The effect of general anesthesia on memory in experimental animals

Full recovery of short-term memory (maximum time of delayed reactions) and of the structure of situational conditioned reflex and differentiation inhibition in dogs is observed in 1.5-2.5 h after tranquil-anaesthesia (diazepam-ketamine in doses of 0.3-15 mg/kg correspondingly) and dissociative anaesthesia by ketamine (15 mg/kg) in 6-8 h after neuroleptanalgesia (droperidol-fentanyl 2.5-0.05 mg/kg correspondingly), 20-24 h after narcosis by thiopental sodium (30 mg/kg) and by the end of the 3d day after neuroleptanaesthesia (droperidol-ketamine 2.5-15 mg/kg correspondingly). The recovery of the reaction of memory trace reproduction (of conditioned reaction of passive avoidance in rats) after various types of general anaesthesia is observed mainly in the same sequence, but on the average a day later than the short-term memory in dogs.     

Conditioned reflex reproduction of evoked potentials during reinforcement by electrostimulation of the hypothalamus]

Conditioned evoked potentials to stimulation of a limb, a light flash or a short tone were studied on rats in acute experiments with nembutal anaesthesia and in chronic experiments. Electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus was used as reinforcement. Following the pairings of conditioned and hypothalamic stimulation, the appearance of conditioned EP was recorded, as manifest in the period of the previously applied unconditioned signal after its omission. Their emergence was facilitated after high-frequency stimulation of the hypothalamus or administration of galantamine, an anticholinesteraze drug. Coagulation of the hypothalamus did not prevent any manifestation of conditioned evoked potentials.     

Action of cortical extracts of the left and right hemispheres on the recovery of conditioned reflex activity in rats after unilateral removal of the frontal cortex

The recovery of active avoidance conditioned reflex (AACR) was investigated after unilateral frontal cortex extirpation. Intraperitoneal injection of extracts from left or right brain cortex (1 mg/kg) of healthy rats (LE or RE) stimulated AACR recovery in animals with lobectomy on the same side. If RE was extracted 9 days after left side brain extirpation, i.e. during the period of the development of compensatory processes, its effect on AACR recovery was stronger in left-operated animals, while in right-operated animals it remained unchanged.     

Effect of streptomycin sulfate on the process of higher nervous activity recovery in dogs in the postanesthesia period]

The effect of streptomycin on recovery of the higher nervous activity during the postanesthesia period was studied on 3 dogs with the method of the conditioned reflexes. It was found that streptomycin sulphate administered in a dose of 25 mg per 1 kg body weight induced no changes in the conditioned reflexes of the non-anesthetized animals. After ether anesthesia disorders in the conditioned and unconditioned reflexes, as well as differentiation was observed during the postanesthesia period. On an average they normalized in 7, 6 and 2 days respectively from the moment of anesthesia. When streptomycin sulphate was used during the post anesthesia period, both the strength and the character of the disorders in the conditioned reflexes changed. In this case recovery of the conditioned and unconditioned reflexes was registered in 2 days, while that of the differential inhibition was registered in 3--7 days from the moment of anesthesia.     

Carbon dioxide anaesthesia in rainbow trout: effects of hypercapnic level and stress on induction and recovery from anaesthetic treatment

The physiological and anaesthetic effects of three different levels of air-saturated and buffered CO₂ anaesthesia, P _w co ₂=31, 78, or 125 mmHg, were examined in cannulated rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss . Complete anaesthesia (no opercular movements) was not achieved by these hypercapnic levels after 20 min of CO₂ exposure. Although increasing P _w co ₂ reduced the induction times to the early stages of anaesthesia, it also resulted in increasing hyperventilatory, hypoxaemic, and acid-base disturbances. After a 10-min recovery period, while the respiratory acidosis component of the acid-base disturbance was corrected, there was a significant metabolic acidosis. Recovery time was longest in the high P_w co₂ treatment where 33% of the fish died. Two additional groups ( P _w co ₂=37 and 78 mmHg) were exposed to an acute stress prior to the anaesthetic treatment. Stress reduced the hypoventilatory effects of the low P _w co₂ treatment, increased the recruitment of anaerobic metabolism, and prolonged recovery time. Although the increase in plasma catecholamines elicited by the stress was small relative to the response obtained with the anaesthetic, stress prior to CO₂ anaesthesia impaired the efficiency of the treatment. Overall, our results suggest that P _w co₂ levels above 37 mmHg and/or stress prior to the anaesthesia impair the efficiency of air-saturated and buffered CO₂ anaesthesia by exacerbating the hypoxaemic effects of the hypercapnic treatment.     

