Capsaicin Modifies Responses of Rat Chorda Tympani Nerve Fibers to NaCl

Single-fiber preparations of the rat chorda tympani (CT) nervewere used to study the mechanism of action of capsaicin on salt-tastetransduction. Capsaicin selectively suppressed the responsesto NaCl of the CT nerve fibers (N-fibers) that are sodium-specific(insensitive or poorly sensitive to potassium). Among the morebroadly responsive, cation-sensitive fibers (E-fibers) thereare two subtypes, both of which responded to capsaicin but indifferent ways (‘enhanced’ type and ‘suppressed’type). In both N- and E-fibers, 5% ethanol (the vehicle forcapsaicin) slightly reduced the response to 100 mM NaCl. Thesuppressive effect of capsaicin on the response of the N-typefibers to 100 mM NaCl was significantly stronger than the effectof 5% ethanol. The suppression lasted for at least 20 s afterthe simultaneous application of 100 p.p.m. capsaicin-100 mMNaCl. These results indicate that 100 p.p.m. capsaicin can modifythe response of CT fibers to NaCl. The observed effect of capsaicinon gustatory fibers could be the net result of opposite suppressiveand enhancing processes in the taste buds cells and excitedintra- or extragemmal trigeminal nerve endings. Chem. Senses22: 249–255, 1997. ^*These authors contributed equally to this study     

Responses of Ceriops Roxburghiana to NaCl Stress

Responses of Ceriops roxburghiana Arn. leaves to the sodium chloride, applied at different concentrations (ranging from 100 to 600 mM), has been evaluated. Total amino acid content decreased with increasing NaCl concentration, while the protein content increased significantly up to 400 mM concentration and decreased thereafter. Total sugar content decreased at concentrations beyond 400 mM. Proline and glycine betaine were accumulated with increasing NaCl concentration. Protease and ATPase activities were increased whereas proline oxidase activity were decreased with increasing salinity. Peroxidase and malate dehydrogenase (NADH-MDH) activities did not significantly differ under various NaCl concentrations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Antioxidant Enzyme Responses to NaCl Stress in Cassia angustifolia

Seeds of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. were subjected to 0, 20, 50, 100 mM NaCl for 7 d in order to study the effect of salt stress on growth parameters, endogenous Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations, antioxidant system, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, and proline contents. Salinity affected all of the considered parameters and caused a great reduction in plant biomass. The root and shoot length, fresh and dry mass and germination percentage were inhibited by NaCl treatments. These changes were associated with an increase in the Na⁺ and Cl^– contents in the seedlings and increased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase. The increased enzyme activity coincided with decreased ascorbate content and enhanced H₂O₂ and proline content.     

甘蓝型油菜幼苗对NaCl胁迫的抗氧化应答

酶活性相应提高,从而在一定程度上提高了植物对NaCl胁迫的耐受能力.     

Responses of photosynthesis to NaCl in gametophytes of Acrostichum aureum

Gametophytes of Acrostichum aureum were cultured in 0.0 to 1.0% NaCl solutions or in NaCl‐free solution and then transferred to 1.0% NaCl solution. Photosynthetic light‐response curves, efficiency of the primary photochemical reaction, relative electron transport rate, and photochemical and non‐photochemical quenching at steady state were determined by photosynthetic O₂ evolution and in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence. Results obtained showed that the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, F_v/F_m and F'_v/F'_m and αO₂ (the initial linear slope of the photosynthetic light‐response curve) increased in gametophytes grown in NaCl. Linear electron transport rate was stimulated by NaCl. Based on the chlorophyll content, light‐saturated photosynthesis in gametophytes grown in 0.2 to 0.7% NaCl increased slightly; it decreased in gametophytes grown in 1.0% NaCl. Photochemical quenching decreased in NaCl‐grown gametophytes at all photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) levels measured, but there was no increase in non‐photochemical quenching. The chlorophyll a/b ratio increased with increasing NaCl concentration in culture solutions. These results indicated that NaCl enhanced photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) and photosynthetic linear electron transport, thus resulting in the development of an excitation pressure in PSII. Such excitation pressure might act as a signal for photosynthetic acclimation to salt stress, thus allowing the gametophytes to grow in their natural habitats.     

