Identification of an alpha subunit of dihydropyridine-sensitive brain calcium channels

Voltage-sensitive calcium channels in different tissues have diverse functional properties. Polyclonal antibodies (PAC-2) against the alpha subunits of purified rabbit skeletal muscle calcium channels immunoprecipitated calcium channels labeled with the dihydropyridine PN200-110 from both skeletal muscle and brain. The immunoreactivity of PAC-2 with the skeletal muscle channel was greater than that with the brain calcium channel and was absorbed only partially by prior treatment with the brain channel. PAC-2 specifically recognized a large peptide in synaptic plasma membranes of rabbit brain with an apparent molecular size of 169,000 daltons. This protein resembles an alpha subunit of the skeletal muscle calcium channel in apparent molecular weight, antigenic properties, and electrophoretic behavior after reduction of disulfide bonds. Thus, the dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel of rabbit brain has an alpha subunit that is homologous, but not identical, to those of the skeletal muscle calcium channel. The different functional properties of these two calcium channels may result from minor variations in structurally similar components.     

Morphine and ethanol: selective depletion of regional brain calcium

Administration of morphine or ethanol to rats produces a decrease in regional brain calcium in vivo. This effect is selectively antagonized by the stereospecific narcotic antagonist naloxone. Reserpine and the dopamine-acetaldehyde conjugate salsolinol also produce a depletion of regional brain calcium, but only the salsolinol depletion is antagonized by naloxone. Experiments with naloxone provide evidence for two calcium-sensitive pools in the central nervous system.     

Regulation of calcium release is gated by calcium current, not gating charge, in cardiac myocytes

In skeletal muscle, intramembrane charge movement initiates the processes that lead to the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In cardiac muscle, in contrast, the similarity of the voltage dependence of developed tension and intracellular calcium transients to that of calcium current suggests that the calcium current may gate the release of calcium. Nevertheless, a mechanism similar to that of skeletal muscle continues to be postulated for cardiac muscle. By using rapid exchange (20 to 50 milliseconds) of the extracellular solutions in rat ventricular myocytes in which the intracellular calcium transients or cell shortening were measured, it has now been shown that the influx of calcium through the calcium channel is a mandatory link in the processes that couple membrane depolarization to the release of calcium. Thus, intramembrane charge movement does not contribute to the release of calcium in heart muscle.     

氟化钠处理对幼兔的钙镁磷含量的影响（英文）

试验中,给一月龄幼兔给予了含有浓度分别为0、150和300 mg.L^-1氟化钠的饮用水为期40 d的处理,测量其肌肉、肝和血浆钙、镁和磷含量的变化。结果表明：肌肉、肝和血浆中钙和镁的含量发生了明显的变化,而其血浆磷水平出现了不具有明显差异的增加。上述实验结果说明,饲养动物的饮用水中若含有较高的水平的氟化物应添加钙和镁以维持钙和镁的代谢稳态。     

钙源对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能及肉品质的影响

采用不同钙源及钙水平的日粮对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能及肉品质的影响,试验选用144只健康21日龄的AA肉仔鸡,随机分成4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复6只.饲粮采用两种钙源(碳酸钙、氯化钙)、两个钙水平(0.90%、L15%),试验期28 d(4～7w).结果表明,与碳酸钙相比,日粮中氯化钙可降低肉仔鸡的生长性能(...     

Modulation of calcium channels in cardiac and neuronal cells by an endogenous peptide

Calcium channels mediate the generation of action potentials, pacemaking, excitation-contraction coupling, and secretion and signal integration in muscle, secretory, and neuronal cells. The physiological regulation of the L-type calcium channel is thought to be mediated primarily by guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins). A low molecular weight endogenous peptide has been isolated and purified from rat brain. This peptide regulates up and down the cardiac and neuronal calcium channels, respectively. In cardiac myocytes, the peptide-induced enhancement of the L-type calcium current had a slow onset (half-time approximately 75 seconds), occurred via a G protein-independent mechanism, and could not be inhibited by alpha 1-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, or angiotensin II blockers. In neuronal cells, on the other hand, the negative effect had a rapid onset (half-time less than 500 milliseconds) and was observed on both T-type and L-type calcium channels.     

Regional changes in calcium underlying contraction of single smooth muscle cells

The role of calcium in regulating the contractile state of smooth muscle has been investigated by measuring calcium and contraction in single smooth muscle cells with the calcium-sensitive dye fura-2 and the digital imaging microscope. The concentration of free calcium in the cytoplasm increased after stimulation of the cells by depolarization with high potassium or by application of carbachol. Changes in calcium always preceded contraction. The increase in calcium induced by these stimuli was limited to less than 1 microM. Calcium within the nucleus was also subject to a limitation of its rise during contraction. Intranuclear calcium rose from 200 nM at rest to no more than 300 nM while cytoplasmic calcium rose to over 700 nM. These apparent ceilings for both cytoplasmic and intranuclear calcium may result either from negative feedback of calcium on cytoplasmic and nuclear calcium channel gating mechanisms, respectively, or from the presence of calcium pumps that are strongly activated at the calcium ceilings.     

