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Localization and differential expression of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the nematode Ascaris suum.

By immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical methods, FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity (FLI) was localized to many neurons and processes in the Ascaris nervous system, including the head, tail, and lateral lines. Some of these cells were identified; they included sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons. FLI was also present in the pharyngeal neurons and in their varicosities near the surface of the pharynx. By HPLC analysis of extracts, only a subset of the FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs) expressed in Ascaris heads, and heads from which the pharynx had been removed, were expressed in the pharynx. Furthermore, FLPs appeared to be differentially expressed in female heads and tails and male heads and tails. Acetone and acid methanol differentially extracted subforms of FLI from Ascaris heads and from C. elegans.

Animals↗

Neural expression and chromosomal mapping of Neu differentiation factor to 8p12-p21.

Neu differentiation factor (NDF/heregulin) is a 44-kDa glycoprotein that interacts with the Neu/ErbB-2 receptor tyrosine kinase to increase its phosphorylation on tyrosine residues. In vitro NDF promotes differentiation of certain mammary tumor cell lines to milk-producing cells. As a first step toward understanding the physiological role of NDF, we performed in situ hybridization analyses to determine mRNA distribution in the mouse embryo and to map the gene to human karyotypes. In 14.5-day-postcoitum mouse embryos, NDF expression is confined predominantly to the central and peripheral nervous system, including the neuroepithelium that lines the lateral ventricles of the brain, the ventral horn of the spinal cord, and the intestinal as well as dorsal root ganglia. Other tissues that contain NDF transcripts are the adrenal gland, liver, and distinct cell layers of the dermis and germinal ridge. In situ hybridization of a 3H-labeled probe to human metaphase spreads localized the NDF gene to the short arm of chromosome 8 at bands p12-p21.

Animals↗

Immortalization and altered differentiation of human keratinocytes in vitro by the E6 and E7 open reading frames of human papillomavirus type 18.

The E6-E7 region of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 is selectively retained and expressed in cervical carcinoma cells. In cultured human keratinocytes, expression of the E6 and E7 open reading frames of human papillomavirus type 18, under the control of its homologous promoter, resulted in high-frequency immortalization. Furthermore, by using a system that allows for stratification of keratinocytes in vitro (raft system), we observed that the morphological differentiation of these E6-E7 immortalized cells was altered such that parabasal cells extended throughout most of the epithelium, with abnormal nuclei present in the upper regions. Examination of E6-E7-expressing cell lines in the raft system at a later passage revealed that complete loss of morphological differentiation had occurred. E7 alone was a much less effective immortalizing agent than E6 and E7 together and acted only minimally to alter morphological differentiation in vitro. No such activities were found for E6 alone. High-frequency transformation of human epithelial cells thus appears to require expression of both E6 and E7 gene products.

Cell Differentiation↗

Artemin-like immunoreactivity in the zebrafish, Danio rerio.

Artemin is a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family. It is a neurotrophic factor that supports neurite migration and outgrowth and survival of the sympathetic and sensory nervous system. Artemin has been studied in human and murine tissues, but no study has been devoted to nonmammalian species. Zebrafish is a teleost fish belonging to the family Ciprinidae, which is becoming an important model species for genetic and developmental studies. Thus, the aim of the present investigation was to evaluate, by immunochemical and immunocytochemical analyses, the tissue distribution pattern of artemin in zebrafish. Different isoforms of artemin with corresponding different molecular weights were detected in the brain, muscle, testis, ovary, kidney, gut, and gills of zebrafish by Western blot analysis. Immunocytochemical analysis showed artemin-like immunoreactivity in different cell types: in glial cells and rare neurons of the central nervous system, taste buds, retina, neuromasts of the lateral line, dorsal root ganglia, sympathetic ganglia, gill epithelium, tubular kidney epithelium, gut epithelium and ganglia, pancreas, thyroid, hypothalamus, testis, and ovary. These results indicate a wide distribution of artemin-like immunoreactivity in adult zebrafish, related to the presence of different forms of artemin. These findings might suggest a complex maturation pattern of artemin, whose forms could also exert different roles in zebrafish tissues.