2种补血草属植物幼苗对NaCl胁迫的生理响应

以盐生植物大叶补血草和黄花补血草为实验材料,研究了NaCl胁迫对其幼苗叶绿素、可溶性蛋白、丙二醛含量等的影响,探讨这些生理指标的变化与补血草耐盐性的关系。结果表明,150mmol/LNaCl胁迫均使大叶补血草和黄花补血草幼苗叶片的叶绿素a(Chla)、叶绿素b(Chlb)和叶绿素总量降低,而过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量增加,且这种胁迫效应随处理时间的延长而增强,在相同胁迫时间段,大叶补血草各指标的减少或增加幅度明显大于黄花补血草;NaCl胁迫使大叶补血草叶片可溶性蛋白含量降低,却使黄花补血草可溶性蛋白含量增加。表明,NaCl胁迫对大叶补血草的伤害更大,黄花补血草的耐盐性可能强于大叶补血草。     

Amiloride-sensitive NaCl taste responses are associated with genetic variation of ENaC alpha-subunit in mice

An epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) is expressed in taste cells and may be involved in the salt taste transduction. ENaC activity is blocked by amiloride, which in several mammalian species also inhibits taste responses to NaCl. In mice, lingual application of amiloride inhibits NaCl responses in the chorda tympani (CT) gustatory nerve much stronger in the C57BL/6 (B6) strain than in the 129P3/J (129) strain. We examined whether this strain difference is related to gene sequence variation or mRNA expression of three ENaC subunits (alpha, beta, gamma). Real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization detected no significant strain differences in expression of all three ENaC subunits in fungiform papillae. Sequences of the beta- and gammaENaC subunit genes were also similar in the B6 and 129 strains, but alphaENaC gene had three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). One of these SNPs resulted in a substitution of arginine in the B6 strain to tryptophan in the 129 strain (R616W) in the alphaENaC protein. To examine association of this SNP with amiloride sensitivity of CT responses to NaCl, we produced F(2) hybrids between B6 and 129 strains. Amiloride inhibited CT responses to NaCl in F(2) hybrids with B6/129 and B6/B6 alphaENaC R616W genotypes stronger than in F(2) hybrids with 129/129 genotype. This suggests that the R616W variation in the alphaENaC subunit affects amiloride sensitivity of the ENaC channel and provides evidence that ENaC is involved in amiloride-sensitive salt taste responses in mice.     

NaCl胁迫对唐古特白刺愈伤组织的生理效应

以唐古特白刺(Nitraria tangutorum Bobr.)愈伤组织为材料,研究低(75 mmol/L)、中(150 mmol/L)、高(300 mmol/L)浓度NaCl处理下其膜脂过氧化、抗氧化酶活性及渗透性调节物含量的变化,试图从细胞水平揭示唐古特白刺适应盐环境的生理机制。结果显示:(1)唐古特白刺愈伤组织中MDA含量在低浓度NaCl处理下与对照无显著性差异,而在中高浓度下显著升高。(2)白刺愈伤组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性在各浓度NaCl胁迫下均比对照显著升高,且此效应无浓度依赖性;其过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性随胁迫浓度的增加呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,在中低浓度下比对照显著增加,高浓度下显著降低为对照的64%;其过氧化物酶(POD)活性在低浓度下无显著性变化,在中高浓度显著下降为对照的55%和29%。(3)随NaCl胁迫浓度的增加,白刺愈伤组织中脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量均呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,且除高浓度下可溶性蛋白含量约降为对照的87%外,其余NaCl胁迫处理的3种渗透调节物含量均高于对照。研究发现,白刺愈伤组织在低浓度的盐胁迫下具有较强的抗氧化酶活性和渗透性调节作用,因而表现出较强的抗氧化作用,但高浓度NaCl胁迫对白刺愈伤组织造成了显著的氧化损害。     

Racial Bias in Neural Empathic Responses to Pain

Recent studies have shown that perceiving the pain of others activates brain regions in the observer associated with both somatosensory and affective-motivational aspects of pain, principally involving regions of the anterior cingulate and anterior insula cortex. The degree of these empathic neural responses is modulated by racial bias, such that stronger neural activation is elicited by observing pain in people of the same racial group compared with people of another racial group. The aim of the present study was to examine whether a more general social group category, other than race, could similarly modulate neural empathic responses and perhaps account for the apparent racial bias reported in previous studies. Using a minimal group paradigm, we assigned participants to one of two mixed-race teams. We use the term race to refer to the Chinese or Caucasian appearance of faces and whether the ethnic group represented was the same or different from the appearance of the participant'' own face. Using fMRI, we measured neural empathic responses as participants observed members of their own group or other group, and members of their own race or other race, receiving either painful or non-painful touch. Participants showed clear group biases, with no significant effect of race, on behavioral measures of implicit (affective priming) and explicit group identification. Neural responses to observed pain in the anterior cingulate cortex, insula cortex, and somatosensory areas showed significantly greater activation when observing pain in own-race compared with other-race individuals, with no significant effect of minimal groups. These results suggest that racial bias in neural empathic responses is not influenced by minimal forms of group categorization, despite the clear association participants showed with in-group more than out-group members. We suggest that race may be an automatic and unconscious mechanism that drives the initial neural responses to observed pain in others.     

