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PubMed2002

Synthesis of nanoparticles of barium lanthanum hafnium oxide by a modified combustion process.

Barium lanthanum hafnium oxide, a complex perovskite ceramic, has been synthesized as nanoparticles by a modified combustion process for the first time. The Ba, La, and Hf ions required for the formation of Ba2LaHfO5.5 were obtained in solution by dissolving in boiling nitric acid a stoichiometric mixture of BaCO3, La2O3, and HfO2 that had been heated at 1200 degrees C for 4 h. By complexing the ions with citric acid and using ammonia as fuel, it was possible to get Ba2LaHfO5.5 as nanoparticles in a single-step combustion process. The powder obtained by the present combustion process was characterized by X-ray diffraction, BET surface area analysis, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. According to the results of X-ray and electron diffraction, the powder synthesized through the combustion process showed single-phase barium lanthanum hafnium oxide. The transmission electron microscopic investigations showed a grain size of 42 nm, with a standard deviation of 8 nm. The nanoparticles of Ba2LaHfO5.5 synthesized by the present combustion technique could be sintered to > 97% of the theoretical density at a relatively low temperature of 1425 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopic studies on the sintered Ba2LaHfO5.5 samples showed that the final grain size of the sintered specimen was < 500 nm.

Calcium Compounds↗
PubMed2003

Contribution of BK Ca2+-activated K+ channels to auditory neurotransmission in the Guinea pig cochlea.

Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels are known to play a prominent role in the hair cell function of lower vertebrates where these channels determine electrical tuning and regulation of neurotransmitter release. Very little is known, by contrast, about the role of BK channels in the mammalian cochlea. In the current study, we perfused specific toxins in the guinea pig cochlea to characterize the role of BK channels in cochlear neurotransmission. Intracochlear perfusion of charybdotoxin (ChTX) or iberiotoxin (IbTX) reversibly reduced the compound action potential (CAP) of the auditory nerve within minutes. The cochlear microphonics (CM at f1 = 8 kHz and f2 = 9.68 kHz) and their distortion product (DPCM at 2f1-f2) were essentially not affected, suggesting that the BK specific toxins do not alter the active cochlear amplification at the outer hair cells (OHCs). We also tested the effects of these toxins on the whole cell voltage-dependent membrane current of isolated guinea pig inner hair cells (IHCs). ChTX and IbTX reversibly reduced a fast outward current (activating above -40 mV, peaking at 0 mV with a mean activation time constant tau ranging between 0.5 and 1 ms). A similar block of a fast outward current was also observed with the extracellular application of barium ions, which we believe permeate through Ca2+ channels and block BK channels. In situ hybridization of Slo antisense riboprobes and immunocytochemistry demonstrated a strong expression of BK channels in IHCs and spiral ganglion and to a lesser extent in OHCs. Overall, our results clearly revealed the importance of BK channels in mammalian cochlear neurotransmission and demonstrated that at the presynaptic level, fast BK channels are a significant component of the repolarizing current of IHCs.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1991

Taurine release associated to volume regulation in rabbit lymphocytes.

Rabbit lymphocytes exposed to hyposmotic media first swell and then recover their initial volume within 6 min. During volume recovery, free amino acids (FAA) decrease from 451.1 to 208 nmoles/mg protein. Taurine was the dominating FAA, accounting for 70% of the FAA pool. The time course of 3H-taurine release induced by hyposmolarity followed that of volume recovery. Efflux of 3H-taurine in an 8 min period was 17.8% (of total labeled taurine accumulated during loading) in an isosmotic medium. Reducing osmolarity to 0.87, 0.75, 0.62, and 0.5 increased this release to 24.8%, 38.1%, 56.4% and 70.9%, respectively. The volume-sensitive release of 3H-taurine was unaffected by omission of external Na+ or Ca++ and was reduced by 23% in the absence of Cl-. It was unaffected by agents disrupting the cytoskeleton or by tetraethylammonium, barium, quinidine, and gadolinium, but was 26% reduced by DIDS. Taurine release was inhibited at 4 degrees C, but was unchanged at 15 degrees C or 25 degrees C. An involvement of FAA, particularly taurine, in lymphocyte volume regulation is suggested.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗
PubMed1992

Tedisamil inhibits the delayed rectifier K+ current in single smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig portal vein.

