Patterns in the transition from normal to neurosis in dogs with different typological traits in food and defensive situations

At comparison of the formation of neurosis in dogs with different typological characteristics in conditions with alimentary and pain reinforcement, a resemblance was revealed of transition from norm to the initial stage of pathology. In strong animals a development was seen of compensatory tachycardia at circular changes of conditioned activity. Weak type dogs are characterized by a lowering or full disappearance of reflexes in combination with bradycardia. The method of differentiation, allowing in situations with alimentary reinforcement to classify the tested animals according to the type of higher nervous activity and differentiate the states of "norm" and "initial stage of neurosis", proved to be effective for the analogous aims also in studies with defensive reinforcement.     

Cortical influences on thyroid and sex gland function in neurotic dogs

Disturbances of higher nervous activity charactetized by the development of an experimental neurosis were elicited in three male dogs by means of functional influences. This was accompanied by an increase, decrease or no change in the level of total thyroxine in the blood with greater fluctuations of its content on different days. An euthyreoid state persisted in the dogs throughout all periods of the neurosis, which is testified by the absence of changes of the free thyroxine coefficient. In the first three to four weeks of the experimental neurosis the testosterone content in the blood plasma was enhanced, its level not correlating with the variations of thyroxine content in the blood.     

The role of cholinergic mechanisms in memory processes in experimental neurosis in dogs

In experiments on dogs the role was studied of cholinergic mechanisms in memory processes at different stages of neurosis. Predominance was shown in initial state of M-cholinergic mechanisms which also in conditions of neurotic inhibition of conditioned activity decrease the level of functioning less than N-cholinergic link. In the postneurotic period excessive activity of N-cholinergic memory mechanism was revealed. The supposed mechanisms are discussed of cholinergic system disturbances in neurosis dynamics and possibility of their pharmacological correction.     

Adaptogenic role of serotonin in dogs coming out of an experimental neurosis

In a study carried out on dogs by means of alimentary salivary conditioned reflexes, it was found out that serotonin injection into the anterior limbic cortex and the action of neurogenous stimuli lead neither to the development of experimental neurosis nor to the usual for the neurosis increase of blood serotonin level. At the treatment of experimental neurosis by small doses of 5-oxytryptophan, the therapeutic effect of this serotonin predecessor appeared only in the days of its injection. In the subsequent period, the neurotic changes in the higher nervous activity continued, and the blood serotonin level remained increased. These data as well as materials earlier obtained on the increase of the blood serotonin level at neurosis in dogs, give reason to consider the increase of activity of the serotoninergic system at neurosis as one of adaptogenous factors contributing to the coming out of neurosis.     

Choice between probability and value of alimentary reinforcement as means for revealing individual typological features of dog behavior

Individual typological features of behavior of dogs were investigated by the method of choice between the low-valuable food available constantly and food of high quality presented with low probability. Animals were subjected to instrumental conditioning with the same conditioned stimuli but different types of reinforcement. Depression of a white pedal was always reinforced with meat-bread-crumb mixture, depression of a black pedal was reinforced with two pieces of liver (with probabilities of 100, 40, 33, 20, or 0%). The choice of reinforcement depended on probability of valuable food and individual typological features of the nervous system of a dog. Decreasing the probability of the reinforcement value to 40-20% revealed differences in behavior of dogs. Dogs of the first group, presumably with the weak type of the nervous system, more frequently pressed the white pedal (always reinforced) than the black pedal thus "avoiding a situation of risk" to receive an empty cup. They displayed symptoms of neurosis: whimper, refusals of food or of the choice of reinforcement, and obtrusive movements. Dogs of the second group, presumably with the strong type of the nervous system, more frequently pressed the black pedal (more valuable food) for the low-probability reward until they obtained the valuable food. They did not show neurosis symptoms and were not afraid of "situation of risk". A decrease in probability of the valuable reinforcement increased a percentage of long-latency depressions of pedals. It can be probably suggested that this phenomenon was associated with increasing involvement of cognitive processes, when contributions of the assessments of probability and value of the reinforcement to decision making became approximately equal. Choice between the probability and value of alimentary reinforcement is a good method for revealing individual typological features of dogs.     

Neurogenic (Hysteroid) Motor Disorders in Hamadryas Baboons

Pavlov's teaching on experimental neuroses is of prime importance for gaining insight into human neurosis. Pavlov devoted special attention to hysteria (1). His concept of the possibility of creating a model of this human neurosis in dogs was not constant, although the reproduction of individual symptoms of hysteria, especially of paralytic motor disorders, is an indisputable experimental fact, and can be explained within the framework of the principles of higher nervous activity established with respect to dogs.     

