牙片中骨量与灰度的关系及灰阶的改进

本文对较小厚度范围内颌骨、金属铝在X片上的灰度水平与厚度变化关系进行了探讨,提出在数字减影牙片中以金属铝制成均匀楔形灰阶,代替传统金箔制成的台阶式灰阶.     

鞘内注射吗啡对大鼠中脑导水管周围灰质、海马和脊髓μ阿片受体mRNA表达的影响

目的研究鞘内注射吗啡对大鼠中脑导水管周围灰质（PAG）、海马和脊髓μ阿片受体（MOR）mRNA表达的影响,探讨大鼠鞘内注射吗啡免疫功能抑制的机制。方法清洁级成年雄性SD大鼠,鞘内置管成功的16只大鼠随机分为2组（n=8）：生理盐水组（NS组）和吗啡组（M组）。M组鞘内持续输注吗啡10μg/h 7 d（生理盐水稀释）,NS组给予等体积的生理盐水。输注7 d后断头处死大鼠,取出大鼠PAG、海马和脊髓标本,采用巢式RT-PCR测定MOR mRNA的表达。结果与NS组比较,M组PAG和海马MOR mRNA表达下调（P〈0.05或0.01）,脊髓MOR mRNA表达无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论大鼠PAG和海马MOR表达下调可能是鞘内注射吗啡导致免疫功能抑制的机制之一。     

Role of vasopressin on excitatory amino acids mediated pressor responses in the periaqueductal gray area

In order to evaluate the role played by vasopressin on pressor responses elicited by stimulation of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) area by excitatory amino acids we carried out in vivo studies in genetically vasopressin deficient rats (Brattleboro). Microinjections of l-glutamic acid (glutamate, 0.6 to 60 nmol/rat) or N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA, 0.07 to 7 nmol/rat) into the PAG area of freely moving Brattleboro rats induced increases of arterial blood pressure values significantly lower than those obtained in Long Evans rats (control) (glutamate in Brattleboro rats: from +2±1 mmHg to 16±3 mmHg; glutamate in Long Evans rats: from +16±2 mmHg to +36±4 mmHg; NMDA in Brattleboro rats: from +5±2 mmHg to +34 ±8 mmHg; NMDA in Long Evans rats: from +18±7 mmHg to 80±9 mmHg; n=5). Similarly, in anaesthetized Brattleboro rats (urethane 1.2 g/kg i.p.) pressor responses to NMDA microinjections (0.7 nmol/rat) into the PAG area were significantly lower than in Long Evans rats (controls) (+15±3 mmHg vs +24±4 mmHg). In Long Evans rats NMDA injection also reversed blood pressure decrease induced by ganglionic blocker, hexamethonium and/or losartan (3 mg/kg i.v.), an AT1 receptor antagonist. In Brattleboro rats, NMDA injection did not reverse blood pressure decreases induced by hexamethonium (5 mg/kg i.v.). Moreover, hexamethonium induced blood pressure decrease was not reversed by acetylcholine injection (137 nmol/rat) into the PAG area of anaesthetized Long Evans rats, but if injected before hexamethonium, acetylcholine was able to increase blood pressure (+25±3 mmHg). Our results document: i) the importance of the PAG area in the control of cardiovascular system; ii) the involvement of excitatory amino acids in the neural control of vasopressin release; iii) the close relationship between glutamate and vasopressin in the central blood pressure regulation. Received: 1 April 1997 / Accepted: 2 February 1998     

Time course and effective sites for inhibition from midbrain periaqueductal gray of spinal dorsal horn neuronal responses to cutaneous stimuli in the cat

Summary Inhibition of spinal dorsal horn neuronal responses to noxious (50 °C) skin heating by stimulation of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) was quantitatively investigated in cats anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and nitrous oxide. Systematic variation of the interval between onset of PAG stimulation (PAGS) and onset of noxious skin heating revealed that a marked reduction of spinal unit heat-evoked discharges occured immediately upon onset of PAGS, and ceased immediately at offset of PAGS with a post-stimulation excitatory rebound. Stimulation at sites in both ventral and dorsal PAG produced inhibition, the strength of which increased sometimes in a linear manner with increasing strength of PAGS. Thresholds for the generation of descending inhibition were higher in dorsal than ventral PAG. PAGS also inhibited spinal unit responses to non-noxious skin stimulation (brushing of hairs). Descending inhibition from PAG is considered as a possible mechanism for analgesia produced by stimulation of PAG and other brainstem structures.The work was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Zi 110)     

