Millisecond-scale motor encoding in a cortical vocal area.

Studies of motor control have almost universally examined firing rates to investigate how the brain shapes behavior. In principle, however, neurons could encode information through the precise temporal patterning of their spike trains as well as (or instead of) through their firing rates. Although the importance of spike timing has been demonstrated in sensory systems, it is largely unknown whether timing differences in motor areas could affect behavior.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitrotyrosine in mice with radiation-induced lung damage.

The purpose of this study was to determine if radiation-induced lung damage is associated with induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) II and nitrotyrosine in an irradiated lung mouse model. The thorax of BALBc mice were exposed to 14 Gy radiation (experimental) or no radiation (control) and killed after at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours; 3, 15, and 30 days; and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Lung sections were processed for immunohistochemistry using NOS II and nitrotyrosine polyclonal antisera and in situ hybridization using 35S labeled probes for mouse NOS II.