Chez les mammifères, le muscle squelettique constitue un tissu d'importance majeure dans la régulation du transport et du métabolisme du glucose durant l'exercice physique ou en période postprandiale. La captation musculaire de glucose induite par l'insuline et la contraction musculaire s'effectue grâce à la translocation des transporteurs de glucose GLUT4 à la membrane plasmique et aux tubules transversaux à partir d'un réservoir interne. La première partie des travaux constituant cette thèse a été effectuée dans le but de clarifier si l'insuline et la contraction musculaire activent la translocation de GLUT4 à partir de réservoirs internes distincts. Par fractionnement et immunoadsorption membranaire, nous avons démontré que la contraction musculaire recrutait GLUT4 à partir de deux compartiments distincts : un compartiment associé au récepteur de la transferrine sélectivement mobilisé à la membrane plasmique et insensible à l'insuline, et un second compartiment non associé à cette protéine recruté au niveau des tubules transversaux. / Cette étude a permis de déterminer que l'insuline et la contraction musculaire recrutaient GLUT4 à partir de réservoirs distincts et que la contraction musculaire induisait la translocation de GLUT4 à la surface cellulaire à partir d'au moins deux différentes populations de vésicules GLUT4.Les deux dernières parties des travaux faisant l'objet de cette thèse ont permis de déterminer l'implication de certains médiateurs intracellulaires dans la stimulation du transport du glucose induite par la contraction musculaire ou par le AICAR, un agent mimétique de la contraction. Tout d'abord, nos travaux ont révélé que l'infusion de AICAR induit sélectivement la translocation de GLUT4 à la membrane plasmique à partir d'un compartiment enrichi en récepteur de la transferrine. De plus, nous avons démontré que la stimulation du transport du glucose par le AICAR était dépendante de l'activation de la p38 MAPK, une kinase proposée comme agent régulateur de l'activité intrinsèque de GLUT4. / D'autre part, une dernière étude nous a permis de déterminer que le AICAR active spécifiquement le transport du glucose au niveau des muscles glycolytiques isolés et que le monoxyde d'azote n'est pas impliqué dans l'effet stimulateur du AICAR sur la captation du glucose au niveau de ce type de muscle. Toutefois, l'infusion de AICAR in vivo stimule le transport de glucose dans tous les types de fibres musculaires ainsi que la production de monoxyde d'azote. De plus, l'injection de AICAR stimule la phosphorylation et l'activation de eNOS, suggérant que l'activation du transport du glucose induite par le AICAR in vivo est dépendante de l'augmentation du flot sanguin via la production de monoxyde d'azote. Globalement, ces études nous ont permis de mieux comprendre les mécanismes intracellulaires par lesquels la contraction musculaire active le transport du glucose in vitro et in vivo dans le muscle squelettique.

La réduction des excursions glycémiques postprandiales a été proposée comme un moyen pour limiter le risque de développement du diabète de type 2. L'intérêt s'est donc porté sur les outils nutritionnels susceptibles de moduler la biodisponibilité des glucides et ainsi leur impact sur la glycémie postprandiale. Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse avaient pour but d'étudier les effets de différents ingrédients modifiant la biodisponibilité du glucose, non seulement sur la glycémie postprandiale à court terme (2 heures) mais aussi sur les cinétiques du débit d'apparition et de disparition de glucose (total, exogène et endogène - isotopes stables) et les autres paramètres métaboliques de la phase postprandiale au cours de la journée. Dans la première étude (β-glucanes), nous avons montré que l'addition de fibres β-glucanes à un repas glucidique chez des sujets sains en surpoids ralentit l'absorption du glucose dans le plasma. Ceci a prolongé la réponse insulinique et par conséquent l'inhibition de la lipolyse et de la production endogène de glucose. Dans la deuxième étude (Eurostarch), nous avons montré que la diminution de la biodisponibilité du glucose au petit-déjeuner (amidon lentement digestible, index glycémique bas) diminue l'apparition du glucose exogène dans le plasma