Origin of impulse initiation in the slowly adapting stretch receptor of the crayfish

Summary Characteristic for the crayfish stretch receptor is a gradual decrease in axon diameter up to a stretch of axon about 350 m away from the soma-axon border. In response to depolarizing currents applied at different positions along the axon this stretch of axon can be localized as the most excitable membrane region. When depolarizing current steps of 10–25 nA intensity are injected into the soma the first impulse is always triggered in the soma (due to sudden rise in the membrane potential) while the second impulse originates at the axon region of highest escitability. As the intensity of the stimulus is increased the site of impulse initiation along the axon shifts nearer to the receptor soma. At a stimulus intensity of 50 nA the second impulse is suppressed and only the membrane potential at the axon hillock increases slightly. An analysis of the conductances for sodium and potassium ions as well as of the leakage current suggests that the molecular basis for the observed variations in excitability resides in a gradual decrease of the sodium conductance between the cell soma and the small-diameter region of the axon. However, the resting potential in this most excitable axon region is only some 3 mV more positive as compared to the receptor soma. A mathematical formulation is presented for the encoder mechanism in a soma-axon region with varying diameter. Using a slightly modified form of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations the experimentally observed changes in membrane potential and in the time course of the ionic currents can be adequately described by applying a nonlinear cable equation to the inhomogeneous axon.     

Ethanol Untangles the Amygdala‐Anxiety Circuit Through Tonic GABA Inhibition

The central amygdala (CeA) has a unique role in integrating stress and the rewarding effects of ethanol (EtOH) and plays a major role in the development of EtOH dependence via signaling of corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF). A recent report by Herman and colleagues (2013) entitled “Novel Subunit‐Specific Tonic GABA Currents and Differential Effects of Ethanol in the Central Amygdala of CRF Receptor‐1 Reporter Mice” is the first study to investigate inhibitory tonic currents in relation to CRF signaling in the CeA. The findings of that study significantly enhance our understanding of inhibitory tonic currents in the CeA and give insight into how EtOH may differentially affect CRF signaling within the CeA, leading to the development of EtOH dependence. This commentary will focus on the recent findings of Herman and colleagues and will discuss the effects of EtOH on the entire anxiety/emotion circuitry.     

Late sodium current in the node of Ranvier

Summary Voltage clamp experiments carried out on nodes of Ranvier of myelinated fibres ofRana esculenta showed that a small fraction of sodium channels fail to inactivate. Thus during long lasting depolarizing pulses there is a small Na-current superimposed on the leakage and potassium currents. This late Na-current appears more marked in sensory fibres than in motor ones.Supported by grants of the C.N.R.S. and D.G.R.S.T.     

有氧运动抑制衰老大鼠脑动脉平滑肌STOC/BKCa功能下调

目的　探讨有氧运动训练对衰老大鼠脑动脉平滑肌细胞全细胞K⁺电流、自发瞬时外向电流及大电导钙激活钾通道生物物理特性的影响。方法　19～21月龄雄性Wistar大鼠12只（老年组）,随机分为安静组和有氧运动组,并选用2月龄Wistar大鼠安静处理作为青年对照组。12周后取脑动脉,急性分离动脉平滑肌细胞。分别采用膜片钳全细胞模式、穿孔膜片钳模式和单通道内面向外模式观察运动对全细胞K⁺电流、自发瞬时外向电流和大电导钙激活钾通道门控特性的影响。结果　安静组全细胞K⁺电流密度及对Iberiotoxin敏感性降低;安静组自发瞬时外向电流幅值降低,频率无明显变化;安静组大电导钙激活钾通道平均开放概率和平均开放时间显著低于青年对照组,而平均关闭时间高于青年对照组;电压依赖性和钙敏感性亦显著下降;与安静组相比,有氧运动可以增加全细胞K⁺电流密度、自发瞬时外向电流幅值及大电导钙激活钾通道平均开放概率、电压依赖性和钙敏感性来实现对大鼠脑动脉平滑肌自发瞬时外向电流/大电导钙激活钾通道功能的保护作用。结论　长期规律有氧运动可以减弱衰老所致的大鼠脑动脉平滑肌细胞大电导钙激活钾通道功能下调,这可能是有氧运动改善衰老动脉功能的重要机制之一。     

甲磺酸酚妥拉明抗心律失常的初步研究

目的:通过观察甲磺酸酚妥拉明(PM)对正常大鼠心室肌细胞钠电流(INa)的影响,以探讨其抗心律失常的作用机制。方法:采用膜片钳全细胞记录技术记录了PM对单个大鼠心室肌细胞钠电流的影响。结果:动物实验表明PM降低正常心室肌细胞INa电流密度峰值,钠离子通道失活加速,失活后再恢复时间延迟。结论:PM对心室肌细胞0相动作电位快钠电流有抑制作用,能使快速性室性心律失常的发生率降低。     

我院高学历人力资源现状分析与发展对策

本文对新疆医科大学第一附属医院高学历人力资源现状进行了调查,从医疗工作实际、高学历人力资源队伍自身建设、医院管理体系三方面分析了目前高学历人力资源培养及队伍建设中存在的问题：梯队构成比例不合理;对高学历人力资源的思想教育力度不够;薪酬分配缺乏竞争机制和激励作用等,在此基础上提出了相应的对策。     

心肌梗死后抑郁大鼠心室肌细胞L型钙电流的动力学改变

目的:观察心肌梗死后抑郁大鼠心室肌细胞L型钙电流(ICa-L)的动力学特性。方法:将60只SD大鼠随机分为4组:正常对照组(n=10),心梗组(n=20),抑郁组(n=10),心梗后抑郁组(n=20)。通过结扎冠状动脉前降支建立心肌梗死模型,予慢性不可预见性温和刺激建立抑郁模型,利用酶解法分离梗死周边区心室肌细胞,采用全细胞膜片钳技术记录L型钙电流的变化,研究抑郁对心肌梗死后大鼠心室肌细胞ICa-L的动力学影响。结果:与心梗组比较,心梗后抑郁组的I-V曲线上移,激活曲线右移,并延长失活后恢复时间。结论:抑郁可能通过改变心肌梗死后心室肌细胞L型钙通道的动力学来诱发室性心律失常。     

A low threshold calcium current recorded at physiological Ca concentrations in single frog atrial cells

The presence of a low threshold calcium current (I_Ca,LT) besides the classical (high threshold) calcium current (I_Ca,HT) is investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique (10) on Cs-loaded frog atrial cells at physiological Ca concentrations. I_Ca,LT, which inactivates within tens of milliseconds, gives rise to a shoulder in the negative part of the peak current-voltage curve. It is completely abolished by 40 M Ni while I_Ca,HT is not modified. Cd (30 M) decreases I_Ca,LT by about 50% while I_Ca,HT is completely abolished.     

体外培育牛黄抑制大鼠三叉神经节细胞电压依赖性钙通道电流参与镇痛机制

目的:研究体外培育牛黄(CBS)对大鼠三叉神经节(TRG)细胞电压依赖性钙通道电流(ICa)的影响,探讨牛黄镇痛作用的电生理机制。方法:在培养大鼠TRG细胞上采用全细胞膜片钳记录ICa。结果:CBS能够剂量依赖性地抑制TRG细胞电压依赖性钙通道电流,0.2,2,20μg.ml-1CBS可使钙电流幅值分别减少(30.3±4.7)%、(41.9±3.6)%和(56.7±6.8)%(n=6,P<0.01)。结论:CBS对钙电流的阻滞作用可能是其镇痛作用机制之一。