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.