Biomedical subjects

P Thier

Publications and source records attributed to P Thier.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

Morphology and mosaics of VIP-like immunoreactive neurons in the retina of the rhesus monkey.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a 28-amino acid peptide that has been demonstrated to reside in cells ( = VIP+ cells) of the retinae of various vertebrate species. In an attempt to study the morphology and distribution of VIP+ cells in the retina of the rhesus monkey in more detail, we subjected VIP+ cells observed in cryostat sections or wholemounts rhesus monkey retinae to a quantitative analysis. VIP+ cells were found to reside in the innermost row of the inner nuclear layer (INL) and in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) in similar numbers (estimate: 50 cells/mm2 at 6-10 mm eccentricity each) and only on rare occasions (12% of all VIP+ cells) in varying positions within the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Somata of VIP+ cells were circular and had a mean diameter of 9.1 microns. They gave rise to 1-3 main dendrites, which were usually oriented toward the IPL. Main dendrites ramified widely into thin fibers (dendritic field diameter less than = 1 mm), carrying varicose swellings. The fibers that contributed to one and the same plexus of VIP+ fibers preferred the middle third of the IPL, independent of the positions of the parent somata. A quantitative analysis of nearest-neighbour distances in the retinal wholemount preparation suggested that VIP+ cells in the GCL and in the INL might be distributed according to 2 independent mosaics. A comparison with Golgi-stained material leads to the tentative equation of VIP+ cells with the "spiny" A12 amacrine cell of Mariani ('90). Whereas the low density and large dendritic field size of VIP+ cells might suggest a more widespread function, the varicose dendritic morphology seems to be more compatible with functionally independent dendritic subunits mediating localized effects.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Selective impairment of smooth-pursuit eye movements due to an ischemic lesion of the basal pons.

Voluntary and reflex-like eye movements were measured in a patient with an ischemic lesion of the right basal pons. Ipsilateral smooth-pursuit eye movements were predominantly impaired and interrupted by saccades. This profound smooth-pursuit deficit contrasted with only minor abnormalities of visually guided saccades and the vestibulo-ocular reflex. A selective disturbance of smooth-pursuit eye movements due to a lesion of the basal pons in this patient concurs with recent work in monkeys suggesting that smooth-pursuit eye movements are mediated by a parietooccipito-ponto-cerebellar pathway.

Brain Ischemia↗

PubMed1991

A neuronal correlate of spatial stability during periods of self-induced visual motion.

Motion of background visual images across the retina during slow tracking eye movements is usually not consciously perceived so long as the retinal image motion results entirely from the voluntary slow eye movement (otherwise the surround would appear to move during pursuit eye movements). To address the question of where in the brain such filtering might occur, the responses of cells in 3 visuo-cortical areas of macaque monkeys were compared when retinal image motion of background images was caused by object motion as opposed to a pursuit eye movement. While almost all cells in areas V4 and MT responded indiscriminately to retinal image motion arising from any source, most of those recorded in the dorsal zone of area MST (MSTd), as well as a smaller proportion in lateral MST (MST1), responded preferentially to externally-induced motion and only weakly or not at all to self-induced visual motion. Such cells preserve visuo-spatial stability during low-velocity voluntary eye movements and could contribute to the process of providing consistent spatial orientation regardless of whether the eyes are moving or stationary.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Visual and vestibular signals in the lateral mesencephalic tegmental region of the cat.

Single unit recordings from two alert cats were used in an attempt to further elucidate the function of the lateral mesencephalic tegmental region (LTR), a part of the mesencephalon forming a link between the superior colliculus and the lower brain stem. A total of 155 units recorded from the LTR were tested with visual, vestibular and acoustic stimuli. Of these, 54 cells (36%) were characterized as either visually (n = 33) or vestibularly (n = 21) responsive and an additional 13 cells were driven by complex acoustic stimuli. Visually responsive cells typically were directionally selective with large, mainly contralateral receptive fields. Vestibularly responsive cells were modulated by stimulation of either the horizontal canals (yaw stimulation; n = 16) or of both pairs of vertical canals (pitch stimulation; n = 5). About half of the cells with activity modulated by rotation about the yaw axis increased discharge during ipsiversive (Type I), the other half during contraversive rotation (Type II). Of the 5 cells with activity modulated by pitch stimulation, 4 preferred the nose-down and only 1 the nose-up direction. Although the discharge of units responsive to yaw stimulation was roughly in phase with head velocity (mean phase lag with respect to head velocity: 10.6 deg), none of the vestibular cells had activity correlated with eye position, eye velocity or movement of visual stimuli. Our observations suggest that the LTR might introduce visual and vestibular signals into the tecto- facial pathway which may be used to adjust the size of pinna movements with respect to the size of ongoing head- or body movements.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed1989

Investigation of the dorsolateral basilar pontine grey of the alert monkey.

The dorsolateral basilar pontine grey is assumed to play an essential role in a cortico-ponto-cerebello-pontine pathway subserving smooth-pursuit eye movements. The dorsolateral basilar pontine grey interconnects those cerebral and cerebellar cortical areas known to be involved in the generation of smooth-pursuit eye movements. In the present study three categories of neurons presumably contributing to smooth pursuit eye movements were recorded: visual-only neurons, visual-tracking neurons, and neurons combining both properties. Preference for directions of visual stimulation could be either iso- or antidirectional.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Neuronal activity in the dorsolateral pontine nucleus of the alert monkey modulated by visual stimuli and eye movements.

The activity of neurons in the dorsolateral pontine nucleus (dlpn) was studied in two awake rhesus monkeys trained to participate in a variety of visual and oculomotor tests. The visual and eye movement related responses of 73 neurons encountered in the more caudal part of the dlpn were analyzed. Thirty eight of these could be assigned to one of the three following groups. Visual-only neurons (Type 1, n = 10) responded to movement of a broad range of visual stimuli in certain preferred directions. Their receptive fields were usually large, not restricted to the contralateral visual field and always included the fovea. Visual-tracking (VT) neurons (n = 28) discharged in relation to smooth pursuit of a small target in particular preferred directions. Nine of these (Type 2) did not respond to visual stimulation during stationary fixation. Nineteen VT-cells (Type 3) discharged in relation to both visual tracking and visual stimulation. In 9 of the Type 3 neurons, the preferred directions for visual stimulation and tracking were opposite, whereas they were the same in the other 10. Visual responses of Type 3 neurons were indistinguishable from those of Type 1 neurons. Testing of an additional 9 neurons driven by either visual-tracking or pattern movement was not sufficient to allow a definite assignment to one of the groups 1, 2 or 3. The distribution of preferred directions for both visual stimulation and visual tracking was widely scattered between 0 and 360 deg. Our results suggest that the dlpn is a constituent in a cerebro-cerebellar loop important for the generation of smooth pursuit eye movements.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1987

Morphology, number, and distribution of putative GABA-ergic neurons in the basilar pontine gray of the monkey.

We used an antibody raised against the inhibitory transmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the basilar pontine gray (bpg) of the monkey. Somata, dendrites, and a plexus of probably axonal fibers exhibited GABA-like immunoreactivity. Labeled neurons were small with oval, triangular, or circular soma shape. They gave rise to 2 to 4 dendrites with little branching. No axons were seen issuing from the soma. Occasionally, appendages consisting of spheroidal bodies positioned at the distal end of tenuous stalks and (in 1 cell) axonlike processes were observed to originate from dendrites. According to their morphology, we suggest that these putative GABA-ergic neurons may correspond to the type II neurons observed in Golgi material. The average number of putative GABA-ergic cells in 40-micron sections was about 30/mm2. When compared with Nissl-stained sections, these amounted to about 5% of all cells. There was no substantial variation in average density in different parts of the bpg. However, labeled cells tended to lie in clusters, perhaps related to the well-established input-output compartments of the bpg. The demonstration of a significant population of putative inhibitory neurons challenges the traditional view of the bpg, which suggests that this brainstem cell group functions as a simple relay exchanging signals between cortex and cerebellum.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Slow brain potentials and psychomotor retardation in depression.

Event-related cortical potentials were recorded in 11 patients with primary depression and 11 healthy control subjects during a serial choice reaction task. Each new trial was voluntarily initiated when the subject pressed a microswitch; an acoustic go or no-go signal followed after a fixed interval. This elicited a Bereitschaftspotential (BP), a contingent negative variation (CNV), acoustically evoked potentials (N1, P2, P3), and a post-imperative negative variation (PINV) in direct succession. These were evaluated conventionally and by principal component analysis (PCA). Patients exhibited significantly longer reaction times and more negative PINVs. BP and CNV did not differ between groups. In conventional amplitude measurement small P3 amplitudes in depressives may be feigned by markedly negative PINVs.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Photopic action of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the cat retina.

The effects of iontophoretically applied thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on cat retinal brisk-sustained(X) and brisk-transient(Y) ganglion cells were studied in the intact eye in vivo. Under photopic illumination we found a differential action of TRH on ON- and OFF-centre cells: the maintained activity and light response were suppressed in ON-centre cells and enhanced in OFF-centre cells. This was true for both brisk-sustained(X) and brisk-transient(Y) cells. In contrast, TRH did not influence the ganglion cell discharge under scotopic stimulus conditions. These results indicate that TRH acts on neurons presynaptic to ganglion cells and these neurons are only active under photopic conditions. We suggest that a possible functional role of this specific action of TRH is in light adaptation.

Adaptation, Ocular↗

PubMed1985

Localization of aspartate aminotransferase and cytochrome oxidase in the cat retina.

Using immunohistochemical techniques, we demonstrate aspartate aminotransferase (AAT)-like immunoreactivity in cone pedicles and ganglion cells of the cat retina. An identical pattern was seen when we stained for cytochrome oxidase activity, a marker for neurons which have a high metabolic activity. Tetrodotoxin selectively blocked the cytochrome oxidase labeling of ganglion cells. AAT is a key enzyme in the metabolism of aspartate and glutamate and has been proposed as a marker for neurons which use aspartate/glutamate as a neurotransmitter. Due to the close correlation between AAT-like immunoreactivity and cytochrome oxidase activity, we suggest that, at least in the retina, AAT-like immunoreactivity in fact labels cells which have a high metabolic activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Action and localization of glycine and taurine in the cat retina.

The effects on retinal ganglion cells of iontophoretically applied glycine, taurine and strychnine were studied in the optically intact eye of the cat. Glycine and taurine suppressed the light-evoked discharge of all on-centre and off-centre brisk ganglion cells, regardless of the visual stimulus used. Strychnine blocked the action of externally applied glycine and taurine. The light-evoked response of all ganglion cells was raised by strychnine. The tonic discharge of the light response was suppressed or raised by the drugs more than the phasic response. A population of amacrine cells, which was heavily labelled by [3H]glycine, did not take up [3H]taurine. [3H]taurine was only weakly accumulated by inner nuclear layer neurones and was predominantly located in the outer retina.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1985

Cholecystokinin in the cat retina. Action of exogenous CCK8 and localization of cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity.

The effects of applying cholecystokinin (CCK8) iontophoretically onto cat retinal ganglion cells were studied in the optically intact eye of the cat. CCK8 suppressed both the maintained and the light evoked discharge of brisk ganglion cells, irrespective of their being on- or off-center, brisk-transient, or brisk-sustained and independent of the state of light adaptation. The inhibitory action of CCK8 in the cat retina is opposite from its excitatory action in other parts of the brain. Using an antiserum to cholecystokinin, immunoreactivity was localized in horizontal cells and amacrine cells of the cat retina. Inconsistently immunoreactivity also was found in ganglion cells and fibers.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Action of iontophoretically applied dopamine on cat retinal ganglion cells.

Iontophoretically applied dopamine reversibly altered both the spontaneous firing rates and the light evoked responses of retinal ganglion cells in the intact eye of the cat. The effects of dopamine were the same for all cell classes encountered: on brisk-transient, off brisk-transient, on brisk-sustained, off brisk-sustained, sluggish and non-concentrically organized cells. Dopamine reduced the spontaneous firing rates of all cells. In response to light stimulation, the inhibitory response phase (light off in on ganglion cells, light on in off ganglion cells) was also reduced by dopamine. However, the excitatory response phase (light on in on ganglion cells, light off in off ganglion cells) was only consistently reduced for optimal spot stimulation: for wholefield or annular stimulation the excitatory response phase was reduced in 76% of cells, whereas for the remaining cells it was unchanged or even increased. The net effect of these alterations was to cause a shift in the centre surround balance of the cell output in favour of the centre for 82% of concentrically organized cells. These results are discussed in the context of present anatomical knowledge.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1984

Pharmacological modulation of on and off ganglion cells in the cat retina.

We studied the effects of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid and 2-amino-4-phosphonovaleric acid, which are antagonists to excitatory amino acids, on brisk-sustained(X) and brisk-transient(Y) ganglion cells in the cat retina. The ganglion cells were recorded extracellularly with a multibarreled electrode in the intact eye in vivo and drugs were applied iontophoretically. We found contrasting effects of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid and 2-amino-4-phosphonovaleric acid on ON- and OFF-centre cells irrespective of the brisk-sustained(X)/brisk-transient(Y) dichotomy. The maintained discharge and the light response of ON-centre cells decreased during 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid and 2-amino-4-phosphonovaleric acid application, whereas the maintained discharge of OFF-centre cells increased. The light response of OFF-centre cells was not significantly affected. 2-Amino-4-phosphonovaleric acid was generally less potent than 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid. It was shown in the mudpuppy retina [Slaughter and Miller (1981) Science, N.Y. 211, 182-185; Slaughter and Miller (1981) Invest. ophthal. Vis. Sci. 20, 44] that 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric and 2-amino-4-phosphonovaleric acid selectively block the response of ON-bipolar cells. Assuming that these drugs act on the same synaptic sites in the cat retina, one expects a block of ON-centre ganglion cells. Moreover, the drug response of OFF-centre ganglion cells is then consistent with Sterling's hypothesis [Sterling (1983) A. Rev. Neurosci. 6, 149-185] that OFF-ganglion cells receive a direct inhibitory input from ON-bipolars. For some period 19 out of 108 cells responded to 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid and 2-amino-4-phosphonovaleric acid in an opposite way to that described above: ON-centre cells increased and OFF-centre cells decreased their maintained discharge. It is proposed that this "reverse response" may be mediated by autoreceptors to excitatory amino acids or due to different receptor sites triggering antagonistic response mechanisms.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

