Baclofen prevents rapid amygdala kindling in adult rats

This study investigates the effect of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA_B) agonist, baclofen, on amygdala kindling in adult rats. Baclofen has been reported to be anticonvulsant in a variety of seizure models and prevents kindling in immature rats. These experiments describe the effects of baclofen (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) on the afterdischarge threshold and kindling rate. Baclofen, 10 mg/kg, significantly increased the afterdischarge threshold in the amygdala. Baclofen at 5 and 10 mg/kg, retarded the rate of kindling as measured by the number of stimuli required to advance to subsequent seizure stages. These results suggest that baclofen may decrease the local excitability of the amygdala and retard the rate of seizure spread (or generalization) throughout the brain. Baclofen, acting at GABA_B receptors exerts an anticonvulsant effect on amygdala kindling in these experiments.     

Regulation of the retinal interphotoreceptor matrix Na by the retinal pigment epithelium during the light response

We examined the rabbit retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) for Na transport properties which would allow it to buffer undesirable changes in Na concentrations in the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) during light and dark cycles. The RPE is selectivity permeable to sodium. Open and short circuit transport studies with RPE indicate a circulating (choroid to retina and back) Na current which does not compromise the electrical integrity of the blood brain barrier but together with the Na permeselectivity is of sufficient magnitude to buffer both upwards and downwards movements of IPM [Na] during light or dark responses.     

Protective effect of Shigyaku-to,a traditional Chinese herbal medicine,on the infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice

The antiviral activity of Shigyaku-to (TJS-109), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, was investigated in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). TJS-109 is a combination of the medicinal plant extracts fromZingiberis siccatum rhizoma,Aconiti tuber andGlycyrrhizae radix in a specific proportion. Mice infected with a 10 LD₅₀ dose of HSV-1 were treated with TJS-109 orally at doses of 1.25 to 20 mg/kg 2 days before, and 1 and 4 days after the infection. The treated groups had 80% (1.25 mg/kg), 40% (5 mg/kg) and 23% (20 mg/kg) mortality rates 25 days after the infection as compared with a 100% mortality rate in control mice treated with saline. When HSV-1 infected mice (recipients) received CD8⁺T cell fractions derived from spleens of mice treated with TJS-109 (donors), 70% of recipients survived, as compared with 0% survivors in the groups of mice treated with saline, B cell fractions, CD4⁺ T cell fractions or macrophage-enriched fractions prepared from the same donors. TJS-109 did not show any virucidal activities against HSV-1 or any virostatic activities on the growth of HSV-1 in Vero cells. These results suggest that TJS-109 protected mice exposed to lethal amounts of HSV-1 through the activation of CD8⁺ T cells.     

在等离子体条件下用MnO_2对铁液进行含锰还原合金化的研究

还原合金化，即当炼钢或铸造过程需要进行合金化时，不用添加铁合金，而是直接添加所需合金元素的氧化物，通过还原使其合金化。研究结果表明：在等离子体条件下，３０ｍｉｎ内可以达到合锰目标值为１２％～１８％的还原合金化。这一新的冶炼工艺特有可能从根本上改变铁合金的生产现状．     

胺钨盐的性质及其在制取亚微米级钨粉方面的应用

本文着重研究了自还原性胺钨盐的性质及其氢还原,发现,将自还原与一般氢还原适当结合,可以高效率地制备比表面积大于20m~2/g的极细、超细钨粉。对自还原的本性及该类钨盐在制取极细、超细钨粉方面的应用前景进行了讨论。     

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II increases glutamate and noradrenaline release from synaptosomes

A variety of evidence indicates that calcium-dependent protein phosphorylation modulates the release of neurotransmitter from nerve terminals. For instance, the injection of rat calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca2+/CaM-dependent PK II) into the preterminal digit of the squid giant synapse leads to an increase in the release of a so-far unidentified neurotransmitter induced by presynaptic depolarization. But until now, it has not been demonstrated that Ca2+/CaM-dependent PK II can also regulate neurotransmitter release in the vertebrate nervous system. Here we report that the introduction of Ca2+/CaM-dependent PK II, autoactivated by thiophosphorylation, into rat brain synaptosomes (isolated nerve terminals) increases the initial rate of induced release of two neurotransmitters, glutamate and noradrenaline. We also show that introduction of a selective peptidergic inhibitor of Ca2+/CaM-dependent PK II inhibits the initial rate of induced glutamate release. These results support the hypothesis that activation of Ca2+/CaM-dependent PK II in the nerve terminal removes a constraint on neurotransmitter release.     

A binding site for the T-cell co-receptor CD8 on the alpha 3 domain of HLA-A2

Adhesion measurements between CD8 and 48 point mutants of HLA-A2.1 show that the CD8 alpha-chain binds to the alpha 3 domain of HLA-A2.1. Three clusters of alpha 3 residues contribute to the binding, with an exposed, negatively charged loop (residues 223-229) playing a dominant role. CD8 binding correlates with cytotoxic T-cell recognition and sensitivity to inhibition by anti-CD8 antibodies. Impaired alloreactive T-cell recognition of an HLA-A2.1 mutant with reduced affinity for CD8 is not restored by functional CD8 binding sites on an antigenically irrelevant class I molecule. Therefore, complexes of CD8 and the T-cell receptor bound to the same class I major histocompatibility complex molecule seem to be necessary for T-cell activation.