Shigemasa Tomioka

No genotoxic effect of propofol in Chinese hamster ovary cells: Analysis by sister chromatid exchanges

Background: In spite of its high placental transfer, propofol is frequently used in general anesthesia and sedation during obstetric and gynecological surgery such as in vitro fertilization. This study investigated whether or not propofol has a genotoxic potential by the sister chromatid exchange assay in vitro.

Effects of naturally occurring G103D point mutation of AQP5 on its water permeability, trafficking and cellular localization in the submandibular gland of rats

Background information. AQPs (aquaporins) are water channel proteins that are expressed in almost all living things. In mammalians, 13 members of AQPs (AQP0–12) have been identified so far. AQP5 is known to be expressed mostly in the exocrine cells, including the salivary gland acinar cells. A naturally occurring point mutation (G308A, Gly103 > Asp103) was earlier found in the rat AQP5 gene [Murdiastuti, Purwanti, Karabasil, Li, Yao, Akamatsu, Kanamori and Hosoi (2006) Am. J. Physiol. 291, G1081–G1088]; in this mutant, the rate of initial saliva secretion under stimulated and unstimulated conditions is less than that for the wt (wild‐type) animals.

Frequency Analysis of Heart Rate Variability: A Useful Assessment Tool of Linearly Polarized Near-Infrared Irradiation to Stellate Ganglion Area for Burning Mouth Syndrome

BACKGROUND Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by the following subjective complaints without distinct organic changes: burning sensation in mouth or chronic pain of tongue. BMS is also known as glossodynia; both terms are used equivalently in Japan. Although the real cause of BMS is still unknown, it has been pointed out that BMS is related to some autonomic abnormality, and that stellate ganglion near-infrared irradiation (SGR) corrects the autonomic abnormality. Frequency analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is expected to be useful for assessing autonomic abnormality. OBJECTIVES This study investigated whether frequency analysis of HRV could reveal autonomic abnormality associated with BMS, and whether autonomic changes were corrected after SGR. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Eight subjects received SGR; the response to SGR was assessed by frequency analysis of HRV. RESULTS No significant difference of autonomic activity concerning low-frequency (LF) norm, high-frequency (HF) norm, and low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) was found between SGR effective and ineffective groups. Therefore, we proposed new parameters: differential normalized low frequency (D LF norm), differential normalized high frequency (D HF norm), and differential low-frequency/high-frequency (D LF/HF), which were defined as differentials between original parameters just before and after SGR. These parameters as indexes of responsiveness of autonomic nervous system (ANS) revealed autonomic changes in BMS, and BMS seems to be related to autonomic instability rather than autonomic imbalance. CONCLUSIONS Frequency analysis of HRV revealed the autonomic instability associated with BMS and enabled tracing of autonomic changes corrected with SGR. It is suggested that frequency analysis of HRV is very useful in follow up of BMS and for determination of the therapeutic efficacy of SGR.

Excitation and inhibition of trigeminal motoneurons by palatal stimulation

SummaryExcitation and inhibition of jaw-closing motoneurons (Masseteric and Temporal Motoneurons, Mass. and Temp. Mns) during transient jaw closing, the so-called jaw-closing reflex, and prolonged jaw opening elicited by palatal stimulation were studied. By pressing the anterior palatal surfaces sustained jaw opening was elicited, suggesting that sustained jaw opening results from inhibition of tonic background activity of jaw-closing motoneurons by inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) elicited by mechanical stimulation of the anterior palatal mucosa. Recordings showed that the onset of IPSPs was 80 ms earlier than the onset of jaw opening. Application of diffuse pressure stimulation to the posterior palatal surfaces elicited bursts of spikes triggered on excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), suggesting that mechanosensory receptors from the posterior palatal mucosa send excitatory synaptic inputs to jaw-closing motoneurons. Furthermore, it is suggested that mechanosensory inputs from the posterior palatal mucosa may excite neurons in the central pattern generator and provide the motor patterns responsible for jaw closure during the jaw-closing reflex. We have demonstrated that excitation of Mass. Mns innervating the deep masseter muscle mainly contributed to maintaining the occlusal phase of jaw closure during the jaw-closing reflex. However, the onset of EPSPs was 100 to 160 ms (n = 27) earlier than the onset of jaw closure. In studies on spontaneously occurring jaw closure it was demonstrated that there was a proportional increase in the number of spikes of the Temp. Mn and the mechanical response (jaw closure).

Water transport by glucose transporter type 3 expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

The hypothesis that the facilitative glucose transporter type 3 (GLUT3) in the brain also exhibits water channel properties similar to that of GLUT1 was tested in Xenopus oocytes expressing human GLUT3 or GLUT1. The volume of oocytes expressing GLUT3 exposed to hypotonic medium increased in an exponential manner. The osmotic water permeability (Pf) for GLUT3 or GLUT1 increased significantly compared with that for oocytes-injected water. The osmotic water transport by GLUT3 was completely inhibited by treatment with a selective GLUT inhibitor, cytochalasin B. The Pf values for GLUT3 significantly increased with increasing temperature of the extracellular medium and the activation energy for GLUT3 was almost the same as that for GLUT1. Thus, GLUT3 in the brain also exhibits water channel properties.

Synaptic potentials produced in jaw-closer and jaw-opener motoneurons by palatal stimulation.

