Microimplants of estradiol in the sexually dimorphic area of the hypothalamus activate ultrasonic vocal behavior in male Mongolian gerbils

The hormonal control of ultrasonic vocal behavior in the male Mongolian gerbil was examined by comparing the behavioral effects of androgen with those of estrogen administered to the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area (POA-AH) in castrates. By measuring radioactivity released from solid "floating" POA-AH microimplants (mean diameter, 141 microns) of testosterone (3H-T, mean weight, 880 ng) in Experiment 1, we found that the steroid had a concentration gradient which fell rapidly from the edge of the microimplant, suggesting restricted diffusion. Using floating microimplants in Experiment 2, we studied the effects of testosterone propionate (TP, 650 ng), estradiol-17 beta benzoate (EB, 439 ng), or cholesterol (C, 478 ng) on rates of a frequency modulated ultrasonic vocalization emitted during sexual interactions. The effects on the upsweep call were compared with those on sexual mounting. The upsweep rate remained significantly below precastration levels in C implanted males. EB reinstated upsweep calling within 5 days, 3 days earlier than TP microimplants. Mounting in EB implanted males was maintained at precastration levels, whereas TP implantation restored mounting to precastration levels only after 5 days. EB was effective in inducing ultrasonic vocalizations when placed in, or near, the sexually dimorphic area (SDA) in the medial preoptic area (POM). Our results indicate that brain mechanisms underlying both ultrasonic vocalizations and mounting are directly sensitive to estradiol (E2) in the male gerbil. We conclude that E2 affects mechanisms in the SDA associated with ultrasonic calling and suggest that T is likely to act via aromatization products in the brain.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of GLUT1 in helix 7 residue 282 results in perturbation of exofacial ligand binding.

The structure-function relationship of the HepG2/erythrocyte-type glucose transporter (GLUT1) has been studied by in vitro site-directed mutagenesis. Chinese hamster ovary clones in which glucose transporters were transfected were shown by Western blotting with a GLUT1 anti-COOH-terminal peptide antibody to have expression levels of Gln282----Leu, Asn288----Ile, and Asn317----Ile mutations that were comparable with the wild type. All three mutant GLUT1 clones had high 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport activity compared with a nontransfected clone, suggesting that these residues are not absolutely required for the transport function. We have examined the possibility that the inner and outer portions of the transport pathway are structurally separate by measuring the interaction of the mutant transporters with the inside site-specific ligand cytochalasin B and the outside site-specific ligand 2-N-4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)benzoyl-1,3-bis(D-mannos-4 -yloxy)-2- propylamine (ATB-BMPA). All three mutant GLUT1 clones showed high levels of cytochalasin B labeling, and the N288I and N317I mutants showed high levels of ATB-BMPA labeling. In contrast to the transport and cytochalasin B labeling results, the transmembrane helix 7 Gln282----Leu mutant was labeled by ATB-BMPA to a level that was only 5% of the level observed in the wild type. We have confirmed that this mutant was defective in the outer site by comparing the inhibition of wild-type and mutant 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport by the outside site-specific ligand 4,6-O-ethylidene-D-glucose. 4,6-O-Ethylidene-D-glucose inhibited wild-type transport with a Ki of approximately 12 mM, but this was increased to greater than 120 mM in the Gln282----Leu mutant. Thus, of the 3 residues mutated in this study, only glutamine 282 substitution causes a major perturbation in function, and this is a specific and striking reduction in the affinity for the outside site-specific ligands ATB-BMPA and 4,6-O-ethylidene-D-glucose.     

Hydrogen bonding requirements for the insulin-sensitive sugar transport system of rat adipocytes

(1) The $\text{t}\text{1}\text{2}$ for 1.3 mM D-allose uptake and efflux in insulin-stimulated adipocytes is 1.7 ± 0.1 min. In the absence of insulin mediated uptake of D-allose is virtually eliminated and the uptake rate ($\text{t}\text{1}\text{2}\text{= 75.8 ± 4.99}\text{min}$) is near that calculated for nonmediated transport. The kinetic parameters for D-allose zero-trans uptake in insulin-treated cells are K_zt^oi = 271.3 ± 34.2 mM, V_zt^oi = 1.15 ± 0.12 mM · s^?1. (2) A kinetic analysis of the single-gate transporter (carrier) model interacting with two substrates (or substrate plus inhibitor) is presented. The analysis shows that the heteroexchange rates for two substrates interacting with the transporter are not unique and can be calculated from the kinetic parameters for each sugar acting alone with the transporter. This means that the equations for substrate analogue inhibition of the transport of a low affinity substrate such as D-allose can be simplified. It is shown that for the single gate transporter the K_i for a substrate analogue inhibitor should equal the equilibrium exchange K_m for this analogue. (3) Analogues substituted at C-1 show a fused pyranose ring is accepted by the transporter. 1-Deoxy-D-glucose is transported but has low affinity for the transporter. High affinity can be restored by replacing a fluorine in the β-position at C-1. The K_i for $\text{d}\text{-glucose}\text{= 8.62}\text{mM}$; the K_i for $\text{β-}\text{fluoro-}\text{d}\text{-glucose}\text{= 6.87}\text{mM}$. Replacing the ring oxygen also results in a marked reduction in affinity. The K_i for $\text{5-}\text{thio-}\text{d}\text{-glucose}\text{= 42.1}\text{mM}$. (4) A hydroxyl in the gluco configuration at C-2 is not required as 2-deoxy-d-galactose (K_i = 20.75 mM) has a slightly higher affinity than d-galactose (K_i = 24.49 mM). A hydroxyl in the manno configuration at C-2 interferes with transport as d-talose (K_i = 35.4 mM) has a lower affinity than d-galactose. (5) d-Allose (K_m = 271.3 mM) and 3-deoxy-d-glucose (K_i = 40.31 mM) have low affinity but high affinity is restored by substituting a fluorine in the gluco configuration at C-3. The K_i for $\text{3-}\text{fluoro-}\text{d}\text{-glucose}\text{= 7.97}\text{mM}$. (6) Analogues modified at C-4 and C-6 do not show large losses in affinity. However, 6-deoxy-d-glucose (K_i = 11.08 mM) has lower affinity than d-glucose and 6-deoxy-d-galactose K_i = 33.97 mM) has lower affinity than d-galactose. Fluorine substitution at C-6 of d-galactose restores high affinity. The K_i for $\text{6-}\text{fluoro-}\text{d}\text{-galactose}\text{= 6.67}\text{mM}$. Removal of the C-5 hydroxymethyl group results in a large affinity loss. The K_i$\text{d}\text{-xylose}\text{= 45.5}\text{mM}$. The K_i for $\text{l}\text{-arabinose}\text{= 49.69}\text{mM}$. (7) These results indicate that the important hydrogen bonding positions involved in sugar interaction with the insulin-stimulated adipocytes transporter are the ring oxygen, C-1 and C-3. There may be a weaker hydrogen bond to C-6. Sugar hydroxyls in non-gluco configurations may sterically hinder transport.     

