Prokineticin 2 Regulates the Electrical Activity of Rat Suprachiasmatic Nuclei Neurons

Neuropeptide signaling plays roles in coordinating cellular activities and maintaining robust oscillations within the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Prokineticin2 (PK2) is a signaling molecule from the SCN and involves in the generation of circadian locomotor activity. Prokineticin receptor 2 (PKR2), a receptor for PK2, has been shown to be expressed in the SCN. However, very little is known about the cellular action of PK2 within the SCN. In the present study, we investigated the effect of PK2 on spontaneous firing and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) using whole cell patch-clamp recording in the SCN slices. PK2 dose-dependently increased spontaneous firing rates in most neurons from the dorsal SCN. PK2 acted postsynaptically to reduce γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic function within the SCN, and PK2 reduced the amplitude but not frequency of mIPSCs. Furthermore, PK2 also suppressed exogenous GABA-induced currents. And the inhibitory effect of PK2 required PKC activation in the postsynaptic cells. Our data suggest that PK2 could alter cellular activities within the SCN and may influence behavioral and physiological rhythms

The corticotropin releasing factor stimulation test in patients with major depression: Relationship to dexamethasone suppression test results

Depressed patients have been reported to exhibit both a blunted ACTH response to corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) and abnormal suppression of plasma cortisol following the administration of dexamethasone. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between these two abnormalities. Twenty‐three depressed patients and eighteen control subjects received both a standard CRF stimulation test and the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). Nonsuppressors on the DST exhibited a blunted ACTH response to CRF; DST suppressors exhibited a normal ACTH response to CRF. This suggests that the two abnormalities of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis are related and may be due to similar pathopbysiological mechanisms. Depression 1:133–136 (1993). © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Unemployment and Inflation Consequences of Unexpected Election Results

The empirical evidence toward rational partisan theory of business cycles is mixed and thus inconclusive. This is due to the enormous heterogeneity of the existing empirical studies. Only a few of these test explicitly for the central theoretical innovation that post-electoral blips in economic activity depend on the degree of the electoral surprise. Using polling data we present empirical evidence in favor of rational partisan theory for a panel of OECD countries. Copyright 2007 The Ohio State University.