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  • 2000-2004  (115)
  • 1955-1959  (9,298)
  • Polymer and Materials Science  (3,775)
  • Inorganic Chemistry  (3,066)
  • Organic Chemistry  (2,453)
  • Rat
  • gene expression
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  • 1
    ISSN: 1530-0358
    Keywords: Pravastatin ; ras p21 isoprenylation ; Colon carcinogenesis ; Flat colon tumor ; Azoxymethane ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract PURPOSE: The effect of pravastatin, an inhibitor ofras p21 isoprenylation, on the gross type of colon tumors induced by azoxymethane was investigated in Wistar rats. METHODS: Rats received ten weekly subcutaneous injections of 7.4 mg/kg body weight of azoxymethane and intraperitoneal injections of 10 or 20 mg/kg body weight of pravastatin every other day until the end of the experiment at Week 45. RESULTS: Administration of pravastatin at both dosages had no significant effect on the incidence of colon tumors but significantly increased the incidence of rats with adenomas only. In contrast to the elevated adenomas in control rats, flat adenomas were significantly more prevalent in rats given pravastatin. Pravastatin at both doses significantly decreased the labeling index, but not the apoptotic index, of elevated adenomas, whereas it significantly decreased the labeling index but increased the apoptotic index of flat adenomas. Administration of pravastatin at both dosages also significantly decreased the amounts of membrane-associatedras p21 in colon tumors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that theras oncogene may be closely related to the development of adenocarcinomas from adenomas and the development of elevated or polypoid tumors of the colon.
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  • 2
    ISSN: 1436-2023
    Keywords: Key words Adriamycin ; Rat ; Embryo ; VATER association ; Synovial joint ; Bones ; Limbs ; Vertebra ; Sirenomelia
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The adriamycin-induced rat model of the Vertebral, Anorectal, Tracheo-Esophageal, Radial and Renal (VATER) association produces a variety of vertebral, rib, and limb abnormalities. This study was designed to document accurately the nature of these abnormalities and to determine whether synovial joints are affected. Fetuses from pregnant Sprague Dawley rats that had received intraperitoneal injections of 1.75 mg/kg of adriamycin on days 6–9 or 10–13 of gestation were harvested. Double-stained skeletal preparations and histological sections were examined for vertebral, rib, and limb anomalies. The incidence of anomalies was high in the group treated on gestational days (GD) 6–9, while it was low in the GD 10–13 group. The length and thickness of the long bones were reduced, with bowing and reduction in their endochondral ossification. Sirenomelia occurred in the group treated on GD 6–9, and was often associated with a short tail and anal atresia. The joint cavities, and intra-articular structures such as menisci and the cruciate ligaments developed normally from the mesenchymal interzone. These data indicate that adriamycin inhibits skeletal growth and differentiation without any interference in the differentiation of the mesenchymal interzone, thus producing normal synovial joints.
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  • 3
    ISSN: 1569-8041
    Keywords: gene expression ; IRF-1 and IRF-2 ; p68 ; PKR ; signal transduction
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Background:Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) has beendemonstrated to possess antiproliferative and tumor suppressor functions, onthe contrary, IRF-2 has been suggested to induce oncogenetic effect in somecell lines, but not evaluated in tumor patients. Patients and methods:In 35 carcinoid tumor patients, expressionsof IRF-1 and IRF-2 were investigated by immunohistochemistry and their valueswere analyzed with clinical treatment response. In carcinoid tumor cell line,Bon1, effects of IFN-α on the expression of both IRF-1 and IRF-2 mRNAs andproteins were determined by Northern blot, RNase protection assays and Westernblot analysis. Results:IFN-α up-regulated the expression of IRF-1 and IRF-2both in vivoand in vitro. In carcinoid tumors, IFN-αtreatment led to a significant increase in the expression of IRF-1 (P〈 0.001) and IRF-2 (P 〈 0.001). Moreover, the IRFs inductionwas correlated with the clinical response of IFN-α treatment, althoughtheir baseline values were not predictive. In addition, expressions of IRF-1and IRF-2 were significantly correlated with the p68kinaseexpression (P = 0.032 and P = 0.0176, respectively) and theexpression of IRF-1 protein was positively correlated with that of IRF-2(r = 0.671,P = 0.0001) tested in the same specimens. Conclusions:IRF-1 as well as IRF-2 have therapeutic implicationsin carcinoid tumors during treatment with interferon-α and IRFs inductionmight be used as indicators of response to treatment with interferon-α.
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  • 4
    ISSN: 1432-2307
    Keywords: Keywords 7 ; 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene ; Rat ; Submandibular gland ; Adenocarcinoma Myoepithelial cell
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In an attempt to induce adenocarcinoma containing myoepithelial cells (MECs) in the rat submandibular gland, we injected 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) dissolved in acetone into the glands of rat pups at the age of 10 days. In both male and female pups, the glands, including their developing terminal secretory units, contained far greater numbers of cells positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) than did adult glands. A single administration of 1% DMBA (0.05 ml/130 g b.w.) did not produce adenocarcinoma, but did induce occasional sarcomas, such as rhabdomyosarcoma and fibrosarcoma, in 2 months. Most glands regenerated with minimal scar formation. Microscopically, these glands were atypical in that they contained increased numbers of PCNA-positive cells, underdeveloped granular ducts, and striated ducts surrounded by MECs positive for alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA). Though these features were also observed in the regenerated glands after acetone injection, the number of PCNA-positive cells was relatively high in the glands of DMBA-treated females, especially in the terminal secretory unit. The second DMBA injection at 10 weeks of age produced adenocarcinoma made up of αSMA-positive MECs and keratin 19-positive duct cells. Such MEC-associated adenocarcinoma was induced in the glands of more than half the female but not the male animals. Replacement of either of the double DMBA treatments with acetone, or DMBA treatment, single or double, of adult glands did not produce adenocarcinoma, but did produce sarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These results suggest that (1) at least two genetic mutations are necessary for induction of adenocarcinoma with MECs in the rat submandibular gland, (2) the mutation is efficiently introduced to pup glands whose terminal secretory units exhibit extreme proliferative activity, and (3) the second mutation is difficult to introduce in male glands, whose proliferative activity is relatively low, and/or transformed cells need some female hormone after the mutation to propagate.
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  • 5
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 126 (2000), S. 27-32 
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Key words Heart irradiation ; Plasma enzyme levels ; Myocardial enzyme levels ; Rat ; AbbreviationsCK creatine kinase ; LDH lactate de-hydrogenase ; AST aspartate aminotransferase ; ALT alanine aminotransferase ; α-HBDHα-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Plasma levels of myocardial enzymes present after local heart irradiation were studied in a rat model. The purpose was to investigate whether, within days after irradiation, these enzyme levels change to such an extent that they may be helpful in assessing the severity of cardiac damage after radiotherapy. Therefore, activities of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH) were determined in the plasma and left ventricular myocardium of rats following local heart irradiation with a single dose of 20 Gy. A dose of 20 Gy is known to cause irreversible cardiac damage and to reduce survival times of the animals. Cardiac enzyme assays were performed directly after and twice daily for up to 2 weeks after radiation. Plasma CK, LDH, AST and α-HBDH levels were increased between 2 h and 24 h after irradiation. Plasma ALT levels remained unchanged. Myocardial enzyme levels, measured between 24 h and 16 days after radiation, did not differ between irradiated and control animals, although acute (first 12 h) reductions were observed in the irradiated group. The elevated enzyme levels in plasma appeared to correlate with the acutely reduced myocardial enzyme levels. Although irradiation with a dose of 20 Gy induced acute rises of cardiac enzyme levels in plasma, it is doubtful that fractionated radiation, as applied clinically for treatment of solid tumors, will induce plasma enzyme elevations that are large enough to indicate the extent of cardiac damage occurring acutely or chronically.
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  • 6
    ISSN: 1437-7799
    Keywords: Key words VEGF ; Glomeruli ; Ribonuclease protection assay ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Background. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a selective endothelial growth factor which potently enhances microvascular permeability. In the kidney, VEGF mRNA is known to be highly expressed in visceral epithelial cells in glomeruli. However, the physiological role of VEGF in glomerular function and its involvement in the pathogenesis of proteinuria are not clear. The present studies were designed to determine whether altered expression of VEGF mRNA was observed in the course of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis in rats (a model of human minimal change nephrosis). Methods. The message level of VEGF in isolated glomeruli of PAN nephrosis rats was measured using a ribonuclease protection assay. Results. VEGF expression began to decrease 4 days after PAN injection and could not be detected in the nephrotic stage of PAN nephrosis (on days 8 and 16). In the remission of stage of PAN nephrosis (on day 28), mRNA was restored to the control level. Conclusions. According to our results, a functional defect in the VEGF expression of visceral epithelial cells was observed in PAN nephrosis. VEGF could be a functional marker of visceral epithelial cells, and the loss of normal expression of VEGF after damage to visceral epithelial cells could affect glomerular endothelial cell function in PAN nephrosis.
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  • 7
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Pediatric surgery international 16 (2000), S. 485-487 
    ISSN: 1437-9813
    Keywords: Key words Duodenum ; Apoptosis ; Fetus ; Rat ; Duodenal atresia
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Duodenum is thought to go through a solid-core stage followed by recanalization during its development. This study investigates the role of apoptosis in normal duodenal development, especially during widening of the lumen, and hence, the possible role of apoptosis in duodenal atresia (DA). Twenty-four time-mated Sprague-Dawley rats were killed from day 13 to day 20 of gestation. Duodenums of 3 fetuses were chosen randomly from each rat and processed. Apoptosis was determined by the terminal deoxytransferase-mediated biotin dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique (ApopTag). Apoptosis count and cross-sectional areas were measured with an image analyzer (MetaMorph). The number of apoptotic cells per unit area duodenum peaked on day 15 for the mucosal/submucosal layer and on day 14 for the muscular/mesenchymal layer. The maximal number of apoptotic cells per cross-section of duodenum was between 7 and 8. The cross-sectional areas of the duodenal wall and lumen increased exponentially between day 17 and day 19 while duodenal-wall thickness remained relatively constant throughout duodenal development. The localization, timing, and intensity of apoptosis do not suggest that apoptosis is responsible for the widening of the duodenal lumen; enlargement of the lumen is related to the increase in duodenal circumference. Apoptosis thus may not be involved in the pathogenesis of DA.
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  • 8
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Pediatric surgery international 16 (2000), S. 285-292 
    ISSN: 1437-9813
    Keywords: Key words Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) ; Rat ; Immunohistochemistry ; Distribution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The present study systematically investigated the expression and distribution of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classes I and II in the rat. About 150 native tissue probes from eight adult Lewis rats were taken, representative for most organs, tissues, and the vascular system. MHC expression was analyzed by two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) generated against the non-polymorphic determinants of rat MHC class I (Ox-18) and class II (Ox-6). Immunoreactivities were compared to those of different endothelial (HIS52, TLD-3A12, Ox-43, REHA-1 antigen), histiocytic (ED1, ED2), B-cell (RLN-9D3), and T-cell (MRC Ox-52) markers. A nonspecific mAb (MR12/53) served as a negative control. Pretested concentrations on various tissues and the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase technique allowed semiquantitative evaluation of serial cryostat tissue sections. MHC class I expression was detected on most immunocompetent cells. Endothelial cells were stained heterogeneously along the vascular system and the organ-specific microcirculation. Furthermore, some organs showed staining of parenchymal cells. MHC class II was found on all immunocompetent cells positive for the B-cell marker and about 15% of cells positive for the histiocytic markers. Besides the well-known expression of MHC class II in the outer zone of the renal proximal tubule, further organ-specific cell forms were found positive. In conclusion, the present study outlines tissue-specific distribution of MHC I/II and implies that each organ carries a variable immunologic burden that needs to be considered for any transplantation model.
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  • 9
    ISSN: 1437-9813
    Keywords: Key words Fetal transplantation ; Proliferation ; Adrenal glands ; Addisonian crisis ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The present study investigated the histologic maturation, proliferative capacity, and steroid production of fetal adrenal transplants (Tx) in adrenalectomized rats. A pair of fetal adrenal glands (18–20 days of gestation) was transplanted into the omentum of syngeneic Lewis rats (n=45). Four weeks later, in 5 animals the grafts were excised for morphologic evaluation. Proliferation was investigated by immunohistochemical staining for KI-67 protein and quantified by the proliferation index (PI = positive cells/100 counts). All other hosts (Tx; n = 40) underwent bilateral adrenalectomy (AE) to induce Addisonian crisis. Postoperatively, survival and concentrations of potassium, sodium, aldosterone, and corticosterone were recorded for 6 months. These data were compared to controls (C = only AE; n = 30) and a sham group (S; n = 10). At the end of the study period all surviving hosts were killed for histologic examination of grafts. At 4 weeks post-Tx the adrenal grafts demonstrated a distinct zona glomerulosa and frequent proliferation with a PI of 0.084, comparable to normal control (0.092). Following AE survival was significantly prolonged in Tx (86% vs 12% of C, P 〈 0.05). Control animals developed severe hyponatremia and hyperkalemia, whereas in Tx only transient signs of Addisonian crisis were recorded. Levels of aldosterone dropped within 7 days in the Tx and C groups, but returned to normal for Tx within 8 weeks. Corticosterone levels of Tx animals fell to 25% within week, but steadily increased to 70% by the end of the study. At 6 months, grafts revealed a mature adrenocortical structure with little proliferative activity, which was comparable to controls. In a syngeneic rat model fetal adrenal transplants thus mature and proliferate to provide sufficient steroid production for adrenalectomized hosts.
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  • 10
    ISSN: 1437-9813
    Keywords: Key words Congenital diaphragmatic hernia ; Hypoplastic lung ; Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) ; Antenatal glucocorticoids ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of antenatal glucocorticoid therapy on smooth-muscle-cell (SMC) DNA synthesis in the pulmonary arteries (PA) in a nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) rat model following nitrofen administration on day 9.5 of gestation. Antenatal dexamethasone (DEX) was given intraperitoneally on days 18.5 and 19.5 of gestation. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected via a jugular vein into the dam 1 h before the fetuses were killed by cesarean section at term. The fetuses were divided into three groups: group I (n = 10): normal controls; group II (n = 10): nitrofen-induced CDH; group III (n = 10): nitrofen-induced CDH with antenatal DEX treatment. Immunostaining of the lungs with anti-BrdU antibody was obtained by a standard avidin-biotin complex method. The number of immunopositive cells in the PA media and adventitia were counted using an image analyzer and analyzed statistically. The number of BrdU-immunopositive cells in the media was significantly increased in group II (16.83 ± 3.01) compared to groups I (9.16 ± 2.20) and III (6.83 ± 1.70) (P 〈 0.01). There was no significant difference between groups I and III. The number of BrdU-immunopositive cells in the adventitia was not significantly different between the three groups. Antenatal DEX treatment inhibits SMC DNA synthesis in PA media in CDH lungs. This may be a possible mechanism by which antenatal DEX prevents structural PA changes in nitrofen-induced CDH in rats.
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  • 11
    ISSN: 1432-2277
    Keywords: Key words Small bowel transplantation ; Split tolerance ; FK 506 ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Functional long-term allograft survival after experimental small bowel transplantation (SBT) is limited by chronic rejection. Initial application of high-dose FK 506 has been shown to induce stable long-term graft function. In order to examine whether this long-term function is associated with donor-specific tolerance, we analyzed the functional status of recipient T cells in vivo and in vitro. One-step orthotopic SBT was performed in the allogeneic Brown Norway (BN)-to-Lewis rat strain combination. FK 506 was given daily at a dose of 2 mg/kg from days 0–5 in the rejection model and from days 0–9 in the long-term functional model. Mean survival time in the rejection model was 98 ± 2.8 days. Histological examination of these small bowel allografts disclosed signs of chronic rejection. In contrast, all animals of the long-term functional model survived long term ( 〉 250 days) without clinical signs of chronic rejection. The latter model, furthermore, produced evidence of donor-specific tolerance. Whereas heterotopic Dark Agouti (DA) hearts were rejected regularly within 7 days, BN hearts survived indefinitely ( 〉 70 days). In vitro, mixed leukocyte reactivity of CD4 + T cells was similarly strong against donor (BN) antigens as against third-party (DA) antigens. The split tolerance revealed by our in vivo and in vitro results enabled acceptance of both the small bowel allograft without signs of chronic rejection and of donor-specific heart allografts.
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  • 12
    ISSN: 1432-2277
    Keywords: Key words Implantation model ; Aortic valves ; Valve dysfunction ; Rejection ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Structural failure of heart valve allografts may be related to technical factors or immunological reactions. To circumvent nonimmunological factors a new rat implantation model was developed to study whether alloreactivity results in histopathological changes and valve dysfunction. Syngeneic (WAG-WAG, DA-DA) and allogeneic (WAG-BN, WAG-DA) transplantation was carried out using this new technique, and the function of explanted valves was assessed 21 days later by retrograde comptence testing. Additionally, grafts were examined using standard histological and immunohistochemical techniques. There was no leakage during retrograde injection in nine of tem syngeneic and two of ten allogeneic grafts. Microscopically, syngeneic valves appeared normal without fibrosis or intimal thickening, although CD8+ lymphocytes and macrophages were found in necrotic myocardial rim and adventitia. In contrast, allogeneic valves were deformed and noncellular, with extensive infiltration of CD4+, CD8+ and CD68+ cells in adventitia and media. Absence of fibrosis and intimal thickening in syngeneic transplanted valves indicated circumvention of nonimmunological factors. Allogeneic valve transplantation induces cellular infiltration in the graft with subsequent graft failure.
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  • 13
    ISSN: 1432-2277
    Keywords: Key words Hypoxia-reoxygenation ; JNK1/SAPK1 ; Rat ; Hepatocytes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Organ injury after ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) remains one of the most important limiting factors in liver surgery and transplantation. Oxygen-free radical (OFR) generation is considered a major cause of this damage. JNK1/SAPK1, a member of MAPK family, regulates cell adaptation to stressful conditions. The aim of this study was to determine if hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) can activate JNK1/SAPK1 and if OFR are involved in this activation. Primary cultured rat hepatocytes isolated from other liver cells and blood flow were submitted to warm and cold H/R phases mimicking surgical and transplant conditions. JNK1/SAPK1 was activated by both warm and cold H/R. Deferoxamine (1 mM), di-phenyleneiodonium (50 μM) and N-acetylcysteine (10 mM) significantly inhibited this kinase activation.
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  • 14
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Urological research 28 (2000), S. 141-146 
    ISSN: 1434-0879
    Keywords: Key words Kidney ; Nitric oxide ; Ischemia-reperfusion injury ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In this study we attempted to clarify the release of nitric oxide (NO) and its role in the ischemia-reperfusion rat kidney. After right nephrectomy, male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: one sham operated and three groups who underwent ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion of the left renal artery. Thirty minutes prior to ischemia-reperfusion, two groups were injected intraperitoneally with 10 and 30 mg/kg of NG-nitro-l-arginine methylester (L-NAME). Real-time monitoring of blood flow and NO release in the rat kidney was measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter and an NO-selective electrode, respectively. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured 1 and 7 days after the induction of ischemia-reperfusion. Clamping of the renal artery decreased blood flow to 1–5% of the basal level measured before clamping. After removal of the clip, the blood flow of the 30 mg/kg L-NAME rats was significantly lower than that of the controls. Immediately following the clipping of the renal artery, NO release rapidly increased. After removing the clip, NO release immediately returned to three-quarters of the basal level. Serum creatinine and BUN levels of the ischemia-reperfusion rats were slightly but not significantly higher and those of 30 mg L-NAME rats were significantly higher than those of the control or ischemia-reperfusion rats 1 day and 7 days after ischemia-reperfusion. Our data suggest that NO acts as a cytoprotective agent in ischemia-reperfusion injury of the rat kidney.
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  • 15
    ISSN: 1434-0879
    Keywords: Key words Castration ; Epidermal growth factor ; Insulin-like growth factor I ; Prostate ; Testosterone ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are strong inducers of proliferation to prostate cells cultured in serum-free medium. Accordingly we wanted to study the growth of the prostate gland in castrated rats after treatment with EGF, IGF-I and testosterone. Castrated Wistar rats were treated with growth factors (EGF 35 μg/rat per day; IGF-I 350 μg/rat per day) or testosterone (2 mg/rat per day) for 3 days either immediately after or 10 days after castration. Prostate tissue was examined by stereological and immunohistochemical techniques and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Treatment with EGF inhibited the involution of the prostate (P 〈 0.05), whereas treatment with IGF-I did not affect the prostate involution as compared to castrated controls. EGF treatment significantly increased the endogenous rat EGF in the ventral prostate, but cellular proliferation was not affected. Testosterone treatment increased the weight of the prostate, by increase of all tissue components of the prostate, and significantly increased cellular proliferation. Systemic administration of EGF but not IGF-I decreased the involution of the rat prostate induced by castration. Compared with testosterone, the effects of EGF treatment on the prostate involution were moderate, and the effects of EGF were not related to cellular proliferation.
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  • 16
    ISSN: 1434-0879
    Keywords: Key words Bladder ; Rat ; Aging ; Obstruction ; Cystometrics
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Bladder dysfunction in the aging population is a significant problem. However the concomitant presence of other diseases in many patients can make it difficult to distinguish between changes in bladder function and other influences. The present study was designed to study, in aging rats, bladder function and the effect of partial bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) on bladder function. Cystometrics were performed in awake, female Fischer 344 rats of four age groups (6, 12, 18 and 24 months) following subcutaneous implantation of a mediport catheter. Cystometric evaluations were carried out in control rats or those subject to three weeks of BOO. Bladder compliance significantly decreased with aging, which reflected an increase in threshold pressure without changes in bladder capacity. Partial BOO caused development of severe bladder instability. Following BOO, bladder capacity and compliance were significantly increased in all age groups. Threshold pressure was lower in obstructed animals, except for 6-month rats. Younger animals were able to generate a higher contraction pressure to compensate for the BOO, whereas older animals did not. Using an awake model of cystometric measurement, we have demonstrated that aging, by itself can affect bladder function. Furthermore, aged animals respond differently to BOO than younger animals. These results demonstrate that both aging and disease can contribute to bladder dysfunction, and suggest that treatment of bladder dysfunction may require a combination of therapies targeted to multiple etiologies.
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  • 17
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Nerve repair ; Nerve fiber regeneration ; Sciatic nerve ; Muscle-vein-combined graft ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Clinical data have shown that a vein segment filled with fresh skeletal muscle can be considered a good autologous grafting conduit for the repair of peripheral nerve lesions. In this study, the long-term morphological organization of rat sciatic nerve fibers regenerated along a muscle-vein-combined graft conduit is further analysed by light and electron microscopy. Regenerated nerve fibers were organized into fascicles of various sizes that were clearly delimited by perineurial-like shells made by long and thin cytoplasmic processes of perineurial-like bipolar cells and by densely packed collagen fibrils. Grafted skeletal muscle fibers were still detectable among nerve fiber fascicles. However, in spite of the persistence of skeletal muscle along the graft, regenerated nerve fibers showed a good morphological pattern of regeneration, providing further evidence that the muscle-vein-combined grafting technique represents an effective surgical alternative to the classical fresh nerve autograft for the repair of peripheral nerve defects.
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  • 18
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words GABAB receptor ; CNS ; Dorsal root ganglia ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The anatomical distribution of the GABAB receptor (GBR) splice variants GBR1a and 1b in the CNS has not previously been studied. In the present study, distribution of the splice variants was mapped using immunohistochemistry. Polyclonal antibodies against splice variant unique epitopes were raised in rabbits. Affinity purified antibodies were used according to routine immunohistochemical procedures in sections from the rat CNS or dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The staining intensity was high in the cerebral cortex but lower in basal ganglia and the hippocampus. In the cerebellum, there was a marked difference in the distribution of GBR1a- and 1b-like immunoreactivity (LI). GBR1a-LI was preferentially localised in the granule cell layer whilst GBR1b-LI was mostly found in Purkinje cells and in the molecular layer. Cell bodies of the deep cerebellar nuclei stained for the GBR1a antibody while terminals surrounding the cell bodies were strongly labelled with the GBR1b antibody. A similar pre- vs postsynaptic pattern was seen in several nuclei ventral or caudal to the cerebellum (e.g. the cochlear nucleus, the facial nucleus, the spinal cord) but not in regions rostral to the cerebellum. In the spinal cord, strong labelling for both antibodies was seen in the dorsal horn. The GBR1b but not the GBR1a antibody stained tanycytes in the epithelium of the 3rd ventricle and in the central canal at the brain stem level. DRG neurons were positive for both the GBR1a and 1b antibody, but the former stained the cells much more intensely. Satellite cells were labelled with the GBR1b antibody. The most important aspect of these findings is that in some nuclei, GBR1b may mediate inhibition of transmitter release while in the same regions, GBR1a may mediate postsynaptic inhibition. Further, the observations support previous findings that GBR1b is the predominant splice variant in Purkinje cells.
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  • 19
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Anatomy and embryology 202 (2000), S. 247-255 
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Enteric neurons ; Interstitial cells of Cajal ; Smooth muscle cells ; Guinea-pig ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Tachykinin receptors NK1r, NK2r and NK3r bind tachykinins with different affinities and share pharmacological and molecular differences among animal species. NK1r, NK2r, NK3r and tachykinin (SP/NKA) distribution was studied by immunohistochemistry in the ileum of mouse since no data are available for this species. The results were then compared to those obtained in the rat and guinea pig either by us or by others to ascertain interspecies similarities and/or differences. NK1r- and NK3r-immunoreactivity (IR) were detected in neurons and NK1r-IR in the interstitial cells of Cajal at the deep muscular plexus. At variance with rat and guinea pig, NK1r-IR was also found in the myoid cells of the villi, while NK2r-IR was never detected in nerve varicosities. This latter datum suggests that the NK2r does not play a presynaptic role in the mouse. Unexpectedly, a high NK2r-IR and the presence of NK3r-IR were observed at the inner portion of the circular muscle layer in the mouse as well as in the rat and guinea pig, demonstrating a subregional distribution of these receptors. Tachykinin distribution did not show noticeable species-related differences. The present findings show species-related differences in the tachykinin receptor distribution that might be related to a different tachykinin controlof intestinal motility.
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  • 20
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Hypothermia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) ; Rat ; Spinal cord injury
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Systemic hypothermia has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects in experimental ischemic CNS models caused by vascular occlusions. The present study addresses the question as to whether systemic hypothermia has similar neuroprotective qualities following severe spinal cord compression trauma using microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) immunohistochemistry combined with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method as marker to identify neuronal and dendritic lesions. Fifteen rats were randomized into three equally sized groups. One group sustained thoracic laminectomy, the others severe spinal cord compression trauma of the T8-9 segment. The control group contained laminectomized animals submitted to a hypothermic procedure in which the esophageal temperature was reduced from 38 °C to 30 °C. The two trauma groups were either submitted to the same hypothermic procedure or kept normothermic during the corresponding time. All animals were sacrificed 24 h following the surgical procedure. The MAP2 immunostaining in the normothermic trauma group indicated marked reductions in MAP2 antigen in the cranial and caudal peri-injury zones (T7 and T10, respectively). This reduction was much less pronounced in the hypothermic trauma group. In fact, the MAP2 antigen was present in almost equally sized areas in both the hypothermic groups independent of previous laminectomy alone or the addition of trauma. Our study thus indicates that hypothermia has a neuroprotective effect on dendrites of rat spinal cords subjected to compression trauma.
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  • 21
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    Acta neuropathologica 100 (2000), S. 75-81 
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Fas ; Fas ligand ; Rat ; Spinal cord ; Trauma
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This immunohistochemical study evaluated Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in the rat nervous system and their changes in the spinal cord subjected to compression. Normal spinal cord showed a low level of Fas and FasL immunoreactivity in the white matter except in the corticospinal tracts. Fas and FasL immunoreactivity seemed to be located in axons and their myelin sheaths. Other regions of the nervous system did not show immunoreactivity to Fas and FasL. Moderate and severe compression injury of the spinal cord resulted in a reduction of Fas and FasL immunoreactivity in the white matter of injured T8–9 segments at 4 h and a complete loss at 1 day after trauma. This was seen even in the remaining white matter. In contrast, increased immunoreactivity to Fas and FasL was present in the cranial T7, caudal T10 (moderate injury) and T12 (severe injury) segments at day 4 with most intense staining were seen at day 9 after trauma. Increased Fas and FasL immunoreactivity may have pathophysiological implications for the development of secondary injuries after trauma to the spinal cord. Fas-FasL interactions may for instance be involved in apoptosis of oligodendrocytes which occurs as a delayed phenomenon after trauma to the spinal cord. The integrity of myelin sheaths may in this way be jeopardized by apoptosis of oligodendrocytes.
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  • 22
    ISSN: 1432-0843
    Keywords: Key words 7-Hydroxymethotrexate ; Methotrexate ; Maximum tolerated dose ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Purpose: After more than 50 years of methotrexate (MTX) treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), it is currently believed that as long as dose escalations are followed by adequate leucovorin rescue guided by monitoring MTX serum concentrations, hydration and urinary alkalinization, high-dose MTX (HD-MTX) can be tolerated without life-threatening toxicity. However, our recent experimental animal studies of the major metabolite of MTX, 7-OH-MTX, indicate that this concept may have some limitations. Animals with levels of 7-OH-MTX of 1 mM, which is below the levels routinely found in patients on HD-MTX, demonstrate intolerable toxicity and some animals die within 8 h. Electron microscopy indicates that endothelial cell and platelet functions are perturbed. Since animal data are lacking, and interspecies differences not known, we wanted to investigate the maximum tolerated doses of MTX and 7-OH-MTX in a rat model of short-term effects. The maximum tolerated dose was chosen instead of LD50 for reasons of animal welfare. Methods: We infused MTX and 7-OH-MTX into anaesthetized male Wistar rats and monitored the animals for 8 h. The drugs were given as a bolus plus continuous infusion. The dose-finding ranges were 1.8–11.3 g/kg MTX and 0.1–1.2 g/kg 7-OH-MTX. Results: The maximum tolerated dose was between 3 and 5 g/kg for MTX and lower than 0.1 g/kg for 7-OH-MTX. The mean serum concentrations of MTX and 7-OH-MTX in animals that did not survive the 8-h period were 21.9 and 1.6 mM, respectively. The animals that received the highest MTX or 7-OH-MTX doses and concentrations died after sudden reductions in heart rate and blood pressure. Conclusions: We demonstrated a lower maximum tolerated dose of 7-OH-MTX than of MTX in rats after 8 h. The 7-OH-MTX concentrations were in the therapeutic range after HD-MTX. If the rat/human interspecies differences are not large, our data may indicate that HD-MTX regimens should not be further dose intensified, due not so much to the effects of MTX as to those of 7-OH-MTX.
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  • 23
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words Vβ13 ; CD4/CD8 ratio ; Rat ; Tcrb ; Polymorphism
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract. Three rat BV13S1 alleles (T-cell receptor β-chain variable gene 13) were characterized by new BV13S1-allele specific monoclonal antibodies (18B1 and 17D5) and sequence analysis of expressed and genomic BV13S1. Two alleles were functional and designated BV13S1A1 present in strains LEW, BUF, PVG, and BV13S1A2 present in BN and WF. Their products differed by six amino acids, two of them in complementarity-determing region (CDR)1 and one in CDR2. A third nonfunctional allele, BV13S1A3P, was found in strains F344 and DA. Apart from a single nucleotide insertion, it was identical to BV13S1A2. All 12 rat strains tested showed association of TCRBC1 with BV8S2/4 alleles but not with the BV13S1 alleles, which may reflect a different gene order of the rat BV compared to mouse. BV13S1A1-encoded T-cell receptors (TCRs) which bind both monoclonal antibody (mAb) 18B1 and mAb 17D5 are over-represented in the CD4 lymphocyte subset. BV13S1A2-encoded TCRs which are stained by mAb 18B1 but not by mAb 17D5 show a slight CD8-biased expression. Preferential usage of BV13S1A1-positive TCRs by CD4 but not by CD8 cells in (LEW×WF)F1 hybrids and cosegregation of BV13SA1 and increased frequency of BV13S1 TCR-positive CD4 cells in a (LEW×BN)×BN backcross suggest structural differences of the two allelic products as the reason for their contrasting CD4/CD8 subset bias.
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  • 24
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    Experimental brain research 130 (2000), S. 100-104 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words NF-κB ; p65 ; Hippocampal neurons ; Glia ; Astrocytes ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  NF-κB is found in many neuronal cell types in different states of activity. This study aimed to define which conditions induce constitutive NF-κB activity in cultured hippocampal neurons using activity-specific antibody staining. In co-culture with astroglia, hippocampal neurons were devoid of activated NF-κB. In these co-cultures, NF-κB could not be activated via kainate or glutamate. In contrast, separating neurons from the glial compartment resulted in a time-dependent increase of activated neuronal NF-κB. In this line, activation of NF-κB by kainate or glutamate is very effective in freshly separated cultures, but inhibited when the cultures are reassembled after stimulation. These findings suggests that a neuronal-glial interaction may regulate gene expression via NF-κB.
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  • 25
    ISSN: 1432-119X
    Keywords: Endothelin-A receptor ; Endothelin-B receptor ; Rat ; Pulmonary fibrosis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Quantitative PCR
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: AbstractPulmonary fibrosis is characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition with concomitant loss of gas exchange units, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in its pathogenesis. Increased levels of ET-1 from tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage have been reported in patients with pulmonary fibrosis and in animal models after intratracheal bleomycin. We characterized the cellular distribution of alveolar ET receptors by immunohistochemistry in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in the rat and determined the regulation by bleomycin of ET receptor mRNA expression in isolated alveolar macrophages and rat lung fibroblasts. We found significant increases in the numbers of fibroblasts and macrophages at day 7 compared to day 28 and control animals. ETB receptor immunoreactivity was observed on fibroblasts and invading monocytes. Isolated fibroblasts expressed both ETA and ETB receptor mRNA, and ETA receptor mRNA was upregulated by bleomycin. Isolated resident alveolar macrophages expressed neither ETA nor ETB receptor mRNA which were also not induced by bleomycin. We conclude that, while ETB receptor stimulation of fibroblasts and monocytes recruited during bleomycin-induced lung injury exerts antagonistic effects on fibroblast collagen synthesis, the observed increase in the number of fibroblasts in vivo and upregulation of fibroblast ETA receptor mRNA by bleomycin in vitro point to a predominance of the profibrotic effects of ET receptor engagement.
