Branched connections to the septum and to the entorhinal cortex from the hippocampus, amygdala, and diencephalon in the rat

Neuronal cell populations giving origin to bifurcating projections to the septum and the entorhinal cortex were studied in the rat by means of double retrograde labeling using the fluorescent tracers Fast Blue and Diamidino Yellow. Double labeled pyramidal neurons were consistently detected in the temporal level of the CA1 area and subiculum of the hippocampal formation, where they represented at least 50% of the cells retrogradely labeled from the entorhinal injections. Double labeled neurons were also detected in the amygdala, where they prevailed in the basal complex. Scattered double labeled neurons were observed in a number of hypothalamic nuclei, with a slight predominance in the preoptic region. Finally, a few double labeled cells were detected in the midline thalamus, and especially in the thalamic paraventricular nucleus. In all these structures, double labeled neurons were located ispilaterally to the injection sites. The present data indicate that the septum and entorhinal cortex are tightly interconnected by axonal bifurcations deriving from a variety of telencephalic and diencephalic sources.     

NEW INSIGHTS INTO VASCULAR REACTIVITY: FROM ALTERED STRUCTURE TO NEURAL CONTROL*

1. The present review covers two aspects of the author's research into the pharmacology of vascular reactivity of isolated vessels and in the intact circulation. First, how ‘normal’ reactivity is altered by injury or disease and, second, how novel drugs have allowed insight into the role of the cotransmitter neuropeptide Y and ‘N’ type calcium channels in neurotransmitter release. 2. Acute endothelium removal in the femoral artery of the anaesthetized dog confirmed the obligatory role of these cells in the dilatation response to intra-arterial acetylcholine (ACh). After 4 weeks, conduit arteries respond with a thickened neoin-tima following acute endothelial injury but, provided macrophage-derived foam cells are absent, the artery relaxes normally to ACh. 3. In the dog coronary vasculature, stable collateral arteries have a marked neointima of non-contractile smooth muscle cells that are lined with endothelium. Reactivity to vasodilator stimuli is normal while that to vasoconstrictor stimuli is impaired. 4. In the conscious rabbit, superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusion stimulates profound angiogenesis but, despite these changes to the hindlimb vasculature, reactivity to vasodilator and vasoconstrictor agents from day 1 to 6 months following SFA is unaltered. 5. Endothelial dysfunction is discussed in relation to hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and congestive heart failure. 6. The novel ‘N’ type calcium channel antagonist co-conotoxin GVIA, was used to explore the role of ‘N’ type channels in cardiac and vascular neurotransmitter release in conscious rabbits. 7. The novel putative Yi-selective neuropeptide Y antagonist 1229U91 was shown to inhibit nerve-mediated contractions of isolated mesenteric, but not femoral, artery segments in the rat. This regional difference in a possible cotransmitter role of the peptide is discussed.     

Axonal Sprouting of CA1 Pyramidal Cells in Hyperexcitable Hippocampal Slices of Kainate-treated Rats

CA1 pyramidal cells become hyperexcitable following hippocampal kainate lesions. To examine if axonal sprouting contributes to this epileptiform activity, the local axonal arborization of CA1 pyramidal cells was examined after intracellular labelling with biocytin in hippocampal slices from control rats and in hyperexcitable slices obtained from rats treated with kainate (bilateral intracerebroventricular injections) 2-4 weeks previously. Biocytin-labelled cells with an axon that could be followed from the soma to the alveus were drawn and reconstructed with a camera lucida (15 cells from control slices and 14 cells from hyperexcitable slices). Local axonal arborizations were more extensive in cells of hyperexcitable slices. This increase in axon collaterals was generally seen in the alveus and in stratum oriens, but changes were more prominent in the latter. In stratum oriens, cells from hyperexcitable slices showed a significant increase in mean total axon length (1035 versus 373 μm in control), in mean number of branching points (6.50 versus 0.67 in control) and in mean number of segment orders per axon (3.07 versus 1.47 in control). Their first-order axon segments were similar in length to those of control cells (236 versus 338 pm in control), but with significantly more branching points (2.86 versus 0.53 in control). Their second-order axon segments were significantly longer (381 versus 63 μm in control) and also showed more branching points (2.71 versus 0.13 in control). Their third- and fourth-order axon segments were also longer and with more branching points. Under high-power light microscopic examination, biocytin-labelled axonal varicosities in cells of hyperexcitable slices were often seen in close apposition with their own dendrites, presumably making synaptic contact (five of nine cells examined). No such appositions were seen in any of the control cells (seven cells examined). These results indicate that, following kainate lesions, there is sprouting of local axon collaterals of CA1 pyramidal cells in stratum oriens and in the alveus. This local increase in axon collaterals may contribute to the epileptiform activity in the CA1 area by providing recurrent excitation via newly formed synaptic, and perhaps even autaptic, contacts with pyramidal cell dendrites.     

