Mu-opioid receptors in septum mediate the development of behavioural sensitization to a single morphine exposure in male rats.

Behavioural sensitization (BS) is characterized by enhanced psychomotor responses to a dose of substance of abuse after prior repeated exposure. We previously reported that BS can be induced by a single injection of morphine in rats, whereas septal nuclei are specifically involved in the development phase of BS. Here, we demonstrated that intra-LS or intra-MS microinjections also incubated BS to a systemic morphine injection in a cross-sensitization fashion, whereas inactivation of either subdivision of septal nuclei (LS: lateral septum; MS: medial septum) can negate this ability of morphine. Then, non-selective (naloxone) and selective (µ-, δ- and κ-)opioid receptor antagonists were directly delivered into LS or MS, respectively, ahead of a morphine microinjection, whereas only µ-opioid receptors in both LS and MS play indispensable roles in mediating the BS development. Finally, there was a pronounced elevation in the levels of the monoamines (i.e. dopamine, homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) in the septum, 8 h after a morphine injection detected with a HPLC-ECD method, suggesting that dopaminergi and serotoninergic systems are implicated in the BS formation. Our studies demonstrated that septal nuclei critically participate in the BS development. Essentially, µ- instead of δ- or κ-opioid receptors in LS and MS mediate sensitization to opiates.

Determination of chloramphenicol residues in aquatic products using immunoaffinity column cleanup and high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A method based on HPLC with UV detection was developed for the quantitative determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) residues in aquatic products. The samples were extracted with ethyl acetate-ammonium hydroxide (98 + 2, v/v), followed by a cleanup step using an immunoaffinity column. The analytes were determined by HPLC-UV. Optimal conditions for the extraction and cleanup procedures are described. The linear regression equation was y = 91.47x - 8.60 with R = 0.9998 (y = peak area and x = CAP concentration) and showed a good reproducibility. The LOQ was 0.25 microg/kg for determining CAP spiked in the aquatic products. The mean recoveries of CAP from fish and shrimp samples fortified at 0.25-1.0 microg/kg were 88.7-93.1 and 92.0-97.3%, respectively; the repeatability RSDs were less than 8.1%. It was concluded that the method is simple, highly sensitive, and low cost for quantitatively measuring CAP residues in aquatic products. Analyte identification was confirmed by HPLC/MSIMS analysis.

Determination of malachite green, crystal violet and their leuco-metabolites in fish by HPLC-VIS detection after immunoaffinity column clean-up.

A high performance liquid chromatography method with visible detection (HPLC-VIS) for the determination of malachite green (MG), crystal violet (CV), leucomalachite green (LMG), and leucocrystal violet (LCV) in fish has been developed after clean-up through an immunoaffinity column (IAC). Residues were simultaneously extracted from fish muscle with acetonitrile and ammonium acetate buffer. The leuco-forms, LMG and LCV, were oxidized quantitatively to the chromic CV and MG by reaction with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone. Extracts were then purified on an IAC which prepared by immobilizing the anti-MG-CV antibodies by the sol-gel method. Finally, the eluents were analyzed by HPLC-VIS. The limits of detection were 0.15, 0.1, 0.18 and 0.14ng/g for MG, CV, LMG and LCV, respectively. The average recoveries in samples fortified with MG, CV, LMG and LCV over the range 0.5-10ng/g were from 71.6% to 96.8% with RSDs of 5.1-12.3% (n=6). This novel method was confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray interface in positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring.

Impedimetric biosensors.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a sensitive indicator of a wide variety of chemical and physical properties. An increasing trend towards the development of impedimetric biosensors is being currently observed. Impedimetric techniques have been performed to characterize the fabrication of the biosensors and to monitor the catalyzed reactions of enzymes or the biomolecular recognition events of specific binding proteins, lectins, receptors, nucleic acids, whole cells, antibodies or antibody-related substances. However, little attention has been paid to reviewing this interesting research area. Herein, impedimetric biosensors are reviewed and many novel designs are discussed.