Dynamic properties of vestibular reflexes in the decerebrate cat

Summary Vestibulocollic (VCR) and vestibulo-ocular (VOR) reflexes were studied during angular rotation in the horizontal plane in precollicular decerebrate cats. Angular position was modulated by sinusoids or sums of sinusoids with frequencies ranging from 0.05 to 5 Hz.Reflex motor output was measured by recording electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lateral rectus and dorsal neck muscles and discharge of abducens motoneurons. Measured with respect to input angular acceleration VCR motor output displayed a second order lag at low frequencies, bringing mean EMG phase (–136 °) and gain slope (–35 dB/ decade) close to those of an angular position signal at 0.2 Hz. At higher frequencies the lag was counteracted by a second order lead bringing mean phase (–52 °) and gain slope (–5.6 dB/decade) back close to those of an angular acceleration signal at 3 Hz. By contrast, mean phase (–113 ° to –105 °) and gain slope (–21 to –28 dB/decade) of the VOR motor output remained close to those of an angular velocity signal across the entire frequency range.The data suggest that neural pathways producing the VCR receive selective input from irregular type horizontal semicircular canal afferents which provide one lag and one lead in the overall transfer function while the other lag and lead are produced by central pathways.Transaction of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF), which eliminates all of the most direct (three neuron) arcs of the horizontal VCR, did not cause any detectable change in the horizontal VCR at either low or high frequencies. Reductions in overall gain occurred in some cases but these could be attributed to damage to axons outside the MLF. Less direct pathways, probably including vestibulo-reticulospinal pathways, are thus able to produce both the low-frequency, phase-lagging and high-frequency, phase-leading components of the horizontal VCR.Supported in part by NIH grants EY 02249, EY 00100, and NS 02619Recipient of NIH Fellowship NS 06030     

The dendritic architecture of the medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system in the rat,rabbit, and cat

Summary The neurons of the medial terminal nucleus (MTN) of the accessory optic system (AOS) have been studied in the rat, rabbit and cat in Golgi-Cox and Golgi-Kopsch impregnated brain sections. The present anatomical findings permit a division of the MTN of these species into dorsal and ventral components (MTNd, MTNv), in agreement with other investigations. The MTNd contains predominantly linear-bipolar and linear-multipolar shaped neurons with cell bodies that measure in the range of 25–50 m. These neurons have 2 to 4 primary dendrites which, along with their smaller dendritic branches, are oriented in the plane of the long axis of the MTN (i.e. from ventromedial to dorsolateral). These linear-bipolar and linear-multipolar cells represent 70–80% of the neurons of the MTNd as seen in the Golgi impregnated sections. The remaining 20–30% of the MTNd neurons are nearly all multipolar in shape with somata measuring in the range of 15–25 m. An occasional multipolar neuron is larger, has a soma that measures around 30–60 m and has dendrites which extend outward from the cell body to cover large areas of the MTNd. There was considerable extension of the dendrites of MTNd neurons into the MTNv; however, the dendrites of MTNd neurons were not observed extending into the adjacent substantia nigra (SN) or ventral tegmental area (VTA) of Tsai (1925). Conversely, the dendrites of neurons in the neighboring SN and VTA course along the borders of the MTN but only occasionally extend into the MTN. The neuron population of the MTNv consists almost entirely of small-multipolar shaped cells with somata measuring from 15–25 m and dendritic trees resembling those described for multipolar cells of the MTNd. A small number of neurons of the ventral division are medium-multipolar in shape with cell bodies that measure approximately 30–60 m. Typically, these cells have several dendrites which extend ventrally within the MTNv and one or more dendrites that extend either across the MTNv or dorsally into the MTNd. Only a few linear-bipolar and linear-multipolar neurons were observed in the MTNv. The present findings are discussed in relation to anatomical, physiological, and histochemical studies on the MTN.Abbreviations to Figures CP Cerebral Peduncle - DTN Dorsal Terminal Nucleus - LG Lateral Geniculate Nucleus - LP Lateral Posterior Nucleus - MG Medial Geniculate Nucleus - ML Medial Lemniscus - MTNd Medial Terminal Nucleus, dorsal division - MTNv Medial Terminal Nucleus, ventral division - NTO Nucleus of the Optic Tract - PA Anterior Pretectal Nucleus - pn Nucleus Paranigralis - PP Posterior Pretectal Nucleus - Pul Pulvinar - PO Olivary Pretectal Nucleus - RN Red Nucleus - SGS Stratum Griseum Superficiale, Superior Colliculus - SN Substantia Nigra Supported by USPHS research grant EYO3642 from the National Eye Institute     

The inferior supernumerary renal arteries: A classification into three types

Among cases that had multiple renal arteries on one side, an inferior supernumerary renal artery was found in 24/270 cases (ca. 9%) on the right and in 19/270 cases (ca. 7%) on the left, together with the usual renal artery. We have noticed that there are correlations between their levels of origin from the aorta and their positional relation to the ureter and the inferior vena cava (IVC). An inferior supernumerary renal artery (InfRA) of lower origin passes in front of the IVC and behind the ureter. An InfRA of middle origin passes in front of both the IVC and the ureter. An InfRA of upper origin passes behind the IVC and in front of the ureter or renal pelvis. In addition there was a tendency for the lower origin type to have an ureteric branch, while the middle and upper origin types had a gonadal branch. These findings suggest that different derivations lead to the inferior supernumerary renal arteries.     

Blood supply to the retina and the lens in the gerbil (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Meriones unguiculatus</Emphasis>)

The blood supply to the retina and the lens in 32 gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) of both sexes from infancy to maturity was studied under light and stereoscopic microscopes, and a scanning electron microscope. Mercox (CL-2R; Dai Nippon Ink, Tokyo, Japan) was injected into the left ventricle of 30 animals in order to visualize the blood supply to the retina and the lens from the ophthalmic artery. The central retinal artery arises from the ophthalmic artery, passes through the papilla of the optic nerve together with the central retinal vein and penetrates the vitreous space (cavity of the eye) between the lens and the internal limiting membrane of the retina, where it divides into the central branches covering the lens and the parietal branches to supply the retina. The former passes through the hyaloid space after branching several arterioles and then covers the lens like a network from its medial and marginal sides. Different from small experimental animals, the parietal branches, just after separating from the central one, divides into the nasal, dorsal and temporal branches in the vitreous space, each of which then subdivides to distribute across the retina on the inner limiting membrane, then delineates the membrana vasculosa retinae. This basal pattern of vasculization 1 day after birth continues to death. Both the central and parietal branches of the central retinal artery correspond to the branches of the hyaloid artery in embryo and the latter is preserved in adult gerbils.     

Ventrolateral medullary neurons projecting to the medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area through the medial forebrain bundle: an electrophysiological study in the rat

Summary A total of 152 ventrolateral medullary neurons was antidromically stimulated from both the medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area (MPOAH) and the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in urethane anesthetized rats. These neurons were located primarily dorsal to the lateral reticular nucleus and could be readily classified in at least two groups, type I and type II cells on the basis of electrophysiological properties. The action potentials of type I cells had a shorter duration, and their conduction velocities ranged from 0.45 to 3.1 m/s. By contrast, type II cells, most predominantly observed, were characterized by a longer duration and an unusual shape of their action potential, and the antidromic propagation into the somatodendritic complex was often blocked. The conduction velocity (mean = 0.21 m/s) and absolute refractory period (mean = 2.63 ms) of type II cells are consistent with them having fine non-myelinated axons. Injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), but not 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, directly into the MFB blocked antidromic responses of 57% of type II cells tested. The residual type II cells whose antidromic responses were not affected by 6-OHDA were located significantly rostral to the 6-OHDA sensitive cells. Neither antidromic response of type I cells tested, on the other hand, was affected by 6-OHDA. The majority of type I cells were dramatically activated by noxious pinches of the tail, whereas the noxious stimuli produced no detectable change in the firing of type II cells. These data demonstrate that ventrolateral medullary neurons projecting to the MPOAH through the MFB are comprised of at least three distinct populations: 6-OHDA resistant fast conducting cells with somatic afferents, 6-OHDA sensitive and resistant slow conducting cells.     

骨间前血管腕背支骨膜瓣移位修复骨不连的临床应用

报道用骨间前血管腕背支骨膜瓣移位修复骨不连、骨坏死的手术方法及疗效。方法：根据应用解剖学研究，设计以骨间前动脉腕背支为蒂的骨膜瓣，顺行移位修复尺、桡骨骨不连，逆行移位修复手舟骨、月骨不连与骨坏死。结果：临床应用19例，随访1年，在术后3～6月均达到骨愈合和骨坏死修复，关节活动功能明显改善。结论：骨间前血管腕背支为蒂的骨膜瓣移位术适合邻近骨不连、骨坏死修复。     

旋股外侧动脉升支阔筋膜张肌支髂骨瓣的解剖学研究及临床意义

目的 :探讨带旋股外侧动脉升支阔筋膜张肌支髂骨瓣的解剖及应用要点。方法 :在 2 5侧经动脉灌注红色乳胶的成人下肢标本上 ,重点观测旋股外侧动脉升支阔筋膜张肌支的走行、分支、发出点和外径等。结果 :旋股外侧动脉升支的阔筋膜张肌支上行支发出点距髂前上棘平面 7.1± 2 .3cm ,外径 1.2± 0 .8mm ,该支又分出 2～ 3支外径在 0 .3mm～ 0 .5mm的小分支从阔筋膜张肌后份进入肌质 ,上行至肌起始处达髂骨 ;其下行支发出点距髂前上棘平面 7.9± 1.8cm ,外径 1.3± 0 .8mm。结论 :旋股外侧动脉升支阔筋膜张肌支髂骨瓣具有手术可行性和实际应用价值     

The paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus mediates the pressor response to noradrenergic stimulation of the medial prefrontal cortex in unanesthetized rats

The medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is a structure that is also involved in cardiovascular modulation. The injection of norepinephrine (NE) into the prelimbic (PL) area of the MPFC of unanesthetized rats evokes a pressor response which is mediated by acute vasopressin release. Vasopressin is synthesized by magnocellular cells of the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus. In the present study, we endeavored to determine which vasopressin-synthesizing hypothalamic nucleus is involved in the pressor pathway activated after NE injection into the PL area of the MPFC. We report here that lidocaine microinjection into the SON did not change the pressor response evoked by NE injection into the PL. However, the response to NE was blocked by prior injection of lidocaine or CoCl₂ into the PVN, indicating that this area is responsible for the mediation of this pressor response. A neuroanatomic experiment in which the neuronal tracer biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was microinjected into the MPFC showed a lack of axons or neuronal cell bodies in the PVN, indicating that there are no direct connections between the PL area of the MPFC and the PVN. The results suggest that the PVN is involved in the mediation of the pressor response to NE in the PL area and that this pathway must relay in other brain structures before reaching the PVN.     

带血管股骨片作支撑体阴茎再造的解剖基础

在45侧成年男性下肢标本上,观测了股中间肌近端的动脉来源、分支,走行和旋股外侧动脉降支。股中间肌近端动脉来源较多,发于旋股外侧动脉的57.7%,其骨膜支长3.6cm,发出后向下斜行至骨面,贴骨面呈节段分布,长达6.0cm 以上。旋股外侧动脉降支外径3.2mm,长9.2cm。经尸体摹拟手术,可设计以该血管为蒂的股骨瓣作支撑体与股前外侧皮瓣转位再造阴茎。本文对手术设计、骨片切取和血管蒂的处理等有关应用解剖学要点进行了讨论。     

Mouse killing and hyperreactivity following lesions of the medial hypothalamus, the lateral septum, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, or the region ventral to the anterior septum

Electrolytic lesions in the medial hypothalamus, the lateral septum, or the region ventral to the anterior septum induced home cage mouse killing in 85 to 100% of rats when tested 2 days postoperatively and in 50 to 70% when tested at 21 days. When tested in a novel and larger test chamber, 100% of the rats with medial hypothalamic lesions killed mice at 2 days postoperatively but only 30% killed at 21 days postoperatively. Ten to thirty percent of animals with lesions of the lateral septum or of the region ventral to the anterior septum killed at any time in the novel environment. Lesions of the stria terminalis produced a slight increase in mouse killing in both the home cage and the novel environment. A high level of reactivity was produced by lesions of the medial hypothalamus, the lateral septum or the region ventral to the anterior septum but only that caused by the medial hypothalamic lesions was sustained over the 21 day test period. These results support previous evidence that the lateral septum, the region ventral to the anterior septum, and the medial hypothalamus are each important areas modulating mouse killing.