209 research outputs found
Dynamical Casimir effect for a massless scalar field between two concentric spherical shells
In this work we consider the dynamical Casimir effect for a massless scalar
field -- under Dirichlet boundary conditions -- between two concentric
spherical shells. We obtain a general expression for the average number of
particle creation, for an arbitrary law of radial motion of the spherical
shells, using two distinct methods: by computing the density operator of the
system and by calculating the Bogoliubov coefficients. We apply our general
expression to breathing modes: when only one of the shells oscillates and when
both shells oscillate in or out of phase. We also analyze the number of
particle production and compare it with the results for the case of plane
geometry.Comment: Final version. To apear in Physical Review
Conditional corticotropin-releasing hormone overexpression in the mouse forebrain enhances rapid eye movement sleep
Impaired sleep and enhanced stress hormone secretion are the hallmarks of stress-related disorders, including major depression. The central neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), is a key hormone that regulates humoral and behavioral adaptation to stress. Its prolonged hypersecretion is believed to play a key role in the development and course of depressive symptoms, and is associated with sleep impairment. To investigate the specific effects of central CRH overexpression on sleep, we used conditional mouse mutants that overexpress CRH in the entire central nervous system (CRH-COE-Nes) or only in the forebrain, including limbic structures (CRH-COE-Cam). Compared with wild-type or control mice during baseline, both homozygous CRH-COE-Nes and -Cam mice showed constantly increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, whereas slightly suppressed non-REM sleep was detected only in CRH-COE-Nes mice during the light period. In response to 6-h sleep deprivation, elevated levels of REM sleep also became evident in heterozygous CRH-COE-Nes and -Cam mice during recovery, which was reversed by treatment with a CRH receptor type 1 (CRHR1) antagonist in heterozygous and homozygous CRH-COE-Nes mice. The peripheral stress hormone levels were not elevated at baseline, and even after sleep deprivation they were indistinguishable across genotypes. As the stress axis was not altered, sleep changes, in particular enhanced REM sleep, occurring in these models are most likely induced by the forebrain CRH through the activation of CRHR1. CRH hypersecretion in the forebrain seems to drive REM sleep, supporting the notion that enhanced REM sleep may serve as biomarker for clinical conditions associated with enhanced CRH secretion
Comprometimento de estruturas encefálicas não hipotalâmicas na moléstia de Hand-Schüller-Christian: relato de caso e revisão da literatura
In Vivo d-Serine Hetero-Exchange through Alanine-Serine-Cysteine (ASC) Transporters Detected by Microelectrode Biosensors.
d-Serine, a co-agonist of N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, has been implicated in neurological and psychiatric disorders such as cerebral ischemia, lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, or schizophrenia. d-Serine signaling represents an important pharmacological target for treating these diseases; however, the biochemical mechanisms controlling extracellular d-serine levels in vivo are still unclear. d-Serine heteroexchange through small neutral amino acid transporters has been shown in cell cultures and brain slices and could provide a biochemical mechanism for the control of d-serine extracellular concentration in vivo. Alternatively, exocytotic d-serine release has also been proposed. In this study, the dynamics of d-serine release and clearance were explored in vivo on a second-by-second time scale using microelectrode biosensors. The rate of d-serine clearance in the rat frontal cortex after a microionophoretic injection revealed a transporter-mediated uptake mechanism. d-Serine uptake was blocked by small neutral l-amino acids, implicating alanine-serine-cysteine (ASC) transporters, in particular high affinity Asc-1 and low affinity ASCT2 transporters. Interestingly, changes in alanine, serine, or threonine levels resulted in d-serine release through ASC transporters. Asc-1, but not ASCT2, appeared to release d-serine in response to changes in amino acid concentrations. Finally, neuronal silencing by tetrodotoxin increased d-serine extracellular concentration by an ASC-transporter-dependent mechanism. Together, these results indicate that d-serine heteroexchange through ASC transporters is present in vivo and may constitute a key component in the regulation of d-serine extracellular concentration
Exploration électrocorticographique et microvasculaire des courants corticaux lents de dépolarisation après un traumatisme crânien sévère chez le rat
International audienc
Spinal Nerve Root Origin of the Median, Ulnar and Musculocutaneous Nerves and their Muscle Nerve Branches to the Canine Forelimb
Spinal Root Origin of the Radial Nerve and Nerves Innervating Shoulder Muscles of the Dog
Covalent enzyme immobilization by poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) for microelectrode biosensor preparation.
Poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) is widely used as an additive for cross-linking polymers bearing amine, hydroxyl, or carboxyl groups. However, the idea of using PEGDE alone for immobilizing proteins on biosensors has never been thoroughly explored. We report the successful fabrication of microelectrode biosensors based on glucose oxidase, d-amino acid oxidase, and glutamate oxidase immobilized using PEGDE. We found that biosensors made with PEGDE exhibited high sensitivity and a response time on the order of seconds, which is sufficient for observing biological processes in vivo. The enzymatic activity on these biosensors was highly stable over several months when they were stored at 4 \ub0C, and over at least 3d at 37 \ub0C. Glucose microelectrode biosensors implanted in the central nervous system of anesthetized rats reliably monitored changes in brain glucose levels induced by sequential administration of insulin and glucose. PEGDE provides a simple, low cost, non-toxic alternative for the preparation of in vivo microelectrode biosensors
D-serine diffusion through the blood-brain barrier: Effect on D-serine compartmentalization and storage
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