Cyclic AMP transport in human erythrocyte ghosts

10^?5 M cyclic AMP has high permeability in human erythrocyte ghosts ($\text{p = 0.061 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{cm}\text{·}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$). Saturation of influx and efflux occurs. $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>z</mtext><mtext>t</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>oi</mtext>}}\text{= 4.43}\text{mM}$. $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{zt}}{}^{\mathrm{oi}}\text{= 259.6 μ}\text{M · min}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>z</mtext><mtext>t</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>io</mtext>}}\text{= 0.475 μ}\text{M}$. $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>z</mtext><mtext>t</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>io</mtext>}}\text{= 28.3 μ}\text{M · min}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ at 30°C. Equilibrium exchange entry of cyclic AMP has similar kinetics to zero trans influx, though the system does show counterflow. Cythochalasin B is an apparent competitive inhibitor of cyclic AMP exit. ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{= 3.9 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$).Control experiments indicated that cyclic AMP remains intact during incubation with red blood cell ghosts and is contained within the intravesicular space during the transport experiments.     

Cytoplasmic filaments and cellular wound healing in amoeba proteus

The flexibility and self-healing properties of animal cell surface membranes are well known. These properties have been best exploited in various micrurgical studies on living cells (2, 3), especially in amoebae (7, 20). During nuclear transplantation in amoebae, the hole in the membrane through which a nucleus passes can have a diameter of 20-30 μm, and yet such holes are quickly sealed, although some cytoplasm usually escapes during the transfer. While enucleating amoebae in previous studies, we found that if a very small portion of a nucleus was pushed through the membrane and exposed to the external medium, the amoeba expelled such a nucleus on its own accord. When this happened, a new membrane appeared to form around the embedded portion of the nucleus and no visible loss of cytoplasm occurred during nuclear extrusion. In the present study, we examined amoebae that were at different stages of expelling partially exposed nuclei, to follow the sequence of events during the apparent new membrane formation. Unexpectedly, we found that a new membrane is not formed around the nucleus from inside but a hole is sealed primarily by a constriction of the existing membrane, and that cytoplasmic filaments are responsible for the prevention of the loss of cytoplasm.     

Does phospholipase C stimulate thymide kinase activity of rat liver extracts prepared after partial hepatectomy.

Our purpose was to determine whether phospholipase C stimulated thymidine kinase activity of regenerating rat liver. We determined effects of phospholipase C upon TMP formation by rat liver extracts prepared at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hr following partial hepatectomy. Data were obtained which supported these conclusions: (a) Commercial preparations of phospholipase C contained nucleoside phosphotransferase activity; (b) phospholipase C exerted no appreciable stimulatory influence upon thymidine kinase activity of regenerating rat liver; and (c), apparent stimulation of thymidine kinase was associated with linked activities of two enzymes, viz., liver extract-ATPase activity and nucleoside phosphotransferase activity.     

Accuracy and precision of a wrist movement when vibrotactile prompts inform movement speed

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of movement speed on task accuracy and precision when participants were provided temporally oriented vibrotactile prompts. Materials and methods: Participants recreated a simple wrist flexion/extension movement at fast and slow speeds based on target patterns conveyed via vibrating motors affixed to the forearm. Each participant was given five performance-blinded trials to complete the task at each speed. Movement accuracy (root mean square error) and precision (standard deviation) were calculated for each trial in both the spatial and temporal domains. Results: 28 participants completed the study. Results showed temporal accuracy and precision improved with movement speed (both: fast?>?slow, p?<?0.01), while all measures improved across trials (temporal accuracy and precision: trial 1?<?all other trials, p?<?0.05; spatial accuracy: trial 1 and 2?<?all other trials, p?<?0.05; spatial precision: trial 1?<?all other trials, p?<?0.05). Conclusions: Overall, temporal and spatial results indicate participants quickly recreated and maintained the desired pattern regardless of speed. Additionally, movement speed seems to influence movement accuracy and precision, particularly within the temporal domain. These results highlight the potential of vibrotactile prompts in rehabilitation paradigms aimed at motor re-education.