Hippocampal EEG responses induced by carbachol and atropine infusions into the septum and the hippocampus in the urethane-anaesthetized rat

Infusion of 1 μg of carbachol, a potent cholinergic agonist, into the lateral septum of the urethane-anaesthetized rat systematically caused the induction of clear-cut hippocampal theta (θ). However, infusion of an equivalent amount of the drug into the hippocampus, close to the recording electrode, failed to induce θ in 50% of the animals and produced a mixture of θ waves and desynchronized activity, resulting in atypical EEG patterns, in the remaining subjects. Both carbachol EEG effects were blocked by intraseptal infusion of the antimuscarinic agent, atropine. Our data demontrate that muscarinic receptors in the septum are predominent sites for cholinergic agonist-antagonist action capable of generating or suppressing hippocampal θ in the rat. They also indicate that intraseptal cholinergic mechanisms play an important role in the initiation and generation of this rhythm.     

Electrophysiological evidence for connections between septal neurones and the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus of the rat

Summary In order to see whether septal neurones are connected to the hypothalamic neurones secreting vasopressin or oxytocin, neurones in different regions of the septum were recorded during electrical stimulation of the supraoptic nucleus. The position of the stimulating electrode within the latter was verified using lactating rats in which milk ejections could be induced by a train of electrical pulses applied to the nucleus. The responses of septal neurones to single pulse stimulation were then analysed by post-stimulus time histograms.In the septum ipsilateral to the site of stimulation, 42% of the neurones were antidromically invaded, 20% were orthodromically excited and 21% were inhibited following supraoptic stimulation. In the contralateral septum, 2% of the cells tested were antidromically invaded, 3% were excited and 16% inhibited. In the medial septum, 14% of the neurones were orthodromically excited, and 48% were inhibited.These results provide electrophysiological evidence for direct connections between septal neurones and the ipsilateral supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, and give further support to the hypothesis of a septal influence on the activity of vasopressin- or oxytocin-releasing cells in the magnocellular system.Supported by grants I.N.S.E.R.M. CRL 79.5.372.6     

Electrical self-stimulation of single and multiple loci: long term observations

Rats with chronic hypothalamic electrodes were allowed continuous access to self-stimulation, food and water in a 3 lever chamber. A prolonged burst of self-stimulation, with little food and water intake, was followed by bursts of activity on all 3 levers. A 12 hr light-dark cycle imposed a diurnal periodicity on all behaviors except in animals self-stimulating at the highest daily rates where self-stimulation was equal in dark and light. Under constant light conditions there was a 30 min daily shift in the peak periodicity of all behaviors. Increasing the current by 10 μA led to another continuous self-stimulation session for one day, with a subsequent decline and stabilization after three days. Reduction of the current to its original setting abolished self-stimulation for one day, but within 5 days rates returned to control values. Animals with electrodes in the septal, anterior and posterior hypothalamic areas allowed continuous access to self-stimulation on all 3 electrodes displayed similar behavior in that after a long initial self-stimulation session alternating on all 3 electrodes, periodic bursts of activity occurred on all three electrodes. The diurnal periodicity of self-stimulation seemed to be determined by the current intensity. The similarity of self-stimulation to normal drive mechanisms is discussed.     

Preoperative gentling does not attenuate septal-lesion induced hyperreactivity

Rats were either gentled or not gentled for 10 minutes a day for 7 days. At the end of this time a lesion was made in the region ventral to the anterior septum or in the lateral septum, or the rat was given a sham lesion. Reactivity to the experimenter was tested at 2, 7, and 14 days postoperatively. The reactivity scores of animals gentled preoperatively were not different from those of animals which had not been gentled but the animals of both groups were significantly more reactive than animals given a sham lesion. It is concluded that preoperative handling does not attenuate the increase in defensive behavior induced by lesions of the lateral septum or of the region ventral to the anterior septum.     

Hyperdipsia produced by severing ventral septal fiber systems.

The septum of male hooded rats (N = 59) was completely isolated from the rest of the brain (ISS) or was partially isolated by severing dorsal (DP), ventral (VP), anterior (AP), or posterior (PP) fiber tracts using a knife-cut technique. Daily water intakes and intakes following hypertonic NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PG) injections were measured. The septum totally degenerated for the ISS group and these rats had normal or hypodipsic daily intakes, likewise for intakes following NaCl and PG. Rats of the VP group sustained little septal damage, yet these cuts yielded the highest percentage (55 percent) of hyperdipsic daily drinkers of any group. The daily hyperdipsic rats drank normally in response to NaCl and PG, demonstrating a dissociation between daily drinking and drinking in response to specific thirst stimuli. The results indicate the importance of ventral fiber systems in the production of Septal Hyperdipsia, and support the notion that the septum has multiple effects upon water regulation.     

Outpatient abortion in a patient with a previously undiagnosed transverse vaginal septum: A case report

A multigravida presented for a 13-week abortion. The surgeon noted a transverse vaginal septum with small central perforation at the time of bimanual exam. The surgeon performed dilation and suction curettage through the septum without resection in the outpatient setting.     

Inhibition of dopamine release in the cat caudate nucleus by nigral application of glycine

"Encéphale isolé" cats were implanted with two push-pull cannulae, one in the left caudate nucleus and the other in the ipsilateral substantia nigra. L-3,5(-3)H-Tyrosine was introduced continuously into the caudate nucleus to study the release of 3H-DA. Glycine (10(-5)M) added to the superfusing medium of the push-pull cannula inserted into the substantia nigra reduced (25%) the spontaneous release of 3H-DA. Conversely, strychnine (10(-5)M) slightly stimulated the 3H-transmitter release. The inhibiting effect of glycine (10(-5)M) on 3H-DA release was no longer seen in the presence of strychnine (10(-5) M). The results support the hypothesis of a tonic glycinergic inhibitory control of the activity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.     

转化生长因子-β1和胰岛素对人鼻中隔软骨细胞增殖和分化影响的研究

目的 了解转化生长因子-β1(transforminggrowth factor-beta 1,TGF-β1)和胰岛素对人鼻中隔软骨细胞增殖和分化的影响。方法 体外培养人鼻中隔软骨细胞,采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)代谢和35S-Na2SO4掺入的检测比较不同浓度TGF-β1和胰岛素对人鼻中隔软骨细胞的增殖以及软骨基质蛋白多糖合成的影响,观察TGF-β1和胰岛素对软骨细胞表型的影响。结果在15％血清的培养条件下,TGF-β1和胰岛素均能显著促进软骨细胞增殖,且在各自一定的浓度范围内呈量效关系,联合作用效果累加;TGF-β1、TGF-β1和胰岛素联合作用促使软骨基质蛋白多糖的合成量明显提高;TGF-β1使传代软骨细胞去分化提前。结论一定浓度的TGF-β1、胰岛素和TGF-β1 胰岛素对体外培养的人鼻中隔软骨细胞具有显著的促增殖作用。     

声反射鼻测量计在鼻畸形患者中的应用

目的研究声反射鼻测量计在鼻畸形患者术前评价中的应用价值。方法因鼻病引起鼻畸形患者（鼻畸形组）及无鼻病健康志愿者（对照组）各15例进行声反射鼻测量计测试,记录鼻腔最小横截面积（nasal minimal cross-sectional area,NMCA）、鼻腔容积（nasal cavity volume,NCV）,NMCA至前鼻孔的距离（distance of the minimal cross-sectional area to the nostril,DCAN）及鼻阻力（nasal resistance,NR）,并进行统计学分析。结果对照组左、右侧鼻腔NMCA、DCAN、NCV、NR差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）：鼻畸形组阻塞侧与非阻塞侧NMCA、DCAN、NCV、NR差异有统计学意义（P〈0．001）：鼻畸形组阻塞侧NCV、NR、NMCA均明显小于对照组（P〈0．001）;NMCA和NCV与NR呈反比,而与DGAN无明显相关性（P〉0．05）。结论声反射鼻测量计在鼻畸形患者术前评价中具有重要作用,对鼻畸形患者鼻腔功能及几何形态的评估可为手术提供重要的临床价值。