The laterally-loaded pile has long been a topic of research interest. Several models of the soil surrounding a pile have been developed for simulation of lateral pile behavior, ranging from simple spring and dashpot models to sophisticated three-dimensional finite-element models. However, results from the available pile-soil models are not accurate due to inherent approximations or constraints. For the springs and dashpots representation, the real and imaginary stiffness are calculated by idealizing the soil domain as a series of plane-strain slices leading to unrealistic pile behavior at low frequencies while the three-dimensional finite-element analysis is very computationally demanding. Therefore, this dissertation research seeks to contribute toward procedures that are computationally cost-effective while accuracy of the computed response is maintained identical or close to that of the three-dimensional finite-element solution. Based on the fact that purely-elastic soil displacement variations in azimuthal direction are known, the surrounding soil can be formulated in terms of an equivalent one-dimensional model leading to a significant reduction of computational cost. The pile with conventional soil-slice model will be explored first. Next, models with shear stresses between soil slices, including and neglecting the soil vertical displacement, are investigated. Excellent agreement of results from the proposed models with three-dimensional finite-element solutions can be achieved with only small additional computational cost. / text

Aim: Isolated papillary muscles and enzymatically dissociated myocytes of guinea-pig hearts are routinely used for experimental cardiac research. The aim of our study is to investigate adult mammalian ventricular slices as an alternative preparation. Method: Vibratome cut ventricular slices (350 μm thick) were examined histologically and with 2-photon microscopy for fibre orientation. Intracellular action potentials were recorded with conventional glass microelectrodes, extracellular potentials were measured with tungsten platinum electrodes and multi-electrode arrays (MEA). Results: Dominant direction of fibre orientation was absent in vertical and horizontal transmural slices, but was longitudinal in tangential slices. Control action potential duration (APD90, 169.9 ± 4 ms) and drug effects on this parameter were similar to papillary muscles. The L-type Ca-channel blocker nifedipine shortened APD90 with a half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 4.5 μM. The IKr blocker E4031 and neuroleptic drug risperidone prolonged APD90 with EC50 values of 31 nM and 0.67 μM, respectively. Mapping field potentials on multi-electrode arrays showed uniform spread of excitation with a mean conduction velocity of 0.47 m ⋅ s-1. Conclusion: Slices from adult mammalian hearts could become a useful routine model for electrophysiological and pharmacological research. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

<p>Intricate neural circuits underlie all brain functions. However, these neural circuits are highly dynamic. The ability to change, or the plasticity, of the brain has long been demonstrated at the level of isolated single synapses under artificial conditions. Circuit organization and brain function has been extensively studied by correlating neuronal activity with information input. The primary visual cortex has become an important model brain region for the study of sensory processing, in large part due to the ease of manipulating visual stimuli. Much has been learned from studies of visual cortex focused on understanding the signal-processing of visual inputs within neural circuits. Many of these findings are generalizable to other sensory systems and other regions of cortex. However, few studies have directly demonstrated the orchestrated neural-circuit plasticity occurring during behavioral experience. </p> <p>It is vital to measure the precise circuit connectivity and to quantitatively characterize experience-dependent circuit plasticity to understand the processes of learning and memory formation. Moreover, it is important to study how circuit connectivity and plasticity in neurological and psychiatric disease states deviates from that in healthy brains. By understanding the impact of disease on circuit plasticity, it may be possible to develop therapeutic interventions to alleviate significant neurological and psychiatric morbidity. In the case of neural trauma or ischemic injury, where neurons and their connections are lost, functional recovery relies on neural-circuit repair. Evaluating whether neurons are reconnected into the local circuitry to re-establish the lost connectivity is crucial for guiding therapeutic development.