Current status on manufacturing routes to produce metal matrix composites: State-of-the-art.

Owing to its excellent properties, Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) has gained popularity and finds application in aerospace, aircraft, shipbuilding, biomedical, biodegradable implant materials and many more. To serve the industrial needs, the manufactured MMC should have homogenous distribution along with minimum agglomeration of reinforcement particles, defect-free microstructure, superior mechanical, tribological and corrosive properties. The techniques implemented to manufacture MMC highly dominate the aforementioned characteristics. According to the physical state of the matrix, the techniques implemented for manufacturing MMC can be classified under two categories i.e. solid state processing and liquid state process. The present article attempts to review the current status of different manufacturing techniques covered under these two categories. The article elaborates on the working principles of state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, the effect of dominating process parameters and the resulting characteristic of composites. Apart from this, the article does provide data regarding the range of dominating process parameters and resulting mechanical properties of different grades of manufactured MMC. Using this data along with the comparative study, various industries and academicians will be able to select the appropriate techniques for manufacturing MMC.

Investigation of the composition of arterial plaques based on arterial waveforms and material properties.

Stroke is mainly caused by a narrowing of the carotid artery from a build-up of plaque. The risk of plaque rupture and subsequent stroke is dependent on plaque composition. Advances in imaging modalities offer a non-invasive means to assess the health of blood vessels and detect damage. However, the current diagnosis fails to identify patients with soft lipid plaque that are more susceptible to fissure, resulting in stroke. The aim of this study was to use waveform analysis to identify plaque composition and the risk of rupture. We have investigated pressure and flow by combining an artificial blood flow circuit with tubing containing different materials, to simulate plaques in a blood vessel. We used fat and bone to model lipid and calcification respectively to determine if the composition of plaques can be identified by arterial waveforms. We demonstrate that the arterial plaque models with different percentages of calcification and fat, results in significantly different arterial waveforms. These findings imply that arterial waveform analysis has the potential for further development to identify the vulnerable plaques prone to rupture. These findings could have implications for improved patient prognosis by speed of detection and a more appropriate treatment strategy.

Effects of sustained proNGF blockade on attentional capacities in aged rats with compromised cholinergic system.

Disruption in nerve growth factor (NGF) signaling via tropomyosin-related kinase A (trkA) receptors compromises the integrity of the basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic system, yielding cognitive, specifically attentional, impairments in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although normal aging is considered a risk factor for AD, the mechanisms underlying the selective vulnerability of the aging cholinergic system to trkA disruption is not clear. The levels of proNGF, a proneurotrophin that possesses higher affinity for p75 receptors, increase in aging. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that cholinergic and attentional dysfunction in aged rats with reduced BF trkA receptors occurs due to the overactivation of endogenous proNGF signaling. We employed a viral vector that produced trkA shRNA to suppress trkA receptors in the corticopetal cholinergic neurons of aged rats. BF trkA suppression impaired animals' performance on signal trials in both the sustained attention task (SAT) and the cognitively taxing distractor version of SAT (dSAT) and these deficits were normalized by chronic intracerebroventricular administration of proNGF antibody. Moreover, depolarization-evoked acetylcholine (ACh) release and the density of cortical cholinergic fibers were partially restored in these animals. However, SAT/dSAT scores reflecting overall performance did not improve following proNGF blockade in trkA knockdown rats due to impaired performance in non-signal trials. Sustained proNGF blockade alone did not alter baseline attentional performance but produced moderate impairments during challenging conditions. Collectively, our findings indicate that barring proNGF-p75 signaling may exert some beneficial effects on attentional capacities specifically when BF trkA signaling is abrogated. However, endogenous proNGF may also possess neurotrophic effects and blockade of this proneurotrophin may not completely ameliorate attentional impairments in AD and potentially hinder performance during periods of high cognitive load in normal aging.

Reduced expression and capacity of the striatal high-affinity choline transporter in hyperdopaminergic mice.

