Evidence for putative photoreceptor axon terminals in the medulla externa of the crayfish

Summary Within the medulla externa of the crayfish compound eye a class of axonal endings with similar characteristics to the photoreceptor terminals of the lamina ganglionaris were studied with light and electron microscopic techniques. These terminals are restricted to the superficial layers of the medulla externa and each is marked by a rod-shaped inclusion selectively impregnated with reduced silver methods.Electron microscopy of the medullary terminals confirms the presence of a rod inclusion composed of fine regularly arranged filaments. These inclusions are often closely associated with mitochondria and glycogen deposits within the endings. Synaptic contacts made by these terminals are characterized by a presynaptic ribbon density which is in contact with two or three postsynaptic elements. Often one postsynaptic element participates in more than one synaptic complex. Numerous invaginated processes, microtubules, synaptic vesicles, and ER cisternae are also present in the medullary terminals.The eighth retinula cell in the retina of the crayfish studied here resembles that previously observed by Nässel (1976). The similarity of the medullary terminals to the photoreceptor endings in the lamina suggest that they may belong to one of the eight photoreceptor cells forming an ommatidium.This work was supported in part by grants from the National Science Foundation (BNS77-15803) and National Institute of Health (NS08964)The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of Ms. Georgia Hammond-Soltis     

5-HT1A受体对新生大鼠离体延髓脑片呼吸节律性放电的调制

本研究探讨5-HT1A受体在延髓基本节律性呼吸放电发生和调节中的作用。以改良Kreb＇s液恒温灌流新生Sprague-Dawley大鼠离体延髓脑片标本,稳定记录与之相连的舌下神经根的呼吸节律性放电活动（respiratory rhythmical discharge activity,RRDA）后,第一组在灌流液中分别单独给予5-HT1A受体的特异性激动剂8-羟四氢萘[（＋／-）-8-hydroxy-2-（di-N-propylamino）tetralin hydrobromide,8-OHDPAT]和特异性拮抗剂多次甲基多苯基多异氰酸酯[4-iodo-N-[2-[4-methoxyphenyl]-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-2-pyridynyl-benzamide hydrochloride,PMPPI];第二组分别先后给予8-0HDPAT和8-0HDPAT＋PMPPI,观察舌下神经根RRDA的变化,探讨5-HT1A受体对其调节作用。结果显示,给予8-OHDPAT后,呼吸周期（respiratory cycle,RC）和呼气时程（expiratory time,TE）显著延长,放电的积分幅度（integral amplitude,IA）持续降低,吸气时程（inspiratory time,TI）无明显变化;给予PMPPI后RC、TI和TE明显缩短,舌下神经根IA无明显变化,且8-OHDPAT的作用可部分被PMPPI逆转。结果提示,5-HT1A受体参与了哺乳动物基本呼吸节律的产生和调节。     

Generation and characterization of a novel kidney-specific manganese superoxide dismutase knockout mouse

Inactivation of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a mitochondrial antioxidant, has been associated with renal disorders and often results in detrimental downstream events that are mechanistically not clear. Development of an animal model that exhibits kidney-specific deficiency of MnSOD would be extremely beneficial in exploring the downstream events that occur following MnSOD inactivation. Using Cre-Lox recombination technology, kidney-specific MnSOD deficient mice (both 100% and 50%) were generated that exhibited low expression of MnSOD in discrete renal cell types and reduced enzymatic activity within the kidney. These kidney-specific 100% KO mice possessed a normal life-span, although it was interesting that the mice were smaller. Consistent with the important role in scavenging superoxide radicals, the kidney-specific KO mice showed a significant increase in oxidative stress (tyrosine nitration) in a gene-dose dependent manner. In addition, loss of MnSOD resulted in mild renal damage (tubular dilation and cell swelling). Hence, this novel mouse model will aid in determining the specific role (local and/or systemic) governed by MnSOD within certain kidney cells. Moreover, these mice will serve as a powerful tool to explore molecular mechanisms that occur downstream of MnSOD inactivation in renal disorders or possibly in other pathologies that rely on normal renal function.     

延髓腹侧结构在刺激缰核诱发升压反应中的作用

电刺激缰核(Hb)可使大鼠血压明显升高,但心率变化不明显。电刺激Hb血压升高的同时,延髓腹侧结构(VM)中46.5％的神经元自发放电频率增加,这些神经元分布在VM的升压神经元群中,41.9％的神经元自发放电频率降低,这些神经元分布在VM的降压神经元群中,11.6%的神经元自发放电频率不变,升压和降压神经元群中均有这种神经元。单侧损毁VM的网状旁巨细胞核后,动物血压基本不变,也不影响电刺激Hb引起的升压反应。双侧损毁VM的网状旁巨细胞核后,动物血压从98.4±11.2mmHg降至45.2±10.3mmHg,阻断了电刺激Hb引起的升压反应。单侧或双恻损毁疑核及部分延髓网状核腹侧后,动物血压基本不变,且不影响电刺激Hb引起的升压反应。 上述结果表明,Hb主要通过VM中升压神经元群的网状旁巨细胞核参与心血管活动的调节。     

