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.