Tedisamil is a new bradycardic agent with an inhibitory action on K+ channels in cardiac muscle, and secondary beneficial effects in experimentally induced cardiac ischemia. In whole-cell clamp studies in enzymatically dispersed, single smooth muscle cells from the guinea-pig portal vein, tedisamil inhibited the delayed rectifier K+ current (determined as the charge transferred through the cell membrane), the mean concentration for half-maximal inhibition being 2.9 microM. In contrast to controls in the absence of drugs or in the presence of the classical K+ channel blockers barium, tetraethylammonium or 4-aminopyridine, the time course of the delayed rectifier K+ current in the presence of tedisamil could no longer be fitted by a single exponential, and signs of an accelerated inactivation by tedisamil were obtained. The slow onset of the response to tedisamil applied to the outside of the vascular myocytes, and the finding that tedisamil applied directly to the cytosol via the pipette was highly effective, suggest an intracellular site of action.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Large-scale production of Ba(2+)-alginate-coated islets of Langerhans for immunoisolation.

Islet xenografts immunisolated in alginate capsules have been proposed by many groups for clinical islet transplantation. However, diffusion limitations and the total volume of microcapsules required for transplantation are, among other things, factors which have so far prevented successful clinical application. In this study, these problems have been overcome by immobilisation of rat and porcine islets in a Ba(2+)-cross-linked alignate matrix using an air jet droplet generator technique in combination with subsequent density-gradient purification. This procedure leads to high yields of islets coated with a tailored, thin layer of cross-linked alginate which protects the islets against cytotoxic compounds present in human plasma. The recovery of encapsulated rat and porcine islets was about 70%. Empty capsules were nearly completely removed. Using this technique, the total volume of the resulting microcapsules increased only by a factor of about 1.5 compared to the volume of free islets. The technique can be used for large-scale production of coated islets.

Alginates↗
PubMed2004

Crystal growth and structure determination of barium rhodates: stepping stones toward 2H-BaRhO3.

Single crystals of two new barium rhodates were grown from a molten potassium carbonate flux. The new rhodates, Ba(11)Rh(10)O(30) and Ba(32)Rh(29)O(87), are structurally related to the 2H-hexagonal perovskite structure and are characterized by pseudo one-dimensional chains of alternating face-sharing trigonal prisms and octahedra. The structures of Ba(11)Rh(10)O(30) and Ba(32)Rh(29)O(87) were solved using the 4D superspace group approach in Jana2000. Ba(11)Rh(10)O(30), with a repeat of nine RhO(6) octahedra followed by one RhO(6) trigonal prism, contains the longest chain sequence of face-sharing octahedra known for this 2H-perovskite related family of oxides. A structural analysis of these two compounds revealed clear trends in metal-metal distances and octahedral heights not previously identified for this family of oxides. The application of these trends toward the structure of the all-octahedra-containing end member of the structural series, the hypothetical 2H-BaRhO(3), enabled a prediction of its rhodium-rhodium distance, octahedral height, and lattice parameters.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Influence of cations on the electrical activity of neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells.