Animals↗

Two artificial neural systems for generation of gait swing by means of neuromuscular electrical stimulation.

A three-layer artificial neural network was used for adaptive control of gait swing generated by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in a spinal cord injured subject. Network inputs consisted of knee and ankle goniometer signals for System 1, and knee and hip angular data for System 2. Controller output was proportional to changes in applied NMES pulse width (PW). Stimulation was applied to the left femoral and common peroneal nerves. The neural networks were trained off-line and on-line. Network performance was assessed by applying a number of different stimulation PWs and later comparing the resulting motion to a sample good step observed during the same test session. On-line training consisted of negative and positive reinforcement applied at chosen times. Both on-line and off-line training algorithms consisted of an enhanced supervised backpropagation scheme. Performance evaluation results favour the use of System 1 over System 2. Also, a network trained off-line and later submitted to on-line punishment appears to be more reliable (in automatic mode) than the same network after it is submitted to on-line reward or to off-line training alone. Finally, the systems' immediate response to on-line learning was favourable in all cases. Based on the results, a version of System 1 was used to generate walking in the test subject. This test indicated that the system is promising.

Adult↗

Excitatory amino acid receptors at a feedback pathway in the electrosensory system: implications for the searchlight hypothesis.

The electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) of the South American gymnotiform fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus has a laminar structure: electroreceptor afferents terminate ventrally whereas feedback input distributes to a superficial molecular layer containing the dendrites of the ELL principle (pyramidal) cells. There are two feedback pathways: a direct feedback projection that enters the ELL via a myelinated tract (stratum fibrosum, StF) and terminates in the ventral molecular layer (VML) and an indirect projection that enters as parallel fibers and terminates in the dorsal molecular layer. It has been proposed that the direct feedback pathway serves as a "searchlight" mechanism. This study characterizes StF synaptic transmission to determine whether the physiology of the direct feedback projection is consistent with this hypothesis. We used field and intracellular recordings from the ELL to investigate synaptic transmission of the StF in an in vitro slice preparation. Stimulation of the StF produced field potentials with a maximal negativity confined to a narrow band of tissue dorsal to the StF. Current source density analysis revealed two current sinks: an early sink within the StF and a later sink that corresponded to the anatomically defined VML. Field potential recordings from VML demonstrated that stimulation of the StF evoked an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) that peaked at a latency of 4-7 ms with a slow decay ( approximately 50 ms) to baseline. Intracellular recordings from pyramidal cells revealed that StF-evoked EPSPs consisted of at least two components: a fast gap junction mediated EPSP (peak 1.2-1.8 ms) and a chemical synaptic potential (peak 4-7 ms) with a slow decay phase ( approximately 50 ms). The amplitudes of the peak and decay phases of the chemical EPSP were increased by depolarizing current injection. Pharmacological studies demonstrated that the chemical EPSP was mainly due to ionotropic glutamate receptors with bothN-methyl--aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA components. NMDA receptors contributed substantially to both the early and late phase of the EPSP, whereas non-NMDA receptors contributed mainly to the early phase. Stimulation of the StF at physiological rates (100-200 Hz, 100 ms) produced an augmenting depolarization of the membrane potential of pyramidal cells. Temporal summation and a voltage-dependent enhancement of later EPSPs in the stimulus train permitted the compound EPSP to reach spike threshold. The nonlinear behavior of StF synaptic potentials is appropriate for the putative role of the direct feedback pathway as part of a searchlight mechanism allowing these fish to increase the electrodetectability of scanned objects.

Animals↗

The octavolateralis system and Mauthner cell: interactions and questions.