</p> <p>There are several major technical hurdles for studies aiming to quantify circuit connectivity. First, the lack of high-specificity circuit stimulation methods and second, the low throughput of the gold-standard patch-clamp technique for measuring synaptic events have limited progress in this area. To address these problems, we first engineered the patch-clamp experimental system to automate the patching process, increasing the throughput and consistency of patch-clamp electrophysiology while retaining compatibility of the system for experiments in <i>ex vivo </i>brain slices. We also took advantage of optogenetics, the technology that enables control of neural activity with light through ectopic expression of genetically encoded photo-sensitive channels in targeted neuronal populations. Combining optogenetic stimulation of pre-synaptic axonal terminals and whole-cell patch-clamp recording of post-synaptic currents, we mapped the distribution and strength of synaptic connections from a specific group of neurons onto a single cell. With the improved patch-clamp efficiency using our automated system, we efficiently mapped a significant number of neurons in different experimental conditions/treatments. This approach yielded large datasets, with sufficient power to make meaningful comparisons between groups.</p> <p>Using this method, we first studied visual experience-dependent circuit plasticity in the primary visual cortex. We measured the connectivity of local feedback and recurrent neural projections in a Fragile X syndrome mouse model and their healthy counterparts, with or without a specific visual experience. We found that repeated visual experience led to increased excitatory drive onto inhibitory interneurons and intrinsically bursting neurons in healthy animals. Potentiation at these synapses was absent or abnormal in Fragile X animals. Furthermore, recurrent excitatory input onto regular spiking neurons within the same layer remained stable in healthy animals but was depressed in Fragile X animals following repeated visual experience. These results support the hypothesis that visual experience leads to selective circuit plasticity which may underlie the mechanism of visual learning. This circuit plasticity process is impaired in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. </p> <p>In a separate study, in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Gong Chen, we applied the circuit-mapping method to measure the effect of a novel brain-repair therapy on functional circuit recovery following ischemic injury, which locally kills neurons and creates a glial scar. By directly reprogramming astrocytes into neurons within the region of the glial scar, this gene-therapy technology aims to restore the local circuit and thereby dramatically improve behavioral function after devastating neurological injury. We found that direct reprogramming converted astrocytes into neurons, and importantly, we found that these newly reprogrammed neurons integrated appropriately into the local circuit. The reprogramming also improved connections between surviving endogenous neurons at the injury site toward normal healthy levels of connectivity. Connections formed onto the newly reprogrammed neurons spontaneously remodeled, the process of which resembled neural development. By directly demonstrating functional connectivity of newly reprogrammed neurons, our results suggest that this direct reprogramming gene-therapy technology holds significant promise for future clinical application to restore circuit connectivity and neurological function following brain injury.</p>

O presente trabalho visa à aplicação de metodologias de análise de tensões induzidas em cabos de sinal de cabos umbilicais a partir da utilização do Método dos Elementos Finitos. A aplicação consiste na avaliação de tensões induzidas nos condutores de sinal, a partir do acoplamento mútuo de fluxo magnético originado das correntes dos circuitos de potência do cabo umbilical. Para tanto, são aplicadas técnicas de fatiamento e transposição para a geometria do cabo concomitantemente às técnicas de acoplamento com circuito elétrico. São apresentados modelos de condutores elétricos com ênfase no detalhamento geométrico, simplificações consideradas, adoção de parâmetros de suporte e condições de contorno. A avaliação das tensões induzidas nos condutores de sinal é realizada tanto para simulações bidimensionais, pelos métodos de fatiamento e transposição, como para simulações tridimensionais. / The aim of this work is apply the methodologies of induced voltage in signal cables inside umbilical cables through application of Finite Elements Method. The application is made by the evaluation of the induced voltage on signal cables through the coupling of magnetic fields generated by the power cables. Therefore slice and transposition techniques are applied to the cable geometry with electrical circuit coupling techniques. One presents electrical conductor modeling focused on geometric detailing and simplifications, support parameters and boundary conditions. The evaluation of induced voltages on signal cables is made through the application of bidimensional method, using slices and transposition techniques and also tridimensional simulations.

Cette étude a été réalisée dans le but d’obtenir une meilleure connaissance du métabolisme cérébral qui se trouve perturbé dans de nombreuses maladies neurologiques ou bien par des médicaments présentant des effets toxiques au niveau du système nerveux central. Pour cela, nous avons utilisé notre approche de métabolomique cellulaire qui combine les techniques de dosages enzymatiques et de spectroscopie RMN du carbone 13 avec des modèles mathématiques des voies métaboliques. Dans la première partie de ce travail, nous avons caractérisé le métabolisme des tranches de cerveau de rat en utilisant les principaux substrats du cerveau. Nos tranches utilisent ces différents substrats et conservent une haute capacité d’oxydation pendant la durée d’incubation. La deuxième partie présente une validation de notre modèle d’étude en testant l’effet du valproate, un médicament antiépileptique très utilisé. Nous montrons, non seulement une augmentation de l’accumulation du GABA et une diminution de celle de l’aspartate dues au valproate, mais aussi une perturbation des flux à travers différentes enzymes du métabolisme du cerveau. Dans la troisième partie, nous avons recherché les effets des composés guanidiniques sur le métabolisme cérébral ; ces composés augmentent l’utilisation de glucose et l’accumulation de lactate par les tranches de cerveau de rat. Nos tranches représentent donc un bon modèle pour les études métaboliques in vitro et notre approche permet d’obtenir une vision d'ensemble du devenir métabolique d'un substrat donné et d'identifier les voies métaboliques impliquées en mesurant les flux enzymatiques en absence et en présence d'un agent pharmacologique ou toxicologique / This study was conducted to obtain a better knowledge of brain metabolism which is altered in many neurological diseases or by drugs with toxic effects on the central nervous system. For this purpose, we used our cellular metabolomic approach that combines enzymatic and carbon 13 NMR measurements with mathematical modeling of metabolic pathways. In the first part of this work, we characterized the metabolism of rat brain slices by using the main substrates of the brain. Our slices metabolized and oxidized these substrates at high rates during the incubation period. The second part presents a validation of our model of study by testing the effect of valproate, a widely used antiepileptic drug. We showed that valproate not only increases the accumulation of GABA and decreases that of aspartate, but also alters fluxes through several enzymes involved in brain metabolism. In the third part, we investigated the effects of guanidino compounds on cerebral metabolism; these compounds increase glucose consumption and lactate accumulation by rat brain slices. Thus, our slices are a good model for metabolic studies in vitro and our approach provides an overview of the metabolic fate of a given substrate and allows to identify the metabolic pathways involved by measuring enzymatic fluxes in the absence and the presence of a pharmacological or toxicological agents

O presente trabalho visa à aplicação de metodologias de análise de tensões induzidas em cabos de sinal de cabos umbilicais a partir da utilização do Método dos Elementos Finitos. A aplicação consiste na avaliação de tensões induzidas nos condutores de sinal, a partir do acoplamento mútuo de fluxo magnético originado das correntes dos circuitos de potência do cabo umbilical. Para tanto, são aplicadas técnicas de fatiamento e transposição para a geometria do cabo concomitantemente às técnicas de acoplamento com circuito elétrico. São apresentados modelos de condutores elétricos com ênfase no detalhamento geométrico, simplificações consideradas, adoção de parâmetros de suporte e condições de contorno. A avaliação das tensões induzidas nos condutores de sinal é realizada tanto para simulações bidimensionais, pelos métodos de fatiamento e transposição, como para simulações tridimensionais. / The aim of this work is apply the methodologies of induced voltage in signal cables inside umbilical cables through application of Finite Elements Method. The application is made by the evaluation of the induced voltage on signal cables through the coupling of magnetic fields generated by the power cables. Therefore slice and transposition techniques are applied to the cable geometry with electrical circuit coupling techniques. One presents electrical conductor modeling focused on geometric detailing and simplifications, support parameters and boundary conditions. The evaluation of induced voltages on signal cables is made through the application of bidimensional method, using slices and transposition techniques and also tridimensional simulations.

Epilepsy is characterized by the hyperexcitability of individual neurons and hyper synchronization of groups of neurons (networks). The acquired changes that take place at molecular, cellular and network levels are important for the induction and maintenance of epileptic activity in the brain. Epileptic activity is known to alter the intrinsic properties and signaling of neurons. Understanding acquired changes that cause epilepsy may lead to innovative strategies to prevent or cure this neurological disorder. Advances in in vitro electrophysiological techniques together with experimental models of epilepsy are indispensible tools to understand molecular, cellular and network mechanisms that underlie epileptiform activity. The aim of the study was to investigate the epileptiform activity induced alterations in Ca2+ dynamics in apical dendrites of hippocampal subicular pyramidal neurons in slices and changes in network properties of cultured hippocampal neurons. We have also made attempts to develop an in vitro model of epilepsy using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. In the first part of the present study, investigations on the basic properties of dendritic Ca2+ signaling in subicular pyramidal neurons during epileptiform activity are described. Subiculum, a part of the hippocampal formation is present, adjacent to the CA1 subfield. It acts as a transition zone between the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. It receives inputs directly from the CA1 region, the entorhinal cortex, subcortical and other cortical areas. Several forms of evidences support the role of subiculum in temporal lobe epilepsy. Pronounced neuronal loss has been reported in various regions of the hippocampal formation (CA1 and CA3) leaving the subiculum generally intact in human epileptic tissue. It has been observed that epileptic activity is generated in subiculum in cases where the CA3 and CA1 regions are damaged or even absent. However, it is not clear how subicular neurons protect themselves from epileptic activity induced neuronal death. It is widely accepted that epileptiform activity induced neuronal damage is a result of an abnormally large influx of Ca2+ into neuronal compartments. In the present study, combined hippocampus / entorhinal cortical brain slices were exposed to zero Mg2+ + 4-amino pyridine artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) to generate spontaneous epileptiform discharges. Whole cell current-clamp recordings combined with Ca2+ imaging experiments (by incorporating Oregon green BAPTA-1 in the recording pipette) were performed on subicular pyramidal neurons to understand the changes in [Ca2+]i transients elicited in apical dendrites, in response to spontaneous epileptic discharges. To understand the changes occurring with respect to control, experiments were performed (in both control and in vitro epileptic conditions) where [Ca2+]i transients in dendrites were elicited by back propagating action potentials following somatic current injections. The results show clear distance-dependent changes in decay kinetics of [Ca2+]i transients (τdecay), without change in the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i transients, in distal parts (95–110 µm) compared to proximal segments (30–45 µm) of apical dendrites of subicular pyramidal neurons under in vitro epileptic condition, but not in control conditions. Pharmacological agents that block Ca2+ transporters viz. Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (Benzamil), plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase pumps (Calmidazolium) and smooth endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase pumps (Thapsigargin) were applied locally to the proximal and distal part of the apical dendrites in both experimental conditions to understand the molecular aspects of the Ca2+ extrusion mechanisms. The relative contribution of Na+/Ca2+ exchangers in Ca2+ extrusion was higher in the distal apical dendrite in in vitro epileptic condition. Using computer simulations with NEURON, biophysically realistic models were built to understand how faster decay of [Ca2+]i transients in the distal part of apical dendrite associated with [Ca2+]i extrusion mechanisms affect excitability of the neurons. With a linear increase in the density of Na+/Ca2+ exchangers along the apical dendrite, the decrease in τ decay values of [Ca2+]i transients in distal regions seen in experimental epileptic condition was reproduced in simulation. This linear increase in Na+/Ca2+ exchangers lowered the threshold for firing in response to consecutive synaptic inputs to the distal apical dendrite. Our results thus, show the existence of a novel neuroprotective mechanism in distal parts of the apical dendrite of subicular pyramidal neurons under in vitro epileptic condition with the Na+/Ca2+ exchangers being the major contributors to this mechanism. Although the enhanced contribution of Na+/Ca2+ exchangers helps the neuron in removing excess [Ca2+]i loads, it paradoxically makes the neuron hyperexcitable to synaptic inputs in the distal parts of the apical dendrites. Thus, the Na+/Ca2+ exchangers may actually protect subicular pyramidal neurons and at the same time contribute to the maintenance of epileptiform activity. In the second part of the study, neuronal network topologies and connectivity patterns were explored in control and glutamate injury induced epileptogenic hippocampal neuronal networks, cultured on planar multielectrode array (8×8) probes. Hyper synchronization of neuronal networks is the hallmark of epilepsy. To understand hyper synchronization and connectivity patterns of neuronal networks, electrical activity from multiple neurons were monitored simultaneously. The electrical activity recorded from a single electrode mainly consisted of randomly fired single spikes and bursts of spikes. Simultaneous measurement of electrical activity from all the 64 electrodes revealed network bursts. A network burst represents the period (lasting for 0.1–0.2 s) of synchronized activity in the network and, during this transient period, maximum numbers of neurons interact with each other. The network bursts were observed in both control and in vitro epileptic networks, but the frequency of network bursts was more in the latter, compared to former condition. Time stamps of individual spikes (from all 64 electrodes) during such time-aligned network burst were collected and stored in a matrix and used to construct the network topology. Connectivity maps were obtained by analyzing the spike trains using cross-covariance analysis and graph theory methods. Analysis of degree distribution, which is a measure of direct connections between electrodes in a neuronal network, showed exponential and Gaussian distributions in control and in vitro epileptic networks, respectively. Quantification of number of direct connections per electrode revealed that the in vitro epileptic networks showed much higher number of direct connections per electrode compared to control networks. Our results suggest that functional two-dimensional neuronal networks in vitro are not scale-free (not a power law degree distribution). After brief exposure to glutamate, normal hippocampal neuronal networks became hyperexcitable and fired a larger number of network bursts with altered network topology. Quantification of clustering coefficient and path length in these two types of networks revealed that the small-world