Adipose tissue plays a major role in regulating whole-body insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism. To accommodate surplus energy, the tissue rapidly expands by increasing adipose cell size (hypertrophy) and cell number (hyperplasia). Previous studies have shown that enlarged, hypertrophic adipocytes are less responsive to insulin, and that adipocyte size could serve as a predictor for the devel

Ledare•En sak är helt säker, framtiden kommer att vara annorlunda från hur vi har haft det, och i dag har det. Det skriver Markku Rummukainen i denna klimatkrönika. På måndag den 4 mars håller han en föreläsning om klimatförändringar och oundvikliga klimatåtgärder på Halmstads Stadsbibliotek i serien ”Klimatet & vi” som går under våren.

Dragonflies pursue and capture tiny prey and conspecifics with extremely high success rates. These moving targets represent a small visual signal on the retina and successful chases require accurate detection and amplification by downstream neuronal circuits. This amplification has been observed in a population of neurons called small target motion detectors (STMDs), through a mechanism we term pr

It is emphasized that animal models should be used to study specific genotypic or phenotypic expressions associated with diabetes rather than assuming a single animal model can reflect diverse forms of the human disease. Diabetic and normal animals are reviewed on the basis of their usefulness as models of genetic, viral, and chemically induced diabetes, including the often associated immune pheno

The dynamics of insulin and chromium release from prelabelled rat pancreatic islet cells were studied by perifusion of cells supported in a column of Bio-Gel P-2 polyacrylamide beads. The column-perifused β cells released insulin in a biphasic pattern in response to 30 mmol/l D-glucose and in a monophasic pattern to 20 mmol/l L-arginine. Rat islet cells, first exposed to a rabbit anti-rat islet c

Pancreatic islets from A.TH mice were transplanted into the spleen or streptozotocin (SZ)‐diabetic A.TL mice. The two strains of mice are congenic inbred strains, differing only in the I and S subregions of the H‐2 complex. The allogeneic islet grafts decreased blood glucose temporarily, but the islets were rejected after 21 ± 7 days (mean ± SD). The effect of skin presensitization was tested by g

Dispersed rat pancreatic islet cells were mixed into a short column of Bio-Gel P-2 polyacrylamide beads and perifused with an antiserum containing islet cell surface antibodies. The release of radioactive chromium from prelabeled cells, as a measure of cell membrane permeability, was not affected by cell surface antibodies alone, but increased dramatically in the presence of complement. While ther

Streptozotocin (SZ) given in five low doses causes diabetes and an associated lymphocytic infiltration of the pancreatic islets. Using C57BL/KsJ-mice, we demonstrate a reduction in islet number (-38%) and volume (-64%) within 1 day following the last injection of SZ. A substantial fall of insulin secretory capacity (-84%) in the in vitro perfused pancreas matches the reduction in islet cell volume

Recent observations have shown the presence of thyrotropin-releasing hormone-like material (TRH-LM) in rat pancreatic islets and in retina. Its immunological and biological properties are identical to those of synthetic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (thyroliberin). This communication deals with the ontogenesis of TRH-LM in rat pancreas and retina as compared to that of rat hypothalamus. Effects of

Sweden went back to gold at the pre‐war parity, whereas Finland returned at the existing rate, accepting the depreciation of the markka that had occurred over the war and early post‐war years. The authors use a quantity‐theory framework to investigate the results of the divergent exchange rate and monetary policies followed by the two countries. The Swedish economy was forced to undergo a severe c

This study investigates domestic cat vocalisations in different contexts and mental states. Measures of fundamental frequency (f0) and duration as well as f0 contours of 780 meows from 40 cats were analysed. We found significant effects of recording context and of mental state on f0 and duration. Additionally, contours in positive (affiliative) contexts and mental states were predominantly rising,

The Moon cycle exposes nocturnal life to variation in environmental light. However, whether moonlight shapes the fitness of nocturnal species with distinct colour variants remains unknown. Combining data from long-term monitoring, high-resolution global positioning system tracking and experiments using prey, we show that barn owls (Tyto alba) with distinct plumage colourations are differently affe

Gender differences have been found in several aspects of autobiographical memory (i.e. personally experienced events). For example, previous studies have shown that females’ autobiographical memories contain more communal and emotional expressions than do males. However, an important question concerns whether these differences can be observed both in the manifest content (i.e. what is actually sai