The amount of acetylcholinesterase on the parasite surface reflects the differential sensitivity of schistosome species to metrifonate

Parasitology ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Camacho ◽  
R. Tarrab-Hazdai ◽  
B. Espinoza ◽  
R. Arnon ◽  
A. Agnew
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Ache Activity ◽  
Schistosoma Haematobium ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
Molecular Form ◽  
Differential Sensitivity ◽  
Molecular Forms ◽  
Ache Inhibitors ◽  
Schistosoma Bovis

SUMMARYAcetylcholinesterase (AChE) is present in all stages of the life-cycle of schistosomes and is located in muscle and on the surface of the parasite. Metrifonate is a drug that inhibits AChE. We compared the AChEs from three schistosome species (Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma bovis) that have different susceptibilities to metrifonate in vivo. Sensitivities to AChE inhibitors were similar. The subunits of AChE were 110 kDa and 76 kDa and the dominant molecular form of AChE was a G2 form in all three species. This was the major form on the tegument while additional molecular forms were associated with the internal tissues. Differences in relative amounts of AChE activity between these species were found in the adults but not in the schistosomula. At the adult stage the major difference between species lay in the relative amounts of AChE activity in their teguments. S. haematobium teguments carried 20 times and S. bovis 6·9 times the activity present on S. mansoni teguments. These quantitative differences associate with the relative sensitivities of these species to metrifonate.

Chronic enhancement of neuromuscular activity increases acetylcholinesterase gene expression in skeletal muscle

1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (4) ◽  
pp. C856-C862 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sveistrup ◽  
R. Y. Chan ◽  
B. J. Jasmin
Keyword(s):  
Ache Activity ◽  
Wheel Running ◽  
Compensatory Hypertrophy ◽  
Molecular Forms ◽  
Plantaris Muscle ◽  
Neuromuscular Activation ◽  
Neuromuscular Activity ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Gene ◽  
Voluntary Wheel

We determined levels of mRNA encoding acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in muscles of rats subjected to chronic enhancement of neuromuscular activation. After 8 wk of voluntary wheel running, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles displayed a 72% increase in total AChE activity as a result of a selective threefold increase in the G4 content. Soleus muscles, on the other hand, exhibited a 30% decrease in A12 while displaying a small (33%) increase in total AChE activity. These enzymatic adaptations were paralleled by increases in the levels of AChE mRNAs in both EDL (32%; P < 0.03) and soleus (42%; P < 0.02) muscles. In addition, compensatory hypertrophy of the plantaris muscle increased total AChE activity by 75%. This change was reflected by an elevation in all AChE molecular forms with A12 (89%) and A8 (179%) showing the most prominent increases. Similar to exercise-trained muscles, hypertrophied plantaris muscles displayed an increase in AChE transcripts (25%; P < 0.04). These results indicate that increases in neuromuscular activity modulate expression of the AChE gene in vivo and suggest the involvement of pretranslational regulatory mechanisms in the adaptive response of AChE to enhanced neuromuscular activation.

scholarly journals Effects of Rivastigmine and Donepezil on Brain Acetylcholine Levels in Acetylcholinesterase-Deficient Mice

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Runa S. Naik ◽  
Joachim Hartmann ◽  
Cornelia Kiewert ◽  
Ellen G. Duysen ◽  
Oksana Lockridge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Stage ◽  
Ache Activity ◽  
In Vivo Microdialysis ◽  
Selective Inhibitor ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Extracellular Concentration ◽  
Ache Inhibitors ◽  
Brain Acetylcholine ◽  
Deficient Mice

Purpose. Alzheimer´s disease is characterized by a dysfunction of central cholinergic systems and is treated by inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This study tests the effect of two AChE inhibitors in therapeutic use, rivastigmine and donepezil, in mice that are devoid of AChE (AChE-/- mice). Rivastigmine is an inhibitor of both AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) whereas donepezil is a selective inhibitor of AChE. Methods. We have used in vivo microdialysis to investigate the effects of the two drugs on the extracellular concentration of acetylcholine (ACh) in the hippocampus of AChE-/- mice. Results. Extracellular ACh levels in the hippocampus were 30-fold elevated in AChE-/- mice compared to wild-type (AChE+/+) animals. Infusion of rivastigmine (1 and 10 µM) caused a further doubling of ACh levels in AChE-/- mice within 90-120 min. In contrast, infusion of donepezil (1 µM) did not affect hippocampal ACh levels in AChE-/- mice although it increased ACh levels more than twofold in wild-type mice. Conclusions. In the absence of AChE, rivastigmine enhances the levels of extracellular ACh by inhibiting BChE. This finding may be of therapeutic relevance because BChE activity is preserved, but AChE activity is strongly decreased, in late-stage Alzheimer´s disease.

scholarly journals Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834) as a natural host for Schistosoma haematobium (Bilharz, 1852) Weinland, 1858 x Schistosoma bovis Sonsino, 1876 introgressive hybrids

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris A.E.S. Savassi ◽  
Gauthier Dobigny ◽  
Jonas R. Etougbétché ◽  
Thalasse T. Avocegan ◽  
François T. Quinsou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Definitive Host ◽  
Schistosoma Haematobium ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Introgressive Hybridization ◽  
Mastomys Natalensis ◽  
New Host ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Schistosoma Bovis ◽  
Bulinus Globosus ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Rdna

AbstractCercarial emission of schistosomes is a determinant in the transmission to the definitive host and constitutes a good marker to identify which definitive host is responsible for transmission, mainly in introgressive hybridization situations. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that micro-mammals play a role in Schistosoma haematobium, S. bovis, and/or S. haematobium x S. bovis transmission. Small mammal sampling was conducted in seven semi-lacustrine villages of southern Benin. Among the 62 animals trapped, 50 individuals were investigated for Schistosoma adults and eggs: 37 Rattus rattus, 3 Rattus norvegicus, 9 Mastomys natalensis, and 1 Crocidura olivieri. Schistosoma adults were found in four R. rattus and two M. natalensis, with a local prevalence reaching 80% and 50%, respectively. Two cercarial chronotypes were found from Bulinus globosus experimentally infected with miracidia extracted from naturally infected M. natalensis: a late diurnal and nocturnal chronotype, and an early diurnal, late diurnal, and nocturnal chronotype. The cytochrome C oxidase subunit I mtDNA gene of the collected schistosomes (adults, miracidia, and cercariae) belonged to the S. bovis clade. Eleven internal transcribed spacer rDNA profiles were found; four belonged to S. bovis and seven to S. haematobium x S. bovis. These molecular results together with the observed multi-peak chronotypes add M. natalensis as a new host implicated in S. haematobium x S. bovis transmission. We discuss the origin of the new chronotypes which have become more complex with the appearance of several peaks in a 24-h day. We also discuss how the new populations of offspring may optimize intra-host ecological niche, host spectrum, and transmission time period.

scholarly journals Indirect cholinergic activation slows down pancreatic cancer growth and tumor-associated inflammation

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo L. Pfitzinger ◽  
Laura Fangmann ◽  
Kun Wang ◽  
Elke Demir ◽  
Engin Gürlevik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Tumor Stage ◽  
Ache Inhibitors ◽  
Impact On Survival ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ache Expression ◽  
Cholinergic Activation

Abstract Background Nerve-cancer interactions are increasingly recognized to be of paramount importance for the emergence and progression of pancreatic cancer (PCa). Here, we investigated the role of indirect cholinergic activation on PCa progression through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) via clinically available AChE-inhibitors, i.e. physostigmine and pyridostigmine. Methods We applied immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, MTT-viability, invasion, flow-cytometric-cell-cycle-assays, phospho-kinase arrays, multiplex ELISA and xenografted mice to assess the impact of AChE inhibition on PCa cell growth and invasiveness, and tumor-associated inflammation. Survival analyses were performed in a novel genetically-induced, surgically-resectable mouse model of PCa under adjuvant treatment with gemcitabine+/−physostigmine/pyridostigmine (n = 30 mice). Human PCa specimens (n = 39) were analyzed for the impact of cancer AChE expression on tumor stage and survival. Results We discovered a strong expression of AChE in cancer cells of human PCa specimens. Inhibition of this cancer-cell-intrinsic AChE via pyridostigmine and physostigmine, or administration of acetylcholine (ACh), diminished PCa cell viability and invasion in vitro and in vivo via suppression of pERK signaling, and reduced tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration and serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. In the novel genetically-induced, surgically-resectable PCa mouse model, adjuvant co-therapy with AChE blockers had no impact on survival. Accordingly, survival of resected PCa patients did not differ based on tumor AChE expression levels. Patients with higher-stage PCa also exhibited loss of the ACh-synthesizing enzyme, choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT), in their nerves. Conclusion For future clinical trials of PCa, direct cholinergic stimulation of the muscarinic signaling, rather than indirect activation via AChE blockade, may be a more effective strategy.

scholarly journals Biological aspects of Hylesia metapyrrha (Lepidoptera; Saturniidae; Hemileucinae), in laboratory

2007 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Specht ◽  
AC. Formentini ◽  
E. Corseuil
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Incubation Period ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Average Period ◽  
Development Stages ◽  
Behavioral Aspects ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
Guava Leaves

