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Aims Elevated sympathetic outflow is associated with primary hypertension. However, the mechanisms involved in heightened sympathetic outflow in hypertension are unclear. The central amygdala (CeA) regulates autonomic components of emotions through projections to the brainstem. The neuronal Kv7 channel is a non-inactivating voltage-dependent K+ channel encoded by KCNQ2/3 genes involved in stabilizing the neuronal membrane potential and regulating neuronal excitability. In this study, we investigated if altered Kv7 channel activity in the CeA contributes to heightened sympathetic outflow in hypertension. Methods and results The mRNA and protein expression levels of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 in the CeA were significantly reduced in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared with Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats. Lowering blood pressure with coeliac ganglionectomy in SHRs did not alter Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 channel expression levels in the CeA. Fluospheres were injected into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) to retrogradely label CeA neurons projecting to the RVLM (CeA–RVLM neurons). Kv7 channel currents recorded from CeA–RVLM neurons in brain slices were much smaller in SHRs than in WKY rats. Furthermore, the basal firing activity of CeA–RVLM neurons was significantly greater in SHRs than in WKY rats. Bath application of specific Kv7 channel blocker 10, 10-bis (4-pyridinylmethyl)-9(10H)-anthracnose (XE-991) increased the excitability of CeA–RVLM neurons in WKY rats, but not in SHRs. Microinjection of XE-991 into the CeA increased arterial blood pressure (ABP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), while microinjection of Kv7 channel opener QO-58 decreased ABP and RSNA, in anaesthetized WKY rats but not SHRs. Conclusions Our findings suggest that diminished Kv7 channel activity in the CeA contributes to elevated sympathetic outflow in primary hypertension. This novel information provides new mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of neurogenic hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured black TiO2 materials prepared through a hydrogenation process have evoked significant interest in solar energy harvesting and conversion technologies due to their strong light absorption and utilization performances. Herein, by combining RMD simulations and DFT calculations, we systematically unravel the structural evolution mechanisms during the hydrogenation process of the nanosheets and nanoparticles of three different TiO2 phases: anatase, brookite, and rutile. Our results demonstrate that the reduction of TiO2 nanosheets occurs in three typical stages, namely the rapid escaping of free water and inner O atom diffusion, the slow free-water formation and the surface disorder, and eventually the dramatic stress deformation of the sheets. When it comes to the reduction of nanoparticles, orientation-relative anisotropic disorder has been observed. It is found that the preferable disordered surface is along {001} for anatase, {100} for brookite and {001} for rutile, causing anisotropic stress deformation. The surface reactivity of these three structures follows the order: rutile > anatase > brookite for both nanosheets and nanoparticles. Besides, the reduction rates are prominently dependent on the temperature, pressure, and H2 content. We expect that these results would provide theoretical guidance for the rational preparation of black TiO2 to enhance the development of clean energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Melatonin (5-methoxy-N-acetyl-tryptamine) is a circadian hormone synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland. In addition to regulating circadian rhythms of many physiological functions, melatonin is involved in regulating autonomic nervous function and blood pressure. Hypothalamus paraventricular nucleus (PVN), receiving melatonin projections from the superchiasmatic nucleus, is a critical brain region to regulate neuroendocrine and cardiovascular function. Here, we determined the synaptic mechanisms involved in the effect of melatonin on the sympathetic outflow and blood pressure. Methods and Results: Microinjection of melatonin into the PVN produced a depressor effect and decreased renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). While microinjection of luzindole, a non-selective melatonin receptor antagonist, into the PVN did not change melatonin-induced sympathoinhibition, GABA A receptor antagonist bicuculline eliminated melatonin-induced sympathoinhibition. Furthermore, melatonin decreased firing rate of retrogradely labeled PVN neurons which project to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), an effect was not altered by luzindole but eliminated by bicuculline. Melatonin significantly increased the amplitude of spontaneous and evoked GABAergic inhibitory synaptic currents, as well as GABA-induced currents. Conclusion: These data suggest that melatonin in the PVN suppresses sympathetic vasomotor tone through enhancing GABA A receptor activity. This study provides novel information for understanding the cellular mechanisms involved in the effect of melatonin on regulating blood pressure and sympathetic output., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Yu, Guo, Jin, Gao, Zheng, Li and Wu.)

Edge reconstructions of two-dimensional (2D) materials play a central role in determining the electronic transport properties of nanodevices. However, it is not feasible to study the relationship between edge reconstruction and electronic properties using experimental methods because of the complexity of the experimental environment and the diversity of edge reconstruction. Herein, we have combined density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) method to investigate the inner physical mechanism of platinum diselenide (PtSe 2 ) nanoribbons, revealing distinctive negative differential resistance (NDR) behaviors in different nanoribbons with various edge reconstructions. The armchair PtSe 2 nanoribbons with different edge reconstructions are all metallic, while the zigzag PtSe 2 nanoribbons are semiconducting when the ratio of Pt to Se atoms at the edge is 1 : 2. These results reveal the internal source of the difference in the electron transport properties of PtSe 2 nanoribbons with different edge reconstructions, providing new ideas for the design of novel multifunctional PtSe 2 semiconducting and conducting electronic nanodevices with NDR properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)