胞外ATP在呼吸道中的作用

ATP不但是各种细胞的能量来源,而且更是一种自分泌或旁分泌的胞外信使,参与细胞一系列的生物学效应。ATP从呼吸道上皮细胞中释放,在调节呼吸道表面液体量的平衡、黏膜纤毛清除能力和呼吸道防御功能方面起重要作用,并参与呼吸道疾病及炎症的发生。本文对ATP从呼吸道上皮释放的途径,ATP调节呼吸道上皮离子转运的机制,ATP对呼吸道平滑肌的双重调节作用,以及ATP参与呼吸道疾病和炎症的发生机制等方面予以综述。     

胞外ATP的作用,来源和命运

胞外ＡＴＰ（三磷酸腺苷）浓度的改变,影响许多重要的生理功能,诸如神经递质作用、上板凝聚、篾这紧张、心脏功能肉收缩等。胞外ＡＴＰ作为递质直接影响神经效应器接点和／调制其它神经递质以及通过第二信使调节细胞活动,都是由膜上不同的ＡＴＰ受体或激活的离子通道介导的。本文从胞外ＡＴＰ的递质作用的发现与确证,胞外ＡＴＰ的来源、ＡＴＰ的受体、ＡＴＰ介导的反应及包外ＡＴＰ的降解等几方面对胞外ＡＴＰ研究的进展作一综述     

ATP合成下降在β细胞胰岛素分泌障碍中的作用

胰岛β细胞胰岛素分泌过程是受多种因素协调精确控制的,ATP合成酶在这一调控网络中起着重要作用.高糖、高脂及炎症细胞因子,通过不同的信号通路,引起线粒体膜电位改变及/或ATP合成酶核心亚基表达下降,导致ATP合成速率下降,是β胰岛素分泌障碍发生的共同核心环节,在2型糖尿病病理生理过程中起了关键性作用.糖尿病动物胰岛β细胞内的ATP含量较正常β细胞明显降低,而上调2型糖尿病患者胰岛细胞ATP合成酶β亚基表达能提高ATP合成速率,增加细胞ATP含量并逆转损伤的胰岛素分泌功能.目前的研究提示,亮氨酸、肠抑素(enterostatin)及过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(PPAR-γ)能通过调控ATP合成酶β亚基表达或活性提高细胞ATP合成速率,这为改善β细胞功能障碍提供了新的思路和信息.     

胞内钙释放在胃泌素引起胃平滑肌细胞收缩中的作用

本研究用大鼠游离的胃平滑肌细胞,观察五肽胃泌素（G5）对胃平滑肌细胞的收编作用及胃泌索引起胃平滑肌细胞收缩时胞内游离钙释放作用。结果表明：（1）G5能够引起胃体、胃窦、幽门平滑肌细胞收缩,并对胃窦作用最强。在G54×10－8～16×10－8mol／L剂量范围内,呈剂量依赖性。（2）丙谷胺或抗胃泌素血清可以阻断G5对胃肌细胞的收缩反应,而阿托品则不影响G5的作用。（3）G5与乙酸胆碱对平滑肌细胞收缩有相加作用。（4）胞内钙释放阻断剂TMB-8可抑制G5对胃肌细胞的收缩作用。（5）G5作用于胃窦平滑肌细胞后胞内游离Ca2 显著上升。上述结果提示：胃泌素通过特异性受体引起胃平滑肌细胞收缩,其收缩作用通过胞内Ca2 释放介导。     