Relation between the level of conditioned reflex activity and concentration of serotonin in the blood of normal and neurotic dogs

Higher nervous activity of dogs was studied using Pavlovian method of alimentary salivary conditioned reflexes. Serotonin (5- hydroxytryptamine) content in the venous blood was defined by means of fluorescent spectrofluorimeter using orthophthalic dialdehyde. A high level of conditioned and unconditioned reflexes was accompanied by a low serotonin blood content, while a low level of reflexes was accompanied by a high serotonin content. Negative correlation is supposed to exist between the degree of activation of nervous processes and blood serotonin content. Blood serotonin content increased in dogs in experimental neurosis with expressed reduction of the level on alimentary conditioned and unconditioned reflexes.     

Stages in the development of neuroses in the dog and effects of preparations with antidepressive and tranquilizing properties

In modelling of neuroses, successive stages of development of this pathology were observed in dogs. The first stage is characterized by circular disturbances of conditioned activity, vegetative shifts of compensatory character and intensification of individual characteristics of behaviour. At the second stage, parallel with sharp disturbances of conditioned reflexes and with vegetative dystonia, a distortion of emotional reactions was observed in dogs. It is essential that resumption of neurotization episodes in experiments on dogs with the second stage of disease promoted a development of depressive-like states. Diazepam corrected the behavioural and vegetative shifts at the first stage of neurosis. Non-typical antidepressants eliminated the manifestation of symptoms complex of the disease, especially at prolonged treatment.     

Effect of insulin and its polymeric analogs on learning and memory processes in the rabbit

The effect of insulin and its seven synthetic derivatives on spontaneous bioelectrical activity of the cerebral cortex of rabbits was described in the paper. The influence of these substances on consolidation of long-term memory of white rats was shown at normal state and during experimental neurosis. Insulin was supposed to influence the higher nervous activity not only through glucose metabolism but also by means of increase of permeability of biological membranes for amino acids.     

Comparative aspects of a study of the self-regulation of higher nervous activity in experimental neuroses in dogs, cats and rats

The higher nervous activity has been studied by means of motor-alimentary conditioned reflexes and delayed reactions in dogs, cats and albino rats at early stages of development of experimental informational neurosis. It was shown that formation of stable pathological reactions is preceeded by self- regulational activity of the brain directed towards elimination of a pathological situation, as well as to the increase of the stability of the nervous system to pathogenic agents. Comparative studies on rodents and predatory animals indicate that in different species the same pathogenic effects on the brain may elicit different forms of self-regulation of the higher nervous activity.     

Operant performance patterns of normal and nervous water-deprived dogs

Previous studies have shown that most food-deprived genetically nervous pointer dogs fail to learn a bar-pressing response for food reward and those which do learn are erratic in bar-pressing compared to genetically normal pointer dogs which usually learn rapidly and perform well. Benzodiazepine drugs facilitate learning and performance of the responses in nervous dogs. The present study aimed at finding whether a stronger drive producing state, such as water deprivation, would facilitate learning and performance in even severely nervous dogs. Eight normal line and 7 nervous line dogs successfully learned to perform well a paddle-pressing response which activates a valve releasing water into a drinking pan. One disturbing dog of each line did not learn successfully. Behavior shaping was about as easy and as rapid in nervous line dogs as in normals. Nervous line dogs tended to be as consistent in responding. However, response rates of nervous line dogs averaged about two-thirds those of normal line dogs, the slowed rate of responses being taken up mostly in excessive, rather stereotyped, licking of the water pan. Response rates correlated well with degree of nervousness as measured on independent well standardized behavior tests. This behavior seems to add another dimension to the characterization of the nervousness of these "spooky" pointer dogs.     

Functional regional asymmetry of the EEG intrahemispheric coherence in dogs during conditioning

Individual features of the regional interhemispheric relations in the brain were studied in dogs during alimentary conditioning. The electrical activity was recorded from symmetrical anterior (frontal and motor cortices) and posterior (visual and auditory cortices) areas of the neocortex. Comparison between the averaged left and right intrahemispheric EEG coherences revealed a dynamic character of interhemispheric relations dependent on the stage of conditioning. Individual features were shown. In a dog with strong type of the nervous system, in the anterior brain regions, the EEG coherence was higher in the left hemisphere than in the right one, whereas, on the contrary, in the posterior regions, the values were higher in the right than in the left hemisphere. In dogs with weak type of the nervous system, there was an inverse relationship. Thus, the spatial organization of the cortical electrical activity in the associative and projection brain areas was different.     

Experimental neuroses in dogs caused by an increase in the intensity of (light) stimuli conditions

The influence of enhanced intensity of general illumination on conditioned reactions of a different degree of complexity was studied on dogs by the classical method of secretory conditioned reflexes. In most of the dogs, increase of general illumination from 30 to 300 luxes leads to more intensive secretory conditioned and unconditioned reactions, a smaller number of errors in differentiation, and stabilization of parameters of conditioned activity, which testifies to the improved general functional state of the brain. In two animals in the same conditions of the experiment, an experimental neurosis set it, not connected with the complexity of the elaborated activity. It is assumed that the neurotizing agent was the superfluous situational (photic) stimulation which presented excessive requirements to the mechanisms regulating the general functional state of the brain.     

