Library

Your email was sent successfully. Check your inbox.

An error occurred while sending the email. Please try again.

Proceed reservation?

Export
Filter
  • 1995-1999  (711)
  • 1940-1944
  • 1997  (711)
  • Cell & Developmental Biology  (441)
  • Human  (145)
  • Nuclear reactions
  • Rat
  • 1
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Antimigraine drugs ; Arteriovenous ; anastomoses ; Avitriptan ; BMS-180048 ; Carotid artery ; Human ; Human coronary artery ; Migraine ; Pig ; Sumatriptan
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Several acutely acting antimigraine drugs, including ergotamine and sumatriptan, have the ability to constrict porcine arteriovenous anastomoses as well as the human isolated coronary artery. These two experimental models seem to serve as indicators, respectively, for the therapeutic and coronary side-effect potential of the compounds. Using these two models, we have now investigated the effects of avitriptan (BMS-180048; 3-[3-[4-(5-methoxy-4-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazinyl]propyl]-N-methyl-1H-indole-5-methanesulfonamide monofumarate), a new 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist. In anaesthetized pigs, avitriptan (10, 30, 100 and 300 μg·kg–1) decreased the total carotid blood flow by exclusively decreasing arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow; capillary blood flow was increased. The mean ± SEM i.v. dose of avitriptan eliciting a 50% decrease (ED50) in the porcine carotid arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow was calculated to be 76 ± 23 μg·kg–1 (132 ± 40 nmol·kg–1) and the highest dose (300 μg·kg–1) produced a 72 ± 4% reduction. In recent comparative experiments (DeVries et al. 1996), the mean ± SEM ED50 (i.v.) of sumatriptan in decreasing carotid arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow was 63 ± 17 μg·kg–1 (158 ± 43 nmol·kg–1), with a reduction of 76 ± 4% by 300 μg·kg–1, i.v. Both avitriptan (pD2: 7.39 ± 0.09; Emax: 13.0 ± 4.5% of the contraction to 100 mM K+) and sumatriptan (pD2: 6.33 ± 0.09; Emax: 15.5 ± 2.3% of the contraction to 100 mM K+) contracted the human isolated coronary artery. The above results suggest that avitriptan should be able to abort migraine headaches in patients, but may exhibit sumatriptan-like effects on coronary arteries. Initial clinical studies have demonstrated the therapeutic action of the drug in acute migraine.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 2
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words 5-Hydroxytryptamine ; 5-HT1A receptors ; Microdialysis ; Flesinoxan ; WAY 100635 ; 8-OH-DPAT ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The modulation of extracellular 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) by 5-HT1A receptors was studied by intracerebral microdialysis in awake and freely moving rats. Local administration of 1 μM tetrodotoxin (TTX), 60 mM K+ and perfusion with Ca2+-free Ringer containing EGTA confirmed that the major part of dialysate 5-HT levels from the CeA is of neuronal origin. Administration of 300 nM of RU 24969, a 5-HT1B receptor agonist, through the probe into the CeA decreased dialysate 5-HT levels to 67.2% of the baseline value. Systemic administration of the 5-HT1A receptor agonists 8-OH-DPAT and flesinoxan dose-dependently decreased 5-HT levels in the CeA. The effect of 0.3 mg/kg of flesinoxan could be completely antagonized by systemic administration of 0.05 mg/kg WAY 100635, a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. WAY 100635 alone had only minimal effects at this dose. These data show that a major part of the extracellular 5-HT in the CeA stems from 5-HT neurons and that the amount of 5-HT released into this brain region can be modulated by 5-HT1A receptors.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 3
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Neocortex ; Cholecystokinin ; Dynorphin ; Amino acids ; Microdialysis ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of sulphated cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8S) on extracellular dynorphin B, aspartate, glutamate and GABA levels in the rat fronto-parietal cortex was investigated with in vivo microdialysis. The peptide was infused through the microdialysis probe trying to mimic local CCK-8S release. Basal levels of dynorphin B were around 20pM, aspartate 100nM, glutamate 600nM and GABA 30nM. CCK-8S (10μM) induced a ≈3-fold increase in extracellular dynorphin B, aspartate and glutamate levels, while GABA levels were only slightly increased. The effect of CCK-8S was restricted to the stimulated neocortex. Systemic pretreatment with the CCKB antagonist, L-365, 260, but not with the CCKA antagonist, L-364, 718, significantly antagonised the effect of CCK-8S on cortical dynorphin B and aspartate release. However, both CCKA and CCKB antagonists inhibited the increase in cortical glutamate levels. Thus, the present results indicate that cortical CCK release exerts a stimulatory modulation on cortical dynorphin B and aspartate release via the CCKB receptor subtype, and on glutamate release via both CCKA and CCKB receptor subtypes. Considering electrophysiological evidence that CCK increases neuronal firing rates in many brain regions, it may be suggested that CCK represents a stimulatory system modulating the function of the neocortex.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 4
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Morphine ; Nitric oxide ; Apomorphine ; Oxytocin ; Penile erection ; Yawning ; Paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The possible involvement of nitric oxide in the prevention by morphine of apomorphine- and oxytocin-induced penile erection and yawning was investigated by measuring the concentration of NO2- and NO3- in the dialysate obtained with a vertical microdialysis probe implanted in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of male rats. Either apomorphine (80 µg/kgs.c.) or oxytocin (30 ng i.c.v.) increased significantly basal NO2- and NO3- concentration in the paraventricular dialysate, penile erection and yawning. Morphine (1, 5 and 10mg/kg i.p.) prevented dose-dependently either apomorphine or oxytocin responses when given 15min before apomorphine or oxytocin. Prevention by morphine of apomorphine and oxytocin responses was abolished by naloxone (3mg/kg i.p.) given 15min before morphine. Morphine prevented apomorphine and oxytocin responses also when given in the lateral ventricles or directly in the paraventricular nucleus. In contrast, the selective agonist of the kappa opioid receptor subtype U-69,593 was found to be ineffective. The present results confirm previous findings showing that morphine acts through µ receptors in the paraventricular nucleus to prevent apomorphine and oxytocin-induced penile erection and yawning and suggest that this morphine effect is mediated by a decreased activity of nitric oxide in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 5
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 355 (1997), S. 689-698 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words β-adrenoceptors ; β adrenoceptor antagonists ; Celiprolol ; Rat ; Blood pressure
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Celiprolol is a β-adrenoceptor antagonist which has desirable ancillary properties since it is relatively cardioselective and can exert direct vasodilator and bronchodilator effects. Here agonist and antagonist effects of celiprolol at cardiac β1- and vascular β2-adrenoceptors were determined under in vivo conditions in the rat. All experiments were carried out in catecholamine-depleted, pentobarbital anesthetized and vagotomized rats, placed under artificial respiration. I.v. administrations were madevia the femoral vein. Blood pressure was measured from the cannulated right carotid artery and heart rate was recorded with a cardiotachometer. Celiprolol (10 µg/kg to 1 mg/kg i.v.) produced dose-related increases in heart rate and decreases in mean carotid artery blood pressure which were of longer duration than those mediated by standard agonists of β1-(isoprenaline) or β2-(salbutamol) adrenoceptors respectively. Although the maximal increase in heart rate by celiprolol (110±4 beats/min, n=7) was approximately half that of isoprenaline (198±1 beats/min, n=5), isoprenaline acted at doses 200-fold lower than celiprolol. Betaxolol (0.03-0.3 mg/kg i.v.), a β1-adrenoceptor antagonist, inhibited strongly and with similar potency the tachycardic effects of celiprolol (DR10 = 45 µg/kg i.v.) as well as isoprenaline (DR10 = 45 µg/kg i.v.). On the other hand, the hypotensive effects of celiprolol and salbutamol were antagonized markedly and with similar potency by ICI118,551, a relatively selective β2-adrenoceptor antagonist (DR10 = 15 and 25 µg/kg i.v. respectively). In rats pretreated with celiprolol (0.03 to 0.3 mg/kg i.v.), the heart rate dose-response curves to isoprenaline were shifted to the right of those determined in matched groups of vehicle-pretreated animals. In this respect, celiprolol was half as potent as betaxolol in blocking cardiac β1-adrenoceptors. Furthermore, celiprolol also antagonized the hypotensive effects of salbutamol, but, in this respect, celiprolol was 90-fold less potent than ICI 118,551. In conclusion, these results clearly indicate that celiprolol has the ability of stimulating and blocking not only cardiac β1- but also vascular β2-adrenoceptors. The effects on cardiac β1-adrenoceptors as well as the agonism of β2-adrenoceptors are produced by similar doses of celiprolol. These doses are notably lower than those necessary to block β2-adrenoceptors. Thus, this pharmacological profile, which has also been demonstrated in humans, indicates that celiprolol is a modulator of cardiac β1-adrenoceptors with vascular β2-adrenoceptor agonist properties.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 6
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words γ2-MSH (γ2-melanocyte-stimulating ; hormone) ; Blood pressure ; Heart rate ; Prazosin ; Metoprolol ; SR 49059 ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract γ2-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (γ2-MSH) and related melanotropins have been shown to have various cardiovascular effects, including acute, short-lasting increases in blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). γ2-MSH, administered intravenously, dose-dependently increased MAP and HR with an ED50 of approximately 30 nmol/kg and a maximal effect on MAP of approximately 55 mm Hg and on HR of around 70 beats per minute. Intravenous (i.v.) pretreatment with the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin, caused the dose-response curve for the effect of γ2-MSH on MAP to shift to the right with a decrease in slope, whereas it had no effect on the dose-response curve for the effect on HR. I.v. pretreatment with the β1-adrenoceptor antagonist, metoprolol, had no effect on the dose-response curve for the effect of γ2-MSH on MAP, but it caused the dose-response curve for the effect of the peptide on HR to shift to the right with a decrease in slope. Neither i.v. nor intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of the vasopressin V1A receptor antagonist, SR 49059 ((2S) 1-[(2R 3S)-5-chloro-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzene-sulfonyl)-3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-2-carbonyl]-pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide), had significant effects on the dose-response curves for the effects of the peptide on either MAP or HR. The doses of prazosin, metoprolol and SR 49059 were found to be effective in counteracting the effects of agonists for these receptors (phenylephrine, isoprenaline and [Arg8]vasopressin, respectively). Taken together, these results support the postulate that the effects of γ2-MSH are, at least partially, due to an increase in sympathetic outflow to the periphery (Gruber and Callahan (1989), Am J Physiol 257: R681-R694), and that this increase leads to increased activation of vascular α1-adrenoceptors and cardiac β1-adrenoceptors. If, as was suggested by these authors, γ2-MSH acts via activation of a central vasopressin system, it is via a vasopressin receptor subtype other than the vasopressin V1A receptor, since i.c.v. administration of a selective vasopressin V1A receptor antagonist failed to interfere with the pressor and cardioaccelerator effects of γ2-MSH.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 7
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 355 (1997), S. 743-750 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Erythromycin ; Potassium channels ; Arrhythmias ; Kv1.5 ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Erythromycin administration has been associated with a prolongation of cardiac repolarization in certain clinical settings. This could be due to blockade of voltage-dependent K+ channels in the human heart. For this reason we examined the effects of erythromycin on a rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ channel (Kv1.5) cloned from human heart and stably expressed in human embryonic kidney cells. When examined using the whole-cell patch clamp technique, erythromycin (100 μM) blocked Kv1.5 current in a time-dependent manner but required prolonged exposure to do so. However, when we examined Kv1.5 current using inside-out macropatches, erythromycin applied to the cytoplasmic surface rapidly (within 1-2 min) inhibited Kv1.5 current with an IC50 value of 2.6 x 10-5M (1.7 - 3.9 x 10-5M, 95% C.L.). The main effect of erythromycin was to accelerate the rate of Kv1.5 current decay thereby reducing the current at the end of a prolonged voltage-clamp pulse. Erythromycin also blocked Kv1.5 current in both a voltage- and frequency-dependent manner but had little effect on the activation kinetics, deactivation kinetics, or the steady-state inactivation properties of Kv1.5. These data suggest that erythromycin acts as a blocker of an activated state of the Kv1.5 channel and that it may access its binding site from the intracellular face of the channel. This study is the first to examine the effects of erythromycin on a cloned human cardiac K+ channel. It is concluded that erythromycin blocks Kv1.5 at clinically relevant concentrations. Blockade of voltage-dependent K+ channels in the heart could contribute to the alterations in cardiac repolarization that have been observed with erythromycin.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 8
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists ; Locomotion ; Stereotypy ; Catalepsy ; Basal ganglia ; Dopamine antagonists ; Dopamine metabolism ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effects of systemic administration of the non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists dextrorphan (10–40mg/kg, i.p.) and [±]-5-aminocarbonyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptan-5,10-imine (ADCI) (25–70mg/kg, i.p.) on basal ganglia-mediated behaviour and on forebrain dopamine metabolism were investigated in rats. Dextrorphan increased locomotor activity but did not induce stereotyped sniffing. ADCI failed to produce any significant motor stimulant and motor depressant actions. Both dextrorphan and ADCI dose-dependently antagonized catalepsy induced by the D-1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 23390 or the D-2 dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol. Only the highest doses of dextrorphan and ADCI increased dopamine metabolism in the prefrontal cortex and/or in the nucleus accumbens, but not in the dorsal striatum. Our results show that dextrorphan and ADCI produce some of the behavioural effects (antagonism of experimentally induced catalepsy) and neurochemical actions (regionally selective stimulation of dopamine metabolism) that have previously been observed in the prototypical non-competitive NMDA antagonist, dizocilpine. The failure of ADCI to induce hyperlocomotion and stereotypy suggests that anticataleptic doses of ADCI may be devoid of the psychotomimetic actions commonly associated with non-competitive blockade of NMDA receptor function.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 9
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Daily rhythms ; Heart rate ; Temperature ; Locomotor activity ; Anaesthesia ; Ether ; Ketamine ; Rat ; Telemetry
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anaesthesia (ether or ketamine) on daily rhythms of temperature (T), heart rate (H) and locomotor activity (A) in unrestrained rats by using implanted radio-telemetry transmitters. T, H and A were measured every 10min, in Wistar male rats, and analysed using Cosinor. The mean±SEM days needed, after surgical implantation, to detect a daily rhythm in H, T and A were also assessed. Six rats were anaesthetized for about 50min either by ketamine or ether in a 3 by 3 cross-over design. Mesors, amplitudes and acrophases of T, H and A were calculated three days before (D-3; D-2; D-1), the day of anaesthesia (D0) as well as the three following days (D1; D2; D3). ANOVA was performed in order to detect, firstly a possible effect due to the order of application of anaesthesia, secondly a significant difference between ether or ketamine-induced anaesthesia and finally a modification of the mesors, amplitudes and acrophases of T, H and A, induced by each anaesthesia, for D0, D1, D2 and D3 when compared to D-1. Our results indicate: (1) Alterations of the acrophases, mesors and amplitudes, except for the amplitude of A, of the daily rhythms of T, H and A on D0 of ketamine anaesthesia while regarding ether anaesthesia only amplitude of T and H and acrophase of A were modified on D0. Some of these modifications were still observed on the days following anaesthesia. A significant difference between ether and ketamine-induced anaesthesia was also observed. (2) A non-detection of T, H and A daily rhythms after surgical implantation, which was not observed after injection of either ether or ketamine alone. Almost 10 days were needed to detect a significant daily rhythm for T, H and A. The authors suggest that, the general anaesthetic agent was responsible for a perturbation of the mesors, amplitudes and acrophases of the daily rhythms of H, T and A while the non-detection of these rhythms after implantation was more due to the surgical aggression.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 10
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Blood pressure ; GR127935 ; Hypotension ; 5Hydroxytryptamine ; 5ht7Receptor ; Rat ; Sumatriptan
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract It has been suggested that the late hypotensive response to serotonin (5hydroxytryptamine; 5HT) in vagosympathectomized rats is mediated by ‘5HT1like’ receptors since this effect is mimicked by 5carboxamidotryptamine (5CT), is not modified by cyproheptadine, ketanserin or MDL72222, but it is blocked by methysergide. The present study was set out to reanalyze this suggestion in terms of the classification schemes proposed in 1994 and 1996 by the NCIUPHAR subcommittee on the classification and nomenclature of 5HT receptors. I.v. bolus injections of 5CT (0.010.3μg·kg1), 5HT (130μg·kg1) and 5methoxytryptamine (5MeOT; 130μg·kg1) produced dosedependent hypotensive responses with a rank order of agonist potency: 5CT 〉〉 5HT ≥ 5methoxytryptamine with sumatriptan (301000μg·kg1) inactive. The depressor responses to 5HT and 5CT were not attenuated by i.v. GR127935 (3003000μg·kg1) or equivalent volumes of saline. In contrast, lisuride, methiothepin, mesulergine, metergoline and clozapine dose-dependently antagonized the responses to 5HT and 5CT; the rank order of apparent pA2 values against 5HT and 5CT, respectively, was: lisuride (7.7; 7.8) 〉 methiothepin (6.8; 7.0) ≥ mesulergine (6.4; 6.6) 〉 clozapine (5.7; 5.8); metergoline displayed variable potencies (5.6; 6.4). Except for lisuride, which also affected isoprenalineinduced hypotension, the antagonism by the other drugs was selective. Based upon the above rank order of agonist potency, the blockade by a series of drugs showing high affinity for the cloned 5ht7 receptor and the lack of blockade by GR127935, our results indicate that the 5HT receptor mediating hypotension in vagosympathectomized rats is operationally similar to other putative 5ht7 receptors mediating vascular and nonvascular responses (e.g. relaxation of the rabbit femoral vein, canine coronary and external carotid arteries and guineapig ileum as well as feline tachycardia).
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 11
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Urinary bladder ; Hyperreflexia ; Tachykinin antagonists NK1 receptors ; Tachykinin antagonists ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study investigates the role of tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptors in motor responses induced by the intravesical instillation of capsaicin in urethane-anaesthetized rats. SR 140,333 (1 µmol/kg, i.v.), a non-peptide NK1 receptor antagonist, abolished urinary bladder contractions induced by the selective NK1 receptor agonist [Sar9]SP-sulfone (0.1-100 nmol/kg, i.v.) without affecting those induced by the NK2 receptor agonist [ßAla8]NKA(4-10). MEN 11,420 (100 nmol/kg, i.v.), a cyclic peptide NK2 receptor antagonist, abolished bladder contractions induced by [ßAla8]NKA(4-10) (0.3-300 nmol/kg, i.v.) without modifying those induced by [Sar9]SP-sulfone. Intravesical instillation of capsaicin (6 nmol/0.6 ml/rat) produced a motor response consisting in a primary contraction followed by a series of high amplitude phasic contractions. The intravesical instillation of saline (0.6 ml/rat) produced a primary contraction of lower amplitude with respect to that induced by capsaicin and the total area under the curve was also lower in saline-instilled rats, however the number and the amplitude of phasic contractions was similar to that induced by capsaicin. MEN 11,420 (100 nmol/kg, i.v.) did not modify motor responses induced by the intravesical administration of saline. In contrast, in capsaicin-instilled rats, MEN 11,420 (100 nmol/kg, i.v.) reduced the primary contraction, the area under the curve and also the number of phasic contractions. SR 140,333 (1 µmol/kg, i.v.) reduced the primary contraction but not other parameters. The combination of SR 140,333 (1 µmol/kg, i.v.) and MEN 11,420 (100 nmol/kg, i.v.) produced an additive inhibitory effect on the primary contraction but not a further inhibition on other parameters with respect to that observed with MEN 11,420 alone. In hexamethonium (110 µmol/kg, i.v.)-pretreated animals the intravesical instillation of capsaicin produced a tonic contraction having greater amplitude and area than that induced by saline. MEN 11,420, but not SR 140,333, significantly reduced the bladder response to capsaicin in hexamethonium-pretreated rats. Again, the combined administration of MEN 11,420 and SR 140,333 did not produce further inhibitory effect in comparison to MEN 11,420 alone. It is concluded that the motor responses induced by the intravesical instillation of capsaicin are mediated by the activation of peripheral tachykinin NK2 receptors.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 12
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 356 (1997), S. 297-302 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Lipid peroxidation ; Free radicals ; Oxidative stress ; In vitro ; In vivo ; Antioxidant ; Antiestrogen ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate antioxidativity of the triphenylethylene antiestrogen toremifene. Toremifene and its structural analogues were studied for their ability to inhibit chain reactions of lipid peroxidation and to act as scavengers of free radicals in vitro, and the effects of toremifene were compared to those of the estrogens, tamoxifen and known antioxidants. Moreover, the in vivo antioxidativity of toremifene was tested in a long-term experiment with rats. The ability of toremifene to prevent lipid peroxidation was assayed in two different test systems. In the first assay (initiated with ascorbate/ADP-FeCl3, detection by the formation of TBA-reactive material) toremifene was found to act as an efficient membrane antioxidant with an IC50-value (18 μM) comparable to that of tamoxifen (26 μM) and α-tocopherol (43 μM). Toremifene derivatives 4-hydroxytoremifene (IC50 = 8 μM) and Fc 1159 (IC50 = 31 μM), as well as diethylstilbestrol (IC50 = 17 μM) were also active while estradiol showed only weak antioxidativity (IC50 = 300 μM) in this test system. In the other assay (peroxidation initiated with t-butylhydroperoxide, detection by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence) toremifene prevented lipid peroxidation only at high concentrations (IC50 = 450 μM) but the metabolite 4-hydroxytoremifene (IC50 = 0.18 μM), estradiol (IC50 = 4.6 μM) and diethylstilbestrol (IC50 = 1.7 μM) showed potent antioxidant activity. The potency of 4-hydroxytoremifene even exeeded that of α-tocopherol (IC50 = 2.0 μM) and butylated hydroxyanisole (IC50 = 1.1 μM). Toremifene was found to have some superoxide anion but no peroxyl radical scavenging activity. Interestingly, diethylstilbestrol turned out to be a potent scavenger of peroxyl radicals. Treatment of female Sprague-Dawley rats with toremifene (12 or 48 mg/kg) was found to decrease serum levels of lipid peroxides. This was seen at various time points (2 days, 5 weeks, 6 and 12 months) during long-term administration of toremifene to rats, and results obtained with two different methods (diene conjugation, TBA-reactive material) gave similar results. The present study thus showed that (i) like steroidal estrogens and tamoxifen toremifene is a potent membrane antioxidant in vitro, (ii) the antioxidant action of toremifene is not due to scavenging of free radicals and, importantly, (iii) toremifene acts antioxidatively also in living organisms in vivo.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 13
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 356 (1997), S. 341-347 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Complex partial seizure ; Diphenylhydantoin ; Epileptic focus ; Limbic system ; Rat ; Threshold
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Phenytoin is a major antiepileptic drug for treatment of limbic seizures. The effect of phenytoin on the generation and spread of seizure activity was studied in a rat model of this type of seizures. Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats were implanted with a stimulation and recording electrode in the basolateral amygdala. Naive Sprague-Dawley rats showed an increase in current intensity necessary for eliciting afterdischarges (afterdischarge threshold) of about 200% after administration of phenytoin (75 mg/kg i.p.), while seizure severity at threshold was increased compared to controls. Afterdischarge and seizure durations were significantly prolonged under phenytoin. This result suggests that phenytoin can exert a potent anticonvulsant effect on the generation of focal seizure activity, but it does not suppress or may even increase on-going afterdischarge activity once it occurs. Following amygdala kindling in Wistar rats, administration of phenytoin again resulted in an increase in the afterdischarge threshold. However, all rats still showed generalized seizures, and epileptic afterdischarges could be recorded in various limbic brain regions at threshold current. This result suggests that phenytoin can increase the threshold for generation of epileptic discharges in kindled rats, but is not able to prevent the development of generalized seizure activity and the spread of afterdischarges within the limbic system when focal activity is initiated. We conclude that phenytoin is able to suppress focal seizure activity in the amygdala kindling model of the rat. However, it does not prevent the spread of seizure activity originating in the limbic system. Therefore, a decrease in focal seizure susceptibility seems to be the primary target for phenytoin’s anticonvulsant action.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 14
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 356 (1997), S. 364-367 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Capsaicin ; CGRP (calcitonin ; gene-related peptide) ; Endothelium-dependent ; relaxation ; Thoracic aorta ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Previous studies have shown that pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a principal transmitter in sensory nerves, can protect the endothelial cell. We therefore evaluated whether in vivo capsaicin treatment prevents endothelial damage elicited by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in the rat aorta. Acute treatment or repeated pretreatment with capsaicin resulted in stimulation of neurotransmitter release from sensory nerves or depletion of their transmitter content respectively. Vasodilator responses to acetylcholine (ACh) were examined in the aorta of these animals. Acute application of capsaicin (50 mg/kg) increased the plasma concentration of CGRP-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) concomitantly with a reversal of the inhibition by LPC of endothelium-dependent ACh-induced relaxation in the isolated rat aorta. After repeated pretreatment with capsaicin to deplete sensory nerve neurotransmitter content the effects of capsaicin were absent as shown by the plasma CGRP-LI concentration and the vasodilator response to ACh. The results demonstrate that systemic capsaicin treatment, which evokes the release of CGRP from sensory nerves, protects the endothelial cell. The present study also suggests that CGRP may be an endogenous vascular protective substance.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 15
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 356 (1997), S. 583-589 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Cannabinoid CB1 receptors ; Human ; hippocampus ; Guinea-pig hippocampus ; Noradrenaline release ; Presynaptic receptors ; cAMP accumulation ; WIN 55 ; 212-2 ; SR 141716
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We examined the question of whether cannabinoid receptors modulating noradrenaline release are detectable in the brain of humans and experimental animals. For this purpose, hippocampal slices from humans, guinea-pigs, rats and mice and cerebellar, cerebrocortical and hypothalamic slices from guinea-pigs were incubated with [3H]noradrenaline and then superfused. Tritium overflow was evoked either electrically (0.3 or 1Hz) or by introduction of Ca2+ ions (1.3μM) into Ca2+-free, K+-rich medium (25μM) containing tetrodotoxin 1μM. Furthermore, the cAMP accumulation stimulated by forskolin 10μM was determined in guinea-pig hippocampal membranes. We used the following drugs: the cannabinoid receptor agonists (–)-cis-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl]-trans-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexanol (CP-55,940) and R(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-yl]-(1-naphthalenyl)methanone (WIN 55,212-2), the inactive S(–)-enantiomer of the latter (WIN 55,212-3) and the CB1 receptor antagonist N-piperidino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-3-pyrazole-carboxamide (SR 141716). The electrically evoked tritium overflow from guinea-pig hippocampal slices was reduced by WIN 55,212-2 (pIC30% 6.5) but not affected by WIN 55,212-3 up to 10μM. The concentration-response curve of WIN 55,212-2 was shifted to the right by SR 141716 (0.032μM) (apparent pA2 8.2), which by itself did not affect the evoked overflow. WIN 55,212-2 1μM also inhibited the Ca2+-evoked tritium overflow in guinea-pig hippocampal slices and the electrically evoked overflow in guinea-pig cerebellar, cerebrocortical and hypothalamic slices as well as in human hippocampal slices but not in rat and mouse hippocampal slices. SR 141716 (0.32μM) markedly attenuated the WIN 55,212-2-induced inhibition in guinea-pig and human brain slices. SR 141716 0.32μM by itself increased the electrically evoked tritium overflow in guinea-pig hippocampal slices but failed to do so in slices from the other brain regions of the guinea-pig and in human hippocampal slices. The cAMP accumulation stimulated by forskolin was reduced by CP-55,940 and WIN 55,212-2. The concentration-response curve of CP 55,940 was shifted to the right by SR 141716 (0.1μM; apparent pA2 8.3), which by itself did not affect cAMP accumulation. In conclusion, cannabinoid receptors of the CB1 subtype occur in the human hippocampus, where they may contribute to the psychotropic effects of cannabis, and in the guinea-pig hippocampus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex and hypothalamus. The CB1 receptor in the guinea-pig hippocampus is located presynaptically, is activated by endogenous cannabinoids and may be negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 16
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 356 (1997), S. 611-618 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Hippocampus ; EPSP ; IPSP ; GABA ; NMDA ; Epilepsy ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Previous behavioural and electrophysiological studies have indicated that levetiracetam (ucb LO59) acts as an anticonvulsant drug in vivo. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of levetiracetam on normal synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity in vitro. Intracellular recordings were obtained from the CA3 subfield of the rat hippocampal slice preparation. Levetiracetam in a concentration of 10 μM did not influence basic cell properties or normal synaptic transmission evoked by subthreshold and suprathreshold stimuli to the commissural pathway. However, it strongly inhibited the development of epileptiform bursting by the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A-receptor antagonist bicuculline (1– 30 μM). Levetiracetam also decreased the size of bursts previously established by bicuculline. In experiments in which the glutamate-receptor agonist N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) was used to generate spontaneous bursting, levetiracetam had no effect on the size of the bursts but decreased bursting frequency. The difference in effects of levetiracetam on bicuculline- and NMDA-induced bursting appeared to be dependent on the convulsant used, since in the presence of 10 μM bicuculline, levetiracetam decreased the size of NMDA-bursts to the same extent as the size of synaptically evoked bicuculline-bursts but had little effect on bursting frequency. The results show that under our experimental conditions, levetiracetam did not alter the components of normal synaptic transmission. However, levetiracetam at the concentrations studied inhibited epileptiform bursting induced by bicuculline and NMDA in vitro in a manner consistent with the profile of an antiepileptogenic drug.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 17
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 356 (1997), S. 166-172 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Catalepsy ; VM nucleus ; Kainic lesions ; Pontine reticular formation ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Bilateral kainic acid lesions of the ventro-medial (VM) thalamic nucleus of rats which greatly reduced the catalepsy produced by haloperidol (2 mg/kg i.p.) not only did not reduce, but even enhanced, the cataleptogenic effect of eserine (1 mg/kg i.p.) and arecoline (30 mg/kg i.p.). This finding is in accord with former conclusions that catalepsy produced by cholinergic drugs does not depend on striatal mechanisms. In rats with kainic acid lesions of the VM thalamic nucleus, and similarly in intact, non-lesioned rats, systemic administration of eserine and arecoline potentiated the catalepsy produced by microinjections of carbachol (2 μg) into the pontine reticular formation (PRF). Atropine microinjected bilaterally into the PRF attenuated the cataleptogenic effect of eserine and arecoline i.p. We suggest that the PRF is a site at which systemically given cholinergic drugs act to produce catalepsy.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 18
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Transplant international 10 (1997), S. 103-108 
    ISSN: 1432-2277
    Keywords: Key words Liver transplantation ; rat model ; Rat ; liver transplantation ; fine needle aspiration ; Fine needle aspiration ; liver ; rat ; Rejection ; liver ; rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Rat models are often used to study liver allograft rejection. We have established a model for rat liver allograft rejection, monitored by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), in the strain combination PVG-to-BN with a mean survival time of 37 ± 20 days. In this model, we observed acute rejection with an intense peak of lymphoid blasts and lymphocyte-dominated inflammation in the FNAB [9.1 ± 3.0 corrected increment units (CIU)], and an eventual increase in macrophages (up to 4.2 ± 4.4 CIU), together with fibrosis and parenchymal necrosis in the graft. Markers of immune activation, such as an increase in IL-2-receptor (from 1 % ± 2 % to 21 % ± 13 %) and class II (from 20 % ± 9 % to 43 % ± 13 %) expressing lymphoid cells and induction of ICAM-1 in the graft, were consistent with the overall cellular response. The FNAB correlated well with parallel graft histology. In this rat model, the atraumatic monitoring makes a close follow-up possible without having to sacrifice the experimental animals. This saves work, animals, and costs in the study of liver rejection.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 19
    ISSN: 1433-2981
    Keywords: Peripheral blood ; Progenitor cells ; Rat ; Stem cells
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The assay system for determination of haemopoietic progenitors in peripheral blood of rats is essen tial for potential studies on mobilisation and transplantation of circulating progenitor cells in a rat experimental model. This paper demonstrates the possibility of detection and quantification of pluripotent progenitors (Colony Forming Units-Spleen day 8-CFU-Sd8) and committed progenitors (Colony Forming Units Granulocyte Macrophage-CFU-GM and Burst Forming Units-Erythroid-BFU-E) in peripheral blood of rats in a steady state. For determination of CFU-Sd8 the ‘rat to mouse’ in vivo assay was used, and for committed progenitors in vitro assays on methylcellulose were employed. The CFU-Sd8 incidence ranged from 7.3 to 11.6/ml of rat blood, similar to that reported in literature for mice. The incidence of CFU-GM was found to be 59.7 ± 9.4/ml which is in the range of the literature data for mice, rabbits, dogs and humans. The incidence of BFU-E in rat peripheral blood was 4.3 ± 1/ml, which was relatively low, but could be also considered as comparable with some literature data for dogs and humans. The CFU-E were not detected by the technique used. These results confirmed the existence of circulatory blood pluripotent progenitors (CFU-Sd8) and committed (CFU-GM and BFU-E) progenitors in rat, as has been established for some other mammalian species.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 20
    ISSN: 1432-0843
    Keywords: Key words Anthracyclines ; Daunorubicin ; Daunorubicinol ; Pharmacokinetics ; Rat ; Aging
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Age-related differences in pharmacokinetics may be important in determining altered anthracycline cardiotoxicity in the senescent rat and also in older humans. This study examined the effect of aging on daunorubicin pharmacokinetics in the Fischer 344 rat. Daunorubicin 7.5 mg/kg was administered i.v. to 6-and 24-month-old male Fischer 344 rats and plasma and tissue sampling was performed over 168 h for assay of daunorubicin and daunorubicinol concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography. Systemic clearance of daunorubicin was decreased in older compared to younger animals (56±4 versus 202±17 ml min-1 kg-1; P〈0.05). In addition, the area under the plasma daunorubicinol concentration/time curve was significantly increased in older rats. In the heart, the area under the concentration/time curve was significantly increased in senescence both in the case of daunorubicin (201±12 versus 86±4 μg h g-1; P〈0.05) and daunorubicinol (1347±118 versus 182±4 μg h g-1; P〈0.05). Furthermore, the peak mean concentrations of daunorubicin were increased in older compared to younger rats both in plasma (1078±82 versus 663±66 ng ml-1; P〈0.05) and in heart (27±1 versus 10±1 μg g-1; P〈0.05). This also was true for daunorubicinol in plasma (284±39 versus 168±27 ng ml-1; P〈0.05) and in myocardium (8.6±0.6 versus 2.4±0.2 μg g-1; P〈0.05). Following daunorubicin injection, the ratio of daunorubicinol to daunorubicin concentrations in tissues increased with time, particularly in plasma and heart in senescent rats. Thus, there are significant age-related changes in daunorubicin and daunorubicinol kinetics in the rat that could alter susceptibility to acute systemic toxicity and to chronic cardiotoxicity.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 21
    ISSN: 1432-0738
    Keywords: Key words Thyroid carcinogenesis ; Vitamin A ; Thiourea ; UDP-GT ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The mechanisms underlying enhanced cell proliferation in thyroid proliferative lesions of rats simultaneously treated with large amounts of vitamin A (VA) and thiourea (TU) were investigated. Male F344 animals were initiated with N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (2800 mg/kg body weight, single s.c. injection). Starting 1 week later, groups received water containing 0.2% TU (TU group), diet containing 0.1% VA (VA group), both 0.2% TU and 0.1% VA (TU + VA group) or tap water/basal diet without supplement (control group) for 10 weeks. The serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were decreased and the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were elevated in the TU and TU + VA groups, with the degree of change being significantly greater in the combined treatment group. The induction of P450 isoenzymes by TU was not enhanced by VA supplementation, but uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) activity in the liver was significantly increased in the TU + VA group compared to the TU group. Thyroid weights were increased in both the TU and TU + VA groups, this being more pronounced with VA supplementation. Thyroid follicular cell hyperplasias and neoplasias were induced to similar extents in both TU treated groups, but their cell proliferation appeared to be increased by the VA supplementation. The results of the present study suggest that enhanced cell proliferation is due to increased TSH stimulation, resulting from the decrease in serum T3/T4 levels brought about by induction of liver UDP-GT activity with the combined action of TU + VA as well as inhibition by TU of thyroid hormone synthesis in the thyroid.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 22
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rat ; Brain ; Trauma
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract A study was made on the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in cerebral microvessels after cortical contusion trauma of the rat brain. The trauma was produced by a free-falling weight on the exposed dura of one fronto-parietal lobe. Immunohistochemistry was done on cryostat sections using a monoclonal antibody and the reaction product was visualized using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Control and sham-operated rats showed immunostaining of some penetrating arteries of the cerebral cortex, the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus and occasional microvessels of the brain parenchyma. The same pattern of immunostaining was seen in rats that were subjected to trauma and killed after 30 min. All rats with contusion trauma that were allowed to survive for 6–72 h showed a substantial increase in the number of immunostained capillaries throughout the site of the lesion. The ipsilateral hippocampus showed a mild to moderate increase in the number of immunostained microvascular profiles. This phenomenon was also present in the lateral thalamus of some rats. The staining was seen as an uninterrupted line at the position of the endothelial cells, indicating an up-regulation of this adhesion molecule after brain trauma. Up-regulation of ICAM-1 is a well-known phenomenon in inflammatory and ischemic lesions of the brain but has not previously been described in detail in traumatic brain injury. ICAM-1 may be involved in the production of several post-traumatic events such as leukocyte adhesion, microcirculatory disturbances and edema formation.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 23
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Microwave irradiation ; Mobile telephony ; Blood-brain barrier ; Vasogenic edema ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We investigated the effects of global system for mobile communication (GSM) microwave exposure on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier using a calibrated microwave exposure system in the 900 MHz band. Rats were restrained in a carousel of circularly arranged plastic tubes and sham-exposed or microwave irradiated for a duration of 4 h at specific brain absorption rates (SAR) ranging from 0.3 to 7.5 W/kg. The extravasation of proteins was assessed either at the end of exposure or 7 days later in three to five coronal brain slices by immunohistochemical staining of serum albumin. As a positive control two rats were subjected to cold injury. In the brains of freely moving control rats (n = 20) only one spot of extravasated serum albumin could be detected in one animal. In the sham-exposed control group (n = 20) three animals exhibited a total of 4 extravasations. In animals irradiated for 4 h at SAR of 0.3, 1.5 and 7.5 W/kg (n = 20 in each group) five out of the ten animals of each group killed at the end of the exposure showed 7, 6 and 14 extravasations, respectively. In the ten animals of each group killed 7 days after exposure, the total number of extravasations was 2, 0 and 1, respectively. The increase in serum albumin extravasations after microwave exposure reached significance only in the group exposed to the highest SAR of 7.5 W/kg but not at the lower intensities. Histological injury was not observed in any of the examined brains. Compared to other pathological conditions with increased blood-brain barrier permeability such as cold injury, the here observed serum albumin extravasations are very modest and, moreover, reversible. Microwave exposure in the frequency and intensity range of mobile telephony is unlikely to produce pathologically significant changes of the blood-brain barrier permeability.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 24
