Chemical and Cold Sensitivity of Two Distinct Populations of TRPM8-Expressing Somatosensory Neurons

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 1221-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Xing ◽  
Jennifer Ling ◽  
Meng Chen ◽  
Jianguo G. Gu

The cold- and menthol-sensing TRPM8 receptor has been proposed to have both nonnociceptive and nociceptive functions. However, one puzzle is how this single type of receptor may be used by somatosensory neurons to code for two distinct sensory modalities. Using acutely dissociated rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons without culture, we show that TRPM8 receptors are expressed on two distinct classes of somatosensory neurons. One class is sensitive to menthol and features nonnociceptive neuron properties, including capsaicin-insensitive, ATP-insensitive, transient acid response, and expression of TTX-sensitive sodium channels only. This class is termed the menthol-sensitive/capsaicin-insensitive neuron class (MS/CIS). The other class is also sensitive to menthol but has characteristics of nociceptive neurons including capsaicin-sensitive, ATP-sensitive, prolonged acid response, and expression of both TTX-sensitive and TTX-resistant sodium channels. This class is termed the menthol-sensitive/capsaicin-sensitive neuron class (MS/CS). The presence of these two neuron classes in acutely dissociated DRG neurons support the idea that TRPM8 receptors can have both nonnociceptive and nociceptive functions. While both neuron classes respond to menthol and cold, the overall responses induced by menthol and cold are significantly larger in MS/CIS than in MS/CS neurons. Furthermore, low concentrations of menthol produce strong selection of the MS/CIS neuron population over the MS/CS neuron population. On the other hand, the population selection becomes weaker with higher concentrations of menthol. TRPM8 current density shows significant higher in MS/CIS neurons than in MS/CS neurons, suggesting different expression levels of TRPM8 receptors between the two neuron populations, and this difference may provide a mean of selective activation of MS/CIS neurons at low stimulation intensity.

2009 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Matthew Hoffman ◽  
Ruben Schechter ◽  
Kenneth E. Miller

Most, if not all, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons use the neurotransmitter glutamate. There are, however, conflicting reports of the percentages of DRG neurons that express glutaminase (GLS), the enzyme that synthesizes glutamate, ranging from 30% to 100% of DRG neurons. Defining DRG neuron populations by the expression of proteins like GLS, which indicates function, is routinely accomplished with immunolabeling techniques. Proper characterization of DRG neuron populations relies on accurate detection of such antigens. It is known intuitively that fixation can alter immunoreactivity (IR). In this study, we compared the effects of five formaldehyde concentrations between 0.25% and 4.0% (w/v) and five picric acid concentrations between 0.0% and 0.8% (w/v) on the IR of GLS, the voltage-gated sodium channel 1.8 (Nav 1.8), and the capsaicin receptor TRPV1. We also compared the effects of five incubation time lengths from 2 to 192 hr, in primary anti-serum on IR. Lowering formaldehyde concentration elevated IR for all three antigens, while raising picric acid concentration increased Nav 1.8 and TRPV1 IR. Increasing IR improved detection sensitivity, which led to higher percentages of labeled DRG neurons. By selecting fixation conditions that optimized IR, we found that all DRG neurons express GLS, 69% of neurons express Nav 1.8, and 77% of neurons express TRPV1, indicating that some previous studies may have underestimated the percentages of DRG neurons expressing these proteins. This manuscript contains online supplemental material at http://www.jhc.org . Please visit this article online to view these materials.


Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devesh Kumar ◽  
Michael Candlish ◽  
Vinod Periasamy ◽  
Nergiz Avcu ◽  
Christian Mayer ◽  
...  