Pretreatment of rats with pulsed electromagnetic fields enhances regeneration of the sciatic nerve

Regeneration of the sciatic nerve was studied in rats pretreated in a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). The rats were exposed between a pair of Helmholtz coils at a pulse repetition rate of 2 pps at a field density of 60 or 300 μT. The PEMF treatment was then discontinued. After an interval of recovery, regeneration of the sciatic nerve was initiated by a crush lesion. Regeneration of sensory fibers was measured by the “pinch test” after an additional 3–6 days. A variety of PEMF pretreatments including 4 h /day for 1–4 days or exposure for 15 min/day during 2 days resulted in an increased regeneration distance, measured 3 days after the crush lesion. This effect could be demonstrated even after a 14-day recovery period. In contrast, pretreatment for 4 h/day for 2 days at 60 μT did not affect the regeneration distance. The results showed that PEMF pretreatment conditioned the rat sciatic nerve in a manner similar to that which occurs after a crush lesion, which indicates that PEMF affects the neuronal cell body. However, the mechanism of this effect remains obscure. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Electrophysiologic and behavioral changes in cats following section of the brachia of the inferior colliculi]

Evoked potentials to acoustic stimuli were recorded in the temporal cortical area, the medial geniculate body and the posterior lateral thalamic nucleus in acute experiments on anaesthetized cats. Section of the brachia of the inferior colliculi in an acute experiment resulted in the disappearance of potentials in the examined structures. A distinct correlation has been revealed between the recovery of evoked potentials in the cortico-thalamic auditory structures (in four to six weeks) and the possible elaboration of conditioned reactions within this time period after lesion of the inferior colliculi brachia. The involvement of the temporal area in the general brain activity appears to be one of the major conditions for the formation of new conditioned connections. Possible ways of restoration of afferent input to the temporal cortical area after lesion of the inferior colliculi brachia are discussed.     

电休克对海马 CA_3区习得性长时程突触增强的影响

每天训练作业结束后对动物进行一次电休克处理,较多的动物(4/6)虽用了比对照组约多一倍的训练次数,但仍未能产生长时程突触增强(LTP),相应地条件反应也未能建立;部分动物(2/6)的突触效应不受影响,能产生LTP,并相应地条件反应亦能建立,且 LTP 发展超前于条件性行为的发展。在条件反应巩固后给大鼠一次电休克,可使它的海马 CA_3区的习得性 LIP—时性地下降,条件反应率也相应地下降。经1—4h,LTP 完全恢复,条件反应率也相应地恢复到电休克前的水平。表明习得性 LTP 受影响,可使条件性行为随之相应改变。它为论证习得性 LTP 可能是记忆的神经基础之一提供了进一步的证据。     

