Regulation Of Physiological Systems Research Articles

Comparative physiological and transcriptomic analysis reveals an improved biological control efficacy of Sporidiobolus pararoseus Y16 enhanced with ascorbic acid against the oxidative stress tolerance caused by Penicillium expansum in pears

Sporidiobolus pararoseus Y16, a species of significant ecological importance, has distinctive physiological and biological regulatory systems that aid in its survival and environmental adaptation. The goal of this investigation was to understand the complex interactions between physiological and molecular mechanisms in pear fruits as induced by S. pararoseus Y16. The study investigated the use of S. pararoseus Y16 and ascorbic acid (VC) in combination in controlling blue mold decay in pears via physiological and transcriptomic approach. The study results showed that treatment of S. pararoseus Y16 with 150 μg/mL VC reduced pears blue mold disease incidence from 43% to 11%. Furthermore, the combination of S. pararoseus Y16 and VC significantly inhibited mycelia growth and spore germination of Penicillium expansum in the pear's wounds. The pre-treatment did not impair post-harvest qualities of pear fruit but increased antioxidant enzyme activity specifically polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) activities as well as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzyme activity. The transcriptome analysis further uncovered 395 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways involved in defense mechanisms and disease resistance. Notable pathways of the DEGs include plant-pathogen interaction, tyrosine metabolism, and hormone signal transduction pathways. The integrative approach with both physiological and transcriptomic tools to investigate postharvest pathology in pear fruits with clarification on how S. pararoseus Y16 enhanced with VC, improved gene expression for disease defense, and create alternative controls strategies for managing postharvest diseases.

Bioinformatics for Prohormone and Neuropeptide Discovery.

Neuropeptides and peptide hormones are signaling molecules produced via complex posttranslational modifications of precursor proteins known as prohormones. Neuropeptides activate specific receptors and are associated with the regulation of physiological systems and behaviors. The identification of prohormones-and the neuropeptides created by these prohormones-from genomic assemblies has become essential to support the annotation and use of the rapidly growing number of sequenced genomes. Here we describe a well-validated methodology for identifying the prohormone complement from genomic assemblies that employs widely available public toolsets and databases. The uncovered prohormone sequences can then be screened for putative neuropeptides to enable accurate proteomic discovery and validation.

How biology shapes the development of shyness within specific contexts: A longitudinal, cross-lagged investigation.

Shyness is a temperamental trait that refers to fear and wariness in the face of social novelty and is known to have a biological basis. One proposed physiological correlate of shyness has been the change in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) from baseline to a stressor. However, past research linking shyness and RSA change has been mixed, which may be, in part, due to a failure to carefully consider the context under which RSA change is measured and the directionality of relations. Using a longitudinal design and cross-lagged analysis (N = 103, 52 girls), we examined parent-reported shyness and RSA change during a stranger approach task (social stressor) and a locked box task (nonsocial stressor) at ages 3 (Mage at Time 1 = 3.50 years, SDage = 0.19 years) and 4 (Mage at Time 2 = 4.76 years, SDage = 0.38). Cardiac vagal withdrawal during the stranger approach task, but not during the frustration task, at age 3 positively predicted shyness at age 4. Shyness at age 3 did not predict cardiac vagal change in either context at age 4. We also found that changes in RSA measured during the frustration task were stable across time, but changes in RSA measured during the stranger approach task were not stable across time, suggesting a developmental change in physiological regulatory systems to social threat. These results suggest that, although biology may come first in shaping children's behavior, this relation depends critically on the context and the incentives in the child's environment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Clinical correlates of stress, immune and metabolic markers in major depression

AbstractThe hormonal mediators of the stress response, such as glucocorticoids and catecholamines, have both protective and damaging effects on the body. In the short term, they are essential for adaptation, maintenance of homeostasis, and survival; but chronic exposure to stress or abnormalities in the modulation of the stress response can become maladaptive, leading to a broad range of physical and mental problems.Allostatic load refers to the activation of physiological regulatory systems in response to stress and “the cost” of the effects of these systems on the body. Results from isolated biomarkers and allostatic load measures based on the stress response system (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, autonomic nervous system and immuno-metabolic biomarkers) and its relationships with clinical outcomes, such as cognition, in a clinical sample of major depression patients will be presented. The usefulness and relevance in the clinical practice of those biomarkers and the allostatic load concept will be discussed. The integration of several biomarkers translating the biological and psychological impact of stress on depression development and its clinical trajectories could contribute toward understanding how to prevent and improve outcomes in major depression.Disclosure of InterestV. Soria Grant / Research support from: Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute

Identification and functional analysis of m6A in the mammary gland tissues of dairy goats at the early and peak lactation stages.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common reversible epigenetic RNA modification in the mRNA of all higher eukaryotic organisms and plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression and cell function. In this study, m6A-modified methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) were used to identify the key genes with m6A modification during mammary gland development and lactation in dairy goats. The results showed that m6A methylation occurred at 3,927 loci, which were significantly enriched in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) and the termination codon region. In the early stage and peak stage of lactation, m6A methylation occurred extensively in mammary tissues, and a total of 725 differentially expressed m6A-modified genes were obtained, all negatively correlated with mRNA expression. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that different methylated genes were mainly involved in the growth and apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells through signaling pathways, such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phospholipase D pathways, and then affected the development and lactation of mammary gland. All in all, we identified and analyzed the methylation events related to the development and lactation regulation of mammary gland at the early and peak lactation stages, and provided a theoretical basis to reveal the physiological regulatory system of mammary gland development and lactation in dairy goats.

Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis provide Molecular Insight into 24-Epibrassinolide mediated Cr(VI)-Toxicity Tolerance in Pepper Plants

The ever-increasing industrial activities over the decades have generated high toxic metals such as chromium (Cr) that hampers plant growth and development. To counter Cr-toxicity, plants have evolved complex defensive systems including hormonal crosstalk with various signaling pathways. 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBR) lowers oxidative stress and alleviates Cr(VI)-toxicity in plants. In this study, the concealed BR-mediated influences on Cr(VI)-stress tolerance were explored by transcriptome analysis in the Capsicum annuum. Results revealed a linkage between plant development under Cr(VI)-stress and the mitigating effect of 24-epibrassinolide and brassinazole. Growth inhibition, chlorophyll degradation, and a significant rise of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed after 40 mg/L Cr(VI) treatment in Brz supplemented seedlings, whereas 24-EBR supplemented seedlings exhibited commendatory effect. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that the expression levels of 6687 genes changed (3846 up-regulated and 2841 downregulated) under Cr(VI)-stress with Brz supplementation. Whereas the expression levels of only 1872 genes changed under Cr(VI)-stress with 24-EBR supplementation (1223 up-regulated and 649 downregulated). The functional categories of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by gene ontology (GO) revealed that drug transport, defense responses, and drug catabolic process were the considerable enrichments between 24-EBR and Brz supplemented seedlings under Cr(VI)-stress. Furthermore, auxin signaling, glutathione metabolism, ABC transporters, MAPK pathway, and 36 heavy metal-related genes were significantly differentially expressed components between Cr(VI)-stress, 24-EBR, and Brz supplemented seedlings. Overall, our data demonstrate that employing 24-EBR can commendably act as a growth stimulant in plants subjected to Cr(VI)-stress by modulating the physiological and defense regulatory system.