Congenital malformations induced by mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, and bromolysergic acid in the hamster

Malformations of the brain, spinal cord, liver, and other viscera; body edema; and localized hemorrhages were found in fetal hamsters from mothers injected subcutaneously with a single dose of mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, or 2-bromo-D lysergic acid diethylamide on the 8th day of pregnancy. In addition, all three drugs produced an increase in the percentages of small fetuses per litter, of resorptions, and of fetal mortality.     

Primary structure of the beta subunit of the DHP-sensitive calcium channel from skeletal muscle

Complementary DNAs for the beta subunit of the dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel of rabbit skeletal muscle were isolated on the basis of peptide sequences derived from the purified protein. The deduced primary structure is without homology to other known protein sequences and is consistent with the beta subunit being a peripheral membrane protein associated with the cytoplasmic aspect of the sarcolemma. The protein contains sites that might be expected to be preferentially phosphorylated by protein kinase C and guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. A messenger RNA for this protein appears to be expressed in brain.     

鸡肉钙激活酶与其它畜禽肉中钙激活酶 对钙离子浓度敏感性的比较

 【目的】研究鸡肉中钙激活酶的种类和性质,并与其它畜禽肉以及鱼肉中钙激活酶对钙离子浓度敏感性进行比较。【方法】提取宰后0 d鸡胸肉中的钙激活酶,通过硫酸铵沉淀和透析的方法对鸡肉钙激活酶进行纯化,采用活性电泳的方法检测钙激活酶种类和活性。通过设置0、0.01、0.03、0.05、0.10、0.50和5.00 mmol·L-1的钙离子浓度,比较鸡肉、鱼肉、鸭肉、兔肉、猪肉、牛肉在宰后0 d肉样中不同种类的钙激活酶对钙离子的敏感性。【结果】禽肉鸡肉、鸭肉中μ-钙激活酶的电泳迁移率小于哺乳类兔肉、猪肉、牛肉,当Ca2+浓度从0.01 mmol·L-1升到0.03 mmol·L-1时,兔肉、猪肉和牛肉μ-钙激活酶活性增加,但鸡肉和鸭肉钙激活酶活性没有改变（P>0.05）,说明禽类μ-钙激活酶对钙离子的敏感程度高于哺乳类;在禽类鸡肉、鸭肉中存在另外一种钙激活酶,其对钙离子的敏感性介于哺乳动物中的m-钙激活酶和μ-钙激活酶之间,并且它在禽肉中的活性分别占67.4%和88.4%。【结论】鸡肉中的钙激活酶对钙离子浓度敏感性高于哺乳类。     

HIV-1 coat protein neurotoxicity prevented by calcium channel antagonists

Coat protein gp120 from the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) increased intracellular free calcium and injured rodent retinal ganglion cells and hippocampal neurons in culture. Highly purified recombinant gp120 envelope protein produced these effects in a dose-dependent fashion at picomolar concentrations. Immunoprecipitation with antibody to gp120, but not with control immunoglobulin-containing serum, depleted solutions of the viral envelope protein and also prevented both the rise in intracellular calcium and neuronal toxicity. The gp120-induced increase in intracellular calcium was abrogated by transiently lowering extracellular calcium or by adding the dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist nimodipine (100 nM). Calcium channel antagonists also prevented gp120-induced neuronal injury. In addition, intracellular stores appeared to contribute substantially to the increase in calcium elicited by gp120. Since increases in intracellular calcium have been associated with neurotoxicity, it is possible that an injurious effect of gp120 on neurons might be related to this mechanism and that treatment with calcium channel antagonists may prove useful in mitigating HIV-1-related neuronal injury.     

Localization of calcium pump activity in smooth muscle

A microsomal fraction isolated from longitudinal smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum actively sequesters calcium ion in the presence of magnesium and adenosine triphosphate in a fashion previously described for microsomes of the rabbit aorta. This activity in guinea pig ileum appears to be associated primarily with the plasma membrane as is found in the red cell. By contrast the uptake of calcium in aortic smooth muscle appears to be associated to an appreciable extent with intracellular membranes, possibly analogous to the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle.     

Neoplastic transformation of hamster astrocytes in vitro by simian virus 40 and polyoma virus

Astrocytes in cultures of brain cells from fetal or newborn hamsters undergo neoplastic transformation after infection with simian virus 40 or polyoma virus. Subcutaneous or intracerebral inoculation of the transformed brain cells into newborn or adult hamsters produces progressively enlarging astrocytomas at the sites of injection. Astrocytomas produced by polyomatransformed cell lines are histologically better differentiated, but grow more rapidly and metastasize more frequently, than astrocytomas produced by cell lines transformed by simian virus 40. These observations make available in vitro models of virus-induced oncogenesis in astrocytes and provide simple techniques for obtaining astrocytoma cell lines suitable for screening studies of chemical agents effective against astrocytomas.     

The role of excitatory amino acids and NMDA receptors in traumatic brain injury

Brain injury induced by fluid percussion in rats caused a marked elevation in extracellular glutamate and aspartate adjacent to the trauma site. This increase in excitatory amino acids was related to the severity of the injury and was associated with a reduction in cellular bioenergetic state and intracellular free magnesium. Treatment with the noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist dextrophan or the competitive antagonist 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid limited the resultant neurological dysfunction; dextrorphan treatment also improved the bioenergetic state after trauma and increased the intracellular free magnesium. Thus, excitatory amino acids contribute to delayed tissue damage after brain trauma; NMDA antagonists may be of benefit in treating acute head injury.     

Tolerance to morphine-induced increases in [14C]catecholamine synthesis in mouse brain

Morphine sulfate increased the incorporation of carbon-14-labeled tyrosine into labeled catecholamines in the mouse brain. Tolerance was manifested by a shift to the right in the dose-response curve for morphine after mice were treated repeatedly with morphine. Naloxone, a specific morphine antagonist, also shifted the dose-response curve for morphine to the right.     

BMP-2和p38MAPK在小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞向成骨细胞分化中的作用

目的观察骨成型蛋白（BMP）-2和p38丝裂原激活蛋白激酶（MAPK）在小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSC）向成骨细胞分化中的作用。方法体外分离和扩增小鼠BMSC,分为对照组、BMP-2组及阻断剂组,其中BMP-2组加入BMP-2,阻断剂组加入SB203580（p38MAPK通路阻断剂）和BMP-2。测定碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性、钙沉积量、p38MAPK表达。结果与对照组相比,BMP-2组BMSC中ALP活性和钙沉积量增加（P〈0.01）,p38MAPK表达较早出现。阻断剂组p38MAPK表达明显延迟,与对照组相似。结论 BMP-2可通过p38MAPK通路促进BMSC向成骨细胞分化。     

影响獭兔离体肠道平滑肌收缩的因素

[目的]探讨影响獭兔离体肠道平滑肌收缩的因素。[方法]以獭兔十二指肠平滑肌为试验材料,以平滑肌收缩波的振幅和周期为评价指标,考察影响试验的各主要因素。[结果]在(36.5±0.5)℃台氏液中,獭兔离体肠管的存活时间和保质期最长,振幅最稳定,肾上腺素使离体肠管平滑肌收缩幅度减弱,乙酰胆碱、氢氧化钠及氯化钙均导致平滑肌收缩频率及幅度升高,收缩力增强。[结论]獭兔离体肠道平滑肌易受到温度、pH、其他化学因素及药物的影响。     

Calcium and sodium channels in spontaneously contracting vascular muscle cells

Electrophysiological recordings of inward currents from whole cells showed that vascular muscle cells have one type of sodium channel and two types of calcium channels. One of the calcium channels, the transient calcium channel, was activated by small depolarizations but then rapidly inactivated. It was equally permeable to calcium and barium and was blocked by cadmium, but not by tetrodotoxin. The other type, the sustained calcium channel, was activated by larger depolarizations, but inactivated very little; it was more permeable to barium than calcium. The sustained calcium channel was more sensitive to block by cadmium than the transient channel, but also was not blocked by tetrodotoxin. The sodium channel inactivated 15 times more rapidly than the transient calcium channel and at more negative voltages. This sodium channel, which is unusual because it is only blocked by a very high (60 microM) tetrodotoxin concentration but not by cadmium, is the first to be characterized in vascular muscle, and together with the two calcium channels, provides a basis for different patterns of excitation in vascular muscles.     

Rat heart papillary muscles: action potentials and mechanical response to paired stimuli

Electrical reexcitation of rat papillary muscle after a short interval (50 to 80 milliseconds) results in action potentials with no significant mechanical counterpart. The mechanical response recovers as the interval is increased beyond 80 milliseconds. The rate of recovery is slowed at low external calcium levels. It appears that the coupling mechanism passes through a refractory stage owing to the depletion of an intracellular "releasable calcium" fraction.