Cerebral vascular action of bradykinin in the dog

Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung von natürlichem und synthetischem Bradykinin auf den cerebralen Kreislauf wurde beim Hund in Chloralosenarkose durch die Registrierung des intracraniellen Venendruckes und Blutausflusses und des Nasenhöhlenplethysmogrammes untersucht. Bradykinin erzeugt in Dosen von 0.5–3 µg/kg i.v. eine deutliche Erweiterung der Hirngefässe, analog der durch eine gleiche oder etwas niedrigere Menge von Histamin hervorgerufenen. Im Gegensatz zum Histamin übt Bradykinin in dieser Dosierung keine erweiternde Wirkung auf die Nasenhöhlengefässe aus. Die durch Bradykinin erzeugte Zunahme der Gehirndurchblutung wird durch Neoantergan oder Atropin nicht gehemmt.     

Incorporation of14C-leucine into serum transferrin by slices and cell-free preparations of rat liver

Zusammenfassung Der Einbau von¹⁴C-Leucin in Serumtransferrin in vitro in Leberschnitten und in isolierte Lebermikrosomen der Ratte wurde gezeigt und mit demjenigen in Serumalbumin verglichen. Die gereinigten Proteine wurden immunoelektrophoretisch ausgefällt und ihre Radioaktivität bestimmt. Ebenso wurde die Reindarstellung von Transferrin aus Rattenserum beschrieben.     

The role of the CCN family of proteins in female reproduction

The CCN family of proteins consists of six high homologous matricellular proteins which act predominantly by binding to heparin sulphate proteoglycan and a variety of integrins. Interestingly, CCN proteins are regulated by ovarian steroid hormones and are able to adapt to changes in oxygen concentration, which is a necessary condition for successful implantation. CCN1 is involved in processes of angiogenesis within reproductive systems, thereby potentially contributing to diseases such as endometriosis and disturbed angiogenesis in the placenta and fetus. In the ovary, CCN2 is the key factor for follicular development, ovulation and corpora luteal luteolysis, and its deletion leads to fertility defects. CCN1, CCN2 and CCN3 seem to be regulators for human trophoblast proliferation and migration, but with CCN2 acting as a counterweight. Alterations in the expression of these three proteins could contribute to the shallow invasion properties observed in preeclampsia. Little is known about the role of CCN4–6 in the reproductive organs. The ability of CCN1, CCN2 and CCN3 to interact with numerous receptors enables them to adapt their biological function rapidly to the continuous remodelling of the reproductive organs and in the development of the placenta. The CCN proteins mediate their specific cell physiological function through the receptor type of their binding partner followed by a defined signalling cascade. Because of their partly overlapping expression patterns, they could act in a concert synergistically or in an opposite way within the reproductive organs. Imbalances in their expression levels are correlated to different human reproductive diseases, such as endometriosis and preeclampsia.     

A follow-up electrophysiological study of rats with poor intrauterine fetal growth: the development of visual evoked responses (VERs)

Summary The development of some electrophysiological activities of the visual system (VERs) was compared in control rats and in young rats with poor intrauterine fetal growth caused by an electrolytic lesion of the placenta. Treated rats showed a delayed development of the electrophysiological functions considered, thus confirming the postnatal effect of poor intrauterine fetal growth.This research was supported by grants of CNR and Ministero Pubblica Istruzione.