中枢神经递质和信息传递

中枢神经递质通过与膜上的相应的神经递质受体相结合,启动膜上的某种离子通道,产生兴奋或抑制效应,起到信息传递和调节生理功能的作用。     

兴奋性氨基酸介导脊髓伤害性信息传递

ＮＭＤＡ和非ＮＭＤＡ受体广泛存在于猫脊髓背角神经元上,并参与介导伤害性信息传递;ＮＭＤＡ受体主要介导皮肤的伤害性传入,非ＮＭＤＡ受体则主要介导肌肉和内脏的伤害性传入;皮肤和肌肉的伤害性传入分别诱发释放更多的门冬氨酸和谷氨酸可能是这种差别的主要原因之一;ＮＭＤＡ受体的不同调节位点在伤害性信息传递中有密切的协同作用;兴奋性氨基酸和Ｐ物质及其受体在介导和调制伤害性信息传递中的相互作用可以分别发生在神经元     

生态系统的信息传递及其利用

信息传递是生态系统的基本功能之一。在传递过程中伴随着一定的物质和能量的消耗。但是信息传递不象物质流那样是循环的,也不象能流那样是单向的,而往往是双向的,有从输入到输出的信息传递,也有从输出向输入的信息反馈。按照控制论的观点,正由于这种信息流,才使生态系统产生了有一定范围的自动调节机制。生态系统中包含多种多样的信息,大致上可以分为物理信息、化学信息、营养信息和行为信息。下面简单介绍各类信息及其在实践上的应用。 (一)物理信息及其应用生态系统中的各     

Integrins介导的细胞信息传递

Ｉｎｔｅｒｇｒｉｎｓ是细胞粘附分子的重要组成成分,是介导细胞－细胞、细胞－细胞外基质相互识别和作用的主要分子,近来的研究表明,Ｉｎｔｅｇｒｉｎｓ通过蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化、增高细胞内Ｃａ＾２＋浓度、提高细胞内ｐＨ值和改变肌醇酯代谢等机制,参与了细胞内外信息的传递。     

植物细胞的肌醇磷脂信息传递系统

本文就（1）肌醇磷脂信息传递系统在植物中的存在,（2）肌醇磷脂的代谢途径、特点,（3）肌醇磷脂信息传递系统在外界刺激与生理生化反应之间的联系作用三个方面的研究进展进行介绍,并讨论这一领域研究中存在的问题和遇到的困难。     

大鼠初级感觉神经外周末梢间信息传递的观察

实验切断麻醉大鼠一侧Ｔ５－Ｌ１脊神经背部皮支的中枢端,用５０Ｈｚ,０．２ｍｓ,总时间为２ｓ的方波逆行刺激其中一皮支的外周端,记录其相邻皮支的电活动。结果发现刺激停止后２５ｓ内被记录皮支的放电迅速增加,继而逐渐恢复到刺激前的水平;４１４个序列实验结果的累积时程分析表明：被记录皮支的放电频率在刺激停止后的第２秒达最大值,并持续３ｓ,从第５秒开始逐渐下降,第２５秒及以后恢复到刺激前的水平;放电频率的增加     

植物体内蛋白质磷酸化及其在信息传递中的作用

本文概述了蛋白质磷酸化作用及其在细胞信息传递中的作用以及目前植物体内发现的蛋白激酶类以及经受磷酸化作用的蛋白质和酶类。     

哺乳动物舌面味蕾的发育

根据近年来有关大鼠、小鼠味觉发育方面的大量研究,对哺乳动物味蕾(taste buds)发育的情况进行了综述和讨论.哺乳动物舌面上的味蕾分布在菌状乳头(fungiform papillae,FF)、叶状乳头(foliate papillae,FL)、轮廓状乳头(circumvallate papillae,CV)之中,味蕾细胞(taste bud cells)不断地进行着周期性的更新,味蕾的形态、数量和功能随动物随年龄而变化.有关味孔头的研究表明,味乳头(gustatory papillae)在味蕾形成和维持味蕾存在及正常发育方面有着独特的功能.味乳头和味蕾的发育过程与细胞信号分子(signaling molecules)、味觉神经(gustatory nerve fibers)等许多因素有着密切的关系,其中有些作用机理至今尚无定论.     

