Ca2+ channel antagonist actions in bladder smooth muscle: comparative pharmacologic and [3H]nitrendipine binding studies

The actions of a series of 15 Ca2+ channel antagonists including D-600, nifedipine, and diltiazem were examined against K+ depolarization and muscarinic receptor induced responses in guinea pig bladder smooth muscle. Responses of bladder are very dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ and sensitive to the Ca2+ channel antagonists, the tonic component more than the phasic component of response. Regardless of stimulant, K+ or methylfurmethide (MF), or component of response, the same rank order of antagonist activities is expressed, suggestive of a single structure-activity relationship and the existence of a single category of binding site which may, however, exist in several affinity states. High affinity binding of [3H]nitrendipine (KD = 1.1 X 10(-10) M) occurs in bladder membranes, and similar high affinity binding was found in microsomal preparations from other smooth muscles including guinea pig and rat lung, rat vas deferens, uterus, and stomach. [3H]nitrendipine binding in the bladder was sensitive to displacement by other 1,4-dihydropyridines, paralleling their pharmacologic activities and showing excellent agreement with binding data previously obtained for guinea pig ileal smooth muscle. Comparison of pharmacologic data for inhibition of K+- and MF-induced responses by a common series of Ca2+ channel antagonists in bladder and ileum revealed excellent correlations. Neither pharmacologic nor binding studies suggest significant differences in Ca2+ channel antagonist properties in smooth muscle from bladder and intestine.     

Arginine auxotrophs of Candida albicans deficient in argininosuccinate lyase

Auxotrophic mutants of Candida albicans FC18 were induced by a combination of treatments with nitrous acid and UV irradiation. Arginine (Arg-), histidine (His-) and methionine/cysteine (MetA-) auxotrophs were recovered by this means. The Arg- auxotrophs lacked active argininosuccinate lyase (EC 4.3.2.1), the enzyme catalysing the final step in arginine biosynthesis. Thus the locus may be designated arg-4. The mutant strains bearing this mutation did not form germ tubes unless the germination medium contained arginine.     

Inhibition by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine of dopamine dependent adenylate cyclase in rat retina

S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (S-AH), a potent inhibitor of biological transmethylation, decreased the response of rat retina adenylate cyclase to dopamine and to 2-amino-6, 7-dihydroxytetrahydronaphtalene (ADTN). This effect appeared for 10^?7M of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and was linear for concentration ranging to 10^?4M. S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine did not decrease the cyclic AMP accumulation with sodium fluoride, a non specific adenylate cyclase activator. On the other hand, the incorporation of methyl group was reduced in rat retina homogenates by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine. These findings suggest that the activity of the dopamine dependent adenylate cyclase is linked to a methylation process.     

Nonintegrative transformation in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina: stabilization of a linear vector by the chromosomal ends of Tetrahymena thermophila.

The effect of the chromosomal ends of Tetrahymena thermophila on the stability of linear transforming molecules in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina was tested. A derivative of an integrative vector for this fungus has been constructed, so that after linearization, the ends of the plasmid are the telomeric sequences of T. thermophila. After transformation, this linear molecule was maintained as an extrachromosomal plasmid with no integrated copies in about 50% of the transformants. Under selective conditions, there was approximately one linear molecule per 5 to 10 nuclei, and these extrachromosomal molecules were rapidly lost under nonselective conditions. The circular plasmid carrying an inverted repeat of T. thermophila telomeres could be linearized and processed in vivo.     

Interrelation of the changes in the blood rheological properties and the microcirculatory disorders in the early and late stages of experimental hyperlipoproteinemia

Experiments were made on rabbit fed an atherogenic diet (0.5 g/kg cholesterol) singly for 15 and 24 h and repeatedly for 3, 9 and 30 days. At early stages of lipid metabolism distress the interrelationship was established between blood rheological disorders and microcirculatory abnormalities. The dependence of the initial reaction of some rheological characteristics on their initial level was marked.     

Osteoarthritis of the hip: an occupational disease in farmers.

OBJECTIVE--To test the hypothesis that farmers are at high risk of hip osteoarthritis and to investigate possible causes for such a hazard. DESIGN--Cross sectional survey. SETTING--Five rural general practices. SUBJECTS--167 male farmers aged 60-76 and 83 controls from mainly sedentary jobs. All those without previous hip replacement underwent radiography of the hip. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Hip replacement for osteoarthritis or radiological evidence of hip osteoarthritis. RESULTS--Prevalence of hip osteoarthritis was higher in farmers than controls and especially in those who had farmed for over 10 years (odds ratio 9.3, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 44.5). The excess could not be attributed to any one type of farming, and heavy lifting seems the likely explanation. CONCLUSIONS--Manual handling in agriculture should be limited where possible. Consideration should be given to making hip osteoarthritis a prescribed industrial disease in farmers. There may be wider implications for the prevention of hip osteoarthritis in the general population.