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Controversy exists regarding the influence of the graft placement site in the mandible on the success of non-vascularised bone grafts. In this study, we examine the association between the compartment of the mandibular defect and the bone graft failure rate. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Failure rates according to the compartment of mandibular defect were extracted and analysed by meta-analysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the studies, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots. The search strategy identified 27 publications. After screening, five were selected for review. Based on the result of comparison among these five, we found no significant statistical association between the bone graft failure rate and compartment of mandibular defect, although further investigation of prospective randomised cohort studies is required.

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Autologous fat has long been used as a filler in the face, and has recently gained popularity in plastic surgery with a wound infection rate of 1% - 5%. The incidence of mycobacterial infections has increased over recent decades, which is attributed in part to the increased popularity of these procedures.2 Infections by non-tuberculosis mycobacteria often cause chronic inflammation and progressive infection that may eventually manifest themselves as severe scars, fistulas, and hollows, and irregular facial contours. However, few cases of mycobacterial infection have been reported to have been caused by plastic surgery. We present a rare case of non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infection after transfer of autologous fat to the face.

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Blood α-tocopherol (α-Toc) concentrations decline gradually throughout the prepartum period, reaching the nadir after calving in dairy cows. The 6 α-Toc-related molecules [α-Toc transfer protein (TTPA); afamin; scavenger receptor class B, Type I; ATP-binding cassette transporter A1; tocopherol-associated protein (SEC14L2); and cytochrome P450 family 4, subfamily F, polypeptide 2 (CYP4F2)] are expressed in liver and other peripheral tissues. These molecules could regulate α-Toc transport, blood concentrations, and metabolism of α-Toc. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the expression of α-Toc-related genes in liver and mammary gland tissues of dairy cows around calving, which have remained elusive until now. In experiment (Exp.) 1, 28 multiparous Holstein cows were used (from -5 to 6 wk relative to parturition) to monitor the changes in dietary α-Toc intake, blood concentrations of α-Toc, and lipoproteins; in Exp. 2, 7 peripartum Holstein cows were used (from -4 to 4 wk relative to parturition) for liver tissue biopsy; and in Exp. 3, 10 peripartum Holstein cows were used (from -8 to 6 wk relative to parturition) to carry out the mammary gland tissue biopsy and milk sampling. In Exp. 1, the serum α-Toc concentrations declined gradually with decreasing amount of α-Toc intake and plasma high-density lipoprotein concentrations toward calving time. However, in the early lactation period after calving, serum α-Toc concentrations remained at a lower concentration despite the recovery of α-Toc intake and plasma high-density lipoprotein concentrations. In Exp. 2, just after calving, the TTPA, SEC14L2, afamin, and albumin mRNA expression levels in the liver were temporarily downregulated, and the hepatic mRNA levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced unfolded protein response markers and acute-phase response marker increased at calving. In Exp. 3, the concentrations of α-Toc in colostrum were greater than those in precolostrum (samples were collected at wk -1 relative to parturition) and mature milk. The expression of TTPA, SEC14L2, and CYP4F2 mRNA in bovine mammary gland tissue was detected. However, TTPA and SEC14L2 mRNA expressions showed the opposite trends: the expression levels of TTPA mRNA peaked whereas SEC14L2 mRNA reached a nadir at calving. These results indicate that the expression of α-Toc-related genes involved in specific α-Toc transfer and metabolism in the liver and mammary gland are altered during calving. Moreover, these changes might be associated with the maintenance of lower serum α-Toc concentrations after calving.

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The aim of the study was to clarify 1) the distribution of 6 α-tocopherol (α-Toc)-associated gene expressions in 20 major tissues, including metabolic, reproductive, endocrine, immune, and digestive and absorptive tissues, in relation to α-Toc status and 2) the change in expression patterns of the genes induced when α-Toc was orally administered to Japanese Black (JB) calves. This study examined weaned male JB calves ( = 10), of which 5 calves were orally administered α-Toc for 2 wk (30 IU·kg BW·d; TOC group). The others did not receive the α-Toc supplement and were the control (CONT) group. The 20 tissues and venous blood (serum) were sampled on the final day. In both groups, the mean mRNA expression levels for α-Toc transfer protein, afamin (AFM), ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, and tocopherol-associated protein were greatest in the liver ( < 0.05), whereas scavenger receptor class B, Type I (SR-BI) mRNA was greatest in the adrenal gland ( < 0.05). The gene for cytochrome P450 family 4, subfamily F, polypeptide 2 was most highly expressed in the liver, testes, and adrenal gland. The α-Toc content was greatest ( < 0.05) in the testes of the 20 sampled tissues in the CONT group. However, the levels in the testes and jejunum were similar and greater ( < 0.05) than the levels in the other 18 tissues in the TOC group. The mean increase in α-Toc levels after oral α-Toc administration (mean α-Toc content for the TOC group divided by the CONT group content) were greater ( < 0.05) in the jejunum (40.7-fold) and duodenum and liver (26.3- and 23.1-fold) than in the serum (7.8-fold). In the liver, α-Toc administration significantly increased ( < 0.05) the AFM and SR-BI mRNA expression levels. The results show that the liver may play an important role in the regulation of α-Toc disposition, but other peripheral tissues that accumulate large amounts of α-Toc could moderate the local α-Toc status and functions, as inferred from the high expressions of the α-Toc-associated genes in JB calves.

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cis-9, trans-11 Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is one of the most extensively studied CLA isomers due to its multiple isomer-specific effects. However, the molecular mechanisms of cis-9,trans-11 CLA synthesis in ruminant mammary gland are still not clearly understood. This process may be mediated, to a certain extent, by trans-11 C18:1 regulated by stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) and/or its syntrophic proteins. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TVA on SCD1-mediated cis-9,trans-11 CLA synthesis in MAC-T cells and its potential molecular mechanism. Results showed that trans-11 C18:1 was continually taken up and converted into cis-9,trans-11 CLA in MAC-T cells during the 4-h incubation of 50 µM trans-11 C18:1. SCD1 protein expression increased more than twofold at 2 h (P < 0.01) and 2.5 h (P < 0.05) before decreasing to less than half of the normal level at 4 h (P < 0.05). One up-regulated (RAS guanyl releasing protein 4 isoform 1 [RASGRP4]) and six down-regulated proteins (glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase 1 [GNPDA1], triosephosphate isomerase [TPI1], phosphoglycerate mutase 1 [PGAM1], heat shock protein beta-1 [HSPB1], annexin A3 [ANXA3], thiopurine S-methyltransferase [TPMT]) were found in MAC-T cells treated with trans-11 C18:1. Of these seven identified proteins, the presence of GNPDA1 and PGAM1 was verified in several models. More trans-11 C18:1 was taken up after PGAM1 knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA). In conclusion, our data suggested that PGAM1 may have a negative relationship with SCD1 and seemed to be involved in cis-9, trans-11 CLA synthesis by facilitating the absorption of trans-11 C18:1 in the bovine mammary gland.

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Although it has been reported that oxytocin stimulates lipolysis in adipocytes, changes in the expression of oxytocin receptor (OTR) mRNA in adipogenesis are still unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of OTR mRNA during adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation in adipocytes. OTR mRNA was highly expressed in adipocytes prepared from mouse adipose tissues compared to stromal-vascular cells. OTR mRNA expression was increased during the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. OTR expression levels were higher in subcutaneous and epididymal adipose tissues of 14-week-old male mice compared to 7-week-old male mice. Levels of OTR mRNA expression were higher in adipose tissues at four different sites of mice fed a high-fat diet than in those of mice fed a normal diet. The OTR expression level was also increased by refeeding for 4 h after fasting for 16 h. Oxytocin significantly induced lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In conclusion, a new regulatory mechanism is demonstrated for oxytocin to control the differentiation and fat accumulation in adipocytes via activation of OTR as a part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adipose axis.

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Ghrelin is a multifunctional peptide that promotes an increase of food intake and stimulates GH secretion. Ghrelin secretion is regulated by nutritional status and nutrients. Although a high-protein (HP) diet increases plasma ghrelin secretion in mammals, the mechanisms and the roles of the elevated ghrelin concentrations due to a HP diet have not been fully established. To clarify the roles of elevated acylated ghrelin upon intake of a HP diet, we investigated the regulation of ghrelin concentrations in plasma and tissues in wethers fed with either the HP diet or the control (CNT) diet for 14 days, and examined the action of the elevated plasma ghrelin by using a ghrelin-receptor antagonist. The HP diet gradually increased the plasma acylated-ghrelin concentrations, but the CNT diet did not. Although the GH concentrations did not vary significantly across the groups, an injection of ghrelin-receptor antagonist enhanced insulin levels in circulation in the HP diet group. In the fundus region of the stomach, the ghrelin levels did not differ between the HP and CNT diet groups, whereas ghrelin O-acyltransferase mRNA levels were higher in the group fed with HP diet than those of the CNT diet group were. These results indicate that the HP diet elevated the plasma ghrelin levels by increasing its synthesis; this elevation strongly suppresses the appearance of insulin in the circulation of wethers, but it is not involved in GH secretion. Overall, our findings indicate a role of endogenous ghrelin action in secretion of insulin, which acts as a regulator after the consumption of a HP diet.

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The somatotropic axis, the control system for growth hormone (GH) secretion and its endogenous factors involved in the regulation of metabolism and energy partitioning, has promising potentials for producing economically valuable traits in farm animals. Here we investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the genes of factors involved in the somatotropic axis for growth hormone (GH1), growth hormone receptor (GHR), ghrelin (GHRL), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) and leptin (LEP), using polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing methods in 452 individual Mehraban sheep. A nonradioactive method to allow SSCP detection was used for genomic DNA and PCR amplification of six fragments: exons 4 and 5 of GH1; exon 10 of GH receptor (GHR); exon 1 of ghrelin (GHRL); exon 1 of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and exon 3 of leptin (LEP). Polymorphisms were detected in five of the six PCR products. Two electrophoretic patterns were detected for GH1 exon 4. Five conformational patterns were detected for GH1 exon 5 and LEP exon 3, and three for IGF-I exon 1. Only GHR and GHRL were monomorphic. Changes in protein structures due to variable SNPs were also analyzed. The results suggest that Mehraban sheep, a major breed that is important for the animal industry in Middle East countries, has high genetic variability, opening interesting prospects for future selection programs and preservation strategies.

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The objective was to investigate the impact of nutrient intake during the early growth period on the expression of glucose metabolism-related genes in skeletal muscle of cross-bred cattle. From 1.5 to 5 months of age, group H (n=7) animals were intensively fed a high-protein and low-fat milk replacer [crude protein (CP) 28%; ether extracts (EE) 18%; max: 2.0 kg, 12 l/day], and group R (n=7) animals were fed a restricted amount of normal milk replacer (CP 25%; EE 23%; max 0.5 kg, 4 l/day). From 6 to 10 months of age, group H cattle were fed a high-nutrition total mixed ration mainly prepared from grain feed, and group R cattle were fed only roughage. Blood samples were taken from each animal at three biopsy times (1.5, 5 and 10 months of age), and the blood plasma concentration of glucose and insulin was analysed. In glucose concentration, there were no significant differences; however, the concentrations of insulin were higher in group H than in group R at 5 and 10 months of age. Muscle samples were taken by biopsy from longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) at 1.5, 5 and 10 months of age. We analysed mRNA expression levels using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT4), insulin receptor, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt), hexokinase 1 (HK1) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). Although no differences were detected at 1.5 and 5 months of age, at 10 months of age, GLUT1, HK1 and TNFα mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in group H than in group R. These results suggested Glut1 that affects insulin-independently mediated glucose uptake was more responsive to improved nutrition during early growth stage than GLUT4 that insulin-dependently mediated glucose uptake in LT of cattle.

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High-carbohydrate or high-fat diets have been demonstrated to change ghrelin concentrations in plasma; however, there remains a need to clarify the effects of dietary protein on the interaction between circulating GH and ghrelin concentrations in the ruminant. In this study, we investigated the postprandial changes in plasma concentrations of GH and ghrelin and their interactions when wethers were fed either a high-protein (HP; 40% CP) or a low-protein (LP; 10% CP) diet for 2 wk. The wethers were divided into 2 groups and fed once a day for 2 wk in a randomized crossover design. Each diet contained the same level of ME. Blood was collected from the animals at specific times over 24 h to measure hormones and metabolites. Feeding once a day caused a prompt reduction in the GH and ghrelin concentrations regardless of the type of diet that the wethers consumed. The preprandial concentrations (P = 0.04), area under the curve (AUC; P = 0.04), and incremental AUC (iAUC; P = 0.06) for ghrelin in HP-fed wethers were or tended to be greater than those in LP-fed wethers although concentrations for GH were the same for both diets (P = 0.23). In addition, the time it took for the postprandial ghrelin concentrations to recover to the preprandial concentrations was greater in HP-fed wethers than in LP-fed wethers although this was not true for GH concentrations. Similarly, as for ghrelin, postprandial increase (P < 0.001) and AUC (P = 0.03) for insulin concentration was greater in the HP-fed wethers than in the LP-fed wethers. From these findings, we concluded that dietary proteins (or some other derived metabolites) may dissociate the interaction between plasma concentrations of GH and ghrelin in wethers.

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Adipokines, adipocyte-derived protein, have important roles in various kinds of physiology including energy homeostasis. Chemerin, one of adipocyte-derived adipokines, is highly expressed in differentiated adipocytes and is known to induce macrophage chemotaxis and glucose intolerance. The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes of chemerin and the chemokine-like-receptor 1 (CMKLR1) gene expression levels during differentiation of the bovine adipocyte and in differentiated adipocytes treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), adiponectin, leptin, and chemerin (peptide analog). The expression levels of the chemerin gene increased at d 6 and 12 of the differentiation period accompanied by increased cytoplasm lipid droplets. From d 6 onward, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 (PPAR-γ2) gene expression levels were significantly higher than that of d 0 and 3. In contrast, CMKLR1 expression levels decreased at the end of the differentiation period. In fully differentiated adipocytes (i.e. at d 12), the treatment of TNF-α and adiponectin upregulated both chemerin and CMKLR1 gene expression levels, although leptin did not show such effects. Moreover, chemerin analog treatment was shown to upregulate chemerin gene expression levels regardless of doses. These results suggest that the expression of chemerin in bovine adipocyte might be regulated by chemerin itself and other adipokines, which indicates its possible role in modulating the adipokine secretions in adipose tissues.

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Apelin and its mRNA are expressed in several tissues, including the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei in the hypothalamus. Although apelin is reported to be involved in the regulation of fluid homeostasis, little is known about the postprandial dynamics of apelin in plasma and its regulatory effects on the anterior pituitary hormones of ruminants. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the following: (1) changes in plasma apelin concentrations in response to food intake under conditions of hydration (free access to water) or dehydration (water restriction), and (2) the effects of intravenous administration of apelin on plasma concentrations of arginine-vasopressin (AVP), ACTH, GH, and insulin. In Experiment 1 with the use of goats, the postprandial plasma apelin concentration was significantly increased under the dehydration condition compared with the hydration condition, and this increase was accompanied by increased plasma concentrations of AVP and ACTH after 24 h of dehydration. In Experiment 2 with the use of sheep and hydration conditions, the intravenous administration of apelin ([Pyr(1)]-apelin-13; 0.5 mg/head) caused a tendency to increase or caused a significant increase in plasma concentrations of AVP, ACTH, GH, insulin, and glucose. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that apelin is involved in the feeding process, and it regulates endocrine functions in the anterior pituitary gland via AVP in ruminant animals.

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Recently, we reported that chemerin, a new adipokine, is highly expressed in the adipose tissue, up-regulated during adipocyte differentiation, and regulates adipogenesis via its own receptor in mice. The objectives of this study were to clone chemerin and its receptor from the adipose tissues of Japanese Black cattle and to investigate the expression of these genes in 16 different tissues. We compared the gene expression of chemerin and its receptor between adipocytes and stromal-vascular (S-V) cells (non-adipocytes) prepared from subcutaneous adipose tissue. In addition, we investigated the mRNA expression levels of chemerin and its receptor in bovine differentiated adipocytes. The DNA sequences of bovine chemerin and its receptor were determined, and they were found to be highly homologous to those of humans, mice, and pigs. The amino acid sequences predicted for the full-length cDNA of bovine chemerin and its receptor were also similar to those of humans, mice, and pigs, suggesting that these genes have similar functions. Bovine chemerin mRNA was highly expressed in the adipose and liver tissues, and the transcripts of chemerin receptor were widely expressed in several tissues including adipose, muscle, liver, and brain tissues. The expression of bovine chemerin mRNA was higher in adipocytes than in S-V cells prepared from adipose tissue. The transcripts of chemerin and its receptor were up-regulated during adipocyte differentiation. Treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (10 ng/mL) in bovine differentiated adipocytes increased the mRNA expression of chemerin and its receptor. These results indicate that chemerin, a new adipokine highly expressed in the adipocytes of bovine adipose tissue, is the TNF-alpha-up-regulated gene with a role in adipogenesis.

