Gata2, Nkx2-2 and Skor2 form a transcription factor network regulating development of a midbrain GABAergic neuron subtype with characteristics of REM sleep regulatory neurons

The midbrain reticular formation is a mosaic of diverse GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons that have been associated with a variety of functions, including the regulation of sleep. However the molecular characteristics and development of the midbrain reticular formation neurons are poorly understood. As the transcription factor Gata2 is required for the development of all GABAergic neurons derived from the embryonic mouse midbrain, we hypothesized that the genes expressed downstream of Gata2 could contribute to the diversification of GABAergic neuron subtypes in this brain region. Here, we show that Gata2 is indeed required for the expression of several lineage-specific transcription factors in post-mitotic midbrain GABAergic neuron precursors. These include a homeodomain transcription factor Nkx2-2 and a SKI family transcriptional repressor Skor2, which are co-expressed in a restricted group of GABAergic precursors in the midbrain reticular formation. Both Gata2, and Nkx2-2 function is required for the expression of Skor2 in GABAergic precursors. In the adult mouse as well as rat midbrain, the Nkx2-2 and Skor2 expressing GABAergic neurons locate at the boundary of the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray and the midbrain reticular formation, an area shown to contain REM-off neurons regulating REM sleep. In addition to the characteristic localization, the Skor2 positive cells increase their activity upon REM sleep inhibition, send projections to a pontine region associated with sleep control and are responsive to orexins, consistent with the known properties of the midbrain REM-off neurons.

Clinical diagnostics of the shoulder’s soft tissue injures

Annotation. Our study is based on data of 444 patients with clinically, MRI diagnosed and then arthroscopically proved diagnosis of the shoulder’s soft tissue injures. Used the following diagnostic tests: “typical pain localization”, shoulder blade rhythm disturbance, “apprehension”, front driver test, compression rotary test, rear driver test, impedance test Nir, Hawkins, weaknesses of withdrawal, weakness of external rotation, “lift off”, “belly press”, “false paralysis”. We have described the most informative and simple clinical tests. Sensitivity and specificity for each clinical test were calculated. Sensitivity and specificity of these tests are statistically adjusted. It has been found that for clinical diagnostics of damage to the anterior-lower lip of the shoulder joint is more diagnostically attractive is the anterior driver test; for diagnosis of damage to the upper lip of the shoulder joint — compression-rotation test, preference is given to the rear “driver test”; for the diagnosis of subacromial conflict syndrome — a combination of two tests: Hawkins test and impingement test; for diagnosis of lesions of the supraspinatus muscle — test of weakness of the abduction; underarm muscle — test of weakness of external rotation; for the diagnosis of total damage to the rotator cuff (RС) — test “falling” hand; the specificity of “belly press” test is higher than the specificity of “Lift off” test when it is impossible to get your hand behind your back. Thus, tests of characteristic localization of pain and disturbance of the shoulder bladder rhythm are sufficient to suspect the patient of the pathology of the shoulder joint complex itself.

Insulin receptor-related receptor in rat islets of Langerhans

The physiological aspects and roles of the insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR), a novel member of the insulin receptor family, are unknown. Published work shows a characteristic localization of IRR mRNA at the cellular level in the kidney, stomach and brain. In our previous study, a specific antibody against the rat IRR beta subunit was generated and used to identify the IRR-expressing cells as B-type intercalated cells in the kidney. In this study. IRR cDNA was amplified by PCR to demonstrate IRR mRNA expression in the rat pancreas. Immunohistochemical analysis with the anti-IRR antibody revealed that IRR immunoreactivity is localized in the islets of Langerhans. The IRR-immunoreactive cells were most likely to be the islet B cells which were stained with anti-insulin antibody. This is the first finding on the involvement of IRR in the physiological functions of insulin-secreting cells.

Parametric Excitation of Breathers in a Nonlinear Lattice

We investigate localized periodic solutions (breathers) in a lattice of parametrically driven, nonlinear dissipative oscillators. These breathers are demonstrated to be exponentially localized, with two characteristic localization lengths. The crossover between the two lengths is shown to be related to the transition in the phase of the lattice oscillations.