OBJECTIVE: Ion channels play important roles in epithelial transport, but they are difficult to access for conventional electrophysiologic studies in intact placenta. The purpose of this work was to explore the suitability ...

Taurine (Tau), the most abundant amino acid in fetal blood, is highly concentrated in human placenta. During pregnancy, Tau is involved in the neurological development of the fetus, and in volume regulation of the placenta. ...

Nephrolithiasis is one of the most common diseases in the Western world. The disease manifests itself with intensive pain, sporadic infections, and, sometimes, renal failure. The symptoms are due to the appearance of urinary ...

We report the cloning of a guinea pig ClC-5 chloride channel (gpClC-5) from distal small intestinal epithelial cells by RT-PCR and RACE. The transcript is shown to be present in duodenum, jejunum and ileum epithelium by ...

The materno-fetal transfer of metabolites and nutrients requires the operation of specific transport mechanisms through syncytiotrophoblast membranes. Electrophysiological studies on these cells are scarce and, because of ...