Sodium Concentration Gradient Research Articles

Blocking Aδ- and C-fiber neural transmission by sub-kilohertz peripheral nerve stimulation.

We recently showed that sub-kilohertz electrical stimulation of the afferent somata in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) reversibly blocks afferent transmission. Here, we further investigated whether similar conduction block can be achieved by stimulating the nerve trunk with electrical peripheral nerve stimulation (ePNS). We explored the mechanisms and parameters of conduction block by ePNS via ex vivo single-fiber recordings from two somatic (sciatic and saphenous) and one autonomic (vagal) nerves harvested from mice. Action potentials were evoked on one end of the nerve and recorded on the other end from teased nerve filaments, i.e., single-fiber recordings. ePNS was delivered in the middle of the nerve trunk using a glass suction electrode at frequencies of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 Hz. Suprathreshold ePNS reversibly blocks axonal neural transmission of both thinly myelinated Aδ-fiber axons and unmyelinated C-fiber axons. ePNS leads to a progressive decrease in conduction velocity (CV) until transmission blockage, suggesting activity-dependent conduction slowing. The blocking efficiency is dependent on the axonal conduction velocity, with Aδ-fibers efficiently blocked by 50-1000 Hz stimulation and C-fibers blocked by 10-50 Hz. The corresponding NEURON simulation of action potential transmission indicates that the disrupted transmembrane sodium and potassium concentration gradients underly the transmission block by the ePNS. The current study provides direct evidence of reversible Aδ- and C-fiber transmission blockage by low-frequency (<100 Hz) electrical stimulation of the nerve trunk, a previously overlooked mechanism that can be harnessed to enhance the therapeutic effect of ePNS in treating neurological disorders.

Reduced internal stress of quasi-single crystalline Na4Fe3(PO4)2P2O7 electrode enhancing sodium-ion kinetics

A NASICON-type quasi-single crystalline Na4Fe3(PO4)2P2O7 (SC) cathode material was successfully synthesized via a freeze-drying method. The as-optimized SC sample displays both outstanding rate performance (107.9 and 88.5 mAhg−1 at 0.1C and 5C, respectively) and excellent cycling stability (88.1 % of capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 1C). Reduced sodium ion migration path of as-prepared SC cathode material effectively enhanced the kinetics of Na+ upon cycling. More importantly, the SC structure could suppress nearly 50 % of internal strain, prodigiously reducing the local stress accumulation accompanied by the inhomogeneous sodium concentration gradient during the charging/discharging processes. The smaller the stress accumulation, the more stable the crystal structure would be obtained, which maintained a more superb mechanical stability of the SC cathode material. At the same time, a high-spin state of Fe in the SC sample was confirmed by both of electron paramagnetic resonance and temperature-dependent magnetization susceptibility, indicating that the eg orbital occupation of Fe2+ could be regulated to optimize the bond strength between the reduction and oxidation processes. As a consequence, the band gap of SC material has decreased from 1.66 to 1.45 eV, and the electronic conductivity has increased from 6.0 to 32.4 μS/cm. It is believed that the SC cathode material could be a competitive candidate material for sodium ion batteries.

Ian Michael Glynn. 3 June 1928—7 July 2022

In the mid 1950s the convergence of crucial discoveries on nerve and muscle physiology brought to centre stage the question of how sodium and potassium concentration gradients needed for nerve conduction and muscle contraction are maintained. This was the subject Ian Glynn set out to investigate when he returned to Cambridge as a Trinity College graduate student in 1953. His initial results on the sodium and potassium permeabilities of the human red blood cell membrane, published in 1956–1967, established these cells as an ideal experimental system for studying the transport properties of the ‘sodium pump’ because of the ease with which the ionic composition of intra- and extracellular environments could be controlled, cell metabolism managed and ionic fluxes measured using isotopes. This work was followed by ground-breaking contributions from his research group over the next decades in a long series of brilliantly designed experiments, setting the foundations of our current understanding of the molecular mechanism of the sodium/potassium pump. Ian became a Trinity College fellow in 1960, advanced rapidly to a professorship in the Department of Physiology after being elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1970, and was appointed head of department in 1986 until his retirement in 1995.

Sodium Magnetic Resonance Imaging Shows Impairment of the Counter-current Multiplication System in Diabetic Mice Kidney.

Sodium magnetic resonance imaging can non-invasively assess sodium distribution, specifically sodium concentration in the countercurrent multiplication system in the kidney, which forms a sodium concentration gradient from the cortex to the medulla, enabling efficient water reabsorption. This study aimed to investigate whether sodium magnetic resonance imaging can detect changes in sodium concentrations under normal conditions in mice and in disease models such as a mouse model with diabetes mellitus. Methods: We performed sodium and proton nuclear magnetic resonance imaging using a 9.4-T vertical standard-bore super-conducting magnet. Results: A condition of deep anesthesia, with widened breath intervals, or furosemide administration in 6-week-old C57BL/6JJcl mice showed a decrease in both tissue sodium concentrations in the medulla and sodium concentration gradients from the cortex to the medulla. Further, sodium magnetic resonance imaging revealed reductions in the sodium concentration of the medulla and in the gradient from the cortex to the medulla in BKS.Cg-Leprdb+/+ Leprdb/Jcl mice at very early type-2 diabetes mellitus stages compared to corresponding control BKS.Cg-m+/m+/Jcl mice. Conclusions: The kidneys of BKS.Cg-Leprdb+/+ Leprdb/Jcl mice aged 6 weeks showed impairments in the countercurrent multiplication system. We propose the utility of 23Na MRI for evaluating functional changes in diabetic kidney disease, not as markers that reflect structural damage. Thus, 23Na MRI may be a potential very early marker for structures beyond the glomerulus; this may prompt intervention with novel efficacious tubule-targeting therapies.

The Study of Effect of Commercial Baicalin Combined with Cefoperazone Sulbactam Sodium on &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Vitro &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;

Objective: To investigate the antibacterial effect of baicalin combined with cefoperazone-sulbactam sodium on drug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Method: Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains that are sensitive and resistant to cefoperazone-sulbactam sodium were selected to prepare different test bacterial solutions respectively; The test solutions of baicalin and cefoperazone sulbactam sodium were prepared respectively, and different test groups and control groups were set up; The drug sensitivity tests of different concentration gradients of baicalin and cefoperazone sulbactam sodium used alone and in combination were carried out for different sensitive and drug-resistant strains, and the standard strains were used as parallel control. Result: The drug susceptibility test results of the combined use of baicalin and cefoperazone-sulbactam against Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug-resistant strains were compared with the drug susceptibility results of the two used separately, and the difference was statistically significant (P Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

SSM-based electrophysiology, a label-free real-time method reveals sugar binding & transport events in SGLT1

Here, we present a solid-supported membrane (SSM)-based electrophysiological approach to study sugar binding and Na+/glucose cotransport by SGLT1 in membrane vesicles. SSM-based electrophysiology delivers a cumulative real-time current readout from numerous SGLT1 proteins simultaneously using a gold-coated sensor chip.In contrast to conventional techniques, which mainly operate with voltage steps, currents are triggered by sugar or sodium addition. Sugar concentration jumps in the presence of sodium lead to transport currents between 5 and 10 nA. Remarkably, in the absence of sodium (i.e. no transport), we observed fast pre-steady-state (PSS) currents with time constants between 3 and 10 ms. These PSS currents mainly originate from sugar binding. Sodium binding does not induce PSS currents. Due to high time resolution, PSS currents were distinguished from transport and eventually correlated with conformational transitions within the sugar translocation pathway.In addition, we analyzed the impact of driving forces on transport and binding currents, showing that membrane voltage and sodium concentration gradients lead to an increased transport rate without affecting sugar binding kinetics. We also compared Na+/sugar efflux with physiologically relevant influx and found similar transport rates, but lower affinity in efflux mode.SSM-based electrophysiology is a powerful technique, which overcomes bottlenecks for transport measurements observed in other techniques such as the requirement of labels or the lack of real-time data. Rapid solution exchange enables the observation of substrate-induced electrogenic events like conformational transitions, opening novel perspectives for in-depth functional studies of SGLT1 and other transporters.

