A role of insular cortex in cardiovascular function

We sought to determine whether the insular cortex contributes to the regulation of arterial blood pressure (AP). Responses to electrical and chemical stimulation of the cortex were studied in the anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated Sprague-Dawley rat. The insular cortex was initially defined, anatomically, by the distributions of retrogradely labeled perikarya following injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). Injections of WGA-HRP into the insular cortex anterogradely labeled terminals in cardiopulmonary and other divisions of the NTS and confirmed projections revealed by retrograde tracing experiments. Electrical stimulation of the insular cortex elicited elevations of AP (less than or equal to 50 mm Hg) and cardioacceleration (less than or equal to 40 bpm). The locations of the most active pressor sites corresponded closely to the locations of retrogradely labeled cells in layer V of granular and posterior agranular areas of the insular cortex (areas 14 and 13) and the extreme capsule. Maximal pressor responses were obtained at a stimulus intensity of three to five times threshold current of 20-30 microA. Responses elicited mostly with higher-threshold currents were also mapped in areas 2a and 5lb and the claustrum and within the corpus callosum. Unilateral injections into the insular pressor area of the excitatory amino acid monosodium glutamate (L-Glu; 0.05 nmol to 10 nmol) or the rigid structural analogue of L-Glu, kainic acid (KA) (0.4 nmol) (which specifically excite perikarya), caused topographically specific elevations in AP and tachycardia. During the course of the anatomical transport studies, new findings were obtained on the organization and characteristics of the cortical innervation of the NTS and the nucleus reticularis parvocellularis. Topographic relationships between the cortex and the NTS were organized in a more complex manner than previously thought. Cells projecting to caudal cardiopulmonary segments of the NTS were fewer and generally located ventrally and caudally and in a more restricted area than cells projecting rostrally or to the parvicellular reticular formation. Anterograde transport data revealed new presumptive terminal fields in dorsolateral, ventral, periventricular, and commissural regions of the NTS, including an area overlapping the terminal field of the aortic baroreceptor nerve. We conclude that neurons within an area of the insular cortex projecting to multiple brainstem autonomic nuclei, including a region of the NTS innervated by baroreceptor afferents, increase arterial blood pressure and heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The effect of methamphetamine on serotonin and its metabolite in the suprachiasmatic nucleus: A microdialysis study

Summary The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) has been identified as a major circadian pacemaker. Methamphetamine has been shown to modify the behavior of circadian rhythms. We detected extracellular serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the SCN in freely moving rats, using a microdialysis method, to investigate biochemical effects of methamphetamine in the SCN. Methamphetamine infusion into the SCN dose-dependently increased extracellular 5-HT and decreased extracellular 5-HIAA.     

Manic episode with psychotic symptoms induced by subthalamic nucleus stimulation in a patient with Parkinson's disease.

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is an established therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). A manic episode with psychotic symptoms induced by STN-DBS occurred in a previously psychiatrically healthy patient, focusing on the role of STN-DBS in influencing not only motor but also emotional behaviour.     

Activity of lateral vestibular nucleus neurons during locomotion in the decerebrate Guinea pig

Summary The influence of locomotor activity upon neurons in the lateral vestibular nucleus was investigated in precollicularly-postmamillary decerebrate guinea pigs. Out of 95 recorded neurons, 24 were identified as vestibulospinal and 71 had no descending projections. Locomotor activity occurred either spontaneously or was prompted by electrical stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region. Natural vestibular stimulation was supplied by tilting the animal about its longitudinal axis. Locomotor rhythmic limb muscle activity was accompanied by an increase in the firing frequency in the vast majority of investigated neurons. The increase in frequency was observed at the beginning of ipsilateral forelimb extensor muscle activity. Only in a few non-vestibulospinal neurons was the spontaneous activity depressed during locomotion. An increase in evoked responses was observed in almost all vestibulospinal neurons and in two thirds of the neurons without descending projections. A decrease in evoked responses was observed in one quarter of non-vestibulospinal neurons. During locomotion, the mean and maximal frequencies of evoked neuronal impulse activity changed, but the phase lag of these changes was not altered significantly. The results suggest an enhancement of vestibulospinal influences during locomotion, thus providing a high level of tonus in antigravitational muscles. This is interpreted as a mechanism to ensure that equilibrium is maintained during motion in different gaits and postures.     

从ECCE到Phaco的转变--核处理技术的实验研究

目的通过化学方法制成动物核性白内障模型,探讨相对能量复合指数(RECP)与角膜内皮细胞活性的关系。方法将5种化学物质注入晶状体,以透过黑白条纹的清晰程度判断晶状体混浊程度并分级。然后将实验眼球分为6组(Ⅰ组为对照组;Ⅱ-Ⅵ为实验组),行标准超声乳化白内障摘除手术。手术后立即取下角膜,作锥蓝-茜素红联合染色标本和扫描电镜标本。结果晶状体内注入甲醛、冰醋酸、无水乙醇、丙酮和苯扎溴铵均能形成晶状体混浊,其中:冰醋酸致晶状体混浊能力最弱,无水乙醇、丙酮次之,甲醛、苯扎溴铵最强。当RECP≤90时,锥蓝-茜素红双重染色和扫描电镜均表明角膜内皮细胞活性好,其形态和细胞联接均无改变。当RECP=120时,角膜内皮细胞形态尚正常,但是细胞联结和胞膜部分破坏。当RECP=150时,角膜内皮细胞严重损伤。结论用化学方法制作核性白内障模型供过渡训练使用是可行的。当RECP超过某一数值(>90)时,即与角膜内皮细胞的活性成负相关。     