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  • 26
    ISSN: 1432-198X
    Keywords: Key words Metabolic acidosis ; Growth ; Growth hormone ; Insulin-like growth factor-I ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Growth impairment induced by chronic metabolic acidosis is associated with an abnormal growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis. To examine the potentially beneficial effects of IGF-I on acidosis-induced growth impairment and the influence of GH and IGF-I treatment on the GH/IGF-I axis, three groups of acidotic young rats (untreated, AC, n=12; treated with recombinant human GH, GH, n=8; treated with recombinant human IGF-I, IGF-I, n=8) were studied, and compared with nonacidotic rats fed ad libitum (C, n=9)) or pair-fed with the AC group (PF, n=12). After 14 days of acidosis and 7 days of treatment, growth rate, hepatic abundance of 4.7-kilobase (kb) and 1.2-kb GH receptor transcripts and 7.5-kb and 1.8- to 0.8-kb IGF-I transcripts, serum GH-binding protein (GHBP), and IGF-I concentrations (mean±SEM) were analyzed. Significant decreases of 4.7-kb GH receptor [26±2 vs. 49±6 arbitrary densitometry units (ADU)] and 7.5 kb IGF-I (41±3 vs. 104±10 ADU) transcripts and low serum GHBP (25±1 vs. 32±1 ng/ml) and IGF-I (279±50 vs. 366±6 nmol/l) levels were found in the AC compared with the C rats. The majority of these alterations were also observed in PF rats. Compared with acidotic untreated rats, GH and IGF-I therapy produced no improvement in growth rate. GH treatment normalized the levels of IGF-I mRNA, aggravated the acidosis-related inhibition of the GH receptor gene, and did not modify the serum levels of GHBP and IGF-I. In contrast, IGF-I administration depressed the hepatic expression of all GH and IGF-I transcripts and normalized serum IGF-I concentrations. Our results confirm that sustained metabolic acidosis alters the GH/IGF-I axis, in part because of associated malnutrition, and induced growth retardation that is resistant to GH therapy. Our study also shows that administration of IGF-I does not accelerate the growth of acidotic rats, suggesting a peripheral mechanism, at the level of target tissues, is responsible for the resistance to the growth-promoting actions of GH and IGF-I.
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  • 27
    ISSN: 1432-198X
    Keywords: Key words Apoptosis ; Ceramide ; Development ; Kidney ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Ceramide is emerging as an important hydrophobic sphingolipid involved in cell differentiation and apoptosis. Since apoptosis plays a significant role in cellular remodeling during renal morphogenesis, we measured ceramide content and apoptosis in the fetal (18 days gestation), neonatal (3, 7, and 14 days postnatal), and adult rat kidney. In addition, to determine whether developmental changes in ceramide content are tissue-specific, we compared renal ceramide content with that in lung and liver. Ceramide was measured by the diacylglycerol kinase assay, and apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL technique. Renal ceramide content fell over 100-fold from the fetus to the 7th postnatal day. Renal apoptosis paralleled ceramide content, with a greater than 300-fold decrease in apoptosis from fetal to adult life. Ceramide content of the lung and liver was significantly less than that of the kidney, and changed less with maturation. We conclude that maturational changes in ceramide content are tissue-specific, and that the high rate of apoptosis in the developing kidney may be related to the elevated ceramide content.
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  • 28
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Keywords Novelty ; Context ; Environment ; Stress ; 6-OHDA ; Rotational behavior ; Striatum ; Nucleus accumbens shell ; Caudate ; Amphetamine ; Dopamine ; Glutamate ; Aspartate ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: We have previously shown that environmental novelty enhances the behavioral activating effects of amphetamine and amphetamine-induced expression of the immediate early gene c-fos in the striatal complex, particularly in the most caudal portion of the caudate. In contrast, we found no effect of novelty on the ability of amphetamine to induce dopamine (DA) overflow in the rostral caudate or in the core of the nucleus accumbens. Objectives: The twofold aim of the present study was to determine the effect of environmental novelty on (1) amphetamine-induced DA overflow in the shell of the nucleus accumbens and in the caudal portions of the caudate, and (2) glutamate and aspartate overflow in the caudal portions of the caudate. Methods: Two groups of rats with a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the mesostriatal dopaminergic system received amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) in physically identical cages. For one group, the cages were also the home environment, whereas, for the other group, they were a completely novel environment. In vivo microdialysis was used to estimate DA, glutamate, and aspartate concentrations. Results: Environmental novelty enhanced amphetamine-induced rotational behavior (experiments 1–3) but did not alter amphetamine-induced DA overflow in either the shell of the nucleus accumbens (experiment 1) or the caudate (experiment 2). In addition, the ability of environmental novelty to enhance amphetamine-induced behavioral activation was not associated with changes in glutamate or aspartate efflux in the caudate (experiment 3). Conclusions: The present data indicate that the psychomotor activating effects of amphetamine can be modulated by environmental context independent of its primary neuropharmacological actions in the striatal complex.
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  • 29
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    Psychopharmacology 148 (2000), S. 106-110 
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Interferon ; Depression ; Forced swimming test ; Locomotor activity ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Objectives: We examined the immobility of the forced swimming test induced in an animal model by human interferon (IFN), which has often been reported to induce depression in clinical use. Methods: In the present study, we examined the effects of human IFNs on results of the forced swimming test in rats. Results: Single intravenous (IV) administration of human IFN-α (6×104 IU/kg), but not of human IFN-β or -γ, significantly increased immobility time in the forced swimming test in rats. Repeated administration of human IFN-α (6×103 IU/kg) also significantly increased the immobility time. On the other hand, none of the rat IFNs (rat IFN-α, -β and -γ, 6×104 IU/kg, IV) changed the immobility time. Neither human IFNs nor rat IFNs changed the locomotor activity of rats. Conclusions: These findings suggest that human IFN-α has a greater potential for inducing increase of the immobility in the rat forced swimming test than human IFN-β and -γ, and that the effect of human IFN-α might not be mediated through IFN-α/β receptors.
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  • 30
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Opiate receptor ; Antinociception ; Habituation ; Novelty ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: There is now extensive evidence demonstrating that exposure to novel stimuli induces hypoalgesia and that this effect habituates over repeated exposure to the stimuli. Moreover, it has been shown that administration of the nonselective opiate receptor antagonist naloxone can attenuate the rate of habituation of novelty-induced hypoalgesia. Objectives: The present experiments were conducted to determine the relative influence of different opiate receptor subtypes in the attenuation of the habituation of novelty-induced hypoalgesia. Methods: In experiments 1–3, different groups of male, Wistar rats (275–300 g) were administered vehicle, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0-nmol doses of the µ-selective antagonist Cys2-Tyr3-Orn5-Pen7-amide (CTOP), the δ-receptor selective antagonist naltrindole, or the κ-selective antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI). In experiment 4, animals were administered vehicle, 5, 25 or 75-nmol doses of nor-BNI. All injections were delivered to the right lateral ventricle 30 min prior to exposure to a novel hot-plate apparatus (48.5°C), once a day for eight consecutive days. Results: Paw-lick latencies in vehicle-treated animals were long during the initial exposures and declined over repeated tests, suggesting the habituation of novelty-induced hypoalgesia. The rate of habituation was significantly attenuated by administration of 1.0-nmol and 2.0-nmol doses of CTOP, by a 2.0-nmol dose of naltrindole, but was unaffected by all doses of nor-BNI. Conclusions: These results support the involvement of the µ and δ, but not the κ, opiate receptor subtypes in the habituation of novelty-induced hypoalgesia.
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  • 31
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Morphine ; Opioid receptor ; NMDA ; Tolerance ; Rat ; Tail flick
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Pairings of a sweet taste and injection of morphine result in a learned avoidance of that taste and learned analgesic tolerance. This avoidance is mediated by the drug’s peripheral effect, while learned tolerance involves activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Exposure to a sweet taste also reduces morphine analgesia. We studied whether this taste-mediated reduction was reversed by an NMDA or peripheral opioid receptor antagonist. Objectives: To determine whether an intraoral infusion of saccharin would modulate morphine analgesia in rats, and to study the contribution of NMDA as well as peripheral opioid receptors to this modulation. Methods: Six experiments used the rat’s tail-flick response to study the effect of an intraoral infusion of a sodium saccharin solution on morphine analgesia, and the effects of the quaternary opioid receptor antagonist methylnaltrexone as well as the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 on this modulation of analgesia. Results: An intraoral infusion of saccharin reduced the analgesic effects of an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of morphine across a range of doses (experiment 1a), which was not attributable to an influence on tail-skin temperature (experiment 1b). This reduction was mediated by opioid receptors in the periphery and activation of NMDA receptors because morphine analgesia was reinstated by an i.p. injection of either methylnaltrexone (experiment 2a) or MK-801 (experiment 3a), which was not due to the effect of methylnaltrexone (experiment 2b) or MK-801 (experiment 3b) on morphine analgesia in the absence of saccharin. Conclusions: These results document evidence for an antagonism of morphine analgesia by actions of the drug at peripheral opioid receptors and excitatory amino-acid activity at NMDA receptors. They are discussed with reference to the aversive motivational effects of peripheral opioid receptors and pain facilitatory circuits.
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  • 32
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    Psychopharmacology 149 (2000), S. 115-120 
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Opiate ; Withdrawal ; Place aversion ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Administration of low doses of opiate antagonists to morphine-dependent rats produces an aversive response as measured by a conditioned place aversion, but the time course of such a learned aversion is largely unknown. Objectives: The purpose of this experiment was to examine the time course for the expression of a place aversion to opiate withdrawal. Methods: Morphine-dependent rats were tested in a three-chamber place- aversion apparatus. The conditioning phase consisted of three pairings of either naloxone (15 µg/kg s.c.) or vehicle with two compartments, with the most similar time allotments during the preconditioning test. During the testing phase, rats were again allowed to explore the entire apparatus. Different groups were tested at 24 h, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks post-conditioning (morphine-free tests). Results: A robust place aversion was recorded at every time point tested, including at 16 weeks. In previously published work, placebo-pelleted rats tested with naloxone at the same dose failed to show a place aversion and nondependent rats showed a stable lack of aversion at tests up to 56 days. Dependent animals without naloxone also failed to show a place aversion at any of those time points. Conclusions: In the absence of any active intervention, the place aversion produced by opiate withdrawal is very long lasting and provides a model for protracted abstinence that may be useful for delineating the neurobiological substrate for vulnerability to relapse.
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  • 33
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    Psychopharmacology 149 (2000), S. 181-188 
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Acoustic startle response ; Prepulse inhibition ; Sensorimotor gating ; Schizophrenia ; Dopamine ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle is the reduction in startle response to an intense auditory stimulus when this stimulus is immediately preceded by a weaker prestimulus. Prepulse inhibition occurs normally in humans and experimental animals, but schizophrenic persons often exhibit a marked impairment in this measure. Previous studies have shown that dopamine (DA)-dependent neuronal mechanisms are involved in the modulation of prepulse inhibition. Objective: Experiments were conducted in rats to elucidate further the involvement of DA-ergic mechanisms in prepulse inhibition. Results: In line with previous studies, the indirect DA agonist, amphetamine, was shown to decrease prepulse inhibition. A close reverse relationship over time between DA overflow in the nucleus accumbens and prepulse inhibition was obtained using a technique allowing concomitant measurement of these parameters in awake, freely moving rats. This effect was more pronounced in amphetamine-treated rats compared to rats treated with equimolar doses of cocaine, which increased DA overflow without affecting prepulse inhibition. In other experiments, the combined treatment with subthreshold doses of the selective DA D1 agonist, SKF 38393, and the selective DA D2 agonist, quinpirole, was also shown to decrease prepulse inhibition. Finally, the selective DA D2 antagonist, raclopride, was shown to enhance prepulse inhibition. Conclusions: In line with previous studies, it is concluded that DA neurotransmission is involved in the modulation of prepulse inhibition and that the ventral part of the mesostriatal DA system may serve an important role in this modulation. Furthermore, the possibility is discussed that the discrepant results on prepulse inhibition obtained with amphetamine and cocaine may disclose functionally relevant differences in their mechanisms of action, and that the enhancement of prepulse inhibition induced by some antipsychotics in rats may reflect their propensity to induce adverse mental effects in humans.
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  • 34
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Prefrontal cortex ; Dopamine ; Anxiety ; Drug discrimination ; Pentylenetetrazol ; Chlordiazepoxide ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: The prefrontal cortical (PFC) dopamine (DA) system has been implicated in anxiety-related behavioral changes, but direct, unequivocal support for this idea is sparse. Objectives: The present aim was to study the functional significance of prefrontal DA using the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) discrimination model of anxiety. A comparison was made with its role in the cue of the anxiolytic drug chlordiazepoxide (CDP). Methods: Two groups of rats were trained to discriminate either PTZ (20 mg/kg, s.c.) or CDP (10 mg/kg, i.p.) from saline using an operant drug discrimination procedure. After prolonged training, half of each group was used to assess biochemical changes induced by both drugs in different sub areas of the PFC. For the remaining rats, discrimination training continued and generalization tests with PTZ and CDP were performed. Rats were then provided with bilateral guide cannulae aimed at the ventromedial (vm) PFC, and the effects of local infusions of DAergic drugs on discriminative performance were evaluated. Results: CDP did not affect PFC DA activity, but PTZ increased the DOPAC/DA ratio in the vmPFC selectively. Generalization tests showed that the cues of PTZ and CDP were dose dependent. In PTZ-trained rats, infusions of the DA receptor antagonist cis-flupenthixol into the vmPFC blocked the PTZ cue dose dependently, whereas the agonist apomorphine partially generalized to this cue. In CDP-trained rats, neither drug antagonized or generalized to the CDP cue, showing that PFC DA is not critically involved in the CDP cue and that local pharmacological manipulations of PFC DA do not affect discriminative abilities per se. Conclusions: The DAergic innervation of the PFC is directly involved in the behavioral effects of PTZ, suggesting a role for it in anxiety.
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  • 35
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words 5-HT1A agonist ; Intrinsic activity ; Efficacy ; Irreversible antagonism ; Lower-lip retraction ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Maximal responses are often used as a measure of intrinsic activity or efficacy, but cannot be directly equated to efficacy. Using irreversible antagonists, estimates of efficacy can be obtained that may be less dependent on specific conditions. Objectives: To characterize the intrinsic activity of serotonin (5-HT)1A agonists by examining the effects of an irreversible antagonist on their ability to produce 5-HT1A receptor-mediated responses. Methods: The effects of N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) on the ability of 5-HT1A agonists to produce lower-lip retraction (LLR) in rats were studied. Results: In the absence of EEDQ, each 5-HT1A agonist produced full effects, the rank order of potency being: S 14506 〉 8-OH-DPAT 〉 buspirone 〉 ipsapirone. EEDQ decreased the number of 5-HT1A binding sites and shifted the dose–response curves (DRCs) of each agonist either to the right or, at higher EEDQ doses, to the right and downward. The manner in which these shifts occurred, however, differed among the compounds. For each agonist, all DRCs obtained after different doses of EEDQ were fitted to models proposed by Furchgott and Black and Leff, and the results indicated the following rank order of efficacy: ipsapirone 〈 buspirone ≈ 8-OH-DPAT 〈 S 14506. 5-HT1A agonist-induced LLR appears to be mediated by 5-HT1A receptors, because the 5-HT1A antagonist, WAY 100635, shifted the agonist DRCs to the right in a parallel and dose-related manner, with pA2 values ranging from 7.8 to 8.1. Moreover, pretreatment with WAY 100635 protected against the antagonist activity of EEDQ. Conclusions: The results suggest that the effects of EEDQ on the ability of 5-HT1A agonists to produce LLR in rats may be useful to obtain estimates of their apparent efficacy at 5-HT1A receptors.
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  • 36
    ISSN: 1432-0738
    Keywords: Key words Flutamide ; Androgen antagonist ; Rat ; Enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407 ; Endocrine disrupters
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In association with the international validation project to establish a test protocol for the `Enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407', we performed a preliminary 28-day, repeated-dose toxicity study of flutamide, a non-steroidal androgen antagonist, and assessed the sensitivity of a list of parameters for detecting endocrine-related effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Seven-week-old CD(SD)IGS rats were divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 males and 10 females, and administered flutamide once daily by oral gavage at doses of 0 (control), 0.25, 1 and 4 mg/kg body weight/day. Male rats were killed 1 day after the 28th administration. Female rats were killed on the day they entered the diestrus stage in the estrous cycle following the last treatment. Male rats receiving flutamide at dose levels of 1 and 4 mg/kg showed lobular atrophy of the mammary gland and a decrease in epididymal weight. In addition, 4 mg/kg flutamide-treated males exhibited raised serum testosterone and estradiol levels and decreased weight of the accessory sex glands. In females, a slight prolongation of the estrous cycle was also observed in the 4 mg/kg flutamide-treated group. No dose-related changes could be detected by haematology, serum biochemistry and sperm analysis. Thus, among the parameters tested in the present experimental system, the weight of endocrine-linked organs and their histopathological assessment, serum hormone levels, and estrous cycle stage allowed the detection of endocrine-related effects of flutamide.
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  • 37
    ISSN: 1432-0738
    Keywords: Key wordsα2u-Globulin ; Diethylstilbestrol ; Endocrine disrupter ; Rat ; Screening
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract α2u-Globulin (AUG) is a major rat urinary protein, which has a molecular weight of 16 kDa (kidney type) or 19 kDa (native type). The biosynthesis of this protein is under multi-hormonal regulation. In this study, we investigated changes in serum AUG level and their association with changes in the reproductive organs of male rats after the administration of the estrogenic chemical, diethylstilbestrol (DES) at doses ranging from 0.01 mg/kg per day to 100 mg/kg per day by gavage for 14 days. Our aim was to establish basic data for the development of a new screening method for endocrine disrupting chemicals based on serum AUG levels. DES treatment decreased the weight of testes in a dose-dependent manner; and was accompanied by atrophic histopathological changes in testes. Testis weights were significantly decreased by the group given 1 mg/kg per day DES; however, histopathological abnormalities were found in the group given 0.1 mg/kg per day DES. In four of five animals in the group given 1 mg/kg per day there was no significant decrease in testis weight and only a slight or moderate degeneration of the pachytene spermatocytes. Despite these findings, serum AUG levels in this group decreased markedly, while the serum AUG level markedly decreased even in the animals with no histopathological change in the 1 mg/kg per day or 0.1 mg/kg per day groups with no histopathological change also showed decreased serum AUG level. These results suggest that the serum AUG level may be a sensitive parameter for detecting the activity of estrogenic chemicals in intact male rats. Although a uterotropic assay has been proposed for immature female or ovariectomized female rats and is currently undergoing validation studies internationally, there is no screening method for estrogenic chemicals in intact male animals. More data on AUG changes by treatment with other estrogenic chemicals are needed in order to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this response to estrogens. Nonetheless, an AUG-based screening test for estrogenic chemicals may be useful owing to its applicability to conventional toxicity studies and an apparently higher sensitivity of this parameter compared to organ weight change or histology of testis in intact male rats and applicability to conventional toxicity studies.
