Intestinal calcium absorption in growing dogs is influenced by calcium intake and age but not by growth rate. (49/407)

The effects of calcium (Ca) intake (V(I)), age and growth rate on intestinal Ca absorption were studied in growing dogs. Two breeds of dogs differing in their growth rate (67 Great Danes and 23 Miniature Poodles) were raised on diets differing only in their Ca content (range 0.33 to 3.3 g/100 g diet on a dry matter basis). Repetitive Ca balance studies were performed with the aid of (45)Ca from 6 wk (i.e., after weaning) until 6 mo of age. Several models were investigated expressing true Ca absorption (V(a)) as a function of V(I), breed and age. V(a) was directly proportional to a function close to V(I)(0.82) being a continuation of the high Ca needs for mineralization of the growing skeleton. This curvilinear relationship between V(a) and V(I) and the inverse relationship between fractional Ca absorption and V(I) indicated the presence of active and passive Ca absorption in weaned growing dogs. A model in which these two components of Ca absorption can be discerned revealed that active Ca absorption underwent age-dependent changes, whereas passive absorption remained constant and accounted for 53% absorption of the V(I). At low V(I), active absorption contributed to a significant part of the V(a), whereas at excessive V(I) active absorption was negligible and passive absorption was the driving force for causing supra positive Ca balance. Intestinal Ca handling did not differ between breeds with dramatically different mature body size and growth rates.  (+info)

The voltage-independent cation channel in the plasma membrane of wheat roots is permeable to divalent cations and may be involved in cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis. (50/407)

A voltage-independent cation (VIC) channel has been identified in the plasma membrane of wheat (Triticum aestivum) root cells (P.J. White [1999] Trends Plant Sci 4: 245-246). Several physiological functions have been proposed for this channel, including roles in cation nutrition, osmotic adjustment, and charge compensation. Here, we observe that Ca(2+) permeates this VIC channel when assayed in artificial, planar lipid bilayers, and, using an energy barrier model to describe cation fluxes, predict that it catalyzes Ca(2+) influx under physiological ionic conditions. Thus, this channel could participate in Ca(2+) signaling or cytosolic Ca(2+) homeostasis. The pharmacology of (45)Ca(2+) influx to excised wheat roots and inward cation currents through the VIC channel are similar: Both are insensitive to 20 microM verapamil or 1 mM tetraethylammonium, but inhibited by 0.5 mM Ba(2+) or 0.5 mM Gd(3+). The weak voltage dependency of the VIC channel (and its lack of modulation by physiological effectors) suggest that it will provide perpetual Ca(2+) influx to root cells. Thus, it may effect cytosolic Ca(2+) homeostasis by contributing to the basal Ca(2+) influx required to balance Ca(2+) efflux from the cytoplasm through ATP- and proton-coupled Ca(2+) transporters under steady-state conditions.  (+info)

Energized endocytosis in human erythrocyte ghosts. (51/407)

The mechanism of endocytosis in resealed human erythrocyte ghosts was studied. The energy for endocytosis or micropinocytosis appears to be derived from Mg-ATP, and membrane internalization is preceded by activation of a membrane-associated Ca,Mg-ATPase and by the active efflux of Ca. Endocytosis, Ca,Mg-ATPase activity, and active Ca efflux all require the presence of Mg. Furthermore, these three phenomena, endocytosis, Ca,Mg-ATPase activity, and active Ca extrusion, all have a concentration dependence on Ca such that low concentrations stimulate and higher concentrations inhibit the phenomena. The optimal concentration of Ca is identical for endocytosis, active Ca efflux, and Ca,Mg-ATPase. Morphologic studies indicated that while active Ca efflux and activation of the Ca,Mg-ATPase activity occurred promptly upon onset of incubation, there was a significant time delay before endocytosis occurred, which suggests that endocytosis additionally involved a more slowly functioning mechanicochemical mechanism. Ruthenium red, a specific inhibitor of Ca,Mg-ATPase and Ca transport, inhibited endocytosis in a concentration-related manner. Prostaglandins E1 and E2 had no measurable effect on ghost endocytosis, active Ca efflux, or Ca,Mg-ATPase activity.  (+info)

A novel dual radio- and stable-isotope method for measuring calcium absorption in humans: comparison with the whole-body radioisotope retention method. (52/407)

BACKGROUND: Dietary calcium absorption can be determined only with the use of isotope techniques. Currently used isotope techniques require exclusive equipment or are not true tracer approaches. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare a dual-isotope method combining radioisotopes and stable isotopes with a whole-body radioisotope retention method for measuring calcium absorption. DESIGN: Seven healthy adults aged 21-27 y consumed a test meal containing 63 +/- 14 (macro x +/- SD) mg Ca together with a water solution of (47)Ca (0.11 MBq). One hour after ingestion, 18 mg (44)Ca was administered intravenously. All feces and urine were collected for 5 and 6 d, respectively. Calcium absorption was estimated from whole-body retention of the radioisotope 12 times over 3 wk after ingestion and from the excretion of (47)Ca and (44)Ca in a 24-h urine sample collected on day 2. (44)Ca in urine was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Mean (+/- SD) calcium absorption was 75 +/- 9% with the dual-isotope method and was 74 +/- 8% with the whole-body radioisotope retention method. There was a high degree of agreement between the methods. CONCLUSION: The dual-isotope method is a valid approach for measuring calcium absorption from a single meal.  (+info)

The relationship between calcium and increased sensitivity of rabbit aortae four hours after reserpine. (53/407)

1 Four hours after reserpine, rabbit aortic strips were supersensitive to acetylcholine, isoprenaline and noradrenaline. The threshold concentration of the drugs necessary to induce a response was less and the maximum tension developed by the tissues was greater than in control strips. 2 Reserpine-treatment potentiated the contractile responses to CaCl2. 3 Reserpine-treatment resulted in an increase in calcium uptake and an increase in the slow component of 45Ca2+ efflux. 4 After resperine-treatment, the rate of relaxation from a potassium-induced contraction was decreased. 5 It is concluded that reserpine-induced supersensitivity is related to an enhanced ability of the tissue to retain and utilize calcium.  (+info)

Expression of calbindin-D28k (CaBP28k) in trophoblasts from human term placenta. (54/407)

Calbindin-D28k (CaBP28k) belongs to a large class of eucaryotic proteins that bind calcium (Ca2+) to a specific helix-loop-helix structure. To date, this protein was mainly linked to brain, kidneys, and pancreas. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the existence of CaBP8k in the human placental trophoblasts of the human term placenta. Placental Ca2+ transfer from maternal to fetus is crucial for fetal development, although the biochemical mechanisms responsible for this process are largely unknown. In the current study, we have investigated the 45Ca2+ uptake by human trophoblast cells in correlation with the expression CaBP28k. The expression of CaBP28k was determined by Northern blot analysis, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunochemistry, and Western blot analysis. Indeed, Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of a CaBP28k transcript in syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblast cells, and HEK-293 cells. This was further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis followed by sequencing. In addition, anti-CaBP28k labeling was associated with cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast tissues in placental tissue sections and in vitro cultured cells. The presence of CaBP28k protein in these cells was confirmed by Western blotting. Cytotrophoblast cells isolated from human term placenta showed differentiation into syncytiotrophoblasts in culture according to the increase in hCG secretion. Both Ca2+ uptake and hCG secretion by trophoblasts increased gradually and were high at Day 4. Taken together, these data suggest that CaBP28k may play a role in Ca2+ transport or cell development in human trophoblast possibly trough Ca2+ buffering.  (+info)

The concentration of 67Ga and 45Ca in the lactating mammary gland and its relevance to the tumor uptake of 67Ga citrate. (55/407)

67Ga is known to concentrate in the breasts of pregnant and postpartum women, and a case is now described in which 67Ga uptake was seen in the breasts of a woman who was neither pregnant nor postpartum, but was receiving chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. Comparative studies of the uptake of 67Ga and 45Ca in lactating dogs have shown that both nuclides are secreted in the milk in similar amounts and in protein-bound form. The concentration of 67Ga in mammary tissue is about one-half of that found in the milk at 5 hr postinjection but, by 48 hr, the concentrations are approximately equal. There were similarities in the subcellular distributions of 67Ga and 45Ca in the lactating mammary gland at 5 and 48 hr. Although there was a correlation between 67Ga and 45Ca in individual pieces of a lactating mammary gland at 5 hr after injection, no such correlation was seen between the two nuclides in multiple samples of a transmissible venereal tumor measured at various time intervals. The rate of dispersion of 67Ga and 45Ca from the lactating mammary gland was similar but, in the tumor, 67Ga was present in very much greater amounts than 45Ca and was retained longer. It is concluded that, although there may be similarities in the metabolic pathways of gallium and calcium in the lactating mammary gland, there is no similarity in the mechanism of uptake of these two elements into tumors.  (+info)

Effects of Na+ and other monovalent cations on Ca-efflux from synaptosomes. (56/407)

Effects of monovalent cations on Ca-efflux were examined in rat brain cortex slices, synaptosomes and synaptic plasma membranes. Effluxes of 45Ca from brain slices and synaptosomes were stimulated by Na+ in medium and the effects of Na+ on the 45Ca-effluxes disappeared at low temperature. Furthermore, we observed that Rb+ had more effect than Na+ on 45Ca-efflux from the synaptosomes, while Li+ had less effect. On the other hand, release of 45Ca from the synaptic plasma membranes which had been preincubated with ATP, MG++ and 45Ca was stimulated by Na+ and Li+. But Cs+ and Rb+ were less effective on the release. These results indicate occurrence of Na-dependent Ca-efflux at nerve endings. However, the assumption that ATP-dependent Ca-binding with synaptic plasma membranes may be a partial reaction of Ca-efflux was not supported by these experiments.  (+info)