The latest issue of Physiological Reports has now closed. A collaboration between The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society, the journal offers the highest quality peer review and is proudly open access.

Below are the ‘Editor’s Choice’ articles for this issue:

 Inhibitory collaterals in genetically identified medium spiny neurons in mouse primary corticostriatal cultures
Rupa R. Lalchandani and Stefano Vicini
Summary: D1 and D2 MSNs extend inhibitory collaterals that shape neuron firing and striatal output. Using BAC transgenics and paired whole-cell recordings, we describe a paradigm that allows for the simultaneous identification of both MSN subtypes and the targeted study of MSN collaterals.

 Cardiac power integral: a new method for monitoring cardiovascular performance
Audun E. Rimehaug, Oddveig Lyng, Dag O. Nordhaug, Lasse Løvstakken, Petter Aadahl and Idar Kirkeby-Garstad
Summary: The continuous product of aortic flow and aortic pressure is the cardiac power curve. The time integral of this curve is the cardiac power integral, and represents the energy transferred from the heart to the aorta. Using a porcine model, we have validated a system for acquiring the cardiac power integral, and found a strong correlation between the cardiac power integral and stroke work across multiple different loading and contractility conditions.

 Renal effects of a novel endogenous natriuretic agent xanthurenic acid 8-o-?-d-glucoside in rats
Aaron Hoffman, Marina Okun-Gurevich, Elena Ovcharenko, Ilia Goltsman, Tony Karram, Cristopher Cain, Zaid Abassi and Joseph Winaver
Summary: Xanthurenic glucoside is a new endogenous mild natriuretic/diuretic agent acting on amiloride-sensitive renal epithelial sodium channels. In addition, the in vivo natriuretic effects are partially mediated by NO-dependent mechanisms.

 Vascular effects of deletion of melanocortin-4 receptors in rats
David W. Stepp, Christabell C. Osakwe, Eric J. Belin de Chantemele and James D. Mintz
Summary: Obesity causes hypertension, but links remain incompletely understood. Prior studies have suggested that metabolic signals that target melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4R)-expressing neurons in the brain play an important role in linking weight gain to blood pressure. In this study, we demonstrate that in rats genetically devoid of MC4R receptors, morbid obesity fails to produce increases in blood pressure, providing further evidence that MC4R are an important link between increased weight and hypertension.

The journal recently published its 100th article. Find out more about the first 100 articles here.

You can submit your article to Physiological Reports using the online submission site. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

The latest issue of Physiological Reports has now closed. The journal is a collaboration between The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society, and is therefore in a unique position to serve the international physiology community through quick time to publication while upholding a quality standard of sound research that constitutes a useful contribution to the field. 

Below are the ‘editor’s choice’ articles for this issue:

 The spontaneous electrical activity of neurons in leech ganglia
Majid Moshtagh-Khorasani, Evan W. Miller and Vincent Torre
Summary: Using the newly developed voltage-sensitive dye VF2.1.Cl, we monitored simultaneously the spontaneous electrical activity, which is segregated in three main groups: neurons comprising Retzius cells, Anterior Pagoda, and Annulus Erector motoneurons firing almost periodically, a group of neurons firing sparsely and randomly, and a group of neurons firing bursts of spikes of varying durations. These three groups interact and influence each other only weakly.

 The manipulation of strain, when stress is controlled, modulates in vivo tendon mechanical properties but not systemic TGF-?1 levels
Gerard E. McMahon, Christopher I. Morse, Adrian Burden, Keith Winwood and Gladys L. Onambélé-Pearson
Summary: This study describes the manner in which tendon strain during chronic loading/unloading affects tendon dimensional and mechanical properties, as well as muscle function. We also determine the degree of association of these adaptations with a growth factor that has pleiotropic effects on muscle and tendon transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?1). We demonstrate that the impact of strain on the muscle–tendon complex (over and above the absolute stress imposed on this unit) optimizes the magnitude of improvement in both tendon and muscular functional characteristics.

 Effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibition in an animal model of experimental asthma: a matter of dose, route, and time
Michael Stephan, Hendrik Suhling, Jutta Schade, Mareike Wittlake, Tihana Tasic, Christian Klemann, Reinhard Pabst, Marie-Charlot Jurawitz, Kerstin A. Raber, Heinz G. Hoymann, Armin Braun, Thomas Glaab, Torsten Hoffmann, Andreas Schmiedl and Stephan von Hörsten
Summary: This article focuses on alteration of asthmatic allergic reaction using a CD26/DPP4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) inhibitor in a rat model of asthmatic inflammation. This study proves different effects on clinical signs and cellular inflammation depending on the route of drug administration (chronic via drinking water or inhaled). Aerosolization of the DPP4 inhibitor simultaneously with the allergen significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness and ameliorated histopathological signs compared to controls.

 Renal angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression and associated hypertension in rats with minimal SHR nuclear genome
Jason A. Collett, Anne K. Hart, Elaine Patterson, Julie Kretzer and Jeffrey L. Osborn
Summary: Angiotensin II (AII) and its receptors play a major role in the physiology and pathophysiology of blood pressure control. Analysis of different components of the renin–angiotensin system and their heritability was evaluated in a “conplastic” rodent model. AII type 1 receptors, but not other aspects of renin–angiotensin system (RAS) were elevated in the kidneys of hypertensive animals, suggesting a heritable influence of RAS contributing significantly to hypertension.

The jouranl recently published its 100th article. Find out more about the first 100 articles here.

You can submit your article to Physiological Reports using the online submission site. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

We are delighted to announce that Physiological Reports has now published its first 100 articles! The journal opened for submissions in March 2013 and has received a large number of strong submissions. The journal is a collaboration between the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society and publishes the highest quality research across basic, translational and clinical physiology and allied disciplines.

The 100th article published in Physiological Reports is:
Cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis-2 is a critical regulator of apoptosis in airway epithelial cells treated with asthma-related inflammatory cytokines by Eugene Roscioli, Rhys Hamon, Richard E. Ruffin, Susan Lester, Peter Zalewski

The journal has published across a range of subject areas including the ones below. Click on the wordcloud to access more information about our first 100 papers, including the top read articles and the editor’s choice selection.

Editor-in-Chief, Susan Wray says, “I have been delighted with both the quality and subject range in our first 100 published papers.  It made choosing the editor’s top picks pleasurable but very hard!  I am also thrilled with how visually attractive the articles are – all credit to the hard working production staff. Physiological Reports set out to be inclusive  and accept the best physiology irrespective of fashions and perceived impacts.  Take a look at our papers and you will see we are delivering on this. Physiological Reports is a society supported effort that is improving the publication landscape for physiologists and the teams they work with. If you do not see your research area featured, do something about it – submit a paper! You will be joining the  hundreds of other authors who have already discovered the professional service we offer to authors.”

We look forward to working with the editors, the societies and our authors on the next 100 papers and beyond!

The latest issue of Physiological Reports has now closed. This is the fourth issue of this new open access journal and submissions continue to be strong. We have now accepted 100 articles in the journal. Authors are encouraged to continue to submit their papers across all areas of physiology to this journal using the online submission site.

Below are the ‘editor’s choice’ articles for this issue:

Unique growth pattern of human mammary epithelial cells induced by polymeric nanoparticles
Rajaa Hussien, Bertrand H. Rihn, Housam Eidi, Carole Ronzani, Olivier Joubert, Luc Ferrari, Oscar Vazquez, Daniela Kaufer and George A. Brooks

   Summary: We describe how nanoparticles can be used to draw serum growth factors to cell surfaces.

Obese melanocortin-4 receptor-deficient rats exhibit augmented angiogenic balance and vasorelaxation during pregnancy
Frank T. Spradley, Ana C. Palei and Joey P. Granger

 Summary: Obese normal pregnant melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) deficient (+/?) rats compared to lean MC4R+/+ rats have similar placental levels of angiogenic (VEGF, A) and antiangiogenic (sFlt-1, B) factors and comparable angiogenic balance (C). However, white adipose tissue from obese normal pregnant rats have greater VEGF (D), sFlt-1 (E), and angiogenic balance (F). These data indicate that white adipose tissue is an important source of angiogenic factors in normal pregnant, obese animals.

