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Biomedical subjects

M W Luttges

Publications and source records attributed to M W Luttges.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Triethyltin toxicity as a model for degenerative disorders.

Triethyltin (TET) toxicity in mice was examined as a model for certain degenerative disorders. Spontaneous and elicited behavioral tests, electrophysiological measures and nervous system protein characterizations were used to study anomalies resulting from TET treatments. TET animals exhibited lowered spontaneous locomotor activity levels, increased sciatic nerve excitation threshold and conduction velocities, and increased power levels in the slower frequency components of their electroencephalograms. Performance in an active avoidance task suggest that the gross ultrastructural changes commonly seen in TET intoxication are not primarily responsible for the observed neurophysiological changes. Possible sites of action of TET, in both the peripheral and central nervous systems, that would produce these neurophysiological changes and the relationship of these changes to the behavioral symptoms are discussed.

Animals↗

Mouse brain protein composition during postnatal development: an electrophoretic analysis.

Changes in the concentrations of mouse brain proteins during postnatal maturation were characterized by a combination of subcellular fractionation and electrophoresis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis revealed changing protein concentrations in fractions enriched in nuclei, mitochondria plus synaptic endings, microsomes and cytosol. Postnatal maturational changes in protein concentrations were most pronounced in fractions of purified myelin membranes. The use of exponential gradient gels resulted in increased resolution of low molecular weight myelin proteins. Nuclei treated with Triton X-100 exhibited no change in relative histone concentrations during brain maturation. Nonnuclear contamination of untreated nuclear fractions was shown to be a potential source of erroneous interpretations. These findings are discussed in terms of genetic products and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resolution.

Aging↗

Developmental and genetic variables in mouse startle response habituation.

A behavioral task insensitive to inherent sensory and motor limitations, specifically a startle response habituation technique, was used to investigate genetic (strains) and developmental (age) effects on behavior. All mice tested using two procedures exhibited evidence for habituation which was dependent on strain, age, and length of the testing process. Exploitation of this simple technique may permit clarfication of more complex types of behavior.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

A pressure vessel model for nerve compression.

This paper suggests that compression block in nerve can be better interpreted in terms of a pressure vessel model for nerve fiber distension that the more common models based upon tubes with more or less rigid walls. In this model resistance to compression is due to the elasticity of the cell membrane at locations where displaced intracellular fluid tends to distend it. Because the stresses in pressure vessels increase with the size of the vessel, the theory predicts that the percentage deformation should be larger in larger diameter fibers.

Mathematics↗

Electrocardiogram monitoring: computerized detection of ventricular changes induced by drugs.

Cardiac arrhythmia was induced in mice by the injection of ouabain, lidocaine, and diphenylhydantoin. Temporal spreading of ventricular electrocardiographic complexes is shown consistently to follow injection of a cardioactive drug and to precede rhythm disturbances. A computerized monitoring technique based on temporal spreading and waveform distortion should find wide clinical and experimental application.

Animals↗

Memory traces: experimental separation by cycloheximide and electroconvulsive shock.

Mice given cycloheximide or saline were trained with a single trial. Electroconvulsive shock was administered to both groups at various times after training. Cycloheximide led to memory that decayed with time. Cycloheximide plus electroconvulsive shock produced complete amnesia at times when neither treatment alone produced amnesia. Only two types of processes appear to support memory storage in our study.

Amnesia↗