熊果酸激活低分化鼻咽癌细胞氯通道和减小细胞容积

本文旨在研究熊果酸对低分化鼻咽癌细胞氯通道的激活作用,以及熊果酸对其细胞容积的影响。采用膜片钳技术记录熊果酸激活的鼻咽癌细胞(CNE-2Z)全细胞氯电流,应用离子置换、改变细胞外渗透压、氯通道阻断剂等观察熊果酸诱导的氯电流的特性,活细胞动态图像分析技术测量细胞容积变化。结果显示,等渗条件下可记录到CNE-2Z细胞微弱且稳定的背景氯电流,细胞外灌流熊果酸可浓度依赖性(1～100nmol/L)诱发氯电流的产生,在±80mV电压钳制下,100nmol/L熊果酸激活的氯电流的平均电流密度为(78.92±6.39)pA/pF和(59.86±4.86)pA/pF,该电流具有较明显的外向优势,不表现明显的时间依赖性和电压依赖性失活。该电流翻转电位为(4.83±0.30)mV,较接近Cl平衡电位(0.9mV)。熊果酸激活的氯通道对不同阴离子的通透性为:Cl-=I->Br->葡萄酸根离子。该电流具有容积敏感性,可被细胞外高渗透压显著抑制;氯通道阻断剂他莫昔芬(tamoxifen)、5-硝基-2-(3-苯丙胺)苯甲酸[(5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpro-pylamino)benzoic acid,NPPB]可抑制该电流。细胞外灌流熊果酸1h后,细胞容积减小,氯通道阻断剂NPPB可抑制该容积变化。以上结果提示,熊果酸可以激活低分化鼻咽癌细胞的氯通道,使Cl外流,进而引起细胞容积减小。     

睫状体色素上皮细胞容积激活性氯电流

为研究睫状体色素上皮 (pigmentedciliaryepithelial,PCE)细胞容积激活性Cl-电流的特性 ,用膜片箝全细胞记录技术记录了猪的低渗液诱发的容积激活性Cl-电流。此电流外向占优势 ,几乎没有时间依赖性失活 ,电流 电压曲线显示此电流反转电位 (- 6 3± 0 5mV)很接近氯离子平衡电位的计算值 (ECl=0mV)。电流的激活依赖于细胞内ATP ,细胞外ATP抑制外向电流和内向电流 ,但外向电流抑制率大于内向电流抑制率 (92 %比 74% ,P <0 0 1)。氯离子通道阻断剂tamoxifen抑制外向电流和内向电流 ,两个抑制率几乎相等 (85 %比 87% ,P >0 0 5 )。此电流特性与其他类型细胞的P糖蛋白相关电流很相似。结果提示PCE细胞容积激活性Cl-电流的形成可能与P糖蛋白有关     

木黄酮对小鼠胰岛β细胞电压依赖性钙通道表达和电流的影响

目的:研究长期抑制酪氨酸激酶活性对胰岛β细胞中电压依赖性钙通道的影响,探讨酪氨酸激酶在胰岛β细胞中的作用.方法:原代培养小鼠胰岛和胰岛β细胞,经0.1 mmol/L酪氨酸激酶抑制剂木黄酮处理12 h后,运用全细胞电流记录的方法观察电压依赖性钙电流以及动作电位的改变,RT-PCR方法观察电压依赖性钙通道α1亚单位的表达改变.结果:木黄酮处理12 h后,小鼠胰岛β细胞的电压依赖性钙电流明显减小(13.83±1.515pA/pFvs 7.012±1.502 pA/pF,P＜0.01,n=6),动作电位幅度明显减弱(38.50±7.46 mV vs 15.95±4.39 mV,P＜0.01,n=6).木黄酮处理12 h后,小鼠胰岛中电压依赖性钙通道的α1亚单位的表达明显减少,降低为对照组的0.792±0.078(P＜0.01,n=5).结论:木黄酮处理可以抑制小鼠胰岛β细胞中电压依赖性钙通道的表达和电流,提示长期抑制酪氨酸激酶活性在胰岛β细胞功能损害中具有重要作用.     

