C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 as a novel intermediate in the ovulatory cascade.

Expression of immune function genes within follicle cells has been reported in ovaries from many species. Recent work from our laboratory showed a direct effect of the monocyte chemoattractant protein 1/C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 system within the feline cumulus oocyte complex, by increasing the mRNA levels of key genes involved in the ovulatory cascade in vitro. Studies were designed to evaluate if C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 acts as a novel mediator of the ovulatory cascade in vitro. Therefore, feline cumulus oocyte complexes were cultured in the presence or absence of a highly selective C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 antagonist together with known inducers of cumulus-oocyte expansion and/or oocyte maturation to assess mRNA expression of key genes related to periovulatory events in other species as well as oocyte maturation. Also, the effects of recombinant monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 on spontaneous or gonadotrophin-induced oocyte maturation were assessed. This is an in vitro system using isolated cumulus oocyte complexes from feline ovaries. The present study reveals the modulation of several key ovulatory genes by a highly selective C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 antagonist. However, this antagonist was not enough to block the oocyte maturation induced by gonadotropins or amphiregulin. Nonetheless, recombinant monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 had a significant effect on spontaneous oocyte maturation, increasing the percentage of metaphase II stage oocytes in comparison to the control. This is the first study in any species to establish C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 as a mediator of some actions of the mid-cycle gonadotrophin surge.

Potential role of glycerol leading to rat fructose hypertension.

A fructose-enriched diet promotes hypertension in rats. We thought that an enhancement of the glycolytic and/or lipid disorder (s) that raise blood pressure could be the cause. Therefore, we studied 4 groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (+/-200 g): (1) control rats received a standard diet and tap water; (2) the glycerol group of rats received a standard diet and 0.54 mol/L glycerol in tap water; (3) the fructose group was given a fructose-enhanced diet (chow had 55% fructose instead of dextrin) and tap water; and (4) the fructose-glycerol group was given the fructose-enhanced diet and 0. 54 mol/L glycerol in drinking water. At the end of the second week, the findings were as follows. Blood pressure was 149+/-2 mm Hg in the fructose-glycerol group versus 129+/-2 (P<0.001), 131+/-2 (P<0. 001), and 140+/-3 (P<0.005) mm Hg in the control, glycerol, and fructose groups, respectively. Insulinemia was higher in the fructose-glycerol group than the control (P<0.001), glycerol (P<0. 001), and fructose groups (P<0.001); triglyceridemia was higher in the fructose-glycerol (P<0.02), fructose (P<0.05), and glycerol groups (P<0.02) than the control group. Thoracic aorta rings showed a lower ED(50) to 12,13-phorbol dibutyrate in the fructose-glycerol group than in the control (P<0.001), glycerol (P<0.002), and fructose groups (P<0.001). In conclusion, glycerol-fructose administration resulted in hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia, and increased vascular sensitivity to 12,13-phorbol dibutyrate (with respect to the control group), and significantly greater expression of protein kinase C alpha and betaII (with respect to the glycerol group).

Bleeding time in normal children.

PURPOSE: Because there is little information on bleeding times (BTs) in children we initiated the following study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal children undergoing elective surgery and adult volunteers had their bleeding times measured with a disposable device (Simplate) with a vertical incision in the forearm. Results in children (four age groups) and adults, male and female, were compared. RESULTS: The mean time in children was 270 s with a 95th percentile of 420 s compared with a mean time in adults of 320 s and a 95th percentile of 480 s (p = 0.001). Although the values in the various age groups and sexes were different, only sex had a statistically different value in adults. CONCLUSIONS: The following reference values should be used for children: 0-4 years, 4 +/- 1 min; boys > 4 years, 5 +/- 1 min; girls > 4 years, 5.5 +/- 1 min. We conclude that results obtained in children are significantly shorter than those obtained in normal adult subjects.