Candidate genes for limiting cholestatic intestinal injury identified by gene expression profiling
Samuel M. Alaish, Jennifer Timmons, Alexis Smith, Marguerite S. Buzza, Ebony Murphy, Aiping Zhao, Yezhou Sun, Douglas J. Turner, Terez Shea-Donahue, Toni M. Antalis, Alan Cross and Susan G. Dorsey

Evidence for centrally induced cholinergic vasodilatation in skeletal muscle during voluntary one-legged cycling and motor imagery in humans
Kei Ishii, Kanji Matsukawa, Nan Liang, Kana Endo, Mitsuhiro Idesako, Hironobu Hamada, Kazumi Ueno and Tsuyoshi Kataoka

The latest issue of Physiological Reports has now closed. The issue contains over 30 articles of cutting edge research in Physiology and related disciplines. This is the third issue of this new open access journal and we are delighted by the strength and quantity of submissions so far. The journal graced the publication fee for the first 100 articles which were accepted. 100 articles have now been accepted since our launch in March.

Authors are encouraged to continue to submit their papers to this journal using the online submission site.

The Editor’s Choice papers for this issue are below:

Comparative differential proteomic profiles of nonfailing and failing hearts after in vivo thoracic aortic constriction in mice overexpressing FKBP12.6
Miresta Prévilon, Morgane Le Gall, Philippe Chafey, Christian Federeci, Mylène Pezet, Guilhem Clary, Cédric Broussard, Guillonneau François, Jean-Jacques Mercadier and Patricia Rouet-Benzineb
Summary: This two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis proteomic study on pressure overload (PO)–induced cardiac remodeling and heart failure includes the impact of FKBP12.6 over-expression and differentiation of genders. Additionally, differential protein expressions were identified in mice with congestive heart failure (H) compared to non-congested mice (C) and to their respective sham-operated controls-(S), resulting in a total number of 12 individual mouse groups. Bioinformatic analyses showed a predictive huntingtin interactome that is indicative of PO-induced deleterious events in pathological hypertrophy (C) and of the transition to heart failure (H).

Effect of simvastatin in the autonomic system is dependent on the increased gain/sensitivity of the baroreceptors
Edson D. Moreira, Cristiano T. Mostarda, Ivana C. Moraes-Silva, Janaina B. Ferreira, Fernando dos Santos, Silvia Lacchini, Kátia De Angelis, Bruno Rodrigues and Maria Cláudia Irigoyen
Summary: A number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain the pleiotropic effect of statin therapy to reduce sympathetic outflow in cardiovascular disease. The data in this articles suggest that the reduction of sympathetic outflow in hypertension by simvastatin treatment may be triggered by structural changes in the carotid arteries and increased BRS in response to an improvement of the baroreceptors discharge and consequently of the afferent pathway of the baroreflex arch.

Endocrine rhythms in the brown bear (Ursus arctos): Evidence supporting selection for decreased pineal gland size
Jasmine V. Ware, O. Lynne Nelson, Charles T. Robbins, Patrick A. Carter, Brice A. J. Sarver and Heiko T. Jansen
Summary: Plasma melatonin in the brown bear varies with daylength but is present at exceedingly low concentrations. The pineal gland, a major source of melatonin, in the bear is significantly smaller, relative to brain size, than other mammals based on phylogenetic analysis. Cortisol concentrations also varied with daylength.

Podocalyxin regulates pronephric glomerular development in zebrafish
Koichiro Ichimura, Rebecca Powell, Tomomi Nakamura, Hidetake Kurihara, Tatsuo Sakai and Tomoko Obara
Summary: Expression of podocalyxin mRNA in developing pronephric glomerulus. podocalyxin mRNA is detected by in situ hybridization in the paired glomerular primordia at 24 and 34 hpf. Glomerular primordia fuse at the midline to form a glomerulus by 2 dpf, and podocalyxin expression continues in the glomerulus to 2 and 3 dpf.

All the articles in this, and all issues are free to read, download and share.
Visit the website to read all the articles as they publish.

Physiological Reports has now closed its latest issue. Below are the articles which have been highlighted by Editor-in-Chief Susan Wray from this issue:

 The distribution of the preferred directions of the ON–OFF direction selective ganglion cells in the rabbit retina requires refinement after eye opening
Ya-Chien Chan and Chuan-Chin Chiao
Summary: The present study shows that the preferred directions of selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) at around the time of eye opening are not distinctly segregated but rather are diffusely distributed along four canonical axes. We also demonstrate that the diffuse pattern of preferred direction distribution does not correlate with the directional tuning strength of DSGCs, indicating that the maturations of direction selectivity and preferred direction are independent processes. Our finding indicates that four subtypes of DSGCs undergo significant refinement after eye opening to reach their adult form.