双侧丘脑底核电刺激治疗原发性肌张力障碍

目的 研究双侧丘脑底核（STN）脑深部电刺激术（DBS）治疗原发性肌张力障碍的长期疗效：方法 比较15例行舣侧STN—DBS治疗的原发性肌张力障碍患者，手术前后的Burke—Fahn—Marsden肌张力障碍评分改善程度及长期改善效果。结果 15例原发性肌张力障碍患者中12例在开启刺激器后症状即刻得到部分缓解，以不自主运动、异常姿势及躯体的扭转改善为主，其中9例在刺激1—3d后、3例刺激1，周后改善75％以上，6个月后平均改善92％；1例在2个月后开始改善，6个月后改善90％以上；2例在1个月开始出现轻微改善，6个月后改善了76％：15例患者的长期随访结果显示其疗效稳定，经过1—3次程控后不需经常调整刺激参数：所有患者未出现手术相关并发症及永久性副作用。结论 双侧丘脑底核脑深部电刺激术对原发性肌张力障碍有显著的治疗效果，且疗效持久、稳定，无并发症及永久性副作用。比较GPi—DBS而言，STN—DBS起效快、最件刺激化点及参数易于确定、刺激参数水平低、长期疗效稳定，可能是原发性肌张力障碍DBS治疗的理想靶点。     

PHA-L analysis of projections from the supramammillary nucleus in the rat.

The projections of the supramammillary nucleus (SUM) were examined in the rat by the anterograde anatomical tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L). The majority of labeled fibers from SUM ascended through the forebrain within the medial forebrain bundle. SUM fibers were found to terminate heavily in the hippocampal formation, specifically within the granule cell layer and immediately adjoining molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. In addition, SUM fibers were shown to distribute densely to several structures with strong connections with the hippocampus, namely, the nucleus reunions of the thalamus, the medial and lateral septum, the entorhinal cortex, and the endopiriform nucleus. SUM fibers were also shown to project significantly to several additional subcortical and cortical sites. The subcortical sites were the dorsal raphe nucleus, the midbrain central gray, the fields of Forel/zona incerta, the dorsomedial hypothalamic area, midline/intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus (posterior paraventricular, rhomboid, central medial, intermediodorsal, and mediodorsal), the medial and lateral preoptic areas, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the substantia innominata, the vertical limb of the diagonal band nucleus, and the claustrum. The cortical sites were the occipital, temporal, parietal, and frontal cortices. Some notable differences were observed in projections from the lateral as compared to the medial SUM. For example, fibers originating from the lateral SUM distributed heavily to the hippocampal formation and parts of the cortex, whereas those from the medial SUM projected sparsely to these two regions. The SUM projections to the hippocampal formation and associated structures may serve as the substrate for a SUM involvement in the generation of the theta rhythm of the hippocampus and the gating of information flow through the hippocampal formation.     

大肠癌旁粘膜细胞的PCNA和AgNORs表达观察

用增殖细胞核抗原（ＰＣＮＡ）和核仁组成区嗜银蛋白（ＡｇＮＯＲｓ）对３５例大肠癌旁粘膜进行细胞增殖表达与观察。结果表明：癌旁粘膜的ＰＣＮＡ标记指数增多，标记增强，排列紊乱。ＡｇＮＯＲｓ在癌旁粘膜中，颗粒增多、增大，形态多样，０￣１ｃｍ和２￣３ｃｍ组的标记指数与４￣５ｃｍ组的标记指数相比较，有显著或非常显著差异（Ｐ〈０．０５或Ｐ〈０．０１）。在ＤｕｋｅＡ、Ｂ期中，细胞标记指数增高增强，与癌的发生和患者     

Control of feeding and sexual behaviors by neuropeptide Y: physiological implications

Recent evidence suggests that a variety of hypothalamic neuropeptides may mediate interneuronal communication to coordinate diverse neuroendocrine and behavioral functions. In this work, we describe the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on feeding and sexual behaviors. We observed that central administration of bolus NPY stimulated a robust, dose-related feeding response in satiated male and female rats. Continuous NPY receptor activation also evoked dose-related, intermittent feeding in a manner normally observed during nocturnal feeding. It appears that the paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus may be the primary site of NPY action because the anticipated reciprocal changes in NPY concentrations, in response to food deprivation followed by ad libitum food intake, occurred only in this site. Additional findings revealed that NPY-induced feeding may follow either substantial reduction or complete restraint of an inhibitory influence on feeding mediated by alpha 2-adrenoreceptor systems in satiated rats. Further, NPY was found to suppress male and female sexual behaviors. The suppressive effects on sexual behavior were apparent prior to or at the time of the onset of feeding after NPY administration. These observations may provide a neurochemical basis for clinical and animal studies on disorders of feeding associated with diminished reproductive functions.     

刺激兔扣带回对尾核头部痛相关单位电活动的影响

实验在15只家兔上进行。以玻璃微电极记录尾核头部(DHCN)痛相关单位,刺激扣带回,观察痛相关单位电活动的变化。在70只DHCN痛相关单位中,有44个对刺激扣带回表现兴奋反应(62.9％),17个呈抑制反应(24.3％),9个变化不明显(12.8％)。进一步观察了52只痛相关单位,在刺激扣带回后再施伤害刺激,43个原痛兴奋单位中15个转为抑制(34.9％),16个进一步兴奋(37.2％)12个无变化(27.9％);原9个痛抑制单位,8个转为兴奋,1个变化不明显。提示,扣带回可通过其下行活动,调制伤害性冲动在尾核水平上的传递。