The aim of this work was to study biological aspects and the life cycle of Hylesia Metapyrrha in a laboratory. Laboratorial breeding was made at 25 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 10% UR and 14 hours of photophase, feeding the larvae with guava leaves (Psidium guayava L. - Myrtaceae). Time was evaluated on the days of all the development stages; morphometry was evaluated in millimeters and the pupa’s mass in grams. The eggs were disposed in groups and covered by urticating abdominal hair. The incubation period lasted 52 days. The larvae, with gregarious habits, presented background black coloration, yellowish scoli and two orange longitudinal lines above and below the spiracles, during the development which lasted an average period of 74.59 days and went through seven instars. The pre-pupa and the pupa stages lasted on average 8.82 and 50.56 days, respectively; the female pupae presented a duration, weight and size which was significantly bigger. The adult stage lasted on average 5.50 days with periods of pre, post and oviposition of 2.30, 1.90 and 1.00 days, respectively. This study broadens the knowledge of the immature stages, biological, morphological and behavioral aspects, until then restricted to the morphology and to registers of the occurrence of the adult forms.

scholarly journals Globular and asymmetric acetylcholinesterase in frog muscle basal lamina sheaths.

1986 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 762-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Nicolet ◽  
M Pinçon-Raymond ◽  
F Rieger
Keyword(s):  
Basal Lamina ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Frog Muscle ◽  
Motor Endplate ◽  
Molecular Forms ◽  
Nonionic Detergent ◽  
Plasmic Membrane ◽  
Triton X

After denervation in vivo, the frog cutaneus pectoris muscle can be led to degenerate by sectioning the muscle fibers on both sides of the region rich in motor endplate, leaving, 2 wk later, a muscle bridge containing the basal lamina (BL) sheaths of the muscle fibers (28). This preparation still contains various tissue remnants and some acetylcholine receptor-containing membranes. A further mild extraction by Triton X-100, a nonionic detergent, gives a pure BL sheath preparation, devoid of acetylcholine receptors. At the electron microscope level, this latter preparation is essentially composed of the muscle BL with no attached plasmic membrane and cellular component originating from Schwann cells or macrophages. Acetylcholinesterase is still present in high amounts in this BL sheath preparation. In both preparations, five major molecular forms (18, 14, 11, 6, and 3.5 S) can be identified that have either an asymmetric or a globular character. Their relative amount is found to be very similar in the BL and in the motor endplate-rich region of control muscle. Thus, observations show that all acetylcholinesterase forms can be accumulated in frog muscle BL.

scholarly journals CCK-8 and CCK-58 differ in their effects on nocturnal solid meal pattern in undisturbed rats

2012 ◽  
Vol 303 (8) ◽  
pp. R850-R860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Goebel-Stengel ◽  
Andreas Stengel ◽  
Lixin Wang ◽  
Gordon Ohning ◽  
Yvette Taché ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Molecular Forms ◽  
Reduce Food Intake ◽  
Dark Phase ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Solid Meal ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
And Behavior

Various molecular forms of CCK reduce food intake in rats. Although CCK-8 is the most studied form, we reported that CCK-58 is the only detectable endocrine peptide form in rats. We investigated the dark-phase rat chow intake pattern following injection of CCK-8 and CCK-58. Ad libitum-fed male Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with CCK-8, CCK-58 (0.6, 1.8, and 5.2 nmol/kg), or vehicle. Food intake pattern was assessed during the dark phase using an automated weighing system that allowed continuous undisturbed monitoring of physiological eating behavior. Both CCK-8 and CCK-58 dose dependently reduced 1-h, dark-phase food intake, with an equimolar dose of 1.8 nmol being similarly effective (−49% and −44%). CCK-58 increased the latency to the first meal, whereas CCK-8 did not. The intermeal interval was reduced after CCK-8 (1.8 nmol/kg, −41%) but not after CCK-58. At this dose, CCK-8 increased the satiety ratio by 80% and CCK-58 by 160%, respectively, compared with vehicle. When behavior was assessed manually, CCK-8 reduced locomotor activity (−31%), whereas grooming behavior was increased (+59%). CCK-58 affected neither grooming nor locomotor activity. In conclusion, reduction of food intake by CCK-8 and CCK-58 is achieved by differential modulation of food intake microstructure and behavior. These data highlight the importance of studying the molecular forms of peptides that exist in vivo in tissue and circulation of the animal being studied.