平滑肌肌球蛋白轻链激酶的非激酶作用及对ATP 酶活性的调节

肌球蛋白轻链激酶（myosin light chain kinase, MLCK）具有激酶活性和非激酶活性,在平滑肌收缩过程中起着关键酶调控的作用.为探寻MLCK的非激酶活性区域对MLCK活性的影响,以进一步阐明MLCK的非激酶活性在调节平滑肌收缩过程中的分子机制.采用PCR技术构建MLCK部分氨基酸缺失的重组表达载体pGEX-F6-5/D,经大肠杆菌表达得到可溶性GST融合蛋白,利用SDS-PAGE及Western 印迹鉴定表达的MLCK在细胞中的分布,结果还显示,提取液的上清和沉淀中均有MLCK片段的表达.运用亲和层析技术分离并纯化删除前、后表达的MLCK片段（F6.5和F6-5/D）,经谷胱甘肽琼脂糖凝胶 4B 纯化,SDS-PAGE鉴定显示为单一表达条带.应用EnzChek磷分析试剂盒和孔雀绿两种方法分别测定不同浓度的MLCK对非磷酸化肌球蛋白Mg²⁺-ATP酶活性的影响.两种MLCK的片段均具有激活ATP酶活性的作用,并随MLCK浓度的增加,酶的活性增加.比较删除前后不同MLCK片段对ATP酶活性的影响结果显示,删除MLCK片段1002位丙氨酸至1019位亮氨酸后,对ATP酶的激活作用较删除前明显降低,表明删除的部分氨基酸序列为MLCK非激酶活性所必需的区域.利用电镜技术观察到MLCK片段（F6.5）使非磷酸化肌球蛋白构象发生明显的变化.加入MLCK片段后肌球蛋白的构象由非活性型转化为活性型,并且MLCK片段还具有促进肌球蛋白单体形成肌丝的作用.     

非生物胁迫对烟草悬浮细胞胞内和胞外ATP水平的影响

以烟草悬浮细胞BY-2(Nicotiana tabacum ‘Bright Yellow-2’)为材料,研究了NaCl、PEG(6000)、低温3种非生物胁迫对细胞内ATP(intracellular ATP,iATP)和细胞外ATP(extracellular ATP,eATP)水平的影响。结果显示：50～200 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理导致烟草悬浮细胞膜通透性显著增加(P<0.05),100和200 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理时iATP和eATP水平显著降低(P<0.05)。随着PEG质量浓度的增加(50、100、200 g·L^-1),烟草悬浮细胞膜通透性和eATP水平逐渐增加,其中在200 g·L^-1 PEG处理时eATP水平显著增加至对照的3.4倍(P<0.05),而iATP水平则在200 g·L^-1 PEG处理时显著降低至对照的0.5倍(P<0.05)。0～10℃低温处理后,烟草悬浮细胞膜通透性和iATP水平呈不同程度增加,其中0℃处...     

胞外ATP：一种新的细胞凋亡诱导剂

众所周知 ,ＡＴＰ是生物细胞内最主要的能量储存和供应物质。而Ｇｒｅｅｎ等 ( 1 95 0 )注意到ＡＴＰ对新血管的产生有重要影响 ,使得对ＡＴＰ的研究从胞内转向胞外。目前已发现 ,胞外ＡＴＰ不仅具有兴奋性递质功能 (ｅｘ ｃｉｔａｔｏｒｙｔｒａｎｓｍｉｔｔｅｒｆｕｎｃｔｉｏｎ) ,还参与有丝分裂原刺激 (ｍｉｔｏｇｅｎｉｃｓｔｉｍｕｌａｔｉｏｎ)、基因表达、细胞生长及其死亡等多种代谢活动的调控。近年来的研究表明 ,胞外ＡＴＰ还是一种细胞凋亡诱导剂 ,能通过胞外专一受体和胞内代谢产物破坏细胞正常代谢的两条完全不同途径诱导不同…     

胞外ATP对壳聚糖诱导的ROS和PAL活性变化的影响

以烟草BY-2悬浮细胞为材料,探讨了胞外ATP对壳聚糖引起的活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)水平和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(phenylalanine ammonia-lyase,PAL)活性变化的影响。结果表明,5~20μg·mL^-1壳聚糖处理导致了烟草悬浮细胞细胞内ROS水平逐渐增加;壳聚糖也导致了PAL活性的增加,其活性在15μg·mL^-1壳聚糖处理下达到峰值,此后有所降低。10~40μmol·L^-1外源ATP处理未引起烟草悬浮细胞内ROS水平和PAL活性的显著变化。细胞外ATP水平则随壳聚糖浓度的增加而逐渐下降。本文进一步分析了细胞外ATP对壳聚糖引起的ROS水平和PAL活性变化的影响。结果显示,外源施加20μmol·L^-1ATP可以有效降低壳聚糖诱导的烟草悬浮细胞ROS水平上升,同时外源ATP也明显减缓了壳聚糖所诱导的PAL活性的上升。上述结果表明,细胞外ATP水平能够影响壳聚糖引起的ROS水平和PAL活性的变化。     