This paper is an overview of some of the major points to arise in the accompanying contributions of this special symposium issue. The symposium papers arose out of discussions among investigators interested in the inner ear and Mauthner cell, with the focus on hydrodynamic components that activate the Mauthner cell through the octavolateralis system. The intention of the symposium was to investigate the possibility of using our knowledge of the Mauthner system to help understand acoustic processing by the ear, and of using our knowledge of fish hearing to better understand Mauthner cell function. This is the first attempt to take a broad look at both systems to see how they might function together. As such, these proceedings can serve as a mini-tutorial for investigators interested in one system or the other. In this summary paper we also identify some of the major uncertainties in our understanding of the ear-Mauthner connection. These include questions about: (1) the identity of the acoustic stimuli that are neuroethologically relevant to the Mauthner system; (2) the relative importance of the various octavolateralis inputs (acoustic, vestibular, or lateral line); (3) the contribution of the different various acoustic endorgans to the Mauthner system; (4) whether the Mauthner system can distinguish sound source location, and (5) whether Mauthner neurobiology is compatible with the prevailing model (the phase model) for determining sound source location by fishes. We believe these issues provide potentially useful avenues of future investigation that should give important insights in both acoustic processing by fish and the function of the mauthner system.

Animals↗

[The development of the nervous system: from fly to fish, from fish to man....].

The nervous system of vertebrates is more complex and less tractable than that of current model organisms such as the fly and the nematode. Here we present a vertebrate sensory system which is structurally simple, experimentally accessible and genetically suitable: the lateral line of the zebra-fish. We review our recent work on the development of this system, with a particular emphasis on the migration events that shape the pattern of sense organs. Some of the factors involved in these migration events turn out to be similar to the factors that direct the formation of metastases in specific types of human cancers, illustrating once again the remarkable conservation of developmental mechanisms and genes throughout the animal kingdom.

Animal Structures↗

Molecular biology of the apteronotus NMDA receptor NR1 subunit.

The complete sequences and expression patterns of the NR1 (aptNR1) subunit of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and its alternative splice isoforms have been determined for the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus. The deduced amino acid sequence of aptNR1 is approximately 88 % identical to the NR1 sequences of other vertebrate. Two of the three alternative splice cassettes previously described for mammalian NR1s, N1 and C1, are present in aptNR1, but the third cassette, C2, is not found. In addition, two teleost-specific splice cassettes occur on the N-terminal side of the C1 sequence. The cellular patterns of aptNR1 expression, including the patterns of N1 and C1 splicing, have been mapped using the in situ hybridization technique. High levels of aptNR1 mRNA were detected throughout the central nervous system including most neurons of the electrosensory system, with the highest levels in electrosensory lateral line lobe pyramidal cells. Expression of the N1 splice isoform was higher in more caudal regions of the brain, and expression of the C1 splice isoform was higher in more rostral regions. The N1 splice isoform was present in almost all NR1-positive cells, in contrast to the C1 splice isoform which was restricted to a subset of NR1-positive cells. These results demonstrate that the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor is evolutionarily conserved across species and that regulation of alternative RNA splicing modulates the properties of NR1 in different neurons of the central nervous system of A. leptorhynchus.

Alternative Splicing↗

The extracardiac lateral tunnel Fontan, constructed with bovine pericardium: comparison with the extracardiac conduit Fontan.

BACKGROUND: The Fontan procedure performed with an extracardiac conduit (ECC) has gained wide acceptance as an alternative to the intracardiac lateral tunnel because it avoids placement of extensive atrial suture lines and use of prosthetic material in the systemic circulation. The extracardiac lateral tunnel (ELT) is a modification of the Fontan procedure which uses pericardium and the external surface of the atrium to create a conduit from the inferior vena cava to the pulmonary artery. This surgery theoretically avoids disruption of intra-atrial conduction by eschewing endocardial suturing while maintaining conduit growth potential and the ability to easily create a fenestration to the systemic circulation. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the short-term outcome of 96 consecutive patients who underwent an extracardiac Fontan procedure. An ELT using bovine pericardium was performed in 59 patients, whereas 37 patients received a traditional ECC. RESULTS: The 2 groups were similar with respect to age (P = .96), body surface area (P = .54), number of preoperative Fontan risk factors (P = .43), and ventricular morphology (P = .72). There were no significant differences in the following outcome variables between the ELT and the traditional ECC: length of hospitalization (P = .73), duration of chest tube drainage (P = .48), abnormal rhythm at time of discharge (P = .27), and mortality (P = .63). CONCLUSIONS: The ELT Fontan can be performed with a low risk of mortality and complications. The results are equivalent to the traditional ECC procedure. The theoretical advantages of the procedure suggest that it should be considered a useful modification of Fontan surgery.