清开灵治疗高血压脑出血术后高热、昏迷的临床研究

目的 探讨清开灵注射液对高血压脑出血术后高热、昏迷的疗效。方法 对117例脑出血术后昏迷、高热的患者在常规治疗的基础上，增加应用清开灵注射液来加强促醒、降温的效果，与对照组117例单纯常规治疗的患者相比较，进行一系列指标的观察。结果 清开灵治疗组在高热持续时间、昏迷时间、住院时间以及4周时日常生活能力(ADL)分级的对比等方面均优于对照组，而病死人数、不良反应方面两者无明显差异。结论 清开灵注射液能够明显缩短高血压脑出血患者术后高热、昏迷的持续时间，并能缩短病程，改善预后。     

Interhemispheric and subcortical collaterals of single cortical neurons in the adult cat

The results of this study demonstrate the existence of single neocortical neurons that send axon collaterals into the corpus callosum, to terminate within the contralateral hemisphere, and subcortically, to terminate within the ipsilateral superior colliculus.     

以通络学说论治盆腔瘀血综合征之探讨

通络法伴随着叶天士"络病"学说的问世而基本成形,但后世应用并不普遍,盆腔瘀血综合征是妇科的常见病,且以局部静脉丛血流不畅或瘀血为病理症结所在,包括其下腹痛等证候特点,颇适合叶氏通络大法在这一领域的拓展应用。     

Collateralization of the amygdaloid projections of the rat prelimbic and infralimbic cortices

Previous studies indicate that the distribution of corticoamygdaloid neurons in the rat prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) cortices overlaps with the distribution of neurons projecting to the contralateral medial prefrontal cortex (MPC), insular cortex, mediodorsal thalamus, and dorsal medulla. In view of the poorly differentiated cytoarchitecture of PL and IL, and their designation as cortical regions transitional between the allocortex and isocortex, the present study sought to determine whether several cortical and subcortical projections from these areas arise as collaterals of corticoamygdaloid neurons. Injections of the fluorescent dyes Fast Blue (FB) or bisbenzimide (BB) were made into the amygdaloid complex and the following areas: agranular and granular insular cortices; mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD); nucleus tractus solitarii/dorsal medulla (NTS); contralateral amygdaloid complex; and ipsilateral and contralateral MPC. Neurons projecting to the ipsilateral amygdaloid complex were located mainly in layers II and V with fewer cells in layer III. Concomitant injections into the insular cortex, MD, and NTS labeled populations of neurons arranged in laminae that partially overlapped with, but were essentially separate from, corticoamygdaloid neurons. Projections to the insular cortex arose from layers II and V; those to MD arose from layers V and VI. Corticobulbar projections from IL originated from neurons arranged in a thin lamina in the deep part of layer V. Very few neurons projecting to both the amygdaloid complex and any of these areas were observed. Bilateral injections of FB and BB into the amygdaloid complex producted very few double-labeled cells in PL and IL. Further, in layer V, ipsilaterally projecting corticoamygdaloid neurons tended to be located more deeply than contralaterally projecting neurons. Combined injections of BB and FB into the amygdaloid complex and the contralateral (but not ipsilateral) MPC resulted in significant numbers of double-labeled neurons in layers II, III, and V of PL and IL. Control injections of fluorescent dyes into the cerebrospinal fluid labeled few neurons in the superficial layers of PL and IL and a combined injection into the amygdaloid complex (FB) and subarachnoid space (BB) resulted in a very small number of double-labeled cells in layer II only. The results suggest that a significant proportion of neurons in PL and IL projecting to the amygdaloid complex issue collaterals innervating the contralateral MPC. Evidence is discussed that suggests that the interhemispheric collaterals of MPC corticoamygdaloid neurons may serve to correlate the amygdaloid outputs of the MPC bilaterally.     

