Glutamate activates multiple single channel conductances in hippocampal neurons

There is considerable evidence that glutamate is the principal neurotransmitter that mediates fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the vertebrate central nervous system. This single transmitter seems to activate two or three distinct types of receptors, defined by their affinities for three selective structural analogues of glutamate, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), quisqualate and kainate. All these agonists increase membrane permeability to monovalent cations, but NMDA also activates a conductance that permits significant calcium influx and is blocked in a voltage-dependent manner by extracellular magnesium. Fast synaptic excitation seems to be mediated mainly by kainate/quisqualate receptors, although NMDA receptors are sometimes activated. We have investigated the properties of these conductances using single-channel recording in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons, because the hippocampus contains all subtypes of glutamate receptors and because long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission occurs in this structure. We find that four or more distinct single-channel currents are evoked by applying glutamate to each outside-out membrane patch. These conductances vary in their ionic permeability and in the agonist most effective in causing them to open. Clear transitions between all the conductance levels are observed. Our observations are compatible with the model that all the single channel conductances activated by glutamate reflect the operation of one or two complex molecular entities.     

WDMA-EPON上行信道精确波长光发射模块的研究

介绍波分多址以太网无源光网络的系统结构以及相关光电子器件,报道了用于该系统上行传输信道的一种新型低成本的光发射模块。该模块采用新型外腔式精确波长激光器,具有波长自锁定功能。     

Quantal transmitter secretion from myocytes loaded with acetylcholine.

It is well known that transmitter secretion requires specialized secretory organelles, the synaptic vesicles, for the packaging, storage and exocytotic release of the transmitter. Here we report that when acetylcholine (ACh) is loaded into an isolated Xenopus myocyte, there is spontaneous quantal release of ACh from the myocyte which results in activation of its own surface ACh channels and the appearance of membrane currents resembling miniature endplate currents. This myocyte secretion probably reflects Ca(2+)-regulated exocytosis of ACh-filled cytoplasmic compartments. Furthermore, step depolarization of the myocyte membrane triggers evoked ACh release from the myocyte with a weak excitation-secretion coupling. These findings suggest that quantal transmitter secretion does not require secretory pathways unique to neurons and that the essence of presynaptic differentiation may reside in the provision of transmitter supply and modification of the preexisting secretion pathway.     

Action potentials must admit calcium to evoke transmitter release.

There are two hypotheses to explain how neurons release transmitter. The calcium hypothesis proposes that membrane depolarization is necessary only for opening calcium channels and increasing internal calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) near membrane transmitter-release sites. These calcium ions trigger a transient release of neurotransmitter. The calcium-voltage hypothesis postulates that voltage induces a conformational change in a membrane protein rendering it sensitive to calcium such that, in the presence of high [Ca2+]i, depolarization directly triggers transmitter release. Here we report that when calcium influx is blocked by cobalt or manganese ions in a calcium-free Ringer, as measured with Fura-2, and [Ca2+]i is elevated by liberation from a caged calcium compound, transmitter release at the crayfish neuromuscular junction is unaffected by presynaptic action potentials. These results support the calcium hypothesis.     

Ku波段雷达发射机电路设计

介绍了Ku波段发射机的技术参数及其设计方法。主要叙述了系统中高压电源、监控电路和调制器的设计,并针对发射机在无人机载SAR方面的应用,就如何解决体积小、重量轻情况下的电磁兼容问题。     

用固定化酶管流动注射测定谷氨酸

用多孔玻璃珠固定自制的谷氨酸氧化酶（GO）制成GO固定化酶管，并结合流动注射系统测定谷氨酸（Glu)的含量，测定的线性范围在0．2－3．0mol/m3，精密度（c.v.)为0．75％，测定速率每小时60个样品，该酶管使用寿命为40d，在一定的条件下，保存稳定期达120天，当测定的Glu浓度低于3mol/m3时，pH在6．5－7．5，温度在20－30度，磷酸盐浓度在0．05－0．25mol/L范围内变化时，对Glu含量的测定几乎无影响，用醋酸纤维膜修饰的铂电极测定H2O2选择性好，该方法与试剂盒法同时测定不同发酵时间发酵液中Glu的含量，两者结果一致。