et pourrait avoir un effet second-repas chez des sujets sains en surpoids. Mais nous n'avons pas mis en évidence d'amélioration de ces effets métaboliques à plus long terme (5 semaines). Dans la troisième étude présentée (Nutriose), nous avons montré que l'addition de dextrine résistante NUTRIOSE®10 (fermentescible) au petit-déjeuner chez des sujets sains, diminue les réponses glycémiques, insuliniques postprandiales et le profil de ghréline au cours de la journée (en comparaison à une maltodextrine). En parallèle, la prolongation observée de la fermentation et l'oxydation du NUTRIOSE®10 pourraient fournir de l'énergie en phase postprandiale tardive. En conclusion, l'analyse des paramètres métaboliques au-delà de 2 heures après le repas, a permis de mettre en évidence les effets métaboliques à plus long terme de la modulation de l'apparition du glucose dans le plasma (ralentissement, prolongation, réduction) sur les cinétiques du glucose, la réponse insulinique, la lipolyse et l'oxydation des substrats

Adrenergic signalling is part of the sympathetic nervous system and is activated upon stimulation by the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine. This regulates heart rate, energy mobilization, digestion and helps to divert blood flow to important organs. Insulin is released to regulate metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, mainly by taking up glucose from the blood. The insulin and the catecholamine hormone systems are normally working as opposing metabolic regulators and are therefore thought to antagonize each other. One of the major regulators involved in insulin signalling is the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). There are two different complexes of mTOR; mTORC1 and mTORC2, and they are essential in the control of cell growth, metabolism and energy homeostasis. Since mTOR is one of the major signalling nodes for anabolic actions of insulin it was thought that catecholamines might oppose this action by inhibiting the complexes. However, lately there are studies demonstrating that this may not be the case. mTOR is for instance part of the adrenergic signalling pathway resulting in hypertrophy of cardiac and skeletal muscle cells and inhibition of smooth muscle relaxation and helps to regulate browning in white adipose tissue and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). In this thesis I show that β-adrenergic signalling leading to glucose uptake occurs independently of insulin in skeletal muscle and BAT, and does not activate either Akt or mTORC1, but that the master regulator of this pathway is mTORC2. Further, my co-workers and I demonstrates that β-adrenergic stimulation in skeletal muscle and BAT utilizes different glucose transporters. In skeletal muscle, GLUT4 is translocated to the plasma membrane upon stimulation. However, in BAT, β-adrenergic stimulation results in glucose uptake through translocation of GLUT1. Importantly, in both skeletal muscle and BAT, the role of mTORC2 in β-adrenergic stimulated glucose uptake is to regulate GLUT-translocation. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

La levure Candida shehatae est le microorganisme modèle d’étude choisi. Cette levure peutconvertir le xylose et le glucose en éthanol, contrairement à Saccharomyces cerevisiae, levuretraditionnellement utilisée dans les procédés industriels, qui ne peut convertir le xylose.L’optimisation des performances de production d’éthanol à partir de xylose passe par unemaximisation des trois critères suivants : la productivité volumique, le titre final et lerendement éthanol/xylose. Pour diriger le flux de carbone vers la production d'éthanol defaçon optimale, le paramètre majeur qu’il faut contrôler est le degré de limitation en oxygène.Les cultures sont réalisées sur milieu minéral en mode fed-batch et conduites en deux phases :aérobie puis limitation en oxygène. Une valeur moyenne de la vitesse spécifique derespiration (qO2) de 1,19 mmolO2/gX/h permet de maximiser les trois critères deperformances sur xylose : le rendement en éthanol (0,327 gETOH/g-xylose), la productivitéspécifique maximale (0,22 gETOH/gX/h) et le titre en éthanol final (48,81 g/L). Pour lafermentation du glucose, le rendement en éthanol le plus élevé (0,411 