Hypertonicity activates nonselective cation channels in mouse cortical collecting duct cells.

We investigated the effect of cell shrinkage on whole-cell currents of M-1 mouse cortical collecting duct cells. Addition of 100 mM sucrose to an isotonic NaCl bath solution induced cell shrinkage and increased whole-cell currents within 5-10 min by approximately 12-fold. The effect was reversible upon return to isotonic solution and could also be elicited by adding 100 mM urea or 50 mM NaCl. Replacement of bath Na+ by K+, Cs+, Li+, or Rb+ did not significantly affect the stimulated inward current, but replacement by N-methyl-D-glucamine reduced it by 88.1 +/- 1.3% (n = 34); this demonstrates that hypertonicity activates a nonselective alkali cation conductance. The activation was independent of extra- and intracellular Ca2+, but 1 or 10 mM ATP in the pipette suppressed it in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that intracellular ATP levels may modulate the degree of channel activation. Flufenamic acid (0.1 mM) and gadolinium (0.1 mM) inhibited the stimulated current by 68.7 +/- 5.9% (n = 9) and 32.4 +/- 11.7% (n = 6), respectively, whereas 0.1 mM amiloride had no significant effect. During the early phase of hypertonic stimulation single-channel transitions could be detected in whole-cell current recordings, and a gradual activation of 30 and more individual channels with a single-channel conductance of 26.7 +/- 0.4 pS (n = 29) could be resolved. Thus, we identified the nonselective cation channel underlying the shrinkage-induced whole-cell conductance that may play a role in volume regulation.

Pressure radiation from a perforated duct exit region

Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the following bodies that provided financial support for the project: (i) China Scholarship Council, (ii) National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. U1334201) and (iii) UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Grant no. EP/G069441/1).

Natural Compounds from Saffron and Bear Bile Prevent Vision Loss and Retinal Degeneration

All retinal disorders, regardless of their aetiology, involve the activation of oxidative stress and apoptosis pathways. The administration of neuroprotective factors is crucial in all phases of the pathology, even when vision has been completely lost. The retina is one of the most susceptible tissues to reactive oxygen species damage. On the other hand, proper development and functioning of the retina requires a precise balance between the processes of proliferation, differentiation and programmed cell death. The life-or-death decision seems to be the result of a complex balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic signals. It has been recently shown the efficacy of natural products to slow retinal degenerative process through different pathways. In this review, we assess the neuroprotective effect of two compounds used in the ancient pharmacopoeia. On one hand, it has been demonstrated that administration of the saffron constituent safranal to P23H rats, an animal model of retinitis pigmentosa, preserves photoreceptor morphology and number, the capillary network and the visual response. On the other hand, it has been shown that systemic administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), the major component of bear bile, to P23H rats preserves cone and rod structure and function, together with their contact with postsynaptic neurons. The neuroprotective effects of safranal and TUDCA make these compounds potentially useful for therapeutic applications in retinal degenerative diseases.

Observations on the bile and its diseases and on the oeconomy of the liver : read at the Royal College of Physicians as the Gulstonian lecture of the year 1799 /

Mode of access: Internet.

NIH state-of-the-science statement on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for diagnosis and therapy

"State-of-the Science Conference on Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for Diagnosis and Therapy was convened on January 14-16, 2002"--P. 5.

The anatomy of the human bones, nerves and lacteal sac and duct .../

Mode of access: Internet.

Users guide for the TUNVEN and DUCT programs /

Mode of access: Internet.

Pi︠a︡tidesi︠a︡tili︠e︡tnīĭ i︠u︡bileĭ S.-Peterburgskago prakticheskago tekhnologicheskago instituta, 28-go noi︠a︡bri︠a︡ 1878.

Includes index of graduates for 1837-1878.

Clinical lectures on the gallbladder and bile ducts,

"Radiology of the gallbladder, by Ernest E. Smith": p. 84-104. "Diagnostic and therapeutic duodenal drainage, by Harry M. Eberhard": p. 105-136.

On the origin of the lymphatic system from the veins and the development of the lymph hearts and thoracic duct in the pig /

Offprint: American journal of anatomy. Vol. 1, no. 3 (May 26, 1902).

Operator's, unit, intermediate direct support, and intermediate general support maintenance : heater, duct type, portable, HDU-36/E, 120,000 Btu, model H82.

"5 August 1988."

Operator's, unit, intermediate direct support and intermediate general support maintenance : heater, duct type, portable, HDU-36/E, 120,000 BTU, model H82.

Includes index.

Organizational, direct support and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools list (including depot maintenance repair parts and special tools) for heater, duct type, portable, trailer mounted, 400,000 BTU/hr, Hunter model PH-400-G, NSN 4520-01-136-2139.

"27 December 1985."

Operator, organizational, direct and general support and depot maintenance manual for heater, duct type, portable, 400,000 BTU/hr, models BT400-40 and BT400-40-1, FSN 4520-792-8257 and FSN 4520-930-9474.

"March 1967."

Unit and intermediate maintenance repair parts and special tools list for heater, duct type portable, trailer mounted, 400,000 BTU/hr, Fiesta model FC-400-1, NSN 4520-01-071-7191.

"27 March 1987."