Abstract The neuropeptide kisspeptin is a potent stimulator of GnRH neurons and has been implicated as a major regulator of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. There are mainly two anatomically segregated populations of neurons that express kisspeptin in the female hypothalamus: one in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and the other in the arcuate nucleus (ARC). Distinct roles have been proposed for AVPV and ARC kisspeptin neurons during reproductive maturation and in mediating estrogen feedback on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis in adults. Despite their pivotal role in the regulation of reproductive physiology, little is known about kisspeptin neuron connectivity. Although previous data suggest heterogeneity within the AVPV and ARC kisspeptin neuron populations, how many and which of these potential kisspeptin neuron subpopulations are actually communicating with GnRH neurons is not known. Here we used a combinatorial genetic transsynaptic tracing strategy to start to analyze the connectivity of individual kisspeptin neurons with the GnRH neuron population in female mice with a single-cell resolution. We find that only subsets of AVPV and ARC kisspeptin neurons are synaptically connected with GnRH neurons. We demonstrate that the majority of kisspeptin neurons within the AVPV and ARC does not communicate with GnRH neurons. Furthermore, we show that all kisspeptin neurons within the AVPV connected to GnRH neurons are estrogen sensitive and that most of these express tyrosine hydroxylase. Our data demonstrate functional specialization within the two kisspeptin neuron populations.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 557d-557
Author(s):  
Jennifer Warr ◽  
Fenny Dane ◽  
Bob Ebel

C6 volatile compounds are known to be produced by the plant upon pathogen attack or other stress-related events. The biological activity of many of these substances is poorly understood, but some might produce signal molecules important in host–pathogen interactions. In this research we explored the possibility that lipid-derived C6 volatiles have a direct effect on bacterial plant pathogens. To this purpose we used a unique tool, a bacterium genetically engineered to bioluminesce. Light-producing genes from a fish-associated bacterium were introduced into Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, enabling nondestructive detection of bacteria in vitro and in the plant with special computer-assisted camera equipment. The effects of different C6 volatiles (trans-2 hexanal, trans-2 hexen-1-ol and cis-3 hexenol) on growth of bioluminescent Xanthomonas campestris were investigated. Different volatile concentrations were used. Treatment with trans-2 hexanal appeared bactericidal at low concentrations (1% and 10%), while treatments with the other volatiles were not inhibitive to bacterial growth. The implications of these results with respect to practical use of trans-2 hexanal in pathogen susceptible and resistant plants will be discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Ribeiro de Carvalho ◽  
Lucas Borges Martins ◽  
Ariovaldo Antonio Giaretta

The complex vocalization of Scinax cardosoi (Anura: Hylidae), with comments on advertisement calls in the S. ruber Clade. The complex vocalization of Scinax cardosoi from a population of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil is described and compared with available acoustic data for the other species of the S. ruber Clade. Three distinct types of high-pitched, pulsed calls were identified, and are referred to as “short,” “long,” and “trilled” calls. Short calls (16–66 ms) resemble squeaks, and consist of a pulsed signal (8–28 pulses/call) with regular amplitude modulations throughout their duration; the amplitude peak occurs at about the midpoint of the call duration. Long calls (268–518 ms) resemble giggles, and have lower amplitude than short calls; typically, they consist of pulsed note series (1–6 notes/call). Trilled calls resemble insect chirps and have the lowest amplitude of the three call types; they consist of long (1.1–3.0 s) pulsed note series (9–25 notes/call). Acoustic data are taxonomically informative in the Scinax ruber Clade and provide phenotypic characters diagnosing S. cardosoi in addition to those features proposed in its original description. The vocalization repertoire of S. cardosoi resembles the complex vocal repertoires (i.e., multiple call types emitted in variable combinations) of members of the S. catharinae Clade more than some species of the S. ruber Clade, which tend to have simpler call structures (i.e., a single type of multipulsed note).