Влияние токсичных продуктов горения на состояние микробиоты кишечника у пожарных в патогенезе неалкогольной жировой болезни печени

Medical and psychological support of professional activity of firefighters does not take into account their chronic poisoning by toxic products of burning. Such diagnoses are made to the firefighters of the State Fire Service of the Federal Fire Service of EMERCOM of Russia only in case of acute poisoning. Insufficient attention paid to the impact of fire-specific toxicants, including dioxins, does not allow timely detection of disturbances in the regulation of physiological systems of firefighters’ organisms, which leads to the emergence of diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of dioxins on the state of the microbiota. Materials and research methods. The study involved 246 male patients, of whom 121 were employees of the State Fire Service of the Federal Fire Service of EMERCOM of Russia and 125 were civilians and rescuers of EMERCOM of Russia. Research results and their analysis. The data obtained in the study of the blood microbiota by chromatography-mass spectrometry of microbial markers indicate a pronounced intestinal dysbiosis in firefighters with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease due to decreased number of microbial markers of the normal microbiota along with increased total number of microbial markers and opportunistic microorganisms. The dysbacteriosis revealed in the firefighters having no health complaints can be a predictor of liver pathology development that testifies to necessity of control and timely correction of microecological status.

The Use of the SpO2 to FiO2 Ratio to Individualize the Hypoxic Dose in Sport Science, Exercise, and Health Settings.

Human responses to hypoxia (i.e., reduced O2 supply) range from immediate adjustments (minutes to hours) to prolonged adaptations (several weeks) within various physiological regulatory systems (Guillemin and Krasnow, 1997)...

Late-pregnancy uterine artery ligation increases susceptibility to postnatal Western diet-induced fat accumulation in adult female offspring

Stressors during the fetal and postnatal period affect the growth and developmental trajectories of offspring, causing lasting effects on physiologic regulatory systems. Here, we tested whether reduced uterine artery blood flow in late pregnancy would alter body composition in the offspring, and whether feeding offspring a western diet (WD) would aggravate these programming effects. Pregnant rats underwent bilateral uterine artery ligation (BUAL) or sham surgery on gestational day (GD)18 (term = GD22). At weaning, offspring from each group received either a normal diet (ND) or a WD. BUAL surgery increased fetal loss and caused offspring growth restriction, albeit body weights were no longer different at weaning, suggesting postnatal catch-up growth. BUAL did not affect body weight gain, fat accumulation, or plasma lipid profile in adult male offspring. In contrast, while ND-fed females from BUAL group were smaller and leaner than their sham-littermates, WD consumption resulted in excess weight gain, fat accumulation, and visceral adiposity. Moreover, WD increased plasma triglycerides and cholesterol in the BUAL-treated female offspring without any effect on sham littermates. These results demonstrate that reduced uterine artery blood flow during late pregnancy in rodents can impact body composition in the offspring in a sex-dependent manner, and these effects may be exacerbated by postnatal chronic WD consumption.

Stress and parenting predict changes in adolescent respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of physiological emotion regulatory systems. While stressful life experiences are known to inhibit adaptive regulation, less is known about how parental socialization of emotion regulation may affect this relation. We examined the effect of stressful life experiences on changes in the resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) levels of 107 (Mage =12.84, SD=0.85) young adolescents over a year, moderated by supportive parental responses to negative emotions. The significant interaction (B=0.02, p=0.04) indicated that young adolescents who experienced low levels of supportive parenting in the context of high levels of stressful life experiences showed significant decreases in resting RSA over the year, while adolescents who experienced high levels of supportive parenting showed minimal decreases in RSA. Thus, more supportive parenting significantly compensated for the effect of greater stressful life experiences on changes in resting RSA over time.

Effects of Estrogen on Water Intake, Urine Volume, Sodium Excretion, and Blood Pressure During a Ten‐Day Angiotensin II Infusion Period in Ovariectomized Mice

