scholarly journals Differences in the Structure and Function of the Vestibular Efferent System Among Vertebrates

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen E. Cullen ◽  
Rui-Han Wei
Keyword(s):  
Vestibular System ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Lower Vertebrate ◽  
Efferent System ◽  
Neurophysiological Studies

The role of the mammalian vestibular efferent system in everyday life has been a long-standing mystery. In contrast to what has been reported in lower vertebrate classes, the mammalian vestibular efferent system does not appear to relay inputs from other sensory modalities to the vestibular periphery. Furthermore, to date, the available evidence indicates that the mammalian vestibular efferent system does not relay motor-related signals to the vestibular periphery to modulate sensory coding of the voluntary self-motion generated during natural behaviors. Indeed, our recent neurophysiological studies have provided insight into how the peripheral vestibular system transmits head movement-related information to the brain in a context independent manner. The integration of vestibular and extra-vestibular information instead only occurs at next stage of the mammalian vestibular system, at the level of the vestibular nuclei. The question thus arises: what is the physiological role of the vestibular efferent system in mammals? We suggest that the mammalian vestibular efferent system does not play a significant role in short-term modulation of afferent coding, but instead plays a vital role over a longer time course, for example in calibrating and protecting the functional efficacy of vestibular circuits during development and aging in a role analogous the auditory efferent system.

scholarly journals Two Quenchers Formed During Photodamage of Phostosystem II and The Role of One Quencher in Preemptive Photoprotection

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alonso Zavafer ◽  
Ievgeniia Iermak ◽  
Mun Hon Cheah ◽  
Wah Soon Chow
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll Fluorescence ◽  
Photosystem Ii ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Reaction Centre ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Fluorescence Quencher

AbstractThe quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence caused by photodamage of Photosystem II (qI) is a well recognized phenomenon, where the nature and physiological role of which are still debatable. Paradoxically, photodamage to the reaction centre of Photosystem II is supposed to be alleviated by excitation quenching mechanisms which manifest as fluorescence quenchers. Here we investigated the time course of PSII photodamage in vivo and in vitro and that of picosecond time-resolved chlorophyll fluorescence (quencher formation). Two long-lived fluorescence quenching processes during photodamage were observed and were formed at different speeds. The slow-developing quenching process exhibited a time course similar to that of the accumulation of photodamaged PSII, while the fast-developing process took place faster than the light-induced PSII damage. We attribute the slow process to the accumulation of photodamaged PSII and the fast process to an independent quenching mechanism that precedes PSII photodamage and that alleviates the inactivation of the PSII reaction centre.

scholarly journals Regulation of nitric oxide synthase isoforms and role of nitric oxide during prostaglandin F2alpha-induced luteolysis in rabbits

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 807-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Boiti ◽  
G Guelfi ◽  
D Zampini ◽  
G Brecchia ◽  
A Gobbetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Prostaglandin F ◽  
Oxide Synthase

Total activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the gene expression of both endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) isoforms in corpora lutea of pseudopregnant rabbits were examined during prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha))-induced luteolysis. Corpora lutea were collected at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after an injection of PGF(2alpha) at day 9 of pseudopregnancy. At 12 h after PGF(2alpha) administration, luteal mRNA encoding eNOS decreased (P0.05) by 40% and remained low throughout the subsequent 36 h, whereas eNOS protein increased (P0.05) two- to threefold. By contrast, expression of mRNA encoding iNOS was poor and remained fairly constant, but transcription increased eightfold (P0.01) within 6 h after PGF(2alpha) treatment and then decreased to values similar to those of controls. Total NOS activity increased twofold (P0.01) at 6 h after treatment and remained high thereafter, whereas progesterone concentrations in explanted corpora lutea decreased (P0.01) from 302.4+/-42.3 pg x mg(-1) at day 9 to 58.6+/-8.3 at 48 h later, and peripheral plasma concentrations of progesterone declined too. Long-term administration of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (0.6 g l(-1) per os) from day 2 of pseudopregnancy onward partially blocked the luteolytic action of PGF(2alpha) administered at day 9 of pseudopregnancy. In nitric oxide (NO)-deficient rabbits, progesterone concentrations remained higher (P0.01) than in controls at 24-48 h after PGF(2alpha) administration (4.5 to 3.2 ng x ml(-1), respectively). These data are the first to characterize NOS activity. The time course of expression of eNOS and iNOS in rabbit corpora lutea during PGF(2alpha)-induced luteolysis gives additional support to a physiological role of NO in the regulation of regression of corpora lutea in rabbits.

