电刺激引发骨骼肌细胞钙振荡对nAChRγ启动子活性的影响

利用不同电刺激条件模拟神经电活动 ,研究C2C12细胞 (小鼠骨骼肌成肌细胞系 )内Ca2 + 激活的不同形式及其对nAChR基因表达活性的影响 .电刺激分化 1d的C2C12细胞 ,用共聚焦显微镜记录不同电刺激参数引起的细胞内Ca2 + 信号变化 ,共观察到 3种不同形式的Ca2 + 信号 ,称之为整体Ca2 + 振荡、局部Ca2 + 振荡和局部Ca2 + 振荡诱发的整体Ca2 + 振荡 .在此基础上 ,又构建nAChRγ亚基启动子萤光素酶报告基因质粒并转染C2C12细胞 ,进一步检测不同形式Ca2 + 引起细胞萤光素酶活性的变化 ,测定细胞内PKC活性的改变 .不同Ca2 + 振荡引起细胞内PKC活性升高幅度不同 ;电刺激C2C12细胞可导致nAChRγ基因表达活性降低 ,3种Ca2 + 振荡对nAChRγ基因启动子活性的影响无显著差异 .结果表明 ,电刺激可引起肌细胞产生不同形式Ca2 + 信号 ,但不同形式Ca2 + 信号对nAChRγ启动子活性的抑制无明显差异 ,提示Ca2 + 依赖的PKC途径可能不是nAChR基因表达下调的唯一途径     

电针模拟中医按摩手法产生方法的研究

在提取传统中医按摩手法特征的基础上,提出了一种模拟中医按摩手法的电针产生方法该方法应用符号化测量理论,采用不同域间的问题映射,结合按摩手法的力学和动力学特征,科学地将传统中医按摩手法映射到电气参数域,并以按法为例,设计了模拟按法的电针仪及同心圆电极,解决了传统中医按摩与现代工程技术仪器仪表学科之间结合的问题。     

听觉电生理实时分析系统及其在大鼠下丘信息编码研究中的应用

基于TDT神经电生理软硬件平台和Matlab软件环境,开发了专用于听觉电生理研究的实时分析软件。通过对神经元胞外记录信号的在线处理和分析,可以在实验过程中得到刺激后放电活动时间直方图、平均发放率、首次发放潜伏期等定量分析结果,以及刺激参数变化时神经元发放率的变化曲线,如发放率-刺激强度曲线等。此分析软件被用于大鼠下丘神经元听觉信息编码的研究中,观察到下丘神经元对于纯音和噪声刺激不同的时间响应模式,以及神经元发放率和首次发放潜伏期对声音刺激强度的编码。     

高频电刺激小鼠坐骨神经促进骨骼肌自噬

本研究旨在探讨运动对骨骼肌自噬的调控作用。以小鼠为研究对象,通过高频(100 Hz)电刺激单侧坐骨神经的方法使同侧骨骼肌收缩,以对侧肌肉作为未刺激对照组。分别收集电刺激完成后0、30和60 min的腓肠肌肌肉组织,迅速投入液氮冷冻备用。采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot检测自噬相关基因mRNA与蛋白的表达水平。研究结果显示,在电刺激完成后0 min,相比对侧未刺激骨骼肌,电刺激一侧的骨骼肌腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMP-activated protein kinase,AMPK)活性升高,自噬标志蛋白LC3-II/I比率显著升高,蛋白酶体泛素连接酶基因(atrogin-1和MuRF-1)和自噬相关基因(CathepsinL、Bnip3和Bnip3l)mRNA表达均显著上调,自噬相关蛋白ULK1活性升高。上述结果提示,电刺激引起的骨骼肌收缩可促进骨骼肌自噬水平升高,该过程可能通过AMPK/ULK1介导的信号途径调控。     

基于FPGA的随机字符发生器在ERP中的应用

脑电领域的众多探索一直以来都是各国科学家研究的热点。刺激源是脑电实验中不可或缺的一部分。刺激序列正确编排和稳定发生是诱发脑电信号被正确提取的先决条件。利用可编程逻辑器件作为随机字符信号发生器,使之同时具有计数和VGA显示功能,由此产生的视觉ERP刺激序列,可以作为脑区功能存在病变的病人的理想刺激源。     

