE antibodies. The MAST CLA system therefore not only makes unnecessary the precautions required for handling isotopic materials but has the advantage of long-term reagent stability. The MAST CLA system assay protocol consists of three steps: overnight incubation of serum, a 4-hour incubation with enzyme-labeled antibody, and a 30-minute chemiluminescent reaction, which produces a visible image (immunograph) on high-speed instant Polaroid film. We evaluated this MAST CLA system in 47 allergic children and compared the results with those for RAST and skin tests. Good correlations were found between MAST and RAST for house dust, Dermatophagoides farinae, cat, Japanese cedar pollen, egg white, and soybeans, the correlation coefficients being greater than 0.60. When the diagnostic results for MAST and RAST were compared with those of skin test reactions for house dust, Dermatophagoides farinae, cat, Japanese cedar pollen, egg white, and soybeans, MAST had a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 82% as compared with 88% and 83% for RAST. Further, an average of 2.1 different allergens were detected in one serum sample. These results suggest that the MAST CLA system can be used to detect specific IgE antibodies and that it provides accurate results for allergic children.

Adolescent↗

Effect of caerulein on expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and zif/268 in the rat brain.

The effect of caerulein, an analog of cholecystokinin-8, on expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and zif/268 was studied in the rat brain using Northern blot analysis and an in situ hybridization technique. Intraperitoneal injection of caerulein did not change the basal c-fos and zif/268 expression. Administration of the convulsant, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), caused a dramatic increase of c-fos and zif/268 mRNAs in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus. Pretreatment with caerulein suppressed the PTZ-induced c-fos and zif/268 expression. It is considered that systemically administrated caerulein modifies neuronal activities by exerting a suppressed effect on induction of the immediate-early genes.

Animals↗

Developmental changes in the effect of atrial natriuretic peptide on tissue cyclic GMP content and particulate guanylate cyclase activity of aorta, kidney and lung of rats.

To investigate possible developmental changes in the physiological effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) after birth, we studied the effect of ANP on the slice cGMP content and the particulate guanylate cyclase activity of aorta, kidney and lung in neonate, 2-week-old and adult rats of both sexes. Incubation with human ANP(99-126) (hANP) increased significantly the slice cGMP content of aorta, kidney and lung in three ages of rats. The hANP-stimulated fraction of cGMP contents of kidney decreased, that of lung increased with development, whereas that of aorta showed no significant change. Consistently, the hANP-responsive particulate guanylate cyclase activity decreased in kidney, increased in lung during development, without significant developmental change in aorta. These results indicate a differential change in the effect of hANP on the slice cGMP content among tissues during development. The developmental change in the effect of hANP on slice cGMP content is probably caused by the ontogenetic change in activation of ANP receptor-linked guanylate cyclase.

Aging↗

L-NG-nitro-arginine inhibits nicotine-induced relaxation of isolated rat duodenum.

We studied the effects of L-NG-nitro-arginine (L-NOARG), which inhibits nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis from L-arginine, on the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC)-mediated relaxation induced by nicotine in isolated rat duodenum. L-NOARG reduced nicotine-induced relaxation, and L-arginine prevented the inhibitory effect of L-NOARG. However, L-NOARG did not inhibit the tetrodotoxin-insensitive relaxation induced by adenosine 5'-triphosphate, alpha, beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate, thyrotropin-releasing hormone or the calcitonin gene-related peptide. Endogenous NO thus could possibly be involved in the NANC-mediated relaxation of rat duodenum induced by nicotine.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Effects of two 5-hydroxytryptamine agonists on head-weaving behaviour in streptozotocin-diabetic mice.

The potencies of 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (central 5-hydroxytryptamine 1 receptor agonist) and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (central 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor agonist) in eliciting head-weaving behaviour were studied in streptozotocin-diabetic mice and a group of control animals. Both drugs induced head-weaving behaviour in the streptozotocin-diabetic mice and control animals, but the potencies of these 5-hydroxytryptamine 1 agonists were reduced in the streptozotocin-diabetic mice. The numbers of head weaves elicited in the streptozotocin-diabetic and control animals by the two drugs were suppressed by pre-treatment with propranolol (5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor antagonist) and methysergide (5-hydroxytryptamine 1 and 2 receptor antagonist), but not by ketanserin (5-hydroxytryptamine 2 receptor antagonist), confirming the involvement of the 5-HT1A receptor. Pretreatment with nicotinamide before administering streptozotocin prevented streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia and restored the inhibition of head-weaving behaviour observed in streptozotocin-diabetic mice. Insulin injection, which partially prevented streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia, completely prevented reduction of the number of head weaves elicited by 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine in streptozotocin-diabetic mice. These results suggest that the reduced response to 5-HT1 agonists in streptozotocin-diabetic mice may be caused by the depletion of insulin.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

Response to opioids of isolated small intestine in the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus.

