The effect of unilateral and bilateral lesions in the locus coeruleus on the levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in neocortex

Résumé Des lésions électrolytiques, soit unilatérales soit bilatérales, ont été pratiquées dans des cerveaux de rats, dans la région du locus coeruleus. Trois semaines après, la teneur en 3-méthoxy-4-hydroxyphénylglycol (MHPG) des deux cortices cérébraux a été analysée par chromatographie à gaz. Les lésions unilatérales ont réduit la teneur en MHPG du cortex ipsilatéral, et après les lésions bilatérales la réduction ent lieu dans les deux cortices.     

The C-terminal tetrapeptide of cholecystokinin decreases hunger in rats

Summary Intraperitoneal injection of the C-terminal tetrapeptide amide of cholecystokinin (CCK) suppressed feeding behaviour and food intake in rats deprived of food for 12 h in a dose-dependent manner. The CCK-4 possesses a hunger suppressive property similar to the full molecule of CCK.     

Biomaterials: silk-like secretion from tarantula feet

An unsuspected attachment mechanism may help these huge spiders to avoid catastrophic falls. Spiders spin silk from specialized structures known as abdominal spinnerets--a defining feature of the creatures--and this is deployed to capture prey, protect themselves, reproduce and disperse. Here we show that zebra tarantulas (Aphonopelma seemanni) from Costa Rica also secrete silk from their feet to provide adhesion during locomotion, enabling these spiders to cling to smooth vertical surfaces. Our discovery that silk is produced by the feet provides a new perspective on the origin and diversification of spider silk.     

嗅觉系统神经网络模型字符识别中的应用

Freeman在大量神经生理实验的基础上建立了生物嗅觉系统的非线性神经网络模型,即K系列模型．其中,KⅢ模型是一种混沌神经网络,它的模式识别机制与以往的人工神经网络完全不同,更接近实际生物神经系统的工作模式．研究通过对26个英文字符的学习、识别研究得出,系统相对于传统的神经网络有着很强的学习能力,学习5～6次就能有很好的识别能力,在10次达到最优学习效果,并与真实神经系统学习过程中的倒“U”曲线相对应．     

Selective potentiating effects of metal ions on vasopressom

Zusammenfassung Der Effekt von Na⁺-, NH₄ ⁺- und Ca⁺⁺-Ionen auf die Blutdruckaktivität von Arginin-Vasopressom wurde untersucht und mit analogen Experimenten (Val⁵-Angiotensin II-Asp¹--Amid) verglichen. Die Wirkungsweise der Ionen-induzierten Potenzierung von Vasopressin wird diskutiert.

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Supported by USPHS Grant No. AM-13567.

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Abbreviations used are: AVP, arginine-vasopressin; bp, blood pres sure; U, unit;n, number of experiments; , mean value; S.E. standard error;p, level of significance; NS, not significant.     

The Effects of Environmental Variables on Gas Exchange of Several Tree Species Under Boreal Field Conditions

１９９４年和１９９５年夏季在加拿大Ｓａｓｋａｔｃｈｅｗａｎ省ＰｒｉｎｃｅＡｌｂｅｒｔ市北部森林测定环境条件对欧洲杨（ＰｏｐｕｌｕｓｔｒｅｍｕｌｏｉｄｅｓＭｉｃｈｘ．）,胶杨（ＰｏｐｕｌｕｓｂａｌｓａｍｉｆｅｒａＬ．）,榛子（ＣｏｒｙｌｕｓｃｏｒｎｕｔａＭａｒｓｈ．）,短叶松（ＰｉｎｕｓｂａｎｋｓｉａｎａＬａｍｂ．）和黑云杉（Ｐｉｃｅａｍａｒｉａｎａ（Ｍｉｌ）ＢＳＰ）气体交换的影响。气体交换率的测定使用便携式气体交换系统（ＬＩ－６２００）。结果表明光合作用光流动量（ＰＰＦＤ）、气温（Ｔａ）、蒸气压差（ＶＰＤ）和体内二氧化碳浓度（Ｃｉ）均对气体交换有显著影响,但对不同树种影响程度不同。在大气二氧化碳浓度（Ｃａ）和相对稳定的气温和蒸气压差下,欧洲杨比短叶松和黑云杉有较高光饱和点、同化量子产量（Φ）、在饱和ＰＰＦＤ下最高同化率（Ｐｍ）和较低的光补偿点（ＬＣＰ）。对欧洲杨树,幼龄树比老龄树有较高光合能力,且生长季早期光合能力比后期高。欧洲杨和短叶松的气孔导度（ｇｓ）随ＰＰＦＤ增加而增加。但黑云杉ｇｓ不受ＰＰＦＤ影响。在高光强下（ＰＰＦＤ＞１０００μｍｏｌ·ｍ－２ｓ－１）,欧洲杨幼树被光叶片比曝光叶片表现较低的净二氧化     

The inner jet of an active galactic nucleus as revealed by a radio-to-gamma-ray outburst

Blazars are the most extreme active galactic nuclei. They possess oppositely directed plasma jets emanating at near light speeds from accreting supermassive black holes. According to theoretical models, such jets are propelled by magnetic fields twisted by differential rotation of the black hole's accretion disk or inertial-frame-dragging ergosphere. The flow velocity increases outward along the jet in an acceleration and collimation zone containing a coiled magnetic field. Detailed observations of outbursts of electromagnetic radiation, for which blazars are famous, can potentially probe the zone. It has hitherto not been possible to either specify the location of the outbursts or verify the general picture of jet formation. Here we report sequences of high-resolution radio images and optical polarization measurements of the blazar BL Lacertae. The data reveal a bright feature in the jet that causes a double flare of radiation from optical frequencies to TeV gamma-ray energies, as well as a delayed outburst at radio wavelengths. We conclude that the event starts in a region with a helical magnetic field that we identify with the acceleration and collimation zone predicted by the theories. The feature brightens again when it crosses a standing shock wave corresponding to the bright 'core' seen on the images.     

Reversal of pathological pain through specific spinal GABAA receptor subtypes

Inflammatory diseases and neuropathic insults are frequently accompanied by severe and debilitating pain, which can become chronic and often unresponsive to conventional analgesic treatment. A loss of synaptic inhibition in the spinal dorsal horn is considered to contribute significantly to this pain pathology. Facilitation of spinal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission through modulation of GABA(A) receptors should be able to compensate for this loss. With the use of GABA(A)-receptor point-mutated knock-in mice in which specific GABA(A) receptor subtypes have been selectively rendered insensitive to benzodiazepine-site ligands, we show here that pronounced analgesia can be achieved by specifically targeting spinal GABA(A) receptors containing the alpha2 and/or alpha3 subunits. We show that their selective activation by the non-sedative ('alpha1-sparing') benzodiazepine-site ligand L-838,417 (ref. 13) is highly effective against inflammatory and neuropathic pain yet devoid of unwanted sedation, motor impairment and tolerance development. L-838,417 not only diminished the nociceptive input to the brain but also reduced the activity of brain areas related to the associative-emotional components of pain, as shown by functional magnetic resonance imaging in rats. These results provide a rational basis for the development of subtype-selective GABAergic drugs for the treatment of chronic pain, which is often refractory to classical analgesics.     

Cutaneous cancer stem cell maintenance is dependent on beta-catenin signalling

Continuous turnover of epithelia is ensured by the extensive self-renewal capacity of tissue-specific stem cells. Similarly, epithelial tumour maintenance relies on cancer stem cells (CSCs), which co-opt stem cell properties. For most tumours, the cellular origin of these CSCs and regulatory pathways essential for sustaining stemness have not been identified. In murine skin, follicular morphogenesis is driven by bulge stem cells that specifically express CD34. Here we identify a population of cells in early epidermal tumours characterized by phenotypic and functional similarities to normal bulge skin stem cells. This population contains CSCs, which are the only cells with tumour initiation properties. Transplants derived from these CSCs preserve the hierarchical organization of the primary tumour. We describe beta-catenin signalling as being essential in sustaining the CSC phenotype. Ablation of the beta-catenin gene results in the loss of CSCs and complete tumour regression. In addition, we provide evidence for the involvement of increased beta-catenin signalling in malignant human squamous cell carcinomas. Because Wnt/beta-catenin signalling is not essential for normal epidermal homeostasis, such a mechanistic difference may thus be targeted to eliminate CSCs and consequently eradicate squamous cell carcinomas.