Temporal resolution of the Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus, auditory system

Toothed whales and dolphins (Odontocetes) are known to echolocate, producing short, broadband clicks and receiving the corresponding echoes, at extremely rapid rates. Auditory evoked potentials (AEP) and broadband click stimuli were used to determine the modulation rate transfer function (MRTF) of a neonate Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus, thus estimating the dolphin’s temporal resolution, and quantifying its physiological delay to sound stimuli. The Risso’s dolphin followed sound stimuli up to 1,000 Hz with a second peak response at 500 Hz. A weighted MRTF reflected that the animal followed a broad range of rates from 100 to 1,000 Hz, but beyond 1,250 Hz the animal’s hearing response was simply an onset/offset response. Similar to other mammals, the dolphin’s AEP response to a single stimulus was a series of waves. The delay of the first wave, PI, was 2.76 ms and the duration of the multi-peaked response was 4.13 ms. The MRTF was similar in shape to other marine mammals except that the response delay was among the fastest measured. Results predicted that the Risso’s dolphin should have the ability to follow clicks and echoes while foraging at close range.     

Modulation rate transfer functions in bottlenose dolphins (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tursiops truncatus</Emphasis>) with normal hearing and high-frequency hearing loss

Envelope following responses were measured in two bottlenose dolphins in response to sinusoidal amplitude modulated tones with carrier frequencies from 20 to 60 kHz and modulation rates from 100 to 5,000 Hz. One subject had elevated hearing thresholds at higher frequencies, with threshold differences between subjects varying from ±4 dB at 20 and 30 kHz to +40 dB at 50 and 60 kHz. At each carrier frequency, evoked response amplitudes and phase angles were plotted with respect to modulation frequency to construct modulation rate transfer functions. Results showed that both subjects could follow the stimulus envelope components up to at least 2,000 Hz, regardless of carrier frequency. There were no substantial differences in modulation rate transfer functions for the two subjects suggesting that reductions in hearing sensitivity did not result in reduced temporal processing ability. In contrast to earlier studies, phase data showed group delays of approximately 3.5 ms across the tested frequency range, implying generation site(s) within the brainstem rather than the periphery at modulation rates from 100 to 1,600 Hz. This discrepancy is believed to be the result of undersampling of the modulation rate during previous phase measurements.     

Auditory temporal resolution of a wild white-beaked dolphin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lagenorhynchus albirostris</Emphasis>)

Adequate temporal resolution is required across taxa to properly utilize amplitude modulated acoustic signals. Among mammals, odontocete marine mammals are considered to have relatively high temporal resolution, which is a selective advantage when processing fast traveling underwater sound. However, multiple methods used to estimate auditory temporal resolution have left comparisons among odontocetes and other mammals somewhat vague. Here we present the estimated auditory temporal resolution of an adult male white-beaked dolphin, (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), using auditory evoked potentials and click stimuli. Ours is the first of such studies performed on a wild dolphin in a capture-and-release scenario. The white-beaked dolphin followed rhythmic clicks up to a rate of approximately 1,125–1,250 Hz, after which the modulation rate transfer function (MRTF) cut-off steeply. However, 10% of the maximum response was still found at 1,450 Hz indicating high temporal resolution. The MRTF was similar in shape and bandwidth to that of other odontocetes. The estimated maximal temporal resolution of white-beaked dolphins and other odontocetes was approximately twice that of pinnipeds and manatees, and more than ten-times faster than humans and gerbils. The exceptionally high temporal resolution abilities of odontocetes are likely due primarily to echolocation capabilities that require rapid processing of acoustic cues.     

EMD-based EEG signal enhancement for auditory evoked potential recovery under high stimulus-rate paradigm

Short inter-stimulus interval (ISI) is one inherent characteristic of the high stimulus-rate (HSR) paradigms for studying auditory evoked potentials (AEPs). At short ISIs, the AEPs to adjacent stimuli overlap. To resolve the AEP to a specific stimulus requires an inverse process of overlapping. Inverse filtering (also called as deconvolution) has been commonly employed to achieve this goal. However, the resulted signal may be severely distorted as inverse filtering can substantially amplify such undesired components as noises and artifacts in the raw EEG recordings. In practice, even if care be taken to obtain quality EEGs, noises and artifacts are unavoidable. It is thus critical to remove or at least supress these undesired components for studies using HSR paradigms. In this paper, we propose a systematic approach to EEG signal enhancement based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and threshold filtering/rejection. Using synthetic and real data, we test the effectiveness of our approach. Results for both types of data consistently demonstrate that our methods can significantly improve the quality of recovered AEPs, according to visual inspection and SNRs estimated using two metrics.     