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Parkinson’s disease ; Neural transplantation ; Allogeneic ; Major histocompatibility complex antigens ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Neural transplantation, as a therapeutic approach to Parkinson’s disease, still requires allogeneic graft material and raises questions of immunosuppression and graft rejection. The present study investigated the time course of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression and astrocytic response in allogeneic dopaminergic grafts, comparing two different grafting protocols. Adult 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned Lewis 1.W rats received intrastriatal cell suspension grafts from the ventral mesencephalon of DA rat fetuses, either as single 1-μl macrograft via metal cannula or as four micrografts of 250 nl/deposit via a glass capillary. No immunosuppression was administered. Immunohistochemistry was performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks after grafting, using antibodies against donor- and host-specific MHC class I and II antigen, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Most animals showed good allograft survival up to 12 weeks after transplantation with no signs of rejection. Reinnervation of the lesioned striatum by TH-positive neurites was observed from 3–6 weeks on. Expression of donor-specific MHC class I was comparably low in both allogeneic grafting groups, while host MHC class I and II reaction as well as astrocytic response tended to be higher in the macrografted animals. Donor MHC class II was not observed at any time point. It is concluded that intraparenchymal allografts of fetal mesencephalic cell suspensions can survive well in the rat Parkinson model without immunosuppression for at least 12 weeks, and that the expression of moderate amounts of donor-specific MHC class I antigen does not suffice to initiate a rejection process. In addition, the microtransplantation approach may reduce the level of trauma and subsequent MHC and GFAP expression and may, thereby, minimize the risk of graft rejection.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 25
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words Tape stripping ; Human ; Stratum corneum ; Penetration studies ; Skin furrows
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Tape stripping of human stratum corneum is widely used as a method for studying the kinetics and penetration depth of drugs. Several factors can influence the quantity of stratum corneum that is removed by a piece of tape, such as the manner of tape stripping, the hydration of the skin, cohesion between cells, body site and interindividual differences. However, few data are available about the influence of furrows in the human epidermis on the tape-stripping technique. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of tape stripping in removing complete cell layers from the superficial part of the human stratum corneum. A histological section of skin that was tape-stripped 20 times clearly showed nonstripped skin in the furrows, indicating persistent incomplete tape stripping. Replicas of tape-stripped skin surface demonstrated that even after removing 40 tape strips the furrows were still present. We validated the tape-stripping method further with X-ray microanalysis in the mapping mode by scanning electron microscopy, using a TiO2-containing compound as a marker. TiO2 applied to the skin before the tape-stripping procedures was still present after the tenth tape strip, and was specifically located on the rims of the furrows. We emphasize that results from studies using the tape-stripping method have to be viewed from the perspective that cells on one tape strip of the stratum corneum may be derived from different layers, depending on the position of the tape strip in relation to the slope of the furrow, and such results should be interpreted with considerable caution.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 26
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Archives of dermatological research 289 (1997), S. 466-470 
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words Alopecia areata ; Human ; Hair ; Cytokines ; Adhesion molecules ; MHC molecules ; Diphenylcyclopropenone
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The immune response present in untreated alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by overexpression of ICAM-1 and MHC molecules on dermal papilla cells of affected hair follicles and by a distinct cytokine pattern. After successful treatment with the potent contact allergen diphenylcyclopropenone (DCP), adhesion molecules are downregulated and a reversed pattern of cytokines is expressed. To determine which cytokines may be involved in this process we studied the expression and modulation of ICAM-1 and MHC class I and II molecules on cultured dermal papilla cells. Scalp biopsies were obtained from healthy donors and dermal papillae were isolated. The cells were treated with various cytokines and prostanoids. The surface molecules were labeled with FITC-conjugated antibodies, and the expression levels were quantified by FACScan analysis. Incubation with IFN-γ led to a time-dependent upregulation of the surface molecules studied. IL-1β and TNF-α synergistically increased the expression of ICAM-1, but they failed to induce MHC molecules. However, both cytokines significantly reduced the IFN-γ-induced HLA-DR expression. Pretreatment of cells with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor diclofenac, prostanoids, IL-10 or TGF-β1 did not alter the constitutive or IFN-γ-elicited expression of surface molecules. A neutralizing anti-IL-1β-antibody did not affect any cytokine-induced changes. We conclude that with regard to surface molecules we can partly imitate in vitro the situation of AA in vivo. Moreover, our results suggest that TNF-α, which is markedly increased under DCP treatment, might be an effector of the therapeutic response in AA.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 27
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Archives of dermatological research 289 (1997), S. 506-513 
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words Hydration ; Confocal laser scanning ; microscopy ; refractive index ; Image analysis ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the swelling behaviour of the stratum corneum. Stratum corneum pieces isolated from the breast region of 20 different females were incubated in distilled water at two different temperatures (20° C and 45° C) for 90 min and 24 h, respectively. Half of the stratum corneum pieces were previously extracted with chloroformmethanol (2 : 1). The area-enlargement was photographically recorded. The thickness enlargement was determined using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The average swelling (99% confidence interval) in the area dimension at 20° C was 8.4% ± 1.4% (n = 20), which corresponded to an average swelling in the length (lateral) dimension of approximately 4.1%. The swelling in the thickness dimension was 26.3% ± 16.3% (n = 8). The swelling was most pronounced in the thickness dimension and was complete after 90 min of water immersion (P 〈 0.01, n = 5). In addition, the removal of the intercellular lipids with chloroform/methanol (2 : 1) induced a decreased swelling in the samples (P 〈 0.01, n = 20). An increase in temperature of the water from 20° C to 45° C resulted in an increase in swelling (P 〈 0.01, n = 20). Taken together our results support the idea that the mechanism of stratum corneum swelling is linked to the intercellular lipid structure and hence to skin barrier function.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 28
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Cystatins ; Transthyretin ; Brain tumors ; Pituitary adenomas ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The localization of cystatin C (CC) and transthyretin (TTR) synthesis was studied using Northern blot and immunohistochemical methods. Normal brain tissues from all sites studied contained CC mRNA. Immunoreactive CC was present in the choroid plexus epithelial cells, cerebral and cerebellar neurons, astrocytes, ependymal cells, macrophage-like cells of the arachnoid membrane and in neuroendocrine cells of the anterior pituitary lobe. TTR mRNA and TTR were restricted to the choroid plexus. In primary brain tumors, the transcript for CC was found in all 39 tumors examined, while the protein could only be demonstrated in 3/5 choroid plexus papillomas, 8/8 astrocytomas, 7/23 anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas, 1/6 oligodendrogliomas, 1/1 oligoastrocytoma, 1/4 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, 3/7 ependymomas, 0/1 anaplastic ependymoma, 0/5 primitive neuroectodermal tumors, 0/1 neuroblastoma, 3/11 meningiomas and 16/16 pituitary adenomas. CC cannot be used as a marker for any specific brain tumor type but the fact that the protein could be demonstrated more frequently in astrocytomas than in their more malignant counterparts suggests that the cellular production and secretion of CC changes with the malignant progression of these tumors. TTR mRNA and TTR were present only in the choroid plexus papillomas, indicating that TTR synthesis is mainly restricted to such brain neoplasms.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 29
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Traumatic brain injury ; Hypothermia ; Fluid percussion ; Rat ; Contusion
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Early outcome measures of experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) are useful for characterizing the traumatic severity as well as for clarifying the pathomechanisms underlying patterns of neuronal vulnerability. However, it is increasingly apparent that acute outcome measures may not always be accurate predictors of chronic outcome, particularly when assessing the efficacy of potential therapeutic regimens. This study examined the chronic histopathological outcome in rats 8 weeks following fluid-percussive TBI coupled with moderate post-traumatic brain hypothermia, a protocol that provides acute neuronal protection. Animals received a moderate parasagittal percussive head injury (2.01–2.38 atm) or sham procedure followed immediately by 3 h of brain hypothermia (30°C) or normothermia (37°C). Eight weeks following TBI, serial tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or immunostained for glial fibrillary acidic protein. Tissue damage, gliosis and immunoreactive astrocytes were observed in the ipsilateral thalamus, hippocampus, and in the neocortex lateral to the injury site. Within the thalamus, focal necrosis was restricted to selective thalamic nuclei. Significant hippocampal cell loss was found in the ipsilateral dentate hilar region of both TBI groups. Quantitative volume measurements revealed significant decreases in cortical, thalamic and hippocampal volume ipsilateral to the impact in both TBI groups. Lateral ventricles were substantially enlarged in the TBI-normothermia group, an effect which was significantly attenuated by post-TBI hypothermia. The attenuation of lateral ventricular dilation by post-traumatic hypothermia is indicative of chronic neuroprotection in this TBI model. These data provide new information concerning the chronic histopathological consequence of experimental TBI and the relevance of this trauma model to chronic human head injury.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 30
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Schwann cell ; Diabetic neuropathy ; Human ; Animal model ; Galactose ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Despite early descriptions of hypertrophic Schwann cells and onion-bulb formation in patients with diabetic neuropathy, clinical and experimental studies have emphasized axonal pathology. In recent years, the Schwann cell has been further implicated in diabetic neuropathy because it is the primary intrafascicular location for the first enzyme of the polyol pathway, aldose reductase, which appears to have a role in modulating a variety of complications of diabetes, including diabetic neuropathy. To further explore the role of polyol pathway flux in the pathogenesis of Schwann cell injury, ultrastructural abnormalities of Schwann cells in human diabetic neuropathy (HDN) were compared with those in experimental galactose neuropathy (EGN), a well-characterized model of hyperglycemia without hypoinsulinemia. Similar to previous studies of EGN, reactive, degenerative and proliferative changes of Schwann cells were observed after 2, 4 and 24 months of galactose intoxication. Reactive changes included accumulation of lipid droplets, π granules of Reich and glycogen granules, increased numbers of subplasmalemmal vesicles, cytoplasmic expansion, and capping. Degenerative changes included enlargement of mitochondria and effacement of cristae, and disintegration of both abaxonal and adaxonal cytosol and organelles. Both demyelination and onion-bulb formation were seen at all time points, although supernumerary Schwann cells and axonal degeneration were most numerous after 24 months of galactose feeding. In sural nerve biopsy samples from patients with diabetes and progressive worsening of neuropathy, ultrastructural abnormalities in Schwann cells encompassed the full range of reactive, degenerative and proliferative changes described in galactose-fed rats. The concordance of fine-structural observations in nerves from galactose-fed rats and these adult-onset diabetic patients emphasizes the role of flux through aldose reductase in the complex pathology of diabetic neuropathy and points to the utility of galactose intoxication in helping to understand this metabolic disorder.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 31
    ISSN: 0942-0940
    Keywords: Rat ; brain injury ; diffuse injury ; free radicals ; lipid peroxidation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Summary Free radicals are generated after head injury. These radicals rapidly react with polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane and cause membrane destruction. This process is called lipid per-oxidation. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is one of the end products of lipid peroxidation, and it is a frequently used indicator of lipid per-oxidation in biological tissues. Using a diffuse head injury animal model, we studied the time course of lipid peroxidation in different regions of injured rat brains. In the present study, the MDA levels were 36.7%, 41.8%, and 35.1% greater than sham at one hour after injury at the frontal, parietal, and brain stem, respectively (p〈0.0001). The MDA levels in these regions continued to increase and peaked a 4 hours after the injury. The levels slowly decreased, and by 24 hours, they were still significantly higher than the sham control's. The elevation of MDA levels was less in the striatum and the temporal regions at one hour. They were 16.9% and 13.3%, respectively (p〈0.002). The MDA levels in these two regions continued to increase even after 4 hours of injury, but the degree of elevation never exceeded 35%. The results demonstrate that there is an immediate, posttraumatic burst of MDA production, suggesting the formation of free radicals after diffuse head injury. Even though all the regions sampled show the same effect, certain regions are less affected by this diffuse head injury animal model.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 32
    ISSN: 1432-0738
    Keywords: Key wordsCo-administration ; Cyclosporin A ; Acyclovir ; Nephrotoxicity ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A (CyA) and the antiviral drug acyclovir may cause renal functional impairment. CyA-induced immunosuppression increases the rate of viral infections. Therefore we were interested to determine whether short-term co-administration of CyA and acyclovir involves an increased nephrotoxic risk. Male Wistar rats were treated with CyA (20 mg/kg body wt., s.c., once daily for 8 days), acyclovir (15 mg/kg body wt., s.c., 3-times daily for the last 5 days) or a combination of CyA and acyclovir. Blood levels of CyA were determined after a single dose. Urine was monitored for volume, osmolality, total protein and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (β-NAG). Concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma-creatinine were determined (day 9). Renal cortical slices were monitored for accumulation of weak organic acids (para-aminohippurate, PAH) and bases (tetra-ethylammonium, TEA) and for malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Renal histology was also examined. CyA induced a decrease in body and kidney weight, in urine osmolality and in the excretion of total protein. Plasma-creatinine and BUN as well as MDA content of renal tissues were increased by CyA. Acyclovir alone did not induce significant changes. In comparison to CyA values, urine volume and β-NAG excretion were enhanced and TEA accumulation depressed by the concomitant administration of CyA and acyclovir. CyA- or acyclovir-treatment alone did not result in significant morphological changes. In the group co-administered CyA/acyclovir, the kidneys showed mild to moderate signs of tubulopathy. Short-term co-administration of CyA and acyclovir was concluded to have possibly increased nephrotoxic potential.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 33
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Transplant ; Striatum ; Substantia nigra ; Patch-matrix ; Regeneration ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract When patients with Parkinson’s disease initially show symptoms, approximately 80–85% of their dopaminergic nerve fibers in the striatum have degenerated. It is thus of importance to develop strategies to try to rescue the remaining dopaminergic neurons and to stimulate them to induce sprouting. In this study the goal was to examine whether the different subgroups of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral mesencephalon projecting to the basal ganglia have different sprouting capacities when stimulated by the trophic effect of a fetal striatal graft. Lateral ganglionic eminence was implanted into the lateral ventricle, the midportion of dorsal striatum, globus pallidus, or ventral striatum. Solid tissue pieces from 13- to 15-mm fetuses were stereotactically implanted into adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. At postgrafting week 4 the animals were perfused and processed for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry. Transplants placed in the lateral ventricle were TH-negative, except for two cases with TH-positive fibers where the ependymal layer was disrupted, thereby allowing direct contact between the graft and the adjacent host striatum. The transplants placed into dorsal striatum were innervated by small patches of dopaminergic nerve fibers. Areas between the TH-positive patchy structures remained TH-negative. In grafts placed into globus pallidus, both patchy structures and a less dense TH-positive nerve fiber network was noted. The TH-positive growth pattern in transplants placed in ventral striatum was also devided into patchy and widespread growth. Grafts placed in globus pallidus and ventral striatum revealed significantly larger areas of TH-positive innervation compared with that measured in grafts placed in dorsal striatum and the lateral ventricle. In conclusion, it is possible to induce sprouting of TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers from all areas examined. The most potent areas to initiate dopaminergic growth were the globus pallidus and ventral striatum, where both a patchy dense and a widespread, less dense growth was induced. Thus, if using a trophic stimulus to induce sprouting from remaining dopaminergic nerve fibers in Parkinson’s disease, the preferential target to induce sprouting would be ventromedial striatum and growth would be guided toward dorsal striatum owing to the enhanced dopaminergic growth properties in the ventromedial areas.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 34
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Auditory cortical activation ; Speech ; Monaural stimulation ; Cerebral blood flow ; Positron emission tomography ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract To investigate how auditory input from each ear contributes to spoken language processing, cortical activation by monaural speech sound stimulation was examined in 12 normal subjects using15O-labeled water positron emission tomography. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured under four different sound stimulation conditions: (1) silence, (2) white noise, (3) sequential Japanese sentences (“speech”), and (4) Japanese sentences played backward (“reversed speech”), and the results were evaluated by statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Noise induced significant rCBF increase in the contralateral Heschl’s gyrus. Speech and reversed speech stimuli caused significant rCBF increase in the contralateral Heschl’s gyrus and the bilateral superior temporal gyri, with contralateral activation broader than that in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Monaurally input speech sound signals that reach the contralateral Heschl’s gyrus may be processed chiefly and phonologically in the surrounding superior temporal gyrus in the same hemisphere. Comparison of speech activation with reversed speech activation failed to demonstrate a significant difference, which made it difficult to identify the area for lexical and semantic processing.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 35
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 153-157 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Saccade ; Acceleration ; Eye ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The pattern of acceleration was recorded during horizontal saccadic eye movements using a lightweight accelerometer fixed to a scleral contact lens. Horizontal saccades of 15–20° were dominated by either several pulses of acceleration, with a frequency of around 40 Hz, or a single acceleration-deceleration wave followed by lower amplitude polyphasic activity of about 80 Hz. These features are unlikely to be due to slippage or resonance in the contact lens-accelerometer system, as very similar patterns of acceleration were simultaneously recorded with an accelerometer taped over the closed eyelid of the contralateral eye. Analysis of simultaneous surface electromyogram recordings indicated that the multicomponent acceleration profiles were the product, at least in part, of the rhythmic and synchronous modulation of eye muscle discharge during saccades.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 36
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 189-199 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Finger movements ; Movement sequences ; Kinematics ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Pianists were asked to play short excerpts from several pieces on an electronic keyboard. In each piece, there were two phrases whose first few notes were played identically with the right hand. Thereafter, the two phrases were played differently. The aim of the investigation was to ascertain whether or not hand and finger kinematics diverged prior to the depression of the last common note. Such a divergence would imply an anticipatory modification of sequential movements of the hand, akin to the phenomenon of coarticulation in speech. The lack of such a divergence would imply a strictly serial organization of movement sequences with one hand, as was found previously to be the case for typing. The time at which each key was depressed and released and the speed with which the key was depressed was recorded via a MIDI interface to a laboratory computer. The motion of the right wrist and of the fingers of the right hand was recorded optoelectronically. Piano playing can invoke anticipatory modifications of hand and finger kinematics. The time at which two patterns of movements diverged varied considerably from piece to piece. Playing an ascending scale with the requirement of a “thumb-under” maneuver could evoke an anticipatory modification as much as 500 ms in advance of the last common note. In another piece, keypresses appeared to be executed in a strict serial ordering and a third piece gave results intermediate between these two extremes. We interpret the results to suggest that a strict serial execution of a movement sequence is favored as long as this is compatible with the demands of the task.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 37
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Thalamus ; Sleep ; Calcium spike ; Bursting ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The firing patterns of thalamic neurons in mammals undergo a dramatic change as the animal's state changes between sleep and wakefulness. During sleep the normal tonic firing of thalamic neurons changes into a slower bursting mode characterized by repetitive activation of a low-threshold calcium (Ca2+) current. The present report describes the patterns of thalamic neuronal firing during sleep and wakefulness in one human patient. Extracellular single neuron activity was recorded during functional stereotactic surgery in the thalamus of a patient with chronic pain, who was observed to fall asleep during the recording. Evolutive power spectra of the thalamic slow wave were used in place of cortical encephalography to confirm the patient's states of sleep and wakefulness. Twenty-nine sites were observed in motor and somatosensory thalamus (Vop, Vim, and Vc) that were characterized by the presence of neurons with bursting activity when the patient was asleep. Such bursting was not observed in the patient when she was awakened. At 14 of these sites we were able to discriminate the bursting activity of single units. In each case the cell stopped firing or its bursting was replaced by a tonic firing pattern when the patient was awakened. In three cases the patient began to lapse back into sleep and the neuron resumed firing in a bursting pattern once again. None of these units had a peripheral receptive field (RF), while several other units recorded in nearby regions that did not fire in a bursting pattern during sleep had kinesthetic or cutaneous RFs. Analysis of the intraburst firing pattern revealed increasing interspike intervals (ISI) for successive action potentials in a burst and that the duration of the first ISI in the burst decreased as the number of ISIs increased. This pattern is similar to that reported to occur as a result of a calcium spike. These data have confirmed for the first time that state-dependent changes in thalamic firing exist in the human and that the physiological substrates at the thalamic level that are involved in human sleep are similar to those observed in animals.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 38
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Parkinson’s disease ; Motor learning ; Interlimb coordination ; Basal ganglia ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The basal ganglia have traditionally been associated with motor control functions and this view has prevailed since the late nineteenth century. Recent experimental studies suggest that this neuroanatomical system is also critically involved in motor learning. In the present study, motor learning/transfer capabilities were compared between patients with Parkinson’s disease and a group of normal elderly people. Subjects practiced a bimanual coordination task that required continuous flexion-extension movements in the transverse plane with a 90° phase offset between the forearms. During acquisition, augmented visual feedback of the relative motions was provided in real time. The findings revealed improvements in the bimanual coordination pattern across practice in both groups when the augmented concurrent feedback was present. However, when transferred to performance conditions in which the augmented information was withheld, performance deteriorated (relative to the augmented condition) and this effect was more prevalent in the Parkinson patients. More specifically, no improvement in interlimb coordination was observed under nonaugmented feedback conditions across practice. Instead, a drift toward the preferred in-phase and anti-phase coordination patterns was evident. The present findings suggest that Parkinson patients can improve their performance on a new motor task, but they remain strongly dependent on augmented visual information to guide these newly acquired movements. The apparent adoption of a closed-loop control mode is accompanied with decreases in movement speed in order to use the feedback to ensure accuracy. When the augmented feedback is withheld and the movement pattern is to be controlled by means of intrinsic information feedback sources, performance is severely hampered. The findings are hypothesized to indicate that learning/transfer is affected in Parkinson patients who apparently prefer some constancy in the environmental contingencies under which practice takes place. The present findings are consistent with the notion that the basal ganglia form a critical neuroanatomical substrate for motor learning.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 39
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 138-143 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Parkinson’s disease ; Neural transplantation ; Cell death ; Lazaroid ; Dopamine ; Free radicals ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We explored the effects of congeners of nitrogen monoxide (NO) on cultured mesencephalic neurons. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was used as a donor of NO, the congeners of which have been found to exert either neurotoxic or neuroprotive effects depending on the surrounding redox milieu. In contrast to a previous report that suggests that the nitrosonium ion (NO+) is neuroprotective to cultured cortical neurons, we found that the nitrosonium ion reduces the survival of cultured dopamine neurons to 32% of control. There was a trend for further impairment of dopamine neuron survival, to only 7% of untreated control, when the cultures were treated with SNP plus ascorbate, i.e. when the nitric oxide radical (NO) had presumably been formed. We also evaluated the effects of an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, the lazaroid U-83836E, against SNP toxicity. U-83836E exerted marked neuroprotective effects in both insult models. More than twice as many dopamine neurons (75% of control) survival when the lazaroid was added to SNP-treated cultures and the survival was increased eight-fold (to 55% of control) when U-83836E was added to cultures treated with SNP plus ascorbate. We conclude that the congeners of NO released by SNP are toxic to mesencephalic neurons in vitro and that the lazaroid U-83836E significantly increases the survival of dopamine neurons in situations where congeners of NO are generated.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 40
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 207-213 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Isometric finger force ; Sensorimotor integration ; Vibration ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The influence of afferent feedback on isometric fine force resolution was studied in humans. Subjects performed the smallest possible isometric flexion force increments with the index finger while visual, cutaneous, and muscle spindle feedback conditions were varied. In the control conditions with visual feedback, isometric force resolution was finest and independent of cutaneous or muscle spindle feedback. In the absence of visual cues, force resolution was significantly coarser. When agonist muscle spindles were vibrated (100 Hz and 150 Hz), fine force resolution capabilities declined further. Diminution of cutaneous feedback per se did not affect fine force resolution. However, the effect of agonist vibration was attenuated when full cutaneous feedback was available. We conclude that in voluntary isometric contractions the degree of fine force resolution depends on the type of afferent feedback available for calibrating central motor commands. Visual feedback is more powerful than spindle feedback, which is more efficient than cutaneous feedback. The extent to which the central motor command itself contributes to the sensation of force is indirectly implied by reproducible, yet coarser force resolution levels when peripheral information is minimized.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 41
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Antidiuretic hormone ; Osmotic stimulus ; Anteroventral third ventricular region ; Prostaglandins ; Meclofenamate ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study explored the roles of prostaglandins in the anteroventral third ventricular region, a cerebral osmoreceptor site, in the osmoregulation mechanism of vasopressin release. We injected (1 μl) prostaglandin E2 (12.8 nmol) or meclofenamate (78.3 nmol), an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis, into the brain region or the lateral cerebral ventricle of conscious rats, examining their effects on plasma vasopressin and its controlling factors in the presence or absence of an osmotic stimulus. The injection of prostaglandin E2 into the anteroventral third ventricular region augmented plasma vasopressin and arterial pressure after 5 min and 15 min, without influencing plasma osmolality, sodium, potassium, or chloride. In contrast, intraventricular injection of prostaglandin E2 did not cause any significant effect on those variables. The i.v. infusion (0.1 ml·kg−1·min−1) of hypertonic saline (2.5 mol/l) enhanced plasma vasopressin after 15 min and 30 min; this was accompanied by increased plasma osmolality, sodium, and chloride, and by unaltered or elevated arterial pressure. Meclofenamate given into the anteroventral third ventricular region 30 min before starting the hypertonic saline infusion abolished the osmotic vasopressin response without significantly changing the responses of the other variables. Histological analysis showed that the injection sites of meclofenamate in these rats were close to those of prostaglandin E2 in the anteroventral third ventricular region and included the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and the surrounding area, the medial preoptic area, and periventricular and median preoptic nuclei. When injection cannulae for meclofenamate deviated from those areas incidentally or when the drug was expressly administered into the cerebral ventricle, the osmotic vasopressin response was not inhibited. Plasma vasopressin and the other variables observed during the i.v. infusion of isotonic saline (0.15 mol/l) were not affected significantly by meclofenamate administration into the anteroventral third ventricular region or the cerebral ventricle. On the basis of these results, we concluded that prostaglandins synthesized in and/or near the anteroventral third ventricular region might contribute to the facilitation of vasopressin release in the hyperosmotic state.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 42
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 303-310 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Hippocampus ; Adenosine A1 receptor ; DPCPX ; Purines ; Membrane partitioning ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Despite its potent proconvulsant effects in vitro, the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX) does not induce seizures when administered in vivo. This contrasts with the effects of less selective adenosine antagonists such as theophylline or cyclopentlytheophylline, and led us to reexamine the nature of DPCPX-induced epileptiform activity. In the present study, we report that proconvulsant effects of bath-applied DPCPX in rat hippocampal slices are only observed after a preceding stimulus such as NMDA receptor activation or brief tetanic stimulation. While this may be due to the absence of a basal “purinergic tone”, the relatively high interstitial concentrations of adenosine present in the slice suggest that access of the drug to A1 receptors may instead be prevented by tightly coupled endogenous adenosine, with the ternary adenosine-A1 receptor-G protein complex stabilised in the high-affinity conformation by a coupling cofactor. This implies that a substantial percentage of adenosine A1 receptors are inactive under physiological conditions, but that access of adenosine A1 receptor antagonists may be facilitated under pathological conditions. Once induced, DPCPX-evoked spiking persists for long periods of time. A “kindling” effect of A1 receptor blockade is unlikely, since persistent spiking is not usually observed with less selective A1 antagonists even after prolonged application. Alternatively, endogenous adenosine released during increased neuronal activity may activate A2 receptors during selective A1 blockade. The most important factor determining the duration of DPCPX-induced spiking, however, may be a persistence of the drug in the tissue and subsequent access to the A1 receptor via a membrane-delineated pathway, since DPCPX-induced spiking could be shown to decrease markedly after a transient superfusion of theophylline. This hypothesis, which implies that the apparent affinity of adenosine antagonists for the A1 receptor is in part a function of their membrane partitioning coefficient, is supported by a close correlation between alkylxanthine logP values obtained from the literature and theirK i value at A1 receptors, but not at the enzyme phosphodiesterase, whose xanthine binding site is presented to the cytosol. The implications for the therapeutic value of purinergic drugs are discussed.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 43
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 343-352 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Memory ; Glutamate receptors ; GABA receptors ; Modulatory sites of NMDA receptors ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Effects of redox reagents on excitatory and inhibitory synaptic responses as well as on the bidirectional plasticity of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) andN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic responses were studied in CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices. The oxidizing agent 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB, 200 μM) did not affect AMPA, GABAA or GABAB receptor-mediated synaptic responses or the activation of presynaptic metabotropic receptors. However, DTNB irreversibly decreased (by approximately 50%) currents evoked by focal application of NMDA. DTNB also decreased the NMDA component of the EPSC. The reversal potential of NMDA currents and the Mg2+ block were not modified. In the presence of physiological concentrations of Mg2+ (1.3 mM), DTNB did not affect the NMDA receptor-dependent induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term depression (LTD) expressed by AMPA receptors. In contrast, DTNB fully prevented LTP and LTD induced and expressed by NMDA receptors. Plasticity of NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic responses could be reinstated by the reducing agenttris-(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP, 200 μM). These results suggest that persistent, bidirectional changes in synaptic currents mediated by NMDA receptors cannot be evoked when these receptors are in an oxidized state, whereas NMDA-dependent LTP and LTD are still expressed by AMPA receptors. Our observations raise the possibility of developing therapeutic agents that would prevent persistent excitotoxic enhancement of NMDA receptor-mediated events without blocking long-term modifications of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic responses, thought to underlie memory processes.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 44
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 454-460 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Glutamate receptors ; Calbindin ; Colocalization ; Immunocytochemistry ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The lateral septum receives a massive innervation by excitatory amino acid-containing limbic cortical and hypothalamic afferents, and previous studies have described a wide distribution of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor-containing neurons in this area. The aim of this study was to determine whether different subtypes of AMPA receptors are expressed in the same neurons. Furthermore, considering the fact that a population of lateral septal cells, the ”somatospiny neurons,” are GABAergic calbindin-containing cells, the coexistence of each subtype of AMPA receptor with calbindin was also investigated. Colocalization experiments were performed on adjacent vibratome sections of the lateral septal area for GluR1 and GluR2/3 AMPA-receptor subunits, GluR1 and calbindin, GluR2/3 and calbindin, as well as GluR1 plus calbindin and GluR2/3 plus calbindin, using the ”mirror” colocalization technique. The results are summarized as follows: (1) GluR1 is present in the soma and most intensively expressed in dendrites and somatic and dendritic spines; while GluR2/3 is associated with the soma and proximal dendrites of the neurons. (2) Forty-one percent of the AMPA receptor-containing neurons cocontain GluR1 and GluR2/3. (3) Thirty-eight percent of GluR1- and 28% of GluR2/3-labeled cells express calbindin. (4) Sixty-two percent of the calbindin-immunoreactive neurons contain GluR1 and 51% of them express GluR2/3. (5) Half of the neurons expressing both GluR1 and GluR2/3 also contain calbindin. (6) The distribution of GluR1 plus GluR2/3-containing, GluR1 plus calbindin-containing, and GluR2/3 plus calbindin-containing neurons in the lateral septum are homogeneous. This study indicates the existence of multiple populations of AMPA receptor- and calbindin-containing neurons in the lateral septal area.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 45
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 483-491 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words CNS injury ; Adult ganglion cells ; Regeneration ; Visual function ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The mechanisms of neuronal network response to axotomy are poorly understood. In one of the favoured models used to study the fate of injured neurons in the adult rat visual system, appreciable numbers of retinal neurons survive optic nerve injury under conditions of microglia-targeted neuroprotection. Rescued neurons can regenerate their axons and become target-dependently stabilised after reconnection with their natural visual centres by means of a peripheral nerve graft, which, in addition to guidance, actively supports axonal growth. The mechanisms that control regenerative axonal growth and resynaptogenesis include coordinated cell-cell interactions between growing neurites and target cells in order to establish a meaningful reconnectivity. Here the function of the regenerating visual circuitry was first studied by monitoring the ability of animals to discriminate spatial patterns, and second by recording visual evoked cortical potentials (VEPs) in the same animals. These functions were correlated with neuroanatomical studies of the retinotopic organisation of regenerating axons. To achieve these goals, adult rats were behaviourally trained in a Y-maze to discriminate between vertical and horizontal stripes. Both optic nerves were transected, and the regenerating axons of one optic nerve were guided into the area of optic tract with a peripheral nerve graft according to the protocols of neuroprotection and simultaneous grafting, in order to enable large numbers of axons to reinnervate the major visual targets in the midbrain and thalamus. Postoperative testing of the animals showed a marked improvement of visual perception and behaviour. The VEPs of the same animals were measurable indicating a restoration of the visual circuitry including the ascending corticopedal connections. Neuroanatomical assessment of the fibre topography within the graft and the area of termination revealed a rough topographic organisation that may account for restoration of the function. These results suggest that interrupted central pathways can be functionally reconnected by providing a neuroprotective environment in combination with peripheral nerve grafts to by-pass lesions.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 46
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Tremor ; Electromyogram ; Muscle vibration ; Frequency analysis ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The output from the central nervous system to muscles may be rhythmic in nature. Previous recordings investigating peripheral manifestations of such rhythmic activity are conflicting. This study attempts to resolve these conflicts by employing a novel arrangement to measure and correlate rhythms in tremor, electromyographic (EMG) activity and muscle vibration sounds during steady index finger abduction. An elastic attachment of the index finger to a strain gauge allowed a strong but relatively unfixed abducting contraction of the first dorsal interosseous (1DI). An accelerometer attached to the end of the finger recorded tremor, surface electrodes over 1DI recorded EMG signals and a heart-sounds monitor placed over 1DI recorded vibration. This arrangement enabled maintenance of a constant overall muscle contraction strength while still allowing measurement of the occurrence of tremulous movements of the finger. Ten normal subjects were studied with the index finger first extended at rest and then contracting 1DI to abduct the index finger against three different steady forces up to 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Power spectral analysis of tremor, EMG activity and muscle vibration signals each revealed three frequency peaks occurring together at around 10 Hz, 20 Hz and 40 Hz. Coherence analysis showed that the same three peaks were present in the three signals. Phase analysis indicated a fixed time lag of tremor behind EMG of around 6.5 ms. This is compared with previous measurements of electromechanical delay. Other experiments indicated that the three peaks were of central nervous origin. Introducing mechanical perturbations or extra loading to the finger and making recordings under partial anaesthesia of the hand and forearm demonstrated preservation of all the peaks, suggesting that they did not originate from mechanical resonances or peripheral feedback loop resonances. It is concluded that, at least for a small hand muscle, there exist not one but a number of separate peak frequencies of oscillation during active contraction, and that these oscillations reflect synchronization of motor units at frequencies determined within the central nervous system. It is proposed that the multiple oscillations may be a means of frequency coding of motor commands.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 47
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Non-monosynaptic group I excitation ; Group II excitation ; Spinal reflexes ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Non-monosynaptic group I and group II excitation of human lower limb motoneurones was investigated. Changes in the firing probability of individual voluntarily activated motor units belonging to various muscles (soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, tibialis anterior, peroneus brevis, quadriceps and biceps femoris) were investigated after stimulation of various nerves (posterior tibial, common peroneal and femoral nerves) with weak (0.4–0.6×motor threshold) electrical stimuli. In all investigated motor nuclei, stimulation of the ”homonymous” nerve evoked a peak of increased firing probability with a latency that was 3–7 ms longer than the monosynaptic Ia latency. The more caudal the motor nucleus explored, the greater the central delay. This strongly suggests a transmission through neurones located above the lumbar enlargement. If one excepts the sural-induced excitation of peroneus brevis units, which seems to be mediated through a particular pathway, the main peripheral input to neurones mediating non-monosynaptic excitation evoked by these weak stimuli is group I in origin. The pattern of distribution of non-monosynaptic group I excitation was very diffuse, since stimulation of each nerve was able to evoke excitation in all investigated nuclei. In most cases, non-monosynaptic excitation evoked in a given motor unit by stimulation of one nerve was depressed on combined stimulation of two nerves, and evidence is presented that this lateral inhibition is exerted at a premotoneuronal level. By contrast, there was no evidence that increasing the afferent input in a given pathway evokes an ”autogenetic” inhibition in this pathway. The negative correlation found between non-monosynaptic group I-induced and late group II-induced facilitation of the quadriceps H-reflex when using high stimulus intensities applied on the common peroneal nerve suggests that these two effects could be mediated through common interneurones.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 48
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 115 (1997), S. 25-34 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Reaction time ; Saccadic latency ; Saccadic eye movement ; Ocular motor system ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Recent neurophysiological studies of the saccadic ocular motor system have lent support to the hypothesis that this system uses a motor error signal in retinotopic coordinates to direct saccades to both visual and auditory targets. With visual targets, the coordinates of the sensory and motor error signals will be identical unless the eyes move between the time of target presentation and the time of saccade onset. However, targets from other modalities must undergo different sensory-motor transformations to access the same motor error map. Because auditory targets are initially localized in head-centered coordinates, analyzing the metrics of saccades from different starting positions allows a determination of whether the coordinates of the motor signals are those of the sensory system. We studied six human subjects who made saccades to visual or auditory targets from a central fixation point or from one at 10° to the right or left of the midline of the head. Although the latencies of saccades to visual targets increased as stimulus eccentricity increased, the latencies of saccades to auditory targets decreased as stimulus eccentricity increased. The longest auditory latencies were for the smallest values of motor error (the difference between target position and fixation eye position) or desired saccade size, regardless of the position of the auditory target relative to the head or the amplitude of the executed saccade. Similarly, differences in initial eye position did not affect the accuracy of saccades of the same desired size. When saccadic error was plotted as a function of motor error, the curves obtained at the different fixation positions overlapped completely. Thus, saccadic programs in the central nervous system compensated for eye position regardless of the modality of the saccade target, supporting the hypothesis that the saccadic ocular motor system uses motor error signals to direct saccades to auditory targets.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 49
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Perinatal asphyxia ; Apoptosis ; Necrosis ; Hematoxylin-eosin ; DNA fragmentation ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The consequences of perinatal asphyxia on the rat brain were studied 80 min to 8 days after birth with hematoxylin-eosin and in situ DNA double-strand-breaks labeling histochemistry. Asphyxia was induced by immersing fetus-containing uterus horns, removed from ready-to-deliver Sprague-Dawley rats, in a water bath at 37°C for various time periods (0–22 min). Spontaneous- and cesarean-delivered pups were used as controls. Perinatal asphyxia led to a decrease in the rate of survival, depending upon the length of the insult. No gross morphological changes could be seen in the brain of either control or asphyctic pups at any of the studied time points after delivery. However, in all groups, nuclear chromatin fragmentation, corresponding to in situ detection of DNA fragmentation, was observed at different stages. Nuclear fragmentation in control pups showed a specific distribution that appeared to be related to brain maturation, thus indicating programmed cell death. A progressive and delayed increase in nuclear fragmentation was found in asphyctic pups, which was dependent upon the length of the perinatal insult. The most evident effect was seen in frontal cortex, striatum, and cerebellum at postnatal day 8, although changes were also found in ventral-posterior thalamus, at days 1 and 2. Thus, nuclear chromatin fragmentation in asphyctic pups indicates a delayed post-asphyctic neuronal death. The absence of signs of inflammation or necrosis suggests that delayed neuronal cell death following perinatal asphyxia is an active, apoptosis-like phenomenon.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 50
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 115 (1997), S. 137-146 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Arm aiming movements ; Fitts’ law ; Context dependency ; Sequential action ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Arm movements in the horizontal plane consisting of two segments were examined to determine whether the difficulty of the second segment influenced the kinematic characteristics of the first segment. The direction of the first segment was an elbow extension movement away from the trunk and remained constant throughout the experiment. The direction of the second segment varied between forearm extension and flexion movements. Based on Fitts’ law, two different indexes of difficulty (ID) of the second segment were utilized by changing target size and movement amplitude. The effects of changing ID were examined for two different movement amplitudes. All movements were single-joint movements employing elbow flexion/extension and were recorded by an x-y digitizer. Variations in the ID of the second segment produced context-dependent kinematic changes in the performance of the initial segment. Movement duration increased when the ID was increased by reducing target size for both extension-extension sequence and extension-flexion sequences. Peak velocity also decreased for higher ID targets in the extension-flexion sequence. However, there was an interaction between the ID and movement amplitude in the extension-flexion sequence. In this sequence the duration of movement for the high ID/large movement amplitude condition increased substantially compared with the low ID/small movement amplitude condition. In addition, changing ID of the second segment influenced the time between the two segments (intersegment interval) in the extension-flexion sequence. Collectively, these data suggest that the planning of complex movements is based in part on the accuracy demands of multiple segments of the sequence.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 51
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Sensorimotor control ; Centripetal gating ; Tibial nerve ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Attenuation of initial somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) gain becomes more pronounced with increased rates of movement. Manipulation of the range of movement also might alter the SEP gain. It could alter joint receptor discharge; it should alter the discharge of muscle stretch receptors. We hypothesized that: (1) SEP gain reduction correlates with both the range and the rate of movement, and (2) manipulation of range and rate of movement to achieve similar estimated rates of stretch of a leg extensor muscle group (the vasti) results in similar decreases in SEP gain. SEPs from Cz’, referenced to Fpz’ (2 cm caudal to Cz and Fpz, respectively, according to the International 10–20 System), along with soleus H-reflexes were elicited by electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve at the popliteal fossa. Stable magnitudes of small M-waves indicated stability of stimulation. A modified cycle ergometer with an adjustable pedal crank and electric motor was used to passively rotate the right leg over three ranges (producing estimated vasti stretch of 12, 24 and 48 mm) and four rates (0, 20, 40 and 80 rpm) of movement. Two experiments were conducted. Ranges and rates of pedalling movement were combined to produce two or three equivalent estimated rates of tissue stretch of the vasti muscles at each of 4, 16, 32 and 64 mm/s. Tibial nerve stimuli were delivered when the knee was moved through its most flexed position and the hip was nearing its most flexed position. Means of SEP, H-reflex and M-wave magnitudes were tested for rate and range effects (ANOVA). A priori contrasts compared means produced by equivalent estimated rates of vasti stretch. Increasing the rate of movement significantly increased the attenuation of SEP and H-reflex gain (P〈0.05). Increasing the range of movement also significantly increased these gain attenuations (P〈0.05). Combining these to achieve equivalent rates of stretch, through different combinations of rate and range, resulted in equivalent depressions of SEP gain. H-reflex gains were similarly conditioned. These results suggest that muscle stretch receptors play a more important role than joint or cutaneous receptors in regulating SEP gain consequent to movement. We note that the present calculation only considers the knee extensors; however, the biomechanical model of stretch applies also to receptors in the hip extensors. This paper and the companion one show that primary factors in the kinaesthetic components of the movement regulate activity-induced gain attenuation of SEPs.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 52
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 115 (1997), S. 129-136 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Fos-like immunoreactivity ; Middle cerebral artery ; Focal cerebral ischaemia ; Spinal cord neurons ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  This study examined c-fos protein expression in the brain and spinal cord of rats following permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) above the rhinal fissure. At 1 h after right-sided MCA occlusion, Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) was detected in neurons not only in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex but also in the spinal cord. In the latter, Fos-LI was localized in the nucleus and perikarya of neurons in the grey matter, notably the large motor neurons in the ventral horn. Fos-LI was most intense at 2–4 h, but became undetectable after 48 h in the cerebral cortex and 72 h in the spinal cord. In sham-operated animals, Fos-LI was almost undetectable or virtually absent. It was also not detected in the core territory supplied by the MCA at any time points after arterial occlusion. When the ischaemia-induced neuronal damage in both the cerebral cortex and spinal cord was evaluated by Nissl staining, some neurons appeared atrophic. We conclude that the induction of Fos-LI in neurons of the cerebral cortex and spinal cord is linked respectively to early onset–short stimulation and persistent excitatory or disinhibition phenomenon as a result of focal ischaemic brain injury.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 53
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Monosynaptic reflex ; Muscle afferents ; Motor unit ; Thumb ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The human thumb is controlled by a muscle, flexor pollicis longus (FPL), that is unique among mammals and contributes to manual dexterity. The present study sought to define whether the spinal reflex circuitry for this muscle differed from that for an adjacent muscle (flexor carpi radialis, FCR). In peri-stimulus time histograms, short-latency, largely monosynaptic excitation produced by median nerve stimulation was significantly less frequent and significantly smaller for FPL motor units than FCR motor units. Thus the motoneurone pools of adjacent muscles differ in their spinal reflex accessibility. The reflex control of FPL may thus be achieved by supraspinal pathways rather than the traditional monosynaptic arc.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 54
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Intersensory coordination ; Vision ; Proprioception ; Reaching movements ; Motor control ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  It is now well established that the accuracy of pointing movements to visual targets is worse in the full open loop condition (FOL; the hand is never visible) than in the static closed loop condition (SCL; the hand is only visible in static position prior to movement onset). In order to account for this result, it is generally admitted that viewing the hand in static position (SCL) improves the movement planning process by allowing a better encoding of the initial state of the motor apparatus. Interestingly, this wide-spread interpretation has recently been challenged by several studies suggesting that the effect of viewing the upper limb at rest might be explained in terms of the simultaneous vision of the hand and target. This result is supported by recent studies showing that goal-directed movements involve different types of planning (egocentric versus allocentric) depending on whether the hand and target are seen simultaneously or not before movement onset. The main aim of the present study was to test whether or not the accuracy improvement observed when the hand is visible before movement onset is related, at least partially, to a better encoding of the initial state of the upper limb. To address this question, we studied experimental conditions in which subjects were instructed to point with their right index finger toward their unseen left index finger. In that situation (proprioceptive pointing), the hand and target are never visible simultaneously and an improvement of movement accuracy in SCL, with respect to FOL, may only be explained by a better encoding of the initial state of the moving limb when vision is present. The results of this experiment showed that both the systematic and the variable errors were significantly lower in the SCL than in the FOL condition. This suggests: (1) that the effect of viewing the static hand prior to motion does not only depend on the simultaneous vision of the goal and the effector during movement planning; (2) that knowledge of the initial upper limb configuration or position is necessary to accurately plan goal-directed movements; (3) that static proprioceptive receptors are partially ineffective in providing an accurate estimate of the limb posture, and/or hand location relative to the body; and (4) that static visual information significantly improves the representation provided by the static proprioceptive channel.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 55
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 115 (1997), S. 333-344 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Antisaccades ; Schizophrenia ; Family study ; Bipolar affective disorder ; Obsessive-compulsive disorder ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  This series of studies evaluated (1) hypotheses that poor antisaccade performance is attributable to confounding variables (e.g., visual attention deficits, incomplete understanding of task demands) and (2) the specificity of poor antisaccade performance to schizophrenia. In addition to self-correcting errors before being cued to do so, schizophrenia patients also showed the expected saccadic reaction time changes to fixation condition manipulations: decreased latencies for gap and increased latencies for overlap trials. These data suggest that schizophrenia patients are adequately engaged in and understand the antisaccade task. Schizophrenia patients made fewer correct antisaccade responses than other psychiatric patients (obsessive-compulsive and bipolar disorder) and normal subjects. The first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients also generated a decreased proportion of correct antisaccade responses compared with normal subjects. For schizophrenia patients who performed below the range of normal subjects, 26% of their relatives also performed below the normal range. Conversely, patients who performed normally did not have a single poor-performing relative. These data suggest that increased antisaccade error rates may index a liability for schizophrenia within a subset of families.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 56
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 115 (1997), S. 469-478 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Reaching movements ; Direction ; Extent ; Amplitude ; Variable errors ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Invariant patterns in the distribution of the endpoints of reaching movements have been used to suggest that two important movement parameters of reaching movements, direction and extent, are planned by two independent processing channels. This study examined this hypothesis by testing the effect of task conditions on variable errors of direction and extent of reaching movements. Subjects made reaching movements to 25 target locations in a horizontal workspace, in two main task conditions. In task 1, subjects looked directly at the target location on the horizontal workspace before closing their eyes and pointing to it. In task 2, arm movements were made to the same target locations in the same horizontal workspace, but target location was displayed on a vertical screen in front of the subjects. For both tasks, variable errors of movement extent (on-axis error) were greater than for movement direction (off-axis error). As a result, the spatial distributions of endpoints about a given target usually formed an ellipse, with the principal axis oriented in the mean movement direction. Also, both on- and off-axis errors increased with movement amplitude. However, the magnitude of errors, especially on-axis errors, scaled differently with movement amplitude in the two task conditions. This suggests that variable errors of direction and extent can be modified independently by changing the nature of the sensorimotor transformations required to plan the movements. This finding is further evidence that the direction and extent of reaching movements appear to be controlled independently by the motor system.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 57
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Ménière’s disease ; Unilateral vestibular neurotomy ; Static posture ; Postural recovery ; Sensory strategies ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Vestibular inputs tonically activate the antigravitative leg muscles during normal standing in humans, and visual information and proprioceptive inputs from the legs are very sensitive sensory loops for body sway control. This study investigated the postural control in a homogeneous population of 50 unilateral vestibular-deficient patients (Ménière’s disease patients). It analyzed the postural deficits of the patients before and after surgical treatment (unilateral vestibular neurotomy) of their diseases and it focused on the visual contribution to the fine regulation of body sway. Static posturographic recordings on a stable force-plate were done with patients with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). Body sway and visual stabilization of posture were evaluated by computing sway area with and without vision and by calculating the percentage difference of sway between EC and EO conditions. Ménière’s patients were examined when asymptomatic, 1 day before unilateral vestibular neurotomy, and during the time-course of recovery (1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year). Data from the patients were compared with those recorded in 26 healthy, age- and sex-matched participants. Patients before neurotomy exhibited significantly greater sway area than controls with both EO (+52%) and EC (+93%). Healthy participants and Ménière’s patients, however, displayed two different behaviors with EC. In both populations, 54% of the subjects significantly increased their body sway upon eye closure, whereas 46% exhibited no change or significantly swayed less without vision. This was statistically confirmed by the cluster analysis, which clearly split the controls and the patients into two well-identified subgroups, relying heavily on vision (visual strategy, V) or not (non-visual strategy, NV). The percentage difference of sway averaged +36.7%±10.9% and –6.2%±16.5% for the V and NV controls, respectively; +45.9%±16.8% and –4.2%±14.9% for the V and NV patients, respectively. These two distinct V and NV strategies seemed consistent over time in individual subjects. Body sway area was strongly increased in all patients with EO early after neurotomy (1 and 2 weeks) and regained preoperative values later on. In contrast, sway area as well as the percentage difference of sway were differently modified in the two subgroups of patients with EC during the early stage of recovery. The NV patients swayed more, whereas the V patients swayed less without vision. This surprising finding, indicating that patients switched strategies with respect to their preoperative behavior, was consistently observed in 45 out of the 50 Ménière’s patients during the whole postoperative period, up to 1 year. We concluded that there is a differential weighting of visual inputs for the fine regulation of posture in both healthy participants and Ménière’s patients before surgical treatment. This differential weighting was correlated neither with age or sex factors, nor with the clinical variables at our disposal in the patients. It can be accounted for by a different selection of sensory orientation references depending on the personal experience of the subjects, leading to a more or less heavy dependence on vision. The change of sensory strategy in the patients who had undergone neurotomy might reflect a reweighting of the visual and somatosensory cues controlling balance. Switching strategy by means of a new sensory selection of orientation references may be a fast adaptive response to the lesion-induced postural instability.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 58
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Nerve growth factor ; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor ; Locomotion ; Nicotinic receptor ; Intracerebroventricular administration ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The acute and subacute effects of intracerebroventricularly (ICV) administered nerve growth factor (NGF) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on locomotor activity were evaluated in awake adult rats. Immediately after ICV injection through an implanted cannula, locomotor activity was measured by a computerized system using infrared photocells, which allowed us to record locomotion, motility, and rearing simultaneously. A single dose of 5 μg mouse β-NGF produced significant increases in horizontal ambulatory components of locomotor activity (locomotion and motility), but not vertical movement (rearing) 30–45 min after ICV administration. These increases lasted for at least 3–4 h. Systemic injection of 2.0 mg/kg mecamylamine, a central nicotinic receptor antagonist, inhibited the hyperactivity induced by NGF. Systemic injection of 0.5 mg/kg scopolamine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, did not interfere with the NGF effects. Thus, while scopolamine induced marked increases in all three measures of behavior in both NGF and cytochrome-c-treated animals, locomotion and motility remained significantly higher in the NGF group. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that NGF diffused readily from the ventricular space into brain parenchyma on the injected side and could be visualized 1 h after ICV injection. These results suggest that ICV administration of NGF increases locomotor activity by inducing acetylcholine release, and that nicotinic receptors are involved in the hyperactivity induced by NGF. ICV administration of 5 μg recombinant human BDNF had no significant effect on locomotor activity during the 0- to 4-h period after ICV injection. However, it produced significant decreases in locomotion, motility, and rearing 24–26 h later. Hence ICV administration of BDNF has entirely different effects on animal behavior from those evoked by NGF. While NGF elicits increases in ambulatory behavior within hours, BDNF causes delayed decreases in ambulatory behavior.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 59
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 116 (1997), S. 351-358 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Monosynaptic Ia pathway ; Spinal reflexes ; Spinal cord ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Short-latency excitatory Ia reflex connections were determined between pairs of human wrist flexor and extensor muscles. Spindle Ia afferents were stimulated by either tendon tap or electrical stimulation. The activity of voluntarily activated single motor units was recorded intramuscularly from pairs of wrist flexor or extensor muscles. Cross-correlation between stimuli and the discharge of the motor units provided a measure of the homonymous or heteronymous excitatory input to a motoneurone. Homonymous motoneurone facilitation was generally stronger than that of the heteronymous motoneurones. The principal wrist flexors, flexor carpi radialis (FCR) and flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), were tightly connected through a bidirectional short-latency reflex pathway. In contrast, the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) and the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) did not have similar connections. ECU motoneurones received no short-latency excitatory Ia input from the ECR. ECR motoneurones did receive excitatory Ia input from ECU Ia afferents; however, its latency was delayed by several milliseconds compared with other heteronymous Ia excitatory effects observed. The wrist and finger extensors were linked through heteronymous Ia excitatory reflexes. The reflex connections observed in humans are largely similar to those observed in the cat, with the exception of heteronymous effects from the ECU to the ECR and from the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) to the ECU, which are present only in humans. The differences in the reflex organization of the wrist flexors versus the extensors probably reflects the importance of grasping.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 60
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words H-reflex depression ; Homosynaptic depression ; Presynaptic inhibition ; Spinal cord ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The H-reflex is depressed for seconds if elicited following a single H-reflex or train of H-reflexes. Presynaptic inhibition from flexor afferents (tibialis anterior) onto soleus Ia afferents elicited by either single or trains of stimuli had no effect on the soleus H-reflex on a time scale of seconds. Postsynaptic inhibition was also excluded by magnetic stimulation tests that showed that the excitability of the motoneuron pool was not changed at latencies within a range of seconds. Homosynaptic depression localized at the presynaptic terminal seems to be the mechanism behind the H-reflex depression in humans.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 61
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Dihydrokainate ; Kainate ; Hippocampal cell death ; MAP2 immunocytochemistry ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Neurotoxicity mediated by glutamate is thought to play a role in neurodegenerative disorders, and alterations in cytoskeletal proteins are possibly involved in the mechanisms of neuronal death occurring in Alzheimer’s disease. In the present work we studied the neurotoxic effects of the intrahippocampal injections of the glutamate transport inhibitor dihydrokainate as compared to those of kainate, as well as the concomitant changes in the microtubule-associated protein MAP2. Neuronal alterations were assessed at 3, 12, 24, and 48 h by Nissl staining and immunocytochemistry of MAP2. At 3 h, both compounds induced neuronal damage that was correlated with loss of dendritic MAP2 immunoreactivity. Neuronal damage was more evident at 12 h and 24 h after drug injection, and at these times an accumulation of MAP2 in the somata of pyramidal neurons was observed. The effects of dihydrokainate were restricted to the CA1 region and totally prevented by the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801), but not by the non-NMDA receptor antagonist 2,3-dihydro-6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl-benzo(f)-quinoxaline (NBQX). In contrast, kainate-induced alterations included CA1, CA3, and CA4 subfields, and the changes in CA1 were prevented by NBQX, while MK-801 was ineffective. These results suggest that early MAP2 disruption may be a marker of the excitotoxicity due to activation of different glutamate receptors located in discrete hippocampal regions.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 62