Early role for a Na+,K+-ATPase (ATP1A3) in brain development

Osmotic equilibrium and membrane potential in animal cells depend on concentration gradients of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions across the plasma membrane, a function catalyzed by the Na+,K+-ATPase α-subunit. Here, we describe ATP1A3 variants encoding dysfunctional α3-subunits in children affected by polymicrogyria, a developmental malformation of the cerebral cortex characterized by abnormal folding and laminar organization. To gain cell-biological insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of prenatal ATP1A3 expression, we built an ATP1A3 transcriptional atlas of fetal cortical development using mRNA in situ hybridization and transcriptomic profiling of ∼125,000 individual cells with single-cell RNA sequencing (Drop-seq) from 11 areas of the midgestational human neocortex. We found that fetal expression of ATP1A3 is most abundant to a subset of excitatory neurons carrying transcriptional signatures of the developing subplate, yet also maintains expression in nonneuronal cell populations. Moving forward a year in human development, we profiled ∼52,000 nuclei from four areas of an infant neocortex and show that ATP1A3 expression persists throughout early postnatal development, most predominantly in inhibitory neurons, including parvalbumin interneurons in the frontal cortex. Finally, we discovered the heteromeric Na+,K+-ATPase pump complex may form nonredundant cell-type-specific α-β isoform combinations, including α3-β1 in excitatory neurons and α3-β2 in inhibitory neurons. Together, the developmental malformation phenotype of affected individuals and single-cell ATP1A3 expression patterns point to a key role for α3 in human cortex development, as well as a cell-type basis for pre- and postnatal ATP1A3-associated diseases.

Mechanisms of formation of tubulointerstitional renal impairment at the initial stages of experimental diabetes mellitus

Tubulointerstitial disorders were studied in 11-day long experimental alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus. We concluded that changes in the concentration gradients of sodium and potassium are already observed at the early stages of pathology and indicate the initiation of tubular dysfunction accompanied by intensification of natriuresis and kaliuresis. Despite regulatory control of the renal countercurrent multiplication system and intensification of sodium and potassium reabsorption at the level of the ascending Henle loop, further progression of tubulopathy, in addition to the relative insufficiency of the proximal and distal tubules, will result in the disturbance of hormonal-dependent reabsorption of cations, inhibition of aldosterone- and vasopressin-dependent mechanisms of interstitial osmolarity regulation with the development of tubulointerstitial disorders that unable adequate osmotic concentration of urine. Keywords: experimental diabetes mellitus, alloxan, concentration gradient of sodium and potassium, tubulointerstitial renal impairment.

Determination of the Thicknesses and Visualization of Ion-Exchange Waveguides in Glasses by Scanning Electron Microscopy

The formation of a surface layer with silver and sodium concentration gradients in K8-grade glasses as a result of ion exchange is demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The silver ions enriched layers with different thicknesses, depending on the duration of the ion exchange from the silver melt, are visualized in the secondary electrons mode. SEM data on the thickness of the silver enriched layer are in good agreement with the results of calculation from the diffusion equation for silver in glass. The dependence of the silver concentration on the diffusion depth is obtained using elemental composition mapping over the glass cross section. The presence of a layer with a silver concentration gradient leads to formation of a gradient waveguide. Discrete peaks in silver concentration profiles, caused by specific features of mutual diffusion of sodium and silver ions in glasses, are found.

Определение толщин и визуализация ионообменных волноводов в стеклах методом растровой электронной микроскопии

AbstractThe formation of a surface layer with silver and sodium concentration gradients in K8-grade glasses as a result of ion exchange is demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The silver ions enriched layers with different thicknesses, depending on the duration of the ion exchange from the silver melt, are visualized in the secondary electrons mode. SEM data on the thickness of the silver enriched layer are in good agreement with the results of calculation from the diffusion equation for silver in glass. The dependence of the silver concentration on the diffusion depth is obtained using elemental composition mapping over the glass cross section. The presence of a layer with a silver concentration gradient leads to formation of a gradient waveguide. Discrete peaks in silver concentration profiles, caused by specific features of mutual diffusion of sodium and silver ions in glasses, are found.

