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  • 1
    ISSN: 1433-2981
    Keywords: Cat ; Dog ; Impedence analysis ; Flow cytometric analysis ; Pseudoleucocytosis ; Pseudothrombocytopenia ; Macrocytosis ; Postal transportation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The performance of a prototype AVL MS8 VET impedance haematology analyser was compared with that of a Technicon H*1 flow cytometry haematology analyser using blood from dogs and cats. Analysis was performed with the AVL MS8 VET on the day of blood collection and with the Technicon H*1 on the following day. Differences were noted in feline leucocyte and platelet counts and in canine and feline mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin concentration between analyses. The results indicate that the AVL MS8 VET is a reliable analyser for blood samples from dogs but may not be for those from cats. Attention is drawn to the importance of considering the type of analyser, calibration of the analyser, time of analysis after blood collection (effect of postal delay) and the effect of anticoagulants.
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  • 2
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Carbachol ; Serotonin ; Pontine reticular formation ; Medullary reticulospinal neuron ; Postural atonia ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The present study was aimed at elucidating the pontomedullary and spinal cord mechanisms of postural atonia induced by microinjection of carbachol and restored by microinjections of serotonin or atropine sulfate into the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis (NRPo). Medullary reticulospinal neurons (n=132) antidromically activated by stimulating the L1 spinal cord segment were recorded extracellularly. Seventy-eight of them were orthodromically activated with mono- or disynaptic latencies by stimulating the NRPo area at the site where carbachol injections effectively induced postural atonia. Most of these reticulospinal neurons (71 of 78) were located in the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGc). Following carbachol injection into the NRPo, discharge rates of the NRGc reticulospinal neurons (29 of 34) increased, while the activity of soleus muscles decreased bilaterally. Serotonin or atropine injections into the same NRPo area resulted in a decrease in the discharge rates of the reticulospinal neurons with a concomitant increase in the levels of hindlimb muscle tone. Membrane potentials of hindlimb extensor and flexor alpha motoneurons (MNs) were hyperpolarized and depolarized by carbachol and serotonin or atropine injections, respectively. In all pairs of reticulospinal neurons and MNs (n=11), there was a high correlation between the increase in the discharge rates and the degree of membrane hyperpolarization of the MNs. Spike-triggered averaging during carbachol-induced atonia revealed that inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were evoked in 15 MNs by the discharges of nine reticulospinal neurons. Four of them evoked IPSPs in more than one MN. The mean segmental delay and the mean time to the peak of IPSPs were 1.6 ms and 2.0 ms, respectively. Axonal trajectories of reticulospinal neurons (n=6), which evoked IPSPs in MNs, were investigated in the lumbosacral segments (L1-S1) by antidromic threshold mapping. The stem axons descended through the ventral (n=2) and ventrolateral (n=4) funiculi in the lumbar segments. All axons projected their collaterals to the intermediate region (laminae V, VI) and ventromedial part (laminae VII, VIII) of the gray matter. All these results suggest that the reticulospinal pathway originating from the NRGc is involved in postural atonia induced by pontine microinjection of carbachol, and that the pathway is inactivated during the postural restoration induced by subsequent injections of serotonin or atropine. It is further suggested that the pontine inhibitory effect is mediated via segmental inhibitory interneurons projecting to MNs.
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  • 3
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 53-64 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Single units ; Inferior colliculus ; Organization ; Vocal stimuli ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of this study was to gain information from anesthetized cats about the differential coding properties of neurons in the three major subdivisions of the inferior colliculus: the central (CNIC) and external (EN) nuclei and dorsal cortex (DC). Stimuli were presented in the free field from a speaker facing the contralateral pinna. For each unit, the characteristic frequency (CF, where threshold was lowest) was determined, and impulse rates to CF tone bursts, noise bursts and four feline vocal stimuli were measured as a function of increasing sound pressure level (rate/level functions). Peristimulus-time histograms were computed for responses to all stimuli. Sustained firing patterns to CF stimuli were observed for 81% of units in CNIC, for 50% of units in EN and 27% of units in DC. Sustained discharges were evoked by noise in 78–100% of units in all regions, and by at least one vocal stimulus in 86% of units in CNIC, 82% in EN and 55% in DC. In the CNIC, non-monotonic rate/level functions to CF stimuli were more common (41%) than either monotonie or plateau functions, whereas the reverse was the case with noise and vocal stimuli. Non-monotonic functions were uncommon to any stimulus in EN and DC (21–24%). Vocal stimuli were more effective in terms of higher firing rates than noise or CF stimuli in 27% of units in CNIC, 82% in EN and 72% in DC. There were no units that responded exclusively to one vocal stimulus, but a high proportion of units in EN responded strongly to broad band stimuli, and some of these showed clear preferences for one vocal stimulus over others.
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  • 4
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    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 213-228 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Fictive locomotion ; Proprioception ; Spinal cord ; Interneurones ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract It has been previously shown that phasic stimulation of group I afferents from ankle and knee extensor muscles may entrain and/or reset the intrinsic locomotor rhythm; these afferents are thus acting on motoneurones through the spinal rhythm generators. It was also concluded that the major part of these effects originates from Golgi tendon organ Ib afferents. Transmission in this pathway to lumbar motoneurones has now been investigated during fictive locomotion in spinal cats injected with nialamide and l-DOPA, and in decerebrate cats with stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region. In spinal cats injected with nialamide and l-DOPA, it was possible to evoke long-latency, long-lasting reflexes upon stimulation of high threshold afferents before spontaneous fictive locomotion commenced. During that period, stimulation of ankle and knee extensor group I afferents evoked oligosynaptic excitation of extensor motoneurones, rather than the “classical” Ib inhibition. Furthermore, a premotoneuronal convergence (spatial facilitation) between this group I excitation and the crossed extensor reflex was established. During fictive locomotion, in both preparations, the transmission in these group I pathways was phasically modulated within the step cycle. During the flexor phase, the group I input cut the depolarised (active) phase in flexor motoneurones and evoked EPSPs in extensor motoneurones; during the extensor phase, the group I input evoked smaller EPSPs in extensor motoneurones and had virtually no effect on flexor motoneurones. The above results suggest that the group I input from extensor muscles is transmitted through the spinal rhythm generator and more particularly, through the extensor “half-centre”. The locomotor-related group I excitation had a central latency of 3.5–4.0 ms. The excitation from ankle extensors to ankle extensors remained after a spinal transection at the caudal part of L6 segment; the interneurones must therefore be located in the L7 and S1 spinal segments. Candidate interneurones for mediating these actions were recorded extracellularly in lamina VII of the 7th lumbar segment. Responses to different peripheral nerve stimulation (high threshold afferents and group I afferents bilaterally) were in concordance with the convergence studies in motoneurones. The interneurones were rhythmically active in the appropriate phases of the fictive locomotor cycle, as predicted by their response patterns. The synaptic input to, and the projection of these candidate interneurones must be fully identified before their possible role as components of the spinal locomotor network can be evaluated.
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  • 5
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    Springer
    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 379-390 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Eye movements ; Vestibulo-ocular reflex ; Motor learning and plasticity ; Flocculus ; Climbing fibers ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Motor learning can be demonstrated in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) by changing its gain (eye velocity/head velocity) with goggles and optokinetic (OK) drums. It is known that the flocculus is essential for this plasticity but there is controversy about whether the modifiable synapses mainly responsible are in the flocculus. To investigate this further we utilized the known reciprocal relationship between complex spikes and simple spikes in Purkinje cell discharges. By stimulating climbing fibers from the olive to the flocculus at 7 Hz, the simple spike rate of almost all recorded floccular cells could be driven to zero. This was termed floccular shutdown and is felt to effect a functional, reversible flocculectomy. Sixty single units in the flocculi of four cats were recorded. Stimulation of the climbing fibers at 7 Hz caused the discharge rate to decrease to zero in 95% of these cells. The gain of the horizontal VOR in three cats was driven repeatedly to twice or half its normal value by rotation within a moving OK drum and also by wearing magnifying or fixed-field goggles; this process required 3 days. If, on the 4th day, the cat was exposed to an OK drum rotating in the opposite direction, the gain was driven back to normal in 30 min. If, however, the climbing fibers were stimulated at 7 Hz during these 30 min, the gain did not return — learning was blocked. This verified that loss of floccular activity by this method abolishes VOR gain plasticity. Moreover, when 7 Hz stimulation first began, after 3 days of adaptation, the adapted gain remained at its adapted value, either half or twice normal, even in the face of floccular shutdown. This result appears incompatible with the hypothesis that the modifiable synapses are in the flocculus.
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  • 6
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    Springer
    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 31-38 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Striate cortex ; Spatial frequency tuning ; Orientation sensitivity ; Intracortical inhibition ; Bicuculline methiodide ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Responses of simple and complex cells in cat striate cortex were studied with moving sine-wave gratings before and during application of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline methiodide. Both simple and complex cells exhibited a broadening of their spatial frequency tuning functions under bicuculline. This was especially evident at spatial frequencies lower than the ones the cell was responding to before the drug administration. The effects cannot be explained by response saturation and could be reversed by cessation of the iontophoresis. The results indicate that the band-pass response characteristics of the spatial frequency response functions of striate cells derive largely from intracortical inhibition. The findings have implications also for the orientation selectivity of cortical cells. Since many geniculate cells are tuned for stimulus orientation at higher spatial frequencies, suppression of the low-spatial-frequency component would remove some of the orientation non-specific response in striate cortical cells and contribute to their orientation selectivity.
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  • 7
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Photic responsiveness ; Extrastriate cortex ; Orientation selectivity ; Direction selectivity ; End-stop selectivity ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Responsiveness to slits and pattern stimuli was quantified in a total of 68 cells sampled in the posterior extreme of the lateral suprasylvian (PS) cortex as response indices. The cells were studied in relationship to their locations in several subareas of the PS cortex, including areas 19 (n=15) and 21a (n=32) and the posteromedial lateral suprasylvian cortex (PMLS; n=21). These subareas were identified based on retrograde labelling from area 17 and also supplemented with photic responsiveness. This analysis revealed that each cortical area contains cells expressing different combinations of stimulus features. Area 19 contained two major groups of cells: (1) those with strong end-stop selectivity combined with moderate orientation or direction selectivity, and (2) those with weak end-stop selectivity combined with strong orientation selectivity. The groups of cells with strong or moderate orientation selectivity showed a strong preference for stripe over visual noise patterns and relatively large modulatory responses to motion of individual stripes. The PMLS contained one major group of cells with strong end-stop and direction selectivities and with poor orientation selectivity. They also showed stronger preference for visual noise than cells in the other cortical areas and rather weak modulatory responses. Area 21a contained only one group of cells with strong orientation selectivity and length summation property rather than end-stop selectivity, and they also lacked direction selectivity. These cells exhibited a strong preference for stripe patterns and moderate or weak modulatory responses. Altogether, these findings indicate that each cortical area is specialized in expressing different stimulus features. The two groups of cells in area 19 may encode the position and motion of discontinuous visual elements such as corners and line ends and continuous elements such as lines and edges. PMLS cells may encode the motion of single elements or associated motion of multiple discontinuous elements such as textures and backgrounds. Area 21a cells may specifically encode the orientation of long, continuous elements such as lines and edges. In support of this view, two types of statistical analyses demonstrated that the combinations of the response properties expressed in individual PS cells are highly correlated with their locations in cortical areas and that the anatomical locations of individual PS cells are reliably predicted from the sets of response indices expressed in these cells.
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  • 8
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 172-177 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Visual cortex ; Directionality Width summation ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Width summation of complex neurones in cat striate cortex was assessed for moving sine-wave gratings. Summation was restricted in special complex neurones, approximately matched receptive field width in intermediate complex neurones and exceeded it in most standard complex neurones. Responses to preferred and opposite directions of motion were compared: 12 of 20 complex neurones showed similar directional bias for moving sinewave gratings and for single moving bars of either contrast polarity; 8 of 20 were similarly or more weakly direction-selective for bars than for grating patches, dependent on patch width. In two of these, this was despite the fact that the directional bias for gratings was invariant with patch width. In the remaining six, differences could be accounted for by progressive increase or decrease in directional bias for gratings, as grating patch width was systematically increased. In conclusion, directional bias of a substantial proportion of complex cells is determined by stimulus configuration.
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  • 9
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Temporal filtering ; Lateral geniculate nucleus ; Signal transmission ; Signal transmission ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The dependency of intrageniculate signal transfer on stimulus temporal frequency was investigated by comparing responses of individual X-relay cells with their direct retinal inputs in anesthetized and paralyzed cats. Temporal frequency response functions of lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) X-cells were more narrowly tuned than those of their retinal inputs. The efficiency of signal transfer was consistently highest at or around the geniculate cells' optimal temporal frequency, and the degree of signal transfer, which was more closely related to the LGN cells' firing rate than to the firing rate of their retinal input, decreased for both lower and higher temporal frequencies. The high temporal frequency cut-offs were significantly lower in geniculate cell responses than those of their direct retinal inputs. This reduction in temporal resolution was exaggerated for relatively low stimulus spatial frequencies. The present results provide clear evidence for the notion that LGN cells function as nonlinear temporal filters and that this stimulus-dependent signal transmission appears to be regulated by complex local mechanisms.
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  • 10
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    Springer
    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 546-550 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Neck muscles ; Cervical vertebrae ; Voluntary head tracking ; Control strategies ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The focus of these experiments was to determine the relationships between head movement, neck muscle activation patterns, and the positions and movements of the cervical vertebrae. One standing cat and one prone cat were trained to produce voluntary sinusoidal movements of the head in the sagittal plane. Video-opaque markers were placed on the cervical vertebrae, and intramuscular patch electrodes implanted in four muscles of the head and neck. Cinefluoroscopic images of cervical vertebral motion and electromyographic responses were simultaneously recorded. Analysis of the spinal movement revealed that the two cats used different strategies to keep their heads aligned with the tracker. In the standing cat, vertebral motion described a more circular arc, compared to a forward diagonal in the prone cat. Intervertebral motion was limited, but more acute angles appeared between the vertebrae of the prone lying than of the standing animal. Data revealed that the central nervous system could control several axes of motion to keep the cervical spine matched to the moving stimulus. Phase relations between the sinusoidal motion of the vertebral column, peak activation of the neck muscles, and that of the stimulus were examined, and several different control strategies were observed both between and within animals. The results suggest that the central nervous system engages in multiple strategies of musculo-skeletal coordination to achieve a single movement outcome.
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  • 11
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    Springer
    Experimental brain research 97 (1994), S. 451-465 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Binocular ; LGNd ; X and Y cells ; Y-block ; Pressure block ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Binocular non-dominant suppression (NDS) in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) of the cat was studied by recording from single neurons in the LGNd of anaesthetized, paralysed cats while stimulating the non-dominant eye with a moving light bar. The maintained discharge rate of LGNd neurons was varied by stimulating the dominant eye in various ways: by varying the size or contrast of a flashed spot, by varying the inner diameter of a flashed annulus of large outer diameter, by varying the velocity of a moving light bar, and by covering the eye. Non-dominant suppression was quantified either as the decrease in the maintained discharge rate (the “dip”), expressed as spikes per second, or as the ratio of the dip to the maintained discharge rate (the “dip ratio”). At low maintained discharge rates the dip, although low in value, frequently approached the maintained rate, i.e. the dip ratio approached unity. As the maintained discharge rate increased the dip value also increased, but more slowly than the maintained discharge rate, i.e. the dip ratio decreased. At maintained discharge rates above about 30 spikes/s, in many neurons the dip appeared to be approaching a constant value. This strong dependence of NDS on the maintained discharge rate of the LGNd neuron suggests that the inhibitory input to the cell arises from a region of the brain that receives an input both from the non-dominant eye and from the LGNd cell. Reasons are given for thinking that this region is the perigeniculate nucleus. Because of the strong dependence of dip and dip ratio on the maintained discharge rate, it was necessary to adopt stringent criteria when comparing NDS in two different sets of neurons or of the same set of neurons in different conditions. We recognized a significant difference in NDS between two classes of neurons or between two states only if: (1) there was no significant difference between the maintained discharge rates, and (2) there was a significant difference for both dip and dip ratio between the two classes or states. Using these criteria we found: (1) no difference between non-lagged X (XNL) and non-lagged Y (YNL) cells, (2) no difference between on-centre and off-centre cells for either XNL or YNL cells, (3) no difference between XNL cells and lagged X (XL) cells. However, there was a significant difference between cells in lamina A and those in lamina A1 for both XNL and YNL cells, dip and dip ratio values being about twice as great in lamina A. In cats in which one optic nerve had been pressure-blocked so as to prevent conduction in the largest axons (Y fibres), loss of conduction in Y fibres crossing the chiasm and projecting to the contralateral LGNd did not affect NDS. Loss of conduction in Y fibres projecting to the ipsilateral LGNd caused a complete loss of NDS in the non-lagged Y cells of lamina A and a substantial decrease in the NDS of the nonlagged X cells of lamina A. The latter cells must, therefore, be partly suppressed by non-Y fibres, presumably X fibres. It also follows that all the NDS of cells in lamina A1 is mediated by non-Y fibres, probably X fibres. Thus, NDS in the cat is partly class-specific and partly not. The discharge of retinal ganglion cells also protects the LGNd cells against NDS. The contribution of Y fibres to this anti-suppressive action was also examined. Contralaterally projecting Y fibres make no contribution. Ipsilaterally projecting Y fibres exert an anti-suppressive action on non-lagged X cells in lamina A1. It follows also that the anti-suppressive action on cells in lamina A mediated by contralaterally projecting fibres is due to non-Y fibres, presumably X fibres. Thus, both the suppressive and the anti-suppressive actions of Y fibres are mediated only by the uncrossed pathway.
