ABSTRACT
The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition of unknown etiology, characterized by a persistent debilitating fatigue, the muscle-related symptoms and the neuropsychiatric symptoms. Recently, it has been reported that the patients with CFS might have impaired activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and suggested that a part of the patho-genesis of CFS might be associated with abnormalities of the endocrine system. Herein, we show that the majority of Japanese patients with CFS had a serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) deficiency. Serum DHEA-S is one of the most abundantly produced hormones which is secreted from the adrenal glands, and its physiological function is thought to be a precursor of sex steroids. DHEA-S has recently been shown to have physiological properties, such as neurosteroids, which are associated with such psychophysiological phenomena as memory, stress, anxiety, sleep and depression. Therefore, the deficiency of DHEA-S might be related to the neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with CFS.
Subject(s)
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate/blood , Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/blood , 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids/urine , 17-Ketosteroids/urine , Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood , Adult , Dehydroepiandrosterone/blood , Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/physiopathology , Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/urine , Female , Humans , Hydrocortisone/blood , MaleABSTRACT
We have isolated and characterized a new subclonal cell line designated as MR31, which was obtained by transfection of PC12 cells with a glucocorticoid-regulated ras oncogene. The mRNA derived from the c-Ha-ras gene was proved to be expressed on exposure of the MR31 cells to dexamethasone, the highest value being attained at 8 h. MR31 cells rapidly extended neurite-like processes within 24 h in response to dexamethasone as well as nerve growth factor (NGF). The time of onset of neurite outgrowth induced by dexamethasone corresponded to the time when the highest ras mRNA level was observed. The catecholamine content of MR31 cells was found to be twice that of PC12 cells. A time course study on the effects of dexamethasone or NGF on cells showed that the former caused an increase in dopamine, a major catecholamine, to twofold the control level at 48 h after the treatment, while the latter caused a decrease in the dopamine level. These effects on catecholamines were almost the same in MR31 and PC12 cells. The acetylcholinesterase activity of MR31 cells was enhanced by both dexamethasone and NGF, whereas that of PC12 cells was enhanced by NGF, but not by dexamethasone. The changes in acetylcholinesterase activity were correlated with neurite outgrowth. Electron-microscopically, MR31 cells were not different from PC12 cells. MR31 cells exhibited extremely decreased tumorigenicity as compared with PC12 cells. The morphological and biochemical properties of MR31 cells remained constant, even after repeated passages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Subject(s)
Cell Line, Transformed/cytology , Dexamethasone/pharmacology , Genes, ras , Neurons/cytology , Animals , Base Sequence , Blotting, Northern , Cell Differentiation , Cell Line, Transformed/metabolism , Dopamine/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Humans , Mice , Mice, Nude , Molecular Sequence Data , Neoplasms, Experimental/etiology , Nerve Growth Factors/pharmacology , Neurites/drug effects , Neurons/drug effects , Neurons/metabolism , PC12 Cells , Rats , TransfectionABSTRACT
In-vitro motility of the gallbladder was investigated in the circularly cut full thickness strips obtained from 19 mongrel dogs. The present study was undertaken to determine an appropriate size of the strips for observation and to know any difference, if exists, between motilities of the strips prepared from the neck, body and fundus. Recordings were made on a pen chart recorder using an isometric tension system. The results obtained were as follows. 1) The most appropriate size of the specimens to examine the changes of contractile dynamics was 5 mm in width and 15 mm in length. 2) The strips from three parts of the gallbladder showed similar rhythmic and tonic spontaneous contraction patterns.
Subject(s)
Gallbladder/physiology , Muscle Contraction , Animals , Dogs , In Vitro TechniquesABSTRACT
Studies in-vitro motility of the human gallbladder was investigated in the longitudinally cut strips obtained from 24 patients. Strips of the wall of the organ, containing mucosa, muscle and serosa, 5 mm in width and 15 mm in length, were cut from the fundus, body and neck. These specimens were suspended in Tyrode solution at 36 degrees C equilibrated with the 100% O2. Recordings were made on a pen chart recorder which were transduced using a isometric system by the changes of contractions. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The strips from three parts of the gallbladder showed rhythmic and tonic spontaneous contractions. 2. The tonic contractions from fundus were strongest in those three. 3. The rhythmic contractions of neck exhibited greater amplitude than those of fundus and body.
