Electrical properties of cochlear efferent (olivocochlear) neurons were investigated with the use of the whole cell patch recording technique in slice preparations of the neonatal rat (postnatal days 5-11). Lateral and medial olivocochlear (LOC and MOC, respectively) neurons were retrogradely labeled with a fluorescent tracer injected into the cochlea. Stained neurons were identified under a fl...

Plateau potentials can be elicited in nigral GABAergic neurons by injection of 500 ms depolarizing current pulses from hyperpolarized holding potentials in whole-cell recordings in vitro. In approximately one-third of these neurons, plateau potentials were observed under control conditions and could be elicited in the remaining neurons after blocking potassium conductances. Application of the L...

Many mutation detection techniques rely upon recognition of mismatched base pairs in DNA hetero-duplexes. Potassium permanganate in combination with tetraethylammonium chloride (TEAC) is capable of chemically modifying mismatched thymidine residues. The DNA strand can then be cleaved at that point by treatment with piperidine. The reactivity of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in TEAC toward mism...

Inotropic interventions were compared with respect to their maximum effect on force of contraction in rat myocardium to identify limiting steps in calcium handling. Peak force, sarcomere length, and action potentials were measured in thin ventricular trabeculae. Relevant control conditions were stimulation frequency, 0.2 Hz; [Ca2+]o, 1 mM; [K+]o, 5 mM; [Na+]o, 150 mM. The inotropic intervention...

Controlling the structure and morphology of porous electrode materials is an effective strategy for realizing a high surface area and efficient paths for ion diffusion. Moreover, excellent electrical conductivity can significantly decrease the internal resistance of an electrode by the formation of a conductive network and facilitate the application of electrostatic charges, which favors the ac...