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We previously demonstrated that inhibition of miR-200c was protective against stroke in young adult male mice by augmenting sirtuin-1 (Sirt1). In the present study we assessed the role of miR-200c on injury, Sirt1, and bioenergetic and neuroinflammatory markers in aged male and female mice after experimental stroke. Mice were subjected to 1hr of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and assessed for post-injury expression of miR-200c, Sirt1 protein and mRNA, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylated Sirt1 mRNA, ATP, cytochrome C oxidase activity, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), infarct volume and motor function. MCAO induced a decrease in Sirt1 expression at 1d post-injury only in males. No differences in SIRT1 mRNA were observed between the sexes. Females had greater baseline miR-200c expression and a greater increase in miR-200c in response to stroke, while pre-MCAO levels of m6A SIRT1 was greater in females. Males had lower post-MCAO ATP levels and cytochrome C oxidase activity, and higher TNFα and IL-6. Post-injury intravenous treatment with anti-miR-200c reduced miR-200c expression in both sexes. In males, anti-miR-200c increased Sirt1 protein expression, reduced infarct volume, and improved neurological score. Conversely in females anti-miR-200c had no effect on Sirt1 levels and provided no protection against injury from MCAO. These results provide the first evidence of sexual dimorphism in the role of a microRNA in aged mice after experimental stroke and suggest sex-differences in epigenetic modulation of the transcriptome and downstream effects on miR biological activity may play a role in sexually dimorphic outcomes after stroke in aged brains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke remains a devastating cerebrovascular disease that accounts for a high proportion of mortality and disability worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that are responsible for regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression, and growing evidence supports a role for miRNAs in stroke injury and recovery. The current study examined the role of miR-182 in experimental stroke using both in vitro and in vivo models of ischemic injury. Brain levels of miR-182 significantly increased after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice and in primary astrocyte cultures subjected to combined oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) injury. In vivo, stroke volume and neurological score were significantly improved by pre-treatment with miR-182 antagomir. Astrocyte cultures stressed with OGD/R resulted in mitochondrial fragmentation and downregulation of cortactin, an actin-binding protein. Inhibition of miR-182 significantly preserved cortactin expression, reduced mitochondrial fragmentation and improved astrocyte survival after OGD/R. In parallel, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric-oxide release in astrocyte cultures was significantly reduced by miR-182 inhibition, translating to reduced injury in primary neuronal cultures subjected to conditioned medium from LPS-treated astrocytes. These findings identify miR-182 and/or cortactin as potential clinical targets to preserve mitochondrial structure and mitigate neuroinflammation and cell death after ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut-brain-microbiota axis (GBMAx) coordinates bidirectional communication between the gut and brain, and is increasingly recognized as playing a central role in physiology and disease. MicroRNAs are important intracellular components secreted by extracellular vesicles (EVs), which act as vital mediators of intercellular and interspecies communication. This review will present current advances in EV-derived microRNAs and their potential functional link with GBMAx. We propose that EV-derived microRNAs comprise a novel regulatory system for GBMAx, and a potential novel therapeutic target for modifying GBMAx in clinical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke induces a robust inflammatory response. However, it still lacks a systematic view of the various immune cell types due to the limited numbers of fluorophore used in the traditional FACS technique. In our current study, we utilized the novel technique mass cytometry (CyTOF) to analyze multiple immune cell types. We detected these immune cells from the ischemic brain, peripheral blood, spleen, and bone marrow at different time courses after stroke. Our data showed (1) dynamic changes in the immune cell numbers in the ischemic brain and peripheral organs. (2) The expression levels of cell surface markers indicate the inflammation response status after stroke. Interestingly, CD62L, a key adhesion molecule, regulates the migration of leukocytes from blood vessels into secondary lymphoid tissues and peripheral tissues. (3) A strong leukocyte network across the brain and peripheral immune organs was identified using the R program at day 1 after ischemia, suggesting that the peripheral immune cells dramatically migrated into the ischemic areas after stroke. This study provides a systematic, wide view of the immune components in the brain and peripheral organs for a deep understanding of the immune response after ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we assessed efficacy of exosomes harvested from human and mouse stem cell cultures in protection of mouse primary astrocyte and neuronal cell cultures following in vitro ischemia, and against ischemic stroke in vivo. Cell media was collected from primary mouse neural stem cell (NSC) cultures or from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (iCM) cultures. Exosomes were extracted and purified by polyethylene glycol complexing and centrifugation, and exosome size and concentration were determined with a NanoSiteTM particle analyzer. Exosomes were applied to primary mouse cortical astrocyte or neuronal cultures prior to, and/or during, combined oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury. Cell death was assessed via lactate dehydrogenase (LHD) and propidium iodide staining 24 h after injury. NSC-derived exosomes afforded marked protection to astrocytes following OGD. A more modest (but significant) level of protection was observed with human iCM-derived exosomes applied to astrocytes, and with NSC-derived exosomes applied to primary neuronal cultures. In subsequent experiments, NSC-derived exosomes were injected intravenously into adult male mice 2 h after transient (1 h) middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Gross motor function was assessed 1 day after reperfusion and infarct volume was assessed 4 days after reperfusion. Mice treated post-stroke with intravenous NSC-derived exosomes exhibited significantly reduced infarct volumes. Together, these results suggest that exosomes isolated from mouse NSCs provide neuroprotection against experimental stroke possibly via preservation of astrocyte function. Intravenous NSC-derived exosome treatment may therefore provide a novel clinical adjuvant for stroke in the immediate post-injury period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can result in permanent impairment in memory and learning and may be a precursor to other neurological sequelae. Clinical treatments to ameliorate the effects of mTBI are lacking. Inhibition of microRNA-181a (miR-181a) is protective in several models of cerebral injury, but its role in mTBI has not been investigated. In the present study, miR-181a-5p antagomir was injected intracerebroventricularly 24 h prior to closed-skull cortical impact in young adult male mice. Paw withdrawal, open field, zero maze, Y maze, object location and novel object recognition tests were performed to assess neurocognitive dysfunction. Brains were assessed immunohistologically for the neuronal marker NeuN, the perineuronal net marker wisteria floribunda lectin (WFA), cFos, and the interneuron marker parvalbumin. Protein quantification was performed with immunoblots for synaptophysin and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95). Fluorescent in situ hybridization was utilized to localize hippocampal miR-181a expression. MiR-181a antagomir treatment reduced neuronal miR-181a expression after mTBI, restored deficits in novel object recognition and increased hippocampal parvalbumin expression in the dentate gyrus. These changes were associated with decreased dentate gyrus hyperactivity indicated by a relative reduction in PSD95 and cFos expression. These results suggest that miR-181a inhibition may be a therapeutic approach to reduce hippocampal excitotoxicity and prevent cognitive dysfunction following mTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intratumor heterogeneity of tumor clones and an immunosuppressive microenvironment in cancer ecosystems contribute to inherent difficulties for tumor treatment. Recently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been successfully applied in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, underscoring its great potential in antitumor therapy. However, functional challenges of CAR-T cell therapy, especially in solid tumors, remain. Here, we describe cancer-immunity phenotypes from a clonal-stromal-immune perspective and elucidate mechanisms of T-cell exhaustion that contribute to tumor immune evasion. Then we assess the functional challenges of CAR-T cell therapy, including cell trafficking and infiltration, targeted-recognition and killing of tumor cells, T-cell proliferation and persistence, immunosuppressive microenvironment and self-control regulation. Finally, we delineate tumor precision informatics and advancements in engineered CAR-T cells to counteract inherent challenges of the CAR-T cell therapy, either alone or in combination with traditional therapeutics, and highlight the therapeutic potential of this approach in future tumor precision treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A theoretical model, informed by numerical simulations based on the shallow water equations, is developed to predict the flow passing through and around a uniform porous obstacle in a shallow channel, where background friction is important. This problem is relevant to a number of practical situations, including flow through aquatic vegetation, the performance of arrays of turbines in tidal channels and hydrodynamic forces on offshore structures. To demonstrate this relevance, the theoretical model is used to (i) reinterpret core flow velocities in existing laboratory-based data for an array of emergent cylinders in shallow water emulating aquatic vegetation and (ii) reassess the optimum arrangement of tidal turbines to generate power in a tidal channel. Comparison with laboratory-based data indicates a maximum obstacle resistance (or minimum porosity) for which the present theoretical model is valid. When the obstacle resistance is above this threshold the shallow water equations do not provide an adequate representation of the flow, and the theoretical model over-predicts the core flow passing through the obstacle. The second application of the model confirms that natural bed resistance increases the power extraction potential for a partial tidal fence in a shallow channel and alters the optimum arrangement of turbines within the fence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant proportion of hematological malignancies remain limited in treatment options. Immune system modulation serves as a promising therapeutic approach to eliminate malignant cells. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a central role in antitumor immunity; unfortunately, nonspecific approaches for targeted recognition of tumor cells by CTLs to mediate tumor immune evasion in hematological malignancies imply multiple mechanisms, which may or may not be clinically relevant. Recently, genetically modified T-cell-based adoptive immunotherapy approaches, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and engineered T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapy, promise to overcome immune evasion by redirecting the specificity of CTLs to tumor cells. In clinic trials, CAR-T-cell- and TCR-T-cell-based adoptive immunotherapy have produced encouraging clinical outcomes, thereby demonstrating their therapeutic potential in mitigating tumor development. The purpose of the present review is to (1) provide a detailed overview of the multiple mechanisms for immune evasion related with T-cell-based therapies; (2) provide a current summary of the applications of CAR-T-cell- as well as neoantigen-specific TCR-T-cell-based adoptive immunotherapy and routes taken to overcome immune evasion; and (3) evaluate alternative approaches targeting immune evasion via optimization of CAR-T and TCR-T-cell immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular heterogeneity is a fundamental characteristic of many cancers. A lack of cellular homogeneity contributes to difficulty in designing targeted oncological therapies. Therefore, the development of novel methods to determine and characterize oncologic cellular heterogeneity is a critical next step in the development of novel cancer therapies. Single-cell sequencing (SCS) technology has been recently employed for analyzing the genetic polymorphisms of individual cells at the genome-wide level. SCS requires (1) precise isolation of the single cell of interest; (2) isolation and amplification of genetic material; and (3) descriptive analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic data. In addition to targeted analysis of single cells isolated from tumor biopsies, SCS technology may be applied to circulating tumor cells, which may aid in predicting tumor progression and metastasis. In this paper, we provide an overview of SCS technology and review the current literature on the potential application of SCS to clinical oncology and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrinsic activating factors that induce transcription of heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) in skeletal muscle following exercise remain unclear. We hypothesized that the cytosolic Ca2+ transient that occurs with depolarization is a determinant. We utilized intact, single skeletal muscle fibers from Xenopus laevis to test the role of the cytosolic Ca2+ transient and several other exercise-related factors (fatigue, hypoxia, AMP kinase, and cross-bridge cycling) on the activation of HSP72 transcription. HSP72 and HSP60 mRNA levels were assessed with real-time quantitative PCR; cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) was assessed with fura-2. Both fatiguing and nonfatiguing contractions resulted in a significant increase in HSP72 mRNA. As expected, peak [Ca2+]cyt remained tightly coupled with peak developed tension in contracting fibers. Pretreatment with N-benzyl-p-toluene sulfonamide (BTS) resulted in depressed peak developed tension with stimulation, while peak [Ca2+]cyt remained largely unchanged from control values. Despite excitation-contraction uncoupling, BTS-treated fibers displayed a significant increase in HSP72 mRNA. Treatment of fibers with hypoxia (Po2: <3 mmHg) or AMP kinase activation had no effect on HSP72 mRNA levels. These results suggest that the intermittent cytosolic Ca2+ transient that occurs with skeletal muscle depolarization provides a sufficient activating stimulus for HSP72 transcription. Metabolic or mechanical factors associated with fatigue development and cross-bridge cycling likely play a more limited role. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The activating factors for contraction-induced HSP72 transcription in skeletal muscle remain unclear. The present study utilizes single skeletal muscle fibers to demonstrate that the intermittent cytosolic Ca2+ transient that occurs with skeletal muscle depolarization provides a sufficient stimulus to activate HSP72 transcription. Metabolic or mechanical factors associated with fatigue and cross-bridge cycling likely play a more limited role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is a recently identified autoimmune disease, described by an immune-mediated loss of NMDA glutamate receptors, resulting in progressive mental deterioration. To date, literature on anti-NMDAR encephalitis has been largely clinically oriented, including descriptions of the clinical presentation and course, diagnostic methods, and potential clinical treatments. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to the complex immunological cellular transformation that is associated with the progression of anti-NMDAR encephalitis remain to be adequately explored. This review will provide a summary of the current literature on anti-NMDAR encephalitis, including the immunologic molecular mechanisms contributing to disease progression. In particular this review will focus on the effect of anti-NMDAR on GluN2-NMDAR expression and the molecular transformation of B and T leukocytes in the loss of self-tolerance. Further research on the immunologic mechanisms contributing to anti-NMDAR encephalitis may provide an avenue for future novel diagnostic approaches, such as immunologic surveillance, as well as new therapeutic strategies for this recently identified autoimmune disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present review discusses intracellular signaling moieties specific to membrane lipid rafts (MLRs) and the scaffolding proteins caveolin and introduces current data promoting their potential role in the treatment of pathologies of the heart and brain. MLRs are discreet microdomains of the plasma membrane enriched in gylcosphingolipids and cholesterol that concentrate and localize signaling molecules. Caveolin proteins are necessary for the formation of MLRs, and are responsible for coordinating signaling events by scaffolding and enriching numerous signaling moieties in close proximity. Specifically in the heart and brain, caveolins are necessary for the cytoprotective phenomenon termed ischemic and anesthetic preconditioning. Targeted overexpression of caveolin in the heart and brain leads to induction of multiple pro-survival and pro-growth signaling pathways; thus, caveolins represent a potential novel therapeutic target for cardiac and neurological pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present review discusses intracellular signaling moieties specific to membrane lipid rafts (MLRs) and the scaffolding proteins caveolin and introduces current data promoting their potential role in the treatment of pathologies of the heart and brain. MLRs are discreet microdomains of the plasma membrane enriched in gylcosphingolipids and cholesterol that concentrate and localize signaling molecules. Caveolin proteins are necessary for the formation of MLRs, and are responsible for coordinating signaling events by scaffolding and enriching numerous signaling moieties in close proximity. Specifically in the heart and brain, caveolins are necessary for the cytoprotective phenomenon termed ischemic and anesthetic preconditioning. Targeted overexpression of caveolin in the heart and brain leads to induction of multiple pro-survival and pro-growth signaling pathways; thus, caveolins represent a potential novel therapeutic target for cardaic and neurological pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One proposed explanation for the VO2 slow component is that lower-threshold motor units may fatigue and develop little or no tension but continue to use O2, thereby resulting in a dissociation of cellular respiration from force generation. The present study used intact isolated single myocytes with differing fatigue resistance profiles to investigate the relationship between fatigue, tension development, and aerobic metabolism. Single Xenopus skeletal muscle myofibers were allocated to a fast-fatiguing (FF) or a slow-fatiguing (SF) group, based on the contraction frequency required to elicit a fall in tension to 60% of peak. Phosphorescence quenching of a porphyrin compound was used to determine Δ intracellular PO2(PlO2 a proxy for VO2), and developed isometric tension was monitored to allow calculation of the time-integrated tension (TxT). Although peak ΔPlO2 was not different between groups (P = 0.36), peak tension was lower (P < 0.05) in SF vs. FF (1.97 ± 0. 17 V vs. 2. 73 ± 0.30 V, respectively) and time to 60% of peak tension was significantly longer in SF vs. FF (242 ± 10 s vs. 203 ± 10 s, respectively). Before fatigue, both ΔPlO2 and TxT rose proportionally with contraction frequency in SF and FF, resulting in ΔPlO2/TxT being identical between groups. At fatigue, TxT fell dramatically in both groups, but ΔPlO2, decreased proportionately only in the FF group, resulting in an increase in ΔPlO2/TxT in the SF group relative to the prefatigue condition. These data show that more fatigue-resistant fibers maintain aerobic metabolism as they fatigue, resulting in an increased O2 cost of contractions that could contribute to the VO2 slow component seen in whole body exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured in isolated Xenopus laevis single myofibres at the onset of contractions, with and without glycolytic blockade, to investigate the time course of glycolytic activation. Single myofibres ( n= 8; CON) were incubated in 2′,7′-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein acetoyxmethyl ester (10 μm; for fluorescence measurement of pHi) and stimulated for 15 s at 0.67 Hz in anoxia in the absence (control condition; CON) and presence of a glycolytic inhibitor (1 mm iodoacetic acid; IAA). Intracellular pHi and tension were continuously recorded, and the differences in pHi between conditions were used to estimate the activation time of glycolysis. An immediate and steady increase in pHi (initial alkalosis) at the onset of contractions was similar between CON and IAA trials for the first 9 s of the contractile bout. However, from six contractions (∼10 s) throughout the remainder of the bout, IAA demonstrated a continued rise in pHi, in contrast to a progressive decrease in pHi in CON ( P < 0.05). These results demonstrate, with high temporal resolution, that glycolysis is activated within six contractions (10 s at 0.67 Hz) in single Xenopus skeletal muscle fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was 1) to develop a stable model for measuring con- traction-induced elevations in mRNA in single skeletal muscle fibers and 2) to utilize this model to investigate the response of heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) mRNA following an acute bout of fatiguing contractions. Living, intact skeletal muscle fibers were microdissected from lumbrical muscle of Xenopus laevis and either electrically stimulated for 15 mm of tetanic contractions (EX; n = 26) or not stimulated to contract (REST; n = 14). The relative mean developed tension of EX fibers decreased to 29 ± 7% of initial peak tension at the stimulation end point. Following treatment, individual fibers were allowed to recover for 1 (n = 9), 2 (n = 8), or 4 h (n = 9) prior to isolation of total cellular mRNA. HSP72, HSP60, and cardiac α-actin mRNA content were then assessed in individual fibers using quantitative PCR detection. Relative HSP72 mRNA content was significantly (P < 0.05) elevated at the 2-h postcontraction time point relative to REST fibers when normalized to either HSP6 (18.5 ± 7.5-fold) or cardiac α-actin (14.7 ± 4.3-fold), although not at the 1- or 4-h time points. These data indicate that 1) extraction of RNA followed by relative quantification of mRNA of select genes in isolated single skeletal muscle fibers can be reliably performed, 2) HSP60 and cardiac α-actin are suitable endogenous normalizing genes in skeletal muscle following contractions, and 3) a significantly elevated content of HSP72 mRNA is detectable in skeletal muscle 2 h after a single bout of fatiguing contractions, despite minimal temperature changes and without influence from extracellular sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The computation of lateral earth pressures acting on gravity and semi-gravity retaining walls is often simplified by considering the pressures to act on a vertical plane passing through the heel of the wall. This plane is called either a ‘virtual back’ or a ‘virtual wall’ in the literature. The wall is designed to resist the active soil thrust acting on this virtual back, with the weight of the soil between the virtual back and the wall contributing to the stability of the wall. The virtual back approach is described in various soil mechanics texts, as well as in design guides and British Standard BS 8002:1994. There is, however, a variation in the recommendations given in the literature regarding the magnitude of friction angle (δ) to be assumed along the virtual back. The sensitivity of retaining wall design to the δ value selected along the virtual back is explored here, considering the design requirements to prevent forward sliding and overturning of the wall. A simple analytical study considers a design example similar to the examples proposed by Trenter. It is shown that, where δ is assumed to equal the angle of mobilised friction for the soil (Φm ), the virtual back model does not represent a statically admissible failure mode for gravity retaining walls. Design examples are presented to quantitatively illustrate the implications of this finding for design practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In single frog skeletal myocytes, a linear relationship exists between "fatigability" and oxidative capacity. The purpose of this investigation was to study the relationship between the intracellular PO2 (PIO2) offset kinetics and fatigability in single Xenopus laevis myocytes to test the hypothesis that PIO2 offset kinetics would be related linearly with myocyte fatigability and, by inference, oxidative capacity. Individual myocytes (n = 30) isolated from lumbrical muscle were subjected to a 2-min bout of isometric peak tetanic contractions at either 0.25- or 0.33-Hz frequency while PIO2 was measured continuously via phosphorescence quenching techniques. The mean response time (MRT; time to 63% of the overall response) for PIO2 recovery from contracting values to resting baseline was calculated. After the initial square-wave constant-frequency contraction trial, each cell performed an incremental contraction protocol [i.e., frequency increase every 2 min from 0.167, 0.25, 0.33, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 Hz until peak tension fell below 50% of initial values (TTF)]. TTF values ranged from 3.39 to 10.04 min for the myocytes. The PIO2 recovery MRT ranged from 26 to 146 s. A significant (P < 0.05), negative relationship (MRT = -12.68TTF + 168.3, r² = 0.605) between TTF and PIO2 recovery MRT existed. These data demonstrate a significant correlation between fatigability and oxidative phosphorylation recovery kinetics consistent with the notion that oxidative capacity determines, in part, the speed with which skeletal muscle can recover energetically to alterations in metabolic demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blue autofluorescence (351 nm excitation, 450 nm emission) of single skeletal muscle fibers from Xenopus was characterized to be originating from mitochondrial NAD(P)H on the basis of morphological and functional correlations. This fluorescence signal was used to estimate the oxygen availability to isolated single Xenopus muscle fibers during work level transitions by confocal microscopy. Fibers were stimulated to generate two contractile periods that were only different in the Po2 of the solution perfusing the single fibers (Po2 of 30 or 0–2 Torr; pH = 7.2). During contractions, mean cellular NAD(P)H increased significantly from rest in the low Po2 condition with the core (inner 10%) increasing to a greater extent than the periphery (outer 10%). After the cessation of work, NAD(P)H decreased in a manner consistent with oxygen tensions sufficient to oxidize the surplus NAD(P)H. In contrast, NAD(P)H decreased significantly with work in 30 Torr Po2. However, the rate of NAD(P)H oxidation was slower and significantly increased with the cessation of work in the core of the fiber compared with the peripheral region, consistent with a remaining limitation in oxygen availability. These results suggest that the blue autofluorescence signal in Xenopus skeletal muscle fibers is from mitochondrial NAD(P)H and that the rate of NAD(P)H oxidation within the cell is influenced by extracellular Po2 even at high extracellular Po2 during the contraction cycle. These results also demonstrate that although oxygen availability influences the rate of NAD(P)H oxidation, it does not prevent NAD(P)H from being oxidized through the process of oxidative phosphorylation at the onset of contractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of acute creatine kinase (CK) inhibition (CKi) on contractile performance, cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c), and intracellular Po2 (PIo2) in Xenopus laevis isolated myocytes during a 2-min bout of isometric tetanic contractions (0.33-Hz frequency). Peak tension was similar between trials during the first contraction hut was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated for all subsequent contractions in CKi vs. control (Con). The fall in PIo2 (ΔPIo2) from resting values was significantly greater in Con (26.0 ± 2.2 Torr) compared with CKi (17.8 ± 1.8 Torr). However, the ratios of Con to CKi end-peak tension (1.53 ± 0.11) and ΔPIo2, (1.49 ± 0.11) were similar, suggesting an unaltered aerobic cost of contractions. Additionally, the mean response time (MRT) of ΔPIo2 was significantly faster in CKi vs. Con during both the onset (31.8 ± 5.5 vs. 49.3 ± 5.7 s: P < 0.05) and cessation (21.2 ± 4.1 vs. 68.0 ± 3.2 s; P < 0.001) of contractions. These data demonstrate that initial phosphocreatine hydrolysis in single skeletal muscle fibers is crucial for maintenance of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release and peak tension during a bout of repetitive tetanic contractions. Furthermore, as PIo2 fell more rapidly at contraction onset in CKi compared with Con, these data suggest that CK activity temporally buffers the initial ATP-to-ADP concentration ratio at the transition to an augmented energetic demand, thereby slowing the initial mitochondrial activation by mitigating the energetic control signal (i.e., ADP concentration, phosphorylation potential, etc.) between sites of ATP supply and demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this investigation was to utilize 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM; an inhibitor of contractile activation) to dissociate cytosolic[Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c) from the putative respiratory regulators that arise from muscle contraction-induced ATP utilization in order to determine the relative contribution of[Ca2+]c on intracellularPO2 (PiO2) kinetics during the transition from rest to contractions in single skeletal myocytes isolated fromXenopus laevislumbrical muscle. Myocytes were subjected to electrically induced isometric tetanic contractions (0.25 Hz; 2-min bouts) while peak tension and either[Ca2+]c (n= 7; ratiometric fluorescence microscopy) orPiO2 (n= 7; phosphorescence microscopy) was measured continuously. Cells were studied under both control and 3 mmBDM conditions in randomized order. Initial (control, 100± 0%; BDM, 72.6± 4.6%), midpoint (control, 86.7± 1.8%; BDM, 61.6± 4.1%) and end (control, 85.0± 2.8%; BDM, 57.5± 5.0%) peak tensions (normalized to initial control values) were significantly reducedwith BDM compared with control (n= 14). Despite the reduced peak tension, peak[Ca2+]c was not alteredbetween control and BDM trials. Thus, the peak tension-to-peak[Ca2+]c ratio was reduced with BDM compared with control. The absolute fall inPiO2 with contractions, which is proportional to the rise in, was significantly reduced with BDM (13.2± 1.3 mmHg) compared with control (22.0± 2.0 mmHg). However,PiO2 onset kinetics (i.e. mean response time (MRT)) was not altered between BDM (66.8± 8.0 s) and control (64.9± 6.3 s) trials. Therefore, the initial rate of change (defined as the fall inPiO2/MRT) was significantly slower in BDM fibres compared with control. These data demonstrate in these isolated single skeletal muscle fibres that unchanged peak[Ca2+]c in the face of reduced metabolic feedback from the contractile sites evoked with BDM did not alterPiO2 onset kinetics in isolated single frog myocytes, suggesting that metabolic signals arising from the contractile sites play a more substantial role than[Ca2+]c in the signalling pathway to oxidative phosphorylation during the transition from rest to repeated tetanic contractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to compare the individual fatigue characteristics of isolated single skeletal muscle fibres with their mitochondrial volume density (MVD), using direct histological morphometry. Single muscle fibres (n = 14) were microdissected from lumbrical muscle of adult female Xenopus laevis, and force was measured while fibres were stimulated (tetanic contractions of 200 ms trains with 70 Hz stimuli at 9 V) at progressively increasing frequencies (2 min each at 0.25, 0.33, 0.5 and 1 contractions s-1) until fatigue (< 50% initial maximal force) had been established. Following the end of the fatigue protocol, MVD was determined by electron microscopy. Time to fatigue varied among the individual fibres from 3.3 to 10 min. MVD of individual fibres ranged from 3.0 to 9.2% and was positively correlated (r = 0.93) with time to fatigue of corresponding fibres. These results, using direct histological measurements of MVD: (1) support on a single cell basis the notion that oxidative capacity is a major determinant of muscle fatigue resistance; and (2) show that the fatigue profile of a single cell can be used to predict oxidative capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tests whether the increase of muscle contraction frequency would increase the contractile phase to mean venous blood flow in isolated skeletal muscle during rhythmic contractions. Increase of blood expulsion per contraction; Contribution of the muscle contractile phase to mean venous blood flow; Increase of duty cycle and metabolic rate.

Describes a technique for rapid measurement of O[sub 2] uptake dynamics in isolated single skeletal myocytes. Measurement of O[sub 2] uptake in isolated Xenopus laevis myocytes using a phosphorescence quenching technique; Monitoring of the fall in extracellular PO[sub 2] which is proportional to cellular O[sub 2] uptake.

Investigates whether preconditioning improves function and recovery of single muscle fibers during severe hypoxia and reoxygenation. Mean force production relative to initial maximal force versus time during hypoxia and reoxygenation; Relative free cytosolic calcium concentration measurements.

Presents information on a study which examined the relationship between fatigue and cytosolic free calcium concentration in fiber types from Xenopus during postcontractile depression. Methodology; Results of the study; Discussion.

Focuses on a study which examined Xenopus single skeletal muscle fiber performance to investigate the differential contribution of oxidative and substrate-level phosphorylation in fatigue development. Methodology of the study; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

Drug addiction remains a prevalent and fatal disease worldwide that carries significant social and economic impacts. Recent reports suggest illicit pregabalin (Lyrica) use may be increasing among youth, however the addictive potential of pregabalin has not been well established. Drug seeking behavior and chronic drug use are associated with deficits in glutamate clearance and activation of postsynaptic glutamatergic receptors. In the current study, we investigated the abuse potential of pregabalin using conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Different doses of pregabalin (30, 60, 90, and 120 mg/kg) were used to assess the seeking behavior in mice. Glutamate homeostasis is maintained by glutamate transporter type-1 (GLT-1), which plays a vital role in clearing the released glutamate from synapses and drug seeking behavior. Therefore, we investigated the role of glutamate in pregabalin-seeking behavior with ceftriaxone (CEF), a potent GLT-1 upregulator. Mice treated with pregabalin 60 and 90 mg/kg doses demonstrated drug seeking-like behavior, which was significantly blocked by CEF pretreatment. These results suggest that pregabalin-induced CPP was successfully modulated by CEF which could serve as a lead compound for developing treatment for pregabalin abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses research published within the issue which compared oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) efficiency in permeabilized skeletal muscle fiber bundles (PmFBs) and isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria at lower levels of adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Topics discussed include decreased OXPHOS efficiency in PmFBs relative to isolated mitochondria, the implications of the findings, and imaging techniques that may improve resolution of measurement.

Emerging evidence suggests that gut-brain-microbiota axis (GBMAx) may play a pivotal role linking gastrointestinal and neuronal disease. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in studies of GBMAx in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ischemic stroke. A more thorough understanding of the GBMAx could advance our knowledge about the pathophysiology of IBD and ischemic stroke and help to identify novel therapeutic targets via modulation of the GBMAx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]