Neuronal activity causes a reciprocal cationic flux in the extracellular space in the brain: a hypothesis

The fluid in the extracellular space around the neurons and glial cells is enclosed within the brain, kept separate from the circulation and the rest of the body-fluid. This brain interstitial fluid forms a distinct compartment; a sponge-like “inverse cell” that surrounds all the cells. During neuronal resting and action potentials, sodium and potassium ions shuttle into, and out of, this “Reciprocal Domain” within the brain. This localised flux of ions is the counterpart to all the neuronal electrochemical activity (having the same intensity and duration, at the same sites in the brain), so a complementary version of all that potential information is integrated into this space within the brain. This flux of cations in the Reciprocal Domain may indirectly influence neuronal activity in the brain, creating immensely complex feedback. This Reciprocal Domain is unified throughout the brain, and exists continuously throughout life. This model identifies which species have such Reciprocal Domains, and how many times similar systems evolved. This account of the Reciprocal Domain of the brain may have clinical implications; it could be vulnerable to disruption by chemical insult, traumatic injury or pathology. These are key characteristics of our core selves; this encourages the idea that this Reciprocal Domain makes a crucial contribution to the brain. This hypothesis is explored and developed here.

Neuronal activity causes a reciprocal cationic flux in the extracellular space in the brain: a hypothesis

The fluid in the extracellular space around the neurons and glial cells is enclosed within the brain, kept separate from the circulation and the rest of the body-fluid. This brain interstitial fluid forms a distinct compartment; a sponge-like “inverse cell” that surrounds all the cells. During neuronal resting and action potentials, sodium and potassium ions shuttle into, and out of, this “Reciprocal Domain” within the brain. This localised flux of ions is the counterpart to all the neuronal electrochemical activity (having the same intensity and duration, at the same sites in the brain), so a complementary version of all that potential information is integrated into this space within the brain. This flux of cations in the Reciprocal Domain may indirectly influence neuronal activity in the brain, creating immensely complex feedback. This Reciprocal Domain is unified throughout the brain, and exists continuously throughout life. This model identifies which species have such Reciprocal Domains, and how many times similar systems evolved. This account of the Reciprocal Domain of the brain may have clinical implications; it could be vulnerable to disruption by chemical insult, traumatic injury or pathology. These are key characteristics of our core selves; this encourages the idea that this Reciprocal Domain makes a crucial contribution to the brain. This hypothesis is explored and developed here.

Transport of U(VI), Th(IV) and lanthanides through cation exchange membrane impregnated with HDEHP-kerosene using electric field

SummaryElectrodialysis has been investigated as a method to enhance the transport of U(VI), Th(IV) and lanthanides through Nafion cation exchange membrane I and impregnated with HDEHP-kerosene II. The recovery factor of U(VI) through Nafion cation exchange membrane with and without the applied electric field was 0.8 and 0.14, respectively. The transport process of U(VI) through ion exchange membrane was studied as a function of variation of nitric acid concentration in the feed solution, HDEHP concentration in the membrane stripping solution concentration, pH of the feed solution and effect of electric field. From this study the cationic flux of U(VI) through Nafion I and impregnated with HDEHP-kerosene II was 5.2 × 10

Endogenous gastric mucosal prostaglandins: their role in mucosal integrity

These studies were designed to determine the role of endogenous gastric mucosal prostaglandins (PG) in maintaining mucosal integrity. Vagally denervated, separated pouches of gastric fundic mucosa in unanesthetized dogs were irrigated with either acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or salicylic acid (SA) (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, and 40.0 mM) in 150 mM HCl. Transmucosal potential difference (PD) and net H+, Na+, and K+ flux were measured. Mucosal ex vivo generation of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha, PGE2, and PGF2 alpha was measured by radioimmunoassay in mucosal biopsies taken after exposure to each agent. No difference in PD or net H+, Na+, or K+ flux was observed between pouch irrigation with ASA or SA at 2.5-20.0 mM concentrations. Net H+ and Na+ flux was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) after irrigation with 40 mM SA than with 40 mM ASA. No significant reduction in gastric mucosal ex vivo generation of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha (range, 65-98 ng.g-.min-1), PGE2 (range, 250-326 ng.g-1.min-1), or PGF2 alpha (range, 115-156 ng.g-1.min-1) was observed after pouch irrigation with all concentrations of SA. In comparison, gastric mucosal ex vivo generation of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha (range, 75-2 ng.g-1.min-1), PGE2 (range, 22-3 ng.g-1.min-1), and PGF2 alpha (range, 40-2 ng.g-1.min-1) was significantly reduced after irrigation with all concentrations of ASA. From these data, we conclude that the activity of endogenous gastric prostacyclin, PGE2 alpha, and PGF2 alpha is not a prerequisite for mucosal integrity as measured by PD and net cationic flux.