QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Summary Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pope, E. C. Articles by Rowley, A. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pope, E. C. Articles by Rowley, A. F.

The heart of Ciona intestinalis: eicosanoid-generating capacity and the effects of precursor fatty acids and eicosanoids on heart rate

Edward C. Pope and Andrew F. Rowley^*

School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK

View larger version (37K): [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Schematic diagram (A) and accompanying micrograph (B) showing the structure of a living heart excised from Ciona intestinalis. Scale bar, 0.1 cm.

View larger version (19K): [in a new window]   Fig. 2. (A) Representative HPLC profiles showing the principal products generated by Ciona intestinalis heart preparations. (B) Peak 1 has an ultraviolet profile of a conjugated triene chromophore with a wavelength of maximum absorbance (max) of 269 nm, while material under peaks 2-5 has an ultraviolet profile of a conjugated diene with a max of 235 nm. Peaks 2 and 4 co-elute with authentic 12- and 8-HEPE respectively. PGB2, prostaglandin B2 (internal standard); 8-HEPE, 8-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid; 12-HEPE, 12-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid; 8,15-diHEPE, 8,15-dihydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid.

View larger version (20K): [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Quantification of lipoxygenase product generation by heart tissue from Ciona intestinalis. Values are means + S.E.M., N=4.

View larger version (18K): [in a new window]   Fig. 4. Effect of season on the heart rate of excised Ciona intestinalis hearts. Values are means + S.E.M., N=4-50.

View larger version (20K): [in a new window]   Fig. 5. Effect of incubation time on the heart rate of Ciona intestinalis hearts expressed as a percentage of basal rate. Values are means + S.E.M., N=3-15. *Significantly different (P<0.05) compared with sea water alone.

View larger version (48K): [in a new window]   Fig. 6. Effect of (A) arachidonic acid (AA) and (B) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the heart rate as a percentage of basal rate. Values are means + S.E.M. N=6-15. *Significantly different (P<0.01) compared with ethanol (vehicle) control.

View larger version (40K): [in a new window]   Fig. 7. Effect of 50 µmol l-1 prostaglandin E3 (PGE3), 5 µmol l-1 8-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (8-HEPE) and 5 µmol l-1 12-HEPE on Ciona intestinalis heart rate expressed as a percentage of basal rate. Values are means + S.E.M., N=5-15. *Significantly different (P=0.007) compared with ethanol (vehicle) control.