褪黑素对大鼠下丘脑薄片视交叉上核神经元放电昼夜节律性的调制

先用持续光照和松果腺切除预处理大鼠,然后制成下丘脑薄片,记录其视交叉上核（ＳＣＮ）神经元自发放电,观察其昼夜变化和褪黑素（ＭＥＬ）对它的影响。实验结果表明：⑴在正常光照（光照：黑暗＝１２：１２）条件下,ＳＣＮ神经元自发放电频率呈现昼夜低的节律性。在昼夜时间（ＣＴ）６－８出现放电高峰,频率约为８．３Ｈｚ;在ＣＴ１８－２０出现低谷,频率约为３．８Ｈｚ。松果腺切除后,ＳＣＮ神经元自发放电的昼夜节律性基本     

高羊茅FaFT基因表达、蛋白互作及生物学功能分析

FLOWERING LOCUS T(FT)对植物开花有重要的调控作用.为探索高羊茅FaFT基因的生物学功能,从前期高羊茅转录组中克隆得到FaFT基因.qRT-PCR分析表明FaFT基因在长日照、短日照、连续光照、连续黑暗、昼夜颠倒和长日照下不同发育阶段都保持一定的昼夜节律并受光周期的调控.亚细胞定位显示FaFT基因编码...     

猫外膝体神经元时间频率调谐特性的非序列脉冲间隔分析

用正弦调制的光点,刺激清醒猫外膝体神经元感受野中心,对25个细胞的非序列脉冲间隔直方图进行了分析,观察到在黑暗和恒定光照条件下,具有均匀、单模和多模三种分布类型。随着闪光频率的变化,在所有直方图上第二模出现的时程等于闪光周期,在细胞各自特有的敏感频率时,直方图上的模数最少,第一模频数最大。这些结果不仅与平均放电频率的变化相对应,也表明闪光所引起的细胞簇形放电,对其敏感频率同步最佳,脉冲数最多,密度最高。细胞放电图的这种闪光调制,有利于该细胞传递其偏爱频率的亮度变化信息。     

光照对树鼩近似昼夜运动性活动节律的影响

Aschoff(1979)曾明确指出,近似昼夜的节律周期虽然受着外界和内部诸因素的影响,但就外部因素而言,光的影响是最主要的。Tokura等的实验也一再证明了近似昼夜节律和环境的周期性变动如光明与黑暗同步。 光照对于树鼩(Tupaia glis)的近似昼夜节律的影响如何?刘世熠等(1982)认为人工白昼黑夜仅能影响而不能打破树鼩固有的24小时昼夜节律。那么树鼩的近似昼夜运动性活动节律究竟能否随着光照-黑暗时相的改变而改变?它与视觉器官的关系又如何?本实验的结果,对上述问题作了有意义的回答。     

光周期对棕色田鼠和昆明小鼠昼夜节律及活动的影响

光周期对动物昼夜节律的维持具有重要的影响,地下鼠的生活方式导致其昼夜活动节律产生变化,分化出随机活动和节律型两种模式.本文采用录像观察记录的方法,测定了棕色田鼠(Lasioposomys mandarinus)和昆明小鼠(Mus musculus)在不同光暗周期下的昼夜节律变化.结果表明:28 d的光周期变化对棕色田鼠...     

缰核对蓝斑核的兴奋作用

1.本文记录了蓝斑核等部位的单位自发放电,实验表明这些细胞可能含有阿片受体.它们可为自然痛刺激所兴奋,可被吗啡等镇痛剂所抑制。 2.电刺激缰核可以使蓝斑细胞的自发放电频率增高。损毁一侧缰核可使蓝斑细胞自发放电暂时性减少。 3.电泳乙酰胆碱使蓝斑核细胞放电增多.电泳阿托品使之减少,并可对抗刺激缰核所引起的蓝斑细胞放电增多反应。电泳毒扁豆碱一般能增加蓝斑细胞放电频率。电泳γ-氨基丁酸抑制蓝斑放电。可见刺激缰核引起蓝斑细胞放电增多是通过释放乙酰胆碱递质实现的。 4.刺激缰核(可能通过中间神经元)加强蓝斑细胞的自发放电。由于缰核是许多前脑边缘结构至脑干的重要驿站,故前脑可能通过缰核对蓝斑的活动进行某种调节。     

猫外膝体神经元兴奋和抑制过程的相互作用

用神经脉冲自动计数的方法,定量地研究了猫外膝体神经元兴奋与抑制过程在时间和空间上的相互作用。1.时间上的相互作用:在亮度变化瞬间,神经细胞的兴奋或抑制过程增强,表现为放电频率暂时地明显增加或减少。这一作用持续的时间(适应时间),瞬变细胞约0.1秒,持续性小感受野细胞约4～8秒,持续性大感受野细胞约40～80秒。2.空间上的相互作用:改变被照射视网膜面积的大小,同时计算神经元的平均放电频率,可以确定外周抑制区的存在、范围和强度。外周抑制可以同时作用于给-撤细胞的给光反应和撤光反应,也可以选择地只抑制其中某一种反应。纯撤光细胞没有外周抑制区。具有大感受野的外膝体神经元,其感受野的大小与背景光的强度有关。在高亮度情况下,感受野变小,有利于改善分辨率;在低亮度下,感受野扩大,有利于提高灵敏度。     

猫丘脑中央中核对刺激深部神经的反应

在清醒和肌肉麻痹的猫上,以单个电脉冲刺激“足三里”、“上巨虚”穴位可以在丘脑中央中核引导出短潜伏期(15—40ms)短串(2—4个锋电位)反应。这种反应不为镇痛药物(如芬太尼)所抑制。以8Hz 的连续电脉冲刺激腓深神经或桡深神经可使中央中核细胞放电持续增加,刺激过程中未出现适应现象。停刺激后,多数细胞有大约0.5min 的后作用,然后恢复到对照水平。4Hz 的电刺激也使中央中核细胞放电增加,但有时不如前者明显,而且后作用时间甚短。60Hz 的高频电刺激仅使中央中核在前0.5min 内放电增加,然后出现适应现象,放电频率降到对照水平。由此可见,低频刺激(4—8Hz)深部神经能够最有效地激活中央中核细胞。经电子计算机处理的脉冲密度直方图表明中央中核细胞放电与低频刺激脉冲有时间上的相关关系。中央中核细胞放电的多少与我们前文观察到的束旁核痛放电受抑制的程度似呈平行的关系,这再次表明中央中核在针刺镇痛中起重要的作用。     

猫外膝体神经元兴奋和抑制过程的相互作用

用神经脉冲自动计数的方法,定量地研究了猫外膝体神经元兴奋与抑制过程在时间和空间上的相互作用。1.时间上的相互作用:在亮度变化瞬间,神经细胞的兴奋或抑制过程增强,表现为放电频率暂时地明显增加或减少。这一作用持续的时间(适应时间),瞬变细胞约0.1秒,持续性小感受野细胞约4～8秒,持续性大感受野细胞约40～80秒。2.空间上的相互作用:改变被照射视网膜面积的大小,同时计算神经元的平均放电频率,可以确定外周抑制区的存在、范围和强度。外周抑制可以同时作用于给-撤细胞的给光反应和撤光反应,也可以选择地只抑制其中某一种反应。纯撤光细胞没有外周抑制区。具有大感受野的外膝体神经元,其感受野的大小与背景光的强度有关。在高亮度情况下,感受野变小,有利于改善分辨率;在低亮度下,感受野扩大,有利于提高灵敏度。     

昼夜节律的改变对视网膜感光视蛋白melanopsin表达的影响

目的 研究昼夜节律的改变对视网膜感光视蛋白melanopsin表达的影响.方法 出生14 d (P14)C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为实验组和正常对照组,实验组每天给予24 h持续光照,对照组模拟正常昼夜节律每天给予12 h光照、12 h黑暗环境,运用免疫荧光染色结合RT-PCR技术,分别检测实验组和对照组小鼠在光照1周后和8周后视网膜感光视蛋白melanopsin的表达情况.结果 免疫荧光染色结果显示感光视蛋白melanopsin主要位于视网膜神经节细胞层,少部分位于内核层.小鼠光照1周后melanopsin阳性细胞的表达数目实验组少于对照组;RT-PCR结果示小鼠光照1周和8周时melanopsin的mRNA含量实验组均少于各自的对照组,两者具有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论 持续光照可以减少视网膜感光视蛋白melanopsin的表达,提示melanopsin阳性神经节细胞为光敏感性细胞,其表达可能对维持正常的昼夜节律有重要作用.     

Distributed neural networks of tactile working memory

Microelectrode recordings of cortical activity in primates performing working memory tasks reveal some cortical neurons exhibiting sustained or graded persistent elevations in firing rate during the period in which sensory information is actively maintained in short-term memory. These neurons are called “memory cells”. Imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation studies indicate that memory cells may arise from distributed cortical networks. Depending on the sensory modality of the memorandum in working memory tasks, neurons exhibiting memory-correlated patterns of firing have been detected in different association cortices including prefrontal cortex, and primary sensory cortices as well.Here we elaborate on neurophysiological experiments that lead to our understanding of the neuromechanisms of working memory, and mainly discuss findings on widely distributed cortical networks involved in tactile working memory.     