Sex steroids play important roles in blood pressure regulation as well as in other physiological regulatory systems. Although estrogen replacement is thought to prevent or reduce cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women, conflicting evidence exists as to whether or not estrogen reduces blood pressure. The main purpose of this study was to determine if estrogen administration reduces angiotensin II (Ang II)‐induced increase in blood pressure in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Four‐week‐old CD‐1 OVX mice were purchased from Envigo Inc. (Indianapolis, IN) and placed in metabolic cages for a five‐day baseline period followed by implantation of an Alzet osmotic pump containing either vehicle or Ang II (1μg/kg/min) and either a placebo or 0.7 mg b‐estradiol (E2) pellet (Innovative Research of America, Sarasota, FL). Measurements were recorded daily in the five‐day baseline and ten‐day post‐implantation periods in three groups of mice: vehicle‐placebo (V‐P), Ang II‐placebo (Ang II‐P), and Ang II‐estrogen (Ang II‐E2) (n=4/group). Mice consumed standard chow and tap water ad libitum throughout the study. Systolic blood pressure (SBP, mmHg) was determined daily via the tail‐cuff technique (CODA, Kent Scientific, Torrington, CT). The delta SBP (baseline vs Ang II periods) was higher in Ang II‐P mice but not significantly different from the Ang II‐E2 mice: (33.1 ± 3.5 vs 24.5 ± 4.0, respectively). Additionally, these values were not significantly different from the delta SBP (30.5 ± 6.1) from intact female (IF) CD‐1 mice under the same Ang II conditions determined in a previous study (Rouch, A. el al. FASEB J, 2018, A 904.6). Using repeated‐measures ANOVA, we found significant effects of E2 on water intake (WI), urine volume (UV), and sodium excretion (UNaE) during the 10‐day post‐implantation period (no differences occurred in the baseline period). E2 appeared to prevent an Ang II‐induced increase in water WI (ml/day): (Ang II‐P vs AngII‐E2; 6.9 ± 0.5 vs 4.2 ± 0.2, p < 0.001). E2 administration resulted in lower UV (ml/day): (Ang II‐P vs Ang II‐E2; 2.6 ± 0.3 vs 1.3 ± 0.2, p<0.03). E2 administration also resulted in lower UNaE (microEq/day): (Ang II‐P vs Ang II‐E2, 199.7 ± 10.8 vs 110.5 ± 20.7, p < 0.003). We conclude that continuous E2 administration via the 0.7 mg E2 pellet affects WI, UV, and UNaE during a ten‐day Ang II infusion period in OVX CD‐1 mice. Moreover, neither the pellet‐induced E2 administration nor endogenous estrogen in IF mice affected the Ang II‐induced increase in blood pressure. Studies of longer duration with more mice/group are underway to investigate mechanistic differences due to E2.Support or Funding InformationThis project was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of National Institutes of Health through Grant Number 8P20GM103447.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Interaction between the respiratory system and cerebral blood flow regulation.

This review summarizes the interaction between the regulatory system of respiration and cerebral vasculature. Some clinical reports provide evidence for the association between these two physiological regulatory systems. Physiologically, arterial carbon dioxide concentration is mainly regulated by two feedback control systems: respiration and cerebral blood flow. In other words, both of these systems are sensitive to the same mediator, i.e., carbon dioxide, at a set point. In addition, respiratory dysfunction alters various physiological factors that affect the cerebral vasculature. Therefore, it is physiologically plausible that these systems are closely linked. The regulation of arterial carbon dioxide concentration affected by respiration and cerebral blood flow may be a key factor for a rise in the risk of brain disease in the patients with respiratory dysfunction. For example, the management of respiratory disease (e.g., patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and the use of prophylactic therapy are essential to reduce the risk of stroke.

Dietary Influence on Body Fluid Acid-Base and Volume Balance: The Deleterious "Norm" Furthers and Cloaks Subclinical Pathophysiology.