Electrical excitability is one of the various neuronal properties of neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells. At a Ca2+ concentration of 1.8 mM the action potential is inhibited by tetrodotoxin, suggesting that the inward current is carried by Na+ ions. In contrast, at a Ca2+ concentration of 20-36 mM and even in the absence of Na+, spikes (sometimes repetitive) with strong hyperpolarizing afterpotential occur, which are no longer affected by tetrodotoxin. They are, however, blocked by antagonists of Ca2+ like La3+, Co2+, Mn2+, and the synthetic compounds D-600 and BAY a-1040. This seems to indicate that at high concentrations of Ca2+, the inward current of the action potential is essentially carried by Ca2+. Sr2+, but not Mg2+ can effectively substitute for Ca2+. It slows down the time course of the action potential. Ba2+ depolarizes the membrane gradually. If Ca2+ is also present, Ba2+ causes a reduced depolarization and spontaneous action potentials with no hyperpolarizing after-potential are observed.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1984

Frequency dependent intermittency and ionic basis of impulse conduction in postganglionic sympathetic fibres of guinea-pig vas deferens.

Some characteristic features of the functional innervation of guinea-pig vas deferens have been determined. Both ganglionic transmission from the hypogastric nerves and impulse propagation in proximal regions (main branch bundles within about 15 mm from the prostatic end of the organ) of the majority of single postganglionic sympathetic fibres of vas deferens nerve, had a high safety factor. Failure at these levels cannot account for the intermittent pattern of electrically-evoked secretion of transmitter from the individual varicosity of the terminals of vas deferens nerves, observed under identical experimental conditions. The shape of the extracellular single fibre action potential recorded by small calibre suction electrodes remained constant in proximal regions of vas deferens nerve, when the frequency of stimulation was varied between 0.5 and 8 Hz. Therefore, frequency-dependent facilitation of transmitter secretion in this tissue cannot be explained by frequency-dependent growth in the amplitude of nerve action potentials, as earlier assumed. However, when recordings were made in distal regions of vas deferens nerve (in small axon bundles, close to their points of insertion into the substance of the epididymal end of the organ), on two occasions fibres were found in which the safety factor for impulse conduction was low and frequency-dependent. The possibility is discussed that this feature, which was an exception in these non-terminal regions of vas deferens nerve, may be shared by the majority of fibres as they proceed distally towards the terminals. Clearly, if this is the case, intermittent failure of transmitter secretion from the individual varicosity may be due, at least in part, to intermittent failure of conduction of the nerve impulse to the terminals. Some useful qualitative information on the ionic basis of the extracellular nerve action potential, that might underlie a proximo-distal decline in the safety factor for impulse conduction in these nerves, was obtained by determining the effects on the shape of the signal, caused by varying the ionic composition of the medium (sodium, calcium), and by local addition of agents with known actions on sodium (tetrodotoxin), potassium (tetra-ethyl ammonium, 4-aminopyridine, rubidium, barium) and calcium channels (cobalt, manganese, lanthanum, nickel, D-600). By these criteria, the action potential that was shown to be a "normal" sodium-potassium spike, in proximal regions of vas deferens nerve, was found to have a different "pharmacological profile", in distal regions of the nerve, in a manner suggesting that here nerve impulse conduction had become somehow "calcium-dependent".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1993

Citrus flavonoids stimulate secretion by human colonic T84 cells.

Flavonoids, compounds containing a 2-phenylbenzo(gamma)pyrane nucleus, are universally distributed among vascular plants. Even though flavonoids are ingested in a normal diet in average quantities of 1 g daily, their effects on the digestive system have only been recently investigated. This study used an in vitro model of colonic secretion, monolayers of T84 colonic adenocarcinoma cells mounted in Ussing chambers, to demonstrate that 100 mumol/L of either tangeritin or nobiletin, polymethoxylated flavonoids contained in citrus fruits, stimulated sustained electrogenic chloride secretion with a maximal short-circuit current of 3.3 microA/cm2. In contrast, naringin and hesperidin, glycosylated citrus flavonoids, stimulated minimal secretion, suggesting that carbohydrate substitutions inhibited their secretory potential. The secretion stimulated by tangeritin and nobiletin was synergistic with carbachol but not with vasoactive intestinal peptide and was inhibited by barium chloride, bumetanide, H-89, and Cl- depletion. These properties suggest that tangeritin and nobiletin stimulated Cl- secretion via the cAMP pathway; however, these flavonoids did not stimulate cAMP production to the extent seen with vasoactive intestinal peptide. These flavonoids did not autooxidize, suggesting that reactive oxygen species did not mediate this secretion. These observations suggest that dietary citrus flavonoids may modulate colonic secretion, possibly through direct interaction with intracellular secretory pathways.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

General pharmacology of [2,2-dimethyl-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-phenyl-2,3- dihydro-1H-pyrrolizine-5-yl]-acetic acid in experimental animals.

