This study was performed to evaluate the alterations of glomerular filtration barrier characteristics following acute renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Ischemia was induced in anesthetized rats by unilateral renal artery occlusion for either 20 or 60 min, followed by reperfusion during 20 or 60 min, respectively, with the contralateral kidney serving as control. Sieving coefficients (theta) wer...

SummaryAiming to improve in vitro production of bovine embryos and to obtain supplements to replace serum for in vitro maturation (IVM), this study evaluated the effects of macromolecular supplementation of IMV medium (bovine serum albumin - BSA, polyvinyl alcohol - PVA, polyvinyl pyrrolidone - PVP, Ficoll, KnockoutSR, or fetal calf serum - FCS) and oxygen tension [5% CO2 in air (20% O2) or 5% ...

The study of natural T cell responses against pathogens or tumors, as well as the assessment of new immunotherapy strategies aimed at boosting these responses, requires increasingly precise ex vivo analysis of blood samples. For practical reasons, studies are often performed using purified PBMC samples, usually cryopreserved. Here, we report on FACS analyses of peripheral blood T cells, perform...

Incorporation of Na235SO4 by ovine brain Ficoll-prepared synaptosomes were studied as a function of time, temperature and substrate concentration. The rate of uptake obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and apparent Km value of 4.4 mM Na2SO4 was determined. In the presence of p-hydroxymercuribenzoate a reduction in sulphate uptake was noted which suggests that thiol groups may possibly be implicate...

Bone-marrow was aspirated into 10 ml Eagle's minimal essential medium (EMEM) containing preservative-free heparin. After washing, the samples were divided into four parts; A for tube cultures,. B for coverslip cultures in multidish wells; C was placed on a 'Ficoll'-'Hypaque' gradient to obtain free mononuclear cells, and D was frozen in liquid nitrogen in cryopreservative medium containing 1% d...

This study was performed to investigate the glomerular permeability alterations responsible for the microalbuminuria occurring in endotoxemia and during anaphylactic shock. In anesthetized Wistar rats, the left ureter was catheterized for urine collection while, simultaneously, blood access was achieved. Endotoxemia was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli, and glomerular p...

Immune modulation by heavy metals may cause serious adverse health effects in humans, although the mechanisms involved are not well understood. Both cadmium and lead are important environmental and occupational toxins. Therefore, in the current study, the costimulatory/adjuvant effects and the T-cell-activating potential of these metals (i.e., CdCl2 and PbCl2), are examined. These immune-modula...

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of systemic atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) infusion on the glomerular permeability to macromolecules in rats. In anesthetized Wistar rats (250-280 g), the left urether was cannulated for urine collection while simultaneously blood access was achieved. Rats were continuously infused intravenously with ANP [30 ng·kg(-1)·min(-1) (Lo-ANP;...

Sulfolipopolysaccharides (SLPs) were synthesized by reaction of the synthetic polysucrose polymer Ficoll-400 with chlorosulfonic acid and lauroyl chloride in anhydrous medium. Hydrophobic derivatives were obtained by addition of a small number of sulfate and a large number of lipid groups. Gel-permeation high-performance liquid chromatography (g.p.-h.p.l.c.) exhibited a wide range in molecular ...

Emerging evidence suggests that renal endothelial function may be altered in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Acute kidney injury is sexually dimorphic, and estrogen protects renal tubular function after experimental ischemic injury. This study tested the hypothesis that during ischemia-reperfusion, estrogen alters glomerular endothelial function to prevent hyperpermeability. Glomerular endothelial...