Effect of tracheosyringeal denervation on call in greenfinch ( Carduelis sinica)

After sections of left or right tracheosyringeal nerve (NXⅡts), greenfinches may repeat everyday calls, with no effect on temporal properties. It is suggested that either side of syrinx may produce sound alone and ipsilateral innervation of NXⅡts for the syringeal muscles. After section of left NXIIts, the bird produces the vocal pattern of partial tone increase, and effects on the sound intensity and sentence length average 1.4 and 2.8 times those after section of right NXIIts, suggesting that the innervation of NXIIts has left side dominance. After bilateral section of NXIIts, the call rhythm in company with expiratory motions is 98-146 times/min,on an average, and lose all sentence types and syllable structure of normal call. But the call spectra produced by tympaniform membrane vibrations without innervation still reserve frequency components similar to the tonic frequency and harmonics of normal calls.     

Right-side dominance for song control in the zebra finch

Adult male zebra finches underwent unilateral denervation of the syrinx or unilateral lesion of the forebrain nucleus HVC known to be important for song control. Disruptive effects of song were greater after right-side than after left-side operations. After denervation of the right half of the syrinx, the fundamental frequencies of all syllables within a song converged on a value near 500 Hz, and nearly all syllables were altered in type. In contrast, the syllables produced after denervation of the left side of the syrinx largely maintained their preoperative frequencies, and fewer syllables changed in type. Unlike nerve sections, HVC lesions did not result in strikingly lateralized effects on syllable phonology; however, HVC lesions did affect the temporal patterning of a bird's song, whereas nerve sections did not, and changes in temporal patterning were more marked after right than after left HVC lesions. Right-side dominance for zebra finch song control is the reverse of that described in other songbird species with lateral asymmetry for vocal communication. We suggest that the need for a dominant side is more important than the side of dominance. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

实验条件下社鼠个体相遇时的叫声特征

在实验室条件下对捕自杭州市郊的11只社鼠(3♂,8♀)个体相遇时的叫声与行为进行观察和记录,其结果表明,社鼠不同个体相遇后存在4种叫声,即雄性个体相遇打斗时败者的叫声、雌性个体相遇打斗时败者的叫声、异性成体相遇时雌体的叫声和成幼体相遇时幼体的叫声。进一步比较分析显示,各种叫声的主要声学参数之间大多存在着极显著差异。同性个体打斗后,败者的叫声和幼体见到成体时的叫声均呈现为多谐变音的频谱结构,这可能是对强者的惧怕叫声;而异性个体相遇时,雌体的叫声呈现为多谐恒频的频谱结构,这可能是对雄体的拒斥叫声。     

神经生长因子通过抑制内质网应激促进外周神经损伤后髓鞘碎片的清除

神经生长因子 (never growth factor,NGF）可促进损伤外周神经的修复并加速轴突和髓鞘的再生,但对外周神经损伤前期作用的研究报道较少。本研究主要探究在损伤外周神经前期,NGF能否加速施旺细胞 (Schwann cells, SCs) 对髓鞘碎片的清除及其调控机制。将坐骨神经损伤的Wistar雄性大鼠连续5 d给予NGF治疗,并运用分子生物学检测手段分析损伤坐骨神经内部髓鞘碎片的清除,细胞的凋亡及内质网应激 (endoplasmic reticulum stress, ERS) 的表达和变化。免疫荧光分析结果显示,与模型组相比,NGF给药组显著加速髓鞘碎片的清除,并促进SCs的增殖 (46.33 ± 5.68 vs. 66.69 ± 8.76, P＜ 0.05 for MPZ; 47.58 ± 4.52 vs. 37.69 ± 2.50, P＜ 0.01 for GFAP)。TUNEL免疫组化证实,NGF可有效抑制SCs的凋亡(25 ± 4 vs. 37 ± 6, P＜ 0.05),Western印迹结果显示,模型组坐骨神经内部内质网应激水平被过度激活,给予NGF治疗后,相关蛋白质表达被逆转 (1.03 ± 0.03 vs. 1.24 ± 0.07, P＜ 0.01 for PDI; 1.16 ± 0.16 vs. 1.48 ± 0.10, P＜ 0.05 for GRP-78; 1.33 ± 0.11 vs. 1.76 ± 0.17, P＜ 0.01 for Caspase-12; 1.01 ± 0.05 vs. 1.39 ± 0.16, P＜ 0.01 for CHOP)。上述结果证实,NGF可通过抑制内质网应激减少神经组织内细胞的凋亡,并加速髓鞘碎片的清除,促进外周神经损伤的修复。     