家兔延髓腹侧表面加压区与压力感受性反射的关系

实验在乌拉坦麻醉、三碘季铵酚制动和人工呼吸的41只家兔进行。电刺激延髓腹侧面加压区(VSMp)引起肾交感神经电活动(RSNA)增强和动脉血压升高。电刺激主动脉神经(AN)则导致RSNA抑制和动脉血压下降。在下列实验条件下,刺激VSMp所致的交感兴奋性效应均不受影响:(1)同时刺激VSMp和AN;(2)刺激AN期间插入VSMp刺激;(3)刺激VSMp期间插入AN刺激。但刺激AN所致的交感抑制性效应却被明显地抑制。提示兴奋VSMp的交感兴奋性效应可调制压力感受性反射的交感抑制性成分,两者之间的动态平衡是维持静态动脉血压水平的基础。     

REPRODUCTION AND LIFE HISTORY OF THE RED ALGA GALAXAURA OBLONGATA (NEMALIALES,GALAXAURACEAE)1

Culture and morphological studies showed that Galaxaura oblongata (Ellis et Solander) Lamouroux has a triphasic life history with conspicuous gametophytes and small filamentous tetrasporophytes. Development of male and female reproductive structures is very similar and both begin with the enlargement of a terminal cell of a filament branch occupying a normal vegetative position within the apical pit of a thallus branch. In male thalli this modified branch forms a conceptacle in which spermatangia are produced. In female thalli, this modified branch forms a three-celled carpogonial branch consisting of a carpogonium, hypogynous cell and basal cell. Filament branches from the basal cell form a pericarp and the gonimoblast develops directly from the carpogonium. Carposporangia are produced in conceptacles which resemble the male conceptacles. About the time the first carposporangia are produced, the carpogonium, hypogynous cell and basal cell form a large fusion cell. Released carpospores germinate in a unipolar or bipolar manner and form small filamentous thalli. Under short day conditions, cruciate tetrasporangia are produced in small clusters. Tetraspores germinate similarly to carpospores and also form small filamentous thalli. Under low nutrient conditions, small cylindrical thalli develop on the filaments and these appear similar to gametophytes collected in nature.     

Electrophysiology and anatomy of medulla interneurons in the optic lobe of the cockroach,Periplaneta americana

1. Medulla interneurons of the optic lobe of P. americana were studied to determine their spectral properties. These neurons exhibited tonic firing which changed with monochromatic broadfield illumination of the ipsilateral eye. The response patterns of these neurons were analyzed by inferring their relation to the ultraviolet (UV) and green (G) photoreceptor groups of the eye. Their anatomy was described after injection of Lucifer yellow. 2. Broadband neurons received either excitatory or inhibitory input from both UV and G receptors. These neurons were not strictly sensitive to luminosity levels and had large cell bodies in the central rind of the medulla and wide dendritic arbors in the medulla neuropil. 3. Narrow band neurons received input from predominantly one receptor type. Their spectral sensitivity curves were more finely tuned than those of the primary receptors presumably due to neural interactions within the optic lobe. 4. Color opponent neurons were inhibited by UV and excited by G inputs in their sustained response. Under certain conditions, some of these neurons also showed G inhibition. These neurons suggested the presence of a subsystem involved in color vision. 5. Broadband, narrow band and color opponent properties were seen in some single neurons when tested over a 5-6 log unit range of intensity. The responses of some of these neurons changed when stimulus duration was increased. These findings indicated that functional classification for these neurons was dependent on stimulus intensity and duration. 6. Polarizational sensitivity was tested in preliminary experiments. Two neurons responded to the movement and direction of polarized light.     

Expression of Zfhep/deltaEF1 protein in palate, neural progenitors, and differentiated neurons

Zfhep/deltaEF1 is essential for embryonic development. We have investigated the expression pattern of Zfhep protein during mouse embryogenesis. We show expression of Zfhep in the mesenchyme of the palatal shelves, establishing concordance of expression with the reported cleft palate of the deltaEF1-null mice. Zfhep protein is strongly expressed in proliferating progenitors of the nervous system. In most regions of the brain, post-mitotic cells stop expressing Zfhep when they migrate out of the ventricular zone (VZ) and differentiate. However, in the hindbrain, Zfhep protein is also highly expressed in post-mitotic migratory neuronal cells of the precerebellar extramural stream that arise from the neuroepithelium adjacent to the lower rhombic lip. Also, Zfhep is expressed as cells migrate from a narrow region of the pons VZ towards the trigeminal nucleus. Co-expression with Islet1 shows that Zfhep is expressed in motor neurons of the trigeminal nucleus of the pons, but not in the inferior olive motor neurons at E12.5. Therefore, Zfhep is strongly expressed in a tightly regulated pattern in proliferating neural stem cells and a subset of neurons. Zfhep protein is also strongly expressed in trigeminal ganglia, and is moderately expressed in other cranial ganglia. In vitro studies have implicated Zfhep as a repressor of myogenesis, however, we find that Zfhep protein expression increases during muscle differentiation.