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Inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) mimics suckling-induced sensitization of mammotropes: involvement of a pertussis toxin (PTX) sensitive G-protein and the adenylate cyclase (AC).

In lactating rats, suckling renders mammotropes more responsive to prolactin (PRL)-releasing stimuli and less responsive to PRL-inhibiting secretagogues. We have previously shown that a decrease in the activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) may be responsible for the decrease in responsiveness to the inhibitory secretagogue dopamine (DA). In our present experiments, we have studied the involvement of the adenylate cyclase (AC), stimulatory and inhibitory GTP-binding proteins and also the role of PP2A in the sensitization phenomenon. Pituitary cells obtained from mother rats separated from their pups for 4 h prior to dispersion (non-suckled), suckled for 10 or 30 min after the separation period (suckled) and without separation (continual suckling) were incubated in the presence of different doses of forskolin to activate AC and DA. In a further study, pituitary cells of non-suckled rats were pretreated with cholera toxin (CTX) or pertussis toxin (PTX) and tested for the stimulatory action of forskolin or TRH on PRL release. Ocadaic acid (OA) pretreatment has been used to investigate the involvement of PP2A. Hormone secretion was measured by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay (RHPA). Our results have shown that cells from non-suckled rats were unresponsive to forskolin. A 10-min suckling stimulus sensitizes pituitary mammotropes to respond with a PRL release to a dose-dependent activation of AC by forskolin. This sensitization of AC becomes a permanent feature of the cells when suckling continues for an additional 20 min. We have also found that pituitary mammotropes from non-suckled dams respond to forskolin or TRH with PRL release when they were preincubated with either PTX or the PP2A inhibitor OA. It clearly indicates that the non-responsive pituitary can be shifted to the responsive stage by uncoupling of inhibitory G-protein from its receptor as well as by inhibition of PP2A. This latter finding, consonant with our previous results, suggests that suckling may cause selective changes in the function of G(i) of mammotropes due to a rapid phosphorylation which can remove tonic, GTP-dependent inhibitory function.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗

Increased sensitivity to halothane but decreased sensitivity to propofol in mice lacking the N-type Ca2+ channel.

Volatile anesthetics are known to depress excitatory synaptic transmission. Inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels is speculated to underlie this mechanism, which remains to be clarified in vivo. We examined the sensitivity to halothane in mice lacking the N-type Ca2+ channel, a major contributor of presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Sensitivity to halothane was significantly increased in the knockout mice compared with the wild-type littermates. Halothane also depressed field excitatory postsynaptic potentials recorded from the Schaffer collateral-CA1 hippocampal synapses more greatly in the knockout mice. We further examined sleep time induced by injection of propofol, an intravenous anesthetic that mainly affects inhibitory synaptic transmission. In contrast, sensitivity to propofol was significantly decreased in the knockout mice. We suggest that inhibition of the N-type Ca2+ channel underlies mechanisms of halothane anesthesia but counteracts propofol anesthesia.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗

The effect of genotype on sensitivity to inflammatory nociception: characterization of resistant (A/J) and sensitive (C57BL/6J) inbred mouse strains.

The important role of genetic factors in the mediation of sensitivity to pain and pain inhibition is being increasingly appreciated. In an attempt to systematically study the genotypic influences on inflammatory nociception, we conducted a survey of the nociceptive responsivity of three common outbred mouse strains and 11 inbred mouse strains on the formalin test. The formalin test is known to display a biphasic temporal pattern of behavioral and electrophysiological activity, defined by an acute/early phase and a tonic/late phase. Nociceptive sensitivity (licking/biting of the affected area) to a subcutaneous injection of 5% formalin (25 microl volume) into the plantar surface of the right hindpaw displayed moderate heritability in both phases (0.38 and 0.46, respectively). One strain, A/J, was identified as extremely resistant to formalin nociception, displaying total licking in the acute and tonic phases that was 60% and 87% lower, respectively, than the grand mean of all strains. A subsequent series of experiments were performed to characterize the difference between A/J and C57BL/6J mice. The findings establish this inbred strain comparison as a useful genetic model of nociceptive sensitivity.

Animals↗

High sensitivity of the ultraviolet-induced p53 response in ultraviolet-sensitive syndrome, a photosensitive disorder with a putative defect in deoxyribonucleic acid repair of actively transcribed genes.

Previously, we reported a new category of photosensitive disorder named ultraviolet-sensitive syndrome (UVs S) [T. Itoh, T. Fujiwara, T. Ono, M. Yamaizumi, UVs syndrome, a new general category of photosensitive disorder with defective DNA repair, is distinct from xeroderma pigmentosum variant and rodent complementation group 1, Am. J. Hum. Genet. 56 (1995) 1267-1276.]. Cells derived from these patients show impaired recovery of RNA synthesis (RRS) after UV-irradiation irrespective of having a normal level of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS). These characteristics are reminiscent of Cockayne syndrome (CS) cells. By comparing sensitivity of the UV-induced p53 response in cells with different types of defects in nucleotide excision repair, we hypothesized that the UV-induced p53 response is triggered by inhibition of RNA synthesis [M. Yamaizumi, T. Sugano, UV-induced nuclear accumulation of p53 is evoked through DNA damage of actively transcribed genes independent of the cell cycle, Oncogene 9 (1994) 2775-2784.]. To test this hypothesis, we determined sensitivity of the p53 response in UVs S cells by immunostaining, Western blotting, and FACScan analysis. Maximal nuclear accumulation of p53 in the UVs S cells was observed with a one-third UV dose required for that in normal cells, while almost identical p53 responses were observed in UVs S and normal cells following treatment with heat or alpha-amanitin. Recovery of RNA synthesis after a low dose of UV-irradiation was impaired in UVs S cells to the same extent as seen in CS cells. These results provide further evidence to support our previous hypothesis regarding the mechanism of the p53 response induced by DNA damage.

Amanitins↗

In vivo administration of nimesulide, a selective PGHS-2 inhibitor, increases in vitro myometrial sensitivity to prostaglandins while lowering sensitivity to oxytocin.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the action of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors on uterine sensitivity to established stimulants of myometrial activity, we tested the effect of in vivo administration of nimesulide, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, into ovariectomized nonpregnant sheep on subsequent in vitro myometrial responsiveness to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGE2 alpha, and oxytocin. METHODS: Sixteen ovariectomized ewes were infused intravenously with either estradiol (2 micrograms h, n = 8) or estradiol plus nimesulide (20 mg h, n = 8); for 48 h before necropsy. Longitudinal strips of myometrium were superfused with Krebs buffer solution and their spontaneous baseline contractility recorded after 1 hour. pD2 values and maximum percentage increases in contractile tension were derived from dose-response curves to 10(-9) to 10(-5) mol/L PGE2 and PGE2 alpha, and 10(-11) to 10(-7) mol/L oxytocin. RESULTS: Baseline activity was lower in myometrium from estradiol-treated ewes infused with nimesulide as compared with ewes infused with estradiol alone. Maximum tension increase in response to all three agonists was similar in myometrium from estradiol- and nimesulide-treated ewes, but the pD2 in myometrium from nimesulide-treated ewes was higher in response to PGE2 and PGE2 alpha and lower in response to oxytocin. CONCLUSION: The results show that nimesulide lowers spontaneous myometrial contractility and sensitivity to oxytocin while increasing sensitivity to PGs, indicating a down-regulation of oxytocin receptor and an up-regulation of PG receptors and/or intracellular signaling events.

Animals↗

A study of the sensitivity of Leishmania donovani promastigotes and amastigotes to hydrogen peroxide. I. Differences in sensitivity correlate with parasite-mediated removal of hydrogen peroxide.

The sensitivities of promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania donovani to reagent or glucose oxidase-generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were examined in a phagocyte-free system and compared with direct measurements of loss of H2O2 due to reaction with the parasite. Using a combined fluorescence dye uptake/dye exclusion viability assay in conjunction with motility and transformation data it was shown that log-phase promastigotes harvested from recently transformed cultures were intermediate in their H2O2 sensitivity between amastigotes and log-phase promastigotes harvested from long-term subcultures. It was also observed that, while promastigotes are equally sensitive to either form of H2O2 stress, amastigotes are more resistant to single larger amounts of reagent H2O2 than to equivalent amounts of H2O2 generated over a 1 h period. In each case the respective LD50 values obtained for each form of the parasite under each type of H2O2 stress correlated with saturation of their ability to remove H2O2 from the phagocyte-free system. For both promastigotes and amastigotes there was always a time delay after removal of either form of H2O2 stress before H2O2-mediated damage to membranes became apparent. The results suggest that the differential responses of promastigotes and amastigotes to different forms of H2O2 stress may depend upon different H2O2 scavenging mechanisms examined in more detail in the accompanying paper.

Animals↗

Nuclease S1 sensitive sites in parental deoxyribonucleic acid of cold-and temperature-sensitive mammalian cells.