GABA能抑制调制大棕蝠下丘神经元对串声刺激的强度敏感性

本文采用不同重复率的串声刺激,模拟大棕蝠回声定位不同阶段听到的调频声纳信号,利用电生理方法和微电泳技术研究不同重复率串刺激条件下GABA能抑制对下丘神经元强度敏感性的影响。结果发现,随串刺激重复率的增加,有的神经元强度敏感性增强,有的神经元强度敏感性则降低。在不同串刺激条件下,微电泳荷包牡丹碱,神经元放电率均增加,随重复率增加强度敏感性增强或减弱的趋势消失,提示GABA能抑制调制下丘神经元对不同重复率串刺激反应的强度敏感性。串刺激强度在最低闽值附近时,微电泳荷包牡丹碱导致放电率增加的百分率最大,随串刺激强度增加,放电率增加的百分率逐渐减小。提示刺激强度较低时,GABA能抑制对下丘神经元强度敏感性的影响更有效。     

基于微机控制的心脏电生理刺激仪的研制

本文介绍一种新的基于微机控制的心脏电生理刺激系统。利用微机可视化界面设置各项刺激参数,然后通过串行口将所有参数传送给外接单片机系统,最后由微机启动控制单片机按照既定模式发放刺激脉冲,同时微机接收单片机反馈的当前状态参数并将其实时显示在可视化界面之上。实践表明,该系统较以往的电生理刺激仪而言功能完备,操作简单,并且监测实时,在临床心脏电生理治疗中具有很大的应用价值。     

小鼠外侧丘系背核上行输入对下丘神经元反应的可塑性影响

听觉系统具备随着环境的变化来改变自身结构和功能的能力,这种能力称为听觉可塑性。中脑下丘(inferior colliculus,IC)是听觉系统重要的中继站,外侧丘系背核(dorsal nuclei of lateral lemniscus,DNLL)上行输入对IC神经元的声反应特性具有重要的定型作用。本研究旨在探讨DNLL上行输入在IC神经元可塑性形成中的作用。以昆明小鼠为实验动物,持续电刺激对侧DNLL,采用单单位细胞外记录的方法观察IC神经元的可塑性变化。结果显示,95%的受抑制IC神经元和86%的受易化IC神经元在对侧DNLL 30 min电刺激停止后仍表现出可塑性的变化。在对侧DNLL电刺激停止1 h后,74%的受抑制IC神经元发生的可塑性变化消失,26%的受抑制IC神经元发生的可塑性变化仍然存在。以上结果提示,对侧DNLL上行输入可引起IC神经元的可塑性变化,并维持较长时间,这有利于提高IC神经元的声信号检测能力。     

视觉假体的研究进展与面临的挑战

人工视觉假体是当今国际上对视网膜色素变性和老年性黄斑病变患者进行视觉修复的研究热点,该人工装置采集外界图像信息,并进行编码处理,通过微电流刺激器将刺激微电流信号加载到微电极阵列,对视觉神经系统进行作用,从而在视觉中枢产生光幻视,实现视觉功能修复。根据目前的国际研究现状,视觉假体可以对视觉通路的任意位置进行电刺激,以期产生视光感。按照植入位置的不同,视觉假体基本上可以分为视皮层假体、视网膜上假体、视网膜下假体和视神经假体。本文着重介绍了中国的C-Sight小组在视神经假体方面的工作进展和面临的挑战。     

离体神经动作电位不同记录方法对刺激伪迹的影响

在蟾蜍离体神经动作电位记录中,系统地观察了不同引导方法与不同刺激方法对刺激伪迹的影响,并且分析了伪迹产生的原因。用隔离变压器刺激神经,刺激电流通过刺激电极与引导电极间的神经、栅漏电阻以及隔离变压器与地之间的电容所组成的阻容串联电路时在栅漏电阻上的分压输入到放大器即表现为伪迹。采用适当的引导方法或减小刺激装置与地间的电容,都可以减小刺激伪迹。当以隔离变压器刺激神经时采用单边输入引导方法将近刺激侧的引导电极接地,伪迹不会很大。不论单边或双边输入引导,在刺激与引导电极之间离引导电极3—5毫米处加一接地电极能使伪迹更进一步减小,甚至完全消失。     

一种动物实验监控系统的设计

本文主要设计动物生命体征参数（体温、呼吸率和脉搏率）的监控系统。硬件电路采用MSP430F5438芯片作为微控制器,体温、呼吸和脉搏生理参数的信号采集使用了相应的信号调理电路和处理电路,主要由电信号转换电路、放大滤波电路、AD转换电路、脉冲转换电路、LCD显示电路、加热垫和蜂鸣器驱动电路等组成。     

