Cyclic-AMP regulates postnatal development of neural and behavioral responses to NaCl in rats

During postnatal development rats demonstrate an age-dependent increase in NaCl chorda tympani (CT) responses and the number of functional apical amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+channels (ENaCs) in salt sensing fungiform (FF) taste receptor cells (TRCs). Currently, the intracellular signals that regulate the postnatal development of salt taste have not been identified. We investigated the effect of cAMP, a downstream signal for arginine vasopressin (AVP) action, on the postnatal development of NaCl responses in 19–23 day old rats. ENaC-dependent NaCl CT responses were monitored after lingual application of 8-chlorophenylthio-cAMP (8-CPT-cAMP) under open-circuit conditions and under ±60 mV lingual voltage clamp. Behavioral responses were tested using 2 bottle/24h NaCl preference tests. The effect of [deamino-Cys1, D-Arg8]-vasopressin (dDAVP, a specific V2R agonist) was investigated on ENaC subunit trafficking in rat FF TRCs and on cAMP generation in cultured adult human FF taste cells (HBO cells). Our results show that in 19–23 day old rats, the ENaC-dependent maximum NaCl CT response was a saturating sigmoidal function of 8-CPT-cAMP concentration. 8-CPT-cAMP increased the voltage-sensitivity of the NaCl CT response and the apical Na+ response conductance. Intravenous injections of dDAVP increased ENaC expression and γ-ENaC trafficking from cytosolic compartment to the apical compartment in rat FF TRCs. In HBO cells dDAVP increased intracellular cAMP and cAMP increased trafficking of γ- and δ-ENaC from cytosolic compartment to the apical compartment 10 min post-cAMP treatment. Control 19–23 day old rats were indifferent to NaCl, but showed clear preference for appetitive NaCl concentrations after 8-CPT-cAMP treatment. Relative to adult rats, 14 day old rats demonstrated significantly less V2R antibody binding in circumvallate TRCs. We conclude that an age-dependent increase in V2R expression produces an AVP-induced incremental increase in cAMP that modulates the postnatal increase in TRC ENaC and the neural and behavioral responses to NaCl

Comparing Acute and Chronic Effects of 1-(3-Chlorophenyl) Piperazine and Mianserin Injection on Yawning and Penile Erection in Rats

Aims: Yawning is a phylogenetic and contagious behavior that occurs with the stretching or penile erection in mammals, birds, and reptiles under different conditions. This study aimed at determining the acute and chronic effects of the injection of 1-(3-chlorophenyl) Piperazine and Mianserin on yawning and penile erection of adult male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats (250-300g) were randomly divided to 3 groups (n=10), including the control group that received saline subcutaneous injection, the group that received 0.5mg/kg 1-(3-chlorophenyl) Piperazine subcutaneous injection, and the group that received 0.2mg/kg Mianserin subcutaneous injection. After the subcutaneous injections in acute phase (day1) and chronic phase (day14), the number of yawning and penile erection was observed for 60 minutes and it was recorded. The data were analyzed by SPSS 13 software using one-way analysis of variance, Tukey post-hoc, and paired t-test. Findings: Compared with the control group, Mianserin group showed a significant increase in the number of yawning (p<0.01) and penile erection (p<0.05) in the acute phase. Compared with the acute phase, the chronic group of Mianserin showed a significant decrease in the number of yawning (p<0.01) and penile erection (p<0.05). Compared with the acute group, 1-(3-Chlorophenyl) Piperazine showed a significant increase in the number of yawning (p<0.05) only in the chronic phase. Conclusion: The acute injection of Mianserin increases the number of yawning and penile erection of adult male rats and its chronic injection decreases them. 1-(3-Chlorophenyl) Piperazine increases the number of yawning only in the chronic phase

Metabolic and evolutionary insights into the closely-related species Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces lividans deduced from high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization

Whilst being closely related to the model actinomycete Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), S. lividans 66 differs from it in several significant and phenotypically observable ways, including antibiotic production. Previous comparative gene hybridization studies investigating such differences have used low-density (one probe per gene) PCR-based spotted arrays. Here we use new experimentally optimised 104,000 × 60-mer probe arrays to characterize in detail the genomic differences between wild-type S. lividans 66, a derivative industrial strain, TK24, and S. coelicolor M145

Genome-wide inference of regulatory networks in Streptomyces coelicolor

Background: The onset of antibiotics production in Streptomyces species is co-ordinated with differentiation events. An understanding of the genetic circuits that regulate these coupled biological phenomena is essential to discover and engineer the pharmacologically important natural products made by these species. The availability of genomic tools and access to a large warehouse of transcriptome data for the model organism, Streptomyces coelicolor, provides incentive to decipher the intricacies of the regulatory cascades and develop biologically meaningful hypotheses. Results: In this study, more than 500 samples of genome-wide temporal transcriptome data, comprising wild-type and more than 25 regulatory gene mutants of Streptomyces coelicolor probed across multiple stress and medium conditions, were investigated. Information based on transcript and functional similarity was used to update a previously-predicted whole-genome operon map and further applied to predict transcriptional networks constituting modules enriched in diverse functions such as secondary metabolism, and sigma factor. The predicted network displays a scale-free architecture with a small-world property observed in many biological networks. The networks were further investigated to identify functionally-relevant modules that exhibit functional coherence and a consensus motif in the promoter elements indicative of DNA-binding elements. Conclusions: Despite the enormous experimental as well as computational challenges, a systems approach for integrating diverse genome-scale datasets to elucidate complex regulatory networks is beginning to emerge. We present an integrated analysis of transcriptome data and genomic features to refine a whole-genome operon map and to construct regulatory networks at the cistron level in Streptomyces coelicolor. The functionally-relevant modules identified in this study pose as potential targets for further studies and verification.

