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Distribution of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in the vocal motor system of zebra finches.

The distribution of choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity (ChAT-IR) was surveyed in the vocal motor system of adult male and female zebra finches and was compared with the pattern of histochemical acetylcholinesterase (AChE-His). In the vocal motor system the most prominent accumulation of ChAT-IR somata was found in lobus parolfactorius (LPO) including Area X. Immunoreactive neuropil was found to be concentrated in pericellular networks of fibers in male's Area X while the corresponding area in females could not be demarcated within the LPO. The density of ChAT-IR fiber networks was much higher in LPO, paleostriatum augmentatum and in a shelf region around nucleus robustus archistriatalis (RA) than in neostriatal and hyperstriatal parts of the telencephalon. AChE positive neurons and neuropil were observed in all ChAT-IR regions and, in addition, in the vocal motor nuclei nucleus hyperstriatum ventrale pars caudalis (HVc), nucleus magnocellularis in the anterior neostriatum (MAN), nucleus interfacialis (NIF) and RA. However, none of the latter nuclei contained ChAT-IR cell bodies. They were characterized by rare ChAT-IR neuropil. MAN and RA exhibited shelf regions with a higher degree of stained fibers. The discrepancy between the localization of AChE-His and ChAT-IR can hardly be explained by different classes of ChAT isoenzymes in neurons within the basal forebrain and the neostriatal, hyperstriatal and archistriatal vocal control nuclei not detected by our antibody. On the other hand, vocal control centers while receiving cholinergic inputs, might - except for Area X - not possess cholinergic efferent projections within the telencephalon.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Immunohistochemical localization of collagen types I and VI in human skin wounds.

A total of 74 human skin wounds were investigated and collagen types I and VI were localized in the wound area by immunohistochemistry. Collagen type I appeared in the form of ramifying string-like structures after approximately 5-6 days, but positive reactions in the form of a spot-like staining around isolated fibroblasts also occurred in a skin wound aged 4 days. Collagen VI was detectable after a post-infliction interval of at least 3 days showing a strongly positive reacting network associated with fibroblasts in the wound area. Both collagens appeared almost constantly after a wound age of 6-7 days and could also be found in wounds aged a few months. Therefore, although a positive reaction for collagen type I in the form of string-like and ramifying structures around wound fibroblasts indicates a wound age of at least 5-6 days, a spot-like positive staining for collagen type I cannot exclude a wound age of at least 4 days. A positive staining for collagen type VI represents a post-infliction time of 3 days or more. The almost constant appearance of these collagen types suggests that negative results in a sufficient number of specimens indicate a wound age of less than 6-7 days, but cannot completely exclude longer post-infliction intervals. Since collagen type I and VI are also found in the granulation/scar tissue of lesions with advanced wound age, the immunohistochemical analysis of these proteins provides no further information for an age determination of older skin wounds.

Adult↗

Air pollution from traffic in topographically complex locations.

In the UK, many improvements and modifications to the road system are made in urban areas where the network of roads and the surrounding area are often complex. In these locations, the emission and dispersion of vehicle exhaust are complicated by the diversity of the vehicle operating conditions and of the airflow patterns. A series of air pollution surveys have taken place at successively more complex sites. A preliminary analysis of the results has been carried out to determine the features that are most important in determining local pollution levels. These will be considered in the future development of methods of predicting pollution levels that are more accurate in topographically complex locations.

Air Pollution↗

Glutamate-induced gamma oscillations in the dentate gyrus of rat hippocampal slices.

In this paper we show that gamma oscillations can be elicited by brief (< or = 200 ms) local applications of glutamate in the dentate gyrus of rat hippocampal slices. Dentate gamma oscillations show an initial peak frequency of approximately 70 Hz and last for up to 4 min. The network activity involves functional GABA(A) receptors as it is drastically reduced by GABA(A) receptor antagonists. The oscillations can be observed in the whole dentate gyrus-CA3-network and are coherent between the dentate gyrus and area CA3 for variable periods. Thus, long-lasting gamma oscillations can be experimentally induced in the dentate gyrus and are propagated into the hippocampus proper.

Animals↗

Brain Areas Active during Visual Perception of Biological Motion.

Theories of vision posit that form and motion are represented by neural mechanisms segregated into functionally and anatomically distinct pathways. Using point-light animations of biological motion, we examine the extent to which form and motion pathways are mutually involved in perceiving figures depicted by the spatio-temporal integration of local motion components. Previous work discloses that viewing biological motion selectively activates a region on the posterior superior temporal sulcus (STSp). Here we report that the occipital and fusiform face areas (OFA and FFA) also contain neural signals capable of differentiating biological from nonbiological motion. EBA and LOC, although involved in perception of human form, do not contain neural signals selective for biological motion. Our results suggest that a network of distributed neural areas in the form and motion pathways underlie the perception of biological motion.

