Defined Times (defined + time)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Initial stages of neural regeneration in Helisoma trivolvis are dependent upon PLA2 activity

DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
Matthew S. Geddis
Abstract Neuronal regeneration after damage to an axon tract requires the rapid sealing of the injured plasma membrane and the subsequent formation of growth cones that can lead regenerating processes to their appropriate target. Membrane sealing and growth cone formation are Ca2+ -dependent processes, but the signaling pathways activated by Ca2+ to bring about these effects remain poorly understood. An in vitro injury model was employed in which neurites from identified snail neurons (Helisoma trivolvis) were transected with a glass microknife, and the formation of new growth cones from the distal portions of transected neurites was recorded at defined times after transection. This study presents three main results. First, phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a calcium-activated enzyme, is necessary for membrane sealing in vitro. Second, PLA2 activity is also required for the formation of a new growth cone after the membrane has sealed successfully. Thus, PLA2 plays a dual role by affecting both growth cone formation and membrane sealing. Third, the injury-induced activation of PLA2 by Ca2+ controls growth cone formation through the production of leukotrienes, secondary metabolites of PLA2 activity. Taken together, these results suggest that the injury-induced Ca2+ influx acts via PLA2 and leukotriene production to assure growth cone formation. These findings indicate that events that cause an inhibition of PLA2 or lipoxygenases, enzymes that produce leukotrienes, could result in the inability of neurites to regenerate. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 54: 555,565, 2003 [source]


Effects of oat processing on the glycaemic and insulin responses in horses

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 3-4 2003
I. Vervuert
Summary This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different oat processing techniques on the plasma glucose and insulin response in horses. In a cross-over design, six horses (ages 4,15 years, mean body weight ± SD: 450 ± 37 kg) were fed in random order: untreated oats, finely ground, steam-flaked and popped oats. The total oat intake varied between 1.05,1.5 kg/day, and the amount of diet was adjusted to a starch content of 630 g starch per day and horse (1.2,1.5 g starch/kg BW/day). During the stabilization period of 10 days, horses additionally received 6 kg grass hay. Following this adaptation period, plasma glucose and insulin responses to the respective dietary treatments were tested. Horses were fed their test diet (exclusively oats), and blood samples were collected at defined times to determine glycaemic and insulin response. Oat feeding resulted in a significant increase in mean plasma glucose and insulin concentration. However, glucose and insulin peaks as well as their respective areas under the curves were not clearly influenced by oat processing. The glycaemic index varied between 94.7 ± 11.2% (steam-flaked oats) and 102.6 ± 14.5% (finely ground oats, n.s.), the insulin index ranged between 93.8 ± 18.9% (popped oats) and 150.0 ± 77.6% (finely ground oats, n.s.). The insulin reaction to oat feeding showed a high variability between the horses. The results of this study indicate that the glucose and insulin responses are not clearly altered by the different types of oat processing. However, the glucose and insulin responses tended to be lower in thermally treated oats when compared with untreated or finely ground oats. [source]


Neuroprotective effect of hypothermia at defined intraischemic time courses in cortical cultures

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2001
Sriranganathan Varathan
Abstract Many experimental and clinical studies have shown that hypothermia confers cerebroprotective benefits against ischemic insults. Because of the many conflicting reports on hypothermic neuroprotection, we undertook this cellular study to identify the optimal temperature or a range of temperatures for maximal neuroprotection at different times (6,24 hr) during ischemic insults. Cultured Wistar rat cortical neurons were exposed to oxygen deprivation at defined times and temperatures (37°C normothermia, 32°C mild hypothermia, 27°C moderate hypothermia, 22°C deep hypothermia, and 17°C profound hypothermia). The survival rate of neurons was evaluated by assessing viable neurons on photomicrographs. The normothermic group demonstrated a significantly lower survival rate of cultured neurons (6 hr, 80.3% ± 2.7%; 12 hr, 56.1% ± 2.1%; 18 hr, 34.2% ± 1%; 24 hr, 18.1% ± 2.2%) compared to hypothermic groups (P < 0.001). The survival rate for the profound hypothermic group was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) compared to other hypothermic groups (at 17°C: 12 hr, 85.9% ± 2.5%, 18 hr, 74.7% ± 3.7%, 24 hr, 58.7% ± 2.7%). Almost equal survival rates were observed among mild, moderate, and deep hypothermic groups following <18 hr exposure to hypoxia, but the deep hypothermic group showed a significantly higher survival rate (84.1% ± 1.6%; P < 0.001) when subjected to hypoxia for 24 hr. In conclusion, hypothermia offers marked neuroprotection against hypoxia, but attenuation of neuronal cell death was less with profound hypothermia compared to mild, moderate, and deep hypothermia. Deep hypothermia affords maximal protection of neurons compared to mild and moderate hypothermia during long-lasting hypoxia (>18 hr). J. Neurosci. Res. 65:583,590, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Pressure simulation of orthodontic force in osteoblasts: a pilot study

ORTHODONTICS & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2004
U. Baumert
Structured Abstract Authors , Baumert U, Golan I, Becker B, Hrala BP, Redlich M, Roos HA, Reichenberg E, Palmon A, Müßig D Objectives , To elucidate the RUNX2 gene expression induction in human osteoblasts after mechanical loading. Design , Using a stringent pulse-chase protocol human osteoblasts were exposed to centrifugal pressure force for 30 and 90 min. Untreated control cells were processed in parallel. Before, and at defined times after centrifugation, total RNA was isolated. RUNX2 gene expression was measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The stress/control ratio was used to illustrate possible stimulatory or diminishing effects of force application. Results , Immediately after 30 min of force application the RUNX2 gene expression was induced by a factor of 1.7 ± 0.14 as compared with the negative control. This induction decreased rapidly and reached its pre-load levels within 30 min. Longer force applications (up to 90 min) did not change the RUNX2 gene expression. Conclusion , In mature osteoblasts centrifugal pressure force stimulates RUNX2 gene expression within a narrow time frame: loading of mature cells results in a temporary increase of RUNX2 expression and a fast downregulation back to its pre-load expression level. With this pilot study the gene expression behavior after mechanical stimuli could be determined with a simple laboratory setup. [source]


Consequential Apoptosis in the Cerebellum Following Injury to the Developing Rat Forebrain

BRAIN PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
Deanna L. Taylor
In focal brain lesions, alterations in blood flow and cerebral metabolism can be detected in brain areas remote from the primary injury. The cellular consequences of this phenomenon, originally termed diaschisis, are not fully understood. Here, we report that in two distinct models of forebrain injury, neuronal death in the cerebellum, a site distant to the primary injury, results as consequence of neuronal loss in the forebrain. Fourteen-day-old rats were subjected to unilateral forebrain injury, achieved by either hypoxia-ischemia (right carotid artery ligation and hypoxia) or direct needle injury to brain tissue. At defined times after injury, the presence of apoptosis was investigated by cell morphology, in situ end labeling, electron microscopy and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Injury to the rat forebrain following hypoxia-ischemia increased apoptosis in the internal granular and Purkinje cell layers of the cerebellum, a site distant to that of the primary injury. The number of apoptotic cells in the cerebellum was significantly related to cell death in the hippocampus. Similarly, direct needle injury to the forebrain resulted in extensive apoptotic cell death in the cerebellum. These results emphasize the intimate relationship between defined neuronal populations in relatively distant brain areas and suggest a cellular basis for diaschisis. [source]