大鼠及羊精子在附睾成熟过程中ATP酶活力及其对棉酚敏感性的变化

大鼠及羊精子在附睾成熟过程中ATP酶活力发生明显下降,酶活力的变化形式存在着种间差异。大鼠附睾体及附睾尾精子的ATP酶相对活力分别为附睾头的55.7％及59.6％,而羊则为92.1％及59.8％。 大鼠及羊附睾各区域精子的ATP酶对棉酚抑制作用的敏感程度不同。在5μmol/L的低棉酚的浓度下,大鼠附睾头、体及尾部精子的ATP酶活力分别降至对照组的40.8％、62.7％及81.4％;当棉酚浓度增至40μmol/L时,羊附睾头、体、尾部精子的ATP酶活力才分别降至对照组的63.8％、83.7％及90.7％。作者提出如能使药物作用于附睾精子的敏感区域以干扰其成熟,可能是一条有发展前景的抗生育新途径。     

Co-expression and interaction of cubilin and megalin in the adult male rat reproductive system

Cubilin is a peripheral membrane protein that cooperates with the endocytic receptor megalin to mediate endocytosis of ligands in various polarized epithelia. Megalin is expressed in the male reproductive tract where it has been implicated in the process of sperm membrane remodeling. A potential role for cubilin in the male reproductive tract has not been explored. Using RT-PCR, we found that cubilin and megalin mRNAs are expressed in the efferent ducts, corpus and cauda epididymis, and proximal and distal vas deferens. Immunohistological analysis revealed that cubilin was expressed in nonciliated cells of the efferent ducts, principal cells of the corpus and cauda epididymis and vas deferens. Immunogold EM showed cubilin in endocytic pits, endocytic vesicles, and endosomes of these cells. The expression profile of cubilin in the male reproductive tract was coincident with that of megalin except in principal cells of the caput epididymis. Double immunogold labeling showed that cubilin and megalin co-localized within the endocytic apparatus and recycling vesicles of efferent duct cells. Neither protein was found in lysosomes. Injection of RAP, an antagonist of megalin interaction with cubilin, reduced the level of intracellular cubilin in cells of the efferent ducts and vas deferens. In conclusion, cubilin and megalin are co-expressed in cells of the epididymis and vas deferens and the endocytosis of cubilin in these tissues is dependent on megalin. Together, these findings highlight the potential for a joint endocytic role for cubilin and megalin in the male reproductive tract.     

Effect of mating on sperm distribution in the reproductive tract of the male rat

Extragonadal sperm reserves in male rats were measured in different regions of the genital tract before and subsequent to normal ejaculation. In sexually rested rats, the sperm count (million spermatozoa for the paired organs) in different regions was: distal vas, 18; proximal vas, 9.8; cauda epididymidis, 229; caput + corpus epididymidis, 154. Following mating, the sperm count was reduced in the proximal and distal vas deferens and in the cauda epididymidis. The reproductive tract of mated females was found to contain 29% (no copulatory plug) or 59% (with copulatory plug) of the estimated mean ejaculate, which was estimated from the difference between the sperm counts in the sexually rested rat and following ejaculation. It is concluded that in the rat the immediate source of spermatozoa for ejaculation is the cauda epididymidis, with a smaller contribution arising from the vas deferens.     

Morphology and development of the male reproductive tract in Callinectes danae (Crustacea: Brachyura)

The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology and function of each section of the reproductive system of male Callinectes danae, as well as the stages of reproductive development and their relation to secondary sexual characteristics. Development of their reproductive system begins after completion of the pubertal moult. The growth of the gonopodium showed negative allometry for both juveniles and adults. The reproductive system is divided into portions with different functions. There is a germinal zone in the testes containing spermatogonia, a zone of maturation containing spermatocytes, spermatids or spermatozoa, as well as a collecting duct, which carries spermatozoa to the vas deferens. There are two matrices in the anterior vas deferens that initiate the separation of spermatozoa groups, one composed of polysaccharide acids (matrix I) and another consisting of neutral polysaccharides (matrix II). In the median vas deferens, the matrix II forms an acellular capsule, which forms the spermatophores. In the posterior vas deferens, the matrices are accumulated, initially with a granular texture and are homogenous for the final portion. The ejaculatory duct and penis have muscle lining to expel the spermatophores at copulation. Even after copulation, males retain a stock of spermatophores, allowing copulation with other females.     

Cell-cell interaction underlies formation of fluid in the male reproductive tract of the rat

The epithelia lining the epididymides of many species consists of several cell types. We have provided evidence that the basal cells are essential to the integrated functions of the epithelium. Basal cells, but not principal cells, and other cells in the epididymis express TRPC3 and COX-1. We have isolated basal cells from intact rat epididymis using antibody-coated Dynabeads and subjected them to whole-cell patch-clamp measurement of nonselective cation channel activity, a feature of TRPC3 protein, and Fluo-3 fluorescence measurement of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. The results show that a nonselective cation current blockable by La3+ (0.1 mM), Gd3+ (0.1 mM), or SKF96365 (20 microM) could be activated by lysylbradykinin (200 nM). In cells loaded with Fluo-3, addition of lysylbradykinin (100 nM) caused a sustained increase of intracellular Ca2+. This effect was blocked by Gd3+ (0.1 mM) or SKF96365 (20 microM) and was not observed in Fluo-3-loaded principal cells. Stimulation of basal cell/principal cell cocultures with lysylbradykinin (200 nM) evoked in principal cells a current with CFTR-Cl- channel characteristics. Isolated principal cells in the absence of basal cells did not respond to lysylbradykinin but responded to PGE2 (100 nM) with activation of a CFTR-like current. Basal cells, but not principal cells, released prostaglandin E2 when stimulated with lysylbradykinin (100 nM). The release was blocked by SKF96365 (20 microM) and BAPTA-AM (0.05 or 0.1 mM). Confluent cell monolayers harvested from a mixture of disaggregated principal cells and basal cells responded to lysylbradykinin (100 nM) and PGE2 (500 nM) with an increase in electrogenic anion secretion. The former response was dependent on prostaglandin synthesis as piroxicam blocked the response. However, cell cultures obtained from principal cells alone responded to PGE2 but not to bradykinin. These results support the notion that basal cells regulate principal cells through a Ca2+ and COX signaling pathway.     

Coccidioidomycosis of the male reproductive tract

Coccidioides immitis infection of the male reproductive tract is a rare entity that can evade diagnosis and pose a dilemma in management. Initially, patients are often evaluated for malignancy or other infections such as tuberculosis. In the past, surgery was the only management option for C. immitis infection of the male reproductive tract, but azole therapy now provides an adjunct or an alternative. We describe two patients who received azole therapy for C. immitis infection of the male reproductive tract. One received fluconazole for prostatic disease, while one received surgery followed by itraconazole for testicular disease. After 12 months of therapy, both remain asymptomatic and have decreased antibody titers against C. immitis.Disclaimer: The Views expressed herein are those of the authors do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of Defence, or the U.S. Government.     

Structure of the male reproductive accessory glands of Pterostichus nigrita (Coleoptera: Carabidae), their role in spermatophore formation

Accessory gland secretions of male insects have many important functions including the formation of spermatophores. We used light and electron microscopy to investigate the structure of the accessory glands and posterior vasa deferentia of the carabid beetle Pterostichus nigrita to try to determine where spermatophore material is produced. Each accessory gland and posterior vas deferens had an outer layer of longitudinal muscle, beneath which was a layer of connective tissue and a thin band of circular muscle, all of which surrounded a layer of epithelial cells lining the lumen of the ducts. Based on the ultrastructure of the epithelial cells, and their secretory products, we identified two epithelial cell types in each region (distal and proximal) of the accessory glands and four types in the posterior vas deferens. Most secretory products, which stained positively for proteins and some mucins, were released into the lumen of the ducts by apocrine secretion. The accessory glands produced one type of secretory product whereas in posterior vasa deferentia, four types of secretory products were found layered in the lumen. Our results suggest that most of the structural material used to construct a spermatophore is produced by the cells of the posterior vasa deferentia.     

Galanin potentiates electrical stimulation and exogenous norepinephrine-induced contractions in the rat vas deferens