 Decreased stability of erythroblastic islands in integrin ?3-deficient mice
Zhenghui Wang, Olga Vogel, Gisela Kuhn, Max Gassmann and Johannes Vogel
Summary: Erythropoiesis, a quite unique biological process, creates the only a-nucleated cell of our body, the red blood cell (RBC). It crucially requires a specialized microstructure called erythroblastic island (EI) for timing of erythroblast differentiation including extrusion of the nucleus and release of the young RBCs into the circulation. Here we provide new and unexpected data as to a role of integrin ?3 for timing the final detachment of young RBCs from EI. For example membranes of peripheral RBCs of integrin ?3 deficient mice contained calnexin, a chaperone that is normally completely lost during terminal differentiation of reticulocytes prior to their release into the circulation.

 Subcutaneous adipose tissue transplantation in diet-induced obese mice attenuates metabolic dysregulation while removal exacerbates it
Michelle T. Foster, Samir Softic, Jody Caldwell, Rohit Kohli, Annette D. deKloet and Randy J. Seeley
Summary: Leptin (A) and insulin (B) concentrations were significantly increased in all HFD groups, but those with heterotransplantations. Heterotransplantation restored insulin and leptin levels to chow control levels, whereas removal of subcutaneous adipose tissue induced increases greater than HFD control mice. Although hepatic insulin sensitivity was decreased by HFD, heterotransplantation in HFD mice restored hepatic insulin sensitivity to chow controls levels (C). Subcutaneous fat removal in HFD fed mice did not changes hepatic insulin sensitivity. Different letters indicate significance P ? 0.05.

 Portable acoustic myography – a realistic noninvasive method for assessment of muscle activity and coordination in human subjects in most home and sports settings
Adrian P. Harrison, Bente Danneskiold-Samsøe and Else M. Bartels
Summary: Muscle sound gives a local picture of muscles involved in a particular movement and is independent of electrical signals between nerves and muscle fibres. Our aim was to develop a setup for muscle-sound assessment, which could be reliably applied in any local setting. Sound recording was shown to be an easy non-invasive method for assessment of muscle function during movement with the possibility of being applied in most clinical, sports and home settings.

The first 100 articles accepted for publication in the journal are free of charge. There is still time to submit a paper to the journal and have the publication fee waived.
Submit your article here >

Everything about Physiological Reports is different. A collaboration between The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society, the journal offers the highest quality peer review and is proudly open access. Now, here’s your chance to see where it’s taken us, who’s submitted, and the incredible research that we’ve been able to publish so far.

Here are some of the high quality papers which we have published so far:
 Elevated pulmonary arterial pressure and altered expression of Ddah1 and Arg1 in mice lacking cavin-1/PTRF
Karl Swärd, Mardjaneh K. Sadegh, Michiko Mori, Jonas S. Erjefält and Catarina Rippe
Summary: Mutations in caveolin-1 give rise to a heritable form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Novel caveolae proteins have been identified in recent years. Here, we demonstrate that mice lacking cavin-1 develop PAH accompanied by reciprocal changes in Ddah1 and Arg1.

 Enhanced force production in old age is not a far stretch: an investigation of residual force enhancement and muscle architecture
Geoffrey A. Power, Demetri P. Makrakos, Charles L. Rice and Anthony A. Vandervoort
Summary: Ultrasound images from a representative older adult at LONG muscle length showing fascicle length (FL) and angle of pennation (?) measurement at rest, during the isometric reference MVC, and during the isometric steady-state following lengthening.

 Interlimb interactions during bilateral voluntary elbow flexion tasks in chronic hemiparetic stroke
Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Ana Durand-Sanchez, Craig DiTommaso and Sheng Li
Summary: This study found that there existed activation level dependent interactions between the impaired and nonimpaired limbs during bilateral force production tasks with progressive increase of contribution from the impaired side. Motor overflow to the contralateral side was greater on the impaired limb and increased proportionally with the level of activation. These novel findings indicated that, among other compensatory mechanisms, ipsilateral corticospinal projections from the nonlesioned hemisphere play an important role in interlimb interactions in chronic stroke, in addition to unbalanced interhemispheric inhibition.

We would like you to submit your article to Physiological Reports. Authors benefit from:

• Compliance with open access mandates – articles publish under Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) License
• Rapid publication
• Article publication fee waived for first 100 papers
• High standard, rigorous peer review

If you’re looking for a home for your top quality original research focused on any area of basic, translational, and clinical physiology and allied disciplines: