The purpose of this study was to compare effects of insulin and IGFs on growth, apical membrane enzyme activities and membrane transport systems of primary cultured rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells. Results were as follows: 1. Insulin and IGF-I produced significant growth stimulatory effects at $5{\times}10^{-10}M.\;IGF-II(5×10^{-10}\;M)$ did not stimulate significant cell growth. 2. Insulin stimulated the phosphorylation of a 97 KD protein. It was difficult to determine whether this band represents insulin and/or the IGF-I receptor. 3. The activities of apical membrane enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, and ${\gamma}-glutamyl \;transpeptidase)$ were observed to be diminished after the cells were placed in the culture environment. 4. The uptake of ${\alpha}-MG,$ Pi and Na was significantly increased in cells incubated with insulin or IGF-I, IGF-II had no effect on the uptake of these substrates. 5. Na-pump activity, as assayed by Rb uptake, was significantly increased in cells treated with insulin or IGFs. In conclusion, insulin and IGF-I exert stimulatory effects on growth and membrane transporter(glucose, Na, Pi, and Na-pump) activities in primary cultured rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells. IGF-II had no effect on cell growth and membrane transporter(glucose, Na and Pi) activities.

The effects of ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor stimulation on membrane potential, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force were investigated in ventricular muscles from guinea-pig hearts. Action potentials, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force of ventricular papillary muscles were measured simultaneously under various experimental conditions. Stimulation of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor by phenylephrine produced variable changes in action potential duration, a slight hyperpolarization of the diastolic membrane potential, a decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and a biphasic inotropic response in which a transient negative inotropic response was followed by a sustained positive inotropic response. These changes were blocked by prazosin, an antagonist of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor, but not by atenolol, an antagonist of the ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptor. This indicates that the changes in membrane potential, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force are mediated by stimulation of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor, but not by stimulation of ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptor. The decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity was not observed in quiescent muscles, depending on the rate of the action pontentials in beating muscles. The intracellular $Na^+$ activity decrease was substantially inhibited by tetrodotoxin. However, the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity was not affected by an inhibition of the $Na^+-K^+$ pump. Therefore, the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity mediated by the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor appears to be due to a reduction of $Na^+$ influx during the action potential, perhaps through tetrodotoxin sensitive $Na^+$ channels. Our study also revealed that the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity might be related to the transient negative inotropic response. The intracellular $Na^+$ activity decrease could lower intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchanger and thereby produce a decline in twitch force.

Adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (ATPP) was identified and quantified in extracts of rabbit platelets by elution of extracts containing authentic adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate and comparison of retention time with nucleotide standards using high-performance liquid chromatography technique. The amount of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate was $0.62\;nmoles/10^{9}$ cells which was 62-fold lower than that of ATP but only 10-fold lower than that of ADP. During platelet aggregation induced by thrombin, adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate was released to a relatively high extent. The degradation rates and halflives of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate were measured during incubation of platelets in whole blood, erythrocyte suspension and plasma, respectively. The results suggest that plasma contributes more than blood cells to the catabolism of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate. The pattern of degradation indicates that ATPP may be degraded mainly to AMP by soluble enzymes in plasma and very slowly to ADP and/or AMP by ectoenzymes on blood cells such as erythrocyte. The nature of the enzymes responsible fer the degradation of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate is yet to be identified.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) on the contraction of rabbit jugular vein in vitro. PDBu concentrations of greater than 10 nM induced a periodic contraction which was composed of rapid contraction, plateau and slow relaxation. The frequency of periodic contraction increased as PDBu concentration increased. The PDBu-induced contraction was inhibited by staurosporine (100 nM), it was not changed by tetrodotoxin $(1\;{\mu}M).$ In $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, PDBu induced a sustaining contraction, but not periodic contraction. Addition of $Ca^{2+}$ to medium evoked periodic contraction which was inhibited by nifedipine, PDBu concentrations of greater than $0.1\;{\mu}M$ increased ^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake without changing $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ efflux. Charybdotoxin and apamin, $Ca^{2+}$-activated K^{+}$ channel blockers, did not affect the PDBu-induced periodic contraction, whereas tetraethylammonium (TEA) abolished the periodicity. Pinacidil $(10\;{\mu}M).$, a potassium channel activator, blocked PDBu induced periodic contraction, which was recovered by glybenclamide $(10\;{\mu}M).$. In high potassium solution, PDBu did not produce the periodic contraction. These results suggest that the PDBu-induced periodicity of contraction is modulated by voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel and ATP-sensitive $K^{+}$ channel.

The nonapeptide bradykinin has been shown to exhibit an array of biological activities including relaxation/contraction of various smooth muscles. In order to investigate the effects of bradykinin on the contractility and the electrical activity of antral circular muscle of guinea-pig stomach, the isometric contraction and membrane potential were recorded. Also, using standard patch clamp technique, the $Ca^{2+}-activated$ K currents were recorded to observe the change in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. $0.4 {\mu}M$ bradykinin induced a triphasic contractile response (transient contraction-transient relaxation-sustained contraction) and this response was unaffected by pretreatment with neural blockers (tetrodotoxin, atropine and guanethidine) or with apamin. Bradykinin induced hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential and enhanced the amplitude of slow waves and spike potentials. The enhancement of spike potentials was blocked by neural blockers. Both the bradykinin-induced contractions and changes in membrane potential were reversed by the selective $B_2$-receptor antagonist $(N{\alpha}-adamantaneacetyl-_{D}-Arg-[Hyp, Thy,_{D}-Phe]-bradykinin)$. In whole-cell patch clamp experiment, we held the membrane potential at -20 mV and spontaneous and transient changes of Ca-activated K currents were recorded. Bradykinin induced a large transient outward current, consistent with a calcium-releasing action of bradykinin front the intracellular calcium pool, because such change was blocked by pretreatment with caffeine. Bradykinin-induced contraction was also blocked by pretreatment with caffeine. From these results, it is suggested that bradykinin induces a calciumrelease and contraction through the $B_{2}$ receptor of guinea-pig gastric smooth muscle. Enhancement of slow wave activity is an indirect action of bradykinin through enteric nerve cells embedded in muscle strip.

A possible potentiation between cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin in amylase secretion from isolated rat pancreatic acini was investigated. Combined treatment of acini with secretin and CCK at low concentrations, which are known to be physiological, resulted in enzyme secretion larger than the arithmetic sum of their separate effects. Such a potentiating effect also occurred between secretin and A23187 (Ca ionophore), between forskolin (adenylate cyclase activator) and CCK, and between forskolin and A23187. Staurosporin (protein kinase C inhibitor) and W7 (calmodulin antagonist) inhibited markedly the potentiated amylase release induced by the agonists, but KT5720 (protein kinase A inhibitor) did not affect the potentiated amylase release. Therefore, we concluded that the action of CCK in a physiological concentration is potentiated by secretin in a physiological concentration range and vice versa, and that the intracellular mechanism necessary for the potentiation is associated with $Ca^{2+}$. However, it is uncertain what mechanisms are involved in potentiation of amylase release after CAMP and $Ca^{2+}$.

The objective of the present study was to test the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on rat alveolar macrophages. PAF alone did not stimulate superoxide secretion from alveolar macrophages. However, PAF $(10^{-5}\;M)$ significantly enhanced phagocytic activator zymosan-induced superoxide secretion from alveolar macrophages. This enhancement of PAF plus zymosan was 30% above the sum of the separate effects of PAF and zymosan. Similarly, PAF $1.3{\times}(10^{-5}\;M)$ was not a direct stimulant of alveolar macrophages, as it had no stimulatory effect on chemiluminescence generation, but potentiated zymosan-induced activation of chemiluminescence, i.e., 162% above the separate effects of each stimulant. PAF $10^{-16}{\pm}10^{-6}\;M$ also failed to stimulate IL-1 production from alveolar macrophages. In contrast, when both PAF $10^{-10}\;M$ and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) $(1 {\mu}g/ml)$ were added together at the initiation of the culture, IL-1 production was significantly increased indicating the potentiative effects of PAF on IL-1 production by alveolar macrophages. Collectively, these data suggest that PAF alone does not activate the release of bioactive products from alveolar macrophages. However, PAF appears to act as a priming mediator that potentiates stimuli-induced macrophage activity. These novel actions of PAF prove its role as a potent mediator of inflammatory and immune responses in the lung.

