Rewarding effects of the optical isomers of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine ('Ecstasy') and 3,4-methylenedioxy-ethylamphetamine ('Eve') measured by conditioned place preference in rats

3,4-methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDMA) (‘Ecstasy’) and its analogue 3,4-methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDE) (‘Eve’) are well known illicit street drugs mainly abused by young people. In spite of the actual research going on, the classification of their abuse potential remains unclear. Since secondary reinforcers are the main factors responsible for craving and relapse, the aim of our study was to assess the potency of MDMA and MDE in a second order reinforcement paradigm, i.e. conditioned place preference (CPP). For the general assessment of our study conditions, we compared MDMA with amphetamine. Unexpectedly, no significant CPP for MDMA was found in contrast to amphetamine. Detailed analysis of current literature led us to the working hypothesis that social environment is crucial for the development of CPP. In a subsequent experiment we tested the influence of housing conditions on CPP using MDMA and demonstrated that isolated animals show significant CPP compared to group-housed ones. In order to better understand the rewarding mechanisms of Ecstasy-derivatives, we tested both the racemic drugs and the pure isomers in the CPP paradigm. Both MDMA's optical isomers and racemic MDMA showed significant CPP without notable differences, while MDE and its isomers completely failed to show any significant CPP. In conclusion, the mechanism by which MDMA induces addiction is much more complicated than assumed so far and more pronounced in isolated animals. The fact that both optical isomers of MDMA led to CPP implies that at least two pathways by which MDMA induces craving behaviour exist.     

Cell biology and pathology of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells

Growing evidence revealed that liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) play several important roles in physiology and pathology of the liver. It has been well understood that their structural characteristics, such as the membrane sieve and lack of basement membrane, facilitate direct contact of soluble and insoluble serum substances with hepatic parenchymal cells, resulting in enhancement of hepatic metabolic activity. In addition, SEC is now regarded as a member of the scavenger endothelial cells, which have potential to eliminate a variety of macromolecules from the blood circulation by receptor-mediated endocytosis. It is reported that molecules preferentially eliminated by SEC are denatured or modified proteins such as advanced glycation end products, extracellular matrix components including hyaluronic acid, and some lipoproteins. The nature of the scavenger receptors corresponding to these molecules remains to be clarified. Recently, it was noted that SEC has an antigen-presenting function similar to dendritic cells. Taken together, it is suggested that SEC, cooperating with Kupffer cells and hepatic dendritic cells, may partake of immunoregulatory functions in the liver. SEC also plays a pivotal role in the pathological process of ischemia-reperfusion injury following liver surgery and liver transplantation. Thus, it is of importance to elucidate the mechanisms of apoptosis and proliferation of SEC. Recent results on the regulation of growth and apoptotic signaling of SEC are discussed.     

bFGF在骨组织工程学中的研究进展

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子 (b FGF)是近年来研究较为广泛的生长因子之一 ,对骨组织有着广泛的生物学效应。本文就 b FGF的研究进展及其目前在骨组织工程学研究方面的应用做一综述     

社交回避与苦恼量表在学生群体中的信效度研究

社交焦虑正日益受到我国心理学与精神病学界的关注 ,对社交焦虑本质的探讨、临床评估以及疗效测评等都需要有效可靠的工具。社交回避与苦恼量表 (Socialavoidanceanddistressscale ,SAD)是国外应用较多的量表之一[1] ,它是Watson与Friend于 196 9年建立在大学生样本上的测量社交焦虑状态的量表 ,用于评估回避社会交往的倾向以及身临其境时的苦恼感受。作者采用“理性分析”法 (rationalanaly sis)建立相关的条目[2 ] 。量表建立初期至今 ,不断有人对其进行信效度考证 ,大都认同其具有良好的测量学品质[3,4 ] ,故在国外被广泛地用于焦虑研…     

吸毒者的社会支持及与心身健康水平的相关分析

毒品滥用已成为严重社会问题 ,并已引起医学界、心理学界及社会各界的关注。吸毒者的吸毒行为除与他们自身心理特征有关外 ,还与许多因素有关。如失业、缺乏家庭温暖、精神空虚、孤独 ,对生活失去热情和信心等。研究认为 ,社会支持系统不良是导致多种心理卫生问题的重要原因之一 ,也是吸毒成瘾及复吸的主要原因[1,2 ] 。本研究运用社会支持量表和症状自评量表对一组吸毒者的社会支持状况及与心理健康的关系作初步研究 ,旨在为吸毒者实施心理治疗及作戒毒后回归社会的跟进服务提供参考。1　资料与方法1.1　调查对象1.1.1　吸毒组　选择长沙市…     

Neuropsychological functions,sleep, and mental health in adults with Klinefelter syndrome

A few studies have examined neuropsychological functions, sleep, and mental health combined in Klinefelter syndrome (KS; 47,XXY). We investigated neuropsychological functions with standard tests, sleep with actigraphy, and self‐reported mental health in 30 men with KS (Mean age = 36.7 years) compared to 21 controls (Mean age = 36.8 years). Men with KS scored significantly lower on mental speed, attention span, working memory, inhibition, and set‐shifting tests, as well as overall IQ (mean effect size difference Cohen's d = 0.79). Men with KS had significantly longer night wakes, with no differences in other sleep variables (mean d = 0.34). Men with KS reported poorer mental health than controls (mean d = 1.16). Regression analyses showed neuropsychological functions explained variance in some sleep domains for men with KS but not for controls. Neuropsychological functions explained variance in some mental health domains for controls. For men with KS, however, verbal IQ was the only significant predictor of mental health. Altogether, men with KS display problems in neuropsychological functions and mental health but do not appear different from controls on most sleep parameters. Our findings indicate that relations between neuropsychological functions, sleep, and mental health differ between men with KS and controls.     