[2,2-Dimethyl-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizine-5- yl]-acetic acid (ML 3000) is a newly synthesized compound with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activity. The general pharmacological effects of ML 3000 following oral administration were investigated in experimental animals. The results showed that with regard to the CNS, ML 3000 did not affect behaviour in the Irwin test, locomotor activity or hexobarbital-induced sleep at doses of 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg. ML 3000, at a single dose of 100 mg/kg administered intraduodenally, had no notable effect on the cardiovascular system or respiration in anaesthestised rats and dogs nor on neuromuscular function in anaesthetised cats. No evidence of gastric damage or disturbance of peristalsis was observed following oral administration of ML 3000. In vitro, ML 3000 evoked a weak spasmogenic response in the guinea-pig ileum with a dose-related inhibition of acetylcholine, histamine and barium chloride-induced responses. A small transient reduction in urine volume was observed after the highest dose accompanied by decreases in electrolyte excretion at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg in rats. The results demonstrate that ML 3000 has no notable general pharmacological effects under the experimental conditions reported.

Acetates↗
PubMed2004

Inhibition of the Escherichia coli RecA protein: zinc(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) trap RecA as inactive aggregates.

In bacteria, the RecA protein plays important roles in a number of DNA recombination and repair processes, including homologous recombination, SOS induction and recombinational DNA repair. We have explored the idea that the Escherichia coli RecA protein's functions could be controlled by small molecules. We investigated the 2:1 complex of zinc(II) with 1,4-dithio-l-threitol (l-DTT) that inhibits the E. coli rho transcription terminator, which is a hexameric ATP motor protein and is structurally homologous to RecA. We found that both the complex and ZnCl(2) inhibit the single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity of RecA at sub-millimolar concentrations. Investigation of a variety of metal dications (0.4 mM final concentration) determined that zinc(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) all induce the precipitation of RecA, while the dichloride salts of calcium, manganese, barium, cobalt, and nickel do not. The inhibition of RecA activity by Zn(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) results from the metal-dependent initiation of RecA aggregation. These observations may have implications for the design of biophysical experiments requiring solid-phase RecA protein, for a more complete understanding of metal toxicities, and for the design of metal-chelate inhibitors of prokaryotic DNA repair.

Chlorides↗
PubMed1987

Pharmacodynamic effects of the sleep inducer zopiclone.

Pharmacodynamic effects of [6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-7-oxo-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazin -5- yl]-4-methyl-1-piperazine-carboxylate (zopiclone, RP-27267), chemically unrelated to benzodiazepines and a potential new sleep inducer, on the peripheral system were investigated in several species of animals. The drug was dissolved in the vehicle of 0.01 mol/l HCl solution for intravenous administration or for addition to the bath medium and was suspended in 0.25% carboxymethylcellulose solution for oral administration. In unanesthetized rabbits, zopiclone, 0.5 mg/kg i.v., exerted no action and at 1 mg/kg slightly decreased respiration and heart rate without affecting blood pressure and ECG. Zopiclone at 10(-6) g/ml had no action in the isolated guinea-pig atria but at 10(-5) g/ml it produced a gradual and slight decrease in heart rate without affecting the contraction. In the isolated small intestine of rabbits and guinea-pigs, zopiclone at 10(-6) g/ml had no action but produced a slight inhibition in a dose of 10(-5) g/ml. Zopiclone, 10(-5) g/ml, did not affect the stimulatory effects of acetylcholine, serotonin, histamine and barium in the isolated guinea-pig intestine. Zopiclone, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg i.v., exerted no action on rabbit intestinal movement in vivo. Zopiclone, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg p.o., had no effect on the propulsive motility of the mouse intestine. Zopiclone, 10(-5) g/ml, did not affect contractile movement of the uterus isolated from rabbits and did not influence the contractile response to epinephrine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Elevated silver, barium and strontium in antlers, vegetation and soils sourced from CWD cluster areas: do Ag/Ba/Sr piezoelectric crystals represent the transmissible pathogenic agent in TSEs?