Adolescent↗

Molecular dissection of the interaction of desmin with the C-terminal region of nebulin.

In vertebrate skeletal muscle, ultrastructural studies have suggested that the Z-line and extracellular intermediate filaments are linked, although a structural basis for this has remained elusive. We searched for potential novel ligands of the Z-line portion of nebulin by a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) approach. This identified that the nebulin modules M160 to M170 interact with desmin. In desmin, deletion series experiments assigned a 19-kDa central coiled-coil domain as the nebulin-binding site. The specific interactions of nebulin and desmin were confirmed in vitro by GST pull-down experiments. In situ, the nebulin modules M176 to M181 colocalize with desmin in a Z-line-associated, striated pattern as shown by immunofluorescence studies. Our data are consistent with a model that desmin attaches directly to the Z-line through its interaction with the nebulin repeats M163-M170. This interaction may link myofibrillar Z-discs to the intermediate filament system, thereby forming a lateral linkage system which contributes to maintain adjacent Z-lines in register.

Animals↗

A circuit for coding interaural time differences in the chick brainstem.

Third-order auditory neurons in the avian nucleus laminaris (NL) are the first to receive binaural input. In the chick, NL consists of a monolayer of neurons with polarized dendritic arbors oriented dorsally and ventrally. Afferents from second-order neurons in the ipsilateral nucleus magnocellularis (NM) innervate the dorsal dendrites of NL neurons, distributing processes of approximately equal length to NL neurons along an isofrequency band (roughly caudomedial to rostrolateral). Afferents from the contralateral NM innervate the ventral dendrites of NL neurons, distributing collateral branches sequentially as they proceed from caudomedial to rostrolateral along the isofrequency band of neurons. This innervation pattern could be the basis of a "delay line" circuit, as postulated in models of neural networks mediating sound localization. We examined this circuit by analyzing evoked field potentials using a brain slice preparation containing both NL and NM. The results were consistent with the previous anatomical findings. When the ipsilateral auditory nerve or ipsilateral NM was stimulated, there was no consistent variation in the latency of postsynaptic field potentials across the medial-to-lateral extent of NL. In contrast, when the contralateral NM or NM axons in the crossed dorsal cochlear tract were stimulated, a linear increase in the latency of postsynaptic potentials was observed from medial to lateral positions in NL. When stimulation amplitudes for both the ipsilateral and contralateral inputs were adjusted so as to produce little or no postsynaptic field potential, simultaneous bilateral stimulation evoked a pronounced response. Thus, NL neurons can act as "coincidence detectors." The amplitude of the postsynaptic response was dependent on the relative timing of stimulation of the two inputs. The optimal time difference changed systematically across the medial-to-lateral extent of NL. This system of delay lines and coincidence detectors could provide a mechanism for converting interaural time differences into a "place map" within NL.