The nuclei of origin of brain stem enkephalin and substance P projections to the rodent nucleus raphe magnus

The sites of origin of brain stem enkephalin and substance P projections to the rodent nucleus raphe magnus were studied utilizing the combined horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport-peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical technique. Several brain stem areas were found to contain both enkephalin- and substance P-like immunoreactive double labeled neurons following injection of horseradish peroxidase into the raphe magnus. Nuclei providing both enkephalin and substance P inputs to the raphe magnus include the nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis, the nucleus cuneiformis, the nucleus solitarius and the trigeminal subdivision of the lateral reticular nucleus. Enkephalin projections to the raphe magnus were also found to originate from the dorsal parabrachial nucleus, the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars α and from an area which corresponds to the A5 group of Dahlström &; Fuxe. Additional neurons containing substance P-like immunoreactivity and horseradish peroxidase reaction product were identified in the superior central raphe nucleus and the nucleus pontis oralis. The midbrain periaqueductal gray contributes very few enkephalin and substance P fibers to the raphe magnus.The nucleus raphe magnus is a key structure in the intrinsic analgesia system and it has also been implicated in other diverse and non-nonciceptive functions. The present study identifies several brain stem sites which provide enkephalin and substance P input to this raphe nucleus. Several of these nuclei have been implicated in central analgesic mechanisms or in non-nociceptive autonomic functions. The present investigation raises the possibility that these brain stem regions may modulate neuronal activity in the raphe magnus via enkephalin or substance P projections and thus influence the involvement of the raphe magnus in both opiate related mechanisms of pain control and non-nociceptive functions.     

Developmental changes in the behavioral and autonomic effects of kappa opioid receptor stimulation of the midbrain periaqueductal gray

Kappa opioid receptors stimulation with U50,488 is known to modulate behaviors during the early postnatal period, but the specific neuroanatomical locus of many of these effects is unexplored. In the present study, we infused U50,488 into the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) and investigated the effects of this drug on behavior and heart rate of 1-, 2-, and 3-week-old rats. U50,488 increased activity most potently in 1- and 2-week-old subjects. Ultrasonic vocalization (USV) production was increased in 1-week-old subjects, but not in 2- or 3-week-old pups. Heart rate changes were similarly seen in younger aged subjects. At 1 week, U50,488 decreased heart rate, but at 2 weeks it increased heart rate. There was no effect of this drug on heart rate at 3 weeks. At 1 week, USVs were more potently elicited from dorsal than lateral PAG infusion sites. No other site-specific effects within the PAG were seen. The age-related decline in behavioral effects elicited by U50,488 is consistent with other published reports, and to the extent that kappa receptor activity mediates infant separation responses, implicates the PAG as a modulator of those responses.     

Involvement of protein kinase c in responses of rat dorsal horn neurons to mechanical stimuli and periaqueductal gray descending inhibition

 The effects of a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), on the activity and periaqueductal gray (PAG)-induced inhibition of rat dorsal horn neurons of the lumbar spinal cord were tested. A microdialysis fiber was placed through the dorsal horn for the purpose of local application of pharmacological agents. Extracellular single-unit recordings from dorsal horn neurons were made near the microdialysis fiber. TPA was tested on nociceptive dorsal horn cells. There was a significant increase in the background activity and responses to ”brush”, with no changes in responses to pressure and pinch stimuli. TPA also significantly blocked the PAG-induced inhibition of responses to brush, press, and pinch. These effects were eliminated by coadministration of the PKC inhibitor NPC-15437. The solvent, which contained dimethyl sulfoxide, was also tested for its effect on the responses to peripheral mechanical stimuli and PAG-induced inhibition of the dorsal horn neurons. There were no significant changes. This experiment suggests that activation of the PKC second messenger system might increase the activity of dorsal horn neurons and their responses to peripheral stimuli; in addition, the phorbol ester attenuated the PAG-induced descending inhibition of the dorsal horn neuron activity. Received: 15 May 1996 / Accepted: 14 November 1996