ALDOSTERONE STIMULATION IN VITRO

1967 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürg Müller ◽  
W. Joe Weick

ABSTRACT The effect of rat serum and serum fractions on biosynthesis of aldosterone, corticosterone and deoxycorticosterone was investigated by a previously described in vitro assay procedure, using adrenal sections from rats which had been kept on a sodium-deficient diet. Addition of small amounts of serum to the incubation medium significantly stimulated aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone production. An almost linear log-dose/response curve was obtained over a 1:100 concentration range. Stimulation of corticosterone biosynthesis was observed only at high concentrations of serum. Whereas most of the aldosterone- and deoxycorticosterone-stimulating activities were dialysable, most of the corticosterone-stimulating activity remained in the non-dialysable fraction. Ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography indicated that the unknown dialysable aldosterone-stimulating substance was different from the known aldosterone-stimulating agents, i. e. angiotensin II and monovalent cations.

1989 ◽  
Vol 170 (5) ◽  
pp. 1537-1549 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Bauer ◽  
T M Bauer ◽  
T Kalb ◽  
T Taga ◽  
G Lengyel ◽  
...  

IL-6 is a cytokine with pleiotropic biological functions, including induction of the hepatic acute phase response and differentiation of activated B cells into Ig-secreting plasma cells. We found that human peripheral blood monocytes express the IL-6-R, which is undetectable on the large majority of lymphocytes of healthy individuals. Stimulation of monocytes by endotoxin or IL-1 causes a rapid downregulation of IL-6-R mRNA levels and a concomitant enhancement of IL-6 mRNA expression. IL-6 itself was found to suppress the IL-6-R at high concentrations. A gradual decrease of IL-6-R mRNA levels was observed along in vitro maturation of monocytes into macrophages. We show that downregulation of IL-6-R mRNA levels by IL-1 and IL-6 is monocyte specific, since IL-6-R expression is stimulated by both IL-1 and IL-6 in cultured human primary hepatocytes. Our data indicate that under noninflammatory conditions, monocytes may play a role in binding of trace amounts of circulating IL-6. Repression of monocytic IL-6-R and stimulation of hepatocytic IL-6-R synthesis may represent a shift of the IL-6 tissue targets under inflammatory conditions.


1961 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 901-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. J. Lucis ◽  
I. Dyrenfurth ◽  
E. H. Venning

Purified corticotropin and ACTH peptides increased the secretion of aldosterone, corticosterone, and an unidentified compound RT4in incubated rat adrenal tissue. When the response was expressed as a percentage increase above that of the control tissue, the increases in corticosterone and compound RT4followed a sigmoid log dose – response curve. The maximum effect on aldosterone was obtained at a time when the response curve for corticosterone assumed a linear relationship between the response and the logarithm of the dose of ACTH. This dose level was considerably less than that required for maximal stimulation of corticosterone.The capacity of the ACTH peptides α1+α2and δ′ for stimulating aldosterone secretion could be greatly diminished by allowing solutions of these fractions to stand at 5 °C for 1 week. These solutions still retained their ability to stimulate corticosterone secretion.Saline suspensions and extracts of fresh hog diencephalon contained a factor which selectively stimulated aldosterone secretion.


1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 999-1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Njanoor Narayanan ◽  
Philip Bedard ◽  
Trilochan S. Waraich

In the present study, the effects of the cytosolic Ca2+ transport inhibitor on ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by, and unidirectional passive Ca2+ release from, sarcoplassmic reticulum enriched membrane vesicles were examined in parallel experiments to determine whether inhibitor-mediated enhancement in Ca2+ efflux contributes to inhibition of net Ca2+ uptake. When assays were performed at pH 6.8 in the presence of oxalate, low concentrations (<100 μg/mL) of the inhibitor caused substantial inhibition of Ca2+ uptake by SR (28–50%). At this pH, low concentrations of the inhibitor did not cause enhancement of passive Ca2+ release from actively Ca2+-loaded sarcoplasmic reticulum. Under these conditions, high concentrations (>100 μg/mL) of the inhibitor caused stimulation of passive Ca2+ release but to a much lesser extent when compared with the extent of inhibition of active Ca2+ uptake (i.e., twofold greater inhibition of Ca2+ uptake than stimulation of Ca2+ release). When Ca2+ uptake and release assays were carried out at pH 7.4, the Ca2+ release promoting action of the inhibitor became more pronounced, such that the magnitude of enhancement in Ca2+ release at varying concentrations of the inhibitor (20–200 μg/mL) was not markedly different from the magnitude of inhibition of Ca2+ uptake. In the absence of oxalate in the assay medium, inhibition of Ca2+ uptake was observed at alkaline but not acidic pH. These findings imply that the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake observed at pH 6.8 is mainly due to decrease in the rate of active Ca2+ transport into the membrane vesicles rather than stimulation of passive Ca2+ efflux; at alkaline pH (pH 7.4), enhanced Ca2+ efflux contributes substantially, if not exclusively, to the decrease in Ca2+ uptake observed in the presence of the inhibitor. It is suggested that if the cytosolic inhibitor has actions similar to those observed in vitro in intact cardiac muscle, acid–base status of the intracellular fluid would be a major factor influencing the nature of its effects (inhibition of Ca2+ uptake or stimulation of Ca2+ release) on transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes across the sarcoplasmic reticulum.Key words: sarcoplasmic reticulum, Ca2+ uptake, Ca2+ release, endogenous inhibitor, heart muscle.


1974 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. BULLOUGH ◽  
M. WALLIS

SUMMARY An in-vitro bioassay for prolactin has been devised, based on the stimulation of casein synthesis in a mouse mammary gland preparation. Dispersed mammary gland cells were superior to intact explants for this purpose. Casein synthesis by dispersed cells was stimulated by added prolactin, and a linear log dose—response curve was established (for the range 5–20 μg prolactin/ml). The precision of the assay was high (λ = 0·10–0·15). Sensitivity was rather low, but could be improved by increasing the concentration of amino acids in the medium. The response to prolactin was not influenced by thyroxine, adrenocorticotrophin or oestradiol, but thyrotrophin appeared to inhibit it slightly. Both human placental lactogen and bovine growth hormone showed lactogenic activity in the assay.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (6) ◽  
pp. E1067-E1074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa A. Hillier ◽  
David A. Fryburg ◽  
Linda A. Jahn ◽  
Eugene J. Barrett

Insulin clearly stimulates skeletal muscle protein synthesis in vitro. Surprisingly, this effect has been difficult to reproduce in vivo. As in vitro studies have typically used much higher insulin concentrations than in vivo studies, we examined whether these concentration differences could explain the discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo observations. In 14 healthy volunteers, we raised forearm insulin concentrations 1,000-fold above basal levels while maintaining euglycemia for 4 h. Amino acids (AA) were given to either maintain basal arterial ( n = 4) or venous plasma ( n = 6) AA or increment arterial plasma AA by 100% ( n = 4) in the forearm. We measured forearm muscle glucose, lactate, oxygen, phenylalanine balance, and [3H]phenylalanine kinetics at baseline and at 4 h of insulin infusion. Extreme hyperinsulinemia strongly reversed postabsorptive muscle’s phenylalanine balance from a net release to an uptake ( P < 0.001). This marked anabolic effect resulted from a dramatic stimulation of protein synthesis ( P < 0.01) and a modest decline in protein degradation. Furthermore, this effect was seen even when basal arterial or venous aminoacidemia was maintained. With marked hyperinsulinemia, protein synthesis increased further when plasma AA concentrations were also increased ( P< 0.05). Forearm blood flow rose at least twofold with the combined insulin and AA infusion ( P< 0.01), and this was consistent in all groups. These results demonstrate an effect of high concentrations of insulin to markedly stimulate muscle protein synthesis in vivo in adults, even when AA concentrations are not increased. This is similar to prior in vitro reports but distinct from physiological hyperinsulinemia in vivo where stimulation of protein synthesis does not occur. Therefore, the current findings suggest that the differences in insulin concentrations used in prior studies may largely explain the previously reported discrepancy between insulin action on protein synthesis in adult muscle in vivo vs. in vitro.


1982 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Lerner ◽  
Bertil B. Fredholm

Abstract. The effect of 2-chloroadenosine on bone resorption and on cyclic AMP formation in murine calvarial bones in vitro was investigated. 2-Chloroadenosine increased the release of 45Ca from the cultured bones, but had no effect on dead bones, indicating that the effect is cell mediated. The adenosine analogue remained in the medium for 48 h and caused a transient stimulation of the formation of cyclic AMP. The dose-response curve for the stimulatory effect on cyclic AMP accumulation was linear up to 10−4m. The dose-response curve for 45Ca release was linear from 3 × 10−7 m to 3 × 10−5 m but then showed a decline in the response. 8-Bromo cyclic AMP inhibited the release of 45Ca in 24 h cultures. The initial stimulatory effect on bone resorption by 2-chloroadenosine may therefore not depend on cyclic AMP. The level of inosine increased during culture indicating that adenosine is formed by bone tissue.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 463-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie W. Watts ◽  
Kathryn W. Schenck ◽  
Marlene L. Cohen

5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin, 5-HT) contracts the guinea pig trachea through stimulation of 5-HT2A receptors, an effect previously reported to rapidly desensitize. The present studies were designed to examine further the putative desensitization to serotonin. In vitro studies investigating functional desensitization of the guinea pig tracheal 5-HT2A receptor documented that 5-HT (3 × 10−7 M) significantly (50%) but incompletely reduced subsequent tracheal maximal contraction to 5-HT. In contrast, an equieffective concentration of carbamylcholine (3 × 10−8 M) did not reduce guinea pig tracheal contraction to 5-HT. Furthermore, 5-HT (3 × 10−7 M) did not diminish tracheal contraction to carbamylcholine. These data indicate that 5-HT can selectively desensitize guinea pig tracheal contraction to 5-HT. In addition, 5-HT-induced contraction but not carbamylcholine-induced contraction in guinea pig trachea declined over time, an effect that was more pronounced at high concentrations of 5-HT (1 × 10−6 and 1 × 10−5 M). Inhibitors of mechanisms that oppose contractility to 5-HT (5-HT-induced relaxation, uptake of 5-HT, or metabolism of 5-HT) did not reverse the decline in contraction to 5-HT (1 × 10−5 M). The decline in 5-HT-induced contraction was most rapid in the guinea pig trachea and less so in the rat jugular vein and rat aorta, two preparations in which 5-HT induced contraction also occurred via activation of 5-HT2A receptors. These studies suggest that 5-HT can functionally and selectively desensitize the 5-HT2A receptor in guinea pig trachea, an effect not likely to be related to opposing actions of 5-HT or reduction in concentration of 5-HT.Key words: phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis, receptor desensitization, smooth muscle.