Effects of social factors on adrenal weight and related physiology of Macaca fascicularis

Increased adrenal cortical activity and hypertrophy of adrenal glands associated with defeat and social subordination have been reported frequently in small mammals; these adrenal changes have been linked to impairments in immune response, glucose metabolism and reproductive performance. Similar studies in primates have produced variable results. The current study was undertaken to illuminate the effects of social status on the adrenal gland and to examine concurrent effects of social variables on other physiological systems in Macaca fascicularis, in an initial exploration of the hypothesis that high and low social status have different physiological consequences. Sixty adult male M. fascicularis were housed in social groups of n = 5, under either stable or unstable social conditions. It was found that subordinate animals had heavier adrenal glands and somewhat higher plasma glucose concentrations than dominants. In contrast, dominants had higher blood pressure and worsened atherosclerosis, under some conditions, than subordinates. These data appear to offer preliminary support for Henry and Stephen's hypothesis of differential arousal of dominant and subordinate animals.     

Autoimmunity to Polymorphonuclears: Functional Consequences of the Binding of Antibodies to Membrane and Cytoplasmic Target Antigens of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Antineutrophil autoantibodies reacting with cytoplasmic antigens are associated with various types of vasculitides, whereas antibodies reacting with neutrophil membrane antigens are mostly related to autoimmune neutropenias. The aim of this study was the investigation of the effect of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) reacting with surface and cytoplasmic antigens of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) known to be targets for autoantibodies in human diseases. Blood of healthy volunteers was tested for several phagocytic functions in the presence of MoAbs against surface (CD16, GD11b, CD18, NB1) and cytoplasmic (proteinase 3; PR3) molecules. Candidacidal activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of all MoAbs but isotypic control. Phagocytic activity was inhibited by anti-CD11b and/or anti-CD18 MoAbs. Zymosan-induced chemiluminescence was reduced by MoAbs anti-CD16, CD18, and NB1, enhanced by anti-PR3 MoAb, and less enhanced by anti-CD11b. In conclusion, antimembrane antibodies diminished phagocytic functions at multiple steps; in contrast, anticytoplasmic MoAb promoted activation of oxidative burst in addition to impairment of microbicidal activity. This fact may be related to different pathogenic aspects of diseases associated with antimembrane and anticytoplasmic antibodies.     

Establishment of social rank among grouped male mice: relative effects on circulating FSH, LH, and corticosterone

Previously-isolated, adult, CF-1 male mice were grouped four per cage, killed after periods of time ranging from one hour to 14 days, and their plasma assayed for corticosterone, FSH and LH. Dominant and subordinate ranks were easily separable after 24 hr for comparison with each other and with isolated controls that were also killed throughout the 14-day experimental period. The one hour responses to grouping, during which all males were fighting intensely to establish rank, included a 5–6 fold increase in plasma corticosterone and concurrent depressions in circulating gonadotropins, 19% for FSH and a dramatic 94% for LH. Plasma corticosterone returned to baselevels between Days 1 and 3 in the case of dominant males and between Days 3 and 6 for subordinates. Adaptation was also observed for FSH in the plasma of dominants but later than that occurring for corticosterone. Plasma FSH in subordinates and circulating LH among both relative ranks were still depressed at the end of the 14-day period. A reciprocal relationship between adrenocortical activity and gonadotropin secretion was thus observed only during the early phases of dominance-subordination establishment; thereafter, secretory patterns for these three hormones functioned independently. Seminal vesicles were little affected by grouping but mean preputial weight increased markedly and progressively among dominant males and decreased with time in subordinates.     

Lateralized rewarding brain stimulation affects forepaw preference in rats

Rats trained to reach for food pellets into a narrow tubular feeder consistently prefer to perform this stereotype instrumental movement with either the left or right forepaw. In 16 rats with established handedness electrodes were implanted into both lateral hypothalami. The animals were rewarded by intracranial self stimulation (ICSS, 300 msec, 50 Hz, 20-60 microA) for reaching into a modified feeder for a plastic ball operandum, the movement of which between the bottom and entrance of the feeder was monitored by mechanical contacts. The rats readily continued to reach when ICSS was delivered immediately after the photoelectrically detected reach or after the displacement of the operandum. Most rats learned in a single session to modify the movement when ICSS delivery was made contingent upon holding the operandum between the bottom and entrance of the feeder for 256 or 512 msec. The efficiency of reaching (ratio of successful reaches to all reaches) decreased with increasing holding time; only a few animals were able to master a 1024 msec delay. Reaching was supported by ICSS of either lateral hypothalamus. Whereas in 8 rats the strongly expressed forepaw preference was not changed by lateralized ICSS, in 8 latently ambidextrous animals stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus ipsilateral to the preferred forepaw increased reaching with the normally non-preferred forepaw from 15% to 60%. Stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus contralateral to the preferred forepaw did not change the preference. The preference shift was equally well expressed in simple and difficult versions of the task. It is concluded that lateralization of motivational influences can be reflected in the asymmetry of the neural mechanisms processing the lateralized sensory signals and/or elaborating the lateralized motor output.