Responses of apical ion fluxes to NaCl stress in Elaeagnus angustifolia seedlings

Aims Elaeagnus angustifolia is one of the most salt-tolerant species. The objective of this study was to understand the mechanisms of ion transporation in E. angustifolia exposed to different salt concentrations through manipulations of K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis.
Methods Seedlings of two variants of the species, Yinchuan provenance (YC, salt-sensitive type) and the Alaer provenance (ALE, salt-tolerant type), were treated with three different NaCl application modes, and the ion fluxes in the apical regions were measured using non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT). In mode 1, Na⁺ and K⁺ fluxes were measured after 150 mmol·L^-1 NaCl stress lasted for 24 h. In mode 2, K⁺ and H⁺ fluxes were quantified with a transient stimulation of NaCl solution. In mode 3, Amiloride (Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters inhibitor) and tetraethylammonium (TEA, K⁺ channel inhibitor) was used to treat apical regions of E. angustifolia seedlings after NaCl stress for 24 h, respectively.
Important findings Under NaCl stress for 24 h, net effluxes of Na⁺ and K⁺ were increased significantly. The net Na⁺ effluxes of YC provenance seedlings (720 pmol·cm^-2•s^-1) were lower than that of ALE provenance (912 pmol·cm^-2·s^-1), but the net K⁺ efflux was higher in YC provenance. Under the instantaneous NaCl stimulation, net K⁺ efflux was remarkably increased, with the net K⁺ efflux of YC provenance always higher than that of ALE provenance. Interestingly, H⁺ at the apical regions was found from influx to efflux, with the net H⁺ efflux of ALE provenance greater than that of the YC provenance. Under the NaCl and NaCl + Amiloride treatment, the net Na⁺ efflux of ALE provenance seedlings was higher than that of YC provenance, while the net K⁺ efflux was less in ALE provenance seedlings. On the other hand, the differences in net Na⁺ and K⁺ effluxes were insignificant between the two provenances under the control group and NaCl + TEA treatment. In conclusion, NaCl stress caused Na⁺ accumulation and K⁺ outflows of E. angustifolia seedlings; The E. angustifolia seedlings utilize Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters to reduce Na⁺ accumulation by excretion; and the maintenance of K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis in salt-tolerant E. angustifolia provenance seedlings roots accounted for a greater Na⁺ extrusion and a lower K⁺ efflux under NaCl stress. Results from this study provide a theoretical basis for further exploring salt-tolerant E. angustifolia germplasm resource.     

盐胁迫下水稻叶片光合参数对光强的响应

以耐盐性不同的两个水稻品种秋光和辽盐2号为试材,在设定条件下测定长时间NaCl胁迫下水稻剑叶的净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率（T_r）、气孔导度（G_s）和胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）在不同光照强度（PFD）诱导下的反应差异与水稻抗性的关系.结果表明,在不同浓度NaCl胁迫下,随着PFD的升高,两品种的P_n和G_s均呈上升趋势,与对照相比,耐盐品种辽盐2号的P_n增加了14.87%,而秋光的P_n则下降了17.91%.C_i、L_s及P_n/G_s比值的变化趋势表明,气孔因素和非气孔因素对辽盐2号的光合变化起到了积极作用,而气孔因素则是引起秋光光合变化的主要原因.     

盐胁迫对竹柳幼苗生理响应及结构解剖的研究

为了解盐胁迫对竹柳(Salix spp.)幼苗生长的影响,采用土培方法,对NaCl胁迫下半年生竹柳扦插苗的成活率、生理响应和根叶部结构进行研究。结果表明,在0.25%Na Cl胁迫(轻度盐胁迫)下竹柳能正常生长,而在0.5%NaCl(中度、重度盐胁迫)下生长受到抑制,推断竹柳的耐盐阈值是0.5%。随着NaCl浓度的增大,叶片相对含水量、叶绿素a含量、叶绿素总含量和叶绿素a/b均呈下降趋势;但叶绿素b含量、脯氨酸含量和MDA含量呈升高趋势。在轻度盐胁迫下,叶片SOD活性和可溶性蛋白含量均升高,在中、重度盐胁迫下显著下降。从根叶解剖结构来看,叶片、角质层、栅栏组织厚度和根部周皮和直径在轻度盐胁迫时最大,但在中度盐胁迫时叶片栅栏组织细胞长度减小且排列越来越疏松,根部输导组织细胞不正常。这表明竹柳在轻度胁迫时具有一定的耐盐性,但在中高度盐胁迫下生长不良。     