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  • 12
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    Springer
    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 287-297 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Balance control ; Posture ; Conditioned movement ; Biomechanics ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The relationship between changes in posture and the performance of a forelimb movement required for a transition between two stance positions was analysed in cats. The task consisted of an operantly conditioned, forelimb stepping movement from one support platform to another located more anterior. The reward was given only after a specific vertical force was applied to the second platform. This ensured that the cat performed a clear transition from its initial stance posture to another requiring a different weight distribution. The strategy adopted by an animal during the conditioned movement was studied by analysing the distribution of the vertical forces as a function of time. Specific quantitative functions were used to describe the weight distribution in the anterior-posterior, right-left and diagonal directions as the task was performed. The temporal parameters characterising this behaviour were not significantly different between animals, except for reaction times. In contrast, spatial parameters reflected in the distribution of vertical forces generated during the performance of the task were characteristic for each animal. As a consequence, a variety of strategies were employed. Nevertheless some general features were found, including the persistence of a diagonal support pattern during the phasic part of the movement, and an initial movement to the side of the forepaw performing the movement. The findings support the view that each animal exhibits a specific strategy for performing this well-learned task, and that the strategy is consistently employed over consecutive trials of the movement.
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  • 13
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    Springer
    Experimental brain research 99 (1994), S. 399-410 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Amblyopia ; Visual cortex ; Monocular deprivation ; Reverse suturing ; Area 17 ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Receptive field properties of extracellularly recorded units in the visual cortex (area 17) of cats made bilaterally amblyopic by a variety of rearing conditions were measured and compared with the properties of units in normal cats. Properties studied included sensitivity to vernier offset, response facilitation to increasing bar length, receptive field size, responsiveness to moving and flashed stimuli, orientation tuning, the relation between mean firing rate and its variance, the amount of overlap of regions of on and off responsiveness in simple and complex cells, and, for flashed stimuli, latency to response onset, time to peak response, and response decay time constant. Behavioural testing of the amblyopic animals showed that spatial resolution was 2–4 times lower and vernier acuity thresholds 10–20 times greater than normal. Despite this, several neuronal response properties did not differ significantly from those in normal animals. These included peak responsiveness to moving stimuli, widths of orientation tuning curves, response variability, and latency to initial response for flashed stimuli. Other properties showed small but significant changes. Sensitivity to vernier offset (impulses per degree of offset) was reduced to nearly half its normal level; receptive field sizes increased by about 24% and an incomplete segregation of regions of on and off responsiveness was found in some cells, which made them hard to classify as simple or complex. Responses to flashed stimuli were smaller and more persistent. Their statistical significance notwithstanding, it seems unlikely that these relatively small response abnormalities in area 17 can fully account for the observed behavioural deficits.
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  • 14
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Inspiratory neurons ; Hypoglossal motoneuron ; Phrenic motoneuron ; Dual-projection neuron ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Localization and projection to the phrenic (PH) nucleus were studied in a sample of premotor neurons that directly projected to hypoglossal motoneurons (XII Mns) and showed respiratory-related patterns of activity. The experiments were carried out in cats, under pentobarbital anesthesia. In the first part of the study, the retrograde double-labeling technique was used to reveal the existence of neurons projecting to both the XII and the PH nuclei. Injection of a fluorescent dye (fast blue, FB) into the XII nucleus and another (nuclear yellow, NY) into the PH nucleus retrogradely labeled, with either FB or NY, medullary reticular neurons mainly in the regions ventrolateral to the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (vl-NTS), ventrolateral to the hypoglossal nucleus (vl-XII), and dorsomedial to the nucleus ambiguus (dm-AMB) bilaterally. In addition, some neurons in these regions were labeled with both FB and NY. In the second part of the study, unitary activity was recorded extracellularly from medullary respiratory neurons. In the regions vl-NTS, vl-XII, and dm-AMB, inspiratory neurons were found which antidromically responded to stimulation of the XII nucleus. Some of them also responded antidromically to stimulation of the PH nucleus. Averaging of rectified and integrated XII and PH nerve discharges by spontaneous spikes of single inspiratory neurons in the vl-NTS and dm-AMB regions revealed a facilitation in either XII nerve discharge or both XII and PH nerve discharges after a short latency of monosynaptic range. It is concluded that in the vl-NTS and dm-AMB regions there are inspiratory neurons that are excitatory premotor neurons projecting to XII Mns showing the respiratory-related activity. Some of them have excitatory synaptic connections to XII and PH Mns via bifurcating axons.
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  • 15
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    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 39-43 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Optic nerve regeneration ; Myelin sheath Electron microscopy ; g value ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Retinal ganglion cells of adult cats have the potential to regenerate their axons into autografted peripheral nerve. Two months after transplantation of the sciatic nerve to the axotomized optic stump, regenerated axons were labeled anterogradely with biocytin, and myelin formation by Schwann cells was examined electron microscopically. Both myelinated and unmyelinated fibers were labeled with biocytin. Among 511 axons labeled in three grafts, 96 fibers (18.8%) were myelinated and 415 (81.2%) were unmyelinated. Mean diameter with SD of myelinated fibers was 1.28 ± 0.39 μm (range 0.71–2.47) and that of unmyelinated fibers was 0.76± 0.38 μm (range 0.18–2.46). The ratio of inner to outer diameters of the myelin sheath (g value) was 0.82, which is close to the value (0.8) for the optic fibers of intact adult cats.
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  • 16
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    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 101-109 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Tendon jerk ; Fusimotor ; Reflex Muscle spindle ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This is a study of the tendon jerk reflex elicited by a brief stretch applied to the triceps surae muscle group in the chloralose-anaesthetised cat. The size of the recorded reflex depended on stretch parameters (optimum at 300 μm amplitude at a rate of 100 mm/s) and on how the muscle had been conditioned. A reflex elicited after a conditioning contraction at the test length was often twice as large as after a contraction carried out at a length longer than the test length. This difference was attributed to the amount of slack introduced in the intrafusal fibres of muscle spindles by conditioning. The question was posed, did ongoing fusimotor activity exert any influence on the size of the tendon jerk? Depolarization indices (DPI) were calculated from responses of muscle spindles to stretch and correlated with the level of reflex tension. Values of DPI obtained from afferent responses with and without repetitive stimulation of identified fusimotor fibres suggested that with the stretch parameters used here the main influence of fusimotor activity was that it removed any pre-existing slack in muscle spindles and thereby increased reflex tension. In the absence of intrafusal slack, stimulation of static and dynamic fusimotor fibres had little additional influence on the size of the reflex. It is concluded that much of the variability typically seen with tendon jerks is due to muscle history effects. Since in muscles which have not been deliberately conditioned there is commonly some slack present in spindles, activity in fusimotor fibres is likely to reduce slack and therefore increase reflex size.
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  • 17
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    Experimental brain research 98 (1994), S. 373-378 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Otolith ; Utricular nerve ; Vestibulocollic reflex ; Neck flexor motoneuron ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We studied the circuitry between the utricular (UT) nerve and ventral neck motoneurons innervating the longus capitis (LC), a neck flexor muscle, in decerebrate cats. We recorded intracellularly from 63 LC (ipsilateral 37, contralateral 26) motoneurons in C1 and C2 segments. UT nerve stimulation evoked disynaptic, excitatory postsynaptic potentials in all ipsilateral LC motoneurons, and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials that were at least trisynaptic in almost all contralateral LC motoneurons. UT effects on neck motoneurons innervating muscles involved in flexion and lateral turning are similar to the connections between the UT nerve and neck extensor motoneurons. These neuron circuits may play a role in fixing the head and the neck to the body during horizontal linear acceleration.
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  • 18
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    Experimental brain research 99 (1994), S. 170-174 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Vision ; Visual cortex ; Receptive fields ; Complex neurons ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Excitatory receptive field (ERF) response profiles and length summation functions were derived from complex neurones in cat striate cortex. Measured length summation was compared with summation predicted from integration over ERF profiles. In a minority of neurones, measured and predicted summation were well matched. In the majority, whether end-stopped or not, responsiveness in length summation tests was appreciably greater than predicted for short stimuli, compared with ERF profiles. The mismatch was least in standard and greatest in special complex neurones; in the latter group, response levels to long stimuli fell well below predicted levels. In end-stopped neurones the decremental portion of length summation functions was not predicted by ERF profiles. These results implicate the involvement of non-linear mechanisms, whereby concomitant stimulation of central regions of the receptive field (RF) potentiate the efficacy of loci towards either end of the RF.
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  • 19
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    Experimental brain research 99 (1994), S. 277-288 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Classical conditioning ; Red nucleus ; Excitatory postsynaptic potentials ; Corticorubral synapses ; Sprouting ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The present study was performed to clarify whether or not structural plasticity of synaptic connections underlies classical conditioning mediated by the red nucleus (RN) in the cat. Conditioned forelimb flexion is established by pairing electrical conditioned stimuli (CS), applied to corticorubral fibers at the cerebral peduncle (CP), with a forelimb skin shock (the unconditioned stimulus, US), but not by applying the CS alone or by pairing the CS and US at random intervals. In our previous study, it was shown that the firing probability of rubrospinal neurons (RN neurons) in response to the CS was well correlated with acquisition of the conditioned forelimb flexion and that the primary site of neural change underlying establishment of the conditioned forelimb flexion was suggested to be at corticorubral synapses. In the present study, we investigated corticorubral excitatory postsynaptic potentials evoked by CP stimulation (CP-EPSPs), in order to identify the neuronal mechanism underlying establishment of classical conditioning. In normal cats, CP-EPSPs had a typical slow-rising phase, which has been attributed to the distal location of corticorubral synapses on the dendrites of RN neurons. In contrast, in animals that received paired conditioning, subsequent CP stimulation evoked potentials with a fast-rising time course. In control groups of cats that received CS alone, CS randomly paired with the US, or only the same surgical operations as the conditioned animals, most of the CP-EPSPs displayed slow-rising EPSPs that similar to those observed in normal cats. The mean time from onset to peak of the potentials in the conditioned animals was significantly shorter than that seen in other groups. Therefore, the appearance of a fast-rising potential correlates well with acquisition of the conditioned forelimb flexion. The amplitude of the fast-rising potential was gradually changed with stimulus intensity. It had a short onset latency following CP stimulation (0.9 ms), which was similar to that of the slow-rising EPSP in normal cats. It followed high-frequency stimulation up to 100 Hz. These results suggest that the newly appearing, fast-rising potential was a monosynaptically evoked EPSP. Fast-rising EPSPs were also induced by stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex (SM). Since the SM-EPSP was occluded by the CP-EPSP, the SM cortex is, at least in part, a likely source of fast-rising EPSPs. Fast-rising SM-EPSPs were also observed at the unitary level. The SM-EPSPs in the conditioned animals exhibited somatotopical representation in their cortical origin, as has been described in normal cats. The electrotonic length was calculated from the voltage transient responses to current steps injected into the RN neurons. There was no concomitant change in the electrotonic length following the classical conditioning. Furthermore, the fastrising EPSPs were often observed as if they were superposed on the slow-rising EPSPs that were observed in normal animals. These observations suggest that the appearance of fast-rising EPSPs is due to the formation of new corticorubral synapses on the somata or the proximal dendrites of the RN neurons, and not as a result of a reduction in the electrotonic length of the RN neurons. The present study provides further evidence that this type of structural plasticity of synaptic connections underlies establishment of the classically conditioned forelimb flexion.
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  • 20
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    Experimental brain research 79 (1994), S. 369-375 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Calcium entry blocker ; Electrical potential ; Interstitial ion activity ; Spinal cord injury ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Interstitial and tissue cations and electrical potential were studied in an experimental model of spinal cord contusion injury in anaesthetised cats. Measurements of interstitial ion activity in the grey matter at the injury site (with ion-selective electrodes), showed a decrease of sodium and calcium, an increase of potassium, a small acidification and a negative shift in the electrical potential 5 min after injury. The interstitial ionic changes were completely reversible within 90 min following injury. Measurements of the ion content in a tissue sample from the injury site (flame photometry) showed an increase of sodium and calcium and a decrease of potassium 5 min after injury. The magnitude of the post-injury sodium change was much larger than the potassium change, both for interstitial and tissue measurements. Treatment of the animals with the calcium entry blocker flunarizine before the injury did not influence the magnitude of post-injury interstitial calcium decrease but significantly increased the rate of subsequent recovery. Pre-injury flunarizine treatment also significantly increased the recovery rate of the electrical potential. The experiments suggest the occurrence of a net ionic shift towards the intracellular space, which may contribute to oedema formation in the very early post-injury period. The post-injury decrease of interstitial calcium activity is probably not mediated by flunarizine-sensitive calcium entry mechanisms; such mechanisms may, however, be involved in the subsequent recovery period for interstitial calcium activity. Calcium ions may be involved in the recovery process of the negative electrical potential after injury.
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  • 21
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Eye movement ; Horseradish peroxidase ; Semicircular canals ; Three-neuron arc ; Vestibulo-ocular reflex ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Second-order vestibular neurons form the central links of the vestibulo-oculomotor three-neuron arcs that mediate compensatory eye movements. Most of the axons that provide for vertical vestibulo-ocular reflexes ascend in the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) toward target neurons in the oculomotor and trochlear nuclei. We have now determined the morphology of individual excitatory second-order neurons of the anterior semicircular canal system that course outside the MLF to the oculomotor nucleus. The data were obtained by the intracellular horseradish peroxidase method. Cell somata of the extra-MLF anterior canal neurons were located in the superior vestibular nucleus. The main axon ascended through the deep reticular formation beneath the brachium conjunctivum to the rostral extent of the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis, where it crossed the midline. The main axon continued its trajectory to the caudal edge of the red nucleus from where it coursed back toward the oculomotor nucleus. Within the oculomotor nucleus, collaterals reached superior rectus and inferior oblique motoneurons. Some axon branches recrossed the midline within the oculomotor nucleus and reached the superior rectus motoneuron subdivision on that side. Since these neurons did not give off a collateral toward the spinal cord, they were classified as being of the vestibulo-oculomotor type and are thought to be involved exclusively in eye movement control. The signal content and spatial tuning characteristics of this anterior canal vestibulo-oculomotor neuron class remain to be determined.
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  • 22
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    Experimental brain research 97 (1994), S. 404-414 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Anterior ectosylvian cortex ; Vision ; Audition ; Somesthesis ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Modality specificity of neuronal responses to visual, somesthetic and auditory stimuli was investigated in the anterior ectosylvian cortex (AEC) of cats, using single-unit recording techniques. Seven classes of neurons were found, and according to their responsiveness to sensory stimuli regrouped into three categories: unimodal, bimodal and trimodal. Unimodal cells that responded to only one of the three stimulus modalities formed 59% of the units; 30.2% were bimodal, in that they showed a clear increase of neuronal discharges to two of the three stimulus types; 10.8% were defined as trimodal because they responded to all three stimulus modalities. Although the different categories of cells were intermingled within the AEC, indicating a certain degree of overlap between sensory modalities, some clustering of cell types was nonetheless evident. Thus, the somatosensory responsive cells were mainly located in the anterior two-thirds of the dorsal bank of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus. Visually responsive cells were concentrated on the ventral bank of the sulcus, whereas neurons with an auditory response occupied the banks and fundus of the posterior three-quarters of the sulcus. The histological distribution and physiological properties of AEC neurons suggest that this cortical region is a higher-order associative area whose function may be to integrate information from different sensory modalities.
