The wake-sleep cycle in the cat following dorso-pontine lesions

Modifications in total amount, frequency and duration of episodes of wakefulness (W), drowsiness (D), slow sleep (SS) and paradoxal sleep (PS) were examined in cats with small unilateral lesion in the locus coeruleus (LC) and/or neighbouring structures. Throughout a 8 week period, 24 h weekly records were obtained from each cat. Control group with lesions in the dorsomedial pontine area showed a noticeable stability in sleep-wakefulness cycle (SWC). Significant decrease of W (with shortening of episodes) occurred during the whole postlesion period in the group with lesions in the lateral vestibular nucleus. The group with small lesions restricted to the dorsal-intermediate part of RPO and RPC nuclei had only acute SWC modifications consisting of a decrease of W and increase of PS. Finally, small lesions in LC complex that encroached to a limited extent neighbouring structures produced a maintained decrease of W (with shortening of episodes) and increase of PS (due to a major number of episodes). Results suggest a different role of dorsopontine region from other pontine areas in SWC mechanisms and give support to the hypothesis of a permissive role of LC in PS mechanisms.     

Physiological responses to single versus double stepping pattern of ascending the stairs

The aim of this study was to compare the physiological responses and energy cost between two ascending patterns, the single-step (SS) and the double-step (DS), in climbing a public staircase. In the SS pattern, a person climbs one step at a time whilst in the double-step (DS) pattern, the individual traverses two steps in a single stride. Advocates of each stepping pattern claimed that their type of ascent is physically more taxing and expends more calories. Thirty subjects (10 males and 20 females) climbed a typical 11-storey flat (each step height of 0.15 m, a total of 180 steps and a vertical displacement of 27.0 m). The subjects climbed using either the SS pattern at a tempo of 100 steps x min(-1) or the DS pattern at 50 steps x min(-1). The prescribed stepping frequencies ensured that an equal amount of total work was performed between the SS and DS patterns. The climbing patterns were performed in random order. Physiological measures during the last 30 s of the climbs were used in the comparative analysis. The results showed that ventilation, oxygen uptake and heart rate values were significantly higher (all p < 0.01) in the SS as compared to the DS pattern. However, the caloric expenditure during the SS pattern was calculated to be only marginally higher than the DS pattern. In conclusion, ascending with the SS pattern led to significantly higher physiological responses compared to the DS pattern. The higher calorie expended with the SS compared to the DS pattern was deemed to be of little practical significance.     

Argyrophilic and Nitric Oxidergic Bipolar Neurons (Lugaro Cells) in Cerebellum of the Opisthocentrus Pholidapus dybowskii

Nitric oxidergic and argyrophilic Lugaro neurons were revealed in cerebellum of the opisthocentrus by using histochemical method of detection of NADPH-diaphorase and by Cajal impregnation. The argyrophilic cell population is located in the paleocerebellar part of the cerebellum. NADPH-D-positive Lugaro cells are revealed in the base of the cerebellar body, in the lateral prominence of granular eminence and a slight portion, in the paleocerebellar area. Neurons of the two populations form different types of junctions with each other as well as with Golgi cells and axons of basket neurons. It is possible that, with participation of NO molecules, they take part in formation of inhibitory processes in the cerebellum.     

Differential action upon sleep states of ventrolateral and central areas of pontine tegmental field

In order to study oral pontine mechanisms of the sleep- wakefulness cycle (SWC), modifications in the total amount, frequency, and duration of episodes of wakefulness (W), drowsiness (D), slow sleep (SS) and paradoxical sleep (PS) together with modifications in the hourly distribution of both sleep states were analyzed in 15 adult cats. Three animals were used as sham-operated controls. Six of them, Group I, received unilateral lesions in ventral and lateral areas of the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis (RPO) and rostral nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis (RPC). The remaining 6 cats, Group II, had unilateral lesions in the central part of the same nuclei. After ventrolateral lesions (Group I) decrease of PS and SS occurred, but only PS changes reached statistically significant values; while, on the contrary, a significant increase of SS and PS followed central lesions (Group II). Hourly distribution analysis indicated that in Group I decrease of both sleep states took place mainly at night, while in Group II increase of both SS and PS occurred during day. These results suggest a complex and non- uniform influence of the pontine tegmental area on SWC mechanisms. Effects obtained after unilateral lesions, precisely located in ventral and lateral or central parts, point to the existence of two functionally distinct, although almost overlapping, systems, at this level.     

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE AND ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CEREBELLUM OF RAT AND GUINEA PIG

Abstract— Choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels were measured quantitatively in samples from the archi- and paleocerebellar vermis (Larsell's Lobules IX c,d,-X, and Lobules VII-VIII, respectively) and from the cerebellar peduncles, nuclei and white matter of rat and guinea pig. Lesions to isolate archi- or paleocerebellar areas were made in some rats and the effect on enzyme levels and ultrastructure were studied. In the rat there was a striking correlation between the activity of ChAc and AChE in the different areas; thus in the archicerebellar cortex the levels of both enzymes were 3–4 times those in the paleocortex. Deafferentation caused a fall in ChAc and this practically paralleled the fall in AChE in the same area. The reduction in both enzymes was more pronounced in the archi- than in the paleocerebellar cortex. In the guinea pig the results were very different. The ChAc activity was much lower than in the rat and was equal in the archi- and paleocerebellum. The AChE activity was also uniform in the different areas but, in contrast to ChAc, was higher than in the rat.     

Neurophysiological mechanisms in the genetics of ethanol sensitivity

Abstract

Cerebellar Purkinje neurons of long‐sleep (LS) mice express a higher sensitivity than do those of short‐sleep (SS) mice to the depressant effects of ethanol in situ, in vitro, and in intraocular cerebellar brain grafts. The ethanol sensitivity of Purkinje neurons is intrinsic to the cerebellum, may be associated with only certain brain areas, and shows a high genetic correlation with the behavioral sensitivity of mice to ethanol‐induced ataxia. Tolerance develops to the depressant effects of ethanol on cerebellar neurons in both lines of mice. However, ethanol‐tolerant LS mice are more sensitive to the electrophysiological effects of ethanol on Purkinje neurons than are ethanol‐tolerant SS mice. In addition, the behavioral sensitivity to this drug probably also involves noncerebellar neurons since neonatally cerebellectomized LS and SS mice retain a different sensitivity to the ataxic effects of ethanol.     

Effects of lesions in the pontine tegmentum on the sleep stages in the rat]

1. Limited coagulations of the locus coeruleus and subcoeruleus nuclei have been performed in rats and the sleep-waking cycle was continuously monitored during 9 days. The cortical and diencephalic noradrenaline content was mesured at the termination of the experiment, on the 10th post lesion day. 2. The bilateral destruction of the locus coeruleus is followed by the appearance of a uro-genital syndrome consisting of hema turia, bladder distension and penile erection. The states of sleep are disturbed during the first two days (increase of slow-wave sleep and decrease of paradoxical sleep times) and thereafter return to normal. Additionally, an hyperthermia appears during the third experimental day. The cortical and diencephalic noradrenaline content decrease to 70%. 3. The simultaneous lesion of both locus coeruleus and subcoeruleus nuclei is followed by the appearance of an aphagia adipsia syndrome in addition to the uro-genital syndrome. After these lesions, it is no long possible to find paradoxical sleep episodes in polygraphic recordings while the amount of slow wave sleep is normal. Cortical and diencephalic noradrenaline content decrease more than 50%. 4. In normal rats direct injection of 6 hydroxydopamine directly in both locus coeruleus and nuclei subcoeruleus had no discernable effects either on the behaviour or on the states of sleep. The cortical noradrenaline content decreased 30% below control values. 5. These results are consistent with but do not prove the hypothesis that part of the pontine tegmentum might play an important role in triggering paradoxical sleep episodes. The role of these regions in the regulation of internal temperature, food consumption and bladder motricity is also discussed.     

Diagnostic Accuracy of Dermoscopy for Scabies

The diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy (DS) for scabies, a highly contagious parasitic disease, remains disputed. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DS in scabies, analyze the factors influencing DS, and explore its role in post-treatment evaluation. Patients with suspected scabies were randomly divided into 2 groups: 71 patients in the skin scraping (SS) group and 73 patients in the DS group. The diagnostic efficiencies of SS and DS in these groups were calculated. We also analyzed the influence of body part and investigator competence on the accuracy of DS. Then 16 body parts with typical signs of scabies were monitored by DS 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of DS were 98.3% and 88.5%, respectively. Hands, arms, and the abdomen had higher positivity rates than other body parts (P<0.001). The accuracy of dermatologists’ interpretations of images negative for scabies in the intermediate- and high-level groups was higher than that in the low-level group (P<0.001). At follow-up, the mites were still visible on 43.8% to 62.5% of the skin lesions 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. These results showed that DS could significantly increase the accuracy of diagnosing scabies owing to its high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it may be useful for monitoring clinical responses to anti-parasitic treatment.     

Effects of scalding and dehairing of pig carcasses at abattoirs on the visibility of welfare-related lesions

There is increasing interest in developing abattoir-based measures to assist in determining the welfare status of pigs. The primary aim of this study was to determine the most appropriate place on the slaughter line to conduct assessments of welfare-related lesions, namely apparent aggression-related skin lesions (hereafter referred to as ‘skin lesions’), loin bruising and apparent tail biting damage. The study also lent itself to an assessment of the prevalence of these lesions, and the extent to which they were linked with production variables. Finishing pigs processed at two abattoirs on the Island of Ireland (n=1950 in abattoir A, and n=1939 in abattoir B) were used. Data were collected over 6 days in each abattoir in July 2014. Lesion scoring took place at two points on the slaughter line: (1) at exsanguination (slaughter stage 1 (SS1)), and (2) following scalding and dehairing of carcasses (slaughter stage 2 (SS2)). At both points, each carcass was assigned a skin and tail lesion score ranging from 0 (lesion absent) to 3 or 4 (severe lesions), respectively. Loin bruising was recorded as present or absent. Differences in the percentage of pigs with observable lesions of each type were compared between SS1 and SS2 using McNemar/McNemar-Bowker tests. The associations between each lesion type, and both cold carcass weight and condemnations, were examined at batch level using Pearson’s correlations. Batch was defined as the group of animals with a particular farm identification code on a given day. The overall percentage of pigs with a visible skin lesion (i.e. score>0) decreased between SS1 and SS2 (P<0.001). However, the percentage of pigs with a severe skin lesion increased numerically from SS1 to SS2. The percentage of pigs with a visible tail lesion and with loin bruising also increased between SS1 and SS2 (P<0.001). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of carcasses that were partially condemned, and the percentage of pigs with skin lesions, tail lesions and loin bruising (P<0.05). In addition, as the batch-level frequency of each lesion type increased, average cold carcass weight decreased (P<0.001). These findings suggest that severe skin lesions, tail lesions and loin bruising are more visible on pig carcasses after they have been scalded and dehaired, and that this is when abattoir-based lesion scoring should take place. The high prevalence of all three lesion types, and the links with economically important production parameters, suggests that more research into identifying key risk factors is warranted.     

Postnatal dynamics of the heparin-binding activity of rat cerebellar cells

The heparin-binding activity was measured in different extracts from the cerebellum within an initial period of the postnatal development (the 1st–30th postnatal days) of rats, aiming at investigating molecular organization of the intercellular matrix. According to the results of the hard-phase carbohydrate-enzyme analysis, the highest heparin-binding activity is typical of the extracellular (urea) fraction of cerebellar proteins of newborn rats. The level of the activity markedly dropped by the 15th day of postnatal development of the rats and remained constant in older animals. The data obtained confirm the hypothesis on the regulatory role of heparin at early stages of the nerve cell morphogenesis.     

Effect of stabilization on biomass activity

The study aimed to compare aerobic and aerobic/anoxic stabilization processes in terms of organic matter and the biomass removal efficiencies using a municipal sludge sample. The efficiency of stabilization process was assessed monitoring suspended solids (SS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), total and dissolved organic carbon (TOC, DOC), nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate parameters. The oxygen uptake rate (OUR) measurements were conducted to determine active biomass concentration. On the 30th day of the aerobic stabilization, the SS, VSS and TOC removal efficiencies were 22%, 28% and 55%, respectively. Under aerobic/anoxic conditions, removal efficiencies for SS, VSS and TOC were 25%, 27% and 67%. On the 17th day of the stabilization, SS and VSS removal rates were 60 mg SS/L day and 47 mg VSS/L day for aerobic and 102 mg SS/L day and 63 mg VSS/L day for aerobic/anoxic conditions, respectively. These findings reflected the higher stabilization performance of the aerobic/anoxic conditions. Based on respirometric results, the ratios of the active biomass were decreased to 30% and 24% for the 17th and 30th day of the aerobic stabilization, respectively. Such results have significant implications relative to the activity decrease quantification of the biomass as well as its further application potentials after aerobic or aerobic/anoxic sludge stabilization.     

Regional distribution of cerebral blood flow during exercise in dogs

This study was performed to determine whether exercise produces vasodilatation in regions of the brain that are associated with motor functions despite the associated vasoconstrictor effect of hypocapnia. Total and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) were measured with microspheres in dogs during treadmill exercise of moderate intensity. Flow was also measured at rest after stimulation of ventilation with doxapram. During moderate exercise, total CBF was not changed significantly, but regional flow was increased in structures associated with motor-sensory control; blood flow to motor-sensory cortex, neocerebellar and paleocerebellar cortex, and spinal cord increased 30 +/- 7%, 39 +/- 8%, and 29 +/- 4%, respectively (P less than 0.05). After doxapram, which increased arterial blood pressure and decreased arterial PCO2 to levels similar to those during exercise, total CBF decreased and there was no redistribution of CBF. These results indicate that exercise in conscious dogs increases blood flow in regions of the brain associated with movement despite the associated vasoconstrictor stimulus of arterial hypocapnia. Thus, during exercise, local dilator influences that presumably result from increases in metabolism predominate over a potent constrictor stimulus in regulation of cerebral vascular resistance.     

The effect of acute stretching on agility performance

Static stretching (SS) has shown decreases in many areas including strength, anaerobic power, and sprinting time. Dynamic stretching (DS) has shown increases in anaerobic power and decreases in sprinting time. Research on the effects of stretching on agility performance is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of SS and DS on performance time of a sport agility test. Sixty male subjects consisting of collegiate (n = 18) and recreational (n = 42) basketball athletes volunteered for the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 intervention groups: SS, DS, or no stretching (NS). All groups completed a 10-minute warm-up jog followed by a 3-minute rest. The SS and DS groups then completed an 8.5-minute stretching intervention. Next, all subjects completed 3 trials of the 505 agility test with 2-5 minutes of rest between trials. A 2-way repeated-measure analysis of variance (Stretch group, athlete category, group × athlete interaction) was used to determine statistical significance (p < 0.05). A Tukey post hoc test was performed to determine differences between groups. For all athletes, the DS group produced significantly faster times on the agility test (2.22 ± 0.12 seconds, mean ± SD) in comparison to both the SS group (2.33 ± 0.15 seconds, p = 0.013) and NS group (2.32 ± 0.12 seconds, p = 0.026). Differences between the SS and NS groups revealed no significance (p = 0.962). There was a significant difference in mean times for the type of athlete (p = 0.002); however, interaction between the type of athlete and stretching group was not significant (p = 0.520). These results indicate that in comparison to SS or NS, DS significantly improves performance on closed agility skills involving a 180° change of direction.     

Alternative to traditional stretching methods for flexibility enhancement in well-trained combat athletes: local vibration versus whole-body vibration

This study aimed to compare the effect of local vibration (LV) and whole body vibration (WBV) on lower body flexibility and to assess whether vibration treatments were more effective than traditionally used static and dynamic stretching methods. Twenty-four well-trained male combat athletes (age: 22.7 ± 3.3 years) performed four exercise protocols – LV (30 Hz, 4 mm), WBV (30 Hz, 4 mm), static stretching (SS), and dynamic stretching (DS) – in four sessions of equal duration 48 hours apart in a randomized, balanced order. During a 15-minute recovery after each protocol, subjects performed the stand and reach test (S&R) at the 15th second and the 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th, 8^th, 10^th and 15^th minute. There was a similar change pattern in S&R scores across the 15-minute recovery after each protocol (p = 0.572), remaining significantly elevated throughout the recovery. A significant main protocol effect was found for absolute change in S&R scores relative to baseline (p = 0.015). These changes were statistically greater in LV than WBV and DS. Changes in SS were not significantly different from LV, but were consistently lower than LV with almost moderate effect sizes. After LV, a greater percentage of subjects increased flexibility above the minimum detectable change compared to other protocols. Subjects with high flexibility (n = 12) benefited more from LV compared with other methods (effect size ≥ 0.862). In conclusion, LV was an effective alternative exercise modality to acutely increase lower extremity flexibility for well-trained athletes compared with WBV and traditional stretching exercises.     

Estimates on the Duration of Sleep and Wakefulness Made in Isolation

Fifteen subjects who lived singly in an isolation unit without temporal cues were asked to note every day after awakening how many hours they thought they had slept, and in the evening before retiring how many hours they had been awake. These estimates of the duration of sleep and wakefulness were compared with the intervals between two signals given by the subjects by pressing a button at the time of waking up and when turning off their bedside reading lamp. The results can be summarized as follows: (a) the daily estimated durations of sleep and wakefulness were positively correlated with the actual durations in all but one subject; (b) sleep and wake times were better estimated in the presence of a light-dark cycle even if the subjects were not entrained by the zeitgeber; (c) for both episodes, there was a consistent trend from an overestimation of relatively short to an underestimation of long durations; (d) with equal durations in the two episodes, sleep was estimated to be shorter than wake time; (e) the most accurate estimates centered around 10.5 h of sleep and 13.5 h of wake time; (f) the sleep and wake times added up to 24 h in subjects who did not deliberately “compensate” for relatively long sleep estimates with a short wake estimate, with the full cycle being adjusted to 24 h.     

小脑-下丘脑投射在小脑顶核调节淋巴细胞数量与功能中的介导作用

目的:探讨小脑顶核对淋巴细胞功能的调节作用及其作用途径。方法:用海人酸(KA)损毁大鼠双侧小脑顶核,术后第8d用血细胞计数法和酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)分别检测动物外周血中淋巴细胞数和血清中抗绵羊红细胞(SRBC)特异性IgM抗体水平。用电损毁小脑上脚交叉中顶核投射至下丘脑的神经纤维,检测动物淋巴细胞数和抗SRBC特异性IgM抗体水平的变化。结果:KA注入双侧小脑顶核后第8d,在Nissl染色的小脑切片,呈现双侧顶核内神经元胞体破坏。作为对照,在生理盐水注入顶核的动物脑片上,可见正常的Nissl小体。小脑顶核损毁后第8d,动物外周血中淋巴细胞数占白细胞总数的百分比以及血清中抗SRBC特异性IgM抗体水平均明显高于顶核注射生理盐水的对照动物。电损毁小脑上脚交叉处顶核投射至下丘脑的神经纤维后第8d,外周血中淋巴细胞的百分比及抗SRBC特异性IgM抗体水平均明显高于假损毁小脑上脚交叉的对照动物。结论:小脑顶核的神经元胞体损毁导致淋巴细胞功能增强,小脑顶核投射至下丘脑的神经纤维损毁同样引起淋巴细胞功能增强,这些结果提示小脑顶核至下丘脑的神经投射参与介导小脑顶核对淋巴细胞功能的调节作用。     

Development of the cerebellar glomeruli in the ontogeny of hens

By means of light and electron microscopy development of the cerebellar glomeruli has been studied in the hen ontogenesis. Two successive stages have been revealed: protoglomerular (the 16th-18th days of incubation) and glomerular (the 19th day of incubation--the end of the 3d week after hatching). Specific peculiarities of their structural organization are presented. A suggestion is made on an inductive effect of the afferent mossy fibers on processes of morphological formation of the cerebellar glomeruli.     

Morphological changes in the frog cerebellar cortex after unilateral section of the statoacustic nerve

To investigate a possible role of the cerebellum in vestibular compensation that follows a lesion to the vestibular apparatus, the morphological changes of the cerebellar cortex of adult frogs following unilateral statoacustic nerve section was analyzed by means of electron microscopy starting from 3 days after the neurectomy for up to 6 months. On the ipsilateral side, massive abnormality was found in all layers at early postsurgical intervals. This involved both nerve fibers and cell bodies. Fibers often appeared condensed or vacuolated with poorly compacted myelin sheath. Cells had electronlucent and vacuolated cytoplasm to varying extent. Alterations became less conspicuous after 30 days and after 60 days altered nerve cells were no longer present. On the contralateral side, only a few Purkinje and granule cells were affected at early postsurgical stages. This may derive from the fact that, in the frog, some of the vestibular primary afferents reach contralateral cerebellar cortex. At 30 days, alterations had substantially progressed, and at 60 days they involved all the cortical layers. Fiber debris was present in the granular and molecular layers and numerous Purkinje cells were electrondense and shrunken. This lateness in alteration may be a consequence of the prolonged silence of the vestibular nucleus contralateral to the lesion. At 4 and 6 months the tissue architecture was normal.     

Intravaginal PGE2 in early abortion

Intravaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was administered to 10 women in early (less than 50 days) pregnancy. Complete abortion was affected in 8, an incomplete abortion in 1, and 1 was a failure. Significant systemic side effects were noted in all subjects. Urinary hcG excretion rates prior to and on the 2nd and 14th day after PGE2 showed a decrease in all successfully aborted subjects and an initial decrease but a subsequent rise in the failure subject. Plasma concentrations of progesterone and estradiol-17 Beta showed no significant alterations during the early (less than 2 hours) administration of PGE2 but decreased significantly in all subjects just prior to expulsion, and at intervals thereafter. Estradiol-17Beta and progesterone alterations appeared to parallel each other indicating a common source, the corpus luteum. The mechanism by which PGE2 may effect early abortion is discussed.