Bovine pancreatic secretion in the first week of life: potential involvement of intestinal CCK receptors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate pancreatic juice secretion of calves in the first postnatal days, and determine a potential involvement of cholecystokinin (CCK) and intestinal CCK receptor in its regulation. Nine neonatal Friesian calves (five controls and four treated intraduodenally with FK480, a CCK-A receptor antagonist) were surgically fitted with a pancreatic duct catheter and a duodenal cannula before the first colostrum feeding. Collections of pancreatic juice and duodenal luminal pressure recordings were started early after recovery from anaesthesia and continued for 6 days. From day 2 or 3 of life, periodic fluctuations in pancreatic secretions were observed in concert with duodenal myoelectric motor complex (MMC) and variations in plasma pancreatic polypeptide (PP) concentrations. Intraduodenal administration of FK480 reduced pancreatic juice secretion while intravenous infusion of CCK had no effect. Immunocytochemistry indicated an association of mucosal CCK-A and -B receptors with neural components of the small intestine. In conclusion, periodic activity of the exocrine pancreas exists in neonatal calves soon after birth and local neural intestinal CCK-A receptors could be partly responsible for the modulation of neonatal calf pancreatic secretion.     

Profile of recovery after general anaesthesia.

The duration of impairment of mental functioning after anaesthesia was studied in 55 patients undergoing hernia repair who were divided into three groups in which the method of induction of anaesthesia (intravenous or inhalational) and ventilation (spontaneous or controlled) was varied. Performance in a five minute serial reaction time test and subjective estimates of coordination were assessed four times a day for two complete postoperative days and were compared with those in a control group of orthopaedic patients in hospital. After considerable impairment initially, reaction times in all groups gradually returned towards control values, but in patients breathing spontaneously during anaesthesia impairment recurred during the second postoperative day. These results suggest that such patients should be advised not to undertake hazardous tasks such as driving a car for at least 48 hours after a general anaesthetic. Discrepancies between subjective and objective assessments of impairment also suggest that patients should not rely on their own assessments of fitness to drive.     

Processing and transport of environmental virus samples

Poliovirus-seeded tap water, conditioned with MgCl2 and passed through virus-adsorbing filters, gave better poliovirus recovery than water identically treated but conditioned with AlCl3. Elution of several filter types with beef extract yielded higher recoveries than did elution with glycine. Seeded samples filtered through various filters and stored showed considerable virus loss in 2 days when stored at 4 degrees C, whereas those stored at -70 degrees C gave stable virus recovery up to 4 days. Additionally, the use of antifoam during the elution process reduced foaming and increased virus recovery by 28%.     

Processing and transport of environmental virus samples.

Poliovirus-seeded tap water, conditioned with MgCl2 and passed through virus-adsorbing filters, gave better poliovirus recovery than water identically treated but conditioned with AlCl3. Elution of several filter types with beef extract yielded higher recoveries than did elution with glycine. Seeded samples filtered through various filters and stored showed considerable virus loss in 2 days when stored at 4 degrees C, whereas those stored at -70 degrees C gave stable virus recovery up to 4 days. Additionally, the use of antifoam during the elution process reduced foaming and increased virus recovery by 28%.     

Seasonal response of nutrients to reduced phosphorus loading in 12 Danish lakes

1. Concentrations of phosphorus, nitrogen and silica and alkalinity were monitored in eight shallow and four deep Danish lakes for 13 years following a phosphorus loading reduction. The aim was to elucidate the seasonal changes in nutrient concentrations during recovery. Samples were taken biweekly during summer and monthly during winter. 2. Overall, the most substantive changes in lake water concentrations were seen in the early phase of recovery. However, phosphorus continued to decline during summer as long as 10 years after the loading reduction, indicating a significant, albeit slow, decline in internal loading. 3. Shallow and deep lakes responded differently to reduced loading. In shallow lakes the internal phosphorus release declined significantly in spring, early summer and autumn, and only non‐significantly so in July and August. In contrast, in deep lakes the largest reduction occurred from May to August. This difference may reflect the much stronger benthic pelagic‐coupling and the lack of stratification in shallow lakes. 4. Nitrogen only showed minor changes during the recovery period, while alkalinity increased in late summer, probably conditioned by the reduced primary production, as also indicated by the lower pH. Silica tended to decline in winter and spring during the study period, probably reflecting a reduced release of silica from the sediment because of enhanced uptake by benthic diatoms following the improved water transparency. 5. These results clearly indicate that internal loading of phosphorus can delay lake recovery for many years after phosphorus loading reduction, and that lake morphometry (i.e. deep versus shallow basins) influences the patterns of change in nutrient concentrations on both a seasonal and interannual basis.     

