Thyrotropin-releasing hormone induces rhythmic bursting in neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarius

The nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) contains neurons that are part of the central neuronal network controlling rhythmic breathing movements in mammals. Nerve terminals within the NTS show immunoreactivity to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a neuropeptide that has potent stimulatory effects on respiration. By means of a brainstem slice preparation in vitro, TRH induced rhythmic bursting in neurons in the respiratory division of the NTS. The frequency of bursting was voltage-dependent and could be reset by short depolarizing current pulses. In the presence of tetrodotoxin, TRH produced rhythmic oscillations in membrane potential whose frequency was also voltage-dependent. These observations suggest that TRH modulates the membrane excitability of NTS neurons and allows them to express endogenous bursting activity.     

不同给药时间间隔对吗啡诱导小鼠条件性位置偏爱模型的影响

为比较不同给药时间间隔下,同等剂量的吗啡诱导条件性位置偏爱(CPP)模型的差异,为后续抗吗啡依赖药物的筛选奠定基础,本研究建立了不同时间间隔的吗啡诱导CPP模型,(1)吗啡组(24 h):连续4 d皮下注射,上午注射吗啡(5 mg·kg?1),下午注射生理盐水,吗啡给药间隔24 h,建立CPP模型;(2)吗啡组(48 ...     

Coding channels in the taste system of the rat

Basic taste qualities are thought to be perceived independently, yet discrete neural coding channels have not been demonstrated in the central nervous system. The response profiles of taste cells in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of the rat were categorized into four groups, and the effects of amiloride, a passive sodium channel blocker, on each were determined. NTS neurons that responded specifically to sodium chloride (NaCl) or to NaCl and sugars were suppressed by amiloride; those broadly sensitive to salts, acids, and bitter stimuli were unaffected. Moreover, the response profile evoked by NaCl lost its distinctiveness after treatment with amiloride, becoming similar to those evoked by acids and quinine. Receptors that respond to sodium must relay their information through independent coding channels to identifiable subgroups of NTS neurons, the activity of which is responsible for the perception of saltiness.     

Cell type-specific loss of BDNF signaling mimics optogenetic control of cocaine reward

The nucleus accumbens is a key mediator of cocaine reward, but the distinct roles of the two subpopulations of nucleus accumbens projection neurons, those expressing dopamine D1 versus D2 receptors, are poorly understood. We show that deletion of TrkB, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) receptor, selectively from D1+ or D2+ neurons oppositely affects cocaine reward. Because loss of TrkB in D2+ neurons increases their neuronal excitability, we next used optogenetic tools to control selectively the firing rate of D1+ and D2+ nucleus accumbens neurons and studied consequent effects on cocaine reward. Activation of D2+ neurons, mimicking the loss of TrkB, suppresses cocaine reward, with opposite effects induced by activation of D1+ neurons. These results provide insight into the molecular control of D1+ and D2+ neuronal activity as well as the circuit-level contribution of these cell types to cocaine reward.     

Differential rescue of light- and food-entrainable circadian rhythms

When food is plentiful, circadian rhythms of animals are powerfully entrained by the light-dark cycle. However, if animals have access to food only during their normal sleep cycle, they will shift most of their circadian rhythms to match the food availability. We studied the basis for entrainment of circadian rhythms by food and light in mice with targeted disruption of the clock gene Bmal1, which lack circadian rhythmicity. Injection of a viral vector containing the Bmal1 gene into the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus restored light-entrainable, but not food-entrainable, circadian rhythms. In contrast, restoration of the Bmal1 gene only in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus restored the ability of animals to entrain to food but not to light. These results demonstrate that the dorsomedial hypothalamus contains a Bmal1-based oscillator that can drive food entrainment of circadian rhythms.     

