Weak field influence on biomolecular changes

Model equations for the kinetics of the synthesis and decay of molecular aggregates are used to show the high sensitivity of equilibrium concentrations of high-molecular aggregates to external radiation. This phenomenon is used to explain the effects of low-intensity microwave fields on the functioning of biological systems. The experimental results on the influence of SHF-radiation on ferricyanide reduction by erythrocytes are interpreted in detail.     

MicroRNA-222 alleviates radiation-induced apoptosis by targeting BCL2L11 in cochlea hair cells

Radiation-induced hair cell injury is detrimental for human health but the underlying mechanism is not clear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have critical roles in various types of cellular biological processes. The present study investigated the role of miR-222 in the regulation of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced cell injury in auditory cells and its underlying mechanism. Real-time PCR was performed to identify the expression profile of miR-222 in the cochlea hair cell line HEI-OC1 after IR exposure. miRNA mimics or inhibitor-mediated up- or down-regulation of indicated miRNA was applied to characterize the biological effects of miR-222 using MTT, apoptosis and DNA damage assay. Bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter assays were applied to identify an miRNA target gene. Our study confirmed that IR treatment significantly suppressed miR-222 levels in a dose-dependent manner. Up-regulation of miR-222 enhances cell viability and alleviated IR-induced apoptosis and DNA damage in HEI-OC1 cells. In addition, BCL-2-like protein 11 (BCL2L11) was validated as a direct target of miR-222. Overexpression of BCL2L11 abolished the protective effects of miR-222 in IR-treated HEI-OC1 cells. Moreover, miR-222 alleviated IR-induced apoptosis and DNA damage by directly targeting BCL2L11. The present study demonstrates that miR-222 exhibits protective effects against irradiation-induced cell injury by directly targeting BCL2L11 in cochlear cells.     

Auditory anatomy of beaked whales and other odontocetes: Potential for cochlear stimulation via a “vibroacoustic duct mechanism”

Computed tomography (CT) and microcomputed tomography (microCT) were used to examine the structures involved in cochlear stimulation in odontocetes and terrestrial mammals. Cranial CT examined the osseous attachment of the skull to the tympanoperiotic complex (TPC) and the path of the endocranial foramen of the vestibulocochlear nerve (EFVN), which was assumed to contain the perilymphatic duct. Additional CTs of TPC were taken postextraction to examine the gross morphology of this structure. MicroCT was used to examine the acoustic windows of the cochlea, including the round and oval windows and the apertures of the cochlear and vestibular aqueducts. Cranial CT scans demonstrated an osseous connection between the skull and TPC in beaked whales and Physeter macrocephalus. EFVN traveled through a greater length of cranial bone and communicated more closely with the periotic bone in beaked whales than in other species. Ziphius cavirostris was observed to have a reduced medial sulcus of the mallear ridge (MSMR) and tympanic plate and an enlarged aperture of the cochlear aqueduct, respectively. The potential significance of these findings, including the role of the perilymphatic duct as a novel route of cochlear stimulation referred to as the “vibroacoustic duct mechanism,” are discussed.     

Mathematical models of cochlear nucleus onset neurons: I. Point neuron with many weak synaptic inputs

The cochlear nucleus (CN) presents a unique opportunity for quantitatively studying input-output transformations by neurons because it gives rise to a variety of different response types from a relatively homogeneous input source, the auditory nerve (AN). Particularly interesting among CN neurons are Onset (On) neurons, which have a prominent response to the onset of sustained sounds followed by little or no response in the steady-state. On neurons contrast sharply with their AN inputs, which respond vigorously throughout stimuli. On neurons can entrain to stimuli (firing once per cycle of a periodic stimulus) at up to 1000 Hz, unlike their AN inputs. To understand the mechanisms underlying these response patterns, we tested whether an integrate-to-threshold point-neuron model with a fixed refractory period can account for On discharge patterns for tones, systematically examining the effect of membrane time constant and the number and strength of the exclusively excitatory AN synaptic inputs. To produce both onset responses to high-frequency tone bursts and entrainment to a broad range of low-frequency tones, the model must have a short time constant (0.125 ms) and a large number (>100) of weak synaptic inputs, properties that are consistent with the electrical properties and anatomy of On-responding cells. With these parameters, the model acts like a coincidence detector with a threshold-like relationship between the instantaneous discharge rates of the output and the inputs. Onset responses to high-frequency tone bursts result because the threshold effect enhances the initial response of the AN inputs and suppresses their relatively lower sustained response. However, when the model entrains across a broad range of frequencies, it also produces short interspike intervals at the onset of high-frequency tone bursts, a response pattern not found in all types of On neurons. These results show a tradeoff, that may be a general property of many neurons, between following rapid stimulus fluctuations and responding without short interspike intervals at the onset of sustained stimuli.     

