Differential effects of the serotonin receptors on cultured rat cerebral cortical neurons

Effects of serotonin (5-HT) on cerebral cortical neurons were examined by patch clamp techniques. 5-HT produced a variety of responses such as outward (19/73 patches/neurons), slow inward (15/73 patches/neurons), fast inward (8/73 patches/neurons), and mixed currents (initially fast inward deflection followed by an outward response: 2/73 patches/neurons), with a latency of 12 sec, 15 sec, 0 sec, and 0 sec respectively, at a holding potential of −60 mV in whole-cell patches. The fast inward currents were again evoked by a selective 5-HT3 receptor agonist, 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-biguanide hydrochloride (CPBG). In the cell-attached patch clamp configuration, 5-HT inside the patch pipette elicited single channel currents with slope conductances of 42 pS and 132 pS (4/42 patches/neurons). CPBG inside the patch pipette evoked inward single channel currents with a lower slope conductance of 41 pS (3/23 patches/neurons). In contrast, application of 5-HT or a 5-HT₂ receptor agonist, α-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine-maleate, outside the patch pipette induced outward single channel currents with a major slope conductance of 140 pS (8/30 patches/neurons) or 135 pS (6/20 patches/neurons), respectively. These results indicate that the outward and fast inward currents may be mediated respectively by the 5-HT₂ receptor, which is coupled to a G-protein, and by the 5-HT₃ receptor, which contains the non-selective cation channel, and that the mixed type may be caused by both the 5-HT₂ and 5-HT₃ receptors. Received 27 September 1996; received after revision 4 November 1996; accepted 7 November 1996     

Effect of hydrogen peroxide on the binding of Merocyanine 540 to human erythrocytes

The fluorescent dye Merocyanine 540 (MC540) is often used as a probe to monitor the molecular packing of phospholipids in the outer leaflet of biomembranes. In a previous study we showed that the increased staining of erythrocytes with a perturbed membrane structure was mainly due to an increase in the fluorescence yield of cell-bound MC540, rather than to an increase of the number of bound molecules. Erythrocytes and ghosts exposed to continuous fluxes of H₂O₂ exhibited pronounced lipid peroxidation. Further, red blood cells subjected to this form of oxidative stress also showed increased staining with MC540. It appeared that this was caused by a strong increase in binding of MC540, together with a slight red shift of the fluorescence emission maximum and a small increase in the fluorescence yield of bound MC540. The changed MC540 binding characteristics were not observed when lipid peroxidation was suppressed by the presence of the antioxidant BHT in the incubation medium. However, open ghosts exposed to H₂O₂ showed no increase of MC540 binding, excluding a direct involvement of lipid peroxidation. Measurement of fluorescence emission spectra and gel filtration studies showed that MC540 can bind to H₂O₂-exposed hemoglobin. Experiments with erythrocytes lysed in hypotonic medium after exposure to H₂O₂ revealed that peroxidation of lipids with H₂O₂ induced a non-specific permeabilization of the plasma membrane to MC540, thereby allowing MC540 to bind to the oxidatively denatured, more hydrophobic hemoglobin. These results indicate that conclusions about packing of phospholipids in the outer leaflet of the membrane based on increased MC540-staining should be drawn with care. Received 27 September 1996; received after revision 5 November 1996; accepted 27 November 1996     

Induction of autotomy in the American bird grasshopperSchistocerca americana (Drury) by the ecdysone agonist RH-5849 and investigation of its mode of action

The non-steroidal ecdysone agonist RH-5849 (1,2-dibenzoyl-l-tert-butylhydrazine) was found to be an effective neurotoxicant on injection into the American bird grasshopper,Schistocerca americana (Drury). Treated grasshoppers became immediately hyperactive, followed by loss of coordination, paralysis and eventually death. We also discovered that this compound induced bilateral autotomy of the metathoracic legs during the early stages of intoxication. However, no evidence of ecdysonergic or morphogenetic activities was observed. Synergism studies with neurotoxins of known mode of action suggested that RH-5849 has a mechanism of action similar to that of 4-amino pyridine, which blocks potassium channels.     

一种二氢苯并噻喃衍生物的新型合成法

介绍２－丁烯醛与苯硫酚之间的酸催化分子间一步成环反应，合成一种二氢苯并噻喃衍生物的新方法，产品收率高达８４％。     

DeLuca－Termini混合熵的合理性分析及其推广

对ＤｅＬｕｃａ和Ｔｅｒｍｉｎｉ提出的混合熵的合理性进行了分析并加以推广，对其性质作了详细证明。并指出，本文混合熵的表达式具有更明确的数学及物理含义。     

用子波变换分析方法实时监测视觉诱发电位的潜伏期

诱发电位的实时监测在临床中有重要意义。本文提出利用多分辨率子波分析技术来实时监测视觉诱发电位的潜伏期。为克服随机噪声的影响，我们引入相邻响应的相关系数来修正所检测得的潜伏期的偏移，并应用前一次响应的波峰位置来决定当前的搜寻范围。实验表明，本方法能实时监测视觉诱发电位的潜伏期。     

信息系统外包:主要研究方向和未来发展趋势

近年来,信息系统外包已经成为众多美国财富500强的公司和一些欧洲大型跨国公司(M NC s)所关注的问题。一份最新的调查报告显示接近1/3的财富500强公司选择了印度作为它们外包业务的所在地。自1990年以来,印度政府一直致力于支持和推动信息系统外包产业的发展,并取得了巨大的成效。该文试通过对一些关键问题的讨论来探索这个重要的研究领域,这些问题包括:欧美公司为何将信息系统外包,印度怎样成为了全球信息系统外包的领导国家,中国的IT产业如何迎头赶上加入信息系统外包这个有利可图的市场的竞争。     

Global warming： Take action or wait？

Of all the changes wrought by human activity, the buildup in our atmosphere of the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, has gener- ated the most contentious debate. Environmentalists warn that in the absence of firm action, over th…     

江苏盐城沿海滩涂发展生态旅游的初步研究

通过分析江苏盐城沿海滩涂的自然概况、旅游发展现状和存在的问题,认为该区域发展生态旅游应遵循可持续发展的观点,不仅应保护自然环境,还应保护社会环境和经济环境.提出了该地区应侧重发展科考旅游、田园风光旅游、动物观赏旅游和休闲度假旅游,并对生态旅游项目、旅游线路规划、环境保护对策进行了设计.     

智能住宅中消防给水系统设计探讨

根据智能住宅火灾形成的特点，简述了消火栓给水系统与自动喷水灭火系统的设置方式与特点，并结合实例对消防给水方式的选择等问题进行了探讨。