The purpose of this study is to define the hormonal regulation of pulmonary surfactant secretion in two models, the isolated perfused rat lung and the isolated alveolar type II cell in culture. In the perfused lung, both cholinergic and adrenergic stimulation independently increased labeled disaturated phosphatidylcholine secretion, the major phospholipid component of surfactant, each by 2.3-fo...

Various types of non-neuronal cells, including tumors, are able to produce acetylcholine (ACh), which acts as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor. T lymphocytes represent a key component of the non-neuronal cholinergic system. T cells-derived ACh is involved in a stimulation of their activation and proliferation, and acts as a regulator of immune response. The aim of the present work was to su...

The presence of three distinct cholinergic receptors on human lymphocytes was suggested by the effects of carbamoylcholine on lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. The cells responded to both 0.1 nM and 1 microM carbamoylcholine by increased proliferation which was blocked by the muscarinic antagonist atropine. This effect occurred in both mitogen-stimulated cells (maximum effect at 24 hr) and non...

The generation of EEG theta rhythm (RSA) in the hippocampal formation is a prime example of rhythmic activity involving central mechanisms of oscillation and synchrony. Cholinergic nature of the in vitro and in vivo induced RSA has been undoubtedly established. Recently, we have demonstrated in vitro that the hippocampal formation theta rhythm resulted from interaction between the cholinergic a...

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 μmol ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1over 6 h) was examined in ovariectomized ewes. Intraruminal infusion at the rate of 107 μmol ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1increased peripheral plasma short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations to approxim...

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP-38) is a member of the vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP)/secretin/glucagon family of neuropeptides for which neuroregulatory functions have been postulated. PACAP-38 receptors are expressed in different brain regions, including hippocampus. In this study, we examined the dose-dependent effects of PACAP-38 on the excitatory postsynaptic fi...

ACh exerted a biphasic effect in the in vitro working heart of Rana esculenta. High concentrations (10-7 M) of ACh depressed stroke volume (SV) and stroke work (SW) by ∼30% with a shorter systolic phase and reduced peak pressure. Doses from 10-10 M induced a positive response peaking at 10-8 M (SV: +8.6%; SW: +6.5%) and a prolonged systolic phase without affecting peak pressure. Atropine and pi...

Isoprostanes are generated during periods of oxidative stress, which characterize diseases such as asthma and cystic fibrosis. They also elicit functional responses and may therefore contribute to the pathology of these diseases. We set out to examine the effects of isoprostanes on airway responsiveness to cholinergic stimulation. Muscle bath techniques were employed using isolated bovine trach...

The ability of cholinergic and adrenergic agonists to initiate protein secretion by in vitro slices of rabbit lacrimal gland was examined. The adrenergic response was not inhibited by atropine but was partially inhibited by propranolol and phentolamine. This indicates the presence of both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors and their association with the protein secretory response. The choline...