The action of phospholipases on the inner and outer surface of the squid giant axon membrane

1. The effects of phospholipases on resting potential, action potential and membrane ionic conductances of squid giant axons have been studied by means of internal perfusion and voltage clamp techniques. The sample of phospholipases used exhibited both phospholipase A and B activities.2. When applied externally, phospholipases had no effect on the resting and action potentials at a concentration of 100 mug/ml.3. When applied internally, the enzymes effectively suppressed the amplitude and maximum rate of rise of the action potential at a concentration of 100 mug/ml. The resting potential started decreasing appreciably only after the action potential had been suppressed to a considerable extent.4. Under voltage clamp conditions, the peak transient current was suppressed following internal perfusion of phospholipases, 150 mug/ml. The steady-state current began to decrease, and the leakage current to increase only after the transient current had been suppressed to a considerable extent.5. The time course of sodium inactivation was not significantly slowed by internal perfusion of the enzymes.6. The curve relating the peak transient conductance to the membrane potential was shifted in the direction of depolarization after internal perfusion of phospholipases. No appreciable shift of the steady-state conductance curve was observed.7. These experimental results are discussed in connexion with the possible role of membrane phospholipids in the conductance changes associated with excitation.

Effects of batrachotoxin on membrane potential and conductance of squid giant axons

The effects of batrachotoxin (BTX) on the membrane potential and conductances of squid giant axons have been studied by means of intracellular microelectrode recording, internal perfusion, and voltage clamp techniques. BTX (550-1100 nM) caused a marked and irreversible depolarization of the nerve membrane, the membrane potential being eventually reversed in polarity by as much as 15 mv. The depolarization progressed more rapidly with internal application than with external application of BTX to the axon. External application of tetrodotoxin (1000 nM) completely restored the BTX depolarization. Removal or drastic reduction of external sodium caused a hyperpolarization of the BTX-poisoned membrane. However, no change in the resting membrane potential occurred when BTX was applied in the absence of sodium ions in both external and internal phases. These observations demonstrate that BTX specifically increases the resting sodium permeability of the squid axon membrane. Despite such an increase in resting sodium permeability, the BTX-poisoned membrane was still capable of undergoing a large sodium permeability increase of normal magnitude upon depolarizing stimulation provided that the membrane potential was brought back to the original or higher level. The possibility that a single sodium channel is operative for both the resting sodium, permeability and the sodium permeability increase upon stimulation is discussed.

Histochemical detection of succinic dehydrogenase in osteoclasts following experimental tooth movement

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUA DETECTION HISTOCHIMIC DE DEHYDROGENASE SUCCINIC IN OSTEOCLASTOS POST MOVIMENTO EXPERIMENTAL DE DENTES.—Technicas histochimic esseva utilisate pro demonstrar le existentia de osteoclastos in tissus supportante dentes le quales se trovava sub pression orthodontic. Le plus alte concentration de dehydrogenase succinic in osteoclastos esseva detegite in sectiones de specimens decalcificate con EDTA in solution neutre a 4 C sequite de congelation in stato fresc. Osteoclastos disveloppate sub conditiones normal e orthodontic monstrava le plus alte grado de activitate de dehydrogenase succinic. Illos se disveloppava in le superficie periodontal de osso alveolar al latere del pression e, characteristicamente, in le superficie medullar de osso alveolar al latere del tension.

Statistical analysis of differential lissajous EMG from normal occlusion and Class III malocclusion

The method of differential lissajous electromyography (DL-EMG) was applied to investigate the relationship among the integrated EMG activity, timing, and coordination of the bilateral superficial anterior temporal and masseter muscle activities in normal occlusion and Class III malocclusion subjects. In both Class III malocclusion and normal occlusion subjects, the working side muscles showed a higher mean cumulative voltage (MCV) and mean maximum peak voltage (MMPV) compared with the balancing side. In addition, a higher MCV and MMPV of the working side masseter was observed in the normal occlusion group compared with that seen in the Class III group during both right and left side chewing (p < 0.01). Discriminant analysis applied to examine the distribution, the size and the shape of DL-EMG pattern further indicated a statistical difference between subject groups (p < 0.01). Finally, there was a significantly higher percentage of clockwise DL-EMG pattern-generation in the normal group compared with that seen for Class III subjects (p < 0.01). These data indicate that, compared with normal subjects, patients with a Class III malocclusion have a demonstrably abnormal masticatory muscle balance which is well characterized by the DL-EMG method.

Stability of changes associated with chin cup treatment

Twenty-four Japanese girls with anterior crossbite (Class III malocclusion) were selected for this study of the stability of changes associated with chin cup therapy. Pretreatment cephalometric measurements of the study sample were compared with those in a normal group. In addition, angular and linear measurements were also compared to assess the effectiveness of chin cup therapy in improving Class III skeletal components during the postretention period. The subjects showed characteristic values found in Class III malocclusion for SNB, ANB, and NPg to FH, and these values were significantly different from those in the normal group. The subjects who were past puberty showed more severe Class III skeletal patterns for ANB compared with the prepubertal subjects, and their initial Class III skeletal components showed more satisfactory improvement, including 2.0 degrees increase of SNA and 1.8 degrees increase of ANB during the postretention period.

Case report: three typical cases of glossectomy

Glossectomy, or tongue reduction, is not commonly performed in Japan even though the proportion of patients with Class III skeletal pattern is higher among Japanese people than among Caucasians. The case reports on the ensuing pages follow three patients--one adult with bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion, another adult with Class III malocclusion, and a 10-year-old with Class III malocclusion and posterior crossbite--through treatment which included tongue reduction.