Incerta-thalamic Circuit Controls Nocifensive Behavior via Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptors.

Pain is a source of substantial discomfort. Abnormal activity in both the zona incerta (ZI) and posterior complex of the thalamus (Po) are implicated in neuropathic pain, but their exact roles remain unclear. In particular, the precise cell types and molecular mechanisms of the ZI-Po circuit that regulate nociception are largely uncharacterized. Here, we found that parvalbumin (PV)-positive neuronal projections from the ventral ZI (ZIv) to the Po (ZIv-Po) are critical for promoting nocifensive behaviors, whereas selectively inhibiting ZIv-Po activity reduces nocifensive withdrawal responses. Furthermore, cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1Rs) are expressed specifically at ZIv-Po axon terminals in this circuit, and cannabinoids attenuate nocifensive responses through presynaptic inhibition. Selective inhibition of the ZIv-Po circuit or administration of cannabinoids into the Po are sufficient to ameliorate pathological pain. These findings identify the critical role of the ZIv-Po circuit and its modulation by endocannabinoids in controlling nocifensive behaviors.

Effect of Metal Ions on Cell Growth and Phenol Degradation of a Thermophilic Strain BF80 / 微生物学通报

The effect on the growth and phenol degradation of the thermophilic strain BF80 by seventeen different metal ions were studied. The results showed that the metal ions certainly affected the growth and phenol degradation of the strain BF80. At the concentration of 0.01%,contrasting to the comparison,the growth and phenol degradation of the strain BF80 were restrained intensively by the metal ions of Cu2+,Zn2+,Co2+,Ba2+,Hg2+,Ni2+,Ag+,Al3+. The metal ions of Cr2+ restrained the phenol degradation of BF80 strongly while Cr2+ restrained the growth of BF80 faintly. The metal ions of Sn2+,Fe2+,Fe3+,Pn2+ restrained the growth and phenol degradation of the strain BF80 at a certain concentration,and the effect of inhibition in-creased with the increase of the concentrations of the metal ions. At the low concentration of Mn2+ or Mo2+,the growth and phenol degradation of the strain BF80 were increased,but if the concentration beyond the 0.1%,the growth and phenol degradation of the strain BF80 were inhibited. At the different concentration of Ca2+ or Mg2+,the growth of the strain BF80 were increased and the phenol degradation were accelerated,but the max rate of phenol degradation by BF80 was not influenced obviously. When the medium was added themixture of metal ions of Mo2+ and Mn2+,the strain BF80 grew better,but the rate of the phenol degradation was lower than that of single Mo2+ and Mn2+.