Behavioral and neuronal abnormalities observed in mice exhibiting a reduced expression of the dopamine transporter model important aspects of schizophrenia, addiction, and attentional disorders. As the consequences of a chronic hyperdopaminergic tone for striatal output regulation have remained poorly understood, the present experiments were designed to determine the status of striatal interneuronal cholinergic neurotransmission in dopamine transporter knockdown animals. The high-affinity choline transporter represents the rate-limiting step of acetylcholine synthesis and release. Compared with wild type mice, striatal high-affinity choline transporter expression in dopamine transporter knockdown mice was significantly decreased. As in vivo basal striatal acetylcholine release did not differ between the strains, reduced high-affinity choline transporter expression in dopamine transporter knockdown mice was not due to reduced basal cholinergic activity. Furthermore, the proportion of high-affinity choline transporters expressed in plasma membrane-enriched versus vesicular membrane-enriched fractions did not differ from wild type animals, suggesting that changes in intracellular high-affinity choline transporter trafficking were not associated with lower overall levels of striatal high-affinity choline transporters. Synaptosomal choline uptake assays indicated a reduced capacity of striatal high-affinity choline transporters in dopamine transporter knockdown mice, and thus the functional significance of the reduced level of high-affinity choline transporter expression. Likewise, in vivo measures of the capacity of striatal high-affinity choline transporters to clear increases in extracellular choline concentrations, using choline-sensitive microelectrodes, revealed a 37-41% reduction in hemicholinium-sensitive clearance of exogenous choline in dopamine transporter knockdown mice. Furthermore, clearance of potassium-evoked choline signals was reduced in dopamine transporter knockdown mice (1.63+/-0.15 microM/s) compared with wild type animals (2.29+/-0.21 microM/s). Dysregulated striatal cholinergic neurotransmission is hypothesized to disrupt the integration of thalamic and cortical information at spiny projection neurons and thus to contribute to abnormal striatal information processing in dopamine transporter knockdown mice.

Cortical choline transporter function measured in vivo using choline-sensitive microelectrodes: clearance of endogenous and exogenous choline and effects of removal of cholinergic terminals.

The capacity of the high-affinity choline transporter (CHT) to import choline into presynaptic terminals is essential for acetylcholine synthesis. Ceramic-based microelectrodes, coated at recording sites with choline oxidase to detect extracellular choline concentration changes, were attached to multibarrel glass micropipettes and implanted into the rat frontoparietal cortex. Pressure ejections of hemicholinium-3 (HC-3), a selective CHT blocker, dose-dependently reduced the uptake rate of exogenous choline as well as that of choline generated in response to terminal depolarization. Following the removal of CHTs, choline signal recordings confirmed that the demonstration of potassium-induced choline signals and HC-3-induced decreases in choline clearance require the presence of cholinergic terminals. The results obtained from lesioned animals also confirmed the selectivity of the effects of HC-3 on choline clearance in intact animals. Residual cortical choline clearance correlated significantly with CHT-immunoreactivity in lesioned and intact animals. Finally, synaptosomal choline uptake assays were conducted under conditions reflecting in vivo basal extracellular choline concentrations. Results from these assays confirmed the capacity of CHTs measured in vivo and indicated that diffusion of substrate away from the electrode did not confound the in vivo findings. Collectively, these results indicate that increases in extracellular choline concentrations, irrespective of source, are rapidly cleared by CHTs.

Comparison of galantamine and donepezil for effects on nerve growth factor, cholinergic markers, and memory performance in aged rats.

