Brain structural components

The notion of a BBB first emerged in the early years of the twentieth century when it was observed that organic dyes injected into animals stained all tissues except the brain. There appeared to be some invisible barrier that prevented certain molecules from entering into the brain. Over the past twenty to thirty years, the structural basis of the BBB has been more carefully delineated. Many different structural components contribute to the BBB. 

If it turns out that the di-isopropyl substitution is an absolutely essential structural component of this sensory phenomenon, then it has become one of the most remarkable tools known for the study of the human auditory association area in the brain. 

Because altered sodium channels have been implicated in kdr and kdr-like resistance phenomena in insects, basic research on the biochemistry and molecular biology of this molecule, which plays a central role in normal processes of nervous excitation in animals, is of immediate relevance. The results of recent investigations of the voltage-sensitive sodium channels of vertebrate nerves and muscles have provided unprecedented insight into the structure of this large and complex membrane macromolecule. Sodium channel components from electric eel electroplax, mammalian brain, and mammalian skeletal muscle have been solubilized and purified (for a recent review, see Ref. 19). A large a subunit (ca. 2 60 kDa) is a common feature of all purified channels in addition, there is evidence for two smaller subunits ( Jl and J2 37-39 kDa) associated with the mammalian brain sodium channel and for one or two smaller subunits of similar size associated with muscle sodium channels. Reconstitution experiments with rat brain channel components show that incorporation of the a and pi subunits into phospholipid membranes in the presence of brain lipids or brain phosphatidylethanolamine is sufficient to produce all of the functional properties of sodium channels in native membranes (AA). Similar results have been obtained with purified rabbit muscle (45) and eel electroplax (AS.) sodium channels. 

EPA and DHA are fundamental EPAs from co-3 series of LCPUFAs. DHA is the main structural component of cell membranes, at high level in brain tissue and retina. DHA is formed from EPA by peroxisomal p-oxidation (Burdge and Calder, 2005). EPA and DPA (22 5, co-3) can also be synthesized from DHA via p-oxidation in peroxisomes by catalytic activity of probably A-4 enoyl CoA reductase and A-2 enoyl CoA isomerase (Gr0rm et ah, 1991). 

A. Snellings, D.J. Anderson, and J.W. Aldridge, Use of multichannel recording electrodes and independent component analysis for target localization in deep brain structures. Proceedings of the 1st International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, Capri Island, Italy, 305-308 (2003). 

The omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic) is also an important component of neuronal membranes. DHA plays a key role in brain structure and function and may offer protection against age-related cognitive decline. Since our bodies do not produce DHA, it is considered an essential fatty acid and must be obtained from our diet. Fatty fish including salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, and sardines are excellent sources of... 

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