Mice Genetically Deficient in Vasopressin V1a and V1b Receptors Are Resistant to Jet Lag

Science 4 October 2013:
Vol. 342 no. 6154 pp. 85-90
DOI: 10.1126/science.1238599

Received for publication 1 April 2013

Yoshiaki Yamaguchi [1], Toru Suzuki [1], Yasutaka Mizoro [1], Hiroshi Kori [2,3], Kazuki Okada [1], Yulin Chen [1], Jean-Michel Fustin [1], Fumiyoshi Yamazaki [1], Naoki Mizuguchi [1], Jing Zhang [4], Xin Dong [4], Gozoh Tsujimoto [5], Yasushi Okuno [6], Masao Doi [1], Hitoshi Okamura [1,4]

[1] Department of Systems Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
[2] Department of Information Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112-8620, Japan.
[3] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
[4] Division of Molecular Brain Science, Department of Brain Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
[5] Department of Genomic Drug Discovery Science, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
[6] Department of Systems Biosciences for Drug Discovery, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.

Jet-lag symptoms arise from temporal misalignment between the internal circadian clock and external solar time. We found that circadian rhythms of behavior (locomotor activity), clock gene expression, and body temperature immediately reentrained to phase-shifted light-dark cycles in mice lacking vasopressin receptors V1a and V1b (V1a–/–V1b–/–). Nevertheless, the behavior of V1a–/–V1b–/– mice was still coupled to the internal clock, which oscillated normally under standard conditions. Experiments with suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) slices in culture suggested that interneuronal communication mediated by V1a and V1b confers on the SCN an intrinsic resistance to external perturbation. Pharmacological blockade of V1a and V1b in the SCN of wild-type mice resulted in accelerated recovery from jet lag, which highlights the potential of vasopressin signaling as a therapeutic target for management of circadian rhythm misalignment, such as jet lag and shift work.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6154/85.abstract

Odor and taste perception at normal and low atmospheric pressure in a simulated aircraft cabin

Journal für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit
March 2011, Volume 6, Issue 1, pp 95-109
Cover Date 2011-03-01
DOI 10.1007/s00003-010-0630-y

Andrea Burdack-Freitag, Dino Bullinger, Florian Mayer, Klaus Breuer

Fraunhofer Institut für Bauphysik
Fraunhoferstraße 10
83626, Valley
Germany

Abstract

During flights, reduced odor and taste perception is reported. Passengers tend to prefer spicier meals than on the ground. The conditions on board were simulated at the Fraunhofer flight test facility in Holzkirchen, Germany, consisting of a front fuselage of an Airbus A310-200 in a huge metal tube in which all relevant parameters can be adjusted (humidity, temperature, pressure). Flight tests were carried out at low atmospheric pressure corresponding to cabin conditions on board at cruising altitude and were repeated at normal atmospheric pressure corresponding to ground conditions. All other parameters were kept constant. Under these conditions, test persons smelled and tasted food-safe flavorants to evaluate the mean odor and taste thresholds and tasted different flavored food. Even tomato juice and various wines were tasted for odor and taste qualities, intensities and individual preferences. At low pressure conditions, higher taste and odor thresholds of flavorants were generally observed with few exceptions. Salt, sugar, glutamate and most odorant thresholds increased clearly. Organic acids and some bitter tastants showed no change. Transferred to complete meals, more salt, sugar and herbs were necessary on board to serve meals that tasted similar to the way they did on the ground. Sour ingredients had to be reduced. The odor and taste spectrum of the beverages investigated changed in various ways. Light and fresh flavors decreased, whereas intensive flavors persisted.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00003-010-0630-y

Effects of cocaine on honey bee dance behaviour

J Exp Biol
Jan 15, 2009; 212(2): 163–168
doi:  10.1242/jeb.025361

Andrew B. Barron [1,2,*], Ryszard Maleszka [1], Paul G. Helliwell [1] and Gene E. Robinson [2]

[1] ARC Centre for Molecular Genetics of Development, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
[2] Department of Entomology and Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

* Author for correspondence at present address: Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW 2109, Australia

Summary

The role of cocaine as an addictive drug of abuse in human society is hard to reconcile with its ecological role as a natural insecticide and plant-protective compound, preventing herbivory of coca plants (Erythroxylum spp.). This paradox is often explained by proposing a fundamental difference in mammalian and invertebrate responses to cocaine, but here we show effects of cocaine on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) that parallel human responses. Forager honey bees perform symbolic dances to advertise the location and value of floral resources to their nest mates. Treatment with a low dose of cocaine increased the likelihood and rate of bees dancing after foraging but did not otherwise increase locomotor activity. This is consistent with cocaine causing forager bees to overestimate the value of the floral resources they collected. Further, cessation of chronic cocaine treatment caused a withdrawal-like response. These similarities likely occur because in both insects and mammals the biogenic amine neuromodulator systems disrupted by cocaine perform similar roles as modulators of reward and motor systems. Given these analogous responses to cocaine in insects and mammals, we propose an alternative solution to the paradox of cocaine reinforcement. Ecologically, cocaine is an effective plant defence compound via disruption of herbivore motor control but, because the neurochemical systems targeted by cocaine also modulate reward processing, the reinforcing properties of cocaine occur as a `side effect'.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2720998/

Anti Hijacking System For Aircraft

United States Patent 3,811,643
Pizzo
May 21, 1974

Pizzo; Gustano A.
Jackson Heights, NY

Abstract

An anti hijacking system for an airplane to be operated during flight. A partition or barrier located immediately aft of the pilots cabin is adapted to be raised dividing the aft section longitudinally into port and starboard areas, the floors of which are dropped on command to lower the hijacker into a capsule in the belly of the plane. The capsule is releasable through opened bomb bay doors having attached thereto a parachute for safely returning the hijacker within the capsule to earth.

Claims

1. An aircraft having a fuselage comprising a belly separated from a pilots cabin, a passengers section and an enclosed area intermediate thereof by a deck, a partition normally disposed in the belly of said aircraft and means for raising said partition into said area for effectively sealing off any person positioned in one of the zones defined by said partition and the fuselage of the aircraft, means for gaining access to the pilot's cabin and the passenger section from either zone when said partition is raised, the deck of each zone comprising hinged sections adapted to pivot from edge abutting position to a position directed to the belly of the aircraft, means for operating said hinged sections, a capsule separate from the aircraft fuselage disposed under each zone, a bomb-bay door under each zone with a capsule supported over each door, means for controlling each door for selectively jettisoning one of said capsules from the aircraft, a parachute being attached to each capsule and means being provided for automatically opening the chutes when a capsule is released through one of said doors.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=3811643.PN.&OS=PN/3811643&RS=PN/3811643