network property was lost once the networks become epileptic and this was accompanied by a change from an exponential to a Gaussian network. In the last part of the study, we have explored if an excitotoxic glutamate injury (20 µM for 10 min) that produces spontaneous, recurrent, epileptiform discharges in cultured hippocampal neurons can induce epileptogenesis in hippocampal neurons of organotypic brain slice cultures. In vitro models of epilepsy are necessary to understand the mechanisms underlying seizures, the changes in brain structure and function that underlie epilepsy and are the best methods for developing new antiseizure and antiepileptogenic strategies. Glutamate receptor over-activation has been strongly associated with epileptogenesis. Recent studies have shown that brief exposure of dissociated hippocampal neurons in culture to glutamate (20 µM for 10 min) induces epileptogenesis in surviving neurons. Our aim was to extend the in vitro model of glutamate injury induced epilepsy to the slice preparations with intact brain circuits. Patch clamp technique in current-clamp mode was employed to monitor the expression of spontaneous epileptiform discharges from CA1 and CA3 neurons using several combinations of glutamate injury protocols. The results presented here represent preliminary efforts to standardize the glutamate injury protocol for inducing epileptogenesis in organotypic slice preparations. Our results indicate that glutamate injury protocols that induced epileptogenesis in dissociated hippocampal neurons in culture failed to turn CA1 and CA3 neurons of organotypic brain slice cultures epileptic. We also found that the CA1 and CA3 neurons of organotypic brain slice cultures are resilient to induction of epileptogenesis by glutamate injury protocols with 10 times higher concentrations of glutamate (200µM) than that used for neuronal cultures and long exposure periods (upto 30 min). These results clearly show that the factors involved in induction of epileptiform activity after glutamate injury in neuronal cultures and those involved in making the neurons in organotypic slices resilient to such insults are different, and understanding them could give vital clues about epileptogenesis and its control. The resilience of CA1 and CA3 neurons seen could be due to differences in homeostatic plasticity that operate in both these experimental systems. However, further studies are required to corroborate this hypothesis.

Les Architectures Orientées Services (SOA) sont adoptées aujourd'hui par de nombreuses entreprises car elles représentent une solution flexible pour la construction d'applications distribuées. Une Application Basée sur des Services (SBA) peut se définir comme un workflow qui coordonne de manière dynamique l'exécution distribuée d'un ensemble de services. Les services peuvent être sélectionnés et intégrés en temps réel en fonction de leur Qualité de Service (QoS), et la composition de services peut être dynamiquement modifiée pour réagir à des défaillances imprévues pendant l'exécution. Les besoins des architectures orientées services présentent des similarités avec la nature: dynamicité, évolutivité, auto-adaptabilité, etc. Ainsi, il n'est pas surprenant que les métaphores inspirées par la nature soient considérées comme des approches appropriées pour la modélisation de tels systèmes. Nous allons plus loin en utilisant le paradigme de programmation chimique comme base de construction d'un middleware. Dans cette thèse, nous présentons un middleware "chimique'' pour l'exécution dynamique et adaptative de SBA. La sélection, l'intégration, la coordination et l'adaptation de services sont modélisées comme une série de réactions chimiques. Tout d'abord, l'instantiation de workflow est exprimée par une série de réactions qui peuvent être effectuées de manière parallèle, distribuée et autonome. Ensuite, nous avons mis en oeuvre trois modèles de coordination pour exécuter une composition de service. Nous montrons que les trois modèles peuvent réagir aux défaillances de type panne franche. Enfin, nous avons évalué et comparé ces modèles au niveau d'efficacité et complexité sur deux workflows. Nous montrons ainsi dans cette thèse que le paradigme chimique possède les qualités nécessaires à l'introduction de la dynamicité et de l'adaptabilité dans la programmation basée sur les services. / With the advent of cloud computing and Software-as-a-Service, Service-Based Application (SBA) represents a new paradigm to build rapid, low-cost, interoperable and evolvable distributed applications. A new application is created by defining a workflow that coordinates a set of third-party Web services accessible over the Internet. In such distributed and loose coupling environment, the execution of SBA requires a high degree of flexibility. For example, suitable constituent services can be selected and integrated at runtime based on their Quality of Service (QoS); furthermore, the composition of service is required to be dynamically modified in response to unexpected runtime failures. In this context, the main objective of this dissertation is to design, to develop and to evaluate a service middleware for flexible execution of SBA by using chemical programming model. Using chemical metaphor, the service-based systems are modeled as distributed, selforganized and self-adaptive biochemical systems. Service discovery, selection, coordination and adaptation are expressed as a series of pervasive chemical reactions in the middleware, which are performed in a distributed, concurrent and autonomous way. Additionally, on the way to build flexible service based systems, we do not restrict our research only in investigating chemical-based solutions. In this context, the second objective of this thesis is to find out generic solutions, such as models and algorithms, to respond to some of the most challenging problems in flexible execution of SBAs. I have proposed a two-phase online prediction approach that is able to accurately make decisions to proactively execute adaptation plan before the failures actually occur.

