Sensory Neurons Contacting the Cerebrospinal Fluid Require the Reissner Fiber to Detect Spinal Curvature In Vivo

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Metabolism alteration in follicular niche: The nexus among intermediary metabolism,mitochondrial function,and classic polycystic ovary syndrome

Classic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a high-risk phenotype accompanied by increased risks of reproductive and metabolic abnormalities; however, the local metabolism characteristics of the ovaries and their effects on germ cell development are unclear. The present study used targeted metabolomics to detect alterations in the intermediate metabolites of follicular fluid from classic PCOS patients, and the results indicated that hyperandrogenism but not obesity induced the changed intermediate metabolites in classic PCOS patients. Regarding the direct contact, we identified mitochondrial function, redox potential, and oxidative stress in cumulus cells which were necessary to support oocyte growth before fertilization, and suggested dysfunction of mitochondria, imbalanced redox potential, and increased oxidative stress in cumulus cells of classic PCOS patients. Follicular fluid intermediary metabolic profiles provide signatures of classic PCOS ovary local metabolism and establish a close link with mitochondria dysfunction of cumulus cells, highlighting the role of metabolic signal and mitochondrial cross talk involved in the pathogenesis of classic PCOS.     

Modulation of gamete and embryonic microenvironments by oviduct glycoproteins

Studies on protein molecules in oviduct luminal fluid are viewed historically, and then in terms of more recent studies on a possible involvement of unique glycoproteins in embryonic development. As a caution, however, it is noted that incorporation of such molecules into the vitellus may be nonspecific. The question is raised as to whether oviduct glycoproteins could be acting primarily in a physical sense to stabilize differing chemical environments along the oviduct. Equally or more importantly, glycoproteins might be acting as carrier molecules to present cations and metabolic substrates at appropriate concentrations to the vitelline membrane. This latter possibility is examined in some detail and could be tested by manipulating the composition of the perivitelline fluid. Glycoproteins may also be critically involved in regulating the physiological competence of spermatozoa in the pre- and peri-ovulatory oviduct, in maintaining a coordinated pattern of cilial beat, and in immunosuppressive functions within the oviduct, not least in those associated with the masking of paternal antigens on both spermatozoa and embryos. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Role of diastolic vortices in flow and energy dynamics during systolic ejection

MRI-based computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed in the left ventricles of two adult porcine subjects with varying physiological states (before and after an induced infarction). The hypothesis that diastolic vortices store kinetic energy and assist systolic ejection was tested, by performing systolic simulations in the presence and absence of diastolic vortices. The latter was achieved by reinitializing the entire velocity field to be zero at the beginning of systole. A rudimentary prescribed motion model of a mitral valve was included in the simulations to direct the incoming mitral jet towards the apex. Results showed that the presence or absence of diastolic vortex rings had insignificant impact on the energy expended by walls of the left ventricles for systolic ejection for both the porcine subjects, under all physiological conditions. Although substantial kinetic energy was stored in diastolic vortices by end diastole, it provided no appreciable savings during systolic ejection, and most likely continued to complete dissipation during systole. The role of diastolic vortices in apical washout was investigated by studying the cumulative mass fraction of passive dye that was ejected during systole in the presence and absence of vortices. Results indicated that the diastolic vortices play a crucial role in ensuring efficient washout of apical blood during systolic ejection.     

Network organization of interstitial connective tissue cells in the human endolymphatic duct.

The human endolymphatic duct (ED) and sac of the inner ear have been suggested to control endolymph volume and pressure. However, the physiological mechanisms for these processes remain obscure. We investigated the organization of the periductal interstitial connective tissue cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) in four freshly fixed human EDs by transmission electron microscopy and by immunohistochemistry. The unique surgical material allowed a greatly improved structural and epitopic preservation of tissue. Periductal connective tissue cells formed frequent intercellular contacts and focally occurring electron-dense contacts to ECM structures, creating a complex tissue network. The connective tissue cells also formed contacts with the basal lamina of the ED epithelium and the bone matrix, connecting the ED with the surrounding bone of the vestibular aqueduct. The interstitial connective tissue cells were non-endothelial and non-smooth muscle fibroblastoid cells. We suggest that the ED tissue network forms a functional mechanical entity that takes part in the control of inner ear fluid pressure and endolymph resorption.     

