Effects of ZD7288, a hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel blocker, on term-pregnant rat uterine contractility in vitro.

The uterus is a myogenic organ that is able to produce discrete spontaneous action potentials and contractions without any stimuli. Myometrial excitability is governed by ion channels including Ca+2 and K+ channels, but whether or not other channels such as hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, which play an important role in regulating cellular excitability, are also involved has not been reported in uterine smooth muscles. The aim of the present study was to examine whether blocking HCN channels with a specific blocker ZD7288 would modulate the uterine contractility in a rat model. Using longitudinal uterine strips from term-pregnant rats, the effects of varying concentrations of ZD7288 (50 µM, 100 µM, and 200 µM) were examined on uterine contractions generated spontaneously or by oxytocin (5 nmol/L) and on uterine strips depolarized by high-KCl (60 mM/L), or activated by L-type Ca2+ channels agonist (Bay K8644; 1 µM). Application of ZD7288 at concentrations of 200 µM and 100 µM, but not 50 µM, significantly decreased the amplitude of spontaneous uterine contractions. In addition, 200 µM of ZD7288 significantly reduced the force of contractions induced by oxytocin with a pronounced reduction while the tissues were depolarized by high-KCl solution, or activated by Bay K8644. The present study provides pharmacological evidence suggesting that pregnant uterine contractility is modulated by HCN channels and that these channels might represent a therapeutic target for controlling premature activation of uterine activity associated with preterm labor.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of plant growth promoting Bacillus strains isolated from extreme environments of Eastern Algeria.

This report is to our knowledge the first to study plant growth promotion and biocontrol characteristics of Bacillus isolates from extreme environments of Eastern Algeria. Seven isolates of 14 (50 %) were screened for their ability to inhibit growth of some phytopathogenic fungi on PDA and some roots exudates. The bacteria identification based on 16S r-RNA and gyrase-A gene sequence analysis showed that 71 % of the screened isolates belonged to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and the rest were closely related to B. atrophaeus and B. mojavensis. Most of them had high spore yields (22 × 10(8)-27 × 10(8) spores/ml). They produced protease and cellulase cell wall-degrading enzymes while the chitinase activity was only observed in the B. atrophaeus (6SEL). A wide variety of lipopeptides homologous was detected by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis. Interestingly, some additional peaks with new masses were characterized, which may correspond to new fengycin classes. The isolates produced siderophores and indole-3- acetic acid phytohormone. The greenhouse experiment using a naturally infested soil with Sclerotonia sclerotiorum showed that the B. atrophaeus (6SEL) significantly increased the size of the chickpea plants and reduced the stem rot disease (P < 0.05). These results suggest that these isolates may be used further as bio-inoculants to improve crop systems.

Differential input to dorsal horn dorsal spinocerebellar tract neurons in mid- and low-lumbar segments from upper cervical spinal cord in the cat.

Previous studies showed that ipsilaterally projecting dorsal horn dorsal spinocerebellar tract (dh-DSCT) neurons located outside Clarke's column in mid- and caudal-lumbar segments of the spinal cord receive different afferent inputs. Here, we examined, using extracellular recordings in anaesthetized cats, whether there are also input differences to these populations of dh-DSCT neurons from: (a) the spinocervical tract (SCT), estimated by stimulation of the ipsilateral dorsolateral funiculus at cervical cord C3 and rostral C1, below and above the termination of SCT axons in the lateral cervical nucleus (LCN), and (b) descending/ascending fibres activated by electrical stimulation at rostral C1. Seventy percent (21/30) of the lower-lumbar (L6-L7) dh-DSCT neurons received significantly greater excitation from C3 than rostral C1, whereas only 17% (5/30) of the mid-lumbar (L5) dh-DSCT neurons had greater responses from C3 than rostral C1. Inhibition of background activity was seen in 30% of the lower-lumbar neurons, but only in 3% of mid-lumbar neurons. These findings suggest that lower-lumbar dh-DSCT neurons are much more likely, than mid-lumbar ones, to be influenced by the SCT and by systems descending from the brain, LCN and/or ascending systems. The experiments provide further evidence for differences in input to the subpopulations of dh-DSCT neurons.