菲菊头蝠回声定位声波频率的性二态有利于性别识别

许多动物的叫声频率呈现性二态现象。蝙蝠夜间活动,主要利用声音信号导航空间、追踪猎物、传递交流信息。本研究选择成体菲菊头蝠作为研究对象,检验回声定位声波频率性二态是否有利于性别识别。研究发现,菲菊头蝠回声定位声波频率参数具有显著性别差异。播放白噪音、雄性回声定位声波及雌性回声定位声波期间,实验个体的反应叫声数量依次递减。播放白噪音、雌性回声定位声波及雄性回声定位声波后,实验个体的反应叫声数量依次递增。白噪音诱导反应叫声强度高于回声定位声波诱导反应叫声强度。研究结果表明,菲菊头蝠回声定位声波的频率参数编码发声者性别信息,有利于种群内部的性别识别。本研究暗示,回声定位声波可能在蝙蝠配偶选择中扮演一定作用。     

杭州鹊鸲的声行为

1996年8月至2002年7月,在杭州对鹊鸲的声行为进行了观察和记录,并以鸣声回放验证某些鸣声的功能。对求偶鸣唱、领域鸣唱、抗议鸣叫、嬉闹鸣叫、联络呼唤声和惊叫声等6种鸣声进行了分析,各具不同的声学特征。该鸟的鸣声结构非常复杂,由一系列不同类型的短语所组成,每个短语又有3～10个音素所构成。并将杭州与印度哈里瓦地区鹊鸲的领域鸣唱进行了比较,两地鹊鸲的鸣声特征很不相同。     

嗅鞘细胞复合PLGA导管修复周围神经缺损的研究

探讨嗅鞘细胞(OECs)复合聚乳酸-聚羟基乙酸共聚物(PLGA)导管对大鼠坐骨神经缺损的修复作用。方法:SD大鼠80只,随机分成4组,切除右侧部分神经干造成10mm的神经缺损。OECs PLGA组用充满细胞外基质凝胶和OECs悬液(CM-DiI预标记)的PLGA导管桥接坐骨神经缺损;OECs 硅胶管组用含相同内容物的硅胶管桥接;PLGA组和硅胶管组则分别用充满细胞外基质凝胶和DMEM/F12培养基的PLGA导管和硅胶管桥接。术后每周进行感觉运动功能检测,8周时行腓肠肌湿重恢复率、乙酰胆碱脂酶(AChE)染色、电生理和组织形态学分析等检测,同时移植细胞的两组每周进行细胞示踪观察。结果:移植细胞沿神经纵轴分布;除坐骨神经功能指数(SFI)指标外,OECs PLGA组的各项再生功能指标均优于其它三组。结论:OECs复合PLGA导管能够促进再生神经的成熟和靶组织功能的恢复,二者联合移植是一种有效的周围神经缺损修复方法。     

Ventricular injection of nerve growth factor increases dopamine content in the striata of MPTP-treated mice

Experimental depletion of dopaminergic striatal neurons was induced in mice with the neurotoxin MPTP. To investigate a possible effect of nerve growth factor on the damaged neurons, we injected 4 g into the right cerebral ventricle of mice three days after the last administration of MPTP. We found a significant increase of dopamine and homovanillic acid in the striatum of MPTP treated mice after NGF administration when compared with dopamine and HVA levels in MPTP-treated control mice (p<0.001). The increase of dopamine and homovanillic acid seems to be related to a partial restorative effect of NGF on the damaged dopaminergic cells, since ventricular administration of NGF to normal mice did not increase dopamine or homovanillic acid contents above the levels measured in untreated controls. It appears that administration of nerve growth factor prcduces a beneficial effect on damaged dopaminergic neurons; this effect could be due to stimulation of neuron sprouting from neurons that survived the toxic effect of MPTP. The increase of dopamine levels was seen 8 days after injection of nerve growth factor and was maintained at least until day 25, showing a lasting persistence of the restorative effect.     

