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Effects of perfusion pressure on intracellular calcium, energetics, and function in perfused rat hearts.

Effects of perfusion pressure in a range from 50 to 140 cmH2O on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were evaluated along with cardiac function, energy metabolism, and left ventricular geometry in a concentration of 2 or 4 mM of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) in isovolumic perfused rat hearts. [Ca2+]i was evaluated with a surface fluorometry technique in hearts loaded with indo-1/AM. The systolic and diastolic values and the amplitude (difference between systolic and diastolic values) of indo-1 fluorescence ratio (an index of [Ca2+]i) were linearly related to perfusion pressure. Changes in the fluorescence ratio were harmonious with rapid changes in left ventricular pressure and stabilized within 30-40 s after changes in perfusion pressure. Developed pressure and O2 consumption were closely, linearly correlated with the fluorescence ratio irrespective of [Ca2+]o. Left ventricular end-diastolic wall thickness, measured by 2-dimensional echocardiography, paralleled perfusion pressure and showed a good correlation with the fluorescence ratio. Diastolic myocardial adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate significantly decreased only at the lowest perfusion pressure. The ln[phosphocreatine]/[Pi] also changed with altered perfusion pressure. In conclusion, perfusion pressure modulates [Ca2+]i, which in turn regulates myocardial contraction and associated O2 utilization.

Animals↗

Diffusivity of oxygen in microvascular beds as determined from PO2 distribution maps.

Dynamic changes in the distribution of PO2 in the rat mesentery were measured to determine the O2 diffusion coefficient (DO2) and consumption rate (VO2). The distribution of PO2 was obtained in two-dimensional maps by microscopic fluorometry on the basis of oxygen quenching. The corresponding vasculature was also recorded on a video recorder to analyze the PO2 distribution consistent with the arrangement of the microvessels. Anesthetized rats breathing room air were subjected to 100% O2 ventilation to induce dynamic changes in PO2 distribution. We assumed a homogenous and constant VO2 in the tissue, and a one-dimensional diffusion equation was applied to simulate oxygen transport. The PO2 data corresponded very well to the theoretical curves, and calculated DO2 was 1.04 +/- 0.78 X 10(-5) cm2/s (mean +/- SD, n = 38) and VO2 was 8.2 +/- 3.9 x 10(-6) cm3 O2.cm-3 tissue.s-1 (n = 27) at 37 degrees C. However, PO2 values at points remote from the arterioles remained higher than the theoretical prediction.

Animals↗

Mechanoregulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration is attenuated in collecting duct of monocilium-impaired orpk mice.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is characterized by the progressive dilatation of collecting ducts, the nephron segments responsible for the final renal regulation of sodium, potassium, acid-base, and water balance. Murine models of ARPKD possess mutations in genes encoding cilia-associated proteins, including Tg737 in orpk mice. New findings implicate defects in structure/function of primary cilia as central to the development of polycystic kidney disease. Our group (Liu W, Xu S, Woda C, Kim P, Weinbaum S, and Satlin LM, Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 285: F998-F1012, 2003) recently reported that increases in luminal flow rate in rabbit collecting ducts increase intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in cells therein. We thus hypothesized that fluid shear acting on the apical membrane or hydrodynamic bending moments acting on the cilium increase renal epithelial [Ca(2+)](i). To further explore this, we tested whether flow-induced [Ca(2+)](i) transients in collecting ducts from mutant orpk mice, which possess structurally abnormal cilia, differ from those in controls. Isolated segments from 1- and 2-wk-old mice were microperfused in vitro and loaded with fura 2; [Ca(2+)](i) was measured by digital ratio fluorometry before and after the rate of luminal flow was increased. All collecting ducts responded to an increase in flow with an increase in [Ca(2+)](i), a response that appeared to be dependent on luminal Ca(2+) entry. However, the magnitude of the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in 2- but not 1-wk-old mutant orpk animals was blunted. We speculate that this defect in mechano-induced Ca(2+) signaling in orpk mice leads to aberrant structure and function of the collecting duct in ARPKD.

Animals↗

A simple and rapid method in the determination of urinary estrogen to creatinine ratio during pregnancy.

The fluorometry reported in this paper is a method which fulfils the necessary precision, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for the determination of the urinary estrogen to creatinine ratio of pregnant women. With this method: (1) whole procedures are completed by single capillary specimen; (2) consequently a very small amount of urine is required; (3) only 35 min are spent completing the in vitro measurement, and (4) urinary estrogen of 5 weeks' gestation can be estimated due to its high sensitivity and specificity. Normal cases and abnormal pregnancies are discussed utilizing this method.

Circadian Rhythm↗

Diabetes-induced alterations in the translational activity of specific messenger ribonucleic acids isolated from rat hearts.

During diabetes mellitus, total proteins and ribonucleic acids are significantly decreased in the rat heart, and these parameters can be increased by insulin administration. To determine whether all ribonucleic acids are equally sensitive to insulin, we examined the influence of this hormone on individual translatable ribonucleic acids. Cardiac ribonucleic acid prepared from control, untreated, and insulin-treated diabetic animals was translated in vitro in the presence of [35S]methionine. The radiolabeled peptides were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and were analyzed by fluorometry. We found that diabetes induces both qualitative and quantitative changes in the predominance of a few specific translatable messenger ribonucleic acid species. The translation of 11 messenger ribonucleic acid species was significantly decreased and that of eight messenger ribonucleic acid species was significantly increased in diabetic preparation. Twelve of the 19 translation products were quantified by digital matrix photometry: three labeled peptides were observed only when cardiac ribonucleic acid from diabetic animals was added to the cell-free translation system, four new peptides appeared when cardiac ribonucleic acid from control animals was added, and although the remaining five peptides were translated in vitro after either control or diabetic ribonucleic acid was added, their relative predominance was altered 2- to 200-fold. When translation products coded for by messenger ribonucleic acids prepared from either diabetic or hypothyroid hearts were compared, we found that most of the alterations induced by diabetes were also induced by hypothyroidism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Contradistinction between doxorubicin and epirubicin: in-vitro interaction with blood components.

The molecular structure and anti-tumour activity of doxorubicin and epirubicin are similar. However, the incidence of their cardiotoxicity occurs at different cumulative dose concentrations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in-vitro interaction of these two drugs with different blood components, namely intact erythrocytes, haemoglobin and erythrocyte ghosts. Plasma protein binding was also evaluated. The intended goal was to identify the most relevant samples among total blood, plasma or blood cells for pharmacokinetic analysis. The methodology involved the incubation of each of the blood components (the intact erythrocytes, erythrocyte ghosts, haemoglobin and plasma proteins) at physiological pH and temperature with different concentrations of each drug, followed by measurement by HPLC and fluorometry at excitation and emission wavelengths of 480 and 580 nm, respectively. The results indicated that the binding of doxorubicin and epirubicin to plasma proteins, erythrocyte ghosts and intact erythrocytes was essentially the same. However, the binding of both compounds to intact erythrocytes was significantly different from erythrocyte ghosts, which indicates that haemoglobin plays an important role in the binding to and uptake by erythrocytes. The isotherms of binding to haemoglobin revealed that the maximum binding of doxorubicin was approximately 0.42 microg mg(-1) haemoglobin; for epirubicin this value was ten times greater than for doxorubicin. The Scatchard plot of binding of both drugs to haemoglobin exhibited two distinct binding sites for each drug. The constant of association of high affinity and low capacity binding sites was significantly greater for epirubicin, whereas the constant of association of low affinity and high capacity binding sites was significantly higher for doxorubicin. The number of high affinity binding sites per mg of haemoglobin was estimated to be 0.072 for doxorubcin and 0.030 for epirubicin. The number of low affinity binding sites was significantly greater for epirubicin (1.963) than for doxorubicin (0.305). Since the combined number of binding sites for epirubicin was more than doxorubicin, and the total uptake by erythrocytes remained the same for both drugs, it was concluded that epirubicin, being a more lipophilic compound, may diffuse more freely into the cells. Therefore, it binds more to haemoglobin, whereas doxorubicin remains more adsorbed on the surface of the cells due to its self-association property. It was concluded that the interaction of both drugs with erythrocytes, although it appears to be similar, is significantly different due to the interaction with haemoglobin. The difference in this interaction is expected to influence the disposition of both drugs in-vivo.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Automatic system for the assay of guanidino compounds to assess uremic status.

An automated system for HPLC-fluorometry of serum guanidino compounds was constructed. This system accomplished simultaneous removal of protein and uremic fluorescences, abundant in the sera of uremic patients, which interfere with the fluorometric assay. This system was applied to the detailed elucidation of the behavior of guanidinosuccinic acid and methylguanidine during and after hemodialysis therapy (HD). The uremic patients who are capable of excreting urine even under hemodialysis therapy showed low serum guanidinosuccinic acid and methylguanidine levels. The prolongation of the interval between HD for one of the patients capable of excreting urine was examined. The levels of guanidinosuccinic acid and methylguanidine did not significantly increase and no hazardous effect was observed by 2 d of prolongation.

Adult↗

[Antigen recognition and signal transduction in T lymphocytes].

Stopped-flow fluorometry gave a unique opportunity to observe a direct cellular interaction between functionally different subsets of lymphocytes in vitro. By this method the molecular mechanism of receptor-mediated recognition and signaling in T lymphocytes (T cells) has been well analyzed. The method is further in progress to observe calcium signals in a single T lymphocyte by using a digital imaging fluorescence microscope.

Animals↗

[Techniques for measurement of nitric oxide in biological systems: principles and practice].

Despite being small and simple in structure the nitric oxide free radical (NO.) is now proving to be of vital physiological significance, and it has been shown to play important roles in complex processes such as vasodilatation, inflammation, thrombosis, immunity and neurotransmission. To conduct meaningful research into the role of NO., it is necessary to accurately determine its concentration. Its direct and quantitative measurement, however, has been little discussed inspite of the abundance of studies on this compound. Generally most authors refer to indirect qualitative measurements, such as employment of NO-synthase inhibitors, measurement of cGMP or citrulline, and the detection of NO.-induced physiological effects such as vascular relaxation. The primary difficulties in the direct measurement of NO stem from its short lifetime and very low concentrations. Notwithstanding these problems, several quantitative methods for measuring NO. have been established. The most commonly used techniques are as follows: 1) UV-visible spectrophotometry of the diazotization product of the nitrite, NO-hemoglobin or methemoglobin, 2) fluorometry of the fluorescent product of the nitrite, 3) detection of chemiluminescence by its reaction with ozone or luminol/H2O2, 4) amperometric microelectrode assay, and 5) electron spin resonance spectrometry. All the aforementioned techniques have certain limitations that should be considered carefully prior to each application.

Animals↗

[Assay system for synapse formation between primary cultured neurons].

Synapse plasticity, in particular, formation of new synapses, plays crucial roles in learning and memory. We have developed a convenient assay system for measuring the number of newly formed synapses between cultured rat cerebrocortical neurons using the multisite fluorometry system of intracellular calcium. We found that cultured neurons exhibited spontaneous oscillatory changes in intracellular calcium levels and that the frequency of the oscillation was strongly correlated with synaptic density. Combined with immunohistochemical studies, this assay system enables us to study the molecular mechanism of synapse formation, in particular, the involvement of ecto-protein kinase. Other applications of the assay system are discussed here.

Animals↗

Hemodynamics of the rodent abdominal skin flap following primary ischemia.

The effect of varying periods of ischemia and reperfusion times on subsequent blood flow was studied in the rodent abdominal skin flap. Using perfusion fluorometry, measurements of blood flow were quantified in 60 Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing clamp-induced ischemic periods ranging from 0 to 6 hours and reperfusion times ranging from 2 to 8 hours. Flaps subjected to ischemia times of 0, 2, 4, or 6 hours require 8 hours of reperfusion time before reaching baseline levels of blood flow. Blood flow in flaps subjected to 6 hours of ischemia was statistically less than the flow in flaps ischemic for 0, 2, and 4 hours and was directly related to length of reperfusion. These results demonstrate that flap perfusion does not fully take place immediately after clamp release. The factors thought to be responsible for these findings and the implications for the design and interpretation of flap ischemia experiments are discussed.

Abdomen↗

Criticality of pH for accurate fluorometric measurements of dipyridamole levels in biological fluids.

Extended release dipyridamole (DIP) is widely used in clinical practice as an Aggrenox formulation, which is proven to improve outcomes for secondary stroke prevention in patients after acute vascular events. However, presently established fluorometry techniques are not suitable for trace amount determinations, because of the variable background fluorescence. The authors sought to determine whether biological fluid pH is important for the serial measures of DIP levels in the animal experiments and in patients treated with Aggrenox after ischemic stroke. Post-stroke patient (n = 34) and mice (n = 25) samples were tested to determine DIP levels by established techniques with FluoroMax 3 spectrofluorometer. Both the absorption and emission spectra of DIP were affected by modifications in pH. Fluorescence of DIP was found to be maximal at a wavelength of 490 nm (excitation 420 nm) and the spectral pattern was independent of pH. The intensity of fluorescence, however, was drastically lower at low pH (at pH 2.6, fluorescence was 4% of intensity at pH 9.8). Background plasma fluorescence, however, was completely unaffected by changes in pH. Using these fluorometric characteristics, a regression model that facilitates the efficient and sensitive determination of DIP concentration in biological fluids was formulated. Exploiting pH-dependent characteristics of DIP versus serum fluorescence patterns permits a convenient mathematical model to determine DIP concentration. This relatively inexpensive and time-efficient procedure can quantify drug levels in human/animal plasma/serum, thereby directly determining the level of patient adherence to the prescribed drug regimen, be it in the context of clinical trials or compliance with the animal protocol.

