The relationship between plasma urea levels and some muscle trimethylamine levels in Xenopus laevis: a 31P and 14N nuclear magnetic resonance study

Urea is known to be disruptive to proteins, yet high levels occur in a variety of tissues. It has been suggested that trimethylamines counteract the effects of urea on protein. We have, therefore, directly investigated whether elevating tissue urea levels produces an increase in trimethylamine concentrations by using 31P and 14N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to detect two trimethylamines (glycine betaine and glycerylphosphorylcholine) in intact, living gastrocnemius muscle from Xenopus laevis. Xenopus laevis naturally elevates its tissue urea levels under dry conditions. This ability was used to obtain plasma urea levels ranging from 1 to 110 mmol l-1. This procedure did not alter pH or levels of ATP or phosphocreatine in the muscles, but did raise trimethylamine levels. We find that there is a significant relationship between plasma urea concentrations and the trimethylamine levels studied. This relationship was, however, limited to the lower range of urea levels. We propose that other trimethylamines or mechanisms come into play at urea concentrations above 20 mmol l-1.

A 31P NMR investigation into the effects of repeated vascular occlusion on uterine metabolites, intracellular pH and force, in vivo

Little is known about the metabolic effects of ischaemia on high energy phosphates in vivo in smooth muscle. We have developed a method for reversibly occluding the uterine artery, which allows simultaneous measurement of uterine metabolites using 31P NMR spectroscopy, and intra-uterine pressure, in vivo during ischaemia. We have investigated the effects of repeated ischaemia on metabolites, intracellular pH and contractions in anaesthetized rats. Occlusion produced an immediate drop in uterine blood flow and decreased contractions. Although contractions recovered upon reperfusion after both occlusions, the contractile activity was less after the second period of occlusion, suggesting less resistance after a prior ischaemic period. Significant falls in [ATP] and [phosphocreatine] and an increase in [P(i)] occurred during both occlusions. These were all reversed within 30 min of reperfusion. There was a large drop in intracellular pH produced by occlusion, which was rapidly reversed upon reperfusion. The changes in metabolites and intracellular pH were similar during the repeated ischaemic period, to those occurring during the first ischaemic period suggesting no alteration in energy production or utilization had occurred, with prior exposure to ischaemia. The significance of these results to the functioning of the uterus in labour is briefly discussed.

An investigation of intrinsic buffering power in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Intrinsic buffering power (beta i) has been measured in vascular strips and single cells from rat mesenteric artery. Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation was inhibited to prevent overestimation of beta i due to acid extrusion or entry via regulatory processes. At resting values of pHi (7.0-7.2), a mean value of 41 +/- 4 mM/pH unit for beta i was found. beta i increased approximately fivefold from 30 to 150 mM/pH unit over the pHi range 7.5-6.5. The mean data relating beta i to pHi could be described by relating beta i to buffer concentrations and pKa. This gave a value of 310 mM for buffer concentration and a pKa of 6.0. As changes in pHi are known to have marked effects on vascular tone then the increase in beta i as pHi falls may be considered as a means of attenuating pHi decreases, before pH regulation restores pHi to resting levels.

Contribution of extracellular calcium to intracellular pH-induced changes in spontaneous force of rat portal vein

Normal spontaneous mechanical activity of isolated rat portal vein is critically dependent on external calcium as a source of contractile activation and this force is modified by alteration of intracellular pH. We have studied the involvement of the extracellular calcium pool in intracellular pH-induced changes in force. Intracellular pH was changed, at constant external pH, by NH4Cl application and withdrawal in bathing [CaCl2] varying between 3 and 0 mM, and manoeuvres were performed in the presence and absence of either the intracellular calcium mobilizer caffeine or the calcium channel blocker nifedipine. The results indicate that alteration of spontaneous force with intracellular pH has an absolute requirement for calcium entry from outside and calcium release from caffeine-sensitive intracellular stores.

Steroid hormone regulation and tissue-specific expression of the human GnRH gene in cell culture and transgenic animals

In order to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of GnRH gene expression, the human GnRH gene was cloned and characterized. The gene was expressed in cells obtained from CNS tumors in transgenic mice generated utilizing 1131 bp of 5' flanking GnRH DNA fused to the simian virus 40 large T antigen. We have shown a stimulatory estrogen response element in the human GnRH gene by transient transfection studies. DNase I footprinting and an avidinbiotin DNA binding assay demonstrated that the human GnRH gene bound ER. The GN cell line was found to have nuclear ERs utilizing an 125I estradiol binding study and by in situ hybridization histochemistry. In order to study GnRH expression in vivo, either 5000 or 484 bp of GnRH flanking DNA was fused to the luciferase (Luc) reporter gene, and transgenic mice generated. Expression in the transgenic animals was found in the hypothalamus of animals bearing the -5000Luc transgene, but not in animals bearing the -484Luc transgene. The transgenic mice expressing the -5000Luc gene were gonadectomized resulting in a 20-30% increase in hypothalamic Luc expression in the males and a 65% increase in females, while mice who were gonadectomized and replaced with testosterone (males) or E2 (females) showed a 50% decrease in Luc expression over control levels. Thus, these studies present in vitro evidence of E2 modulation of GnRH gene expression and an in vivo model in which sensitive studies of GnRH regulation and expression can be performed.

A subset of peripherin positive olfactory axons delineates the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone neuronal migratory pathway in developing mouse

Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons in the CNS are derived from cells of the olfactory placode and thereafter migrate from the olfactory pit into the diencephalon. In this study, we examined embryonic LHRH neurons and the LHRH migratory pathway for several markers. During development, N-CAM and peripherin mRNA were expressed by olfactory epithelia, but not by LHRH cells. In nasal regions, olfactory axons were not immunostained by laminin or fibronectin antibodies, but were robustly peripherin and N-CAM immunoreactive. Although the majority of these axonal tracks entered the developing olfactory bulbs, a small population of peripherin positive but N-CAM negative axons turned caudally into the developing forebrain. LHRH cells were consistently juxtaposed to these axons. We propose that this peripherin positive/N-CAM negative fiber track is the anatomical pathway upon which LHRH cells migrate from the olfactory pit into the diencephalon.

LHRH cells migrate on peripherin fibers in embryonic olfactory explant cultures: an in vitro model for neurophilic neuronal migration

Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons arise from progenitor cells in the olfactory placode. During prenatal development, these cells migrate via neurophilic interactions, in track-like arrangements along axons of the olfactory complex. The mechanisms by which these cells attain an adult-like distribution are unknown. In this study, we established an in vitro, embryonic mouse olfactory explant model to examine the factors directing LHRH cell migration. Cultures were generated from E11.5 embryos and maintained for up to 3 weeks. Typically 20-50% (160-400 LHRH cells) of the total LHRH neuronal population survived and maintained gene expression in these explants. Fibronectin and laminin staining delineated substratum producing cells which concentrically spread, from Days 1-7, from the periphery of the entire explanted tissue. In contrast, LHRH cells emigrated exclusively from inside olfactory pit areas to the surface of the culture after 3 days. The relationship between groups of LHRH cells emerging from bilateral olfactory pits was not random, but highly organized; in 93% of the cultures examined, the angular relationship between these groups was 180-270 degrees. After 5 or more days in vitro, LHRH cells were found in directional tracks similar to those observed in vivo forming a continuum from the olfactory pit out onto the substratum, where many bipolar LHRH cells were discretely located. The maximum distance away from the olfactory pit that LHRH cells were detected was 0.9 mm, which is compatible with the distance traversed by LHRH cells through the nasal region in vivo. The reproducible spatiotemporal appearance of LHRH cells was unrelated to the concentric spread of the fibronectin and laminin producing cells of the explant. Taken together, these data indicate that LHRH cells migrated directionally in these explants and that the molecular cues governing the initial migration of these neurons remained intact in this system in the absence of brain tissue. Double-label immunocytochemistry indicated that at least three populations of neuronal fibers existed in the explants: N-CAM-positive, peripherin-positive, and N-CAM/peripherin-positive. Although all three fibers groups showed highly organized spatiotemporal distribution patterns, only peripherin-positive fibers correlated with the location of LHRH cells. LHRH cells were always preceded by, and in close association with, peripherin-positive fibers. We hypothesize that signals arising from the peripherin-positive axons provide the appropriate guidance cues to LHRH cells as they emigrate from the olfactory pit.

