Synaptic transmission parallels neuromodulation in a central food-intake circuit

NeuromedinU is a potent regulator of food intake and activity in mammals. In Drosophila, neurons producing the homologous neuropeptide hugin regulate feeding and locomotion in a similar manner. Here, we use EM-based reconstruction to generate the entire connectome of hugin-producing neurons in the Drosophila larval CNS. We demonstrate that hugin neurons use synaptic transmission in addition to peptidergic neuromodulation and identify acetylcholine as a key transmitter. Hugin neuropeptide and acetylcholine are both necessary for the regulatory effect on feeding. We further show that subtypes of hugin neurons connect chemosensory to endocrine system by combinations of synaptic and peptide-receptor connections. Targets include endocrine neurons producing DH44, a CRH-like peptide, and insulin-like peptides. Homologs of these peptides are likewise downstream of neuromedinU, revealing striking parallels in flies and mammals. We propose that hugin neurons are part of an ancient physiological control system that has been conserved at functional and molecular level.SFB 645 and 704, DFG Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation, DFG grant PA 787, HHMI Janeli

Coe Genes Are Expressed in Differentiating Neurons in the Central Nervous System of Protostomes

Genes of the coe (collier/olfactory/early B-cell factor) family encode Helix-Loop-Helix transcription factors that are widely conserved in metazoans and involved in many developmental processes, neurogenesis in particular. Whereas their functions during vertebrate neural tube formation have been well documented, very little is known about their expression and role during central nervous system (CNS) development in protostomes. Here we characterized the CNS expression of coe genes in the insect Drosophila melanogaster and the polychaete annelid Platynereis dumerilii, which belong to different subgroups of protostomes and show strikingly different modes of development. In the Drosophila ventral nerve cord, we found that the Collier-expressing cells form a subpopulation of interneurons with diverse molecular identities and neurotransmitter phenotypes. We also demonstrate that collier is required for the proper differentiation of some interneurons belonging to the Eve-Lateral cluster. In Platynereis dumerilii, we cloned a single coe gene, Pdu-coe, and found that it is exclusively expressed in post mitotic neural cells. Using an original technique of in silico 3D registration, we show that Pdu-coe is co-expressed with many different neuronal markers and therefore that, like in Drosophila, its expression defines a heterogeneous population of neurons with diverse molecular identities. Our detailed characterization and comparison of coe gene expression in the CNS of two distantly-related protostomes suggest conserved roles of coe genes in neuronal differentiation in this clade. As similar roles have also been observed in vertebrates, this function was probably already established in the last common ancestor of all bilaterians

HUMAN REPRODUCTION

BACKGROUND: The expression of integrin molecules on the endometrium suggests that certain integrins may participate in the cascade of molecular events leading to successful implantation. A prospective, controlled study was carried out to investigate the effect of clomiphene citrate (CC) on secretions of beta (1), alpha (3) and alpha (V) integrin molecules in the endometrium of patients with unexplained infertility during the implantation window. METHODS: A total of 40 endometrial samples was evaluated in both spontaneous (n = 13) and ensuing clomiphene-treated cycles (100 mg on days 5-9) and also from fertile women serving as controls (n = 14) during postovulatory 7th or 8th day of menstrual cycle. A semiquantitative grading system (H-score) was used to compare the inmumohistochemical staining intensities. Endometrial thickness and serum oestradiol and progesterone concentrations were also measured on the day of sampling. RESULTS: Staining of alpha (v) but not beta (1) and alpha (3) integrins was significantly less intense in infertile cases than fertile control cases (1.42 +/- 0.12 versus 2.21 +/- 0.13 respectively, P = 0.012) and this was not restored to normal concentrations with treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that cc treatment significantly decreased the endometrial thickness and increased oestradiol and progesterone concentrations. However, secretion of alpha (v,) beta (1) and alpha (3) integrin molecules, which might play a role in implantation, was not affected