1. Response to the opioids of isolated small intestine of Suncus murinus, an insectivore, was examined and compared with that of guinea-pig ileum. 2. The mechanical response to morphine and U50,488H, preferential mu- and kappa-agonist respectively, was relaxation which was antagonized by tetrodotoxin and naloxone in the Suncus small intestine. 3. Methionine5-enkephalin and D-alanine2, D-leucine5-enkephalin, both preferential delta-agonists, elicited contraction or relaxation in the Suncus small intestine, while enkephalins elicited sustained contraction in the tetrodotoxin-pretreated intestine. 4. In the guinea-pig ileum, the response to morphine and enkephalins was consistently relaxation which was antagonized by tetrodotoxin and naloxone. 5. Morphine, D-alanine2,D-leucine5-enkephalin and U50,488H inhibited electrically-evoked twitch responses of intestine in a concentration-dependent manner in both animals. 6. The relative potencies calculated from IC50 values of opioids for twitches followed the order, D-alanine2,D-leucine5-enkephalin greater than U50,488H greater than morphine in the Suncus small intestine, whereas U50,488 greater than D-alanine2,D-leucine5-enkephalin greater than morphine in the guinea-pig ileum. 7. Suncus small intestine has unique features such that D-alanine2,D-leucine5-enkephalin was most potent in inhibiting electrically-evoked twitches and that enkephalins induced contraction following tetrodotoxin pretreatment.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗

Analgesic effect of mu- and kappa-opioid agonists in beige and CXBK mice.

The analgesic effects of mu- and kappa-opioid agonists, including morphine, FK33,824, U50,488H, tifluadom and bremazocine, have been determined in C57BL/6J-bgJ (beige) and CXBK mice which are hyporesponsive to mu-opioid receptor-mediated analgesia compared with those of control mice (C57BL/6J (C6J), C57BL/6By (C6By), BALB/cBy (BALB] using an abdominal constriction assay. The analgesic effect of subcutaneously administered morphine and FK33,824 in both beige and CXBK mice was significantly reduced compared with the controls and the analgesic effect of U50,488H and tifluadom in beige mice was significantly reduced compared with the wild strain (C6J). No reduction of analgesic effect of U50,488H and tifluadom was seen in CXBK compared with its progenitor strains, C6By and BALB, except for a reduction of the effect of tifluadom in CXBK compared with C6By. There was no strain difference in the bremazocine-induced analgesia. These results suggest that the beige mouse has a deficit in analgesia mediated by both mu- and kappa-opioid receptors, whereas the CXBK is deficient only in the mu-opioid receptor-mediated analgesia.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗

Ventilatory and cardiometabolic responses to unilateral sanding in elderly women with ischemic heart disease: a pilot study.

This study was undertaken to investigate how 8 elderly women with ischemic heart disease would respond to a unilateral sanding activity. Three ventilatory measures-expiratory tidal volume, respiratory rate, and expiratory volume--and four cardiometabolic measures--metabolic equivalent, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and pressure rate product--were continuously recorded during the sanding activity. The two independent variables were angle of the sanding board and sanding velocity. The activity was graded to yield five conditions: (a) sitting at rest; (b) 0 degrees at 15 cycles per min (cpm); (c) 0 degrees at 30 cpm; (d) 15 degrees at 15 cpm; and (e) 15 degrees at 30 cpm. The findings indicated that increasing the angle of the board while holding the velocity constant did not always increase the mean values of the ventilatory and cardiometabolic measures. However, increasing the velocity while holding the angle constant always increased the mean values of the dependent variables. The data also indicated that the metabolic equivalent reached during the sanding activity was no greater than 2, which corresponds to a light activity, such as playing a musical instrument. Replication of the study with a larger sample size may further elucidate the behavior of these two functions during a graded sanding activity. In the present study, a unilateral sanding activity by elderly patients with cardiac impairment was shown to provide valuable data on ventilatory and cardiometabolic functions. The study also demonstrated that a unilateral sanding activity can be safely used as a graded activity in occupational therapy for the cardiac rehabilitation of elderly women.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Effect of adrenergic agonists on human chorionic gonadotropin release by human trophoblast cells obtained from first trimester placenta.

The cultured syncytiotrophoblast cells from human first trimester placenta were used to determine the effect of adrenergic agonists on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) production in vitro. Beta-adrenergic agonists isoproterenol, ritodrine and isoxsuprine increased the hCG release during the 2 h incubation period, however, alpha-agonists norepinephrine and phenylephrine and a beta 1-agonist dobutamine had no effect. The effect of isoproterenol was blocked by propranolol and butoxamine, but less efficiently by phentolamine and atenolol. These results indicate that placental hCG production can be modulated by stimulation of beta-, possibly beta 2-adrenoceptors but not by alpha-adrenoceptors.

Adrenergic Agonists↗