Enhanced Dendritic Action Potential Backpropagation in Parvalbumin-positive Basket Cells During Sharp Wave Activity

In this study two-photon imaging and single cell electrophysiological measurements were carried out in PV+ hippocampal interneurons to compare the dendritic calcium dynamics of somatically evoked backpropagating action potentials (BAPs) and in vitro sharp wave oscillation (SPW) activated BAPs at different distances from the soma. In the case of 300 μm thick, non-oscillating slices, the BAP-evoked Ca²⁺ (BAP-Ca²⁺) influx propagated along the dendritic tree in a non-uniform manner and its amplitude gradually reduced when measured at more distal regions. In contrast to the evoked BAP-Ca²⁺s, the spontaneous SPW-induced Ca²⁺ influx had only a small distance-dependent decrement. Our results suggest that similarly to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation, synaptic activity during hippocampal SPWs increases AP backpropagation into distant dendritic segments. Bath application of Nimodipine, a specific Ca²⁺ channel blocker and tetrodotoxine decreased the amplitude of the somatically evoked Ca²⁺ influx, which suggests that L-type Ca²⁺ channels play an important role both during somatically evoked and SPW-induced BAPs.     

植物悬浮细胞的研究进展

综述了植物悬浮细胞培养的原理、培养类型、不同植物悬浮细胞培养基的配方和培养方法.同时阐述了悬浮细胞系在细胞生物学和分子生物学领域中的应用前景.     

Up-regulation of multiple serine proteinases during earthworm tail regeneration

Summary

Previous studies have shown that spatiotemporal regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) by proteinases is implicated in the initial step of regeneration. In amphibian regeneration, the up-regulation of proteinases such as metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cathepsin D, and proteinase-related proteins such as proteinase tissue inhibitors and activators has been demonstrated. Since the earthworm could provide a unique and valuable model to investigate the mechanism of regeneration, we studied the developmental change in proteinase expression during earthworm tail regeneration. Zymographic analysis revealed that proteinase activities began to increase within 1 h after amputation and reached a maximum at 7 days post-amputation. This peak in activity was approximately 22-fold greater than the unamputated controls. Thereafter, the proteinase activities tended to decrease followed by another peak at 30 days before returning to control levels. At least four types of proteinase were distinguishable at 7 and 30 days post-amputation, with molecular weights of 25, 28, 38, and 44 kDa, respectively. All proteinase activities were strongly inhibited by addition of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and aprotinin, specific inhibitors for serine proteinase. Pepstatin A, E-64, iodoacetamide and a metal ion-free medium were not effective inhibitors, indicating that proteinases expressed during earthworm tail regeneration would be serine proteinases. In addition, we were able to detect two types of plasminogen activator (PA) with molecular weights of 40 and 47 kDa, respectively. PA activities were predominantly expressed at 1, 5, and 25 days post-amputation, which preceded two peaks of serine proteinase activities appearing at approximately 7 and 30 days after amputation, respectively. This fact supports the view that serine proteinases expressed in respond to tail amputation may be plasmin-like proteinases activated by PA.     

Ferroxidases and xanthine oxidase in plasma of healthy newborn infants

In the neonatal period, there is a high iron load, while both the level and molar oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin are low. On the other hand, the neonatal xanthine oxidase (XO) activity is higher than later in life and XO has a significant iron-oxidizing capacity. We therefore studied the physiological contribution of XO to the ferroxidase activity of the plasma in 20 full-term newborn infants. Ferroxidase activity was measured spectrophotometrically, with Fe⁺⁺ as substrate. The uric acid formed by XO was assayed by means of HPLC, with electrochemical detection.

The total ferroxidase activity in the plasma was about one-fourth of the adult level and rapidly increased doubling within 3 days after birth. About 90% of the plasma ferroxidase activity was due to ceruloplasmin, the remainder being accounted for by ferroxidase II. The XO activity underwent a 30% (statistically non-significant) elevation at 24 h, though ferroxidase activity attributable to XO was not detected at any time.

Accordingly, XO does not seem to add substantially to the total iron-oxidizing capacity of the plasma in the neonatal period. The high molar ferroxidase activity is probably of importance at the endothelial cell surface.     

Multimodal signals in male European treefrog (Hyla arborea) and the influence of population isolation on signal expression

In nocturnal treefrogs, mate choice implies the use of acoustic and visual signals. Multimodality is suspected to have evolved for either information redundancy or information complementariness. It is essential to explore multimodality in a natural context to understand the selection pressures operating on the signals. In the present study, we investigated calling and coloration in relation to male biometry and condition in four populations of European treefrog (Hyla arborea) varying in size and genetic isolation. We compared the signal intensity between core and satellite populations to estimate the impact of genetic diversity on male secondary sexual traits. The results obtained show important regional variations in both traits, likely as a result of local adaptations. Call and coloration are weakly correlated within an individual, implying that these traits likely convey different information about the signaller's identity or quality, thus supporting the hypothesis of complementariness of multiple messages. By contrast to the experimental evidence, we find that call and coloration are not related to male condition (as estimated by the residual of mass over size), suggesting that the condition‐dependence of these traits may be mediated by complex mechanisms not accurately reflected by the chosen estimator. Finally, male call and colour phenotypes present no robust pattern of variation with isolation status, probably because of variation in local selective pressures and in history of population dynamics. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103 , 633–647.     

