Opponent-process additivity—III: Effect of moderate chromatic adaptation

The luminance invariance and additivity of opponent-color equilibria were tested under conditions of chromatic adaptation to unique blue, green, yellow and to (nonunique) 650-nm red lights, varying from about 40 to 2000 td. Although the adapting lights produced large shifts in the loci of the red/green equilibrium colors away from their dark-adapted values, hardly any nonadditivity was produced by blue or green adaptation. For yellow adapting lights of 900 td or more, the red/green equilibria are luminance dependent, hence nonadditive. A small luminance dependence was produced by 40 td red adaptation. As a first approximation, the effects of moderate chromatic adaptation on the red/green opponent code can be described by a coefficient law; however, the fact that unique hues do not shift under moderate self-adaptation implies that the coefficient for at least one receptor type depends on the adapting input to other receptor types. The fact that yellow and red adaptation make the dark determined unique blue wavelength look reddish implies that the short-wavelength cones contribute a red input to the red/green opponent system. The yellow/blue system exhibited nonlinearities under chromatic adaptation which were qualitatively similar to the nonlinearities found under dark adaptation.     

The relative numbers of long-wavelength-sensitive to middle-wavelength-sensitive cones in the human fovea centralis

The determination of the relative numbers of different cone types in the human retina is fundamental to our understanding of visual sensitivity and color vision; yet direct measurement which provide this basic information have not previously been made for all cone types. Here we present a model which links the detection of a test light of small dimension to the number of cones contributing to detection of the light. We selectively isolated either the long-wavelength-sensitive (L) or the middle-wavelength-sensitive (M) cones, by choosing combinations of wavelengths of adapting backgrounds and tests to favor detection by the cone class of interest. Our model was applied to the detection functions measured for six color normal observers to obtain estimates of the relative numbers of L to M cones. Our estimates ranged between 1.46 and 2.36 for our observers with a mean value near two L cones for every M cone in human fovea centralis.     

The density of cones in the fovea centralis of the human dichromat

We present estimates, based on psychophysical measurements, of the density of cones in the fovea centralis of human dichromats. The estimates for a group of three protanopes and three deuteranopes (this study) were compared to the estimates of the density of cones in a group of six color normal trichromats from previous studies (Cicerone & Nerger, 1985, 1989). The results support the conclusion that the density of cones in the fovea centralis of the dichromat is comparable to that of the color normal trichomat. These results tend not to support a model of dichromacy in which a class of cones as well as the associated pigment are lost in the dichromatic eye. Instead, dichromacy appears to involve a loss of one of the three visual pigments associated with human trichromacy, with a retention of the full numbers of cones.     

Force-frequency relationship in the echocardiography laboratory: a noninvasive assessment of Bowditch treppe?

BACKGROUND: Estimation of contractility of the left ventricle is an important, and as yet elusive, goal with noninvasive techniques. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the feasibility of a totally noninvasive estimation of force-frequency relation (FFR) during exercise stress in the echocardiography laboratory. METHODS: We enrolled 13 healthy control patients (12 men, age 38 +/- 15 years) as group I, and 50 patients (38 men, age 64 +/- 11 years) referred for exercise echocardiography as group II. To build the FFR, the force was determined at each step as the ratio of the systolic pressure (cuff sphygmomanometer)/end-systolic volume index (biplane Simpson's rule/body surface area). The slope of the relationship was calculated with the linear best fit of the FFR. RESULTS: Noninvasive systolic pressure/end-systolic volume ratio was obtained in all patients. The slope of the linear best fit of the force-frequency curve was lower in group II compared with group I (group II = 10.1 +/- 9.3 x 10(-2) vs group I = 14.9 +/- 9.9 x 10(-2) group I, P =.04). By regional wall-motion analysis, 2 subgroups were identified in group II: group IIA (n = 8) had a positive echocardiogram; and group IIB (n = 42) had a negative echocardiogram. The slope of the force-frequency curve was lower in patients with ischemia compared with those without (group IIA = 3.5 +/- 4.2 x 10(-2) vs group IIB = 11.4 +/- 9.5 x 10(-2); P =.012). Heart rate-systolic pressure/end-systolic volume index relation was biphasic, with an initial positive slope and a subsequent negative slope in 1 patient of group I, 4 patients of group IIA, and 15 patients of group IIB (P <.05 vs group I). CONCLUSION: A noninvasive estimation of FFR can be easily determined during exercise echocardiography. This index of global contractility is theoretically appealing for identification of limited contractile reserve and latent global left ventricular dysfunction.     

Modulus-driven differentiation of marrow stromal cells in 3D scaffolds that is independent of myosin-based cytoskeletal tension

Proliferation and differentiation of cells are known to be influenced by the physical properties of the extracellular environment. Previous studies examining biophysics underlying cell response to matrix stiffness utilized a two-dimensional (2D) culture format, which is not representative of the three-dimensional (3D) tissue environment in vivo. We report on the effect of 3D matrix modulus on human bone marrow stromal cell (hBMSC) differentiation. hBMSCs underwent osteogenic differentiation in poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels of all modulus (300-fold modulus range, from 0.2?kPa to 59?kPa) in the absence of osteogenic differentiation supplements. This osteogenic differentiation was modulus-dependent and was enhanced in stiffer gels. Osteogenesis in these matrices required integrin-protein ligation since osteogenesis was inhibited by soluble Arginine-Glycine-Aspartate-Serine peptide, which blocks integrin receptors. Immunostained images revealed lack of well-defined actin filaments and microtubules in the encapsulated cells. Disruption of mechanosensing elements downstream of integrin binding that have been identified from 2D culture such as actin filaments, myosin II contraction, and RhoA kinase did not abrogate hBMSC material-driven osteogenic differentiation in 3D. These data show that increased hydrogel modulus enhanced osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs in 3D scaffolds but that hBMSCs did not use the same mechanosensing pathways that have been identified in 2D culture.     

Comparison of mechanical and electrical activity and interstitial cells of Cajal in urinary bladders from wild-type and W/Wv mice

Background and purpose:

W/W^v and wild-type murine bladders were studied to determine whether the W/W^v phenotype, which causes a reduction in, but not abolition of, tyrosine kinase activity, is a useful tool to study the function of bladder interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC).

Experimental approach:

Immunohistochemistry, tension recordings and microelectrode recordings of membrane potential were performed on wild-type and mutant bladders.

Key results:

Wild-type and W/W^v detrusors contained c-Kit- and vimentin-immunopositive cells in comparable quantities, distribution and morphology. Electrical field stimulation evoked tetrodotoxin-sensitive contractions in wild-type and W/W^v detrusor strips. Atropine reduced wild-type responses by 50% whereas a 25% reduction occurred in W/W^v strips. The atropine-insensitive component was blocked by pyridoxal-5-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulphonic acid in both tissue types. Wild-type and W/W^v detrusors had similar resting membrane potentials of −48 mV. Spontaneous electrical activity in both tissue types comprised action potentials and unitary potentials. Action potentials were nifedipine-sensitive whereas unitary potentials were not. Excitatory junction potentials were evoked by single pulses in both tissues. These were reduced by atropine in wild-type tissues but not in W/W^v preparations. The atropine-insensitive component was abolished by pyridoxal-5-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulphonic acid in both preparations.

Conclusions and implications:

Bladders from W/W^v mice contain c-Kit- and vimentin-immunopositive ICC. There are similarities in the electrical and contractile properties of W/W^v and wild-type detrusors. However, significant differences were found in the pharmacology of the responses to neurogenic stimulation with an apparent up-regulation of the purinergic component. These findings indicate that the W/W^v strain may not be the best model to study ICC function in the bladder.     

人脂肪组织来源干细胞在心脏疾病治疗中的应用

目的:综述人脂肪组织来源干细胞的生物学特性及其在缺血性心脏病中的应用,分析不足,并在此基础上提出未来研究要解决的问题,以期为临床治疗提供依据。资料来源:应用计算机检索Blackwell、Elsevier、Pubmed数据库1980/2007期间脂肪源性干细胞与缺血性心脏病方面的文献,检索词为“bone mesenchymal stem cells,adipose derived stemcells,cardiomyocytes,ischemic heart disease”等。应用计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库1980/2007期间相关文献,检索词为“骨髓间充质干细胞,脂肪组织来源的干细胞,心肌细胞,缺血性心脏病”等。并手工查阅相关书籍。资料选择:对资料进行初步选择:①脂肪组织来源干细胞的生物学特性。②脂肪组织来源干细胞治疗缺血性心脏病。排除重复文献。资料提炼:共搜集到相关文章57篇,删除内容重复及与本文主题关系较远的文章,剩余41篇作为综述参考。资料综合:脂肪组织来源干细胞与同样起源于中胚层的骨髓基质细胞不仅具有非常相似的生物学特性,而且在细胞表面标志谱的表达方面也非常相近。并且脂肪组织来源广泛,取材方便,可获得的基质细胞数量大,易于培养扩增。有研究发现,脂肪组织来源干细胞体外培养不需要任何诱导便能分化成具有自律性的心肌细胞,使得脂肪组织来源干细胞治疗缺血性心脏病成为可能。结论:脂肪组织来源干细胞在取材和增殖方面较骨髓间充质干细胞有优势;脂肪组织来源干细胞能较好的诱导为心肌细胞,将为缺血性心脏病的治疗提供更广阔的前景。     

A new combined in-vitro test model for the identification of substances affecting essential sperm functions [published erratum appears in Hum Reprod 1997 Nov;12(11):2580]

Binding of mammalian spermatozoa to the zona pellucida and the induction of the acrosome reaction are prerequisites for successful oocyte fertilization. It has been postulated that xenobiotics that are released in the environment as well as exposure to pharmaceutical medications may be associated with reproductive problems in men and wildlife. Examining physiological and non-physiological effects of particular compounds on sperm functions requires high quality in-vitro test systems. We established a reliable combined in-vitro test system with bovine gametes and evaluated if aliquots of pooled post-thaw spermatozoa are suitable for examining essential sperm functions. Using cryopreserved semen, the PSA-FITC/Hoechst 33258 staining procedure was applicable to evaluate the acrosomal status and cell viability. In the bovine hemizona assay, hemizona indices revealed no differences between cryopreserved and fresh semen. Treatment of post-thaw bovine spermatozoa with progesterone (1 microM or bovine follicular fluid (20%) induced the acrosome reaction from 12% (untreated spermatozoa) to 25% (P < 0.001) and to 22% [corrected] (P < 0.01), respectively. Incubation of both compounds (1 microM progesterone and 20% follicular fluid) raised the percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa to 30% (P < 0001). Our results demonstrate that cryopreserved semen can be integrated into an in-vitro screening model for reproductive toxicology testing. Pooled, cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa will thus permit reproducible experiments for clinical and basic science purposes and may also be applicable for the human system.