Evidence for a neuronal release of isotopically labelled γ-amino-n-butyric acid (GABA) from the rat dorsal medulla in vivo

Summary High potassium and electrical stimulation consistently increase efflux of labelled GABA from the in vivo superfused rat dorsal medulla in a calcium-dependent fashion. The depolarizing alkaloid, veratridine, also evokes a large increase in efflux of labelled GABA. These data strongly suggest release from a neurotransmitter pool in this region.Supported by grants from the Science Research Council to N.D. and C.G.D., FAPESP and CNPq (Brazil) to J.A.A. and CAPES and FAPESP (Brazil) to N.B.     

An efficient room-temperature silicon-based light-emitting diode

There is an urgent requirement for an optical emitter that is compatible with standard, silicon-based ultra-large-scale integration (ULSI) technology. Bulk silicon has an indirect energy bandgap and is therefore highly inefficient as a light source, necessitating the use of other materials for the optical emitters. However, the introduction of these materials is usually incompatible with the strict processing requirements of existing ULSI technologies. Moreover, as the length scale of the devices decreases, electrons will spend increasingly more of their time in the connections between components; this interconnectivity problem could restrict further increases in computer chip processing power and speed in as little as five years. Many efforts have therefore been directed, with varying degrees of success, to engineering silicon-based materials that are efficient light emitters. Here, we describe the fabrication, using standard silicon processing techniques, of a silicon light-emitting diode (LED) that operates efficiently at room temperature. Boron is implanted into silicon both as a dopant to form a p-n junction, as well as a means of introducing dislocation loops. The dislocation loops introduce a local strain field, which modifies the band structure and provides spatial confinement of the charge carriers. It is this spatial confinement which allows room-temperature electroluminescence at the band-edge. This device strategy is highly compatible with ULSI technology, as boron ion implantation is already used as a standard method for the fabrication of silicon devices.     

A simple staining technique for electron microscopy with lead-uranyl acetate

Resumen Mediante el empleo de una solución saturada de acetato de uranilo-plomo en acetona de 70%, durante el proceso convencional de deshidratación, se ha conseguido incrementar marcadamente el contraste electrónico en ápices radicales dePhalaris canariensis, sin riesgo alguno de contaminación o deformación de las estructuras.     

Transcriptome analysis of the acoelomate human parasite Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosoma mansoni is the primary causative agent of schistosomiasis, which affects 200 million individuals in 74 countries. We generated 163,000 expressed-sequence tags (ESTs) from normalized cDNA libraries from six selected developmental stages of the parasite, resulting in 31,000 assembled sequences and 92% sampling of an estimated 14,000 gene complement. By analyzing automated Gene Ontology assignments, we provide a detailed view of important S. mansoni biological systems, including characterization of metazoa-specific and eukarya-conserved genes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests an early divergence from other metazoa. The data set provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of tissue organization, development, signaling, sexual dimorphism, host interactions and immune evasion and identifies novel proteins to be investigated as vaccine candidates and potential drug targets.     

Precise inhibition is essential for microsecond interaural time difference coding

Microsecond differences in the arrival time of a sound at the two ears (interaural time differences, ITDs) are the main cue for localizing low-frequency sounds in space. Traditionally, ITDs are thought to be encoded by an array of coincidence-detector neurons, receiving excitatory inputs from the two ears via axons of variable length ('delay lines'), to create a topographic map of azimuthal auditory space. Compelling evidence for the existence of such a map in the mammalian lTD detector, the medial superior olive (MSO), however, is lacking. Equally puzzling is the role of a--temporally very precise glycine--mediated inhibitory input to MSO neurons. Using in vivo recordings from the MSO of the Mongolian gerbil, we found the responses of ITD-sensitive neurons to be inconsistent with the idea of a topographic map of auditory space. Moreover, local application of glycine and its antagonist strychnine by iontophoresis (through glass pipette electrodes, by means of an electric current) revealed that precisely timed glycine-controlled inhibition is a critical part of the mechanism by which the physiologically relevant range of ITDs is encoded in the MSO. A computer model, simulating the response of a coincidence-detector neuron with bilateral excitatory inputs and a temporally precise contralateral inhibitory input, supports this conclusion.     

Effects of hypophysectomy and thyroidectomy on the glycogen depletion in livers of rats treated with thioacetamide

Zusammenfassung Die Verarmung von Glykogen in der Leber als Ausdruck der toxischen Wirkung von Thioacetamid kann durch Hypophysektomie oder Thyroidektomie verhindert werden.