Ion-selective membrane modified microfluidic paper-based solution sampling substrates for potentiometric heavy metal detection.

Paper-based microfluidic solution sampling is a viable option for potentiometric sensors to be used for the determination of analytes in samples with high solid-to-liquid ratios. Unfortunately, heavy metal sensitive electrodes cannot be easily integrated with paper-based solution sampling as heavy metals have strong physicochemical adsorption affinity towards paper substrates. In this work, paper substrates were modified with an ion-selective membrane (ISM) cocktail (used for the preparation of Pb-ion-selective electrodes (ISEs)) and coupled with model heavy metal Pb-ISEs.

Effect of subchronic administration of tachykinin antagonists on response of guinea-pigs to mild and severe stress.

The effects of subchronic subcutaneous treatment with tachykinin receptor antagonists over nine days on the repeated mild stress response induced by daily subcutaneous injections and on the severe acute stress induced by morphine withdrawal were investigated in guinea-pigs. The NK(1) receptor antagonist, L733,060, 0.25mg/kg, significantly increased locomotor activity of guinea-pigs compared with animals subjected to repeated injection of the inactive enantiomer, but inhibited Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in the hypothalamus.

Decreased GAD65 mRNA levels in select subpopulations of neurons in the cerebellar dentate nuclei in autism: an in situ hybridization study.

The laterally positioned dentate nuclei lie in a key position in the cerebellum to receive input from Purkinje cells in the lateral cerebellar hemisphere participating in both motor and cognitive functions. Although neuropathology of the four cerebellar nuclei using Nissl staining has been qualitatively reported in children and adults with autism, surprisingly the dentate nuclei appeared less affected despite reported reductions in Purkinje cells in the posterolateral cerebellar hemisphere. To determine any underlying abnormalities in the critically important GABAergic system, the rate-limiting GABA synthesizing enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) type 65 was measured via in situ hybridization histochemistry in dentate somata.

Increased GAD67 mRNA expression in cerebellar interneurons in autism: implications for Purkinje cell dysfunction.

It has been widely reported that in autism, the number of Purkinje cells (PCs) is decreased, and recently, decreased expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) mRNA in Purkinje cells also has been observed. However, the autism literature has not addressed key GABAergic inputs into Purkinje cells. Inhibitory basket and stellate cell interneurons in the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex provide direct key GABAergic input into Purkinje cells and could potently influence the output of Purkinje cells to deep cerebellar nuclei.

Decreased GAD67 mRNA levels in cerebellar Purkinje cells in autism: pathophysiological implications.

The recent identification of decreased protein levels of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) 65 and 67 isoforms in the autistic cerebellar tissue raises the possibility that abnormal regulation of GABA production in individual neurons may contribute to the clinical features of autism. Reductions in Purkinje cell number have been widely reported in autism. It is not known whether the GAD changes also occur in Purkinje cells at the level of transcription.

Immunohistochemical localisation of the NK1 receptor in the human amygdala: preliminary investigation in schizophrenia.

The amygdala has a role in the modulation of moods and emotion, processes that are known to be affected in people with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. The tachykinin NK(1) receptor is known to be expressed in the amygdala. However to date, there is limited knowledge of the distribution of the NK(1) receptor in this region.