We investigated actin's function in vesicle recycling and exocytosis at lamprey synapses and show that FM1-43 puncta and phalloidin-labeled filamentous actin (F-actin) structures are colocalized, yet recycling vesicles are not contained within F-actin clusters. Additionally, phalloidin also labels a plasma membrane-associated cortical actin. Injection of fluorescent G-actin revealed activity-in...

PURPOSE To determine the effect of the F-actin-disrupting agent latrunculin-B on aqueous outflow facility and trabecular meshwork architecture in human eyes. METHODS After baseline facility measurement in human eye bank eyes (n = 9 pairs), one eye of each pair received anterior chamber exchange and continued perfusion with medium containing 1 microM latrunculin-B. Contralateral eyes were trea...

The role of actin filaments in synaptic function has been studied in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampal slice. Bath application (2 hr) of the actin polymerization inhibitor latrunculin B did not substantially affect the shape of dendrites or spines. However, this and other drugs that affect actin did affect synaptic function. Bath-applied latrunculin B reduced the synaptic response. Several ...

PURPOSE To determine the effect of Latrunculin (LAT)-A, a macrolide that binds to G-actin, which leads to the disassembly of actin filaments, on shape, junctions, and the cytoskeleton of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) and on outflow facility in living monkeys. METHODS Latrunculin-A dose-time-response relationships in BAECs were determined by immunofluorescence and phase cont...

Reorganization of F-actin in the apical region of mouse pancreatic acinar cells during Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis of zymogen granules was investigated by two-photon excitation microscopy with intact acini. Granules were rapidly coated with F-actin in response to either agonist stimulation or photolysis of a caged-Ca(2+) compound. Such F-actin coating occurred exclusively at the surface of gran...

BACKGROUND Celecoxib exerted analgesic effects (hypoalgesia) reversed by opioid receptor antagonists in a model of inflammatory pain. To analyze this celecoxib-induced hypoalgesia further, we assessed the effects of several disruptors of cytoskeletal components in our model of inflammation. METHODS Hyperalgesia to mechanical stimuli was induced in rat hind paws by intraplantar injection of ca...