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  • 23
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Optokinetic nystagmus and afternystagmus ; Vestibuloocular reflex ; Adaptation and habituation ; Vestibulocerebellum ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Bilateral surgical lesions of the flocculus or the nodulo-uvular lobes were performed in the cat. Effects of these lesions on optokinetic and optokinetic afternystagmus (OKAN), vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), visual suppression, and adaptation and habituation of VOR were studied using an identical experimental protocol. After flocculectomy, all these functions were impaired, except for habituation. Long-term postoperative recordings only revealed a recovery of the suppression of VOR, suggesting a limited contribution of the flocculus to this function. After nodulo-uvulectomy, only habituation and OKAN were modified. When the lesion was restricted to part of the uvula, OKAN duration was decreased. For other lesions involving the uvula together with the nodulus and/or the lobules VII-VIII, OKAN duration was increased. Habituation was lost after destruction of the nodulo-uvular lobes. When this latter structure was damaged, the retention component of habituation was selectively impaired, sparing the acquisition. Additional lesions outside the vestibulocerebellum appeared necessary to suppress the two components. Comparison of results obtained after flocculectomy and after nodulouvulectomy confirms and extends to nonprimate species the concept of a “differential control” of adaptation and habituation by distinct vestibulocerebellar structures.
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  • 24
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    Keywords: Omnipause neurons ; Superior colliculus ; Fixation ; Saccade ; Gaze ; Eye-head coordination ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The superior colliculus has long been recognized as an important structure in the generation of saccadic displacements of the visual axis. Neurons with presaccadic activity encoding saccade vectors are topographically organized and form a “motor map.” Recently, neurons with fixation-related activity have been recorded at the collicular rostral pole, at the area centralis representation or fixation area. Another collicular function which deals with the maintenance of fixation behavior by means of active inhibition of orientation commands was then suggested. We tested that hypothesis as it relates to the suppression of gaze saccades (gaze = eye in space = eye in head + head in space) in the head-free cat by increasing the activity of the fixation cells at the rostral pole with electrical microstimulation. Long stimulation trains applied before gaze saccades delayed their initiation. Short stimuli, delivered during the gaze saccades, transiently interrupted both eye and head components. These results provide further support for a role in fixation behavior for collicular fixation neurons. Brainstem omnipause neurons also exhibit fixation-related activity and have been shown to receive a direct excitatory input from the superior colliculus. To determine whether the collicular projection to omnipause neurons arises from the fixation area, the deep layers of the superior colliculus were electrically stimulated either at the rostral pole including the fixation area or in more caudal regions where stimulation evokes orienting responses. Forty-nine neurons were examined in three cats. 61% of the neurons were found to be orthodromically excited by single-pulse stimulation of the rostral pole, whereas only 29% responded to caudal stimulation. In addition, stimuli delivered to the rostral pole activated, on average, omnipause neurons at shorter latencies and with lower currents than those applied in caudal regions. These results suggest that excitatory inputs to omnipause neurons from the superior colliculus are principally provided by the fixation area, via which the superior colliculus could play a role in suppression of gaze shifts.
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  • 25
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Periaqueductal gray ; Tracing Spinal cord ; Axial muscles ; Defense behavior ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The periaqueductal gray (PAG) plays an important role in analgesia as well as in motor activities, such as vocalization, cardiovascular changes, and movements of the neck, back, and hind limbs. Although the anatomical pathways for vocalization and cardiovascular control are rather well understood, this is not the case for the pathways controlling the neck, back, and hind limb movements. This led us to study the direct projections from the PAG to the spinal cord in the cat. In a retrograde tracing study horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into different spinal levels, which resulted in large HRP-labeled neurons in the lateral and ventrolateral PAG and the adjacent mesencephalic tegmentum. Even after an injection in the S2 spinal segment a few of these large neurons were found in the PAG. Wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated HRP injections in the ventrolateral and lateral PAG resulted in anterogradely labeled fibers descending through the ventromedial, ventral, and lateral funiculi. These fibers terminated in lamina VIII and the medial part of lamina VII of the caudal cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal cord. Interneurons in these laminae have been demonstrated to project to axial and proximal muscle motoneurons. The strongest PAG-spinal projections were to the upper cervical cord, where the fibers terminated in the lateral parts of the intermediate zone (laminae V, VII, and the dorsal part of lamina VIII). These laminae contain the premotor interneurons of the neck muscles. This distribution pattern suggests that the PAG-spinal pathway is involved in the control of neck and back movements. Comparing the location of the PAG-spinal neurons with the results of stimulation experiments leads to the supposition that the PAG-spinal neurons play a role in the control of the axial musculature during threat display.
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  • 26
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    Experimental brain research 102 (1994), S. 198-209 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Primary spindle afferents ; Secondary spindle afferents ; Classification ; Discharge pattern regularity ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The discharge frequency of primary (Ia) and secondary (II) muscle spindle afferents from the tibial anterior muscle of the cat were recorded under a rampand-hold stretch of the host muscle. The rate of ramp stretch and the prestretch of the muscle were varied systematically. The degree of stretch was kept constant. For a discharge pattern recorded at a ramp rate of 10 mm/s, the peak dynamic discharge, the maximum static value and the final static value were determined. These three discharge rate values were plotted against the maximum static value. In the resulting charts the II afferents presented themselves as a homogeneous group of spindle afferents, whereas the Ia fibers separated into three subgroups. The existence of three subpopulations of Ia fibers was verified by the method of Hald. Furthermore, it is shown that each subpopulation generated its discharge patterns in its own regularly systematic manner. It was concluded that, as one of the three Ia subpopulations exhibits much the same dynamic and static stretch properties as the II fibers, the encoder of this subpopulation must receive its receptor current from the sensory terminals of passive intrafusal chain fibers. The encoder of a second Ia subpopulation indicates its action potentials using the receptor current stemming from the bag1 sensory terminals, these Ia fibers eliciting a slow adaptation component of a high magnitude which is assumed to be the consequence of a high level of “creep” in the passive intrafusal bag1 fiber. The third Ia subpopulation initiates its action potential sequences by means of the receptor current stemming from the passive bag2 fiber, producing behavior patterns that lie between those of the other two Ia subpopulations.
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  • 27
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Globus pallidus ; Entopeduncular nucleus GABA ; Muscimol ; Bicuculline ; Reaction time Intracerebral microinjection ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The possible role of GABAergic mechanisms in the control of the basal ganglia output structures, the globus pallidus (GP) and the entopeduncular nucleus (EP), was studied in cats performing a conditioned flexion movement triggered by an auditory stimulus. The effects of discrete unilateral microinjections of low doses of the GABAA receptor agonist (muscimol 5–100 ng/ 0.5 μl) and antagonist (bicuculline methiodide 25–150 ng/0.5 μl) in the GP and the EP were tested on the motor performance of eight animals trained to release a lever in a simple reaction time (RT) schedule after an auditory stimulus. Control injections in neighboring structures did not induce any effect except with five- to tenfold higher doses in the closest injection sites. The dose of 20 ng muscimol injected into the ventral and medial part of the GP produced an arrest of the performance after a few unsuccessful trials (over the RT reinforcement limit of 500 ms), while muscimol injected in sites located in the lateral GP resulted in a dose-dependent lengthening in RTs, with a concomitant increase in the force change latency. In most of the subjects, the force exerted on the lever was higher after muscimol than after vehicle injection. Force change velocity was then significantly increased. In contrast, muscimol injected in the ventral and rostral region of the EP produced a decrease in RTs or a complete cessation of responding after a high number of anticipatory responses (release of the lever before the trigger stimulus). No significant changes in the force change latency could be observed while there was a non-significant tendency for the force levels to be lowered. Bicuculline injections in the EP were found to increase RTs with a concomitant increase in force change latency and a slowness of velocity, while no significant effect was observed following injections in the GP. These results suggest that a balance between GABAergic activity in the two output nuclei of the basal ganglia, the GP and the EP, is crucial for the correct initiation and execution of the conditioned motor task.
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  • 28
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    Experimental brain research 102 (1994), S. 210-226 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Primary auditory cortex ; Frequency representation ; Intensity representation ; Single neuron ; Cortical topography ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The tonotopicity of the cat's primary auditory cortex (AI) is thought to provide the framework for frequency-specific processing in that field. This study was designed to assess this postulate by examining the spatial distribution of neurons within AI that are activated by a single tonal frequency delivered to the contralateral ear. Distributions obtained at each of several stimulus levels were then compared to assess the influence of stimulus amplitude on the spatial representation of a given stimulus frequency in AI. Data were obtained from 308 single units in AI of four adult, barbiturate-anesthetized cats, using extracellular recording methods. Stimuli were 40-ms tone pulses presented through calibrated, sealed stimulating systems. In each animal, the CF (stimulus frequency to which the unit is most sensitive), threshold at CF, response/level function at CF, and binaural interactions were determined for isolated neurons (usually one per track) in 60–90 electrode tracks. For each unit, regardless of its CF, responses to 40 repetitions of contralateral tones of a single frequency, presented at each of four or five sound pressure levels (SPLs) in the range from 10 to 80 dB were obtained. Different test frequencies were used in each of four cats (1.6, 8.0, 11.0, and 16.0 kHz). For tones of each SPL, we generated maps of the response rates across the cortical surface. These maps were then superimposed on the more traditional maps of threshold CF. All units whose CF was equal to the test frequency could be driven at some SPL, given an appropriate monaural or binaural configuration of the stimulus. There was a clear spatial segregation of neurons according to the shapes of their CF tone response/level functions. Patches of cortex, often occupying more than 2 mm2, seemed to contain only monotonic or only nonmonotonic units. In three cortices, a patch of nonmonotonic cells was bounded ventrally by a patch of monotonie cells, and in one of these cases, a second patch of monotonic cells was found dorsal to the nonmonotonic patch. Contralateral tones of any given SPL evoked excitatory responses in discontinuous cortical territories. At low SPLs (10, 20 dB), small foci of activity occurred along the isofrequency line representing the test frequency. Many of these cells had nonmonotonic response/level functions. At mid- and high SPLs, the CFs of neurons activated by a pure tone varied across 3 octaves. At the highest SPL used (80 dB), most of the neurons with nonmonotonic response/level functions were inactive, or responded poorly; the active neurons were widely spread across the cortex, and the distribution of activity had a pattern bearing little relationship to the threshold CF contour map. These data indicate that only isolated patches of units within the relevant isofrequency contour are activated by a given suprathreshold contralateral tone. At suprathreshold stimulus levels, the region of cortex containing active patches extends widely beyond the threshold isofrequency contour region corresponding to the test stimulus frequency. The spatial representation of a stimulus delivered to the contralateral ear appears, therefore, to be highly level dependent and discontinuous. These observations suggest that in the cat's AI, tonotopicity and isofrequency contours are abstractions which bear little resemblance to the spatial representation of tonal signals.
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  • 29
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    Experimental brain research 100 (1994), S. 1-6 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Spinal cord ; Ascending tracts ; Spinocervical neurons ; Group II muscle afferents ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Peripheral input to spino-cervical tract (SCT) neurons located in the L4 and L5 segments of the cat spinal cord was investigated using both extracellular and intracellular recording. The main aim was to find out whether midlumbar SCT neurons are excited monosynaptically not only by cutaneous afferents but also by group II muscle afferents, as in the sacral segments but apparently not in the caudal lumbar segments. Input from group II muscle afferents was found in 73% of investigated neurons; the latencies of excitation by group II afferents were compatible with a monosynaptic coupling between these afferents and 62% of neurons. The majority of the midlumbar SCT neurons were excited by group II afferents of the quadriceps and deep peroneal nerves. The predominant monosynaptic input from cutaneous afferents to the same neurons was from the saphenous nerve.
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  • 30
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Posterior semicircular canal ; Vestibular nucleus neuron ; Medial mesodiencephalic junction ; Thalamus ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The axonal projections of 62 posterior canal (PC)-activated excitatory and inhibitory secondary vestibular neurons were studied electrophysiologically in cats. PC-related neurons were identified by monosynaptic activation elicited by electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve and activation following nose-up rotation of the animal's head. Single excitatory and inhibitory neurons were identified by antidromic activation following electrical stimulation of the contralateral and ipsilateral medial longitudinal fasciculus, respectively. The oculomotor projections of identified neurons were confirmed with a spike-triggered averaging technique. The axonal projections of the identified neurons were then studied by systematic, antidromic stimulation of the mesodiencephalon. Excitatory neurons showed two main types of axonal projections. In one type, axonal branches were issued to the interstitial nucleus of Cajal, central gray, and thalamus including the ventral posterolateral, ventral posteromedial, ventral lateral, ventral medial, centromedian, central lateral, lateral posterior, and ventral lateral geniculate nuclei. The other type was more frequently observed, giving off axon collaterals to the above-mentioned regions and to Forel's field H as well. Inhibitory neurons issued axonal branches to limited areas which included the central gray, interstitial nucleus of Cajal, its adjacent reticular formation and caudalmost part of Forel's field H, but not the rostral part of the Forel's field H and the thalamus. These results suggest that PC-related excitatory neurons participate in the genesis of vertical eye movements and in the perception of the vestibular sensation, and that PC-related inhibitory neurons seem to take part only in the genesis of vertical eye movements.
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  • 31
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    Experimental brain research 100 (1994), S. 58-66 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Muscle spindle ; Fusimotor Succinyl choline ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This report describes the effects of succinylcholine (SCh) on the secondary endings of cat soleus muscle spindles and attempts to explain them in terms of the action of the drug on intrafusal fibres. All but 2 of 41 secondary endings studied in detail showed a significant response to a single intravenous injection of 200 μg kg-1 SCh. This consisted of a rise in the resting rate or development of a resting discharge if the spindle had previously been silent and an increase in the response to stretch. The increases in the responses to stretch were weaker than those observed for primary endings of spindles, but were much larger than those of tendon organs, which showed very little effect with this concentration of drug. The response to SCh showed two features consistent with its action being mediated via an intrafusal muscle fibre contraction rather than a direct depolarising action on the afferent nerve ending. In the presence of SCh, secondary endings were able to maintain a discharge during muscle shortening at rates, on average, more than 5 times greater than under control conditions. Secondly, the increase in spindle discharge produced by SCh showed a length dependence similar to that for fusimotor stimulation. Further support for the action of SCh being principally via an intrafusal fibre contraction was provided by the observation that its effects were abolished by the neuromuscular blocker gallamine triethiodide. The time course of recovery of SCh responses, following their blockade by gallamine, was much slower than recovery of extrafusal tension and closely paralleled that for the recovery of fusimotor responses. In three separate experiments on the medial gastrocnemius muscle the possibility that SCh may exert an excitatory action on spindle sensory endings through the liberation of potassium ions from the muscle was tested by tetanic stimulation of the muscle. This had no detectable excitatory effect. Several observations were made on the effect of SCh on responses of cutaneous receptors. SCh did not change levels of spontaneous activity or responses to mechanical stimulation of either slowly or rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors. It was argued for both tendon organs and cutaneous receptors that if SCh had a direct action on the nerve ending at the concentrations used here, some responses of these receptors to the drug might have been expected. All of the above supports the view that secondary endings of spindles are able to respond to SCh by the development of an intrafusal fibre contracture. The question of the intrafusal fibre types involved is discussed.
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  • 32
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    Experimental brain research 101 (1994), S. 415-426 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Visual cortex ; Orientation selectivity ; GABA inhibition ; Interlaminar connections ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Intracortical inhibition is believed to enhance the orientation tuning of striate cortical neurons, but the origin of this inhibition is unclear. To examine the possible influence of ascending inhibitory projections from the infragranular layers of striate cortex on the orientation selectivity of neurons in the supragranular layers, we measured the spatiotemporal response properties of 32 supragranular neurons in the cat before, during, and after neural activity in the infragranular layers beneath the recorded cells was inactivated by iontophoretic administration of GABA. During GABA iontophoresis, the orientation tuning bandwidth of 15 (46.9%) supragranular neurons broadened as a result of increases in response amplitude to stimuli oriented about ±20° away from the preferred stimulus angle. The mean (±SD) baseline orientation tuning bandwidth (half width at half height) of these neurons was 13.08±2.3°. Their mean tuning bandwidth during inactivation of the infragranular layers increased to 19.59±2.54°, an increase of 49.7%. The mean percentage increase in orientation tuning bandwidth of the individual neurons was 47.4%. Four neurons exhibited symmetrical changes in their orientation tuning functions, while 11 neurons displayed asymmetrical changes. The change in form of the orientation tuning functions appeared to depend on the relative vertical alignment of the recorded neuron and the infragranular region of inactivation. Neurons located in close vertical register with the inactivated infragranular tissue exhibited symmetric changes in their orientation tuning functions. The neurons exhibiting asymmetric changes in their orientation tuning functions were located just outside the vertical register. Eight of these 11 neurons also demonstrated a mean shift of 6.67±5.77° in their preferred stimulus orientation. The magnitude of change in the orientation tuning functions increased as the delivery of GABA was prolonged. Responses returned to normal approximately 30 min after the delivery of GABA was discontinued. We conclude that inhibitory projections from neurons within the infragranular layers of striate cortex in cats can enhance the orientation selectivity of supragranular striate cortical neurons.
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  • 33
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    Experimental brain research 101 (1994), S. 452-464 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Somatosensory thalamus ; Knee joint ; Nociception ; Bradykinin ; Capsaicin ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In order to gain insight into the representation of articular pain of the knee at the supraspinal level, recordings were made from lateral thalamic neurons receiving input from afferent fibres of the knee joint in chloralose-anaesthetized cats. Dorsoventral penetrations were made through the ventral posterior lateral nucleus (VPL) using high intensity electrical stimulation of the medial articular nerve (MAN), which contains a high proportion (80%) of Aδ and C afferent fibres. All recording sites were verified histologically. Close retrograde injections (300 μl over 6 s) into geniculate artery of KCl (2 × isotonic), bradykinin (BK, 2.6 or 26 μg) and capsaicin (200 μM) were used to test the response properties of thalamic neurons. Of the 50 MAN-positive units tested, 20 showed a response to intra-arterial KCl; of these 20, 12 had a response to BK; 8 of these 12 units were additionally tested with capsaicin and all responded. KCl and capsaicin injections had similar mean response latencies (4.5 and 6.8 s), whereas BK had a longer mean latency (18.6 s). The mean peak response was greatest for capsaicin (168 impulses/s), then KCl (87.5 imp/s) and least with BK (36.4 imp/s). The mean response duration was longest with capsaicin (118 s), followed by BK (67.5 s) and least with KCl (27.9 s). Most of these were convergent wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons with a deep receptive field in the knee joint and hindlimb muscle and/or cutaneous distal hind limb digit, located to the dorsal or ventral periphery of the lateral division of the VPL, the VPLl. In addition, 8 neurons showed inhibitory responses to KCl and/or BK injections. The background activity of the VPLl neurons activated by saphenous nerve stimulation was inhibited by the nociceptive articular stimulus with a magnitude and time course which mirrored the excitatory responses in the periphery of VPLl. These results support the concept that the lateral thalamus plays an important role in mediating discriminative aspects of joint pain.
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  • 34
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    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 350 (1994), S. 339-345 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Locus coeruleus ; Dopamine ; Noradrenaline ; Adrenaline ; Veratridine ; Tetrodotoxin ; Push-pull cannula ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract To investigate the release of endogenous dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline in the locus coeruleus, this brain area was superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through push-pull cannulae and the release of catecholamines was determined in the superfusate radioenzymatically. Collection of superfusates in time periods of 10 min revealed that release rates of the three catecholamines fluctuated, thus pointing to the existence of ultradian rhythms with following mean periods (minutes per cycle): noradrenaline 52±4, dopamine 37±2, adrenaline 36±2. The rhythm frequency of noradrenaline was significantly lower than the frequencies of dopamine and adrenaline. When the locus coeruleus was superfused with neuroactive drugs, superfusates were collected in time periods of 3 min. Superfusion with tetrodotoxin (1 μmol 1−1) for 12 min elicited a prompt and sustained decrease (−70%) in the release rates of dopamine and adrenaline. The release rate of noradrenaline was also reduced, although to a lesser extent (−40%). Superfusion with veratridine (50 μmol 1−1) led to an immediate and very pronounced enhancement in the release rates of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. The veratridine-induced increase in catecholamine outflow was decreased strongly by simultaneous superfusion with tetrodotoxin. The findings suggest that the release of endogenous catecholamines in the locus coeruleus fluctuates according to ultradian rhythms. Changes in the release on superfusion with veratridine and tetrodotoxin demonstrate the neuronal origin of the three catecholamines. The observed differences in the release characteristics between noradrenaline on the one hand and dopamine and adrenaline on the other might indicate that noradrenaline is partly released from somatodendritic sites of the noradrenergic cell bodies in the locus coeruleus.
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    Pflügers Archiv 426 (1994), S. 304-309 
    ISSN: 1432-2013
    Keywords: Mechanoreceptors ; Cat ; Urinary bladder ; Functional properties ; Bladder pressure ; Wall tension ; Natural distension
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Bladder wall mechanoreceptors are essential elements in micturition and continence reflexes. While they have been described as tension receptors, their response to bladder wall deformation has always been characterised in terms of pressure. The firing patterns of 10 bladder wall mechanoreceptors were determined during bladder distensions at a natural and a much faster rate. In all units firing rate was higher at any given pressure at the slower bladder distension rate. This inverse rate dependence was reduced when firing rate was related to a derived measure of bladder wall tension and abolished when multi-fibre recordings were used. We conclude that it is important to incorporate volume effects in studies of continence control systems.
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  • 36
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    Experimental brain research 102 (1994), S. 175-180 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Striate cortex ; Simple cells ; Single spot stimuli ; Axis preference ; Influence of velocity ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Directional tuning for motion of a long bar and a spot was compared quantitatively over a wide range of velocities in 23 simple cells of cat striate cortex whose “on” and “off” receptive field subregions had been mapped with optimally oriented, stationary flash-presented bars. Tuning curves were derived using stimuli whose polarity of contrast was appropriate for the dominant receptive field subregion of each cell (i.e. light stimuli for on-subregions and dark stimuli for off-subregions); stimulus sweep was centred accurately on the centre of that subregion. Bar stimuli were of optimal width, and spot diameter was equal to the width of the bars. In all simple cells, preferred axis of motion for a long bar was invariant with velocity, being orthogonal to preferred orientation, as assessed with a stationary flash-presented bar. In 20 of 23 simple cells, preferred axis for spot motion was approximately orthogonal to that for bar motion (i.e., parallel to preferred orientation) at all velocities tested, including those just above threshold for spot stimuli. However, tuning for the spot became sharper as velocity was increased, due to an increase in response to the spot moving along the preferred axis and a decrease in response to spot motion along other axes, including the preferred axis for the bar. Both preferred and upper cut-off velocity were consistently higher for spot than for bar motion. The remaining 3 simple cells showed no response to spot motion at any velocity, and their preferred axis of motion for the shortest bar which evoked a consistent response was the same as that for a long bar. We conclude that simple cells respond to motion of a spot per se and not just to its oriented components, and that in most simple cells preferred axis for spot motion is genuinely approximately orthogonal to that for motion of a long bar. A spatio-temporal filter model incorporating intracortical feedforward facilitation along the long axis of the receptive field can account for the observed differences in axis preference and velocity sensitivity for spot and bar motion.
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  • 37
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    Experimental brain research 102 (1994), S. 319-326 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Visual cortex ; Simple cells ; Mach bands ; Receptive fields ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Mach bands are a visual illusion evoked by a luminance ramp dividing two luminance plateaux (blurred edges), but not by sharp edges. Recently, two physiology-based models have tried to cope with the psychophysical data concerning this phenomenon. The basic components of both models are neurons with even- or odd-symmetric receptive fields (RFs). Both models predict that odd-symmetric cells respond better to sharp edges, while even-symmetric cells respond better to blurred ones. We have measured the responses of 34 primary visual cortex simple cells of the cat to blurred edges of various degrees. Twenty-one cells had RFs of even symmetry, responding best to blurred edges than to sharp ones. The rest were odd-symmetric cells, of which 12 responded best to sharp edges, and only one exceptional cell responded best to a 0.85°-wide edge. Thus, the different cell types responded as predicted by the two different Mach band models. Simple cells may thus serve as the physiological basis of the psychophysical phenomenon of Mach bands. Furthermore, our evidence suggests the existence of inhibition between odd-and even-symmetric cells, as predicted by one of the models.
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  • 38
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    Experimental brain research 100 (1994), S. 149-154 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Long-term potentiation ; GABAA receptor ; NMDA receptor ; Low-threshold calcium channel ; Motor cortex ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission (LTP), as documented by the enhancement of evoked field potentials in layer III following stimulation of the underlying white matter, has been studied in slices of motor cortex from adult cats. With a 1 M NaCl-filled recording electrode, LTP was induced only in one out of eight slices. When the recording electrode in addition contained 5 mM bicuculline metiodide, LTP was obtained with a much higher rate of success (15/19), suggesting that reduction of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition facilitated the induction of LTP in the motor cortex. Bath application of dl-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV, 100 μM) or Ni2+ (100 μM) significantly reduced the success rate for LTP occurrence (6/16 and 5/16, respectively); but when LTP was induced, it did not show significant change in magnitude and time course. In slices perfused with APV (100 μM) plus Ni2+ (100 μM), LTP induction was completely blocked (0/12). These results suggest that two different mechanisms may subserve LTP induction in the cat motor cortex: one is mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors and can be blocked by APV; the other may be mediated by low-threshold calcium channels and can be blocked by Ni2+.
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  • 39
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Superior colliculus ; Microstimulation ; Gaze saccades ; Tecto-reticulo-spinal neurons ; Fixation ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In our previous paper we demonstrated that electrical microstimulation of the fixation area at the rostral pole of the cat superior colliculus (SC) elicits no gaze movement but, rather, transiently suppresses eye-head gaze saccades. In this paper, we investigated the more caudal region of the SC and its interaction with the fixation area. In the alert head-free cat, supra-threshold stimulation in the anterior portion of the SC but outside the fixation area evoked small saccadic shifts of gaze consisting mainly of an eye movement, the head's contribution being small. Stimulating more posteriorly elicited large gaze saccades consisting of an ocular saccade combined with a rapid head movement. At these latter stimulation sites, craniocentric (goal-directed) eye movements were evoked when the cat's head was restrained. The amplitude of eye-head gaze saccades elicited at a particular stimulation site increased with stimulus duration, current strength, and pulse rate, until a constant or “unit” value was reached. The peak velocity of gaze shifts depended on both pulse rate and current strength. The movement direction was not affected by stimulus parameters. The unit gaze vector evoked, in the head-free condition, by stimulating one collicular site was similar to that coded by efferent neurons recorded at that site, thereby indicating a retinotopically coded gaze error representation on the collicular motor map which is not revealed by stimulating the head-fixed animal. Evoked gaze saccades were found to be influenced by fixation behavior. The amplitude of evoked gaze shifts was reduced if stimulation occurred when the hungry animal fixated a food target. Electrical activation of the collicular fixation area was found to mimic well the effects of natural fixation on evoked gaze shifts. Taken together, our results support the view that the overall distribution and level of collicular activity contributes to the encoding of the metrics of gaze saccades. We suggest that the combined levels of activity at the site being stimulated and at the fixation area influence the amplitude of evoked gaze saccades through competition. When stimulation is at low intensities, fixation-related activity reduces the amplitude of evoked gaze saccades. At high activation levels, the site being stimulated dominates and the gaze vector is specified only by that site's collicular output neurons, from which arises the close correspondence between the unit-evoked gaze saccades and the neurally coded gaze vector at that site.
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    Experimental brain research 101 (1994), S. 307-313 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Perigeniculate nucleus ; X and Y cells ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The spike activity of perigeniculate cells evoked by small light spots flashing along the axes of their receptive fields was recorded and presented in response planes. This method allowed the investigated neurons to be grouped into two classes characterized by (1) large receptive fields and phasic-like responses and (2) small fields and tonic responses. The latency measurements for stimulation of the optic chiasma and visual cortex revealed that the cells from the first group are excited by fast, Y fibers and the second by slow, X axons. The spatial tuning curves of the second harmonic component, as measured from the responses of the cells from the two groups for slowly moving square gratings, are also different. We conclude that the X and Y systems of the visual pathway are segregated at the level of the perigeniculate nucleus.
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  • 41
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    Experimental brain research 102 (1994), S. 34-44 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Fictive locomotion ; Scratch ; Flexor reflex afferents ; Group Ib ; Plateau potentials ; NMDA receptor ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Lumbar motoneurones were recorded intracellularly during fictive locomotion induced by stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region in decerebrate cats. After blocking the action potentials using intracellular QX-314, and by using a discontinuous current clamp, it is shown that the excitatory component of the locomotor drive potentials behaves in a voltage-dependent manner, such that its amplitude increases with depolarisation. As the input to motoneurones during locomotion is comprised of alternating excitation and inhibition, it was desirable to examine the excitatory input in relative isolation. This was accomplished in spinalised decerebrate cats treated with nialamide and l-dihydroxy-phenylalanine (l-DOPA) by studying the excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked from the “flexor reflex afferents” (FRA) and extensor Ib afferents, both of which are likely to be mediated via the locomotor network. As expected, these EPSPs also demonstrate a voltage-dependent increase in amplitude. In addition, the input to motoneurones from the network for scratching, which is thought to share interneurones with the locomotor network, also results in voltage-dependent excitation. The possible underlying mechanisms of NMDA-mediated excitation and plateau potentials are discussed:both may contribute to the observed effect. It is suggested that this nonlinear increase in excitation contributes to the mechanisms involved in the production of the high rates of repetitive firing of motoneurones typically seen during locomotion, thus ensuring appropriate muscle contraction.
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    Experimental brain research 102 (1994), S. 69-74 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Motoneurone ; Recruitment ; Force modulation ; Rat ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In the context of an analysis concerning factors of importance for the relative contributions of recruitment and rate gradation of muscle force, the distribution of electrical excitability was analyzed for medial gastrocnemius (MG) motoneurones of rat and cat. The experimental data came from previously collected intracellular measurements in animals anaesthetized with pentobarbitone. Electrical excitability was measured as the threshold (nanoamperes) for single spike generation (rheobase) in rat and for maintained repetitive firing (rhythmic threshold) in cat. Furthermore, the data included measurements of axonal conduction velocity and of contractile properties of the muscle units innervated by the studied motoneurones. The units were categorized into types S (slow-twitch, fatigue-resistant), FR (fast-twitch, fatigue-resistant) and FF (fast-twitch, fatiguable) on the basis of the combined criteria of twitch-speed and sensitivity to fatigue. We confirmed that, in spite of the presence of normal-looking symmetrical distributions of axonal conduction velocity, there was a positive skew in the distribution of electrical excitability (relatively high numbers of cells with low thresholds, few with high ones). Within each unit category (S, FR, FF), we ranked the motoneurones according to their relative electrical excitability and calculated the threshold difference between consecutive cells (“threshold spacing”). In accordance with the skewed distribution of electrical excitability, we found that the mean threshold spacing was ranked in the same way as the mean thresholds, i.e. S〈FR〈FF; the statistical analysis showed that, for cats as well as rats, small threshold-spacing steps were significantly more common for S than for FF motoneurones. In the discussion it is pointed out that the narrow threshold-spacing for S units, as compared to FF units, would tend to decrease the relative amount of recruitment-parallel rate modulation in these cells. Thus, the spacing of recruitment thresholds tends to allow the easily recruited S motoneurones to remain firing at relatively low rates during ongoing recruitment gradation, which would be of potential value in promoting a high degree of endurance for long-lasting postural contractions.
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    Experimental brain research 102 (1994), S. 181-197 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Cross-correlation analysis ; Connection strength ; Somatosensory cortex ; Ventrobasal thalamus ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Neuronal responses to hairy skin stimulation were simultaneously recorded in the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) of the thalamus and primary somatosensory cortex (SI) of halothane-anesthetized cats. Among 233 thalamocortical neuron pairs, cross-correlation analysis revealed significant interactions in 120 pairs. Excitatory interactions were most prevalent and included influences occurring exclusively in the thalamocortical (41 pairs) or corticothalamic (23 pairs) directions as well as multiphasic interactions (40 pairs) in both directions. Only 16 pairs exhibited inhibitory interactions and 7 of these involved multiphasic combinations of excitation and inhibition. In 14 of these neuron pairs, inhibition was exerted in the corticothalamic direction. Receptive field (RF) overlap between thalamic and cortical neurons varied considerably, and neuronal interactions were more likely for neuron pairs sharing large portions of their combined RFs. Computer-controlled stimulation was delivered to multiple RF sites but only 46% of the neuron pairs displayed interactions at more than one stimulation site and only four neuron pairs showed interactions at all stimulus positions. When interactions occurred at multiple stimulus sites, 40% of these interactions were characterized by timing shifts where the time interval between VPL and SI discharges varied as much as 20 ms because of stimulus relocation. In nine neuron pairs, systematic shifts in stimulus position produced reversals in the temporal sequence of thalamic and cortical neuronal discharges. Functional interactions between thalamic and cortical neurons were detected during both spontaneous and stimulus-induced activity. Matched-sample comparisons of connection strength and half-widths of thalamocortical peaks during spontaneous and stimulus-induced activity indicated that functional interactions produced by cutaneous stimulation were significantly stronger and had less temporal variability than those occurring spontaneously.
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  • 44
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    Experimental brain research 100 (1994), S. 160-164 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Superior colliculus ; Tecto-spinal neurons ; Spinal cord ; WGA-HRP ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Injections of WGA-HRP were made within the C1 segment of spinal cord in cats with a midsagittal section of the midbrain. A small number of labelled cells were found in the latero-caudal part of the deeper layers of the superior colliclus (SC) ipsilateral to the injection sites. Because of the complete section of the dorsal tegmental decussation, these results definitively demonstrate the existence of an ipsilateral tecto-spinal pathway projecting to upper cervical segments in the cat. Ipsilaterally projecting tecto-reticulo-spinal neurons represent about 5% of the total population of tectospinal neurons. They were exclusively located in the deeper collicular layers and most of them were found in the latero-caudal part of the SC. Comparison with our previous studies suggests that more ipsilateral tectospinal projections that found after the section of the dorsal tegmental decussation probably exist. They may arise from tecto-reticulo-spinal neurons recrossing the midline in the brainstem or in the rostral part of C1. By analogy with the cortico-spinal tract, we suggest that the existence of an ipsilateral tecto-spinal pathway can be regarded as evidence for a substantial development of the cat tecto-spinal system as compared with other mammals.
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  • 45
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    Experimental brain research 100 (1994), S. 187-199 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Forel's field H Orienting head movements ; Vertical Single unit recording ; Head-free ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Single unit activities were recorded in Forel's field H (FFH) at the mesodiencephalic junction during orienting head movements in two alert cats under headfree conditions. Recordings were made of 63 neurons of which 20 showed phasic firing that preceded the onset of head movements by 20–100 ms and was temporally related to the dynamic phase of the orienting head movement. Nineteen of these neurons showed a preference for upward movements, while the remaining neuron preferred downward movements. Activities during orienting movements in eight different directions (each separated by 45°) were systematically analyzed for 12 of the 19 upward-preferring neurons. The activities were broadly tuned; in most of the neurons, maximum activity was observed for direct upward movements (+90°), but significant activity was also observed for ipsilateral and contralateral oblique upward movements (+45° and +135°). In these cases, the increase in activity preceded the onset of the movement. Some increase in activity was also observed for ipsilateral and contralateral horizontal, oblique downward and downward movements. However, the increase in activity in the latter cases occurred simultaneously with or lagged behind the onset of the movement and was often preceded by a decrease in activity. The same pattern of directional tuning was observed in the EMG of the biventer cervicis muscle, a target of FFH neurons. The preferred directions of the 12 upward-preferring neurons were estimated by calculating the vector sum of the activity and were distributed between +68° and +108°. The same amount of activity was observed for ipsilateral and contralateral oblique upward movements, suggesting that FFH neurons on both sides of the brainstem are equally activated even during oblique orienting. Input from the ipsilateral superior colliculus was investigated in 18 neurons, all of which were orthodromically activated with a latency of 0.8–1.8 ms, suggestive of a mono- or disynaptic excitatory connection. Seven neurons were identified as descending projection neurons by antidromic activation from the ipsilateral medullary reticular formation. Repetitive microstimulation of unilateral FFH induced oblique upward head movements and an accompanying torsional component, while simultaneous bilateral stimulation at comparable stimulus strength induced purely upward head movements. These results strongly suggest that the vertical component of orienting head movements is encoded by equal bilateral activation of the FFH.
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  • 46
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    Experimental brain research 100 (1994), S. 215-226 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Thalamic reticular nucleus Ventroposterior lateral nucleus ; Inhibition Tonic activation ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The thalamic reticular nucleus (RTN) exerts an inhibitory influence upon the dorsal thalamus. During wakefulness and arousal, RTN neurons fire tonically, whereas during slow-wave sleep they fire rhythmic high frequency bursts. The effects produced by RTN inhibition upon the activity of dorsal thalamic neurons will therefore vary in relation to the firing mode of the RTN neurons. In the present study, we compared the effects of oscillating RTN neurons and of RTN neurons tonically activated with glutamate on the response profiles of single units reacting to controlled cutaneous stimulation in cat ventroposterior lateral thalamic nucleus (VPL). Experiments were performed under light barbiturate anesthesia and prior to the glutamate activation of the RTN, both RTN and VPL neurons showed spontaneous bursting patterns of activity consistent with the oscillatory mode. Typically, a cutaneous stimulus evoked a short latency excitatory response in VPL followed by a period of complete inhibition termed post-stimulus inhibition (PSI). In many neurons, the PSI was followed by a period of increased activity termed post-inhibitory excitation (PIE). Ejection of glutamate in the identified somatosensory division of the RTN shifted the oscillatory firing of its neurons to a high tonic mode and usually resulted in a decrease in VPL neuronal activity. Significant variations were observed in the occurrence and the magnitude of the effects among the different components of neuronal activity examined. Tonic activation of the RTN resulted in a significant reduction of ON- and OFF-PIEs in 81% of cases (30/37) and of spontaneous activity in 67% (22/ 33). In contrast, the response to a cutaneous stimulus was decreased in only 29% of cases (17/59) and was significantly increased in 24% (14/59). Tonic activation of the RTN by glutamate resulted in little change in the firing pattern of VPL neurons, and both short and long spike intervals were affected in a similar proportion. We conclude that the components of VPL neuronal activity most affected by switching RTN neurons from the oscillatory to the tonic mode are those normally dependent upon RTN neuronal oscillation. The present results also suggest that lowering background activity, such as occurs during the transition from sleep to wakefulness, is a factor leading to increase in the responsiveness of dorsal thalamic neurons.
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  • 47
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Corticothalamic modulation ; Ventroposterolateral thalamus ; Primary and secondary somatosensory cortex (SI and SII) ; Somatosensory thalamus ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The influence of the corticothalamic projections from somatosensory areas I and II (SI and SII) on the transmission of tactile information through the ventroposterolateral (VPL) thalamus was investigated by examining the effects of cooling-induced, reversible inactivation of SI and/or SII on the responsiveness of 32 VPL neurons to controlled tactile stimulation of the distal forelimb in anaesthetized cats. Both the response levels and spontaneous activity were unaffected in 21 (66%) of the VPL neurons as a result of inactivation of SI or SII singly, or both SI and SII simultaneously. In the remaining 11 neurons, 10 displayed a reduction in response level, an effect observed over the whole of the stimulus-response relations for the neurons studied at different stimulus amplitudes, and one neuron displayed an increase in response level in association with cortical inactivation. When responses in VPL neurons were affected by inactivation of one cortical somatosensory area, they were not necessarily affected by inactivation of the other. Of 14 neurons studied for the effects of the separate inactivation of SI alone and of SII alone, 7 were affected, one from both areas, but the remaining 6 were affected by inactivation of only one of these areas. Phaselocking, and therefore the precision of impulse patterning in the responses of VPL neurons to skin vibration, was unchanged by the cortical inactivation irrespective of whether the response level was affected. The results suggest that SI and SII may exert a facilitatory influence on at least a third of VPL neurons and in this way may modulate the gain of transmission of tactile signalling through the thalamus.
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    Experimental brain research 101 (1994), S. 59-72 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Spinal cord ; Synaptic transmission ; GABAB receptors ; Baclofen agonists and antagonists ; Rat ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The actions of a series of derivatives of 3-aminopropyl-phosphinic acid as baclofen agonists and antagonists have been examined on the synaptic excitation of neurones by impulses in primary afferent fibres in the lumbar spinal cords of pentobarbitone-anaesthetised cats and rats. Both the pre-and postsynaptic inhibitory actions of microelectrophoretic (-)-baclofen were reduced by similarly administered CGP 35 348, 36 742, 46 381, 52 432, 54 626 and 55 845, the latter being the most potent antagonist. None of these antagonists either decreased or increased the excitability of spinal neurones, and the inhibitory action of GABA was reduced only by local concentrations of antagonists which also reduced the action of piperidine-4-sulphonic acid, a GABAA agonist. Although the weak inhibitory effect of 3-aminopropylphosphinic acid in both the rat and the cat was not reduced by these baclofen antagonists, the pre-and postsynaptic inhibitory effects of 3-aminopropyl-methyl-osphinic acid (CGP 35 024), which was more potent than (-)-baclofen, were reduced by the antagonists. Like (-)-baclofen, CGP 35 024 was relatively ineffective in reducing transmitter release in the cord from the terminals of excitatory spinal interneurones, the terminals of excitatory tracts in the dorsolateral funiculus and the cholinergic terminals of motor axon collaterals. In both rat and cat cords, receptors for (-)-baclofen could not be demonstrated to be activated by microelectrophoretic GABA, possibly because of the predominantly dendritic location of GABAB receptors. Spinal pre-and postsynaptic baclofen receptors appeared to be pharmacologically similar but differed from those in the higher central nervous system of the rat, where 3-aminopropylphosphinic acid has been reported to be an effective baclofen agonist. The compounds tested, particularly CGP 55 845 and 46 381, will be of use in further investigations of the physiological relevance of baclofen receptors at central synapses where GABA may be the transmitter.
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  • 49
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Muscles ; Muscle contraction ; Motor unit ; Contractile properties ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The active length-tension curves of identified single motor units (MUs) belonging to peroneus longus muscle (PL) of anaesthetized adult cats were obtained by eliciting isometric single twitches and tetani. The recorded responses were evaluated by measuring the peak tension amplitude and the tension-time area at muscle lengths extending throughout the physiological length range of the muscle (mean 5.5 mm, standard deviation ±0.8). The muscle lengths at which each tested MU developed its maximal twitch (L tw) and tetanic (L te) tensions were determined and compared with the muscle length (L o) at which the stimulation of all the α-axons, innervating PL and contained in L7 ventral root, developed their maximal twitch tension. The mean of single MU L tw values was at L o+1.08±1.1 mm. Slow MUs showed the longest values of L tw(L o+1.6±1.0 mm). Single MUs stimulated at tetanic frequencies presented their L te at values shorter than L o (L o−2.8±1.7 mm). Slow MUs had the shortest L te (L o−3.4±1.5 mm). For all the units L te was shorter than L tw. L tw and L te were, respectively, negatively and positively correlated with the developed tension. Optimal length values also appeared to be related to the MU types. The possibility is discussed that the muscle and tendon compliances and the high non-linearities to the applied forces are the main factors which can determine the differences among L o, L tw and L te values. The relationships between MU type and optimal length values are suggested to be, at least partly, an epiphenomenon due to the different contraction strengths of the various MU types. However, the heterogeneous distribution of the MU types is brought into account to explain the dependence of L tw and L te values on MU type.
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  • 50
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    Experimental brain research 101 (1994), S. 397-405 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Posture ; Quadrupedal stance ; Central set ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of prior experience concerning direction of a postural perturbation on the balance response of cats to translations of their support surface. Previous work has shown that, when cats are translated in many directions in the horizontal plane, they respond by exerting active forces with each paw in only two directions, termed the force constraint strategy. This study examined whether the force constraint strategy could be modified based on predictability of the direction of translation and whether this strategy is used by the naive animal with no prior experience of platform translation. Four cats were trained to stand quietly on the force platform using positive reinforcement, and then were implanted with chronically indwelling electrodes for recording electromyographic (EMG) activity. The first experiment concerned the response of the naive cats to their first exposure to platform translation and consisted of translations presented randomly in four different directions in the horizontal plane. The second experiment consisted of two complete sets of 16 directions of translation (15 trials per direction), with the direction of translation randomized in one set and serially ordered in the other, to make the direction of translation unpredictable or predictable, respectively. Forces exerted by the cat, EMG activity, and platform position were recorded during the 1-s trials. The use of the force constraint strategy was independent of prior experience with direction of translation, as was the amplitude of the response. Moreover, this strategy was observed in the naive cat. These findings suggest that the force constraint is a robust and consistent response to translational perturbations of stance in the cat and is part of its natural behavioral repertoire. The accuracy in specification of the direction of a postural response must be based on the sensory information that is obtained within a very short time after the onset of platform acceleration (loop time 40–70 ms). On the other hand, the amplitude of the postural response tended to decrease with experience and practice, suggesting a long-term change in central set that may manifest as a reduction in sensorimotor gain.
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    Experimental brain research 101 (1994), S. 375-384 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Lateral cervical nucleus ; Ascending projections ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Extracellular microelectrode recordings were made from single cells of the lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) in cats anaesthetized with chloralose and paralysed with gallamine triethiodide. The cells were tested for antidromic activation from the contralateral medial lemniscus and the contralateral tectum. Seventytwo LCN units were recorded which projected to one or both targets. Sixty (83%) projected through the medial lemniscus, and of these 36 (50% of the total) also projected to the tectum, whereas 24 (33%) projected through the medial lemniscus only; 12 (17%) projected only to the tectum. Twenty-nine units (40%) were excited by moving hairs of the coat but not by pinch of the skin, and 9 (31%) of these projected to the tectum, 11 (38%) through the medial lemniscus and 9 (31%) to both targets. Forty units (56%) were excited by hair movement and noxious pinch, and 3 (7%) of these projected to the tectum, 10 (25%) through the medial lemniscus and 27 (68%) to both targets. Three units (4%) had no discernible receptive fields and they all projected through the medial lemniscus, but not to the tectum. Of the 12 units projecting only to the tectum, 11 had receptive fields completely or partially on the trunk. Units projecting either through the medial lemniscus only, or through the medial lemniscus and also into the tectum, had receptive fields more widely distributed: these included small fields on the fore- and hind feet, on the limbs and also, a minority, on the trunk. Units with glove- or stocking-like receptive fields projected through the medial lemniscus. The results show that while most LCN cells project through the medial lemniscus, those excited by hair movement alone preferentially project either to the tectum or through the medial lemniscus, but not by both routes. The differences in receptive field properties of the differently projecting units are discussed in terms of the possible functions of the spinocervical system.
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  • 52
    ISSN: 1432-2013
    Keywords: Sympathetic nerve stimulation ; Small pulmonary vessels ; Selective arterial vasoconstriction ; α-Adrenergic receptors ; β-Adrenergic receptors ; Flow velocity ; Volume flow ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Using an X-ray television system, we measured directly changes in the internal diameter (ID), flow velocity, and volume flow of the small pulmonary vessels (100–500 μm ID) in response to electrical sympathetic nerve stimulation (SNS) in anaesthetized cats before and after adrenergic receptor blockade. Flow velocity was obtained by measuring the distance that the leading edge of the contrast medium moved per 0.1 s in the small arteries. Volume flow was obtained from the product of flow velocity and cross-sectional area calculated from the ID of the small arteries. SNS was accolmplished with 10- to 15-V square-wave pulses of 2-ms duration at 20–30 Hz for 20-s periods. In response to SNS, arterial ID decreased significantly by 8–13% in the 200- to 500-μm vessels but not in the 100- to 200-μm vessels. In the veins, on the other hand, there was no significant ID decrease in any of the 100- to 500-μm vessels. After α-receptor blockade (phentolamine, 2 mg/kg i.V.), there were significant ID increases (4–9%) in the 100- to 500-μm arteries in response to SNS, the maximum increases being in the 100- to 200-μm arteries. After β-blockade (propranolol, 2 mg/kg i.V.), the ID decrease due to SNS in the 200- to 500-μm arteries was enhanced (24–27%) and, in addition, the 100- to 200-μm arteries exhibited a significant ID decrease (18%). Combined α and β-blockade completely abolished the ID decrease due to SNS. In the veins, on the other hand, no ID change occurred even after α- or β-blockade. The results indicate that SNS selectively constricts 200- to 500-μm arteries. The data suggests that SNS has α-mediated vasoconstrictor and β-mediated vasodilator effects on the 100- to 500-μm arteries and that the ID response pattern to SNS depends chiefly on the balance between α-mediated vasoconstriction and β-mediated vasodilation. Associated with the ID decrease due to SNS, flow velocity was increased by 21%. However, SNS did not affect volume flow, because the increase in velocity was compensated by the reduction in the cross-sectional area (due to the decreased ID).
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  • 53
    ISSN: 1432-2013
    Keywords: Blood-brain barrier ; Intravital fluorescence microscopy ; Computerised image analysis ; FITC-dextran ; Hypercapnia ; Adenosine ; Cerebral blood vessels ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The present paper describes a new method using computerised image analysis techniques for quantification of tracer extravasation over the blood-brain barrier as studied by intravital fluorescence microscopy. Cats were equipped with an open cranial window and continuously infused with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled dextran (FITC-dextran, mol. wt. 70 000) to maintain a steady plasma concentration. Several cortical fields were recorded in each experiment and the images stored on video tape for off-line analysis. This procedure, which largely eliminates the superficial pial vasculature and allows extraction of the extravasation areas, consists of the following steps: (1) averaging of images, (2) software shading correction based on the original images for compensation of optical non-uniformity, (3) correction of displacement artefacts, (4) intensity adjustment, (5) generation of subtraction images by subtracting the first image of a series from the subsequent ones, (6) median filtering and thresholding, (7) a length recognition algorithm, and (8) elimination of small areas. Compared to the previously described method, step (2) has been newly developed and steps (4) and (8) added to enhance sensitivity for detecting tracer extravasation. The degree of extravasation in a cortical field at a given time point [E(f) value] was calculated as the mean intensity of the remaining pixels. TheE(f) is a quantitative value computed by a fully automatised procedure which takes into account the number, as well as the size and intensity, of extravasation areas in a given cortical field. TheE(f) values obtained at different times in a series of experiments were averaged to give theE(I) value. TheE(I) value did not alter when hypercapnia was employed to induce pure vasodilatation. On the other hand it increased dramatically, indicating tracer extravasation, during topical application of high concentrations of adenosine (10−5–10−3 M). The new computerised image analysis procedure may therefore be suitable for measuring quantitatively tracer extravasation over the blood-brain barrier in vivo under different experimental conditions. It may also be applicable to study changes of vascular permeability in peripheral vascular beds.
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  • 54
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Substance P ; Immunocytochemistry ; Ciliary ganglion ; Monkey, Macaca fascicularis (Primates) ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The present study describes substance P-like immunoreactivity in the ciliary ganglia of monkey (Macaca fascicularis) and cat. About 60% of neurons in the monkey ciliary ganglion and 40% in the cat ciliary ganglion were substance P-like immunoreactive, ranging from faint to moderate staining. Substance P-like immunoreactivity was located in cell bodies, dendritic profiles and axons. In the monkey, substance P-like immunoreactive pericellular arborisations were associated with about 0.5%–3% of the ganglion cells, which were either negatively, faintly or moderately stained. An electron-microscopic study demonstrated the presence of either substance P-like immunoreactive positive or negative axon terminals synapsing or closely associated with positive dendritic profiles in both the monkey and cat ciliary ganglia. The results suggest that substance P plays an important role in the ciliary ganglion, perhaps as a modulator or transmitter.
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  • 55
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Pineal gland ; Innervation ; Neuropeptide Y ; Ganglionectomy ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract An immunohistochemical study of the cat pineal gland was performed using a rabbit polyclonal antibody directed against neuropeptide Y (NPY) and an antibody directed against the C-terminal flanking peptide of neuropeptide Y (CPON). Numerous NPY- and CPON-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers were demonstrated throughout the gland and in the pineal capsule. The number of IR nerve fibers in the capsule was high and from this location fibers were observed to penetrate into the gland proper via the pineal connective tissue septa, often following the blood vessels. From the connective tissue septa IR fibers intruded into the parenchyma between the pinealocytes. Many IR nerve fibers were observed in the pineal stalk and in the habenular as well as the posterior commissural areas. The number of NPY/CPON-IR nerve fibers in pineal glands from animals bilaterally ganglionectomized two weeks before sacrifice was low. The source of most of the extrasympathetic NPY/CPONergic nerve fibers is probably the brain from where they enter the pineal via the pineal stalk. However, an origin of some of the fibers from parasympathetic ganglia cannot be excluded due to the presence of a few IR fibers in the pineal capsule of ganglionectomized animals. It is concluded that the cat pineal is richly innervated with NPYergic nerve fibers mostly of sympathetic origin. The posttranslational processing of the NPY promolecule results in the presence of both NPY and CPON in intrapineal nerve fibers.
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  • 56
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Key words: Gene expression ; Hereditary retinal degeneration ; Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) ; Rod-cone degeneration ; Opsin ; Cat ; Abyssinian
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract. Levels of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) protein and message in retinas of Abyssinian cats homozygous for progressive rod-cone degeneration were determined at early ages, well before the onset of clinical retinal degeneration. IRBP gene expression was assessed by immunochemical quantitation of IRBP protein, and by Northern blotting and slot-blotting of total RNA using a human IRBP cDNA probe. Morphology was assessed by electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. Levels of both IRBP protein and message in affected Abyssinian cat retinas were significantly reduced below normal as early as 4 weeks of age at the earliest stage of retinal disorientation. Opsin mRNA was more abundant in affected Abyssininian cat retinas than in control retinas. This was at least 1 year before the onset of clinical symptoms. The reduction in IRBP gene expression to levels significantly below normal well before the onset of retinal degeneration in affected Abyssinian cat retinas indicates that this represents a primary defect or at least an early problem that could itself cause adverse effects.
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  • 57
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Key words: Nitric oxide ; NADPH-diaphorase ; Lateral collateral pathway ; Sympathetic autonomic nucleus ; Neuronal nitric oxide synthase ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract. The distributions of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity (NOS-IR) and NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity were compared in the cat spinal cord. NOS-IR in neurons around the central canal, in superficial laminae (I and II) of the dorsal horn, in the dorsal commissure, and in fibers in the superficial dorsal horn was observed at all levels of the spinal cord. In these regions, NOS-IR paralleled NADPH-d activity. The sympathetic autonomic nucleus in the rostral lumbar and thoracic segments exhibited prominent NOS-IR and NADPH-d activity, whereas the parasympathetic nucleus in the sacral segments did not exhibit NOS-IR or NADPH-d activity. Within the region of the sympathetic autonomic nucleus, fewer NOS-IR cells were identified compared with NADPH-d cells. The most prominent NADPH-d activity in the sacral segments occurred in fibers within and extending from Lissauer's tract in laminae I and V along the lateral edge of the dorsal horn to the region of the sacral parasympathetic nucleus. These afferent projections did not exhibit NOS-IR; however, NOS-IR and NADPH-d activity were demonstrated in dorsal root ganglion cells (L7-S2). The results of this study demonstrate that NADPH-d activity is not always a specific histochemical marker for NO-containing neural structures.
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  • 58
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Mitochondria ; Free nerve ending ; Nociceptors ; Knee joint ; Aδ-fibre ; C-fibre ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The distribution of mitochondria, their content and concentration (expressed as the ratio of the mean volume of mitochondria and the surface of the sensory axon) were determined in group-III and-IV nerve fibres innervating the knee joint capsule in the cat. Mitochondria mainly accumulated in axonal swellings (“beads”) and end bulbs of the terminal branches. Between single nerve fibres, marked differences in the content and the concentration of mitochondria were obtained in proximal portions (inside of the perineurium) and in distal portions (unmyelinated sensory endings). In group-III nerve fibres, the mitochondrial concentration ranged from 0.005 to 0.030 μm3/μm2 (proximal portion) and from 0.016 to 0.080 μm3/μm2 (distal portion). In unmyelinated group-IV nerve fibres, the values also showed a broad variation ranging from 0.001 to 0.011 μm3/μm2 (proximal portion) and from 0.003 to 0.019 μm3/μm2 (distal portion). The wide range of mitochondrial concentrations may reflect different energy consumption during receptive processes: nerve fibres with a low mechanical threshold and a high probability of excitatory events may be rich in mitochondria, whereas fibres with a high mechanical threshold and a low probability of excitatory events may be poor in mitochondria.
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  • 59
    ISSN: 1432-0878
    Keywords: Nitric oxide ; NADPH-diaphorase ; Lateral collateral pathway ; Sympathetic autonomic nucleus ; Neuronal nitric oxide synthase ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The distributions of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity (NOS-IR) and NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity were compared in the cat spinal cord. NOS-IR in neurons around the central canal, in superficial laminae (I and II) of the dorsal horn, in the dorsal commissure, and in fibers in the superficial dorsal horn was observed at all levels of the spinal cord. In these regions, NOS-IR paralleled NADPH-d activity. The sympathetic autonomic nucleus in the rostral lumbar and thoracic segments exhibited prominent NOS-IR and NADPH-d activity, whereas the parasympathetic nucleus in the sacral segments did not exhibit NOS-IR or NADPH-d activity. Within the region of the sympathetic autonomic nucleus, fewer NOS-IR cells were identified compared with NADPH-d cells. The most prominent NADPH-d activity in the sacral segments occurred in fibers within and extending from Lissauer's tract in laminae I and V along the lateral edge of the dorsal horn to the region of the sacral parasympathetic nucleus. These afferent projections did not exhibit NOS-IR; however, NOS-IR and NADPH-d activity were demonstrated in dorsal root ganglion cells (L7-S2). The results of this study demonstrate that NADPH-d activity is not always a specific histochemical marker for NO-containing neural structures.
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  • 60
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    European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology and head & neck 251 (1994), S. 117-118 
    ISSN: 1434-4726
    Keywords: Autonomic nervous system ; Tongue ; Horseradish peroxidase ; Neural tracer ; Cat
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Autonomic innervation of the tongue was investigated in cats using the horseradish peroxidase retrograde tracing method. The tongue was found to be innervated by sympathetic fibers originating in the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion, but not by those originating in the middle cervical ganglion or stellate ganglion. The tongue was also innervated by fibers originating in the ipsilateral pterygopalatine ganglion, suggesting that this innervation is parasympathetic.
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  • 61
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    New York, NY : Wiley-Blackwell
    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 205-215 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: peptide folding ; disulfide framework ; insect toxins ; NMR ; distance geometry ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: An analysis of the sequences of scyllatoxin and charybdotoxin suggested that it would be possible to design a core peptide sequence which would still fold to give the β-hairpin and helix seen in the toxins, but which would eliminate one disulfide and connecting residues. The core sequence was modeled, then synthesized and purified. The cysteines oxidize in air to give the same disulfide pairings as seen in the parent toxins as the major product. The three-dimensional structure of the core sequence peptide, termed Max, was determined using proton NMR spectroscopy and found to be identical in secondary structure to the toxins. However differences were found in the relative orientation of the β-hairpin and helix. The use of this structural motif, found in many insect toxins, as a disulfide framework for exploring sequence/structure/activity relationships is discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 62
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 246-253 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: microcalorimetry ; heat capacity ; enthalpy ; hydrogen bonding ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The energetics of ubiquitin unfolding have been studied using differential scanning microcalorimetry. For the first time it has been shown directly that the enthalpy of protein unfolding is a nonlinear function of temperature. Thermodynamic parameters of ubiquitin unfolding were correlated with the structure of the protein. The enthalpy of hydrogen bonding in ubiquitin was calculated and compared to that obtained for other proteins. It appears that the energy of hydrogen bonding correlates with the average length of the hydrogen bond in a given protein structure. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 63
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 262-266 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: protein structure prediction ; protein stability ; hydrogen bond ; β-sheet ; amino acid propensity ; steric effect ; hydrogen exchange ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Amino acid side chains can enhance peptide group hydrogen bond strength in protein structures by obstructing the competing hydrogen bond to solvent in the unfolded state. Available data indicate that the steric blocking effect contributes an average of 0.5 kJ per residue to protein hydrogen bond strength and accounts for the intrinsic α-sheet propensities of the amino acids. In available data for helical models, the contribution to α-helix propensities is obscured especially by large context-dependent effects. These issues are all related by a common side chain-dependent steric clash which disfavors peptide to water H-bond formation, peptide to catalyst complexation in hydrogen exchange reactions (Bai et al., Proteins 17:75-86, 1993), and peptide to peptide H-bonding in the helical main chain conformation (Creamer and Rose, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:5937-5941, 1992) but not in α-strands. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 64
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 281-294 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: membrane ; protein ; structure ; prediction ; G-protein coupled receptor ; rhodopsin ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Integral membrane proteins (of the α-helical class) are of central importance in a wide variety of vital cellular functions. Despite considerable effort on methods to predict the location of the helices, little attention has been directed toward developing an automatic method to pack the helices together. In principle, the prediction of membrane proteins should be easier than the prediction of globular proteins: there is only one type of secondary structure and all helices pack with a common alignment across the membrane. This allows all possible structures to be represented on a simple lattice and exhaustively enumerated. Prediction success lies not in generating many possible folds but in recognizing which corresponds to the native. Our evaluation of each fold is based on how well the exposed surface predicted from a multiple sequence alignment fits its allocated position. Just as exposure to solvent in globular proteins can be predicted from sequence variation, so exposure to lipid can be recognized by variable-hydrophobic (variphobic) positions. Application to both bacteriorhodopsin and the eukaryotic rhodopsin/opsin families revealed that the angular size of the lipid-exposed faces must be predicted accurately to allow selection of the correct fold. With the inherent uncertainties in helix prediction and parameter choice, this accuracy could not be guaranteed but the correct fold was typically found in the top six candidates. Our method provides the first completely automatic method that can proceed from a scan of the protein sequence databanks to a predicted three-dimensional structure with no intervention required from the investigator. Within the limited domain of the seven helix bundle proteins, a good chance can be given of selecting the correct structure. However, the limited number of sequences available with a corresponding known structure makes further characterization of the method difficult. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 65
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: triglyceride lipase ; proenzyme ; molecular replacement ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: A neutral lipase from the filamentous fungus Rhizopus delemar has been crystallized in both its proenzyme and mature forms. Although the latter crystallizes readily and produces a variety of crystal forms, only one was found to be suitable for X-ray studies. It is monoclinic (C2, a = 92.8 Å, b = 128.9 Å, c = 78.3 Å, β = 135.8) with two molecules in the asymmetric unit related by a noncrystallographic diad. The prolipase crystals are orthorhombic (P212121, with a = 79.8 Å, b = 115.2 Å, c = 73.0 Å) and also contain a pair of molecules in the asymmetric unit. Initial results of molecular replacement calculations using the refined coordinates of the related lipase from Rhizomucor miehei identified the correct orientations and positions of the protein molecules in the unit cells of crystals of both proenzyme and the mature form. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 66
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 309-317 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: protein structure prediction ; predicted contact maps ; correlated mutations ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The maintenance of protein function and structure constrains the evolution of amino acid sequences. This fact can be exploited to interpret correlated mutations observed in a sequence family as an indication of probable physical contact in three dimensions. Here we present a simple and general method to analyze correlations in mutational behavior between different positions in a multiple sequence alignment. We then use these correlations to predict contact maps for each of 11 protein families and compare the result with the contacts determined by crystallography. For the most strongly correlated residue pairs predicted to be in contact, the prediction accuracy ranges from 37 to 68% and the improvement ratio relative to a random prediction from 1.4 to 5.1. Predicted contact maps can be used as input for the calculation of protein tertiary structure, either from sequence information alone or in combination with experimental information. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 67
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 324-337 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: protein structure ; secondary structure ; peptide geometry ; Ramachandran plot ; β-turns ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The polypeptide of a protein molecule can be considered as a chain of Cα atoms linked by pseudobonds between the Cα atoms of successive amino acid residues. This paper presents an analysis of the angle and dihedral angles made by these pseudobonds in protein structures determined at high resolution by X-ray crystallography. This analysis reveals a strong correlation between Cα geometry and the protein fold. The regular features of protein secondary structure such as α-helix and α-sheet are very clearly defined. In addition, it is possible to identify with some confidence the discrete populations of particular conformations of α-turn. Comparison with the traditional Ramachandran type of plot demonstrates that an analysis of protein structure on the basis of Cα geometry provides a richer description of protein conformation. In addition, the characteristics of this geometry could be a useful guide in model building of protein structure. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 68
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: X-ray crystallography ; extracellular matrix ; multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Crystals of a fragment of human fibronectin encompassing the 7th through the RGD-containing 10th type III repeats (FN7-10) have been produced with protein expressed in E. coli. The crystals are monoclinic with one molecule in the asymmetric unit and diffract to beyond 2.0 Å Bragg spacings. A mutant FN7-10 was produced in which three methionines, in addition to the single native methionine already present, have been introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. Diffraction-quality crystals of this mutant protein have been grown in which methionine was replaced with selenomethionine. The introduction of methionine by site-directed mutagenesis to allow phasing from selenomethionyl-substituted crystals is shown to be feasible by this example and is proposed as a general approach to solving the crystallographic phase problem. Strategies for selecting propitious sites for methionine mutations are discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 69
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 19 (1994), S. 55-72 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: secondary structure prediction ; prediction of secondary structure class ; prediction of secondary structure content ; evolutionary information ; multiple alignment profiles ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Using evolutionary information contained in multiple sequence alignments as input to neural networks, secondary structure can be predicted at significantly increased accuracy. Here, we extend our previous three-level system of neural networks by using additional input information derived from multiple alignments. Using a position-specific conservation weight as part of the input increases performance. Using the number of insertions and deletions reduces the tendency for overprediction and increases overall accuracy. Addition of the global amino acid content yields a further improvement, mainly in predicting structural class. The final network system has a sustained overall accuracy of 71.6% in a multiple cross-validation test on 126 unique protein chains. A test on a new set of 124 recently solved protein structures that have no significant sequence similarity to the learning set confirms the high level of accuracy. The average cross-validated accuracy for all 250 sequence-unique chains is above 72%. Using various data sets, the method is compared to alternative prediction methods, some of which also use multiple alignments: the performance advantage of the network system is at least 6 percentage points in three-state accuracy. In addition, the network estimates secondary structure content from multiple sequence alignments about as well as circular dichroism spectroscopy on a single protein and classifies 75% of the 250 proteins correctly into one of four protein structural classes. Of particular practical importance is the definition of a position-specific reliability index. For 40% of all residues the method has a sustained three-state accuracy of 88%, as high as the overall average for homology modelling. A further strength of the method is greatly increased accuracy in predicting the placement of secondary structure segments. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 70
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: endonuclease overexpression ; crystallization ; X-ray diffraction ; protein-DNA complex ; Type II restriction enzyme ; vapor diffusion ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: We have overexpressed the type II restriction endonuclease PvuII (R.PvuII) in E. coli, prepared large amounts of the homogeneous enzyme, and crystallized it with an oligonucleotide carrying a PvuII recognition site. The cocrystals are orthorhombic space group P212121 with cell constants a = 95.8 Å, b = 86.3 Å, c = 48.5 Å, and diffract X-rays to at least 2.7 Å. There is a complex of two protein subunits and one oligonucleotide duplex in the asymmetric unit. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 71
