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Mechanism and Effects of General Anaesthetics
Páchniková, Nina ; Groborz, Ondřej (advisor) ; Hrčka Krausová, Barbora (referee)
General anesthetics are key pharmacological agents that induce a reversible state of unconsciousness and allow surgical procedures to be performed. Despite their widespread use, the exact mechanism of action of general anesthetics remains partially unclear. This work provides a comprehensive review of historical and current theories of anesthetic function, examining general mechanisms of action and relevant target protein receptors including GABAA, glycine and NMDA receptors. It deals with the effects of specific anesthetics, namely etomidate, propofol, ketamine and isoflurane, examines their clinical effects, mechanisms of anesthetic action and interactions with various receptors. The thesis also discusses the implications of these findings, potentially informing future research directions. Key words: Anaesthetic, Pharmacology, Receptors, Review, Hypothesis
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Opioid receptors and their signaling system in the myocardium
Ladislav, Marek ; Novotný, Jiří (advisor) ; Neckář, Jan (referee)
The main objective of this bachelor thesis is to systematically collect and sort information about opioid receptors and their signaling system in the myocardium. Heart activity is controlled mainly by adrenergic signaling, and this work therefore contains also some data concerning the characteristic and significance of other relevant receptors. For better understanding, general basic information about opioid system, especially about the receptors and their signaling, is also provided. Relatively little is known about opioid receptors in the myocardium even though these receptors may have an important role especially in various pathophysiological conditions. There can be several reasons for this. The possibility of further characterization of opioid receptors in the myocardium is rather difficult due to the relatively small number of these receptors in heart tissue. The situation is somewhat complicated also by some differences in the modulation of cardiac function among different species. The complete molecular mechanism by which opioid receptors act on the myocardium has not yet been fully uncovered. Especially in the case of humans this knowledge can be crucial, because these receptors and their ligands could be used for medical purposes.
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Changes in placental angiogenesis and their impact on fetal intrauterine growth restriction
Kudějová, Alena ; Švandová, Ivana (advisor) ; Magner, Martin (referee)
Any pathological interference with normal vascular development of placenta may have a critical impact on fetal growth and development. The proliferation and differentiation of several cell types play a very important role in the vascular system of placenta. The main factors taking part in the vascular development of placenta include cell elements (e.g. trofoblast, stromal chorion cells, haemangiogenic progenitors), the extracellular matrix, growth factors and cytokines (e.g. VEGF, PlGF, Ang-1,2 and bFGF). The extrinsic factors may also influence the partial oxygen pressure, nutritients availability, and/or the blood perfusion in placenta. Placental ischaemia leading to the worsening of uteroplacentar perfusion is the most common cause of the intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The IUGR development is then the result of insufficient prolongation, branching, and dilatation of capillary loops during the formation of terminal villi. Published studies focusing on growth factors in placentas from physiological pregnancies and pregnancies with IUGR do not give clear results. This BSc. Thesis is a review focused on up-to-date-known data concerning changes in placental angiogenesis and their impact on IUGR. Key words: placenta, angiogenesis, IUGR, pregnancy
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NK cells and their receptors in immune regulation - possible targets for immunomodulation
Svoboda, Jan ; Fišerová, Anna (advisor) ; Pěknicová, Jana (referee) ; Kročová, Zuzana (referee)
(english) Natural Killers - NK cells play an important role in immune surveilance and regulation either by direct cytotoxicity towards infected, transformed or otherwise damaged cells, or by production of cytokines and chemokines. The resulting response of NK cells is given by the sum of stimulating and inhibiting signals, tranduced by a wide array of receptors. Killer Ig-like receptors KIR2DL4 and LILRB1, which recognize self HLA-G molecules in pregnancy, as well as NKR-P1 receptors, which differ in the number of isotypes, are species-dependent and reduced during phylogenesis. NKG2D, reacting to stress-inducible proteins, and adenosine receptors (AR), which supress the inflamatory reaction, remain evolutionary conserved. The aim of this work was to study the involvement of NK cells and their receptors in several immune disorders and in various species, to provide new insights into their function and posisible immune modulation. We have shown here, that the choice of species in the study of NK cell effector functions may be crucial in some cases. The reaction to glycans, using synthetic GlcNAc-terminated glycomimetics GN8P, exerted opposing effects on NK cell function in humans and C57Bl/6 mice. In humans, the glycomimetic decreased cytotoxic activity of high NKR-P1A expressing NK cells, while in...
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Sexual dimorphism in the mouse olfactory system
Kuntová, Barbora ; Stopka, Pavel (advisor) ; Havlíček, Jan (referee) ; Žídek, Lukáš (referee)
Sexually dimorphic behaviour of the house mouse (Mus musculus musculus) relies on various physical and chemical cues, however, chemical signals are the most essential cues for individual recognition and in causing various priming effects on reproductive behaviour of the receiver. House mice belong to macrosmatic mammals, and thus, their sense of smell is highly developed and is able to recognize a wide spectrum of ligands from other individuals and from their surrounding environment. Volatile signals belong to organic compounds that are produced by most tissues, and may have harmfull effects on cells, and thus they are transported out of the body with lipocalin transporters where some of them may function as signals. These volatile signals are able to stimulate chemosensory neuronal receptors, and thus, yield particular responses in neural circuits. The ligand sensing has a differential effect upon males and females, however, it has not been shown yet in wild mice whether these differences are also caused by the variation in receptors and neural processing, or rather by differential expression of signals typical for each sex. The aim of this thesis was to perform comparative analysis of orofacial mucosal tissues to determine the specificity of expression of particular lipocalins. For the first time...
