| PAF | paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; peroxisomal assembly factor; phosphodiesterase-activating factor; pl... |
|---|---|
| SF | Sabin-Feldman [test]; safety factor; salt-free; scarlet fever; screen film; seminal fluid; serosal f... |
| TF | free thyroxine; tactile fremitus; tail flick [reflex]; temperature factor; testicular feminization; ... |
| DF | decapacitation factor; decontamination factor; deferoxamine; deficiency factor; defined flora [anima... |
| GRF | gastrin-releasing factor; genetically related macrophage factor; gonadotropin-releasing factor; grow... |
| stimulus secretion coupling | A term used to describe the events that link receipt of a stimulus with the release of materials from membrane bounded vesicles (the analogy is with excitation contraction coupling in the control of muscle contraction). A classical example is the link between membrane depolarisation at the presynaptic terminal and the release of neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| ionic coupling | <chemistry> The same as electrical coupling. (18 Nov 1997) |
| electrical coupling | <physiology> General term for an intimate cytoplasmic contact, mediated by gap junctions, between touching cells, such that electrical current injected into either cell changes the membrane potential of both. In neurons, arrays of gap junctions form electrical synapses, that allow action potentials to pass directly between cells. However, electrical coupling is not confined to excitable cells: many embryonic and adult epithelia are coupled, possibly to allow metabolic cooperation. (18 Nov 1997) |
| electromagnetic coupling | <physics> A means of extracting energy from a magnetically confined plasma, where the plasma expands and pushes on the confining magnetic field, causing electrical energy to be generated in the external field-generating circuits. (09 Oct 1997) |
| energy coupling | <chemistry> The tranfer of energy produced in one reaction to another. (09 Oct 1997) |
| excitation contraction coupling | <physiology> Name given to the chain of processes coupling excitation of a muscle by the arrival of a nervous impulse at the motor end plate to the contraction of the filaments of the sarcomere. The crucial link is the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the analogy is often drawn between this and stimulus secretion coupling, that also involves calcium release into the cytoplasm. (18 Nov 1997) |
| fixed coupling | Where several premature beats are seen, the interval between each of them and the preceding normal beat is constant. Synonym: constant coupling. Variable coupling, where several extrasystoles are seen, the interval between each of them and the preceding sinus beat varies. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accelerator factor | <chemical> Heat- and storage-labile plasma glycoprotein which accelerates the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin in blood coagulation. Factor v accomplishes this by forming a complex with factor xa, phospholipid, and calcium (prothrombinase complex). Deficiency of factor v leads to owren's disease. Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor V (12 Dec 1998) |
| acetate replacement factor | <biochemistry> 1,2 dithiolane 3 valeric acid. Regarded as a coenzyme in the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex of the citric acid cycle. Involved generally in oxidative decarboxylations of _ keto acids. A growth factor for some organisms. (18 Nov 1997) |
| adrenal weight factor | A postulated substance of adenohypophysial origin responsible for maintenance of the weight of the adrenal cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenocorticotropic releasing factor | Hormone produced by hypothalamus that causes pituitary to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| a-factor | <molecular biology> A protein which is found in the bacterial genus Streptomyces that helps start the production of streptomycin and the process of morphological differentiation. It is used in biotechnology to induce these functions in mutant strains of Streptomyces that cannot produce it themselves. (09 Feb 1998) |
| angiogenesis factor | Substance causing proliferation of new blood vessels. It is found in tissues with high metabolic requirements, such as the retina, and in certain cancers. The factor is also released by hypoxic macrophages at the edges or outer surfaces of wounds and initiates revascularization in wound healing. (12 Dec 1998) |
| animal protein factor | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, important in the proper function of the nervous system and important in proper carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. (27 Sep 1997) |
| antialopecia factor | A member of the vitamin B complex necessary for growth of yeast and of mice, absence from the diet causes hair loss and dermatitis in mice. (27 Sep 1997) |