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 19 (1994) 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
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  • 72
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 19 (1994), S. 80-83 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: maize protein ; crystals ; X-ray diffraction ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Phospholipid transfer protein from maize seedlings has been crystallized using trisodium citrate as precipitant. The crystal belongs to the orthorhombic space group P212121 with unit cell dimensions of a = 24.46 Å, b = 49.97 Å, and c = 69.99 Å. The presence of one molecule in the asymmetric unit gives a crystal volume per protein mass (Vm) of 2.36 Å 3/Da and a solvent content of 48% by volume. The X-ray diffraction pattern extends at least to 1.6 Å Bragg spacing when exposed to both CuKα and synchrotron X-rays. A set of X-ray data to approximately 1.9 Å Bragg spacing has been collected from a native crystal. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 73
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 19 (1994), S. 85-97 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: protein conformation ; secondary structure ; protein folding ; helix stability ; helix formation ; conformational entropy ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Much effort has been invested in seeking to understand the thermodynamic basis of helix stability in both peptides and proteins. Recently, several groups have measured the helix-forming propensities of individual residues (Lyu, P. C., Liff, M. I., Marky, L. A., Kallenbach, N. R. Science 250:669-673, 1990; O'Neil, K. T., DeGrado, W. F. Science 250:646-651, 1990; Padmanabhan, S., Marqusee, S., Ridgeway, T., Laue, T. M., Baldwin, R. L. Nature (London) 344:268-270, 1990). Using Monte Carlo computer simulations, we tested the hypothesis that these differences in measured helix-forming propensity are due primarily to loss of side chain conformational entropy upon helix formation (Creamer, T. P., Rose, G. D. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:5937-5941, 1992). Our previous study employed a rigid helix backbone, which is here generalized to a completely flexible helix model in order to ensure that earlier results were not a methodological artifact. Using this flexible model, side chain rotamer distributions and entropy losses are calculated and shown to agree with those obtained earlier. We note that the side chain conformational entropy calculated for Trp in our previous study was in error; a corrected value is presented. Extending earlier work, calculated entropy losses are found to correlate strongly with recent helix propensity scales derived from substitutions made within protein helices (Horovitz, A., Matthews, J. M., Fersht, A. R. J. Mol. Biol. 227:560-568, 1992; Blaber, M., Zhang, X.-J., Matthews, B. M. Science 260:1637-1640, 1993). In contrast, little correlation is found between these helix propensity scales and the accessible surface area buried upon formation of a model polyalanyl α-helix. Taken in sum, our results indicate that loss of side chain entropy is a major determinant of the helix-forming tendency of residues in both peptide and protein helices. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 74
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: crystallography ; hydroxamate ; high resolution ; metalloproteinase ; zinc ; X-ray ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The X-ray crystal structure of a 19 kDa active fragment of human fibroblast collagenase has been determined by the multiple isomorphous replacement method and refined at 1.56 Å resolution to an R-factor of 17.4%. The current structure includes a bound hydroxamate inhibitor, 88 waters and three metal atoms (two zincs and a calcium). The overall topology of the enzyme, comprised of a five stranded β-sheet and three α-helices, is similar to the thermolysin-like metalloproteinases. There are some important differences between the collagenase and thermolysin families of enzymes. The active site zinc ligands are all histidines (His-218, His-222, and His-228). The presence of a second zinc ion in a structural role is a unique feature of the matrix metalloproteinases. The binding properties of the active site cleft are more dependent on the main chain conformation of the enzyme (and substrate) compared with thermolysin. A mechanism of action for peptide cleavage similar to that of thermolysin is proposed for fibroblast collagenase. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 75
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 19 (1994), S. 110-119 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: folding intermediate ; urea denaturation ; stopped-flow circular dichroism ; molten globule ; hemindicyanide ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The refolding kinetics of horse cyanometmyoglobin induced by concentration jump of urea was investigated by five optical probe stopped-flow methods: absorption at 422 nm, tryptophyl fluorescence at around 340 nm, circular dichroism (CD) at 222 nm, CD at 260 nm, and CD at 422 nm. In the refolding process, we detected three phases with rate constants of 〉 1 × 102 s-1, (4.5-9.3) S-1, and (2-5) × 10-3 s-1. In the fastest phase, a substantial amount of secondary structure (40%) is formed within the dead time of the CD stopped-flow apparatus (10.7 ms). The kinetic intermediate populated in the fastest phase is shown to capture a hemindicyanide, suggesting that a “heme pocket precursor” recognized by hemindicyanide must be constructed within the dead time. In the middle phase, most of secondary and tertiary structures, especially around the captured hemindicyanide, have been constructed. In the slowest phase, we detected a minor structural rearrangement accompanying the ligand-exchange reaction in the fifth coordination of ferric iron. We present a possible model for the refolding process of myoglobin in the presence of the heme group. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 76
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 19 (1994), S. 120-131 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: enzymes ; protein immobilization ; microcalorimetry ; protein melting domains ; protein DSC ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Ribonuclease A has been immobilized on silica beads through glutaraldeyde-mediated chemical coupling in order to improve the stability of the protein against thermal denaturation. The thermodynamic and binding properties of the immobilized enzyme have been studied and compared with those of the free enzyme. The parameters describing the binding of the inhibitor 3′ -CMP (Ka and ΔH) as monitored by spectrophotometry and calorimetry were not significantly affected after immobilization. Conversely both the stability and unfolding mechanism drastically changed. Thermodynamic analysis of the DSC data suggests that uncoupling of protein domains has occurred as a consequence of the immobilization. The two state approximation of the protein unfolding process is not longer valid for the immobilized RNase. Protein stability strongly depends on the hydrophobicity properties of the support surface as well as on the presence of the inhibitor and pH. For example, after immobilization on a highly hydrophobic surface, the enzyme is partially in the unfolded state. The binding of a ligand is able to reorganize the protein structure into a native-like conformation. The refolding rates are different for the two protein domains and vary as a function of pH and presence of the inhibitor 3′-CMP. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 77
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 19 (1994), S. 73-76 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: molecular recognition ; protein assembly ; protein folding ; protein interactions ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Recent advances in the measurement and theory of “hydration” interactions between biomolecules provide a basis on which to formulate mechanisms of biomolecular recognition. In this paper we have developed a mathematical formalism for analyzing specificity encoded in dynamic distributions of surface polar groups, a formalism that incorporates newly recognized properties of directly measured “hydration” forces. As expected, attraction between surfaces requires complementary patterns of surface polar groups. In contrast to usual expectations, thermal motion can create these complementary surface configurations. We have demonstrated that assembly can occur with an increase in conformational entropy of polar residues. Elevated temperature then facilitates recognition rather than hinders it. This mechanism might underlie some temperature-favored assembly reactions common in biological systems that are usually associated with the “hydrophobic effect” only. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 78
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 174-184 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: coiled-coils ; keratin ; intermediate filament proteins ; link segments ; heptad phasing ; computer modeling ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Structural discontinuities have previously been identified in four regions of the coiled-coil rod domain structure present in intermediate filament (IF) protein molecules. These include a point at which a phase shift occurs in the heptad periodicity characteristic of the sequence of polar and apolar residues in α-helical coiled-coils, and three links that lack a heptad substructure. We have studied these regions by computer-based molecular modeling and comparative sequence analysis and conclude that the phasing discontinuity can be accommodated without significant distortion of the overall double-helical chain conformation; the L2 link has a similar conformation in all different types of IF molecules, a favorable conformation being one in which the two strands wrap tightly around each other; the L12 links vary in length between different IF types but contain important sequence similarities suggestive of a partial β structure; the L1 links show larger variations in length, a lower degree of similarity, and probably diverse structures. Variations in the overall charges of the different links suggest that ionic interactions may playa significant role in filament assembly. The results also have general significance for other α-fibrous proteins in which either the characteristic heptad phasing undergoes a discontinuity or where a short non-coiled-coil sequence occurs within a coiled-coil rod domain structure. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 79
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 191-196 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: human Clara cell 10-kDa protein ; X-ray diffraction ; phospholipase A2 inhibitor ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Crystals of recombinant human Clara cell 10-kDa protein were grown both from ammonium sulfate and polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions. Crystals grown from ammonium sulfate solution have been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies as monoclinic with the space group C2 and lattice constants a = 69.2 Å, b = 83.0 Å, c = 58.3 Å, and β = 99.7°. The monoclinic crystals diffract to beyond 2.5 Å. Some of the crystals grown from PEG were of a similar habit to those grown from ammonium sulfate, but others were triclinic with the space group P1 and cell constants a = 40.3 Å, b = 46.3 Å, c = 51.3 Å, α = 117.7°, β = 102.3°, and γ = 71.4°. These crystals diffract to beyond 3.2 Å. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 80
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 185-190 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: heme ; secondary structure ; conformation ; hemopexin ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Hemopexin is a serum glyco-protein that binds heme with the highest known affinity of any characterized heme-binding protein and plays an important role in receptormediated cellular heme uptake. Complete understanding of the function of hemopexin will require the elucidation of its molecular structure. Previous analysis of the secondary structure of hemopexin by far-UV circular dichroism (CD) failed due to the unusual positive ellipticity of this protein at 233 nm. In this paper, we present an examination of the structure of hemopexin by both Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Our studies show that hemopexin contains about 55% β-structure, 15% α-helix, and 20% turns. The two isolated structural domains of hemopexin each have secondary structures similar to hemopexin. Although there are significant tertiary conformational changes indicated by the CD spectra, the overall secondary structure of hemopexin is not affected by binding heme. However, moderate changes in secondary structure do occur when the heme-binding domain of hemopexin associates with heme. In spite of the exceptionally tight binding at neutral pH, heme is released from the bis-histidyl heme-hemopexin complex at pH 5.0. Under this acidic condition, hemopexin maintains the same overall secondary structure as the native protein and is able to resume the heme-binding function and the native structure of the hemeprotein (as indicated by the CD spectra) when returned to neutral pH. We propose that the state of hemopexin identified in vitro at pH 5.0 resembles that of this protein in the acidic environment of the endosomes in vivo when hemopexin releases heme during receptor-mediated endocytosis. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 81
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994) 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
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  • 82
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 197-201 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: cytochrome P450 ; erythromycin ; P450eryF ; crystallization ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Cytochrome P450eryF was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified in high yield. Crystals of the protein in the presence of the substrate, 6-deoxyerythronolide B, have been obtained by the hanging drop vapor diffusion method, using polyethylene glycol 4000 as a precipitant. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P212121 with unit cell dimensions of a = 54.16 Å, b = 79.67 Å, and c = 99.48 Å and one molecule per asymmetric unit. A complete native data set has been collected to a resolution of 2.1 Å, and anomalous dispersion difference Patterson maps have revealed the location of the single heme iron atom. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 83
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 203-215 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: SH3 ; Abl ; molecular modeling ; homology modeling ; molecular dynamics ; protein structure prediction ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: A tertiary structure model of the Abl-SH3 domain is predicted by using homology modeling techniques coupled to molecular dynamics simulations. Two template proteins were used, Fyn-SH3 and Spc-SH3. The refined model was extensively checked for errors using criteria based on stereochemistry, packing, solvation free-energy, accessible surface areas, and contact analyses. The different checking methods do not totally agree, as each one evaluates a different characteristic of protein structures. Several zones of the protein are more susceptible to incorporating errors. These include residues 13, 15, 35, 39, 45, 46, 50, and 60. An interesting finding is that the measurement of the Cα chirality correlated well with the rest of the criteria, suggesting that this parameter might be a good indicator of correct local conformation. Deviations of more than 4 degrees may be indicative of poor local structure. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 84
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 81-93 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: serine carboxypeptidase ; protein modeling ; mutation analysis ; comparative modeling ; cathepsin A ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The deficiency of the lysosomal protective protein/carboxypeptidase L (CARB L) causes the lysosomal storage disorder, galactosialidosis, characterized by neuraminidase and β-galactosidase deficiencies in patients' cells. The three enzymes form a complex inside the lysosome, and the neuraminidase and β-galactosidase deficiencies are secondary to CARB L deficiency. Sequence similarity and common enzymological properties suggest that the protomeric tertiary structure of CARB L is conserved within a family of serine carboxypeptidases which includes the yeast carboxypeptidase Y, killer expression I gene product and several plant carboxypeptidases. We used this homology to build a model of the CARB L structure based on the recently published X-ray atomic coordinates of the wheat carboxypeptidase II (CPDW-II) which shares 32% primary structure identity with CARB L. Small insertions and deletions were accommodated into the model structure by energy minimization using the DREIDING II force field. The Cα atomic-coordinates of the final CARB L model have a RMS shift of 1.01 Å compared to the corresponding conserved residues in the CPDW-II template structure. The correct orientation of the homologous catalytic triad residues Ser150, His429 and Asp392, the potential energy calculations and the distribution of hydrophobic and hydrophillic residues in the structure all support the validity of the CARB L model. Most missense mutations identified in galactosialidosis patients were located in secondary structural elements except for the Tyr211→Asn mutation which is in a loop. The other mutant residues have their side chains deeply buried in the central β-sheet of the model structure except for the Phe412→Val mutation which is located in the dimer interface. The predicted effects of specific mutations on CARB L structural stability correlates well with recently published transient expression studies of mutant CARB L (Shimmoto, M. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 91:2393-2399, 1993). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 85
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: cell multipole method ; Newton-Euler inverse mass operator ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Two new methods developed for molecular dynamics simulations of very large proteins are applied to a series of proteins ranging up to the protein capsid of tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV).For molecular dynamics of very large proteins and polymers, it is useful to carry out the dynamics using internal coordinates (say, torsions only) rather than Cartesian coordinates. This allows larger time steps, eliminates problems with the classical description of high energy modes, and focuses on the important degrees of freedom. The resulting equation of motion has the form where for T is the vector of generalized forces, M(θ) is the moments of inertia tensor, is the vector of torsions, and C is a vector containing Coriolis forces and nonbond forces. The problem is that to calculate the acceleration vector from M, C, and Trequires inverting. M(θ), an order N3calculation. Since the number of degrees of freedom might be 300,000 for a million atom system, solving these equations every time step is impractical, restricting internal coordinate methods to small systems. The new method, Newton-Euler Inverse Mass Operator (NEIMO) dynamics, constructs the torsional accelerations vector directly by an order N process, allowing internal-coordinate dynamics to be solved for super larger (million atom) systems, The first use of the NEIMO method for molecular dynamics of proteins is presented here.A second serious difficulty for large proteins is calculation of the nonbond forces. We report here the first application to proteins of the new Cell Multipole Method (CMM) to evaluate the Coulomb and van der Waals interactions. The cost of CMM scales linearly with the number of particles while retaining an accuracy significantly better than standard non bond methods (involving cutoffs).Results for NEIMO and CMM are given for simulations of a wide range of peptide and protein systems, including the protein capsid of TBSV with 488,000 atoms. The computational times for NEIMO and CMM are demonstrated to scale linearly with size. With NEIMO the dynamics time steps can be as large as 20 fs (for small peptides), much larger than possible with standard Cartesian coordinate dynamics.For TBSV we considered both the normal form and the high pH form, in which the Ca2+ ions are removed. These calculations lead to a contraction of the protein for both forms (probably because of ignoring the RNA core not observed in the X-ray). © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 86
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 68-84 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: side chain conformation ; protein folding ; protein binding ; helix formation ; helix stability ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Theoretical estimations of changes in side chain configurational entropy are essential for understanding the different contributions to the overall thermodynamic behavior of important biological processes like folding and binding. The configurational entropy of any given side chain in any particular protein can be evaluated from the complete energy profile of the side chain. Calculations of the energy profiles can be performed using the side chain single bond dihedrals as the only independent variables as long as the structures at each value of the dihedrals are allowed to relax through small changes in the valence bond angles. The probabilities of different side chain conformers obtained from these energy profiles are very similar to the conformer populations obtained by analysis of side chain preferences in the proteins of the Protein Data Bank. Also, side chain conformational entropies obtained from the energy profiles agree extremely well with those obtained from the Protein Data Bank conformer populations. Changes in side chain configurational entropy in binding and folding can be computed as differences in conformational entropy because, in most cases, the frequency of the rotational oscillation around the energy minimum of any given conformer does not appear to change significantly in the reaction. Changes of side chain conformational entropy calculated in this way were compared with experimental values. The only available experimental data-the effect of side chain substitution on the stability of α-helices-were used for this comparison. The experimental values were corrected to subtract the solvent contributions. This comparison yields an excellent agreement between calculated and experimental values, validating not only the theoretical estimates but also the separability of the entropic contributions into configurational terms and solvation related terms. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 87
