GABAergic cell subtypes and their synaptic connections in rat frontal cortex

Physiological, morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of non-pyramidal cells in frontal cortex of young rats were studied in vitro by whole-cell recording and biocytin injection. Several groups of GABAergic non-pyramidal cells were identified: (i) parvalbumin fast-spiking (FS) cells with low input resistances and spikes of short duration, including extended plexus (basket) cells and chandelier cells. These cells showed abrupt episodes of non-adapting repetitive discharges; (ii) late-spiking (LS) cells exhibiting slowly developing ramp depolarizations, including neurogliaform cells; (iii) the remaining groups contained both burst-spiking (BS) or regular-spiking (RS) non-pyramidal (NP) cells. BSNP cells exhibited bursting activity (two or more spikes on slow depolarizing humps) from hyperpolarized potentials. Both these physiological types corresponded to a range of morphologies: (i) somatostatin-containing Martinotti cells with ascending axonal arbors to layer I (some were also positive for calbindin D28k); (ii) VIP-containing double bouquet cells with descending axonal arbors as well as arcade cells (these included small cells immunoreactive for CCK or calretinin). Each subtype of cells made GABAergic synapses onto relatively specific portions of cortical cells, but similar domains were innervated by multiple classes of GABA cells.

Role of laminin and basement membrane in the morphological differentiation of human endothelial cells into capillary-like structures

We have defined a signal responsible for the morphological differentiation of human umbilical vein and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. We find that human umbilical vein endothelial cells deprived of growth factors undergo morphological differentiation with tube formation after 6-12 wk, and that human dermal microvascular endothelial cells differentiate after 1 wk of growth factor deprivation. Here, we report that morphological differentiation of both types of endothelial cells is markedly accelerated by culture on a reconstituted gel composed of basement membrane proteins. Under these conditions, tube formation begins in 1-2 h and is complete by 24 h. The tubes are maintained for greater than 2 wk. Little or no proliferation occurs under these conditions, although the cells, when trypsinized and replated on fibronectin-coated tissue culture dishes, resume division. Ultrastructurally, the tubes possess a lumen surrounded by endothelial cells attached to one another by junctional complexes. The cells possess Weibel-Palade bodies and factor VIII-related antigens, and take up acetylated low density lipoproteins. Tubule formation does not occur on tissue culture plastic coated with laminin or collagen IV, either alone or in combination, or on an agarose or a collagen I gel. However, endothelial cells cultured on a collagen I gel supplemented with laminin form tubules, while supplementation with collagen IV induces a lesser degree of tubule formation. Preincubation of endothelial cells with antibodies to laminin prevented tubule formation while antibodies to collagen IV were less inhibitory. Preincubation of endothelial cells with synthetic peptides derived from the laminin B1 chain that bind to the laminin cell surface receptor or incorporation of these peptides into the gel matrix blocked tubule formation, whereas control peptides did not. These observations indicate that endothelial cells can rapidly differentiate on a basement membrane-like matrix and that laminin is the principal factor in inducing this change.

Soy isoflavone aglycones are absorbed faster and in higher amounts than their glucosides in humans

Isoflavones are contained in soybean or soy foods in two chemical forms, i.e., aglycones and glucosides. We investigated the difference in the absorption of soy isoflavone aglycones and glucosides in humans. After a single, low dose intake (0.11 mmol), the highest isoflavone concentrations in plasma were reached 2 and 4 h after ingestion of aglycones and glucosides, respectively; subjects were four men (41 y old) and four women (45 y old). The highest plasma concentration after aglycone intake was more than two times greater than that after glucoside ingestion. In a similar manner, we then compared the plasma isoflavone concentration profiles after intake of a single, high dose of isoflavones (1.7 mmol) in eight subjects (four men, 40 y old; four women, 47 y old) and found the highest plasma concentration after aglycone intake was more than five times higher than that after glucoside intake. In both high and low dose intake tests, the plasma concentration of genistein was significantly higher than that of daidzein despite the similar levels of intake. After long-term (4 wk) intakes (0.30 mmol/d), we also measured the plasma concentration of isoflavones (eight men, 45 y old). After 2 and 4 wk, these concentrations remained >100% higher after ingestion of aglycones than of glucosides. The isoflavone aglycones were absorbed faster and in greater amounts than their glucosides in humans. Isoflavone aglycone-rich products may be more effective than glucoside-rich products in preventing chronic disease such as coronary heart disease.

Building neural representations of habits

Memories for habits and skills ("implicit or procedural memory") and memories for facts ("explicit or episodic memory") are built up in different brain systems and are vulnerable to different neurodegenerative disorders in humans. So that the striatum-based mechanisms underlying habit formation could be studied, chronic recordings from ensembles of striatal neurons were made with multiple tetrodes as rats learned a T-maze procedural task. Large and widely distributed changes in the neuronal activity patterns occurred in the sensorimotor striatum during behavioral acquisition, culminating in task-related activity emphasizing the beginning and end of the automatized procedure. The new ensemble patterns remained stable during weeks of subsequent performance of the same task. These results suggest that the encoding of action in the sensorimotor striatum undergoes dynamic reorganization as habit learning proceeds.

Degradation of the cyclin-dependent-kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 is instigated by Jab1

The proliferation of mammalian cells is under strict control, and the cyclin-dependent-kinase inhibitory protein p27Kip1 is an essential participant in this regulation both in vitro and in vivo. Although mutations in p27Kip1 are rarely found in human tumours, reduced expression of the protein correlates well with poor survival among patients with breast or colorectal carcinomas, suggesting that disruption of the p27Kip1 regulatory mechanisms contributes to neoplasia. The abundance of p27Kip1 in the cell is determined either at or after translation, for example as a result of phosphorylation by cyclinE/Cdk2 complexes, degradation by the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway, sequestration by unknown Myc-inducible proteins, binding to cyclinD/Cdk4 complexes, or inactivation by the viral E1A oncoprotein. We have found that a mouse 38K protein (p38) encoded by the Jab1 gene interacts specifically with p27Kip1 and show here that overexpression of p38 in mammalian cells causes the translocation of p27Kip1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, decreasing the amount of p27Kip1 in the cell by accelerating its degradation. Ectopic expression of p38 in mouse fibroblasts partially overcomes p27Kip1-mediated arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and markedly reduces their dependence on serum. Our findings indicate that p38 functions as a negative regulator of p27Kip1 by promoting its degradation.

Correlation of physiological subgroupings of nonpyramidal cells with parvalbumin- and calbindinD28k-immunoreactive neurons in layer V of rat frontal cortex

1. To test the hypothesis that physiologically and morphologically different cortical nonpyramidal cells express different calcium-binding proteins, whole-cell current-clamp recording in vitro was combined with intracellular staining and double immunofluorescence in layer V of frontal cortex of rats 16-20 days old. 2. Nonpyramidal cells were first characterized as fast-spiking (FS) or low-threshold spike (LTS) cells, injected with biocytin, and subsequently stained immunohistochemically for parvalbumin and calbindinD28k. 3. FS cells were identified by input resistances < 350 M omega, spike width at half amplitude < 0.8 ms, and virtually no spike frequency adaptation of spike trains by depolarizing pulses. LTS cells were identified by input resistances > 350 M omega, spike width at half amplitude > 0.8 ms, and the discharge of low-threshold spikes from hyperpolarized potentials. Repetitive firing could be induced by a combination of stimulation-induced excitatory postsynaptic potentials with depolarization in FS cells. Repetitive firing was not observed in LTS cells under these conditions. 4. After biocytin injection of layer V cells characterized in this way, subsequent double immunostaining showed that all biocytin-labeled parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells (n = 18) belonged to the FS cells (FS-PV cells), whereas all biocytin-labeled calbindinD28k-immunoreactive cells (n = 10) belonged to the LTS cells (LTS-Calb cells). 5. FS-PV cells had smooth or sparsely spiny dendrites, whereas LTS-Calb cells had dendrites with a modest number of spines but fewer than pyramidal cells. FS-PV cells showed denser axonal branches near their somata and extended axons in a more horizontal direction. Some of them could be identified as basket cells by the presence of terminal boutons surrounding somata of other cells. LTS-Calb cells extended their main axons more vertically up to layer I. 6. Double immunofluorescent staining revealed that very few cells in layer V showed immunoreactivity for both calcium-binding proteins but that most cells immunoreactive for the calcium-binding proteins in layer V were also immunoreactive for gamma-aminobutyric acid. 7. These results suggest that GABAergic nonpyramidal cells in layer V of neocortex can be divided into two functional groups on the basis of different firing modes, axonal distributions, and calcium-binding protein immunoreactivity: 1) FS-PV cells show repetitive firing by synaptic activation, have axonal arborizations that are more dense near their somata and oriented horizontally, and the cells exhibit parvalbumin immunoreactivity and 2) LTS cells show low-threshold spikes, have more vertical axonal arborizations up to layer I, and exhibit calbindinD28K immunoreactivity.

Small "flat adenoma" of the large bowel with special reference to its clinicopathologic features

Thirty-three small "flat adenomas," not more than 1 cm in diameter, were collected from surgically and colonoscopically removed specimens, and their colonoscopic and histologic characteristics were described. There were 14 adenomas with mild atypia, five with moderate atypia, 14 with severe atypia (or focal carcinoma limited to the mucosa). The grade of atypia seems to increase with the size of lesions, and these lesions were assumed to play an important role in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The importance of recognizing the presence of these small "flat adenomas" in everyday practice is stressed.

Three distinct subpopulations of GABAergic neurons in rat frontal agranular cortex

GABAergic interneurons in the rat frontal cortex were subdivided on the basis of immunoreactivity for calcium binding proteins, neuropeptides and nitric oxide synthase, using double immunofluorescence and mirror image immunohistochemical methods. The results indicate that in this region of the neocortex there are at least three distinct subpopulations of local circuit neurons. The first subgroup consists of parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells. Those do not contain neuropeptide, calretinin or nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity. A substantial number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells in layer II/III were also immunoreactive for calbindin D28k. The second subgroup consists of cells immunoreactive for calretinin. Most were usually immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide as well, but a few cells in layer II/III were immunoreactive for one or the other only. Calretinin-immunoreactive cells do not colocalize parvalbumin, somatostatin or nitric oxide synthase, and only a few colocalize calbindin D28k. The third subgroup consists of cells most of which contain somatostatin, and is entirely separate from the parvalbumin- and calretinin-immunoreactive populations. There was substantial colocalization of somatostatin and calbindin D28k and of somatostatin and neuropeptide Y. Some somatostatin-immunoreactive cells showed nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity. All of the populations of immunoreactive cells examined in the present study also showed GABA immunoreactivity. About 10% of calbindin D28k-immunoreactive cells and all of those strongly stained for calbindin D28k in layer II/III showed GABA immunoreactivity. Most calbindin D28k-positive cells in deep layers also showed GABA immunoreactivity. These results support that almost all calbindin D28k-immunoreactive non-pyramidal cells are probably GABAergic.

Neurochemical features and synaptic connections of large physiologically-identified GABAergic cells in the rat frontal cortex

Physiological and morphological properties of large non-pyramidal cells immunoreactive for cholecystokinin, parvalbumin or somatostatin were investigated in vitro in the frontal cortex of 18-22-day-old rats. These three peptides were expressed in separate populations including large cells. Cholecystokinin cells and parvalbumin cells made boutons apposed to other cell bodies, but differed in their firing patterns in response to depolarizing current pulses. Parvalbumin cells belonged to fast-spiking cells. Parvalbumin fast-spiking cells also included chandelier cells. In contrast, cholecystokinin cells were found to be regular-spiking non-pyramidal cells or burst-spiking non-pyramidal cells with bursting activity from hyperpolarized potentials (two or more spikes on slow depolarizing humps). Large somatostatin cells belonged to the regular-spiking non-pyramidal category and featured wide or ascending axonal arbors (wide arbor cells and Martinotti cells) which did not seem to be apposed to the somata so frequently as large cholecystokinin and parvalbumin cells. For electron microscopic observations, another population of eight immunohistochemically-uncharacterized non-pyramidal cells were selected: (i) five fast spiking cells including one chandelier cell which are supposed to contain parvalbumin, and (ii) three large regular-spiking non-pyramidal cells with terminals apposed to somata, which are not considered to include somatostatin cells, but some of which may belong to cholecystokinin cells. The fast-spiking cells other than a chandelier cell and the large regular-spiking non-pyramidal cells made GABA-positive synapses on somata (4% and 12% of the synapses in two small to medium fast-spiking cells, 22% and 35% of the synapses in two large fast-spiking cells, and 10%, 18% and 37% of the synapses in three large regular-spiking non-pyramidal cells). A few terminals of the fast-spiking and regular-spiking non-pyramidal cells innervated GABAergic cells. About 30% of the fast-spiking cell terminals innervated spines, but few of the regular-spiking non-pyramidal cell terminals did. A fast-spiking chandelier cell made GABA-positive synapses on GABA-negative axon initial segments. These results suggest that large GABAergic cells are heterogeneous in neuroactive substances, firing patterns and synaptic connections, and that cortical cells receive heterogeneous GABAergic somatic inputs.

Frontal midline theta rhythm is correlated with cardiac autonomic activities during the performance of an attention demanding meditation procedure

Frontal midline theta rhythm (Fm theta), recognized as distinct theta activity on EEG in the frontal midline area, reflects mental concentration as well as meditative state or relief from anxiety. Attentional network in anterior frontal lobes including anterior cingulate cortex is suspected to be the generator of this activity, and the regulative function of the frontal neural network over autonomic nervous system (ANS) during cognitive process is suggested. However no studies have examined peripheral autonomic activities during Fm theta induction, and interaction of central and peripheral mechanism associated with Fm theta remains unclear. In the present study, a standard procedure of Zen meditation requiring sustained attention and breath control was employed as the task to provoke Fm theta, and simultaneous EEG and ECG recordings were performed. For the subjects in which Fm theta activities were provoked (six men, six women, 48% of the total subjects), peripheral autonomic activities were evaluated during the appearance of Fm theta as well as during control periods. Successive inter-beat intervals were measured from the ECG, and a recently developed method of analysis by Toichi et al. (J. Auton. Nerv. Syst. 62 (1997) 79-84) based on heart rate variability was used to assess cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic functions separately. Both sympathetic and parasympathetic indices were increased during the appearance of Fm theta compared with control periods. Theta band activities in the frontal area were correlated negatively with sympathetic activation. The results suggest a close relationship between cardiac autonomic function and activity of medial frontal neural circuitry.

Identification of the yeast MCM3-related protein as a component of Xenopus DNA replication licensing factor

Replication licensing factor is thought to be involved in the strict control of the initiation of DNA replication in eukaryotes. We identified a 100 kDa protein as a candidate for the licensing factor in Xenopus egg extracts. This protein was required for replication; it bound to sperm DNA before the formation of nuclei and apparently dissociated from the nuclear DNA during the progression of replication without being transported into the nuclei. An immunologically homologous protein in HeLa cells behaved similarly to the Xenopus protein during the cell cycle. Cloning and sequencing of the cDNAs encoding the Xenopus and human proteins revealed that they are homologs of yeast Mcm3, a putative yeast DNA replication licensing factor.

The inhibitory effect of glabridin from licorice extracts on melanogenesis and inflammation

Glabridin is the main ingredient in hydrophobic fraction of licorice extract affecting on skins. In this study, we investigated inhibitory effects of glabridin on melanogenesis and inflammation using cultured B16 murine melanoma cells and guinea pig skins. The results indicated that glabridin inhibits tyrosinase activity of these cells at concentrations of 0.1 to 1.0 microg/ml and had no detectable effect on their DNA synthesis. Combined analysis of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and DOPA staining on the large granule fraction of these cells disclosed that glabridin decreased specifically the activities of T1 and T3 tyrosinase isozymes. It was also shown that UVB-induced pigmentation and erythema in the skins of guinea pigs were inhibited by topical applications of 0.5% glabridin. Anti-inflammatory effects of glabridin in vitro were also shown by its inhibition of superoxide anion productions and cyclooxygenase activities. These data indicated that glabridin is a unique compound possessing more than one function; not only the inhibition of melanogenesis but also the inhibition of inflammation in the skins. By replacing each of hydroxyl groups of glabridin with others, it was revealed that the inhibitory effect of 2'-O-ethyl glabridin was significantly stronger than that of 4'-O-ethyl-glabridin on melanin synthesis in cultured B16 cells at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml. With replacement of both of two hydroxyl groups, the inhibitory effect was totally lost. Based on these data, we concluded that two hydroxyl groups of glabridin are important for the inhibition of melanin synthesis and that the hydroxyl group at the 4' position of this compound is more closely related to melanin synthesis.

Degradation of bisphenol A in water by TiO2 photocatalyst

The photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA), a representative endocrine disruptor, was carried out in TiO2 aqueous suspension. The main purposes were to confirm the total mineralization of BPA and to evaluate the estrogenic activity in the treated water during the photocatalytic reaction. An initial BPA concentration of 175 microM in water was totally degraded to carbon dioxide by TiO2-photocatalyzed reactions under UV irradiation of 10 mW cm-2 for 20 h. Four HPLC peaks indicating intermediate products appeared in chromatograms monitored at 275 nm, but the heights relative to that of the initial BPA were very low, at most 0.04 in the time period 5-10 h after the start of UV irradiation. All of the peaks finally disappeared after 20 h. For the treated water, the transcriptional estrogenic activity in response to human estrogen receptor in a yeast hybrid assay decreased drastically to less than 1% of the initial BPA's activity within 4 h. On the basis of these results, we conclude that TiO2 photocatalysis could be a useful technology for the purification of water containing BPA without generating any serious secondary pollution.

Neonatal lethality with abnormal neurogenesis in mice deficient in DNA polymerase beta

DNA polymerase beta (Polbeta) has been implicated in base excision repair in mammalian cells. However, the physiological significance of this enzyme in the body remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that mice carrying a targeted disruption of the Polbeta gene showed growth retardation and died of a respiratory failure immediately after the birth. Histological examination of the embryos revealed defective neurogenesis characterized by apoptotic cell death in the developing central and peripheral nervous systems. Extensive cell death occurred in newly generated post-mitotic neuronal cells and was closely associated with the period between onset and cessation of neurogenesis. These findings indicate that Polbeta plays an essential role in neural development.

Selective voltammetric and amperometric detection of uric acid with oxidized diamond film electrodes

Electrochemically anodized diamond film electrodes were used for selective detection of uric acid (UA) in the presence of high concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) by differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Because the oxidation peak potential for AA is approximately 450 mV more positive than that for UA at anodized diamond electrodes, UA can be determined with very good selectivity. By use of chronoamperometry, linear calibration curves were obtained for UA over the concentration range up to 1 x 10(-6) M in 0.1 M HClO4 solution, with the lowest experimental value measured being 5 x 10(-8) M. This is consistent with the fact that a statistical analysis of the calibration curve yielded a detection limit of 1.5 x 10(-8) M (S/N = 3). AA in less than 20-fold excess does not interfere. The practical analytical utility of the method is demonstrated by the measurement of UA in human urine and serum without any preliminary treatment.

Photokilling of T-24 human bladder cancer cells with titanium dioxide

A photoexcited titanium dioxide surface has a strong ability to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen. We have studied this effect in order to use it to kill cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. A distinct cell killing effect was observed on cultured T-24 human bladder cancer cells treated with titanium dioxide particles and 300-400 nm UV light irradiation. Titanium dioxide plus UV light also dramatically suppressed the tumour growth of T-24 cells that were implanted in nude mice. Cells cultured on the titanium dioxide electrode were also killed under UV irradiation when the electrode was anodically polarised, suggesting that photogenerated holes are involved in the cell killing. The cell killing effect caused by titanium dioxide particles plus UV light irradiation was significantly hampered in the presence of L-cysteine and catalase, scavengers of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide respectively. Transmission electron microscopic observations showed the titanium dioxide particles to be distributed on the cell surface and inside the cells. These results suggest that titanium dioxide particles under UV light irradiation produced photogenerated holes on the surface yielding hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide inside or outside the cells and the cells were then killed by the action of these highly oxidising molecules. The possible application of photoexcited titanium dioxide particles to cancer treatment as a new anti-cancer modality is discussed.

A new cause of female pseudohermaphroditism: placental aromatase deficiency

A description is presented of the first documented case of placental aromatase deficiency. The deficiency caused maternal virilization during pregnancy and pseudohermaphroditism of the female fetus. A 24-yr-old primigravida showed progressive virilization during the third trimester. Urinary excretion of estrogen was less than 14 mumol/day between 35-38 weeks of pregnancy, although nonstress tests showed reactive patterns and serum levels of human placental lactogen were above 460 nmol/L. Maternal serum levels of estrogens were low, and those of androgens were high in the third trimester. A dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate loading test induced a marked increase in maternal serum levels of androgens, whereas no such increase was observed in estrogens. The woman delivered vaginally a live full-term infant who exhibited female pseudohermaphroditism. Cord serum levels of estrogens were extremely low, while those of androgens were high. The aromatase activity of the placenta, determined by the conversion of [7-3H]androstenedione to 17 beta-[7-3H]estradiol and [7-3H]estrone, were less than 0.03 fmol/microgram protein.min (control, 9.6 +/- 2.2 fmol/microgram protein.min). The sulfatase activity of the placenta was 0.63 pmol/microgram protein.min compared to 0.46 +/- 0.16 pmol/microgram protein.min in controls. The rate of aromatization by normal control placentas was the same as that obtained during coincubation of samples of normal placentas and that of the patient. Thus, the presence of aromatase inhibitor in the patient's placenta was excluded.

Complete nucleotide sequences of 93-kb and 3.3-kb plasmids of an enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 derived from Sakai outbreak

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7, derived from an outbreak in Sakai city, Japan in 1996, possesses two kinds of plasmids: a 93-kb plasmid termed pO157, found in clinical EHEC isolates world-wide and a 3.3-kb plasmid termed pOSAK1, prevalent in EHEC strains isolated in Japan. Complete nucleotide sequences of both plasmids have been determined, and the putative functions of the encoded proteins and the cis-acting DNA sequences have been analyzed. pO157 shares strikingly similar genes and DNA sequences with F-factor and the transmissible drug-resistant plasmid R100 for DNA replication, copy number control, plasmid segregation, conjugative functions and stable maintenance in the host, although it is defective in DNA transfer by conjugation due to the truncation and deletion of the required genes and DNA sequences. In addition, it encodes several proteins implicated in EHEC pathogenicity such as an EHEC hemolysin (HlyA), a catalase-peroxidase (KatP), a serine protease (EspP) and type II secretion system. pOSAK1 possesses a ColE1-like replication system, and the DNA sequence is extremely similar to that of a drug-resistant plasmid, NTP16, derived from Salmonella typhimurium except that it lacks drug resistance transposons.

Neostriatal GABAergic interneurones contain NOS, calretinin or parvalbumin

To reveal functional heterogeneity among GABAergic interneurones in rat neostriatum, we investigated: (1) whether nitric oxide synthase (NOS)- and calretinin-immunoreactive cells, like parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells, were also immunoreactive for 67 kD glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) and GABA; (2) whether NOS cells, calretinin cells and parvalbumin cells belonged to separate populations or not. NOS cells, calretinin cells and parvalbumin cells all showed immunoreactivity for GAD67 in colchicine-treated rats. Calretinin cells and parvalbumin cells were also immunoreactive for GABA. Only a few cells (0-3%) showed immunoreactivity for two antigens. These results suggest that the neostriatum has at least three GABAergic interneuronal systems.

Neostriatal cholinergic neurons receive direct synaptic inputs from dopaminergic axons

We used an electron microscopic 'mirror technique' to determine whether cholinergic neurons are in direct synaptic contact with dopaminergic axons in the rat neostriatum. Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive axons make synaptic contacts with the somata and proximal dendrites of large choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive striatal neurons which are thought to be interneurons. This provides morphological evidence that nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons can influence monosynaptically the striatal cholinergic neurons.

Autoradiographic localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide binding sites in human and rat brains

125I-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) binding sites were mapped in the human brain and rat brains by in vitro macroautoradiography, and compared to each other. Binding experiments were made to characterize 125I-CGRP binding on the human and rat brains. Scatchard analysis of saturation experiments from slide-mounted sections of the human and rat cerebellum displayed 125I-CGRP binding sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.17 nM and 0.11 nM, respectively, and a maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) of 96.8 fmol/mg and 23.0 fmol/mg protein. 125I-CGRP binding was time-dependent, reversible and saturable with high affinity in the brains. Autoradiograms showed a discrete distribution of 125I-CGRP binding sites throughout the brains of human and rat with patterns similar to each other. In the human brain, the highest binding was seen in the cerebellum, inferior olivary nuclear complex, certain parts of the central gray matter, arcuate nuclei of the medulla oblongata and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, and densities of CGRP-binding sites were high in the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, tail of the nucleus caudatus, substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, medial portion of the inferior colliculus, medial pontine nuclei, locus coeruleus, inferior vestibular nucleus, substantia gelatinosa of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract and nucleus cuneatus lateralis. In the rat, high densities were found in the hippocampus pars anterior, nucleus accumbens, ventral and caudal portions of the nucleus caudatus-putamen, central and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala, caudal portion of the insular cortex, medial geniculate body, superior and inferior colliculi, certain portions of the central gray matter, locus coeruleus, inferior olivary nuclei, vagal complex, nucleus cuneatus lateralis and cerebellum. In contrast, in both species, most of the cortical areas including the hippocampus, most of the thalamus, and hypothalamus exhibited few binding sites. In addition, high quantities of the binding sites were seen on the pia mater and on walls of blood vessels in the brain and subarachnoidea. These results revealed essentially homologous locations of CGRP binding sites in the human and rat central nervous systems and well corresponding distributions of binding sites and endogenous CGRP-like immunoreactivity.

John J, Sulak L, Zou D, Alimena J, Berry E, Bhattacharya S, Cutts D, Dhingra N, Ferapontov A, Garabedian A, Hakala J, Heintz U, Laird E, Landsberg G, Mao Z, Narain M, Piperov S, Sagir S, Syarif R, Breedon R, Breto G, De La Barca Sanchez MC, Chauhan S, Chertok M, Conway J, Conway R, Cox PT, Erbacher R, Funk G, Gardner M, Ko W, Lander R, Mulhearn M, Pellett D, Pilot J, Ricci-Tam F, Shalhout S, Smith J, Squires M, Stolp D, Tripathi M, Wilbur S, Yohay R, Bravo C, Cousins R, Everaerts P, Farrell C, Florent A, Hauser J, Ignatenko M, Saltzberg D, Schnaible C, Valuev V, Weber M, Burt K, Clare R, Ellison J, Gary JW, Hanson G, Heilman J, Ivova PANEVA M, Jandir P, Kennedy E, Lacroix F, Long OR, Luthra A, Malberti M, Negrete MO, Shrinivas A, Wei H, Wimpenny S, Yates BR, Branson JG, Cerati GB, Cittolin S, D’Agnolo RT, Derdzinski M, Holzner A, Kelley R, Klein D, Letts J, Macneill I, Olivito D, Padhi S, Pieri M, Sani M, Sharma V, Simon S, Tadel M, Tu Y, Vartak A, Wasserbaech S, Welke C, Würthwein F, 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Fisk I, Freeman J, Gottschalk E, Gray L, Green D, Grünendahl S, Gutsche O, Hanlon J, Hare D, Harris RM, Hasegawa S, Hirschauer J, Hu Z, Jayatilaka B, Jindariani S, Johnson M, Joshi U, Jung AW, Klima B, Kreis B, Lammel S, Linacre J, Lincoln D, Lipton R, Liu T, Lopes De Sá R, Lykken J, Maeshima K, Marraffino JM, Martinez Outschoorn VI, Maruyama S, Mason D, McBride P, Merkel P, Mishra K, Mrenna S, Nahn S, Newman-Holmes C, O’Dell V, Pedro K, Prokofyev O, Rakness G, Sexton-Kennedy E, Soha A, Spalding WJ, Spiegel L, Strobbe N, Taylor L, Tkaczyk S, Tran NV, Uplegger L, Vaandering EW, Vernieri C, Verzocchi M, Vidal R, Weber HA, Whitbeck A, Acosta D, Avery P, Bortignon P, Bourilkov D, Carnes A, Carver M, Curry D, Das S, Field RD, Furic IK, Gleyzer SV, Hugon J, Konigsberg J, Korytov A, Kotov K, Low JF, Ma P, Matchev K, Mei H, Milenovic P, Mitselmakher G, Rank D, Rossin R, Shchutska L, Snowball M, Sperka D, Terentyev N, Thomas L, Wang J, Wang S, Yelton J, Hewamanage S, Linn S, Markowitz P, 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Pierro GA, Polese G, Ruggles T, Sarangi T, Savin A, Sharma A, Smith N, Smith WH, Taylor D, Woods N. Event generator tunes obtained from underlying event and multiparton scattering measurements

New sets of parameters ("tunes") for the underlying-event (UE) modelling of the pythia8, pythia6 and herwig++ Monte Carlo event generators are constructed using different parton distribution functions. Combined fits to CMS UE proton-proton ([Formula: see text]) data at [Formula: see text] and to UE proton-antiproton ([Formula: see text]) data from the CDF experiment at lower [Formula: see text], are used to study the UE models and constrain their parameters, providing thereby improved predictions for proton-proton collisions at 13[Formula: see text]. In addition, it is investigated whether the values of the parameters obtained from fits to UE observables are consistent with the values determined from fitting observables sensitive to double-parton scattering processes. Finally, comparisons are presented of the UE tunes to "minimum bias" (MB) events, multijet, and Drell-Yan ([Formula: see text] lepton-antilepton+jets) observables at 7 and 8[Formula: see text], as well as predictions for MB and UE observables at 13[Formula: see text].

High-throughput powder diffraction measurement system consisting of multiple MYTHEN detectors at beamline BL02B2 of SPring-8

In this study, we developed a user-friendly automatic powder diffraction measurement system for Debye-Scherrer geometry using a capillary sample at beamline BL02B2 of SPring-8. The measurement system consists of six one-dimensional solid-state (MYTHEN) detectors, a compact auto-sampler, wide-range temperature control systems, and a gas handling system. This system enables to do the automatic measurement of temperature dependence of the diffraction patterns for multiple samples. We introduced two measurement modes in the MYTHEN system and developed new attachments for the sample environment such as a gas handling system. The measurement modes and the attachments can offer in situ and/or time-resolved measurements in an extended temperature range between 25 K and 1473 K and various gas atmospheres and pressures. The results of the commissioning and performance measurements using reference materials (NIST CeO₂ 674b and Si 640c), V₂O₃ and Ti₂O₃, and a nanoporous coordination polymer are presented.