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In this paper, we give new characterizations for the eigenvalues of the prolate wave equation as limits of the zeros of some families of polynomials: the coefficients of the formal power series appearing in the solutions near 0, 1 or ∞ (in the variables x, x − 1 or 1/x respectively). The result, which seems to be true for all values of the parameter τ , according to our numerical experiments, is here proved for small values of the parameter τ .

The neurotensin receptor 1, NTS1, is a G protein-coupled receptor with seven transmembrane domains (TM) that mediates most of the known effects of the neuropeptide. Our previous studies have pointed to extracellular loop 3 and adjacent TM7 as being potentially involved in agonist-induced activation of the NTS1. Here we investigated residues in these domains that might be involved in transconformational activation of the rat NTS1. Single amino acid mutated receptors were expressed in COS cells and inositol phosphate (IP) and cyclic AMP productions were studied. The F358A mutation in TM7 resulted in a time- and receptor concentration-dependent increase in spontaneous IP production. At expression levels of 12 pmol mg−1, agonist-independent IP production was increased 10 fold over basal for the F358A mutant receptor whereas the wild type NTS1 exhibited virtually no spontaneous activity at expression levels of 7.5 pmol mg−1. Neurotensin remained agonist on the F358A mutant receptor with a maximal effect that amounted to greater than twice basal IP levels. SR 48692 was inverse agonist at the mutant receptor, reversing IP production almost back to the levels measured in wild type NTS1-transfected cells. Cyclic AMP production was not constitutively activated with the F358A mutant receptor but was stimulated by neurotensin with the same concentration dependence as that observed with the wild type NTS1. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of a constitutively active mutant of the NTS1. The data are consistent with TM7 being involved in the transconformational changes that lead to agonist-induced coupling of the NTS1 to Gq. British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 135, 997–1002; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704546

The ontogenetic variations of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) have been studied in locus coeruleus of developing rats. During the first 2 weeks after birth, a large increase in TH content (6.04–23.99 TH units) in the noradrenergic structure was observed, followed by a period of progressive increase of the protein concentration (42 TH units in adult rats). The expression of TH was studied in the same ontogenetic period after treatment by RU24722 (20 mg/kg, i.p.). The long-term increase in TH concentration produced by the drug was found to follow ontogenetic variations. It becomes significant around the middle of the second week after birth and gradually increases until the 24th day of postnatal development, indicating a maturation of the mechanisms involved in the inducing effect.