Voltage- and Use-dependent Effect of 7-chlor-benzylte-trahydropalmatine on Sodium Currents in Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocytes

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was employed to obtain information about the voltage-dependence and kinetics of interaction of 7-chlor-benzylte-trahydropalmatine (7-Cl-BTHP) with cardiac sodium channels. 7-Cl-BTHP (30 mol/L) significantly decreased the peak sodium current (from 7. 8±1. 8 nA to 5. 3±1. 4 nA, P<0. 01, n=5), without producing a shift of the current-voltage curve. It shifted the inactivation curves of sodium current to hyperpolarized potentials, and the V(0.5) was shifted from - (82. 5±2. 5) mV to - (95±2.4) mV (P <0. 05, n=4). 7-Cl-BTHP produced a significant use-dependent effect that was proportional to the duration of the voltage step. In addition, 7-Cl-BTHP slowed the recovery of sodium channel from inactivation, which could explain its use-dependent effects on sodium current. The characteristics of 7-Cl-BTHP blockage suggest that this agent binds preferentially to inactivated sodium channels.

Variations of temperature, salinity and current in the southern tidal passage of the Hangzhou Bay, China

Field surveys covering a spring-neap tidal period were conducted to investigate the characteristics of tidal dynamics within a curved channel in the southern Hangzhou Bay, China. The channel has a maximum depth of more than 100 m with an average tidal range of 2.5 m, serving as the main tidal passage in the southern part of the Hangzhou Bay. Water salinity, temperature and velocity data were collected from the ship-based transects and mooring measurements. During flood tide, the tidal current intrudes into the Hangzhou Bay through the northern side of the channel with a maximum velocity of about 2 m/s, while retreats through the southern side during ebb tide with a maximum velocity of 1.8 m/s. Due to the pressure, density gradients, the Coriolis force and centrifugal effect, a lateral exchange flow is generated as the tidal current relaxes from flood to ebb. Salinity and temperature data show that the water in the channel is weakly stratified during both spring and neap tides in summer time.However, mixing in the middle region will be enhanced by the lateral circulation. Mooring data indicate that the temperature and salinity are varying at a frequency similar to tidal current but higher than sea level oscillation.Our results support the hypothesis that the high frequency salinity and temperature variations could be generated by combination of the tidal current and the lateral exchanging flow.

The Effect of Levobunolol Hydrochloride on the Calcium andPotassium Channels in Isolated Ventricular Myocytes of Guinea Pig

The effects of levobunolol hydrochlorid (Bun) on the type L calciumchannel currents (Ica) and delayed rectifier potassium channel currents (Ik) in isolated ventricular myocytes of guinea pig were studied by using patch clamp wholecell recording techniques. The results were showed that: 1) Bun caused a dosedependent decrease in Ica and a dose-dependent increase in Ik of the ventricular myocytes.The threshold concentrations of Bun for Ica and Ik were 10-8 mol/L and10-7 mol/L respectively. The maximum effective concentration of Bun for both Ica and Ik was 3 × 10-5 mol/L, and half-maximal concentration was 3 × 10-6 mol/L;2 ) Ik was blocked by 2× 10-6mol/L tetraethylammonium (TEA). A concentration of 3 × 10-6 mol/L Bun showed a decreasing effect on the Ica as revealed by the current-voltage relationship curve, i. e., Bun caused an elevation of the curve; 3)When Ica was blocked by 2 × 10-6 mol/L Isoptin (Verapamil), at a concentrationof 3 × 106- mol/L Bun showed an increasing effect on Ik and the effect could be blocked by TEA. The above-mentioned results indicated that Bun had an inhibito-ry effect on Ica and a fascilitatory effect on Ik The results suggested that themolecular mechanisms of antihypertensive, heart rate slowing and β-receptorblocking effects of Bun might be due to decrease of Ica and increase of Ik.

High-Performance In0.23Ga0.77As Channel MOSFETs with High Current Ratio Ion/Ioff Grown on Semi-insulating GaAs Substrates by MOCVD

We demonstrate high-performance In0.23 Ga0.77 As channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors （ MOS- FETs） with high on-current to off-current （Ion/Ioff） ratio grown on semi-insulating GaAs wafers by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition （MOCVD）. The 2μm channel-length devices exhibit a peak extrinsic transeonductance of 150 mS/mm and a drain current up to 500 mA/mm. The maximum effective mobility is 1680 cm2/Vs extracted by the split C-V method. Furthermore, the Ion/Ioff ratio is significantly improved from approximately 4.5 × 10^3 up to approximately 4.32 × 10^4 by controlling the etch thickness of In0.49Ga0.51P, The high drain current and high Ion/Ioff ratio of the In0.23Ga0.77As channel MOSFETs are achieved due to the high effective mobility and the low gate leakage current density.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor decreased T-type Ca^(2+) channel current through activating Src

Aims T-type Ca2+ current(ICaT)plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation（AF）.The present study sought to investigate the role of Macrophage migration inhibitory factor（MIF）,a pleiotropic cytokine,in the regulation of T-type Ca2+ channel in atrium myocytes.Methods We used whole-cell voltage-clamp technique and biochemical assays to study the regulation and expression of ICa,T in mouse atrium myocytes（HL-1 cells）.Results Serum MIF concentrations was slightly increased in patients with AF compared to sinus rhythm（SR） controls.In cultured HL-1 cells, significant amounts of MIF were produced in response to hydrogen peroxide（H2O2）,but not AngiotensinⅡ（AngⅡ）. Mouse recombinant MIF（rMIF）（20 or 40 nM,24 h） suppressed peak ICa,T by-38%and-60%in a concentration-dependent manner,impaired the voltage-dependent activation of ICa,T,and down-regulated of TCC alG mRNA.Src inhibitors genistein and PPl significantly enhanced ICaT.The depression of ICa,T induced by rMIF could be reversed by genistein and PP1.Conclusions MIFis involved in the pathogenesis of AF,probably by decreasing ICa,T through impairment of the channel function and activation of c-Src kinases in atrium myocytes.

Anomalous Channel Length Dependence of Hot-Carrier-Induced Saturation Drain Current Degradation in n-Type MOSFETs

The dependencies of hot-carrier-induced degradations on the effective channel length Lch,eff are investigated for n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor （MOSFETs）. Our experiments find that, with decreasing Lch,eff, the saturation drain current （Iasat ） degradation is unexpectedly alleviated. The further study demonstrates that the anomalous Lch,eff dependence of Idsat degradation is induced by the increasing influence of the substrate current degradation on the lazar degradation with Lch,eff reducing.

Effects of Intrathecally Administerd NaV1.8 Antisense Oligonucleotide on the Expression of Sodium Channel mRNA in Dorsal Root Ganglion

Neuropathic pain has been hypothesized to be the result of aberrant expression and function of sodium channels at the site of injury. To investigate the effects of NaV1.8 antisense oligonucleotide on the expression of sodium channel mRNA in dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons in chronic neuropathic pain. 24 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200--260 g were anesthetized with the intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg· kg^-1 choral hydrate. The CCI model was made by loose ligation of sciatic nerve trunk by 4--0 chromic gut. The mechanical and thermal pain threshold were measured before operation and 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 days after operation. A PE-10 catheter was implanted in subarachnoid space at lumbar region. On the 7th postoperative day the animals were randomly divided into 4 groups. The drugs were injected intrathecally twice a day for 5 consecutive days in group 2--4. The animals were decapitated 14 days after the surgery. The L4--L6 DRG of the operated side was removed and crushed, and total RNA was extracted with Trizol reagent. The contralateral side was used as control. The change of NaV1.8 sodium channel transcripts was determined by RT-PCR. Pain threshold was significantly lowered after CCI as compared with that in control group and was elevated 3 days after antisense oligonucleotide injection. Sensory neuron specific TTX-R sodium channel NaV1.8 transcript was down-regulated after antisense oligonucleotide injection at the dosage of 45 μg as compared with that in CCI group （P〈0.01）, and it was even greater at the dosage of 90 μg. The intrathecally injected NaV1.8 antisense oligonucleotide can reduce the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia partially by downregulating the SNS transcript expression.

Characteristics and analysis of the geomagnetic variations in regions around the Qiongzhou Strait

A measuring profile was set up in both sides of the Qiongzhou strait to carry out the simultaneous observation of three component geomagnetic variation. The observed synchronous geomagnetic vertical variations of short periods were reversed on the both sides of the strait. It means that there is a abnormal concentration of electric current in the area. Spatial wave number domain analysis was performed by Sompi spectral analysis for the spatial distribution and the internal and the external parts of the geomagnetic variation field were separated. Inversion of the internal field was carried out by generalized inverse matrix inversion based on singular value decomposition and the distribution of undergrond current density was obtained. The discussion suggests that this abnormal current concentration comes from current channelling effect in the Quaternary sediment in this region.

Connexin 43 co-locolizes and regulates the L type calcium channel current in atrial myocytes

Background Atrial fibrillation （AF） is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia without effective treatment. AF is associated with atrial conduction disturbances caused by electrical and / or structural remodeling. But the role of connexin （Cx） 43 in the regulation of L type calcium channel （LCC） remains unclear. We hypothesized that Cx 43 might co-localize and regulate the L type calcium channel current （ICa, D. Methods Real-time PCR and whole-cell patch clamp were used to detect the expression of LCC lc subunit and the cur rent density of Ica, L, before and after Cx 43 knocking down respectively. The co-localization of Cx 43 with LCC was investigated by co-immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy. Results Knocking down of Cx43 significantly inhibited the current density of ICa, L through decreasing the gene expression of LCC alc in cul tured atrium-derived myocytes （HL-1 cells）. Cx43 co-localized with LCC eric subunit in atrial myocytes. Conclusions Cx 43 regulates the ICa, L in atrial myoctyes through LCC, representing a potential pathogenic mechanism in atrial arrhythmias.

Study of the characteristics of rocket-triggered lightning energetic radiation and its relationships with the discharge parameters

Through the use of the independently developed Thunderstorm Energetic Radiation Observation System(TEROS),observation experiments of rocket-triggered lightning energetic radiation(RLER)were conducted for the first time at the Field Experiment Base on Lightning Sciences,China Meteorological Administration from May 2021 to July 2021.A total of 17 X-ray bursts were detected during all of the 22 leader/return strokes.In this study,the energy,time,and direction characteristics of Xray burst and its relationships with the corresponding discharge parameters,such as the return stroke peak current,half-peak width,rise time,and interstroke time interval,as well as the associated physical processes,are analyzed and discussed.Results showed that energetic radiation is ubiquitous in triggered lightning and is closely related to the last downward leader phase before the return stroke.The photon energies were concentrated in tens to hundreds of ke V,and the average duration of RLER was approximately 27μs.Moreover,RLER exhibited directional property inconsistent with a vertical downward beam,which may be related to the development orientation of the lightning leader.The intensity of RLER was positively correlated with the return stroke peak current,indicating that it directly depends on the lightning intensity,but it would be modulated by the lightning channel conditions.The 17 RLER events showed 3 different time distribution patterns,namely,discrete,continuous,and discrete/continuous pulses,of which the discharge parameters were also different.The discrete pulse event had the longest duration,a small half-peak width,and a long interstroke time interval.Furthermore,all of these events occurred during the last several leader/return strokes.The continuous pulse event had a short duration and a small peak current.The discrete/continuous pulse event had a moderate duration and a large half-peak width and peak current.These three distinct time distribution patterns may be determined by different development types of lightning leaders.Our observations support the leader high-field runaway mechanism.