Molecular mechanisms underlying sensorimotor cortex pyramidal neuron involvement in the feeding behavior of rabbits

Response in pyramidal neurons belonging to the sensorimotor cortex (37% of total nerve cells investigated in this zone) which were identified by stimulating the bulbar pyramids, were investigated during experiments on unrestrained rabbits. Pyramidal neurons having connections with the lateral hypothalamus were activated during operation of feeding behavior, while activity was inhibited in those unconnected with the lateral hypothalamus. Microiontophoretic application of a protein synthesis inhibitor to pyramidal neurons caused their ability to respond to ascending activating influences from the lateral hypothalamus to disappear. When pentagastrin was applied to these neurons following the protein synthesis blocker, they recovered their ability to participate in hypothalamic feeding reaction. It is suggested that synthesis and release of a gastrin-like peptide into the perineuronal space is required for sensorimotor cortex pyramidal neurons to participate in the organization of feeding behavior.P. K. Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 19, No. 5, 601–606, September–October, 1987.     

Centenary of I.P. Pavlov's Madrid speech (April, 1903): Subjective aspect of mental activity as an object of system analysis

The main pathstones of methodological approaches to objective exploration of mental activity outlined by I.P. Pavlov in 1903, in particular, such its features as the ability to forsee the results, expediency, reasonable character, and adaptivity of behavior are considered. Stages of methodological perfection of investigations of the inner (mental) states of living organisms, semantic transformation of conditioned reflex, conditioning of the first and second orders, systems of conditioned reflexes, psychonervous activity, causal and extrapolative reflexes are analyzed. The significance of the development of the theory of the functional system by P.K. Anokhin and the modern state of its understanding are shown. The functional significance and neurophysiologic mechanisms of movement task, programming, motivation, memory engram, reinforcement etc. is discussed.     

Gene c-Fos expression in brain of rats resistant and predisposed to emotional stress after intraperitoneal injection of the ACTH(4-10)analog--semax

The effect of the ACTH(4-10) analog Semax on immediate early gene c-Fos expression was studied in Wistar rats with high and low resistance to emotional stress under the usual conditions and during psychoemotional loading. Fos-immunoreactive cells in the were counted automatically with the help of a computer. It was shown that under the usual conditions the intraperitoneal Semax injection induced immediate early gene c-Fos expression in the lateral septal region in rats predisposed to emotional stress and in the paraventricular hypothalamus in rats of both groups. Preliminary Semax injection decreased the stress-induced c-Fos expression in the paraventricular hypothalamus and medial septum in rats predisposed to emotional stress and tended to reduce the number of stress-induced c-Fos-immunopositive cells in the lateral septum and basolateral amygdala in both groups of animals. The obtained data suggest that Semax differently affects the immediate early c-Fos gene expression in the brain of rats resistant and predisposed to emotional stress and this effect reflects the antistressor properties of the regulatory peptide.     

The systems organization of human functions: the theoretical aspects

On the basis of the theory of functional systems, suggested by P. K. Anokhin, leading principals of system organization of human functions are regarded. General characteristics of functional systems are stated. Some peculiarities of intrasystem and intersystem organization of functional systems of human organism are discovered. The role of functional systems in organization of normal human live activity as well as under psychoemotional stress and pathology is shown. System principals of compensation of disordered functions during rehabilitation of persons undergone stresses and ecologically unfavorable loads are considered.     

c-fos Gene expression during emotional stress in rats: blocking by delta sleep-inducing peptide

An emotional stress induces an obvious immediate early gene c-fos expression in the brain limbic structures in the rats predisposed to emotional stress. Administration of the delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) was shown to inhibit the c-fos expression. It led to an obvious inhibition of the c-fos expression in paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus, medial and lateral parts of the septum of rats predisposed to emotional stress. This mechanism seems to play an important role in the DSIP anti-stress effects.     

Vasoactive peptides in the structure of defensive motivational excitation

In experiments on rabbits, the action was studied of vasoactive peptides angiotensin-II, bradykinin and lysyl-vasopressin, injected into the brain ventricles, on a passive defensive reaction to electrical stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamus. It was found that angiotensin-II and lysyl-vasopressin had a pronounced inhibitory influence, while bradykinin had a facilitatory effect on this reaction. Electrical stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamus predominantly facilitated reactions of individual neurones of the sensorimotor cortex to angiotensin-II and bradykinin. Intraperitoneal injection of P-substance to rats in conditions of an acute conflict situation producing an emotional stress, brought about a significant diminution of sudden death incidence from cardiovascular insufficiency.