The popular modern diet, characterized by an excess of animal protein and salt but insufficient in fruits, vegetables and water, is a poor fit for human physiological and homeostatic regulatory systems. Sustained net acid and sodium retention, coupled with an insufficient intake of cardiovascular protective potassium-rich foods and hydration in the modern diet can give rise to debilitating chronic organ dysfunction and ultimately, mortality. This holds true, especially in our aging population who are already facing inevitable decline in organ functional reserve. Importantly, in most cases, despite the mismatch and adverse effects to multiple organ systems, plasma electrolyte and acid-base parameters can, on the surface, be maintained within a “normal” reference range, primarily by activating (often maximally activating) compensatory homeostatic mechanisms. These diet-induced effects can thus be clinically silent for decades. Embodied in the chronic corrective homeostatic processes, however, are real risks for multiorgan damage. According to the Dietary Guideline Advisory Committee (DGAC), half of American adults have one or more chronic diseases that are preventable with dietary modification. Here, homeostasis of body fluid acid-base, sodium, potassium and water is examined. Our current dietary habits and their required regulatory adaptation, maladaptation and relevant physiology and pathophysiology are discussed. A framework of dietary modifications to avoid a propensity for maladaptation and thus lowers the risks of common modern diseases (primary prevention) and minimizes the risk of chronic and age-related disease progression (secondary prevention) is emphasized. Although there are other variables at play, a key to restoring the all-important dietary potassium to sodium ratio is greater consumption of vegetables/fruits and adopting salt temperance. Dietary and nutritional optimization is an under-emphasized area of health care that has an enormous potential to temper the epidemics of prevalent chronic diseases in modern society and improve population health.

Trajectories of psychopathology in extremely low birth weight survivors from early adolescence to adulthood: a 20-year longitudinal study.

Individuals born extremely preterm are exposed to significant perinatal stresses that are associated with an increased risk of psychopathology. However, a paucity of longitudinal studies has prevented the empirical examination of long-term, dynamic effects of perinatal adversity on mental health. Here, internalizing and externalizing problems from adolescence through adulthood were compared in individuals born at extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1,000g) and normal birth weight (NBW; >2,500g). Internalizing and externalizing data were collected over 20years in three waves, during adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood. Growth models were used to compare longitudinal trajectories in a geographically based sample of 151 ELBW survivors and 137 NBW control participants born between 1977 and 1982 matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status at age 8. After adjusting for sex, socioeconomic and immigrant status, and family functioning, ELBW survivors failed to show the normative, age-related decline in internalizing problems over time relative to their NBW peers (β=.21; p<.01). Both groups exhibited small declines in externalizing problems over the same period. Self-esteem (but not physical health, IQ, or maternal mood) partially mediated the association between ELBW status and internalizing problems. Extremely low birth weight survivors experienced a blunting of the expected improvement in depression and anxiety from adolescence to adulthood. These findings suggest that altered physiological regulatory systems supporting emotional and cognitive processing may contribute to the maintenance of internalizing problems in this population.

Bioinformatics for Prohormone and Neuropeptide Discovery.

Neuropeptides and peptide hormones are signaling molecules produced via complex post-translational modifications of precursor proteins known as prohormones. Neuropeptides activate specific receptors and are associated with the regulation of physiological systems and behaviors. The identification of prohormones-and the neuropeptides created by these prohormones-from genomic assemblies has become essential to support the annotation and use of the rapidly growing number of sequenced genomes. Here we describe a methodology for identifying the prohormone complement from genomic assemblies that employs widely available public toolsets and databases. The uncovered prohormone sequences can then be screened for putative neuropeptides to enable accurate proteomic discovery and validation.

Changes in the diurnal rhythms of cortisol, melatonin, and testosterone after 2, 4, and 7 consecutive night shifts in male police officers

ABSTRACTNight work is associated with a large range of acute health problems and possibly also health consequences in the long run. Yet, only very few field studies specifically investigate the effects of consecutive night shift on key physiological regulatory systems. In this field study, we investigated the effects of consecutive night shifts on three hormones, melatonin, cortisol, and testosterone, among police officers at work. More specifically, the aim was to investigate how the diurnal rhythms of melatonin, cortisol, and testosterone responded to two, four, and seven consecutive night shifts and a corresponding number of days for recovery. The study was part of the “In the Middle of the Night” project and included 73 male police officers from five different police districts. The participants were exposed to three intervention conditions: “2+2”: two consecutive night shifts followed by two consecutive day recovery days; “4+4”: four consecutive night shifts followed by four consecutive recovery days; “7+7”: seven consecutive night shifts followed by seven consecutive recovery days. On the last day with night shift and the last recovery day in each intervention, the participants collected saliva samples every 4th hour when awake. The diurnal rhythms of melatonin, cortisol, and testosterone were all affected differently by an increasing number of consecutive night shifts: the amplitude of the melatonin rhythm was suppressed by 4.9% per day (95% CI 1.4–8.2% per day; p = 0.006). The diurnal rhythm of cortisol phase was delayed with an increasing number of night shifts by 33 min/day (95% CI 18–48 min per day; p ≤ 0.001), but did not show any changes in amplitude. For the diurnal rhythm of testosterone, there was no effect of the number of consecutive night shifts and the diurnal rhythm completely followed the sleep/wake cycle. We found that there were no differences in the rhythms of melatonin, cortisol, and testosterone after 2, 4, and 7 recovery days, respectively. In conclusion, we found signs of desynchronization in terms of suppressed amplitude of melatonin and phase delay of salivary cortisol as a consequence of the increasing number of consecutive night shifts among police officers at work. Lack of synchronization has been suggested as a possible mechanism linking night work to disease, but this remains to be determined.

Editorial: Hormonal and Neuroendocrine Regulation of Energy Balance.

Editorial: Hormonal and Neuroendocrine Regulation of Energy Balance.

A physiologist's view of homeostasis.

Homeostasis is a core concept necessary for understanding the many regulatory mechanisms in physiology. Claude Bernard originally proposed the concept of the constancy of the "milieu interieur," but his discussion was rather abstract. Walter Cannon introduced the term "homeostasis" and expanded Bernard's notion of "constancy" of the internal environment in an explicit and concrete way. In the 1960s, homeostatic regulatory mechanisms in physiology began to be described as discrete processes following the application of engineering control system analysis to physiological systems. Unfortunately, many undergraduate texts continue to highlight abstract aspects of the concept rather than emphasizing a general model that can be specifically and comprehensively applied to all homeostatic mechanisms. As a result, students and instructors alike often fail to develop a clear, concise model with which to think about such systems. In this article, we present a standard model for homeostatic mechanisms to be used at the undergraduate level. We discuss common sources of confusion ("sticky points") that arise from inconsistencies in vocabulary and illustrations found in popular undergraduate texts. Finally, we propose a simplified model and vocabulary set for helping undergraduate students build effective mental models of homeostatic regulation in physiological systems.

Physiological Arousal and Its Dysregulation in Child Maladjustment

Arousal and its regulation are key components of emotion, temperament, and flexible responding needed for healthy adjustment. This article presents a biosocial vulnerability model suggesting that maladjustment arises when psychological mechanisms are disrupted by changes in nervous system functioning that cause the discoordination of physiological regulatory systems, potentially leading to hyper- or hypoarousal and arousal dysregulation. The model posits bidirectional relationships with adverse social context at any level, ultimately derailing affective, cognitive, and interpersonal processes, which can increase psychopathology. Applications are made to childhood aggression and autism spectrum disorder as two examples of how differences in arousal and its dysregulation can impact child adjustment.

Homeostatic regulation in physiological systems: A versatile Ansatz

A generic modelling formalism is described for homeostatic dynamics in physiological systems. The method is particularly suited where the peripheral, physiological system itself is well-characterised, but the details of the central, regulatory component (the nervous and endocrine systems) have not necessarily been characterised in full detail. The method is applied to temperature regulation in Cardinalis cardinalis, C. sinuatus, Lepus alleni, and Passer domesticus, and furthermore to hydromineral regulation in Lymnaea stagnalis. These case studies demonstrate that the method allows a comprehensive analysis and integration of the available data and is capable of furnishing physiologically relevant predictions. We discuss the method in relation to optimal control theory as well as more conventional modelling approaches.