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Effect of luminal acid on intracellular pH in oxynticopeptic cells in intact frog gastric mucosa.

The effect of changes in luminal [H+] on intracellular pH in oxynticopeptic cells was examined using intact sheets of frog (Rana catesbeiana) gastric mucosa in which oxynticopeptic cells were selectively loaded with the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). The serosal solution was buffered with either HCO3- or N-2-hydroxymethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES). Luminal pH was decreased from 7.2 to 1.5 and changed back to 7.2. In stimulated (forskolin-treated) tissues, intracellular pH decreased at luminal pH 1.5 only in HEPES, with complete recovery at 7.2. In resting (omeprazole-treated) tissues, intracellular pH began to decrease at luminal pH 2.0 in HEPES and at 1.5 in HCO3-, with complete recovery at 7.2 in both. In resting tissues bathed in Cl(-)-free HEPES, the recovery of intracellular pH at luminal pH 7.2 was completely prevented by serosal amiloride (1 mmol/L) but was not affected by serosal 4,4'-diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2-2'-disulfonic acid (H2-DIDS; 0.5 mmol/L). In resting tissues bathed in Cl(-)-free HCO3-, the recovery of intracellular pH at luminal pH 7.2 was not affected by amiloride but was prevented partially by H2-DIDS and completely by combination of H2-DIDS and amiloride or by removal of ambient Na+. These results suggest that during exposure to high luminal [H+]: (a) stimulated oxynticopeptic cells maintain a steady intracellular pH more readily than resting cells; (b) serosal HCO3- protects oxynticopeptic cells from intracellular acidosis; and (c) both Na+/H+ exchange and Na(+)-HCO3- cotransport are involved in the recovery from intracellular acidosis in resting oxynticopeptic cells.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Na(+)-dependent and -independent Cl-/HCO3- exchangers in cultured rabbit esophageal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms by which esophageal epithelial cells regulate intracellular pH (pHi) in a physiological solution are unknown. METHODS: Basal-type esophageal cells growing in primary culture were loaded with the fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) to study pHi by microfluorimetry. RESULTS: The pHi in HEPES buffer was 7.7 +/- 0.03, a value higher than that in CO2/HCO3- buffer, 7.2 +/- 0.1. Cells in HEPES switched to CO2/HCO3- buffer rapidly acidified to pHi of 7, then alkalinized to a new steady-state pHi. The mechanisms for alkalinization in CO2/HCO3- were dependent on two exchangers, one amiloride-sensitive and the other 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS)-sensitive, the latter dependent on Nao and Cli, and so indicative of an Na(+)-dependent Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. Cells in a CO2/HCO3- buffer rapidly alkalinized to pH 8.2 when switched to HEPES, then acidified to a new steady-state pHi. Acidification in HEPES was largely caused by a DIDS-sensitive, Clo-dependent, non-Nao-requiring mechanism, indicative of a cell-acidifying Na-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. CONCLUSIONS: In a physiological buffer, esophageal cells have at least three exchangers for regulation of pHi.

Acids↗

Influences of buffer systems on chondrocyte growth during long-term culture in alginate.

OBJECTIVE: Chondrocyte behavior is very sensitive to culture environment such as physical and biochemical conditions. As extracellular pH (pHo) and the existence of bicarbonate could affect the chondrocyte fate, hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the buffer system effect on chondrocyte fate during relatively long-term culture. METHODS: In order to examine whether effects seen were due to bicarbonate or to pHo, we had to devise a system which could differentiate between the two effects. Culture media buffered by N-2-hydroxyethyl piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) only and the combination of HEPES and bicarbonate were used. Bovine articular chondrocytes were cultured in alginate beads for up to 12 days. pHo was kept constant by culture of 3 beads in 2 ml culture medium. Cell density, intracellular pH (pHi) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) were measured at day 5 and day 12. Cell morphology, distribution and viability in alginate beads were monitored over 12 days of culture. RESULTS: Compared to culture in the absence of bicarbonate, a higher proliferation rate of chondrocytes was observed in the presence of bicarbonate. pHi was more alkaline, about 0.2 pH unit, in the presence of bicarbonate than that in the absence of bicarbonate. About 50% more GAG was deposited in alginate beads when chondrocytes were cultured in the combination of HEPES and bicarbonate, compared to chondrocytes cultured in the absence of NaHCO3 at the end of 12 days of culture. CONCLUSION: The presence of bicarbonate results in more alkaline in the pHi of bovine chondrocytes after long-term culture. The combination of bicarbonate and HEPES in culture medium improves cell growth, matrix production in three-dimensional alginate beads.

Alginates↗

Studies on a chemically defined medium for in vitro culture of in vitro matured and fertilized porcine oocytes.

The present study evaluated the effects of various components in a chemically defined medium on the development of IVM/IVF porcine embryos. The investigated components included energy substrates (lactate, pyruvate or glucose, alone or in various combinations), amino acids (glutamine, glycine or alanine), PVP and HEPES buffer. The effects of each energy substrate were the same as the control. However, a mixture of lactate with either of the other energy substrates increased the development rate. Glutamine tended to decrease rate of the development more than other amino acids, and this inhibition was dose dependent. Both PVP and HEPES buffer did not affect development rate. However, more than 35 mM HEPES buffer induced fragmentation From the above results, a new culture medium was designed (supplemented with 0.276 mM glycine, 0.176 mM alanine, 15 mM HEPES buffer and 1% (wt/vol) PVP in BSA-free Whitten's medium with or without glucose). The new medium resulted in a higher embryo development rate (20.4 and 16.3%) than that obtained with the control medium (10.0%).

Animals↗

Importance of bicarbonate/CO2 for fertilization of pig oocytes in vitro, and synergism with caffeine.

Fertilization of pig oocytes was performed in vitro in modified Tyrode's media in which either HEPES or bicarbonate/CO2, or both, were included as buffer systems; caffeine (2 mM) was also included in some of the media because it is a reported stimulant of fertilization. The composition of the bicarbonate-containing media was designed so as to maintain the same pH and osmolality as bicarbonate-free media. The inclusion of bicarbonate during gamete co-incubation in caffeine-containing medium led to high levels of fertilization (66% of 238 mature oocytes were fertilized). However, essentially no fertilization occurred if bicarbonate was replaced with HEPES (0.7% of 146 oocytes were fertilized; significantly different, P < 0.001). Inclusion of HEPES in bicarbonate-containing medium during gamete co-incubation did not affect fertilization, showing that HEPES did not exert an inhibitory effect. Omission of bicarbonate during sperm preincubation also did not affect fertilization. If caffeine was included in bicarbonate-containing medium, 73% of 311 oocytes were fertilized whereas if caffeine was omitted only 14% of 326 oocytes were fertilized (significantly different, P < 0.001). In the absence of bicarbonate, when fertilization was very low, caffeine had no stimulatory effect. The results indicate that bicarbonate is essential for pig fertilization in vitro, but that caffeine exerts a synergistic stimulatory effect.

Animals↗

Inhibition of glycolysis or increased perfusate H+ buffering capacity, but not their combination, attenuates myocardial stunning.

OBJECTIVE: Both inhibition of glycolysis and enhancement of the H+ buffering capacity of the perfusate during ischaemia reduce myocardial reperfusion injury. The aim of the study was to investigate whether these manoeuvres, performed separately or together, could reduce myocardial stunning after brief global ischaemia. METHODS: The hearts of male Sprague-Dawley rats were preperfused for 10 min with oxygenated or hypoxic buffer (pH 7.4) containing 100 mM sucrose, 100 mM HEPES, or 5 mM 2-deoxyglucose plus 100 mM sucrose, followed by 15 min of total ischaemia and 30 min of reperfusion. In some hearts, 5 mM 2-deoxyglucose was combined with 100 mM HEPES during the 10 min preperfusion period. RESULTS: Brief hypoxic preperfusion, 2-deoxyglucose, or HEPES reduced myocardial stunning as well as improving the metabolic recovery and reducing Ca2+ overload after reperfusion. These changes were associated with a smaller increase in intracellular Na+ and a smaller decrease of coronary effluent pH at the end of ischaemia. In contrast, the combination of HEPES with hypoxic preperfusion or 2-deoxyglucose depressed functional recovery and increased the intracellular Na+ level at the end of ischaemia as well as increasing Ca2+ overload after reperfusion. This happened even though the decrease in coronary effluent pH was attenuated to the same extent as before. CONCLUSIONS: Both inhibition of glycolysis and enhancement of the perfusate H+ buffering capacity before ischaemia attenuated myocardial stunning, but the protective effect of each manoeuvre was lost when they were combined.

