The binding kinetics, pharmacological properties and regional ontogeny of L-[3H]glutamic acid Na+-independent and [3H]kainic acid binding sites were studied in preparations of chick brain. One binding component was found for L-[3H]glutamic acid with a Kd value of 176 x 10(9) M. For [3H]kainic acid two binding components were found in the hemispheres, optic lobes and brain stem, one with high affinity and a Kd value of 12.5 x 10(9) M and one with low affinity and a Kd value of 260 x 10(9) M. In cerebellum only one binding site was detected for [3H]kainic acid with a Kd value of 144 x 10(9) M. The ontogeny of L-[3H]glutamic acid and [3H]kainic acid binding sites was studied using membrane preparations (48,000 g pellet) of hemispheres, optic lobes, brain stem and cerebellum. Binding of L-[3H]glutamic acid was already significant in all brain regions by embryonic day 11 but major increases in total receptor number per brain region or per mg of protein were apparent by embryonic day 19 and especially after hatching. Cerebral hemispheres, optic lobes and brain stem showed few [3H]kainic acid binding sites by day 13 in ovo. An increase follows which, in hemispheres and optic lobes, continues at the same rate during the first two weeks after hatching. In cerebellum, by contrast, the kainic acid binding site is almost undetectable until embryonic day 15. The appearance of these binding sites in cerebellum takes place during the restricted period between days 15 in ovo and 5 post-hatching. This pattern of development of [3H]kainic acid binding sites almost parallels the developmental patterns of the molecular layer of chick cerebellum and it is consistent with the results of our autoradiographic study showing that the great majority of kainic acid binding sites are localized in the molecular layer.
Objective: Plasma cortisol in obese subjects does not differ from that in normoweight subjects. Extra-adrenal cortisol production by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) can result in local hypercortisolemia. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of visceral hypercortisolemia in the development of metabolic syndrome in severe obesity. Methods: Eight lean women during hysterectomy (controls) and 19 severely obese women during bariatric surgery were studied, 8 without metabolic syndrome (OM– group) and 11 with it (OM+ group). Biopsies of omental and subcutaneous fat were performed in the severely obese women during surgery, but only omental biopsies in the controls. Expression of 11β-HSD1, glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα) and glucocorticoid receptor β (GRβ) was evaluated using real-time PCR.Results: Omental 11β-HSD1 expression was different between groups (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.01). Post-hoc analysis revealed that mean omental 11β-HSD1 mRNA levels were higher in the OM– group compared to controls, whereas they were similar when comparing the OM+ group with lean controls. Expression of 11β-HSD1 in subcutaneous fat was not different between OM+ and OM– groups. GRα expression in omental fat did not differ among groups or between omental and subcutaneous fat in severely obese patients. An expression of GRβ was not detected.Conclusion: Contrary to our original hypothesis, omental 11β-HSD1 expression is not increased in the OM+ group.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.