The endothelial differentiation gene (EDG) receptors are a class of G protein-coupled receptors. EDG-1, -3, -5, -6, and -8 bind the bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (SPP) as the primary signaling ligand. EDG-2, -4, and -7 bind the ligand lysophosphatidic acid. EDG-1, -2, -3, -5, -6, and -7, but not -8, mRNAs were expressed in isolated rat pancreatic islets, whereas INS-1 insulinoma cells...

Expression of plasminogen activators (PAs) and urokinase-type PA receptor (u-PAR) is associated with tumor growth and invasion. For in vivo human tumor tissues, there is no information on gene expression of PAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or other hepatic pathophysiological conditions. In this study we examined the relative levels of u-PA, tissue-type PA (t-PA), and u-PAR mRNA expression ...

Recognition and pairing of the correct 5' and 3' splice sites (ss) of a pre-mRNA are critical events that occur early during spliceosome assembly. Little is known about the spatial organization in early spliceosomal complexes of the U1 and U2 snRNPs, which together with several non-snRNP proteins, are involved in juxtapositioning the functional sites of the pre-mRNA. To better understand the mo...

In situ hybridization of a digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probe combined with computer-assisted image assessment was used to directly visualize D2 receptor mRNA-containing neurons in rat striata, and quantify age-related changes in the sizes and relative mRNA content of these neurons. It was found that: (1) numbers of D2 mRNA-containing neurons appear to decrease in striata of aged rats, (...

objective(s): ghrelin is a peptide hormone that has been shown to have numerous central and peripheral effects. the central effects including gh secretion, food intake, and energy homeostasis are partly mediated by kiss1- kissr signaling pathway. ghrelin and its receptor are also expressed in the pancreatic islets. ghrelin is one of the key metabolic factors controlling insulin secretion from t...

background: liver fatty acid-binding protein (l-fabp) is the main cytosolic binding site for long chain fatty acids in hepatocytes. fabps enhance the uptake of fatty acids into the cell by increasing their concentration due to decreasing concentration of unbound fatty acids inside the cell. objectives: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary unsaturated to saturated fatty a...

There are marked variations in the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) among adipose depots. The aim of this study was to compare the mechanisms of 24 h of fasting on LPL regulation between epididymal (EPI) adipocytes and mesenteric (MES) adipocytes in rats. 1-Day fasting consistently decreased activities of heparin-releasable LPL, total extractable LPL and cellular LPL markedly in both EPI an...