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Objective: To assess the effect of hormone replacement therapy on neural transmission in postmenopausal women using tibolone by a non-invasive, objective way. Study design: In a randomised, 3 cycle, placebo-controlled study, neurovisual transmission in optic pathways were evaluated by measuring visual evoked potentials (VEP). After neuroophtalmologic examination, eligible subjects were randomised into two groups. Treatment group (n = 38) were given tibolone 2.5 mg daily continuously for 3 months and control group (n = 20) were treated with placebo. A baseline VEP measurement before the treatment and then at the end of first, second and third month were obtained by the EMG-evoked system in the Department of Neurology, University of Celal Bayar, Manisa, Turkey. Results: Data from 31 women from treatment group and 16 from control group were available for evaluation. The mean P(100) latency values, which indicate the transition time period between the optic stimuli and electrical change recorded on the occipital area by the skin electrodes, have showed a significant decrease for the study group (from 100.39 +/- 0.58 to 97.90 +/- 0.65 ms, P < 0.01) at the end of the first month of treatment according to the baseline values. This difference between two groups has remained constant during the study period. Conclusion: The change in latency measurements of VEP, reflecting the functional status in optic pathways from retina to occipital cortex were significantly different in the treatment group than in that of control. We concluded that a facilitating effect of tibolone was observed on neurovisual transmission. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Ovarian pregnancy; Relationship to an intrauterine device

Ovarian pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy in which the gestational sac is implanted within the ovary. The incidence is 0.5 to 3% of all ectopic gestations (1). In contrast to patients with tubal pregnancies, traditional risk factors, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and prior surgical procedure upon the pelvis, may not play a role in the aetiology. In the 2 cases reported hen, it seems that using an intrauterine contraceptive device was an important factor

Umbilical coiling index: Is it a marker for the foetus at risk?

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between-the number of coils in the umbilical cord and perinatal outcome. The umbilical cords and delivery records of 147 liveborn neonates were prospectively studied. The umbilical coiling index (UCI) of each cord was calculated by dividing the total number of complete umbilical vascular coils by the umbilical cord length, Subjects with UCIs below the 10th percentile, above the 90th percentile, and between the 10th and 90th percentiles were defined as hypocoiled, hypercoiled, and normocoiled, respectively. Several different parameters were used to measure neonatal outcome. The mean UGI was 0.20+/-10 (SD). No relationship was noted between UCI and maternal age, gravidity, parity, oligohydramnios, or birth weight, When we compared the hypocoiled group (n=30) with the normocoiled group (n=87), we detected a statistically significantly higher incidence of meconium staining, interventional delivery, apgar scores, fetal blood pH and intrapartum fetal heart rate disturbances, As a result, we concluded that the UCI has a strong relationship with perinatal outcome and may be used antenatally as a marker for identifying the fetus at risk

A case of acanthosis nigricans as a paraneoplastic syndrome with squamous cell lung cancer

Yusuf Karakas,1 Ece Esin,1 Sahin Lacin,1 Koray Ceyhan,2 Aylin Okcu Heper,2 Suayib Yalcin1 1Medical Oncology Department, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, 2Department of Medical Pathology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey Abstract: A 55-year-old man presented with oral mucosal ulcers, blackening of both hands, and hyperpigmentation on axillary, anal, and inguinal regions for the last 3&nbsp;months, which were all progressive. The patient was referred to the oncology department with the diagnosis of acanthosis nigricans for investigation of an underlying malignancy. He was a smoker. A computed tomography scan of thorax revealed enlarged mediastinal lymphadenopathies and a lesion on the left upper lobe. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the mediastinal lesion was consistent with squamous cell carcinoma, and biopsies of the skin and oral mucosal lesion also further confirmed the diagnosis of acanthosis nigricans. After docetaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy, a significant improvement in his skin and mucosal lesions was observed with almost complete resolution of the pulmonary lesion and the mediastinal lymph nodes. Keywords: acanthosis nigricans, squamous cell lung cancer, paraneoplastic syndrom