Search results for "Calcium"
showing 10 items of 1740 documents
Endothelial and neural factors functionally involved in the modulation of noradrenergic vasoconstriction in healthy pig internal mammary artery
2011
The role of endothelial and neural factors as modulators of neurogenic- and noradrenaline-induced vasoconstriction was examined in healthy pig internal mammary artery (IMA). Tetrodotoxin-, guanethidine-sensitive electrical field stimulation (EFS)-, and noradrenaline-elicited contractions were significantly diminished by prazosin (n=8, P0.001) and less so by rauwolscine, indicating functional α₁- and α₂-adrenoceptor-mediated noradrenergic innervation of the IMA. Endothelium removal reduced neurogenic (n=8, P0.01) but augmented noradrenaline responses (n=8, P0.01), suggesting the release of two endothelium-dependent factors with opposite effects. In the presence of endothelium, neurogenic and…
Alteration of inhibitory circuits in the somatosensory cortex of Ts65Dn mice, a model for Down's syndrome.
2010
Down’s syndrome (DS), with an incidence of one in 800 live births, is the most common genetic disorder associated with mental retardation. This trisomy on chromosome 21 induces a variable phenotype in which the only common feature is the presence of mental retardation. The neural mechanisms underlying mental retardation might include defects in the formation of neuronal networks and neural plasticity. DS patients have alterations in the morphology, the density and the distribution of dendritic spines in the pyramidal neurons of the cortex. Our hypothesis is that the deficits in dendritic arborization observed in the principal neurons of DS patients and Ts65Dn mice (a model for DS that mimic…
Postnatal loss of Dlk1 imprinting in stem cells and niche astrocytes regulates neurogenesis.
2011
The gene for the atypical NOTCH ligand delta-like homologue 1 (Dlk1) encodes membrane-bound and secreted isoforms that function in several developmental processes in vitro and in vivo. Dlk1, a member of a cluster of imprinted genes, is expressed from the paternally inherited chromosome. Here we show that mice that are deficient in Dlk1 have defects in postnatal neurogenesis in the subventricular zone: a developmental continuum that results in depletion of mature neurons in the olfactory bulb. We show that DLK1 is secreted by niche astrocytes, whereas its membrane-bound isoform is present in neural stem cells (NSCs) and is required for the inductive effect of secreted DLK1 on self-renewal. N…
Coronary artery calcium and physical performance as determinants of mortality in older age: The AGES-Reykjavik Study
2013
Background. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) and physical performance have been shown to be associated with mortality, but it is not clear whether one of them modifies the association. We investigated the association between the extent of CAC and physical performance among older individuals and explored these individual and combined effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and non-CVD mortality. Methods. We studied 4074 participants of the AGES–Reykjavik Study who were free from coronary heart disease, had a CAC score calculated from computed tomography scans and had data on mobility limitations and gait speed at baseline in 2002–2006 at a mean age of 76 years. Register-based mortalit…
Potential Antioxidant Activity of Calcium and Selected Oxidative Stress Markers in Lead- and Cadmium-Exposed Workers
2020
Occupational lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exposure occurs during processing and casting of nonferrous metals such as zinc. In contrast to Pb and Cd, Ca is essential for living organisms due to its important role in a multitude of functions, from cell signaling to bone growth. Pb and Cd exposure affects calcium metabolism in various ways. The aim of this study was to investigate the blood levels of Pb, Cd, and Ca and the levels of selected oxidative stress biomarkers in workers exposed to Pb and Cd. Population groups included 264 male employees in a lead-zinc smelter. The study population was divided into two subgroups based on the median of Ca serum level (2.42 mmol/l): the low-Ca-level group…
The cognition‐enhancing activity of E1R , a novel positive allosteric modulator of sigma‐1 receptors
2013
Background and Purpose Here, we describe the in vitro and in vivo effects of (4R,5S)-2-(5-methyl-2-oxo-4-phenyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-acetamide (E1R), a novel positive allosteric modulator of sigma-1 receptors. Experimental Approach E1R was tested for sigma receptor binding activity in a [3H](+)-pentazocine assay, in bradykinin (BK)-induced intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) assays and in an electrically stimulated rat vas deferens model. E1R's effects on cognitive function were tested using passive avoidance (PA) and Y-maze tests in mice. A selective sigma-1 receptor antagonist (NE-100), was used to study the involvement of the sigma-1 receptor in the effects of E1R. The open-field test…
Effect of the CB1 cannabinoid agonist WIN 55212-2 on the acquisition and reinstatement of MDMA-induced conditioned place preference in mice
2010
AbstractBackgroundNumerous reports indicate that MDMA users consume other psychoactive drugs, among which cannabis is one of the most common. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, using the conditioned place preference, the effect of the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 on the rewarding effects of MDMA in mice.MethodsIn the first experiment adolescent mice were initially conditioned with 1.25, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg of MDMA or 0.1 or 0.5 mg/kg of WIN and subsequently with both drugs. Reinstatement of the extinguished preference by priming doses was performed in the groups that showed CPP. In the second experiment, animals were conditioned with 2.5 or 5 mg/kg of MDMA and, after extinction, r…
Capacitative Ca2+ entry associated with α1-adrenoceptors in rat aorta
1997
In rat aorta, depletion of internal Ca2+ stores by addition of noradrenaline (1 microM) induces a biphasic response (an initial phasic response and a tonic one) mediated by two different intracellular Ca2+ pools. This response cannot be repeated, suggesting a depletion of internal Ca2+ stores sensitive to noradrenaline. In absence of the agonist, this depletion is the signal for the entry of extracellular Ca2+, not only to refill the stores but also, under our experimental conditions, to activate the contractile proteins thus inducing an increase in the resting tone (IRT) that constitutes functional evidence of this Ca2+ entry. The ionic channels involved in the mechanism of the IRT have be…
Arginine Vasopressin Enhances Sympathetic Constriction Through the V 1 Vasopressin Receptor in Human Saphenous Vein
1998
Background —Arginine vasopressin (AVP) not only acts directly on blood vessels through V 1 receptor stimulation but also may modulate adrenergic-mediated responses in animal experiments in vivo and in vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether AVP can contribute to an abnormal adrenergic constrictor response of human saphenous veins. Methods and Results —Saphenous vein rings were obtained from 32 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The vein rings were suspended in organ bath chambers for isometric recording of tension. AVP (3×10 −9 mol/L) enhanced the contractions elicited by electrical field stimulation at 1, 2, and 4 Hz (by 80%, 70%, and 60%, respectiv…
Long-term effects on cortical glutamate release induced by prenatal exposure to the cannabinoid receptor agonist (r)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-m…
2003
The aim of the present in vivo microdialysis study was to investigate whether prenatal exposure to the CB1 receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 mesylate (WIN; (R)-()-(2,3- dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-morpholinyl-methyl)pyrrolo(1,2,3-de)- 1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)-1-naphthalenylmethanone), at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (s.c. from the fifth to the 20th day of gestation), that causes neither malformations nor overt signs of toxicity, influences cortical glutamate extracellular levels in adult (90- day old) rats. Dam weight gain, pregnancy length and litter size at birth were not significantly affected by prenatal treatment with WIN. Basal and K-evoked dialysate glutamate levels were lower in the cerebral cortex of adul…