Gillian Rosemary Bullock

Influence of the vascular endothelium on agonist-induced contractions and relaxations in rat aorta.

1 The influence of the vascular endothelium on agonist‐induced contractions and relaxations has been measured using intact segments of rat aorta. Contiguous rubbed segments were used as controls. 2 Angiotensin II, histamine, noradrenaline, U46619 and UK 14304 contracted both rubbed and intact tissues. The threshold spasmogenic concentrations of these agonists were lower in rubbed tissues than in intact preparations. 3 The sensitivity and responsiveness of tissues to angiotensin II, histamine, noradrenaline and UK 14304 were greater in rubbed than in intact tissues. 4 Acetylcholine and histamine relaxed the established spasms of intact tissues but not those of rubbed preparations, These relaxant effects of acetylcholine were abolished by pre‐incubation with haemoglobin. 5 In the presence of prazosin, noradrenaline or UK 14304 relaxed established contractions in intact tissues. These effects were antagonized by idazoxan or by pre‐incubation with haemoglobin. 6 In intact preparations, idazoxan had no effect on the spasmogenic sensitivity and responsiveness to UK 14304. 7 Pre‐incubation with haemoglobin augmented the spasmogenic actions of noradrenaline, U46619 or UK 14304 in intact tissues, but had no effect on these responses in rubbed preparations. 8 Tissue concentrations of cyclic GMP were greater in intact than in rubbed tissues. A concentration of acetylcholine (10 μM) evoking just maximal mechanical inhibition produced a significant increase in cyclic GMP concentration in intact preparations. However, no detectable changes in cyclic GMP concentration were produced by UK 14304 (10 μM) or by acetylcholine (30 nM), concentrations which were equi‐effective in inhibiting mechanical activity. 9 In the presence of threshold spasmogenic concentrations of noradrenaline, the contractile effects of angiotensin II were augmented and became comparable to those observed in rubbed preparations. In the presence of greater concentrations of noradrenaline, angiotensin II always produced an additional contraction. 10 It is concluded that the presence of the vascular endothelium limits the spasmogenic action of a variety of agonists. Although spasmogens like noradrenaline and UK 14304 can stimulate the release of endothelium‐derived relaxing factor (EDRF) via α2‐adrenoceptors, the inhibitory effects of EDRF largely result from the spontaneous release of this substance.

The current status of fixation for electron microscopy: A review

Chemical fixation of cells has been used extensively in different fields of electron microscopy. The type of fixation can be selected to maximize retention of different cell constituents where morphology is of prime interest. For techniques such as immunocytochemistry and autoradiography, a compromise between morphology and retention of antigenicity or radiolabel has to be reached. By careful choice of fixative, buffer and other physical parameters, optimum results can be obtained for both animal and plant tissues. Emphasis has been put on more recent developments in technique.

Cardiac alpha-crystallin

SummaryA major component of the soluble fraction of rat heart is a homopolymer (Mr about 400–650 k) of a small protein (Mr about 20 k). This cardiac protein, which is highly homologous to alpha-B-crystallin, was isolated in its native state and visualized by electron microscopy. A homogeneous population of globular particles with an average diameter of about 14-16 nM could be seen using either negative staining or rotary shadowing procedures. The structures were globular in nature with a central depression (torus-like structures). Polyclonal antibodies, raised against the cardiac crystallin, were used for the immunocytochemical localization of the macromolecular complexes. Using fluorescent secondary antibodies, a clear and sharp striation of fixed and permeabilized rat heart myocytes could be observed, similar to that observed with anti-desmin antibodies and characteristic for the central region of the I-band. Cardiac crystallin was not found associated with F-actin in preparations of rat heart myofibrils. On the other hand, it was a major contaminant of cardiac desmin preparations. These observations suggest that cardiac crystallin is involved in the organization of cytoskeletal filaments of the Z-lines.

Cardiac alpha-crystallin. II. Intracellular localization.

SummaryA major component of the soluble fraction of rat heart is a homopolymer (Mr about 400–650 k) of a small protein (Mr about 20 k). This cardiac protein, which is highly homologous to alpha-B-crystallin, was isolated in its native state and visualized by electron microscopy. A homogeneous population of globular particles with an average diameter of about 14–16 nM could be seen using either negative staining or rotary shadowing procedures. The structures were globular in nature with a central depression (torus-like structures). Polyclonal antibodies, raised against the cardiac crystallin, were used for the immunocytochemical localization of the macromolecular complexes. Using fluorescent secondary antibodies, a clear and sharp striation of fixed and permeabilized rat heart myocytes could be observed, similar to that observed with anti-desmin antibodies and characteristic for the central region of the I-band. Cardiac crystallin was not found associated with F-actin in preparations of rat heart myofibrils. On the other hand, it was a major contaminant of cardiac desmin preparations. These observations suggest that cardiac crystallin is involved in the organization of cytoskeletal filaments of the Z-lines.

The temperature dependence of the calcium paradox: Enzymatic, functional and morphological correlates of cellular injury

An isolated rat heart preparation was used to characterize the temperature dependence of the calcium paradox and also to assess the validity of various indices of hypothermic protection. Hearts were subjected to 10-min periods of calcium depletion at various degrees of hypothermia followed by 20 min of normothermic calcium repletion. Using enzyme or protein leakage during calcium repletion as an index of hypothermic protection during calcium depletion, paradox injury was reduced extensively by relatively moderate hypothermia. Thus, depletion at 29 degrees C reduced total creatine kinase leakage by 57 +/- 4% from 1585 +/- 24 IU/g dry wt to 677 +/- 63 IU/g dry wt and at 25 degrees C leakage was reduced by 85 +/- 4% from 1585 +/- 24 IU/g dry wt to 237 +/- 71 IU/g dry wt. However, upon calcium repletion there was no recovery of contractile function. It was not until the myocardial depletion temperature was reduced to 20 degrees C that some functional recovery occurred. Under these circumstances cumulative creatine kinase leakage was reduced to below 88 IU/g dry wt, 6% of its normothermic value and protein leakage was undetectable. Functional recovery was not complete until the temperature was reduced to 15 degrees C or below. Correlation of cumulative enzyme leakage with functional recovery suggested a narrow release threshold (50 to 100 IU/g dry wt) above which no recovery occurred and below which a full recovery could be confidently predicted. Morphological assessments an all-or-none phenomenon; thus although increasingly severe hypothermia progressively reduced the percent of cells that sustained damage (as opposed to the degree of damage in all cells), it was not until 100% of cells appeared ultrastructurally undamaged that functional recovery was observed. Calcium-free perfusion at 4 degrees C protected the intercalated discs from gross lesions and prevented the separation of the external lamina from the surface coat. Our results also stress the heterogeneity of tissue injury and hypothermic protection and in addition shed further light upon the component mechanisms contributing to calcium injury.

Structure analysis of sputter-coated and ion-beam sputter-coated films: a comparative study

Gold, platinum and tungsten films were deposited by low energy input (7 mA, 450 V), or high deposition rate (80 mA, 1500 V), diode sputter coating and by ion beam sputter coating. Film structures on Formvar coated grids and on the surface of coated erythrocytes, resin embedded, sectioned, and recorded at high magnification in a TEM were compared using computer‐assisted measurements and analysis of film thickness and grain size.

LOCALIZATION OF ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTOR SUBTYPES IN THE RABBIT HEART

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is an essential component of the renin-angiotensin system and is partially responsible for the maintenance of hypertension. Two major receptor subtypes have been defined for Ang II and have been detected in the heart of various species. Most of the known functions of Ang II are mediated via the AT1 subtype, whereas the function of the AT2 receptor remains ill defined. In this study we aimed to localize both receptor subtypes in the rabbit heart using film and light microscope autoradiography as well as radioligand binding assays on membranes. Total receptor densities in the atrium and nervous tissue were respectively four and nine times greater than in the ventricle. Conductive tissue shows a density between that of atrial and nervous tissue. In the ventricle, approximately 20% of the Ang II receptors were AT2. This receptor subtype was almost totally absent from nervous, conductive and atrial tissue. The limited resolution of the microscope autoradiography method did not allow us to specify the exact cell-type at this stage.

Effects of prolonged administration of oxprenolol on severity of ischaemic arrhythmias, enzyme leakage, infarct size, and intracellular cardiac muscle action potentials

We examined the effects of prolonged oral administration of oxprenolol (twice daily for 6 weeks) to male Sprague-Dawley rats. At two times (1 or 16–18 h) after the last oral dose, the rats were anaesthetised and subjected to acute coronary artery ligation, and the severity of the resulting arrhythmias was assessed. Ischaemic damage was measured histochemically (using frozen section analysis by toluidine blue dye in nitro-bluetetrazolium) and by myocardial enzyme release. Cardiac muscle (atria and papillary muscle) was also removed and the transmembrane action potentials recorded using conventional microelectrode techniques. When coronary artery ligation was performed 1 h after the last oral dose (at which time there was evidence of substantial myocardial (β1,-adrenoceptor blockade), there was significant reduction in the severity of early arrhythmias, but no evidence that the severity of ischaemic damage was reduced or that the intracellular cardiac action potentials were modified. No protection was observed when coronary artery ligation was carried out 16 h after the last oral dose of oxprenolol. These results support our previous studies with acutely administered (β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs that myocardial β-adrenoceptor blockade is the main factor involved in the protection afforded by such drugs against early ischaemic arrhythmias and that other possible effects, such as membrane stabilisation and action potential prolongation, are relatively unimportant in this model.

Effects of a combination of metoprolol and dazmegrel on myocardial infarct size in rats

1 The effects of acute pretreatment with metoprolol, dazmegrel and a combination of these two drugs has been examined on myocardial infarct size in rats. Ischaemic damage was assessed 4 h after coronary artery occlusion in anaesthetized rats and after 48 h of ischaemia in conscious rats. Infarct size was measured histochemically (by using periodic‐acid‐Schiff diastase reaction for glycogen) and by standard histological examination (haematoxylin and eosin stain). 2 There was some evidence of protection of the myocardium by metoprolol following 4 h of ischaemia (determined histologically) but this was not apparent 48 h after occlusion. 3 When given alone, dazmegrel had no significant effects on infarct size assessed by either method. A clear reduction in the extent of glycogen depletion and histological damage was observed with the combination of metoprolol and dazmegrel 48 h after the onset of ischaemia. This protection was seen to occur in the horizontal plane of the heart, preventing the extension of the infarct towards the posterior wall of the left ventricle and showing some salvage of the epicardial surfaces.

Transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells as a model system for cytokine immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridisation.

The presence of cytokine producing cells is most easily revealed by techniques measuring the secreted cytokines in culture supernatants or body fluids. However, these techniques only measure the bulk cytokine release by a given, often mixed cell population. To demonstrate cytokine production at the single cell level, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and in situ hybridisation (ISH) are now widely used techniques. To establish these techniques, an easily accessible model system is needed which permits the evaluation of different ICC and ISH protocols. It can be used to demonstrate the specificity of the antibodies and may serve as a positive control for samples of unknown cytokine content. Here we propose the use of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected to express one specific cytokine as such a model system. Its usefulness is demonstrated by the characterisation of six monoclonal antibodies to human interleukin‐4 and the establishment of two in situ hybridisation protocols.