Effect of Sodium on the Properties of Ag(In, Ga)Se2 Thin Films and Solar Cells

Ag(In, Ga)Se2 (AIGS) thin films were deposited by a modified three-stage method, using a molecular beam epitaxy apparatus. The influence of sodium on the properties of AIGS films was investigated, using Mo-coated soda-lime-glass (SLG) and quartz as substrates. A sodium concentration gradient was observed along the thickness direction of the AIGS film. This resulted from sodium diffusion from the SLG substrate. No sodium was observed in the AIGS film fabricated on the quartz substrate. The grain size and crystallinity of AIGS increased upon sodium doping. Photoluminescence (PL) experiments on the AIGS film showed that exponentially tailed donor states introduced by indium atoms were passivated by sodium. This led to free excitons being observed in the PL spectrum. Potential fluctuation was used to explain the emission spectra of both sodium-containing and sodium-free samples. The donor and acceptor levels included in the quasi-donor–acceptor pair recombination were observed at approximately 35 meV interstitial defect (GaAg) and 100 meV ( V Se), respectively. Solar cell performance was significantly improved by sodium doping, probably because of defect passivation.

Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy Study of Hydrous Species in Soda Lime Silica Float Glass.

It is generally accepted that the mechanical properties of soda lime silica (SLS) glass can be affected by the interaction between sodium ions and hydrous species (silanol groups and water molecules) in its surface region. While the amount of these hydrous species can be estimated from hydrogen profiles and infrared spectroscopy, their chemical environment in the glass network is still not well understood. This work employed vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to investigate the chemical environment of hydrous species in the surface region of SLS float glass. SLS float glass shows sharp peaks in the OH stretching vibration region in SFG spectra, while the OH stretch peaks of glasses that do not have leachable sodium ions and the OH peaks of water molecules in condensed phases are normally broad due to fast hydrogen bonding dynamics. The hydrous species responsible for the sharp SFG peaks for the SLS float glass were found to be thermodynamically more stable than physisorbed water molecules, did not exchange with D2O, and were associated with the sodium concentration gradient in the dealkalized subsurface region. These results suggested that the hydrous species reside in static solvation shells defined by the silicate network with relatively slow hydrogen bonding dynamics, compared to physisorbed water layers on top of the glass surface. A putative radial distribution of the hydrous species within the SLS glass network was estimated based on the OH SFG spectral features, which could be compared with theoretical distributions calculated from computational simulations.

Surface modification of ion-exchanged float aluminosilicate glass during deposition of amorphous alumina coatings by e-beam evaporation

The main objective of this study was to investigate the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of ion-exchanged float aluminosilicate glasses deposited the Al2O3 films. The concentration gradients of potassium (K), sodium (Na), aluminum (Al) and oxygen (O) elements near Al2O3 film/ion-exchanged glass interface were analyzed by electron probe X-ray micro-analyser (EPMA). Compared with the ion-exchanged glasses, the peak of potassium concentration profile in the ion-exchanged glasses deposited Al2O3 films decreases and moves from glass surface to the inner part. Potassium ion diffusion is accompanied by aluminum (Al) and oxygen (O) diffusion from Al2O3 film into the ion-exchanged glass during deposition. In-depth analyses are performed using micro-Raman spectroscopy on sample cross sections in the aim to investigate the microstructure variation of the ion-exchanged glasses after deposited Al2O3 film on it. The results show that the change of chemical composition throughout ion-exchanged glass surface region can cause a gradual change in microstructure and physical properties.

Relationship between cerebral sodium–glucose transporter and hyperglycemia in cerebral ischemia