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  • 38
    ISSN: 1432-2307
    Keywords: Key words T-type calcium channel blockade ; Mibefradil ; Myocardial infarction ; Cardiac remodeling ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Fibrillar collagen accumulates within the interstitium and around coronary arteries following cardiac failure and is responsible for abnormal myocardial stiffness and reduced coronary performance associated with impaired cardiac function. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of long-term treatment with the T-type calcium channel antagonist mibefradil on myocardial remodeling and cardiac function after chronic myocardial infarction (MI). MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery in male Wistar rats. Animals were assigned to sham-operated, placebo-treated or mibefradil-treated (10 mg/kg per day p.o.) MI groups. Treatment with mibefradil was started either 7 days before, 24 h after, or 7 days after ligation and continued for 6 weeks after MI. At this time point, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and cardiac contractility (dP/dtmax) were measured in conscious rats. Morphometric parameters were determined in picrosirius red-stained hearts: total heart weight (THW), interstitial and perivascular collagen volume fraction (ICVF, PCVF), myocardial infarct size (IS), vascular perimeter (VP), inner vascular diameter (IVD) and media thickness (MT). Six weeks after MI, MAP and dP/dtmax were decreased, and LVEDP was increased in placebo-treated animals. In mibefradil-treated animals whose treatment started 7 days before or 24 h after MI, MAP and dP/dtmax were higher, and LVEDP was lower than in placebo-treated controls. THW, ICVF, PCVF and MT were higher in placebo-treated animals. Mibefradil treatment resulted in higher ICVF and IS, higher VP and IVD (when started 7 days before MI) and lower PCVF and MT (when started 7 days before or 24 h after MI) than were observed in placebo-treated controls. Chronic treatment with mibefradil reduced interstitial and perivascular fibrosis and improved cardiac function in MI-induced heart failure in rats. Cardiac remodeling was best prevented when treatment was begun before the ischemic event.
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  • 39
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words  m-Chlorophenylpiperazine ; Drug discrimination ; Ethanol withdrawal ; Anxiety ; 17β-estradiol ; Sex difference ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: The serotonergic system plays a role in regulation of anxiety and ethanol withdrawal (EW). Nevertheless, few studies have assessed sex differences in serotonergic effects on EW. Objectives: This study examined sex differences in the anxiogenic stimu-li induced by a serotonin (5-HT)1b/2 agonist, meta- chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), prior to ethanol and during EW. Methods: Gonadectomized or sham-operated adult male and female rats and 17β-estradiol (2.5 mg, 21-day release, s.c.) -replaced ovariectomized (OVX) rats were trained to discriminate mCPP (1.2 mg/kg, i.p.) from saline in a two-lever choice task for food. Latency to the first lever press and mCPP lever selection were measured following mCPP (0–1.2 mg/kg). Rats then received chronic ethanol-containing liquid diet (6.5%) for 10 days and were tested for mCPP lever selection 12 h and 36 h after removal of ethanol. Results: Fewer sham female and β-estradiol-replaced OVX rats selected the mCPP lever than male or OVX rats, and showed an increased initiation latency after mCPP injection. During EW (12 h and 36 h), fewer sham female and β-estradiol-replaced OVX rats responded on the mCPP-lever after saline injection as well as after mCPP challenge than male or OVX rats. Castration did not alter any response of male rats to mCPP. Conclusions: (1) mCPP discrimination is a useful measure of EW in male and female rats; and (2) sham female and β-estradiol-replaced OVX rats are less sensitive to the discriminative stimulus prior to and during EW, but more sensitive to impaired behavioral initiation induced by mCPP than male or OVX rats.
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  • 40
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    Child's nervous system 16 (2000), S. 451-456 
    ISSN: 1433-0350
    Keywords: Keywords Intracranial pressure ; CSF dynamics ; Infusion test ; Rat ; H-Tx rat ; Outflow resistance
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Although the hydrocephalic H-Tx rat is a widely used model, data on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics in hydrocephalic rats are rare or – as the pressure volume index (PVI) – not available. We used hydrocephalic and nonhydrocephalic H-Tx rats, a stock with a high percentage of inherited hydrocephalus, for the evaluation of such data. In addition, a new, simple mathematical algorithm (”dynamic infusion test”), which has not formerly been used in animal experiments, was used as a pathophysiological model of CSF dynamics. Compared with classical methods for evaluation of these data, the dynamic infusion test gives a deeper insight into the relation between ICP and CSF dynamics. It was found that the resistance to outflow (ROF) in hydrocephalic rats was at least twice that in nonhydrocephalic rats. The PVI measured was similar in hydrocephalic and nonhydrocephalic animals, but clearly higher than the values reported in the literature. This may be attributable to the fact that the classically used bolus test, in contrast to the ”dynamic infusion test”, is representative only for the CSF compartment which is directly exposed to the bolus application.
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  • 41
    ISSN: 1570-0267
    Keywords: cDNA ; PCR cDNA ; TaqMan Analysis ; gene expression ; Pearson's correlation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Comparative gene expression studies are often limited by low availability of tissue and poor quality of extractable mRNA. Collective PCR amplification of minute quantities of mRNA has great potential for overcoming these limitations. However, there remains significant concern about the effects of amplification on the absolute and relative abundance of individual mRNAs that could complicate subsequent gene expression studies. To address this problem, we systematically compared the relative abundance of many specific mRNAs from complex cDNA preparations (from tissue and cultured cells) both before and after amplification by PCR. Our results demonstrated that, as expected, the absolute abundance of different mRNAs in a cDNA library is altered in an unpredictable manner by PCR amplification. However, we found that the concentration ratios of specific mRNAs among different cDNA preparations were routinely well conserved after PCR amplification. Thus, for the purpose of comparative expression studies for specific mRNAs in two (or more) complex cDNAs, PCR-amplified cDNA is equally useful as unamplified cDNA. These results provide a rigorous experimental validation and offer a theoretical treatment to support the utility of PCR amplified cDNA for differential gene expression studies. We conclude that the inherent difficulties in performing differential screening studies such as gene chip and array analyses on limited amounts of biological materials can be overcome by a PCR amplification step without compromising data quality.
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  • 42
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: myosin heavy chain ; gene expression ; hypertrophy ; dexamethasone ; promoter function
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Cardiac hypertrophy has been observed in newborn infants treated with dexamethasone (DEX). This study was undertaken to examine whether DEX-induced hypertrophy in newborn rats is associated with redistribution of cardiac myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and if so, the effects involve transcriptional regulation. Newborn rats were injected with either DEX (1 mg/kg/day; s.c.) or equivalent volume normal saline for 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 days. Hypertrophy was quantified by heart dry/wet wt ratios, heart/body wt ratios, and total protein content of the myocardium. Changes in the expression of cardiac MHC mRNA were characterized by northern blot and slot blot analyses, using isoform specific probes for a- and β-MHC genes. DEX effect on α-MHC gene transcription was analyzed by transiently transfecting various α-MHC promoter/CAT reporter constructs into primary cultures of cardiac myocytes derived from one day old rat pups. DEX administration into newborn rats produced significant cardiac hypertrophy ranging from 23% at day 1 to 59% at 9 days. The hypertrophy was accompanied by immediate increase (83%) in steady state level of the α-MHC mRNA within one day and a maximum increase (148%) at 7 days of treatment. The steady state level of β-MHC mRNA declined by 25% at day 1 and a maximum decrease of 54% at day 7 of DEX treatment. The changes in MHC mRNA were also reflected in their protein levels as determined by V1 and V3 isozyme analysis. DEX treatment of primary cultures of cardiomyocytes following transfection with a-MHC promoter/CAT reporter constructs resulted in increased CAT expression in a dose dependent manner. The minimum α-MHC gene sequences responding to DEX treatment were located between the -200 to -74-bp region of the gene, resulting in 2-fold and 6-fold activation of CAT reporter after 0.05 and 0.1 mM doses of DEX, respectively. Our data indicate that DEX induced cardiac hypertrophy in newborn rats is accompanied by increased expression of α-MHC and decreased expression of β-MHC. The α-MHC effects are mediated in part through transcriptional mechanisms.
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  • 43
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 212 (2000), S. 5-9 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: transcriptional regulation ; gene expression ; coactivator ; repressor
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The CREB-CREM transcription factors are the main gene regulatory effectors of the cAMP signaling pathway. The investigations of this family of transcription factors had a profound impact on the understanding of signaling-induced gene transcription. Here we discuss some key aspects of the underlying biology, review transcriptional activation by CREB proteins through transcription cofactors and present novel insights into the context- and position-specific function of CREB on complex genes.
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  • 44
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: AP-1 ; cobalt chloride ; gene expression ; heme oxygenase ; oxidative stress ; sodium arsenite
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Previously, chick heme oxygenase-1 (cHO-1) gene was cloned by us and two regions important for induction by sodium arsenite were identified. These two regions were found to contain consensus sequences of an AP-1 (-1580 to -1573) and a MRE/cMyc complex (-52 to -41). In the current study, the roles of these two elements in mediating the sodium arsenite or cobalt chloride dependent induction of cHO-1 were investigated further. DNA binding studies and site-directed mutagenesis studies indicated that both the AP-1 and MRE/cMyc elements are important for the sodium arsenite induction, while cobalt chloride induction involves only the AP-1 element. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that nuclear proteins binding to the AP-1 element was increased by both sodium arsenite or cobalt chloride treatment, whereas the binding of proteins to the MRE/cMyc element showed a high basal expression in untreated cells and the binding activity was only slightly increased by sodium arsenite treatment. Site-directed mutagenesis studies showed that, to completely abolish sodium arsenite induction, both the AP-1 and MRE/cMyc elements must be mutated; mutation of either element alone resulted in only a partial effect. In contrast, a single mutation at AP-1 element was sufficient to reduce the cobalt chloride induction almost completely. The MRE/cMyc complex plays a major role in the basal level expression, and shares some similarities to the upstream stimulatory factor element (USF) identified in the promoter regions of mammalian HO-1 genes and other stress regulated genes. Because sodium arsenite is known to cause oxidative stress and because activation of AP-1 proteins has been shown to be a key step in the oxidative stress response pathway, we also explored the possibility that the induction of the cHO-1 gene by sodium arsenite is mediated through oxidative stress pathway(s) by activation of AP-1 proteins. We found that pretreatment with antioxidants (N-acetyl cysteine or quercetin) reduced the induction of the endogenous cHO-1 message or cHO-1 reporter construct activities induced by sodium arsenite or cobalt chloride. These antioxidants also reduced the protein binding activities to the AP-1 element in the electrophoretic mobility shift assays. In summary, induction of the cHO-1 gene by sodium arsenite or cobalt chloride is mediated by activation of the AP-1 element located at -1,573 to -1,580 of the 5′ UTR.
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  • 45
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 205 (2000), S. 1-11 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: kidney ; ischemia-reperfusion injury ; free radicals ; reactive oxygen species ; gene expression ; antioxidant enzymes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS; O2-, H2O2, and OH·), normal by-products of cellular metabolic processes, are kept in control by antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutases (SODs). To understand the role of antioxidant enzymatic defenses against ROS injury following ischemia-reperfusion, we examined the effect on kidney exposed to varying periods (30, 60 or 90 min) of ischemia followed by different periods of reperfusion. The enzymatic activities and protein levels of catalase, GPX, CuZnSOD and MnSOD were relatively unaffected at 30 min of ischemia followed by 0, 2 or 24 h reperfusion. However, 60 or 90 min of ischemia followed by 0, 2 or 24 h of reperfusion resulted in a decrease in activities and protein levels which paralleled the duration of ischemic injury. MnSOD activity tended to recover towards normal during reperfusion. Examination of the mRNA levels of these antioxidant enzymes demonstrated a severe decrease in mRNA levels of catalase and GPX at a time point of minimal ischemic injury (30 min of ischemia followed by reperfusion) suggesting that loss of mRNA of catalase and GPX may be the first markers of alterations in cellular redox in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Greater loss of mRNA for catalase, GPX and CuZnSOD were observed following longer periods (60 or 90 min) of ischemia. The mRNA for MnSOD was upregulated at all time points of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Actually, the greater decrease in mRNAs for catalase, GPX and CuZnSOD in the acute phase (within 24 h) subsequently showed a further decrease in these enzyme activities in the subacute phase (72 or 120 h after ischemia). These enzyme activities in the 30 min ischemia group, but not in the 90 min group, already showed tendencies for normalization at 120 h after ischemia. To understand the molecular basis of the loss of mRNA of these antioxidant enzymes during ischemia-reperfusion injury, we examined the rate of transcription by nuclear run-on assays. The similar rates of transcription in control and kidney exposed to ischemia-reperfusion indicates that the loss of mRNA for catalase, GPX and CuZnSOD are possibly due to the increased rate of turnover of their mRNAs. These studies suggest that expression of antioxidant genes during ischemia-reperfusion are not coordinately expressed and the differential loss of antioxidant enzymes may be the contributing factor(s) towards the heterogeneous renal tissue damage as a result of ischemia-reperfusion induced oxidative stress.
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  • 46
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: prostaglandin ; cyclooxygenase ; transcriptional regulation ; gene expression ; promotor activation ; transcription ; endothelial cells
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Interleukin-1β (IL-1) is a potent inducer of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin biosynthesis in many types of cells, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating IL-1 mediated prostanoid biosynthesis in the endothelium of the microvasculature. Therefore, we examined the cis- and trans-acting factors regulating IL-1-induced COX-2 expression in the human microvascular endothelial cell line, HMEC-1. IL-1 enhanced steady state levels of COX-2 protein and mRNA synthesis by ≈ 2-fold which preceded a 2-fold increase in PGFα biosynthesis. Expression of a series of COX-2 promoter-luciferase constructs in IL-1 treated HMEC-1 cells revealed that the 'full length' (-1432/+59 bp) promoter was 10 times more active than the SV-40 promoter/enhancer and that it could be further activated by IL-1. Surprisingly however, all except for the shortest COX-2 promoter construct retained the ability to respond to IL-1 and luciferase activity driven by -191/+59 bp COX-2 promoter was as responsive to IL-1 as the full-length promoter. Moreover, site-directed promoter mutagenesis and electophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) indicate that the combinatorial actions of AP2, NF-IL6, and CRE elements are critical for both constitutive and IL-1-inducible COX-2 promoter activity. Understanding the mechanism(s) regulating COX-2 gene expression and prostaglandin biosynthesis in the microvasculature has important implications with regard to inflammation and angiogenesis in vivo.
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  • 47
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 203 (2000), S. 163-167 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: thymosin β-4 ; gene expression ; chloramphenicol acetyltransferase ; NIH3T3 cells ; interferon response
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Expression of the gene coding for thymosin β-4 (Tβ-4), the major G-actin sequestering peptide in the cell, is regulated mainly at the level of transcription. In this study, we examined the nucleotide sequence of the 5′-flanking region (from - 2202 to - 881) of the mouse Tβ-4 gene, and demonstrated that the DNA fragment from -278 to +410 of this gene was capable of directing the expression of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene in NIH3T3 cells. However, expression of the reporter gene in cells cannot be induced by interferon-a treatment even though a rapid activation of endogenous Tβ-4 gene by this cytokine was observed. These results suggest that the projected interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) might reside in other parts of the mouse Tβ-4 gene.
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  • 48
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 211 (2000), S. 103-110 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: thioacetamide ; glutathione-S-transferase ; rat liver ; transcription ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of thioacetamide (TA), an hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic compound, on the expression and activity of the cytosolic enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was studied in rat liver. Four h following the administration of 14C-labeled thioacetamide (10 mg/Kg), several subunits of GST were found to be radioactively labeled. A single sublethal dose of TA (250 mg/Kg) decreased by three-fold the expression of classα GST at 24-48 h of treatment, but did not significantly affect the transcription of class μ GST. The activity of the enzyme toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was mildly inhibited (66% of the control) by a 24 h TA treatment and gradually increased thereafter. It is proposed that the covalent binding of TA or its derivative to the GST subunits does not affect the activity of the enzyme. Nevertheless, GST activity inhibition is due to the deleterious effect of TA on GST transcription.
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  • 49
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 209 (2000), S. 125-129 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: apolipoprotein E ; apolipoprotein A-I ; gene expression ; transgenic mouse
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The levels of plasma apolipoprotein (apo) E, an anti-atherogenic protein involved in mammalian cholesterol transport, were found to be 2-3 fold lower in mice over-expressing human apoA-I gene. ApoE is mainly associated with VLDL and HDL-size particles, but in mice the majority of the apoE is associated with the HDL particles. Over-expression of the human apoA-I in mice increases the levels of human apoA-I-rich HDL particles by displacing mouse apoA-I from HDL. This results in lowering of plasma levels of mouse apoA-I. Since plasma levels of apoE also decreased in the apoA-I transgenic mice, the mechanism of apoE lowering was investigated. Although plasma levels of apoE decreased by 2-3 fold, apoB levels remained unchanged. As expected, the plasma levels of human apoA-I were almost 5-fold higher in the apoAI-Tg mice compared to mouse apoA-I in WT mice. If the over-expression of human apoA-I caused displacement of apoE from the HDL, the levels of hepatic apoE mRNA should remain the same in WT and the apoAI-Tg mice. However, the measurements of apoE mRNA in the liver showed 3-fold decreases of apoE mRNA in apoAI-Tg mice as compared to WT mice, suggesting that the decreased apoE mRNA expression, but not the displacement of the apoE from HDL, resulted in the lowering of plasma apoE in apoAI-Tg mice. As expected, the levels of hepatic apoA-I mRNA (transgene) were 5-fold higher in the apoAI-Tg mice. ApoE synthesis measured in hepatocytes also showed lower synthesis of apoE in the apoAI-Tg mice. These studies suggest that the integration of human apoA-I transgene in mouse genome occurred at a site that affected apoE gene expression. Identification of this locus may provide further understanding of the apoE gene expression.
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  • 50
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 212 (2000), S. 29-34 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: cAMP ; transcription factor-decoy oligonucleotides ; CRE ; Ap-1 ; p53 ; tumor growth ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Nucleic acid molecules with high affinities for a target transcription factor can be introduced into cells as decoy cis-elements to bind these factors and alter gene expression. This review discusses a synthetic single-stranded palindromic oligonucleotide, which self-hybridizes to form a duplex/hairpin and competes with cAMP response element (CRE) enhancers for binding transcription factors. This oligonucleotide inhibits CRE- and Ap-1-directed gene transcription and promotes growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo in a broad spectrum of cancer cells, without adversely affecting normal cell growth. Evidence presented here suggests that the CRE-decoy oligonucleotide can provide a powerful new means of combating cancers, viral diseases, and other pathological conditions by regulating the expression of cAMP-responsive genes.
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  • 51
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 212 (2000), S. 73-79 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: adrenergic receptors ; renin-angiotensin system (RAS) ; gene expression ; kidney
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract To investigate the molecular mechanism(s) of action of catecholamines on the expression of the angiotensinogen (ANG) gene in kidney proximal tubular cells, we used opossum kidney (OK) cells with a fusion gene containing the 5′-flanking regulatory sequence of the rat ANG gene fused with a human growth hormone (hGH) gene as a reporter, pOGH (rANG N-1498/+18), permanently integrated into their genomes. The level of expression of the ANG-GH fusion gene was quantified by the amount of immunoreactive-hGH (IR-hGH) secreted into the medium. The addition of norepinephrine (NE), isoproterenol (a β1/β2-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist) and iodoclonidine (an α2-AR agonist) stimulated the expression of the ANG-GH fusion gene in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the addition of epinephrine and phenylephrine (α1-AR agonist) had no effect. The stimulatory effect of NE was blocked by the presence of propranolol (β-AR blocker), atenolol (β1-AR blocker), yohimbine (α2-AR blocker), Rp-cAMP (an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase AI & AII) and staurosporine (an inhibitor of protein kinase C), but was not blocked by ICI 118, 551 (β2-AR blocker) and prazosin (α1-AR blocker). The addition of a combination of isoproterenol and iodoclonidine or a combination of 8-Bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) and phorbol 12-myristate (PMA) synergistically stimulated the expression of the ANG-GH fusion gene as compared to the addition of isoproterenol, iodoclonidine, 8-Br-cAMP or PMA alone. Furthermore, the addition of NE, 8-Br-cAMP or PMA stimulated the expression of pOGH (rANG N-806/-779/-53/+18), a fusion gene containing the putative cAMP responsive element (CRE, ANG N-806/-779) upstream of the ANG promoter (ANG N-53/+18) in OK cells, but had no effect on the expression of fusion genes containing the mutant of the CRE. Gel mobility shift assays revealed that the ANG-CRE binds with the DNA-binding domain (bZIP 254-327) of the cAMP-responsive binding protein (CREB). The binding of the labeled ANG-CRE to CREB (bZIP254-327) was displaced by unlabeled ANG-CRE and the CRE of the somatostatin gene but not by the mutants of the ANG-CRE. Finally, NE stimulated the phosphorylation of CREB in OK cells. These studies demonstrate that the molecular mechanism(s) of NE action on the expression of the ANG gene in OK cells may be mediated via both the PKA and PKC signalling pathways and via the phosphorylation of CREB. The phosphorylated CREB then interacts with the CRE in the 5′-flanking region of the ANG gene and subsequently stimulates the gene expression.
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  • 52
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 212 (2000), S. 135-142 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: gene expression ; catecholamines ; angiotensin II ; heart failure ; myosin ; hypertension ; eprosartan
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Pressure overload of the heart is associated with a perturbed gene expression of the cardiomyocyte leading to an impaired pump function. The ensuing neuro-endocrine activation results in disordered influences of angiotensin II and catecholamines on gene expression. To assess whether angiotensin II type 1 receptor inhibition can also counteract a raised sympathetic nervous system activity, spontaneously hypertensive rats fed a hypercaloric diet were treated with eprosartan (daily 90 mg/kg body wt) and cardiovascular parameters were monitored with implanted radiotelemetry pressure transducers. Both, blood pressure and heart rate were increased (p 〈 0.05) by the hypercaloric diet. Although eprosartan reduced (p 〈 0.05) the raised systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the diet-induced rise in heart rate was blunted only partially. In addition to drugs interfering with the enhanced catecholamine influence, compounds should be considered that selectively affect cardiomyocyte gene expression via 'metabolic' signals.
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  • 53
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: angiotensinogen ; fibronectin ; gene expression ; transcriptional regulation ; cardiomyocytes ; vascular smooth muscle cells
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Angiotensinogen (AGT) is a unique substrate of the renin-angiotensin system and fibronectin (FN) is an important component of the extracellular matrix. These play critical roles in the pathophysiological changes including cardiovascular remodeling and hypertrophy in response to hypertension. This study was performed to examine the regulation of AGT and FN gene in cardiac myocytes (CMs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in response to mechanical stretch. Mechanical stretch significantly increased the AGT mRNA expression in CMs, while these stimuli did not affect FN mRNA levels. On the other hand, Mechanical stretch upregulated FN mRNA levels in VSMCs, whereas no increase in AGT mRNA levels was observed in response to stretch stimuli. An angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist (CV11974) significantly decreased these stretch-mediated increases in mRNA level and promoter activity of the AGT and FN gene, whereas angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonist (PD123319) did not affect the induction. These results indicate that mechanical stretch activates transcription of the AGT and FN gene mainly via AT1 receptor-pathway in CMs and VSMCs. Furthermore, mechanisms regulating AGT and FN gene seem to be different between CMs and VSMCs.
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  • 54
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 212 (2000), S. 211-217 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: angiotensin receptor ; medullary thick ascending limb ; sodium intake ; primary cell culture ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Angiotensin II (Ang II) is an important regulator of the function of medullary thick ascending limb of loop of Henle (MTAL). Recent studies showed that changes in Ang II receptor expression occur and underlie changes in the function of proximal tubules during altered sodium intake. The present experiment was designed to determine (1) whether expression of the type 1 Ang II (AT1) receptor in the MTAL is regulated by altered sodium intake, and (2) the specific pathway(s) mediating sodium-induced AT1 expression in the MTAL. Wistar rats were fed a normal sodium (0.5%, NS), low sodium (0.07%, LS), or high sodium (4%, HS) diet for 2 weeks. Northern blot analysis and radioligand binding showed that in rats fed a normal sodium diet the rank of order for both AT1 mRNA expression and receptor density was outer medulla 〉 cortex 〉 inner medulla. Sodium restriction significantly increased both AT1 mRNA expression and receptor density in the outer medulla. In contrast, neither AT1 mRNA expression nor receptor density in the outer medulla was altered by sodium loading. Losartan treatment (3 mg/kg/per day by oral gavage for 2 weeks) prevented low sodium-induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in the outer medulla, but it had no effect on AT1 expression in the outer medulla of rats fed a normal sodium diet. Highly purified suspensions of MTAL were isolated from rats fed a normal or low sodium diet. Low sodium intake significantly increased AT1 mRNA level by 184% and AT1 receptor density by 58% in MTALs. Primary cultures of MTAL cells were treated with PBS, Ang II (10-8 M), and Ang II + 17 octadecynoic (17 ODYA, 10 μM). Ang II caused about 2-fold increase in AT1 mRNA levels, and this increase was diminished by about 30% by the addition of 17 ODYA. We conclude that (1) sodium restriction but not sodium loading increases AT1 receptor expression in the MTAL, (2) low sodium-induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in the MTAL is Ang II-dependent, and (3) Ang II-induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in the MTAL is mediated, at least in part, by cytochrome P450 pathways.
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  • 55
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: renin angiotensin system ; sarcoplasmic reticulum ; Ca2+-handling ; gene expression ; ischemia-reperfusion ; cardioprotection
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the possible participation of cardiac renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the ischemia-reperfusion induced changes in heart function as well as Ca2+-handling activities and gene expression of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) proteins. The isolated rat hearts, treated for 10 min without and with 30 μM captopril or 100 μM losartan, were subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by reperfusion for 60 min and processed for the measurement of SR function and gene expression. Attenuated recovery of the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) upon reperfusion of the ischemic heart was accompanied by a marked reduction in SR Ca2+-pump ATPase, Ca2+-uptake and Ca2+-release activities. Northern blot analysis revealed that mRNA levels for SR Ca2+-handling proteins such as Ca2+-pump ATPase (SERCA2a), ryanodine receptor, calsequestrin and phospholamban were decreased in the ischemia-reperfused heart as compared with the non-ischemic control. Treatment with captopril improved the recovery of LVDP as well as SR Ca2+-pump ATPase and Ca2+-uptake activities in the postischemic hearts but had no effect on changes in Ca2+-release activity due to ischemic-reperfusion. Losartan neither affected the changes in contractile function nor modified alterations in SR Ca2+-handling activities. The ischemia-reperfusion induced decrease in mRNA levels for SR Ca2+-handling proteins were not affected by treatment with captopril or losartan. The results suggest that the improvement of cardiac function in the ischemic-reperfused heart by captopril is associated with the preservation of SR Ca2+-pump activities; however, it is unlikely that this action of captopril is mediated through the modification of cardiac RAS. Furthermore, cardiac RAS does not appear to contribute towards the ischemia-reperfusion induced changes in gene expression for SR Ca2+-handling proteins.
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  • 56
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: pressure overload ; gene expression ; subcellular remodeling ; sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-handling ; anti-hypertensive therapy
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effects of propranolol and verapamil on contractile dysfunction, subcellular remodeling and changes in gene expression in cardiac hypertrophy due to pressure overload were examined. Rats were subjected to banding of the abdominal aorta and then treated with either propranolol (10 mg/kg daily), verapamil (5 mg/kg daily) or vehicle for 8 weeks after the surgery. Depression of the left ventricular function in the hypertrophied heart was associated with decreases in myofibrillar and myosin CA2+ ATPase activities as well as Ca2+-pump and Ca2+-release activities of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The level of a-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) mRNA was decreased while that of β-MHC mRNA was increased in the pressure-overloaded heart. The level of SR Ca2+-pump ATPase (SERCA2) mRNA and protein content for SERCA2 were decreased in the pressure overloaded heart. Treatment of the hypertrophied animals with propranolol or verapamil resulted in preservation of the left ventricular function and prevention of the subcellular alterations. Shift in the α- and β-MHC mRNA levels and changes in the expression in SERCA2 mRNA level and protein content were also attenuated by these treatments. The results suggest that blockade of β-adrenoceptors or voltage-dependent calcium channels normalizes the cardiac gene expression, prevents subcellular remodeling and thus attenuates heart dysfunction in rats with cardiac hypertrophy. Furthermore, both cardiac β-adrenoceptors and L-type Ca2+-channels may be involved in the genesis of cardiac hypertrophy due to pressure overload.
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  • 57
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 213 (2000), S. 119-126 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: TIS11 ; an immediate early gene ; gene cloning ; gene expression ; gene organization ; promoter
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The TIS11 gene is an immediate early gene that is induced rapidly and transiently by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and various growth factors. To study transcriptional regulation of the gene, a genomic clone of rat TIS11 was isolated, and the organization of exon-intron structure and transcriptional initiation site were determined. The rat TIS11 gene consisted of 2 exons spanning approximately 2.5 kb. Several canonical sequences for binding of transcriptional factors were found in the 5′-flanking region. The 5.3 kb of the 5′-flanking region fused to a luciferase reporter gene showed promoter activity when introduced into rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Analyses with serial 5′-deletion mutants suggested that the major positive regulatory region is located at the region of -241 to -76, and that the minimum promoter region is within the 76-bp upstream of the transcriptional initiation site. Gel mobility shift assays revealed that PC12 cell nuclear proteins specifically bind to the major positive regulatory region of the TIS11 gene. The identified nuclear protein components may act as the positive trans-acting factors in the basal expression of the TIS11 gene in PC12 cells.
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  • 58
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    Psychopharmacology 151 (2000), S. 219-225 
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Keywords Amphetamine ; Wheel running ; Behavioral sensitization ; Pharmacological sensitization ; Novelty ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: This study explored whether repeated injections of amphetamine (AMP), which increase general locomotion, also increase acute wheel running, a highly structured, rewarding, motor behavior not correlated with other locomotor activities. Objectives: The experiments determine how 1–5 mg/kg d-AMP affects wheel running and see if, over repeated injections, the AMP effects show context specific sensitization. Methods: In experiment 1, 2 mg/kg AMP or saline (SAL) was injected on days 1, 3, 6, 8, and 10 to male Sprague-Dawley rats with either limited or no wheel experience. 20 min after the injection animals were tested in an open field for 5 min and then in a running wheel for 1 h. Rats were injected with SAL or AMP on the days following testing. On days 13 and 15, animals were tested for conditioning (following SAL) and sensitization (following AMP). In experiment 2, the effects on wheel running of repeated 1, 2, or 5 mg/kg AMP were tested. Results: In experiment 1, AMP (2 mg/kg) elevated open field ambulation but suppressed wheel running. Limited wheel experience potentiated the AMP-induced suppression. At test, the suppression of running was found to be context specific. In experiment 2, 1 mg/kg did not affect running, while 2 and 5 mg/kg resulted in dose-dependent running suppression. Acquisition and test AMP dose both influenced the running suppression at test; context had a marginal influence. Conclusions: The degree of running suppression induced by repeated AMP is determined by both psychological (the injection context) and pharmacological (the acquisition dose) factors. This AMP-induced running suppression is consistent with the sensitization of stereotyped behavior.
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  • 59
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Fentanyl ; mu opioids ; Drug discrimination ; Training dose ; pA2 analysis ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Discriminative stimulus effects of mu opioids vary systematically as a function of training dose. Differences among training doses may arise from multiple mechanisms. Objectives: In vivo apparent pA2 analyses were used to examine the contributions of opioid mechanisms to stimulus control by low and high training doses of the mu opioid fentanyl. Methods: Saline and one of two doses of fentanyl, administered s.c., were established as discriminative stimuli in two groups of rats (low training dose group: 0.01 mg/kg; high training dose group: 0.04 mg/kg). Generalization tests and in vivo apparent pA2 analyses were used to evaluate receptor mechanisms of stimulus control. Results: Fentanyl, etonitazene, methadone, and morphine evoked full fentanyl generalization in both groups but were more potent in the low-dose group. Spiradoline and d-amphetamine did not evoke generalization in either group. Naltrexone antagonized stimulus and rate-altering effects of fentanyl in both groups, with apparent pA2 values of 7.6 in the low-dose group and 7.5 in the high-dose group. Nalbuphine and nalorphine evoked full generalization in the low-dose group but less than 40% generalization in the high-dose group. In the high-dose group, nalbuphine and nalorphine antagonized the stimulus and rate-altering effects of fentanyl with apparent pA2 values of 5.3 and 6.1, respectively, demonstrating lower efficacy mu actions. Conclusions: Changes in fentanyl training dose preserved the mu opioid selectivity of stimulus control but altered the intensity of the transduced mu opioid stimulus required for generalization. These differences in intensity of the fentanyl stimulus determined whether low efficacy mu opioids would evoke or antagonize fentanyl generalization.
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  • 60
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    Psychopharmacology 148 (2000), S. 146-152 
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Alprazolam ; Drug discrimination ; Benzodiazepines ; Antidepressant ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: The triazolobenzodiazepine alprazolam has a unique clinical profile compared to most other benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam, chlordiazepoxide), in that it is used to treat panic disorder and is effective in depression, two disorders that are usually treated with anti-depressants. Previous drug discrimination studies suggested that alprazolam has stimulus properties in common with antidepressants. Objective: In the present study, the discriminative stimulus properties of alprazolam were investigated to test more conclusively the role of benzodiazepine receptors and whether alprazolam has stimulus properties in common with antidepressants. Methods: Male Wistar rats (n=12) were trained to discriminate between alprazolam (2.0 mg/kg, PO) and vehicle in an operant two-lever drug discrimination procedure under a tandem VI40”-FR10 schedule of reinforcement. Generalization and antagonism tests were carried out under 2 min extinction. Results: In generalization tests, a number of benzodiazepines (alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, midazolam, lorazepam) and the barbiturate pentobarbital substituted completely, while zolpidem and abecarnil substituted partially for alprazolam. In contrast, no significant degree of generalization to the antidepressants imipramine and fluvoxamine and the putative antidepressants buspirone and flesinoxan was found. In antagonism studies alprazolam could be antagonized (almost) completely by flumazenil, partially by pentylenetetrazole, but not by methyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-β-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM), N-methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxamide (FG-7142) and picrotoxin. Conclusions: These results show that the discriminative stimulus properties of alprazolam are mediated by benzodiazepine receptors and that the finding that antidepressants share discriminative stimulus effects with alprazolam may have limited generality.