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The rumen has several important physiological functions: absorption, transport, metabolic activity, and protection. To clarify the molecular basis underlying the physiological function of the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum, we used mRNA differential display to isolate and identify differentially expressed genes in these tissues. We isolated 18 transcripts that coexpressed in the rumen, reticulum, and omasum. Five genes, ribosomal protein 19 (RPS19), basic helix-loop-helix domain containing class B2 (BHLHB2), NADH dehydrogenase flavoprotein 2 (NDUFV2), exosome component 9 (EXOSC9), and ribosomal protein 23 (RPS23), were highly expressed in the rumen of adult Holstein and Japanese Black cattle. Significant differences of expression were observed in the abomasum compared with the rumen, reticulum, and omasum. To investigate the expression pattern of these genes during the neonatal growth stage, the relative levels of gene expression were analyzed in the rumen and abomasum of 3-wk-, 13-wk-, and 18- to 20-mo-old Holstein cattle. The expression level of RPS19 did not change with age in the rumen and abomasum. The levels of BHLHB2, NDUFV2, and EXOSC9 mRNA in the abomasum decreased (P < 0.05) after weaning and declined (P < 0.05) further in adults; in contrast, expression in the rumen was not altered. Interestingly, the levels of RPS23 mRNA in the rumen increased (P < 0.05) after weaning and further increased in the adult; however, the level of expression of this gene decreased (P < 0.05) in the abomasum with weaning and age. This indicates that the 4 tissues, especially the rumen and abomasum, have different developmental pathways after birth and subsequent onset of rumination.

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Leptin is produced primarily in adipocytes and regulates body energy balance. A close link between leptin and pituitary hormones, including GH, has been reported. The mechanisms employed by leptin to influence somatotropes are not clear, however. Here we report a direct action of recombinant ovine leptin on primary cultured ovine somatotropes by analyzing the levels of mRNA encoding for GH or the receptors for GHRH (GHRH-R) and GH-releasing peptides (GHRP). Treatment of ovine somatotropes with leptin (10(-7)-10(-9) M) for 1-3 d reduced the mRNA levels encoding GH and GHRH-R, but increased GHRP receptor mRNA levels in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Three-day treatment of cells with leptin decreased the GH response to GHRH stimulation, but the GH response to GHRP-2 stimulation was increased. The combined effect of GHRH and GHRP-2 on GH secretion was not altered by treatment of the cells with leptin. These results demonstrated a direct action of leptin on ovine pituitary cells, leading to a reduced sensitivity of somatotropes to GHRH. It is also suggested that GHRP may be useful to correct the decrease in GHRH-induced GH secretion by leptin.

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Although existing data suggest an influence of leptin on circulating levels of growth hormone (GH), the action site and properties of leptin are still controversial. Using primary cultured ovine pituitary cells, we studied the direct effect of leptin on the secretion of GH. Pituitary cells were dissociated by collagenase and subjected to Percoll gradient centrifugation to enrich the somatotroph population to 60-80% of cells. Treatment of primary cultured ovine somatotrophs with leptin (10(-9)-10(-7) M) for 30 min did not affect basal, GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) (10(-7) M)- or GH-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2)(10(-7) M)-stimulated GH secretion. Following treatment of cells for 1-3 d with leptin, GHRH-stimulated GH secretion was reduced and GHRP-2-stimulated GH secretion increased. The combined effect of GHRH and GHRP-2 on GH secretion was not altered by the treatment of cells with leptin for 3 d. GHRH receptor mRNA levels in cultured somatotrophs were decreased but GHRP receptor mRNA levels were increased by 3-d leptin treatment. These results suggest that leptin has a long-term effect on somatotrophs to reduce GHRH receptor synthesis leading to a decrease in GHRH-stimulated GH secretion. Leptin appears, however, to have an opposite effect on GHRP receptor synthesis leading to an increase in GHRP-stimulated GH secretion.

