Neuroprotective gap-junction-mediated bystander transformations in the adult zebrafish spinal cord after injury.

The adult zebrafish spinal cord displays an impressive innate ability to regenerate after traumatic insults, yet the underlying adaptive cellular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that while the cellular and tissue responses after injury are largely conserved among vertebrates, the large-size fast spinal zebrafish motoneurons are remarkably resilient by remaining viable and functional. We also reveal the dynamic changes in motoneuron glutamatergic input, excitability, and calcium signaling, and we underscore the critical role of calretinin (CR) in binding and buffering the intracellular calcium after injury.

Mechanisms of orexin 2 receptor-mediated depolarization in the rat paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.

The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) contains dense orexin 2 (OX) receptor. We examined the mechanisms of OX receptor-mediated excitation on electrophysiologically identified type I (putative magnocellular), low-threshold spikes (LTS)-expressing type II (putative preautonomic), and non-LTS type II (putative parvocellular neuroendocrine) neurons. In the presence of tetrodotoxin, an OX receptor agonist, ALOXB (30-1000 nM) depolarized 56% of type I, and 73-75% of type II neurons.

Role of the orexin 2 receptor in palatable-food consumption-associated cardiovascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Hypertensive subjects often exhibit exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity. An overactive orexin system underlies the pathophysiology of hypertension. We examined orexin's roles in eating-associated cardiovascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.

Cardiovascular pressor effects of orexins in the dorsomedial hypothalamus.

Orexins are important regulators of cardiovascular functions in various physiological and pathological conditions. The dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), an essential mediator of cardiovascular responses to stress, contains dense orexinergic innervations and receptors. We examined whether orexins can regulate cardiovascular functions through their actions in the DMH in anesthetized rats.

Expression of the M3 Muscarinic Receptor on Orexin Neurons that Project to the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla.

Activation of central cholinergic receptors causes a pressor response in rats, and the hypothalamus is important for this response. Projections from hypothalamic orexin neurons to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are involved in sympatho-excitation of the cardiovascular system. A small population of orexin neurons is regulated by cholinergic inputs through M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3 R).

Spontaneously hypertensive rats have more orexin neurons in the hypothalamus and enhanced orexinergic input and orexin 2 receptor-associated nitric oxide signalling in the rostral ventrolateral medulla.

What is the central question of this study? Our previous study demonstrates that elevated orexin 2 receptor (OX2R) activity within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) contributes to hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and a lower OX2R protein level was detected in their RVLM. The present study aims to explore the mechanisms underlying elevated orexinergic activity in the RVLM of SHRs, compared with their normotensive counterparts, Wistar-Kyoto rats. What is the main finding and its importance? Increased orexinergic input into the RVLM and enhanced OX2R responsiveness in the RVLM, which was mainly mediated by augmented OX2R-neuronal nitric oxide synthase signalling, may underlie the elevated OX2R activity within the RVLM of SHRs.

Blockade of central orexin 2 receptors reduces arterial pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Orexins can raise arterial pressure and sympathetic activity and are involved in tonic and phasic control of cardiovascular homeostasis. We hypothesized that elevated central orexinergic activity contributes to the maintenance of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). We examined this hypothesis by suppressing central orexinergic activity in SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) with specific antagonists or antibodies against orexin 1 (OX1R) and 2 receptors (OX2R).

Follicular bronchiolitis in a child.

Background: Follicular bronchiolitis (FB) is an uncommon but important pulmonary manifestation in children.

Methods: In this report, we present the clinical presentations and histopathological data of an 8-year-old boy with FB.

Results: The patient had a history of recurrent cough and dyspnea for 5 years with progressive worsening of symptoms.

Orexins depolarize rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons and increase arterial pressure and heart rate in rats mainly via orexin 2 receptors.

An injection of orexin A or B into the cisterna magna or the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), where bulbospinal vasomotor neurons are located, elevated arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR). We examined how orexins affected RVLM neurons to regulate cardiovascular functions by using in vitro recordings of neuronal activity of the RVLM and in vivo measurement of cardiovascular functions in rats. Orexin A and B concentration-dependently depolarized RVLM neurons.

The treatment of relapsing primary nephrotic syndrome in children.

Objective: To explore better therapy and reduce the rate of re-relapse of primary nephritic syndrome in children who had been treated with corticosteroids but relapsed.

Methods: Eighty relapsers were enrolled from Jan. 1994 to Apr.

[Third order nonlinear optical properties of three kinds of metal phthalocyanines].

Using YAG laser, the nonlinear optical refractive indexes of three kinds of metal phthalocyanines in DMF, ZnPCS(C6H32N8S4Zn), AlPCS (C56H32AlClN8S4) and AlPCP (C6H32AlClN8O4) were studied with the method of Z-scan. Their third-order susceptibilities chi(3) were also calculated. The result shows that different central ion and different substituents could affect their third-order susceptibilities.

[Prediction of percutaneous drug permeability using modified theoretical linear solvation energy relationship].

Objective: To predict the percutaneous drug permeability coefficients with modified regression equation.

Methods: The semiempirical self-consistent field molecular orbital calculation AM1 method was used to calculate the quantum chemical parameters and the modified theoretical linear solvation energy relationship was used to obtain the regression equation of the permeability coefficients of drugs through human epidermis.

Result: The permeability coefficients (P) of 36 nonelectrolytes were well linearly correlated with their theoretical descriptors including molecular volume (V), hydrogen bond acidity (sum alpha(2)(H)), hydrogen bond basicity (sum beta(2)(H)) and polarizability index (pi(1)).