FSAP, a new player in inflammation?

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (01) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Stephan ◽  
L. A. Aarden ◽  
S. Zeerleder
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Vascular Permeability ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Factor Vii ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Activation Mechanisms ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Coagulation And Fibrinolysis

SummaryFactor VII-activating protease (FSAP) is a serine protease in plasma that has a role in coagulation and fibrinolysis. FVII could be activated by purified FSAP in a tissue factor independent manner and pro-urokinase has been demonstrated to be a substrate for purified FSAP in-vitro. However, the physiological role of FSAP in haemostasis remains unclear. More recently FSAP is suggested to be involved in inflammation. It modulates vascular permeability directly and indirectly by the generation of bradykinin. Furthermore, FSAP is activated by dead cells induced by the inflammatory response and subsequently removes nucleosomes from apoptotic cells. FSAP activation can be detected in sepsis patients as well. However, whether FSAP activation upon inflammation is beneficial or detrimental remains an open question.In this review the structure, activation mechanisms and the possible role of FSAP in inflammation are discussed.

scholarly journals Oxygen tension-independent protection against hypoxic cell killing in rat liver by low sodium

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ferrigno ◽  
Laura G. Di Pasqua ◽  
Clarissa Berardo ◽  
Veronica Siciliano ◽  
Plinio Richelmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypan Blue ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Hypoxic Cell ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Hypoxic Injury ◽  
Low Sodium ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Homogenous Distribution

The role of Na+ in hypoxic injury was evaluated by a time-course analysis of damage in isolated livers perfused with N2-saturated buffer containing standard (143 mM) or low (25 mM) Na+ levels. Trypan blue uptake was used to detect non-viable cells. Under hypoxia with standard-Na+, trypan blue uptake began at the border between pericentral areas and periportal regions and increased in the latter zone; using a low-Na+ buffer, no trypan blue zonation occurred but a homogenous distribution of dye was found associated with sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC) staining. A decrease in hyaluronic acid (HA) uptake, index of SEC damage, was observed using a low-Na+ buffer. A time dependent injury was confirmed by an increase in LDH and TBARS levels with standard-Na+ buffer. Using low-Na+ buffer, SEC susceptibility appears elevated under hypoxia and hepatocytes was protected, in an oxygen independent manner.

scholarly journals AMPK promotes Arf6 activation in a kinase-independent manner upon energy deprivation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan Jung S Chen ◽  
Jia-Wei Hsu ◽  
Fang-Jen S Lee
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Role ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Regulatory Domain ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Invasion And Migration ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Energy Deprivation

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a crucial cellular nutrient and energy sensor that maintains energy homeostasis. AMPK also governs cancer cell invasion and migration by regulating gene expression and activating multiple cellular signaling pathways. ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) can be activated via nucleotide exchange by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), and its activation also regulates tumor invasion and migration. By studying GEF-mediated Arf6 activation, we elucidated that AMPK functions as a noncanonical GEF for Arf6 in a kinase-independent manner. Moreover, by examining the physiological role of the AMPK-Arf6 axis, we determined that AMPK activates Arf6 upon glucose starvation and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) treatment. We further identified the binding motif in the C-terminal regulatory domain of AMPK that is responsible for promoting Arf6 activation and thus inducing cell migration and invasion. These findings reveal a noncanonical role of AMPK in which its C-terminal regulatory domain serves as a GEF for Arf6 during energy deprivation.

Abstract 650: Characterization of Microparticles Formed by ABCA1

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouar Hafiane ◽  
John K Bielicki ◽  
Jan O Johansson ◽  
Jacques Genest
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
Hydrodynamic Diameter ◽  
Bhk Cells ◽  
Apo E ◽  
Time Course Study