The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and in body fluid homeostasis. There is increasing evidence for generation of endogenous angiotensin II in many organs and for its role in paracrine functions. Studies were designed to investigate whether hemorrhage produces rapid changes in the gene expression of angiotensinogen in peripheral and brain tissues. Wistar rats received saline drinking water for 7 days, were bled at a rate of $3\;ml\;kg^{-1}\;min^{-1}$ for 7 min, and then decapitated 0, 2, 4, 8, or 24 hr after hemorrhage. Hemorrhage produced a produced hypotension with tachycardia at $2{\pm}8\;hr$, but blood pressure and heart rate had not fully recovered to the basal level at 24 hr. Plasma renin concentration was significantly increased at 2, 4, and 8 hr (maximum sixfold increase at 4 hr) and had returned to the basal level at 24 hr. Renal renin content was significantly increased only at 4 hr after hemorrhage. Angiotensinogen mRNA in both the kidney and liver were stimulated at 2 to 8 hrs, but recovered to the basal level at 24 hr. On the other hand, angiotensinogen mRNA levels il the hypothalamus and brainstem were continuously increased from 2 to 24 hrs. The present study demonstrates the presence of angiotensinogen mRNA in both hepatic and extrahepatic tissues, and more importantly, their up-regulation after hemorrhage. These results suggest that the angiotensinogen-generating systems in the liver, kideny and brain are, at least in part, under independent control and play a local physiological role.

Membrane vesicles were prepared by differential centrifugation from epithelial cells of porcine trachea. Total activity of microsomal ATPases was measured spectrophotometrically by a coupled enzyme assay. The steady-state activity of the enzyme was $329{\pm}10$ nmol/min mg protein. Thapsigargin, a specific antagonist of intracellular $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$, inhibited about 50% of the activity, leaving $178{\pm}18\;nmol/min .mg$ protein (n=6), indicating that the $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ is one of the major microsomal ATPases. The microsomes used in this study appeared to be tight-sealed vesicles since they showed saturation in $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake experiments. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate $InsP_{3}, 4\;{\mu}M$, an agonist of $InsP_{3}$-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ release channel ($InsP_{3}$, receptor), and Ca-ionophore A23187 $(10\;{\mu}M)$ induced $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ releases of 20% and 50% of stored $^{45}Ca^{2+}$, respectively. The addition of $(10\;{\mu}M\;InsP_{3}$ also increased the microsomal ATPase activity from $282{\pm}8$ nmol/min mg protein to $334{\pm}21$ nmol/min . mg protein in the intact vesicles. Similar increase in the activity was observed by making microsomes leaky (uncoupling) using the Ca-ionophore A23187. ;$InsP_{3}-induced$ effects were blocked by either thapsigargin or heparin suggesting that: 1) the $InsP_{3}-induced$ increase in ATPase activity is mediated by microsomal $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$, and 2) dissipation of $Ca^{2+}$ gradient across the microsomal membrane is responsible for the $InsP_{3}-induced$ effect. In order to test the dependence of the $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ activity on the activity of $InsP_{3}-induced$ the activity of ATPases was monitored in various concentrations of free $Ca^{2+}$ using $EGTA-Ca^{2+}$ buffers. The $Ca^{2+}$-dependent biphasic change is the well-known character of $InsP_{3} receptor but not of microsomal $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ in non-excitable cells; however, the activity of microsomal ATPase appeared biphasic and a maxim진 activity of $397{\pm}36nmol/min\;.mg$ protein was obtained in the solution containing 100 nM free $Ca^{2+}$. Below or above this concentration, the activity of ATPases was lower. These results strongly support a positive correlation of microsomal $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ to the $InsP_{3}$ receptors in epithelial microsomes.

This study was designed 1) to develop a hypertensive animal model in which the blood pressures (BPs) of symmetric regions (right and left upper extremities) are significantly different and 2) to test the effect of BP per se on the contractility and endothelium-dependent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Rabbits were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and ventilated with room air via animal respirator. The transverse aorta was exposed through the left second intercostal space and the lumen of the aorta was narrowed partially by ligation using 3-0 silk and a probe at a point between the origins of the brachiocephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery. Four to eight weeks postoperatively, BPs were measured in the carotid artery as the high BP area (proximal to coactation site) and in the femoral artery as the low BP area (distal to coarctation site). In the animal model, pressure-overload hypertension was developed and the BP of the right subclavian artery was higher than that of the left subclavian artery. The concentrations of circulating epinephrine, norepinephrine, angiotensin I, and angiotensin II were measured. The right and left subclavian arteries and their branches were used for isometric tension recording in organ baths and their responsiveness to phenylephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside were examined. The BPs of carotid and femoral artery in control animals were $116{\pm} 12/75{\pm}9\;mmHg (mean ${\pm}SEM$) and $130{\pm}16/68{\pm}9\;mmHg$ respectively, while those of carotid and femoral artery in the hypetensive animals were $172{\pm}6/111{\pm}10\;mmHg$ and 136{\pm} 4/100 {\pm}9\;mmHg$ respectively. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of circulating epinephrine, norepinephrine, angiotensin I, and angiotensin II between controls and the animal models. No significant differences were found in the vascular sensitivities to phenylephrine and serotonin between the high pressure-exposed vessels and the low pressure-exposed vessels. However, the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and nitroprusside-induced relaxation showed significant differences between the high pressure-exposed and the low pressure-exposed subclavian arteries. From the above results, we suggest that the contractility of vascular smooth muscle is unchanged by the elevated pressure per se. However, the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and the nitroprusside-induced relaxation are attenuated by pressure.