Functional Cell Types in Taste Buds Have Distinct Longevities

Taste buds are clusters of polarized sensory cells embedded in stratified oral epithelium. In adult mammals, taste buds turn over continuously and are replenished through the birth of new cells in the basal layer of the surrounding non-sensory epithelium. The half-life of cells in mammalian taste buds has been estimated as 8–12 days on average. Yet, earlier studies did not address whether the now well-defined functional taste bud cell types all exhibit the same lifetime. We employed a recently developed thymidine analog, 5-ethynil-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) to re-evaluate the incorporation of newly born cells into circumvallate taste buds of adult mice. By combining EdU-labeling with immunostaining for selected markers, we tracked the differentiation and lifespan of the constituent cell types of taste buds. EdU was primarily incorporated into basal extragemmal cells, the principal source for replenishing taste bud cells. Undifferentiated EdU-labeled cells began migrating into circumvallate taste buds within 1 day of their birth. Type II (Receptor) taste cells began to differentiate from EdU-labeled precursors beginning 2 days after birth and then were eliminated with a half-life of 8 days. Type III (Presynaptic) taste cells began differentiating after a delay of 3 days after EdU-labeling, and they survived much longer, with a half-life of 22 days. We also scored taste bud cells that belong to neither Type II nor Type III, a heterogeneous group that includes mostly Type I cells, and also undifferentiated or immature cells. A non-linear decay fit described these cells as two sub-populations with half-lives of 8 and 24 days respectively. Our data suggest that many post-mitotic cells may remain quiescent within taste buds before differentiating into mature taste cells. A small number of slow-cycling cells may also exist within the perimeter of the taste bud. Based on their incidence, we hypothesize that these may be progenitors for Type III cells.     

Voltage Dependence of ATP Secretion in Mammalian Taste Cells

Mammalian type II taste cells release the afferent neurotransmitter adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through ATP-permeable ion channels, most likely to be connexin (Cx) and/or pannexin hemichannels. Here, we show that ion channels responsible for voltage-gated (VG) outward currents in type II cells are ATP permeable and demonstrate a strong correlation between the magnitude of the VG current and the intensity of ATP release. These findings suggest that slowly deactivating ion channels transporting the VG outward currents can also mediate ATP secretion in type II cells. In line with this inference, we studied a dependence of ATP secretion on membrane voltage with a cellular ATP sensor using different pulse protocols. These were designed on the basis of predictions of a model of voltage-dependent transient ATP efflux. Consistently with curves that were simulated for ATP release mediated by ATP-permeable channels deactivating slowly, the bell-like and Langmuir isotherm–like potential dependencies were characteristic of ATP secretion obtained for prolonged and short electrical stimulations of taste cells, respectively. These observations strongly support the idea that ATP is primarily released via slowly deactivating channels. Depolarizing voltage pulses produced negligible Ca²⁺ transients in the cytoplasm of cells releasing ATP, suggesting that ATP secretion is mainly governed by membrane voltage under our recording conditions. With the proviso that natural connexons and pannexons are kinetically similar to exogenously expressed hemichannels, our findings suggest that VG ATP release in type II cells is primarily mediated by Cx hemichannels.     

Phagocytic Cells in the Taste Buds of Rat Circumvallate Papillae after Denervation

Phagocytic cells in the taste buds of rat circumvallate papillaeafter the sectioning of bilateral glossopharyngeal nerves wereexamined by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Electronmicrographs taken 1 day after denervation revealed that flat-shapedcells were present just beneath the taste buds and that theircellular processes extended toward the debris from the degeneratingtaste buds. At 2–6 days after denervation, long and thinprocesses of the flat cells surrounded the debris and appearedto have taken them up into the cytoplasm as small vesicles.Evidence for phagocytosis by the flat cells was seen up to 9days after denervation and again at 24 and 40 days, in correlationto the degeneration and regeneration of the taste buds. Pre-embeddingimmunohistochemistry using anti-vimentin antibody showed thatflat cells strongly reacted with vimentin. Light microscopicimmunohistochemistry using anti-macrophage antibodies (ED1,ED2) showed that throughout the post-operative days macrophageswere not present underneath or within the taste buds. Most ofthe ED2-immunoreactive resident macrophages were located inthe deep layer of connective tissue, and a few were found inthe nerve bundle. ED1-immunoreactive cells were seen in theduct cells of von Ebner's glands and a few were in the trenchwall of circumvallate papillae; however, they were also immunoreactivefor anti-OX62 antibody, which recognizes dendritic cells. Theresults indicate that the phagocytic cells of the taste budsare fibroblasts, not macrophages. Moreover, resident macrophagesparticipate in phagocytosis of degenerated nerves together withSchwann cells. Chem. Senses. 21: 467–476, 1996.     

Contribution of Underlying Connective Tissue Cells to Taste Buds in Mouse Tongue and Soft Palate

