Biomaterial Database

Biophysical characteristics of oxytocin secretory granules isolated from ovine corpora lutea. 1988

G E Rice

Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Luteal oxytocin-containing secretory granules have been isolated and characterized in terms of their physicochemical parameters. The isopynic sedimentation density (1.03 +/- 0.003 g/ml) and sedimentation coefficient (1670 S, 0.32 mol sucrose/l, 4 degrees C) of these granules have been estimated. Based upon these estimates, the average vesicle diameter (258 +/- 17 nm) and vesicle weight (9.92 +/- 0.67 fg/vesicle) were calculated. The exchangeable water content (58.2%) of these granules was determined using density gradients prepared with deuterium oxide. Luteal oxytocin-containing granules displayed similar physicochemical characteristics to those reported for neurohypophysial peptide-containing granules, with the exception of particle size. Luteal granules were 1.3 times greater in diameter than neurohypophysial granules.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010121	Oxytocin	A nonapeptide hormone released from the neurohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, POSTERIOR). It differs from VASOPRESSIN by two amino acids at residues 3 and 8. Oxytocin acts on SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS, such as causing UTERINE CONTRACTIONS and MILK EJECTION.	Ocytocin,Pitocin,Syntocinon
D010904	Pituitary Gland, Posterior	Neural tissue of the pituitary gland, also known as the neurohypophysis. It consists of the distal AXONS of neurons that produce VASOPRESSIN and OXYTOCIN in the SUPRAOPTIC NUCLEUS and the PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS. These axons travel down through the MEDIAN EMINENCE, the hypothalamic infundibulum of the PITUITARY STALK, to the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.	Neurohypophysis,Infundibular Process,Lobus Nervosus,Neural Lobe,Pars Nervosa of Pituitary,Posterior Lobe of Pituitary,Gland, Posterior Pituitary,Infundibular Processes,Lobe, Neural,Lobes, Neural,Nervosus, Lobus,Neural Lobes,Pituitary Pars Nervosa,Pituitary Posterior Lobe,Posterior Pituitary Gland,Posterior Pituitary Glands,Process, Infundibular,Processes, Infundibular
D011189	Potassium Chloride	A white crystal or crystalline powder used in BUFFERS; FERTILIZERS; and EXPLOSIVES. It can be used to replenish ELECTROLYTES and restore WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE in treating HYPOKALEMIA.	Slow-K,Chloride, Potassium
D002458	Cell Fractionation	Techniques to partition various components of the cell into SUBCELLULAR FRACTIONS.	Cell Fractionations,Fractionation, Cell,Fractionations, Cell
D002500	Centrifugation, Isopycnic	A technique used to separate particles according to their densities in a continuous density gradient. The sample is usually mixed with a solution of known gradient materials and subjected to centrifugation. Each particle sediments to the position at which the gradient density is equal to its own. The range of the density gradient is usually greater than that of the sample particles. It is used in purifying biological materials such as proteins, nucleic acids, organelles, and cell types.	Isopycnic Centrifugation
D003338	Corpus Luteum	The yellow body derived from the ruptured OVARIAN FOLLICLE after OVULATION. The process of corpus luteum formation, LUTEINIZATION, is regulated by LUTEINIZING HORMONE.	Corpora Lutea,Lutea, Corpora
D003594	Cytoplasmic Granules	Condensed areas of cellular material that may be bounded by a membrane.	Cytoplasmic Granule,Granule, Cytoplasmic,Granules, Cytoplasmic
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001703	Biophysics	The study of PHYSICAL PHENOMENA and PHYSICAL PROCESSES as applied to living things.	Mechanobiology