Differential expression of KCNQ1 K+ channel in tubular cells of frog kidney

The aim of this study was to evaluate KCNQ1 K+ channel expression in the frog kidney of Rana esculenta. KCNQ1 K+ channel, also known as KvLQT1, is the pore forming α-subunit of the IKs K+ channel, a delayed rectifier voltage-gated K+ channel, which has an important role in water and salt transport in the kidney and gastrointestinal tract. The expression of KCNQ1 K+ channel along tubular epithelium differs from species to species. In the present study the expression of KCNQ1 K+ channel in the frog kidney has been demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. The presence of KCNQ1 K+ channel was demonstrated in the epithelial cells of distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct. However, the pattern of expression of KCNQ1 K+ channel differs between distal convoluted tubules and collecting duct. All epithelial cells of distal convoluted tubules revealed basolateral expression of KCNQ1 K+ channel. On the contrary, only the single cells of collecting duct, probably intercalated cells, showed diffuse cell surface staining with antibodies against KCNQ1 K+ channel. These findings suggest that KCNQ1 K+ channel has cell-specific roles in renal potassium ion transport

Belgrade, Serbia

The aim of this study was to evaluate KCNQ1 K + channel expression in the frog kidney of Rana esculenta. KCNQ1 K + channel, also known as KvLQT1, is the pore forming a-subunit of the IKs K + channel, a delayed rectifier voltage-gated K + channel, which has an important role in water and salt transport in the kidney and gastrointestinal tract. The expression of KCNQ1 K + channel along tubular epithelium differs from species to species. In the present study the expression of KCNQ1 K + channel in the frog kidney has been demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. The presence of KCNQ1 K + channel was demonstrated in the epithelial cells of distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct. However, the pattern of expression of KCNQ1 K + channel differs between distal convoluted tubules and collecting duct. All epithelial cells of distal convoluted tubules revealed basolateral expression of KCNQ1 K + channel. On the contrary, only the single cells of collecting duct, probably intercalated cells, showed diffuse cell surface staining with antibodies against KCNQ1 K + channel. These findings suggest that KCNQ1 K + channel has cell-specific roles in renal potassium ion transport

Fractal analysis tools for early assessment of liver inflammation induced by chronic consumption of linseed, palm and sunflower oils

Objective: Inflammation is a biological response of tissue to harmful stimuli. A high-fat diet was linked to low-grade chronic liver inflammation, which can further lead to more severe health conditions. It is crucial to assess the intensity of inflammation and structural tissue changes to reduce the subjective judgment by the examiner. We propose fractal-based methods for early-stage low-degree liver inflammation grading. Methods: We have randomly divided 40 C57BL/6 female mice into four groups (control, linseed oil, palm oil, sunflower oil). After 100 days, animals were euthanized, and liver tissue collected for analyses. We performed calculations of fractal dimension, fractal lacunarity, multifractal spectra, local fractal dimension, and particle metrics, applicable to tissue segmentation and grading. Results: Pathohistological analysis of some liver tissue showed a low-grade inflammatory infiltrate around the portal vein of experimental groups subjected to different high-fat diets. Differences in fractal dimension and lacunarity of the inflamed tissue were, in most cases, statistically significant between the high-fat diet groups. Both the observed intensity and area of inflammation were lowest for the sunflower oil. The results of standard fractal analysis, local fractal analysis, and particle analysis were in an excellent agreement. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the efficiency of the fractal analysis based tools in the quantification of complexity and early-stage structural changes in inflamed liver tissue, which could potentially be used in the diagnostic workup of inflammation in the liver. The presented methods could be implemented within a wider scope computer-aided diagnostics system in a very straightforward manner