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The possibility that the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) is followed by changes in protein synthesis has been examined using high- resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. 35S-methionine, infused into the third ventricle of anesthetized rats, was used to label hippocampal proteins. LTP was induced unilaterally in the dentate gyrus by tetanic stimulation of the perforant path, and followed either for 1 hr or for 3 hr. Two-dimensional gel autoradiographs were quantitatively analyzed using the PDQUEST system (Protein Databases Inc.). One hour after the unilateral induction of LTP, only one protein spot was found to be statistically different in intensity from corresponding spots in the contralateral control side. Three hours after LTP, however, 11 spots were found to have altered densities. Examination of basic proteins using the nonequilibrium pH gel electrophoresis system revealed changes in three proteins in the 3 hr group. Reductions as well as increases in spot intensities were observed. The results indicate that LTP is associated with a complex pattern of changes in protein synthesis.

We examined the possibility that glomerular prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) regulates the action of angiotensin II (ANG II) on mesangial contraction and filtration surface area. Using isolated rat glomeruli we indirectly assessed mesangial contraction and filtration surface area through measurements of glomerular planar surface area (GPSA) by image-analysis microscopy. ANG II reduced GPSA by approximately 20% in human and rat glomeruli, with threshold concentrations of 1 X 10(-13) M and maximum effect at 5 X 10(-11) M ANG II. Inhibition of glomerular PG synthesis with indomethacin or meclofenamate potentiated the threshold response of ANG II to reduce GPSA. Arachidonic acid (5 micrograms/ml) blunted both the threshold and the maximum responses of GPSA to ANG II. PGE2, 10(-8) and 10(-9) M, also decreased glomerular contraction to ANG II. Endoperoxide (EP) analogues decreased GPSA and EP 045, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor blocker, eliminated the contractile responses of glomeruli to the EP analogues. Authentic TXA2, synthesized from sheep platelet microsomes, also reduced GPSA. We conclude that glomerular products of arachidonate cyclooxygenation may either relax or contract the mesangium, thereby preserving or reducing filtration surface area. PGE2 exerts protective actions to reduce the mesangial contraction of ANG II, primarily through postreceptor effects. TXA2 may decrease glomerular filtration rate in certain diseases through direct actions on the mesangium.

Tick-borne zoonoses are emerging globally due to changes in climate and land use.While the zoonotic threats associated with ticks are well studied elsewhere, in Australia, the diversity of potentially zoonotic agents carried by ticks and their significance to human and animal health is not sufficiently understood. To this end, we used untargeted metatranscriptomics to audit the prokaryotic, eukaryotic and viral biomes of questing ticks and wildlife blood samples from two urban and rural sites in New South Wales, Australia. Ixodes holocyclus and Haemaphysalis bancrofti were the main tick species collected, and blood samples from Rattus rattus, Rattus fuscipes, Perameles nasuta and Trichosurus vulpecula were also collected and screened for tick-borne microorganisms using metatranscriptomics followed by conventional targeted PCR to identify important microbial taxa to the species level. Our analyses identified 32 unique tick-borne taxa, including 10 novel putative species. Overall, a wide range of tick-borne microorganisms were found in questing ticks including haemoprotozoa such as Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon and Trypanosoma spp., bacteria such as Borrelia, Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Neoehrlichia and Anaplasma spp., and numerous viral taxa including Reoviridiae (including two coltiviruses) and a novel Flaviviridae-like jingmenvirus. Of note, a novel hard tick-borne relapsing fever Borrelia sp. was identified in questing H. bancrofti ticks which is closely related to, but distinct from, cervid-associated Borrelia spp. found throughout Asia. Notably, all tick-borne microorganisms were phylogenetically unique compared to their relatives found outside Australia, and no foreign tick-borne human pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. or Babesia microti were found. This work adds to the growing literature demonstrating that Australian ticks harbour a unique and endemic microbial fauna, including potentially zoonotic agents which should be further studied to determine their relative risk to human and animal health.