Background: In addition to biochemical gradients and transcriptional networks, cell behaviour is controlled by endogenous bioelectrical signals resulting from the action of ion channels pumps. Cells are regulated not only their own membrane resting potential (Vmem) but also Vmem neighbouring cells, establishing networks through electrical synapses known as gap junctions. V mem primary factor in...

We investigated the in vivo and in vitro effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment (4 mg/kg i.p.) on guinea pig airway smooth muscle reactivity and epithelial bioelectric responses to methacholine (MCh) and hyperosmolarity. Hyperosmolar challenge of the epithelium releases epithelium-derived relaxing factor (EpDRF). Using a two-chamber, whole body plethysmograph 18 h post-treatment, animals...

Pathological angiogenesis, as seen in many inflammatory, immune, malignant, and ischemic disorders, remains an immense health burden despite new molecular therapies. It is likely that further therapeutic progress requires a better understanding of neovascular pathophysiology. Surprisingly, even though transmembrane voltage is well known to regulate vascular function, no previous bioelectric ana...

BACKGROUND The neural underpinnings of auditory information processing have often been investigated using the odd-ball paradigm, in which infrequent sounds (deviants) are presented within a regular train of frequent stimuli (standards). Traditionally, this paradigm has been applied using either high temporal resolution (EEG) or high spatial resolution (fMRI, PET). However, used separately, thes...

Bioelectric-impedance analysis overestimates fat-free mass in obese people. No clear hypotheses have been presented or tested that explain this effect. This study tested the hypothesis that adipose tissue affects measurements of resistance by using data for whole body and body segment resistance and by using muscle, adipose tissue, and bone volumes from magnetic resonance imaging for 86 overwei...