Temperature-sensitive mutants of 3T3 cells (H6-15) express the transformed phenotype at 33 degrees C and the normal phenotype at 39 degrees C. Cold-sensitive mutants of Chinese hamster ovary cells (cs4-D3) express the transformed phenotype at 39 degrees C and the normal phenotype, along with a G1 block, at 33 degrees C. When either cell type is under conditions such that it is normal and in a G0 state, the number of S1-sensitive sites in purified DNA, labeled in parental chains only, is zero. When the normal cells are stimulated by 10% serum, the number of S1 sites per 10(5) base pairs increases slightly, to 0.7 in cs4-D3 and 1.1 in H6-15. Under conditions permitting the expression of the transformed phenotype, but not proliferation, the maximum number of S1 sites per 10(5) base pairs is 5 in cs4-D3 and 44 in H6-15. When the stationary transformed cells are stimulated by 10% serum, the number of S1 sites per 10(5) base pairs increases to 6 in cs4-D3 and 43 in H6-15. Furthermore, the DNA from the stimulated transformed H6-15 cells contains at least twice as many S1 sites as the total number of breaks (nicks plus gaps), raising the possibility of the acquisition of stable looped or cruciform structures as the cells are stimulated.

Animals↗

Modulation of the sensitivity of chromatin to exogenous nucleases: implications for the apparent increased sensitivity of transcriptionally active genes.

We have examined the effects of changing the ionic composition of the buffers in which nuclei are isolated on the sensitivity of chromatin to micrococcal nuclease and deoxyribonuclease I. Unless nuclei are isolated in buffers containing physiological levels of monovalent (150 mM KCl) and divalent (2-5 mM MgCl2) cations, there is a substantial loss of higher order structure. The ionic composition of the buffer in which the digestion is carried out also affects the amount of material digested both by modulating higher order structure and by determining the solubility of the released material. Magnesium ion concentrations greater than 2 mM and calcium ions at virtually any concentration precipitate substantial amounts of the released chromatin fragments. These observations can be interpreted in light of the known effects of the ions on 10- and 30-nm fiber structure and used as a basis for improvements in techniques for isolating chromatin and for studying its structure and function using exogenous nuclease probes. The apparent nuclease sensitivity of transcriptionally active chromatin was reexamined and shown to be more likely a reflection of differential solubility rather than an overall increase in nuclease sensitivity.

Animals↗

Novel method using a temperature-sensitive polymer (methylcellulose) to thermally gel aqueous alginate as a pH-sensitive hydrogel.

A novel method using a temperature-sensitive polymer (methylcellulose) to thermally gel aqueous alginate blended with distinct salts (CaCl2, Na2HPO4, or NaCl), as a pH-sensitive hydrogel was developed for protein drug delivery. It was noted that the salts blended in hydrogels may affect the structures of an entangled network of methylcellulose and alginate and have an effect on their swelling characteristics. The methylcellulose/alginate hydrogel blended with 0.7 M NaCl (with a gelation temperature of 32 degrees C) demonstrated excellent pH sensitivity and was selected for the study of release profiles of a model protein drug (bovine serum albumin, BSA). In the preparation of drug-loaded hydrogels, BSA was well-mixed to the dissolved aqueous methylcellulose/alginate blended with salts at 4 degrees C and then gelled by elevating the temperature to 37 degrees C. This drug-loading procedure in aqueous environment at low temperature may minimize degradation of the protein drug while achieving a high loading efficiency (95-98%). The amount of BSA released from test hydrogels was a function of the amount of alginate used in the hydrogels. The amount of BSA released at pH 1.2 from the test hydrogel with 2.5% alginate was relatively low (20%), while that released at pH 7.4 increased significantly (86%). In conclusion, the methylcellulose/alginate hydrogel blended with NaCl could be a suitable carrier for site-specific protein drug delivery in the intestine.

Alginates↗

Photoinduced signal amplification through controlled externally sensitized fragmentation in masked sensitizers.

Addition of lithiated dithianes to diaryl ketones, potential electron-transfer sensitizers, disrupts conjugation between the two aromatic moieties, effectively masking the sensitizer. A novel photoamplification strategy is developed based on photosensitized cleavage in such adducts, where each fragmentation event releases more diaryl ketone, capable of sensitization. As a result, mass release of dithianes, triggered with a very small amount of the initiator, is observed. Such amplified release can be made contingent on a molecular recognition event, offering a promising methodology for high throughput bioanalytical applications. The concept is proved with the use of micro- and nanosized polymeric supports, including dendrimers.