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  • 61
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    Psychopharmacology 148 (2000), S. 209-216 
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Methamphetamine ; Drug-discrimination ; Dopamine ; Cocaine ; GBR-12909 ; Nomifensine ; Bupropion ; Chloro-PB ; Chloro-APB ; NPA ; 7-OH-DPAT ; SCH-23390 ; Spiperone ; cis-Flupenthixol ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Dopamine plays a major role in the behavioral effects of methamphetamine. Objective: In the present experiments, the effects of different dopaminergic agonists, antagonists, and uptake inhibitors were evaluated in rats discriminating methamphetamine from saline. Methods: In Sprague-Dawley rats trained to discriminate 1.0 mg/kg methamphetamine, i.p., from saline under a fixed-ratio schedule of food delivery, the ability of various dopaminergic agonists and uptake inhibitors to substitute for methamphetamine was evaluated. Subsequently, the ability of various dopaminergic antagonists to block the discriminative-stimulus effects of the training dose of methamphetamine was tested. Results: The dopamine-uptake inhibitors cocaine (10.0 mg/kg), nomifensine (3.0 mg/kg), GBR-12909 (18.0 mg/kg), and bupropion (30.0 mg/kg) fully substituted for the 1.0 mg/kg training dose of methamphetamine. Chloro-APB (SKF-82958), a full agonist at D1 dopamine receptors, produced about 85% methamphetamine-appropriate responding, but the dose required (0.18 mg/kg) markedly decreased rates of responding. Chloro-PB (SKF-81297), another agonist at D1 receptors with a lower intrinsic activity than Chloro-APB, produced only partial generalization (maximum about 55%) at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg. Full substitution for the training dose of methamphetamine was observed with 0.03 mg/kg of the D2 agonist NPA and 0.56 mg/kg of the D3/D2 agonist 7-OH-DPAT. Both NPA and 7-OH-DPAT markedly decreased rates of responding at these doses. The D1 antagonist SCH-23390 (0.056 mg/kg), the D2 antagonist spiperone (0.18 mg/kg), and the mixed D1,D2 antagonist cis-flupenthixol (0.56 mg/kg) all completely blocked the discriminative-stimulus actions of the training dose of methamphetamine. Conclusions: The present findings in rats support previous research findings in other species indicating a major role of dopamine in the discriminative-stimulus effects of methamphetamine. These findings further indicate involvement of dopamine uptake sites as well as D1 and D2 receptors.
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  • 62
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Nicotine ; Drug discrimination ; Self-administration ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: The cellular effects of nicotine underlying its addictive liability are thought to be mediated by neuronal nicotinic receptors (nACHRs) in the central nervous system. It is believed that densely expressed β2-containing nACHRs in the central nervous system are responsible for these actions, but few data are available that can directly assess subtype mediation of nicotine’s acute subjective and reinforcing effects. Objective: The present study compared the effects of the competitive nACHR antagonist erysodine and the noncompetitive antagonist mecamylamine in rats trained to discriminate or self-administer nicotine. Methods: Adult male rats were trained to disciminate 0.4-mg/kg injections of nicotine from vehicle in a two-lever procedure of food-maintained behavior, or to self-administer 0.03-mg/kg injections of nicotine under fixed-ratio 5 or progressive-ratio schedules of reinforcement. Additional rats were trained under a food-maintained procedure of lever pressing. Results: Erysodine (0.3–10 mg/kg) and mecamylamine (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) blocked nicotine discrimination, although only erysodine produced the rightward shift that would be predicted of a competitive antagonist. Erysodine (0.32–32 mg/kg) and mecamylamine (0.32–3.2 mg/kg) also selectively reduced nicotine self-administration on a fixed-ratio schedule and lowered break points on a progressive-ratio schedule. Conclusions: Based on the known affinity of erysodine for α4β2 nACHRs and its selectivity relative to α7 and α1β1γδ receptors, the present data support a critical role of β2-containing nACHR constructs in the discriminative and reinforcing actions of nicotine.
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  • 63
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Drug discrimination ; Olanzapine ; Clozapine ; Chlorpromazine ; Haloperidol ; Thioridazine ; Raclopride ; Risperidone ; Scopolamine ; Ritanserin ; Atypical antipsychotic ; Neuroleptic ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Analysis of the preclinical behavioral effects of atypical antipsychotic agents will provide a better understanding of how they differ from typical antipsychotics and aid in the development of future atypical antipsychotic drugs. Objectives: The present study was designed to provide information about the discriminative stimulus properties of the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine. Methods: Rats were trained to discriminate the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine (either 0.5 mg/kg OLZ or 0.25 mg/kg OLZ, i.p.) from vehicle in a two- lever drug discrimination procedure. The atypical antipsychotic clozapine fully substituted for olanzapine in both the 0.5-mg/kg OLZ group (99.3% drug lever responding [DLR]) and the 0.25-mg/kg OLZ group (99.9% DLR). The typical antipsychotic chlorpromazine also substituted for olanzapine in both the 0.5-mg/kg OLZ group (87.5% DLR) and in the 0.25-mg/kg OLZ group (98.9% DLR); whereas, haloperidol displayed partial substitution for olanzapine in the 0.5-mg/kg OLZ group (56.1% DLR) and in the 0.25-mg/kg OLZ group (76.4% DLR). The 5.0-mg/kg dose of thioridazine produced olanzapine-appropriate responding in the 0.5-mg/kg OLZ group (99.6% DLR), but only partial substitution was seen with the 0.25-mg/kg OLZ training dose (64.0% DLR). The atypical antipsychotics raclopride (53.9% DLR) and risperidone (60.1% DLR) displayed only partial substitution in the 0.5-mg/kg OLZ group. Both the muscarinic cholinergic antagonist scopolamine (90.0% DLR) and the 5-HT2A/2C serotonergic antagonist ritanserin (86.0% DLR) fully substituted for olanzapine in the 0.5-mg/kg OLZ group. Conclusions: In contrast to previous discrimination studies with clozapine-trained rats, the typical antipsychotic agents chlorpromazine and thioridazine and the serotonin antagonist ritanserin substituted for olanzapine. These results demonstrate that there are differences in the mechanisms underlying the discriminative stimulus properties of clozapine and olanzapine. Specifically, olanzapine’s discriminative stimulus properties appear to be meditated in part by both cholinergic and serotonergic mechanisms.
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  • 64
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    Psychopharmacology 148 (2000), S. 243-250 
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Attention ; Scopolamine ; Mecamylamine ; Oxotremorine ; Physostigmine ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: This study tried to determine the relative roles of muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors in attentional processing. Methods: The effects of cholinoceptor agonists and antagonists, and of an anticholinesterase, were studied on performance of rats in a five-choice serial reaction time task. Results: Scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg) and mecamylamine (5.0 mg/kg) produced deficits in accuracy and reaction time, respectively. This may suggest a differential role for the two types of cholinoceptors in information processing. Combinations of sub-threshold doses of scopolamine (0.01–0.03 mg/kg) and mecamylamine (0.5–1.6 mg/kg), which alone did not affect accuracy or reaction time, did not produce significant deficits in attention. However, the pattern of effects after combined treatment suggested that the differential deficits seen with these drugs alone remained. The anticholinesterase physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg) and the non- selective muscarinic agonist oxotremorine (0.03 mg/kg) induced severe behavioural disruption at doses that appeared to be relatively well tolerated in previous studies; this precluded the derivation of accuracy and response time data at these doses. At lower doses, neither physostigmine (0.05 mg/kg) nor oxotremorine (0.003 mg/kg) significantly affected any performance measure; this may reflect the ability of both drugs to indirectly or directly activate presynaptic muscarinic receptors that inhibit acetylcholine release, respectively. Conclusions: Both muscarinic and nicotinic cholinoceptors may be important in attention but they may serve different roles in information processing; this hypothesis could be tested using tasks that place different emphasis on different stages of information processing.
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  • 65
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Benzodiazepine ; Operant ; Force ; Tolerance ; Chronic ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Several benzodiazepines (BZs) have been shown to increase the peak force of operant responses at doses that increased, decreased, or had no effect on response rate, suggesting that operant response force may be a sensitive index of BZs’ effects rather than solely a correlate of rate-dependent effects. In addition, contingent tolerance to the rate-dependent effects of BZs has been reported, but the degree of contingent tolerance that develops when the critical variable of the task is force of the response has not been explored. Objectives: These experiments examined the effects of acute and repeated oral administration of diazepam (DZ) and midazolam (MZ) on a force-differentiation task to explore the importance of task requirements on the development of contingent tolerance. Methods: Two groups of rats were trained to press a force-sensing operandum, and responses having peak forces falling within fixed lower and upper limits [low force (8–10 g) or high force (40–50 g)] were reinforced with water. Acute effects of the oral administration of DZ (0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10.0, 30.0 mg/kg) and MZ (same doses) were determined for the discriminated-force task before and after a repeated-administration procedure. Results: When administered acutely, both drugs increased the peak force of responses in a dose-related manner and concomitantly reduced the proportion of reinforced responses, with MZ exhibiting greater potency. For the next 36 days, one group received drug before experimental sessions and the other group received drug after the experimental session. A second dose–effect determination demonstrated that rats chronically dosed with DZ or MZ pre-session displayed more contingent tolerance to alterations in peak force than rats that had received 36 drug injections post- session, where there was no opportunity to practice the force-discrimination response while under the drug state. Conclusions: These results suggest that perceptual motor difficulty of the task rather than effort may be an important variable in predicting the degree of contingent tolerance that develops. Additionally, these results suggest that both behavioral and pharmacological mechanisms are involved in the development of drug tolerance to the BZs.
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  • 66
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words ACTH ; Corticosterone ; GABA ; Noradrenaline ; Adrenaline ; Stress ; Rat ; Diazepam
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Gabolysat PC60 is a fish protein hydrolysate with anxiolytic properties commonly used as a nutritional supplement. Objective: The diazepam-like effects of PC60 on stress responsiveness of the rat pituitary-adrenal system and on sympathoadrenal activity were studied. Methods: The activity of the pituitary-adrenal axis, measured by plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (B) of the sympathoadrenal complex, measured by circulating levels of noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A), and the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in the hippocampus and the hypothalamus were investigated in male rats which received daily, by an intragastric feeding tube, for 5 days running either diazepam (1 mg/kg) or PC60 (300 or 1200 mg/kg). Controls received only solvent (carboxymethylcellulose 1%). Six hours after the last force-feeding, the rats were subjected to 3 min ether inhalation or 30 min restraint and killed by decapitation 30 min after ether stress or at the end of restraint. Results: Baseline plasma levels of ACTH, B, NA and A were not affected by either diazepam or PC60. Both ether- and restraint-induced release of ACTH, but not B, were similarly and drastically reduced by diazepam and PC60 (1200 mg/kg). Both diazepam and PC60 (1200 mg/kg) deleted restraint-induced NA and A increases. Both treatments also reduced the ether-induced rise of A. Basal levels of GABA were significantly increased in both the hippocampus and the hypothalamus in PC60-treated rats and only in the hippocampus in diazepam-treated ones. In controls, ether inhalation as well as restraint increased GABA content of these two brain structures. In contrast, such stress procedures performed in PC60-treated rats reduced GABA content slightly in the hippocampus but significantly in the hypothalamus. In diazepam-treated rats, GABA content of the hypothalamus was unaffected by stresses but that of the hippocampus was slightly decreased. Conclusions: Present data suggest diazepam-like effects of PC60 on stress responsiveness of the rat pituitary adrenal axis and the sympathoadrenal activity as well as GABA content of the hippocampus and the hypothalamus under resting and stress conditions. These effects of PC60 agree with anxiolytic properties of this nutritional supplement, previously reported in both rats and humans.
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  • 67
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words 8-OH-DPAT ; WAY 100635 ; 5 ; 7-Dihydroxytryptamine ; Attention ; Impulsivity ; Pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor ; Dorsal raphe ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Rationale: Whilst several studies have investigated the role of serotonergic receptor subtypes in learning and memory, relatively few studies have examined their role in attentional processes. Objective: The present study investigated the role of pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors on rats’ attentional performance in the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRT). Methods: Hungry rats were trained in the 5-CSRT task to detect brief (0.5 s) flashes of light presented randomly in one of five locations with a fixed intertrial interval of 5 s paced by the rat. We studied the effects of 8-OH-DPAT, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, at various subcutaneous (SC) doses (10–100 µg/kg) on measures of rats’ discriminative accuracy (the index of attentional functioning) and various behavioural indices of response control and motivation. Manipulations of basic task parameters, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) to deplete forebrain 5-HT and treatments with a selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY 100635 were made in order to determine the behavioural and neural specificity of the effects of 8-OH-DPAT. Results: A dose of 100 µg/kg, but not lower doses, significantly reduced choice accuracy and increased errors of omission, latencies to respond correctly and to collect food reward and premature responses. All these effects were completely blocked by WAY 100635, injected SC 5 min before 8-OH-DPAT at doses from 10–100 µg/kg. WAY 100635 by itself had no effect in the task. Dimming the visual stimuli to one-third of the usual brightness did not modify the effect of 8-OH-DPAT on choice accuracy. Prolonging the stimuli from 0.5 to 1.0 s reversed 8-OH-DPAT’s effect on choice accuracy but did not modify the other effects on rats’ performance. An ICV injection of 150 µg 5,7-DHT, which depleted forebrain serotonin by 90%, reversed 8-OH-DPAT’s effect on choice accuracy but did not modify the effects on errors of omission and latency to make correct responses. Similar effects were found by infusing 1.0 µg/0.5 µl WAY 100635 in the dorsal raphe 5 min before 8-OH-DPAT. 8-OH-DPAT increased the latency to collect the reinforcement; this effect was attenuated by ICV 5,7-DHT and completely antagonized by WAY 100635 in the dorsal raphe. Rats treated with 5,7-DHT or 8-OH-DPAT showed more premature responses and these effects were markedly reduced by the combined treatment. Conclusions: The results suggest that stimulation of presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors is involved in the ability of 8-OH-DPAT to cause attentional dysfunction and enhance impulsivity while slowing of responding and increase in errors of omission mainly depend on stimulation of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors.
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  • 68
    ISSN: 1432-2277
    Keywords: Key words Kidney transplantation ; Rat ; Chronic rejection ; Cytomegalovirus ; Adhesion molecules
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that both cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and prolonged cold ischemia of the allograft (CI) are associated with chronic rejection of renal transplants. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of CMV infection, of CI and of the combination of both, on the progression of chronic rejection, and to obtain a more detailed insight in their effects on the expression of adhesion molecules. Therefore, a rat transplantation model was used. Lewis recipients of renal allografts (with and without CI) from MHC-incompatible Brown Norway rats were inoculated with rat CMV or left uninfected. CMV infection alone resulted in an increased influx of CD4+ cells and macrophages early after infection, and in an increase in glomerular sclerosis and intima proliferation. CI caused an increase in infiltrating NK cells and an effect on intimal proliferation, glomerular sclerosis, and tubular atrophy. When CMV infection and CI were combined, an additive effect could be measured. This was however not the case for the function of the kidney. The creatinin showed a synergistic effect of the two influencing factors. Due to the CMV infection, an increase in CD49 d cells was detected. CI resulted in an increase in CD18 cells and an increase in the expression of CD62P on vessels, and CD54 and CD44 on tubules. When CMV infection and CI were combined, all the effects caused by CMV and CI alone were present in an additional way.¶The results of the present study suggest that special attention should be paid to the recipient of an ischemically injured graft when either the donor or the recipient is CMV-infected. The patterns seen in histology, the infiltration of leukocytes and the expression of adhesion molecules, suggest that CI and CMV infection both have an effect on rejection, but act by different mechanisms.
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  • 69
    ISSN: 1432-2277
    Keywords: Key words Small bowel transplantation ; Monoclonal antibody ; Rat ; Rejection ; Flow cytometry
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study assessed the effect of an anti-rat CD4 monoclonal antibody (OX38) on heterotopic small bowel allograft rejection. Fully allogeneic small bowel transplants were performed in the PVG-to-DA-rat strain combination. Animals received either i) short course (days –1, 0 and 1) of 1 mg/kg per day OX38, ii) short course of 5 mg/kg per day or iii) extended course (days –2, –1, 0, 1, 2 and twice weekly thereafter) of 1 mg/kg per day. Both the high dose (13 days) and extended low-dose (12 days) courses prolonged graft survival compared to untreated control animals (7 days). The low-dose, short-course treatment had no effect. Similar regimens were given to animals that did not receive transplants and in which peripheral blood CD4+ cell counts fell to between 20 and 55 % of pretreatment levels and 20–30 % of binding sites were blocked. In summary, anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody therapy delayed rejection of rat small bowel allografts; however, long-term survival was not achieved.
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  • 70
    ISSN: 1871-4528
    Keywords: Solanum tuberosum L. ; plant development ; antioxidant genes ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
    Notes: Summary The expression of antioxidant genes has been analyzed in a potato plant and during tuber dormancy. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), cytosolic copper and zinc superoide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD), catalase class II, cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) are expressed at the RNA level in all the contexts analyzed. By contrast, the expression of the iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) and plastidic Cu/ZnSOD seems to be limited to green tissues, as shown by northern blots and native gels. A complex DAB-peroxidase isozyme pattern (using diaminobenzidine as substrate) has been observed in different developmental contexts analyzed, but hardly observed in tubers. During tuber dormancy, MnSOD and cytosolic Cu/ZnSOD activity was relatively constant in both Désirée and Bintje varieties while catalase activity decreases. Moreover, tuber dormancy breakage did not involve significant changes in the activity of these enzymes. On the basis of these results, the possible link between active oxygen species (AOS) metabolism and dormancy is discussed.
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  • 71
    ISSN: 1871-4528
    Keywords: gene expression ; cDNA-AFLP ; RNA-fingerprinting ; organogenesis ; tuberisation ; dormancy ; sprouting ; cluster analysis ; metabolic pathways
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
    Notes: Summary Potato tuber life-cycle is composed of many individual developmental stages including tuber formation, tuber development, dormancy and sprouting. We have used cDNA-AFLP fingerprinting to analyse gene expression in 24 individual stages of development, over the period from stolon formation through sprouting. In addition to these developmental stages, different tissues were analysed to assess tissue specificity and various controls were incorporated to determine process specificity. In total around 18000 transcript derived cDNA fragments (TDFs) were visualised from which circa 2600 were included in a statistical analysis allowing general conclusions about gene expression during development. More than 200 process specific TDFs were isolated and sequenced throughout the potato tuber life-cycle. The sequence similarities of these TDFs to known genes give an insight into the kinds of processes occurring during tuberisation, dormancy and sprouting.
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  • 72
    ISSN: 1615-3146
    Keywords: Key Words Spinal cord compression ; Autoradiography ; Blood flow ; ATP ; Glucose ; Lactate ; Bioluminescence ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Many data are available concerning spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) and metabolism on various models and timing after spinal cord injury, however, detailed information on their exact relationship in the same injury model is lacking. This relationship is a crucial factor in the understanding of the pathophysiology of spinal cord trauma. Rats were subjected to lumbar laminectomy or lumbar spinal cord compression trauma. 3 hours later, changes in SCBF were evaluated autoradiographically and changes in ATP, glucose and lactate levels were analyzed using substrate-specific bioluminescence techniques. Measurements were performed at the lesion site (segment L4), adjacent segments (L3 and L5) and at remote thoracic segments (Th8 to Th9). Laminectomy alone did not change SCBF, both in thoracic and lumbar segments. In contrast, ATP levels were significantly reduced and lactate levels were increased at the lesion site and in adjacent lumbar segments at 3 hours after laminectomy, whereas glucose levels were not significantly changed. In animal subjected to additional compression trauma, SCBF was significantly reduced in segments L3, L4 and L5 paralleled by a significant ATP reduction and lactate increase. Glucose levels did not differ significantly from controls 3 hours after compression injury. This metabolic profile was also reflected in the remote thoracic segments. In contrast, SCBF was not reduced in thoracic segments of traumatized animals. The observation that ATP was already significantly reduced and lactate increased in laminectomized segments and in remote thoracic regions after trauma signals that metabolic changes are sensitive indicators to spinal stress. The fact that posttraumatic metabolic profile differs from the pattern of hemodynamic and metabolic changes induced by ischemia, suggests posttraumatic mediators may be involved in the different regulation of the energy producing machinery.
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  • 73
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    European journal of applied physiology 83 (2000), S. 310-319 
    ISSN: 1439-6327
    Keywords: Key words Motor unit ; Mechanomyography ; Evoked contraction ; Medial gastrocnemius muscle ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Acoustic phenomena accompanying contractions of single motor units (MUs) have previously received little attention. Therefore, in the present study, the mechanomyographic (MMG) signals during evoked contractions of single MUs have been recorded from the medial gastrocnemius muscle of the rat. A piezoelectric transducer immersed in a paraffin-oil pool was used for the measurement of these signals. Muscle fibre action potentials, tension and MMG were recorded in parallel during twitch (the weakest) and fused tetanic (the strongest) MU contractions. It was observed that the onset of the MMG signals was coincident with the beginning of the increase in tension for both the twitch and tetanus. Weaker MMG signals than those accompanying the beginning of the first phase of the fused tetanus were seen during the beginning of the relaxation after tetanic contraction. During contraction and relaxation, MMG signals were characterised by the reverse-direction of the first extreme phase, positive and negative, respectively. No MMG signals were observed when the tension was constant during the fused tetanus. The amplitude of MMG signals was correlated with both the tension increase and the velocity of tension increase during both the twitch and the fused tetanus. The strongest MUs (fast fatiguable) generated MMG signals of the highest amplitude. MMG signals were not detected for some of the weakest slow MUs (with tension increases of ≤2 mN). These results indicate a strong correlation between the MMG and the change of tension. Therefore, we believe that MMG signals are generated by muscle deformation that occurs during the contraction of MU muscle fibres. We conclude that the number of active muscle fibres, their topography, and their localisation in relation to the muscle surface (which is variable for different types of MUs) influence these MMG phenomena.
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  • 74
    ISSN: 1573-6768
    Keywords: aging ; Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase ; Drosophila melanogaster ; gene expression ; wingless
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In the oxidative stress hypothesis of aging therandom accumulation of oxidative damage over time ispostulated to cause aging. The pace at whichoxidative damage accrues determines the rate of aging,but it is less clear how the accumulation of randomdamage could cause the stereotypic pattern of aging. It has been proposed that oxidative damage induceschanges in gene expression, translating a random inputof damage into a patterned output. In support of thiswe show that in adult Drosophila melanogaster,with a deficiency in the anti-oxidant enzyme Cu, Znsuperoxide dismutase (Sod), an increase in oxidativestress, and a shortened life span, there isacceleration in the normal age-related temporalpattern of wingless gene expression. Theacceleration in the temporal pattern of winglessgene expression is proportional to the shortened lifespan suggesting that the shortened life span of Soddeficient animals is due, not to an abnormalpathological process, but to an increase in the rateof aging.
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  • 75
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    Annals of biomedical engineering 28 (2000), S. 128-134 
    ISSN: 1573-9686
    Keywords: Hippocampus ; Vigilance states ; Paired-pulse ; Dentate gyrus ; Dentate granule cells ; Evoked response ; Rat ; In vivo studies ; Perforant path ; Maturation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine , Technology
    Notes: Abstract This study examined the effect of normal development and vigilance state on the modulation of dentate granule cell activity in the freely moving rat at 15, 30, and 90 days of age across three vigilance states: quiet waking, slow-wave sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep. Using paired-pulse stimulation, the paired-pulse index (PPI) was obtained for the dentate evoked field potentials elicited by the stimulation of the medial perforant path. Although significant differences in PPI values were observed during development, no significant vigilance state related changes were obtained. Preweaning infant rats, i.e., 15-day old, exhibited significantly less early (interpulse intervals, IPI= 20–50 ms) and late (IPI = 300–1000 ms) inhibition, and less facilitation (IPI = 50–150 ms) when compared to the 90-day old adult rats during all three vigilance states. PPI values obtained from the 30-day old group fell intermediate between the 15- and 90-day old animals. These changes in PPI values provide a quantitative measure of changes in the modulation of dentate granule cell excitability during normal maturation. They can now can be used to evaluate the impact of various insults, such as prenatal protein malnutrition or neonatal stress, on hippocampal development. © 2000 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC00: 8717Nn, 8719La, 8719Nn
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  • 76
    ISSN: 1573-9686
    Keywords: Heart ; Left ventricle ; LV contractility ; ESPVR ; Pig ; Rat ; Magnetic resonance imaging
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine , Technology
    Notes: Abstract The end systolic pressure–volume relation (ESPVR) has been shown to be a relatively load independent measure of left ventricular (LV) contractility. Recently, several single-beat ESPVR computation methods have been developed, enabling the quantification of LV contractility without the need to alter vascular loading conditions on the heart. Using a single-beat ESPVR method, which has been validated previously in humans and assumes that normalized elastance is constant between individuals of a species, we studied the effects of myocardial infarction on LV contractility in two species, the rat and the pig. In our studies, LV pressure was acquired invasively and LV volume determined noninvasively with magnetic resonance imaging, at one week postinfarction in pigs and at 12 weeks postinfarction in rats. Normalized systolic elastance curves in both animal species were not statistically different from that of humans. Also, the slope of the ESPVR $$\left( {E_{es} } \right)$$ decreased significantly following infarction in both species, while the volume-axis intercept $$\left( {V_0 } \right)$$ was unaffected. These results indicate that a single-beat ESPVR method can be used to measure the inotropic response of the heart to myocardial infarction, and that the basis for this method (i.e., constant normalized elastance) is applicable to a variety of mammalian species. © 2000 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC00: 8719Uv, 8761Lh, 8719Hh, 8719Rr, 8719Ff
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  • 77
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    Annals of biomedical engineering 28 (2000), S. 1101-1115 
    ISSN: 1573-9686
    Keywords: Time–frequency analysis ; Coherence ; Cross correlation ; Nonstationary persistent signals ; Central pattern generator ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine , Technology
    Notes: Abstract We present a novel time-varying phase spectrum (TVPS) method to quantify the dynamics of coevolution of two persistent nonstationary coupled signals. Based on the TVPS, an instantaneous intersignal phase shift is defined within the primary frequency range in which the two signals are highly correlated. The TVPS is estimated using a fixed-window method or an adaptive-window method. In the latter method, the window length changes dynamically and automatically as a function of change in frequency of the signals. The effects of altering window types and lengths on the accuracy of the estimation of the primary phase shift is assessed by analyzing synthesized linear chirp signals with decaying amplitude and constant relative phase shift or decaying amplitude and changing relative phase shifts. The methods developed are also used for determining the evolution of the primary phase shift among ventral root activities during fictive locomotion in an in vitro rat spinal cord preparation. The analyses indicate that the TVPS method in conjunction with the determination of the primary frequency range, allows determination of both the evolution of the coupling strength and the evolution of the phase shift between two persistent nonstationary rhythmic signals in the joint time–frequency domain. An adaptive window reduces the estimation bias and the estimation variability. © 2000 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC00: 0230-f, 8780Tq
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  • 78
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: gene expression ; germination ; NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase ; Pseudotsuga menziesii
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract NADH-cytochrome P450 is a key enzyme that transfers electrons from NADPH to the cytochrome P450 family of enzymes. To begin to determine the regulation of CPR gene expression and enzyme activity in Douglas-fir a full-length cDNA was isolated from a seedling λZAP cDNA library and the ORF was used to develop a synthetic CPR-peptide-based antiserum. Northern blot analysis indicated CPR expression was regulated both developmentally prior to seed maturation and during germination, and differentially in the cotyledons, radicle and megagametophyte of seed and seedling tissues. The CPR-peptide antiserum detected a single CPR in seed and seedling microsomes analyzed by western blot of two-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gels. In microsomal extracts from whole seeds and seedlings, the amount of CPR protein remained constant while NADPH:cytochrome c reductase activity increased during stratification, germination and early seedling development. In contrast to cotyledons and megagametophyte, the level of CPR protein detected in radicles was higher than expected when compared to the amount of CPR transcript.
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  • 79
    ISSN: 1573-5036
    Keywords: ammonium ; birch ; gene expression ; nia promoter ; nitrate ; nitrate reductase
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
    Notes: Abstract A 1535 bp promoter of the nitrate reductase gene (nia) from birch (Betula pendula) and a series of 5′ deletions were fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene and introduced into Nicotiana plumbaginifolia. In transgenic plants the NR promoter sequences directed strong GUS expression in the root epidermal hair cells, and in phloem cells of leaf and stem vascular tissue. The NR promoter confers also a significant stimulation of the GUS gene expression by nitrate. These findings might indicate that nitrate flow is one of the signals involved into tissue and cell specific expression of the NR promoter GUS fusions.
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  • 80
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    Plant and soil 226 (2000), S. 219-225 
    ISSN: 1573-5036
    Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizas ; gene expression ; Glomus mosseae ; nutrient transport processes ; plasma membrane H+-ATPases
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
    Notes: Abstract The activity of H+-ATPases of plant and fungi generates an electrochemical gradient of H+ across the cell plasma membrane that drives a number of secondary transport systems, including those responsible for the translocation of cations, anions, amino acids and sugars. During the last years, several studies have been aimed at elucidating the role of plasma membrane H+-ATPases in the nutrient exchange processes taking place between the plant and the fungus in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. This paper reviews present knowledge about plasma membrane H+-ATPases and experimental evidence supporting the involvement of H+-ATPases of both organisms in the bidirectional transport of nutrients between partners. Molecular strategies that will provide further information on the function and regulation of plasma membrane H+-ATPases in AM symbiosis are presented and discussed.
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  • 81
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    Plant growth regulation 32 (2000), S. 27-39 
    ISSN: 1573-5087
    Keywords: ethylene ; gene expression ; jasmonic acid ; reactive oxygen species ; salicylic acid ; ultraviolet-B radiation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
    Notes: Abstract Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer is leadingto an increase in ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 280–320 nm)radiation reaching the earth's surface. This hasraised interest in the possible consequence ofincreased UV-B levels on plant growth and developmentand the mechanisms underlying these responses. Although the effects of UV-B are now wellcharacterised at the physiological level, little isknown about the cellular and molecular mechanismsinvolved. Recent studies have shown that UV-B affectsa number of important physiological processes, such asphotosynthesis, through effects on gene expression. In addition, induction of a number of defensemechanisms, such as production of UV-B screeningpigments, increase in antioxidant enzymes andinduction of pathogenesis-related proteins, are alsomediated at the level of gene expression. The signaltransduction pathways by which UV-B regulates geneexpression are at present poorly understood. Thestudies carried out to date have, however, indicateda pivotal role for reactive oxygen species as keysecond messengers acting up-stream of a number ofpathways involving the plant hormones salicylic acid,jasmonic acid and ethylene. The transduction pathwaysidentified to date and the role of intermediates inregulating tolerance to UV-B damage are discussed inthis review.
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  • 82
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    Plant growth regulation 31 (2000), S. 35-42 
    ISSN: 1573-5087
    Keywords: β-1,4-endoglucanase ; ethylene ; fruit ; gene expression ; polygalacturonase
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
    Notes: Abstract Fruitlet abscission during fruit development is due to the activation ofpre-differentiated abscission zones (AZs) located between twig andpedicel, and/or pedicel and pericarp. Major advances on biochemicaland molecular aspects are related to β-1,4-endoglucanase (EG) andpolygalacturonase (PG), two cell hydrolases involved in the cell walldisassemblement responsible for fruit shedding. AZ activation isaccompanied by an increase in activity and transcript accumulation ofone or both enzymes. Expression of PG genes specifically related toabscission has been found in tomato flower AZ. In peach, an EG genehighly expressed in leaf and fruitlet AZs has been isolated. AZactivation is preceded by an induction of ethylene biosynthesis,paralleled by a stimulation of ACO activity and transcript accumulation.Ethylene, besides a dramatic stimulation of PG and EG, up or downregulates several other abscission related genes. The specificexpression of genes encoding for ethylene receptors in the AZ wouldsupport the hypothesis that fruitlet AZ specificity may depend on theability of this region to sense ethylene.
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  • 83
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana ; β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene ; gene expression ; isoprenoids ; mevalonate kinase ; transgenic plants
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Mevalonate kinase (MVK), the enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of mevalonate to produce mevalonate 5-phosphate, is considered as a potential regulatory enzyme of the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway. The Arabidopsis thaliana MVK gene corresponding to the MVK cDNA previously isolated has been cloned and characterized. RNAse protection analysis indicated that the expression of the MVK gene generates three mRNA populations with 5′ ends mapping 203, 254 and 355 nt upstream of the MVK ATG start codon. Northern blot analysis showed that the MVK mRNA accumulates preferentially in roots and inflorescences. Histochemical analysis, with transgenic A. thaliana plants containing a translational fusion of a 1.8 kb fragment of the 5′ region of the MVK gene to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene, indicated that the MVK 5′-flanking region directs widespread expression of the GUS gene throughout development, although the highest levels of GUS activity are detected in roots (meristematic region) and flowers (sepals, petals, anthers, style and stigmatic papillae). The expression pattern of the MVK gene suggests that the role of the encoded MVK is the production of a general pool of mevalonate-5-phosphate for the synthesis of different classes of isoprenoids involved in both basic and specialized plant cell functions. Functional promoter deletion analysis in transfected A. thaliana protoplasts indicated that regulatory elements between positions −295 and −194 of the MVK 5′-flanking region are crucial for high-level MVK gene expression.
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  • 84
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: gene expression ; hypersensitive responses ; plant defense responses ; salicylic acid ; tobacco mosaic virus ; WRKY DNA-binding proteins
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract A pathogen- and salicylic acid (SA)-induced DNA-binding activity has been recently identified in tobacco that is related to a previously identified class of WRKY DNA-binding proteins. To identify members of the WRKY gene family associated with this DNA-binding activity, we have attempted to isolate those WRKY genes that are induced by pathogen infection. Using a domain-specific differential display procedure, we have isolated two tobacco WRKY genes, tWRKY3 and tWRKY4, that are rapidly induced in resistant tobacco plants after infection by tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Both tWRK3 and tWRKY4 encode proteins with a single WRKY domain that contain the conserved WRKYGQK sequence. Unlike other isolated WRKY proteins that contain the Cys2His2 zinc motif, tWRKY3 and tWRKY4 appear to contain the Cys2HisCys zinc motif. Nonetheless, both tWRKY3 and tWRKY4 are capable of binding DNA molecules with the W-box (TTGAC) element recognized by other WRKY proteins. Expression of the tWRKY3 and tWRKY4 genes could be rapidly induced not only by TMV infection but also by SA or its biologically active analogues that are capable of inducing pathogenesis-related genes and enhanced resistance. Interestingly, induction of both genes by TMV infection was still observed in resistant tobacco plants expressing the bacterial salicylate hydroxylase gene (nahG), although the levels of induction appeared to be reduced. Identification of pathogen- and SA-induced genes encoding WRKY DNA-binding proteins should facilitate future studies on the regulation and functions of this novel group of DNA-binding proteins.
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  • 85
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: gene expression ; glutamine synthetase ; legume-Rhizobium symbiosis ; nitrogen assimilation ; root nodules
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract In this paper we have studied the localisation of expression of the two functional cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS) genes, MtGSa and MtGSb, in root nodules of the model legume Medicago truncatula. We have used a combination of different techniques, including immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridisation and promoter β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusions in transgenic plants, to provide the means of correlating gene expression with protein localisation. These studies revealed that transcriptional regulation (mRNA synthesis) plays an important part in controlling GS protein levels in nodules of M. truncatula. The major locations of cytosolic GS mRNA and protein are the central tissue, the parenchyma and the pericycle of the vascular bundles. These findings indicate that in nodules, GS might be involved in other physiological processes in addition to the primary assimilation of ammonia released by the bacterial nitrogenase. The two genes show different but overlapping patterns of expression with MtGSa being the major gene expressed in the infected cells of the nodule. Promoter fragments of 2.6 kb and 3.1 kb of MtGSa and MtGSb, respectively, have been sequenced and primer extension revealed that the MtGSb promoter is expressed in nodules from an additional start site that is not used in roots. Generally these fragments in the homologous transgenic system were sufficient to drive GUS expression in almost all the tissues and cell types where GS proteins and transcripts are located except that the MtGSa promoter fragment did not express GUS highly in the nodule infected cells. These results indicate that the cis-acting regulatory elements responsible for infected-cell expression are missing from the MtGSa promoter fragment.
