Cortical stimulation relieves parkinsonian pathological activity in vitro

Previously, we have shown that chemical excitatory drives such as N‐methyl‐d ‐aspartate (NMDA) are capable of activating the striatal microcircuit exhibiting neuronal ensembles that alternate their activity producing temporal sequences. One aim of this work was to demonstrate whether similar activity could be evoked by delivering cortical stimulation. Dynamic calcium imaging allowed us to follow the activity of dozens of neurons with single‐cell resolution in mus musculus brain slices. A train of electrical stimuli in the cortex evoked network activity similar to the one induced by bath application of NMDA. Previously, we have also shown that the dopamine‐depleted striatal microcircuit increases its spontaneous activity generating dominant recurrent ensembles that interrupt the temporal sequences found in control microcircuits. This activity correlates with parkinsonian pathological activity. Several cortical stimulation protocols such as transcranial magnetic stimulation reduce motor signs of Parkinsonism. Here, we show that cortical stimulation in vitro temporarily eliminates the pathological activity from the dopamine‐depleted striatal microcircuit by turning off some neurons that sustain this activity and recruiting new ones that allow transitions between network states, similar to the control circuit. When cortical stimulation is given in the presence of L‐DOPA, parkinsonian activity is eliminated during the whole recording period. The present experimental evidence suggests that cortical stimulation such as that generated by transcranial magnetic stimulation, or otherwise, may allow reduce L‐DOPA dosage.     

Fluoro-Gold tracing of zinc-containing afferent connections in the mouse visual cortices

Summary To identify zinc-containing projections to the visual areas, we injected Fluoro-Gold into the occipital cortex of the mouse. Five days later, the mice underwent an intravital selenium-labeling procedure to demonstrate the somata of neurons that give rise to zinc-containing boutons. Numerous double-labeled cells were seen in the ipsi- and contralateral primary (layers II/III and VI), and secondary visual cortices (layers II/III and VI). A few double-labeled cells were apparent in other cortical areas concerned with visual processing: the orbital cortex (layers II and III), the posterior portion of the medial agranular frontal cortex (layer V/VI border), and the temporal cortex (layer VI). The cingulate, retrosplenial, perirhinal, and lateral entorhinal cortices had lamina projecting to the visual cortex and separate lamina harboring zinc-containing cells. A spatial segregation of fluorescent and zinc-containing neurons was also seen in the claustrum. This integration or segregation of projecting and zinc-containing neurons may reflect the function of the cortical areas. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor function is antagonized by physiological concentrations of zinc in vitro. It is proposed that zinc-positive projections from areas that perform basic visual functions are less likely to be modified by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated processes than the zinc-negative connections from associational areas.     

小家鼠的年龄鉴定及种群年龄组成的研究

本文研究了1987～1989在莆田农村捕获的室内小家鼠标本1616号(♂751,♀865),通过分析不同体重的性发育情况,提出以体重作为划分年龄组的标准;♂≥10g,♀≥11g为成年组;♂<7g,♀>8g为幼年组;界于两者之间为亚成年组。还探讨了小家鼠种群年龄组成的变化及其与种群密度的关系;比较了不同年龄组的繁殖力差异。结果表明,小家鼠种群年龄组成有明显的季节变化和年间差异,种群的年龄结构对数量消长起着重要作用。成年组的性比(♂/♀)显著低于亚成年组,成年雌鼠的怀孕率最高,平均胎仔数亦多于亚成年组。因此,成年组为小家鼠最主要的繁殖种群。     

Die Aktivität motorischer Einheiten des Musculus Splenius Capitis bei peripheren vestibulären Läsionen

Summary The activity of single motor units of the splenius-capitis muscle of healthy human subjects and patients with unilateral vestibular lesions was recorded by means of microelectrodes. The major part of these units reacted to vestibular stimulation in the same way as primary and secondary vestibular neurones of other vertebrates. The reactions of these units to trapezoidale stimuli is identical to that of vestibular neurones.An angular acceleration of more than 0.6°/s² is for these units a stimulus which is above threshold, this too corresponds to findings in the vestibular nerve. In patients with unilateral vestibular lesions the threshold for rotatory stimuli is markedly increased on the side of the lesion, whereas the threshold on the other side remains constant.This method is very sensitive and vestibular lesions can be detected which cannot be seen using the common technics for vestibular examination.

Besonderer Dank gilt der Firma Tönnies, Freiburg, die diese Untersuchungen durch leihweises Überlassen von Geräten und Hilfestellung bei der Lösung technischer Probleme erleichtert hat.     

Predicting relationships between psychological constructs and genetic characters: An analysis of changing genetic influences on activity in mice

Psychological constructs involving genetic characters can be of two types. The first type involves behavioral characters in which a score in a given direction should consistently confer a selective advantage on an organism across environments and age. Behavioral measurements taken in different situations should show low additive genetic correlations but similar patterns of directional dominance. A composite score summed across many measures representing the construct should show a high proportion of nonadditive genetic variance. Type 2 constructs involve behavior patterns in which high scores confer a selective advantage in some circumstances and a disadvantage in others. Behaviors representing such constructs should be characterized by high additive genetic correlations, suggesting a common set of genes influencing the behaviors at different ages or in different environments. The direction of nonadditive genetic effects should differ in accordance with optimal behavior levels in each test situation. Activity levels of housemice are shown to fit the model of a type 2 construct. Most measures used in human behavior genetics probably also reflect type 2 constructs.This work was supported by Grants GB-28017, BNS-7815366, and BNS-8121540 from the National Science Foundation.     

Isolation calls in house mouse pups: Individual consistency across time and situations

Isolation calls are emitted by the offspring of many mammalian species when separated from caregivers and siblings. Some studies indicate that isolation call rates constitute a consistent individual trait; others show that the young adjust their vocalization rate to the current situation. We studied this in the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) by exploring individual consistencies in pup isolation call rates and their potential modulation in different social situations. We carried out experiments including three treatments (repeated measurements) during consecutive days, all starting with an initial isolation of the pup, followed by (a) a reunion with mother and littermates and a second isolation hereafter, (b) the confrontation of isolated pup with cues of its own nest or (c) with cues of an unfamiliar adult male. The first treatment induced a significant increase, while the others induced significant decreases in pup isolation call rates. Pups showed consistent individual differences in initial call rates across the three days of testing (postnatal days 9–11), which were significantly associated with individual differences in call rates during the different treatments. We conclude that pup isolation calls represent a consistent, trait-like behaviour in the house mouse, which can also express flexibility in response to social cues.     

按摩肩胛下肌治疗肩周炎的临床分析

目的：探讨不同的按摩手法治疗肩周炎的疗效。方法：把30例肩周炎患者分成试验组和对照组,对照组进行常规手法治疗,试验组配合按摩肩胛下肌。结果：试验组的总有效率为93．33％,对照组为80％。结论：配合按摩肩胛下肌治疗肩周炎可提高临床治愈率。     

推拿手法对膝骨关节炎患者股四头肌肌力影响的临床研究

目的：观察和评价推拿手法治疗膝骨关节炎的临床疗效,并对患者股四头肌肌力的变化进行分析。方法：采用随机数字表法分组的方法将96例膝骨关节炎患者分为治疗组和对照组,分别采用推拿手法治疗和药物（塞来昔布）治疗。30d为1个疗程,两组治疗周期均为1个疗程。治疗前后对患者进行疼痛、HSS评分、疗效,以及股四头肌肌力评定。结果：①疼痛评分显示,治疗后两组间比较无明显差异（P〉0.05）;HSS评分显示,治疗后两组间比较无明显差异（P〉0.05）;疗效显示,治疗组有效率是93.75%,对照组有效率是91.67%,治疗后两组间比较无明显差异（P〉0.05）②等速测试结果显示,治疗后组内比较股四头肌肌力均有差异（P〈0.05）,两组间比较股四头肌存在差异（P〈0.05）。结论：①推拿手法治疗膝骨关节炎近期疗效与口服塞来昔布等效;②推拿手法治疗可以提高膝骨关节炎患者股四头肌肌力和做功,其影响大于口服塞来昔布。     

New Perspective on the Geographic Distribution and Evolution of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus,Central Europe

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is an Old World mammarenavirus found worldwide because of its association with the house mouse. When LCMV spills over to immunocompetent humans, the virus can cause aseptic meningitis; in immunocompromised persons, systemic infection and death can occur. Central Europe is a strategic location for the study of LCMV evolutionary history and host specificity because of the presence of a hybrid zone (genetic barrier) between 2 house mouse subspecies, Mus musculus musculus and M. musculus domesticus. We report LCMV prevalence in natural mouse populations from a Czech Republic–Germany transect and genomic characterization of 2 new LCMV variants from the Czech Republic. We demonstrate that the main division in the LCMV phylogenetic tree corresponds to mouse host subspecies and, when the virus is found in human hosts, the mouse subspecies found at the spillover location. Therefore, LCMV strains infecting humans can be predicted by the genetic structure of house mice.