1987 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 1201-1209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. Campanelli ◽  
R. H. Scheller

We have previously demonstrated that neurons R3-14 of the Aplysia abdominal ganglia specifically express a gene encoding a 108-amino acid neuropeptide precursor. This precursor is postranslationally processed by cleavage of a signal sequence and two internal dibasic residues resulting in three peptides. The peptide products are colocalized in dense core granules throughout the R3-14 processes that innervate the efferent vein of the gill and the auricle. Gel filtration and reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (rpHPLC) were used to purify a 4.9-kDa peptide produced by the R3-14 neurons. We call this peptide the histidine-rich basic peptide (HRBP), which reflects its primary structure. In vitro tension measurements of cannulated Aplysia hearts revealed dose-dependent cardioexcitatory actions of HRBP. HRBP increased both beat frequency and amplitude with a threshold of 10(-7) M. HRBP increased the amplitude of ventricular contractions in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the frequency of contraction is unaffected. In contrast both the amplitude and frequency of auricular contractions were enhanced. High concentrations of HRBP also had a positive tonotropic effect on the auricle. HRBP was also demonstrated to have actions on tissue of the gut. Circular muscles of the crop adjacent to the anterior gizzard showed infrequent spontaneous contractions. Both HRBP and acetylcholine (ACh) induced repetitive contractions of this muscle. Circular muscles of the posterior gizzard had a high degree of spontaneous activity when continually perfused. Contraction amplitude and frequency was increased by HRBP and ACh, whereas contractility was inhibited by Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide (FMRFamide).


1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 422-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Binoux ◽  
Claudine Lassarre ◽  
Nathalie Hardouin

Abstract. Radioligand assays have been used to study the production of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and its carrier (IGFCP) by rat liver in organ culture. Bound IGF released into the culture medium was dissociated and separated from its carrier by gel filtration in 1 m acetic acid. IGF was measured by a competitive protein-binding assay using human IGF and the specific IGFCP produced by rat liver. IGF CP concentrations were assessed in terms of IGFCP binding to labelled IGF, compared to a reference IGFCP preparation obtained from rat serum. Without added hormone,the ratios IGF:total protein and IGFCP:total protein in the culture media after 3 days' culture were approximately 7 and 70 times higher, respectively, than those in serum. GH and insulin both stimulated IGF production. The response was dose-dependent, and significant at physiological concentrations of hormone (10 ng/ml GH and 10 μU/ml insulin. With 1 μg/ml GH and 1 mU/ml insulin, the IGF concentrations in the media on average reached 2½ times the base-line level. These hormones had no significant effect on IGF CP production. One ng/ml cortisol stimulated IGF production, but, in response to increasing concentrations, there was a dose-dependent decrease in IGF production. By contrast, IGFCP production was stimulated and there was a positive correlation between the carrier concentration in the culture media and the amount of cortisol added. The results indicate that insulin and cortisol, in addition to GH, have a direct influence on IGF production by the liver in vitro. They also suggest that the biosyntheses of IGF and its carrier are subject to different systems of regulation.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 1495-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Eales ◽  
Shirley Shostak ◽  
Catherine G. Flood

The effects of the thiols DTT (dithiothreitol) and GSH (reduced glutathione) on hepatic in vitro and in vivo T4 (L-thyroxine) deiodination by rainbow trout held at 11 °C were studied. Hepatic deiodination increased progressively over the DTT range of 0.02–20 mM. GSH was less potent than DTT at low concentrations and strongly inhibited deiodination at high concentrations (> 1 mM). Hepatic deiodination was not increased by 1 mM NADPH or anaerobic conditions and was enhanced and not inhibited by the GSH inhibitor, diamide (2.5 mM), indicating that the low T4 deiodination in the absence of DTT is not due to endogenous GSH deficiency. Intraperitoneally injected GSH consistently increased plasma levels of 125I and [125I]-3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) in fed or starved [125I]T4-injected trout, suggesting a GSH stimulation of extrahepatic T4 deiodination. However, injected GSH did not elevate plasma T3 concentrations. This was probably due to a demonstrated GSH stimulation of plasma T4 and T3 clearance. Force-fed GSH did not increase [125I]T4 deiodination. It is concluded that exogenous thiols can enhance T4 deiodination both in vitro and in vivo. However, availability of neither endogenous nor dietary GSH appears to regulate T4 deiodination under physiological conditions, including altered nutritional state.


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