蝗虫复眼小网膜细胞角敏感度的变化规律

在不同时间(上午、下午和晚上)和不同适应状态(暗适应和三种不同背景光强度的明适应)下,利用细胞内记录方法测量蝗虫复眼不同区域(背、侧和前区)小网膜细胞的角敏感度,其大小随着复眼区域、适应状态和24小时的周期性变化而变化.     

Reduced light response of neuronal firing activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and optic nerve of cryptochrome-deficient mice

To examine roles of the Cryptochromes (Cry1 and Cry2) in mammalian circadian photoreception, we recorded single-unit neuronal firing activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a primary circadian oscillator, and optic nerve fibers in vivo after retinal illumination in anesthetized Cry1 and Cry2 double-knockout (Cry-deficient) mice. In wild-type mice, most SCN neurons increased their firing frequency in response to retinal illumination at night, whereas only 17% of SCN neurons responded during the daytime. However, 40% of SCN neurons responded to light during the daytime, and 31% of SCN neurons responded at night in Cry-deficient mice. The magnitude of the photic response in SCN neurons at night was significantly lower (1.3-fold of spontaneous firing) in Cry-deficient mice than in wild-type mice (4.0-fold of spontaneous firing). In the optic nerve near the SCN, no difference in the proportion of light-responsive fibers was observed between daytime and nighttime in both genotypes. However, the response magnitude in the light-activated fibers (ON fibers) was high during the nighttime and low during the daytime in wild-type mice, whereas this day-night difference was not observed in Cry-deficient mice. In addition, we observed day-night differences in the spontaneous firing rates in the SCN in both genotypes and in the fibers of wild-type, but not Cry-deficient mice. We conclude that the low photo response in the SCN of Cry-deficient mice is caused by a circadian gating defect in the retina, suggesting that Cryptochromes are required for appropriate temporal photoreception in mammals.     

Circadian and seasonal responses in Indian weaver bird: subjective interpretation of day and night depends upon both light intensity and contrast between illuminations

This study investigated whether changes in illumination modify perception of day and night conditions in a diurnal species, the Indian weaver bird. Birds were initially subjected to a 12-h light:12-h dark regime (12L:12D; L=20 lux, D =0.5 lux). After every 2 wks, the combinations of light illumination in L and D phases were changed as follows: 20:2 lux, 20:5 lux, 20:10 lux, 20:20 lux, 20:100 lux, and 20:200 lux. Finally, birds were released into dim constant light (0.5 lux) for 2 wks to determine the phase and period of the circadian activity rhythm. They were also laparotomized at periodic intervals to examine the effects of the light regimes on the seasonal testicular cycle. All individuals showed a consistently similar response. As evident by the activity pattern under these light regimes, both in total activity during contrasting light phases and during the 2?h in the beginning and end of first light phase, birds interpreted the period of higher light intensity as day, and the period of lower intensity as the night. During the period of similar light intensity, i.e., under LL, birds free-ran with a circadian period ( ~ 24 h). In bright LL (20 lux), the activity rhythm was less distinct, but periodogram analysis revealed the circadian period for the group as 24.46 (+/-) 0.41 h (mean???SE). However, in dim LL at the end of the experiment, all birds exhibited a circadian pattern with average period of 25.52 (+/-) 0.70 h. All birds also showed testicular growth and regression during the 16-wks study. It is suggested that weaver birds interpret day and night subjectively based on both the light intensity and contrast between illuminations during two phases over the 24 h.     

Simultaneous single unit recording in the mitral cell layer of the rat olfactory bulb under nasal and tracheal breathing

Odor perception depends on the odorant-evoked changes on Mitral/Tufted cell firing pattern within the olfactory bulb (OB). The OB exhibits a significant "ongoing" or spontaneous activity in the absence of sensory stimulation. We characterized this ongoing activity by simultaneously recording several single neurons in the mitral cell layer (MCL) of anesthetized rats and determined the extent of synchrony and oscillations under nasal and tracheal breathing. We recorded 115 neurons and found no significant differences in the mean firing rates between both breathing conditions. Surprisingly, nearly all single units exhibited a long refractory period averaging 14.4 ms during nasal respiration that was not different under tracheal breathing. We found a small incidence (2% of neurons) of gamma band oscillations and a low incidence (8.1%) of correlated firing between adjacent MCL cells. During nasal respiration, a significant oscillation at the respiratory rate was observed in 12% of cells that disappeared during tracheal breathing. Thus, in the absence of odorants, MCL cells exhibit a long refractory period, probably reflecting the intrinsic OB network properties. Furthermore, in the absence of sensory stimulation, MCL cell discharge does not oscillate in the gamma band and the respiratory cycle can modulate the firing of these cells.     

