LSTRA is a mouse lymphoma cell line overexpressing the src-related oncogene product and T cell marker p56lck. We have discovered that LSTRA cells, like HL60 and U937 promyelocytic leukemia cells, can be induced to differentiate toward macrophages by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or granulocytes by the cyclic nucleotide analogue dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP). One proper...

Ethanol strongly augments secretin-stimulated, but not acetylcholine (ACh)-stimulated, fluid secretion from pancreatic duct cells. To understand its mechanism of action, we examined the effect of short-chain n-alcohols on fluid secretion and intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in guinea pig pancreatic ducts. Fluid secretion was measured by monitoring the luminal volume of isolated ...

The aim of our study was to examine the effect of 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX) and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP), stimulators of cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent intracellular signaling pathway, on reproductive function of gonadotropin-stimulated rabbit females. Ovarian cycle and ovulation in the control group were stimulated by PMSG (pregnant mare serum gonadotropin) ...

Fetal rat calvaria were incubated in Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate medium, containing glucose (2 mg per ml) and bovine serum albumin (1 mg per ml). Incubation in a medium with 0.3 or 0.6 mM dibutyryl adenosine 3’,5’monophosphate (DBcAMP) for 15 min caused a Zto S-fold increase in the tissue concentration of adenosine 3’,5’monophosphate (3’,5’-AMP). This rise could not be explained by degradation of ...

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) have a different sensitivity to cadmium (Cd) in vivo (trout < LC50 < perch). Metals and particularly Cd impair cortisol secretion by adrenocortical cells in both species. The purpose of the present study was to assess in vitro the effect of Cd on cortisol secretion by adrenocortical cells of trout and perch, to compare the ...

Infantile spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron (SMN)1 gene. We investigated the role of human (h) SMN protein on cell death in PC12 and Rat-1 cells. hSMN prolonged cell survival in PC12 cells deprived of trophic support and in Rat-1 cells induced to die by activation of the proto-oncogene c-Myc, to similar magnitude as Bcl-2 or IAP-2. While hSMN was ...

Abnormal L-type Ca(2+) channel (LTCC, also named Cav1.2) density and regulation are important contributors to depressed contractility in failing hearts. The LTCC agonist BAY K 8644 (BAY K) has reduced inotropic effects on failing myocardium. We hypothesized that BAY K effects on the LTCC current (I(CaL)) in failing myocytes would be reduced because of increased basal activity. Since support of ...

Recent studies suggest that the elevation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and the activation of the protein kinase A regulate BMP-induced osteogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the enhancing effect of cAMP on BMP2 signaling were not completely revealed. In this study we investigated the effect of elevated cAMP level and PKA activation on the BMP2-induced...