RESUMO
Transferrin, the iron carrier protein, has been shown to be involved in oligodendroglial cell differentiation in the central nervous system but little is known about its role in the peripheral nervous system. In the present work, we have studied the presence of transferrin and of its mRNA in rat sciatic nerves and in Schwann cells isolated at embryonic and adult ages as well as during the regeneration process that follows nerve crush. We have also studied the correlation between the expression of the mRNAs of transferrin and the expression of mature myelin markers in the PNS. We show that transferrin is present in whole sciatic nerves at late stages of embryonic life as well as at postnatal day 4 and in adult rats. We demonstrate for the first time, that in normal conditions, the transferrin mRNA is expressed in Schwann cells isolated from sciatic nerves between embryonic days 14 and 18, being absent at later stages of development and in adult animals. In adult rats, 3 days after sciatic nerve crushing, the mRNA of transferrin is expressed in the injured nerve, but 7 days after injury its expression disappears. Transferrin protein in the sciatic nerve closely follows the expression of its mRNA indicating that under these circumstances, it appears to be locally synthesized. Transferrin in the PNS could have a dual role. During late embryonic ages it could be locally synthesized by differentiating Schwann cells, acting as a pro-differentiating factor. A similar situation would occur during the regeneration that follows Wallerian degeneration. In the adult animals on the other hand, Schwann cells could pick up transferrin from the circulation or/and from the axons, sub serving possible trophic actions closely related to myelin maintenance.
Assuntos
RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Células de Schwann/metabolismo , Nervo Isquiático/lesões , Transferrina/genética , Envelhecimento/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Senescência Celular , Embrião de Mamíferos/metabolismo , Feminino , Compressão Nervosa , Gravidez , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Células de Schwann/patologia , Nervo Isquiático/embriologia , Nervo Isquiático/metabolismo , Nervo Isquiático/patologia , Fatores de Tempo , Transferrina/metabolismo , Ferimentos e Lesões/metabolismo , Ferimentos e Lesões/patologia , Ferimentos e Lesões/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
We have studied microsomal phospholipid, cholesterol and protein concentration in rat renal papilla, medulla and cortex during postnatal development, and the relationship between these membranes biochemical parameters and morphological changes. We also determined DNA concentration in each kidney zone. No changes were observed either in papillary microsomal phospholipids, proteins and cholesterol or in DNA concentration from 10-to 70-day-old rats. Medullary microsomal proteins and cholesterol did not change but a significant increase was observed in the microsomal phospholipid concentration during development; in this case, medullary DNA was significantly lower at 70 than at 10 days. In contrast, all biochemical parameters in renal cortex were significantly higher during development except for DNA concentration which suffered a great decrease. These biochemical findings demonstrate that the developmental pattern is different in each zone of the kidney and confirm the fact that the papilla, in newborn rats, is almost fully developed whereas the renal cortex and medulla are immature.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/metabolismo , Rim/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Rim/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Colesterol/metabolismo , DNA/metabolismo , Rim/citologia , Microssomos/metabolismo , Índice Mitótico , Fosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Proteínas/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Distribuição TecidualRESUMO
Phospholipid content and metabolism were studied in rat renal papillary, medullary and cortical slices. The highest concentration of phospholipids was found in cortex and the lowest in papilla samples (ratio cortex/medulla, 1.3; cortex/papilla, 3.7). The profile of the various phospholipids was different depending on the zone. The most important difference was the relative concentrations of sphingomyelin (CerPCho) and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) with ratios for PtdIns/CerPCho of 5.0, 3.3 and 2.5 in papilla, medulla, and cortex, respectively. In the three zones, PtdIns showed the highest specific activity for [2-14C]glycerol and [1-14C]arachidonic acid incorporation. By contrast, a higher amount of [1-14C]palmitic acid was incorporated into phosphatidylcholine than into any other phospholipid. The various radioactive precursors were only poorly incorporated into phosphatidylethanolamine. No radioactivity was associated with phosphatidylserine. The papilla possesses the most active phospholipid metabolism of all the pathways studied.
Assuntos
Ácidos Graxos/metabolismo , Rim/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Animais , Ácido Araquidônico/metabolismo , Técnicas In Vitro , Rim/química , Córtex Renal/química , Córtex Renal/metabolismo , Medula Renal/química , Medula Renal/metabolismo , Pelve Renal/química , Pelve Renal/metabolismo , Masculino , Ácido Palmítico , Ácidos Palmíticos/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeos/análise , Ratos , Ratos Endogâmicos , Distribuição TecidualRESUMO
In view of the fact that mepacrine (Mp) is usually used as an inhibitor of the endogenous phospholipase A2, and since this enzyme produces the release of arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids, we studied the effect of different concentrations of Mp on the mobilization of [1-14C]AA in rat renomedullary phospholipids. During the acylation period, 0.1 mM Mp did not produce any significant change in the incorporation of [1-14C]AA into phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and only a slight increase in phosphatidylinositol (PI). Higher concentrations of Mp (0.5 to 1.0 mM) produced a decrease of radioactivity in PE and PC with an increase in PI. Using prelabeled slices, a dose-dependent decrease in the 14C-radioactivity in PE and PC was observed, with a parallel increase in PI. This effect of Mp persisted even in the presence of a physiological activator of phospholipase A2, bradykinin (BK). No change in the net amount of phospholipids was observed at any of the Mp concentrations used. The results of this study show that Mp, at concentrations generally used to inhibit phospholipase A2, produced a transfer of arachidonic acid from PE and PC to PI, rather than a blockade in the release of AA from membrane phospholipids.
Assuntos
Ácidos Araquidônicos/metabolismo , Fosfatidilinositóis/metabolismo , Quinacrina/farmacologia , Animais , Ácido Araquidônico , Coenzima A/fisiologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Técnicas In Vitro , Medula Renal/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeos/análise , Ratos , Ratos EndogâmicosRESUMO
The effect of bradykinin on the mobilization of arachidonic acid was analyzed separately by acylation and degradation. Acylating activity was determined by the incorporation of [14C]arachidonic acid into the phospholipids at different times. Different concentrations of bradykinin had no effect on the phospholipid acylating activities. The degradation of the phospholipids was performed on renal medullary slices prelabeled with [14C]arachidonic acid. Treatment with bradykinin produced an initial degradation of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol, with a concomitant increase in lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylinositol within 5 min of incubation. Phosphatidylcholine-, phosphatidylethanolamine- and phosphatidylinositol increased thereafter and reached the control values after 10 min of incubation. After 30 min, incubation of prelabeled slices with bradykinin produced a significant concentration-dependent increase in the phospholipid-labeling by reutilization of [14C]arachidonic acid. The effect of bradykinin on the phospholipid-labeling was blocked by preincubation with increasing concentrations of dBc AMP. Mepacrine also blocked the bradykinin stimulation in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, but had no effect on bradykinin-induced changes in the phosphatidylinositol arachidonic acid moiety.