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: X-ray diffraction ; aspartic protease ; AIDS ; recombinant protein ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: For therapeutically relevant targets, the evaluation of enzymes in complex with their inhibitors by cocrystallization and high resolution structural analysis has become a vital component of structure-driven drug design and development. Two approaches, hanging drop vapor diffusion and a novel microtube batch method, were utilized in parallel to grow crystals of recombinant HIV -2 protease and recombinant human renin in complex with inhibitors. In the case of HIV -2 protease in complex with a reduced amide inhibitor, crystallization was achieved only by the microbatch method. In the case of human renin, the addition of precipitant was required for crystal growth. The microbatch method described here is a useful supplementary or alternative approach for screening parameters and generating crystals suitable for high resolution structural analysis. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 88
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 124-138 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: leghemoglobin ; hydrophobic ; interactions ; hydrophobicity ; protein folding ; structure prediction ; protein dynamics ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The essential features of the in vitro refolding of myoglobin are expressed in a solvable physical model. Alpha helices are taken as the fundamental collective coordinates of the system, while the refolding is assumed to be mainly driven by solvent-induced hydrophobic forces. A quantitative model of these forces is developed and compared with experimental and theoretical results. The model is then tested by being employed in a simulation scheme designed to mimic solvent effects. Realistic dynamic trajectories of myoglobin are shown as it folds from an extended conformation to a close approximation of the native state. Various suggestive features of the process are discussed. The tenets of the model are further tested by folding the single-chain plant protein leghemoglobin. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 89
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 19-33 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: Discover program ; protein dynamics ; computer simulation ; protein motions ; counterions ; dielectric ; protein electrostatics ; aqueous simulation ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: In this report we examine several solvent models for use in molecular dynamics simulations of protein molecules with the Discover program from Biosym Technologies. Our goal was to find a solvent system which strikes a reasonable balance among theoretical rigor, computational efficiency, and experimental reality. We chose phage T4 lysozyme as our model protein and analyzed 14 simulations using different solvent models. We tested both implicit and explicit solvent models using either a linear distance-dependent dielectric or a constant dielectric. Use of a linear distance-dependent dielectric with implicit solvent significantly diminished atomic fluctuations in the protein and kept the protein close to the starting crystal structure. In systems using a constant dielectric and explicit solvent, atomic fluctuations were much greater and the protein was able to sample a larger portion of conformational space. A series of nonbonded cutoff distances (9.0, 11.5, 15.0, 20.0 Å) using both abrupt and smooth truncation of the nonbonded cutoff distances were tested. The method of dual cutoffs was also tested. We found that a minimum nonbonded cutoff distance of 15.0 Å was needed in order to properly couple solvent and solute. Distances shorter than 15.0 Å resulted in a significant temperature gradient between the solvent and solute. In all trajectories using the proprietary Discover switching function, we found significant denaturation in the protein backbone; we were able to run successful trajectories only in those simulations that used no switching function. We were able to significantly reduce the computational burden by using dual cutoffs and still calculate a quality trajectory. In this method, we found that an outer cutoff distance of 15.0 Å and an inner cutoff distance of 11.5 worked well. While a 10 Å shell of explicit water yielded the best results, a 6 A shell of water yielded satisfactory results with nearly a 40% reduction in computational cost. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 90
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 94-101 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: surface representation ; molecular recognition ; protein docking ; surface triangulation ; molecular graphics ; molecular visualization ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: We have defined a molecular surface representation that describes precisely and concisely the complete molecular surface. The representation consists of a limited number of critical points disposed at key locations over the surface. These points adequately represent the shape and the important characteristics of the surface, despite the fact that they are modest in number. We expect the representation to be useful in areas such as molecular recognition and visualization. In particular, using this representation, we are able to achieve accurate and efficient protein-protein and protein-small molecule docking. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 91
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 390-393 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: protein crystallization ; enzyme copurification ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: An unknown protein crystallized from a lobster muscle preparation in which arginine kinase was the majority component. It was identified as enolase by peptide sequencing and activity testing, and a SIRAS electron density map showed its three-dimensional structure to be very similar to that of yeast enolase. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 92
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 19 (1994), S. 302-309 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: dinuclear copper site ; hemocyanin ; oxygen binding ; allosteric regulation ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The X-ray structure of an oxygenated hemocyanin molecule, subunit II of Limulus polyphemus hemocyanin, was determined at 2.4 Å resolution and refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 17.1%. The 73-kDa subunit crystallizes with the symmetry of the space group R32 with one subunit per asymmetric unit forming hexamers with 32 point group symmetry. Molecular oxygen is bound to a dinuclear copper center in the protein's second domain, symmetrically between and equidistant from the two copper atoms. The copper-copper distance in oxygenated Limulus hemocyanin is 3.6 ± 0.2 Å, which is surprisingly 1 Å less than that seen previously in deoxygenated Limulus polyphemus subunit II hemocyanin (Hazes et al., Protein Sci. 2:597, 1993). Away from the oxygen binding sites, the tertiary and quaternary structures of oxygenated and deoxygenated Limulus subunit II hemocyanins are quite similar. A major difference in tertiary structures is seen, however, when the Limulus structures are compared with deoxygenated Panulirus interruptus hemocyanin (Volbeda, A., Hol, W. G. J. J. Mol. Biol. 209:249, 1989) where the position of domain 1 is rotated by 8° with respect to domains 2 and 3. We postulate this rotation plays an important role in cooperativity and regulation of oxygen affinity in all arthropod hemocyanins. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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  • 93
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 216-226 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: evolutionary information ; multiple alignments ; neural networks ; protein structure prediction ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Currently, the prediction of three-dimensional (3D) protein structure from sequence alone is an exceedingly difficult task. As an intermediate step, a much simpler task has been pursued extensively: predicting 1D strings of secondary structure. Here, we present an analysis of another 1D projection from 3D structure: the relative solvent accessibility of each residue. We show that solvent accessibility is less conserved in 3D homologues than is secondary structure, and hence is predicted less accurately from automatic homology modeling; the correlation coefficient of relative solvent accessibility between 3D homologues is only 0.77, and the average accuracy of predictions based on sequence alignments is only 0.68. The latter number provides an effective upper limit on the accuracy of predicting accessibility from sequence when homology modeling is not possible. We introduce a neural network system that predicts relative solvent accessibility (projected onto ten discrete states) using evolutionary profiles of amino acid substitutions derived from multiple sequence alignments. Evaluated in a cross-validation test on 238 unique proteins, the correlation between predicted and observed relative accessibility is 0.54. Interpreted in terms of a three-state (buried, intermediate, exposed) description of relative accessibility, the fraction of correctly predicted residue states is about 58%. In absolute terms this accuracy appears poor, but given the relatively low conservation of accessibility in 3D families, the network system is not far from its likely optimal performance. The most reliably predicted fraction of the residues (50%) is predicted as accurately as by automatic homology modeling. Prediction is best for buried residues, e.g., 86% of the completely buried sites are correctly predicted as having 0% relative accessibility. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
    Additional Material: 6 Ill.
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  • 94
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 248-258 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: molecular dynamics ; trp-repressor ; ligand ; domain ; dynamic cross-correlation ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Molecular dynamics simulations of the apo- and holo-forms of thetrp-repressor protein were performed under extensively solvated conditions in order to elucidate their dynamic structures and ligand-protein interactions. The root mean square fluctuations calculated from the trajectories agreed with those calculated from X-ray temperature factors. Distance, distance fluctuation, and dynamic cross-correlation maps were drawn to provide information on the dynamic structures and communications among the domains. A three-domain format has been proposed for the crystal structure (Zhang et at., Nature 327:591-597, 1987) namely, helices A-C and F of both subunits make up a central core, and D and E of each subunit forms a DNA binding head. The results of the simulations were mostly consistent with the three-domain format. However, helix F was more flexible and freer than other parts of the central core. The turn DE, the helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif, was free from interactions and correlations with other domains in both forms of the repressor. A comparison of the simulations of the aporepressor and holorepressor showed that tryptophan binding made the DNA-binding helix D more flexible but helix F less flexible. Several amino acid residues in contact with the bound tryptophan were identified as making concerted motions with it. Interaction energies between the corepressor and the amino acid residues of the protein were analyzed; the results were mostly consistent with the mutational experiments. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
    Additional Material: 8 Ill.
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  • 95
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 68-80 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: staphylococcal nuclease ; nonproductive substrate binding to ; subsites of ; active site mutants of ; oligonucleotide binding to ; Ca2+ binding to ; Mn2+ binding to ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: By a combination of NMR docking and model building, the substrate binding site on staphylococcal nuclease was found to accommodate a trinucleotide and to consist of three subsites, each interacting with a single nucleotidyl unit of DNA. Binding of the essential Ca2+ activator and substrate cleavage occur between subsites 1 and 2. Hence, catalytically productive binding would span subsites 1 and 2 while nonproductive binding would span subsites 2 and 3. Lys-49 is near subsite 1, and Lys-84 and Tyr-115 interact with substrates at sub site 3 [Weber, D. J., Gittis, A. G., Mullen, G. P., Abeygunawardana, C., Lattman, E. E., Mildvan, A. S. Proteins 13:275-287, 1992]. The proposed locations of these subsites were independently tested by the effects of the K49A, K84A, and Y115A mutations of staphylococcal nuclease on the binding of Mn2+, Ca2+, and the dinucleotide and trinucleotide substrates, 5′-pdTdA, dTdA, and dTdAdG. These three mutants have previously been shown to be fully active and to have CD and 2D NMR spectra very similar to those of the wild-type enzyme (Chuang, W.-J., Weber, D. J., Gittis, A. G., Mildvan, A. S. Proteins 17:36-48, 1993). All three mutant enzymes and their pdTdA and dTdA complexes (but not their dTdAdG complex) bind Mn2+ and Ca2+ more weakly than the wild-type enzyme by factors ranging from 2 to 11. The presence of a terminal phosphate as in 5′-pdTdA raises the affinity of the substrate for staphylococcal nuclease and its three mutants by two orders of magnitude and for the corresponding enzyme-metal complexes by three to four orders of magnitude, suggesting that the terminal phosphate is coordinated by the enzyme-bound divalent cation. Such complexation would result in the nonproductive binding of 5′-pdTdA at subsites 2 and 3. Accordingly, the K84A and Y115A mutations significantly weaken the binding of 5′-pdTdA and its metal to staphylococcal nuclease by factors of 2.2 to 37.8, while the K49A mutation has much smaller or no effect. Such nonproductive binding explains the low activity of staphylococcal nuclease with small substrates, especially those With a terminal phosphate. Similarly, the K84A and Y115A mutations weaken the binding of dTdA and its metal complexes to the enzyme by factors of 3.4 to 13.1 while the K49A mutation has smaller effects indicating significant nonproductive binding of dTdA. The trinucleotide dTdAdG binds more tightly to wild-type and mutant staphylococcal nuclease and to its metal complexes than does the dinucleotide dTdA by factors of 2.4 to 12.2, reflecting the occupancy of an additional subsite. Predominantly productive binding of dTdAdG is indicated by the 1.7- to 8.3-fold lower affinities of the K49A, K84A, and Y115A mutants for the trinucleotide and its metal complexes. The largest effects on dTdAdG binding are seen with the Y115A mutation presumably reflecting the dual role of Tyr-115 both in donating a hydrogen bond to a phosphodiester oxygen between subsites 2 and 3 and in stacking onto the guanine base at subsite 3. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 96
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. i 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
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  • 97
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 8-18 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: docking algorithm ; antigen-antibody complex ; epitope ; influenza virus hemagglutinin ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: An automatic docking algorithm has been applied to the modeling of the complex between hemagglutinin from influenza virus and the Fab fragment of a monoclonal antibody raised against this antigen. We have introduced here the use of biochemical information provided by mutants of hemagglutinin. The docking procedure finds a small number of candidate solutions where three sites of escape mutations are buried and form hydrogen bonds in the interface. The localization of the epitope is improved by additional biochemical data about mutants that do not affect antibody binding. Five candidate solutions with low energy, reasonably well-packed interfaces, and six to ten hydrogen bonds are compatible with mutant information. One of the five stands out as generally better than the others from these points of views. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
    Additional Material: 4 Ill.
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  • 98
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: α-helix capping ; α-helix initiation ; α-helix termination ; synthetic peptides ; protein folding ; circular dichroism ; 1H nmr ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: A significant fraction of the amino acids in proteins are alpha helical in conformation. Alpha helices in globular proteins are short, with an average length of about twelve residues, so that residues at the ends of helices make up an important fraction of all helical residues. In the middle of a helix, H-bonds connect the NH and CO groups of each residue to partners four residues along the chain. At the ends of a helix, the H-bond potential of the main chain remains unfulfilled, and helix capping interactions involving bonds from polar side chains to the NH or CO of the backbone have been proposed and detected. In a study of synthetic helical peptides, we have found that the sequence Ser-Glu-Asp-Glu stabilizes the alpha helix in a series of helical peptides with consensus sequences. Following the report by Harper and Rose, which identifies SerXaaXaaGlu as a member of a class of common motifs at the N termini of alpha helices in proteins that they refer to as “capping boxes,” we have reexamined the side chain-main chain interactions in a varient sequence using 1H NMR, and find that the postulated reciprocal side chain-backbone bonding between the first Ser and last Glu side chains and their peptide NH partners can be resolved: Deletion of two residues N terminal to the Ser-Glu-Asp-Glu sequence in these peptides has no effect on the initiation of helical structure, as defined by two-dimensional (2D) NMR experiments on this variant. Thus the capping box sequence Ser-Glu-Asp-Glu inhibits N terminal fraying of the N terminus of alpha helix in these peptides, and shows the side chain-main chain interactions proposed by Harper and Rose. It thus acts as a helix initiating signal. Since normal a helix cannot propagate beyond the N terminus of this structure, the box acts as a termination signal in this direction as well. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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  • 99
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 20 (1994), S. 149-166 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: crystal structure ; cold adaption ; catalytic efficiency ; protein stability ; anionic ; ectotherm ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: The crystal structure of an anionic form of salmon trypsin has been determined at 1.82 Å resolution. We report the first structure of a trypsin from a phoikilothermic organism in a detailed comparison to mammalian trypsins in order to look for structural rationalizations for the cold-adaption features of salmon trypsin. This form of salmon trypsin (T II) comprises 222 residues, and is homologous to bovine trypsin (BT) in about 65% of the primary structure. The tertiary structures are similar, with an overall displacement in main chain atomic positions between salmon trypsin and various crystal structures of bovine trypsin of about 0.8 Å. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions are compared and discussed in order to estimate possible differences in molecular flexibility which might explain the higher catalytic efficiency and lower thermostability of salmon trypsin compared to bovine trypsin. No overall differences in intramolecular interactions are detected between the two structures, but there are differences in certain regions of the structures which may explain some of the observed differences in physical properties. The distribution of charged residues is different in the two trypsins, and the impact this might have on substrate affinity has been discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
    Additional Material: 10 Ill.
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  • 100
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    Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 18 (1994), S. 34-48 
    ISSN: 0887-3585
    Keywords: normal mode refinement ; correlation function ; intra- and intermolecular correlation ; higher order scattering ; human lysozyme ; Chemistry ; Biochemistry and Biotechnology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: We have developed theoretical models for analysis of X-ray diffuse scattering from protein crystals. A series of models are proposed to be used for experimental data with different degrees of precision. First, we propose the normal mode model, where conformational dynamics of a protein is assumed to occur mostly in a limited conformational subspace spanned by a small number of low-frequency normal modes in the protein. When high precision data are available, variances and covariances of the normal mode variables can be determined from experimental data using this model. For experimental data with lower degrees of precision, we introduce a series of simpler models. These models express the covariance matrix using relatively simple empirical correlation functions by assuming the correlation between a pair of atoms to be isotropic. As an application of these simpler models, we calculate diffuse-scattering patterns from a human lysozyme crystal to examine how each adjustable parameter in the models affects general features of the resulting patterns. The results of the calculation are summarized as follows. (1) The higher order scattering makes a significant contribution at high resolutions. (2) The resulting simulated patterns are sensitive to changes in correlation lengths of about 1 Å, as well as to changes of the functional form of the correlation function. (3) But only the “average” value of the intra- and intermolecular correlation lengths seems to determine the gross features of the pattern. (4) The effect of the atom-dependent amplitude of fluctuations is difficult to observe. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
    Additional Material: 4 Ill.
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