In order to evaluate the mode of action of galanin (GAL) on the neuroeffector mechanism of peripheral sympathetic nerve fibers, the effects of this peptide were tested on the electrical stimulated and the unstimulated preparations of the isolated rat vas deferens in the presence of 10(-7) M atropine. The contractile responses, which were mediated predominantly by activation of postganglionic noradrenergic nerve fibers were dose-dependently potentiated by GAL in concentrations ranging from 1 to 50 nM. The facilitatory action induced by GAL in high concentrations (greater than 10 nM) usually returned to the control level at 2-3 min and were tachyphylactic. The potentiating action of GAL was not modified by pretreatment with 10(-7) M propranolol. Contractions produced by exogenous norepinephrine (NE) in the unstimulated preparations were not affected by pretreatment with low concentrations (less than 5 nM) of GAL. On the other hand, the contractions were dose-dependently potentiated 1 min after pretreatment with higher concentrations (greater than 10 nM) of GAL, which recovered 15 min after constant flow washout. Contractions developed by exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine were not affected, or slightly inhibited, by GAL (1-50 nM). In some preparations without electrical stimulation, high concentrations of GAL caused a slight contraction, which was not blocked by pretreatment with 10(-6) M phentolamine and 10(-6) M tetrodotoxin. These results suggest that GAL receptors exist presynaptically in the rat vas deferens and that stimulation of the receptors by GAL potentiates the release of NE from the nerve terminals during postganglionic sympathetic nerve stimulation. Other mechanisms for GAL action, such as influence on neuronal uptake and catecholamine metabolism, cannot be ruled out.     

The role of extracellular calcium in pregnancy-induced attenuation of phenylephrine contraction in rat aorta with functional endothelium

The effect of pregnancy on the supply of calcium ions for the contractile responses of rat aortic rings to phenylephrine was investigated. The contractility of intact aortic rings from pregnant rats, compared with that of similar rings from non-pregnant rats, to phenylephrine and potassium chloride was significantly decreased. Contractions of rings from non-pregnant rats, pretreated with phenylephrine or potassium chloride, in response to calcium chloride were greater than those of similarly treated rings from pregnant rats. When the concentration of calcium chloride in the medium bathing the rings was reduced to 0.8 mmol·l^-1, the contractile response to phenylephrine was significantly (P<0.005) inhibited in rings from both pregnant and non-pregnant rats but to a greater extent in rings from non-pregnant rats. Contractions of aortic rings from pregnant rats in response to phenylephrine in calcium-free medium were similar to those of rings from non-pregnant rats, suggesting equal dependence on calcium from intracellular stores. The results suggest that pregnancy decreased the response to calcium influx into the aortic smooth muscle cells through both receptor-and voltage-operated calcium entry pathways. Since de-endothelialisation reversed the pregnancy-induced diminished contraction to phenylephrine, it is likely that pregnancy interferred with contractions induced by activation of receptors with phenylephrine through enhanced production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s).Abbreviations EC₅₀ concentration of drug producing 50% contraction - EDCF endothelium-derived contraction factor - EGTA ethyleneglycol-bis (-aminoethyl ether)-NN tetraacetic acid - PSS physiological salt solution - VSM vascular smooth muscle     

一氧化氮和K+通道参与乙酰胆碱引起的大鼠离体输精管平滑肌细胞超极化

本文旨在探讨大鼠新鲜离体输精管平滑肌细胞中乙酰胆碱（acetylcholine,ACh）引起超极化反应的机制,采用细胞内微电极记录技术和细胞内荧光标记技术研究ACh对大鼠输精管不同走行方向平滑肌细胞的作用。用尖端含0．1％碘化吡啶（propidium iodide,PI）的记录电极标记电生理记录后的平滑肌细胞,其中37个为外层纵行细胞,17个为内层环行细胞。它们的平均静息膜电位分别为（-53．56±3．88）mV和（-51．62±4．27）mV,膜输入阻抗分别为（2245．60±372．50）MQ和（2101．50±513．50）MQ。ACh引起的膜超极化反应是浓度依赖性的,EC50为36 μmol／L。ACh引起的超极化反应可被非选择性的毒草碱（muscarinic receptor,M）受体阻断剂阿托品（atropine,1 μmol／L）和选择性的M3受体阻断剂diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine-methiodide（DAMP,100nmol/L）阻断。ACh引起的超极化还能被一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-硝基-精氨酸甲酯（N-nitro-L-arginine methylester,L．NAME,300μmol／L）阻断,并可被ATP敏感的钾通道阻断剂glipizide（5μmol／L）或内向整流钾通道阻断剂钡离子（50μmol／L）部分阻断。Glipizide和钡离子联合使用可完全阻断ACh引起的超极化反应。上述结果表明：ACh通过作用于大鼠输精管平滑肌细胞膜上的M3受体引起超极化反应,一氧化氮、ATP敏感性钾通道和内向整流钾通道参与了ACh引起的超极化反应。