Pulsatile microvascular blood flow imaging by short-time Fourier transform analysis of ultrafast laser holographic interferometry

We report on wide-field imaging of pulsatile microvascular blood flow in the exposed cerebral cortex of a mouse by holographic interferometry. We recorded interferograms of laser light backscattered by the tissue, beating against an off-axis reference beam with a 50 kHz framerate camera. Videos of local Doppler contrasts were rendered numerically by Fresnel transformation and short-time Fourier transform analysis. This approach enabled instantaneous imaging of pulsatile blood flow contrasts in superficial blood vessels over 256 x 256 pixels with a spatial resolution of 10 microns and a temporal resolution of 20 ms.Comment: 4 page

Nouvelle approche vers la synthèse de la thapsigargine (guaianolides) par réaction de métathèse ényne cyclisante

La thapsigargine, lactone sesquiterpénique de type guaïanolide d origine naturelle, est un puissant inhibiteur des enzymes ubiquitaires SERCAs (Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPases) et est actuellement en phase clinique pour le traitement du cancer de la prostate non-hormono dépendant. Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons développé une nouvelle approche pour la synthèse de cette molécule, suffisamment flexible pour permettre de préparer des analogues ayant un bon degré de diversité structurale. Cette voie met en jeu une métathèse cyclisante d ényne pour former le squelette bicyclique [5-7] de cette molécule. La préparation du précurseur de métathèse a nécessité le développement de deux voies différentes. La première utilise le ditertbutylacétylène dicarboxylate comme matière de départ et met en jeu un procédé original Michael-Wittig en un pot. Malgré une étude approfondie de cette étape ayant permis d optimiser les conditions opérationnelles avec un rendement de 65%, cette voie s est finalement avérée non applicable pour la synthèse envisagée ceci en raison d un manque de chimiosélectivité au niveau d une étape décisive. Une deuxième voie a donc été développée. Elle utilise la 2-méthylcyclopentane-1,3-dione comme produit de départ et offre le précurseur de métathèse en série racémique en 10 étapes et un rendement de 8%. Les quatre centres stéréogènes C1, C3, C10 et C6 sont mis en place grâce à des réactions diastéréosélectives (d.r >= 80%). La dernière étape de cette voie est une réaction d alkynylation d un aldéhyde conjugué avec piégeage in-situ de l alcool secondaire obtenu. La configuration relative du centre C-6 de ce précurseur de métathèse s est avéré par la suite épimère de celui de la thapsigargine (nOe mesurés après RCEYM). Des essais de métathèse cyclisante ont ensuite été réalisés sur l ényne obtenue dans différentes conditions incluant l utilisation de catalyseurs originaux fournis par le Pr. Marc Mauduit (université de Rennes). Ces réactions se sont montrées concluantes, fournissant le squelette bicyclique [5,7] de la thapsigargine avec de bons rendements (de 61 à 89%).A la suite de cette étape, un ensemble de réactions a été réalisé afin de mettre en place les groupements fonctionnels nécessaires à la transformation de la plateforme bicyclique obtenue en thapsigargine. De nombreuses difficultés ont été rencontrées : les tentatives d épimérisation du centre C-6, d'époxydation de l'adduit de cyclisation ou encore de formation de -lactone se sont révélées infructueuses ou ont conduit à des résultats inattendus. L idée d exploiter la présence du centre stéréogène C-6 de configuration non naturelle pour installer le centre C-8 crucial pour l activité biologique de la thapsigargine, via un réarrangement sigmatropique [1,3] de type suprafacial catalysé à l or (catalyseur de Nolan), a été également testée. De manière inattendue, le produit de réarrangement est obtenu avec inversion faciale, indiquant le passage probable par un cation allylique.Ainsi, au cours de ce travail, deux composés bicycliques [5,7] oxygénées en C8, précurseurs raisonnables de la thapsigargine et analogues, ont été synthétisés par deux voies qui diffèrent au niveau du réarrangement final des produits de cyclisation hydroxylés en C6obtenu après métathèse cyclisante. A partir de de la 2-méthylcyclopentan-1,3-dione commerciale l un est obtenu en 13 étapes avec 3% de rendement et l autre en 12 étapes avec 5% de rendement. L ensemble des essais de réactions effectuées sur les adduits de métathèse permettent de mieux cerner leur réactivité.Thapsigargin, a guaianolide sesquiterpene lactone of natural origin is a potent inhibitor of ubiquitous SERCA enzymes (Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase) and is currently in clinical trial phase 1 for the treatment of non-hormono dependent prostate cancer. In this work a new approach for the synthesis of thapsigargin has been developed, flexible enough to allow the elaboration of analogues with a high degree of structural diversity. The strategy developed involves an enyne metathesis cyclization reaction (RCEYM) to form the bicyclic [5,7] scaffold of these molecules. For the synthesis of the required precursor of RCEYM, two successive routes have been explored. The first one uses tert-butylacetylene dicarboxylate as starting material and involves a one-pot Michael-intramolecular Wittig reaction. Conditions have been found to allow an efficient synthesis of trisubstituted cyclopentenones. Unfortunately this route has proved difficult to use for the programmed synthesis because of the lack of chemoselectivity at a decisive strategic level. A second approach was developed starting from commercial 2-methyl-cyclopentane-1,3-dione, providing the required racemic precursor of the metathesis reaction in 10 steps and 8% yield. The four C1, C3, C6 and C10 stereogenic centers are set up through diastereoselective reactions (dr >= 80%). The final step of the synthesis of this precursor involves an alkynylation reaction of an aldehyde combined with in-situ trapping of the secondary alcohol obtained. The relative configuration of center C6 was shown to be the inverse of that of thapsigargin. Metathesis cyclization assays were then carried out on this intermediate enyne under different conditions, including the use of original catalysts provided by Prof. Marc Mauduit (University of Rennes). These reactions provided the expected [5,7] bicyclic core of thapsigargin with good yields (61 to 89%). In the third part of the thesis, a set of reactions have been attempted to put in place the necessary functional groups for the achievement of the synthesis of thapsigargin. Many difficulties were encountered: attempted epimerization of the C6 center, epoxidation of the RCEYM cyclization adduct or attempts to form a -lactone either were unsuccessful or led to unexpected results. The idea of using the presence of the stereogenic center of unnatural configuration at C6 to install the hydroxyl group at C8, crucial for the biological activity of thapsigargin, via a gold-catalyzed (Nolan catalyst) suprafacial sigmatropic [1,3] rearrangement was experimented. Unexpectedly, the rearranged acetate adduct was obtained with facial inversion, indicating a probable allyl cation intermediate. Thus, in this work, two [5,7] bicyclic oxygenated compounds at C8 have been synthesized from commercial 2-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione through two pathways that differ in the conditions leading to the final rearrangement of the cyclic C6-hydroxylated RCEYM adducts. One of them is obtained in 13 steps with 3% yield and the second in 12 steps with 5% yield. Both compounds appear to be suitable intermediates for the syntesis of thapsigargin and its analogues. All tests performed on the adducts, obtained after RCEYM, helps us to identify their reactivity.PARIS11-SCD-Bib. électronique (914719901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Cholesterol, Bile Acid, And Lipoprotein Metabolism In Two Strains Of Hamster, One Resistant, The Other Sensitive (LPN) To Sucrose-Induced Cholelithiasis

