Social status constrains the stress response in the squirrel monkey.

The influence of dominance on the pituitary-adrenal and gonadal systems was evaluated in male squirrel monkeys. Basal and stress levels of plasma cortisol and testosterone were determined in eight male pairs across a 5-week period. The data indicated that squirrel monkeys have unusually high levels of steroid hormones in comparison to other species. Dominant males had higher levels of cortisol and testosterone and showed a smaller stress response than did subordinate males.     

MEMBRANE Na &#180 +;-K &#180 +; ATPase MEDIATED CASCADE IN BIPOLAR MOOD DISORDER,MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER,AND SCHIZOPHRENIA RELATIONSHIP TO HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE

The isoprenoid pathway produces digoxin, an endogenous membrane Na &#180 +;-K &#180 +; ATPase inhibitor and regulator of neurotransmitter transport. The objective of the study was to relate digoxin status and hemispheric dominance to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders--bipolar mood disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. The following parameters were assessed in bipolar mood disorder during the manic phase and depressive phase of the illness as well as in major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia: HMG CoA reductase activity, tryptophan and tyrosine catabolic patterns, red blood cell (RBC) Na &#180 +;-K &#180 +; ATPase activity, and serum magnesium. These parameters were compared to individuals of dif fering hemispheric dominance. The levels of serum digoxin and HMG CoA reductase activity were found to be decreased in the depressive phase of bipolar mood disorder and major depressive disorder with a cor responding increase in RBC Na &#180 +;-K &#180 +; ATPase activity and serum magnesium levels. There was increase in tyrosine and tyrosine catabolites, and a reduction in tryptophan and its catabolites, in the serum in the depressive phase of bipolar mood disorder and major depressive disorder. The neurotransmitter patterns and digoxin levels in the depressive phase of bipolar mood disorder/major depressive disorder correlated with those in right-handed/left hemisphere dominant individual. The neuro transmitter patterns and digoxin levels in the manic phase of bipolar mood disorder and schizophrenia correlated with those in left-handed/right hemisphere dominant individuals. Digoxin status and hemispheric domi nance could correlate with the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders--schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar mood disorder.     

听觉皮层优势半球及频率分布的功能MRI研究

目的 研究正常人调幅音刺激任务时听觉皮层的优势半球及不同频率任务刺激时初级及次级听觉皮层的激活情况.方法 对25名健康受试者采用事件相关Sparse设计、正弦调幅音任务下的EPI序列fMRI数据采集,实验刺激声音分别为0.5、2、4 kHz纯音经8 Hz正弦调幅,双耳同时呈现,利用SPM2软件进行数据分析,观察听觉皮层激活的优势半球及不同载波频率调幅音的激活部位、体积和强度.结果 25名受试者中9名由于EPI采集时头动超过最大限度而失败.余16名受试者主要表现为初级听觉皮层激活,且左侧激活的强度和体积均高于右侧.双侧初级听觉皮层的激活体积和强度均随刺激频率的增高而减小;其中6名左侧、7名右侧初级听觉皮层激活的部位表现出清晰的高频偏内,低频偏外的频率响应分布特点.在其他个体,这种分布不明显.次级听觉皮层的激活无明显规律.结论 正常人对调幅音的响应以左侧大脑半球为优势半球;随着刺激频率的增加,初级听觉皮层激活的强度和体积下降,fMRI激活部位的频率分布特点表现为高频偏内,低频偏外.     

Nandrolone decanoate has long-term effects on dominance in a competitive situation in male rats

The aim of the present study was to examine possible long-term effects of the anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS), nandrolone decanoate (ND), on dominance in a provoking and competitive situation in sexually matured male rats. The experimental group (n=10) received daily injections of ND [15 mg/kg in a volume of 1 ml/kg subcutaneous (s.c.) injection for 14 days]. During the corresponding period, the controls (n=10) were given daily injections of an oil vehicle (1 ml/kg s.c.). All animals were tested in a competitive situation at four occasions after the end of the treatment period (week 5, 8, 11 and 14). Water-deprived pairs of rats, consisting of one ND-treated rat and one control, had to compete for access to water. The results showed that the ND-treated rats approached the water spout significantly more often compared to the controls. During the competition tests, the ND-treated rats spent more time drinking, an effect that was prominent for 11 weeks after the end of the treatment period. The ND-treated rats also displayed more frequently piloerection than the controls. The results indicate that ND has long-term effect on dominance in a provoking and competitive situation.     