Lateral giant (LG)-mediated escape response of crayfish is sensitized by natural traumatic events. Such sensitization has previously been shown to be associated with increased transmission between primary afferents and sensory interneurons at the cholinergic synapse of LG escape reflex circuit. In the present study, it was firstly investigated as to whether transmission is also altered at other synapses of the LG-escape reflex circuit by traumatic shock-induced sensitization. Evidence that traumatic shock also directly affects the excitability of lateral giants is now provided by the finding that traumatic shock produces a significant reduction of the time needed for LG to recruit its contralateral homologue, which is defined as commissural delay. Octopamine, a naturally occurring neuromodulator in the crayfish nerve cord, has also been shown to enhance transmission at the cholinergic synapse between primary afferents and sensory interneurons, and has been conjectured to mediate sensitization. Like traumatic shock, $octopamine\;(10^{-5}-5{\times}10^{-4}\;M)$ also enhanced the efficacy of commissural transmission between lateral giants, as indicated by a significant reduction of commissural delay. This effect was blocked by an octopamine antagonist phentolamine, suggesting a specific action of octopamine on the octopamine receptor present on LGs. These observations suggest that both traumatic shocks and octopamine may cause a rather broad alteration in the excitability of the crayfish nervous system that contributes to the sensitization of the LG escape response.

To explore electrophysiological properties of the ${\delta}-Opioid$ receptors artificially expressed in the mammalian cell, effect of an opioid agonist DPDPE $(1\;{\mu}M)$ on the voltage-sensitive outward currents was examined in the HEK293 (human embryonic kidney) cells transfected with ${\delta}-Opioid$ receptor cDNA cloned from NG-108-15 $(neuroblastoma\;{\times}\;glioma\;hybrid)$ cDNA library. Also studied were effects of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP and naloxone on DPDPE-induced changes in the voltage sensitive outward current. The voltage sensitive outward currents were recorded using perforated patch technique at room temperature. In the non-transformed HEK293 cells, DPDPE did not alter voltage sensitive outward current, indicating that no native ${\delta}-Opioid$ receptor had been developed. However, $(1\;{\mu}M)$ DPDPE remarkably increased the voltage sensitive outward current in the transformed HEK293 cells. The increment in voltage sensitive outward current peaked in $7{\sim}10\;minutes$ after DPDPE application, and the maximum DPDPE-activated outward current $(313.1{\pm}12.3\;pA)$ was recorded when the membrane potential was depolarized to +70mv. Following pretreatment of the transformed HEK293 cells with 1 mM 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, DPDPE failed to increase the voltage sensitive outward currents. On the other hand, naloxone completely abolished DPDPE-activated voltage sensitive outward current in the transformed HEK293 cells. The results of present study suggest that in the transformed HEK293 cells an activation of the ${\delta}-Opioid$ receptors by an opioid agonist DPDPE increases the voltage-sensitive potassium current as a result of decrement in cyclic AMP level.

In the present study, the relationship between the somatosympathetic reflexes and arterial blood pressure responses to electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerve was investigated in cats anesthetized with ${\alpha}-chloralose$. Single sympathetic postganglionic fiber activities were recorded from the hindlimb muscle and skin nerves and also from the cervical and abdominal sympathetic chains. Effects of the morphine on responses of the sympathetic nerve and arterial blood pressure to activation of the peripheral $A{\delta}-$ and C-afferent nerves were analyzed. The following results were obtained. 1) Arterial blood pressure was depressed by peripheral AS-afferent stimulation (A-response) and was elevated during C-afferent activation (C-response). 2) Intravenously administered morphine enhanced the C-response while the A-response decreased insignificantly, Only the C-response was decreased by intrathecal morphine. 3) All the ten recorded cutaneous sympathetic fibers showed periodic discharge pattern similar to respiratory rhythm and five of them also showed cardiac-related rhythm. However, most of the muscular sympathetic fibers had cardiac-related rhythm and only four fibers showed respiratory rhythm. 4) Morphine decreased the sympathetic C-reflex elicited by the peripheral C-afferent activation and the abdominal sympathetic A-reflex was also decreased by morphine. From the above results, it was concluded that supraspinal mechanisms were involved in the enhanced arterial pressor response to peripheral C-afferent activation by intravenous morphine.