Proteoglycan from bovine follicular fluid enhances an acrosome reaction in bovine spermatozoa

Bovine epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa were incubated for 22 and 9.5 h respectively, in a chemically defined medium. The percentages of sperm exhibiting an acrosome reaction were determined morphologically after fixing and staining specimens. Addition of bovine follicular proteoglycan or chondroitin sulfates ABC significantly increased the incidence of acrosome reaction. The stimulatory effects of the proteoglycan or chondroitin sulfates were negated by exposure to the enzyme chondroitinase ABC. Viability of spermatozoa was not affected by the various experimental treatments. Transmission electron microscopy of spermatozoa showed that vesiculation had occurred between the plasma and outer acrosomal membrane. These results suggest that proteoglycan present in follicular fluid at the time of ovulation may promote the acrosome reaction which precedes the ability of sperm to fertilize an ovum.     

Serosa membrane plays a key role in transferring vitellin polypeptides to the perivitelline fluid in insect embryos

In mid-embryogenesis, the stick insect Carausius morosus comes to be comprised of three distinct districts: the embryo proper, the yolk sac and the perivitelline fluid. A monolayered epithelium, the so-called serosa membrane, encloses the yolk sac and its content of vitellophages and large yolk granules. During embryonic development, the yolk sac declines gradually in protein concentration due to Vt polypeptides undergoing limited proteolysis to yield a number of Vt cleavage products of lower molecular weights. mAbs 1D1 and 5H11 are monoclonal antibodies raised against some of the Vt cleavage products generated by this process in the yolk sac. At the confocal microscope, antibody fluorescence is initially associated with a few yolk granules, while it is gradually displaced in the cytosolic spaces of the vitellophages. With the proceeding of embryonic development, label appears also in the serosa membrane in the form of clustered dots. At the ultrastructural level, gold particles are initially associated with the vitellophages that are labeled on a few yolk granules and in the cytosolic space flanking the yolk granules. Subsequently, the serosa cells become labeled on vesicles close to the yolk granules or just underneath the plasma membrane. Inside the serosa cells, label is also associated with granules budding from the Golgi apparatus, but never with the intercellular channels percolating the serosa membrane. These observations are interpreted as indicating that Vt cleavage products leak out from the yolk granules into the cytosolic spaces of the vitellophages and are eventually transferred to the perivitelline fluid via transcytosis through the serosa cells.     

Fluid shear stress regulates HepG2 cell migration though time-dependent integrin signaling cascade

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a subtype of malignant liver cancer with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. It is noteworthy that mechanical forces in tumor microenvironment play a pivotal role in mediating the behaviors and functions of tumor cells. As an instrumental type of mechanical forces in vivo, fluid shear stress (FSS) has been reported having potent physiologic and pathologic effects on cancer progression. However, the time-dependent mechanochemical transduction in HCC induced by FSS remains unclear. In this study, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were exposed to 1.4 dyn/cm² FSS for transient duration (15s and 30s), short duration (5 min, 15 min and 30 min) and long duration (1h, 2h and 4h), respectively. The expression and translocation of Integrins induced FAK-Rho GTPases signaling events were examined. Our results showed that FSS endowed HepG2 cells with higher migration ability via reorganizing cellular F-actin and disrupting intercellular tight junctions. We further demonstrated that FSS regulated the expression and translocation of Integrins and their downstream signaling cascade in time-dependent patterns. The FSS downregulated focal adhesion components (Paxillin, Vinculin and Talin) while upregulated the expression of Rho GTPases (Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA) in long durations. These results indicated that FSS enhanced tumor cell migration through Integrins-FAK-Rho GTPases signaling pathway in time-dependent manners. Our in vitro findings shed new light on the role of FSS acting in physiologic and pathological processes during tumor progression, which has emerged as a promising clinical strategy for liver carcinoma.     

Active Transport of Nicotine by the Isolated Choroid Plexus In Vitro

Abstract: In vitro , the transport of [¹⁴C]nicotine into the isolated choroid plexus, the anatomical locus of the blood–CSF barrier, was studied. The isolated rabbit choroid plexus accumulated [¹⁴C]nicotine by two processes: an active saturable transport process and a nonsaturable process. The [¹⁴C]nicotine accumulation process by choroid plexus was not due to binding or intracellular metabolism of the [¹⁴C]nicotine. The [¹⁴C]nicotine accumulation process in isolated choroid plexus was inhibited by weak bases, including tolazoline and lidocaine, but not by the weak acid probenecid. The accumulation process was decreased 60% by iodoacetate and dinitrophenol and by low temperatures. These results are consistent with previous autoradiographic evidence showing the choroid plexus concentrated [¹⁴C]nicotine in vivo , and suggest that the choroid plexus may transfer nicotine between blood and CSF in vivo .