University of Marburg

About: University of Marburg is a education organization based out in Marburg, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 23195 authors who have published 42907 publications receiving 1506069 citations. The organization is also known as: Philipps University of Marburg & Philipps-Universität.

Blood Supply of the Myocardium after Temporary Coronary Occlusion

Abstract: A coronary artery and the accompanying vein were ligated temporarily for 30, 60 and 120 minutes in 39 cats. By labelling the blood with the fluorescent dye acridine orange, the intravital blood supply of the myocardium was investigated 5 minutes to 6 hours after release of the ligature. The region supplied by the temporarily ligated coronary artery (RSCA) was demonstrated by postmortal perfusion of this vessel using the dye light green. Resumption of circulation in the deeper layers of the RSCA was delayed after a prior coronary occlusion, even occasionally after occlusions lasting only 30 minutes. After a coronary ligation of 60 to 120 minutes the inner layers of the RSCA became the sites of prolonged disturbance of blood supply. The circulatory abnormality observed immediately following release of the ligature did not result from intraluminal vascular obstruction. Even after a temporary ischemia lasting 120 minutes it was still possible, immediately after removal of the ligature, to perfuse an intravitally ischemic portion of the RSCA. The significance of these results for the determination of the so-called "revival-time" of the cardiac muscle is pointed out.

Antimicrobial peptides: current status and therapeutic potential.

Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are effector molecules of the innate immune system. A variety of AMPs have been isolated from species of all kingdoms and are classified based on their structure and amino acid motifs. AMPs have a broad antimicrobial spectrum and lyse microbial cells by interaction with biomembranes. Besides their direct antimicrobial function, they have multiple roles as mediators of inflammation with impact on epithelial and inflammatory cells influencing diverse processes such as cell proliferation, immune induction, wound healing, cytokine release, chemotaxis and protease-antiprotease balance. AMPs qualify as prototypes of innovative drugs that may be used as antimicrobials, anti-lipopolysaccharide drugs or modifiers of inflammation. Several strategies have been followed to identify lead candidates for drug development, to modify the peptides' structures, and to produce sufficient amounts for pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review summarises the current knowledge about the basic and applied biology of AMPs.

Induction of tachykinin gene and peptide expression in guinea pig nodose primary afferent neurons by allergic airway inflammation.

Abstract: Substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have potent proinflammatory effects in the airways. They are released from sensory nerve endings originating in jugular and dorsal root ganglia. However, the major sensory supply to the airways originates from the nodose ganglion. In this study, we evaluated changes in neuropeptide biosynthesis in the sensory airway innervation of ovalbumin-sensitized and -challenged guinea pigs at the mRNA and peptide level. In the airways, a three- to fourfold increase of SP, NKA, and CGRP, was seen 24 h following allergen challenge. Whereas no evidence of local tachykinin biosynthesis was found 12 h after challenge, increased levels of preprotachykinin (PPT)-A mRNA (encoding SP and NKA) were found in nodose ganglia. Quantitative in situ hybridization indicated that this increase could be accounted for by de novo induction of PPT-A mRNA in nodose ganglion neurons. Quantitative immunohistochemistry showed that 24 h after challenge, the number of tachykinin-immunoreactive nodose ganglion neurons had increased by 25%. Their projection to the airways was shown. Changes in other sensory ganglia innervating the airways were not evident. These findings suggest that an induction of sensory neuropeptides in nodose ganglion neurons is crucially involved in the increase of airway hyperreactivity in the late response to allergen challenge.

Colocalization of band 3 with ankyrin and spectrin at the basal membrane of intercalated cells in the rat kidney

Abstract: An immunoreactive form of the anion channel protein of erythrocytes, band 3, has been identified in the rat kidney. It is found in the intercalated cells of the distal tubule and collecting ducts. Immunostaining specific for band 3 is confined to the basolateral plasma membrane of these cells, where this protein probably mediates the transport of bicarbonate across the tubular wall. Double-immunolabeling studies demonstrate that band 3 is colocalized with immunoreactive forms of ankyrin and spectrin along the basolateral plasma membrane. The polarized distribution of band 3 may be the result of the association of its cytoplasmic domain with ankyrin, which in turn links band 3 to spectrin and the cytoskeleton. These observations help to explain how the collecting ducts of the kidney can direct the transport of bicarbonate ions, thus maintaining the acid-base balance.