Effects of L-arginine and N~ω-nitro-L-arginine methylester on learning and memory and α7 nAChR expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats

Nitric oxide （NO） is a novel type of neurotransmitter that is closely associated with synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. In the present study, we assessed the effects of Larginine and NnitroL arginine methylester （LNAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor） on learning and memory. Rats were assigned to three groups receiving intracerebroventricular injections of LArg （the NO precursor）, LNAME, or 0.9% NaCI （control）, once daily for seven con secutive days. Twelve hours after the last injection, they underwent an electric shockpaired Y maze test. Twentyfour hours later, the rats＇ memory of the safe illuminated arm was tested. After that, the levels of NO and a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor （a7 nAChR） in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were assessed using an NO assay kit, and immunohistochemistry and Western blots, respectively. We found that, compared to controls, LArgtreated rats received fewer foot shocks and made fewer errors to reach the learning criterion, and made fewer errors during the memorytesting session. In contrast, LNAMEtreated rats received more foot shocks and made more errors than controls to reach the learning criterion, and made more errors during the memorytesting session. In parallel, NO content in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was higher in LArgtreated rats and lower inLNAME rats, compared to controls. Similarly, （]7 nAChR immunoreactivity and protein expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were higher in LArgtreated rats and lower in LNAME rats, compared to controls. These results suggest that the modulation of NO content in the brain correlates with a7 nAChR distribution and expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, as well as with learning and memory performance in the Ymaze.

Fabricate organic thermoelectric modules use modified PCBM and PEDOT：PSS materials

In this paper, we fabricated an organic thermo- electric （TE） device with modified [6,6]-phenyl-C61- butyric acid methyl ester （PCBM） and poly（3,4-ethylene- dioxythiophene） polystyrene sulfonate （PEDOT：PSS）; the device showed good stability in air condition. For n-leg, PCBM were doped with acridine orange base （3,6-bis （dimethylamino）acridine） （AOB） and 1,3-dimethyl-2,3- dihydro- 1H-benzoimidazole （N-DMBI）. Co-doped PCBM utilizes synergistic effects of AOB and N-DMBI, resulting in excellent electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient values reaching 2 S/cm and -500 μV/K, respectively, at room temperature with dopant molar ratio of 0.11. P-type leg used modified PEDOT：PSS. Based on modified PCBM and PEDOT：PSS materials, we fabricated a TE module device with 48 p-type and n-type thermocouple and tested their output voltage, short current, and power. Output voltage measured -0.82 V, and generated power reached almost 945 μW with 75 K temperature gradient at 453 K hot-side temperature. These promising results showed potential of modified PEDOT and PCBM as TE materials for application in device optimization.

EFFECT OF NOREPINEPHRINE ON BLASTOCYST IMPLANTATION IN RATS

Catecholamiue is a kind of neurotransmitter, in which the norepinephrine (NE) has been proved to play an important role in regulation of reproduction. It is reported that the NE is present in the uteri of rats, rabbits, guinea-pigs, sheep and hu-