乙酰胆碱可提高肌肉收缩力

时间：2010-12-21 03:55:02

（单词翻译:单击）

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have "engineered" a mouse that can run on a treadmill1 twice as long as a normal mouse by increasing its supply of acetylcholine（乙酰胆碱） , the neurotransmitter（神经传导素） essential for muscle contraction2. The finding, reported this month in the journal Neuroscience, could lead to new treatments for neuromuscular disorders4 such as myasthenia gravis（重症肌无力） , which occurs when cholinergic（类胆碱的） nerve signals fail to reach the muscles, said Randy Blakely, Ph.D., director of the Vanderbilt Center for Molecular5 Neuroscience.

Blakely and his colleagues inserted a gene6 into mice that increased the production of a protein called the choline transporter at the neuromuscular junction7.

The choline transporter is vital to the capacity for muscle contraction – including the ability to breathe – because it regulates the supply of choline, the precursor8 to acetylcholine. "We reasoned that giving more of this protein might enhance muscle function and reduce nerve-dependent fatigue," Blakely said.

Other researchers have manipulated the gene for the muscle tissue growth factor myostatin to produce animals with greater strength and endurance, but Blakely said this may be the first time "neural9 endurance" was enhanced by manipulating the nerves that innervate（使受神经支配） muscle.

Drugs that increase choline transporter activity "could represent a novel therapeutic10 strategy" for myasthenia gravis and a wide range of other disorders that involve cholinergic signaling deficits11, Blakely said.

These disorders include muscular dystrophy（肌肉萎缩症） , congestive heart failure, depression, schizophrenia（精神分裂症） , Alzheimer's disease and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder3 (ADHD). "The brain uses acetylcholine for a wide variety of functions, including the ability to sustain attention," Blakely noted12.

Last year, Blakely and his colleagues reported that a variation in the choline transporter gene is associated with the "combined" type of ADHD, which is characterized by both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 treadmill 1pOyz     
n.踏车；单调的工作
参考例句：
  • The treadmill has a heart rate monitor.跑步机上有个脉搏监视器。
  • Drugs remove man from the treadmill of routine.药物可以使人摆脱日常单调的工作带来的疲劳。
2 contraction sn6yO     
n.缩略词，缩写式，害病
参考例句：
  • The contraction of this muscle raises the lower arm.肌肉的收缩使前臂抬起。
  • The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction.扩张力和收缩力相互平衡。
3 disorder Et1x4     
n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调
参考例句：
  • When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
  • It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。
4 disorders 6e49dcafe3638183c823d3aa5b12b010     
n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调
参考例句：
  • Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 molecular mE9xh     
adj.分子的；克分子的
参考例句：
  • The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
  • For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。
6 gene WgKxx     
n.遗传因子，基因
参考例句：
  • A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
  • The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。
7 junction N34xH     
n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站
参考例句：
  • There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
  • You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。
8 precursor rPOx1     
n.先驱者；前辈；前任；预兆；先兆
参考例句：
  • Error is often the precursor of what is correct.错误常常是正确的先导。
  • He said that the deal should not be seen as a precursor to a merger.他说该笔交易不应该被看作是合并的前兆。
9 neural DnXzFt     
adj.神经的，神经系统的
参考例句：
  • The neural network can preferably solve the non- linear problem.利用神经网络建模可以较好地解决非线性问题。
  • The information transmission in neural system depends on neurotransmitters.信息传递的神经途径有赖于神经递质。
10 therapeutic sI8zL     
adj.治疗的，起治疗作用的；对身心健康有益的
参考例句：
  • Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
  • When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。
11 deficits 08e04c986818dbc337627eabec5b794e     
n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损
参考例句：
  • The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句
12 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

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