Intracellular distribution of α-galactosidase in leaves of Cucurbita pepo

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (18) ◽  
pp. 1904-1911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Thomas ◽  
John A. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Cucurbita Pepo ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Molecular Size ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Intracellular Distribution ◽  
Molecular Forms ◽  
Enzyme Release ◽  
Enzyme Preparations ◽  
Isolated Protoplasts

The intracellular distribution of α-galactosidase in leaves of Cucurbita pepo was studied at different developmental stages using tissue strips, homogenates, and isolated protoplasts. About 85% of the total activity was found in the 500 g supernatant after tissues were homogenized either in water, in buffer at pH 5.6 or at pH 7.0, or in buffer containing 0.8 M KCl. Isolated protoplasts contained less than 10% of the total activity which was confined to the 20 000 g supernatant after lysis. p-Nitrophenyl-α-D-galactoside was readily hydrolysed when incubated with leaf strips but less than 3% of α-galactosidase could be leached from strips held for 4 h in 100 mM phosophate buffer or in buffer containing either 0.8 M KCl, 1 mM EDTA, or 1 mM dithioerythritol. It is concluded that at all stages of leaf development a high proportion of α-galactosidase is located in the exocellular region, not strongly bound either to the outer surface of the plasmalemma or to the cell wall but prevented from diffusing through the wall matrix by some physical attribute such as molecular size. Enzyme release occurred only following breakage or enzymatic digestion of the wall. The in vivo properties of the exocellular enzyme in leaf strips were compared with those of three molecular forms of α-galactosidase (LI, LII, and LIII) which were partially purified from mature leaves. The exocellular enzyme was active over a broad pH range with optima at pH 3.0 and pH 6.0; this resembles a combination of pH optima for LI and LIII. Inhibition by Cu2+ and p-chloromercuribenzoate resembled that for LIII and LII, respectively. Galactose and galactinol at a 5 mM concentration were 25–30% inhibitory for all enzyme preparations; melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose were very weakly inhibitory. The function of an exocellular α-galactosidase and its bearing on the transport of galactosylsucrose oligosaccharides to and from the minor veins of C. pepo are discussed.

THE IMMATURE STAGES OF PTYCHOPTERA LENIS LENIS (DIPTERA: PTYCHOPTERIDAE) WITH NOTES ON THEIR BIOLOGY

1973 ◽  
Vol 105 (8) ◽  
pp. 1091-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. D. Hodkinson
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
Atmospheric Oxygen ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Fourth Instar ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Marginal Areas ◽  
Pharate Adult

AbstractThe four larval instars and the pupa of Ptychoptera lenis lenis Osten Sacken are described. Instars 2 to 4 are very similar morphologically but instar 1 is markedly different. Both a pharate pupal and a pharate adult stage were observed. Larvae are found in stagnant marginal areas of ponds where water depth does not exceed 4 cm and where benthic deposits of plant detritus exceed 8 cm. Fourth instar larvae, under experimental conditions, survived up to 45 days without contact with atmospheric oxygen but development was arrested. P. lenis has a 1 year life cycle with an extended adult emergence season from late May to the end of July.

Preproenkephalin B-derived opioid peptides in human phaeochromocytomas

1987 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihiko Yanase ◽  
Hajime Nawata ◽  
Ken-ichi Kato ◽  
Hiroshi Ibayashi
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Concentration ◽  
Opioid Peptides ◽  
Significant Positive Correlation ◽  
Plasma Catecholamines ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Molecular Forms ◽  
Concomitant Increase ◽  
Tissue Contents

Abstract. We demonstrated the presence and the secretion in vivo and in vitro of immunoreactive preproenkephalin B-derived opioid peptides (α-neoendorphin, dynorphin and leumorphin) in human phaeochromocytomas. In senventeen human phaeochromocytomas and two human adrenal medullas, the tissue contents of immunoreactive preproenkephalin B-derived opioid peptides (α-neoendorphin, dynorphin and leumorphin) and leu-enkephalin were studied by specific RIAs. Compared with a remarkable wide distribution in amounts of immunoreactive leu-enkephalin (1063 ± 437 pg/mg, mean ± se), small amounts of immunnoreactive α-neoendorphin (22.6 ± 6.4 pg/mg) and dynorphin (8.5 ± 1.2 pg/mg) were detected in all seventeen human phaeochromocytomas and the two human adrenal medullas. Leumorphin-like immunoreactivity was detected in only four tumours. Gel chromatographic studies revealed the presence of preproenkephalin B-derived peptides and their high molecular forms. A significant positive correlation between the tumour tissue contents of immunoreactive α-neoendorphin and of dynorphin was observed. Nicotine (10−5, 10−4 mol/l) significantly stimulated the secretion of immunoreactive α-neoendorphin and dynorphin as well as leuenkephalin and catecholamines from cultured human phaeochromocytoma cells. Administration of 1 mg of glucagon to a patient with medullary phaeochromocytoma induced a rapid increase in the plasma concentration of immunoreactive α-neoendorphin with a concomitant increase in plasma catecholamines. These results indicate the presence of preproenkephalin B-derived opioid peptides in human phaeochromocytomas and human adrenal medullas and their secretion in human phaeochromocytomas.

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