Ontogeny and homology of the skeletal elements that form the sucking disc of remoras (Teleostei,Echeneoidei, Echeneidae)

The sucking disc of the sharksuckers of the family Echeneidae is one of the most remarkable and most highly modified skeletal structures among vertebrates. We studied the development of the sucking disc based on a series of larval, juvenile, and adult echeneids ranging from 9.3 mm to 175 mm standard length. We revisited the question of the homology of the different skeletal parts that form the disc using an ontogenetic approach. We compared the initial stages of development of the disc with early developmental stages of the spinous dorsal fin in a representative of the morphologically basal percomorph Morone. We demonstrate that the “interneural rays” of echeneids are homologous with the proximal‐middle radials of Morone and other teleosts and that the “intercalary bones” of sharksuckers are homologous with the distal radials of Morone and other teleosts. The “intercalary bones” or distal radials develop a pair of large wing‐like lateral extensions in echeneids, not present in this form in any other teleost. Finally the “pectinated lamellae” are homologous with the fin spines of Morone and other acanthomorphs. The main part of each pectinated lamella is formed by bilateral extensions of the base of the fin spine just above its proximal tip, each of which develops a row of spinous projections, or spinules, along its posterior margin. The number of rows and the number of spinules increase with size, and they become autogenous from the body of the lamellae. We also provide a historical review of previous studies on the homology of the echeneid sucking disc and demonstrate that the most recent hypotheses, published in 2002, 2005 and 2006, are erroneous. J. Morphol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

大鼠下丘脑室旁核神经元对电刺激蓝斑和中缝背核的反应

用玻璃微电极细胞外记录大鼠室旁核(PVH)神经元的单位放电,观察它对电刺激蓝斑(LC)和中缝背核(DR)的反应。 在435个被试验单位中,5个单位对LC电刺激呈现逆行反应,75个单位呈现顺行反应。在这75个顺行反应单位中,27个对单刺激发生反应,48个对串刺激发生反应。对电刺激DR发生反应的有74个单位,其中15个对单刺激发生反应,59个对串刺激发生反应而对单刺激不反应。值得注意的是有23个PVH神经元既对LG刺激又对DR刺激发生顺行反应。实验结果提示,PVH与LC、DR之间存在神经联系。     

Synthesis of the biologically active β-subunit of human nerve growth factor in Escherichia coli

The gene(NGFB) encoding the β subunit of mature human nerve growth factor (hNGFB) was subcloned into the pJLA503 expression vector under the control of bacteriophage promoters p_R and p_L, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein represented approximately 3% of the total cellular protein. Biologically active hNGFB was solubilized (0.2% total NGFB) and purified by cation-exchange chromatography and it yielded two bands on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions, corresponding to the monomeric (14 kDa) and homodimeric (26.5 kDa) forms of the molecule. Both hNGFB forms were immunopositive on Western blots with rabbit anti-NGFB antibodies; however, following additional purification, only the species corresponding to the hNGFB homodimer was biologically active on cultured chicken dorsal root ganglion neurons. These results demonstrate the feasibility of synthesizing the biologically active form of hNGFB in E. coli.     

刺激中缝背核压抑大鼠小脑浦肯野细胞对苔状和爬行纤维传入的反应

本文在麻醉并制动的大鼠上观察了中缝背核(DR)条件刺激对由苔状和爬行纤维传入引起的小脑浦肯野细胞(PC)诱发反应的影响。主要结果有:(1)刺激大脑皮层感觉运动区可以引起苔状和爬行纤维向对侧小脑皮层第Ⅵ和Ⅶ小叶的传入,因而在该小叶上记录到 PC 的诱发简单锋电位(SS)和复杂锋电位(CS)反应,潜伏期分别是8—25和12—30ms。(2)以不影响PC 自发 SS 和 CS 活动的阈下强度刺激 DR,可显著地压抑 PC 对于刺激感觉运动皮层引起的苔状和爬行纤维兴奋所产生的诱发 SS 和 CS 反应,这种压抑作用可持续数百毫秒。(3)DR条件刺激对 PC 的诱发 SS 和 CS 反应的压抑作用可以被静脉注射5-HT 受体阻断剂羟甲丙基甲基麦角酰胺所减弱或阻断。上述结果表明 DR 的5-HT 能纤维传入可以降低苔状和爬行纤维对 PC 的突触作用效力,抑或降低 PC 对突触传入的反应敏感性,提示中缝-小脑5-HT,能纤维传入系统参与了小脑某些重要的神经活动过程。     

延髓中缝核区注射谷氨酸钠降低大鼠动脉血压的作用

本工作研究了大鼠延髓中缝核在心血管活动调整中的作用。通过埋植套管向大鼠延髓中缝核区注射神经元兴奋剂谷氨酸钠5-μg可明显降低血压,抑制交感神经传出活动,心率无显著改变。降血压效应可被脊髓蛛网膜下腔注射5-HT受体阻断剂肉桂硫胺50μg,或腹腔注射赛庚啶15mg/kg所部分对抗;并可被皮下注射阿片受体阻断剂纳洛酮1mc/kg所削弱。结果提示:延髓中缝核-脊髓5-HT下行通路对脊髓的血管调节功能起抑制性影响,内源性阿片样物质可能参与该机制。     

蓝斑复合核区内微量注射去甲肾上腺素对刺激兔下丘脑诱发室性期前收缩的影响

在72只乌拉坦、氯醛糖麻醉兔,静脉注射三碘季铵酚后,在人工呼吸下进行实验。结果观察到,在家兔蓝斑复合核(Lo-So)区微量注射去甲肾上腺素(NE)或可乐宁(Clonidine)能减少刺激下丘脑诱发的室性期前收缩(HVE)数。而微量注射β-肾上腺素能受体阻断剂心得安、α_1肾上腺素激动剂甲氧胺(Methoxamine)或苯肾上腺素(Phenylephrine)、α肾上腺素能阻断剂育亨宾(Yohimbine)或阿片受体阻断剂纳洛酮则对 HVE 无明显影响。在 Lo-So 区微量注射 NE 对 HVE 的抑制效应不能被事先在该区注射心得安所阻断但能被事先静脉或 Lo-So 区注射育亨宾所阻断。NE 或可乐宁的抑制效应也均可被育亨宾所翻转。可乐宁的抑制效应还可被纳洛酮所翻转。电解损毁延髓中缝大核区可消除在 Lo-So 区微量注射 NE 或可乐宁对HVE 的抑制效应。上述结果提示,Lo-So 区α_2受体的兴奋可减少 HVE 数,这些作用可能依赖于延髓中缝大核区的完整。可乐宁对 HVE 的抑制作用可能有阿片受体的参与。     

中缝大核在臂旁内侧核区注射吗啡所致呼吸抑制效应中的作用

实验在33只浅麻醉、肌肉麻痹、人工呼吸及切断双侧颈迷走神经的家兔上进行。观察中缝大核区电解损毁或微量注射利多卡因对呼吸活动及臂旁内侧核区微量注射吗啡所致呼吸抑制效应的影响。结果是:电解损毀中缝大核区,使呼吸频率增加,膈神经放电的幅度和频率均无明显变化,而臂旁内侧核区微量注射吗啡抑制呼吸的程度减轻;中缝大核区微量注射利多卡因,则部分消除臂旁内侧核区微量注射吗啡的呼吸抑制效应。中缝大核旁网状结构电解损毁或微量注射利多卡因,不影响吗啡的呼吸抑制效应。上述结果提示,中缝大核区可能在脑桥臂旁内侧核区微量注射吗啡抑制呼吸的机制中起一定作用。     

Cross-linked collagen surface for cell culture that is stable,uniform, and optically superior to conventional surfaces

Summary A new type of collagen surface for use with cultures of peripheral nervous system cells is described. Collagen is derivatized to plastic culture dishes by a cross-linking reagent, 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)-carbodiimide-metho-p-toluenesulfonate (carbodiimide), to form a uniform and durable surface for cell attachment and growth that allows dry storage, long-term culture, and improved microscopy. Surfaces of collagen derivatized to plastic were compared to surfaces of adsorbed or ammonia-polymerized collagen in terms of collagen binding and detachment, growth by dorsal root ganglion cells, and electron microscopy appearances. Derivatized collagen surfaces retained more collagen and showed much less evidence of degradation and cellular damage over periods of many weeks than did conventional adsorbed surfaces. Long-term survival of cells on derivatized collagen was far superior to that on the other surfaces, with almost 90% of cultures still viable after 10 wk. Transmission electron microscopy showed an organized layer of single fibrils that supported cell growth well, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated an increased uniformity of derivatized collagen surfaces compared to ammoniated collagen surfaces. Applications for this improved substrate surface are discussed. This work was supported by the Leopold Schepp Foundation, the Dysautonomia Foundation, National Institutes of Health Grants NS14768 and NS11237, and Institutional Core Grant HD06276.