钩藤碱对human ether-a-go-go相关基因通道的抑制作用

将human ether-a-go-go相关基因(HERG)cRNA注射到非洲爪蟾卵母细胞,采用双电极电压钳技术,观察钩藤碱对表达电流的影响.结果显示(1)钩藤碱抑制HERG通道的表达是浓度依赖性的,IC50为(773.4±42.5)μmol/L.(2)钩藤碱抑制HERG通道的表达是电压依赖性的,最大抑制率在-20 mV,为15%.上述结果提示,钩藤碱抑制HERG编码的钾通道,导致心室复极时间延长,揭示了与钩藤碱相关的心肌钾通道的分子生物学基础.     

低渗条件下小肠上皮细胞调节性细胞容积减小的离子通道机制

目的:观察人小肠上皮细胞调节性细胞容积减小(RVD)的过程,探讨参与RVD过程的离子通道机制.方法:将培养的人小肠上皮细胞暴露于低渗溶液, 利用电子细胞体积测量系统测定细胞平均容积变化过程和离子通道的参与过程;采用RT-PCR方法检测人小肠上皮细胞上离子通道的表达.结果:人小肠上皮细胞具有良好的RVD功能; 其RVD过程可被氯通道阻断剂NPPB 和钾通道阻断剂四乙铵所阻断; 进一步的研究发现, 中等电导钙激活性钾通道(IK)的特异性阻断剂Clotrimazole (CLT) (1μmol/L)可以明显抑制细胞的RVD过程,而大电导钙激活性钾通道(BK)和小电导钙激活性钾通道(SK)的特异阻断剂iberiotoxin (100 nmol/L)和apamin (100 nmol/L)对RVD过程无任何抑制作用.RT-PCR的结果也显示, 人小肠上皮细胞只有IK表达, 而无SK和BK的表达.结论:人小肠上皮细胞具有RVD功能,RVD过程的完成有赖于氯通道和钾通道的平行激活, 而其中参与容积调节的钾通道是中等电导钙激活型钾通道IK.     

迁移的鼻咽癌细胞容积激活性氯电流

用膜片钳技术研究了Transwell小室趋化迁移后的鼻咽癌CNE-2Z细胞容积激活性CT电流。47％低渗刺激迁移后的CNE-2Z细胞诱发容积激活性氯电流,与未迁移细胞相比,其特性以及其对氯通道阻断剂的敏感性发生明显的变化,此电流的密度明显高于未迁移细胞,而且该电流几乎完全被氯通道阻断剂adenosine-5'-triphosphate(ATP,10 mmol/L)、5-nitro-2-3-phenylpropylamino benzoic acid(NPPB,100μmol/L)和他莫昔芬(30μmol/L)抑制,其中NPPB和他莫昔芬对迁移细胞的抑制作用明显强于未迁移细胞。迁移后的CNE-2Z细胞容积激活性氯通道对阴离子的通透性为:Br>Cl>I>葡萄糖酸,与未迁移细胞(I>Br>Cl>葡萄糖酸)不同。结果提示,容积激活性氯通道可能参与CNE-2Z细胞的迁移过程。     

人胎儿鼻咽上皮细胞的背景氯电流

采用膜片钳和图像分析技术,研究人胎儿鼻咽上皮细胞背景电流的特性及其与容积激活性氯电流的关系。在等张溶液中,可记录到一背景电流,该电流呈微弱的外向整流性,无明显时间依赖性失活,其翻转电位为(?0.73±1.7)mV(n=21),接近氯离子平衡电位(?0.9mV)。细胞外高张刺激(440mOsmol/L)明显抑制此电流(59.6±7.1)%,而低张刺激(160mOsmol/L)则诱发细胞产生容积激活性氯电流。氯通道阻断剂tamoxifen和5-硝基-2-(3-苯丙胺基)苯甲酸[5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoicacid,NPPB]显著地抑制背景电流并使细胞基础容积增大。上述结果表明,人胎儿鼻咽上皮细胞的背景Cl?电流是背景电流的重要成分,此Cl?电流与容积激活性氯电流及细胞基础容积调节有关。     