Transient finite element modeling of functional electrical stimulation

Transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation is commonly used for strengthening muscle. However, transient effects during stimulation are not yet well explored. The effect of an amplitude change of the stimulation can be described by static model, but there is no differency for different pulse duration. The aim of this study is to present the finite element (FE) model of a transient electrical stimulation on the forearm. Discrete FE equations were derived by using a standard Galerkin procedure. Different tissue conductive and dielectric properties are fitted using least square method and trial and error analysis from experimental measurement. This study showed that FE modeling of electrical stimulation can give the spatial-temporal distribution of applied current in the forearm. Three different cases were modeled with the same geometry but with different input of the current pulse, in order to fit the tissue properties by using transient FE analysis. All three cases were compared with experimental measurements of intramuscular voltage on one volunteer.     

Relief of dental pain by ice massage of the hand.

Patients suffering from acute dental pain were treated with ice massage of the web between the thumb and index finger of the hand on the same side as the painful region. Control groups received tactile massage alone or with explicit suggestion that the massage was intended to alleviate their pain. Changes in pain intensity produced by the procedures were measured with the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Ice massage decreased the intensity of the dental pain by 50% or more in the majority of patients. Furthermore, the pain reductions produced by ice massage were significantly larger than those produced by tactile massage alone or with explicit suggestion. The results indicate that ice massage has pain-reducing effects comparable to those of transcutaneous electrical stimulation and acupuncture. The fact that cold signals are transmitted to the spinal cord exclusively by A-delta fibres and not by C fibres provides a potential method for differentiating the various feedback systems that mediate analgesia produced by different forms of intense sensory input. Ice massage provides a simple method for the palliative control of pain in dental clinics.     

Essential Role of Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter in the Generation of Mitochondrial pH Gradient and Metabolism-Secretion Coupling in Insulin-releasing Cells

In pancreatic β-cells, ATP acts as a signaling molecule initiating plasma membrane electrical activity linked to Ca²⁺ influx, which triggers insulin exocytosis. The mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU) mediates Ca²⁺ uptake into the organelle, where energy metabolism is further stimulated for sustained second phase insulin secretion. Here, we have studied the contribution of the MCU to the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation and metabolism-secretion coupling in intact and permeabilized clonal β-cells as well as rat pancreatic islets. Knockdown of MCU with siRNA transfection blunted matrix Ca²⁺ rises, decreased nutrient-stimulated ATP production as well as insulin secretion. Furthermore, MCU knockdown lowered the expression of respiratory chain complexes, mitochondrial metabolic activity, and oxygen consumption. The pH gradient formed across the inner mitochondrial membrane following nutrient stimulation was markedly lowered in MCU-silenced cells. In contrast, nutrient-induced hyperpolarization of the electrical gradient was not altered. In permeabilized cells, knockdown of MCU ablated matrix acidification in response to extramitochondrial Ca²⁺. Suppression of the putative Ca²⁺/H⁺ antiporter leucine zipper-EF hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 (LETM1) also abolished Ca²⁺-induced matrix acidification. These results demonstrate that MCU-mediated Ca²⁺ uptake is essential to establish a nutrient-induced mitochondrial pH gradient which is critical for sustained ATP synthesis and metabolism-secretion coupling in insulin-releasing cells.     

THE WELL-CONNECTED MICROPHONE: MICROPHONES AND INPUT CIRCUITS

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the effect that placing a transformer between a microphone and the following electrical input has on a signal. Proper application is discussed and the results from improper application are illustrated. A brief glossary of technical terms is included.     

Fatigue compensation during FES using surface EMG

Muscle fatigue limits the effectiveness of FES when applied to regain functional movements in spinal cord injured (SCI) individuals. The stimulation intensity must be manually increased to provide more force output to compensate for the decreasing muscle force due to fatigue. An artificial neural network (ANN) system was designed to compensate for muscle fatigue during functional electrical stimulation (FES) by maintaining a constant joint angle. Surface electromyography signals (EMG) from electrically stimulated muscles were used to determine when to increase the stimulation intensity when the muscle’s output started to drop.

In two separate experiments on able-bodied subjects seated in hard back chairs, electrical stimulation was continuously applied to fatigue either the biceps (during elbow flexion) or the quadriceps muscle (during leg extension) while recording the surface EMG. An ANN system was created using processed surface EMG as the input, and a discrete fatigue compensation control signal, indicating when to increase the stimulation current, as the output. In order to provide training examples and test the systems’ performance, the stimulation current amplitude was manually increased to maintain constant joint angles. Manual stimulation amplitude increases were required upon observing a significant decrease in the joint angle. The goal of the ANN system was to generate fatigue compensation control signals in an attempt to maintain a constant joint angle.