Taste buds, the sensory organs for taste, have been described as arising solely from the surrounding epithelium, which is in distinction from other sensory receptors that are known to originate from neural precursors, i.e., neural ectoderm that includes neural crest (NC). Our previous study suggested a potential contribution of NC derived cells to early immature fungiform taste buds in late embryonic (E18.5) and young postnatal (P1-10) mice. In the present study we demonstrated the contribution of the underlying connective tissue (CT) to mature taste buds in mouse tongue and soft palate. Three independent mouse models were used for fate mapping of NC and NC derived connective tissue cells: (1) P0-Cre/R26-tdTomato (RFP) to label NC, NC derived Schwann cells and derivatives; (2) Dermo1-Cre/RFP to label mesenchymal cells and derivatives; and (3) Vimentin-CreER/mGFP to label Vimentin-expressing CT cells and derivatives upon tamoxifen treatment. Both P0-Cre/RFP and Dermo1-Cre/RFP labeled cells were abundant in mature taste buds in lingual taste papillae and soft palate, but not in the surrounding epithelial cells. Concurrently, labeled cells were extensively distributed in the underlying CT. RFP signals were seen in the majority of taste buds and all three types (I, II, III) of differentiated taste bud cells, with the neuronal-like type III cells labeled at a greater proportion. Further, Vimentin-CreER labeled cells were found in the taste buds of 3-month-old mice whereas Vimentin immunoreactivity was only seen in the CT. Taken together, our data demonstrate a previously unrecognized origin of taste bud cells from the underlying CT, a conceptually new finding in our knowledge of taste bud cell derivation, i.e., from both the surrounding epithelium and the underlying CT that is primarily derived from NC.     

哺乳动物味觉感受机制研究进展

味觉系统对于食品风味、营养和毒害的"主动认知"对保证哺乳动物生存具有积极意义。哺乳动物具有甜、鲜、苦、咸、酸五类基本味觉。近年来,随着微电子技术及分子生物学等学科的快速发展,人类对味觉系统的研究取得了较大的进展。呈味分子与味觉感受器上的受体结合后,引起味觉细胞去极化和神经递质的释放,神经纤维接收递质并将产生的神经信号传达到脑的味觉感受区,完成味觉识别过程。本文对味觉系统中味觉感受器的组成、味觉受体介导的信号途径以及味觉信息的神经传导过程进行了系统的论述。     

Electron Microscopic Observations on the Taste Buds of the Rabbit

An examination of the fine structure of the taste buds in the rabbit was undertaken. Gustatory epithelium was fixed in OsO₄ or 1 per cent KMnO₄ solution, containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Thick sections were examined in the phase microscope and contiguous sections prepared for the electron microscope. The bud contains two types of cells, gustatory receptors and sustentacular cells. The receptors are characterized by a dark nucleus and densely granular cytoplasm. The apical processes bear numerous microvilli which extend into the taste pore. Imbedded between the microvilli there is a dense substance, which is also present in the apical cytoplasm of the receptors. The sustentacular cells contain a large pale nucleus and less dense cytoplasm. Their basal surfaces rest upon a basement membrane. The subepithelial nerve plexuses comprise the fibers which innervate the gustatory receptors. The nerve fibers vary in diameter from 500 A to 0.3 µ, and are ensheathed by Schwann cells. The intragemmal fibers enter the taste bud between adjacent cells, and are ensheathed by the plasma membranes of the supporting cell until they synapse upon the gustatory cell. The synaptic terminals contain synaptic vesicles, which at this junction reside in the postsynaptic element. This observation is discussed with reference to synapses described elsewhere in the nervous system.     

Effects of Butyrate on Cell Cycle Progression and Polyploidization of Various Types of Mammalian Cells

We studied the effect of butyrate on cell cycle progression and polyploidization in three fibroblast (rat 3Yl, human IMR-90, and human embryo lung HEL) and two epithelial (human embryo kidney HEK and monkey kidney BSC-1) cells. In these cells, except for 3Y1, G1 arrest with butyrate was incomplete, and the production of tetraploid cells was detectable in the presence of butyrate. G2 arrest with butyrate was also incomplete in HEL and BSC-1 cells, and the number of HEL cells increased in the presence of butyrate. On the contrary, most BSC-1 cells that divided in the presence of butyrate were unstable and the number of attached cells decreased. These results indicate that the effect of butyrate on cell cycle progression varies with the cell type and that polyploidization can be induced by a single treatment with butyrate.     

Changes in Outward K+ Currents in Response to Two Types of Sweeteners in Sweet Taste Transduction of Gerbil Taste Cells

Using the whole cell patch clamp technique, we measured changesin outward K⁺ currents of gerbil taste cells in response todifferent kinds of sweeteners. Outward K⁺ currents of the tastecell induced by depolarizing pulses were suppressed by sweetstimuli such as 10 mM Na-saccharin. The membrane-permeable analogof cAMP, cpt-cAMP, also decreased outward K⁺ currents. On theother hand, the K+ currents were enhanced by amino acid sweetenerssuch as 10 mM D-tryptophan. The outward K⁺ current was enhancedby external application of Ca²⁺-transporting ionophore, 5 µMionomycin, and intracellular application of 5 µM inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate(IP₃). The outward K⁺ currents were no longer suppressed by10 mM Na-saccharin containing 20 µM gurmarin, but werestill enhanced by 10 mM D-tryptophan containing 20 µMgurmarin. These results suggest that sweet taste transductionfor one group of sweeteners such as Na-saccharin in gerbilsis concerned with an increase of the intracellular cAMP level,and that the transduction for the other group of sweetenerssuch as D-tryptophan is concerned with an increase of the intracellularIP₃ level which releases Ca²⁺ from the internal stores. Chem.Senses 22: 163–169, 1997.