Quantitative analysis of axon collaterals of single pyramidal cells of the anterior piriform cortex of the guinea pig.

Background: The role of the piriform cortex (PC) in olfactory information processing remains largely unknown. The anterior part of the piriform cortex (APC) has been the focus of cortical-level studies of olfactory coding, and associative processes have attracted considerable attention as an important part in odor discrimination and olfactory information processing. Associational connections of pyramidal cells in the guinea pig APC were studied by direct visualization of axons stained and quantitatively analyzed by intracellular biocytin injection in vivo.

Electroacupuncture Reduces the Effects of Acute Noxious Stimulation on the Electrical Activity of Pain-Related Neurons in the Hippocampus of Control and Neuropathic Pain Rats.

To study the effects of acupuncture analgesia on the hippocampus, we observed the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor on pain-excited neurons (PENs) and pain-inhibited neurons (PINs) in the hippocampal area CA1 of sham or chronic constrictive injury (CCI) rats. The animals were randomly divided into a control, a CCI, and a U0126 (MEK1/2 inhibitor) group. In all experiments, we briefly (10-second duration) stimulated the sciatic nerve electrically and recorded the firing rates of PENs and PINs.

Activation of EP receptors prevents endotoxin-induced neutrophil infiltration into the airways and enhances microvascular barrier function.

Background And Purpose: Pulmonary vascular dysfunction is a key event in acute lung injury. We recently demonstrated that PGE , via activation of E-prostanoid (EP) receptors, strongly enhances microvascular barrier function in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of concomitant EP receptor activation in murine models of acute pulmonary inflammation.

Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) mediates potent inhibitory effects on eosinophils.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) protects against allergic responses via binding to prostanoid receptor EP4, which inhibits eosinophil migration in a PI3K/PKC-dependent fashion. The phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) is known to act as a downstream effector in PI3K signaling and has been implicated in the regulation of neutrophil migration. Thus, here we elucidate whether PDK1 mediates inhibitory effects of E-type prostanoid receptor 4 (EP4) receptors on eosinophil function.

Altered inhibitory function of the E-type prostanoid receptor 4 in eosinophils and monocytes from aspirin-intolerant patients.

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). E-type prostanoid (EP) receptor 4 is known to confer inhibitory signals to eosinophils and monocytes, amongst others. In this study, we investigated whether the responsiveness of eosinophils and monocytes to PGE2 and EP4 receptor activation is altered in AERD patients.