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Dorfin localizes to the ubiquitylated inclusions in Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

In many neurodegenerative diseases, the cytopathological hallmark is the presence of ubiquitylated inclusions consisting of insoluble protein aggregates. Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies disease, glial cell inclusions in multiple system atrophy, and hyaline inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are representative of these inclusions. The elucidation of the components of these inclusions and the mechanisms underlying inclusion formation is important in uncovering the pathogenesis of these disorders. We hypothesized that Dorfin, a perinuclearly located E3 ubiquitin ligase, participates in the formation of ubiquitylated inclusions in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we report that affinity-purified anti-Dorfin antibody labeled ubiquitylated inclusions of Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies disease, multiple system atrophy, and sporadic and familial ALS. A double-immunofluorescence study revealed that Dorfin shows a distribution pattern parallel to that of ubiquitin. Furthermore, by a filter trap assay, we detected that Dorfin is present in the ubiquitylated high-molecular weight structures derived from these diseases. These results suggest that Dorfin plays a crucial role in the formation of ubiquitylated inclusions of alpha-synucleinopathy and ALS. However, because we failed to show the direct binding of alpha-synuclein with Dorfin, future investigations into the binding partner(s) of Dorfin will be needed to deepen our understanding of the pathophysiology of alpha-synucleinopathy and ALS.

Aged↗

[Problems and disabilities resulting from tumors of the central nervous system].

100 patients of the neurological clinic of the University of Cologne affected by tumors of the brain or spinal cord, had been interviewed according to a catalogue of disabilities developed on the lines of the WHO classification of impairments, disabilities, and handicaps. Two months later, 55 patients who had had a previous disease history of less than 12 months, again reported on the course of their disease and the difficulties they experienced. Most of them in their middle years, the patients studied were disabled to very different degrees, the majority of them experiencing greater or lesser limitations in almost all areas of life. The occurrence of individual disabilities, above all visual impairments, personal care disabilities, of locomotion, manual activity, and disorders of balance, was found to be dependent on patient age and tumor diagnosis, whereas disease duration appeared to have little impact.

Adult↗

GDNF family receptor complexes are emerging drug targets.

Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands (GFLs), which consist of GDNF, neurturin, artemin and persephin, regulate the development and maintenance of the nervous system. GDNF protects and repairs dopamine-containing neurons, which degenerate in Parkinson's disease, and motoneurons, which die in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. GDNF and neurturin have shown promise in clinical trials of Parkinson's disease, and artemin is currently undergoing clinical trials for chronic pain treatment. However, the delivery of GFLs into the brain through invasive approaches such as neurosurgery, viral vectors or by the use of encapsulated cells is associated with multiple obstacles. The development of small molecules that specifically activate GFL receptors and that can be applied systemically would overcome most of these problems. The unique nature of the GFL receptors, recent progress in elucidation of the 3D structures of GFLs and GFL-receptor complexes and the use of high-throughput screening have resulted in the development of the first small molecules that mimic the effects of the different GFLs.

Animals↗

The influence of sperm density on the motility characteristics of washed human spermatozoa.

To study the effects of sperm density on the results of computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA), 10 washed semen samples were diluted and measured with the CellTrak/S CASA system in a concentration range of 10-180 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml. All sperm motility parameters were influenced to some extent by sperm density. The motility percentage was influenced significantly in 5 samples (P < 0.005), the straight line velocity in all samples (P < 0.0005 in 7 samples), the curvilinear velocity in 3 samples (P < 0.005), the linearity in 9 samples (P < 0.0005 in 6 samples) and the lateral head displacement in 9 samples (P < 0.005 in 6 samples). In general, the CellTrak/S data are influenced significantly if sperm density exceeds 50 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml. The influence of sperm density on the motility parameters can be explained both by the accuracy of the CASA system and by actual changes in the motility of the spermatozoa. In the light of other published studies, it is concluded that sperm motility measurements with CASA systems should be assessed using 25-50 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml, especially in studies concerning lateral head displacement and the linearity, as in sperm hyperactivation studies.

Humans↗

A prospective study of teleconferencing for orthopaedic consultations.

We carried out a prospective study of teleconsulting in orthopaedics. A commercial videoconferencing system was connected by three ISDN lines between the Satakunta Central Hospital in Pori and the Orton Orthopaedic Hospital in Helsinki, 240 km away. A document camera was used to transfer radiographic images and paper documents. Twenty-nine patients who needed an orthopaedic consultation were studied over three months. They were examined by a surgeon in Pori with the aid of teleconferencing and again later in a traditional, face-to-face appointment in Helsinki. Patients and doctors completed questionnaires after the consultations. Technically, the videoconferencing system functioned reliably and the quality of the video was judged to be good. Twenty patients (69%) would not have needed to travel for a face-to-face appointment, because the teleconsultation afforded a definite treatment decision. The orthopaedic surgeons considered all the treatment decisions arising from the teleconsultation good, except in one case which was considered satisfactory. The quality of the radiographic images transferred with the document camera was good or very good in 17 cases and satisfactory in three cases. None of the patients had experienced videoconferencing before; 87% of them thought that teleconsultation was a good or very good method and the rest felt that it was satisfactory. All patients wanted to participate in teleconsultations again and most would have recommended it to other patients.

Adolescent↗

Normal eye-specific patterning of retinal inputs to murine subcortical visual nuclei in the absence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a preferred ligand for a member of the tropomyosin-related receptor family, trkB. Activation of trkB is implicated in various activity-independent as well as activity-dependent growth processes in many developing and mature neural systems. In the subcortical visual system, where electrical activity has been implicated in normal development, both differential survival, as well as remodeling of axonal arbors, have been suggested to contribute to eye-specific segregation of retinal ganglion cell inputs. Here, we tested whether BDNF is required for eye-specific segregation of visual inputs to the lateral geniculate nucleus and the superior colliculus, and two other major subcortical target fields in mice. We report that eye-specific patterning is normal in two mutants that lack BDNF expression during the segregation period: a germ-line knockout for BDNF, and a conditional mutant in which BDNF expression is absent or greatly reduced in the central nervous system. We conclude that the availability of BDNF is not necessary for eye-specific segregation in subcortical visual nuclei.

Animals↗

Delivery systems for gene therapy.

Introduction of foreign genes into mammalian cells in vitro has been accomplished previously by a variety of methods. The few techniques that have been developed for transfection of mammalian cells in vivo, are technically difficult or lack cell specificity. We have developed a soluble, targetable DNA carrier system consisting of an asialoglycoprotein covalently coupled to a polycation. The strategy was based on: 1) the presence of unique receptors on hepatocytes which internalize galactose-terminal (asialo-)glycoproteins; 2) polycations can bind DNA in a non-covalent, non-damaging interaction. Using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) as a marker gene, specific delivery and expression of CAT was demonstrated in vitro using asialoglycoprotein receptor (+) and (-) cell lines. Intravenous injection of conjugate-DNA complexes in rats resulted in detection of CAT DNA sequences in liver 10 min later by dot blots with a CAT cDNA probe. CAT enzyme activity 24 hrs later was found specifically in liver but no other tissues or control livers. Targeted hepatic CAT expression was transient, maximal at 24 hrs but declined to barely detectable levels by 96 hrs. Persistent foreign gene expression was achieved by injection of DNA complex followed by 67% partial hepatectomy. High levels of hepatic CAT activity were detected through 11 weeks post-hepatectomy. The data indicate that a targetable gene delivery system can permit in vivo expression of an exogenous gene after simple intravenous injection. The foreign gene expression can be enhanced and made to persist by induction of hepatocyte replication.

Animals↗

Use of a new computerized system for evaluation of spermatozoal motility and velocity characteristics in relation to fertility levels in dromedary bulls.

Three ejaculates from each of 14 dromedary bulls were collected at 7-day intervals and diluted to 50 x 10 (6) spermatozoa per ml with sodium citrate (2.9%) seminal extender. Spermatozoal concentrations, motility percentages and velocity measures were evaluated by a new computerized cell motion analyzer (CMA, medical Technologies Montreux SA, Switzerland) for assessing fertility rates in such animals. Greatest variability in concentrations and motility percentages was generally attributed to animal effect within the first ejaculate. Spermatozoal concentrations and kinematic variables in particular percentages of progressive motility, amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and linearity (LIN) percentage were strongly correlated (P<0.01) with fertility rates of dromedary bulls. The CMA-derived measurements of velocity straight line (VSL), velocity curve line (VCL), and velocity averaged line (VAP) were significantly affected by the type of spermatozoal tracks. The present results evidenced that the CMA is a reliable system for determining spermatozoal concentrations, motility percentages and velocity measures and is considered as an accurate and rapid method for evaluating and predicting fertility in the one-humped camel bulls.

Animals↗

Cre-mediated transgene activation in the developing and adult mouse brain.

The neuron-specific rat enolase (NSE) promoter was employed to establish transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase in the central nervous system. Founders were crossed with dormant lacZ indicator mice and specificity as well as efficiency of Cre-mediated transgene activation was determined by PCR and/or X-gal staining. Whereas most transgenic lines exhibited Cre activity in early development resulting in widespread Cre activity, one line (NSE-Cre26) expressed high levels of Cre in the developing and adult brain. With the exception of kidney, which showed occasionally low level of Cre activity, Cre recombination in double transgenics was restricted to the nervous system. Whole-mount X-gal staining of 9.5 dpc embryos indicated Cre-mediated lacZ expression in forebrain, hindbrain, and along the midbrain flexure. A similar expression pattern was observed during later stages of embryogenesis (11.5-13.5 dpc). In adult mice, Cre recombinase was expressed in cerebral cortex and cerebellum and high levels of Cre-mediated lacZ expression were observed in hippocampus, cortex, and septum. The NSE-Cre26 transgenic mouse line thus provides a useful tool to specifically overexpress and/or inactivate genes in the developing and adult brain.

Animals↗

Central control of peripheral circulating somatostatin in dogs: effect of 2-deoxyglucose.

Circulating plasma somatostatin concentrations are known to fluctuate in response to nutrients and hormones. However, little is known about neural or central nervous system (CNS) control of somatostatin secretion. To test whether peripheral circulating somatostatin is influenced by a central stimulus, 2-deoxyglucose (37.5 mg/kg) was infused into a lateral cerebral ventricle of six conscious dogs over a period of 15 min. Plasma somatostatin levels rose from a base line of 105 +/- 6 pg/ml (mean +/- SE) to a peak of 154 +/- 10 pg/ml (P less than 0.005) at 30 min after the onset of the infusion. Somatostatin levels were still significantly elevated (P less than 0.025) at 60 min (119 +/- 6 pg/ml) and thereafter gradually returned toward base line. Plasma glucose and glucagon levels increased in response to intraventricular 2-deoxyglucose. Glucose concentrations rose from 105 +/- 5 mg/dl to peak at 203 +/- 16 mg/dl (P less than 0.005) at 80 min and remained elevated to 120 min. The concentration of plasma glucagon increased from 41 +/- 6 to 92 +/- 18 pg/ml at 60 min (P less than 0.05) and then declined. In marked contrast to intraventricular 2-deoxyglucose, similar concentrations of 2-deoxyglucose administered intravenously (n = 4) resulted in a slight fall in plasma somatostatin. Intraventricular saline did not result in a change in plasma somatostatin. It is concluded that peripheral circulating somatostatin may be susceptible to central nervous system control.

Animals↗

Lateral mobility of the phospholipase C-activating vasopressin V1-type receptor in A7r5 smooth muscle cells: a comparison with the adenylate cyclase-coupled V2-receptor.

The present work examines lateral mobility of the vasopressin V1-type receptor, representing the first determination of lateral mobility of a hormone receptor coupled to phospholipase C activation. The V1-receptor of A7r5 smooth muscle cells was characterized for [Arg8] vasopressin (AVP) binding properties and affinity for the fluorescent vasopressin analogue 1-deamino[8-lysine (N6-tetramethylrhodamylaminothiocarbonyl)] vasopressin (TR-LVP). TR-LVP was biologically active in A7r5 cells, inducing inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate turnover in similar fashion to AVP. TR-LVP was used to specifically label the V1-receptor of living A7r5 cells, and lateral mobility of the V1-receptor was measured using the technique of fluorescence microphotolysis. The apparent lateral diffusion coefficient (D) at 37 degrees C was 5.1 x 10(-10) cm2/s, falling to 2.9 x 10(-10) cm2/s at 13 degrees C. These D values are higher than comparable values for the adenylate cyclase-activating vasopressin V2-receptor of LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells analysed with the same fluorescent ligand. In contrast to the V2-receptor, no marked temperature dependence was observed for the V1-receptor mobile fraction (f). From 37 degrees C to 13 degrees C, f was relatively low (between 0.4 and 0.5) consistent with V1-receptor immobilization through internalization, which is rapid even at room temperature in A7r5 cells. These differences between V1- and V2-receptor lateral mobility are discussed in terms of the implications for their respective signal transduction systems.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Family of human neuronal external surface epitopes defined by Torpedo monoclonal antibodies.

We are employing a library of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that were made to Torpedo cholinergic synaptosomes to identify conserved, physiologically vital epitopes of the neuronal surface. Our particular interest is in those epitopes that are present on some but not all neurons. In the present study we screened this library on different cell lines, the neuronal cell lines PC12, NG108, MC-IXC, and SY5Y, and the endocrine cell lines GH-3 and HIT. Of these cell lines, only SY5Y cells bind MAbs that define neuronal surface subsets. Utilizing its parent cell line, SK-N-SH, we verified that six MAbs, Tor 25, Tor 103, Tor 190, Tor 201, Tor 219, and Tor 233, bind the external neuronal surface. The cytolocalization of all six MAbs is very similar: the membrane of the cell body and its processes are finely outlined in a punctate distribution. Western blot analyses of Torpedo electric organ homogenates, a highly enriched source of antigenic material, revealed that each MAb identifies multiple polypeptides, two of which have the relative mobilities of 180 kD and 67 kD. In a screen of peripheral nerves from cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we found that all these MAbs revealed surface alterations; some displayed a decrease in binding, while others displayed an increase. The combined data provide evidence that these epitopes belong to an important, complex family of polypeptides of the external neuronal surface.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗

Local granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor improves incisional wound healing in adriamycin-treated rats.

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant treatment is often given for locally advanced malignancies; however, clinical and experimental studies have shown that some chemotherapeutic agents impair wound healing. It has been reported that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) applied locally improves dermal wound healing. Thus, we investigated the effects of locally injected GM-CSF on abdominal wounds impaired by adriamycin, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. METHODS: We divided 120 female Sprague-Dawley rats into five treatment groups of 24 rats. Group 1 received saline 8 mg/kg intravenously (i.v.) + laparotomy 14 days later (control); group 2 received 8 mg/kg i.v. adriamycin + laparotomy 14 days later; group 3 received adriamycin 8 mg/kg i.v. + laparotomy + local GM-CSF 50 microg 14 days later; group 4 received saline 8 mg/kg i.v. + laparotomy + local GM-CSF 50 microg 14 days later; and group 5 received adriamycin 8 mg/kg i.v. + laparotomy + systemic GM-CSF 50 microg 14 days later. Sutures were removed on postoperative day (POD) 7 in all five groups, and the abdominal bursting pressures were measured and recorded. Tissue samples were taken from the incision line for histopathological evaluation and hydroxyproline content measurement. RESULTS: The bursting pressure was significantly lower in groups 2 and 5 than in groups 1, 3, and 4. The hydroxyproline content and histopathological findings supported this result. CONCLUSION: The local injection of GM-CSF improved impaired wound healing in adriamycin-treated rats.

Abdominal Wall↗

Central hemodynamic assessment of normal term pregnancy.

Ten carefully screened primiparous patients between 36 and 38 weeks' gestation underwent pulmonary artery catheterization, arterial line placement, and central hemodynamic assessment in the left lateral recumbent position. Studies were repeated in the same patients between 11 and 13 weeks post partum. Compared with the nonpregnant state, there was a significant fall in systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, colloid oncotic pressure, and colloid oncotic pressure-pulmonary capillary wedge pressure gradient by the late phase of the third trimester (p less than 0.05). Pregnancy was associated with a significant rise in cardiac output and pulse in all patients (p less than 0.05). There was no significant change in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, central venous pressure, left ventricular stroke work index, or mean arterial pressure. Normally the late phase of the third trimester is not associated with hyperdynamic left ventricular function as assessed by the left ventricular stroke work index/pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio.

