Changes in glycoconjugates in rat submandibular gland after chronic treatment with reserpine and isoproterenol

Animal models for cystic fibrosis: a systematic search and mapping review of the literature. Part 2: nongenetic models

Various animal models are available to study cystic fibrosis (CF). These models may help to enhance our understanding of the pathology and contribute to the development of new treatments. We systematically searched all publications on CF animal models. Because of the large number of models retrieved, we split this mapping review into two parts. Previously, we presented the genetic CF animal models. In this paper we present the nongenetic CF animal models. While genetic animal models may, in theory, be preferable for genetic diseases, the phenotype of a genetic model does not automatically resemble human disease. Depending on the research question, other animal models may thus be more informative.We searched Pubmed and Embase and identified 12,303 unique publications (after duplicate removal). All references were screened for inclusion by two independent reviewers. The genetic animal models for CF (from 636 publications) were previously described. The non-genetic CF models (from 189 publications) are described in this paper, grouped by model type: infection-based, pharmacological, administration of human materials, xenografts and other. As before for the genetic models, an overview of basic model characteristics and outcome measures is provided. This CF animal model overview can be the basis for an objective, evidence-based model choice for specific research questions. Besides, it can help to retrieve relevant background literature on outcome measures of interest.

Altered secretion and processing of epidermal growth factor in adrenergic-induced growth of the rat submandibular gland

The granular convoluted tubule (GCT) cells of the submandibular glands represent a major production site for epidermal growth factor (EGF). This study investigates EGF production in the submandibular glands in relation to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Rats were treated with isoproterenol (beta-agonist), which caused up to a 400% increase in submandibular tissue weight after 3 weeks. The weight increase coincided with marked morphologic changes, with degranulation and an apparent decrement in the number of the GCT cells. Immunostaining against EGF revealed a reduction in the number of EGF-immunoreactive cells. Concomitantly, the glandular contents of 6-kDa EGF decreased from 12.86+/-3.42 nmol/gland (mean+/-S.E.M.) in controls to 0.26+/-0.03 nmol/gland. EGF mRNA levels, expressed relative to total RNA levels, only tended to be reduced after 3 weeks as judged from RT-PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH). The isoproterenol-treated rats had increased output of EGF in the saliva, but the salivary secretion of protein was also increased. In both glandular tissue and saliva, gel filtration revealed partially processed high molecular weight forms of EGF in the isoproterenol-treated rats. These data indicate that isoproterenol treatment leads to a hyperstimulatory state of the GCT cells, which then causes depletion of the cellular stores of mature EGF, and most likely due to a shortened posttranslational transit, incomplete peptide processing.

Beta-adrenergic regulation of the somatostatinergic system in rat hippocampus

Interaction of beta-adrenergic and somatostatinergic systems in the hippocampus has not been investigated fully. We studied the influence of DL-isoproterenol (ISO), a beta-adrenergic agonist and DL-propranolol (PRO), a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, on the somatostatinergic system in the rat hippocampus. The short-(5h) and long-term (14 days) administration of ISO (5 mg/kg i.p.) or of PRO (10 mg/kg i.p.) did not affect somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SSLI) content in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats. Both short- and long-term ISO administration decreased the number of specific [125I]Tyr11-somatostatin ([125I]Tyr11-SS) receptors in synaptosomes from hippocampus (29%, P < 0.05 and 34%, P < 0.05, after short- and long-term administration, respectively) without changing the affinity constant. This decrease in the number of [125I]Tyr11-SS receptors was not due to a direct effect of ISO on these receptors since no decrease in binding was produced by high concentrations of ISO (10(-5) M) when added in vitro. In addition, this decrease could be blocked by pretreatment with PRO. Short- and long-term administration of PRO alone increased the [125I]Tyr11-SS binding in hippocampus (42%, P < 0.05 and 33%, P < 0.05, after short- or long-term administration, respectively) without changing the affinity constant. Although there is no direct evidence that the regulation of SS receptors by the beta-adrenergic system has a physiological significance, this mechanism may provide a means by which the brain environment could modulate SS receptor number and, therefore, sensitivity to SS in a subset of SS-sensitive neurons.

Modulation by isoproterenol and propranolol of somatostatin receptors in synaptosomes from rat frontoparietal cortex

DL-Propranolol (PRO), a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, and the neuropeptide somatostatin (SS) have central nervous system depressant and anticonvulsive properties. To investigate a possible relationship between these two components, we studied the influence of PRO and DL-isoproterenol (ISO), a beta-adrenergic agonist, on the somatostatinergic system in the rat frontoparietal cortex. The short- (5 h) and long-term (14 days) administration of ISO (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)), or of PRO (10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) content in the frontoparietal cortex of male Wistar rats. Both short- and long-term ISO administration decreased the number of specific [125I]Tyr11-SS receptors in synaptosomes from frontoparietal cortex (31%, P < 0.05, and 26%, P < 0.02, after short- and long-term administration, respectively) without changing the affinity constant. This decrease in the number of [125I]Tyr11-SS receptors was not due to a direct effect of ISO on these receptors since no decrease in binding was produced by high concentrations of ISO (10(-5) M) when added in vitro. This decrease could be blocked by pretreatment with PRO. Short- and long-term administration of PRO alone produced an increase in the [125I]Tyr11-SS binding in frontoparietal cortex (26%, P < 0.02, and 40%, P < 0.001, after short- or long-term administration, respectively) without changing the affinity constant.