Le chloroacétaldéhyde (CAA), un des principaux produits du métabolisme hépatique de l’ifosfamide (IFO), est considéré comme responsable de la néphrotoxicité de ce médicament. Les mécanismes exacts de cette néphrotoxicité ne sont pas complètement élucidés. Dans la première partie de cette étude, nous avons essayé de préciser les mécanismes physiopathologiques de la toxicité du CAA sur un modèle de tranches de cortex rénal de rat, puis, dans la deuxième partie, nous avons recherché un effet anticancéreux éventuel du CAA sur des cellules de cancer du sein humain (MCF-7). La néphrotoxicité du CAA, utilisé à des concentrations proches de celles mesurées chez les patients traités par l’IFO, soit 0 - 75 µM, s’est manifestée par une chute d’ATP et du glutathion ainsi que par une inhibition du métabolisme du lactate. Certaines enzymes de la néoglucogenèse, notamment la glyceraldéhyde 3-phosphate déshydrogénase, ont été inhibées par le CAA. Le complexe I de la chaîne respiratoire mitochondriale ainsi que l’oxydation du lactate ont été également inhibées par le toxique. D’autre part, le CAA (10 et 25 µM) a inhibé la prolifération des cellules MCF-7 sans que cette inhibition soit accompagnée d’une chute d’ATP cellulaire. Le transport cellulaire et le métabolisme du glucose ainsi que certaines enzymes de la glycolyse ont été également inhibés par le CAA. Parmi celles-ci, l’hexokinase semble être l’enzyme qui catalyse l’étape limitante de la voie de la glycolyse. En conclusion, le CAA est bien impliqué dans les mécanismes de la néphrotoxicité de l’IFO, mais de plus, il pourrait, via l’inhibition de la glycolyse, contribuer à l’effet thérapeutique de l’IFO. / Chloroacetaldehyde (CAA), one of the main products of ifosfamide (IFO) hepatic metabolism, is considered as responsible of IFO nephrotoxicity. The mechanisms of this nephrotoxicity are not completely known. In the first part of this study, we tried to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of CAA toxicity using precision-cut rat renal cortical slices, then, in the second part, we looked for a possible anticancerous effect of CAA on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Using clinically-relevant concentrations (0-75 µM), CAA nephrotoxicity was demonstrated by the depletion of ATP and glutathione and by the inhibition of lactate metabolism. Some of the gluconeogenic enzymes, mainly glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, were inhibited by CAA. The complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain as well as lactate oxidation were also inhibited by CAA. On the other hand, CAA (10 and 25 µM) inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation which was not accompanied by cellular ATP depletion. Glucose transport and metabolism as well as some of the glycolytic enzymes were also inhibited by CAA. Hexokinase seems to be the rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis. In conclusion, CAA is implied in the mechanisms of IFO-induced nephrotoxicity; furthermore, it could, via the inhibition of the glycolytic pathway, contribute to the therapeutic effect of IFO.

Astrocytes need to preserve constant volume in the face of osmolarity perturbations to function properly. To regain their original volume after hyposmotically induced swelling, they extrude intracellular electrolytes and organic osmolytes, such as inorganic ions, excitative amino acids or polyols, accompanied by osmotically driven water. This process is termed regulatory volume decrease and is ensured by various ion channels and transporters. Recently, much attention has been focused on the ubiquitous volume-regulated anion channels activated by cell swelling. VRACs are moderately outwardly rectifying with intermediary conductance, permeable to inorganic anions and organic osmolytes and sensitive to broad-spectrum anion channels blockers. Using patch-clamp technique we aimed to characterize VRACs in cultured cortical astrocytes isolated from neonatal Wistar rats and to elucidate the effect of intracellular Na+ on VRAC activity. In addition, we also intended to characterize these channels in situ in brain slices of 10 - 12 days old rats, focusing mainly on hippocampal astrocytes. To induce astrocytic swelling, we exposed astrocytes to hypotonic solution (250 mOsm). In agreement with previous findings, we showed that cultured cortical astrocytes activate VRAC currents upon exposure to hypotonic stress, which...