Norepinephrine modulates glutamatergic transmission in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and its adrenergic input are key components in stress-induced reinstatement and maintenance of drug use. Intra-BNST injections of either beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) antagonists or alpha2-adrenergic receptor (alpha2-AR) agonists can inhibit footshock-induced reinstatement and maintenance of cocaine- and morphine-seeking. Using electrophysiological recording methods in an in vitro slice preparation from C57/Bl6j adult male mouse BNST, we have examined the effects of adrenergic receptor activation on excitatory synaptic transmission in the lateral dorsal supracommissural BNST (dBNST) and subcommissural BNST (vBNST). Alpha2-AR activation via UK-14,304 (10 microM) results in a decrease in excitatory transmission in both dBNST and vBNST, an effect predominantly dependent upon the alpha2A-AR subtype. Beta-AR activation via isoproterenol (1 microM) results in an increase in excitatory transmission in dBNST, but not in vBNST. Consistent with the work with receptor subtype specific agonists, application of the endogenous ligand norepinephrine (NE, 100 microM) elicits two distinct effects on glutamatergic transmission. In dBNST, NE elicits an increase in transmission (62% of dBNST NE experiments) or a decrease in transmission (38% of dBNST NE experiments). In vBNST, NE elicits a decrease in transmission in 100% of the experiments. In dBNST, the NE-induced increase in synaptic transmission is blocked by beta1/beta2- and beta2-, but not beta1-specific antagonists. In addition, this increase is also reduced by the alpha2-AR antagonist yohimbine and is absent in the alpha2A-AR knockout mouse. In vBNST, the NE-induced decrease in synaptic transmission is markedly reduced in the alpha2A-AR knockout mouse. Further experiments demonstrate that the actions of NE on glutamatergic transmission can be correlated with beta-AR function.     

Late results of lymphovenous anastomoses in lymphedema of the lower extremities

The authors examined 152 patients with lymphedema of the lower limbs 2-6 years after operation for lymphovenous anastomoses (LVA). They evaluated the dynamics of edema according to Alberton's formula, the changes in the character of the episodes of erysipelas, and the patient's feeling of heaviness in the involved limb. The function of the anastomosis was studied by the radioisotope method. Positive results were recorded in 99 patients. In the remaining patients the LVA did not function and the symptoms of lymphedema did not change or progressed. The effect of LVA was found to be positive in 51 patients in the group of 69 patients with secondary form of lymphedema and in 48 of 83 patients with the primary form of the disease. The last-mentioned was connected with congenital insufficiency of lymph drainage. The condition of the collecting lymphatics is an important factor of LVA efficacy: the effect of LVA was positive in 68 patients in hyperplasia and in 31 patients in hypoplasia of the lymphatics. The results of LVA are improved by regular nonoperative management for the correction of endocrine-immunological and hemostatic factors as well as by stimulation of lymph drainage in the limb and prevention of inflammatory complications.     

Energy-selective neutron radiography and tomography at FRM.

At the reactor FRM at Technical University of Munich energy-selective neutron radiography and tomography experiments were performed. For an energy separation of the neutrons from the primary beam a mechanical velocity selector was used. The radiography images show a different contrast of the investigated elements for neutron energies below and above their Bragg-cutoff energy. A comparison between the standard and energy-selective neutron tomography is presented. In spite of a reduction of the neutron intensity due to the velocity selector technique a realistic experimental time in order of some hours for the tomography experiment was achieved.