Effect of Barodenervation on Cardiovascular Responses Elicited from the Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus of the Rat

We have previously reported that chemical stimulation of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARCN) in the rat elicited increases as well as decreases in blood pressure (BP) and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). The type of response elicited from the ARCN (i.e., increase or decrease in BP and SNA) depended on the level of baroreceptor activity which, in turn, was determined by baseline BP in rats with intact baroreceptors. Based on this information, it was hypothesized that baroreceptor unloading may play a role in the type of response elicited from the ARCN. Therefore, the effect of barodenervation on the ARCN-induced cardiovascular and sympathetic responses and the neurotransmitters in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) mediating the excitatory responses elicited from the ARCN were investigated in urethane-anesthetized adult male Wistar rats. Bilateral barodenervation converted decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and greater splanchnic nerve activity (GSNA) elicited by chemical stimulation of the ARCN with microinjections of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid to increases in MAP and GSNA and exaggerated the increases in heart rate (HR). Combined microinjections of NBQX and D-AP7 (ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists) into the PVN in barodenervated rats converted increases in MAP and GSNA elicited by the ARCN stimulation to decreases in MAP and GSNA and attenuated increases in HR. Microinjections of SHU9119 (a melanocortin 3/4 receptor antagonist) into the PVN in barodenervated rats attenuated increases in MAP, GSNA and HR elicited by the ARCN stimulation. ARCN neurons projecting to the PVN were immunoreactive for proopiomelanocortin, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). It was concluded that increases in MAP and GSNA and exaggeration of tachycardia elicited by the ARCN stimulation in barodenervated rats may be mediated via release of alpha-MSH and/or ACTH and glutamate from the ARCN neurons projecting to the PVN.     

高压氧对急性CO 中毒大鼠脑内源性神经干细胞的影响

目的:探讨高压氧对急性CO中毒大鼠脑内源性神经干细胞的影响,分析HBO治疗急性CO中毒脑损伤的机制。方法:建立急性CO中毒大鼠模型,给予高压氧(HBO)治疗后,H-E染色观察大鼠脑组织病理学变化,免疫组织化学方法检测大鼠脑内神经干细胞(nestin)和星形胶质细胞(GFAP)的表达。结果:H-E染色标本上,对照组脑内神经元形态正常,染毒组脑皮质出现大量变性坏死细胞,海马锥体细胞层稀疏,HBO组坏死细胞明显减少。免疫组化结果显示对照组nestin和GFAP表达数量形态均正常,染毒组nestin表达增加,但无统计学意义,GFAP形态数量发生改变,HBO组nestin表达明显增加,且在大脑皮层可见部分nestin阳性细胞和nestin-GFAP双阳性细胞;GFAP表达趋于正常。结论:急性CO中毒作为脑损伤因素可轻度激活大鼠脑内源性神经干细胞,并使星形胶质细胞增生变形、神经元变性坏死,HBO治疗可减轻星形胶质细胞损伤,明显激活内源性神经干细胞,并促使其增殖、迁移和分化。提示HBO可能通过激活神经干细胞起治疗作用。     

葎草幼苗的生理生化特征对盐胁迫的响应

采用盆栽法研究葎草(Humulus scandens)幼苗的生物量、气体交换参数、叶水势、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、抗氧化酶活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量对不同浓度盐(NaCl)(分别为0、100、200、300、400mmol/L)胁迫的响应,以探讨葎草幼苗对盐胁迫的适应机制及耐性机理。结果表明:(1)随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加,葎草幼苗生长受到严重抑制,显著降低了根、茎、叶的干重、单叶面积、比叶面积(SLA)和根冠比(R/S)。(2)NaCl胁迫后,葎草幼苗的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO_2浓度(Ci)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和叶水势(Ψw)均随盐浓度增加呈显著下降趋势,气孔限制值(Ls)和瞬时水分利用效率(WUEi)却显著增加。(3)NaCl胁迫下,叶绿素a(Chl a)和叶绿素b(Chl b)等光合色素含量以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性均显著降低,但超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量显著升高,说明植株的抗氧化酶系统对NaCl胁迫具有积极的响应策略。(4)NaCl胁迫显著提高了幼苗最小荧光(F_o)、可变荧光(F_v)、最大荧光(F_m)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)和光化学淬灭系数(qP),有效降低了PSⅡ有效光化学量子产量(F_m′/F_o′)、非光化学淬灭系数(q N),并在不同盐浓度梯度下存在着显著的效果差异。研究表明,低浓度(100mmol/L)NaCl胁迫对葎草幼苗生长没有显著影响,但随着浓度的增加,葎草幼苗的气体交换、叶绿素含量、PSⅡ反应能力、抗氧化酶系统均受到抑制,植株的生长发育受到严重影响。     

大鼠海马神经元对于高频脉冲刺激的暂态响应

闭环刺激是深部脑刺激(deep brain stimulation,DBS)的重要发展方向之一,有望用于治疗多种脑神经系统疾病.与常规开环的长时间持续刺激不同,闭环刺激通常采用短促的高频脉冲序列.而神经元对于高频刺激的响应存在暂态过程,在初期的短时间内会发生很大变化,从而影响闭环刺激的作用.为了研究这种暂态过程,在大鼠...     

Correlated Responses to Selection for Postweaning Gain in the Rat

Evidence for correlated responses to selection was investigated in lines of rats selected for 13 generations for high (U line) and low (D line) 3-9-week gain in comparison with random-bred control lines (R and C lines). The increase in 3-9-week gain in the U lines was shown to be due largely to an increase in 9-week weight, although 3-week weight also increased in these lines. In the D lines, where a marked decrease in 3-9-week gain was observed, this was found to be due to a large decrease in 9-week weight and no detectable change in 3-week weight. The average 2-week litter weight, a measure of the lactational performance of the dam, was significanly greater in the U lines than in the D lines. Selection for 3-9-week gain in these lines of rats led to changes of litter size at birth in the same direction as that of selection. This resulted in a significantly higher litter size in the U lines than in the D lines. The number of rats alive 2 and 9 weeks of age and the percentage of mated females pupping were similar in the U and D lines but lower in these lines than the random bred C lines, providing evidence for a reduction of "fitness" in the selected lines. Carcass composition was studied for all lines at the 11th generation of selection. Carcass composition, in terms of water, fat, ash and protein, was similar in the R and C lines. The U lines had more water and lesss fat than the R or C line. The D lines had similar carcass composition to the R and C lines. It is suggested that these selected and random-bred lines of rats are potentially useful animals to investigate further the developmental and physiological mechanisms which control growth.     

Cultured Rat Astrocytes Give Rise to Neural Stem Cells

Previously, we reported the occurrence of neural stem cells (NSCs) around an area of damage after rat traumatic brain injury (TBI), but it was unclear if this was due to blastgenesis in astrocytes, or to NSCs migrating from the subventricular zone (SVZ). In this study, NSCs were isolated and cultured from cultured type 1 astrocytes taken from newborn rat cortex in which the subventricular zone and hippocampus had been discarded. All cultured type 1 astrocytes showed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunopositivity. Nestin immunopositive spheres were isolated from type 1 astrocytes and cultured in the presence of bFGF and EGF in the medium. Neurospheres differentiated into Tuj1-, GFAP- and A2B5-positive cells after 4 days of culture without bFGF and EGF. These results indicate that isolated neurospheres from brain cortex astrocytes can differentiate into neurons and glia and might contribute to neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.     

Time-of-Day Effect on Cardiac Responses to Progressive Exercise

This study was designed to examine time-of-day effects on markers of cardiac functional capacity during a standard progressive cycle exercise test. Fourteen healthy, untrained young males (mean?±?SD: 17.9?±?0.7 yrs of age) performed identical maximal cycle tests in the morning (08:00–11:00?h) and late afternoon (16:00–19:00?h) in random order. Cardiac variables were measured at rest, submaximal exercise, and maximal exercise by standard echocardiographic techniques. No differences in morning and afternoon testing values at rest or during exercise were observed for oxygen uptake, heart rate, cardiac output, or markers of systolic and diastolic myocardial function. Values at peak exercise for Vo₂ at morning and afternoon testing were 3.20?±?0.49 and 3.24?±?0.55?L min^?1, respectively, for heart rate 190?±?11 and 188?±?15?bpm, and for cardiac output 19.5?±?2.8 and 19.8?±?3.5?L min^?1. Coefficients of variation for morning and afternoon values for these variables were similar to those previously published for test-retest reproducibility. This study failed to demonstrate evidence for significant time-of-day variation in Vo₂max or cardiac function during standard progressive exercise testing in adolescent males. (Author correspondence: thomas.rowland@bhs.org)