Pflügers Archiv : European journal of physiology
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Unilateral microinjection of prostaglandin (PG)E(2) into a region immediately adjacent to the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (peri-OVLT) in the preoptic area elicited thermogenic, tachycardic, cutaneous vasoconstrictive, and hyperthermic responses simultaneously in urethane-chloralose-anesthetized rats. The magnitude of these responses increased dose-dependently over the range of 57 fmol-2.8 pmol, except for the vasoconstrictive response. ⋯ Pretreatment with the vehicle, saline, had no effect on the PGE(2)-induced responses. These results suggest that spontaneous release of GABA and tonic activation of GABA(A) receptors in the peri-OVLT region prevent the elevation in the body core temperature under normal circumstances and that PGE(2)-induced febrile responses are mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of the GABAergic transmission in this area.
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Do related, differently sized species differ in size-related structural or functional traits merely because they mature at different points of a uniform allometric ontogenetic growth curve, or do they evolutionarily diverge? We tested ears of gekkotan lizards through experiments distinguishing the two. Auditory sensitivity was assessed by compound action potential (CAP) thresholds in eight species. The best thresholds characterizing species ranged 22-72 dB sound pressure level at 0.5-1.0 kHz. ⋯ Hence, the evolutionary contribution to size effects on CAP sensitivity exceeds the ontogenetic contribution. Putatively, body length affects CAP sensitivity through absolute sizes of tympanic membrane and columella footplate. These newly discovered effects join those of the hydraulic lever and (interspecifically) hair-cell number to improve the hearing of larger species that vocally communicate across wider spaces, apparently throughout the Tetrapoda.
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The Locus coeruleus (LC) has been suggested as a CO(2) chemoreceptor site in mammals. In the present study, we assessed the role of LC noradrenergic neurons in the cardiorespiratory and thermal responses to hypercapnia. To selectively destroy LC noradrenergic neurons, we administered 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) bilaterally into the LC of male Wistar rats. ⋯ This difference was due to a decreased V (T) in 6-OHDA rats. LC chemical lesion or hypercapnia did not affect MAP, HR, and T (c). Thus, we conclude that LC noradrenergic neurons modulate hypercapnic ventilatory response but play no role in cardiovascular and thermal regulation under resting conditions.
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We previously reported that hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) preconditioning (SP) produces cardioprotective effects against ischemia in rat cardiac myocytes. The present study aims to elucidate the signaling mechanisms involved in SP-induced cardioprotection by investigating the role of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt. We found that preconditioning with NaHS (a H(2)S donor) for three cycles significantly decreased myocardial infarct size and improved heart contractile function in the isolated rat hearts. ⋯ The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 induced by SP was attenuated by either glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K(+) channel (K(ATP)) blocker, or chelerythrine, a specific protein kinase C (PKC) blocker. In addition, ischemic-preconditioning-induced ERK1/2 activation was reversed by inhibiting endogenous H(2)S production, suggesting that ERK1/2 activation induced by ischemic preconditioning was, at least partly, mediated by endogenous H(2)S. In conclusion, K(ATP)/PKC/ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt pathways contributed to SP-induced cardioprotection.
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This review aims at presenting state-of-the-art knowledge on the composition and functions of the endothelial glycocalyx. The endothelial glycocalyx is a network of membrane-bound proteoglycans and glycoproteins, covering the endothelium luminally. Both endothelium- and plasma-derived soluble molecules integrate into this mesh. ⋯ Experimental data from the micro- and macrocirculation alludes at a vasculoprotective role for the glycocalyx. Assessing this possible role of the endothelial glycocalyx requires reliable visualization of this delicate layer, which is a great challenge. An overview is given of the various ways in which the endothelial glycocalyx has been visualized up to now, including first data from two-photon microscopic imaging.