Search results for "membrane potential"
showing 10 items of 327 documents
Induction of Mitochondrial Changes Associated with Oxidative Stress on Very Long Chain Fatty Acids (C22:0, C24:0, or C26:0)-Treated Human Neuronal Ce…
2012
In Alzheimer's disease, lipid alterations point towards peroxisomal dysfunctions. Indeed, a cortical accumulation of saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs: C22:0, C24:0, C26:0), substrates for peroxisomalβ-oxidation, has been found in Alzheimer patients. This study was realized to investigate the effects of VLCFAs at the mitochondrial level since mitochondrial dysfunctions play crucial roles in neurodegeneration. On human neuronal SK-NB-E cells treated with C22:0, C24:0, or C26:0 (0.1–20 μM; 48 h), an inhibition of cell growth and mitochondrial dysfunctions were observed by cell counting with trypan blue, MTT assay, and measurement of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm) with…
Pharmacological heterogeneity of γ-aminobutyric acid receptors during development suggests distinct classes of rat cerebellar granule cells in situ
2001
The gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABA(A)R) represents a ligand-gated Cl(-)-channel assembling as heteropentamere from 19 known subunits. Cerebellar granule cells contain a unique subset, namely the alpha1-, alpha6-, beta2-, gamma2- and delta-subunits. We studied their GABAergic pharmacology in situ using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in brain slices and a modified Y-tube application system. The distribution of the EC50s for GABA in young (P8-P14) and medium aged animals (P15-P28) could be fitted with the sum of two Gaussian distributions with means of 60 and 185 microM and 27 and 214 microM, respectively. In older animals (P29-P48) the observed homogeneous range of sensitivities fi…
Neuronal nicotinic receptors in synaptic functions in humans and rats: physiological and clinical relevance.
2000
The present report describes the participation of nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) in controlling the excitability of local neuronal circuitries in the rat hippocampus and in the human cerebral cortex. The patch-clamp technique was used to record responses triggered by the non-selective agonist ACh and the alpha7-nAChR-selective agonist choline in interneurons of human cerebral cortical and rat hippocampal slices. Evidence is provided that functional alpha7- and alpha4beta2-like nAChRs are present on somatodendritic and/or preterminal/terminal regions of interneurons in the CA1 field of the rat hippocampus and in the human cerebral cortex and that activation of the different nAChR subtypes pres…
Facilitated Anion Transport Induces Hyperpolarization of the Cell Membrane That Triggers Differentiation and Cell Death in Cancer Stem Cells
2015
Facilitated anion transport potentially represents a powerful tool to modulate various cellular functions. However, research into the biological effects of small molecule anionophores is still at an early stage. Here we have used two potent anionophore molecules inspired in the structure of marine metabolites tambjamines to gain insight into the effect induced by these compounds at the cellular level. We show how active anionophores, capable of facilitating the transmembrane transport of chloride and bicarbonate in model phospholipid liposomes, induce acidification of the cytosol and hyperpolarization of plasma cell membranes. We demonstrate how this combined effect can be used against canc…
Altered Mitochondrial Function and Oxidative Stress in Leukocytes of Anorexia Nervosa Patients
2014
ContextAnorexia nervosa is a common illness among adolescents and is characterised by oxidative stress.ObjectiveThe effects of anorexia on mitochondrial function and redox state in leukocytes from anorexic subjects were evaluated.Design and settingA multi-centre, cross-sectional case-control study was performed.PatientsOur study population consisted of 20 anorexic patients and 20 age-matched controls, all of which were Caucasian women.Main outcome measuresAnthropometric and metabolic parameters were evaluated in the study population. To assess whether anorexia nervosa affects mitochondrial function and redox state in leukocytes of anorexic patients, we measured mitochondrial oxygen consumpt…
Novel imine antioxidants at low nanomolar concentrations protect dopaminergic cells from oxidative neurotoxicity.
2009
Strong evidence indicates that oxidative stress may be causally involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. We have employed human dopaminergic neuroblastoma cells and rat primary mesencephalic neurons to assess the protective potential of three novel bisarylimine antioxidants on dopaminergic cell death induced by complex I inhibition or glutathione depletion. We have found that exceptionally low concentrations (EC(50) values approximately 20 nM) of these compounds (iminostilbene, phenothiazine, and phenoxazine) exhibited strong protective effects against the toxicities of MPP(+), rotenone, and l-buthionine sulfoximine. Investigating intracellular glutathione levels, it was found t…
Superoxide Flux in Endothelial Cells via the Chloride Channel-3 Mediates Intracellular Signaling
2007
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in both cell signaling and pathology. A major source of ROS in endothelial cells is NADPH oxidase, which generates superoxide (O2.−) on the extracellular side of the plasma membrane but can result in intracellular signaling. To study possible transmembrane flux of O2.−, pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were preloaded with the O2.−-sensitive fluorophore hydroethidine (HE). Application of an extracellular bolus of O2.−resulted in rapid and concentration-dependent transient HE oxidation that was followed by a progressive and nonreversible increase in nuclear HE fluorescence. These fluorescence changes were inhibited by superoxide dism…
Biological activities of Schottenol and Spinasterol, two natural phytosterols present in argan oil and in cactus pear seed oil, on murine miroglial B…
2014
International audience; The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological activities of the major phytosterols present in argan oil (AO) and in cactus seed oil (CSO) in BV2 microglial cells. Accordingly, we first determined the sterol composition of AO and CSO, showing the presence of Schottenol and Spinasterol as major sterols in AO. While in CSO, in addition to these two sterols, we found mainly another sterol, the Sitosterol. The chemical synthesis of Schottenol and Spinasterol was performed. Our results showed that these two phytosterols, as well as sterol extracts from AO or CSO, are not toxic to microglial BV2 cells. However, treatments by these phytosterols impact the mitoch…
Voltage dependence of L-arginine transport by hCAT-2A and hCAT-2B expressed in oocytes from Xenopus laevis.
2000
Membrane potential and currents were investigated with the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique in Xenopus laevisoocytes expressing hCAT-2A or hCAT-2B, the splice variants of the human cationic amino acid transporter hCAT-2. Both hCAT-2A- and hCAT-2B-expressing oocytes exhibited a negative extracellularl-arginine concentration ([l-Arg]o)-sensitive membrane potential, additive to the K+diffusion potential, when cells were incubated in Leibovitz medium (containing 1.45 mM l-Arg and 0.25 mM l-lysine). The two carrier proteins produced inward and outward currents, which were dependent on the l-Arg gradient and membrane potential. Ion substitution experiments showed that the hCAT-induced curren…
11,12-EET Stimulates the Association of BK Channel α and β1 Subunits in Mitochondria to Induce Pulmonary Vasoconstriction
2012
In the systemic circulation, 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) elicits nitric oxide (NO)- and prostacyclin-independent vascular relaxation, partially through the activation of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (BK) channels. However, in the lung 11,12-EET contributes to hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. Since pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells also express BK channels, we assessed the consequences of BKβ(1) subunit deletion on pulmonary responsiveness to 11,12-EET as well as to acute hypoxia. In buffer-perfused mouse lungs, hypoxia increased pulmonary artery pressure and this was significantly enhanced in the presence of NO synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (…