PURPOSE The rabbit lacrimal gland yields large numbers of viable acinar cells that, when exposed to carbachol, respond with accelerated protein release, fluid phase endocytosis (Lucifer yellow uptake), and Na/H antiport activation. The current study was undertaken to determine whether such cells exhibit similar responses after having been maintained in primary culture. METHODS Cells were isol...

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) system is ubiquitous in humans and plays fundamental roles in embryogenesis, development, proliferation and differentiation. As the endometrium of fertile women is characterized by proliferation and differentiation, we hypothesize a role for the EGF system. Fourteen premenopausal women had endometrial samples removed on day 6 +/- 1 and day 6 +/- 1 and 12 +/- 1 ...

The uterus is innervated by adrenergic sympathetic fibres, and the endometrium has a capability for endogenous monoamine synthesis. Extracellular monoamine levels are regulated primarily through re-uptake by specific membrane-bound transporter proteins dopamine transporter (DAT), norepinephrine transporter (NET) and serotonin transporter (SERT). Intracellular storage of monoamines involves vesi...

Islet responses of two different Mus geni, the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) and a phylogenetically more ancient species (Mus caroli), were measured and compared with the responses of islets from rats (Rattus norvegicus). A minimal and flat second-phase response to 20 mM glucose was evoked from M. musculus islets, whereas a large rising second-phase response characterized rat islets. M. carol...

Ghrelin acting via the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) stimulates GH secretion from pituitary glands. Both ligand and receptor are present in the pituitary, hypothalamus and many peripheral tissues including the uterus. This study demonstrates the cyclical expression of GHS-R and ghrelin in human endometrium. mRNA and protein for ghrelin and GHS-R were examined using RT-PCR and imm...

Assuming that haptoglobin, by virtue of its immunomodulatory properties, could be a regulatory factor during reproduction, its presence in the human uterus was determined. Protein extracts from endometrial tissue samples of pregnant and non-pregnant women were analysed by the immunoblot technique and the intensities of specific bands were quantified. Bands corresponding to haptoglobin were iden...

Endometrium is one of the fastest growing human tissues. Sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, in interaction with several growth factors, control its growth and differentiation. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) interacts with cell surface receptors and also with specific soluble binding proteins. IGF-binding proteins (IGF-BP) have been shown to modulate IGF-1 action. Of six known isofor...

Objective To investigate the relationship between Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis(TWEAK) and endometriosis. Methods TWEAK mRNA and protein concentrations in paired samples of eutopic endometrial tissue from women with and without endometriosis, and also of ectopic endometrial tissue from women with endometriosis were measured by Real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and...

BACKGROUND To investigate changes in mRNA and protein levels of biglycan (BGN), decorin (DCN) and fibromodulin (FMOD) in vaginal wall tissue from women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) compared to menstrual-cycle matched continent women. METHODS We determined mRNA expressions of BGN, DCN and FMOD by quantitative real-time PCR. They were localized in vaginal wall tissue by immunohistoche...

BACKGROUND To assess the release of placental growth factor (PlGF) into peritoneal fluid in women with and without endometriosis, we measured its concentration with reference to disease stage, the presence of red endometriotic lesions and the phase of menstrual cycle. METHODS Surgery was scheduled in the proliferative or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle for 59 women with (n = 35) or wit...