Models, Chemical↗

Inhibition by 5-(substituted-benzyl)-2,4-diaminopyrimidines of murine tumor (L5178Y) cell cultures sensitive to and resistant to methotrexate. Further evidence for the sensitivity of resistant cells to hydrophobic drugs.

Forty-three 5-(substituted-benzyl)-2,4-diaminopyrimidines have been studied as inhibitors of murine tumor cell cultures (L5178Y). Two types of cells were used--one resistant to methotrexate and one sensitive to methotrexate. The formulation of quantitative structure--activity relationships showed that the methotrexate-resistant cells are more sensitive to the more hydrophobic congeners. pi 0 for the sensitive cells is about 1.4, while pi 0 for the methotrexate-resistant cells is above 3. These results are similar to those found for 2,4-diaminotriazines (Selassie, C.D.; Guo, Z. R.; Hansch, C.; Khwaja, T. A.; Pentecost, S. J. Med. Chem. 1982, 25, 157).

Animals↗

Studies of the chemical selectivity of hapten, reactivity, and skin sensitization potency. 2. nmr studies of the covalent binding of the (13)c-labeled skin sensitizers 2-[13C]- and 3-[13C]hex-1-ene- and 3-[13C]hexane-1,3-sultones to human serum albumin.

3-[(13)C]- and 2-[(13)C]hex-1-ene-1,3-sultones (1a and 1b, respectively) and 3-[(13)C]hex-1-ene-1,3-sultone 2a were incubated with human serum albumin in phosphate buffer at pH 8.1. In both cases, the main reaction was a hydrolysis via an S(N) reaction at position 3, but several adducts were also formed. Hex-1-ene-1,3-sultone, which is a strong skin sensitizer, appears also to be a strongly oxophilic molecule reacting mainly at position 3 through an S(N) reaction to give adducts on tyrosines. This sultone was also able to react with a single lysine residue, also via an initial S(N) reaction at position 3, followed by an intramolecular Michael addition at position 2 to form a mixture of aziridinium intermediates which were subsequently hydrolyzed to give an amino alcohol derivative as the final product. The same reaction carried out on acetylated human serum albumin seems to indicate that the target lysine could be Lys199, which is known to be easily acetylated. Hexane-1,3-sultone, which is a weak sensitizer, appears to be an even more oxophilic molecule, making adducts on tyrosines through an S(N) reaction at position 3. No reaction was observed on Lys199. The difference in skin sensitization potential seems therefore to be more related to the selective ability of modifying lysine residues than to the more general ability to modify tyrosine residues.

Acetylation↗

Studies of chemical selectivity of hapten, reactivity, and skin sensitization potency. 3. Synthesis and studies on the reactivity toward model nucleophiles of the 13C-labeled skin sensitizers, 5-chloro-2-methylisothiazol-3-one (MCI) and 2-methylisothiazol-3-one (MI).

The skin sensitizers, 5-chloro-2-methylisothiazol-3-one (MCI) and 2-methylisothiazol-3-one (MI), have been synthesized isotopically labeled with (13)C at all carbon positions. The reactivity of 3-[(13)C]-, 4-[(13)C]-, and 5-[(13)C]MCI and MI toward a series of model nucleophiles for protein amino acid residues, i.e., butylamine, imidazole, sodium propanethiolate, and sodium phenoxide, was followed by (13)C and (1)H[(13)C] NMR spectroscopy. While MCI was found to react quantitatively with sodium propanethiolate and butylamine and significantly with imidazole and sodium phenoxide, MI reacted only with sodium propanethiolate. Reaction of MCI with nonthiol nucleophiles proceeded through an initial addition-elimination at position 5, leading to stable substitution adducts in the case of imidazole and sodium phenoxide. In the case of butylamine, the initial adduct was subjected to extra reactions at the sulfur atom through a cleavage of the S-N bond, leading to open adducts of the thioamide or amide type. Experiments carried out with N-acetyl-Cys, in excess or in deficiency, indicated that thiol nucleophiles reacted first at the sulfur atom through a cleavage of the S-N bond followed by extra nucleophilic reactions leading to open adducts of the mercaptothioester or mercaptoester type. Reaction of MCI with thiol nucleophiles gave products consistent with the formation of a reactive thioacyl chloride intermediate able to react with other nucleophiles present in the reaction medium. As a consequence, N-acetyl-Cys was found to be able to activate MCI toward N(alpha)-acetyl-Lys under physiological conditions to form adducts of the thioamide or amide type. Thus MCI, a strong sensitizer, and MI, a weak sensitizer, were found to react with different nucleophiles through different mechanisms. Although both MCI and MI can react with thiol nucleophiles, only MCI is capable of significantly reacting with amino nucleophiles of the Lys or His type. Moreover, MCI could be activated by a prior reaction with thiols.