Brain Mapping↗

Community building with aging and old lesbians.

Descriptions of innovative methods of responding to the concerns and needs of aging and old lesbians are scarce in research literature. This paper describes the creation of the Elder Initiative, a community building effort for aging and old lesbians in a major northwest city. With the aims of providing support networks for the women and ensuring their involvement in the development of the local lesbian community, the Elder Initiative adopted the Kretzmann and McKnight model of community building to guide its objectives. In the 3 years since the group formed, membership has grown to over 550 women and several successful projects have been undertaken. The importance of the Elder Initiative and similar groups for successful aging among lesbians and areas of future research are discussed.

Aged↗

The minicolumn hypothesis in neuroscience.

The minicolumn is a continuing source of research and debate more than half a century after it was identified as a component of brain organization. The minicolumn is a sophisticated local network that contains within it the elements for redundancy and plasticity. Although it is sometimes compared to subcortical nuclei, the design of the minicolumn is a distinctive form of module that has evolved specifically in the neocortex. It unites the horizontal and vertical components of cortex within the same cortical space. Minicolumns are often considered highly repetitive, even clone-like, units. However, they display considerable heterogeneity between areas and species, perhaps even within a given macrocolumn. Despite a growing recognition of the anatomical basis of the cortical minicolumn, as well as its physiological properties, the potential of the minicolumn has not been exploited in fields such as comparative neuroanatomy, abnormalities of the brain and mind, and evolution.

Animals↗

[Distribution of neuropeptide Y-like and beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the nervous system and Hatschek's pit of amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri].

Using immunohischemical method, we have localized for the first time in the amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri, neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like and beta-endorphin (beta-Ep)-like immunoreactivity in nervous system and Hatschek's pit. NPY-immunoreactive (-ir) perikarya appeared in the front and middle areas of the telencephalon and midbrain, as well as in the hindbrain. Dense plexuses of NPY-ir fibers coursed with NPY-ir neurons and formed fine networks. NPY-ir perikarya and fibers were observed in the dorsal and middle areas of spinal cord. Beta-Ep-like immunoreactive perikarya and fibers were located in the front and middle areas of the midbrain, as well as in the spinal cord, but not in the telencephalon and hindbrain. The regions showing beta-Ep immunoreactivity were less than that of NPY. NPY-like and beta-Ep-like immunoreactivity were also found in the Hatschek's pit of amphioxus. These results suggest that NPY and beta-Ep, as an neurotransmitter as in fish, may be involved in the regulation of Hatschek's pit gonadotrophic cells secretory activity in amphioxus, and provide a new morphological evidence for the close relationship between brain and Hatschek's pit in amphioxus.

Animals↗

Cortical mechanisms for auditory spatial illusions.

Frequency transformation by the external ears provides the spectral cues for localization of broadband sounds in the vertical plane. When human subjects listen to spectrally-impoverished narrowband sounds presented in a free field, the perceived locations vary with the centre frequency and are largely independent of the actual source locations. The present study explored the substrate of spatial illusion by examining the responses of cortical neurons to narrowband stimuli. Single-unit responses were recorded in area A2 of anaesthetized cats. Broadband noise bursts were presented at 14 locations in the vertical median plane, from 60 degrees below the front horizon, up and over the head, to 20 degrees below the rear horizon. Narrowband (1/6-oct) noise bursts were presented at + 80 degrees elevation. An artificial neural network was trained to recognize the spike patterns elicited by broadband noise and, thereby, to register the spike patterns with sound-source elevation. When the trained network was presented with neural responses elicited by narrowband noise, the elevation estimated by the neural network varied with the centre frequency of the narrowband stimuli. Consistent with psychophysical results in human, the locations associated with a given centre frequency could be predicted by comparing the stimulus spectrum with the directional transfer functions of the cat's external ear. The results support the hypothesis that full spike patterns (including spike counts and spike timing) of cortical neurons code information about sound location and that the auditory cortical neurons play a pivotal role in localization behaviour.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Generalized cortex activation by the auditory midbrain: Mediation by acetylcholine and subcortical relays.

The inferior colliculus (IC) is a critical component of the ascending projection system carrying auditory information from the brainstem to the forebrain. Recent evidence indicates that, in addition to its role in auditory processing, the IC can exert a generalized, modulatory effect on the forebrain by activating the neocortical electrocorticogram (ECoG). Given the sparse direct projections from the IC to the cortex, it appears that the effect of the IC to produce ECoG activation is indirect, mediated by one or several neuromodulatory systems that have diffuse access to the entire cortical mantle. However, the anatomical relays that permit the IC to influence cortical activity have not been elucidated. In the present experiments, electrical stimulation of the IC suppressed slow, large amplitude oscillations in the ECoG of urethane anesthetized rats, replacing them with higher-frequency cortical activation. This effect was blocked by the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine (0.5-1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), suggestive of a critical role of acetylcholine (ACh) release. Consistent with this hypothesis, localized lidocaine infusions (2%, 1 microl) into the cholinergic basal forebrain complex strongly reduced ECoG activation elicited by IC stimulation. To identify additional relays between the IC and basal forebrain, the effects of lidocaine infusions into the superior colliculus, medial prefrontal cortex, midline thalamus, and dorsal raphe were also studied. Inactivation of the superior colliculus and dorsal raphe reduced IC-induced activation, while prefrontal cortex and thalamic infusions were ineffective. Concurrent basal forebrain and raphe inactivation produced effects similar to that of inactivation of the basal forebrain alone, suggesting that these two areas are arranged in series, rather than acting as independent, parallel pathways. These results suggest that the ability of the IC to induce ECoG activation is mediated, in large parts, by the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Consistent with anatomical evidence, the superior colliculus and dorsal raphe appear to provide important links to functionally connect the IC to the basal forebrain, allowing the IC to indirectly access the entire cortical mantle and enhance processing in neocortical networks.

Acetylcholine↗

A regression-based method for mapping traffic-related air pollution: application and testing in four contrasting urban environments.

Accurate, high-resolution maps of traffic-related air pollution are needed both as a basis for assessing exposures as part of epidemiological studies, and to inform urban air-quality policy and traffic management. This paper assesses the use of a GIS-based, regression mapping technique to model spatial patterns of traffic-related air pollution. The model--developed using data from 80 passive sampler sites in Huddersfield, as part of the SAVIAH (Small Area Variations in Air Quality and Health) project--uses data on traffic flows and land cover in the 300-m buffer zone around each site, and altitude of the site, as predictors of NO2 concentrations. It was tested here by application in four urban areas in the UK: Huddersfield (for the year following that used for initial model development), Sheffield, Northampton, and part of London. In each case, a GIS was built in ArcInfo, integrating relevant data on road traffic, urban land use and topography. Monitoring of NO2 was undertaken using replicate passive samplers (in London, data were obtained from surveys carried out as part of the London network). In Huddersfield, Sheffield and Northampton, the model was first calibrated by comparing modelled results with monitored NO2 concentrations at 10 randomly selected sites; the calibrated model was then validated against data from a further 10-28 sites. In London, where data for only 11 sites were available, validation was not undertaken. Results showed that the model performed well in all cases. After local calibration, the model gave estimates of mean annual NO2 concentrations within a factor of 1.5 of the actual mean (approx. 70-90%) of the time and within a factor of 2 between 70 and 100% of the time. r2 values between modelled and observed concentrations are in the range of 0.58-0.76. These results are comparable to those achieved by more sophisticated dispersion models. The model also has several advantages over dispersion modelling. It is able, for example, to provide high-resolution maps across a whole urban area without the need to interpolate between receptor points. It also offers substantially reduced costs and processing times compared to formal dispersion modelling. It is concluded that the model might thus be used as a means of mapping long-term air pollution concentrations either in support of local authority air-quality management strategies, or in epidemiological studies.

Air Pollutants↗

Localization of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-immunoreactive material in the hypothalamo-pituitary complex of the frog.

The presence of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-like material in the hypothalamo-pituitary complex of the frog (Rana ridibunda) was studied by means of indirect immunofluorescence and immunogold techniques. In the hypothalamus, numerous ANF-positive cell bodies were located in the preoptic nucleus, the lateral forebrain bundle and the dorsal infundibular nucleus. The ventral infundibular area and the median eminence contained only ANF-immunoreactive fibers. A dense network of fibers and nerve terminals was observed in the neural lobe of the pituitary. Scarce nerve endings were also noted in the intermediate lobe whereas ANF-like immunoreactivity was totally absent in the anterior lobe of the pituitary. At the ultrastructural level, positive material appeared restricted to dense core vesicles (about 100 nm in diameter). These results demonstrate that an ANF-like substance is contained in nerve terminals of the frog pars nervosa, and support the hypothesis that ANF may exert a physiological role in the control of release of neurohypophyseal peptides.

Animals↗

Radioguided sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with malignant cutaneous melanoma: the nuclear medicine contribution.

As for other solid tumors, malignant cutaneous melanoma drains in a logical way through the lymphatic system, from the first to subsequent levels. Therefore, the first lymph node encountered (the sentinel node) will most likely be the first to be affected by metastasis, and a negative sentinel node makes it highly unlikely that other nodes in the same lymphatic basin are affected. Sentinel lymph node biopsy distinguishes patients without nodal metastases, who can avoid nodal basin dissection with its associated risk of lymphedema, and those with metastatic involvement who might benefit from additional therapy. This procedure represents a significant advantage as a minimally invasive procedure, considering that only an average 20% of melanoma patients with Breslow thickness between 1.5 and 4 mm harbour metastasis in their sentinel node(s) and are therefore candidates to elective lymph node dissection procedures. The cells that originate cutaneous melanomas are located between dermis and epidermis, a zone that drains to the inner lymphatic network in the reticular dermis, in turn to larger collecting lymphatics in subcutis. Therefore, the optimal modality of interstitial administration of radiocolloids for lymphoscintigraphy and subsequent radioguided sentinel lymph node biopsy is through intradermal/subdermal injection. (99m)Tc-labeled colloids in various size ranges are equally adequate for radioguided sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with cutaneous melanoma, depending on local experience and availability. For melanomas located in the midline area of the head, neck, and trunk, particular consideration should be given to ambiguous lymphatic drainage, which frequently requires interstitial administration virtually all around the tumor or surgical scar from prior excision of the melanoma. Lymphoscintigraphy is an essential part of radioguided sentinel lymph node biopsy because images are used to direct the surgeon to the sites of the node(s). The sentinel lymph node should have a significantly higher count than that of background (at least 10:1 intraoperatively). After removal of the sentinel node, the surgical bed must be reexamined to ensure that all radioactive sites are identified and removed for analysis. The success rate of radioguidance in localizing the sentinel lymph node in melanoma patients is about 98% in institutions where a high number of procedures are performed, approaching 99% when combined with the vital blue dye technique. The procedure is becoming the standard of care for patients with cutaneous melanoma because of its high prognostic value that has led to include the procedure in the most recent version of the TNM staging system.

Gamma Cameras↗

The role of ventral premotor cortex in action execution and action understanding.

The human ventral premotor cortex overlaps, at least in part, with Broca's region in the dominant cerebral hemisphere, that is known to mediate the production of language and contributes to language comprehension. This region is constituted of Brodmann's areas 44 and 45 in the inferior frontal gyrus. We summarize the evidence that the motor related part of Broca's region is localized in the opercular portion of the inferior frontal cortex, mainly in area 44 of Brodmann. According to our own data, there seems to be a homology between Brodmann area 44 in humans and the monkey area F5. The non-language related motor functions of Broca's region comprise complex hand movements, associative sensorimotor learning and sensorimotor integration. Brodmann's area 44 is also a part of a specialized parieto-premotor network and interacts significantly with the neighbouring premotor areas. In the ventral premotor area F5 of monkeys, the so called mirror neurons have been found which discharge both when the animal performs a goal-directed hand action and when it observes another individual performing the same or a similar action. More recently, in the same area mirror neurons responding not only to the observation of mouth actions, but also to sounds characteristic to actions have been found. In humans, through an fMRI study, it has been shown that the observation of actions performed with the hand, the mouth and the foot leads to the activation of different sectors of Broca's area and premotor cortex, according to the effector involved in the observed action, following a somatotopic pattern which resembles the classical motor cortex homunculus. On the other hand the evidence is growing that human ventral premotor cortex, especially Brodmann's area 44, is involved in polymodal action processing. These results strongly support the existence of an execution-observation matching system (mirror neuron system). It has been proposed that this system is involved in polymodal action recognition and might represent a precursor of language processing. Experimental evidence in favour of this hypothesis both in the monkey and humans is shortly reviewed.

Animals↗

Opiate anti-nociception is attenuated following lesion of large dopamine neurons of the periaqueductal grey: critical role for D1 (not D2) dopamine receptors.

The periaqueductal grey (PAG) area is involved in pain modulation as well as in opiate-induced anti-nociceptive effects. The PAG possess dopamine neurons, and it is likely that this dopaminergic network participates in anti-nociception. The objective was to further study the morphology of the PAG dopaminergic network, along with its role in nociception and opiate-induced analgesia in rats, following either dopamine depletion with the toxin 6-hydroxydopamine or local injection of dopaminergic antagonists. Nociceptive responses were studied through the tail-immersion (spinal reflex) and the hot-plate tests (integrated supraspinal response), establishing a cut-off time to further minimize animal suffering. Heroin and morphine were employed as opiates. Histological data indicated that the dopaminergic network of the PAG is composed of two types of neurons: small rounded cells, and large multipolar neurons. Following dopamine depletion of the PAG, large neurons (not small ones) were selectively affected by the toxin (61.9% dopamine cell loss, 80.7% reduction of in vitro dopaminergic peak), and opiate-induced analgesia in the hot-plate test (not the tail-immersion test) was reliably attenuated in lesioned rats (P < 0.01). After infusions of dopaminergic ligands into the PAG, D(1) (not D(2)) receptor antagonism attenuated opiate-induced analgesia in a dose-dependent manner in the hot-plate test. The present study provides evidence that large neurons of the dopaminergic network of the PAG participate in supraspinal (not spinal) nociceptive responses after opiates through the involvement of D(1) dopamine receptors. This dopaminergic system should be included as another network within the PAG involved in opiate-induced anti-nociception.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Motor functions of the Broca's region.

Broca's region in the dominant cerebral hemisphere is known to mediate the production of language but also contributes to comprehension. This region evolved only in humans and is constituted of Brodmann's areas 44 and 45 in the inferior frontal gyrus. There is, however, evidence that Broca's region overlaps, at least in part, with the ventral premotor cortex. We summarize the evidence that the motor related part of Broca's area is localized in the opercular portion of the inferior frontal cortex, mainly in area 44 of Brodmann. According to our own data, there seems to be a homology between Brodmann area 44 in humans and the monkey area F5. The non-language related motor functions of Broca's region comprise complex hand movements, associative sensorimotor learning and sensorimotor integration. Brodmann's area 44 is also a part of a specialized parieto-premotor network and interacts significantly with the neighboring premotor areas.

Animals↗

A network model of motion processing in area MT of primates.

A simple and biologically plausible model is proposed to simulate the visual motion processing taking place in the middle temporal (MT) area of the visual cortex in the primate brain. The model is a hierarchical neural network composed of multiple competitive learning layers. The input layer of the network simulates the neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1), which are sensitive to the orientation and motion velocity of the visual stimuli, and the middle and output layers of the network simulate the component MT and pattern MT neurons, which are selectively responsive to local and global motions, respectively. The network model was tested with various simulated motion patterns (random dots of different direction correlations, transparent motion, grating and plaid patterns, and so on). The response properties of the model closely resemble many of the known features of the MT neurons found neurophysiologically. These results show that the sophisticated response behaviors of the MT neurons can emerge naturally from some very simple models, such as a competitive learning network.

Animals↗

cDNAs of cell adhesion molecules of different specificity induce changes in cell shape and border formation in cultured S180 cells.

The liver cell adhesion molecule (L-CAM) and N-cadherin or adherens junction-specific CAM (A-CAM) are structurally related cell surface glycoproteins that mediate calcium-dependent adhesion in different tissues. We have isolated and characterized a full-length cDNA clone for chicken N-cadherin and used this clone to transfect S180 mouse sarcoma cells that do not normally express N-cadherin. The transfected cells (S180cadN cells) expressed N-cadherin on their surfaces and resembled S180 cells transfected with L-CAM (S180L cells) in that at confluence they formed an epithelioid sheet and displayed a large increase in the number of adherens and gap junctions. In addition, N-cadherin in S180cadN cells, like L-CAM in S180L cells, accumulated at cellular boundaries where it was colocalized with cortical actin. In S180L cells and S180cadN cells, L-CAM and N-cadherin were seen at sites of adherens junctions but were not restricted to these areas. Adhesion mediated by either CAM was inhibited by treatment with cytochalasin D that disrupted the actin network of the transfected cells. Despite their known structural similarities, there was no evidence of interaction between L-CAM and N-cadherin. Doubly transfected cells (S180L/cadN) also formed epithelioid sheets. In these cells, both N-cadherin and L-CAM colocalized at areas of cell contact and the presence of antibodies to both CAMs was required to disrupt the sheets of cells. Studies using divalent antibodies to localize each CAM at the cell surface or to perturb their distributions indicated that in the same cell there were no interactions between L-CAM and N-cadherin molecules. These data suggest that the Ca(++)-dependent CAMs are likely to play a critical role in the maintenance of epithelial structures and support a model for the segregation of CAM mediated binding. They also provide further support for the so-called precedence hypothesis that proposes that expression and homophilic binding of CAMs are necessary for formation of junctional structures in epithelia.

Animals↗