Cell and Developmental Biology | Open Access Articles

Pulmonary Inflammation Is Regulated By The Levels Of The Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter, Nathalia M. Pinheiro, Claudia J. C. P. Miranda, Adenir Perini, Niels O. S. Camara, Soraia K. P. Costa, Maria Isabel C. Alonso-Vale, Luciana C. Caperuto, Iolanda F. L. C. Tiberio, Marco A. M. Prado, Milton A. Martins, Vania F. Prado, Carla M. Prado

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Acetylcholine (ACh) plays a crucial role in physiological responses of both the central and the peripheral nervous system. Moreover, ACh was described as an anti-inflammatory mediator involved in the suppression of exacerbated innate response and cytokine release in various organs. However, the specific contributions of endogenous release ACh for inflammatory responses in the lung are not well understood. To address this question we have used mice with reduced levels of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), a protein required for ACh storage in secretory vesicles. VAChT deficiency induced airway inflammation with enhanced TNF-alpha and IL-4 content, but not IL-6, IL-13 and …

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Reduced Expression Of The Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter And Neurotransmitter Content Affects Synaptic Vesicle Distribution And Shape In Mouse Neuromuscular Junction, Hermann A. Rodrigues, Matheus De C. Fonseca, Wallace L. Camargo, Patricia M. A. Lima, Patricia M. Martinelli, Ligia A. Naves, Vania F. Prado, Marco A. M. Prado, Cristina Guatimosim

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

In vertebrates, nerve muscle communication is mediated by the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine packed inside synaptic vesicles by a specific vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). Here we used a mouse model (VAChT KDHOM) with 70% reduction in the expression of VAChT to investigate the morphological and functional consequences of a decreased acetylcholine uptake and release in neuromuscular synapses. Upon hypertonic stimulation, VAChT KDHOM mice presented a reduction in the amplitude and frequency of miniature endplate potentials, FM 1-43 staining intensity, total number of synaptic vesicles and altered distribution of vesicles within the synaptic terminal. In contrast, under electrical stimulation or …

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Ocular Pathology Relevant To Glaucoma In A Gja1(Jrt) Mouse Model Of Human Oculodentodigital Dysplasia, Edmund Tsui, Kathleen A. Hill, Alex M. Laliberte, Daniel Paluzzi, Ilia Kisilevksy, Qing Shao, Godfrey J. Heathcote, Dale W. Laird, Gerald M. Kidder, Cindy M. L. Hutnik

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

PURPOSE. Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is a human disorder caused by mutations in the gap junction alpha 1 (GJA1) gene encoding the connexin43 (Cx43) gap junction protein. Causal links between GJA1 mutations and glaucoma are not understood. The purpose in this study was to examine the ocular phenotype for Gja1(Jrt/+) mice harboring a Cx43 G60S mutation. METHODS. In young Gja1(Jrt/+) mice, Cx43 abundance was assessed with a Western blot, and Cx43 localization was visualized using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by rebound tonometry, and eye anatomy was imaged using ocular coherence tomography (OCT). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained …

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Dysautonomia Due To Reduced Cholinergic Neurotransmission Causes Cardiac Remodeling And Heart Failure, Aline Lara, Denis D. Damasceno, Rita Pires, Robert Gros, Eneas R. Gomes, Mariana Gavioli, Ricardo F. Lima, Diogo Guimaraes, Patricia Lima, Carlos Roberto Bueno Jr., Anilton Vasconcelos, Danilo Roman-Campos, Cristiane A. S. Menezes, Raquel A. Sirvente, Vera M. Salemi, Charles Mady, Marc G. Caron, Anderson J. Ferreira, Patricia C. Brum, Rodrigo R. Resende, Jader S. Cruz, Marcus Vinicius Gomez, Vania F. Prado, Alvair P. De Almeida, Marco A. M. Prado, Silvia Guatimosim

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Overwhelming evidence supports the importance of the sympathetic nervous system in heart failure. In contrast, much less is known about the role of failing cholinergic neurotransmission in cardiac disease. By using a unique genetically modified mouse line with reduced expression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and consequently decreased release of acetylcholine, we investigated the consequences of altered cholinergic tone for cardiac function. M-mode echocardiography, hemodynamic experiments, analysis of isolated perfused hearts, and measurements of cardiomyocyte contraction indicated that VAChT mutant mice have decreased left ventricle function associated with altered calcium handling. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase …

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Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Ocular Pathology Relevant To Glaucoma In A Gja1(Jrt) Mouse Model Of Human Oculodentodigital Dysplasia, Edmund Tsui, Kathleen A. Hill, Alex M. Laliberte, Daniel Paluzzi, Ilia Kisilevksy, Qing Shao, Godfrey J. Heathcote, Dale W. Laird, Gerald M. Kidder, Cindy M. L. Hutnik

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications