Quantifying SOCE fluorescence measurements in mammalian muscle fibres. The effects of ryanodine and osmotic shocks.

We have quantified Ca(2+) entry through store operated calcium channels in mice muscle fibres, measuring the rates of change of myoplasmic [Ca(2+)], d[Ca(2+)](myo)/dt, and of Ca(2+) removal, d[Ca(2+)](Removal)/dt, turning store operated calcium entry (SOCE) ON, and OFF, by switching on or off external Ca(2+). In depleted fibres, poisoned with 10 µM cyclopiazonic acid SOCE influx was about 3 µM/s. Ryanodine (50 µM) caused a robust, nifedipine (50 µM) independent, increase in SOCE activation to 8.6 µM/s. Decreasing medium osmolarity from 300 to 220 mOsm/L, decreased SOCE to 0.9 µM/s, while increasing osmolarity from 220 to 400 mOsm/L potentiated SOCE to 43.6 µM/s. Ryanodine inhibited the effects of hypotonicity. Experiments using 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, nifedipine, or Mn(2+) quenching, strongly suggest that the increased [Ca(2+)](myo) by ryanodine or hypertonic shock is mediated by potentiated SOCE activation. The Ca(2+) response decay, quantified by d[Ca(2+)](Removal)/dt, indicates a robust residual Ca(2+) removal mechanism in sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase poisoned fibres. SOCE high sensitivity to osmotic shocks, or to ryanodine receptor (RyR) binding, suggests its high dependency on the structural relationship between its molecular constituents, Orai1 and stromal interaction molecule and the sarcoplasmic reticulum and plasma membranes, in the triadic junctional region, where RyRs, are conspicuously present. This study demonstrates that SOCE machinery is highly sensitive to structural changes caused by binding of an agonist to its receptor or by imposed osmotical volume changes.

Recent experiments towards a model for fluid secretion in Rhodnius Upper Malpighian Tubules (UMT).

Three different methods have been used to improve a model for fluid secretion in Upper Malpighian Tubules (UMT) of the blood sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus. (I) In the first, UMT double perfusions in 5th instar Rhodnius were used to measure their fluid secretion rate. They were stimulated to secrete with 5-HT. Double perfusions allowed access separately to the basolateral and the apical cell membranes with pharmacological agents known to block different ion transport functions, namely ATPases, cotransporters and/or countertransporters and ion and water channels: ouabain, bafilomycin A1, furosemide, bumetanide, SITS, acetazolamide, amiloride, DPC, BaCl(2), pCMBS and DTT. The basic assumption is that changes in water movement reflect changes in ion transport mechanisms. (II) Intracellular Na(+) concentrations were measured with a fluorometric method in dissected R. prolixus UMT, under several experimental conditions. (III) ATPase activities were measured in R. prolixus UMT. A tentative model for the function of the UMT cell is presented. We find that (a) at the basolateral cell membrane, fundamental is a Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter; of intermediate importance are the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and a ouabain-insensitive Na(+)-ATPase, ion channels and Rp-MIP water channels. (b) At the apical cell membrane, most important are a V-H(+)-ATPase; and a K(+) and/or Na(+)-H(+) exchanger.

Statins modulate heat shock protein expression and enhance retinal ganglion cell survival after transient retinal ischemia/reperfusion in vivo.

PURPOSE: To evaluate putative mechanisms for the pleiotropic effects of statins, the expression of members of the heat shock family of proteins (HSPs) was compared between normal and ischemic rat retinas after transient retinal ischemia/reperfusion and statin treatment in vivo. METHODS: Retinal ischemia/reperfusion was induced by transient elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). Retinal expression of HSPs was evaluated at different time points after drug and solvent injection and retinal ischemia/reperfusion by means of PCR and Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescent staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to localize the expression of HSPs in normal and ischemic retinas. RESULTS: During the acute phase after retinal ischemia, alphaB-crystallin protein and mRNA expression were reduced after statin treatment. After 72 hours of reperfusion, statins increased the expression of alphaB-crystallin and reduced the expression of HSP27 in the retina. Increased expression of alphaB-crystallin early after lesion and statin delivery correlated with increased expression of the heat shock factors 1 and 2. Statins significantly enhanced retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival 10 days after transient retinal ischemia in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic delivery of statins after a transient period of retinal ischemia significantly modulated HSP expression in the retina and enhanced RGC survival. Together, these results support the notion that statins constitute a feasible therapeutic approach to prevent some of the neuronal damage in the acute and possibly also the delayed phase and have beneficial effects in central nervous system (CNS) disorders directly affecting the visual system.

Factores genéticos, clínicos y ambientales asociados al desarrollo de demencias, movimientos anormales y depresión en población de adultos mayores / Genetic, clinical and environmental factors associated with the development of dementia, abnormal movements and depression in older adult population / Genetic, clinical factors and environmental partners to the development of demencias, abnormal movements and depression in population of major adults

Objetivo: Identificar factores de riesgo, genéticos, clínicos y ambientales, para el desarrollo de demencias, movimientos anormales y trastornos afectivos, en población adulta mayor de tres barrios de la Localidad Cuarta de Bogotá. Metodología: Estudio Piloto, analítico de tipo transversal, diseñado para la identificación clínica y de factores de riesgo en una muestra intencional con participación voluntaria de 250 individuos, realizado en dos etapas: primera, de tamización, con base en diagnóstico interdisciplinario (Medicina, Enfermería y Psicología); segunda, de confirmación diagnóstica por especialistas (Neurología y Psiquiatría). Diferentes instrumentos neuropsicológicos, pruebas de genética molecular y bioquímicas fueron realizadas a los participantes. Resultados: Se estudiaron individuos de ambos sexos con edad promedio de 68,3 años, y algunos de sus familiares. El 65,5% de la población de estudio está afectada por alguna de las entidades valoradas, con una mayor frecuencia de los trastornos afectivos (35,0%), seguida por alteración de las funciones cognitivas (23,3%). Los estudios genéticos permitieron identificar varios polimorfismos en genes que pueden estar influyendo en la aparición de estas enfermedades. Conclusiones: Estudio poblacional interdisciplinario en una de las localidades de Bogotá, D.C de estratos uno y dos para identificar trastornos cognitivos, afectivos y de movimientos anormales, con instrumentos clínicos y de biología molecular, lo que permite avanzar en la caracterización de perfiles genéticos de nuestra población y sus aplicaciones en programas de Salud Pública.

Objective:To identify genetic, clinical, and environmental risk factors for the development of dementias, abnormal movements, and affective disorders in the senior citizen population of three neighborhoods in Bogotá’s Fourth Locality.Methodology: Pilot Study, transversal analytic, designed for the identification of clinical and risk factors in an intentional sample with the voluntary participation of 250 individuals, realized in two stages: first sifting, based in interdisciplinary diagnostics (Medicine, Nursing, Psychology); second, diagnostic confirmation by specialists (Neurology and Psychiatry). Different neuropsychological instruments, molecular and biochemical genetic tests were used on the participants.Results Individuals of both sexes with an pproximate age of 68.3 years were studied, and some of their relatives. 65.5% of the study population is affected by some of the valued entities, with the greatest frequency of affective disorders (35,0%), followed by alteration of the cognitive functions (23,3%). The genetic studies identified various polymorphisms in genes that could be influencing the appearance of these illnesses.Conclusions Populational interdisciplinary study in one of the localities of Bogotá, D.C. in two stages to identify cognitive and affective disorders and abnormal movements, with clinical instruments and molecular biology, which permits an advance in the characterization of genetic profiles for our population and their application in Public Health programs.Key wordsMental health, neuropsychiatric illness, senior citizen, genetic factors, environmental factors, Public Health.

Estudio de los mecanismos de transporte iónico involucrados en la secreción en túbulos de malpighi de chipo (Rhodnius prolixus) / Study of the mechanism of ionic transport involved on the secretion of malpighian tubes of chipos (Rhodnius prolixus)

Se midió la tasa de secreción y los cambios en la concentración interna de sodio y protones de los túbulos demalpighi (UMT) en Rhodnius prolixus bajo estimulación con 5-OH-Triptamina. Para medir secreción utilizamos un sistema de doble perfusión para tener acceso por separado a las membranas basolateral y/o apical de la célula. Los flujos iónicos se midieron por microfluorometría. Se aplicaron hasta trece agentes farmacológicos: Ouabaina, Bafilomicina A1, Furosamida, Bumetanida, DIOA, Probenecina, SITS, Acetazolamida, Amilorida, DPC, BaCl2, pCMBS y DTT. Estos agentes son bloqueadores conocidos de diferentes funciones de transporte de iones, conocidos como ATPasas, co- y/o contratransportadores asi como de canales iónicos y de agua. La asunción básica es que los cambios en los movimientos de agua reflejan los cambios en los mecanismos del transporte de iones que se localizan de la siguiente manera: (i) en la membrana basolateral de la célula, los principales son un cotransportador de Na+-K+-2Cl– y el intercambiador de Cl--HCO- 3; la ATPasa de Na+- K+ y la ATPasa de Na+ y los canales de Cl- y de agua (Rp-MIP) son de importancia intermedia, mientras que los canales de K+ son menos importantes: (ii) en la membrana celular apical, la mayor importancia la tiene un cotransportador de K+-Cl-, que ha sido localizado por primera vez, una ATPasa de H+ tipo V, y un intercambiador de Na+-H+; el intercambiador urato-anión y los canales de K+ son importantes mientras que los canales de Clno lo son. En este trabajo presentamos un modelo actualizado que explica la secreción del UMT.

We have measured fluid secretion rate and intracelular concentration of sodium and protons, in Rhodnius prolixusUMT stimulated to secrete with 5-OH-tryptamine. We used double perfusions in order to have access separately to the basolateral and to the apical cell membranes. The ionic fluxes has been measured using microfluorimetry. 13 pharmacological agents were applied: Ouabain, Bafilomycin A1, Furosemide, Bumetanide, DIOA, Probenecid, SITS, Acetazolamide, Amiloride, DPC, BaCl2, pCMBS and DTT. These agents are known to block different ion transport functions, namely ATPases, co- and/or counter- transporters and ionic and water channels. The basic assumption is that water movement changes reflect changes on ion transport mechanisms which we localize as follows: (i) At the basolateral cell membrane: a Na+ - K+ - 2Cl- cotransport; a Cl- - HCO3 - exchange; the Na+ - K+ - ATPase, Cl- channels and Rp-MIP water channels are fundamental; K+ channels play a lesser role. (ii) At the apical cell membrane, a K+ - Cl- cotransport that is located for the first time; a V - H+ - ATPase; an Na+– H+ exchange; an urate - anion exchange and K+ channels are important, while Cl- channels are not. The present experiments allow us to build a tentative model for the function of the UMT cell, which includes a paracellular pathway for fluid flow. In this work we propose a new actualized model to explain the UMT secretion.