Behavioral correlates of chronic dominance-subordination relationships of male rats in a seminatural situation

Detailed characterization and analysis of intraspecific aggressive and defensive behaviors of rats in mixed sex groups is beginning to provide an understanding of the complex pattern of behavioral and physiological change associated with variation in dominance status. These findings indicate that male subordination dramatically reduces longevity and produces a pattern of behavior changes very similar to the defenses elicited by predatory exposure. In addition, many of these changes are, in detail, isomorphic to important behavioral features of clinical depression.     

Magnesium valproate in learning disabled children with interictal paroxysmal EEG patterns: Preliminary report

While cerebral lateralization has previously been well documented for many neurobehavioral functions, recent research has shown that as people age, formerly lateralized processes recruit more symmetric patterns of neural activity. Such findings provide the foundation for the model of hemispheric asymmetry reduction in older adults, or "HAROLD"[4]. Previous studies that have measured reaction time and movement time have suggested that aging does not affect manual asymmetries. However, whether these findings can be extended to kinematic variables associated with motor coordination remains largely unknown. The purpose of the current study is to determine whether asymmetries in intralimb coordination are also reduced during the aging process. We examined multidirectional reaching in two different right handed age groups, a younger group from 20 to 40 years of age, and an older group, from 60 to 80 years of age. Measures of final position accuracy, precision, and trajectory linearity showed robust asymmetries between the left and right arm groups of young adults. However, the trajectories and accuracies of the older subjects were symmetric, such that our dependent measures were not significantly different between the right and left arm groups. Our findings extend the HAROLD model to motor behavior, suggesting that aging results in decrements in motor lateralization.     

2006 Curt P. Richter award winner: Social influences on stress responses and health

Both positive and negative social interactions can modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and influence recovery from injuries and illnesses, such as wounds, stroke, and cardiac arrest. Stress exacerbates neuronal death following stroke and cardiac arrest, and delays cutaneous wound healing, via a common mechanism involving stress-induced increases in corticosterone, acting on glucocorticoid receptors. In contrast, hamsters and mice that form social bonds are buffered against stress and heal cutaneous wounds more quickly than socially isolated animals, presumably because the physical contact experienced by the pairs releases oxytocin, which in turn suppresses the HPA axis and facilitates wound healing. Social housing also decreases stroke-induced neuronal death and improves functional recovery, but the mechanism appears to involve suppressing the inflammatory response that accompanies stroke, rather than alterations in HPA axis activity. An interaction between the HPA axis and immune system determines stroke outcome in neonatally manipulated mice that exhibit life-long dampening of the HPA axis. Taken together, these studies provide support for the detrimental effects of stress and identify potential mechanisms underlying the well-documented clinical observation that social support positively influences human health.     

Hypothalmic Digoxin,Cerebral Dominance,and Sexual Orientation

The human hypothalamus produces an endogenous membrane Na + -K + ATPase inhibitor, digoxin. Membrane Na + -K + ATPase inhibition leads to increase in intracellular calcium and upregulated nitric oxide synthesis. In homosexuals, promiscuous heterosexuals, and bisexuals there was increased digoxin synthesis, reduced membrane Na + -K + ATPase activity, increased nitric oxide levels, increased tryptophan catabolites, and reduced tyrosine catabolites. This pattern correlated with that obtained in right hemispheric chemical dominance. In nonpromiscuous heterosexuals and left hemispheric chemical dominance there was hypodigoxinemia and the reverse biochemical patterns. Hemispheric dominance and hypothalamic digoxin could regulate sexual orientation. This has to be viewed in the setting of hyperdigoxinemia reported in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.