gETOH/g-glucose) estobtenu lorsque qO2 est faible et a pour valeur moyenne 0,30 mmolO2/gX/h; tandis que laproductivité spécifique et le titre en éthanol final atteignent les valeurs maximales de 0,35gETOH/gX/h et 54,19 g/L pour respectivement qO2 de 1,7 et de 2,5 mmolO2/gX/h.Pour la consommation simultanée des deux substrats, un phénomène de répression du glucosesur le xylose est démontré par expérience en chemostat de pulse glucose en régime stabilisésur xylose. La simple présence intra-cellulaire des enzymes de la voie du xylose (XR andXDH) ne permet pas la co-consommation efficace des deux sucres et le glucose estpréférentiellement consommé.Afin de structurer la connaissance acquise sur le métabolisme de C. shehatae et pouvoiroptimiser par simulation les co-cultures C. shehatae / S. cerevisiae pour la productiond’éthanol à partir de mélanges xylose/glucose, un modèle cinétique de C. shehatae estconstruit. Ce modèle est validé avec des cultures sur substrats purs (xylose et glucoseséparés). Un modèle cinétique de co-culture est ensuite développé de manière à simulerdifférentes stratégies de fermentation pour l’optimisation de la production d’éthanol surmélange xylose/glucose de type hydrolysats de paille de blé / The yeast Candida shehatae was the model microorganism of the study. This yeast canconvert xylose and glucose into ethanol, unlike Saccharomyces cerevisiae traditionally usedin industrial processes, which cannot convert xylose. Performance optimization of ethanolproduction from xylose is performed through maximization of the following three criteria:volumetric productivity, final ethanol titer and yield of ethanol over xylose. To direct thecarbon flux towards ethanol production, the major parameter which must be controlled is thelevel of oxygen limitation. Cultures are carried out in fed-batch in mineral medium andperformed in two phases: the first one is not limited in oxygen and the second one is oxygenrestricted. A mean value of qO2 equal to 1.19 mmolO2/gX/h maximizes the three criteria ofperformance on xylose: ethanol yield (0.327 gETOH/g-xylose), the maximum specificproductivity (0.22 gETOH/gX/h) and the final ethanol titer (48.81 g/L). For glucosefermentation, ethanol yield is the highest (0.411 gETOH/g-glucose) when qO2 is low as anaverage value of 0.30 mmolO2/gX/h, while the specific productivity and the ethanol final titerreach maximum values of 0.35 gETOH/gX/h and 54.19 g/L for respectively qO2 of 1.7 and2.5 mmolO2/gX/h.For the simultaneous consumption of the two substrates, a phenomenon of glucose repressionover xylose is observed in chemostat experiment with glucose pulse on xylose steady state.The presence of intracellular enzymes of the xylose pathway (XR and XDH) is not sufficientfor efficient co-consumption of both sugars and glucose is preferentially consumed.In order to structure the knowledge obtained on the metabolism of C. shehatae and tooptimize by simulation the co-culture C. shehatae / S. cerevisiae to produce ethanol fromxylose/ glucose mixtures, a kinetic model of C. shehatae is built. This model is validated withpure substrate cultures (xylose and glucose separated). A kinetic model of co-culture is thenbuilt in order to simulate several fermentation strategies to optimize the ethanol productionfrom xylose/glucose mixture similar to wheat straw hydrolysates

Des modèles de dysfonction érectile (DE) ont été développés et étudiés chez le rat. Cependant, peu de choses sont connues dans certains modèles présentant des facteurs de risque de la DE, en l’occurrence le rat soumis à une diète riche en glucose, le rat avec une restriction de croissance intra-utérine (RCIU) et le rat avec l’infusion continue de l’angiotensine (Ang) II en ce qui concerne l’évaluation de la fonction érectile in vivo. C’est ainsi que nous nous sommes proposés cette étude. La fonction érectile a été mesurée par la stimulation électrique du nerf caverneux à des cohortes de rats mâles Sprague-Dawley de différents âges comme suit: 1) des rats jeunes de 12 semaines d’âge, adultes reproducteurs à la retraite d’environ 30 semaines d’âge et des rats de 27 et 29 semaines soumis à une diète riche en glucose par l’eau de breuvage (10%) à court (1 semaine), moyen (6 semaines) et long (12 ou 13 semaines) termes; 