The transient potassium outward current has different roles in modulating the pyloric and gastric mill rhythms in the stomatogastric ganglion

The crustacean stomatogastric nervous system is a classic model for understanding the effects of modulating ionic currents and synapses at both the cell and network levels. The stomatogastric ganglion in this system contains two distinct central pattern generators: a slow gastric mill network that generates flexible rhythmic outputs (8-20 s) and is often silent, and a fast pyloric network that generates more consistent rhythmic outputs (0.5-2 s) and is always active in vitro. Different ionic conductances contribute to the properties of individual neurons and therefore to the overall dynamics of the pyloric and gastric mill networks. However, the contributions of ionic currents to different dynamics between the pyloric and gastric mill networks are not well understood. The goal of this study is to evaluate how changes in outward potassium current (I _A) in the stomatogastric ganglion affect the dynamics of the pyloric and gastric mill rhythms by interfering with normal I _A activity. We bath-applied the specific I _A blocker 4-aminopyridine to reduce I _A's effect in the stomatogastric ganglion in vitro and evaluated quantitatively the changes in both rhythms. We found that blocking I _A in the stomatogastric ganglion alters the synchronization between pyloric neurons, and consistently activates the gastric mill rhythm in quiescent preparations.

Analytical methods used in the United Kingdom Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme for the detection of animal poisoning by pesticides

The United Kingdom Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) investigates cases of suspected poisoning of wildlife, honey bees, and companion animals by pesticides. Together with field inquiries and veterinary post-mortem examinations, the analytical procedures presented here provide a comprehensive approach to the investigation of these cases. The paper covers selection of animal tissues for analysis and methods suitable for the analysis of honey bees and for various types of bait. Seven multiresidue methods cover around 130 pesticides, and methods are also described for a further 8 compounds. These methods are currently used on samples submitted to the Scheme in England and Wales.

Evidence that adenosine triphosphate or a related nucleotide is the transmitter substance released by non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves in the gut. 1970

Stimulation of the vagal non-adrenergic inhibitory innervation caused the release of adenosine and inosine into vascular perfusates from the stomachs of guinea-pigs and toads. Stimulation of portions of Auerbach's plexus isolated from turkey gizzard caused the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP). ATP, added to solutions perfused through the toad stomach vasculature, was broken down to adenosine, inosine and adenine. Of a series of purine and pyrimidine derivatives tested for inhibitory activity on the guinea-pig isolated taenia coli, ATP and ADP were the most potent. ATP caused inhibition of twelve other gut preparations previously shown to contain non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves. The inhibitory action of ATP was not prevented by tetrodotoxin. Quinidine antagonized relaxations of the guinea-pig taenia coli caused by catecholamines or adrenergic nerve stimulation. Higher concentrations of quinidine antagonized relaxations caused by ATP or non-adrenergic inhibitory nerve stimulation. When tachyphylaxis to ATP had been produced in the rabbit ileum, there was a consistent depression of the responses to non-adrenergic inhibitory nerve stimulation but not of responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation. It is suggested that ATP or a related nucleotide is the transmitter substance released by the non-adrenergic inhibitory innervation of the gut.

FMRFamide effects on spontaneous and induced contractions of the anterior gizzard in Aplysia

The effects of FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2), YGG-FMRFamide (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2), and Met-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) on the isolated Aplysia anterior gizzard were examined. (i) FMRFamide inhibits spontaneous gut activity. While YGG-FMRFamide also inhibits spontaneous activity it is less potent than FMRFamide. Met-enkephalin does not affect spontaneous gut activity. (ii) FMRFamide inhibits the excitatory response of acetylcholine on both the anterior gizzard of Aplysia and the isolated stomach region of Navanax. (iii) Neither FMRFamide, YGG-FMRFamide, Met-enkephalin, nor acetylcholine stimulated the activity of adenylate cyclase in the Aplysia anterior gizzard.

Formation of gizzard erosion-inducing substance in heated casein-histidine mixture

Formation of a toxic substance inducing gizzard erosion (GE) was examined by using mainly a casein-histidine mixture as a simple model of fish meal. When a casein-histidine mixture was heated at 135 degrees C for three or five hours or at 160 degrees C for one hour, it induced severe GE. Changes in pH of histidine solution seemed to have little effect on the production of the toxic substance. Addition of a heated mixture of 30 mg of histidine and 150 g of casein (per kg of diet) failed to induce GE. A mixture of 750 mg of histidine and 150 g of casein was enough to produce a maximal toxicity. A heated mixture of histidine and isolated soybean protein, ovalbumin or gluten induced severe GE. A heated mixture of gelatin and histidine had a somewhat milder toxicity. On the other hand, zein and yeast treated in the same way showed only a slight toxicity. Two kinds of pre-treatment of casein before the addition of histidine were proved to be ineffective to inhibit the formation of the toxic substance. The toxicity of heated casein-histamine was rather lower than that of heated casein-histidine. Studies were also made on releasing of the toxic substance from heated casein-histidine into the soluble fraction by acidic hydrolysis and precipitation of this substance at acidic pH.