A Technique for Inducing Experimental Neurosis in Small Laboratory Animals

Research in the mechanism of endocrine disorders in functional disturbances of the central regulatory apparatus requires the development of an appropriate model of the affection. The employment of an experimental neurosis would seem to be promising in this regard. The Pavlov school has thoroughly elaborated techniques of inducing experimental neuroses in dogs, but when small laboratory animals (mice, rats) are employed in large-scale experiments, existing techniques do not provide a means of inducing a long-lasting pathological condition of the higher centers of the central nervous system.     

Possibility of correcting brain bioenergetics in neuroses using nicotinic acid derivatives

Experiments were made to study the effect of the animals' neurosis status on the synthesis of macroergs according to the oxidative phosphorylation data and macroerg utilization via the ATPase system. It was demonstrated that in the stage of metabolic deadaptation , neurosis leads to dramatic inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and its dissociation, decreases the content of macroergs , discoordinates the ATPase system. The prophylactic administration of nicotinic acid derivatives stimulated oxidative phosphorylation, making return to normal the content of macroergs and the ATPase activity. According to some data, the action of chlorodiazepoxide aggravated adverse effects of neurosis. The possibility of correcting brain bioenergetics with nicotinic acid derivatives has been shown.     

The dynamics of the autoimmune process in guinea pigs during their acquisition of an experimental neurosis

Pathogenetic role of the neuroautoimmune reactions in dynamics of the experimental neurosis development has been investigated. Application of the dynamic approach in estimation of the pathological process has permitted analyzing changes in the immunological indices in dynamics of the experimental neurosis development. The results obtained testify to that maximum content of autoantibodies to the nervous tissue, circulating immune complexes and changes in the reaction of neutrophilic injury are observed in the beginning of the experimental neurosis development.     

Effect of experimental neurosis on the secretion of acid gastric proteinases in dogs

In experiments on dogs with gastric cannula we proved that the gastric juice, obtained after intravenous injection of insulin, contained after separation of DEAE Sephadex A-50 5--7 proteolytically active fractions. In four dogs of both sexes the ratio and number of individual fractions remained constant in control experiments. However, there were differences between the animals. After induction of experimental neurosis (by the collision of the alimentary and avoidance reflex) all animals showed the same marked changes in the chromatographic patterns of acid proteinases. There was a change not only in the ratio of two larger groups of proteolytically active fractions but also in the total number of all fractions. These changes persisted for 8--10 weeks after induction of experimental neurosis.     

Individual typological characteristics of hormonal responses in dogs during psychoemotional stress

Effects of psycho-emotional stress on contents of steroid hormones in the blood were studied in dogs with different typological properties of the higher nervous activity. Under stress condition, a significant correlation between the cortisol and testosterone levels and the dogs' typological characteristics was found. The more obvious fluctuations in the hormones level occurred in animals with strong and excitable type of the nervous system as compared with dogs belonging to weak and inert type.     

Identification of a mutation causing mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA in New Zealand Huntaway dogs

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA (MPS IIIA) is an autosomal recessive disease that occurs due to a deficiency of heparan sulfate sulfamidase (SGSH). The deficiency of SGSH results in the lysosomal accumulation and urinary excretion of the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate. The clinical severity of MPS IIIA is predominantly characterized by severe central nervous system degeneration. Naturally occurring MPS IIIA has recently been described in New Zealand Huntaway dogs, with similar disease progression and biochemical characteristics observed in severely affected MPS IIIA patients. Here, we identify the disease-causing mutation in the MPS IIIA Huntaway dog as 708-709insC. The frequency of the 708-709insC mutation in a sample group of 203 New Zealand Huntaway dogs was determined to be 3.8%. The identification of the 708-709insC mutation will permit the identification of heterozygous carriers as an initial step toward establishing a breeding colony of MPS IIIA dogs for the study of various therapeutic strategies targeted to the central nervous system.     

Functional state of the cardiovascular system in 13-year-old adolescents with different types of autonomic nervous regulation

The features of the functional state of cardiovascular system in 13-year-old children with different types of autonomic nervous regulation were studied. Children with normotonic and parasympathetic types of autonomic regulation were found to have the highest adaptation capacities. The autonomic nervous system influences the bioelectrical processes in myocardium, the duration of cardiac cycle phases, and cerebral blood flow. Schoolchildren aged 13 years with higher sympathetic activity have shorter duration of the cardiac cycle, the phase of isometric contraction, and diastole. They have a lower pulse blood flow rate and a higher tone of large and medium cerebral vessels. No relationship was revealed between the initial autonomic nervous regulation of heart rate and the type of adaptation of myocardium to physical dynamic loads, as well as the type of adaptation of cerebral circulation to mental stress.