Ventral tegmental area dopamine (DA VTA) neurons are important for the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse such as ethanol and nicotine. We have previously shown that M-current (IM) regulates the excitability of DA VTA neurons. Zinc (Zn2+) contributes to the regulation of neuronal excitation as a neuromodulator. In the present study, we investigated zinc effect on the properties of IM and the...

The effects of ZnCl2 additions on a mercuric reductase, merA, ammonia monooxygenase, amoA, and hydroxylamine (NH2OH) oxidoreductase, hao, gene expression were examined in continuously cultured Nitrosomonas europaea cells. The reactor was operated for 85 days with a 6.9 d hydraulic retention time and with four successive additions of ZnCl2 achieving maximum concentrations from 3 to 90 microM Zn2...

Zinc (Zn2+) is involved in both type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The wild-type (WT) form of the β-cell-specific Zn2+ transporter, ZNT8, is linked to T2DM susceptibility. ZnT8 null mice have a mild phenotype with a slight decrease in glucose tolerance, whereas patients with the ZnT8 R325W polymorphism (rs13266634) have decreased proinsulin staining and susceptibility to T2DM. W...

Zinc ions (Zn2+) are stored in synaptic vesicles with glutamate in a number of regions of the brain. When released into the synapse, Zn2+ modulates the activity of various receptors and ion channels. Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) maintain extracellular glutamate concentrations below toxic levels and regulate the kinetics of glutamate receptor activation. We have investigated the ac...

The relative binding affinity of Zn2+ to several glycosaminoglycans was determined by gel-filtration chromatography. Binding was observed only between Zn2+ and heparin. No binding was observed between Zn2+ and chondroitin 4-sulphate, chondroitin 6-sulphate, dermatan sulphate or hyaluronic acid. All of the glycosaminoglycans contained carboxy groups, but only heparin bound Zn2+. This observation...

A Zn2+ specific GdDOTA derivative containing two bis-(3-pyrazolyl) units was prepared and characterized. Unlike a previously reported Zn2+ binding agent, the new agent binds to human albumin both in the presence and absence of Zn2+.

The zinc ion (Zn2+) is abundant in neurons. However, excessive Zn2+ can induce neuronal cell death. This study examined the role of Zn2+ in transient retinal ischemia in adult male rats. The rats were sacrificed 4-24 h after retinal ischemia by high intra-ocular pressure, and the retinas were prepared for microscopic examination of retinal cell degeneration, and fluorescence microscopy using zi...