PLGA/ECM神经支架性质的体外评价

以赖氨酸、神经生长因子(NGF)、聚乳酸聚羟基乙酸共聚物(PLGA)、猪皮来源的细胞外基质(ECM)为原料制备了一种复合材料;考察其内部三维结构,生物力学性质,降解特性,雪旺氏细胞黏附状况,以及其对NGF的可控释放作用;从而评价其作为促周围神经损伤修复支架的可行性。扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察显示,PLGA渗透入去细胞猪皮内部固有的蜂窝状孔隙中,并覆盖在孔隙内表面;孔隙率为68.3%～81.2%,密度为0.62～0.68 g/cm3。复合材料的断裂强度为8.308 MPa,断裂伸长率为38.98%,弹性模量为97.27 MPa;在4周的体外降解测试中,其最大失重率为43.3%;赖氨酸在复合材料中的添加对降解液pH的相对稳定具有显著作用;在30 d中,复合材料对NGF的累积释放率为38%;通过雪旺氏细胞与复合材料的共培养,发现雪旺氏细胞能够在其表面及孔隙中黏附。因此表明本复合材料有望成为一种新型的促周围神经损伤修复支架。     

澳门翼手类物种多样性调查

2009 ～2012 年,对澳门翼手目(蝙蝠)物种多样性进行了调查。结果共捕捉到10 个物种,属5 科8 属,其中包括澳门原来记载的2 个物种,即蹄蝠科的大蹄蝠(Hipposideros armiger)和蝙蝠科的东亚伏翼(Pipistrellus abramus);本研究新增加8 个物种,即狐蝠科的犬蝠(Cynopterus sphinx) 和棕果蝠(Rousettus leschenaulti),鞘尾蝠科的黑髯墓蝠(Taphozous melanopogon),菊头蝠科的菲菊头蝠(Rhinolophus pusillus),以及蝙蝠科的大足鼠耳蝠(Myotis ricketti)、普通伏翼(P. pipistrellus)、普通长翼蝠(Miniopterus schreibersi) 和南长翼蝠(M. pusillus)。另外,通过野外录音和分析,并与已发表物种声音特征比较核对,发现菊头蝠科和蹄蝠科各一种,前者可能是泰国菊头蝠(R. siamensis)或者中菊头蝠(R. affinis),后者可能是果树蹄蝠(H. pomona) 或者三叶蹄蝠(Aselliscus stoliczkanus)。本文对已捕捉10 种蝙蝠的分布、形态特征和回声定位叫声特征进行报道,同时对其种群数量和保护现状进行了讨论。保护蝙蝠栖息生境(洞穴、古老建筑和蒲葵树等) 对保护澳门蝙蝠物种多样性至关重要。     

New techniques in female pudendal somatosensory evoked potential testing

Objective—The primary nerves innervating the female genitalia are the dorsal nerve of the clitoris (DNC) and the perineal nerve, which innervate the clitoris and the external genitalia/distal vagina, respectively. We describe two novel electrodiagnostic techniques for evaluating the integrity of these female genital somatosensory pathways.

Subjects and methods—Seventy-seven healthy women (mean age 29.3 years) were enrolled for this study. We performed DNC somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), stimulating through self-adhesive disk electrodes on either side of the clitoris. Perineal nerve SEPs were evoked through a vaginal probe. Cortical responses were measured through cup electrodes affixed to the scalp at Cpz and Fpz. Stimulus parameters were duration 0.1?ms, frequency 4.1?Hz, filters 5–5,000?Hz, at three times sensory threshold.

Results—DNC and perineal nerve SEPs from both the right and left sides were reproducible and easily discerned. The mean P1 latencies were: right DNC 39.4?ms (SD 2.8?ms), left DNC 39.3?ms (SD 3.3?ms), right perineal nerve 37.8?ms (SD 3.4?ms), left perineal nerve 37.6?ms (SD 3.1?ms). We recorded SEP responses from 90 to 92% of subjects for the DNC, and 69% for the perineal nerve.

Conclusions—We are able to evoke somatosensory potentials from the four primary somatic nerves that mediate female genital cutaneous sensation. In healthy subjects, the DNC responses are robust and maintain laterality. The perineal nerve responses are less consistently obtained, but when recorded, are easily discerned. These preliminary data provide a foundation from which to study female genital innervation, particularly as it applies to sexual function.     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对家兔心率变异的影响

目的:研究血管紧张Ⅱ(AngⅡ)对家兔心率变异(HRV)影响的机制。方法:分别给家兔静脉输注生理盐水,AngⅡ,溴化六烃季胺(HEXB),HEXB+AngⅡ检测安静状态下连续5 min的心电图并进行HRV的时域和频域分析。结果:血管紧张素Ⅱ组的时域指标SDNN和RMSSD较对照组明显降低,频域指标低频(LF)升高,而高频(HF)和总功率(TP)明显降低;HEXB+AngⅡ组与HEXB组相比无明显区别。结论:交感神经阻断剂HEXB不能影响AngⅡ的作用,AngⅡ主要通过抑制中枢自主神经的传出,降低迷走神经张力来降低HRV。     

The regenerative effects of electromagnetic field on spinal cord injury

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is typically the result of direct mechanical impact to the spine, leading to fracture and/or dislocation of the vertebrae along with damage to the surrounding soft tissues. Injury to the spinal cord results in disruption of axonal transmission of signals. This primary trauma causes secondary injuries that produce immunological responses such as neuroinflammation, which perpetuates neurodegeneration and cytotoxicity within the injured spinal cord. To date there is no FDA-approved pharmacological agent to prevent the development of secondary SCI and induce regenerative processes aimed at healing the spinal cord and restoring neurological function. An alternative method to electrically activate spinal circuits is the application of a noninvasive electromagnetic field (EMF) over intact vertebrae. The EMF method of modulating molecular signaling of inflammatory cells emitted in the extra-low frequency range of <100 Hz, and field strengths of <5 mT, has been reported to decrease inflammatory markers in macrophages, and increase endogenous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and differentiation rates. EMF has been reported to promote osteogenesis by improving the effects of osteogenic media, and increasing the proliferation of osteoblasts, while inhibiting osteoclast formation and increasing bone matrix in vitro. EMF has also been shown to increase chondrogenic markers and collagen and induce neural differentiation, while increasing cell viability by over 50%. As advances are made in stem cell technologies, stabilizing the cell line after differentiation is crucial to SCI repair. Once cell-seeded scaffolds are implanted, EMF may be applied outside the wound for potential continued adjunct treatment during recovery.     

Interleukin-1 induces sleep-like behavior and alters call structure in juvenile rhesus macaques

To date, there have been no investigations of the behavioral effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in nonhuman primates. In this study the locomotor behavior and vocalizations of juvenile rhesus monkeys were monitored for 45 minutes following intravenous injections of recombinant human IL-1 alpha. In addition, their reaction to a broadcasted recording of infant monkey distress calls was determined 20 minutes after the beginning of each test session. IL-1 induced sleep-like inactivity and significantly diminished the monkey's behavioral and vocal responses to the broadcasted calls. The coo calls uttered by the monkeys following IL-1 treatment also had a longer duration and lower fundamental frequency than calls during the control condition. As several studies have indicated that behavioral effects of IL-1 may be mediated by corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a second group of rhesus monkeys was given injections of CRH. CRH did not alter behavior or call structure at the dose administered. These results extend previous research on the behavioral effects of IL-1 to include the nonhuman primate and provide the first evidence that cytokines can affect vocal communication in rhesus monkeys. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synapses of optic nerve afferents in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus

Summary The identification of optic synapses in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (Güldner, 1978) has made it possible to study them morphometrically. The measurements followed the check-list introduced by Palay and Chan-Palay (1976). There are several items which could usefully be added to this list. The structure of essential synaptic components varies considerably in what is apparently one synaptic population based on morphological criteria. The possible reasons for the variable sizes of the optic boutons containing different amounts of clear and dense core vesicles are discussed in terms of different activities or metabolic states of the individual boutons and/or different metabolic states of neuronal and glial elements in their vicinity. The active zones of optic synapses are also extremely variable. One optic bouton can form several active zones of very different sizes, or form Gray-type-I (asymmetric), Gray-type-II (symmetric) and intermediate contacts at the same time. The function and/or functional efficiency of a single optic bouton therefore could then be quite different with respect to its various postsynaptic elements. The different appearance of the active zones is discussed mainly in terms of possible regulative influences from neighboring synapses via the postsynaptic neuron.The author wishes to thank Mrs. Bassirat Pirouzmandi for her excellent technical assistance