1988 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 525-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOUSTAFA A. EL-SHENAWY ◽  
ELMER H. MARTH

The ability of Listeria monocytogenes to grow or survive was determined using tryptose broth at pH 5.6 or 5.0, supplemented with 0, 0.05. 0.1, 0.15. 0.2. 0.25 or 0.3% sodium benzoate, and incubated at 4,13,21 or 35°C. The bacterium grew in benzoate-free controls under all conditions except at 4°C and pH 5.0. At pH 5.6 and 4°C, after 60 d, L. monocytogenes (initial population ca. 103/ml) was inactivated by 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3% sodium benzoate. Other concentrations of benzoate permitted slight growth during the first 36 d of incubation followed by a decrease in populations of the pathogen. At pH 5.0 and 4°C, from 0.15 to 0.3% benzoate completely inactivated the pathogen in 24 to 30 d, whereas the other concentrations caused a gradual decrease in the population during the 66-d incubation period. At 13°C and pH 5.6, L. monocytogenes grew (more at lower than higher concentrations of benzoate) in the presence of all concentrations of benzoate except 0.25 or 0.3%, which prohibited growth throughout a 264-h incubation period. Reducing the pH to 5.0 minimized growth at the two low concentrations of benzoate and caused slight decreases in population at the other concentrations of benzoate. At 21 and 35°C and pH 5.6, appreciable growth of L. monocytogenes occurred in the presence of 0.2% or less sodium benzoate, whereas higher concentrations were inhibitory, permitting little if any growth by the pathogen. Reducing the pH to 5.0 allowed limited growth of the pathogen at 21 and 35°C when the medium contained 0.05 or 0.1% sodium benzoate. Higher concentrations caused either complete inhibition or inhibition plus partial or complete inactivation of the pathogen during incubations of 117 h at 21°C or 78 h at 35°C.


Author(s):  
Shohei Kubota ◽  
Yuji Aoki ◽  
Tomomi Sskai ◽  
Katsumasa Kitamura ◽  
Teruaki Matsui ◽  
...  

Background: Some patients with a wheat allergy have been reported to show clinical cross-reactivity to barley. However, it is not clear whether the development of barley allergy in patients with a wheat allergy is due to cross-antigenicity between wheat and barley. In our study, we aimed to determine the clinical cross-reactivity and immunological cross-antigenicity of wheat and barley. Methods: We compared the results of barley oral food challenges (OFCs) before oral immunotherapy (OIT) for wheat with those after OIT in nine patients with a wheat allergy to estimate the clinical cross-reactivity of wheat and barley. Moreover, we performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition and immunoblotting inhibition using serum from seven patients allergic to wheat and barley. Results: Nine patients who had positive barley-OFC results performed before OIT for wheat were all negative on barley-OFC performed after OIT. In ELISA inhibition, preincubation of serum from patients allergic to wheat and barley with a high barley extract concentration inhibited binding of IgE to wheat extract by less than 10%. On the other hand, wheat and barley extracts equally inhibited binding to barley sIgE at high concentrations. In the immunoblotting inhibition test, the spots of wheat were inhibited but weakly by barley extracts, and most of the spots of barley were inhibited even by low concentrations of the wheat and barley extract. Conclusion: We showed that barley allergy associated with wheat allergy is caused by cross-reactivity from wheat. The OIT for wheat was one of the promising options for barley allergy.


2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 629-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muthukrishnan Renganathan ◽  
Theodore R. Cummins ◽  
Stephen G. Waxman

C-type dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons can generate tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) sodium-dependent action potentials. However, multiple sodium channels are expressed in these neurons, and the molecular identity of the TTX-R sodium channels that contribute to action potential production in these neurons has not been established. In this study, we used current-clamp recordings to compare action potential electrogenesis in Nav1.8 (+/+) and (−/−) small DRG neurons maintained for 2–8 h in vitro to examine the role of sodium channel Nav1.8 (α-SNS) in action potential electrogenesis. Although there was no significant difference in resting membrane potential, input resistance, current threshold, or voltage threshold in Nav1.8 (+/+) and (−/−) DRG neurons, there were significant differences in action potential electrogenesis. Most Nav1.8 (+/+) neurons generate all-or-none action potentials, whereas most of Nav1.8 (−/−) neurons produce smaller graded responses. The peak of the response was significantly reduced in Nav1.8 (−/−) neurons [31.5 ± 2.2 (SE) mV] compared with Nav1.8 (+/+) neurons (55.0 ± 4.3 mV). The maximum rise slope was 84.7 ± 11.2 mV/ms in Nav1.8 (+/+) neurons, significantly faster than in Nav1.8 (−/−) neurons where it was 47.2 ± 1.3 mV/ms. Calculations based on the action potential overshoot in Nav1.8 (+/+) and (−/−) neurons, following blockade of Ca2+ currents, indicate that Nav1.8 contributes a substantial fraction (80–90%) of the inward membrane current that flows during the rising phase of the action potential. We found that fast TTX-sensitive Na+ channels can produce all-or-none action potentials in some Nav1.8 (−/−) neurons but, presumably as a result of steady-state inactivation of these channels, electrogenesis in Nav1.8 (−/−) neurons is more sensitive to membrane depolarization than in Nav1.8 (+/+) neurons, and, in the absence of Nav1.8, is attenuated with even modest depolarization. These observations indicate that Nav1.8 contributes substantially to action potential electrogenesis in C-type DRG neurons.


