AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Modulation of taste processing by temperature
Taste stimuli have a temperature that can stimulate thermosensitive neural machinery in the mouth during gustatory experience. Although taste and oral temperature are sometimes discussed as different oral sensory modalities, there is a body of literature that demonstrates temperature is an important component and modulator of the intensity of gustatory neural and perceptual responses. Available data indicate that the influence of temperature on taste, herein referred to as "thermogustation," can vary across taste qualities, can also vary among stimuli presumed to share a common taste quality, and is conditioned on taste st...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - October 1, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Lemon, C. H. Tags: Review Source Type: research

Upregulation of circulating myomiR following short-term energy restriction is inversely associated with whole body protein synthesis
The objective of the present investigation was to determine whether energy restriction (ER) influences expression of skeletal muscle-specific microRNA (miRNA) in circulation (c-myomiR) and whether changes in c-myomiR are associated with rates of whole body protein synthesis. Sixteen older (64 ± 2 yr) overweight (28.5 ± 1.2 kg/m2) men enrolled in this 35-day controlled feeding trial. A 7-day weight maintenance (WM) period was followed by 28 days of 30% ER. Whole body protein turnover was determined from [15N]glycine enrichments in 24-h urine collections, and c-myomiR (miR-1-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-133b, and miR-2...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 11, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Margolis, L. M., Rivas, D. A., Pasiakos, S. M., McClung, J. P., Ceglia, L., Fielding, R. A. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Changes in microvascular density differentiate metabolic health outcomes in monkeys with prior radiation exposure and subsequent skeletal muscle ECM remodeling
Radiation exposure accelerates the onset of age-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neoplasia and, thus, lends insight into in vivo mechanisms common to these disorders. Fibrosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, which occur with aging and overnutrition and following irradiation, are risk factors for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We previously demonstrated an increased incidence of skeletal muscle insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus in monkeys that had been exposed to whole body irradiation 5–9 yr prior. We hypothesized that irradiation-induced fibrosis alter...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 11, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Fanning, K. M., Pfisterer, B., Davis, A. T., Presley, T. D., Williams, I. M., Wasserman, D. H., Cline, J. M., Kavanagh, K. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Enduring effects of perinatal nicotine exposure on murine sleep in adulthood
The long-term consequences of early life nicotine exposure are poorly defined. Approximately 8–10% of women report smoking during pregnancy, and this may promote aberrant development in the offspring. To this end, we investigated potential enduring effects of perinatal nicotine exposure on murine sleep and affective behaviors in adulthood (~13–15 wk of age) in C57Bl6j mice. Mothers received a water bottle containing 200 µg/ml nicotine bitartrate dihydrate in 2% wt/vol saccharin or pH-matched 2% saccharin with 0.2% (vol/vol) tartaric acid throughout pregnancy and before weaning. Upon reaching adulthood, of...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 11, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Borniger, J. C., Don, R. F., Zhang, N., Boyd, R. T., Nelson, R. J. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Interleukin-33 induces growth-regulated oncogene-{alpha} expression and secretion in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
Although interleukin-33 (IL-33), a member of the IL-1 cytokine family, plays proinflammatory roles in immune cells as an "alarmin," little is known regarding the biological actions of IL-33 on vascular endothelial cells. To investigate the effects of IL-33 on vascular endothelial cells, we first screened the IL-33-regulated proteins in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using a dot blot array and observed that IL-33 markedly increased growth-regulated oncogene-α (GRO-α), a chemokine that is also known as chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1). Real-time reverse transcription PCR and ELISA demonst...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 11, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Yamamoto, M., Umebashi, K., Tokito, A., Imamura, J., Jougasaki, M. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Nkx2.5 is essential to establish normal heart rate variability in the zebrafish embryo
Heart rate variability (HRV) has become an important clinical marker of cardiovascular health and a research measure for the study of the cardiac conduction system and its autonomic controls. While the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an ideal vertebrate model for understanding heart development, HRV has only recently been investigated in this system. We have previously demonstrated that nkx2.5 and nkx2.7, two homologues of Nkx2–5 expressed in zebrafish cardiomyocytes, play vital roles in maintaining cardiac chamber-specific characteristics. Given observed defects in ventricular and atrial chamber identities in nkx2.5&ndas...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 11, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Harrington, J. K., Sorabella, R., Tercek, A., Isler, J. R., Targoff, K. L. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Normobaric hypoxic conditioning to maximize weight loss and ameliorate cardio-metabolic health in obese populations: a systematic review
Normobaric hypoxic conditioning (HC) is defined as exposure to systemic and/or local hypoxia at rest (passive) or combined with exercise training (active). HC has been previously used by healthy and athletic populations to enhance their physical capacity and improve performance in the lead up to competition. Recently, HC has also been applied acutely (single exposure) and chronically (repeated exposure over several weeks) to overweight and obese populations with the intention of managing and potentially increasing cardio-metabolic health and weight loss. At present, it is unclear what the cardio-metabolic health and weight...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 11, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Hobbins, L., Hunter, S., Gaoua, N., Girard, O. Tags: Review Source Type: research