This study was designed to determine 1) whether repeated exposures to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) galantamine (GAL) or donepezil (DON) resulted in positive effects on nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors, cholinergic proteins, and cognitive function in the aged rat, and 2) whether GAL had any advantages over DON given its allosteric potentiating ligand (APL) activity at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Behavioral tests (i.e., water maze and light/dark box) were conducted in aged Fisher 344 rats during 15 days of repeated (subcutaneous) exposure to either GAL (3.0 or 6.0 mg/kg/day) or DON (0.375 or 0.75 mg/kg/day). Forty-eight hours after the last drug injection, cholinergic receptors were measured by [(125)I]-(+/-)-exo-2-(2-iodo-5-pyridyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ([(125)I]IPH; epibatidine analog), (125)I-alpha-bungarotoxin ((125)I-BTX), [(3)H]pirenzepine ([(3)H]PRZ), and [(3)H]-5,11-dihydro-11-[((2-(2-((dipropylamino)methyl)-1-piperidinyl)ethyl)amino)carbonyl]-6H-pyrido(2,3-b)(1,4)-benzodiazepin-6-one methanesulfonate ([(3)H]AFDX-384, or [(3)H]AFX) autoradiography. Immunochemical methods were used to measure NGF, high (TrkA and phospho-TrkA)- and low (p75 neurotrophin receptor)-affinity NGF receptors, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) in memory-related brain regions. Depending on dose, both GAL and DON enhanced spatial learning (without affecting anxiety levels) and increased [(125)I]IPH, [(3)H]PRZ, and [(3)H]AFX (but decreased (125)I-BTX) binding in some cortical and hippocampal brain regions. Neither AChEI was associated with marked changes in NGF, NGF receptors, or VAChT, although DON did moderately increase ChAT in the basal forebrain and hippocampus. The results suggest that repeated exposures to either GAL or DON results in positive (and sustained) behavioral and cholinergic effects in the aged mammalian brain but that the APL activity of GAL may not afford any advantage over acetylcholinesterase inhibition alone.

Red blood cell membrane essential fatty acid metabolism in early psychotic patients following antipsychotic drug treatment.

A role of indices of oxidative stress, oxidative injury, and abnormal membrane phospholipid, specifically the phospholipid essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPUFAs) metabolism has been suggested based on studies in separate groups of patients with or without medication. The current study investigated the relationship between these biochemical measures in first-episode psychotic patients (N=16) at baseline and after 6 months of antipsychotic treatment (N=5 each with risperidone and olanzapine) and compared them to matched normal subjects. The indices of oxidative stress included: antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase; and the oxidative injury as the levels of plasma lipid peroxides. The key membrane EPUFA's been; linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, nervonic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Furthermore, the changes in these biochemical measures were correlated with clinical symptomatology. Data indicated that, at baseline, reduced levels of antioxidant enzymes were associated with increased plasma lipid peroxides and reduced membrane EPUFAs, particularly omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, these biochemical measures normalized after 6 months of antipsychotic treatment. Parallel-improved psychopathology indicated that membrane EPUFA status might be partly affected by oxidative damage, which together may contribute to the pathophysiology and thereby, psychopathology of schizophrenia. These data also support the augmentation of antipsychotic treatment by supplementation with a combination of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

Antipsychotic drugs differentially modulate apolipoprotein D in rat brain.

Apolipoprotein-D (apoD), a member of the lipocalin family of proteins, binds to arachidonic acid and cholesterol among other hydrophobic molecules. Recently, elevated apoD levels have been reported in the post-mortem brains, as well as plasma, of schizophrenic patients and in rodent brains after chronic treatment with clozapine (CLOZ). These findings and the evidence for altered membrane lipid metabolism in schizophrenia suggest that apoD may have a role in the pathophysiology of illness, and also in the differential clinical outcome following treatment with typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs. Here, we compared the effects of these antipsychotics on the expression of apoD in rat brain. Chronic treatment with typical antipsychotic, haloperidol (HAL) reduced apoD expression in hippocampus, piriform cortex and caudate-putamen (p = 0.027-0.002), whereas atypical antipsychotics, risperidone (RISP) and olanzapine (OLZ) increased (p = 0.051 to < 0.001 and p = 0.048 to < 0.001, respectively) apoD expression. In hippocampus, HAL-induced changes were present in CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus, however, apoD levels in motor cortex were unchanged. There were also very dramatic effects of HAL on the neuronal morphology, particularly, cellular shrinkage and disorganization with the loss of neuropil. Post-treatment, either with RISP or OLZ, was very effective in restoring the HAL-induced reduction of apoD, as well as cellular morphology. Similarly, pre-treatments were also effective, but slightly less than post-treatment, in preventing HAL-induced reduction of apoD. The increased expression of apoD by atypical antipsychotics may reflect a novel molecular mechanism underlying their favorable effects compared with HAL on cognition, negative symptoms and extra-pyramidal symptoms in schizophrenia.