2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. García ◽  
J. L. Chacón ◽  
J. Martínez ◽  
P. M. Izquierdo

Changes in volatile compounds in musts and skins of grapes of Airén, Macabeo and Chardonnay white varieties were determined during ripening. The musts of the Airén variety contained higher concentrations of c-3-hexenol; musts of the Macabeo variety were the richest in t-3-hexenol and 2,4-hexadienal, while the Chardonnay musts stood out for having higher concentrations of benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde and benzyl alcohol. The skins of the three varieties were both qualitatively and quantitatively richer in volatiles than were the musts. The skins of the Airén grapes had the highest levels of nerol. Airén grapes were the only variety in which citronellol was present in the skins. Low concentrations of eugenol were detected in the skins of the Chardonnay grape variety but were not present in the other two varieties. Changes in the concentration of the volatile compounds during ripening were not uniform; this made difficult the determination of the optimum level of ripening for each variety on the basis of the volatile compound content. Nevertheless, results indicated that C6 compounds and terpene concentrations reached a maximum at 6-8 ° Baumé in the Airén grapes and at around 11 ° Baumé in the Chardonnay and Macabeo grapes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 533 (4) ◽  
pp. 958-964
Author(s):  
Minzhi Chen ◽  
Shuijiao Peng ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Li Yang ◽  
Yuxin Si ◽  
...  

1941 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
George F. Bloomfield ◽  
Ernest Harold Farmer

Abstract Latex rubber which has been purified to the point at which it contains an insignificant amount of nitrogen can be separated by fractional dissolution in a mixture of petroleum and acetone into a series of hydrocarbon fractions of decreasing solubility and increasing molecular magnitude. All these fractions except the highest are soluble in petroleum and in benzene. Crepe rubber, on the other hand, appears invariably to contain a small, most-soluble fraction of oxygenated rubber, and a small similar quite insoluble fraction of material of high molecular weight. Between these extremes the rubber can be divided into fractions of increasing molecular weight, although, up to the present, about 70 per cent of the total rubber has appeared in a single fraction. It may be possible later, by judicious choice of another pair of solvents, to resolve this major fraction into a series of subfractions. Kemp and Peters refer to the effect of polar nonsolvents in reducing the viscosity of rubber solutions and also in assisting to bring gel rubber into solution, phenomena to which the polar molecules conceivably contribute by countering the forces of association between the rubber molecules. The present series of fractionations was conducted throughout in the presence of a polar nonsolvent (acetone), and hence may be considered to approach towards a separation of true rubber molecules as distinct from molecular aggregates. It is found, however, that, whereas the more soluble fractions of acetone-extracted crepe rubber contain small proportions of nitrogen, the least soluble fractions contain substantial proportions. Any effect which the nitrogenous material may have in assisting to link together hydrocarbon molecules to which it is attached, i. e., in contributing to the high-molecular condition of a portion of natural rubber, remains at present uncertain in character. The fractions of rubber, and especially the higher ones, show a strong tendency to become insoluble when they have once been freed from the last traces of solvent. It seems doubtful whether the decreased solubility is due to oxygen as it would require to be effective at exceedingly low concentrations.


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