Microparticles (MPS) are lipoprotein-sized structures created by the ABCA1 transporter. Their biological roles in health and in disease remain unknown. Here, we study MPS released from baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells stably expressing ABCA1 and human THP-1 cells also expressing ABCA1. Media cell culture was first collected from BHK-ABCA1 expressing cells after (45min, 2, 4, 8, and 24h) incubation. After centrifugation (4000xg for 15min and 10000xg for 30min) to remove cell debris, the supernatant was passed through a 10kDa cutoff filter and subsequently subjected to analytical FPLC. FPLC analysis shows creation of a single peak in the presence of ABCA1 but not in mock-transfected BHK cells. In a time-course study, the estimated hydrodynamic diameter remained stable (≥20nm). After 8h incubation of BHK cell with apoA-I or an apo-E mimetic peptide, CS-6253 (1μM), ABCA1 mediated formation of MPS of similar size with a significant increase in 3[H]-FC content than those generated by ABCA1 alone, (373±23 % cpm, P<0.05) and (277±60 % cpm, P<0.05) respectively. This was associated with highly lipidated nHDL-CS-6253 compararely to nHDL-apoA-I (4535±72 % cpm, P<0.001 versus 1059±14 % cpm) respectively. This data suggests that MPS formations are an integral component of cellular cholesterol efflux. Also, MPS do not contain CS-6253 when ABCA1 cells were incubated with the peptide as confirmed by western blotting similar to MPS generated from ABCA1 cells generated by apoA-I incubation. Cholesterol is effluxed more to nHDL-CS-6253 (14±7.68, % cpm, P<0.01 than to MPS 1±0.10, % cpm, 24h; P<0.01) similar to apoA-I. Depletion of membrane cholesterol by methyl-β-cyclodextrin treatment impaired HDL genesis and decrease MPS release. Detection of flotellin-2 protein enriched in MPS in total cell lysate indicated that these MPS may be related to exosomes. MPS generation was also characterized in THP-1 cells for further molecular characterization. We conclude that MPS are formed by ABCA1 in diverse cell types and the cholesterol content is dependent on activation by apo A-I or mimetic peptides. The physiological role of MPS remains to be understood. These particles may be transporters of lipids and nucleic acids.

Cell volume regulation in rabbit proximal straight tubule perfused in vitro

1987 ◽  
Vol 252 (5) ◽  
pp. F922-F932 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Kirk ◽  
J. A. Schafer ◽  
D. R. DiBona
Keyword(s):  
Cell Volume ◽  
Volume Regulation ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Regulatory Volume Decrease ◽  
Cell Volume Regulation ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Cell Swelling ◽  
Computer Based

Volume regulation in the perfused proximal nephron of the rabbit was examined quantitatively with a computer-based method for estimating cell volume from differential interference-contrast microscopic images of isolated nephron segments. Following a hyperosmotic challenge (290-390 mosmol), the cells shrank as simple osmometers without a subsequent regulatory volume increase. Conversely, cell swelling induced by a hyposmotic challenge (290-190 mosmol) was completely reversed with a triphasic time course in which a rapid (less than 2 min) initial volume decline was followed by secondary swelling and shrinking phases. A similar regulatory volume decrease was observed following isosmotic cell swelling that was induced by exposure to 290 mosmol, urea-containing solutions. In addition, the cells partially reversed isosmotic swelling that was induced by the luminal replacement of a relatively impermeant cation (i.e., choline) with Na+ and a concomitant increase in luminal solute entry. Our results support two conclusions. First, there exist quantitative differences between the volume regulatory behaviors of perfused and nonperfused proximal tubules, the latter of which exhibit an incomplete and monotonic reversal of hyposmotic cell swelling (M. Dellasega and J. Grantham, Am. J. Physiol. 224: 1288-1294, 1973). Second, the primary physiological role of cell volume regulation in the proximal nephron may be to minimize isosmotic cell swelling associated with acute imbalances in the rates of cell solute entry and exit.

Transcriptional and physiological responses of HepG2 cells exposed to diethyl maleate: time course analysis

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren Casey ◽  
Steve Anderson ◽  
Tony Fox ◽  
Karen Dold ◽  
Heidi Colton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepg2 Cells ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Nuclear Antigen ◽  
Diethyl Maleate ◽  
Directional Movement ◽  
Apoptotic Genes ◽  
Proliferating Cell