2) des rats jeunes âgés de 12 semaines recevant une infusion soit de l’Ang II (200ng/kg/min) soit de la saline par mini-pompes osmotiques sous-cutanées pendant 1 et 2 semaines; et 3) des rats adultes âgés de 36 semaines avec une RCIU. La fonction érectile a été représentée par des courbes de variations de pression intracaverneuse (PIC) et d’aire sous la courbe (ASC) normalisées avec la pression artérielle moyenne (PAM) en réponse à la stimulation nerveuse à différents volts. À la fin des expériences, les animaux ont été sacrifiés, le sang recueilli pour le dosage de la glycémie et de l’insulinémie; le pénis, l’aorte thoracique et le cœur prélevés à des fins d’analyses protéique et histologique. La diète riche en glucose à court terme a eu un effet néfaste sur la fonction érectile chez le jeune rat mais bénéfique chez le rat adulte reproducteur; de même que pour les études à long terme, la diète riche en glucose a amélioré ou renversé la DE associée au vieillissement. Les rats avec RCIU ont exhibé une baisse très significative de la fonction érectile. Ces détériorations ou améliorations de la fonction érectile avec le glucose ou dans la RCIU ont été principalement associées à des modifications de l’expression de l’Akt, en plus d’une augmentation de l’insuline sérique dans les groupes avec le glucose. L’Ang II a entraîné une baisse de la fonction érectile, statistiquement très significative après 1 semaine et maintenue après 2 semaines de traitement, sans causer des changements morphologiques au cœur et à l’aorte thoracique. En conclusion : l’atteinte du système érectile se fait précocement dans les complications cardiovasculaires liées à l’activation du SRA, l’implication de l’Akt dans la modulation de la fonction érectile dépend de type de vieillissement et de la diète, le RCIU est un facteur de risque pour la DE. / Rat is a most rodent used for erectile function studies, and many erectile dysfunction (ED) rat models have been developed and studied. However, according to our knowledge, erectile function has never been studied in high-glucose fed rat model, intrauterine growth restriction rat model (IUGR) and continuous angiotensin (Ang) II infusion rat model. In this context, we set up this study. We mesured simultaneously mean arterial pression (MAP), intracavernosal pression (ICP), aire under the curve (AUC); and erectile function was obtained by variations of the ratio ICP/MAP and AUC/MAP in response to electrical stimulation of cavernosal nerve (0.89 – 6.50 Volts) in male Sprague-Dawley rats in different protocols as follow: 1) young (12 week old), procreator adult (~30 week old) and adult (27 and 29 week old) rats randomized and fed with high-glucose diet in water (10%) or simple water for a short (1 week), middle (6 weeks) and long (12 and 13 weeks) terms; 2) adult (36 week old) IUGR rats; 3) young (12 week old) rats randomized and received a chronic infusion of AngII (200 ng/kg/min) or saline by osmotic minipumps for 1 and 2 weeks. At the end of procedures, blood for measuring serum glucose and insulin in rats with chronic high-glucose diet was obtained, the heart was excised and left ventricle was weighed. Aorta and penis were excised, cleaned and a section of each was formalin fixed for histological studies and the rest snap frozen for protein studies. The short term high-glucose diet impacted negatively in young rats but positively in procreator adult rats; also, the erectile function was improved or reversed by chronic high-glucose diet in adult rats. We also observed a diminished erectile function in RCIU. The improvement or deterioration of erectile function was associated with changes in Akt expression, besides an increased insulin serum in rats with high-glucose diet. A diminished erectile function was observed after 1 week continuous Ang II infusion and was maintained after 2 week infusion without detectable structural changes on heart and aorta. In conclusion: this study suggests that erectile system is a precoce cible of cardiovascular complications of renin-angiotensin system. High-glucose diet deteriores erectile function but maskes the ageing induced-ED, RCIU is associated with ED in later life. Akt involvement in erectile function modulation depends on aging type and the diet.

Nous avons étudié l’expression et la régulation de la lipogenèse dans les aortes et CMLV et déterminé si elle est modifiée par l’insulino-résistance et le diabète. Les rats Zucker obèses (ZO), diabétiques et Psammomys obesus accumulent plus de lipides dans leurs aortes que leurs contrôles. Cependant l’expression des gènes de la lipogenèse et ceux impliqués dans la captation des acides gras, n’est pas augmentée. Un résultat similaire a été retrouvé dans des pièces d’endartériectomies chez l’homme. Le milieu adipogénique, le glucose ou l’insuline seule stimulent modérément la lipogenèse uniquement dans les CML de Zucker contrôles, aucun effet n’a été observé dans les CML de ZO. Nous avons montré que les effets du TO901317 sur la lipogenèse dans les CMLV sont dus uniquement à l’activation du récepteur nucléaire LXRα, PXR n’a aucun effet. En conclusion, la lipogenèse n’est pas augmentée dans la paroi artérielle durant l’insulino-résistance et le diabète. / We investigated the expression and regulation of lipogenesis in aortas and VSMC and determined if it is modified during metabolic abnormalities. Zucker obese (ZO), diabetic (ZDF) rats, and the high fat diet fed Psammomys obesus accumulated more triglycerides in their aortas than control rats. However the expression of lipogenic genes, or of genes involved in fatty acids uptake, was not increased. Lipogenesis was not increased in human carotid endarterectomy of diabetic compared to non-diabetic patients. The adipogenic medium (ADM), glucose or insulin stimulated moderately lipogenesis but only in VSMC from control rats. No effect was observed in VSMC from ZO. We showed that the lipogenic effects of TO901317observed in VSMC from Zucker control rats are due solely to the nuclear receptor LXRα, PXR agonist had no effect. Conclusion: Lipogenesis is not increased in arterial wall during insulin-resistance and diabetes.

O fungo filamentoso Trichoderma reesei é caracteristicamente reconhecido pela produção de celulases e hemicelulases, que lhe permitem utilizar uma ampla variedade de polissacarídeos como fonte de carbono. Neste trabalho, descrevemos a caracterização de dois genes de T. reesei, Trhxt1 e Trhxt2, que codificam proteínas com alta similaridade a transportadores de glicose de vários microorganismos. Os dois genes foram identificados em um banco de dados de ESTs de T. reesei. A análise computacional de Trhxt1 e Trhxt2 indica que ambos fazem parte da major facilitator superfamily (MFS), apresentando, tipicamente, 12 segmentos transmembrânicos. A expressão de Trhxt1 ocorre apenas em baixos níveis de glicose(&#8776; 100 &#181;mol 1-1), enquanto a de Trhxt2 parece ocorrer de forma constitutiva, independentemente da fonte de carbono. Em baixas concentrações de oxigênio, a expressão de Trhxt1 é induzida e a de Trhxt2, reprimida. O sistema de transporte em T. reesei apresenta um componente de afinidade muito alta por glicose (Km &#8776; 20 &#181;mol 1-1) semelhante ao de outros fungos filamentosos. Dados sobre o transporte de glicose em uma cepa mutante &#916;Trhxt1 indicam que o gene Trhxt1 está envolvido com o transporte em baixos níveis de glicose (&#8804; 100 &#181;mol 1-1) que correspondem, provavelmente, aos valores encontrados no solo, o habitat natural de T. reesei.. Interessantemente, a indução do sistema de celulases de T. reesei por celulose está retardada no mutante &#916;Trhxt1, o que sugere a importância do transporte de glicose na expressão dos genes das celulases. Finalmente, além de descrever os primeiros genes de transportadores de glicose em T. reesei, esperamos que este trabalho possa contribuir para o preenchimento de uma lacuna em relação ao transporte de açúcares em fungos filamentosos em geral. / The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is a natural soil inhabitant capable of metabolizing a vast number of polysaccharide substrates. In this work, we describe two genes of T. reesei, named Trhxt1 and Trhxt2, which code for proteins with significant similarities to glucose transporters from other fungi. These genes were identified in an EST database of T. reesei. Sequence analysis of TrHXT1 and TrHXT2 revealed 12 putative transmembrane domains and several other characteristic motifs found in members of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS). Trhxt1 is transcriptionally induced only by low levels of glucose(&#8776; 100 &#181;mol 1-1), while Trhxt2 expressionis independent of both glucose concentration and carbon source. We also show that Trhxt1 expression is enhanced when cells are exposured to low oxygen levels; in contrast, Trhxt2 expression seems to be repressed at these conditions. Glucose transport in T. reesei is apparently mediated by a multicomponent uptake system, in which the high-affiníty component has a Km of approximately 20 &#181;mol 1-1. This low Km value is similar to the values reported for glucose uptake by other filamentous fungi. Kinetics of glucose transport in a T. reesei &#916;Trhxt1 strain suggests that Trhxt1 is involved in glucose uptake in conditions of low glucose (&#8804; 100 &#181;mol 1-1), which are most probably found in the soil, a low-nutrient environment. Interestingly, índuction ofthe T. reesei cellulase system by cellulose ís significantly delayed in the &#916;Trhxt1 mutant, suggesting that glucose transport may be important to the mechanisms of expression of the cellulase genes. Finally, we hope that this work may be helpful to provide a better understanding of sugar uptake in filamentous fungi, for which there is little information available.

Estudou-se a influência do fosfato na multiplicação de Saccharomyces cerevisiae em uma fermentação contínua em mini-fermentador. Determinou-se a massa seca, a concentração dos substratos, a velocidade específica de consumo dos substratos, a velocidade específica de formação de gás carbônico, velocidade específica de consumo de oxigênio e o quociente respiratório bem como, o fósforo intracelular em diversas vazões específicas de alimentação, em cultivo contínuo de levedura de panificação, em condições de substratos limitantes. Controlando-se a quantidade de fosfato no meio de alimentação de tal modo que o fosfato residual no meio de fermentação mal pudesse ser detectado, o valor da vazão específica de alimentação crítica era aparentemente aumentado de 0,23 h-1 para 0,32 h-1. Isto sugere uma possível influência do fosfato nas funções anaeróbicas e aeróbicas da levedura de panificação. / The influence of phosphate in a continuous culture was studied using mini-fermentor on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae multiplication. Dry matter, substrate concentration, specific substrate comsumption, specific carbon dioxide release, specific oxygen uptake rates and respiration quotient , as well as phosphorous content of the cells were measured in dependence on the dilutionrate. In continuous culture glicose-limited, of baker\'s yeast if the supply of phosphorous were restricted to a extent that residual phosphate in the medium could hardly be observed, the value of critical dilution rate was apparently enhanced from 0,23 h-1 to 0,32 h-1. This observation suggests a possible mediation by phosphate between anaerobic and aerobic functions of the baker\'s yeast.

G6Pase-alpha and G6Pase-beta share kinetic properties and active site structures, which lie on the luminal side of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). For hydrolysis of G6P to glucose, G6Pase-alpha or G6Pase-beta must couple with an ubiquitously expressed ER-transmembrane protein, the G6P transporter (G6PT) that translocates G6P from the cytoplasm into the lumen of the ER. The primary role of the G6Pase/G6PT complex is therefore to provide endogenous glucose to the ER lumen. The essential role of the G6Pase-alpha/G6PT complex in glucose homeostasis has been well established, and the deficiencies in G6Pase-alpha and G6PT cause glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia) and GSD-Ib, respectively. Both patients manifest the same metabolic phenotype of disturbed glucose homeostasis. While the metabolic abnormalities of GSD-Ia and GSD-Ib are almost identical, GSD-Ib patients exhibit neutropenia and myeloid dysfunctions which are not observed in GSD-Ia patients. Since G6Pase-beta and G6PT share an ubiquitous expression pattern, we hypothesized that the G6Pase-beta/G6PT complex might be functional in neutrophils and that the myeloid defects in GSD-Ib are due to the loss of activity of that complex. To test this hypothesis, we generated G6Pase-beta-deficient (G6pc3 --/--) mouse strains and showed that G6pc3--/-- mice manifest neutropenia; defects in neutrophil respiratory burst, chemotaxis, and calcium flux; and increased susceptibility to bacterial infection mimicking GSD-Ib patients. Consistent with this, G6pc3--/-- neutrophils exhibit enhanced ER stress and apoptosis. Taken together, the results demonstrate that endogenous glucose production in the ER via G6P translocation and metabolism are critical for normal neutrophil functions and that an ER stress-mediated neutrophil apoptosis is one mechanism underlying myeloid dysfunctions in the G6pc3--/-- mice. / Macrophages are the abundant leukocytes in the decidua throughout pregnancy and were thought to play a vital role in decidual homeostasis, placental development, and maintenance of a successful pregnancy. We hypothesized that endogenous glucose production in the ER might also be critical for normal macrophage function and G6pc3--/-- females manifesting neutropenia, neutrophil and macrophage dysfunctions might suffer from pregnancy-associated complications. Here we show that G6pc3--/-- macrophages exhibited impaired respiratory burst activity and repressed trafficking in vivo during an inflammatory response. The litter size and pregnancy frequency were markedly reduced in female G6pc3--/-- matings as compared to female G6pc3+/--/G6pc3+/+ matings, indicative of reduced fertility. The pregnancy-associated mortality risk was greatly increased in G6pc3--/--. Pathological analyses revealed that the sick or dying G6pc3--/-- mothers were emaciated and suffered from dental dysplasia and otitis media. Consistent with this, parental male and female G6pc3--/-- mice were more neutropenic than their age-matched virgin G6pc3 --/-- mice. Taken together, our results show that macrophage dysfunction, defective macrophage trafficking, neutrophil dysfunction, and enhanced neutropenia underlie the reduced fertility and increased mortality of G6pc3--/-- mothers. / Cheung, Yuk Yin. / Advisers: Janice Chou; Kam Bo Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-107). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Wong Chun Lung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-225). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Thesis Committee --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / 摘要 --- p.vi / Acknowledgements --- p.ix / Table of Contents --- p.x / List of Abbreviations --- p.xv / List of Figures --- p.xix / List of Tables --- p.xx iii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- "Neurodegeneration, Inflammation and Gliosis" --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Anatomy of the CNS --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Astrocytes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Morphology and Identification of Astrocytes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Physiological Functions of Astrocytes in the CNS --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Induction of Blood-brain Barrier (BBB) --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Metabolism of Neurotransmitters --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- Nursing Role of Astrocytes --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.2.4 --- Immunological Functions of Astrocytes --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Neonatal Rat Cortical Astrocytes as In Vitro Model --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4 --- Cytokines in Brain Damage --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Interleukin-1 (IL-1) --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.5 --- Cytokines-induced Signaling Cascade --- p.22 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- TNF Receptors --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Ca2+ --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- MAPK --- p.26 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- PICA --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5.5 --- NFkB --- p.29 / Chapter 1.6 --- Glucose Metabolism in the Brain and Glucose Transporters --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Glucose Transporters in the Brain --- p.32 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Glucose Transporters in Brain Damage --- p.34 / Chapter 1.7 --- Ascorbic Acid Metabolism in the Brain --- p.36 / Chapter 1.8 --- Aim and Scope of this Project --- p.39 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Neonatal Sprawley 一Dawley Rats --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Plain Dulbecco Modified Eagle Medium ´ؤ Formula 12 (pDF12) --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Complete DF-12(cDF12) --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) --- p.44 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Hank's Buffer (HSB) --- p.44 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- D/L-Homocysteine Buffer --- p.44 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- "LPS, Cytokines and Pentoxifylline" --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Specific TNF Receptor Agonist: TNF antibodies --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.9 --- Calcium Modulators --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.10 --- PKA Modulators --- p.46 / Chapter 2.1.11 --- NFkB Inhibitors --- p.47 / Chapter 2.1.12 --- MAPK Inhibitors --- p.47 / Chapter 2.1.13 --- β-Adrenergic Receptor Modulators --- p.47 / Chapter 2.1.14 --- Reagents for RNA and Protein Isolation --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.15 --- Reagents for Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.16 --- Reagents for DNA Electrophoresis --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.17 --- Reagents for Real-time PCR --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.18 --- Reagents for Western Blotting --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.19 --- Reagents for MTT Assay --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.20 --- Reagents for 3H-Thymidine Incorporation Assay --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.21 --- Reagents for Glucose Uptake Assay --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.22 --- Reagents