Recent studies clearly demonstrated that the novel expression of LH gene in the rat testis, and suggested the local action of the LH-like molecule. The present study was performed to analyze the expression of the LH genes in the rat accessory reproductive organs. Expression of LH subunit genes in the rat uterus and epididymis was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and specific LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The LHbeta transcripts in these organs contained the published cDNA structure, the pituitary type exons 1-3, which encoded the entire LHbeta/ polypeptide. Presence of the transcripts for the alpha-subunit in the rat reproductive tissues were also confirmed by RT-PCR. In the LH RIA, significant levels of LH were detected in crude extracts from the rat ovary, uterus and epididymis. The competition cuties with increasing amount of tissue extracts were parallel with those of standard peptide, indicating that the immunoreactive LH-like materials in these tissues are similar to authentic pituitary LH molecule. In rat epididymis, the highest amount of immunoreactive LH was detected in corpus area. Our findings demonstrated that the genes for LH subunits are expressed in the rat accessory reproductive organs, and suggested that these extrapituitary LH may act as a local regulator with auto and/or paracrine manner.
Animals ; Complex Mixtures ; DNA, Complementary ; Epididymis* ; Exons ; Female ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone* ; Male ; Ovary ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats* ; Testis ; Tissue Extracts ; Uterus*

No abstract available.
Dentures* ; Mucous Membrane*

It is still not well documented what the basic roles for the regulation of renin secretion from the kidney take place. Since the early study on the renal ischemia for the production of hypertension was introduced, the renin-angiotensin system has been regarded as the possible pathogenetic mechanism for the renovascular hypertension. The renin-angiotensin system, however, could be activated by various stimuli, such as, the changes of intrarenal perfusion pressure, the load or concentriation of sodium at the sites of macular densa, the changes of the sympathetic nervous activity and the changes of potassium balance. To investigate the renin-angiotensin system and the influence of sympathetic nervous system on the regulation of renin secretion, the renovascular hypertension was induced in the dogs by constriction of unilateral renal artery, and the plasma renin activity was measured. The sodium load at the sites of macula densa was attained by furosemide, and then the activity of sympathetic nervous system was depressed by reserpine. The plasma renin activity was assayed by the method of Helmer and Cohn. By this bio-assay method, the plasma renin activity equivalent to 1 nanogram angiotensin-II can be measurable and the prepared plasma was found to have still vasopressor activity. The results observed in this experimental work are summarized as follows. 1. The blood pressure reached maximum on the 3rd postoperative day, and declined gradually to the level of preoperative day on the day of from the 6th to 12th day following constriction of renal artery. 3. The plasma renin activity was found to be well correlated with the increase of blood pressure, and then declined to its preoperative level with the reduction of blood pressure. It appears, therefore, that the renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of renovascular hypertension. 4. The urine flow rate in normal and reserpinized dogs was the same before administration of furosemide, but its rate was significantly increased in both groups after furosemide. The urine flow rate of reserpinized dogs, however, was significantly lower than that of the normal dogs during the first 5 minutes. 5. The urinary sodium excretion in normal and reserpinized dogs was significantly increased in both groups after administration of furosemide and there were no difference between the two groups. 6. The plasma renin activity of renal venous blood was significantly higher than that of femoral arterial blood in both groups before and after administration of furosemide. 7. The plasma renin activity of reserpinized dogs was significantly lower than that of normal dogs before administration of furosemide. After furosemide, however, the plasma renin activity was significantly increased in 30 minutes in both groups. This increase of plasma renin activity was less prominent in resepinized dogs than in normal. This results would suggest that the intrarenal mechanism regulating renin secretion also requires an intact sympathetic nervous system.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Constriction ; Dogs ; Furosemide ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Perfusion ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Renal Artery ; Renin* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Reserpine ; Sodium ; Sympathetic Nervous System

BACKGROUNDS: Peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus is believed to cause postural insta- bility which is associated with an increased risk of falling. Posturography enables early detection of postural control failure. This study is to evaluate the relationship between postural sway assessed by a computerized dynamic posturography and peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients who have not develo- ped clinical symptom of unsteadiness. METHODS: Computerized dynamic posturography and electrophysiological tests were performed in the following age-matched subjects: 40 type 2 diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathy, 30 type 2 dia- betic patients with peripheral neuropathy, and 30 healthy control subjects. Patients had no symptoms or clinical evidence of postural instability. RESULTS: Sensory organization test showed significant dysfunction of somatosensory function of type 2 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy. Posturographic parameters were all significantly impaired in the patients with peripheral neuropathy. There were no significant differences in posturographic parameters between diabetic patients without neuropathy and the healthy control subjects. Posturographic parameters showed a direct relationship with some parameters of peripheral nerve conduction. CONCLUSION: Computerized dynamic posturography showed that Type 2 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy have greater postural instability than those without neuropathy. A strong correlation of insta- bility with peripheral neuropathy is present in diabetic patients. This result implies that peripheral neuro- pathy plays an essential role in the instability in type 2 diabetic patients. Posturographic study allows a disclosure of the failure of postural control even in the absence of clinical evidence of postural instability.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Disclosure ; Humans ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases*

No abstract available.
Female ; Mammaplasty*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis*

Careful history taking, clinical course of the disease, and neurological examination are mandatory to differentiate cerebrovascular disease from other neurological diseases or even from non-neurological diseases. Cerebrovascular diseases can be classified as ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. More specified classification of ischemic stroke according to the presumptive ischemic mechanism may be helpful to the treatment and secondary prevention. The unique clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke of different subtypes and diagnostic tests are described.
Cerebrovascular Disorders* ; Classification ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Neurologic Examination ; Secondary Prevention ; Stroke

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Female ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention*