ECL Cell Histamine Mobilization Studied byGastric Submucosal Microdialysis in Awake Rats:Methodological Considerations.

The ECL cells are endocrine/paracrine cells in the acid-producing part of the stomach. They secrete histamine in response to circulating gastrin. Gastric submucosal microdialysis has been used to study ECL-cell histamine mobilization in awake rats. In the present study we assess the usefulness and limitations of the technique. Microdialysis probes were implanted in the gastric submucosa. Histological analysis of the stomach wall around the probe revealed a moderate, local inflammatory reaction 1-2 days after implantation; the inflammation persisted for at least 10 days. Experiments were conducted 3 days after the implantation. The "true" submucosal histamine concentration was determined by perfusing at different rates (the zero flow method) or with different concentrations of histamine at a constant rate (the no-net-flux method): in fasted rats it was calculated to be 87±5 (means±S.E.M.) nmol/l and 76±9 nmol/l, respectively. The corresponding histamine concentrations in fed rats were 93±5 and 102±8 nmol/l, respectively. With a perfusion rate of 74 mul/hr the recovery of submucosal histamine was 49%, at 34 mul/hr the recovery increased to 83%. At a perfusion rate below 20 mul/hr the microdialysate histamine concentration was close to the actual concentration in the submucosa. The ECL-cell histamine mobilization was independent of the concentrations of Ca2+ in the perfusion medium (0-3.4 mmol/l Ca2+). In one experiment, histamine mobilization in response to gastrin (10 nmol/kg/hr subcutaneously) was monitored in rats pretreated with prednisolone (60 mg/kg) or indomethacin (15 mg/kg). The two antiinflammatory agents failed to affect the concentration of histamine in the microdialysate either before or during the gastrin challenge, which was in accord with the observation that the inflammatory reaction was modest and that inflammatory cells were relatively few around the probe and in the wall of the probe. In another experiment, rats were given aminoguanidine (10 mg/kg) or metoprine (10 mg/kg) 4 hr before the start of gastrin infusion (5 nmol/kg/hr intravenously). Metoprine (inhibitor of histamine N-methyl transferase) did not affect the microdialysate histamine concentration, while aminoguanidine (inhibitor of diamine oxidase) raised both basal and gastrin-stimulated histamine concentrations. We conclude that microdialysis can be used to monitor changes in the concentration of histamine in the submucosa of the stomach, and that the inflammatory reaction to the probe is moderate and does not affect the submucosal histamine mobilization

Developmental origins and evolution of jaws: new interpretation of “maxillary” and “mandibular”

AbstractCartilage of the vertebrate jaw is derived from cranial neural crest cells that migrate to the first pharyngeal arch and form a dorsal “maxillary” and a ventral “mandibular” condensation. It has been assumed that the former gives rise to palatoquadrate and the latter to Meckel's (mandibular) cartilage. In anamniotes, these condensations were thought to form the framework for the bones of the adult jaw and, in amniotes, appear to prefigure the maxillary and mandibular facial prominences. Here, we directly test the contributions of these neural crest condensations in axolotl and chick embryos, as representatives of anamniote and amniote vertebrate groups, using molecular and morphological markers in combination with vital dye labeling of late-migrating cranial neural crest cells. Surprisingly, we find that both palatoquadrate and Meckel's cartilage derive solely from the ventral “mandibular” condensation. In contrast, the dorsal “maxillary” condensation contributes to trabecular cartilage of the neurocranium and forms part of the frontonasal process but does not contribute to jaw joints as previously assumed. These studies reveal the morphogenetic processes by which cranial neural crest cells within the first arch build the primordia for jaw cartilages and anterior cranium

Unveiling professional development: A critical review of stage models

In research across professions, the development of professional skill traditionally was seen as a process of accumulation of knowledge and skills, promoted by practical experience. More recently, this view has been modified to incorporate skillful know-how that is progressively acquired by passing through developmental stages, such as novice, competent, and expert. The authors of this article critically review contemporary stage models that are typically applied across professions. Their principal critique is that a focus on stages veils or conceals more fundamental aspects of professional skill development. On the basis of their critique, the authors propose an alternative model that builds on the strengths of previous models while seeking to overcome their main limitations. Finally, the authors outline the implications of their alternative model for professional education, workplace practices, and research on professional development

Development and Evolution of the Muscles of the Pelvic Fin

Locomotor strategies in terrestrial tetrapods have evolved from the utilisation of sinusoidal contractions of axial musculature, evident in ancestral fish species, to the reliance on powerful and complex limb muscles to provide propulsive force. Within tetrapods, a hindlimb-dominant locomotor strategy predominates, and its evolution is considered critical for the evident success of the tetrapod transition onto land. Here, we determine the developmental mechanisms of pelvic fin muscle formation in living fish species at critical points within the vertebrate phylogeny and reveal a stepwise modification from a primitive to a more derived mode of pelvic fin muscle formation. A distinct process generates pelvic fin muscle in bony fishes that incorporates both primitive and derived characteristics of vertebrate appendicular muscle formation. We propose that the adoption of the fully derived mode of hindlimb muscle formation from this bimodal character state is an evolutionary innovation that was critical to the success of the tetrapod transition

A Comparative Study of Head Development in Mexican Axolotl and Australian Lungfish: Cell Migration, Cell Fate and Morphogenesis

The development of the vertebrate head is a complex process involving interactions between a multitude of cell types and tissues. This thesis describes the development of the cranial neural crest and of the visceral arch muscles in the head of two species. One, the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), is a basal tetrapod, whereas the other, the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), belongs to the Dipnoi, the extant sister group of the Tetrapoda. The migration of neural crest cells, which form most of the bones and connective tissues in the head, and the morphogenesis of the jaw, was determined in the Mexican axolotl. It was shown that both the upper and lower jaws form from ventral condensations of neural crest cells in the mandibular arch. The dorsal condensation, earlier considered to give rise to the upper jaw, was shown to form the trabecula cranii. The normal spatio-temporal development of visceral arch muscles was investigated in both the Mexican axolotl and the Australian lungfish. In axolotl, the muscles tended to start forming almost simultaneously in all visceral arches at their future origins and extend towards their future insertions at the onset of muscle fibre formation. In lungfish, fibres formed simultaneously throughout most of each muscle anlage in the first and second visceral arch, but were delayed in the branchial arches. The anlagen were first observed at their future insertion, from which they developed towards future origins. To test the ability of neural crest cells to pattern the visceral arch muscles, migrating crest cells were extirpated from axolotl embryos, which resulted in a wide range of muscle malformations. In most cases, the muscles appeared in the right position but were small and extended in abnormal directions. This shows that neural crest cells are responsible not for the position of the muscles but for their correct anatomical pattern. Fate mapping showed that connective tissue surrounding myofibers is, at least partly, neural crest derived. In conclusion, the work presented in this thesis shows that although early development may map out the patterns of later development, the differences between axolotl and lungfish head development are not seen until during morphogenesis. Further investigation of morphogenesis is needed to explain the great variation of head morphology seen in vertebrates today

Den lokala arbetsplanen : En jämförelse mellan förskolor i staden och på landet

Att varje förskola ska erbjuda en likvärdig verksamhet var den än anordnas i landet, är ett av de kraven från Skollagen. Vi undrar om skillnaden mellan stadsförskolors verksamhet och landsortsförskolors verksamhet är synlig genom deras arbetsplan. Påverkas förskolans verksamhet och förskollärarnas arbetssätt av det geografiska läget? Genom att göra intervjuer med förskollärarna kan vi se om deras metoder går hand i hand med deras lokala arbetsplaner. Med en sammanställning av de aktuella förskolornas arbetsplaner har vi gjort likheter och skillnader mellan stadsförskolor och landsortsförskolor synliga. Undersökningens resulterade inte som vi förväntat oss. Skillnaden mellan stadsförskolors och landsortsförskolors arbetsplaner visade sig vara obetydlig. Resultatet har gett oss ett nytt perspektiv på förskolornas arbete med arbetsplanen och förskollärarnas tankar kring arbetet med den lokala arbetsplanen

Early head development in the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri

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The fate of cranial neural crest cells in the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri

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Gastrin response to candidate messengers in intact conscious rats monitored by antrum microdialysis.

We monitored gastrin release in response to locally applied candidate messengers in intact conscious rats. Earlier studies have been performed on anaesthetized animals, isolated pieces of antrum, or purified preparations of gastrin cells. In this study we created an experimental situation to resemble physiological conditions, using reverse microdialysis to administer regulatory peptides and amines that might affect gastrin secretion. Microdialysis probes were implanted in the submucosa of the antrum of the rat stomach. Three days later, putative messenger compounds were administered via the probe. Their effects on basal (24h fast) and omeprazole-stimulated (400mumol/kg/day, 4days peroral administration) gastrin release were monitored by continuous measurement (3h) of gastrin in the perfusate (radioimmunoassay). Fasted rats (low microdialysate gastrin, 2.1+/-0.1pmoll(-1)) were used to study stimulation of gastrin release. Omeprazole-treated rats (high microdialysate gastrin, 95.8+/-6.7pmoll(-1)) were used to study suppression of gastrin release. The following agents raised the concentration of microdialysate gastrin (peak response): gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) (11-fold increase at a near-maximal dose), carbachol (5-fold increase), serotonin (2-fold increase) and isoprenaline (20-fold increase). Adrenaline and noradrenaline induced transient but powerful elevation (40- and 20-fold increase). Somatostatin, galanin and bradykinin (at near-maximal doses) suppressed omeprazole-stimulated gastrin release (50% decrease). Calcitonin gene-related peptide, ghrelin, gastric inhibitory peptide, motilin, neurotensin, neuromedin U-25, peptide YY and vasoactive intestinal peptide were without effect on gastrin release, as were aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, glycine, dopamine and histamine. The results support the view that G cells operate under neurocrine/paracrine control. They were stimulated by agents present in enteric neurons (GRP, galanin, choline ester and catechol amines) and in gastric endocrine cells (serotonin). They were inhibited by somatostatin (D cell peptide), galanin (neuropeptide) and by the inflammatory agent bradykinin

The apical ectodermal ridge in the pectoral fin of the Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri): keeping the fin to limb transition in the fold

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) in Neoceratodus develops after an initial period of mesenchymal proliferation and outgrowth of the fin bud and persists until chondrogenesis of the stylopod and zeugopod is initiated. At this time, the lateral margins of the AER convert to the fin fold leading to subsequent development of the dermal fin skeleton. Thorogood's (1991) fin fold model predicts that the AER should persist longer in Neoceratodus than it does in actinopterygians because of the comparatively extensive endochondral skeleton in lungfish. While the AER does persist into early chondrogenesis and is extended compared to actinopterygians (lost before fin radial chondrogenesis) it does not persist into further stages of chondrogenesis, providing partial support for Thorogood's model. Fgf8 appears in the lungfish fin epithelium during the initial period of fin outgrowth before a physical AER forms, when Fgf8 is restricted to the AER plus the preaxial and postaxial epithelium immediately adjacent to the AER. Fgf8 is no longer detected after the AER is replaced by a fin fold. Neoceratodus appears to provide a halfway point between ray fins and limbs during very early development as Thorogood proposed, but not precisely for the reasons his model suggests.11 page(s