Spring 2010 - Issue Number 78 Archives - The Physiological Society

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Physiology News Magazine

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Spring 2010 - Issue Number 78

Spring 2010 - Issue Number 78

Below are the feature articles from Physiology News Issue 78, Spring 2010.

To read additional articles please download the issue.

Features

Exercise-induced lipid mobilization in humans: the role of catecholamines revisited

Bidirectional communication exists between the central nervous system and white adipose tissue. Here we discuss the relative contribution of the various factors involved in exercise-induced lipid mobilization in humans, reassessing the role of catecholamines

Features

Work against gravity: in search of the molecular switch for mechano-regulated muscle plasticity

Prolonged reductions in weight-bearing muscle activity during bedrest or spaceflight cause dramatic loss in strength due to wasting of postural muscle. Astonishingly little is known concerning the mechano-sensory pathways which underpin this response. Our recent work addresses the process of mechano-transduction by using somatic transgenesis and altered loading to modify the putative mechanoreceptor

Features

Bloodless revolution

Subtle paracrine interactions between minor depots and contiguous tissues are restoring the reputation of adipose tissue, best known for its bulk and disease-causing properties. Micromanagement of fatty acids supports fast, efficient immune responses that avoid competition with other lipid-utilizing tissues. Such roles explain aspects of the gross anatomy of mammalian adipose tissue, long thought to be inexplicable

Features

Bloodless revolution

Subtle paracrine interactions between minor depots and contiguous tissues are restoring the reputation of adipose tissue, best known for its bulk and disease-causing properties. Micromanagement of fatty acids supports fast, efficient immune responses that avoid competition with other lipid-utilizing tissues. Such roles explain aspects of the gross anatomy of mammalian adipose tissue, long thought to be inexplicable

Features

Prometheus’ giblets

Chalones were at one time hypothetical factors that once secreted, controlled tissue regeneration and defined its ultimate size. Myostatin is just such a factor and although its ability to attenuate the growth of skeletal muscle is well known, recent studies suggest that it not only regulates cardiac muscle growth, but function as well

Features

Prometheus’ giblets

Chalones were at one time hypothetical factors that once secreted, controlled tissue regeneration and defined its ultimate size. Myostatin is just such a factor and although its ability to attenuate the growth of skeletal muscle is well known, recent studies suggest that it not only regulates cardiac muscle growth, but function as well

Features

Does activity in the lateral cerebellum reflect predictive control of visually guided movements?

How do we track a moving target accurately with our eye or hand? In order to overcome the long neural delay in processing visual feedback information, it is necessary to predict the future position and trajectory of the target if it is to be tracked with accuracy. Predictive behaviour can be achieved through internal models, and one structure that has been implicated as a key site for their operation is the cerebellum

Features

Does activity in the lateral cerebellum reflect predictive control of visually guided movements?

How do we track a moving target accurately with our eye or hand? In order to overcome the long neural delay in processing visual feedback information, it is necessary to predict the future position and trajectory of the target if it is to be tracked with accuracy. Predictive behaviour can be achieved through internal models, and one structure that has been implicated as a key site for their operation is the cerebellum

Features

Leptin receptor regulation – links to obesity?

Obesity is characterised by high circulating levels of leptin, a hormone that limits the amount of body fat. This paradox has led to the concept of leptin insensitivity in obesity. We investigated the regulation of leptin receptor gene expression and protein number in response to leptin and diet to see whether receptor regulation could play a role in the development of leptin insensitivity

Features

Leptin receptor regulation – links to obesity?

Obesity is characterised by high circulating levels of leptin, a hormone that limits the amount of body fat. This paradox has led to the concept of leptin insensitivity in obesity. We investigated the regulation of leptin receptor gene expression and protein number in response to leptin and diet to see whether receptor regulation could play a role in the development of leptin insensitivity