Orexin A在鹌鹑间脑内定位分布的SABC法研究

采用免疫组织化学SABC法,研究orexin A在鹌鹑间脑内的分布。结果显示,orexinA阳性神经元胞体主要分布在间脑中下丘脑区的室旁核、室周区、外侧核和后内侧核,其阳性纤维则投射到丘脑和下丘脑的广大区域,其中在圆核、三角核、前脑外侧束、第五额束、视顶盖、中央白质层和外侧核等处较密集。结果表明orexin A存在于鹌鹑的间脑内,但其分布与大鼠之间有明显的差异。     

北京鸭脑干与隔中脑束的联系—WGA—HRP逆行追踪法研究

将辣根过氧化物酶结合麦芽凝集素(WGA-HRP)注入北京鸭隔中脑束,在延髓的孤束核,脑桥的兰斑核和中脑的中央上核,均见有标记细胞,以同侧孤束核和兰斑核的标记细胞最多,其中孤束核内标记细胞中等大小梭形为多。兰斑核内标记细胞以中等大小圆形为多。此外,尚见延髓腹侧网状结构,脑桥的外侧丘系核,中脑的后线核,中央灰质、Gudden氏被盖背侧核、Gudden被盖腹侧核和网状结构有少量标记细胞。     

Anatomically distinct opiate receptor fields mediate reward and physical dependence

Rats never before exposed to opioids rapidly learned to press a lever for microinjections of morphine into the ventral tegmental area. Challenge by a narcotic antagonist produced no signs of physical dependence. Dependence was not seen after long-term morphine infusions into the ventral tegmentum but was seen after similar infusions into the periventricular gray region. Thus a major rewarding property of morphine is independent of the drug's ability to produce physical dependence. These data challenge models of drug addiction that propose physical dependence as necessary for the rewarding effects of opioids.     

皆伐与刀耕火种后常绿?落叶阔叶混交林的动态恢复机制

目的皆伐与刀耕火种是对森林生态系统造成严重影响的人为干扰方式。本研究旨在比较常绿?落叶阔叶混交林在两种干扰后群落的动态恢复特征并分析其形成机制,以期为森林植被保育和林业生态建设提供参考。方法依托不同干扰后恢复20与40年群落内所设立的98个样地,在径级划分的基础上对群落基本特征采用物种多度格局、物种组成、稀疏化丰富度及多度进行描述,并运用多元统计方法分析上述特征在不同恢复群落间的差异性。结果不同恢复群落的多度与稀疏化丰富度均存在显著差异（P < 0.05）。在中、小径级植被当中,皆伐后恢复20年群落的多样性指数显著高于弃耕地恢复20年群落;不同恢复过程中植被多度的变化趋势不同,弃耕地恢复过程具有更明显的多度变化,且在不同径级中均达到显著水平。虽然不同恢复的20 ~ 40年过程中群落物种组成的变异性均达到极显著（P < 0.001）,但小径级植被较能反映这种变异,同时也能反映物种生态对策的转变。此外,弃耕地恢复过程中上述特征更明显。物种多度格局关系显示,弃耕地恢复群落的优势种具有更明显的优势地位,而采伐恢复过程中物种间的多度差异明显减小。结论皆伐后的常绿?落叶阔叶混交林能在短期内展现较高的恢复速率,而弃耕地恢复则在短期受阻后才体现出该特点。这可能与干扰对生物与非生物资源的影响程度有关,表明刀耕火种对群落恢复的影响深远。此外,常绿?落叶阔叶混交林在经历干扰后物种组成的恢复缓慢,但具有一定的秩序。      

The restoration potential of the Mesopotamian marshes of Iraq

Uncontrolled releases of Tigris and Euphrates River waters after the 2003 war have partially restored some former marsh areas in southern Iraq, but restoration is failing in others because of high soil and water salinities. Nearly 20% of the original 15,000-square-kilometer marsh area was reflooded by March 2004, but the extent of marsh restoration is unknown. High-quality water, nonsaline soils, and the densest native vegetation were found in the only remaining natural marsh, the Al-Hawizeh, located on the Iranian border. Although substantially reduced in area and under current threat of an Iranian dike, it has the potential to be a native repopulation center for the region. Rapid reestablishment, high productivity, and reproduction of native flora and fauna in reflooded former marsh areas indicate a high probability for successful restoration, provided the restored wetlands are hydraulically designed to allow sufficient flow of noncontaminated water and flushing of salts through the ecosystem.     