海马脑片锥体神经元钙离子通道的盲法膜片钳研究

目的和方法 :采用大鼠海马脑片盲法膜片钳全细胞记录技术研究CA1区锥体神经元电压门控性Ca2 通道的动力学特征。结果 :大鼠海马脑片CA1区锥体神经元电压门控性Ca2 通道电流具有如下特点 :①激活的阈电位偏低 ,为 (- 4 9.3± 8.6 )mV ,范围为 - 6 5～ - 30mV(n =2 3)。②衰减时间常数τ值较大 ,且变化范围大 (10 0～ 70 0ms) (n =12 ) ,并且衰减具有Ca2 电流幅值的依赖性 ,③稳态失活呈现电压依赖性 ,半失活电压为 (- 5 5 .4± 9.7)mV ,斜率因子为 (5 .3± 0 .9)mV(n =10 )。④当细胞外Ca2 浓度为 2 .5mmol/L时 ,Ca2 通道的反转电位为 (5 5±13)mV(n =10 )。⑤尾电流成分较为单一 ,不表现电压依赖性。另外 ,Ca2 电流对戊脉胺及双氢吡啶类化合物硝苯地平均不敏感。结论 :根据上述Ca2 电流特征 ,海马脑片CA1区锥体神经元上的Ca2 通道主要以N型为主     

血小板活化因子对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和钾通道的影响

应用全细胞膜片钳技术研究了血小板活化因子(platelet activatingfactor,PAF)对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和钾电流的影响.结果发现,当电极内液ATP浓度为5 mmol/L(模拟正常条件)时,1 μmol/L PAF使APD90由对照的225.8±23.3 ms延长至352.8±29.8ms(n=5,P＜0.05);使IK尾电流在指令电压 30 mV由对照的173.5±16.7 pA降至152.1±11.5 pA(P＜0.05,n=4);使Ikl在指令电压为-120 mV时由对照组的-6.1±1.3 nA降至-5.6±1.1 nA(P＜0.05,n=5);但PAF在生理膜电位范围(-90mV～ 20mV)对IK1没有影响.当电极内液ATP浓度为0mmol/L时,IK·ATP开放(模拟缺血条件),1 μmol/LPAF却显著缩短APD90,由对照的153±24.6 ms缩短至88.2±19.4 ms(n=5,P＜0.01).而用1 μmol/L格列本脲(IK·ATP的特异阻断剂)预处理后,恢复了PAF可显著延长动作电位时程的作用.结果提示,PAF可能扩大缺血心肌和正常心肌细胞动作电位时程的不均一性,是缺血/再灌注性心律失常发生的重要原因.     

焦亚硫酸钠对大鼠海马CA1区神经元钾电流的影响

目的:探讨焦亚硫酸钠(SMB)、二氧化硫(SO2)及其体内衍生物(亚硫酸盐和亚硫酸氢盐)对中枢神经元钾通道的影响及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)相应的保护作用.方法:采用全细胞膜片钳技术研究了SMB对大鼠海马CA1区神经元瞬间外向钾电流(IA)和延迟整流钾电流(IK)的影响.结果:①焦亚硫酸钠可增大全细胞IA和IK,且具剂量依赖性和电压依赖性,使IA和IK增大50%的剂量分别为15.8 μmol/L和11.5μmol/L;②10 μmol/L的SMB均可显著影响IA和IK的激活过程,给药前后IA的半数激活电压分别为(-12.6±1.6)mV和(-7.0±1.3)mV(n=8,P＜0.01),IK的半数激活电压分别为(10.8±0.9)mV和(21.6±0.7)mV(n=8,P＜0.01),但不改变其斜率因子;③10μmol/L的SMB还非常显著地影响IA的失活过程,给药前后其半数失活电压分别为(-97.0±1.1)mV和(-84.4±3.3)mV(n=8,P＜0.01),但也不改变其斜率因子;④抗氧化酶SOD(1×106U/L)、CAT(2×106U/L)及GPx(105U/L)均可使SMB(10μmol/L)增大的IA和IK部分恢复.结论:SMB可显著增大IA和IK,抑制IA和IK的激活过程及IA的失活过程,从而导致胞内K 的外流增加,使胞内K 浓度降低,从而对中枢神经元功能产生不利影响.     

Ectogenesis and the case against the right to the death of the foetus

Ectogenesis, or the use of an artificial womb to allow a foetus to develop, will likely become a reality within a few decades, and could significantly affect the abortion debate. We first examine the implications for Judith Jarvis Thomson’s violinist analogy, which argues for a woman’s right to withdraw life support from the foetus and so terminate her pregnancy, even if the foetus is granted full moral status. We show that on Thomson’s reasoning, there is no right to the death of the foetus, and abortion is not permissible if ectogenesis is available, provided it is safe and inexpensive. This raises the question of whether there are persuasive reasons for the right to the death of the foetus that could be exercised in the context of ectogenesis. Eric Mathison and Jeremy Davis have examined several arguments for this right, doubting that it exists, while Joona Räsänen has recently criticized their reasoning. We respond to Räsänen’s analysis, concluding that his arguments are unsuccessful, and that there is no right to the death of the foetus in these circumstances.     

On the diversity of the Cladocera in the tropics

The mythical concept of an impoverished tropical cladoceran fauna is refuted. On a planetary scale, around half of the cladoceran species presently known occur exclusively in the tropics-subtropics, often with considerable restriction to particular geographical subzones. On a regional (political) scale, the situation is often unclear because of the continued fragmentary nature of studies, and because political units are not a good basis for biogeographical comparisons. At the finest level of resolution (lake-perlake comparisons), there appears to be an upper limit of c. 50 cladoceran species per individual lake. No significant difference between lakes in the temperate zone and in the tropics could be established here. Daphnia is largely absent from the tropics, but is replaced by more Sidids, Moinids, and Bosminids, such that the average cladoceran community in the limnetic zone of a tropical lake is not characterized by less species but rather by lower population densities. This, in turn, is considered a consequence of higher prevalent predation levels in the tropics.     

Tubular networks in the terminal endings of the visual receptor cells in the human,the monkey,the cat and the dog

Summary A tubular network was found in the terminal endings of the visual receptor cells in the human, the monkey (Macaca mulatta), the cat and the dog. These tubules are arranged in close groups in the vicinity of the synaptic lamellae and the invaginated dendrites. According to the form, diameter, density of the tubules and to the consistence of the network formed by them one can distinguish at these places an initial type (type I), a transitory (type II) and a vesicular one (type III). In the the type III branching, bizarre forms are frequent. The diameter of all the tubules reaches 500–600 Å, their density and walls being the same as in the synaptic vesicles.Similar networks also occur in the axons of the visual receptor cells of the monkey.

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Zusammenfassung In den Endigungen der Photorezeptorzellen von Mensch, Affe (Macaca mulatta), Katze und Hund kommen aus Tubuli bestehende Komplexe vor. Organellenartig in geschlossenen Gruppen angeordnet, liegen sie in Nähe der synaptischen Lamellen und der invaginierten Dendriten. An diesen Stellen kann man nach Form, Durchmesser, Dichte und Konsistenz der von den Tubuli gebildeten Komplexe drei Typen unterscheiden: 1. einen initialen (Typus I), 2. einen Übergangstypus (Typus II) und 3. einen vesiculären Typus (Typus III). In letzterem kommen häufig verzweigte, bizarre Formen vor. Der Durchmesser sämtlicher Tubuli erreicht 500–600 Å. Ihre Dichte und ihre Wand gleicht denen der synaptischen Vesikel.Ähnliche Komplexe fanden wir auch in den Axonen der Photorezeptorzellen vom Affen.