High levels of Silver (Ag), Barium (Ba) and Strontium (Sr) and low levels of copper (Cu) have been measured in the antlers, soils and pastures of the deer that are thriving in the chronic wasting disease (CWD) cluster zones in North America in relation to the areas where CWD and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have not been reported. The elevations of Ag, Ba and Sr were thought to originate from both natural geochemical and artificial pollutant sources--stemming from the common practise of aerial spraying with 'cloud seeding' Ag or Ba crystal nuclei for rain making in these drought prone areas of North America, the atmospheric spraying with Ba based aerosols for enhancing/refracting radar and radio signal communications as well as the spreading of waste Ba drilling mud from the local oil/gas well industry across pastureland. These metals have subsequently bioconcentrated up the foodchain and into the mammals who are dependent upon the local Cu deficient ecosystems. A dual eco-prerequisite theory is proposed on the aetiology of TSEs which is based upon an Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn replacement binding at the vacant Cu/Zn domains on the cellular prion protein (PrP)/sulphated proteoglycan molecules which impairs the capacities of the brain to protect itself against incoming shockbursts of sound and light energy. Ag/Ba/Sr chelation of free sulphur within the biosystem inhibits the viable synthesis of the sulphur dependent proteoglycans, which results in the overall collapse of the Cu mediated conduction of electric signals along the PrP-proteoglycan signalling pathways; ultimately disrupting GABA type inhibitory currents at the synapses/end plates of the auditory/circadian regulated circuitry, as well as disrupting proteoglycan co-regulation of the growth factor signalling systems which maintain the structural integrity of the nervous system. The resulting Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn based compounds seed piezoelectric crystals which incorporate PrP and ferritin into their structure. These ferrimagnetically ordered crystals multireplicate and choke up the PrP-proteoglycan conduits of electrical conduction throughout the CNS. The second stage of pathogenesis comes into play when the pressure energy from incoming shock bursts of low frequency acoustic waves from low fly jets, explosions, earthquakes, etc. (a key eco-characteristic of TSE cluster environments) are absorbed by the rogue 'piezoelectric' crystals, which duly convert the mechanical pressure energy into an electrical energy which accumulates in the crystal-PrP-ferritin aggregates (the fibrils) until a point of 'saturation polarization' is reached. Magnetic fields are generated on the crystal surface, which initiate chain reactions of deleterious free radical mediated spongiform neurodegeneration in surrounding tissues. Since Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn based piezoelectric crystals are heat resistant and carry a magnetic field inducing pathogenic capacity, it is proposed that these ferroelectric crystal pollutants represent the transmissible, pathogenic agents that initiate TSE.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1997

Differential effects of the neuroprotectant lubeluzole on bovine and mouse chromaffin cell calcium channel subtypes.