Differential effects of chronic haloperidol and olanzapine exposure on brain cholinergic markers and spatial learning in rats.

RATIONALE: In psychiatric patients, haloperidol (HAL) induces a number of adverse extrapyramidal and cognitive symptoms, which appear to be less problematic with olanzapine (OLZ). In animals, HAL may initiate a number of harmful effects on central nervous system neurons, including damage to cholinergic pathways - an effect that could be especially deleterious to those experiencing memory dysfunction. The identification of the neurobiological substrates of such effects in animal models may help to improve the algorithms used for proper drug selection especially for long-term neuroleptic use. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of chronic (45-day and 90-day), continuous oral exposure to HAL with OLZ for effects on cognitive performance and cholinergic markers in rats. METHODS: After chronic neuroleptic exposure (and a 4-day washout) spatial memory performance was measured in a water maze task, and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity was assessed with immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: In water maze experiments, HAL and OLZ (relative to vehicle) administered for 90 days (but not 45 days) significantly impaired learning performance (i.e., higher mean latencies across several trials to reach a hidden platform). HAL administered for 90 days was associated with impairment across a greater number of trials than OLZ and it also impaired probe trial performance, as indicated by a reduced number of crossings over the previous platform area (when compared with OLZ or vehicle). Both 45 days and 90 days of HAL treatment reduced ChAT staining in the cortex and hippocampus when compared with OLZ or vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: The results in the rat suggest that OLZ (relative to HAL) may be more desirable as an antipsychotic for patients suffering from memory dysfunction especially for those in which cholinergic deficits may already be present.

Persistent mullerian duct syndrome with teratoma in an ectopic testis: imaging features.

The persistent mullerian duct syndrome represents a rare form of male pseudohermaphroditism, secondary to mullerian inhibiting factor (MIF) deficiency. We describe imaging findings in a 30-year-old male (46 XY karyotype) with bilateral cryptorchidism and mullerian duct anomalies (presence of uterus and fallopian tubes). Grade-III teratoma with yolk sac tumour was detected in one of the undescended testis, lying in the pelvic cavity. The other testis was in the inguinal canal. The rest of the wolffian duct structures (e.g. prostate, seminal vesicles) were nearly normal. Very few reports of imaging findings of this entity have been published thus far, probably because of the rarity of entity, incidental detection of most of the cases at surgery and relatively asymptomatic clinical presentation.

Possible role of nitric oxide and mast cells in endotoxin-induced cardioprotection.

The present study is designed to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) and cardiac mast cells in the cardioprotective effect of endotoxin in isolated rat heart subjected to 30 min of global ischaemia and 30 min of reperfusion. Endotoxin (2.5 mg kg(-1); i.p.) was administered 8 h before subjecting the heart to global ischaemia. Endotoxin pretreatment markedly reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK), markers of cardiac injury, in coronary effluent and the percentage incidence of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) during the reperfusion phase. Endotoxin pretreatment significantly increased the release of nitrite prior to and after global ischaemia. On the other hand, endotoxin pretreatment decreased the release of mast cell peroxidase (MPO) during the reperfusion phase. The cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effect of endotoxin pretreatment was abolished by dexamethasone (3 mg kg(-1); i.p.) or l -canavanine (20 mg kg(-1); i.p.) given 1 h before the administration of endotoxin. It is proposed that the cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effect of the endotoxin may be ascribed to the induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and subsequent increase in the release of NO. NO may stabilize cardiac mast cells and consequently decrease the release of cytotoxic mediators from these cells. Prevention of degranulation of cardiac mast cells may be responsible for the cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects of the endotoxin.

Possible role of cardiac mast cell degranulation and preservation of nitric oxide release in isolated rat heart subjected to ischaemic preconditioning.

Our study is designed to correlate nitrite concentration, an index of nitric oxide (NO) release with mast cell peroxidase (MPO), a marker of cardiac mast cell degranulation and cardioprotective effect of ischaemic preconditioning in isolated perfused rat heart subjected to 30 min of global ischaemia and 30 min of reperfusion. Ischaemic preconditioning, comprised of four episodes of 5 min global ischaemia and 5 min of reperfusion, markedly reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in coronary effluent and incidence of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF) during reperfusion phase. Ischaemia-reperfusion induced release of MPO was markedly reduced in ischaemic preconditioned hearts. Increased release of nitrite was noted during reperfusion phase after sustained ischaemia in preconditioned hearts as compared to control hearts. No alterations in the release of nitrite was observed immediately after ischaemic preconditioning. However, ischaemic preconditioning markedly increased the release of MPO prior to global ischaemia. It is proposed that cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effect of ischaemic preconditioning may be ascribed to degranulation of cardiac mast cells. Depletion of cytotoxic mediators during ischaemic preconditioning and consequent decreased release of these mediators during sustained ischaemia-reperfusion may be associated with preservation of structures in isolated rat heart responsible for NO release.

Possible role of adrenergic component and cardiac mast cell degranulation in preconditioning-induced cardioprotection.

The present study was designed to investigate the role of adrenergic component and cardiac mast cell degranulation in the cardioprotective effect of ischaemic preconditioning. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischaemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Ischaemic/norepinephrine (100 microm) preconditioning markedly reduced ischaemia-reperfusion-induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in coronary effluent and the incidence of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) during the reperfusion phase. Moreover, ischaemic/norepinephrine preconditioning significantly reduced ischaemia-reperfusion-induced release of mast cell peroxidase (MPO), a marker of mast cell degranulation. Prazosin (0.1 microm), a alpha(1)adrenoceptor blocker, administered during ischaemic/norepinephrine preconditioning attenuated the cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effect of ischaemic/norepinephrine preconditioning. MPO release increased immediately after ischaemic/norepinephrine preconditioning and the release was found to be inhibited in hearts subjected to ischaemic/norepinephrine preconditioning in the presence of prazosin. However, prazosin (0.1 microm) treatment per se produced cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects and reduced ischaemia-reperfusion-induced MPO release. These findings tentatively suggest that ischaemic preconditioning produced cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effect by activating alpha(1)adrenoceptors and consequent degranulation of cardiac mast cells. Prazosin administered during ischaemic preconditioning abolished its ameliorative effect.

Possible role of cardiac mast cells in norepinephrine-induced myocardial preconditioning.

The present study was designed to investigate the role of cardiac mast cells in the cardioprotective effect of norepinephrine-induced preconditioning. Isolated rat heart was subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Both ischemic and norepinephrine (100 microM) preconditioning markedly reduced ischemia-reperfusion-induced release of lactate dehydrogenose (LDH) in the coronary effluent and the incidence of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) during the reperfusion phase. Ischemic and norepinephrine preconditioning also significantly reduced ischemia-reperfusion-induced release of mast cell peroxidase (MPO), a marker of mast cell degranulation. However, MPO release increased immediately after ischemic or norepinephrine preconditioning. Histological study with ruthenium red (0.005%) staining confirmed cardiac mast cell degranulation in ischemic and norepinephrine preconditioned isolated rat hearts. These findings tentatively suggest that pharmacological preconditioning with norepinephrine produces a cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effect similar to ischemic preconditioning through degranulation of resident cardiac mast cells.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in young patients without predisposing factors.

We report the atypical presentation of acute acalculous cholecystitis in four young, otherwise healthy patients. These cases emphasize the fact that the traditional concept of this disease as being associated with trauma, major surgery, or other pathology may no longer be true, and an important number of cases may appear de novo in patients without any predisposing factors.

Inhibition of MMP-1 and MMP-13 with phosphinic acids that exploit binding in the S2 pocket.

Through the use of empirical and computational methods, phosphinate-based inhibitors of MMP-1 and MMP-13 that bind into the S2 pocket of these enzymes were designed. The synthesis and testing of 2 suggested that binding was occurring as hypothesized. Structure determination of a co-crystal of 2 bound to the catalytic domain of MMP-1 confirmed the binding mode. Substituents binding into S2, S1', S2' and S3', were optimized yielding compounds with low double-digit nM IC50's against these enzymes.

