刺激皮肤感受野对大鼠多觉型伤害性感受器诱发放电的影响

在大鼠尾部,重复压力刺激皮肤感受野,当间隔时间小于2min时,多觉型伤害性感受器的单位放电数随间隔时间的缩短而减少。压力与辐射热交叉刺激同一感受野,随后刺激的放电数也显著减少。皮下注射致痛剂引起持续性放电的背景上,分别向感受野施加按压、辐射热或电针刺激,随着放电增多后出现一个放电减少的过程。刺激支配尾部的交感神经则使减少的放电显著增多。结果表明,多觉型伤害性感受器受到刺激兴奋后有个感受性降低的过程。本文讨论了这一过程在按摩、针灸缓解痛机制中的可能作用。     

电刺激兔延髓腹侧化学敏感区和压力敏感区对呼吸、血压,的影响及其中枢递质机制

电刺激麻醉兔延髓腹侧化学敏感区头端区引起潮气量(V_T)增加,呼吸频率(f)增快;电刺激压力敏感区(中间区)则使V_T减小,f亦增快。弱刺激时,两者均产生降压反应;刺激增强可诱发双相或升压反应。在出现周期性呼吸时,电刺激化学敏感区可使呼吸节律正常化、V_T增大,而电刺激压力敏感区则导致呼吸暂停。电刺激压力敏感区时,吸气时间(TI)和呼气时间(T_E)均缩短,以T_E变化更明显;由于V_T减小和T_I缩短,V_T/T_I保持相对不变,提示吸气终止的中枢阈值降低。在准备刺激的相应局部预先应用阿托品,可使电刺激化学敏感区产生的通气增强效应翻转,而对电刺激压力敏感区引起的通气抑制无明显影响;用印防己毒素则可选择性消除电刺激压力敏感区的通气抑制和降压效应。本工作表明延髓腹侧存在两个不同的中枢机制,其中化学敏感区产生的通气增强与胆碱能系统有关;压力敏感区产生的通气减弱效应与GABA系统有关。     

Cell age-related differences in the interaction of a potential-sensitive fluorescent dye with nuclear envelopes of Acetabularia mediterranea

Abstract. To study whether an electrical potential difference exists across the nuclear envelope or inner nuclear membrane of plant cells, the authors have used an optical probe of membrane potential, the cationic fluorescent dye, DiOC₆(3) (MW = 572.5). This dye was microinjected into the nucleoplasm of isolated Acetabularia nuclei (which are still surrounded by a thin layer of cytoplasm) and its subnuclear localization visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Striking differences, which seemed to be correlated with the developmental stage of the isolated nucleus, were observed. In nuclei isolated from cells at the stage of early cap stage formation, the dye was restricted to the nuclear envelope. In nuclei isolated from cells with intermediate or fully developed caps, there was increased nucleoplasmic staining, and the staining of the envelope was frequently diminished or abolished. In all nuclei, the dye remained within the nucleus after injection. Cytoplasmic staining was only observed when nuclei isolated from cells at the stage of early cap formation were incubated in a hyper- or hypo-tonic medium. Various ionophores, injected before the dye into the nucleoplasm, had no effect on the subsequent nuclear localization of DiOC₆(3), although they did rapidly induce nucleolar condensation in nuclei isolated from cells at the stage of early cap formation. The results suggested that the electrical properties of Acetabularia nuclear envelopes or inner nuclear membranes change during cell maturation. Furthermore, the retention of the dye in the nucleoplasm under isotonic conditions indicated that the nuclear pores were not open channels for molecules of this size.     

Electrical stability of erythrocytes in the presence of divalent cations

Erythrocytes suspended in a medium of low ionic strength lyse under the effect of an exponential electrical pulse. The percentage of haemolysed cells decreases several-fold in the presence of divalent cations. The protective action of the ions studied increases in the following order: Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Zn⁺⁺. It is assumed that divalent ions bind to the negative charges of the lipid and protein molecules and reduce their electrostatic repulsion, which results in stabilization of the membranes.     

Modulation of lymphocyte nuclear matrix organization in vivo by 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole: an autoradiographic and immunofluorescence study

Assembly of active nuclei in lymphocytes stimulated by mitogen is paralleled by the elaboration of a structurally and biochemically complex nuclear matrix (NM). To examine the dynamics of individual NM polypeptide components during blastogenesis, we have applied immunofluorescence labelling with anti-NM antibodies to concanavalin A-stimulated mouse splenocytes. Whereas peripherin and PI2 antigens did not reorganize during stimulation, labelling of PI1 and small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) antigens increased markedly in intensity and redistributed in concert with the previously reported NM restructuring. Double-labelling showed, furthermore, that snRNPs and the internal staining component of PI1 were largely co-localized. As an approach to studying the role of RNA and RNA synthesis in NM organization, we have further examined the effects of the inhibitor of RNA synthesis, 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole (DRB), on NM antigen distribution. The rapid inhibition of 3H-uridine incorporation by DRB was accompanied by coordinate aggregation of snRNPs and of the internal PI1 component into large, brightly stained patches. Both 3H-uridine incorporation levels and antigen localization were readily reversed upon removal of DRB. We conclude that NM antigens behave independently during nuclear and NM assembly and that NM organization, as reflected by NM antigen distribution, is modulated by con A- and DRB-induced alterations in RNA synthesis. We propose, furthermore, that the PI1 antigen plays a role in RNA metabolism, and is possibly involved in RNA transport to the nuclear periphery.     

