Here you will find a regularly updated collection of articles published in physiological journals, usually published by physiological societies.
The Physiological Society of Japan
celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. On this occasion the Journal of Physiology compiled a collection of some of the most influential research published by Japanese authors in this journal. Have a closer look here
The Physiological Society of Japan publishes regularly Science Topics related to a recently published paper.
You will find the “Science Topics” on the main page, scrolling down to “News” and clicking “Science Topics”.
The latest topic relates to an article published by Jaehun Jung et al in J Neurosci: GIRK Channels Regulate Circadian Rhythms of Excitability in Prokineticin 2 Neurons of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus and Modulate Behavioral Circadian Rhythms
In mammals, including humans, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) serves as the central circadian clock, maintaining the temporal organization of physiological functions in accordance with the day–night cycle. Many SCN neurons are active during the day and less active at night, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this transition are not yet fully understood. In this study, we focused on prokineticin 2 (Prok2)-producing neurons, a population of SCN neurons that contributes to the regulation of daily behavioral rhythms.
We found that G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are activated specifically at night in Prok2 neurons and suppress their activity. Furthermore, when we deleted GIRK3, a subunit of the GIRK channel, from Prok2 neurons using in vivo genome editing, the nighttime decrease in membrane potential (hyperpolarization) was lost. The mice also showed abnormalities in their behavioral rhythms, including a delayed onset of activity and a longer circadian period. These findings suggest that the nighttime suppression of neuronal activity by GIRK channels is important for the transition between daytime and nighttime activity and for maintaining stable circadian rhythms. This work is expected to help us understand disorders caused by disruptions of the circadian clock and inform the development of approaches to prevent and treat them.
APSselect An October 2026 selection from Journals published by the American Physiological Society (APS)
AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology : Giorgio Manferdelli et al.
Sympathetic vascular transduction in adults with hypertension and obesity-associated hypertension
Although elevated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is a common characteristic of essential hypertension, resting sympathetic activation is highly variable. It is unknown whether sympathetic vascular transduction is altered in hypertension, or how obesity, a common comorbidity, modifies vascular transduction.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sympathetic vascular transduction is blunted in hypertensive adults relative to normotensive adults, which is in line with compensatory downregulation of vascular transduction to offset elevated sympathetic vasomotor outflow. The compensatory downregulation of sympathetic vascular transduction is less apparent in obesity-associated hypertension, despite no detectable difference in transduction to blood pressure between groups. Our data provide insight regarding differential sympathetic-vascular mechanisms of blood pressure control in adults with hypertension and obesity-associated hypertension.
AJP Renal Physiology : Anna Billeschou Bomholt et al
It is unclear whether the reported natriuretic and diuretic effects of glucagon are mediated by renal hemodynamic changes or by direct tubular actions within the kidney.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Glucagon is best known for raising blood sugar, but what does it do to the kidneys? We show that glucagon consistently drives sodium and water excretion in rats through a direct tubular mechanism, largely independent of changes in renal blood flow. Neither glucagon receptor nor GLP-1 receptor blockade alone was sufficient to abolish the response, revealing overlapping receptor pathways. These findings have implications for the growing use of glucagon-based dual and triple agonist therapies.
Journal of Neurophysiology : Yori R. Escalante et al.
The primary motor cortex (M1) and supplementary motor area (SMA) are critical for motor execution and planning, yet their distinct causal contributions to modulating the neural drive to muscles remain incompletely understood.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using causal brain stimulation, we demonstrate that the primary motor cortex (M1) and supplementary motor area (SMA) serve distinct roles. Targeted M1 disruption impairs force magnitude by reducing motor unit firing rates. Conversely, modulating SMA spares net force but disrupts the motor plan, forcing compensatory reliance on smaller units and degrading delta-band coherence. By showing M1 governs power while SMA organizes strategy, this study informs personalized neurorehabilitation for specific cortical deficits.
Much more can be found in this month’s selection of articles from APS journals!
Don’t miss Physiology Shorts, published on the website of The Phyiological Society
This new and engaging video feature from The Journal of Physiology aims to deliver short and informative research snapshots directly from the authors of research papers selected by the Editors of the journal!
The German Physiological Society (DPG) selects regularly a “Paper of the Month“.
DPG’s latest paper of the month (Lisa Eiring et al) was recently published in BMC Med Educ.
M1ündlich – S(t)imulation of competency-oriented learning in physiology
From the abstract:
Background: Medical students often enter oral exams with insufficient preparation, especially in articulating knowledge under stress. To improve communication and structured answering, we developed a peer-teaching-based exam training simulating oral exams.
From the results: …. Most students appreciated the peer-group format being effective and high numbers planned to include it in their prospective preparation for oral exams. The tutors also noted an improvement after the second round, particularly in terms of the quality of the students’ presentations: the depth of information and the structure of the answers had improved considerably. Students’ later exam outcomes showed a favorable trend in internal follow-up exams and the oral-practical part of the first section of the German National Medical Licensing Examination (M1)….
Conclusions: Peer-based simulation of oral exams may support communication skills and exam awareness while being associated with reduced stress. It offers a valuable complement to the traditional medical curriculum and is easily adaptable to other disciplines.
Armin Kurtz, the former editor in chief of Pflügers Archiv – Eur J Physiol:
Pflügers Arch – Eur J Physiol. Volume 475, issue 1, January 2023 Special Issue: Body and mind: how somatic feedback signals shape brain activity and cognition.
From Pflügers Archiv we highlight a thematic collection of papers. These are in a Special Issue entitled “Body and mind: how somatic feedback signals shape brain activity and cognition”.
During recent years, body-to-brain signaling is gaining increasing attention. Understanding interactions between the brain and “peripheral” functions (cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, hormonal and others) bears great potential for basic neurosciences as well as for pathophysiology and clinical innovations. A major focus of the Special Issue is on respiration as a fundamental rhythm which has astonishing impact on brain function and cognition. However, this example can and should be generalized to a modern understanding of embodiment – after all, the brain is an organ, and as such is embedded into the entire organism and its environment.