Magnocellular axons in passage through the median eminence release vasopressin

Vasopressin (arginine vasopressin, AVP) is present in two types of nerve fibres in the median eminence (ME). First, it is found in nerve terminals that originate in the parvicellular neurones of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and abut on the pericapillary space surrounding the fenestrated capillaries of the primary pituitary portal plexus in the external zone (EZ) of the ME. These neurones also synthesize corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), which acts synergetically with vasopressin to stimulate release of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) from the pituitary gland (see ref. 7). Second, vasopressinergic axons of the magnocellular neurosecretory system pass through the internal zone (IZ) of the ME to terminate in the neurohaemal contact zone of the neurohypophysis. The involvement of vasopressinergic magnocellular neurones in the control of ACTH secretion is much debated. Of particular interest in this context is the origin of the vasopressin found in pituitary portal blood. Although it has been demonstrated that vasopressin and CRF are present in the same neurosecretory granules of EZ fibres, parallel determinations of vasopressin and CRF in pituitary portal blood have shown alterations of the concentration of vasopressin without a concomitant change in that of CRF. Such a dissociation suggests that either differential release of vasopressin and CRF can occur from a single population of nerve endings, or there are fibres in the pituitary-stalk ME which release vasopressin but not CRF. Here we present evidence for the latter. Our results indicate that stimuli causing depolarization of the axonal membrane in vitro elicit release of vasopressin from nerve fibres in the external and internal zones of the ME.     

Discovery of the highly depleted N-MORB-type volcanic rocks: new evidence for the Mianlue paleo-ocean

The highly depleted N-MORB-type volcanic rocks have been discovered in Mianlue mélange of Qinling orogenic belt, central China. These mafic rocks are associated with the meta-peridotites, showing LREE-depleted pattern, similar to N-MORB and typical ophiolites. It is indicated that an ancient ocean existed in the Mianlue area of Qinling orogenic belt during the late Paleozoic.     

Molecular evidence for new mutation at the hprt locus in Lesch-Nyhan patients

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT; EC2.4.2.8), which functions in the metabolic salvage of purines, is encoded by an X-linked gene in man. Partial HPRT deficiencies are associated with gouty arthritis, while absence of activity results in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (L-N). L-N patients fail to reproduce and the heterozygous state appears to confer no selective advantage. Thus, Haldane's principle predicts that new mutations at the hprt locus must occur frequently in order for L-N syndrome to be maintained in the population. This constant introduction of new mutations would be expected to result in a heterogeneous collection of genetic lesions, some of which may be novel. As we report here, the mutations in the hprt gene of seven L-N patients, selected from an initial survey of 28 patients, have been characterized and all were found to be distinctly different, as predicted. The origin of one unusual mutation has been identified by analysis of DNA from four generations of family members. Further molecular analysis of the origin of new mutations at the hprt locus should aid in resolving the issue of an apparent difference in the frequency of hprt mutations in males and females.     

世界主要国家近十年科技研发投入产出对比分析

以美国、中国、英国、德国、法国、日本、韩国这7个全球研发投入规模最大的国家为对象,分析了7个国家近10年来研发投入总量、投入强度、投入结构、经费来源和使用方向、研究人员数量等投入指标,对比7个国家论文数量、高被引论文数、学科规范化引文影响力、专利、知识技术密集型产业等有代表性的产出指标,以判断全球科技发展态势,找准中国科技发展方向。提出了进一步优化研发投入结构、提高基础研究投入、提升科技产出影响力、加大科技人才队伍建设力度等政策建议。     

汽车变速器输入轴塑性成形工艺

输入轴是汽车变速器中重要零件,针对其特殊结构提出一火加热和轧锻结合的塑性复合加工工艺,即采用圆柱坯料只进行一次加热,依次采用楔横轧和锻造工艺加工塑性成形输入轴。本文分别设计楔横轧和锻造模具,并进行相关实验。在锻造工艺中轴部圆角采用挤压方案成形,避免其出现折叠缺陷。阶梯轴作为两步工艺的中间产品,其在复合工艺过程中起到承上启下的作用,分别对阶梯轴锥角和轴长进行实验与分析,确定参数的最佳选取范围,并最终通过复合工艺加工成形输入轴。输入轴齿形填充饱满,各部分无缺陷。     

对新形势下本科应用数学专业发展的思考

本科应用数学专业将如何发展,已成为加入WTO后当前我国大学必须要予以高度重视并亟待解决的问题.本文从适应市场需求出发,对应用数学专业的发展方向、专业设置、应用范围和学生培养等方面进行了思考,并提出了相应措施与建议.     

Revisit the K-segment of the Southeast Indian Ridge for new evidence of hydrothermal plumes

During the first leg of a Chinese research cruise to the Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR) in 2007, we revisited the K-segment of the SEIR and observed a water column turbidity anomaly at a CTD cast station. This station was located ~400 m from a dredge site on a plume anomaly detected in 1996 by US scientists. The characteristics of the turbidity anomaly detected in our survey are different from those observed 11 years previously, implying that either the detected anomalies have distinct and different plume sources or the robustness of the plume has changed in the intervening time. In addition, turbidity anomalies were observed at two localities on the K-segment in a deep tow-yo profile. If these two anomalies are not connected, the plume incidence calculated would be about 0.28, larger than the predicted value of 0.25 for a 65 mm/a spreading rate. This increase in plume incidence on the K-segment seems to be related to the influence of the St. Paul-Amsterdam hotspot, located about 300 km to the northwest.     

Role for a cortical input to hippocampal area CA1 in the consolidation of a long-term memory

A dialogue between the hippocampus and the neocortex is thought to underlie the formation, consolidation and retrieval of episodic memories, although the nature of this cortico-hippocampal communication is poorly understood. Using selective electrolytic lesions in rats, here we examined the role of the direct entorhinal projection (temporoammonic, TA) to the hippocampal area CA1 in short-term (24 hours) and long-term (four weeks) spatial memory in the Morris water maze. When short-term memory was examined, both sham- and TA-lesioned animals showed a significant preference for the target quadrant. When re-tested four weeks later, sham-lesioned animals exhibited long-term memory; in contrast, the TA-lesioned animals no longer showed target quadrant preference. Many long-lasting memories require a process called consolidation, which involves the exchange of information between the cortex and hippocampus. The disruption of long-term memory by the TA lesion could reflect a requirement for TA input during either the acquisition or consolidation of long-term memory. To distinguish between these possibilities, we trained animals, verified their spatial memory 24 hours later, and then subjected trained animals to TA lesions. TA-lesioned animals still exhibited a deficit in long-term memory, indicating a disruption of consolidation. Animals in which the TA lesion was delayed by three weeks, however, showed a significant preference for the target quadrant, indicating that the memory had already been adequately consolidated at the time of the delayed lesion. These results indicate that, after learning, ongoing cortical input conveyed by the TA path is required to consolidate long-term spatial memory.