RESUMO
We report here the identification of the first avian MEF2 gene, termed qMEF2D. qMEF2D is the first MEF2 protein that contains 41 repeats of glutamine in the C-terminal. This quail gene is more abundantly expressed, in a transient fashion, in the developing brain than in the muscle cells.
Assuntos
Sistema Nervoso Central/embriologia , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Sistema Nervoso Central/química , Sistema Nervoso Central/fisiologia , DNA Complementar/análise , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/biossíntese , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Hibridização In Situ , Fatores de Transcrição MEF2 , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Fatores de Regulação Miogênica , Codorniz , Fatores de Transcrição/biossínteseRESUMO
The identification of gonadal gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors (GnRH-R) and evidence of direct inhibitory effects of GnRH agonists upon steroidogenesis in adult rat gonads, lend credence to a putative intragonadal role of a locally secreted GnRH or GnRH-like peptide. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction followed by Southern blot hybridization and sequencing, we identified, both in the ovary and in the testis of fetal and adult rats, a fully processed GnRH messenger RNA (mRNA), the sequence of which, in adult testis, was identical to that found in the hypothalamus. We also detected in the testis, but not in the ovary, a transcript containing the first intron. The ontogeny of GnRH and GnRH-R gene expression was studied in rat gonads from 14.5 to 21.5 days post-coitum (dpc), using dot blot hybridization of total RNA. During this period, the levels of cyclophilin mRNA normalized to total RNA remained unchanged. Thus, we used cyclophilin as an internal standard. GnRH mRNA was detected in the ovary at 18.5 dpc, four days later than in the testis, and similar levels were found in both sexes at birth. GnRH-R mRNA was present at 14.5 dpc in the testis and at 15.5 dpc in the ovary, with the levels at 21.5 dpc being 2.4 times higher in the testis than in the ovary. GnRH and GnRH-R mRNA levels increased in both sexes in late fetal development, but this increase appeared two days sooner in the ovary compared with the testis, thus supporting the hypothesis that expression of the GnRH and GnRH-R genes is regulated in a sex-dependent manner during fetal development. In all cases, expression of GnRH and GnRH-R preceded gonadotropin receptors in the gonads and initiation of gonadotropin secretion by the pituitary.
Assuntos
Desenvolvimento Embrionário e Fetal/genética , Hormônio Liberador de Gonadotropina/genética , Ovário/embriologia , Receptores LHRH/genética , Testículo/embriologia , Animais , Southern Blotting , Densitometria , Eletroforese em Gel de Ágar , Feminino , Expressão Gênica , Masculino , Ovário/metabolismo , Peptidilprolil Isomerase/genética , RNA Mensageiro/análise , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Testículo/metabolismoRESUMO
beta2m was determined by radioimmunoassay in 43 serums from healthy blood donors. Serum concentrations varied from 0.67 to 1.9 mg/l with a mean of 1.29 mg/l. Reproductibility and sensitivity of the method were evaluated. 66 patients with advanced neoplasia were studied. Serum beta2m was greater than 2 mg/l in 70% of the cases and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 54%. In 26 documented cases with tumor progression and 14 with regression, associated variations of CEA were formed more frequent and of greater magnitude than those of beta2m.
Assuntos
beta-Globulinas/análise , Antígeno Carcinoembrionário/análise , Microglobulina beta-2/análise , Neoplasias da Mama/imunologia , Neoplasias Brônquicas/imunologia , Feminino , Neoplasias Gastrointestinais/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Radioimunoensaio/métodosRESUMO
This prospective study examined the presence of foreign bodies in postoperative adhesion specimens and parietal peritoneum removed in a given patient at the same operative site. Fifty-two consecutive patients were enrolled. A significantly larger number of foreign bodies were observed in adhesion specimens than in peritoneum specimens. Inflammatory processes were also found to develop preferentially on the perioneum. In man, foreign bodies participate in the mechanism of development of postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions.
Assuntos
Corpos Estranhos , Complicações Intraoperatórias , Cavidade Peritoneal , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos ProspectivosRESUMO
Quox 1, a quail homeobox gene, is the first vertebrate Antp-type homeobox gene to be described that is expressed in the forebrain. We have already shown that the Quox 1 protein is specifically expressed in post-mitotic sensory neurons. A subpopulation of sympathetic ganglion cells was also found to be labelled by anti-Quox 1 in vitro, but it is not clear whether this protein is expressed in sympathetic ganglion cells in vivo and, if so, the conditions which regulate its expression in vitro. In the present study, we used immunocytochemistry to find out whether Quox 1 expression in sympathetic ganglion cells in vitro is regulated by environmental signals. We found that several peptide growth factors can regulate Quox 1 expression in cultured sympathetic ganglion cells, and that they do so at physiological concentration and in a variety of ways. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) induces Quox 1 protein expression, whereas insulin and human insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) down-regulate Quox 1 expression.