A partial-complementary adapter for an improved and simplified ligation-mediated suppression PCR technique

Ligation-mediated suppression PCR (LMS-PCR) is a powerful tool for walking in unknown genomic DNA regions from known adjacent sequences. This approach has made it feasible to obtain promoter sequences and to enable researchers to identify full-length gene sequences or isoforms of multigene families. However, the advantages of LMS-PCR can be obviated by the presence of incomplete base modifications on the suppression adapters. We propose here that a 'partial-complementary adapter' is a more reliable suppression adapter, demanding only 5'-end phosphorylation. We also describe a simplified procedure for the easier preparation of PCR templates with very small quantities of DNA and a fast and direct characterization of the suppression-PCR products. A set of practical guidelines is proposed for pre-checking the efficiency of the adapter modification using two model systems: bacteriophage lambda (lambda) and Arabidopsis.     

The Effects of Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Radiation on Cochlear Stria Marginal Cells in Sprague–Dawley Rats

To investigate the possible mechanisms for biological effects of 1,800 MHz mobile radiofrequency radiation (RFR), the radiation-specific absorption rate was applied at 2 and 4 W/kg, and the exposure mode was 5 min on and 10 min off (conversation mode). Exposure time was 24 h short-term exposure. Following exposure, to detect cell DNA damage, cell apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, the Comet assay test, flow cytometry, DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride) staining, and a fluorescent probe were used, respectively. Our experiments revealed that mobile phone RFR did not cause DNA damage in marginal cells, and the rate of cell apoptosis did not increase (P > 0.05). However, the production of ROS in the 4 W/kg exposure group was greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that mobile phone energy was insufficient to cause cell DNA damage and cell apoptosis following short-term exposure, but the cumulative effect of mobile phone radiation still requires further confirmation. Activation of the ROS system plays a significant role in the biological effects of RFR. Bioelectromagnetics. © 2020 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Functional,Morphological, and Evolutionary Characterization of Hearing in Subterranean,Eusocial African Mole-Rats

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Central projections of the lagena (the third otolith endorgan of the inner ear) in the pigeon

Central projections of the lagena were studied in the pigeon using transport of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) that was locally applied to the lagenar epithelium through the opened cochlear canal. Descending (dorsocaudal part) and superior (middle part) vestibular nuclei were the main rhombencephalon structures with the maximum density of labeled fibers and terminals. Lesser numbers of labeled fibers were observed in the ventral part of the lateral vestibular nucleus and also in the medial vestibular nucleus; single labeled fibers were found in the cochlear nuclei. In the cases where BDA diffused not only in the lagena but also on the basilar papilla after application of the marker to the cochlear canal, considerable numbers of labeled fibers were observed in the cochlear nuclei; apart from this, the pattern of distribution of labeled fibers in the vestibular nuclei did not differ in general from that described above (in the case of a sufficiently local application of BDA only to the lagena). Efferent lagenar neurons were localized ventrally with respect to the vestibular nuclei, in particular in the nucl. reticularis pontis caudalis. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 199–210, May–June, 2008.     

Hox2 Genes Are Required for Tonotopic Map Precision and Sound Discrimination in the Mouse Auditory Brainstem

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