Several regulatory peptides, including neuropeptide Y, can release histamine from mast cells. In the present study we investigated which parts of the neuropeptide Y molecule are required to evoke the release of histamine from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells. In addition, we examined whether the histamine release evoked by neuropeptide Y (and by compound 48/80) is sensitive to the G protein inhi

We have compared the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and of the VIP-related peptides pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) 1-27 and 1-38, helodermin, helospectin I and helospectin II, on the electrically evoked twitches in the isolated vas deferens of the rat. While VIP was virtually without effect, PACAP 1-38 suppressed the electrically evoked twitches effectively

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a well-established vasopressor agent present in sympathetic perivascular nerves. Recently, it was found that high doses of the peptide cause a biphasic pressor-depressor response upon intravenous administration. We now report that C-terminal NPY fragments (NPY-(18-36) and NPY-(22-36] given intravenously to conscious or pithed (areflexive) male Sprague-Dawley rats mimic the

This unit describes two methods of in situ hybridization: one uses an 35S-labeled oligonucleotide probe and the other uses a digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probe on frozen, cryostat-sectioned samples. These methods allow detection of the physical distribution and expression levels of target mRNA. Protocols are also included for labeling the probes and preparing the sample material.

The levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) vary between different forebrain areas and show region-specific changes after cerebral ischemia. The present study explores the possibility that the levels of endogenous BDNF determine the susceptibility to ischemic neuronal death. To block BDNF activity the authors used the TrkB-Fc fusion protein, which was infused intraventriculary in rats d

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an educational palliative care intervention improved the quality of life for next of kin to older persons in nursing homes. Methods: Altogether, 90 next of kin in the intervention group and 105 next of kin in the control group were included. Data were collected using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, answered before and 3 months after the int

Lignocellulosic biorefineries are a cornerstone in the transition of our largely fossil-based society to a climate-society using renewable raw materials. In first generation of biorefineries the focus was on starch and sugar-based feedstock which lead to a competition with the food supply. In order to avoid this the second generation of biorefineries focus on lignocellulosic feedstocks such as woo

We present the synthesis of monodisperse aerosol InSb nanoparticles of high crystalline quality using the spark discharge generation (SDG) method. Apart from successfully using metallic In and Sb electrodes, we demonstrate the feasibility of using pure semiconducting InSb wafers as electrode material. We investigated the influence of carrier gas on the quality of the size selected particles. We sh

Social and technological innovations are commonly seen as either being induced from the ‘top-down’ – e.g., by policymakers – or evolving from the ‘bottom-up’ – e.g., by consumers. Instead, a ‘middle-out’ perspective (MOP) focuses on agents of change that are located in the middle, between the top and the bottom. Janda and Parag (2013) and Parag & Janda (2014) describe how middle actors include

Integrated circuits (ICs) with a single chip (die) are typically tested with a test flow consisting of two test instances: (1) wafer sort for the bare chip and (2) package test for the packaged IC. For ICs with stacked chips - 3D Stacked ICs - there are many possible test instances, even more test flows, and no commonly used test flow. In this paper, we propose a test flow selection algorithm (TFS

The motivations prompting China's dramatic increase in outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) are not always clear, especially regarding OFDI by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in energy and natural resources. First, both commercial and governmental interests are intertwined, although not necessarily in lock-step. Chinese SOEs listed in the West may worry about the reputational risks to their glo

Background: Older adults with pain have an increased risk of falling (odds ratio (OR) 1,7). Pain in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is more common than in older adults. The association between pain and falling in people with PD is poorly explored.Objective: To investigate the occurrence of pain in mild PD and its association with future falls/near fallsMethods. The study included 141 participants with PDBackground: Older adults with pain have an increased risk of falling (odds ratio (OR) 1,7). Pain in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is more common than in older adults. The association between pain and falling in people with PD is poorly explored.Objective: To investigate the occurrence of pain in mild PD and its association with future falls/near fallsMethods. The study included 141 participants with PD

Ocular injury in the rabbit causes miosis and breakdown of the blood aqueous barrier (aqueous flare response, AFR), reflecting a sensory nerve-mediated inflammatory response, elicited by the release of tachykinins and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from C-fibers. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) occurs in sympathetic fibers in the eye. The study was designed to examine whether NPY and related peptides

1. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and peptide YY (PYY) seem to act on at least two receptor subtypes, Y1 and Y2. The Y1-receptor requires the whole C-terminally amidated NPY/PYY molecule whereas the Y2-receptor in addition recognizes C-terminal fragments of the two peptides. The present study was designed to elucidate whether NPY and related peptides were able to release histamine from isolated peritoneal m

Microinjection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) into the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) induces an initial and reversible fall in arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR), along with a delayed and long-lasting blockade of cardiovascular responses to L-glutamate (L-Glu) injected into the same site and an inhibition of the baroreflex arc. By injecting NPY-receptor subtype selective agonists and NPY-relat

The effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rate were studied in anesthetized intact and pithed rats. I.v. doses of NPY (0.3-30 nmol/kg) raised the mean arterial blood pressure dose dependently. At doses of greater than or equal to 3.0 nmol/kg, the initial pressor response was followed by a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure in intact and pithed rats. The d

1. In the present study we have examined whether neuropeptide Y (NPY) interferes with non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve-mediated contractions and relaxations in the guinea-pig airways. In these experiments we have used ring preparations of bronchi and trachea, incubated in the presence of atropine, propranolol and indomethacin (each 1 microM). 2. The contractile response to electrical stimulat