On average, the systems could correctly predict 78.5% of the instances at which a stimulation increase was required to maintain the joint angle. The performance of these ANN systems demonstrates the feasibility of using surface EMG feedback in an FES control system.     

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for skeletal muscle function

Lack of neural innervation due to neurological damage renders muscle unable to produce force. Use of electrical stimulation is a medium in which investigators have tried to find a way to restore movement and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Different methods of applying electrical current to modify neuromuscular activity are electrical stimulation (ES), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and functional electrical stimulation (FES). This review covers the aspects of electrical stimulation used for rehabilitation and functional purposes. Discussed are the various parameters of electrical stimulation, including frequency, pulse width/duration, duty cycle, intensity/amplitude, ramp time, pulse pattern, program duration, program frequency, and muscle group activated, and how they affect fatigue in the stimulated muscle.     

Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter MCU Supports Cytoplasmic Ca2+ Oscillations,Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry and Ca2+-Dependent Gene Expression in Response to Receptor Stimulation

Ca²⁺ flux into mitochondria is an important regulator of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ signals, energy production and cell death pathways. Ca²⁺ uptake can occur through the recently discovered mitochondrial uniporter channel (MCU) but whether the MCU is involved in shaping Ca²⁺ signals and downstream responses to physiological levels of receptor stimulation is unknown. Here, we show that modest stimulation of leukotriene receptors with the pro-inflammatory signal LTC₄ evokes a series of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ oscillations that are rapidly and faithfully propagated into mitochondrial matrix. Knockdown of MCU or mitochondrial depolarisation, to reduce the driving force for Ca²⁺ entry into the matrix, prevents the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ rise and accelerates run down of the oscillations. The loss of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ oscillations appeared to be a consequence of enhanced Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation of InsP₃ receptors, which arose from the loss of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ buffering. Ca²⁺ dependent gene expression in response to leukotriene receptor activation was suppressed following knockdown of the MCU. In addition to buffering Ca²⁺ release, mitochondria also sequestrated Ca²⁺ entry through store-operated Ca²⁺ channels and this too was prevented following loss of MCU. MCU is therefore an important regulator of physiological pulses of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺.     

一种用于自由活动动物的微型多模式遥控刺激器

本文采用集成有射频功能的片上系统(nRF24E1),研制了一种用于自由活动小动物的微型多模式遥控刺激器。刺激参数的设置及结果分析均由10 m外的个人计算机进行。通过离体实验,即刺激蛙坐骨神经干时产生动作电位并可观察到伪迹;及在体大鼠的训练操作性条件反射的行为学实验,即在Y臂迷宫中训练大鼠听到不同声音完成左右运动,如果完成正确给予前脑内侧束以电刺激,我们观察到5 d内大鼠的正确率增加3倍,达到93．5％。上述实验都验证了该刺激器的有效性与稳定性。本系统具有体积小(18 mm×28 mm双层线路板)、重量轻(不含电池5 g)、简单、实用、可靠等特点,能有效地用于自由活动小动物的实验研究。为基于电刺激的小动物行为训练(动物机器人)及相关神经生理学实验研究,提供了新的实验条件和实验手段。     

Localization of Thermoreceptor Systems that Induce Step-Up and Step-Down Thermophobic Responses and Switching in the Dominance of These Systems in Blepharisma

The distribution of thermoreceptor systems that initiate step-up and step-down thermophobic responses in bisected cells of Blepharisma was examined. Anterior cell fragments responded by ciliary reversal to a step-down in temperature and by repression of spontaneous ciliary reversal to a step-up. Posterior fragments responded by ciliary reversal to a step-up in thermal stimulation and by repression of spontaneous ciliary reversal in response to step-down stimulation. Results indicate that two kinds of thermoreceptor systems exist in the anterior half of each cell; one is responsible for ciliary reversal induced by step-down stimulation, and the other is responsible for repression of the ciliary reversal caused by step-up thermal stimulation. Likewise, there are also two kinds of thermoreceptor systems in the posterior half of the cell; one is responsible for ciliary reversal in response to a step-up in temperature, and the other is responsible for the repression of ciliary reversal on a step-down in thermal stimulation. Below about 27°C, intact cells showed ciliary reversal only when a step-down in thermal stimulation occurred, while above about 27°C cells only responded to a step-up in thermal stimulation. At about 27°C there was a switch in the dominant response from the anterior to the posterior half of an individual cell.