Animals↗

Frequent structural chromosome aberrations in immotile human sperm exposed to culture media.

BACKGROUND: The influence of culture media or centrifugation on chromosomes of immotile human sperm was examined using ICSI into mouse oocytes. METHODS: In experiment 1, immotile and motile human sperm retrieved directly from ejaculates were injected into mouse oocytes. In experiment 2, immotile human sperm were exposed to seminal plasma or one of four kinds of culture media (HEPES-BWW, modified-BWW, modified-human tubal fluid (HTF) and Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline) for 1.5-2.5 h at 18 degrees C in air before microinjection. In experiment 3, immotile human sperm were centrifuged along with HEPES-BWW before microinjection. In experiment 4, frozen-thawed immotile human sperm washed with seminal plasma or HEPES-BWW were injected into mouse oocytes. The hybrid oocytes were prepared for chromosome slides at first cleavage metaphase and were then examined cytogenetically. RESULTS: In experiment 1, there was no significant difference in the incidences of structural chromosome aberrations between motile and immotile sperm (4.3% versus 5.8%). In experiment 2, culture media caused more frequent structural chromosome aberrations (14.3-32.6%) in immotile sperm than did seminal plasma (5.4%). In experiment 3, structural chromosome aberrations were found in 48.1% of the centrifuged immotile sperm, and a live/dead sperm viability test intimated that the aberrant sperm were probably dead. In experiment 4, the incidence of structural chromosome aberrations in frozen-thawed immotile sperm was significantly higher in HEPES-BWW (62.2%) than in seminal plasma (17.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that immotile sperm do not have significantly more DNA lesions than motile sperm, although DNA of immotile sperm appears to be vulnerable to damage caused by different culture media.

Animals↗

Affinity states of rat brain opioid receptors in different tissue preparations.

The binding of [3H]Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(N-Me)Phe-Gly-ol ([3H]DAGO) and [3H]Tyr-D-Thr-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr ([3H]DTLET), selective agonists for mu- and delta-opioid binding sites, respectively, has been investigated using different rat brain tissue preparations and buffer systems. The results were compared with the binding of the ligands to crude membrane fractions in Tris-HCl, the most commonly used preparation for binding studies. In both rat brain membranes and intact cells, Krebs-HEPES induced a decrease in the affinities of [3H]DAGO and [3H]DTLET, but little modification was observed when 20-microns tissue slices were used, whatever the brain area studied. The dissociation rate of [3H]DTLET was clearly dependent on the tissue preparation used, because the koff value of this ligand in Krebs-HEPES was 2.5-fold higher in membrane fractions than that measured in intact cells. The kinetic dissociation constant of [3H]DTLET in membrane fractions in Krebs-HEPES was 6.5-fold greater than that measured in Tris-HCl. In intact cells, the koff value for [3H]DTLET was lower than that found in membrane fractions in Krebs-HEPES and similar to that observed in membrane preparations in Tris-HCl supplemented with 30 mM NaCl. These data suggest (a) that the koff constant of [3H]DTLET was regulated by the ionic environment of the delta-opioid receptor, which is clearly dependent on the preservation of cellular structure, and (b) that opioid receptors could exist under different states that are regulated, in part, by the intracellular Na+ concentration.

Animals↗

Gadolinium and mechanotransduction of rat aortic baroreceptors.

The cellular mechanisms enabling baroreceptors to transduce wall distortion into axonal discharge are unknown but might involve stretch-activated ion channels. Gadolinium (Gd3+, 10 microM) blocks stretch-activated channels in several preparations. Here we tested Gd3+ effects on discharge responses of 15 single-fiber baroreceptors in vitro. We simultaneously measured discharge, pressure, and aortic diameter at Gd3+ concentrations from 0.001 to 400 microM. High levels of Gd3+ added to a bicarbonate-buffered perfusate (Krebs) slightly shifted the pressure-discharge relation (less than 4 mmHg, n = 3, P = 0.01) without affecting slope or discharge frequency at threshold. Gd3+ in Krebs variably altered the pressure-diameter relation. Because 500 microM Gd3+ produced visible precipitate in Krebs, we tested Gd3+ in a simpler perfusate using N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES). Gd3+ in HEPES (n = 10) induced minor, but statistically significant, average increases in threshold (less than +5-7%) and no changes in gain. However, prolonged HEPES exposure alone (n = 2) produced similar shifts. Electron microscopy verified that Gd3+ diffused from the lumen to reach extracellular locations near baroreceptor endings. We conclude that 1) HEPES perfusate alone reversibly depresses baroreceptor discharge and 2) Gd3+ has no direct effects on baroreceptors. Thus it appears that aortic baroreceptor mechanotransduction must utilize a different class of stretch-activated ion channels.

Animals↗

[Protonation of nitrite is an obligatory stage in the generation of nitric oxide from nitrite in biological systems].

The yield of nitric oxide from 1 mM sodium nitrite differs 200 times when the process was initiated by 10 mM sodium dithionite in the solution of 5 or 150 mM HEPES-buffer (pH 7.4). Dithionite acted both as a strong reductant and an agent that induced a local acidification of solutions without notable change in pH value. The amount of nitric oxide was estimated by the EPR method by measuring the incorporation of nitric oxide to water-soluble complexes of Fe with N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (MGD), which led to the formation of EPR-detectable mononitrosyl iron complexes with MGD (MNIC-MGD). Ten seconds after dithionite addition, the concentration of MNIC - MGD complexes reached 2 microM in 5 mM HEPES-buffer in contrast to 0.01 microM in 150 mM HEPES-buffer. The difference was suggested to be due to a higher life-time of zones with decreased pH values in a weaker weak buffer solution. The life-time was high enough to ensure the protonation of a part of nitrite. The resulting nitrous acid was decomposed to form nitric oxide. The difference in the formation of nitric oxide from nitrite was also observed in weak and strong buffer solutions in the presence of hemoglobin (0.3 mM) or serum albumin (0.5 mM). However, the ratios of nitric oxide yields in weak and strong buffer did not exceed 3-4 times. The increase in the formation of nitric oxide from nitrite was characteristic for the solutions containing both proteins. Large amounts of nitric oxide formed from nitrite was observed in mouse liver preparation subjected to freezing-thawing procedure followed by incubation in 150 mM HEPES-buffer (pH 7.4) and addition of dithionite. The proposition was made that the presence of zones with low pH value in cells and tissues can ensure the predominant operation of the acid mechanism formation of nitric oxide from nitrite. The contribution of the formation of nitric oxide from nitrite catalyzing with heme-containing proteins nitrite reductases can be minor one under these conditions.

Animals↗

Culture conditions affect meiotic regulation in cumulus cell-enclosed mouse oocytes.

To test the hypothesis that culture conditions influence meiotic regulation in mouse oocytes, we have examined the effects of six culture media, four organic buffers, and pH on spontaneous maturation, the maintenance of meiotic arrest and ligand-induced maturation in cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes from hormonally primed immature mice. The media tested were Eagle's minimum essential medium (MEM), Ham's F-10 (F-10), M199, M16, Waymouth's MB 752/1 (MB 752/1), and Leibovitz's L-15 (L-15). All six media supported > or = 94% spontaneous germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB) during a 17-18 hr incubation period, but polar body formation was lower in M199 and MB 752/1 than in the other media. The incidence of polar bodies could be increased in these two media by the addition of pyruvate. With the exception of M16 and MB 752/1, 4 mM hypoxanthine maintained a significant number of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes in meiotic arrest. Inhibition could be restored by the addition of glutamine to M16 and pyruvate to MB 752/1. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated GVB in those media in which hypoxanthine was inhibitory. dbcAMP was able to maintain meiotic arrest in all of the media, but was least effective in M16. FSH stimulated GVB in all dbcAMP-arrested groups except L-15, and FSH became stimulatory in L-15 when the pyruvate level was reduced to 0.23 mM and galactose was replaced with 5.5 mM glucose. When MEM was buffered principally with the organic buffers MOPS, HEPES, DIPSO, or PIPES (at 20 mM), high frequencies of GVB and polar body formation were observed in inhibitor-free medium. dbcAMP suppressed GVB in all groups; hypoxanthine also maintained meiotic arrest in all buffering conditions, although this effect was nominal in PIPES-buffered medium. FSH and EGF stimulated GVB in all dbcAMP- and hypoxanthine-treated groups. When the concentration of HEPES was increased from 20 mM to 25 mM, a more pronounced suppressive effect on maturation in both dbcAMP- and hypoxanthine-supplemented groups was observed in the absence of FSH. But whereas HEPES reduced the induction of maturation by FSH in dbcAMP-arrested oocytes, this buffer had no effect on FSH action in hypoxanthine-treated oocytes. When MEM was buffered with HEPES and the pH was adjusted to 6.8, 7.0, 7.2, or 7.4, a dramatic effect of pH on meiotic maturation was observed. pH had no significant effect on hypoxanthine salvage by oocyte-cumulus cell complexes, but FSH-induced de novo purine synthesis was significantly augmented by increased pH, in parallel with increased induction of GVB. The results of this study demonstrate that the use of different culture media, or minor changes in culture conditions, can lead to significant variation in (1) the spontaneous maturation of oocytes, (2) the ability of meiotic inhibitors to suppress GVB, or (3) the efficacy of meiosis-inducing ligands. Furthermore, such observations provide a unique opportunity to examine specific molecules and metabolic pathways that can account for this variation and thereby gain valuable insights into the mechanisms involved in meiotic regulation.

Animals↗

Piperazine-based buffers for liposome coating of capillaries for electrophoresis.

Anionic liposomes can be coated on fused-silica capillaries for electrophoresis in the presence of N-(hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (HEPES) as background electrolyte (BGE) solution. In this work, the interaction of various compounds with zwitterionic and anionic phospholipid coatings was studied with HEPES at pH 7.4 as BGE solution. The chromatographic and electrophoretic behavior of three test sample solutions (anionic, cationic, and neutral) was investigated for evaluation of the phospholipid coatings. Our results show that hydrophobic interactions between analytes and the phospholipid coating are important for the migration of charged analytes. In addition, the performances of other piperazine-based buffers, i.e., N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-(2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid), piperazine-N,N'-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid), and piperazine-N,N'-bis(hydroxypropane sulfonic acid), at pH 7.4, as liposome solvent and BGE solution were evaluated and compared with the performance of HEPES at pH 7.4. The anionic liposome solution comprised 80/20 mol% phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine. A simple test solution was selected and the chromatographic and electrophoretic migration behavior of the analytes was evaluated. The results show that, in addition to HEPES, other piperazine-based buffers at pH 7.4 are suitable for coating of fused-silica capillaries with anionic liposomes.

Buffers↗

The molecular mechanism of sulfated carbohydrate recognition by the cysteine-rich domain of mannose receptor.

The mannose receptor (MR) binds foreign and host ligands through interactions with their carbohydrates. Two portions of MR have distinct carbohydrate recognition properties. One is conferred by the amino-terminal cysteine-rich domain (Cys-MR), which plays a critical role in binding sulfated glycoproteins including pituitary hormones. The other is achieved by tandemly arranged C-type lectin domains that facilitate carbohydrate-dependent uptake of infectious microorganisms. This dual carbohydrate binding specificity enables MR to bind ligands by interacting with both sulfated and non-sulfated polysaccharide chains. We previously determined crystal structures of Cys-MR complexed with 4-SO(4)-N-acetylglucosamine and with an unidentified ligand resembling Hepes (N-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N'-[2-ethanesulfonic acid]). In continued efforts to elucidate the mechanism of sulfated carbohydrate recognition by Cys-MR, we characterized the binding affinities between Cys-MR and potential carbohydrate ligands using a fluorescence-based assay. We find that Cys-MR binds sulfated carbohydrates with relatively high affinities (K(D)=0.1 mM to 1.0 mM) compared to the affinities of other lectins. Cys-MR also binds Hepes with a K(D) value of 3.9 mM, consistent with the suggestion that the ligand in the original Cys-MR crystal structure is Hepes. We also determined crystal structures of Cys-MR complexed with 3-SO(4)-Lewis(x), 3-SO(4)-Lewis(a), and 6-SO(4)-N-acetylglucosamine at 1.9 A, 2.2 A, and 2.5 A resolution, respectively, and the 2.0 A structure of Cys-MR that had been treated to remove Hepes. The conformation of the Cys-MR binding site is virtually identical in all Cys-MR crystal structures, suggesting that Cys-MR does not undergo conformational changes upon ligand binding. The structures are used to rationalize the binding affinities derived from the biochemical studies and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of sulfated carbohydrate recognition by Cys-MR.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Production of lipoxygenase metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid by bovine alveolar macrophages in vitro.

Lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA), the leukotrienes (LTs), and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) are potent proinflammatory mediators. Release of LTs and HETEs by bovine alveolar macrophages (BAMs) was measured by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. LTB4 (1.1 +/- 0.2 ng/10(6) cells) and 5-HETE (2.2 +/- 0.2 ng/10(6) cells) were the major metabolites calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated BAMs produced from endogenous AA. The tritiated forms of these compounds and their precursor fatty acids were produced following incorporation of [3H]AA into the cells and stimulation by calcium ionophore A23187. Incorporation of an alternative substrate, [3H]eicosapentaenoic acid [( 3H]EPA) into BAMs incubated in parallel resulted in production of [3H]LTB5 and [3H]5-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (5-HEPE). Equivalent amounts of [3H]AA and [3H]EPA and of [3H]LTB4 and homologous [3H]LTB5 were released. BAM produced significantly greater amounts of [3H]5-HEPE than [3H]5-HETE, however. These findings indicate that the BAM 5-lipoxygenase is capable of metabolizing EPA to LTB5 and 5-HEPE, with the production of 5-HEPE preferred over 5-HETE.

Animals↗

Identification of a sodium-bicarbonate symport in human platelets.

Intracellular pH (pH(i)) was measured in human platelets using fluorescent probes. Basal pH(i) was higher in HC(O3-)- buffered solutions (7(7.33 +/- 0.01) than in nominally HCO3- free, Hepes buffered solutions (7.16 +/- 0.01, P < 0.05). Addition of EIPA caused to fall in Hepes, but did not inhibit the increase of pH(i) when platelets maintained in Hepes were transferred to a CO2/HCO3- buffer. After an intracellular acidosis induced by an NH4Cl prepulse, the initial velocity of recovery (d(pH)/dt(i), in pH units/min) was 3.32 +/- 0.69 in Hepes-buffered solution and 2.85 +/- 0.88 in HCO3- media. Taking into account the differences in buffer capacity, the efflux of acid equivalents after 1.2 min was twice as much in the presence of bicarbonate. The addition of 30 mumol/1 EIPA effectively blocked acid efflux (d(pH)/dt(i) = 0.08 +/ 0.04) in a nominally HCO3- free solution, whereas the recovery was reduced but not abolished (d(pH)/dt(i) = 0.37 +/- 0.10, P < 0.05) in the presence of bicarbonate. The stilbene derivative SITS further inhibited the EIPA-resistant pH(i) recovery. Removal of external Na+ inhibited the HCO(3-)-dependent recovery whereas depletion of internal Cl-, did not suppress it. Depolarization of the membrane had no effect on this recovery. The results suggest the contribution of an electroneutral Na+/HCO3- cotransport in the recovery of pH(i) following an acid load. Both the Na+/H+ antiport and the HCO(3-)-dependent mechanism contribute approx. 50% each to the total acid equivalent efflux during the recovery from a pH(i) 6.46 +/- 0.14 to the basal pH(i) in human platelets.

4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfo↗

Ca2+ currents in cerebellar granule neurones: role of internal Mg2+ in altering characteristics and antagonist effects.

Using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, Ca2+ channel currents were measured in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurones in the presence of 10 mM Ba2+. Two different solutions were used to fill patch pipettes, one containing mainly tetraethylammonium acetate (TEA-Ac solution), and the other mainly caesium and HEPES (Cs-HEPES solution). Under these two different intracellular conditions markedly different Ca2+ channel currents were recorded. When TEA-Ac solution was used intracellularly, small, Cd(2+)-sensitive inward currents (approx. -55 pA) that were inhibited by the dihydropyridine antagonist (-)-202-791 and the GABAB agonist (-)-baclofen were observed. These currents were insensitive to the Ca2+ channel clocking toxins omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTX) and omega-agatoxin IVA and were enhanced by the dihydropyridine agonist (+)-202-791. In contrast, when the Cs-HEPES solution was used, currents were 2-3 times larger (approx. -130 pA), inhibited by (-)-202-791, omega-CgTX and omega-agatoxin IVA but were unaffected by (-)-baclofen. Furthermore, both (+)-202-791 and Bay K8644 in the presence of Cs-HEPES solution produced only a transient enhancement that was followed by an inhibition. Analysis of steady-state inactivation revealed two components of current in both cases, with similar voltage dependencies. The factor(s) giving rise to these differences were investigated in terms of current amplitude and responses to (-)-baclofen and omega-CgTX and were found to be mainly due to the concentrations of Mg2+ and ATP added to the patch pipette solutions. Furthermore, free internal Mg2+ concentrations of greater than 0.2 mM selectively inhibited omega-CgTX-sensitive Ca2+ channels. Preliminary evidence indicates that the same may be true of omega-Aga IVA-sensitive P-type current. These data suggest that the N-type Ca2+ channels in these cells are preferentially inhibited by intracellular Mg2+ and this may provide an explanation for discrepancies between the results of different groups investigating Ca2+ channel currents in similar cell types.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effects of arachidonic acid on the metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid in washed human platelets.

We examined effects of arachidonic acid (AA) on eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) metabolism in washed human platelets. Although human platelets had been considered to metabolize scarcely EPA, a simultaneous addition of EPA and AA to washed platelet suspensions stimulated markedly EPA metabolism. In addition, the stimulatory effect was more potent over the formation of thromboxane (TX) B3 than that of 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE). The stimulation by AA can be due to AA itself and/or AA metabolites. Indomethacin decreased the stimulatory effect of AA on the HEPE formation, suggesting that cyclooxygenase product(s) of AA stimulated the HEPE formation. Among the metabolites of AA investigated, prostaglandin (PG)G2 and 12-hydroperoxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid had the stimulatory effect on both TXB2 and HEPE formations, whereas PGH2, PGD2, TXB2 and 12-hydroxy-5, 8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid were ineffective.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Proinflammatory properties of unsaturated fatty acids and their monohydroxy metabolites.

The proinflammatory effects of unsaturated fatty acids and, where appropriate, their monohydroxy derivatives, have been investigated both by application to human skin and with respect to human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration. Of the fatty acids applied to the skin only eicosapentaenoic and arachidonic acids (EPA; AA) produced consistent, measurable erythema. The monohydroxy derivatives of the two fatty acids also caused erythema, the 12-hydroxy isomers being the most potent. Chemokinetic activity towards PMNs was observed in the presence of AA, EPA and alpha-linolenic acid using an agarose microdroplet chemokinesis assay. In contrast to their in vivo properties, the 5-hydroxy isomers of AA and EPA were the most potent, being approximately 10 times more chemokinetically active than the other isomers. Quantification of the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic and hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acids (HETEs; HEPEs) in the lesional skin of psoriatic patients demonstrated that, of the metabolites measured, 12-HETE was present in the greatest amounts. Twenty five times more 12-HETE than 12- or 15-HEPE was detected, these being the most abundant of the HEPEs formed. The monohydroxy derivatives of AA and EPA may contribute to the inflammatory changes observed in psoriasis. The HETEs appear to be of greater importance than the HEPEs in view of the relative amounts present.

Adult↗