Evaluation of left ventricular performance in coronary heart disease: Use of isometric handgrip stress test

The usefulness of isometric handgrip exercise in the assessment of left ventricular function was studied in 27 patients, all of whom had angiographically documented coronary artery disease. The effect of extensiveness of coronary disease and presence or absence of collaterals (both delineated by coronary arteriography) on the response to handgrip stress was also evaluated. Of 11 patients with a normal handgrip response, 4 exhibited a normal left ventriculogram and 7 were abnormal. Of these 7, 6 had inferior hypokinesis. Conversely, of 16 patients with an abnormal response, to handgrip, 15 had abnormal ventriculograms. Of these, 9 had anterior akinesis. Of patients with a normal handgrip response 82% had two- or three-vessel coronary disease, and 94% with an abnormal response exhibited two- or three-vessel obstruction. There was no observed correlation between the presence or absence of collaterals and the response to handgrip. This study indicates that (1) handgrip stress, when combined with left ventriculography, often yields important additional information regarding the effect of localized contraction abnormalities on overall left ventricular performance; (2) the extent of coronary obstructive disease or the presence of collaterals per se do not appear to be the primary determinants of left ventricular performance; (3) it is possible that the location as well as severity and extent of left ventricular contraction abnormality may play an important role in determining overall left ventricular performance.     

A type of aspiny neuron in the rat neostriatum accumulates [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid: combination of Golgi-staining, autoradiography, and electron microscopy

Light microscopic autoradiography was used to identify cells in the neostriatum that became labelled after the local injection of [3H]gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA). The GABA-accumulating cells comprised up to 15% of the total population of neurons. Thirty-seven of these cells were examined in the electron microscope and it was found that they all had similar cytological characteristics, i.e., prominent nuclear indentations, a moderate volume of cytoplasm, rich in organelles, and sparse synaptic input to the perikaryon. Nine of the cells that had accumulated GABA were also impregnated following Golgi staining. These Golgi-impregnated neurons were of medium size and all had dendrites that were aspiny, often varicose, and that occasionally followed a recurving path. After gold toning, the Golgi-impregnated, GABA-accumulating neurons were examined in the electron microscope and were found to receive boutons forming symmetrical or asymmetrical synaptic contacts on their somata and dendrites; the symmetrical synapses were most common on the cell body and proximal dendrites, while the distal dendrites mainly received boutons forming asymmetrical contacts. We conclude that one type of GABAergic neuron in the neostriatum is a type of medium-sized aspiny neuron and that this neuron is likely to receive synaptic input both from neurons within the striatum and from neurons in distant brain regions. We suggest that this neuron is a local circuit neuron in the neostriatum since its morphological features are quite distinct from those of identified projecting neurons.     

《诸病源候论》对宣导术的发挥

《诸病源候论》是一部中医临床病理学和证候学方面的不朽专著,在记述诸证之后多附养生法和宣导术以防治疾病。书中所载不仅保存早已失传的很多内容,并对宣导术有诸多发挥,如解释行功的具体做法,对宣导术理论阐发,对宣导基本术语进行通俗易懂的解释,宣导后附有医嘱,强调调气伴咽津,宣导结合存思,导引饮食忌宜,最早明确“六字决”与脏腑配对及“辨证施功”。