Modeling Starburst cells' GABA(B) receptors and their putative role in motion sensitivity

Neal and Cunningham (Neal, M. J., and J. R. Cunningham. 1995. J. Physiol. (Lond.). 482:363-372) showed that GABA(B) agonists and glycinergic antagonists enhance the light-evoked release of retinal acetylcholine. They proposed that glycinergic cells inhibit the cholinergic Starburst amacrine cells and are in turn inhibited by GABA through GABA(B) receptors. However, as recently shown, glycinergic cells do not appear to have GABA(B) receptors. In contrast, the Starburst amacrine cell has GABA(B) receptors in a subpopulation of its varicosities. We thus propose an alternate model in which GABA(B)-receptor activation reduces the release of ACh from some dendritic compartments onto a glycinergic cell, which then feeds back and inhibits the Starburst cell. In this model, the GABA necessary to make these receptors active comes from the Starburst cell itself, making them autoreceptors. Computer simulations of this model show that it accounts quantitatively for the Neal and Cunningham data. We also argue that GABA(B) receptors could work to increase the sensitivity to motion over other stimuli.     

Structures from powders: Diflorasone diacetate

Diflorasone diacetate, a steroid anti-inflammatory drug (marketed as Diacort^® or Florone^® by Pfizer) and used in the treatment of skin disorders, can be prepared as anhydrous form, DD1 (as deposited in the US pharmacopoeia), or as a monohydrated phase, DDW. Heating the DDW form above 90 °C, a mixture of DD1 and of a new anhydrous polymorph, DD2 is obtained. Further heating of this mixture, or of pure DD1, up to 230 °C (only a few degrees before melting!), generates an elusive anhydrous DD3 polymorph. Their crystal structures, determined uniquely from laboratory powder diffraction data, show the isomorphous character of the DDW and DD1 forms, while the DD2 and DD3 polymorphs crystallize with markedly different unit cells. Crystals of the DD1, DD2 and DDW forms are orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a = 29.386(1) Å; b = 10.4310(9) Å, c = 8.1422(7) Å, V = 2495.8(3) Å³ for DD1; a = 15.2639(10) Å; b = 11.7506(7) Å, c = 13.8931(11) Å, V = 2491.9(3) Å³ for DD2; a = 30.311(2) Å; b = 10.6150(9) Å, c = 7.9337(7) Å, V = 2552.7(4) Å³ for DDW; while the lattice parameters for the monoclinic P2₁DD3 species are a = 11.5276(10) Å; b = 13.8135(11) Å, c = 7.8973(7) Å, β = 103.053(6)°, V = 1225.0(2) Å³. These compounds have also been fully characterized by thermo analytical methods, as well by ¹³C, ¹⁹F, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Identification of HAVCR1 gene haplotypes associated with mRNA expression levels and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases

Human HAVCR1 gene maps on 5q33.2, a region linked with susceptibility to allergic and autoimmune diseases. The aims of the present study were to define the haplotypes of HAVCR1 gene taking into account both HapMap Project SNP haplotypes and exon 4 variants, to investigate a possible relationship between these haplotypes and mRNA expression levels, and to assess whether HAVCR1 gene is involved in susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Genotyping of three ins/del variants in the exon 4 was performed by fragment length analysis. Five tag SNPs genotypes and mRNA levels were determined using TaqMan assays. We defined four major haplotypes in our population: the two major haplotypes (named haplotypes A and B) bear both the 5383_5397del variant and the two most common SNP sets found in the CEU population. Quantification analysis revealed that genotype B/B had the highest median of mRNA expression levels (vs. BX + XX, p < 0.0001). Additionally, frequency of the genotype BB was significantly higher in RA patients than in controls (12.3 vs. 5.9% in controls, p = 0.0046, p _c = 0.014, OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.23–4.10). Our results support a relationship between HAVCR1 haplotypes and mRNA expression levels, and suggest an association of this gene with autoimmune diseases.     

Diketopiperazines produced by endophytic fungi found in association with two Asteraceae species

Diketopiperazine (DKP) derivatives, named colletopiperazine, fusaperazine C and E as well as four known DKPs were isolated from cultures of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Penicillium crustosum, both endophytic fungi isolated from Viguiera robusta, and a Fusarium spp., an endophyte of Viguiera arenaria, respectively. Their structures were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Conformational analysis of two known DKPs showed that folded conformations were as energetically stable as the extended one.     

Alveolar fluid reabsorption is increased in rats with compensated heart failure

Alveolar fluid reabsorption (AFR) is important in keeping the air spaces free of edema. This process is accomplished via active transport of Na(+) across the alveolo-capillary barrier mostly by apical Na(+) channels and basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-ATPases. Recently, we have reported that acute elevation of left atrial pressures is associated with decreased AFR in isolated rat lungs. However, the effect of chronic elevation of pulmonary capillary pressure, such as seen in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), on AFR is unknown. CHF was induced by creating an aorto-caval fistula (ACF) in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Seven days after the placement of the fistula, AFR was studied in the isolated perfused rat lung model. AFR in control rats was 0.49 +/- 0.02 ml/h (all values are means +/- SE) and increased by approximately 40% (0.69 +/- 0.03 ml/h) in rats with chronic CHF (P < 0.001). The albumin flux from the pulmonary circulation into the air spaces did not increase in the experimental groups, indicating that lung permeability for large solutes was not increased. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and protein abundance at the plasma membrane of distal alveolar epithelial tissue were significantly increased in CHF rats compared with controls. These changes were associated with increased plasma norepinephrine levels in CHF rats compared with controls. We provide evidence that in a rat model of chronic compensated CHF, AFR is increased, possibly due to increased endogenous norepinephrine upregulating active sodium transport and protecting against alveolar flooding.     

Splenic contraction-induced reversible increase in hemoglobin concentration in intermittent hypoxia

The effect of intermittent hypoxia (IHx) on blood hemoglobinconcentration ([Hb]) and the underlying mechanisms werestudied in rats exposed to 10%O₂, 1 h/day, for up to 5 wk. IHxprotocols with longer daily hypoxic exposure show persistentpolycythemia; however, it is unknown whether [Hb] increasestransiently during hypoxia in protocols without polycythemia. Hypoxiaproduced a reversible [Hb] increase after 4 days of IHx butnot in normoxic controls (NxC) or after shorter period of IHx.Splenectomy abolished the phenomenon. Plasma epinephrine andnorepinephrine levels during hypoxia were comparable in IHx and NxCgroups, but the epinephrine-induced [Hb] increase waslarger in IHx. The ₁- and₂-adrenoreceptor blockade(phentolamine) and ₂-blockade(yohimbine) abolished the [Hb] increase of IHx rats.Conversely, ₂-receptorstimulation (oxymetazoline) increased [Hb] during normoxiain IHx but not in NxC. In conclusion, this IHx protocol results inreversible [Hb] increases during hypoxia via spleniccontraction mediated by increased₂-adrenoreceptor response. Thismay protect O₂ supply duringhypoxia without the cardiovascular burden of polycythemia during normoxia.