Bombesin receptor gene expression during mammalian development

Mammalian bombesin-like peptides (gastrin-releasing peptide [GRP] and neuromedin B [NMB]) and their receptors (GRP-R and NMB-R) can stimulate growth of cultured cells, and have been shown to be part of an autocrine growth regulatory network in some human small cell lung carcinoma cells. Given the connection between bombesin receptor expression and bombesin-mediated growth regulation in cultured cells, we were interested in investigating the possibility that bombesin peptides and their receptors might be important for normal growth and differentiation during development. As a first step, we examined the distribution of expression of GRP-R and NMB-R mRNA during rat embryonic development to identify changing spatio-temporal patterns of gene expression. In situ hybridization studies show that GRP-R mRNA is expressed at early embryonic stages in various locations of the nervous, urogenital, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. In contrast, the distribution of expression of NMB-R mRNA is more limited (upper gastrointestinal tract, bladder, and central nervous system) and is observed at later embryonic stages. In most locations, receptor mRNA levels increased steadily throughout development after onset of expression. However, transient GRP-R mRNA expression is observed in the posterior pituitary where expression increases from embryonic day 12 to 20, and abruptly disappears at birth. These studies suggest that appropriate development of several organ systems, in particular the posterior pituitary, may involve GRP-R-mediated signaling. We plan to test this hypothesis using gene targeting to inactivate the GRP-R gene in the mouse.

Differential effects of external pH alteration on intracellular pH in rat coronary and cardiac myocytes

Changes in extracellular pH (pHo) induce changes in the intracellular pH (pHi) of cardiac myocytes that are slow and attenuated. Little however is known about the effects of changing pHo on the pHi of the coronary smooth muscle cells. We have therefore directly compared the effects of altering pHo on pHi of both coronary and cardiac myocytes. Carboxy-SNARF was used in single cells to measure pHi. Alteration of pHo caused corresponding changes in pHi that were large (70-80% of pHo) and rapid in coronary myocytes compared to cardiac myocytes. In contrast, changes of pHi produced by weak acids or bases produced similar pHi responses in both types of cells. It is suggested that the differential effects of pHo on coronary and cardiac cells may be functionally significant, as it will allow rapid alteration of coronary perfusion to meet tissue needs, while maintaining cardiac output.

Abolition of contractions in the myometrium by acidification in vitro

Uterine dystocia, often of unknown cause, remains one of the commonest causes of emergency caesarean section. We have tested the hypothesis that small acidic changes in pH, that can occur during labour contractions, can decrease contractions and contribute to dystocia. We simultaneously recorded intracellular pH (pHi) and force in human myometrium: acidification abolished contractions. Such effects of pHi on uterine contractile activity may be of clinical significance. Blood flow reduces during each uterine contraction; the resulting fall in pHi could lead to inefficient uterine action in some labours and failure to progress (ie, dystocia).

Developmental and gestational changes of phosphoethanolamine and taurine in rat brain, striated and smooth muscle

Concentrations of taurine and phosphoethanolamine in rat smooth (intestinal and uterine), skeletal and cardiac muscle, and brain have been determined, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to examine possible interrelationships in their tissue content. Concentrations were determined in fetal and neonatal samples, as well as in adult tissue, to investigate whether phosphoethanolamine and taurine levels are influenced by developmental state. The effect of gestational state was also studied. A marked decrease in cerebral phosphoethanolamine concentration during development was found together with a concomitant decrease in striated muscle but not in the two smooth muscles studied. A rise in uterine phosphoethanolamine during the early postpartum period confirmed previous NMR data. This occurred only in the uterus, suggesting it is specific to the process of involution within the myometrium. Taurine concentrations showed no consistent pattern of change with postnatal development. In adult animals, the highest levels of taurine were found in cardiac muscle. Pregnancy was associated with a fall in taurine concentration in all tissues, suggesting an influence of steroid hormones. As taurine is cotransported with Na+ in many systems it may be related to the increased water retention seen in pregnancy. It is concluded that marked changes in phosphoethanolamine and taurine levels occur during development and gestation, but that the changes are not interdependent, i.e., the changes are tissue specific.

Changes in human and rat uterine phosphoethanolamine and taurine with pregnancy and parturition

Phosphoethanolamine and taurine have been identified in uterine extracts from rat and, for the first time, human tissue. The concentration of phosphoethanolamine [PEtn] determined by HPLC and 31P NMR spectroscopy, increased markedly (40%) within the first 6-12 h following parturition in rats, suggesting a role in involution. It appears that changes in [PEtn] account for the changes in the NMR phosphomonoester peak previously reported. A significant fall in [PEtn] was found in the human myometrium with pregnancy. Taurine was found in high concentrations in the rat and human uterus but decreased with pregnancy. The possible functional significance of these changes is discussed.

A quantitative study of the relation between intracellular pH and force in rat mesenteric vascular smooth muscle

Strips of rat mesenteric artery were loaded with carboxy-seminaphthorhodafluor (SNARF) to measure intracellular pH (pHi) and force simultaneously. pHi was altered by using weak acids and bases. Alkalinization produced an increase in force. For equal elevations of pHi a greater and faster increase of force was obtained in depolarized (high K+) than in non-depolarised preparations. Acidification produced little change in force unless the tissue was contracted (high-K+), in which case it elicited relaxation. Examination of the relationship between pHi and force in depolarized preparations showed that acidification produced a greater change in force than alkalinization. Removal of weak bases produced a transient acidification that was accompanied by a fall in force in all preparations. This was followed by a secondary contraction in depolarized preparations during the period over which pHi was acidic and being restored to resting values. Some preparations demonstrated a hysteresis in the relation between pHi and force. It is concluded that the relationship between pHi and force in mesenteric vascular smooth muscle is not constant but depends on the previous history of the preparation, and may involve differences in the interactions between H+, Ca2+ and the contractile machinery.

An in vivo study of the effects of ischaemia on uterine contraction, intracellular pH and metabolites in the rat

There are no data concerning the functional or metabolic effects of hypoxia in vivo in smooth muscle. We have therefore used 31P-NMR spectroscopy and intra-uterine pressure measurements to examine simultaneously, in vivo, the effect of ischaemia on uterine metabolites, intracellular pH (pHi) and force. A 1-2 cm portion of uterus from day 1 postpartum anaesthetized rats was exteriorized and an NMR surface coil placed on it. A balloon catheter in the uterine lumen recorded intra-uterine pressure changes from the same area. Reversible occluders were placed around the uterine artery. Occlusion produced a decrease and then abolition of contractions, within 10 min. In four of five animals contraction was abolished within 2 min. Upon reperfusion force was rapidly restored (1 min), in all preparations. The mean level of force was significantly above control (pre-occlusion) 20-30 min after reperfusion. The NMR data showed a significant fall in [ATP] (28%) and [phosphocreatine] (34%) during occlusion. Inorganic phosphate doubled in concentration during this period. Metabolites recovered slowly upon reperfusion, taking 20-30 min to return to pre-occlusion levels. The mean pHi fell from 7.32 to 7.00 upon occlusion and was rapidly reversed upon reperfusion. The changes in pHi closely correlated with the changes in uterine force. Decreases of pHi of a similar magnitude in vitro have previously been shown to abolish contractions; thus it is suggested that during ischaemia in vivo the depression of contraction is caused by the large fall in pHi.

The frog gonadotropin-releasing hormone-I (GnRH-I) gene has a mammalian-like expression pattern and conserved domains in GnRH-associated peptide, but brain onset is delayed until metamorphosis

Recent evidence indicates a localized origin in the olfactory placode for the mammalian forebrain neurons that express GnRH. To identify the cellular and molecular signals that induce the GnRH phenotype, we cloned and characterized a cDNA encoding the GnRH prohormone, the precursor for both GnRH-I and GnRH-associated peptide in the frog, Xenopus laevis, an embryonic model accessible to experimental manipulation. The 396-base cDNA represented a single mRNA species encoding an 89-amino acid prepro-GnRH that, unlike a recently cloned fish GnRH gene, was identical to both the mammalian GnRH decapeptide as well as multiple domains within GnRH-associated peptide. Serial section in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunocytochemistry in adult frog localized a forebrain system comprising 250-350 cell bodies whose overall neuroanatomy, including fiber projections, was very similar to that described for mammals. However, neither Northern nor in situ hybridization detected GnRH expression in midbrain, arguing that another frog gene encodes the midbrain GnRH-II expression pattern described by many others using antisera directed against the fish GnRH-I or chicken GnRH-II decapeptides. In contrast to mammals and birds, in which GnRH-expressing cells migrate into embryonic forebrain, frog GnRH cells were first detected after they reached their final position in the preoptic area during the late larval period. Thus, although previous studies proposed a complex organization for the GnRH system in the frog, our findings show that similar to mammals, there is a single gene that can account for the continuum of GnRH-I cells spanning frog forebrain. However, unlike mammals, in frogs, for unknown reasons, GnRH-I gene expression is suppressed until metamorphic climax.

Hypoxia in the Uterus

Uterine contractions are so powerful during labor that they cause hypoxia. This article examines effects hypoxia has on the ability of the uterus to contract and its relevance to clinical cases of dystocia, i.e., weak contractions, which often lead to cesarean section.

A comparison of the effects of intracellular and extracellular pH on contraction in isolated rat portal vein

1. The effects of changes in extracellular and intracellular pH on spontaneous contractile activity in isolated rat portal vein have been investigated. 2. Small strips of portal vein were loaded with the pH-sensitive fluorophore carboxy-SNARF and intracellular pH (pHi) and contraction were measured simultaneously at 37 degrees C. The tissue was superfused with oxygenated, Hepes-buffered solutions at pH 7.4. Intracellular pH was altered by isosmotic substitution of weak acids or bases. External pH (pHo) was altered by addition of strong acid or base to the solution. 3. The mean resting value of pHi was 7.06 +/- 0.03 (n = 28). Alteration of pHi led to changes in spontaneous activity. Addition of butyrate (20 mM) reduced pHi by 0.18 +/- 0.01 pH units (n = 8). Decreasing pHi produced an early, brief increase in contractile activity followed by a longer lasting decrease or even abolition of contraction. 4. Addition of 20 mM trimethylamine or NH4Cl increased pHi by around 0.2 pH units and produced an early transient decrease in contractile activity followed by a later maintained increase, both in frequency and magnitude. Removal of base produced a rapid rebound decrease in pHi which was associated with a further transient increase in contractile activity followed by decreased activity. The effects of base on both pHi and contraction were concentration dependent over the range investigated (2.5-30 mM). 5. Alteration of pHo produced a change in pHi in the portal vein. The pHi change was rapid compared to other non-vascular cells (about 1 min to half-maximal response).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Occurrence of intracellular pH transients during spontaneous contractions in rat uterine smooth muscle

1. Intracellular pH (pHi) and contraction have been measured simultaneously in isolated longitudinal rat myometrium. Tissue was loaded with the pH-sensitive fluorophore carboxy-SNARF and superfused with oxygenated, buffered salt solution at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4. 2. Small (0.04 pH unit) transient intracellular acidifications followed each spontaneous uterine contraction. The pHi transients lagged contraction by 15 s. Removal of external Ca2+ abolished both spontaneous contractions and the pHi changes. 3. Increasing uterine contraction by depolarization (40 mM K+) or agonist (50 microM carbachol) produced a larger acidification (0.18 pH unit). 4. The acidification with contraction does not appear to be due to increased glycolysis as no increase in lactate efflux occurred with high-K+ stimulation. 5. Uterine contraction is known to be sensitive to changes in pHi. Comparable pHi changes to the pHi transients seen during spontaneous contraction were induced by application and withdrawal of weak acids and bases. The resulting pHi changes (0.02-0.08 pH unit) produced effects on contraction frequency and amplitude, alkalinization augmenting and acidification depressing contractile activity, suggesting that the pHi transients with contraction are functionally important.

Effects of hypoxia on force produced by agonists and depolarization and arising spontaneously in the rat uterus

The effects of cyanide and nitrogen on contractile activity in rat uteri was investigated. Hypoxia significantly reduced contractile activity produced either spontaneously, or by application of carbachol (50 mumol l-1) or oxytocin (20 nmol l-1) in preparations from pregnant and nonpregnant rats. Hypoxia had, however, significantly smaller effects on agonist-evoked than on spontaneous contractions. Application of agonists under hypoxic conditions restored some degree of force to preparations in which spontaneous activity had been abolished. This result suggests that the loss of spontaneous contractions was, in part, due to decreased excitability of the uterus, rather than to an impairment of the contractile machinery. Hypoxia significantly decreased the force produced by depolarization of the uterus. The effects of hypoxia on contraction produced by agonists or depolarization were not significantly different, suggesting that a similar mechanism may maintain force under these conditions, and that this mechanism does not occur during spontaneous activity. Lowering the external Ca2+ concentration to 0.1 mmol l-1 resulted in production of significantly less force in the presence or absence of agonist. The ability of hypoxia to decrease agonist-induced force was found not to be due to the intracellular acidification it produces. It was concluded that uterine hypoxia may decrease uterine contractions in vivo and a possible role in dystocia during labour was discussed.

Changes of intracellular pH in rat mesenteric vascular smooth muscle with high-K+ depolarization

1. In mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells changes in extracellular pH are rapidly transmitted to the cytoplasm. The mechanism involved is unknown, but it may be due to a high proton permeability of the surface membrane, in which case changes in membrane potential would alter the driving force for proton entry. We have therefore examined the voltage sensitivity of intracellular pH (pHi) in these cells. 2. Strips of mesenteric resistance vessels were loaded with SNARF-1 to monitor pHi and tension was simultaneously measured. Tissues were superfused with oxygenated solutions at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4. Isosmotic substitution of K+ for Na+ was used to depolarize the preparations. 3. pHi was found to be sensitive to alteration of [K+]. Depolarization of the tissue with K+ caused contraction and produced transient increases in pHi. When pHi regulation was blocked there was no significant change in the size of the alkalinization induced by high K+, thus it is unlikely that the results can be explained by voltage sensitivity of pHi regulating mechanisms. 4. In nominally Ca(2+)-free solution, the tissue does not contract and the alkalinization with high K+ was significantly greater than that occurring in 3 mM Ca2+. 5. There was a rapid acidification, when pHi regulation was blocked, which is consistent with a high proton permeability. 6. The effects of membrane potential on pHi have been modelled and show that they can be accounted for by effects of voltage on H+ influx through a proton channel. The effects of changing external pH on H+ influx also fit the model. Estimation of the proton permeability gave a high value (0.4 cm s-1). 7. The results presented demonstrate (i) a voltage sensitivity of pHi in mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells and (ii) a particularly high permeability of the membrane to protons. The physiological significance of these findings is discussed.

Extracellular pH signals affect rat vascular tone by rapid transduction into intracellular pH changes

1. Changes in extracellular pH (pHo) are known to produce large effects on vascular tone, but the mechanisms involved are not understood. As changes in intracellular pH (pHi) can also affect vascular tone, we have investigated the effects of changing pHo upon both pHi and tone. 2. Strips of rat mesenteric resistance vessels were loaded with the pH-sensitive fluorophore SNARF 1; thus tension and pHi could be simultaneously measured as pHo was altered. 3. Whenever pHo was altered there was a corresponding alteration of pHi. Furthermore, when pHo was changed the pHi change was more rapid than that reported to occur in other cells. The time to half-peak intracellular response was 38 +/- 4 s (n = 11). The induced pHi change was also less attenuated than in many other cells studied. Thus a ratio of 0.73 was obtained for the change in pHi per unit pHo change (n = 7). 4. An increase in pHi produced by an increase in pHo was accompanied by an increase in tension in the vascular strips. In other experiments pHi was increased at constant pHo by the addition of the weak base trimethylamine (40 mM). This also elevated tension in the strips. Conversely when pHo was changed while pHi was held at resting values, no change in vascular tone occurred. 5. It is concluded that the effects of pHo on vascular tone are due to the induced change in intracellular pH, and that the vascular smooth muscle cell is functionally well adapted to respond to changes in tissue pH, thereby allowing blood flow to a tissue to be rapidly altered to meet changing needs.

Simultaneous measurement of intracellular pH and contraction in uterine smooth muscle

Changes in intracellular pH (pHi) are thought to produce large changes in force production in the uterus. There have however, been no simultaneous measurements of pHi and force in the uterus and therefore no direct information is available about the relation between the two. We have used carboxy-SNARF (a pH-sensitive fluorophore) in small strips of longitudinal myometrium and obtained simultaneous measurements of pHi and force. SNARF did not alter contractile function, and continuous measurements of pHi could be made for 2 hours. The mean resting pHi (7.16) was similar to that reported previously. Application of weak bases rapidly raised pHi, in a concentration-dependent manner, followed by a gradual restoration of pHi to resting levels. Alkalinization greatly increased the frequency of contractions, often accompanied by a small increase in their amplitude. Removal of base produced a rebound acidification which transiently abolished contractions. Direct acidification of the cytoplasm, by application of weak acid, also abolished contractions. However the alkalinization which accompanied removal of acid, produced variable effects on force.

Effects of metabolic inhibition and changes of intracellular pH on potassium permeability and contraction of rat uterus

1. We have investigated the role of changes of potassium efflux in the inhibition of uterine force produced by cyanide. K+ efflux (86Rb) was measured from pregnant and non-pregnant rat myometrial strips during metabolic inhibition with cyanide and following manoeuvres to displace intracellular pH (pHi). 2. Cyanide greatly reduced or abolished spontaneous contractions. If the membrane was depolarized directly at this stage (by elevating external K+) then contraction redeveloped. This suggests that the initial depression of force is due to a failure of membrane excitation. 3. Cyanide reversibly increased 86Rb efflux (30-35%) in both pregnant and nonpregnant uteri and contraction was reduced. The increase in 86Rb efflux with cyanide was not secondary to changes of membrane potential as it also occurred in both high-K+ and Ca(2+)-free solutions. 4. Glibenclamide (20 microM), an antagonist of K+ATP channels, reduced the cyanide-evoked increase of 86Rb efflux by about 50%. The glibenclamide-insensitive component of efflux persisted in a Ca(2+)-free solution. Despite its action on 86Rb efflux, glibenclamide did not restore contraction. 5. Intracellular pH falls during metabolic inhibition. We therefore investigated whether reducing pHi (in the absence of cyanide) had an effect on 86Rb efflux. Application of the weak acid butyrate (60 mM, at constant external pH, 7.4) had no significant effect on 86Rb efflux. Thus it is unlikely that the acidification in hypoxia contributes to the increased K+ efflux. 6. Intracellular alkalinization produced by the weak base trimethylamine (60 mM) increased the frequency of uterine contraction and the 86Rb efflux. However, there was no effect on the 86Rb efflux in a Ca(2+)-free solution. The increased efflux is therefore presumably a consequence of the increased frequency. 7. It is concluded that metabolic inhibition produced by cyanide, produces an increase in K+ efflux from the myometrium. Part of this efflux is glibenclamide sensitive. This increased K+ efflux will lead to hyperpolarization of the myometrial membrane and thus decrease excitation. Thus reduced surface membrane excitability will contribute to the fall of force in hypoxia; specifically it may cause the initial loss of spontaneous contractions in the uterus.

Effects of pH and inorganic phosphate on force production in alpha-toxin-permeabilized isolated rat uterine smooth muscle

1. Strips of longitudinal smooth muscle isolated from rat uterus were permeabilized using crude alpha-toxin from the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. This treatment rendered the surface membrane permeable to small molecular weight substances. Simultaneous measurements of tension and calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) (using indo-1 fluorescence) were used to investigate the effects of pH and inorganic phosphate concentration ([Pi]) on Ca(2+)-activated force generated by the contractile proteins. 2. Raising the [Pi] from 1 to 11 mM at a pH of 7.2 depressed both maximal and submaximal Ca(2+)-activated force. This effect of Pi was concentration dependent having the majority of its effect by 6 mM. 3. Further experiments at a submaximal [Ca2+] showed that Ca(2+)-activated force was enhanced by raising [Pi] from 6 to 11 mM suggesting that Pi increased the Ca2+ sensitivity of tension production. Based on these results, calculations indicate that the apparent affinity constant of Ca2+ for the contractile proteins increased from 4 x 10(6) M-1 to 6 x 10(6) M-1 on raising [Pi] from 1 to 11 mM. 4. Lowering pH from 7.2 to 6.7 at a [Pi] of 1 mM potentiated Ca(2+)-activated force with a small depression in the apparent Ca2+ sensitivity of tension production. This effect of pH on maximum (100 microM Ca2+) and submaximum (0.3 microM Ca2+) Ca(2+)-activated force was observed over a range of acidic pHs (7.0-6.7). 5. Increasing pH from 7.2 to 7.7 at a [Pi] of 1 mM depressed Ca(2+)-activated force with no effect on Ca2+ sensitivity of tension production. 6. Spontaneous contractions in intact rat myometrium are abolished under hypoxic conditions. Under these same conditions intracellular [Pi] rises and pH falls. The results of this study suggest that taken individually neither the effect of a rise in [Pi] nor a fall in pH on Ca(2+)-activated force generated by the contractile proteins can account for the effect of hypoxia on spontaneous contractions.

Characterization of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in organotypic slice explant cultures

Suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) from hypothalami of postnatal rats were maintained for 18-39 days in vitro as organotypic slice explants. Neuronal subtypes containing vasopressin (VP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastrin releasing hormone (GRP), and GABA were immunocytochemically identifiable in these cultures. In situ hybridization histochemistry was compatible with these SCN slice explant cultures, and mRNA encoding for VP was detected bilaterally within these nuclei. After 18 days in vitro, both VP mRNA and VP immunoreactivity increased from levels present on postnatal days 4 (the earliest age from which the explanted tissue was derived) to levels typical of adult SCNs. In contrast, the GRP expression remained low, characteristic of early postnatal animals and far lower than adult levels. This suggests that the developmental cues or programs necessary for enhanced VP expression are maintained in these cultures, while those affecting GRP expression are absent or inhibited. VIP-containing neurons were numerous in the cultures. Culture slices appeared healthy, and similar numbers and distributions of identifiable neurons within the SCN were observed, whether or not the slices were grown in the presence of serum. EM analysis revealed that the SCN in vitro is composed of tightly packed neurons, processes, and abundant synapses containing both clear and dense core vesicles, closely resembling the SCN in vivo. Vasopressinergic neuronal somata contained extensive Golgi systems and labeled secretory granules, the latter organelle being present also within processes and synaptic terminals. GABA-immunopositive processes and synaptic profiles were abundant, with labeling occurring particularly over secretory vesicles and mitochondria. This slice culture system effectively maintained much of the intrinsic organization and cellular components of the SCN for long periods in vitro and should be an excellent model system for studying the intrinsic molecular mechanisms and extrinsic cues which regulate neuronal phenotype in this circadian pacemaker.