Cell volume and hormone action

Article Abstract:

Hormonal modulations of cell volume can serve as second or third messengers and function as regulators in cellular metabolism. The cell volume changes apparently contribute to hormonal regulation of cellular function. Several hormones such as insulin and glucagon induce cell swelling by controlling the volume-regulatory transport system processes while other hormones function by regulating amino acid transport systems. Furthermore, the swelling and shrinkage of cells initiate anabolic and catabolic cellular mechanisms, respectively.

author: Haussinger, Dieter, Lang, Florian
Hormone research, Cell metabolism, Cell physiology, Glucagon

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Amiloride: a molecular probe for mechanosensitive channels

Article Abstract:

Amiloride and its analogues are potent selective blockers of stretch-activated mechanosensitive (MS) cation channels. The amiloride's MS blocking property proves beneficial in determining the physiological importance of MS systems in the body. Moreover, amiloride behavioral studies conducted on Xenopus oocytes and hair cells confirm that the blocking action is ten times more effective on hair cell MS channels. In addition, the study shows that the most potent amiloride analogue that blocks MS channels is bromohexamethyleneamiloride.

author: Hamill, Owen P., Lane, John W., McBride, Don W., Jr.
Xenopus, Amiloride, Molecular probes

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Use of pharmacological agents in elucidating the mechanism of insulin action

Article Abstract:

Several studies have been conducted which suggest the usefulness of pharmacological substances in understanding the link between insulin signalling pathways and the physiological responses to insulin. A study by Fingar et al in 1993 used rapamycin to show that the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and P70s6k mediate the effect of insulin on protein and DNA synthesis. Whereas, wortmannin and LY290042 demonstrated that PI3-kinase dependent pathways mediate the metabolic and transcriptional responses of insulin.

author: Srivastava, Ashok K.
Analysis, Cellular signal transduction

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subjects list: Research, Physiological aspects, Ion channels, Insulin
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