Search results for "VITRO"
showing 10 items of 2786 documents
Postnatal alterations of the inhibitory synaptic responses recorded from cortical pyramidal neurons in the Lis1/sLis1 mutant mouse
2006
Mutations in the mouse Lis1 gene produce severe alterations in the developing cortex. We have examined some electrophysiological responses of cortical pyramidal neurons during the early postnatal development of Lis/sLis1 mutant mice. In P7 and P30 Lis1/sLis1 neurons we detected a lower frequency and slower decay phase of mIPSCs, and at P30 the mIPSCs amplitude and the action potential duration were reduced. Zolpidem (an agonist of GABAA receptors containing the alpha1 subunit) neither modified the amplitude nor the decay time of mIPSCs at P7 in Lis1/sLis1 neurons, whereas it increased the decay time at P30. The levels of GABAA receptor alpha1 subunit mRNA were reduced in the Lis1/sLis1 brai…
α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and modulation of gabaergic synaptic transmission in the hippocampus
2000
The present report provides new findings regarding modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission by alpha7 nicotinic receptor activity in CA1 interneurons of rat hippocampal slices. Recordings were obtained from tight-seal cell-attached patches of the CA1 interneurons, and agonists were delivered to the neurons via a modified U-tube. Application for 6 s of the alpha7 nicotinic receptor-selective agonist choline (or =1 mM) to all CA1 interneurons tested triggered action potentials that were detected as fast current transients. The activity triggered by choline terminated well before the end of the agonist pulse, was blocked by the alpha7 nicotinic receptor antagonist methyllycaco…
Characterization of sensory neurotransmission and its inhibition via alpha 2B-adrenoceptors and via non-alpha 2-receptors in rabbit iris.
1993
To find out whether, and which type of, adrenoceptors mediate prejunctional inhibition of sensory neurotransmitter release from trigeminal fibres, the modulation of twitch response to electrical field stimulation on rabbit isolated iris was investigated. Evoked iris sphincter contractions consisted of a minor fast cholinergic and a large slow component. The latter was unaffected by atropine and guanethidine, hence nonadrenergic noncholinergic in nature (NANC), but nearly completely abolished by capsaicin pretreatment and by the neurokinin receptor antagonist spantide. The response was probably not mediated by NK2 receptors as SR 48,968, an NK2 selective nonpeptide antagonist, failed to redu…
Propagation of Calendula maritima Guss. (Asteraceae) through Biotechnological Techniques for Possible Usage in Phytotherapy
2022
The genus Calendula (Asteraceae) includes several species that are renowned for their therapeutic properties and/or use as ingredients in the preparation of cosmetics. The rare and critically endangered sea marigold, Calendula maritima Guss., an endemic species from Western Sicily, has also been recognized as a potential “farm plant species” for several important compounds used in cosmetics. However, the few remnant populations of this species are currently threatened with extinction because of several factors, such as hybridization with the congeneric species Calendula suffruticosa subsp. fulgida (Raf.) Guadagno and anthropogenic disturbance of its habitat. Therefore, in order to preserve …
Cytotoxic Activity and Composition of Petroleum Ether Extract from Magydaris tomentosa (Desf.) W. D. J. Koch (Apiaceae)
2015
The petroleum ether extract of Magydaris tomentosa flowers (Desf.) W. D. J. Koch has been analyzed by GC-MS. It is mainly constituted by furanocoumarins such as xanthotoxin, xanthotoxol, isopimpinellin, and bergaptene. Other coumarins such as 7-methoxy-8-(2-formyl-2-methylpropyl) coumarin and osthole also occurred. The antiproliferative activity of Magydaris tomentosa flower extract has been evaluated in vitro on murine monocye/macrophages (J774A.1), human melanoma (A375) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) tumor cell lines, showing a major activity against the latter.
MGMT: Key node in the battle against genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and apoptosis induced by alkylating agents
2007
O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) plays a crucial role in the defense against alkylating agents that generate, among other lesions, O(6)-alkylguanine in DNA (collectively termed O(6)-alkylating agents [O(6)AA]). The defense is highly important, since O(6)AA are common environmental carcinogens, are formed endogenously during normal cellular metabolism and possibly inflammation, and are being used in cancer therapy. O(6)AA induced DNA damage is subject to repair, which is executed by MGMT, AlkB homologous proteins (ABH) and base excision repair (BER). Although this review focuses on MGMT, the mechanism of repair by ABH and BER will also be discussed. Experimental systems, in wh…
Cellular Prion Protein Participates in Amyloid-β Transcytosis across the Blood—Brain Barrier
2012
The blood—brain barrier (BBB) facilitates amyloid-β (Aβ) exchange between the blood and the brain. Here, we found that the cellular prion protein (PrPc), a putative receptor implicated in mediating Aβ neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), participates in Aβ transcytosis across the BBB. Using an in vitro BBB model, [125I]-Aβ1–40 transcytosis was reduced by genetic knockout of PrPc or after addition of a competing PrPc-specific antibody. Furthermore, we provide evidence that PrPc is expressed in endothelial cells and, that monomeric Aβ1–40 binds to PrPc. These observations provide new mechanistic insights into the role of PrPc in AD.
Polymorphism of amyloid-beta fibrils and its effects on human erythrocyte catalase binding.
2009
The Alzheimer's amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide exists as a number of naturally occurring forms due to differential proteolytic processing of its precursor molecule. Many of the Abeta peptides of different lengths form fibrils in vitro, which often show polymorphisms in the fibril structure. This study presents a TEM based analysis of fibril formation by eighteen different Abeta peptides ranging in length from 5 to 43 amino acids. Spectrophotometric analysis of Congo red binding to the fibrillar material has been assessed and the binding of human erythrocyte catalase (HEC) to Abeta fibrils has also been investigated by TEM. The results show that a diverse range of Abeta peptides form fibrils a…
In vitro evaluation of the ability of three apex locators to determine the working length during retreatment.
2005
The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the accuracy of three apex locators in determining the working length during the retreatment process. Twenty extracted single-rooted human teeth with mature apices were used in this study. The root canal length of each tooth was measured placing a #15 file until the tip was visible at the apical foramen. The direct visual measurement was reduced by 0.5 mm and recorded. The root canals were instrumented and filled to the direct visual measurement using lateral compaction technique. After 7 days the teeth were retreated using three apex locators: ProPex, NovApex, and Root ZX, for determining the retreatment working length. Afterward, comparis…
Synthesis of complement by macrophages and modulation of their functions through complement activation.
1983
During the last decade considerable progress has been made to characterize intimate functional links between macrophages, a major cellular component of immunoinflammatory responses, and the complement system representing the major humoral mediator of inflammation. Macrophages of various species and tissue sites have been shown to synthesize and release most of the complement components providing these cells with their own \ldpericellular\rd complement system. Circumstantial evidence for the assembly of both classical and alternative pathway convertases has been adduced. An intricate network of feedback loops involving endogenous and extrinsic factors operates to adjust complement production…