Impulsive choice induced in rats by lesions of the nucleus accumbens core

Impulsive choice is exemplified by choosing a small or poor reward that is available immediately, in preference to a larger but delayed reward. Impulsive choice contributes to drug addiction, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mania, and personality disorders, but its neuroanatomical basis is unclear. Here, we show that selective lesions of the nucleus accumbens core induce persistent impulsive choice in rats. In contrast, damage to two of its afferents, the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex, had no effect on this capacity. Thus, dysfunction of the nucleus accumbens core may be a key element in the neuropathology of impulsivity.     

北京鸭脑干向下丘脑外侧区的投射──WGA─HRP逆行追踪法研究

将辣根过氧化物酶结合麦芽凝集素（ＷＧＡ─ＨＲＰ）注入北京鸭下丘脑外侧区，在延髓的孤束核和腹侧网状绍构，脑桥蓝斑核和中脑的Ｇｕｄｄｅｎ氏被盖腹侧核均见有标记细胞，以同侧孤束核和蓝斑核内标记细胞最多。此外，在脑桥的外侧巳系核，中脑脚间核，中央上核、中央灰质和网状结构亦见有少量标记细胞。     

Behavioral regulation of the milieu interne in man and rat

In regulating the internal homeostatic environment mammals, by necessity, employ behavioral strategies that differ from the tactics used in coping with contingencies in the external environment. When an animal consumes a meal, the palatability of that meal is automatically adjusted in accordance with the ultimate internal effects of that meal. If the meal causes toxicosis, the animal acquires an aversion for the taste of the meal; conversely, if recuperation follows ingestion of the meal, the taste of that meal is enhanced. Unlike the learning that occurs when externally referred visual and auditory signals are followed by punishment in the form of peripheral pain or reward in the form of food in the mouth, conditioning to the homeostatic effects of food can occur in a single trial and rarely requires more than three to five trials, even though the ultimate effects of the meal are delayed for hours. Paradoxically, the animal need not be aware of the ultimate internal effect in the same sense that it is aware of external contingencies. For example, an aversion can be acquired even if the animal is unconscious when the agent of illness is administered. Thus, the way in which food-effects are stored in memory may be fundamentally different from the way in which memories of specific time-space strategies devised for external contingencies are stored. This separation of function is indicated by limbic lesions which disrupt conditioning to a buzzer that is followed by shock and facilitate conditioning to a taste that is followed by illness. Operationally speaking, one can describe both aversion conditioning and buzzer-shock conditioning in the spacetime associationistic terms of classical conditioning. However, psychologically speaking, one must realize that in aversion conditioning the animal does not act as if it were acquiring an "if-then" strategy. It acts as if a hedonic shift, or a change in the incentive value of the flavor were taking place. Such hedonic shifts are critical in regulation of the internal milieu. When an animal is in need of calories, food tends to be more palatable; as the caloric deficit is restored, food becomes less palatable. If the animal's body temperature is below optimum, a warm stimulus applied to the skin is pleasant. When body temperature is too high, the converse is true. In this way, homeostatic states monitored by internal receptors produce changes in the incentive values of external stimuli sensed by the peripheral receptors, and guide feeding behavior. In mammals at least, the gustatory system, which provides sensory control of feeding, sends fibers to the nucleus solitarius. This brainstem relay station also receives fibers from the viscera and the internal monitors of the area postrema. Ascending fibers bifurcate at the level of the pons and project toward the feeding areas of the hypothalamus and the cortex. The olfactory system which primarily projects to the limbic system does not play a primary role in adjusting food incentives. Rather, it plays a secondary role in the activation of feeding, as do other external sensory systems. This specialized conditioning mechanism, which specifically adjusts gustatory hedonic values through delayed visceral feedback, is widespread among animals, including man and rat. These two species are remarkably similar in their thresholds and preferences for gustatory stimuli. The behavioral similarities are based on the animals' having similar gustatory systems, similar convergence of gustatory and internal afferents to the nucleus solitarius, and similar midbrain regulatory mechanisms. Thus, it is not surprising that the feeding of obese rats with internal hypothalamic damage resembles the feeding of obese human beings insensitive to the internal signs of this caloric state. Obviously, man has a highly specialized form of symbolic communication and the rat does not, yet man's cognitive specialization does not prevent him from developing aversions to food consumed before illness even when he knows that his illness was not caused by food (43).     