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Influx of Ca2+ via Ca2+ channels is the major step triggering exocytosis of pituitary somatotropes to release growth hormone (GH). Voltage-gated Ca2+ and K+ channels, the primary determinants of the influx of Ca2+, are regulated by GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) through G-protein-coupled intracellular signalling systems. Using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques, the changes of the Ca2+ and K+ currents in primary cultured ovine and human somatotropes were recorded. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (10 nmol/L) increased both L- and T-type voltage-gated Ca2+ currents. Inhibition of the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway by either Rp-cAMP or H89 blocked this increase in both L- and T-type Ca2+ currents. Growth hormone-releasing hormone also decreased voltage-gated transient (IA) and delayed rectified (IK) K+ currents. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, such as calphostin C, chelerythrine or downregulation of PKC, blocked the effect of GHRH on K+ currents, whereas an acute activation of PKC by phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (1 micromol/L) mimicked the effect of GHRH. Intracellular dialysis of a specific PKC inhibitor (PKC19-36) also prevented the reduction in K+ currents by GHRH. It is therefore concluded that GHRH increases voltage-gated Ca2+ currents via cAMP/PKA, but decreases voltage-gated K+ currents via the PKC signalling system. The GHRH-induced alteration of Ca2+ and K+ currents augments the influx of Ca2+, leading to an increase in [Ca2+]i and the GH secretion.

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1. Whole-cell voltage-gated K+ currents and the K+ current response to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) were characterised in primary cultures of human acromegalic somatotropes. 2. Both delayed rectifier (IK) and transient (IA) K+ currents were recorded from human somatotropes held at -80 mV and bathed in a solution containing Cd2+ (1 mM), TTX (1 microM) and a low concentration of Ca2+ (0.5 mM). Only IK was recorded, however, when a holding potential of -40 mV was used. 3. GHRH (10 nM) immediately and significantly reduced the amplitude of both IA and IK. While the reduction in the amplitude of IA was fully reversed following the removal of GHRH, the amplitude of IK had only partially recovered 10 min after GHRH removal. In addition, GHRH shifted the voltage-dependent inactivation curve of IA by 13.5 mV in the negative direction. 4. In a low Ca2+ and Cd2+-containing solution, the Ca2+-activated K+ channel blockers apamin (100 nM and 1 microM) and charybdotoxin (1 microM) did not alter K+ currents or the effect of GHRH on the recorded K+ currents. 5. The whole-cell K+ currents and their responses to GHRH were unaffected by the application of 8-bromo-cAMP (100 microM), Rp-cAMP (100 microM) or the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H89 (1 microM). In addition, intracellular dialysis of the PKA inhibitory peptide PKI (10 microM) had no effect on the K+ current response to GHRH. 6. While the application of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors calphostin C (100 nM) or chelerythrine (1 microM) did not affect the amplitude of the K+ currents, the K+ current response to GHRH was significantly attenuated. Downregulation of PKC with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu, 0.5 microM for 16 h) also abolished the K+ current response to GHRH. In addition, intracellular dialysis of somatotropes with the PKC inhibitory peptide PKC19-36 (1 microM) prevented the GHRH-induced decrease in the amplitude of the voltage-gated K+ currents. Local application of PDBu (1 microM) significantly reduced the amplitude of the voltage-gated K+ currents in a similar manner to that induced by GHRH, but without clear recovery upon removal. 7. This study demonstrates that GHRH decreases voltage-gated K+ currents via a PKC-mediated pathway in human adenoma somatotropes, rather than by the cAMP-PKA pathway that is usually implicated in the actions of GHRH.

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The effect of cholinergic blockade on suppressed growth hormone (GH) secretion caused by feeding or the intraruminal infusion of an acetate, propionate, and butyrate mixture (107 and 214 mumol.kg-1.min-1 over 6 h) was examined in ovariectomized ewes. Intraruminal infusion at the rate of 107 mumol.kg-1.min-1 increased peripheral plasma short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations to approximately the physiological levels noted after feeding. Plasma GH was markedly suppressed by feeding and at both the 107 and 214 mumol.kg-1.min-1 SCFA infusion rates; however, cholinergic blocking agents completely blocked the suppressed GH secretion after feeding and only at the 107 mumol.kg-1.min-1 infusion rate. Plasma glucose increased at both infusion rates, and the plasma free fatty acids decreased after feeding and at both infusion rates. However, both metabolites were unchanged relative to the saline control after the injection of the cholinergic antagonists. It is suggested that the decrease in plasma GH observed after feeding and a near-physiological ruminal SCFA increment is mediated via the parasympathetic nerve and not by pharmacological ruminal SCFA increments attributed to other pathways.

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