To test directly whether protein kinase C activation is one of the required events leading to stimulation of prostaglandin production by bone cells, protein kinase C activity and prostaglandin E2 release were measured in monolayer cultures of the clonal human osteosarcoma cell lines G-292 and SaOS-2 after exposure to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Both cell lines have specific receptors for P...

The effects on neuromuscular blockade by d-tubocurarine and succinylcholine of inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis by indomethacin and of intra-arterial administration of prostoglandins E2 and F2 alpha, before and after inhibition of prostoglandin biosynthesis, were evaluated in the cat sciatic-tibialis preparation. Non-specific inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis by indomethacin 3 mg...

BACKGROUND Induction of labour is the intentional initiation of cervical ripening and uterine contraction for the purpose of accomplishing delivery, prior to onset of spontaneous parturition. This study was conducted to compare maternal and neonatal outcome in women induced with Prostaglandin E2 gel, Prostaglandin E2 pessary and extra-amniotic saline infusion with oxytocin at Bishops score < 5....

Treatment with a converting enzyme inhibitor has been shown to stimulate aortic prostaglandin I2 synthesis. We studied whether converting enzyme inhibitor-stimulated prostaglandin I2 synthesis might be mediated by kinins. Anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a continuous 70-minute infusion of either saline or a kinin analogue antagonist, [DArg0-Hyp3-Thi5-DPhe7-Thi8]bradykinin, 8 mic...

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in adherent cultures have been shown to synthesise and secrete collagenase. In the present study we have examined the modulation of collagenase production in these cultures by several antirheumatic agents. Incubation of monocytes in serum free medium with sodium aurothiomalate in concentrations varying from 7.7 X 10(-7) to 7.7 X 10(-3) mol/l resulted in ...

Studies have shown that reactive oxygen metabolites and lipid peroxidation play important roles in ischemia-reperfusion injury in many organs such as heart, brain and stomach. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant effect of L-carnitine on gastric mucosal barrier, lipid peroxidation and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in rat gastric mucosa subjected to ischemia-reperfusion i...

Renomedullary interstitial cells cultured from the Dahl salt-resistant rat have higher levels of basal cytosolic calcium and prostaglandin E2 and are more responsive to vasopressin than interstitial cells from the Dahl salt-sensitive rat. We examined the potential role of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in mediating these differences. Vasopressin-induced increases in labeled inositol phosphate...

The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii produces the plant hormone abscisic acid, but it is unclear if phytohormones are produced by the malaria parasite Plasmodium spp., the most important parasite of this phylum. Here, we report detection of salicylic acid, an immune-related phytohormone of land plants, in P. berghei ANKA and T. gondii cell lysates. However, addition of salicylic acid to ...

Several studies indicate that estrogen may enhance the effects of mechanical loading on bone mineral density in elderly women. This stimulating effect of estrogen could be due to increased sensitivity of bone cells to mechanical stress in the presence of estrogen. The present study was performed to determine whether 17beta-estradiol (E2) enhances mechanical stress-induced prostaglandin producti...

Destructive osteoarthritis is characterised by rapidly progressive joint destruction associated with intra-articular deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals. The possible role of such crystals in the pathogenesis of this condition was investigated by testing the ability of hydroxyapatite crystals to stimulate the production of bone resorbing activity from mouse peritoneal macrophages. Urate cryst...