Addiction involves long-lasting maladaptive changes including development of disruptive drug-stimuli associations. Nicotine-induced neuroplasticity underlies the development of tobacco addiction but also, in regions such as the hippocampus, the ability of this drug to enhance cognitive capabilities. Here, we propose that the genetic locus of susceptibility to nicotine addiction, the CHRNA5/A3/B...

Effects of thimerosal and its metabolites, ethyl mercury and thiosalicylate, on the expression of metallothionein (MT) mRNAs in mouse cerebellum microglia cell line, C8-B4 cells, were studied. The level of MT-1 mRNA significantly decreased at early hours and recovered time-dependently 24h after thimerosal was added to the C8-B4 cells. However, MT-2 and MT-3 mRNA expressions did not change from ...

Five pairs of neurones, R(L)-B1, R(L)-B2, R(L)-B3, R(L)-B4 and R(L)-B5, controlling buccal muscle movement, were identified in the buccal ganglia of the African giant snail Achatina fulica Ferussac. All these neurones fired during the radula retraction phase of rhythmic buccal activity. Neurones Bl, B2, B4 and B5 made direct excitatory connections to the radula retractor, and Bl, B2, B3 and B5 ...

Leukotriene (LT)B4 in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been reported to be elevated in airway inflammation. The origin of leukotrienes in EBC is, however, not established. The aims of this study are to measure LTB4 levels in EBC collected in two challenges characterised by a strong neutrophilic airway inflammation and to compare LTB4 levels in EBC with levels in sputum and saliva. LTB4 and a...

We investigated the properties and regulation of P2X receptors in immortalized C8-B4 cells of cerebellar microglial origin. Resting C8-B4 cells expressed virtually no functional P2X receptors, but largely increased functional expression of P2X4 receptors within 2-6 h of entering the activated state. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we found that P2X4 transcripts were increased during ...

The plasma of uremic patients usually contains high concentrations of the so-called middle molecules (molecular mass, 300 to 1500 Da), which exert various toxic effects. Among these numerous substances, only one, named peak b4-2, has been correlated with uremic neuropathy. We describe our improvement of a two-stage chromatographic method, gel permeation followed by anion-exchange chromatography...

The relationships between the kinetochore and checkpoint control remain unresolved. Here, we report the characterization of the in vivo behavior of Cdc20 and Mad2 and the relevant spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) functions in the neuroblasts of a Drosophila Mps1 weak allele (ald (B4-2) ). ald (B4-2) third instar larvae brain samples contain only around 16% endogenous Mps1 protein, and the SAC...

Retrofitting measures in old buildings aimed at reducing energy usage have become important procedures meant to counteract the effects of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. The aim this study is evaluate usage, thermal comfort, CO2 emissions an building by changing parameters such as orientation, shading systems, location, low film application, alternative supply form a geothermal hea...