Adult↗

Effect of septohippocampal lesions on thyrotropin-releasing hormone antagonism of pentobarbital narcosis.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) has been shown to antagonize pentobarbital narcosis in a variety of mammalian phylogeny, and many lines of evidence indicate that TRH action in the septum to modulate the septohippocampal system may be the neuroanatomical substrate mediating this effect. To further examine this hypothesis, the analeptic response following injection of TRH into the lateral ventricles or ventromedial septum was measured after lesions of the septum, fimbria or hippocampus. Lesions were induced using either radiofrequency current, aspiration or microinjection of kainic acid. Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the fimbria were found to block the antagonism of pentobarbital narcosis by intraseptal injection of 500 ng TRH, indicating that intraseptal TRH is acting via the septohippocampal system. In contrast, complete aspiration of the dorsal hippocampi did not attenuate intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of TRH. However, large electrolytic septal lesions effectively blocked i.c.v. TRH. These findings indicate first that i.c.v. TRH can cause arousal from pentobarbital narcosis via interaction with alternative neuroanatomical substrates from the septohippocampal system, and secondly, that these alternative substrates have axons which either synapse in or pass through the septum. The fact that injection of kainic acid into the ventromedial septum did not antagonize i.c.v. TRH supports the likelihood that the effectiveness of electrolytic septal lesions results from disruption of fibers in passage and not destruction of neuron perikarya in the septum.

Anesthesia, General↗

Vasopressin entry into the inner ear fluids of the rat.

The entry of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and sucrose into cochlear endolymph, perilymph of scala vestibuli (PLV), perilymph of scala tympani (PLT), and cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was studied, in anesthetized rats, after the administration into the cerebral lateral ventricle of a 10 microliter solution containing the radioactive tracers. Both tracers were detected in PLV, PLT, and CSF but not in endolymph. Monoexponential decay curves were calculated for PLV, PLT, and CSF, and for each tracer no difference was found between the regression lines calculated for the different fluids. These results indicate that (i) injection into the cerebral lateral ventricle is a useful tool to study the permeability of the cochlear epithelium to different solutes and (ii) no specific transport system exists for AVP across the cochlear epithelium, suggesting that AVP may exert its effect via the perilymphatic side of the stria vascularis.

Animals↗

The MTX package of computer programmes for the comparison of sequences of nucleotides and amino acid residues.

A suite of some dozen programmes written in FORTRAN77 to run on VAX computers using the VMS operating system, and which utilizes a Digital Command Language (DCL) shell to allow it to be menu driven has been in use at the Division of Molecular Biology for about nine months. The package allows the user to obtain both dot matrix and line matrix plots, find and output specific regions of similarity and compute statistics for randomly generated sequences. In all these cases the user may specify either a maximum number of gaps in the match that will be tolerated or a minimum percentage similarity allowable for a match to be registered. The system allows the user to create a batch job for any of these analyses; so, for example, a number of line matrix plots can be specified from a remote alpha-numeric terminal which can be plotted later at a graphics terminal. In addition, computation of quasi-correlation statistics (Qr) for nucleotide sequences or correlation statistics (r) for amino acid residue sequences may be computed. Help facilities and documentation including examples are provided.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 mRNA distribution in the central nervous system of the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus.

We have isolated a partial cDNA for the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor 1 (NMDAR1) subunit from an Apteronotus leptorhynchus brain cDNA library. The A. leptorhynchus cDNA fragment, which corresponds to nucleotides 135-903 within the 5' region of the rat NR1 mRNA, encodes 252 amino acids that are >80% identical to the homologous segments of the rat, human, and duck NR1 proteins. RNAse protection assays revealed that the A. leptorhynchus NR1 mRNA was highly enriched in the forebrain and hypothalamus, with lesser amounts in the brainstem, and very low levels in the cerebellum. In situ hybridization also demonstrated that neurons in the pallial forebrain were highly enriched in NR1 transcripts. High levels of NR1 mRNA were found in pyramidal cells within the optic tectum and octavolateral regions. Pyramidal cells of the electrosensory lateral line lobe had the highest levels of expression, and the NR1 mRNA was found to be selectively enriched in their apical dendrites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