The development and characterization of small, uniform, and mass-produced plasticized PVC-based sensing microspheres in view of rapid trace level analysis of lead ions is reported. Micrometer-sized particles obtained via an automated casting process were rendered selective for lead ions by doping them with highly selective components in a manner analogous to traditional optode sensing films. Si...

The monovalent ionophore monensin inhibits the secretion of both procollagen and fibronectin from human fibroblasts in culture . The distribution of these proteins in control and inhibited (5 x 10-7 M monensin) cells has been studied by immunofluorescence microscopy . In control cells, both antigens are present throughout the cytoplasm and in specific deposits in a region adjacent to the nucleu...

The present study examined the effects of glutamate on the outgrowth of dendrites and axons in isolated hippocampal pyramidal-like neurons in cell culture. During the first day of culture the survival and outgrowth of these neurons was unaffected by high concentrations (up to 1 mu) of glutamate, quisqualic acid (QA), kainic acid (KA), and Kmethyl-D-aspartic acid. Beginning on day 2 of culture h...

Four neurotoxins that activate the action potential Na+ ionophore of electrically excitable neuroblastoma cells interact with two distinct classes of sites, one specific for the alkaloids veratridine, batrachotoxin, and aconitine, and the second specific for scorpion toxin. Positive heterotropic cooperativity is observed between toxins bound at these two classes of sites. Tetrodotoxin is a nonc...

In this work, a novel Zr02+ PVC-based membrane sensor based on 4,7,13,16,21,24-hexa oxa-1,10- diazabicyclo[8,8,8]- hexa cosane (HODBHC) as a new ionophore is presented. The sensor displays a linear dynamic rangebetween 1.0x 10-1 and 1.0x10 6 M, with a near Nernstian slope of 29.9 ± 0.4 mV per decade in an acidic solution(pH=1). The limit of detection is 8.0 x 1 0 7 M. The electrodes possess adv...

Background: Chemical activation is the most frequently method for artificial oocyte activation, resultant in high fertilization rates. The aim of this prospective randomized controlled study is evaluating the effect of calcium ionophore on fertilization and pregnancy rate in infertile men suffering from teratoospermia. Materials and Methods: 38 women with teratoospermic partner were divided int...