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Activity in Osmotically Shocked Rat Brain Mitochondria: Stimulation by Oxaloacetate

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity (PDHC) measured by CO2 release isotopic assay has generally been much lower than activity measured by the spectrophotometric arylamine acetyltransferase assay (ArAT). Decarboxylation of [1-14C]pyruvate was measured in osmotically shocked rat brain cortical mitochondria. Activity is dependent on the concentration of the substrate pyruvate. Activity of 74.6 units +/- 12.3 SD (n = 22) was observed at 4 mM pyruvate (1 unit = 1 nmol pyruvate decarboxylated/min/mg protein). Activity was dependent on added NAD, CoA, and thiamine pyrophosphate, implying increased mitochondrial permeability after osmotic shock. Freeze/thaw with sonication of the mitochondrial preparation reduced PDHC activity to 11.5 units +/- 3.0 SD (n = 4). Oxaloacetate produced a marked stimulation of activity. The optimal assay contained 3 mM oxaloacetate, and without oxaloacetate activity fell to 15.4 units +/- 9.9 SD (n = 8). These studies highlight the importance of optimal substrate concentrations in the CO2 release isotopic PDHC method. Higher PDHC activity is found with intact mitochondria and thus activity values should be interpreted in the light of the presence or absence of intact mitochondria in individual preparations.     

Blood glucose discrimination training in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients

Self-management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is dependent on a negative feedback loop of blood glucose (BG) fluctuations, which in turn directs treatment decisions to maintain normal BG. Although this feedback is typically accomplished by self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), SMBG has limitations, and patients often rely on what their BG feels like. Two studies were performed to evaluate whether patients could learn to more accurately feel/discriminate their BG on the basis of internal cues or internal plus external BG cues. In Study I, BG Awareness Training significantly improved pre- to posttreatment BG estimation accuracy, relative to a control group. Study II replicated BG Awareness Training efficacy in improving BG estimation accuracy. Improvement in estimation accuracy was related only to initial accuracy; those who were initially less accurate improved the most. This improvement was represented in a 31% reduction in dangerous BG estimation errors and a 9% increase in accurate estimates. Resulting estimations were, however, still significantly less accurate than SMBG at the end of training.This research was supported by NIH grants AM282880, AM24177, AM22125, and RR00847 and by the Ames Company. The authors express their appreciation for the contribution made by trainers Leslie Butterfield and Linda Zimbelman, by the nursing staff at the University of Virginia's Clinical Research Center and the Diabetes and Nutrition Unit, and by Dr. James May from the Medical College of Virginia in soliciting subjects. We would also like to thank Andrea Snyder for her assistance.     

Characteristics of action potentials in Helianthus annuus

The action potentials induced by nondamaging electrical stimuli in 16- to 22-day-old plants of Helianthus annuus were examined. Typical recordings are presented. Mean values of their amplitudes and conduction velocities in the stem, the strength-duration relation, the 'all-or-none' law and the refractory periods have been determined. The amplitude and velocity of propagation were essentially identical in the upward and downward direction, but greater in the upper than in the lower half. In 'electrically active' plants, the rheobase value is 2 V, the minimum period for stimulation is 1.8 s. and the chronaxie 2.3 s. It is noted that the excitability level between similar plants on the same day and in the same plant on different days is highly variable and undergoes periodic changes.     

Segmental release of amino acid neurotransmitters from transcranial stimulation

The present study used microdialysis techniques in an intact rabbit model to measure the release of amino acids within the lumbar spinal cord in response to transcranial electrical stimulation. Dialysis samples from the extracellular space were obtained over a stimulation period of 90 minutes and were examined using high pressure liquid chromatography. Neuronal excitation was verified by recerding corticomotor evoked potentials (CMEPs) from the spinal cord. A significant increase in the release of glycine and taurine compared to sham animals was measured after 90 minutes of transcranial stimulation. Glutamate and aspartate release was not significantly elevated. GABA concentrations were consistently low. CMEP components repeatedly showed adequate activation of descending fiber pathways and segmental interneuron pools during dialysis sampling. Since glycine, and to a lesser extent taurine, have been shown to inhibit motor neuron activity and are closely associated with segmental interneuron pools, suprasegmental modulation of motor activity may be, in part, through these inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters in the rabbit lumbar spinal cord.     

大鼠脑胆碱能系统对血量扩张引起利尿与尿钠排泄的作用

本工作在清醒大鼠侧脑室注射胆碱能药物,观察脑胆碱能系统对血量扩张引起利尿与尿钠排泄的作用。侧脑室注射人工脑脊液后进行血量扩张引起尿流量、排钠量和排钾量显著增加(P<0.01)。侧脑室注射胆碱能 M 受体阻断剂阿托品后,血量扩张引起尿流量、排钠量和排钾量增加的效应比注射人工脑脊液组的均显著减弱(P<0.01);而侧脑室注射胆碱能 N 受体阻断剂六烃季胺后,血量扩张引起尿流量、排钠量和排钾量增加的效应与注射人工脑脊液组的相比无显著差异(P>0.05)。侧脑室注射人工脑脊液或阿托品大鼠的肾小球滤过率(GFR)与肾血浆流量(RPF)在血量扩张后均无显著变化(P>0.05)。上述结果表明:大鼠脑胆碱能M 受体参与血量扩张引起利尿与尿钠排泄反应的调节。脑 M 受体的这种作用不是通过改变GFR 和 RPF,而可能是通过未明神经液递机制直接影响肾小管对水钠的重吸收。