Effects of scrotal hyperthermia on Leydig cells in long-term: a histological,immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study in rats

We have previously demonstrated that scrotal hyperthermia induce Leydig cell (LC) damage in short-term. The objectives of this pilot study were to investigate morphological changes and regulation of steroidogenesis on LC in long-term and the time of observation were extended to investigate whether the LC would eventually make a recovery after scrotal hyperthermia. The rats were randomly allotted into one of four groups: A (control), B (70 days after scrotal hyperthermia), C (105 days after scrotal hyperthermia), D (140 days after scrotal hyperthermia); each group contain seven animals. Scrotal hyperthermia was carried out in a thermostatically controlled water bath at 43°C for 30 min once daily for six consecutive days. Control rats were treated in the same way, except the testes were immersed in a water bath maintained at 22°C. Hyperthermia applied rats were sacrificed under 50 mg/kg ketamine anaesthesia after 70, 105 and 140 days, and biopsy materials of testes were obtained for light and electron microscopic examinations. Morphologically normal and the number of testosterone positive LC was significantly higher in 140 days after last heat than all other heat treatment groups. In heat treated groups, a dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria, and vanished mitochondrial cristae were observed. In the 140 days after scrotal hyperthermia, the severities of degenerative changes of LC were less than that observed in the other heat treated groups. We conclude that, scrotal hyperthermia cause morphological damaging and impaired steroidogenesis in LC and recovery of these findings were noted first time in 140 days after the last heat treatment.     

Plasmodium berghei: effect of antithymocyte serum on induction of immunity in the mouse.

Swiss mice, immunized against the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, were treated with antithymocyte serum (ATS) at various times before and after challenge with the homologous parasite. Strong sensitivity to ATS treatment was observed at the end of the sensitization period, and especially if administered close in time to the challenge inoculum. Sensitivity to ATS treatment was reduced again within a period of 1 to 2 days after challenge. When a breakthrough of parasitemia after ATS treatment was prevented by chemoprophylaxis, a recovery from the state of immunodepression and reestablishment of immunity occurred within a period of 1 to 2 weeks.     

瑞芬太尼、芬太尼及瑞芬太尼-芬太尼联合应用对肥胖患者麻醉后苏醒质量的研究

目的：探讨芬太尼和瑞芬太尼分别应用于肥胖患者全身麻醉中苏醒质量的优缺点,对比研究两药联合应用对于提高肥胖患者苏醒质量的可行性和有效性。方法：60例体重指数〉30的肥胖患者随机分为三组,分别应用芬太尼（F组）、瑞芬太尼（R组）和瑞芬太尼联合应用芬太尼（RF组）进行全身麻醉,麻醉时间2小时左右,从停止用药开始分别观察BIS值恢复时间,睁眼时间,5mi/kg潮气量恢复时间,每分通气量恢复时间,拔管时血压,定向力恢复时间,进行视觉模拟评分和镇静/警觉评分和拔管后动脉血气的测量。结果：RF组和R组的BIS值恢复时间和睁眼时间及每分通气量恢复时间无差异,均优于F组。而且RF组和R组中BIS值恢复时间和睁眼时间相关性良好,F组中两指标无相关性。停药后三组患者分别进行1小时、2小时4、4小时和24小时的VAS评分和OAA/S评分,VAS评分中R组在四个时相于其他两组比较均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,均较两组高,F组和RF组在手术后1、2小时时相上比较无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。OAA/S评分中,F组在1、2及4小时三个时相均低于其他组,R组和RF组在四个时相比较均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。定向力恢复时间三组比较,R组和RF组之间无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,F组均与其他两组有差别,且长于其他两组（P〈0.05）。血气分析结果中RF组优于其他组（P〈0.05）。全麻后的副反应中RF组的发生率较低。结论：瑞芬太尼联合应用芬太尼对于肥胖患者全身麻醉意识恢复快,通气恢复时间短,镇痛效果好,血流动力学平稳,苏醒质量高。     