A comprehensive study of cholesterol, bile acid, and lipoprotein metabolism was undertaken in two strains of hamster that differed markedly in their response to a sucrose-rich/low fat diet. Under basal conditions, hamsters from the LPN strain differed from Janvier hamsters by a lower cholesterolemia, a higher postprandial insulinemia, a more active cholesterogenesis in both liver [3- to 4-fold higher 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR) activity and mRNA] and small intestine, and a lower hepatic acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase activity. Cholesterol saturation indices in the gallbladder bile were similar for both strains, but the lipid concentration was 2-fold higher in LPN than in Janvier hamsters. LPN hamsters had a lower capacity to transform cholesterol into bile acids, shown by the smaller fraction of endogenous cholesterol converted into bile acids prior to fecal excretion (0.34 vs. 0.77). In LPN hamsters, the activities of cholesterol 7 -hydroxylase (C7OHase) and sterol 27-hydroxylase (S27OHase), the two rate-limiting enzymes of bile acid synthesis, were disproportionably lower (by 2-fold) to that of HMG-CoAR. When fed a sucrose-rich diet, plasma lipids increased, dietary cholesterol absorption improved, hepatic activities of HMG-CoA reductase, C7Ohase, and S27OHase were reduced, and intestinal S27OHase was inhibited in both strains. Despite a similar increase in the biliary hydrophobicity index due to the bile acid enrichment in chenodeoxycholic acid and derivatives, only LPN hamsters had an increased lithogenic index and developed cholesterol gallstones (75% incidence), whereas Janvier hamsters formed pigment gallstones (79% incidence). These studies indicate that LPN hamsters have a genetic predisposition to sucrose-induced cholesterol gallstone formation related to differences in cholesterol and bile acid metabolism

Tactile Discrimination Using Template Classifiers: Towards a Model of Feature Extraction in Mammalian Vibrissal Systems