Post-ischemic hyperglycemia exacerbates the development of cerebral ischemia. To elucidate this exacerbation mechanism, we focused on sodium–glucose transporter (SGLT) as a mediator that lead hyperglycemia to cerebral ischemia. SGLT transport glucose into the cell, together with sodium ion, using the sodium concentration gradient. We have previously reported that suppression of cerebral SGLT ameliorates cerebral ischemic neuronal damage. However, detail relationship cerebral between SGLT and post-ischemic hyperglycemia remain incompletely defined. Therefore, we examined the involvement of cerebral SGLT on cerebral ischemic neuronal damage with or without hyperglycemic condition. Cell survival rate of primary cultured neurons was assessed by biochemical assay. A mouse model of focal ischemia was generated using a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Neuronal damage was assessed with histological and behavioral analyses. Concomitant hydrogen peroxide/glucose treatment exacerbated hydrogen peroxide alone-induced cell death. Although a SGLT family-specific inhibitor, phlorizin had no effect on developed hydrogen peroxide alone-induced cell death, it suppressed cell death induced by concomitant hydrogen peroxide/glucose treatment. α-MG induced a concentration-dependent and significant decrease in neuronal survival. PHZ administered on immediately after reperfusion had no effect, but PHZ given at 6h after reperfusion had an effect. Our in vitro study indicates that SGLT is not involved in neuronal cell death in non-hyperglycemic condition. We have already reported that post-ischemic hyperglycemia begins to develop at 6h after MCAO. Therefore, current our in vivo study show post-ischemic hyperglycemic condition may be necessary for the SGLT-mediated exacerbation of cerebral ischemic neuronal damage.

TGF-β and lung fluid balance in ARDS

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by hypoxemia from flooding of the distal airspaces of the lung with protein-rich edema fluid. Pulmonary edema develops because of an increase in lung vascular permeability and from injury to the alveolar epithelium that diminishes the normal capacity of the alveolar epithelium to remove edema fluid from the airspaces (alveolar fluid clearance, AFC) (1, 2). The severity of alveolar edema depends on the competing effects of increased permeability and the active clearance of edema fluid from the airspaces in regions where the epithelium is intact. The vectorial transport of sodium into the interstitial space provides an osmotic gradient for absorption of water. The sodium concentration gradient is established by Na+/K+-ATPase located in the basolateral membrane of polarized alveolar epithelial type 1 and type 2 cells (Fig. 1). Transepithelial sodium transport also requires an adequate paracellular barrier, apically polarized sodium channels such as ENaC (the epithelial sodium channel), and chloride transport (3, 4).

Are Serum to Dialysate Sodium Gradient and Segmental Bioimpedance Volumes associated with the Fall in Blood Pressure with Hemodialysis?

A fall in blood pressure is the most common complication of outpatient hemodialysis. Several factors have been implicated, including serum sodium to dialysate gradient, ultrafiltration rate, and the amount of fluid to be removed during dialysis. We prospectively audited 400 adult patients attending for their routine midweek hemodialysis session, and recorded changes in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Mean age 58.4 ± 16.6 years, 60.9% male, 30.7% diabetic, 36.8% Caucasoid, single pool Kt/V 1.57 ± 0.4, and median percentage change in MAP -6.7% (-14.1 to + 2.8). The percentage fall in MAP was greatest for those starting with higher MAPs (β 0.448 , F 67.5, p<0.001), greater serum sodium to dialysate sodium gradient (β 0.676, F 5.59, p = 0.019), and age (β 0.163, F 5.15, p = 0.024). In addition, the percentage fall in MAP was greater in those with the lowest segmental extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) ratios in the right arm prior to dialysis (β -477.5, F 7.11, p = 0.008). Falls in blood pressure are common during dialysis, and greater for those starting dialysis with the highest systolic pressures, greater dialysate to serum sodium concentration gradient, and also those with the least ECW in the arm. As such, segmental bioimpedance may be useful in highlighting patients at greatest risk for a fall in blood pressure with dialysis.

Development of a Physiologically Based Computational Kidney Model to Describe the Renal Excretion of Hydrophilic Agents in Rats

A physiologically based kidney model was developed to analyze the renal excretion and kidney exposure of hydrophilic agents, in particular contrast media, in rats. In order to study the influence of osmolality and viscosity changes, the model mechanistically represents urine concentration by water reabsorption in different segments of kidney tubules and viscosity dependent tubular fluid flow. The model was established using experimental data on the physiological steady state without administration of any contrast media or drugs. These data included the sodium and urea concentration gradient along the cortico-medullary axis, water reabsorption, urine flow, and sodium as well as urea urine concentrations for a normal hydration state. The model was evaluated by predicting the effects of mannitol and contrast media administration and comparing to experimental data on cortico-medullary concentration gradients, urine flow, urine viscosity, hydrostatic tubular pressures and single nephron glomerular filtration rate. Finally the model was used to analyze and compare typical examples of ionic and non-ionic monomeric as well as non-ionic dimeric contrast media with respect to their osmolality and viscosity. With the computational kidney model, urine flow depended mainly on osmolality, while osmolality and viscosity were important determinants for tubular hydrostatic pressure and kidney exposure. The low diuretic effect of dimeric contrast media in combination with their high intrinsic viscosity resulted in a high viscosity within the tubular fluid. In comparison to monomeric contrast media, this led to a higher increase in tubular pressure, to a reduction in glomerular filtration rate and tubular flow and to an increase in kidney exposure. The presented kidney model can be implemented into whole body physiologically based pharmacokinetic models and extended in order to simulate the renal excretion of lipophilic drugs which may also undergo active secretion and reabsorption.