Requirement of nuclear prolactin for interleukin-2--stimulated proliferation of T lymphocytes

Prolactin (PRL) is necessary for the proliferation of cloned T lymphocytes in response to interleukin-2 (IL-2). Translocation of PRL into the nucleus occurs during IL-2--stimulated mitogenesis. Therefore, the function of intranuclear PRL in T cell proliferation was tested. Eukaryotic expression vectors were prepared to express wild-type PRL [PRL(WT)], PRL that lacks the signal sequence for translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum [PRL(ER-)], and chimeric PRL in which the signal peptide was replaced with the sequence that directs the nuclear translocation of the SV40 large T antigen [PRL(NT+)]. Expression of these constructs in a T cell line (Nb2) responsive to PRL and IL-2 resulted in localization of PRL in the extracellular milieu, cytoplasm, or nucleus, respectively. Stimulation with IL-2 alone resulted in a five- to tenfold increase in the incorporation of [3H]thymidine by cells expressing PRL(NT+) or PRL(WT) as compared to PRL(ER-) or the parental Nb2 cells. Only the PRL(NT+) clone proliferated continuously with IL-2 stimulation in the presence of antiserum to PRL. These results demonstrate that nuclear PRL is necessary for IL-2--stimulated proliferation and suggest that a peptide hormone can function in the nucleus without binding to its cell surface receptor.     

Chromatin-independent nuclear envelope assembly induced by Ran GTPase in Xenopus egg extracts

The nuclear envelope (NE) forms a controlled boundary between the cytoplasm and the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. To facilitate investigation of mechanisms controlling NE assembly, we developed a cell-free system made from Xenopus laevis eggs to study the process in the absence of chromatin. NEs incorporating nuclear pores were assembled around beads coated with the guanosine triphosphatase Ran, forming pseudo-nuclei that actively imported nuclear proteins. NE assembly required the cycling of guanine nucleotides on Ran and was promoted by RCC1, a nucleotide exchange factor recruited to beads by Ran-guanosine diphosphate (Ran-GDP). Thus, concentration of Ran-GDP followed by generation of Ran-GTP is sufficient to induce NE assembly.     

若尔盖县景观破碎化及湿地恢复优先性

对四川省阿坝藏族羌族自治州若尔盖县1980-2015年湿地景观破碎化及恢复优先性进行研究,以1980、1990、1995、2000、2005、2010和2015年7期土地利用数据为数据源,在ArcGIS与Fragstats软件的支持下,获取景观破碎化及湿地变化信息,实现对若尔盖湿地景观破碎化及湿地动态演变过程的深度分析,在此基础上构建湿地景观演变函数,揭示若尔盖湿地多年变化类型分布,并给出该区域湿地恢复的优先性。结果表明：1）研究区湿地景观破碎化主要表现为斑块平均面积和蔓延度指数的萎缩,斑块密度的上升及香农多样性指数的增大。整个研究时段内,研究区湿地斑块平均面积减少了249.77 hm²,斑块密度上升0.013 hm^-2。2）根据土地利用动态变化的空间涵义,将研究区湿地划分为稳定型、退化型、恢复型和波动型4种类型,研究发现退化型湿地的面积与稳定型湿地相比,是其75.43%,与恢复型湿地相比,是其2.27倍,若尔盖湿地退化严重,亟需进行湿地恢复。3）采用熵值法,以行政乡镇为若尔盖湿地恢复单元,得出若尔盖8个受影响的乡镇中,有2个一级恢复区、3个二级恢复区、3个三级恢复区。三级恢复区（阿西乡、嫩哇乡、达扎寺镇）应当予以优先恢复。     

基于FVS的秦岭地区栓皮栎天然次生林单木模型构建

栓皮栎是珍贵的经济树种和用材树种,经济价值高、用途广泛,在全国均有分布,其中秦岭至大别山一带是其核心分布区之一。以秦岭南北坡栓皮栎天然次生林为研究对象,在陕西省商洛市山阳县、镇安县、西安市周至县和宝鸡市太白县设置临时样地并进行调查,利用104块样地数据和150株解析木数据构建基于FVS系统的栓皮栎5类单木核心生长模型,包括胸径-树高模型、冠幅模型、胸径生长量模型、树高生长量模型和材积模型。结果如下:确定栓皮栎胸径-树高模型表达式为H=1.082esup>3.245-17.291DBH+1+3.56,冠幅模型表达式为CW=0.257+0.244DBH-0.002DBH2,胸径定期(5年)生长量方程为ln(DDS)=-12.669-0.055A-0.004DBH2+0.117SI-39.181ln(DBH)+43.138ln(DBH+1)+0.013sin(SL),树高生长量模型方程表达式为HTG=6.372+0.025AvgH+0.108DomtH+0.008DBH2-0.254SD +0.168SI+0.038 sin(SL)-3.613 ln(DBH),材积模型方程表达式为V=0.338+11.477DBH-11.582DBH0.997·H0.001+0.002DBH·H。通过拟合与计算,确定树皮调整因子值为1.159 2,树冠竞争因子值上限接近450,林分最大密度指数为923株/hm2。对所建各模型进行t检验和残差分布检验,结果均显示拟合效果较好。所建模型以期为秦岭地区栓皮栎林FVS系统本土化研究奠定基础,为该区域栓皮栎林抚育经营决策提供依据。      

太白山锐齿栎林地上生物量分布

目的生物量是全球气候变化背景下估计碳储量的重要依据,太白山为秦岭主峰,了解其森林的生物量分配特征,将为秦岭植被恢复过程中森林固碳动态提供依据和参考。方法以太白山锐齿栎原始林和次生林1.5 hm2样地中所有胸径（DBH） ≥ 1 cm木本植物数据和地形及土壤养分数据为基础,用单因素方差分析比较了林分中地上生物量分配特征及其随生境、尺度和径级的变化规律。结果锐齿栎原始林和次生林样地平均地上生物量分别是279.50 t/hm2和217.81 t/hm2,且不同生境中的地上生物量各有差异:在原始林土壤全氮含量较高的生境中地上生物量较小,而次生林中速效磷含量较高的生境中地上生物量也较小。同时,在原始林凹凸度较大的生境,其地上生物量较大。在相同取样尺度下原始林样地的地上生物量均大于次生林;而在同一块样地中地上生物量与取样尺度不相关。原始林各径级平均地上生物量随径级的增加表现出先增加后减小的趋势,且在第Ⅵ径级中的平均地上生物量最大。次生林各径级平均地上生物量随径级的增加而增大。在第Ⅳ ~ Ⅶ径级中,原始林平均地上生物量显著高于次生林,而在第Ⅸ径级中,原始林平均地上生物量小于次生林。结论因此,本研究结果表明干扰、生境异质性、径级大小均会影响太白山锐齿栎林的地上生物量分布。      

大兴安岭火烧迹地植被恢复中植物多样性与生物量分配格局

为了探讨火烧迹地植被恢复中植物多样性和生物量及二者关系,采用时空互代法,以大兴安岭重度火烧迹地不同恢复年限落叶松人工林为研究对象,以天然白桦林作为对照样地,对乔木层、灌木层、草本层和群落物种多样性指数及生物量进行了研究。结果表明:1)植被恢复过程中,草本层丰富度指数(Margalef指数)、Shannon-Wiener指数和均匀度指数(Pielou指数)高于乔木层和灌木层,群落物种多样性呈波动式变化,恢复21年群落Margalef指数和Shannon-Wiener指数最高,恢复13年群落Pielou指数最高。植被恢复过程中群落多样性指数均高于天然白桦林。2)植被恢复过程中群落生物量为10.80~123.96 t/hm2,随恢复年限的增加逐渐增大,恢复21和24年群落生物量高于天然白桦林。草本层生物量占群落生物量比例最低,恢复3年群落枯落物层蓄积量占群落生物量比例最高,其余恢复年限乔木层生物量占群落生物量比例最高。3)乔木层Margalef指数与生物量呈极显著正相关。灌木层Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou指数与生物量呈极显著负相关,Pielou指数与生物量相关系数最高。草本层多样性与生物量相关性不显著。群落Shannon-Wiener指数与地表生物量呈极显著负相关。由此可知,人工更新灌木层和草本层多样性恢复效果优于天然更新,人工更新恢复21和24年的生物量恢复效果优于天然更新,植被恢复过程中植物多样性和生物量存在一定相关性。