Complex contribution of cyclophilin D to Ca2+-induced permeability transition in brain mitochondria, with relation to the bioenergetic state

Cyclophilin D (cypD)-deficient mice exhibit resistance to focal cerebral ischemia and to necrotic but not apoptotic stimuli. To address this disparity, we investigated isolated brain and in situ neuronal and astrocytic mitochondria from cypD-deficient and wild-type mice. Isolated mitochondria were challenged by high Ca(2+), and the effects of substrates and respiratory chain inhibitors were evaluated on permeability transition pore opening by light scatter. In situ neuronal and astrocytic mitochondria were visualized by mito-DsRed2 targeting and challenged by calcimycin, and the effects of glucose, NaCN, and an uncoupler were evaluated by measuring mitochondrial volume. In isolated mitochondria, Ca(2+) caused a large cypD-dependent change in light scatter in the absence of substrates that was insensitive to Ruthenium red or Ru360. Uniporter inhibitors only partially affected the entry of free Ca(2+) in the matrix. Inhibition of complex III/IV negated the effect of substrates, but inhibition of complex I was protective. Mitochondria within neurons and astrocytes exhibited cypD-independent swelling that was dramatically hastened when NaCN and 2-deoxyglucose were present in a glucose-free medium during calcimycin treatment. In the presence of an uncoupler, cypD-deficient astrocytic mitochondria performed better than wild-type mitochondria, whereas the opposite was observed in neurons. Neuronal mitochondria were examined further during glutamate-induced delayed Ca(2+) deregulation. CypD-knock-out mitochondria exhibited an absence or a delay in the onset of mitochondrial swelling after glutamate application. Apparently, some conditions involving deenergization render cypD an important modulator of PTP in the brain. These findings could explain why absence of cypD protects against necrotic (deenergized mitochondria), but not apoptotic (energized mitochondria) stimuli.     

蟋蟀对召唤声识别的趋声性定位行为

为了探究蟋蟀种内个体间的声音通讯原理,本研究通过回放利用Cool-edit2000声音采集软件采集的双斑蟋Gryllus bimachlatus召唤声,分别对雌、雄蟋蟀识别召唤声的趋声性定位行为进行了观测研究。实验结果表明:雌、雄双斑蟋对回放的召唤声均有较强的识别反应,但雌蟋蟀的趋声定位性较强,能在较短的时间内积极寻找到声源,路径成"s"型;雄蟋蟀反应相对较弱,路径较长,找到声源时间比雌蟋蟀长。本研究结果揭示召唤声在蟋蟀种内通讯中不仅对个体间的联系有作用,对异性求偶也有重要作用。     

大鼠脑缺血再灌注后血清中血管内皮生长因子与神经元凋亡的研究

目的：通过检测SD大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型血清中血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）与神经元凋亡动态表迭变化的关系,以探讨两者之间的相关性。方法：将40只大鼠随机分为8组：对照组、假手术组和脑缺血30min再灌注12h组、1d组、3d组、5d组、7d组、及14d组,每组5只。采用ELISA双抗夹心法检测大鼠血清中血管内皮生长因子、原位细胞凋亡TUNEL法检测脑组织中的凋亡神经细胞数。结果：再灌注12h、1d、3d、5d、7d及14d大鼠血清VEGF表达和凋亡神经元百分比的变化均为负相关性（均为P〈0．05）。结论：在脑缺血再灌注大鼠模型中,缺血诱导使VEGF的表达发生变化,VEGF通过直接或间接的途径抑制神经元凋亡。     

昆虫弦音器及其声音感受分子机制

弦音器是昆虫类特有的一种机械感受器,亦称弦音感受器或剑梢感受器。它主要具有感知外界声压和体内肌肉运动的听觉功能,研究弦音器的机能结构对揭秘昆虫听觉的神经机制有重要的科学意义。本文从弦音器多样性和进化入手,重点综述了弦音器的微细结构、基因功能定位、声音感受分子机制及其声压增幅分子生物物理学原理,为昆虫听觉仿生学的研究提供了理论依据。     

昆虫弦音器及其声音感受分子机制

弦音器是昆虫类特有的一种机械感受器,亦称弦音感受器或剑梢感受器。它主要具有感知外界声压和体内肌肉运动的听觉功能,研究弦音器的机能结构对揭秘昆虫听觉的神经机制有重要的科学意义。本文从弦音器多样性和进化入手,重点综述了弦音器的微细结构、基因功能定位、声音感受分子机制及其声压增幅分子生物物理学原理,为昆虫听觉仿生学的研究提供了理论依据。