| Grant number: | 06/50954-7 |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |
| Start date: | August 01, 2006 |
| End date: | July 31, 2010 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Cellular Biophysics |
| Principal Investigator: | Wamberto Antonio Varanda |
| Grantee: | Wamberto Antonio Varanda |
| Host Institution: | Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil |
| City of the host institution: | Ribeirão Preto |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 09/06036-1 - Store Operated Calcium Entry in Mice Leydig Cells,
BP.IC 08/10000-0 - P2X subunits expression in mice Leydig cells at different ages and interactions amongst P2X2, P2X4, P2X6 subunits forming functional purinergic receptors, BP.DR |
Abstract
This project is concerned with ion transport in Leydig cells and in cells of neural tissue (supra optic nucleus) aiming at an understanding of the role played by specific receptors and ionic currents in the physiological processes carried out by these cells. Although both cells are involved in secretor processes, testosterone in one case and ADH in the other, we intend to use the patch clamp technique in order to get information about the major ions participating in their physiology, coupled to current molecular biology techniques to identify specific receptors and calcium ion fluorescence to evaluate changes in the intracellular concentration of this ion. The expected results should contribute to the understanding of the secretor processes, important for the determination of the male sexual characteristics in one case and for the maintenance of the osmolality of the extracellular fluid in the other: both crucial phenomena for the maintenance of life. Under a theoretical perspective we intend to use mathematical tools (Hiden Markov Chains) to analyze single channel ionic currents through calcium activated potassium channels, known to be expressed in Leydig cells. The expected results should contribute to the understanding of the physical mechanisms controlling the transitions between the closed and open conformation of the protein forming the channel. (AU)
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