Rats and other whiskered mammals are capable of making sophisticated sensory discriminations using tactile signals from their facial whiskers (vibrissae). As part of a programme of work to develop biomimetic technologies for vibrissal sensing, including whiskered robots, we are devising algorithms for the fast extraction of object parameters from whisker deflection data. Previous work has demonstrated that radial distance to contact can be estimated from forces measured at the base of the whisker shaft. We show that in the case of a moving object contacting a whisker, the measured force can be ambiguous in distinguishing a nearby object moving slowly from a more distant object moving rapidly. This ambiguity can be resolved by simultaneously extracting object position and speed from the whisker deflection time series – that is by attending to the dynamics of the whisker’s interaction with the object. We compare a simple classifier with an adaptive EM (Expectation Maximisation) classifier. Both systems are effective at simultaneously extracting the two parameters, the EM-classifier showing similar performance to a handpicked template classifier. We propose that adaptive classification algorithms can provide insights into the types of computations performed in the rat vibrissal system when the animal is faced with a discrimination task

Design a buoy fitted with a low cost salinity sensor

A number of prototypes equipped with different sensors (if more than one exists) will be tested at sea with different methods to avoid bio-fouling. CNRS will conduct evaluation of the test performed by NK

Spatially Structured Sparse Morphological Component Separation for Voltage-Sensitive Dye Optical Imaging

International audienceBackground. Voltage-sensitive dye optical imaging is a promising technique for studying in vivo neural assemblies dynamics where functional clustering can be visualized in the imaging plane. Its practical potential is however limited by many artifacts. New Method. We present a novel method, that we call "SMCS" (Spatially Structured Sparse Morphological Component Separation), to separate the relevant biological signal from noise and artifacts. It extends Generalized Linear Models (GLM) by using a set of convex non-smooth regularization priors adapted to the morphology of the sources and artifacts to capture. Results. We make use of first order proximal splitting algorithms to solve the corresponding large scale optimization problem. We also propose an automatic parameters selection procedure based on statistical risk estimation methods. Comparison with Existing Methods. We compare this method with blank subtraction and GLM methods on both synthetic and real data. It shows encouraging perspectives for the observation of complex cortical dynamics. Conclusions. This work shows how recent advances in source separation can be integrated into a biophysical model of VSDOI. Going beyond GLM methods is important to capture transient cortical events such as propagating waves

Propagated infra-slow intrinsic brain activity reorganizes across wake and slow wave sleep

Propagation of slow intrinsic brain activity has been widely observed in electrophysiogical studies of slow wave sleep (SWS). However, in human resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI), intrinsic activity has been understood predominantly in terms of zero-lag temporal synchrony (functional connectivity) within systems known as resting state networks (RSNs). Prior rs-fMRI studies have found that RSNs are generally preserved across wake and sleep. Here, we use a recently developed analysis technique to study propagation of infra-slow intrinsic blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals in normal adults during wake and SWS. This analysis reveals marked changes in propagation patterns in SWS vs. wake. Broadly, ordered propagation is preserved within traditionally defined RSNs but lost between RSNs. Additionally, propagation between cerebral cortex and subcortical structures reverses directions, and intra-cortical propagation becomes reorganized, especially in visual and sensorimotor cortices. These findings show that propagated rs-fMRI activity informs theoretical accounts of the neural functions of sleep

Antilithiasic Effect Of Beta-Cyclodextrin In LPN Hamster: Comparison With Cholestyramine

Beta-Cyclodextrin (BCD), a cyclic oligosaccharide that binds cholesterol and bile acids in vitro, has been previously shown to be an effective plasma cholesterol lowering agent in hamsters and domestic pigs. This study examined the effects of BCD as compared with cholestyramine on cholesterol and bile acid metabolism in the LPN hamster model model for cholesterol gallstones. The incidence of cholesterol gallstones was 65% in LPN hamsters fed the lithogenic diet, but decreased linearly with increasing amounts of BCD in the diet to be nil at a dose of 10% BCD. In gallbladder bile, cholesterol, phospholipid and chenodeoxycholate concentrations, hydrophobic and lithogenic indices were all significantly decreased by 10% BCD. Increases in bile acid synthesis (+110%), sterol 27-hydroxylase activity (+106%), and biliary cholate secretion (+140%) were also observed, whereas the biliary secretion of chenodeoxycholate decreased (-43%). The fecal output of chenodeoxycholate and cholate (plus derivatives) was increased by +147 and +64%, respectively, suggesting that BCD reduced the chenodeoxycholate intestinal absorption preferentially. Dietary cholestyramine decreased biliary bile acid concentration and secretion, but dramatically increased the fecal excretion of chenodeoxycholate and cholate plus their derivatives (+328 and +1940%, respectively). In contrast to BCD, the resin increased the lithogenic index in bile, induced black gallstones in 34% of hamsters, and stimulated markedly the activities of HMG-CoA reductase (+670%), sterol 27-hydroxylase (+310%), and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (+390%). Thus, beta-cyclodextrin (BCD) prevented cholesterol gallstone formation by decreasing specifically the reabsorption of chenodeoxycholate, stimulating its biosynthesis and favoring its fecal elimination. BCD had a milder effect on lipid metabolism than cholestyramine and does not predispose animals to black gallstones as cholestyramine does in this animal model