Hydrogen sulfide removal performance of a bio-trickling filter employing Thiobacillus thiparus immobilized on polyurethane foam under various starvation regimes

In the present study a biotrickling filter (BTF) with countercurrent gas/liquid flow packed with open-pore polyurethane foam — as a carrier of Thiobacillus thioparus (DSMZ5368) — was subjected to various starvation regimes such as non-contaminant loading, idleness, and complete shutdown. During the starvation periods specific oxygen uptake rates of microorganisms (SOUR) on packing were monitored. The BTF was subjected to non-contaminant loading (up to 16 h), cyclic non-contaminant loading (for 4 days) and gas shut-off (up to 24 h), and it recovered to its pre-starvation removal efficiency within a 2 ～ 3 h period after resuming normal operating conditions. The recovery time values obtained during the runs in which these starvation regimes were imposed could be indirectly correlated with the corresponding SOUR values suggesting that the recovery time after such starvation regimes are dependent on the degree to which the aerobic biological activity has been reduced as a result of the imposed starvation regime. In the case of the complete shutdown of the BTF, the recovery time increased substantially after 1 and 2 days of complete shutdown, and after 5 days of complete shutdown the pre-starvation removal efficiency was not achieved even after 12 days of normal operation.     

Comparison of the effects of anosmia induced by either peripheral lesion or bulbectomy upon the feeding pattern of the rat (author's transl)]

In order to support the contention that the feeding pattern seen after olfactory bulb removal is due to a sensory loss, the feeding pattern of rats was studied after a peripheral chemical lesion of the olfactory mucosa. A conditioned smell aversion procedure was used to assess the occurence and duration of anosmia after the topical application of zinc sulfate to the olfactory mucosa. It was found that the sensory deficit induced by the peripheral lesion lasted from four to six days. The occurrence of the disrupted feeding pattern in the peripherally lesioned rats coincided in time with the short period of anosmia. Thus, the disruption of the feeding pattern after bulbectomy and after lesions of the central olfactory pathways is clearly the result of anosmia and not of the loss of other non-sensory functions of the olfactory bulbs.     

IgG stability in fresh and conditioned medium of tobacco (Nicotiana?tabacum) and larch (Larix?decidua) embryogenic suspension cultures

To explore the feasability of larch (Larix decidua Mill.) embryogenic cell culture as alternative plant expression system, protein stability in fresh and conditioned medium was characterized in this study and compared to tobacco BY2 suspension culture. Fresh and conditioned media were spiked with 1 μg human IgG and IgG content was determined by ELISA after 24 h incubation. In fresh media, IgG recovery rate decreased to 12–23%. Adsorption on vessel walls probably is the best explanation for this IgG loss and EDTA in the medium strongly influenced wall adsorption. A high IgG recovery rate occurred in all conditioned cell culture media (7 or 14 days after inoculation). Changes in the low molecular weight-constitution of conditioned medium, rather than co-secreted polymers, are responsible for IgG stability in the cell suspension cultures.     

Effect of mexidol on status of conditioned reflex activity after traumatic brain damage

Even partial hippocampal lesions in rats resulted in a disturbance of time interval determination over the course of several months (1200-1500 presentations) other complex conditioned reactions being preserved. As distinct from the control animals, the long period of failure of time interval counting was absent in rats receiving Mexidol. Continuous time conditioning took place in these animals. Due to substantial improvement of autonomic processes and emotional reactions, it was possible to present a higher number of conditioned stimuli in experiments. Mexidol seems to improve the compensatory and recovery processes after brain injuries: the impaired functions recover faster, the rate of the retrograde degeneration in the lesioned brain structures decreases, phenomena like Monakov's diaschis are not observed etc.