PubMed1984

Indoleamine-mediated reciprocal modulation of on-centre and off-centre ganglion cell activity in the retina of the cat.

The effects of applying the indoleamines serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (MDT) ionophoretically onto cat retinal ganglion cells were studied in the optically intact eye of the cat. Serotonin suppressed both the spontaneous activity and light-evoked discharge of on-centre ganglion cells, regardless of the visual stimulus used; on the other hand, it enhanced the activity of off-centre ganglion cells. MDT produced the opposite effects, i.e. it enhanced the activity of on-centre ganglion cells but suppressed that of off-centre ganglion cells. Much of the effect of serotonin on light-evoked discharge can be attributed to an alteration of maintained discharge. There was no major difference in the way brisk-sustained (X) and brisk-transient (Y) cells responded to the application of serotonin and MDT, although the effects of the indoleamines on brisk-transient (Y) cells were generally weaker than on brisk-sustained (X) cells. In view of the fact that the action of serotonin is similar to the action of a gain control system, a possible contribution of indoleamine-accumulating neurones to gain control in the cat retina is discussed.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1981

The relationship between P3-latency and reaction time in depression.

A random series of frequencies and infrequent clicks was presented to 13 primary depressives and 13 healthy controls matched for age and gender. Subjects were instructed to press a button as fast as possible in response to the infrequent clicks. P3 amplitudes and latencies as well as correlations between P3 latency and reaction time were calculated on a single trial basis using Woody's adaptive filter. While reaction times were significantly longer in patients, neither P3 latencies nor P3 amplitudes differed between the groups. Thus, delayed reaction time of depressives seems to be a consequence of impaired selection, activation, or execution of the motor response rather than of delayed stimulus evaluation. The correlation between P3 latency and reaction time was significantly smaller in patients then in controls.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Binocular interaction in the optokinetic system of the crab Carcinus maenas (L.): optokinetic gain modified by bilateral image flow.

We recorded optokinetic eye movements of the crab, Carcinus maenas, in split-drum experiments. The patterns were either oscillated in antiphase on both sides mimicking translational image flow or they were oscillated in phase producing rotational image flow. Eye movements elicited by the rotational stimulus were larger than those produced by the pseudotranslational pattern movements. The smaller response to the latter is mainly a consequence of binocular interaction, the strength of which depends on both the phase-shift and amplitude of pattern oscillation. We develop two hypotheses to explain our results: either (1) signals from each eye modify the gain of the linkage signals coming from the other eye, or (2) the signals coming from the other eye modify the gain of the control loop itself. Quantitative evaluation of the data favors the second of these two hypotheses, which comprises the models of Barnes and Horridge (1969) and Nalbach et al. (1985). In addition, we found that it is the signals from the two slow channels of the crab's movement-detecting system that are transferred from one eye to the other, while signals of the fastest channel act almost exclusively ipsilaterally. We discuss our results as an adaptation by which an animal with panoramic vision compensates exclusively the rotational component of image flow during locomotion. The fact that freely walking crabs distinguish the two components of image flow better than restrained crabs indicates that further visual and nonvisual signals help to disentangle image flow.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Narcissism inventory-90 (NI-90). Empirically-based reduction and identification of items sensitive for change--a questionnaire particularly suited for measuring self-regulatory parameters].

By analysing Narcissism Inventories [1] gathered by the admission from 639 consecutive in-patients, as well as a related sample of inventories gathered from 397 consecutive patients (7/93-7/96) by admission and discharge, we examined the possibility of reducing the number of items of the Narcissism Inventory without losing significant information. This examination shows that reducing the inventory to a total of 5 items per scale is reasonable, without a relevant loss of metric quality in the item-reduced scales. In addition, items particularly sensitive to change could be identified and pointedly kept in the new, reduced scales. Through the deliberate selection of these items, it was possible to produce an empirically-guided short-version of the Narcissism Inventory, suited particularly for the examination of clinical process and regulatory parameters. With persistence of the original 18 scales proposed by the authors of the original test, a reduction to a total of 90 items results. The name "Narcissism Inventory-90 (NI-90)" is, therefore, suggested for this new version.

Adult↗