Animals↗

Simultaneous determination of tocotrienols, tocopherols, retinol, and major carotenoids in human plasma.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic evidence suggests that the concentrations of antioxidant vitamins in human plasma may play an important role in numerous chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, methods for simultaneous measurement of these antioxidants are scarce. We developed and validated a new HPLC method for simultaneous determination of these vitamers in human plasma that uses a novel column-switching approach. METHODS: The new method uses liquid-liquid extraction and isocratic separation with two monomeric C(18) columns maintained at 35 and 4 degrees C coupled with ultraviolet-visible and fluorometric detection. This method could separate 14 vitamers and 3 internal standards within 27 min. No additional modifier was required; the mobile phase was acetonitrile-methanol (65:35 by volume), and the flow rate was 1 mL/min. RESULTS: For photodiode array detection, the detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio >3) were 0.02 mg/L for beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and canthaxanthin; 0.01 mg/L for all-trans-retinol, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, and lycopene; and 0.1 mg/L for all tocopherols and tocotrienols. The detection limit was at least 25-fold lower (0.004 mg/L) when fluorometry was used for measurement of delta-, gamma-, and alpha-tocotrienol and delta-tocopherol compared with ultraviolet detection. The recovery and imprecision of the assay were generally >90% and <10%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This new method separates a wide range of fat-soluble antioxidant vitamins in human plasma, including six carotenoids, three isoforms of tocotrienols and tocopherols (delta-, gamma-, and alpha-), and all-trans-retinol. The overall findings suggest that our method is faster, more sensitive, and more comprehensive than existing methods.

Antioxidants↗

Channel active mammalian porin, purified from crude membrane fractions of human B lymphocytes and bovine skeletal muscle, reversibly binds adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

A new aspect of mammalian porin (mammalian VDAC = mammalian voltage-dependent anion channel) is presented: channel active VDAC binds adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the absence of Ca2+. Channel active "Porin 31HL" or "Porin 31BM", enriched from crude membranes of human B lymphocytes or whole cell lysates of bovine skeletal muscle, respectively, was bound to a nine atoms spacer ATP-agarose at pH 7.4 or 5.0 and reeluted from the resin by 10 mM ATP disodium salt. Furthermore, channel active "Porin 31BM" was labelled by [32P]ATP in a 1:1 stoichiometric relation. Binding of ATP to human porin was confirmed by studying the interaction of the synthetic porin fragment Type-1/Ac-35, comprising the putative nucleotide binding site G Y G F G, with trinitrophenyl-ATP (TNT-ATP) by scanning fluorometry. Peptide/TNP-ATP complexes clearly show enhancement of fluorescence intensity and a spectral shift of the fluorescence maximum. In a control experiment, using a porin fragment lacking the putative nucleotide binding site, no change of fluorescence emission was observed. Further confirmation for ATP binding by human VDAC arose from an autoradiographic experimental approach: the porin fragment Type-1/Ac-35 could be labelled by [32P]ATP, while a second porin fragment ending immediately before the putative nucleotide binding site could not; nor could a synthetic non porin peptide.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Validation of the phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio determined by tandem mass spectrometry: sensitive newborn screening for phenylketonuria.

The efficacy of the tandem mass spectrometry as a tool for the newborn screening of phenylketonuria, an inherited metabolic disorder, was investigated. Precision, reproducibility, selectivity and sensitivity were validated for phenylalanine and tyrosine measurements from dried blood spots. Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the agreement with conventional methods like fluorometry and ion exchange chromatography. The utility of the phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio for discrimination between mild hyperphenylalaninemia and classical types of phenylketonuria was investigated. Depending on concentration levels of phenylalanine and tyrosine the within-run and between-run assay variability ranged between 4.2% and 12.7%. Higher recoveries and a lower detection limit were found for the mass spectrometric method when compared to the fluorometric method. Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.91 for tandem mass spectrometry vs. fluorometric method, as well as 0.95 for tandem mass spectrometry vs. ion exchange chromatography were calculated. The closest agreement between methods was observed between tandem mass spectrometry and ion exchange chromatography. The results demonstrate a high efficacy of the tandem mass spectrometric method for quantitative determination of phenylalanine and tyrosine from dried blood spots. The phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio is crucial to improve the specificity and positive predictive value for the diagnosis of classical phenylketonuria.

Blood Specimen Collection↗

Fluorometric determination of khellin in human urine and serum by high-performance liquid chromatography using postcolumn photoirradiation.

For the determination of khellin in urine and serum, fluorometry using HPLC-postcolumn photoirradiation has been developed. Khellin and visnagin of similar structure were separated on a column of Capcell Pak C8. The mobile phase consisted of 40%(v/v) ethanol containing 75 mmol l(-1) H2O2. The postcolumn reagent, 70 mmol l(-1) KH2PO4-NaOH buffer (pH 12.7) containing 50%(v/v) ethanol, were mixed with the mobile phase, which was irradiated with ultraviolet light to induce fluorescence. The fluorescence was monitored with excitation at 378 nm and emission at 480 nm. The calibration graph for khellin was linear over the range of 65 - 2620 ng ml(-1) using an injection volume of 20 microl. The pretreatment of the urine or serum samples consisted of diluting steps or deproteinizing steps using perchloric acid, respectively.

Calibration↗

Sulfate content and specific glycosaminoglycan backbone of perlecan are critical for perlecan's enhancement of islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin) fibril formation.

Islet amyloidosis is characterized by the deposition and accumulation of amylin in pancreatic beta-cells and is observed in 90% of patients with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have also revealed the presence of the specific heparan sulfate proteoglycan, perlecan, colocalized to islet amyloid deposits, similar to perlecan's known involvement with other amyloid proteins. In the present study, perlecan purified from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor was used to define perlecan's interactions with amylin (i.e., islet amyloid polypeptide) and its effects on amylin fibril formation. Using a solid phase-binding immunoassay, human amylin, but not rat amylin, bound immobilized EHS perlecan with a single dissociation constant (Kd) = 2.75 x 10(-6) mol/l. The binding of human amylin to perlecan was similarly observed using perlecan heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and was completely abolished by 10 micromol/l heparin. Using thioflavin T fluorometry, Congo red staining, and electron microscopy methodology, intact perlecan was found to enhance amylin fibril formation in a dosage-dependent manner, with the majority of these effects attributed to the heparan sulfate GAG chains of perlecan. Other sulfated GAGs and related macromolecules were also effective in the enhancement of amylin fibril formation in the order of heparin > heparan sulfate > chondroitin-4-sulfate = dermatan sulfate = dextran sulfate > pentosan polysulfate, implicating the importance of the specific GAG/carbohydrate backbone. The sulfate content of heparin/heparan sulfate was also important for the enhancement of amylin fibril formation in the order of heparin > N-desulfated N-acetylated heparin > completely desulfated N-sulfated heparin > completely desulfated N-acetylated heparin. These studies suggest that the enhancement effects of perlecan on amylin fibril formation are mediated primarily by both specific GAG chain backbone and GAG sulfate content, and implicate perlecan as an important macromolecule that is likely involved in the pathogenesis of islet amyloidosis.

Amyloid↗

Creatine kinase isoenzyme MB assay by electrophoresis.

A method for determination of the creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) is reported: separation of the isoenzymes was done by electrophoresis and the activity of the isoenzyme bands quantitated by scanning fluorometry. Total CK activity was used for calculation of CK-MB level. The precision of the method was satisfactory: coefficient of variation 5-10%. Its accuracy good: CK-MB was consistently found in high concentrations in tissue extracts of myocardium, but was virtually absent in skeletal muscle and could not be demonstrated in serum from patients with skeletal muscle damage. The sensitivity of the method fitted its clinical use: CK-MB was undetectable (less than 5 U/l) in normal sera, below 30 U/l in seventy-six out of seventy-seven patients in whom the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was disproved, and above 30 U/l in all seventy-two patients with AMI according to WHO criteria. The CK-MB concentration in serum rises to a maximum about 20 h after onset of clinical symptoms of AMI and reaches baseline levels 20-30 h later. The electrophoretic CK-MB method is easy, fast and reliable and is considered as an important diagnostic test for AMI.

Adult↗