showing 7 related works from this author
HSP90 and eNOS partially co-localize and change cellular localization in relation to different ECM components in 2D and 3D cultures of adult rat card…
2007
Background information. Cultivation techniques promoting three-dimensional organization of mammalian cells are of increasing interest, since they confer key functionalities of the native ECM (extracellular matrix) with a power for regenerative medicine applications. Since ECM compliance influences a number of cell functions, Matrigel-based gels have become attractive tools, because of the ease with which their mechanical properties can be controlled. In the present study, we took advantage of the chemical and mechanical tunability of commonly used cell culture substrates, and co-cultures to evaluate, on both two- and three-dimensional cultivated adult rat cardiomyocytes, the impact of ECM c…
Signal transduction pathways involved in the mechanical responses to protease-activated receptors in rat colon.
2002
Recording simultaneously in vitro the changes of endoluminal pressure (index of circular muscle activity) and isometric tension (index of longitudinal muscle activity), we examined the mechanisms responsible for the apamin-sensitive relaxant and contractile responses induced by protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 and PAR-2 activating peptides, SFLLRN-NH2 and SLIGRL-NH2, respectively, in rat colon. In the circular muscle, the inhibitory effects of SFLLRN-NH2 and SLIGRL-NH2 were significantly reduced by ryanodine, an inhibitor of Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, but unaffected by 1-[6-[[17beta-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl]amino]hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122), a phosph…
Pericardium of the frog,Rana esculenta,is morphologically designed as a lymphatic space
2003
The importance of the pericardium and the pericardial fluid (PF) in the control of cardiac function has emerged over the past few years. Despite the acknowledgment that amphibians are exposed to both dehydration and excessive water accumulation, nothing is known about their pericardial structure and the morphological basis of the PF formation. We have studied the parietal pericardium (PP) morphology in Rana esculenta by electron microscopy. SEM images of the inner surface, which lines the pericardial cavity, revealed the presence of large vesicles and many small circular openings. TEM observations showed that the PP is made up of an inner mesothelial lining, often constituted by two layers …
New biological aspects of Chromogranin A-derived peptides: Focus on vasostatins
2007
Chromogranin A (CgA), one component of the granin family, represents the major soluble protein co-stored and co-released with catecholamines, within chromaffin cells secretory granules. It is considered a diagnostic and prognostic marker of several diseases, including a variety of tumours and cardiac heart failure. It also represents a precursor of biologically active fragments, generated after proteolytic cleavage at the level of the multiple pairs of dibasic sites which enrich its sequence. CgA, and its derived fragments show an old evolutionary history being ubiquitously present throughout the animal word, from mammals to invertebrates. Their biological functions include control of hormo…
Dual effect mediated by protease-activated receptors on the mechanical activity of rat colon
2002
1. The present study examined the mechanical effects of agonist enzymes and receptor-activating peptides for protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 and PAR-2 on longitudinal and circular muscle of rat isolated colonic segments in the attempt to clarify the PAR functional role in intestinal motility. 2. The responses to PAR-1 and PAR-2 activation were examined in vitro by recording simultaneously the changes of endoluminal pressure (index of circular muscle activity) and of isometric tension (index of longitudinal muscle activity). 3. Both PAR-1 agonists, thrombin (0.1 nM - 3 microM) and SFLLRN-NH2 (1 nM - 3 microM), and PAR-2 agonists, trypsin (0.1 nM - 10 microM) and SLIGRL-NH2 (1 nM - 10 mic…
Cytoskeleton mediates negative inotropism and lusitropism of chromogranin A-derived peptides (human vasostatin1-78 and rat CgA(1-64)) in the rat heart
2010
Cytoskeleton scaffold in cardiac myocytes provides structural support and compartmentalization of intracellular components. It is implicated in cardiac pathologies including hypertrophy and failure, playing a key role in the determinism of contractile and diastolic dysfunctions. Chromogranin A (CgA) and its derived peptides have revealed themselves as novel cardiovascular modulators. In humans, normal CgA levels considerably increase in several pathologies, including heart failure. Recent data have shown on the unstimulated rat heart that human recombinant Vasostatin-1 (hrVS-1) and rat chromogranin A 1-64 (rCgA(1-64)) induce negative inotropic and lusitropic effects counteracting the beta-a…
Angiotensin II dependent cardiac remodeling in the eel Anguilla anguilla involves the NOS/NO system
2017
Angiotensin II (AngII), the principal effector of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS), plays an important role in controlling mammalian cardiac morpho-functional remodelling. In the eel Anguilla anguilla, one month administration of AngII improves cardiac performance and influences the expression and localization of molecules which regulate cell growth. To deeper investigate the morpho-functional chronic influences of AngII on the eel heart and the molecular mechanisms involved, freshwater eels (A. anguilla) were intraperitoneally injected for 2 months with AngII (1 nmol g BW-1). Then the isolated hearts were subjected to morphological and western blotting analyses, and nitrite measurements.…