Decreased myoblast differentiation in chronic binge alcohol-administered simian immunodeficiency virus-infected male macaques: role of decreased miR-206
Skeletal muscle stem cells play a critical role in regeneration of myofibers. We previously demonstrated that chronic binge alcohol (CBA) markedly attenuates myoblast differentiation potential and myogenic gene expression. Muscle-specific microRNAs (miRs) are implicated in regulation of myogenic genes. The aim of this study was to determine whether myoblasts isolated from asymptomatic CBA-administered simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaques treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) showed similar impairments and, if so, to elucidate potential underlying mechanisms. Myoblasts were isolated from muscle at 11 mo...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 1, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Simon, L., Ford, S. M., Song, K., Berner, P., Vande Stouwe, C., Nelson, S., Bagby, G. J., Molina, P. E. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

High glucose increases action potential firing of catecholamine neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract by increasing spontaneous glutamate inputs
This study suggests that NTS-CA neurons are glucosensing through a presynaptic mechanism that is dependent on vagal glutamate release, 5-HT3R activity, and glucokinase. (Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology)
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 1, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Roberts, B. L., Zhu, M., Zhao, H., Dillon, C., Appleyard, S. M. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Localized and systemic variations in central motor drive at different local skin and muscle temperatures
This study investigated the ability to sustain quadriceps central motor drive while subjected to localized heat and metaboreceptive feedback from the contralateral leg. Eight active males each completed two counter-balanced trials, in which muscle temperature (Tm) of a single-leg (TEMP-LEG) was altered to 29.4°C (COOL) or 37.6°C (WARM), while the contralateral leg (CL-LEG) remained thermoneutral: 35.3°C and 35.2°C Tm in COOL and WARM, respectively. To activate metaboreceptive feedback, participants first performed one 120-s isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the knee extensors in the TEMP-LEG,...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 1, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Lloyd, A., Picton, L., Raccuglia, M., Hodder, S., Havenith, G. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Renal vascular and glomerular pathologies associated with spontaneous hypertension in the nonhuman primate Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus
Hypertension is a complex, multifactorial disease affecting an estimated 78 million adults in the United States. Despite scientific gains, the etiology of human essential hypertension is unknown and current experimental models do not recapitulate all the behavioral and physiological characteristics of the pathology. Researchers should assess the translational capacity of these models and look to other animal models for the discovery of new therapies. Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus, the African Green Monkey (AGM), is a nonhuman primate that develops spontaneous hypertension and may provide a novel translational model for the ...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 1, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Rhoads, M. K., Goleva, S. B., Beierwaltes, W. H., Osborn, J. L. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Seasonal factors influence quantal transmitter release and calcium dependence at amphibian neuromuscular junctions
We examined whether recruitment of release sites is variable when the extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]o) is increased in the wet and dry seasons. The amount of transmitter released from the entire nerve terminal increases by approximately the fourth power as [Ca2+]o is increased. Toad (Bufo marinus) NMJs were visualized using 3,3'-diethyloxardicarbocyanine iodide [DiOC2(5)] fluorescence, and focal loose patch extracellular recordings were used to record the end-plate currents (EPCs) from small groups of release sites. Quantal content (e), average probability of quantal release (pe), and the number of active rele...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 1, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Ge, D., Lavidis, N. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Effects of 10 days of separate heat and hypoxic exposure on heat acclimation and temperate exercise performance
In conclusion, a separate moderate overnight normobaric hypoxic stimulus does not affect the time course or magnitude of HA. Performance may be improved in temperate normoxia following HA, but this is unaffected by an additional hypoxic stressor. (Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology)
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - September 1, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Rendell, R. A., Prout, J., Costello, J. T., Massey, H. C., Tipton, M. J., Young, J. S., Corbett, J. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Tissue-specific seasonal changes in mitochondrial function of a mammalian hibernator
In conclusion, mitochondria respond to seasonal variations in physical activity, temperature, and nutrient availability in a tissue-specific manner that complements circannual shifts in the bioenergetic and thermoregulatory demands of mammalian hibernators. (Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology)
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - August 14, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Heim, A. B., Chung, D., Florant, G. L., Chicco, A. J. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Maternal and postnatal high-fat diet consumption programs energy balance and hypothalamic melanocortin signaling in nonhuman primate offspring
Maternal high-fat-diet (HFD) consumption during pregnancy decreased fetal body weight and impacted development of hypothalamic melanocortin neural circuitry in nonhuman primate offspring. We investigated whether these impairments during gestation persisted in juvenile offspring and examined the interaction between maternal and early postnatal HFD consumption. Adult dams consumed either a control diet (CTR; 15% calories from fat) or a high-saturated-fat diet (HFD; 37% calories from fat) during pregnancy. Offspring were weaned onto a CTR or HFD at ~8 mo of age. Offspring from HFD-fed dams displayed early catch-up growth and ...
Source: AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - August 14, 2017 Category: Physiology Authors: Sullivan, E. L., Rivera, H. M., True, C. A., Franco, J. G., Baquero, K., Dean, T. A., Valleau, J. C., Takahashi, D. L., Frazee, T., Hanna, G., Kirigiti, M. A., Bauman, L. A., Grove, K. L., Kievit, P. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research