A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF THE DAILY ACTIVITY OF THE UGANDA DEFASSA WATERBUCK

Waterbuck activity was recorded at four-minute intervals for continuous periods of 12 hours on two or three consecutive days, and for single nocturnal periods. Feeding patterns of the male and female were similar and during the day there was no hour during which some feeding did not take place. Only male activity was recorded at night. This showed more intensive feeding but with periods of no feeding just after dark and just before dawn. The use of a four-minute recording interval was found to work well in practice.     

Day-Night Rhythm of Rat Pineal Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity as Determined by HPLC with Amperometric Detection

Tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the rat pineal gland was measured by means of HPLC determination of the amount of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine formed. Enzyme activity showed a clear day-night rhythm, paralleling that of plasma melatonin levels in the same animals, with values being high during the dark period apparently because of changes in Vmax. In animals maintained under constant illumination for 3 days, tyrosine hydroxylase activity and plasma melatonin level rhythms were completely abolished, a result indicating that both are under photoperiodic control.     

Diel changes in dark respiration in a plankton community

The dark respiration of a natural plankton community from an eutrophic lake was studied in a laboratory scale enclosure (LSE), exposed to illumination which simulated natural light conditions in the water column. The dark respiration was measured continuously for 2 hours in samples obtained from the LSE each hour for 26 hours. The relationships between dark respiration rates, carbohydrate concentrations and other parameters were investigated.The dark respiration rate showed an exponential decrease with time in the dark in all light period incubations with a time coefficient of 0.3 h^–1. The decrease in respiration rate in the dark period was much slower, reaching an approximately constant level at the end of the night. The overall dark period decline in respiration rate also exhibited an exponential pattern, but with a much lower time coefficient (0.04 h ^–1) than for the light period incubations. A linear relationship was found between dark respiration rate and carbohydrate concentration at night time but no relationship was apparent during the day. A comparison between these data and data from the literature show that this pattern of dark respiration rate decrease with time in the dark may have some general applications for dense phytoplankton communities.     

THE OCCURRENCE AND ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF NOCTURNAL HABITS IN WATERFOWL

This paper reviews the occurrence of nocturnal activity, particularly foraging, in wildfowl (Anseriformes) and shorebirds (Charadrii), and discusses its significance. Many duck species are mainly active at night while others regularly feed during both the day and night. Some ducks and geese are normally day feeders and occasionally forage during darkness. In a few duck species, courtship also has been observed at night. Most shorebirds forage both by day and night, in temperate and in tropical latitudes. Some are mainly crepuscular and nocturnal feeders and also display at dusk and at night. Some species may use their daytime territory at night. A few shorebird species, including some visual peckers and long-billed tactile probers, use the same foraging method to detect and capture food by night as by day. However, some long-billed species that forage visually during daytime modify their feeding techniques and rely completely or partly on tactile means for detecting prey at night. Large eyes seem an advantage to plovers and other sight feeders for night feeding. Numerous touch-sensitive corpuscles in the bill of ducks and many scolopacid species favour tactile feeding. Some ducks, geese and shorebirds may especially use moonlit nights for feeding though, in a few species, moonlight seems to have no effect. The possible role of bioluminescence is also discussed. Nocturnal activity may occur for two reasons. The night may be preferred because foraging is more profitable or safest from predators. Alternatively, birds may be forced to forage at night because they fail to collect all their food requirements during the day. The evidence for both hypotheses is reviewed. Nocturnal activity does appear to allow wildfowl, and perhaps shorebirds, to avoid diurnal predators (including man). Shorebirds, and some ducks also seem to take advantage of prey that are more abundant and/or accessible at night. The main evidence for the supplementary feeding hypothesis comes from studies of seasonal variations in the occurrence of nocturnal feeding, about which rather little is known at present. The increasing availability of modern night-viewing equipment may help to fill this gap. There are two important implications arising from the widespread occurrence of nocturnal activity in wildfowl. Most knowledge on time and energy budgets is based on daytime studies, and so may need to be revised. Wintering dabbling ducks and shorebirds, at least in some regions, may use different habitats by day and by night. If confirmed, there would be a need to preserve some wintering habitats which, although little used by ducks and shorebirds during the day, may be intensively used at night.     

Activity patterns of springhares from the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The activity patterns of springhares Pedetes capensis ( Rodentia: Pedetidae ) from the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, were investigated by counting the number of springhares active above ground at regular intervals throughout the night at different times of the year and under different weather conditions and phases of the moon. A combination of time of year, time of night and level of illumination best explained springhare activity, accounting for 43% of the variation in springhare numbers. Springhare activity generally reached its peak soon after dark, thereafter remaining fairly constant throughout most of the night and only decreasing in the 2–4-h period before sunrise. On those nights when the moon either rose or set during the night, this pattern was modified by the level of illumination. Springhares responded to moonlight by reducing above-ground activity, shifting activity to dark, moonless periods of the night, and by reducing their use of open space. Except for extremes, other weather conditions had no significant effect on springhare activity.