Colonoscopy-assisted colostomy--an alternative to laparotomy: report of two cases.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of performing fecal diversion with the help of a colonoscope without a concomitant laparotomy. METHODS: Colostomies were performed on two patients who needed fecal diversion and who would benefit from avoiding the morbidity of laparotomy. A colonoscope was used in each case to guide the surgeon in selecting the appropriate bowel segment. RESULTS: No complications related to the colostomy were noted in either patient. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of colonoscopy-assisted colostomy that we have described offers an acceptable method of creating a stoma without the need for laparotomy.

Cardiac mast cell stabilization and cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning in isolated rat heart.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), a mast cell stabilizer, on cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning. Isolated rat heart was subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning was provided by four episodes of 5-min global ischemia followed by 5 min of reperfusion before sustained ischemia. Ischemic preconditioning and DSCG (10 and 100 microM) treatment markedly decreased the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in coronary effluent and percentage incidence of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) during reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning and DSCG treatment also significantly reduced ischemia/reperfusion-induced mast cell peroxidase (MPO) release, a marker of mast cell degranulation. A significant increase in MPO release was observed immediately after ischemic preconditioning, and the release was found to be inhibited in hearts perfused with DSCG (10 and 100 microM) during ischemic preconditioning. DSCG administered during ischemic preconditioning (DSCG in ischemic preconditioning) attenuated the cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects of ischemic preconditioning. DSCG in ischemic preconditioning produced no marked effect on ischemia/reperfusion-induced MPO release. These findings tentatively suggest that DSCG administration during ischemic preconditioning abolishes its cardioprotective effect, perhaps by stabilizing resident cardiac mast cells.

Sacral insufficiency fractures--rare complication of pelvic radiation for rectal carcinoma: report of a case.

PURPOSE: The report contained herein presents a patient who developed severe back pain because of bilateral sacral insufficiency fractures after pelvic radiation for rectal carcinoma. METHODS: This is a case report and review of the literature for a rare complication of pelvic radiation. RESULT: The patient was diagnosed by computerized tomography and radionuclide bone scans. Bed rest and analgesia followed by rehabilitation provided good relief of the symptoms. CONCLUSION: A rare complication of pelvic radiation is insufficiency fractures of the pelvis. Early detection is important, because significant morbidity may result from delaying treatment. Unawareness of this complication may lead to diagnostic difficulties and unnecessary work-up.

Differential effects of light and heat on the Drosophila circadian clock proteins PER and TIM.

Circadian (approximately 24-h) rhythms are governed by endogenous biochemical oscillators (clocks) that in a wide variety of organisms can be phase shifted (i.e., delayed or advanced) by brief exposure to light and changes in temperature. However, how changes in temperature reset circadian timekeeping mechanisms is not known. To begin to address this issue, we measured the effects of short-duration heat pulses on the protein and mRNA products from the Drosophila circadian clock genes period (per) and timeless (tim). Heat pulses at all times in a daily cycle elicited dramatic and rapid decreases in the levels of PER and TIM proteins. PER is sensitive to heat but not light, indicating that individual clock components can markedly differ in sensitivity to environmental stimuli. A similar resetting mechanism involving delays in the per-tim transcriptional-translational feedback loop likely underlies the observation that when heat and light signals are administered in the early night, they both evoke phase delays in behavioral rhythms. However, whereas previous studies showed that the light-induced degradation of TIM in the late night is accompanied by stable phase advances in the temporal regulation of the PER and TIM biochemical rhythms, the heat-induced degradation of PER and TIM at these times in a daily cycle results in little, if any, long-term perturbation in the cycles of these clock proteins. Rather, the initial heat-induced degradation of PER and TIM in the late night is followed by a transient and rapid increase in the speed of the PER-TIM temporal program. The net effect of these heat-induced changes results in an oscillatory mechanism with a steady-state phase similar to that of the unperturbed control situation. These findings can account for the lack of apparent steady-state shifts in Drosophila behavioral rhythms by heat pulses applied in the late night and strongly suggest that stimulus-induced changes in the speed of circadian clocks can contribute to phase-shifting responses.