SummaryExcitation and inhibition of temporal and digastric motoneurons (Temp. and Dig. Mns) during transient jaw closing, the so-called jaw-closing reflex, were studied in cats. Application of diffuse pressure stimulation to the posterior palatal surface produced the jaw-closing reflex and it was found that mechanosensory inputs from the posterior palatal mucosa produce depolarizing potentials on the Temp. Mns responsible for jaw closure during the jaw-closing reflex. We have demonstrated that in one-third of 27 explored Temp. Mns the initial bursts of spikes were elicited before the onset of jaw closure, suggesting that these cells contribute to initiate jaw closure during the jaw-closing reflex. The remaining cells probably contributed to maintain the occlusal phase. Furthermore, it was found that mechanosensory inputs from the posterior palatal mucosa produce a hyperpolarization-depolarization sequence in the Dig. Mns responsible for the jawclosing reflex. In addition, when pressure stimulation was applied to the anterior palatal mucosa, sustained jaw opening was elicited and an increase of firing frequency of Dig. Mns occurred 40 ms before the onset of jaw opening and continued for 80 ms.

Synaptic efficacy of inhibitory synapses and repetitive firing in the reinnervating trigeminal and hypoglossal motoneurons.

The synaptic efficacy and repetitive firing in masseteric motoneurons after the self-union operation and in tongue protruder motoneurons after their cut axons were reunited to tongue retractor muscles, the styloglossus muscle, were studied in cats. To ensure the correct identification of reinnervating motoneurons, the muscle response produce by an induced spike in a motoneuron by intracellularly injected depolarizing current was recorded. In both masseteric and tongue protruder motoneurons there were no differences on the patterns of postsynaptic potentials produced in reinnervating and non-reinnervating motoneurons by peripheral nerve stimulation, suggesting that the recovery of the synaptic efficacy of inhibitory synapses is time-dependent rather than muscle reinnervation. However, the present study demonstrated that the recovery of processes that control rhythmical firing of motoneurons is probably dependent on muscle reinnervation.

Inhibition of styloglossus motoneurons during the palatally induced jaw-closing reflex

The inhibition of hypoglossal motoneurons innervating the styloglossus muscle during transient jaw closing, the so-called jaw-closing reflex, was studied in cats. The application of diffuse pressure stimulation to the posterior palatal surface produced the jaw-closing reflex and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in the styloglossus motoneurons, indicating that mechanosensory inputs from the posterior palatal mucosa sent inhibitory synaptic inputs to styloglossus motoneurons. We also demonstrated that, during the palatally induced jaw-closing reflex, the tongue extended at jaw closure and was still extended forward in the initial part of the opening phase. In all of 22 styloglossus motoneurons studied, the depression of firing was elicited after the onset of jaw closure. In 14 of 22 styloglossus motoneurons, the depression of firing was elicited in the closing phase, and in the remaining cells it was elicited in the occlusal phase. By increasing the intracellular concentration of chloride ions, the inhibitory postsynaptic potential elicited in the styloglossus motoneuron converted to a depolarizing potential. It is concluded that the inhibition of styloglossus motoneurons may be involved in the maintenance of tongue protrusions during the palatally induced jaw-closing reflex, and that inhibitory postsynaptic potentials evoked in the styloglossus motoneurons are partly due to a chloride-dependent inhibitory postsynaptic potential.

Excitation of hypoglossal motoneurons responsible for tongue protrusions is associated with palatally induced jaw-closing reflex

The excitation of hypoglossal motoneurons innervating the genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles during transient jaw closing, the so-called jaw-closing reflex, was studied in cats. The application of diffuse pressure stimulation to the posterior palatal surface produced the jaw-closing reflex, and it was found that mechanosensory inputs from the posterior palatal mucosa sent excitatory synaptic inputs to both genioglossus and geniohyoid motoneurons. We demonstrated that, during the palatally induced jaw-closing reflex, the tongue extended at jaw closure and was still extended forward in the initial part of the opening phase. In five of 27 genioglossus motoneurons and nine of 23 geniohyoid motoneurons, the onset of burst was elicited before the onset of jaw closure. The remaining cells produced the onset of burst in the closing phase and in the initial part of the occlusal phase. However, the onset of excitatory postsynaptic potentials was 75-180 ms (n=20), earlier than that of jaw closure. During the jaw-closing reflex, the genioglossus and geniohyoid motoneurons were excited during the same phase of jaw movements and there was no difference in the onset of firing between the genioglossus and geniohyoid motoneurons. It is concluded that the excitation of the genioglossus and geniohyoid motoneurons may be associated with tongue protrusions during the palatally induced jaw-closing reflex.

Orthostatic Dysregulation during Postural Change on the Dental Chair and Intraoperative Monitoring by Heart Rate Variability Analysis

This is the first case report of orthostatic dysregulation (OD) manifested during postural change on the dental chair and intraoperatively monitored by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. OD-associated autonomic dysfunction is induced by postural changes and easily leads to disturbance in circulatory dynamics; however, most dental practices have not yet realized the importance of managing OD. We measured autonomic activity in a patient with OD during dental therapy and assessed the clinical significance of HRV analysis for OD. The patient was a 17-year-old Japanese female. She was diagnosed with impacted wisdom teeth and had no previous history of a distinct systemic disease. A surgical procedure to extract the teeth was safely performed under both local anesthesia and sedation with nitrous oxide and midazolam. After the surgery, her postural change to sitting induced orthostatic hypotension. HRV variables showed parasympathetic dominance due to the upright position. Subsequently, her posture was returned to supine, and atropine sulfate administration for the immediate treatment of OD returned her blood pressure to normal levels. HRV variables showed relative sympathetic dominance due to an atropine-derived parasympathetic blockade. HRV analysis revealed OD-associated autonomic dysfunction and should become a standard tool for safe and secure dental management of OD.