Effects of endotoxin on neurally-mediated gastric acid secretion in the rat.

Abstract The effects of a peripheral administration of E. coli endotoxin on neurally-mediated gastric acid secretion and the role of endogenous opioids or PAF receptors in endotoxin effects have been evaluated in the continuously perfused stomach of the anaesthetized rat. Gastric acid secretion stimulated by distension (20 cm H2O) was reduced dose-dependently by single intravenous bolus injection of endotoxin (0.1–10 μg kg−1). Doses of 5 μg kg−1 induced a peak reduction of distension-stimulated acid output and significantly reduced the secretory response induced by an intravenous bolus of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (150 mg kg−1). This dose of endotoxin did not significantly modify mean systemic arte…

Monitoring and cellular characterisation of male gametic embryogenesis in Citrus clementina.

CHARACTERISATION OF MICROSPORE EMBRYOGENESIS IN ANTHER CULTURE OF CITRUS.

Comparative effects of the novel vasotocin analogue F-180 vs. vasopressin and terlipressin on systemic and splanchnic isolated vessels from portal hypertensive rats.

F-180 has been proposed as a new vasopressin analogue for the treatment of portal hypertension. This study investigates the contractile profile of F-180 compared to vasopressin and its analogue terlipressin on isolated systemic and splanchnic vessels from sham-operated and partial portal vein ligated (PPVL) rats. F-180 (10(-9)-10(-6) M), vasopressin (10(-11)-10(-8) M) and terlipressin (10(-9)-10(-4) M) induced contraction of the mesenteric vein, aorta, iliac, tail and mesenteric arteries. The order of potency in these vessels was vasopressin (pD2 approximately 9)F-180 (pD2 approximately 8)terlipressin (pD2 approximately 6). Significant (P0.01) differences between sham-operated and PPVL rats…

Telomere shortening and chromosomal instability abrogates proliferation of adult but not embryonic neural stem cells.

Chromosome integrity is essential for cell viability and, therefore, highly proliferative cell types require active telomere elongation mechanisms to grow indefinitely. Consistently, deletion of telomerase activity in a genetically modified mouse strain results in growth impairments in all highly proliferative cell populations analyzed so far. We show that telomere attrition dramatically impairs the in vitro proliferation of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) isolated from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of telomerase-deficient adult mice. Reduced proliferation of postnatal neurogenic progenitors was also observed in vivo, in the absence of exogenous mitogenic stimulation. Strikingly, severe telo…

Early histological maturation in the hippocampus of the guinea pig.

The vesicular zinc-rich synaptic systems of the principal neurons of the hippocampus are well developed in newborn guinea pigs, a precocial species. In addition, alvear and fimbrial myelinated fibers as well as significant inhibitory interneurons (i.e. somatostatin, parvalbumin and opioid immunoreactive hippocampal interneurons) are also well developed. On the contrary, neither vesicular zinc synapses nor myelinated fibers nor the above mentioned immunoreactive interneurons are detectable in newborn specimens of other related altricial species such as rats or rabbits. These data suggest that early maturation of a highly integrative center related to cognitive map building such as the hippoc…

Primeras etapas de la embriogenesis de microsporas en coltivo in vitro de anteras de Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan.

Ontogeny of somatostatin immunoreactive neurons in the medial cerebral cortex and other cortical areas of the lizardPodarcis hispanica

The ontogeny of somatostatin immunoreactive interneurons in the cerebral cortex of the lizard Podarcis hispanica has been studied in histological series of embryos, perinatal specimens, and adults. Somatostatin immunoreactive interneurons appear in the early stages of lizard cerebral cortex ontogeny, their number increases during embryonary development, reaches a peak in early postnatal life, and decreases in adult lizards. The first somatostatin immunoreactive somata in the lizard forebrain appeared on E36, and they were located in non cortical areas. Then, on E39 and later, somatostatin immunoreactive neurons were seen in the lizard cortex in a rostral-to-caudal spatial gradient, which pa…

FIRST EMBRYONIC STAGES OF CITRUS MICROSPORE DERIVED EMBRYOS.

Cytochemical techniques for zinc and heavy metals localization in nerve cells

Zinc is one of the most abundant oligoelements in the living cell. It appears tightly bound to metallothioneins, loosely bound to some metalloproteins and nucleic acids, or even as free ion. Small amounts of zinc ions (in the nanomolar range) regulate a plentitude of enzymatic proteins, receptors, and transcription factors; thus, cells need accurate homeostasis of zinc ions. Some neurons have developed mechanisms to accumulate zinc in specific membrane compartments ("vesicular zinc") which can be revealed using histochemical techniques. This article is a short report on the different direct-indirect experimental approaches for zinc and heavy metal detection in neurons. Substances giving a b…

Photoperiod-temperature and neuroblast proliferation-migration in the adult lizard cortex.

The lizard medial cortex (a zone homologous to the mammalian fascia dentata) shows delayed postnatal neurogenesis throughout the lifetime of these animals. Experimental lesioning of this area is followed by neuronal regeneration, a unique phenomenon in the adult amniote telencephalon. The differential effects of temperature and photoperiod on postnatal neurogenetic activity were studied using tritiated thymidine pulses and posterior autoradiography as well as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining. Long (summer) photoperiods increased the number of proliferating neuroblasts in the ependymal neuroepithelium. Cold (winter) temperature prevented migration of the newly generat…

Zinc-positive presynaptic boutons of the rabbit hippocampus during early postnatal development

Abstract The evolution of vesicular zinc-containing boutons in the developing rabbit hippocampus has been studied during early postnatal life using the selenite–Danscher histochemical method. By P3, large immature mossy fiber boutons with labeled synaptic vesicles were seen in the hilus of the dentate gyrus and in the stratum lucidum of the CA3–CA4 hippocampal areas. After P5, smaller boutons with labeled vesicles were identified in the stratum oriens and stratum radiatum of all hippocampal areas, and even transiently in the stratum lacunosum of P6 animals. Vesicular zinc-containing boutons increased in number and underwent ultrastructural maturation; light microscope densitometric–volumetr…