Effect of palmatine hydrochloride on testicular damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus mediated by oxidative stress, creates serious metabolic disorders in testis. Palmatine hydrochloride has various pharmacological effects, including anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities. Objective: This study has been conducted to evaluate the preventative effects of palmatine hydrochloride medicine on testicular damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Thirty two male Wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into four groups: control, non-diabetic treated with palmatine hydrochloride, diabetic and diabetic treated with palmatine hydrochloride. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p.) in animals, and after one week, palmatine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg, s.c) was administered for six weeks in rats. Testicular damage was examined by using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Blood biochemical factors were measured. Findings: The results of this study indicate that diabetes reduced the spermatogonia and Sertoli cells, spermatogenesis, sperm count, and sperm function (P<0.001). These effects were improved in the specimens that have been treated with palmatine, the increase in the number and motility of sperm cells and spermatogonic cells, and an increase in the testosterone levels were also observed. In addition, the seminiferous tubule diameter was increased, and basement membrane thickness decreased (P<0.001). Conclusion: It seems that palmatine with the ability to reduce blood sugar, could improve diabetes induced-testicular damage. Keywords: Diabetes, Palmatine, Spermatogenesis, Sertoli cells, Testicular damag

Effect of combination of topical ointment of aqueous extract of grape seed (Vitis Vinifera) and Eucerin on wound healing in diabetic rats

Background and Objective: Diabetic mellitus is one of the main health problems of diabetic subjects skin wound. This study was done to evaluate the effect of topical ointment produced from aqueous extract of grape seed (Vitis Vinifera) plus Eucerin on wound healing in diabetic rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 48 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into control, first, second and third experimental groups. Animals in control group were received only buffer citrate, interaperitonally. Diabetes was induced by 55 mg/kg/bw of Streptozotocin in three experimental groups. Skin wound (2´3 cm2) was created in left side of the lumbar region in three experimental groups. Animals in experimental gourp 1 did not received any treatment. The wounds of animals in experimental group 2 were treated with topical ointment of Eucerin twice a day. The wounds of animals in experimental group 3 were treated with topical ointment of aqueous extract of grape seed plus Eucerin with a ratio of 3:1 for 21 days twice a day. Wound healing process was evaluated using macroscopic and histological method. Results: The mean area and percentage of wound after treatment was significantly reduced in experimental group 2 and 3 in compare to experimental group 1 (P<0.05). The percentage of improvement wound healing was significantly increased in experimental groups 2 and 3 in compare to experimental group 1 (P<0.05). Synthesis of collagen fibers was increased in experimental group 3 in compare to experimental group 2 and 1. Conclusion: Topical application of aqueous extract of grape seed with ointment of Eucerin accelerates skin wound healing in diabetic rats

Retracted: Research self-efficacy of students in Jahrom University of medical sciences: a cross-sectional descriptive study in 2017

This article was withdrawn and retracted by the Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences and has been removed from AJOL at the request of the journal Editor in Chief and the organisers of the conference at which the articles were presented (www.iccmit.net). Please address any queries to [email protected]

Philosophical Foundations of Intuitionistic Logic

Intuitionistic logic, as a non-classical logic, encompasses the principles of logical reasoning which were used by L. E. J. Brouwer in developing his intuitionistic mathematics. Brouwer rejected the principle of the excluded middle on the basis of his philosophy. In his philosophical view, logic is the application of mathematics to the language of mathematics. In other words, logic studies the patterns that characterize valid inference. The resulting linguistic system of logic may be studied mathematically, even independently of the mathematical activities that it was originally abstracted from. In this paper, the philosophical basis of Brouwer’s view about Logic and Mathematics is explained

The dynamic of discriminatory reform: how does discretionary pricing neutralize the productivity gains of energy subsidy reform in Iran?

ABSTRACTA distortion caused by previous policies could distort the results of reforms. This may explain why policies to reduce industrial fuel subsidies have not necessarily resulted in increases in aggregate productivity in countries with mandated pricing. To identify and measure these distortions’ effects, we estimate a structural dynamic firm model with endogenous technology adaptation using data from the manufacturing firms in Iran. By connecting two price distortions and their results on the real sector, results suggest significant room for a distributional policy. We estimated dispersion elasticity comparable to the price elasticity of energy consumption in the manufacturing sector. Results suggest that the intensive margin is the primary driver of energy price elasticity, whereas the other channels mostly offset it. Moreover, total factor productivity slightly improves in light of a reduction in energy consumption if, at the same time, the redistribution policy boosts the aggregate demands