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Clinical importance and mechanisms of action of morphine and methadone
Slušná, Michaela ; Novotný, Jiří (advisor) ; Hejnová, Lucie (referee)
This bachelor thesis deals with gathering the information regarding the clinical importance of opioid drugs, particularly morphine and methadone, and their mechanism of action. Awareness of health professionals and the general public on opioid is inadequate. This evokes unnecessary anxiety of uninformed patients by the treatment of this kind of drugs. This thesis contains information that should know each worker in the health sector. It deals with pharmacodynamics, which is important for understanding the effects of drugs, both biochemical and physiological as well as pharmacokinetics, which describes how the body compensates for the delivered drug. Usage of morphine and methadone is currently irreplaceable. Morphine is a strong analgesic effective control of pain of different origin. Methadone is used for the substitutive treatment of people addicted to opioids. The side effects occurring during the treatment with opioids are acceptable with regard to severe pain, which is attenuated by opioids.
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The role of extracellular matrix in mesenchymal stem cell biology
Šimková, Zuzana ; Chudíčková, Milada (advisor) ; Hubálek Kalbáčová, Marie (referee)
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to describe the mutual relations of mesenchymal stem cells and extracellular matrix, their communication and to point out their significance in living body. First part is focused on description of extracellular matrix, its components and characteristics. The interaction between extracellular matrix and surrounding cells is using both receptors and enzymes. Second part addresses the description of mesenchymal stem cells which are crucial producers of extracellular matrix. The matrix is also decisive part of stem cells niche which envelopes them, protects them and decides their future. The last section demonstrates possible utilizations of differentiation potential and paracrine secretion of MSC in therapy and identifies some of the risks bound to it.
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Sexual dimorphism in the mouse olfactory system
Kuntová, Barbora ; Stopka, Pavel (advisor) ; Havlíček, Jan (referee) ; Žídek, Lukáš (referee)
Sexually dimorphic behaviour of the house mouse (Mus musculus musculus) relies on various physical and chemical cues, however, chemical signals are the most essential cues for individual recognition and in causing various priming effects on reproductive behaviour of the receiver. House mice belong to macrosmatic mammals, and thus, their sense of smell is highly developed and is able to recognize a wide spectrum of ligands from other individuals and from their surrounding environment. Volatile signals belong to organic compounds that are produced by most tissues, and may have harmfull effects on cells, and thus they are transported out of the body with lipocalin transporters where some of them may function as signals. These volatile signals are able to stimulate chemosensory neuronal receptors, and thus, yield particular responses in neural circuits. The ligand sensing has a differential effect upon males and females, however, it has not been shown yet in wild mice whether these differences are also caused by the variation in receptors and neural processing, or rather by differential expression of signals typical for each sex. The aim of this thesis was to perform comparative analysis of orofacial mucosal tissues to determine the specificity of expression of particular lipocalins. For the first time...
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Functional morphology of schistosome miracidia
Svobodová, Kateřina ; Horák, Petr (advisor) ; Bulantová, Jana (referee)
Trematodes of the family Schistosomatidae are important pathogens invading various species of birds and mammals, including man. Miracidium is the first larval stage in the complex life cycle of these parasites. The fate of the parasite depends on the ability of the larva to find, recognize and penetrate into a suitable snail host. Miracidium locates its snail host actively. Miracidium respond to environmental cues and also by recognition of specific glycoproteins produced by snails to the water environment. Free-living miracidium has limited energy reserves, so it has to find and penetrate into a suitable host as quickly as possible. Cilia serve to fast movement in the aquatic environment. The surface of the miracidium is covered with flat ciliated epidermal plates arranged in four tiers. These plates are separated from each other by epidermal ridges. The anterior end of miracidia is cone-shaped and is called apical papilla. Apical papilla is a key tool for penetration and it contains openings of penetration glands. Miracidia display a variety of sensory receptors which help miracidium in orientation. However, there is not much known about miracidial receptor function. Miracidial morphology can serve as a suitable characteristic for schistosome species identification. The thesis summarizes the...
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Haematopoiesis in Sea lamprey
Kovář, Martin ; Bartůněk, Petr (advisor) ; Živný, Jan (referee)
To find out if the haematopoietic system is common feature of vertebrates, we decided to examine haematopoiesis in a sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). All blood cells arises from the haematopoietic stem cells in higher vertebrates. We assume that this is common for the higher vertebrates and a jawless vertebrates, but nobody was interested in the jawless haematopoiesis since 1970. Using a reverse genetic, we identify homologues of important hematopoietic of higher vertebrates in transcriptome of the sea lamprey with emphasis on important receptors or transcription factors, because they can be used as the specific markers of different blood cells and their progenitors. Then we use those sequences for cloning, expression measurements and other work. We picked up sea lamprey as model organism because its unique phylogenetic position, important foe evo-devo studies, but also because lack of elementary knowledge about sea lamprey haematopoiesis. Key words: Petromyzon marinus, haematopoiesis, HSC, evo-devo
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