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  • 86
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: epidermis ; gene expression ; glycine-rich protein ; lipid transfer protein ; proline-rich protein ; stomata
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Guard cells are specialized and metabolically active cells which arise during the differentiation of the epidermis. Using Nicotiana glauca epidermal peels as a source of purified guard cells, we have constructed a cDNA library from guard cell RNA. In order to isolate genes that are predominantly expressed in guard cells, we performed a differential screen of this library, comparing the hybridization of a radiolabeled cDNA probe synthesized from guard cell RNA to that from a mesophyll cell cDNA probe. Sixteen clones were isolated based on their greater level of hybridization with the guard cell probe. Of these, eight had high homology to lipid transfer protein (LTP), two were similar to glycine-rich protein (GRP), and one displayed high homology to proline-rich proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPRP2, AtPRP4) and from potato guard cells (GPP). Northern analysis confirmed that one or more NgLTP genes, NgGRP1, and NgGPP1 are all differentially expressed, with highest levels in guard cells, and low or undetectable levels in mesophyll cells and in roots. In addition, all are induced to some degree in drought-stressed guard cells. NgLTP and NgGRP1 expression was localized by in situ hybridization to the guard cells and pavement cells in the epidermis. NgGRP1 expression was also detected in cells of the vasculature. Genomic Southern analysis indicated that LTP is encoded by a family of highly similar genes in N. glauca. This work has identified members of a subset of epidermis- and guard cell-predominant genes, whose protein products are likely to contribute to the unique properties acquired by guard cells and pavement cells during differentiation.
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  • 87
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: chitinase function ; flower-predominant ; gene expression ; molecular cloning ; monocotyledon ; promoter
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract A flower-predominant cDNA for a gene, termed OsChia1;175, was isolated from a cDNA library of rice pistils. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that the OsChia1;175 gene is highly expressed in floral organs (pistils, stamens and lodicules at the heading stage) but not or at an extremely low level in vegetative organs. OsChia1;175 encodes a protein that consists of 340 amino acid residues, and the putative mature protein shows 52% to 63% amino acid identity to class I chitinases of rice or other plants. The phylogenetic tree shows that the OsChia1;175 protein is a new type of plant class I chitinase in rice. The expression of OsChia1;175 in vegetative organs is not induced by several chemicals, UV, and wounding. The soluble putative mature OsChia1;175 protein expressed in Escherichia coli exhibited chitinase activity in the assay with colloidal chitin as a substrate. Genomic Southern analysis revealed that the OsChia1;175 gene was organized as a low-copy gene family. The rice genomic library was screened and a genome clone corresponding to OsChia1;175 was isolated. The transcription start sites of the OsChia1;175 gene were mapped by primer extension analysis. The 1.2 kb putative promoter region of the OsChia1;175 gene was fused to the GUS (β-glucuronidase) gene, and this chimeric gene was introduced to rice by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The flower-predominant gene expression was identified also in the transgenic rice plants. The high promoter activity was detected in the stigmas, styles, stamens and lodicules in transgenic plants. The possible functions of OsChia1;175 are discussed.
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  • 88
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: anaerobiosis ; electrophoretic mobility shift assays ; gene expression ; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ; Nicotiana tabacum ; transgenic plants
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The promoter of the maize glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 4 gene (GapC4) confers strong, specific and ubiquitous anaerobic reporter gene expression in tobacco. To identify factors required for heterologous anaerobic gene expression, 19 progressive 5′ and 3′ promoter deletions were linked to a chimeric GapC4 TATA box-β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene construct and transformed into tobacco. In all transgenic lines aerobic expression values were in the range obtained for negative controls while histochemical GUS assays reveal some weak expression in roots only. Anaerobic induction of about 100-fold to more than 1000-fold above unspecific background is mediated by a region of about 190 bp of the GapC4 promoter. Anaerobic reporter gene induction strongly decreases upon deletion of a 20 bp fragment from −286 to −266 relative to the transcription start point. This fragment harbours putative cis-acting sequences. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with a 50 bp fragment harbouring these cis sequences reveal a high-mobility complex that is formed with nuclear extracts from aerobic and anaerobic leaf tissue while an additional low-mobility complex is anaerobiosis-specific. The formation of the high-mobility complex requires the sequence GTGGGCCCG. The 50 bp fragment alone confers weak and orientation-dependent anaerobic induction to a GapC4 TATA box-β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene.
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  • 89
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    Plant molecular biology 43 (2000), S. 659-675 
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: A-type cyclins ; cell cycle ; gene expression ; regulation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Although the basic mechanisms which control the progression through the cell cycle appear to be conserved in all higher eukaryotes, the unique features of the plant developmental programme must be somehow reflected in a plant-specific regulation of the factors which control cell division. In the past few years, considerable progress has been achieved in identifying the major components of the cell cycle machinery in plants, especially the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their regulatory subunits, the cyclins. The question of how these components direct expression of specific genes at specific stages of the cell cycle, and how they are themselves regulated, constitutes a challenge for the present and for the years to come. This review summarizes our current knowledge of a particular class of plant cyclins, the A-type cyclins, which can be further subdivided into three structural groups. The putative functions of these A-type cyclins are discussed in relation to the presence of remarkable motifs in their amino acid sequences, and to their specific transcriptional regulation, protein amount and subcellular localization.
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  • 90
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    Plant molecular biology 44 (2000), S. 73-84 
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: auxin ; Aux/IAA ; dgt ; gene expression ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; signal transduction
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The diageotropica (dgt) mutation has been proposed to affect either auxin perception or responsiveness in tomato plants. It has previously been demonstrated that the expression of one member of the Aux/IAA family of auxin-regulated genes is reduced in dgt plants. Here, we report the cloning of ten new members of the tomato Aux/IAA family by PCR amplification based on conserved protein domains. All of the gene family members except one (LeIAA7) are expressed in etiolated tomato seedlings, although they demonstrate tissue specificity (e.g. increased expression in hypocotyls vs. roots) within the seedling. The wild-type auxin-response characteristics of the expression of these tomato LeIAA genes are similar to those previously described for Aux/IAA family members in Arabidopsis. In dgt seedlings, auxin stimulation of gene expression was reduced in only a subset of LeIAA genes (LeIAA5, 8, 10, and 11), with the greatest reduction associated with those genes with the strongest wild-type response to auxin. The remaining LeIAA genes tested exhibited essentially the same induction levels in response to the hormone in both dgt and wild-type hypocotyls. These results confirm that dgt plants can perceive auxin and suggest that a specific step in early auxin signal transduction is disrupted by the dgt mutation.
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  • 91
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana ; calcium-binding protein ; caleosin ; EF-hand ; gene expression ; lipid bodies ; vesicles
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract We have previously identified a rice gene encoding a 27 kDa protein with a single Ca2+-binding EF-hand and a putative membrane anchor. We report here similar genes termed caleosins, CLO, in other plants and fungi; they comprise a multigene family of at least five members in Arabidopsis (AtClo1–5). Northern hybridization demonstrated that AtClo2–4 mRNAs levels were low in various tissues, while AtClo1 mRNA levels were high in developing embryos and mature seeds. Analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the GUS reporter under control of the AtClo1 promoter showed strong levels of expression in developing embryos and also in root tip cells. Antibodies raised against AtCLO1 were used to detect caleosin in cellular fractions of Arabidopsis and rapeseed. This indicated that caleosins are a novel class of lipid body proteins, which may also be associated with an ER subdomain.
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  • 92
    ISSN: 1573-6881
    Keywords: Mitochondrial biogenesis ; copy number ; gene expression ; mitochondrial transcription factor ; nuclear—mitochondrial communication ; stimulation ; endurance training
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Physics
    Notes: Abstract Mitochondrial proliferation was studied in chronically stimulated rabbit skeletal muscle over a period of 50 days. After this time, subunits of COX had increased about fourfold. Corresponding mRNAs, encoded on mitochondrial DNA as well as on nuclear genes, were unchanged when related to total tissue RNA, however, they were elevated two- to fivefold when the massive increase of ribosomes per unit mass of muscle was taken into account. The same was true for the mRNA encoding mitochondrial transcription factor A. Surprisingly, tissue levels of mtTFA protein were reduced about twofold, together with mitochondrial DNA. In conclusion, mito chondria are able to maintain high rates of mitochondrial transcription even in the presence of reduced mtTFA protein and mtDNA levels. Therefore, stimulated mtTFA gene expression accompanies stimulated mitochondrial transcription, as in other models, but it is not sufficient for an increase of mtDNA copy number and other, yet unknown, factors have to be postulated.
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  • 93
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    Biotechnology letters 22 (2000), S. 151-155 
    ISSN: 1573-6776
    Keywords: antibacterial peptide ; cecropin ; gene expression ; mammalian cell
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
    Notes: Abstract We have stably transfected a Chinese hamster lung cell line V79 with a recombinant gene construct where the Drosophila cecropin A2 cDNA is under the control of Rous sarcoma virus, long terminal repeat (RSV LTR). We have not only been able to demonstrate expression at the RNA level by Northern analysis but also have detected an unprocessed peptide using an antiserum raised against Hyalophora cecropin.
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  • 94
    ISSN: 1573-6857
    Keywords: dendritic polymer ; reporter gene ; gene expression ; transfection
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Cyclic core dendritic polymer is a new type of synthetic polymers. The ability of generation 4 of the dendrimer with a core of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane to function as an effective gene delivery vector was investigated. Results from fluorescence in situhybridization (FISH) show that the pCH 110 plasmid DNA was transferred into human small intestine cancer metastatic ascites (HICMA) cells induced by this kind of dendrimer as a vector. The transferred LacZ, GFP and luciferase genes were highly expressed in the transfected HICMA, COS-7 and 293 cells. These studies demonstrate that the dendrimer can transfect mammalian cells in vitrowhich offers an alternatively efficient method for mammalian gene transfer.
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  • 95
    ISSN: 1438-8359
    Keywords: Key words: Halothane ; Dopamine release ; Dopamine uptake ; Microdialysis ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Purpose. In our previous microdialysis study, sevoflurane or isoflurane anesthesia significantly decreased the extracellular level of dopamine in rat striatum in vivo. On the other hand, other investigators demonstrated that halothane anesthesia either increased or did not affect the extracellular dopamine level. To explore the differences among these volatile anesthetics, the effects of halothane and nitrous oxide on the striatal dopamine level were reinvestigated. Methods. Halothane alone, nitrous oxide with or without halothane, or drugs known to affect the dopaminergic pathway were administered to rats. Microdialysates were collected every 20 min and directly applied to an on-line high-performance liquid chromatograph without any pretreatment. The effects of halothane on respiratory and cardiovascular variables were monitored. Results. General anesthesia with halothane alone de-creased the dialysate (extracellular) concentration of dopamine but increased that of dopamine metabolites. Nitrous oxide alone slightly increased dopamine metabolites in dialysates but did not affect the halothane-induced decrease in extracellular dopamine. Apomorphine and haloperidol reproduced reported results, confirming the adequacy of our methodology. Nomifensine- or methamphetamine-induced increase in extracellular dopamine was augmented by halothane. Conclusion. These results suggest that halothane po-tently enhances striatal dopamine release and activates the reuptake or metabolic process, which is consistent with our previous results for sevoflurane or isoflurane. Volatile anesthetics interfere with dopamine regulation, at least in the rat striatum.
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  • 96
    ISSN: 1573-2568
    Keywords: keratinocyte growth factor ; KGF receptor ; gene expression ; intestine ; nutrition
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the regulation of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and KGF receptor mRNAs by diet and KGF treatment in rat intestine. Fasting for three days up-regulated KGF and KGF receptor mRNA levels in ileum and increased KGF receptor mRNA expression in colon. KGF and KGF receptor mRNA levels returned toward control values with ad libitum refeeding but remained elevated when refeeding was limited to 25% of ad libitum intake. KGF treatment during nutrient repletion did not alter intestinal KGF mRNA levels but increased KGF receptor mRNA abundance in ileum and colon. We conclude that the increase in KGF and KGF receptor mRNAs induced by malnutrition may be an adaptive response to attenuate gut mucosal atrophy in this setting. The gut-trophic effects of KGF treatment may be mediated, in part, by up-regulation of the KGF receptor mRNA in small bowel and colon.
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  • 97
    ISSN: 1572-9699
    Keywords: differentiation ; FtsZ ; gene expression ; septum ; SsgA ; transmission electron microscopy
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract This paper describes the effects of increased expression of the cell division genes ftsZ, ftsQ, and ssgA on the development of both solid- and liquid-grown mycelium of Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces lividans. Over-expression of ftsZ in S. coelicolor M145 inhibited aerial mycelium formation and blocked sporulation. Such deficient sporulation was also observed for the ftsZ mutant. Over-expression of ftsZ also inhibited morphological differentiation in S. lividans 1326, although aerial mycelium formation was less reduced. Furthermore, antibiotic production was increased in both strains, and in particular the otherwise dormant actinorhodin biosynthesis cluster of S. lividans was activated in liquid- and solid-grown cultures. No significant alterations were observed when the gene dosage of ftsQ was increased. Analysis by transmission electron microscopy of an S. coelicolor strain over-expressing ssgA showed that septum formation had strongly increased in comparison to wild-type S. coelicolor, showing that SsgA clearly influences Streptomyces cell division. The morphology of the hyphae was affected such that irregular septa were produced with a significantly wider diameter, thereby forming spore-like compartments. This suggests that ssgA can induce a process similar to submerged sporulation in Streptomyces strains that otherwise fail to do so. A working model is proposed for the regulation of septum formation and of submerged sporulation.
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  • 98
    ISSN: 1572-994X
    Keywords: bacteriophage MB78 ; contiguous ORF ; unusual start codons ; genome analysis ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Four proteins of bacteriophage MB78 having apparent molecular weights as 35, 14, 21 and 16 kDa are expressed from 3.9 kb SalI-HindIII fragment located almost in the middle of the phage genome. Analysis of the sequence supported by some experimental evidences suggest that these four proteins are expressed from polycistronic message without any intercistronic gap. Stop and start codons of consecutive ORFs overlap and rare initiation codons are used. Computer analysis of the sequence suggests the presence of two more open reading frames within the ORFs of 35 and 16 kDa proteins but in the opposite orientation, i.e. in the complementary strand.
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  • 99
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    Plant growth regulation 30 (2000), S. 193-200 
    ISSN: 1573-5087
    Keywords: ACC synthase ; ACC oxidase ; ethylene ; fruit ; gene expression ; regulation ; ripening
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
    Notes: Abstract Progress in ethylene regulating fruit ripening concerning itsperception and signal transduction and expression of ACC synthaseand ACC oxidase genes is reviewed. ACC synthase and ACC oxidasehave been characterized and their genes cloned from various fruittissues. Both ACC synthase and ACC oxidase are encoded bymultigene families, and their activities are associated withfruit ripening. In climacteric fruit, the transition toautocatalytic ethylene production appears to be due to a seriesof events in which ACC sythase and ACC oxidase genes have beenexpressed developmentally. Differential expression of ACCsynthase and ACC oxidase gene family members is probably involvedin such a transition that ultimately controls the onset of fruitripening.In comparison to ACC synthase and ACC oxidase, less is knownabout ethylene perception and signal transduction because of thedifficulties in isolating and purifying ethylene receptors orethylene-binding proteins using biochemical methods. However, theidentification of the Nr tomato ripening mutant as anethylene receptor, the applications of new potent anti-ethylenecompounds and the generation of transgenic fruits with reducedethylene production have provided evidence that ethylenereceptors regulate a defined set of genes which are expressedduring fruit ripening. The properties and functions of ethylenereceptors, such as ETR1, are being elucidated.Application of molecular genetics, in combination withbiochemical approaches, will enable us to better understand theindividual steps leading from ethylene perception and signaltransduction and expression of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase genefamily member to the physiological responses.
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  • 100
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    Genetic resources and crop evolution 47 (2000), S. 135-140 
    ISSN: 1573-5109
    Keywords: Aegilops tauschii ; gene expression ; genetic inheritance ; Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici ; rust resistance ; synthetic hexaploid wheats
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
    Notes: Abstract A collection of 164 Aegilops tauschii accessions, obtained from Gatersleben, Germany, was screened for reaction to leaf rust under controlled greenhouse conditions. We have also evaluated a selection of synthetic hexaploid wheats, produced by hybridizing Ae. tauschii with tetraploid durum wheats, as well as the first and second generation of hybrids between some of these resistant synthetic hexaploid wheats and susceptible Triticum aestivum cultivars. Eighteen (11%) accessions of Ae. tauschii were resistant to leaf rust among which 1 was immune, 13 were highly resistant and 4 were moderately resistant. Six of the synthetic hexaploid wheats expressed a high level of leaf rust resistance while four exhibited either a reduced or complete susceptibility compared to their corresponding diploid parent. This suppression of resistance at the hexaploid level suggests the presence of suppressor genes in the A and/or B genomes of the T. turgidum parent. Inheritance of leaf rust resistance from the intercrosses with susceptible bread wheats revealed that resistance was dominant over susceptibility. Leaf rust resistance from the three synthetics (syn 101, syn 701 and syn 901) was effectively transmitted as a single dominant gene and one synthetic (syn 301) possessed two different dominant genes for resistance.
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