1. The effects of lubeluzole (a neuroprotective benzothiazole derivative) and its (-) enantiomer R91154 on whole-cell currents through Ca2+ channels, with 10 mM Ba2+ as charge carrier (IBa), have been studied in bovine and mouse voltage-clamped adrenal chromaffin cells. Currents generated by applying 50 ms depolarizing test pulses to 0 mV, from a holding potential of -80 mV, at 10 s intervals had an average magnitude of 1 nA. 2. Lubeluzole and R91154 blocked the peak IBa of bovine chromaffin cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner; their IC50s were 1.94 microM for lubeluzole and 2.54 microM for R91154. In a current-voltage protocol, lubeluzole (3 microM) inhibited peak IBa at all test potentials. However, no obvious shifts of the I-V curve were detected. 3. After 10 min exposure to 3 microM lubeluzole, the late current (measured at the end of the pulse) was inhibited more than the peak current. Upon wash out of the drug, the inactivation reversed first and then the peak current recovered. 4. Blockade of peak current was greater at more depolarizing holding potentials (i.e. 35% at -110 mV and 87% at -50 mV, after 10 min superfusion with lubeluzole). Inactivation of the current was pronounced at -110 mV, decreased at -80 mV and did not occur at -50 mV. 5. Intracellular dialysis of bovine voltage-clamped chromaffin cells with 3 microM lubeluzole caused neither blockade nor inactivation of IBa. The external application of 3 microM lubeluzole to those dialysed cells produced inhibition as well as inactivation of IBa. 6. The effects of lubeluzole (3 microM) on IBa in mouse chromaffin cells were similar to those in bovine chromaffin cells. At -80 mV holding potential, a pronounced inactivation of the current led to greater blockade of the late IBa (66%) as compared with peak IBa (46% after 10 min superfusion with lubeluzole). 7. In mouse chromaffin cells approximately half of the whole-cell IBa was sensitive to 3 microM nifedipine (L-type Ca2+ channels) and the other half to 3 microM omega-conotoxin MVIIC (non-L-type Ca2+ channels). In omega-conotoxin MVIIC-treated cells, 3 microM lubeluzole caused little blockade and inactivation of IBa. However in nifedipine-treated cells, lubeluzole caused a pronounced blockade and inactivation of IBa that reversed upon wash out of the compound. 8. The results are compatible with the idea that lubeluzole preferentially blocks non-L-types of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels expressed by bovine and mouse chromaffin cells. The higher concentrations of the compound also block L-type Ca2+ channels. The mechanism of inhibition involves the access of lubeluzole to the open channel from the outside of the cell and promotion of its inactivation. The differential blockade of Ca2+ channel subtypes might contribute to the neuroprotective actions of lubeluzole (which exhibit stereoselectivity). However, in view of the lack of stereoselectivity in blocking Ca2+ channels, this effect cannot be the only explanation for the protective activity of lubeluzole in stroke.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Glutamate-induced intracellular acidification of cultured hippocampal neurons demonstrates altered energy metabolism resulting from Ca2+ loads.

1. Glutamate-evoked increases in intracellular free H+ concentration ([H+]i) were recorded from single rat hippocampal neurons grown in primary culture with carboxy SNARF-based dual emission microfluorimetry. The possibility that this acidification resulted from altered energy metabolism was investigated. 2. The response to 10 microM glutamate (delta pH = 0.41 +/- 0.14, mean +/- SD) was blocked by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist CGS19755 (10 microM) and required extracellular Ca2+. 3. Substituting the metabolic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose for glucose in the extracellular buffer prevented glutamate-induced acidification. 4. Ba2+, which carries charge through Ca2+ channels, including the Ca2+ uniporter on the inner mitochondrial membrane, substituted for Ca2+ in mediating glutamate-induced cytoplasmic acidification. 5. Microinjection of ruthenium red, a compound that blocks mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration, significantly inhibited glutamate-induced acidification. 6. The mitochondrial uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-hydrazone (FCCP, 0.1 microM), mimicked and partially occluded the glutamate-induced [H+]i increase. 7. These findings indicate that glutamate-induced Ca2+ loads are sequestered by mitochondria, uncouple respiration, and produce metabolic acidosis. The glutamate-induced acidification is symptomatic of metabolic stress and may indicate that mitochondria play an important role in glutamate-induced neuronal death.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Chloride conductive and cotransport mechanisms in cultures of canine tracheal epithelial cells measured by an entrapped fluorescent indicator.