On the Concept of Resting Potential—Pumping Ratio of the Na+/K+ Pump and Concentration Ratios of Potassium Ions Outside and Inside the Cell to Sodium Ions Inside and Outside the Cell

In animal cells, the resting potential is established by the concentration gradients of sodium and potassium ions and the different permeabilities of the cell membrane to them. The large concentration gradients of sodium and potassium ions are maintained by the Na⁺/K⁺ pump. Under physiological conditions, the pump transports three sodium ions out of and two potassium ions into the cell per ATP hydrolyzed. However, unlike other primary or secondary active transporters, the Na⁺/K⁺ pump does not work at the equilibrium state, so the pumping ratio is not a thermodynamic property of the pump. In this article, I propose a dipole-charging model of the Na⁺/K⁺ pump to prove that the three Na⁺ to two K⁺ pumping ratio of the Na⁺/K⁺ pump is determined by the ratio of the ionic mobilities of potassium to sodium ions, which is to ensure the time constant τ and the τ-dependent processes, such as the normal working state of the Na⁺/K⁺ pump and the propagation of an action potential. Further, the concentration ratios of potassium ions outside and inside the cell to sodium ions inside and outside the cell are 0.3027 and 0.9788, respectively, and the sum of the potassium and sodium equilibrium potentials is -30.3 mV. A comparative study on these constants is made for some marine, freshwater and terrestrial animals. These findings suggest that the pumping ratio of the Na⁺/K⁺ pump and the ion concentration ratios play a role in the evolution of animal cells.

Claudin-4 Levels Are Associated with Intact Alveolar Fluid Clearance in Human Lungs

The removal of edema from the air spaces is a critical function of the alveolar barrier requiring intact tight junctions. Alveolar fluid clearance contributes to graft function after transplantation and is associated with survival in patients with acute lung injury. Claudin-4 concentrations are known to increase during lung injury and the loss of claudin-4 decreases alveolar fluid clearance in mice. This study was therefore undertaken to evaluate whether differences in lung expression of the tight junction protein claudin-4 are associated with alveolar fluid clearance or clinical measures of lung function. Alveolar fluid clearance rates were measured in ex vivo perfused human lungs not used for transplantation and were compared with histological lung injury and clinical measures of lung injury in the donors. Claudin-4 staining demonstrated a positive correlation with alveolar fluid clearance (Spearman rank correlation [r(s)] = 0.71; P < 0.003); however, claudin-4 staining was not strongly associated with histological measures of lung injury. The expression of other tight junction proteins (including ZO-1) was not associated with alveolar fluid clearance or claudin-4 levels. Claudin-4 staining was lower in lungs from donors with greater impairment in respiratory physiology. These data suggest that claudin-4 may promote alveolar fluid clearance and demonstrate that the amount of claudin-4 expressed may provide specific information regarding alveolar epithelial barrier function that strengthens the link between histological changes and physiological impairment.

Mesopause region temperature structure observed by sodium resonance lidar

Mesopause region temperature measurements made with a sodium resonance lidar show two unexpected features: (1) Strong positive temperature gradients are often associated with strong gradients in the sodium concentration and (2) positive temperature gradients are generally much stronger than negative ones. Although the structures we see frequently appear to be associated with gravity waves or tides, the asymmetrical temperature oscillations cannot be explained as the result of simple wave propagation. We suggest that strong positive temperature gradients correspond to regions of high atmospheric stability, where eddy diffusion is inhibited, permitting the build-up of strong gradients in temperature and minor constituent mixing ratio.