Na+:K+:2Cl- cotransporters (NKCCs) belong to the SLC12A family of cation-coupled Cl- transporters. We investigated whether enamel-producing mouse ameloblasts express NKCCs. Transcripts for Nkcc1 were identified in the mouse dental epithelium by RT-qPCR and NKCC1 protein was immunolocalized in outer enamel epithelium and in the papillary layer but not the ameloblast layer. In incisors of Nkcc1-n...

Dental calculus is known to be related to the initiation of periodontal disease. Recent studies have indicated that salivary acid-base changes occur on patrol and that such changes may reasonably be expected to influence the formation and composition of dental calculus. A study was completed to examine these factors. Whole saliva samples were collected from eleven crewmen of a Polaris submarine...

Lithium influx into human erythrocytes increased 12-fold, when chloride was replaced with bicarbonate in a 150 mM lithium medium (38 degrees C. pH 7.4). The increase was linearly related to both lithium- and bicarbonate concentration, and was completely eliminated by the amino reagent 4, 4'- diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). DIDS binds to an integral membrane protein (mol wt a...

2/3 of the reservoir surface area was approximately covered with dense populations of Myriophyllum, Ceratophyllum and Potamogeton species. The headwaters of the reservoir were considered as hard water and had both carbonatic and non-carbonatic hardness. When they were exposed to lentic condition of the reservoir and its intensive photosynthetic activities of macrophyte communities, the bicarbon...

Glutamate in unusual places lutamate has a critical physiological function unrelated to its job as a neurotransmitter, according to results from M.M. Reddy and Paul Quinton (University of California, San Diego, CA). The duo find that glutamate activates an epithelial ion channel that is mutated in patients with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR anion channel, w...

The influence of oral sodium bicarbonate and aluminium hydroxide on the absorption of indomethacin has been studied in normal volunteers. While sodium bicarbonate appeared to increase indomethacin absorption, aluminium hydroxide markedly reduced both the rate and extent of absorption. The buccal absorption of indomethacin over the pH range 5-9 was also studied in normal volunteers, and showed t...

Enteric bacterial pathogens often increase intestinal Cl- secretion. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(EPEC) does not stimulate active ion secretion. In fact, EPEC infection decreases net ion transport in response to classic secretagogues. This has been presumed to reflect diminished Cl- secretion. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of EPEC infection on specific intestinal e...

Glutamate in unusual places lutamate has a critical physiological function unrelated to its job as a neurotransmitter, according to results from M.M. Reddy and Paul Quinton (University of California, San Diego, CA). The duo find that glutamate activates an epithelial ion channel that is mutated in patients with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR anion channel, w...