Expression levels of 767 genes were measured in HepG2 cells at eight time points (0, 0.5, 1, 6, 12, 16, 20, and 24 h) following exposure to the oxidizing agent, diethyl maleate (DEM). DEM treatment caused an immediate and sustained loss of intracellular GSH, with a concomitant increase in GSSG. From 6–12 h after exposure, there was a substantial increase in the percentage of cells undergoing S phase arrest and apoptosis. Expression profiles of ∼90% of the genes fell into one of five clusters generated using hierarchical-clustering software, indicating the well-ordered nature of the stress response. The directional movement and timing of induction for many genes matched closely the known physiological role of the proteins they encode. Inhibitors of the cell cycle (CDKN1, CDKN4D, ATM) were induced, whereas cyclins [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A, cyclin D1, cyclin K] were downregulated during the period from 6–20 h. Likewise, pro-apoptotic genes such as the caspases (CASP9, CASP3, CASP2) and apoptotic protease activating factor (APAF) were induced during the same period. Results of this study indicate that there is a good correlation between time-dependant physiological, biochemical, and gene expression data.

Horseradish Peroxidase Permeability across Rat Nasal Mucosa in Selective Stimulation of Substance P Innervation with Capsaicin

1995 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 895-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namju Kim ◽  
Soonkwan Hong ◽  
Seayuong Jeon ◽  
Euigee Hwang ◽  
Yang-Gi Min
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Substance P ◽  
Horseradish Peroxidase ◽  
Enzyme Immunoassay ◽  
Nasal Mucosa ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Selective Stimulation ◽  
Stimulation Of

To investigate the physiological role of substance P innervation (SPI) in the nasal mucosa from inhaled irritant macromolecules, SPI in the rat nasal mucosa was selectively stimulated with capsaicin and the degree of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) permeability across the nasal epithelium was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay or by histochemical electron microscopy. The serum level of HRP was reduced significantly in capsaicin-administered rats compared to control rats along the time course with quantitative analysis of the enzyme immunoassay. Control rats showed heavy permeation of HRP across the epithelium, but capsaicin-administered rats showed weak permeation of HRP across the epithelium with histochemical electron microscopy. The epithelial lining and its tight junctions were left intact as judged by electron microscopy. In conclusion, selective stimulation of SPI of the rat nasal mucosa with capsaicin decreased the epithelial absorption permeability to HRP without compromising the epithelial integrity. These findings imply that the physiological role of capsaicin-sensitive SPI in the rat mucosa is to protect the airway from inhaled irritant macromolecules.

scholarly journals Effects of peptide C corresponding to the Glu724–Pro760 region of the II–III loop of the DHP (dihydropyridine) receptor α1 subunit on the domain- switch-mediated activation of RyR1 (ryanodine receptor 1) Ca2+ channels

2006 ◽  
Vol 394 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark L. Bannister ◽  
Noriaki Ikemoto
Keyword(s):  
Ryanodine Receptor ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Dihydropyridine Receptor ◽  
Release Time ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Ryanodine Receptor 1 ◽  
Domain Switch ◽  
Domain Peptide

The Leu720–Leu764 region of the II–III loop of the dihydropyridine receptor is believed to be important for both orthograde and retrograde communications with the RyR (ryanodine receptor), but its actual role has not yet been resolved. Our recent studies suggest that voltage-dependent activation of the RyR channel is mediated by a pair of interacting N-terminal and central domains, designated as the ‘domain switch’. To investigate the effect of peptide C (a peptide corresponding to residues Glu724–Pro760) on domain- switch-mediated activation of the RyR, we measured Ca2+ release induced by DP (domain peptide) 1 or DP4 (which activates the RyR by mediation of the domain switch) and followed the Ca2+ release time course using a luminal Ca2+ probe (chlortetracycline) under Ca2+-clamped conditions. Peptide C produced a significant potentiation of the domain-switch-mediated Ca2+ release, provided that the Ca2+ concentration was sufficiently low (e.g. 0.1 μM) and the Ca2+ channel was only partially activated by the domain peptide. However, at micromolar Ca2+ concentrations, peptide C inhibits activation. Covalent cross-linking of fluorescently labelled peptide C to the RyR and screening of the fluorescently labelled tryptic fragments permitted us to localize the peptide-C-binding site to residues 450–1400, which may represent the primary region involved in physical coupling. Based on the above findings, we propose that the physiological role of residues Glu724–Pro760 is to facilitate depolarization-induced and domain-switch-mediated RyR activation at sub- or near-threshold concentrations of cytoplasmic Ca2+ and to suppress activation upon an increase of cytoplasmic Ca2+.

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