Seasonal variation in avian auditory evoked responses to tones: a comparative analysis of Carolina chickadees,tufted titmice,and white-breasted nuthatches

We tested for seasonal plasticity of the peripheral auditory system of three North American members of the Sylvioidea: Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis), tufted titmice (Baeolophus bicolor), and white-breasted nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis). We measured three classes of auditory evoked responses (AER) to tone stimuli: sustained receptor/neural responses to pure-tone condensation waveforms, the frequency-following response (FFR), and the earliest peak of the AER to stimulus onset (tone onset response). Seasonal changes were detected in all classes of AERs in chickadees and nuthatches. Seasonal changes in titmice were restricted to the tone onset response. Interestingly, changes detected in chickadees (and to a lesser extent in titmice) were generally in an opposite direction to changes seen in nuthatches, with chickadees exhibiting greater amplitude AER responses in the spring than in winter, and nuthatches exhibiting greater amplitude AER responses in winter than in spring. In addition, the seasonal differences in the sustained responses tended to be broad-band in the chickadees but restricted to a narrower frequency range in nuthatches. In contrast, seasonal differences in the onset response were over a broader frequency range in titmice than in chickadees and nuthatches. We discuss some possible mechanistic and functional explanations for these seasonal changes.     

大鼠脑干听觉诱发电位和中潜伏期反应的生后发育

目的：探讨大鼠脑干听觉诱发电位（BAEP）和听觉中潜伏期反应(MLR)生后发育模式的异同。方法：在同一批新生SD纯种大鼠连续10周同时观察BAEP和MLR生后发育的变化。结果：BAEP和MLR分别在生后14d和17d出现;BAEP各波峰潜伏期（PL）随鼠龄增长而递减,生后3－4周是PL缩短的主要时期,I波PL在生后29d达成年值,其余各波PL在生后70d全部达成年值;首次出现的MLR,其Po和Na两波PL已达成年值,而Pa、Nb和Pb和PL也随鼠龄增长而缩短,但生后20－23d很快就达成年值;BAEP的Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ波和MLR的Nb、Pb波波幅在生后3－4周期间迅速递增,且峰值明显大于成年值,然后逐渐回降。结论：大鼠MLR和BAEP生后发育的模式基本相同,但MLR各波PL较早达成年值。     

Electrophysiological properties ofDictyostelium derived from membrane potential measurements with microelectrodes

Summary Electrical membrane properties of the cellular slime moldDictyostelium discoideum were investigated with the use of intracellular microelectrodes. The rapid potential transients (1 msec) upon microelectrode penetration of normal cells had a negative-going peak-shaped time course. This indicates that penetration of a cell with a microelectrode causes a rapid depolarization, which can just be recorded by the microelectrode itself. Therefore, the initial (negative) peak potential transient valueE _p (–19 mV) should be used as an indicator of the resting membrane potentialE _m ofD. discoideum before impalement, rather than the subsequent semistationary depolarized valueE _n (–5 mV). Using enlarged cells such as giant mutant cells (E _p=–39 mV) and electrofused normal cells (E _p=–30 mV) improved the reliability ofE _p as an indicator ofE _m. From the data we concluded thatE _m ofD. discoideum cells bathed in (mm) 40 NaCl, 5 KCl and 1 CaCl₂ is at least –50 mV. This potential was shown to be dependent on extracellular potassium. The average input resistanceR _i of the impaled cells was 56 M for normalD. discoideum. However, our analysis indicates that the membrane resistance of these cells before impalement is >1 G. Specific membrane capacitance was 1–3 pF/cm². Long-term recording of the membrane potential showed the existence of a transient hyperpolarization following the rapid impalement transient. This hyperpolarization was associated with an increase inR _i of the impaled cell. It was followed by a depolarization, which was associated with a decrease inR _i. The depolarization time was dependent on the filling of the microelectrode. The present characterization of the electrical membrane properties ofDictyostelium cells is a first step in a membrane electrophysiological analysis of signal transduction in cellular slime molds.     

Mitochondrial DNA diversity of the Southwestern Atlantic humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breeding area off Brazil, and the potential connections to Antarctic feeding areas

In the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, humpback whales migrate every winter to the Brazilian coast for breeding and calving in the Abrolhos Bank. This breeding stock represents the remnants of a larger population heavily exploited during the beginning of the 20th century. Despite its relevance to conservation efforts, the degree of current genetic variation and the migratory relationship with Antarctic feeding areas for this population are still largely unknown. To examine these questions, we sequenced ∼400 bp of the mitochondrial DNA control region from samples taken off the Brazilian coast (n = 171) and near the Antarctic Peninsula (n = 77). The genetic variability of the Brazilian humpback whale breeding population was high and similar to that found in other Southern Hemisphere breeding grounds. Phylogenetic analysis suggested the existence of a new mitochondrial clade that exists at low frequency among Southern Hemisphere populations. Direct comparison between the Brazilian and the Colombia breeding populations and the Antarctic Peninsula feeding population showed no genetic differentiation between this feeding region and the Colombian breeding area or between feeding Areas I and II near the Antarctic Peninsula. In contrast, these populations were genetically distinct from the Brazilian population. Two humpback whales sampled off South Georgia Islands, in the Scotia Sea, shared identical haplotypes to whales from Brazil. Our results, supported by photo-identification and satellite telemetry data, suggest that the main feeding area of the Southern Hemisphere humpback whale population is likely to be located near the South Georgia/South Sandwich Islands area and not in the Antarctic Peninsula.     

Effects of sound direction on the processing of amplitude-modulated signals in the frog inferior colliculus

Single-unit recordings were made from 143 neurons in the frog (Rana p. pipiens) inferior colliculus (IC) to investigate how free-field sound direction influenced neural responses to sinusoidal-amplitude-modulated (SAM) tone and/or noise. Modulation transfer functions (MTFs) were derived from 3 to 5 sound directions within 180° of frontal field. Five classes of MTF were observed: low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, multi-pass, and all-pass. For 64% of IC neurons, the MTF class remained unchanged when sound direction was shifted from contralateral 90° to ipsilateral 90°. However, the MTFs of more than half of these neurons exhibited narrower bandwidths when the loudspeaker was shifted to ipsilateral azimuths. There was a decrease in the cut-off frequency for neurons possessing low-pass MTFs, an increase in cut-off frequency for neurons showing high-pass MTFs, or a reduction in the pass-band for neurons displaying bandpass MTFs. These results suggest that sound direction can influence amplitude modulation (AM) frequency tuning of single IC neurons.Since changes in periodicity of SAM tones alter both the temporal parameters of sounds as well as the sound spectrum, we examined whether directional effects on spectral selectivity play a role in shaping the observed direction-dependent AM selectivity. The directional influence on AM selectivity to both SAM tone and SAM noise was measured in 62 neurons in an attempt to gain some insight into the mechanisms that underlie directionally-induced changes in AM selectivity. Direction-dependent changes in the shapes of the tone and noise derived MTFs were different for the majority of IC neurons (55/62) tested. These data indicate that a spectrally-based and a temporally-based mechanism may be responsible for the observed results.Abbreviations AM amplitude modulation - CF characteristic frequency - DI direction index - FR isointensity frequency response - GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid - IC inferior colliculus - ICc central nucleus of the inferior colliculus - ITD interaural time difference - MTF modulation transfer function - PSTH peri-stimulus time histogram - SAM sinusoidal-amplitude-modulated - SC synchronization coefficient - CN cochlear nucleus     

A reaction cycle for cytochrome c oxidase as an electron-transport-driven proton pump: The effect of electrochemical potential and slips

A detailed reaction cycle for cytochrome oxidase, an electron-transport-driven proton pump, has been presented earlier by our research group. The essential feature of the model is that both cytochrome a and Cu_A must be reduced in order to allow the transition from the electron and proton input state to the output state. The model is thus based on an indirect coupling between electron transfer and proton translocation.In this study, the same model is examined with respect to (1) intrinsic electron and proton leaks and (2) the effect of applying an electrochemical potential gradient on the pump incorporated in a membrane, both with respect to the electrical and chemical components.The model is successfully used to simulate various experimental results. Comparisons of experimental results with simulations based on the model support the existence of electron and proton leaks. The analysis of electron leaks suggests that electron gating is best achieved by varying the reorganization energy rather than by varying the reduction potentials.It is also suggested that both the electrical and chemical components of the electrochemical potential gradient are responsible for the regulation of the enzyme activity. Furthermore, an attempt is made to interpret the seemingly contradictory results obtained when measuring the pH dependence of the reduction potential of cytochrome a. In addition, the simulations support the assumption that protons are pumped by a mechanism that combines a membrane Bohr effect with the transition-state mechanism.Abbreviations R molar gas constant - k _B Boltzmann contant - F Faraday constant - e elementary charge - T absolute temperature - transmembrane electrochemical potential gradient - pH transmembrane pH difference - pH₁ and pH₂ inside (matrix) and outside (cytosol) pH, respectively - transmembrane electrical potential - E _m midpoint potential     

Reduced P2x<Subscript>2</Subscript> receptor-mediated regulation of endocochlear potential in the ageing mouse cochlea

Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has profound effects on the cochlea, including an effect on the regulation of the endocochlear potential (EP). Noise-induced release of ATP into the endolymph activates a shunt conductance mediated by P2X₂ receptors in tissues lining the endolymphatic compartment, which reduces the EP and, consequentially, hearing sensitivity. This may be a mechanism of adaptation or protection from high sound levels. As inaction of such a process could contribute to hearing loss, this study examined whether the action of ATP on EP changes with age and noise exposure in the mouse. The EP and the endolymphatic compartment resistance (CoPR) were measured in mice (CBA/CaJ) aged between 3 and 15 months. The EP and CoPR declined slightly with age with an associated small, but significant, reduction in auditory brainstem response thresholds. ATP (100–1,000 μM) microinjected into the endolymphatic compartment caused a dose-dependent decline in EP correlated to a similar decrease in CoPR. This was blocked by pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonate, consistent with a P2X₂ receptor-mediated shunt conductance. There was no substantial difference in the ATP response with age. Noise exposure (octave-band noise 80–100 decibels sound pressure level (dBSPL), 48 h) in young animals induced an upregulation of the P2X₂ receptor expression in the organ of Corti and spiral limbus, most noticeably with the 90-dB exposure. This did not occur in the aged animals except following exposure at 90 dBSPL. The EP response to ATP was muted in the noise-exposed aged animals except following the 90-dB exposure. These findings provide some evidence that the adaptive response of the cochlea to noise may be reduced in older animals, and it is speculated that this could increase their susceptibility to noise-induced injury.     

High irradiance can minimize the negative effect of exogenous sucrose on the photosynthetic capacity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> grown coconut plantlets

There is increasing evidence that the sucrose normally added to the culture medium affects negatively the photosynthetic capacity of plantlets. At the same time, however, sucrose cannot be eliminated from the medium, as it is required for normal in vitro growth. We argue that this is true only under the conventional light conditions of growth-rooms. In the present paper irradiance of growth-rooms was increased 10 times and although the sucrose-inhibitory effect was found at high sucrose concentrations, it was possible to grow coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) plantlets without sucrose. Those plantlets showed both high photosynthetic capacity and comparable in vitro growth to those grown with sucrose in the medium under conventional growth-room irradiance. Nevertheless, the best growth was achieved under mixotrophic conditions where at high irradiance and moderate sucrose concentrations plantlets accumulated 27 % more biomass than plantlets grown without sucrose under high irradiance and 43 and 73 % more biomass than their counterparts at low irradiance with or without sucrose, respectively.     

The effect of venturicidin on light and oxygen-dependent electron transport,proton translocation,membrane potential development and ATP synthesis in intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

Venturicidin behaves as an orthodox energy transfer inhibitor in intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata as judged by the following criteria. 1. It led to inhibition of respiration. Inhibition was relieved by low concentrations of uncoupling agent. 2. It enhanced light-induced and oxygen dependent H⁺ efflux. 3. It stimulated light-induced and oxygen dependent carotenoid band shifts. The rate of decay of the band shifts after short flash excitation was decreased in the presence of venturicidin. 4. It stimulated light-induced and oxygen dependent butyltriphenylphosphonium uptake. 5. It inhibited the rise in cellular ATP concentration accompanying either photosynthesis or respiration.     

Microtensiometer technique for in situ measurement of soil matric potential and root water extraction from a sandy soil

The suitability of microtensiometers to measure the spatial variation of soil matric potential and its diurnal change was tested in a pot experiment with pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum [L.] Leeke) in a sandy soil as the soil dried out.The temporal and spatial resolution of this technique allowed precise measurement of soil matric potential and thus estimation of soil water extraction from different compartments as well as from the whole rooting zone. The technique also allowed the measurement of rehydration of plants at night and root water uptake rate per unit soil volume or per unit root length. The precision of determination of root water uptake depended greatly on the accuracy of the estimate of hydraulic conductivity, which was derived from a bare soil and might be different for a cropped soil owing to aggregation induced by the root system. A linear relationship between root length and water uptake was found (r²=0.82), irrespective of variation in soil water content between compartments and despite the variation in root age, xylem differentiation and suberin formation expected to exist between different compartments of the rooting zone. As the experiment was carried out in a range of soil matric potentials between –4 and –30 kPa, drought stress did not occur. Further information at lower soil matric potentials are required, to address questions such as the importance of soil resistance for water uptake, or which portion of the root system has to be stressed to induce hormonal signals to the shoot. The microtensiometer technique can be applied to soil matric potentials up to –80 kPa.     

Intermonomer electron transfer in the bc1 complex dimer is controlled by the energized state and by impaired electron transfer between low and high potential hemes

The cytochrome bc(1) complex (commonly called Complex III) is the central enzyme of respiratory and photosynthetic electron transfer chains. X-ray structures have revealed the bc(1) complex to be a dimer, and show that the distance between low potential (b(L)) and high potential (b(H)) hemes, is similar to the distance between low potential hemes in different monomers. This suggests that electron transfer between monomers should occur at the level of the b(L) hemes. Here, we show that although the rate constant for b(L)-->b(L) electron transfer is substantial, it is slow compared to the forward rate from b(L) to b(H), and the intermonomer transfer only occurs after equilibration within the first monomer. The effective rate of intermonomer transfer is about 2-orders of magnitude slower than the direct intermonomer electron transfer.