for Ascorbic Acid Accumulation Assay --- p.53 / Chapter 2.1.23 --- Reagents for Immunostammg --- p.53 / Chapter 2.1.24 --- Other Chemicals and Reagents --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Preparation of Primary Cultured Rat Astrocytes --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Measuring Cell Viability: MTT Assay --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Measuring Cell Proliferation: 3H Thymidine Incorporation Assay --- p.57 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Measuring Glucose Uptake: Zero-trans Glucose Uptake Assay --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Measuring Ascorbic Acid Accumulation --- p.60 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Total Protein Extraction --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Western Blotting --- p.62 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Immunostaining --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Isolation of RNA --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Measurement of RNA Yield --- p.65 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- RNA Gel Electrophoresis --- p.66 / Chapter 2.2.12 --- Reverse Transcription (RT) --- p.66 / Chapter 2.2.13 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.14 --- Separation of PCR Products by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.15 --- Quantization of PCR Products and Western Blotting --- p.68 / Chapter 2.2.16 --- Real-time PCR --- p.68 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results / Chapter 3.1 --- Role of Calcium Ions (Ca2+) in TNF-α-induced Astrocyte Proliferation --- p.70 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Effects of Changes of Extracellular Ca2+ on Astrocyte Viability --- p.72 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Effects of Other Divalent Ions on Astrocyte Viability --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Effects of Changes of Intracellular Ca2+ on Astrocyte Viability --- p.78 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Role of Ca2+ on TNF-α-mduced Proliferation in Astrocytes --- p.85 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Role of Other Divalent Ions on tnf-α-mduced Proliferation in Astrocytes --- p.90 / Chapter 3.2 --- Effect of Cytokines on Glucose Uptake in Rat Astrocytes --- p.95 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Basal level of Glucose Uptake in Astrocytes and Effects of Cytokines on Glucose Uptake in Astrocytes --- p.95 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Signaling Cascade of LPS- and TNF-α-induced Glucose Uptake in Astrocytes --- p.120 / Chapter (A) --- TNFR Subtypes Mediating TNF-a-induced Glucose Uptake --- p.121 / Chapter (B) --- MAPK --- p.125 / Chapter (C) --- PKA --- p.133 / Chapter (D) --- NFkB --- p.139 / Chapter (E) --- Other Mechanisms / Signalling molecules --- p.150 / Chapter (1) --- Interaction with β-Adrenegic Mechanism / Chapter (2) --- Role of cGMP --- p.154 / Chapter (3) --- Effect of Mg2+ on LPS- / TNF-α- induced Glucose Uptake in Astrocytes --- p.156 / Chapter (4) --- Possible Involvement of IGF-1 System --- p.160 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Summary --- p.163 / Chapter 3.3 --- Effects of LPS and Cytokines on AA Accumulation in Astrocytes --- p.164 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion / Chapter 4.1 --- Role of Calcium ions (Ca2+) in TNF-α-induced Astrocyte Proliferation --- p.177 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Drastic Changes in Extracellular Ca2+ Caused Astrocyte Death --- p.178 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Extraordinary Role of Ca2+ in Astrocytes Survival --- p.178 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Elevation of [Ca2+]i Reduced Astrocyte Viability --- p.180 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Failure of Verapamil to Block TNF-α-induced Astrocyte Proliferation --- p.182 / Chapter 4.2 --- Hypothesis for the Relationship between Cytokines and Energy Metabolism --- p.185 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Mechanism and Signaling Cascade of the Elevated Glucose Uptake --- p.186 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Increased Glucose Uptake by Cytokines: Friend or Foe? --- p.191 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Depletion of AA Pool by LPS --- p.194 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Possible Bedside Application of the Findings --- p.195 / Chapter 4.3 --- Prospects of This Study and Concluding Remarks --- p.197 / Appendix --- p.201 / References --- p.202