The synaptic release of glutamate evokes in astrocytes periodic increases in [Ca2+]i, due to the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). The frequency of these [Ca2+]i oscillations is controlled by the level of neuronal activity, indicating that they represent a specific, frequency-coded signalling system of neuron-to-astrocyte communication. We recently found that neuronal act...

Prostaglandins participate in the regulation of important glomerular functions and are involved in the pathogenesis of glomerular diseases. This study investigates the influence of prostaglandins on membrane voltage, ion conductances, cAMP accumulation, and cytosolic calcium activity ([Ca2+]i) in differentiated podocytes. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) caused a concentration-dependent depolarization a...

Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) plays a major role in pain processing and hypersensitivity. This study investigated whether PGE(2) levels are increased in the esophageal mucosa after acid infusion and whether increases in PGE(2) are associated with heartburn. Furthermore, expression of the PGE(2) receptor EP1 was investigated in human esophageal mucosa. Fourteen healthy male volunteers were randomi...

246 words Introduction: 534 words Discussion: 2209 words Abbreviations: COX, cyclooxygenase; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; TBS, tris-buffered saline; P-gp, P-glycoprotein; BBB, blood-brain barrier; PGE2, Prostaglandin E2; EEG, Electroencephalogram; NMDA, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid; CNS, central nervous system Section: Neuropharmacology This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final vers...

Chang H, Young SH, Sinnett-Smith J, Chou CE, Moro A, Hertzer KM, Hines OJ, Rozengurt E, Eibl G. Prostaglandin E2 activates the mTORC1 pathway through an EP4/cAMP/PKAand EP1/Ca -mediated mechanism in the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line PANC-1. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 309: C639–C649, 2015. First published August 26, 2015; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00417.2014.— Obesity, a known risk factor for pa...

BACKGROUND We earlier reported a simple specific test for detection of anti-ovarian antibodies in infertile women and identified number of specific molecular and cellular targets of which human heat shock protein 90-beta (HSP90 beta) was found to be the most immunodominant. The present study focuses on prediction and validation of the immunodominant epitope/s of this protein using sera from inf...

background: there are some genetic differences in blastocystis that show the existence of species or genotypes. one of these genes that help in identifying blastocystis is ssurrna. the aim of this study was assessment of genetic diver-sity of blastocystis by pcr with seven pairs of sts primers. methods: this study was done on 511 stool samples collected from patients referred to the health care...

The antihypertrophic action of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in the heart results partly from local potentiation of bradykinin. We have demonstrated that the antihypertrophic action of bradykinin is mediated by the release of nitric oxide from endothelium and elevation of cardiomyocyte cGMP. Whether other paracrine factors derived from the coronary endothelium, such as prostacyclin (...

The analysis of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression levels by immunohistochemistry is an important part of the initial evaluation of breast cancer and critically important in treatment planning. Anti-ERα (clone EP1) and anti-PR (clone PgR 1294) antibodies are in development for the Dako Omnis automated staining platform. These antibodies are not yet commercially ava...

PURPOSE To determine the relative contribution of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 in regulating prostaglandin (PG) E2 and PGF2alpha receptors (EP and FP, respectively) densities and their functions in retinal vasculature of neonatal pigs. METHODS Newborn pigs were treated intravenously every 8 hours for 48 hours with saline, 40 mg/kg nonselective COX inhibitor ibuprofen, 80 mg/kg COX-1 inhib...