     

Assessing the Physiological State of the Fucoids from the Barents Sea Littoral by the End of the Polar Night

Methods of amperometry and potentiometric titration were used to follow dark respiration (DR) and apparent photosynthesis (AP) in the fucoids Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol, Fucus vesiculosus L., and F. serratus L. from the Barents Sea littoral by the end of the 40-day-long polar night. The macroalgae were shown to manifest species-specific low rates of photosynthesis and respiration. However, in spite of their low photosynthetic status due to the effects of subzero temperature and prolonged low or zero illumination, the macroalgae have been able to restore DR and AP to the initial level already by the day 9; the ability to restore AP depended on the level of illumination. The study of the changes in the carbonate–bicarbonate system in the light and darkness demonstrated that the macroalgae grown in darkness, in contrast to those grown in twilight, could absorb bicarbonate in darkness; however, they lost this capacity after two-day-long illumination at an irradiance of 7 mol/(m² s). Bicarbonate uptake in darkness and the capacity to restore the systems of photosynthesis and respiration in fucoid cells are discussed in the context of algal energy metabolism under the polar night conditions.     

Arranging the elements of the potassium channel: the T1 domain occludes the cytoplasmic face of the channel

The voltage-gated potassium channel is currently one of the few membrane proteins where functional roles have been mapped onto specific segments of sequence. Although high-resolution structures of the transmembrane portions of three bacterial potassium channels, the tetramerization domain and the cytoplasmic ball are available, their relative spatial arrangement in mammalian channels remains a matter of ongoing debate. Cryo-electron microscopic images of the six transmembrane voltage-gated Kv channel have been reconstructed at up to 18 Å resolution, revealing that the T1 domain tetramerizes and is suspended below the transmembrane segments. However, the resolution of these images is insufficient to reveal the location of the third piece of the puzzle, the inactivating ball domain. We have used the aberrant interactions observed in a series of chimæric channels to establish that an assembled T1 domain restricts access to the cytoplasmic face of the channel, suggesting that the N-terminal ball and chain may be confined in the space between the T1 domain and the transmembrane portion of the channel.     

Feeding the vertebrate retina from the Cambrian to the Tertiary

The retina of the vertebrate eye is metabolically active and requires nutritive support. During the last 540 million years it has evolved into forms as complicated and nutritionally demanding as those found in avian or primate eyes. Diffusion from the choroid is generally able to supply the metabolic needs of thin retinae. However, when the thickness exceeds the limits of diffusion, structures are needed to supplement the vascular supply from the choroid. These supplemental nutritive devices include the choroidal gland, the falciform process and preretinal vascular plexus of fish, the conus papillaris of lizards, the pecten oculi of birds, the intraretinal vessels of mammals and a few novel systems that remain difficult to classify. These vascular systems are among the most variable features of the vertebrate eye. Here, we review classical and recent findings regarding such retinal nutrition systems, propose a three category classification for them based on histologic origins and speculate on the evolutionary forces which drove their development.     

Observations on the permeability of the choriocapillaris of the eye

Summary The choriocapillaris is a fenestrated capillary bed located posterior to the retinal pigment epithelium. It serves as the main source of supply to the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and other cells of the outer retina. The permeability of these capillaries to intravenously injected ferritin (MW — approx. 480,000; mol. diam. 11 nm) was examined in the mouse, rabbit, and guinea pig, each of which is characterized by a different type of retinal vascularization. In all three species, the bulk of the ferritin remained in the capillary lumina, where it appeared to be blocked at the level of the diaphragmed fenestrae. Some ferritin was present in endothelial cell vacuoles. The results confirm previous work on the rat choriocapillaris and indicate that the barrier function of the choriocapillary endothelium is present even among species in which the retinal circulation differs significantly.Supported by NIH grant EY03418     

Separation of the pineal vesicle from the wall of the third ventricle during the post-hatching development of the chicken

Summary According to light- and electron-microscopic observations the pineal organ of the 3-day-old chicken consists of a prominent end vesicle and a tapering parenchymal stalk. During this stage the pineal lumen is in open communication with the third ventricle. However, in the 40-day-old chicken, which still possesses a well-developed end vesicle, the proximal portion of the pineal stalk displays regressive changes leading to local fragmentation. At this stage the pineal stalk is reduced, and the pineal lumen is missing. In 1-year-old chickens the parenchyma of the proximal portion of the stalk is further diminished, and in 3-year-old domestic fowl is completely displaced by bundles of collagenous fibers, only some nerve fibers being present. This post-hatching pineal development may reflect the sequence of changes leading from pineal sense organs to pineal glands.This work was supported by a grant-in-aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan