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The central responsiveness of the acute cerveau isolé rat.

The electrophysiological patterns of the frontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus were studied in the acute cerveau isolé rat. Central and peripheral stimulations were performed in order to modulate these patterns. The results showed that the permanent alternation of high amplitude spindle bursts and low voltage activity in the anterior neocortex of the acute cerveau isolé was influenced neither by olfactory nor by posterior hypothalamic stimulation. In contrast, these two kinds of stimulation easily modulated the continuous low frequency theta rhythm, recorded in the dorsal hippocampus, in terms of amplitude and in overall frequency. This modulation of the theta rhythm in the acute cerveau isolé rat mimics the changes observed when the normal rat comes from the intermediate stage of sleep (as characterized in the the acute intercollicular transected rat by high amplitude spindle bursts at frontal cortex level and low frequency theta activity in the dorsal hippocampus) to rapid sleep. These results further suggest that, during the intermediate stage (as in the cerveau isolé preparation), the hippocampus montonous theta activity appears through a brainstem disinhibitory process releasing the forebrain limbic pacemaker(s). During the following rapid sleep phase, the theta rhythm would be modulated by pontine activity influences acting on the theta generators.

Animals↗

Comparison of electroejaculation and transrectal massage for semen collection in range and yearling feedlot beef bulls.

Two experiments were conducted to compare electroejaculation (EE) and transrectal massage (RM) of the ampullary region for semen collection from beef bulls, and to determine the effect of semen collection method on semen traits. In experiment 1, semen was collected either by EE or RM randomly assigned on an alternate basis in 137 range beef bulls unaccustomed to being handled. The maximum time allowed for RM was 4 min and if no semen was obtained, EE was used. In experiment 2, semen was collected from 39 yearling feedlot beef bulls that were accustomed to being handled, by RM followed immediately by EE. The maximum time allowed for semen collection by both methods was 4 min. In both experiments, sperm concentration, percent of progressively motile sperm, percent of sperm staining alive, and sperm morphology were determined. In experiment 1, RM resulted in fewer (P<0.001) successful semen collections and fewer bulls with penile protrusion than EE (80.9% versus 100% and 54.4% versus 91.5%, respectively). The success of RM was not influenced by bull age or breed, or by the veterinarian performing the massage. Transrectal massage required more time (30s, P<0.001) for obtaining a semen sample and resulted in samples with lower sperm concentration (P<0.001), percent motile sperm (P<0.05) and percent live sperm (P<0.001) when compared to EE. In experiment 2, EE and RM were equally effective for obtaining a semen sample (97.4 and 94.9%, respectively), but the proportion of bulls exhibiting penile protrusion during semen collection was lower (P<0.0001) with RM compared to EE. Percent of sperm staining alive was also lower (P<0.01) in samples collected by RM. Sperm morphology (normal sperm, head defects, midpiece defects, proximal cytoplasmic droplets, and detached sperm heads) did not differ between samples collected by EE and RM. In conclusion, semen could be collected by transrectal massage from approximately 80% of range beef bulls and from 95% of yearling beef bulls accustomed to handling. Sperm morphology was not affected by the method of semen collection, but percent of motile sperm and live sperm were lower in samples collected by RM. A reduced ability to stimulate penile protrusion with RM precluded examination of the penis in a large proportion of bulls.

Animals↗

Increased serotonin release in mice frontal cortex and hippocampus induced by acute physiological stressors.

The effects of acute physiological stressors (5 s tail pinch, handling and forced swimming at +25 and +5 degrees C for 3 min each) on serotonin (5-HT) release in the mouse brain were investigated using in vivo microdialysis. The extracellular 5-HT levels were determined by a newly developed highly-sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography method based on derivatization with benzylamine and fluorescence detection. The basal levels of 5-HT in 3 min microdialysates from the ventral hippocampus and frontal cortex were 0.68+/-0.21 and 0.75+/-0.28 fmol/6 microl (n=24), respectively. All three stressors caused an immediate, significant and reversible increase (handling: 150%; swimming: 240%) of extracellular 5-HT levels in both brain structures, suggesting a more dynamic role played by the serotonergic system in response to acute stress.

Acute Disease↗

Expansion of the cortical representation of a specific skin field in primary somatosensory cortex by intracortical microstimulation.

Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) was applied to a single site in the middle cortical layers (III-IV) in the koniocortical somatosensory fields of sodium pentobarbital-anesthetized rats (Sml) and new world monkeys (area 3b). Low-threshold cutaneous receptive fields were defined in the cortical region surrounding the stimulation site prior to and following 2-6 hr of 5 microA ICMS stimulation. ICMS stimulation did not usually affect the receptive field location, size, or responsiveness to tactile stimulation of neurons at the stimulation site. However, the number of cortical neurons surrounding the stimulation site with a receptive field that overlapped with the ICMS-site receptive field increased in all studied animals, resulting in an enlarged cortical representation of a restricted skin region spanning several hundred microns. The mean size of receptive fields changed in some but not all cases. These results provide evidence that the responses of cortical neurons are subject to change by the introduction of locally coincident inputs into a single location, and demonstrate a capacity for representational plasticity in the neocortex in the absence of peripheral stimulation. These experimental observations are consistent with hypotheses that the cerebral cortex comprises radially oriented populations of neurons that share a common input, and that these inputs are shaped by coincident activity (see Edelman, 1978, 1987; Merzenich, 1987; Merzenich et al., 1990; von der Malsburg and Singer, 1988).

Animals↗

Distress call of the bottlenose dolphin: stimuli and evoked behavioral responses.

Analysis of the many different vocal productions of pairs of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus Montagu) and the related behavior patterns shows that one pair of specific short (0.2 to 0.6 second) whistles was consistently stimulated by physical distress. This call stimulated nearby animals to push the head of the distressed animal to the surface to breathe. After the animal breathed, a vocal exchange preceded other forms of aid.

Animals↗

Sensory processing and corollary discharge effects in the mormyromast regions of the mormyrid electrosensory lobe. I. Field potentials, cellular activity in associated structures.

1. This is the first of a series of papers on the electrosensory lobe and closely associated structures in electric fish of the family Mormyridae. The study describes the neuronal responses to sensory stimuli and to corollary discharge signals associated with the motor command that drives the electric organ discharge (EOD). The study is focused on the regions of the electrosensory lobe where primary afferent fibers from mormyromast electroreceptors terminate. 2. This first paper of the series describes the field potentials in the caudal lobe of the cerebellum and in the electrosensory lobe. It also describes the different types of unit activity in the caudal lobe of the cerebellum. Granule cells of the caudal lobe of the cerebellum provide the parallel fibers for most of the molecular layer of the electrosensory lobe. Determination of the input and responses of these cells is therefore an important part of the effort to understand the electrosensory lobe. 3. Corollary discharge field potentials evoked by the EOD motor command are very prominent in the caudal lobe of the cerebellum and in the electrosensory lobe. The potentials indicate that corollary discharge excitation affects first the granule cells of the caudal lobe and then, a few milliseconds later, the deeper cellular layers of the electrosensory lobe. The prominence and complexity of the field potentials indicate that corollary discharge signals have an important and varied role in the processing of electrosensory information by the mormyrid electrosensory lobe. 4. The field potentials evoked by electrosensory stimuli suggest that direct primary afferent excitation is limited to the granule and intermediate layers of the electrosensory lobe, as is indicated also by anatomic studies. 5. Proprioceptive units are the most common type of unit recorded in the granule cell region of the caudal lobe of the cerebellum (eminentia granularis posterior). These units have a regular discharge rate that changes tonically in response to slight bending of the trunk, bending of the tail, or bending of individual fins. Proprioceptive input will have a strong effect on the molecular layer of the electrosensory lobe and will thus modulate the responses of electrosensory lobe cells to electrosensory stimuli. Such proprioceptive input to the electrosensory lobe would allow the expected effects of body position changes to be accounted for in the processing of electrosensory information. 6. Units with stereotyped, short-latency corollary discharge bursts to the EOD motor command were the next most common type of unit in the eminentia granularis posterior. These corollary discharge units were not affected by sensory stimuli.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗

Effect of anxiolytic drugs on air-puff-elicited ultrasonic vocalization in adult rats.

Ultrasonic vocalization (USV) responses elicited by air-puff stimuli were compared in regard to both quality and quantity with those elicited by electric foot-shock(s) in adult rats. Frequency pattern, duration, repetition rate and interpulse interval of air-puff-elicited USV were comparable to those observed on foot-shock-elicited USV. Diazepam (0.25-1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) and buspirone (0.1-1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) attenuated equally and dose-dependently the USV responses elicited by both aversive stimuli. Air-puff-elicited USV was specifically attenuated in a dose-dependent manner by the anxiolytic properties of several psychotropic agents: diazepam (1.0-10.0 mg/kg, p.o.), buspirone (10.0-100.0 mg/kg, p.o.), 8-OH-DPAT (0.01-0.5 mg/kg, s.c.). Haloperidol (0.2-1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) weakly attenuated the USV response. Imipramine (0.2-1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) which has no anxiolytic property had no effect. Consequently, air-puff-elicited USV as well as foot-shock-elicited USV may provide a reliable tool for the study of anxiety.

Air↗

Biomechanics of seat belt restraint system.

Seat belt system restrains and protects occupants in motor vehicle crashes and any slack in seat belt system induces additional loading on occupant. Signs of belt loading are more obvious in high-speed frontal collisions with heavy occupants. However subtle changes may occur at low speeds or with low forces from occupants during rollovers. In certain cases, the seat belt webbing is twisted and loaded by the occupant. The loading of webbing induces an observable fold/crimp on the seat belt. The purpose of the study is to biomechanically evaluate the force required to produce such marks using an anthropometric physical test dummy. Two tests were conducted to determine the amount of force required to put an observable fold/crimp in a shoulder belt. A head form designed by Voight Hodgson was used to represent the neck which interacted with the belt. The force was applied with a pneumatic pull ram (central hydraulic 89182 N) and the force was measured with a 44,000 N transducer load cell (DSM-10K). Results indicate that the force of over 1,000 N produced a fold or crimp in the belt.

Acceleration↗

Noxious stimulation reduces blood pressure but not flow in the internal carotid artery as measured in rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to examine effects on blood flow by alteration of blood pressure resulting from noxious stimuli. The experiment was carried out in anesthetized and paralyzed rabbits. Blood pressure was measured through a teflon catheter inserted in the common carotid artery (CCA). Blood flow at the CCA, internal carotid artery (ICA), or external carotid artery (ECA) was measured using an electromagnetic flowmeter placed at the CCA. The effects of pinching and electrical stimuli upon the blood pressure and flow were tested. Blood pressure at all three arteries decreased transiently from these noxious stimulations. There were no statistical changes in the blood flows respectively. However, different mechanism could exist between ECA and ICA because blood flow of ECA was decreased and that of ICA was increased or had no change. We concluded that vascular resistance reduction in the ICA against the arterial pressure decrement produced by noxious stimuli may be a control mechanism to keep cerebral blood flow constant. In contrast, there may be no such mechanism in the ECA circulation.

Anesthesia, Dental↗

Stereotyped behaviour.

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Aversive Therapy↗