Outward Currents in Rat Entorhinal Cortex Stellate Cells Studied with Conventional and Perforated Patch Recordings

We have studied outward currents of neurons acutely isolated from superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex with whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. If cells were held more negative than -50 mV, depolarizing voltage commands activated a transient A-type current together with a sustained outward current. Both currents were sensitive to 4-aminopyridine, while only the sustained current was blocked by tetraethylammonium. The sustained outward current showed a considerable rundown in amplitude over prolonged recording periods. At the same time its half-maximal inactivation shifted from -74 to -114 mV. Nystatin perforated patch recordings were used to minimize these perfusion effects. Under such conditions the amplitude and the steady-state inactivation properties of the sustained outward current remained stable for more than 1 h. Pharmacological investigations revealed that only a small part of the sustained outward current could be attributed to a calcium-activated potassium current. Therefore most of the rundown has to be due to changes in the delayed rectifier outward current. These results may suggest that the delayed rectifier current is under considerable metabolic control.     

Flurazepam interaction with sodium and potassium channels in squid giant axon

External application of 0.05-1.0 mM flurazepam was found to partially block both sodium and potassium currents in voltage-clamped squid giant axons. At the same concentration the fractional block of the potassium current was found to be 3 times greater than that of the sodium current. In the presence of the drug the potassium current appeared to "inactivate', as flurazepam block became more profound during the course of the depolarization. The decay of the potassium current can be explained by a model in which flurazepam enters and blocks the potassium channels only after they have opened. Once bound in the potassium channel, removal of flurazepam from its binding site develops slowly (tau = 48 ms). Thus repetitive stimulation of the nerve produced a cumulative block. When applied inside the axon flurazepam was found to be 1.5 (n = 4) times more potent blocker of potassium channels than following external application. This result suggests that when applied externally, a neutral form of the drug diffuses across the membrane and blocks occurs from the inner end of the channel.     

反复吗啡暴露后短期戒断时大鼠伏核大麻素CB1受体的功能变化

目的獉獉:探索反复吗啡暴露后短期戒断时,大麻素信号对大鼠伏核中等有棘神经元接受的自发性抑制性突触后电流调节功能的变化。方法獉獉:24只SD大鼠(♂)随机分为吗啡组和对照组,并分别按10 mg.kg-1.d-1的剂量腹部皮下注射吗啡和生理盐水,连续注射7 d。在药物戒断后的d3分别制备伏核脑片,在全细胞膜片钳模式下分别记录两组大鼠伏核中等有棘神经元所接受的自发性抑制性突触后电流,观察两组电流的频率和幅度是否存在差异,以及两者对大麻素受体激动剂的反应性的异同。结果獉獉:(1)在戒断3 d后,吗啡组和对照组自发性抑制性突触后电流的幅度分别为23.40±s 3.9 pA,21.60±s 4.1 pA,两组比较无显著差异(P>0.05);频率分别是1.62±s0.47 Hz,1.46±s 0.51 Hz,二者比较无显著差异(P>0.05)。(2)灌流大麻素CB1受体激动剂WIN55,212-2后,吗啡组和对照组自发性抑制性突触后电流的幅度分别为基线水平的75.1±s 7.6(%)和93.7±s 8.4(%),两组差异显著(P<0.05);频率分别为基线水平的64.6±s 6.3(%)和89.8±s 9.7(%),两组差异显著(P<0.05)。结论獉獉:大鼠反复吗啡暴露后短期戒断时,伏核大麻素CB1受体功能发生变化,表现为其对吗啡组伏核中等有棘神经元接受的自发性抑制性突触后电流的抑制作用显著增强。     

水杨酸钠对大鼠耳蜗螺旋神经节细胞外向延迟整流钾电流及其尾电流的影响

目的 采用全细胞膜片钳技术记录耳蜗螺旋神经节细胞(spiral ganglion neurons,SGNs)外向整流钾电流及其尾电流,分析水杨酸钠对耳蜗SGNs外向整流钾电流及其尾电流的影响,初步探讨其耳毒性机制.方法 采用全细胞膜片钳技术记录急性分离并进行细胞短时间(2～3 h)血清培养后,耳蜗SGNs外向延迟整流钾电流及其尾电流曲线,同时记录不同浓度水杨酸钠(0.01、0.1、0.5、1、10 mmol/L)对2种电流的影响.结果耳蜗SGNs上可记录到外向电流,该电流对4-氨基吡啶(4-AP)敏感,证明其为钾电流,该钾电流具有延迟整流特性;1 mmol/L水杨酸钠能明显抑制耳蜗SGNs外向延迟整流钾电流;+50 mV的去极化电压刺激可使最大稳态电流幅值减少(46.3±2.0)%,水杨酸钠对此电流的抑制具有浓度依赖性,外液洗脱后耳蜗SGNs外向延迟整流钾电流可基本恢复正常.另外,可记录出耳蜗SGNs延迟整流钾电流的尾电流曲线;水杨酸钠可降低此尾电流峰值,并缩短尾电流的时间常数,加速尾电流的失活.结论 钾电流在耳蜗SGNs正常电生理活动中有重要作用.水杨酸钠抑制耳蜗SGNs外向整流钾电流及其尾电流,并加速尾电流的失活,这种作用可导致耳蜗SGNs的电生理活动异常,从而引发水杨酸钠对听觉功能的损害.     

A low‐cost,mechanically simple apparatus for measuring eddy current‐induced magnetic fields in MRI

The fidelity of gradient waveforms in MRI pulse sequences is essential to the acquisition of images and spectra with minimal distortion artefacts. Gradient waveforms can become nonideal when eddy currents are created in nearby conducting structures; however, the resultant magnetic fields can be characterised and compensated for by measuring the spatial and temporal field response following a gradient impulse. This can be accomplished using a grid of radiofrequency (RF) coils. The RF coils must adhere to strict performance requirements: they must achieve a high sensitivity and signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), have minimal susceptibility field gradients between the sample and surrounding material interfaces and be highly decoupled from each other. In this study, an apparatus is presented that accomplishes these tasks with a low‐cost, mechanically simple solution. The coil system consists of six transmit/receive RF coils immersed in a high‐molarity saline solution. The sensitivity and SNR following an excitation pulse are sufficiently high to allow accurate phase measurements during free‐induction decays; the intrinsic susceptibility matching of the materials, because of the unique design of the coil system, results in sufficiently narrow spectral line widths (mean of 19 Hz), and adjacent RF coils are highly decoupled (mean S₁₂ of ?47 dB). The temporal and spatial distributions of eddy currents following a gradient pulse are measured to validate the efficacy of the design, and the resultant amplitudes and time constants required for zeroth‐ and first‐order compensation are provided. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

促甲状腺激素释放激素对结肠平滑肌钾电流的影响

目的探讨促甲状腺激素释放激素(TRH)对大鼠结肠平滑肌细胞膜瞬时外向钾电流(Ito)和延迟整流钾电流(Ik)的影响。方法酶解法急性分离单个大鼠结肠平滑肌细胞,运用膜片钳方法检测10、20、50、100μmol/L的TRH对结肠平滑肌细胞膜Ito和Ik的影响。结果 TRH浓度依赖性减少Ito(P<0.05),10、20、50、100μmol/L的TRH可使峰值Ito降低13.4%、28.0%、39.5%、53.4%,但Ik降低不明显(P>0.05)。结论 TRH阻滞大鼠结肠平滑肌细胞的瞬时外向钾电流,但不能降低延迟整流钾电流,TRH可能通过调节细胞的兴奋性对肠道动力产生影响。     

Diffusion‐prepared stimulated‐echo turbo spin echo (DPsti‐TSE): An eddy current‐insensitive sequence for three‐dimensional high‐resolution and undistorted diffusion‐weighted imaging

In this study, we present a new three‐dimensional (3D), diffusion‐prepared turbo spin echo sequence based on a stimulated‐echo read‐out (DPsti‐TSE) enabling high‐resolution and undistorted diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI). A dephasing gradient in the diffusion preparation module and rephasing gradients in the turbo spin echo module create stimulated echoes, which prevent signal loss caused by eddy currents. Near to perfect agreement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values between DPsti‐TSE and diffusion‐weighted echo planar imaging (DW‐EPI) was demonstrated in both phantom transient signal experiments and phantom imaging experiments. High‐resolution and undistorted DPsti‐TSE was demonstrated in vivo in prostate and carotid vessel wall. 3D whole‐prostate DWI was achieved with four b values in only 6 min. Undistorted ADC maps of the prostate peripheral zone were obtained at low and high imaging resolutions with no change in mean ADC values [(1.60 ± 0.10) × 10^?3 versus (1.60 ± 0.02) × 10^?3 mm²/s]. High‐resolution 3D DWI of the carotid vessel wall was achieved in 12 min, with consistent ADC values [(1.40 ± 0.23) × 10^?3 mm²/s] across different subjects, as well as slice locations through the imaging volume. This study shows that DPsti‐TSE can serve as a robust 3D diffusion‐weighted sequence and is an attractive alternative to the traditional two‐dimensional DW‐EPI approaches.     

Evidence for a dose-dependent effect of pulsed magnetic fields on pain processing

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the dose–response relationship (sham, 100, 200, 1000 μT) between a pulsed extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELFMF) and acute thermal pain on the dominant right hand. Forty-seven participants were recruited, and pulsed ELFMF was applied through the MRI gradient system using a novel technique. Regions of interest (ROIs) matching those of previous studies were examined for a potential dose response. Significant correlations between applied field strength and change in BOLD activity were found in the anterior cingulate and the ipsilateral insula, indicating that there might be either a dose response or a threshold effect of the ELFMF.     

J波与J波综合征

J波是指心电图上QRS波与ST段之间的圆顶状或驼峰状电位变化。新近临床研究表明，在早期复极综合征、Brugada综合征和特发性心室颤动等心电图中，均存在J波形态、时限和幅度的显著改变，上述与J波密切相关的一系列临床综合征统称为J波综合征。本文详尽阐述了J波的细胞电生理和离子流机制，分析了早期复极综合征、Brugada综合征、心电图下壁导联高大J波相关的心脏性猝死的临床特点及内在机制。