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 116 (1997), S. 485-492 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Coordinate system ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The purpose of these experiments was to investigate whether visual perceptions of the earth-fixed vertical axis are more accurate than those of intrinsic body-fixed axes. In one experiment, nine neurologically normal young adult subjects’ abilities to position a luminescent rod vertically or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head or trunk were studied in four conditions: (1) earth-fixed – subjects stood erect with the head aligned to the trunk and visually aligned a hand-held rod to vertical; (2) earth – subjects aligned the rod to vertical as in 1, but the orientations of the head and trunk were varied in the sagittal and frontal planes on each trial; (3) head – frontal and/or sagittal plane orientation of the subject’s head was varied on each trial and the rod was aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head; (4) trunk – frontal and/or sagittal plane orientation of the subject’s trunk was varied on each trial and the rod was aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trunk. Note that in conditions 2, 3, and 4 the head and trunk were never aligned with each other. Also, each condition was carried out in normal light and in complete darkness. Perceptual errors were measured in both the frontal and the sagittal planes. The results showed that the variable errors were significantly lower when subjects aligned the rod to vertical rather than to the longitudinal axis of the head or trunk. Also, errors were similar in size in the two planes and were unaffected by vision of the surrounding environment. In a second experiment, subjects were seated and controlled the position of a luminescent rod held by a robot. They aligned the rod either to the longitudinal axis of their head or to the vertical in complete darkness, under three conditions similar to those described above: (1) earth-fixed, (2) earth, and (3) head. There was no possibility of use of kinesthetic information for controlling rod position in this experiment as in the first experiment. The results were similar to those of the first experiment, as subjects aligned the rod more accurately to vertical than to the longitudinal axis of the head. These results show convincingly that visual perceptions of earth-fixed vertical are more accurate than perceptions of intrinsic axes fixed to the head or trunk.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 63
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words “Central pain” ; Picrotoxin ; Epilepsy ; Acetylcholine ; Cortex ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In this study, we examined the modulation by acetylcholine of electrocorticographical (ECoG) ictal events and spontaneous pain-like behaviors following cortical application of the GABAA antagonist picrotoxin in the awake rat. Distilled water as vehicle, the cholinomimetic substance eserine, and the general muscarinic antagonist atropine were microinjected 10 min before the second microinjection of 2 μg picrotoxin into the hind paw region of the somatomotor cortex (SmI). Under these conditions, we observed that eserine (physostigmine, 1 μg, 10 μg, and 20 μg) did not consistently modify the number of the picrotoxin-induced ECoG spikes and bursts, but instead produced a massive enhancement of the number of hind paw licks compared with vehicle at 10 μg and, to a lesser extent, the number of the stereotyped “turn-in” and “neglected” paws following picrotoxin. In contrast, atropine (l μg, 10 μg, and 20 μg) increased the number of the picrotoxin-induced spikes and bursts at 10 μg and, at all doses, decreased the number of the picrotoxin-induced pain-like symptoms. Statistically significant changes for the number of paw lifts, licks, and “turn-in” paws were observed only with 10 μg. These results tend to show that epilepsy and pain are not strictly related to each other and also emphasize the cortex as a target for interactions between GABA and acetylcholine relative to “central” pain.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 64
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Hippocampus ; Commissural fibers ; Reactive sprouting ; Synaptogenesis ; Synaptophysin ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Expression of the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin was studied in lesion-induced sprouting neurons of the contralateral entorhinal cortex and in the contralateral dentate gyrus using immunocytochemistry at the light- and electron-microscopic level. Perikaryal immunoreactivity for synaptophysin was found between 8 and 10 days postlesion. Light microscopy revealed that synaptophysin immunostaining was present in almost all neurons of layers II and III of the contralateral medial entorhinal cortex. These neurons give rise to the sprouting, crossed temporodentate pathway. In addition, some hilar neurons of the contralateral dentate gyrus, which are the parent cells of sprouting commissural fibers, were immunostained for synaptophysin. Transient immunostaining for synaptophysin was observed within cell bodies and dendrites. Additionally, the cell bodies were outlined by immunoreactive puncta, identified by electron microscopy as nerve terminals. Our results revealed that sprouting neurons express the major synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin during reactive synaptogenesis in a pattern that reflects biosynthesis and sorting of this protein as seen in developing neurons during synapse formation.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 65
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 117 (1997), S. 87-96 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Magnetic stimulation ; Resetting ; Motor cortex ; Rhythmical movement ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  We studied the effects of changes in loading torque on the effectiveness of magnetic cortical stimulation in evoking phase resetting of voluntary wrist movement. Nine normal subjects were studied (five on two occasions), while making rhythmical movements of the right wrist, at their preferred rate, against extension torque loads of 0.35 Nm, 0.26 Nm and 0.18 Nm, flexion torque loads of 0.09 Nm and 0.18 Nm and without external load. The position records of individual trials were used to measure the effectiveness of resetting (resetting index: the slope of the phase-response curve) and the ”null phase”, the phase to which the trials were being reset. The loading torque had a strong influence upon both the resetting index and the null phase, generated by a constant intensity of cortical stimulation such that the largest resetting indices were obtained for movements made against the largest extension torque load (mean resetting index 0.72). The degree of resetting and null phase were related to the mean amplitude and direction of the first poststimulus position peak, which in turn was largely determined by the twitch induced by the cortical shock. The timings of the averaged poststimulus position peaks following the first were simple multiples of the prestimulus movement period. Our results indicate that loading conditions profoundly influence the effectiveness of magnetic cortical stimulation in resetting a voluntary movement and that these effects appear to be largely explicable by the changes in the muscle twitch evoked by the stimulus with the different loads. We suggest that the magnetic shock is therefore unlikely to reset voluntary movement by an action directly upon the motor programme. We propose that the main method by which magnetic cortical stimulation resets repetitive wrist movement is indirect: normal generation of repetitive wrist flexion and extension is disrupted by the cortical shock, following which afferent information related to the twitch induced is able to reset the movement.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 66
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 117 (1997), S. 148-152 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Pointing ; On-line control ; Inverse kinematics ; Double-step stimulation ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The human arm is kinematically redundant, which may allow flexibility in the execution of reaching movements. We have compared reaching movements with and without kinematic redundancy to unpredictable double-step targets. Subjects sat in front of a digitising tablet and were able to view an arc of four targets reflected in the mirror as virtual images in the plane of the tablet. They were instructed to move, from a central starting point, in as straight a line as possible to a target. In one-third of trials, the target light switched to one of its neighbours during the movement. Subjects made 60 movements using shoulder, elbow and wrist and then another 60 movements in which only shoulder and elbow movement were allowed. By restraining the wrist, the limb was made non-redundant. The path length was calculated for each movement. In single-step trials, there was no significant difference between path lengths performed with and without wrist restraint. As expected there was a significant increase in path length during double-step trials. Moreover this increase was significantly greater when the wrist was restrained. The variability across both single- and double-step movements was significantly less while the wrist was restrained. Importantly the performance time of the movements did not alter significantly for single-step, double-step or restrained movements. These results suggest that the nervous system exploits the intrinsic redundancy of the limb when controlling voluntary movements and is therefore more effective at reprogramming movements to double-step targets.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 67
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Pain ; Capsaicin ; Cerebral blood flow ; Positron emission tomography ; Somatotopic organization ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Regional cerebral blood flow was measured with positron emission tomography (PET) in six healthy volunteers at rest and during experimentally induced, sustained cutaneous pain on the dorsum of the right hand or on the dorsum of the right foot. Pain was inflicted by intracutaneous injection of capsaicin, providing a mainly C-fibre nociceptive stimulus. Statistical analysis showed significant activations along the central sulcus (SI) area when comparing pain in the hand to pain in the foot. Separate comparison of both pain states to a baseline revealed different locations along the central sulcus for hand pain and foot pain. The encountered differences are consistent with what is previously known about the somatotopics of non-painful stimuli. When comparing painful stimuli to baseline, the contralateral anterior cingulate gyrus, the ipsilateral anterior insular cortex and the ipsilateral prefrontal cortex were implicated. The results are consistent with an involvement of SI in the spatial discrimination of acute cutaneous pain.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 68
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Urinary bladder ; Inflammation ; Mesodiencephalon ; Immunocytochemistry ; Rest-active cycle ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The evoked expression of the immediate-early gene-encoded proteins c-Fos and Krox-24 was used to study activation of mesodiencephalic structures as a function of the development of cyclophosphamide (CP) cystitis in behaving rats. This article is the third of a series and completes previously published data obtained at both spinal and hindbrain levels. CP-injected animals received a single dose of 100 mg/kg i.p under transient volatile anesthesia and survived for 1–4 h in order to cover the entire postinjection period during which the disease develops. Survival times longer than 4 h were not used owing to ethical considerations. Results from CP-injected groups are compared with those from either noninjected controls or saline-injected, animals having survived for the same times as CP-injected ones. Quantitative results come from c-fos expression. At mesodiencephalic levels a high and widespread basal c-fos expression was observed in control animals; maximum staining was observed at the midthalamic level. Four groups of nuclei were identified with regard to the density of staning. The first group included nuclei showing clustered, intensely labeled cells; these areas were restricted in extent and related to the maintenance of circadian rythms (intergeniculate leaf, suprachiasmatic nucleus, dorsal parts of either paraventricular thalamic nuclei or central gray), sleep-arousal cycle (supramamillary nucleus), or changes in arterial pressure (laterodorsal tegmental nucleus). The second group included nuclei showing scattered, moderately labeled cells; these areas were widespread at all rostrocaudal levels and related to either autonomic/neuroendocrine regulations (central gray, lateral and the caudal part of the bulbar reticular formation. In contrast, more rostral subtelencephalic levels contain a variety of areas, in which maximal reaction precedes the complete development of cystitis and appears to be more involved in vegetative functions.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 69
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Somatostatin ; Hypothalamus ; Dexamethasone ; Picrotoxin ; Push-pull perfusion ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We have previously reported the rapid response of hypothalamic somatostatin (SS) neurons to acute stress. Since it is well known that glucocorticoids (GC) are involved in neuroendocrinal stress regulation, we investigate in this study the effects of acute administration of dexamethasone (Dex) on both in vivo and in vitro SS release. Freely moving animals received stereotaxic implant of a push-pull cannula into the median eminence for 10 days, and then they were perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid for 120–150 min. An i.p. injection of Dex (200 or 300 μg/100 g) induced, 15–30 min later, a mean increase in SS hypothalamic output of 62.6±6.2% of basal secretion. By contrast, after 15 min incubation of hypothalamic fragments with either 10−7 or 10−6 M Dex, SS release decreased abruptly to 57.3±3.3% (n=16;P〈0.001 compared with basal release) and 78.0±9.5% (n=13;P〈0.05 compared with basal release) of basal release, respectively. Other Dex concentrations induced no variations, giving the dose-effect curve an abrupt “on-off” effect. The inhibitory effect was blocked by picrotoxin (10−4 M) and was immediately reversed when Dex was removed from the medium. Specificity was tested by using another steroid, estradiol, and another tissue, cortex. The rapid action of GC whatever the model used and in particular the blocking in vitro effect of picrotoxin could suggest that GCs act at the level of the membrane and could operate physiologically in response to stress. In addition, the opposite in vivo and in vitro effects on SS release would indicate that GCs exert two different controls on SS neurons.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 70
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Locomotor recovery ; Neural transplantation ; Fictive locomotion ; Serotonin ; 6-Hydroxydopamine ; Zimelidine ; Rat ; Spinal
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Locomotor movements are programmed in a specialised neuronal network that is localised in the central nervous system and referred to as the central pattern generator (CPG) for locomotion. This CPG can be activated by pharmacological agents such as monoamines. The aim of the present study was to try to activate the CPGs by using cells that are supposed to release serotonin locally. Adult chronic spinal rats were injected with embryonic brainstem neurons within the spinal cord under a thoracic transection. This procedure resulted in a monoaminergic reinnervation of the lumbar enlargement. With the help of a specific neurotoxin for noradrenergic neurons (6-hydroxydopamine), it was possible to isolate the serotonergic system. After such transplantation of monoaminergic neurons and even with serotonergic neurons alone, a bilateral, alternating, rhythmic locomotor-like activity recovered in hindlimbs. Furthermore, this locomotor-like activity was clearly facilitated when the re-uptake of serotonin was blocked by zimelidine. Therefore, we conclude that transplanted embryonic serotonergic neurons are able to activate the CPG for locomotion.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 71
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Arm movement ; EMG ; Motor learning ; Torque ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Nine young infants were followed longitudinally from 4 to 15 months of age. They performed multijoint reaching movements to a stationary target presented at shoulder height. Time-position data of the hand, shoulder, and elbow were collected using an optoelectronic measurement system. In addition, we recorded electromyographic activity (EMG) from arm extensors and flexors. This paper documents how control problems of proximal torque generation may account for the segmented hand paths seen during early reaching. Our analysis revealed the following results: first, muscular impulse (integral of torque) increased significantly between the ages of 20 (reaching onset) and 64 weeks. That is, as infants got older they produced higher levels of mean muscular flexor torque during reaching. Data were normalized by body weight and movement time, so differences are not explained by anthropometric changes or systematic variations in movement time. Second, while adults produced solely flexor muscle torque to accomplish the task, infants generated flexor and extensor muscle torque at shoulder and elbow throughout a reach. At reaching onset more than half of the trials revealed this latter kinetic profile. Its frequency declined systematically as infants got older. Third, we examined the pattern of muscle coordination in those trials that exhibited elbow extensor muscle torque. We found that during elbow extension coactivation of flexor and extensor muscles was the predominant pattern in 67% of the trials. This pattern was notably absent in comparable adult reaching movements. Fourth, fluctuations in force generation, as measured by the rate of change of total torque (NET) and muscular torque (MUS), were more frequent in early reaching (20–28 weeks) than in the older cohort (52–64 weeks), indicating that muscular torque production became increasingly smoother and task-efficient. Our data demonstrate that young infants have problems in generating smooth profiles of proximal joint torques. One possible reason for this imprecision in infant force control is their inexperience in predicting the magnitude and direction of external forces. That infants learned to consider external forces is documented by their increasing reliance on these forces when performing voluntary elbow extensions. The patterns of muscle coordination underlying active elbow extensions were basically the same as during the prereaching phase, indicating that the formation of functional synergies is based on a basal repertoire of innervation patterns already observable in very early, spontaneous movements.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 72
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 520-533 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Spinal Ia terminations ; Action potentials ; Baclofen ; Calcium influx ; Cat ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord of cats anaesthetised with pentobarbitone sodium, microelectrophoretically administered (–)-baclofen, but not (+)-baclofen, reversibly reduced the duration of the orthodromic action potential of muscle group Ia afferent terminations, but not those of muscle group I afferent myelinated fibres. The presumably submicromolar concentrations are already known to reversibly reduce excitatory transmitter release from muscle group Ia afferent terminations. Action potential durations were estimated from threshold recovery curves after an orthodromic impulse using an extracellular microstimulation technique. Both of these presynaptic effects of (–)-baclofen were blocked by baclofen antagonists, and neither appeared to be reduced by the potassium channel blocking agents tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine. Tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine also did not significantly modify the reduction by (–)-baclofen of monosynaptic field potentials in the lumbar cord of rats anaesthetised with pentobarbitone sodium. In the cat the maximum reduction by (–)-baclofen of termination action potentials was considerably less than that produced by cadmium ions, which, unlike (–)-baclofen, also reduced the action potential duration of group I myelinated fibres. These findings are consistent with a reduction by (–)-baclofen of the influx of calcium through voltage-activated channels in the membrane of group Ia terminations, a proposal which also accounts for the reduction by (–)-baclofen of the release of GABA at axo-axonic depolarizing synapses on these terminations. The results are discussed in relation to the mode of action of (–)-baclofen and the different sensitivities of transmitter release at various central synapses.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 73
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Forebrain ischemia ; Hyperglycemia ; Hippocampus ; Bioenergetic state ; Cyclosporin A ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  A recent study from this laboratory has shown that brief transient ischemia (2 min 30 s) in normo- and hyperglycemic rats leads to moderate neuronal necrosis in CA1 cells of the hippocampus, of equal density in the two groups. However, hyperglycemic animals failed to depolarize during the ischemia, nor did they show a decrease in extracellular calcium concentration. The present study was undertaken to study the metabolic correlates to these unexpected findings. Normoglycemic (plasma glucose ∼6 mM) and hyperglycemic (∼20 mM) rats were subjected to ischemic periods of 1 min and 2 min 15 s (2 min 30 s with freezing delay considered), and their brains were frozen in situ. Samples of dorsal hippocampus were dissected at –22°C and extracted for the measurement of phosphocreatine (PCr), creatine, ATP, ADP, AMP, glucose, glycogen, and lactate. Normoglycemic animals showed rapid depletion of PCr, ATP, glucose, and glycogen, and a rise in lactate content to 10–12 mM·kg–1 during the ischemia. Hyperglycemic animals displayed a more moderate rate of fall of PCr and ATP, with ATP values exceeding 50% of control after 2 min 30 s. Glycogen stores were largely maintained, but degradation of glucose somewhat enhanced the lactic acidosis. The results demonstrate that hyperglycemic rats maintained ATP at levels sufficient to prevent cell depolarization and calcium influx during the ischemic period. However, the metabolic perturbation observed must have been responsible for the delayed neuronal damage. We speculate that lowered ATP, increased inorganic P, and oxidative stress triggered a delayed mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), which led to delayed neuronal necrosis. This assumption was supported by a second series of experiments in which CA1 damage in hyperglycemic rats was prevented by cyclosporin A, a virtually specific inhibitor of the MPT.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 74
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 63-70 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Vision ; Locomotion ; Optic Flow Adaptation ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The effect of an optic flow pattern on human locomotion was studied in subjects walking on a self-driven treadmill. During walking an optic flow pattern was presented, which gave subjects the illusion of walking in a tunnel. Visual stimulation was achieved by a closed-loop system in which optic flow and treadmill velocity were automatically adjusted to the intended walking velocity (WV). Subjects were instructed to keep their WV constant. The presented optic flow velocity was sinusoidally varied relative to the WV with a cycle period of 2 min. The independent variable was the relative optic flow (rOF), ranging from −1, i.e., forward flow of equal velocity as the WV, and 3, i.e., backward flow 3 times faster than WV. All subjects were affected by rOF in a similar way. The results showed, firstly, an increase in stride-cycle variability that suggests a larger instability of the walking pattern than in treadmill walking without optic flow; and, secondly, a significant modulating effect of rOF on the self-chosen WV. Backward flow resulted in a decrease, whereas forward flow induced an increase of WV. Within the analyzed range, a linear relationship was found between rOF and WV. Thirdly, WV-related modulations in stride length (SL) and stride frequency (SF) were different from normal walking: whereas in the latter a change in WV is characterized by a stable linear relationship between SL and SF (i.e., an approximately constant SL to SF ratio), optic flow-induced changes in WV are closely related to a modulation of SL (i.e., a change of SL-SF ratio). Fourthly, this effect of rOF diminished by about 45% over the entire walking distance of 800 m. The results suggest that the adjustment of WV is the result of a summation of visual and leg-proprioceptive velocity informations. Visual information about ego-motion leads to an unintentional modulation of WV by affecting specifically the relationship between SL and SF. It is hypothesized that the space-related parameter (SL) is influenced by visually perceived motion information, whereas the temporal parameter (SF) remains stable. The adaptation over the entire walking distance suggests that a shift from visual to leg-proprioceptive control takes place.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 75
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Enkephalin ; GABA ; Basal ganglia ; 6-Hydroxydopamine ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In Parkinson’s disease the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway degenerates, resulting in an imbalance in activity of two pathways of information flow through the basal ganglia. In animal models of the disease, the striatonigral pathway becomes underactive and the striatopallidal pathway becomes overactive. In the present study immunocytochemistry for enkephalin and GABA and anterograde labelling were used to investigate whether morphological plasticity occurs in striatopallidal terminals following unilateral removal of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway. Pallidal terminals were immunostained to reveal enkephalin and examined in the electron microscope (n=399). Immunoreactive synaptic bouton profiles were on average 64% larger on the experimental side 26 days after the lesion. Analysis of their shape revealed that those on the dopamine-depleted side of the brain were more irregular in profile and that their synaptic specialisations were more complex in shape but not significantly different in length. Striatopallidal terminals were also identified by GABA immunocytochemistry combined with anterograde labelling (n=20). Double-labelled boutons were significantly larger in cross-sectional area on the experimental side (57%). Analysis of terminals that were simply labelled by the immunogold method to reveal GABA (n=278) showed no significant differences in size between terminals from the dopamine-depleted and control side. This suggests that a substantial number of GABAergic terminals in the globus pallidus do not belong to the striatopallidal population of terminals. These morphological changes correlate with previous studies suggesting striatopallidal boutons are more active after destruction of dopaminergic input to the neostriatum.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 76
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Transcranial magnetic stimulation ; Motor cortex ; Motor-evoked potentials ; Silent period ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The sizes of the motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and the durations of the silent periods after transcranial magnetic stimulation were examined in biceps brachii, brachioradialis and adductor pollicis in human subjects. Stimuli of a wide range of intensities were given during voluntary contractions producing 0–75% of maximal force (maximal voluntary contraction, MVC). In adductor pollicis, MEPs increased in size with stimulus intensity and with weak voluntary contractions (5% MVC), but did not grow larger with stronger contractions. In the elbow flexors, MEPs grew little with stimulus intensity, but increased in size with contractions of up to 50% of maximal. In contrast, the duration of the silent period showed similar changes in the three muscles. In each muscle it increased with stimulus intensity but was unaffected by changes in contraction strength. Comparison of the responses evoked in biceps brachii by focal stimulation over the contralateral motor cortex with those evoked by stimulation with a round magnetic coil over the vertex suggests an excitatory contribution from the ipsilateral cortex during strong voluntary contractions.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 77
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 116 (1997), S. 406-420 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Target interception ; Reaching ; Acceleration ; Coincidence timing ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  We investigated the capacities of human subjects to intercept moving targets in a two-dimensional (2D) space. Subjects were instructed to intercept moving targets on a computer screen using a cursor controlled by an articulated 2D manipulandum. A target was presented in 1 of 18 combinations of three acceleration types (constant acceleration, constant deceleration, and constant velocity) and six target motion times, from 0.5 to 2.0 s. First, subjects held the cursor in a start zone located at the bottom of the screen along the vertical meridian. After a pseudorandom hold period, the target appeared in the lower left or right corner of the screen and traveled at 45º toward an interception zone located on the vertical meridian 12.5 cm above the start zone. For a trial to be considered successful, the subject’s cursor had to enter the interception zone within 100 ms of the target’s arrival at the center of the interception zone and stay inside a slightly larger hold zone. Trials in which the cursor arrived more than 100 ms before the target were classified as ”early errors,” whereas trials in which the cursor arrived more than 100 ms after the target were classified as ”late errors.” Given the criteria above, the task proved to be difficult for the subjects. Only 41.3% (1080 out of 2614) of the movements were successful, whereas the remaining 58.7% were temporal (i.e., early or late) errors. A large majority of the early errors occurred in trials with decelerating targets, and their percentage tended to increase with longer target motion times. In contrast, late errors occurred in relation to all three target acceleration types, and their percentage tended to decrease with longer target motion times. Three models of movement initiation were investigated. First, the threshold-distance model, originally proposed for optokinetic eye movements to constant-velocity visual stimuli, maintains that response time is composed of two parts, a constant processing time and the time required for the stimulus to travel a threshold distance. This model only partially fit our data. Second, the threshold-τ model, originally proposed as a strategy for movement initiation, assumes that the subject uses the first-order estimate of time-to-contact (τ) to determine when to initiate the interception movement. Similar to the threshold distance model, the threshold-τ model only partially fit the data. Finally, a dual-strategy model was developed which allowed for the adoption of either of the two strategies for movement initiation; namely, a strategy based on the threshold-distance model (”reactive” strategy) and another based on the threshold-τ model (”predictive” strategy). This model provided a good fit to the data. In fact, individual subjects preferred to use one or the other strategy. This preference was allowed to be manifested at long target motion times, whereas shorter target motion times (i.e., 0.5 s and 0.8 s) forced the subjects to use only the reactive strategy.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 78
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 116 (1997), S. 501-509 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Eye movements ; Vestibulo-ocular reflex ; Vestibular injury ; Ocular torsion ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Abnormalities in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) after unilateral vestibular injury may cause symptomatic gaze instability. We compared five subjects who had unilateral vestibular lesions with normal control subjects. Gaze stability and VOR gain were measured in three axes using scleral magnetic search coils, in light and darkness, testing different planes of rotation (yaw and pitch), types of stimulus (sinusoids from 0.8 to 2.4 Hz, and transient accelerations) and methods of rotation (active and passive). Eye velocity during horizontal tests reached saturation during high-velocity/acceleration ipsilesional rotation. Rapid vertical head movements triggered anomalous torsional rotation of the eyes. Gaze instability was present even during active rotation in the light, resulting in oscillopsia. These abnormal VOR responses are a consequence of saturating nonlinearities, which limit the usefulness of frequency-domain analysis of rotational test data in describing these lesions.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 79
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 116 (1997), S. 525-538 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Walking ; Intentional on-line control ; Mechanical perturbation ; Neuromuscular synergy ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In locomotion, the capability to control and modulate intentionally the propulsive forces is fundamental for the adaptation of the body’s progression, both in speed and direction. The purpose of this experiment was to determine how human beings can achieve such control on-line. To answer this question, four subjects walking steadily were faced with a linear increase in resistance (impeding forward displacement), lasting 3 s, once per minute. At the end of the variation, the new resistance was maintained. There were two tasks; in both tasks, in the initial steady state, the subjects had to walk steadily at 1.3 m s–1. As the resistance increased, subjects were either required to maintain their walking speed (compensation task) or to let the walking speed and amplitude adapt freely (no-intervention task). This provided an estimate of the effects of the perturbation alone. Throughout the experiment, the stride frequency (114 step min–1) was fixed by a metronome. Subjects maintained their stride frequency on both tasks. In the no-intervention task, walking speed was 1.3 and 1 m s–1 under normal and high resistance respectively. In the compensation task, under high steady resistance, walking speed was maintained by an increase in the activation gain of the neuromuscular synergy: all recorded muscles increased their EMG activity, but without any change in the shape of their activation profile throughout the cycle. During the transitional phases, however, as the resistance began to increase, the walking speed decreased temporarily (–2%) before returning rapidly to its initial value. By contrast, at the end of the resistance increase, no such changes in speed were observed. During the transitional phases, the on-line compensation for the resistance increase induced modifications in the shape of the activation burst in the medial gastrocnemius such that the transitional cycles clearly differed from the steady state cycles. The results observed in the compensation task suggest that the subjects used two different modes of control during steady states and transitional phases. In stable dynamic conditions, there appears to be an ”intermittent control” mode, where propulsive forces are globally managed for the entire stance phase. As a result, no compensation occurred at the beginning of the perturbation. During the resistance increase, subjects appeared to switch to an ”on-line control” mode in order to continuously adapt the propulsive forces to the time course of the external force, resulting in an observable compensation at the end of the resistance change.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 80
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Circumventricular organs ; Nitric oxide synthase ; Vasopressin ; Immunocytochemistry ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The distribution of immunoreactivity to neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and vasopressin (AVP) was studied in the circumventricular organs of the female rat. The occurrence of NOS immunoreactivity showed correspondence to nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase reactivity, a previously used but less specific marker for neuronal NOS. nNOS immunolabeling was detected in the two most rostrally located circumventricular organs – the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and the subfornical organ. In the latter, AVP immunoreactivity was observed in some cell bodies, which also were nNOS-immunoreactive. In the median eminence and the neurohypophysis there were large amounts of nNOS- and AVP-immunoreactive nerve fibers, which often displayed similarities in distribution and morphology. Within the pineal gland, only very few nNOS-immunoreactive varicose terminals were observed, which ran along blood vessels. nNOS immunoreactivity was also seen in the epithelium of the choroid plexus, whereas no nNOS immunoreactivity could be found in the subcommissural organ or in the area postrema. The present demonstration of nNOS and AVP immunoreactivity in the subfornical organ, median eminence, and neurohypophysis, and the occurrence of nNOS immunoreactivity also in the choroid plexus and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, provides a morphological background for a functional role for nitric oxide in water homeostatic mechanisms, both as executed through the hypothalamohypophyseal system and via the production of cerebrospinal fluid.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 81
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    European journal of pediatrics 156 (1997), S. S9 
    ISSN: 1432-1076
    Keywords: Key words Stable isotopes ; Tracers ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Stable isotope tracers do not have approval for diagnostic use in humans. We assume that stable isotope tracers behave like natural compounds, because there is no evidence for the opposite despite a wide use in human studies. From this point of view, they are drugs comparable to unlabelled natural substances. Under this assumption a pharmacy is allowed to prepare isotope solutions by following the guideline for the preparation of infusion solutions using chemicals. The pharmacy has to perform tests for identification, content and purity following the U.S. pharmacopoeia or the corresponding national standard for the unlabelled drug. If these tests are passed then it can prepare the tracer solution. An approach is outlined which is designed to ensure sterility of the preparation as far as possible and an adequate pharmaceutical quality. From the regulation for the preparation we define requirements for an alternative preparation for immediate infusion by the physician.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 82
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: GABA ; Double immunostaining ; Retrograde tracing ; Diagonal band ; Disinhibition ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In the septal complex, both parvalbumin and calbindin neurons cocontain GABA. In the same area, a large number of GABA-GABA synaptic connections can be observed. In order to further characterize their neurochemical nature, as well as the extrinsic and/or intrinsic origin of these GABA terminals, the following experiments were performed: (1) correlated light- and electronmicroscopic double immunostaining for calbindin and parvalbumin on septal sections of control rats; (2) light microscopic parvalbumin immunostaining of septal sections after surgical isolation (5 days) of the septum from its telencephalic or (3) hypothalamic afferents; and (4) parvalbumin immunostaining of sections prepared from the entire brain 2 days following horseradish peroxidase injection into the border between the lateral and medial septum. The results demonstrated that: (1) in a well-circumscribed, vertically longitudinal area located between the lateral and medial septum, 0.1–0.6 mm anterior to the bregma, a group of calbindin-containing, nonsomatospiny neurons are surrounded by parvalbumin-immunoreactive baskets; (2) these basket-forming axon terminals establish symmetric synaptic contacts with their targets; and (3) their cells of origin are not in the medial septum, but in the angular porition of the vertical limb. These observations indicate that a portion of the septal complex GABA-GABA synaptic connections represent functional interaction between two different types of GABAergic neurons. The presynaptic GABAergic neurons contain parvalbumin, and the postsynaptic GABAergic cells are immunoreactive for calbindin. Furthermore, a population of the medial septum/diagonal band parvalbumin neurons promect only to the hippocampus, while others, which may also send axons to the hippocampus, terminate on lateral septum calbindin cells as well.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 83
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Kinesthesia ; Coordination ; Cerebellum ; Muscle spindles ; Cutaneous mechanoreceptors ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract A coordinated triggering task requiring use of kinesthetic information was employed to assess the timing of use of kinesthetic information in normal subjects and patients with cerebellar dysfunction. Passive movements of varying velocity were imposed in the flexor direction about the metacarpophalangeal joint of the right index finger. Subjects attempted to depress a switch with their left thumb when the index finger moved, past a specified angle that was learned during a training session. The velocities ranged from 10°/s to 88°/s in 2°/s increments. After 200 trials, subjects were then instructed instead to react as quickly as possible (reaction-time task) to the onset of movement for an additional 200 trials. For the same movements, the timing of onset of responses of muscle spindle afferents and cutaneous mechanoreceptors was determined by recording the responses of these afferents using microneurography. For slow velocities, patients were able to perform similarly to normals but at faster velocities patients triggered too late compared with normals. Patients required more time to use kinesthetic information than did normal subjects. An estimate of kinesthetic processing was not longer in patients. The chief explanation for the prolonged time required to use kinesthetic information in patients was that their reaction times were prolonged by 93 ms. In addition, the movement time was also prolonged, but this accounted for only 23 ms. Impaired motor performance in tasks requiring the use of kinesthetic information in cerebellar patients can be explained largely by their prolonged reaction times. Muscle spindle afferents responded on average much sooner than cutaneous mechanoreceptors. Because of the limited time available to perfomr the kinesthetic triggering task, the role for cutaneous mechanoreceptors, to provide singals for on-line coordination of movement appears limited compared with muscle spindle afferents.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 84
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 104-116 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Electromyography ; Adaptation ; Space flight ; Locomotion ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Astronauts adopt a variety of neuromuscular control strategies during space flight that are appropriate for locomoting in that unique environment, but are less than optimal upon return to Earth. We report here the first systematic investigation of potential adaptations in neuromuscular activity patterns associated with postflight locomotion. Astronaut-subjects were tasked with walking on a treadmill at 6.4 km/h while fixating a visual target 30 cm away from their eyes after space flights of 8–15 days. Surface electromyography was collected from selected lower limb muscles and normalized with regard to mean amplitude and temporal relation to heel strike. In general, high correlations (more than 0.80) were found between preflight and postflight activation waveforms for each muscle and each subject; however, relative activation amplitude around heel strike and toe off was changed as a result of flight. The level of muscle cocontraction and activation variability, and the relationship between the phasic characteristics of the ankle musculature in preparation for toe off also were altered by space flight. Subjects also reported oscillopsia during treadmill walking after flight. These findings indicate that, after space flight, the sensory-motor system can generate neuromuscular-activation strategies that permit treadmill walking, but subtle changes in lower-limb neuromuscular activation are present that may contribute to increased lower limb kinematic variability and oscillopsia also present during postflight walking.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 85
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Hypoxia-ischaemia ; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy ; Cerebral energy metabolism ; Newborns ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) was used to determined whether focal cerebral injury caused by unilateral carotid artery occlusion and graded hypoxia in developing rats led to a delayed impairment of cerebral energy metabolism and whether the impairment was related to the magnitude of cerebral infarction. Forty-two 14-day-old Wistar rats were subjected to right carotid artery ligation, followed by 8% oxygen for 90 min. Using a 7T MRS system,31P brain spectra were collected during the period from before until 48 h after hypoxia-ischaemia. Twenty-eight control animals were studied similarly. In controls, the ratio of the concentration of phosphocreatine ([PCr]) to inorganic orthophosphate ([Pi]) was 1.75 (SD 0.34) and nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) to total exchangeable phosphate pool (EPP) was 0.20 (SD 0.04): both remained constant. In animals subjected to hypoxia-ischaemia, [PCr] to [Pi] and [NTP] to [EPP] were lower in the 0- to 3-h period immediately following the insult: 0.87 (0.48) and 0.13 (0.04), respectively. Values then returned to baseline level, but subsequently declined again: [PCr] to [Pi] at −0.02 h−1 (P〈0.0001). [PCr] to [Pi] attained a minimum of 1.00 (0.33) and [NTP] to [EPP] a minimum of 0.14 (0.05) at 30–40 h. Both ratios returned towards baseline between 40 and 48 h. The late declines in high-energy phosphates were not associated with a fall in pHi. There was a significant relation between the extent of the delayed impairment of energy metabolism and the magnitude of the cerebral infarction (P〈0.001). Transient focal hypoxia-ischaemia in the 14-day-old rat thus leads to a biphasic disruption of cerebral energy metabolism, with a period of recovery after the insult being followed by a secondary impaiment some hours later.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 86
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 158-164 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Posture ; Center of pressure ; Stochastic processes ; Development ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The stochastic processes of postural center-of-pressure profiles were examined in 3- and 5-year-old children, young adult students (mean 20 years), and an elderly age group (mean 67 years). Subjects stood still in an upright bipedal stance on a force platform under vision and nonvision conditions. The time evolutionary properties of the center-of-pressure dynamic were examined using basic stochastic process models. The amount of motion of the center of pressure decreased with increments of age from 3 to 5 years to young adult but increased again in the elderly age group. The availability of vision decreased the amount of motion of the center of pressure in all groups except the 3-year-old group, where there was less motion of the center of pressure with no vision. The stochastic properties of the center-of-pressure dynamic were assessed using both a two-process, random-walk model of Collins and De Luca and an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model that is linear and has displacement governed only by a single stiffness term in the random walk. The two-process open- and closed-loop model accounted for about 96% and the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model 92% of the variance of the diffusion term. Diffusion parameters in both models showed that the data were correlated and that they varied with age in a fashion consistent with developmental accounts of the changing regulation of the degrees of freedom in action. The findings suggest that it is premature to consider the trajectory of the center-of-pressure as a two-process, open- and closed-loop random-walk model given that: (a) the linear Ornstein-Uhlenbeck dynamic equation with only two parameters accommodates almost as much of the variance of the random walk; and (b) the linkage of a discontinuity in the diffusion process with the transition of open- to closed-loop processes is poorly founded. It appears that the nature of the stochastic properties of the random walk of the center-of-pressure trajectory in quiet, upright standing remains to be elucidated.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 87
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 243-248 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Visual motion ; Parallax ; Posture ; Balance ; Spatial orientation ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The purpose of this study was to establish whether visual motion parallax participates in the control of postural sway. Body sway was measured in ten normal subjects by photoelectric recordings of head movements and by force-plate posturography. Subjects viewed a visual display (“background”), which briefly moved (2 s) along the y (horizontal) axis, under three different conditions: (1) direct fixation of the background, (2) fixation of a stationary window frame in the foreground, and (3) fixation of the background in the presence of the window in the foreground (“through the window”). In response to background fixation, subjects swayed in the same direction as stimulus motion, but during foreground (window) fixation they swayed in the opposite direction. The earlier forces observed on the force platform occurred at circa 250 ms in both conditions. The results show that motion parallax generates postural responses. The direction of these parallax-evoked postural responses — opposite to other visually evoked postural responses reported so far — is appropriate for stabilizating posture in natural circumstances. The findings show that motion parallax is an important source of self-motion information and that this information participates in the process of automatic postural control. In the “fixating through the window” condition, which does not mimic visual conditions induced by body sway, no consistent postural responses were elicited. This implies that postural reactions elicited by visual motion are not rigid responses to optokinetic stimulation but responses to visual stimuli signalling self-motion.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 88
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 353-360 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Electromyography ; Kinesiology ; Neck muscles ; Head movement ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The patterns of activation of splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis, transversospinalis, and levator scapulae muscles were studied during various head-neck positions, movements, and isometric tests in 19 healthy human subjects. Myoelectric activities were recorded with intramuscular bipolar wire electrodes. Cervical computerized tomography of each subject was performed before the electromyography session in order to guide electrode insertion. Head motion was recorded using an electromechanical device. This report demonstrates that head motion results from a complex interaction of active muscular forces, passive ligamentous forces, and gravity. Splenius capitis has two main functions, i.e., cervical extension and ipsilateral rotation. Semi spinalis capitis and the transversospinalis are mainly extensors, and levator scapilae acts primarily on the shoulder girdle. Splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis, and transversospinalis play a subordinate part in ipsilateral tilting. In addition, most subjects' semispinalis capitis were gradually recruited during ipsilateral rotation. No signal was detected from the transversospinalis during rotation tests.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 89
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 113 (1997), S. 371-377 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Saccade ; Prediction ; Motion ; Pursuit eye movements ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The overall goals of the studies presented here were to compare (1) the accuracies of saccades to moving targets with either a novel or a known target motion, and (2) the relationships between the measures of target motion and saccadic amplitude during pursuit initiation and maintenance. Since resampling of position error just prior to saccade initiation can confound the interpretation of results, the target ramp was masked during the planning and execution of the saccade. The results suggest that saccades to moving targets were significantly more accurate if the target motion was known from the early part of the trial (e.g., during pursuit maintenance) than in the case of novel target motion (e.g., during pursuit initiation); both these types of saccades were more accuate than those when target motion information was not available. Using target velocity in space as a rough estimate of the magnitude of the extra-retinal signal during pursuit maintenance, the saccadic amplitude was significantly associated with the extra-retinal target motion information after accounting for the position error. In most subjects, this association was stronger than the one between retinal slip velocity and saccadic amplitude during pursuit initiation. The results were similar even when the smooth eye motion prior to the saccade was controlled. These results suggest that different sources of target motion information (retinal image velocity vs internal representation of previous target motion in space) are used in planning saccades during different stages of pursuit. The association between retinal slip velocity and saccadic amplitude is weak during initiation, thus explaining poor saccadic accuracy during this stage of pursuit.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 90
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 51-62 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Pupillary light reflex ; Pretectum ; Anterograde and retrograde tracing ; GABA immunohistochemistry ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The olivary pretectal nucleus is a primary visual centre, involved in the pupillary light reflex. In the present study an ultrastructural analysis was made of the olivary pretectal nucleus by means of separate, anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques and immunohistochemistry of gamma-aminobutyric acid. Large-projection neurons and two types of gamma-aminobutyric acid-immunoreactive (GABA-ir) neurons are observed in the olivary pretectal nucleus. The primary dendrites of the projection neurons have a dichotomous appearance, the secondary dendrites a multipolar appearance. At the ultrastructural level the projection neurons have well-developed Golgi fields, abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and the nucleus is always heavily indented. Numerous small GABA-ir neurons and a few medium-sized GABA-ir neurons are found. The small GABA-ir neurons contain a few stacks of rough endoplasmic reticulum and the nucleus is oval-shaped. The medium-sized GABA-ir neurons have well-developed Golgi fields, a moderate number of rough endoplasmic reticulum stacks and an indented nucleus. GABA-positive dendritic profiles containing vesicles also are observed. In the neuropil of the olivary pretectal nucleus, retinal terminals are found that contain round clear vesicles and electron-lucent mitochondria. They make asymmetric synaptic contacts (Gray type I) with dendritic profiles and with profiles containing vesicles. Terminals originating from the contralateral olivary pretectal nucleus exhibit small, round clear vesicles, electron-dense mitochondria and make asymmetric synaptic contacts (Gray type I) mainly with dendritic profiles. Two types of GABA-ir terminals were found. One type is incorporated in glomerulus-like arrangements, whereas the other type is not. GABA-ir terminals contain pleomorphic vesicles, electron-dense mitochondria and make symmetric synaptic contacts (Gray type II). Retinal terminals, terminals originating from the contralateral olivary pretectal nucleus and GABA-ir terminals are organized in glomerulus-like structures, in which dendrites of the large projection neurons form the central elements. Triadic arrangements are observed in these structures; a retinal terminal contacts a dendrite and a GABA-ir terminal and the GABA-ir terminal also contacts the dendrite. The complexity of the synaptic organization and the abundancy of inhibitory elements in the olivary pretectal nucleus suggest that the olivary pretectal nucleus is strongly involved in processing visual information in the pupillary light reflex arc.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 91
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 117-123 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Muscle contraction ; Electrical stimulation ; Motor unit recruitment ; Spike-triggered averaging ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The recruitment order of motor units (MU) was compared during voluntary and electrically induced contractions. With the use of spike-triggered averaging, a total of 302 MUs with recruitment thresholds ranging from 1% to 88% of maximal voluntary contraction were recorded in the human tibialis anterior muscle in five subjects. The mean (±SD) MU force was 98.3±93.3 mN (mean torque 16.8±15.9 mNm) and the mean contraction time (CT) 46.2±12.7 ms. The correlation coefficients (r) between MU twitch force and CT versus the recruitment threshold in voluntary contractions were +0.68 and –0.38 (P〈0.001), respectively. In voluntary contractions, MUs were recruited in order of increasing size except for only 6% of the cases; whereas, during transcutaneous electrical stimulation (ES) at the muscle motor point, MU pairs showed a reversal of recruitment order in 28% and 35% of the observations, respectively, when the pulse durations were 1.0 ms or 0.1 ms. This recruitment reversal during ES was not related to the magnitude of the difference in voluntary recruitment thresholds between MUs. It is concluded that if the reversal of MU recruitment observed during ES is biophysically controlled by differences in their nerve axon input impedance, in percutaneous stimulation at the motor point, other factors such as the size and the morphological organisation of the axonal branches can also influence the order of activation.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 92
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 130-137 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Motor control ; Somatosensory system ; Motor timing ; Arm kinematics ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The role of tactile information of the hand in the control of reaching to grasp movements was investigated. The kinematics of both reaching (or transport) and grasp components were studied in healthy subjects in two experimental conditions. In one condition (control condition) subjects were required to reach and grasp an object that could have two sizes and that could be located at two distances from the viewer. In the other condition (anaesthesia condition) the same movements were executed, but anaesthesia was provided to the subjects’ fingertips. In both conditions vision of the hand was prevented during movement. Anaesthesia affected mainly the kinematics of the first phase of grasping, that is, the finger-opening phase. This phase was lengthened and maximal finger aperture increased. In contrast, the duration of the successive phase (finger-closure) was poorly modified. The reaching component was also impaired by anaesthesia. Although the total extent of hand path and the spatial relations between the finger aperture and closure phases did not change between the two conditions, hand path variability increased. This occurred during transport deceleration phase and after the increase in variability of finger path. In addition, the whole movement was slowed down. The results of the present experiment suggest that tactile signals at the beginning and at the end of movement can be used to compute grasp time and to optimise grasp temporal parameters. Alternatively, signals from tactile receptors can be involved in encoding the position sense of the fingers. When this input is lacking, the control of grasp and in particular that of finger-opening phase can be impaired. Finally, the effect of the grasp impairment on the reaching component supports the notion that the coordination between reaching and grasping involves the whole temporal course of the two components.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 93
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 163-169 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Muscle receptors ; Joint receptors ; Cutaneous mechanoreceptors ; Plantar pressure ; Leg EMG signals ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible pathways in the somatosensory system that relate to the postural reflexes in the leg muscles during a sudden, toes-up platform rotation. The inputs to the cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the sole of the foot as well as to the joint receptors in the ankle joint were modulated by standing on different supporting surfaces and by immobilizing the ankle joints; and three leg muscle responses (characterized by short latency, medium latency, and long latency) to the platform movement were recorded in 15 healthy young subjects. It was found that: (1) the short latency was not affected by the changes in either plantar pressure or ankle joint movement; (2) the medium latency was regulated by the plantar pressures under the foot, as sensed by the cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the sole of the foot, and by the ankle joint movement, as perceived by the joint receptors in the ankle joint; (3) the long latency was also related to the ankle joint movement, but this relation seems to be modulated by the plantar pressures under the foot; and (4) both medium and long latencies were well correlated with the time derivative of the pressure difference between the forefoot and the rear foot regions (r=0.7), as well as with the static pressure in the antagonist foot region (r〉0.6).
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 94
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 170-183 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Visually guided reaching ; PET ; MRI ; Posterior parietal cortex ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to identify the brain areas involved in visually guided reaching by measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in six normal volunteers while they were fixating centrally and reaching with the left or right arm to targets presented in either the right or the left visual field. The PET images were registered with magnetic resonance images from each subject so that increases in rCBF could be localized with anatomical precision in individual subjects. Increased neural activity was examined in relation to the hand used to reach, irrespective of field of reach (hand effect), and the effects of target field of reach, irrespective of hand used (field effect). A separate analysis on intersubject, averaged PET data was also performed. A comparison of the results of the two analyses showed close correspondence in the areas of activation that were identified. We did not find a strict segregation of regions associated exclusively with either hand or field. Overall, significant rCBF increases in the hand and field conditions occurred bilaterally in the supplementary motor area, premotor cortex, cuneus, lingual gyrus, superior temporal cortex, insular cortex, thalamus, and putamen. Primary motor cortex, postcentral gyrus, and the superior parietal lobule (intraparietal sulcus) showed predominantly a contralateral hand effect, whereas the inferior parietal lobule showed this effect for the left hand only. Greater contralateral responses for the right hand were observed in the secondary motor areas. Only the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices exhibited strong ipsilateral hand effects. Field of reach was more commonly associated with bilateral patterns of activation in the areas with contralateral or ipsilateral hand effects. These results suggest that the visual and motor components of reaching may have a different functional organization and that many brain regions represent both limb of reach and field of reach. However, since posterior parietal cortex is connected with all of these regions, we suggest that it plays a crucial role in the integration of limb and field coordinates.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 95
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 304-320 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Eccentric rotation ; Otolith organs ; Semicircular canals ; Vergence ; Vestibulo-ocular reflex ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  We employed binocular magnetic search coils to study the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and visually enhanced vestibulo-ocular reflex (VVOR) of 15 human subjects undergoing passive, whole-body rotations about a vertical (yaw) axis delivered as a series of pseudorandom transients and sinusoidal oscillations at frequencies from 0.8 to 2.0 Hz. Rotations were about a series of five axes ranging from 20 cm posterior to the eyes to 10 cm anterior to the eyes. Subjects were asked to regard visible or remembered targets 10 cm, 25 cm, and 600 cm distant from the right eye. During sinusoidal rotations, the gain and phase of the VOR and VVOR were found to be highly dependent on target distance and eccentricity of the rotational axis. For axes midway between or anterior to the eyes, sinusoidal gain decreased progressively with increasing target proximity, while, for axes posterior to the otolith organs, gain increased progressively with target proximity. These effects were large and highly significant. When targets were remote, rotational axis eccentricity nevertheless had a small but significant effect on sinusoidal gain. For sinusoidal rotational axes midway between or anterior to the eyes, a phase lead was present that increased with rotational frequency, while for axes posterior to the otolith organs phase lag increased with rotational frequency. Transient trials were analyzed during the first 25 ms and from 25 to 80 ms after the onset of the head rotation. During the initial 25 ms of transient head rotations, VOR and VVOR gains were not significantly influenced by rotational eccentricity or target distance. Later in the transient responses, 25–80 ms from movement onset, both target distance and eccentricity significantly influenced gain in a manner similar to the behavior during sinusoidal rotation. Vergence angle generally remained near the theoretically ideal value during illuminated test conditions (VVOR), while in darkness vergence often varied modestly from the ideal value. Regression analysis of instantaneous VOR gain as a function of vergence demonstrated only a weak correlation, indicating that instantaneous gain is not likely to be directly dependent on vergence. A model was proposed in which linear acceleration as sensed by the otoliths is scaled by target distance and summed with angular acceleration as sensed by the semicircular canals to control eye movements. The model was fit to the sinusoidal VOR data collected in darkness and was found to describe the major trends observed in the data. The results of the model suggest that a linear interaction exists between the canal and otolithic inputs to the VOR.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 96
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 339-351 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Spatial attention ; Pointing ; Saccades ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The aim of the present study was to investigate how spatial attention influences directional manual and saccadic reaction times. Two experiments were carried out. In experiment 1 subjects were instructed to perform pointing responses toward targets that were located either in the same or the opposite hemifield with respect to the hemifield in which an imperative stimulus was presented. In experiment 2, they were instructed to make saccadic or pointing responses. The direction of the responses was indicated by the shape of the imperative stimulus. Reaction time (RT), movement time, and, in experiment 2, saccadic trajectory were measured. The imperative stimulus location was either cued (endogenous attention) or uncued. In the latter case the imperative stimulus presentation attracted attention (exogenous attention). The main results of the experiments were the following: First, exogenous attention markedly decreased the RTs when the required movement was directed toward the imperative stimulus location. This directional effect was much stronger for pointing than for ocular responses. Second, endogenously allocated attention did not influence differentially RTs of pointing responses directed toward or away the attended hemifield. In contrast, endogenous attention markedly favored the saccadic responses when made away from the cued hemifield. Third, regardless of cueing, the direction of movement affected both pointing and saccadic reaction times. Saccadic reaction times were faster when the required movement was directed upward, while manual reaction times were faster when the movement was directed downward. Fourth, lateralized spatial attention deviated the trajectory of the saccades contralateral to the attention location. This pattern of results supports the notion that spatial attention depends on the activation of the same sensorimotor circuits that program actions in space.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 97
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 492-499 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Hand-eye co-ordination ; Perceptual information ; Intra-modal/inter-modal matching ; Non-preferred hand ; Lateralization ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Inter- and intra-sensory modality matching by 8-year-old children diagnosed as having hand-eye co-ordination problems (HECP) and by a control group of children without such problems were tested using a target-location and pointing task. The task required the children to locate target pins visually (seen target), with the hand (felt target) or in combination (felt and seen target), while pointing to the located target was always carried out without vision. The most striking finding, for both the control and the HECP children, was the superiority of performance when the target had to be located visually. When combined scores for both hands were analysed, the HECP children showed inferior performance to the control children in both inter- and intra-modal matching. Analyses of the scores achieved with the preferred and non-preferred hand separately, however, demonstrated that the differences between the HECP and the control children could, in the main, be attributed to lowered performances when the non-preferred hand was used for pointing to the target. When pointing with the preferred hand, the only significant difference between the groups was when the target was visually located, the control children showing superior performance. Pointing with the non-preferred hand gave rise to significant differences, in favour of the control children, when the target was located visually, with the hand or in combination. These findings suggest that earlier studies, using only the preferred hand or a combination of the scores of both hands, might need to be qualified. Putative neurological disorders in the HECP children are invoked to account for the poor performance with the non-preferred hand.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 98
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 542-560 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Saccadic system ; Auditory system ; Visual system ; Eye-head movements ; Gaze control models ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The coordination between eye and head movements during a rapid orienting gaze shift has been investigated mainly when subjects made horizontal movements towards visual targets with the eyes starting at the centre of the orbit. Under these conditions, it is difficult to identify the signals driving the two motor systems, because their initial motor errors are identical and equal to the coordinates of the sensory stimulus (i.e. retinal error). In this paper, we investigate head-free gaze saccades of human subjects towards visual as well as auditory stimuli presented in the two-dimensional frontal plane, under both aligned and unaligned initial fixation conditions. Although the basic patterns for eye and head movements were qualitatively comparable for both stimulus modalities, systematic differences were also obtained under aligned conditions, suggesting a task-dependent movement strategy. Auditory-evoked gaze shifts were endowed with smaller eye-head latency differences, consistently larger head movements and smaller concomitant ocular saccades than visually triggered movements. By testing gaze control for eccentric initial eye positions, we found that the head displacement vector was best related to the initial head motor-error (target-re-head), rather than to the initial gaze error (target-re-eye), regardless of target modality. These findings suggest an independent control of the eye and head motor systems by commands in different frames of reference. However, we also observed a systematic influence of the oculomotor response on the properties of the evoked head movements, indicating a subtle coupling between the two systems. The results are discussed in view of current eye-head coordination models.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 99
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 114 (1997), S. 590-594 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Calcium ; Intracellular recording ; Desensitization ; Brain slice ; 5-Amino-phosphonovaleric acid ; Rat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The influence of age on NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) was characterized in striatal in vitro brain slices using intracellular recording techniques. All slices were bathed in bicuculline methiodide (20 μM) to isolate EPSPs from intrinsic inhibition and Mg2+ was omitted from the artificial cerebral spinal fluid to reduce voltage-dependent fluctuations of NMDA receptor-mediated EPSPs. The NMDA receptor-mediated component of the EPSP was determined by comparing EPSP areas before and after block of NMDA receptors with 5-amino-phosphonovaleric acid (AP-5; 30 μM). No age difference was found in the percentage contribution of the NMDA receptor-mediated component of the EPSP, but an age difference was observed in the response to removal of AP-5. On average, washout of AP-5 produced a significant enhancement of the EPSP in young cells, while in aged cells the EPSP returned, on average, to the pre-AP-5 control level. These data demonstrate that NMDA receptors contribute equally to EPSPs at young and aged synapses and that age-related decreases in the number of NMDA receptors may be related to synapse loss. In addition, the response to removal of AP-5 suggests that functional properties of NMDA receptors may also be altered by aging.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 100
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Movement-related magnetic field ; Movement-evoked field ; Magnetoencephalography ; Dipole source analysis ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  We investigated the movement-related cortical fields (MRCFs) recorded by magnetoencephalography (MEG) to identify the motor and sensory brain activities at the instant of the unilateral finger movement using six normal subjects. We focused our investigation on the source analysis of the events tightly linked to movement onset, and we used brain electric source analysis (BESA) to model the sources generating MRCFs during the interval from 200 ms before to 150 ms after the movement onset. Four sources provided satisfactory solutions for MRCF activities in this interval. Sources 1 and 2, which were located in the pre-central regions in the hemisphere contralateral and ipsilateral to the moved finger, respectively, generated the readiness fields (RF), but source 1 was predominant just before movement onset. The motor field (MF), the peak of which was just after movement onset, was mainly generated by source 1. Sources 3 and 4 were located in the post-central regions in the hemisphere contralateral and ipsilateral to the moved finger, respectively. The first motor evoked field (MEF-I), the peak of which was about 80 ms after the movement, was mainly generated by source 3, but with the participation of sources 1, 2 and 4. The results indicated that the activities of both pre -and post-central regions in bilateral hemispheres were related to voluntary movements, although the predominant areas varied over time. This is the first noninvasive study to clarify the complex spatiotemporal activities relating movements in humans using a multi-channel MEG system.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
Close ⊗
This website uses cookies and the analysis tool Matomo. More information can be found here...