Animals↗

Oscillatory and burst discharge in the apteronotid electrosensory lateral line lobe

Oscillatory and burst discharge is recognized as a key element of signal processing from the level of receptor to cortical output cells in most sensory systems. The relevance of this activity for electrosensory processing has become increasingly apparent for cells in the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) of gymnotiform weakly electric fish. Burst discharge by ELL pyramidal cells can be recorded in vivo and has been directly associated with feature extraction of electrosensory input. In vivo recordings have also shown that pyramidal cells are differentially tuned to the frequency of amplitude modulations across three ELL topographic maps of electroreceptor distribution. Pyramidal cell recordings in vitro reveal two forms of oscillatory discharge with properties consistent with pyramidal cell frequency tuning in vivo. One is a slow oscillation of spike discharge arising from local circuit interactions that exhibits marked changes in several properties across the sensory maps. The second is a fast, intrinsic form of burst discharge that incorporates a newly recognized interaction between somatic and dendritic membranes. These findings suggest that a differential regulation of oscillatory discharge properties across sensory maps may underlie frequency tuning in the ELL and influence feature extraction in vivo.

Journal Article↗

Development of the jamming avoidance response and its morphological correlates in the gymnotiform electric fish, Eigenmannia.

The electric fish, Eigenmannia, will smoothly shift the frequency of its electric organ discharge away from an interfering electric signal. This shift in frequency is called the jamming avoidance response (JAR). In this article, we analyze the behavioral development of the JAR and the anatomical development of structures critical for the performance of the JAR. The JAR first appears when juvenile Eigenmannia are approximately 1 month old, at a total length of 13-18 mm. We have found that the establishment of much of the sensory periphery and of central connections precedes the onset of the JAR. We describe three aspects of the behavioral development of the JAR: (a) the onset and development of the behavior is closely correlated with size, not age; (b) the magnitude (in Hz) of the JAR increases with size until the juveniles display values within the adult range (10-20 Hz) at a total length of 25-30 mm; and (3) the JAR does not require prior experience or exposure to electrical signals. Raised in total electrical isolation from the egg stage, animals tested at a total length of 25 mm performed a correct JAR when first exposed to the stimulus. We examine the development of anatomical areas important for the performance of the JAR: the peripheral electrosensory system (mechano- and electroreceptors and peripheral nerves); and central electrosensory pathways and nuclei [the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL), the lateral lemniscus, the torus semicircularis, and the pace-maker nucleus]. The first recognizable structures in the developing electrosensory system are the peripheral neurites of the anterior lateral line nerve. The afferent nerves are established by day 2, which is prior to the formation of receptors in the epidermis. Thus, the neurites wait for their targets. This sequence of events suggests that receptor formation may be induced by innervation of primordial cells within the epidermis. Mechanoreceptors are first formed between day 3 and 4, while electroreceptors are first formed on day 7. Electroreceptor multiplication is observed for the first time at an age of 25 days and correlates with the onset of the JAR. The somata of the anterior lateral line nerve ganglion project afferents out to peripheral electroreceptors and also send axons centrally into the ELL. The first electroreceptive axons invade the ELL by day 6, and presumably a rough somatotopic organization and segmentation within the ELL may arise as early as day 7. Axonal projections from the ELL to the torus develop after day 18.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Transdifferentiation of NRP-152 rat prostatic basal epithelial cells toward a luminal phenotype: regulation by glucocorticoid, insulin-like growth factor-I and transforming growth factor-beta.

The role of basal epithelial cells in prostatic function, development and carcinogenesis is unknown. The ability of basal prostatic epithelial cells to acquire a luminal phenotype was explored in vitro using the NRP-152 rat dorsal-lateral prostate epithelial cell line as a model system. NRP-152, which was spontaneously immortalized and clonally derived, is an androgen-responsive and nontumorigenic cell line that has a basal cell phenotype under normal growth conditions. However, when placed in mitogen-deficient media, these cells undergo a dramatic morphological change to a luminal phenotype. Under these growth-restrictive conditions, immunocytochemical analysis shows that NRP-152 cells acquire the luminal markers Z0-1 (a tight-junction associated protein), occludin (integral tight-junction protein), and cytokeratin 18, and lose the basal markers cytokeratins 5 and 14. Total protein and mRNA levels of cytokeratins 8, 18, c-CAM 105 (the calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule) and Z0-1, as detected by western and/or northern blot analyses, respectively, are induced, while cytokeratin 5 and 15 are lost, and occludin is unchanged. Concomitant with this differentiation, expression of transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2), TGF-beta3, and TGF-beta receptor type II (TbetaRII) is induced, while those of TGF-beta1 and TbetaRI remain essentially unchanged. Mitogens, such as insulin-like growth factor-I and dexamethasone inhibit luminal differentiation, while exogenous TGF-beta induces such differentiation. These data together with TGF-beta neutralization experiments using pan-specific antibody implicate an important role for autocrine TGF-beta in the induction of the luminal differentiation.