To study C1 conductive and cotransport mechanisms, primary cultures of canine tracheal cells were grown to confluency on thin glass cover slips and on porous filters. Transepithelial resistance was greater than 100 omega.cm2, and short circuit current (Isc = 2-20 microA/cm2), representing active secretion of Cl, increased greater than threefold with addition of 10 microM isoproterenol to the serosal solution. Cells made transiently permeable in hypotonic solution were loaded with the C1-sensitive fluorophore 6-methoxy-N-(3-sulfopropyl) quinolinium (SPQ) (5 mM, 4 min, 150 mOsm). The electrical properties of the cell monolayers were not altered by the loading procedure. Intracellular SPQ fluorescence was monitored continuously by epifluorescence microscopy (excitation 360 +/- 5 nm, emission greater than 410 nm). SPQ leakage from the cells was less than 10% in 60 min at 37 degrees C. Intracellular calibration of SPQ fluorescence vs. [C1] (0-90 nM) was carried out using high-K buffers containing the ionophores nigericin (5 microM) and tributyltin (10 microM); SPQ fluorescence was quenched with a Stern-Volmer constant of 13 M-1. Intracellular Cl activity was 43 +/- 4 mM. Cl flux was measured in response to addition and removal of 114 mM Cl from the bathing solution. Addition of 10 microM isoproterenol increased Cl efflux from 0.10 to 0.27 mM/sec. The increase was inhibited by the Cl-channel blocker diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (1 mM). In the absence of isoproterenol, removal of external Na or addition of 0.5 mM furosemide, reduced Cl influx by greater than fourfold. In ouabain-treated monolayers, removal of external K in the presence of 5 mM barium diminished Cl influx by greater than twofold, suggesting that Cl entry is in part K dependent. These results establish an accurate optical method for the real-time measurement of intracellular Cl activity in tracheal cells that does not require an electrically tight cell monolayer. The data demonstrate the presence of an isoproterenol-regulated Cl channel and a furosemide-sensitive cation-coupled transport mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Gastroesophageal scintigraphy.

The technique of gastroesophageal scintigraphy was developed in order to quantitatively detect reflux from the stomach into the esophagus. The scintigraphic technique was compared to previous diagnostic tests including barium esophagography, fluoroscopy, endoscopy, esophageal biopsy, the acid perfusion test, esophageal manometry, and the acid reflux test. None of the other techniques is as sensitive as gastroesophageal scintigraphy for the detection of reflux, in comparison to the acid reflux test. Gastroesophageal scintigraphy is able to detect gastroesophageal reflux accurately, rapidly, noninvasively, and more sensitively than other diagnostic techniques. In addition, it is able to be employed to quantitate reflux and is suitable for studying the effects of various therapeutic modalities.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cloning and function of the rat colonic epithelial K+ channel KVLQT1.

KVLQT1 (KCNQ1) is a voltage-gated K+ channel essential for repolarization of the heart action potential that is defective in cardiac arrhythmia. The channel is inhibited by the chromanol 293B, a compound that blocks cAMP-dependent electrolyte secretion in rat and human colon, therefore suggesting expression of a similar type of K+ channel in the colonic epithelium. We now report cloning and expression of KVLQT1 from rat colon. Overlapping clones identified by cDNA-library screening were combined to a full length cDNA that shares high sequence homology to KVLQT1 cloned from other species. RT-PCR analysis of rat colonic musoca demonstrated expression of KVLQT1 in crypt cells and surface epithelium. Expression of rKVLQT1 in Xenopus oocytes induced a typical delayed activated K+ current, that was further activated by increase of intracellular cAMP but not Ca2+ and that was blocked by the chromanol 293B. The same compound blocked a basolateral cAMP-activated K+ conductance in the colonic mucosal epithelium and inhibited whole cell K+ currents in patch-clamp experiments on isolated colonic crypts. We conclude that KVLQT1 is forming an important component of the basolateral cAMP-activated K+ conductance in the colonic epithelium and plays a crucial role in diseases like secretory diarrhea and cystic fibrosis.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

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