Carbon Isotopes↗

TCR Vbeta expression in the small bowel of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and gluten sensitive enteropathy. Limited expression in dermatitis herpetiformis and treated asymptomatic gluten sensitive enteropathy.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a blistering skin disease characterized by cutaneous deposits of IgA and an associated, most often asymptomatic, gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE). Gluten sensitive enteropathy is also seen in patients that do not have skin disease or cutaneous IgA deposits, but do have significant gastrointestinal (GI) complaints. Patients with DH and with GSE without skin disease have similar small bowel morphologic changes and HLA associations and both the skin disease and the GI symptoms can be controlled by a gluten free diet. It is not known what factors allow almost all patients with DH to continue to eat gluten and not develop symptomatic gastrointestinal disease. We have examined the expression of the Vbeta T-cell receptor (TCR) in the small bowel of patients with DH (n=11) and of patients with both symptomatic (n=10) and asymptomatic (n=7) GSE without skin disease to determine if differences in the pattern of TCR Vbeta expression are associated with differences in the clinical manifestations of these diseases. TCR Vbeta expression was analyzed using RT-PCR from small bowel biopsies. Patients with DH and those with GSE without skin disease that were on a gluten free diet and asymptomatic were found to express 6.6 and 5.6 out of 20 Vbeta families respectively, with no single family preference. Examination of peripheral blood lymphocytes from these patients did not reveal any restriction of TCR Vbeta family expression. In contrast, patients with symptomatic GSE expressed 12.6 Vbeta families (P< 0.05), with no consistent preferential expression of any single Vbeta family between patients. Patients with DH, who are continuing to ingest wheat, show a more restricted pattern of TCR Vbeta utilization, similar to that of treated patients with GSE without skin disease, and significantly different from GSE without skin disease patients eating gluten. These findings suggest that the restricted nature of the TCR Vbeta expression may play a role in the different clinical manifestations of dermatitis herpetiformis and isolated gluten sensitive enteropathy.

Adolescent↗

Increased sensitivity to the prodrug 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine and modulation of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine sensitivity in MCF-7 cells transfected with thymidine phosphorylase.

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is identical to human thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase). The human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was transfected with the dThdPase cDNA and expressed a 45 kDa protein that was detected with anti-dThdPase antibody. Cell lysates possessed elevated dThdPase activity and cells had up to 165-fold increased sensitivity to the prodrug 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) in vitro. Sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (5-FUdR) was unchanged. Recombinant dThdPase was shown to catalyse directly the phosphorolytic cleavage of 5'-DFUR to 5-FU. Exogenous thymidine (dThd) reversed the toxicity of 5-FUdR on the parental line (1 microM dThd increased the IC50 value 1000-fold), but the dThd rescue was substantially modulated in the dThdPase-expressing clone 4 (1 microM dThd raised the IC50 value 3-fold). We observed a substantial 'bystander' killing effect when small proportions of dThdPase-expressing cells were mixed with parental MCF-7 cells. dThdPase activity was on average 27-fold higher in breast tumours than in normal breast. The levels of wild-type MCF-7 are similar to the low end of the tumour expression. Thus, in some tumours resistance to 5'-DFUR therapy could be due to low dThdPase activity, and transfection to raise the dThdPase levels within the broad tumour range or above it should markedly enhance sensitivity to the prodrug. These results confirm that dThdPase is a major pathway in the metabolic activation of 5'-DFUR, and the bystander effect suggests that this may be a suitable enzyme for gene therapy-directed enzyme/prodrug activation therapy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

A stable quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell with an amphiphilic ruthenium sensitizer and polymer gel electrolyte.

Dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cells (DSC) have received considerable attention as a cost-effective alternative to conventional solar cells. One of the main factors that has hampered widespread practical use of DSC is the poor thermostability encountered so far with these devices. Here we show a DSC with unprecedented stable performance under both thermal stress and soaking with light, matching the durability criteria applied to silicon solar cells for outdoor applications. The cell uses the amphiphilic ruthenium sensitizer cis-RuLL'(SCN)(2) (L = 4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine, L' = 4,4'-dinonyl-2,2'-bipyridine) in conjunction with a quasi-solid-state polymer gel electrolyte, reaching an efficiency of >6% in full sunlight (air mass 1.5, 100 mW cm(-2)). A convenient and versatile new route is reported for the synthesis of the heteroleptic ruthenium complex, which plays a key role in achieving the high-temperature stability. Ultramicroelectrode voltammetric measurements show that the triiodide/iodide couple can perform charge transport freely in the polymer gel. The cell sustained heating for 1,000 h at 80 degrees C, maintaining 94% of its initial performance. The device also showed excellent stability under light soaking at 55 degrees C for 1,000 h in a solar simulator (100 mW cm(-2)) equipped with a ultraviolet filter. The present findings should foster widespread practical application of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Coloring Agents↗

Dependency of detrusor contractions on calcium sensitization and calcium entry through LOE-908-sensitive channels.

1. The subcellular mechanisms regulating stimulus-contraction coupling in detrusor remain to be determined. We used Ca(2+)-free solutions, Ca(2+) channel blockers, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), and RhoA kinase (ROK) inhibitors to test the hypothesis that Ca(2+) influx and Ca(2+) sensitization play primary roles. 2. In rabbit detrusor, peak bethanechol (BE)-induced force was inhibited 90% by incubation for 3 min in a Ca(2+)-free solution. By comparison, a 20 min incubation of rabbit femoral artery in a Ca(2+)-free solution reduced receptor-induced force by only 5%. 3. In detrusor, inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) Ca(2+) release by 2APB, or depletion of SR Ca(2+) by CPA, inhibited BE-induced force by only 27%. The CPA-insensitive force was abolished by LaCl3. By comparison, 2APB inhibited receptor-induced force in rabbit femoral artery by 71%. 4. In the presence of the non-selective cation channel (NSCC) inhibitor, LOE-908, BE did not produce an increase in [Ca(2+)]i but did produce weak increases in myosin phosphorylation and force. 5. Inhibitors of ROK-induced Ca(2+) sensitization, HA-1077 and Y-27632, inhibited BE-induced force by approximately 50%, and in combination with LOE-908, nearly abolished force. 6. These data suggest that two principal muscarinic receptor-stimulated detrusor contractile mechanisms include NSCC activation, that elevates [Ca(2+)]i and ROK activation, that sensitizes cross bridges to Ca(2+).

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

4-aminopyridine- and dendrotoxin-sensitive potassium channels influence excitability of vagal mechano-sensitive endings in guinea-pig oesophagus.

1. Distension-sensitive vagal afferent fibres from the guinea-pig oesophagus were recorded extracellularly in vitro. Most recorded units were spontaneously active firing at 3.2+/-0.3 Hz (n=41, N=41) and had low thresholds (less than 1 mm) to circumferential stretch. Dynamic and adapted phases of stretch-evoked firing, as well as a silent period were linearly dependent on the amplitude of stretch. 2. High K+ (7-12 mM) Krebs solution dose-dependently increased both spontaneous and stretch-evoked firing and reduced the duration of the silent period. 3. Charybdotoxin (ChTX, 100 nM) slightly increased spontaneous and stretch-evoked firing and decreased the silent period, while neither iberiotoxin (100 nM) nor apamin (0.5 microM) had significant effects. omega-Conotoxin GVIA (0.5 microM) did not significantly affect firing of vagal mechanoreceptors. 4. In the majority of single units, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) concentration-dependently (EC(50) approximately 28 microM) increased spontaneous firing, strongly reduced the silent period but did not affect stretch (3 mm)-induced firing. Firing evoked by 1-2 mm was increased by 4-AP. 5. Alpha-dendrotoxin (DnTX, 300 nM) and DnTX K (30 nM) slightly increased spontaneous and stretch-evoked firing. There was no additive effect on spontaneous firing when ChTX and DnTX K were applied simultaneously. 6. Barium (100 microM) increased stretch-induced firing, probably due to an increase in intramural tension. Glibenclamide (10 microM) had no effect on spontaneous or stretch-induced firing. 7. The results indicate that voltage-gated 4-AP- and dendrotoxin-sensitive K+ channels are the main type of K+ channels that influence excitability of vagal mechano-sensitive endings of the guinea-pig oesophagus. They were involved in control of spontaneous firing and in stretch-induced firing evoked by moderate stretch, but none of the K+ channels appeared to be involved in adaptation to maintained stretch by their slowly adapting vagal mechanoreceptors.

4-Aminopyridine↗