Animals↗

[Morphogenesis of Mauthner neurons of Xenopus laevis tadpoles following early unilateral eye enucleation].

The connection between Mauthner neuron (CMN) and visual analyzer in Xenopus laevis tadpoles was studied using these neurons capacity to change their morphogenesis during the development in case of interruption of their connections with afferent fibres. In phase 31 of development tadpoles were subjected to unilateral enucleation of eye. Morphogenesis of contralateral (experimental) and ipsilateral (control) MN with respect to the operated eye was followed up. Comparison with intact Mauthner neuron of the tadpole of the same age who were not exposed to operation was conducted. Contralateral MN were found to be delayed in development phases 47 and 50. This was associated with 1.5-3.3 fold difference in neuron body central section area and 2-3 fold differences in nuclear section area. Three-dimensional reconstruction revealed lower number of cell processes in contralateral MN as well as decline in their length and diameter. Control and intact MN showed no difference similar to experimental and control ones in phase 41. The data obtained indicate that MN of Xenopus laevis tadpole possess powerful ipsilateral connections originating from the side of visual analyzer and contralateral ones from the side of the eye. This affects MN development and in contrast to octavolateral system (including vestibular apparatus and organs of lateral line) controls the contralateral neuron.

Animals↗

The results of treatment of carcinoma of the uterine cervix using a linear vaginal source and 4 MV X rays.

Between 1960 and 1976, 1645 women with carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated in the Radiotherapy Department, Edinburgh. In the earlier years the majority of patients were treated using a partially afterloaded radium line source system, combined with 4 MV external irradiation. The radium was later replaced by caesium which, from 1972, was used in a fully afterloaded line source intracavitary applicator. In recent years a computer program has been used to calculate the dose distribution, resulting in improved pelvic dosimetry and a decline in the frequency and severity of radiation reactions. Actuarial survival rates are reported by stage for a 20-year period. The 5-year survival rate for patients with Stage I disease treated by the Edinburgh method was 74.7% (71.5% for the whole group). For patients with Stage II disease, the rates were 57.1% and 51.3% and for those with Stage III disease, the rates were 40.1% and 28.0%.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Light diffraction study of single skeletal muscle fibres.

Light diffraction patterns from isolated frog semitendinosus muscle fibers were examined. When transilluminated by laser light, the muscle striations produce a diffraction pattern consisting of a series of lines that are projected as points onto an optical detector by a lens system. Diffraction data may be sequentially stored every 18 ms for later processing by digital computer systems. First- and second-order diffraction line intensities were examined from intact, chemically skinned, and glycerinated single fibers. The diffraction line intensities demonstrated a strong length dependence upon passive stretch from reference length to 3.6 micrometer. The first-order intensity linearly increased an average of 15-fold over the range examined. The magnitude of the second order intensity was less than the first order and showed an exponential rise with increasing length. Both first- and second-order intensities decreased upon muscle activation. Data from chemically skinned and glycerinated single fibers were not significantly different from intact fibers, indicating that the membrane structure has little effect upon the diffraction phenomenon in muscle. Theoretical model systems are examined in an attempt to find the basis of these results. Neither an analysis based on a diffraction grating with variable spacing nor the unit cell model of Fujime provides an explanation for the observed length dependency of intensity. Though the origin of the intensity decrease upon stimulation is not known, we have suggested that it could result from lateral misalignment of myofibrils and can occur upon activation.

Animals↗