Inflammation of peripheral tissues and injury to peripheral nerves induce diferring effects in the expression of the calcium-sensitive anandamide synthesising enzyme and related molecules in rat primary sensory neuron

Elevation of intracellular Ca 2+ concentration induces the synthesis of N0 arachydonoylethanolamine (anandamide) in a sub0popu lation of primary sensory neurons. N0acylphosphatidylethanolamine phospholipa se D (NAPE0PLD) is the only known enzyme, which synthesises anandamide in a Ca 2+ 0dependent manner. NAPE0 PLD mRNA, as well as anandamide's main targets, the excitatory transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 ion channel (TRPV1) and the inhibitory cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor and the main anandamide0hydrolysing enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) are all expressed by sub0populatio ns of nociceptive primary sensory neurons. Thus, NAPE0PLD, TRPV1, the CB1 rec eptor and FAAH could form an autocrine signalling system, which could shape t he activity of a major sub0 population of nociceptive primary sensory neurons, hence contribute to the development of pain. While the expression patterns of TRPV1, the CB1 receptor and FAAH have been comprehensively elucidated, little i s known about NAPE0PLD expression in primary sensory neurons under physiol ogical and pathological conditions. We report that NAPE0PLD is expressed by about a third of primary sensory neurons, the overwhelming majority of which also express nociceptive markers as well as the CB1 receptor, TRPV1 and FAAH . Inflammation of peripheral tissues and injury to peripheral nerves induce diff ering but concerted changes in the expression pattern of NAPE0PLD, the CB1 receptor, T RPV1 and FAAH. Together these data indicate the existence of the anatomical basis for an autocrine signalling system, in a major proportion of nociceptive primar y sensory neurons, and that alterations in that autocrine signalling by periphe ral pathologies could contribute to the development of both inflammatory and neuropathi c pain

Lambda and Antilambda polarization from deep inelastic muon scattering

We report results of the first measurements of Lambda and Antilambda polarization produced in deep inelastic polarized muon scattering on the nucleon. The results are consistent with an expected trend towards positive polarization with increasing x_F. The polarizations of Lambda and Antilambda appear to have opposite signs. A large negative polarization for Lambda at low positive x_F is observed and is not explained by existing models.A possible interpretation is presented.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Shadowing in Inelastic Scattering of Muons on Carbon, Calcium and Lead at Low XBj

Nuclear shadowing is observed in the per-nucleon cross-sections of positive muons on carbon, calcium and lead as compared to deuterium. The data were taken by Fermilab experiment E665 using inelastically scattered muons of mean incident momentum 470 GeV/c. Cross-section ratios are presented in the kinematic region 0.0001 < XBj <0.56 and 0.1 < Q**2 < 80 GeVc. The data are consistent with no significant nu or Q**2 dependence at fixed XBj. As XBj decreases, the size of the shadowing effect, as well as its A dependence, are found to approach the corresponding measurements in photoproduction.Comment: 22 pages, incl. 6 figures, to be published in Z. Phys.

Records of chironomidae larvae living on other aquatic animals in Brazil

In this study, we report forty-nine cases of Chironomidae larvae living on other animals in Brazilian aquatic ecosystems, including a wide range of hosts, such as hydrozoans, snails, insects and fish. We also discuss some empirical difficulties to establish the ecological interactions between chironomids and their hosts