[Psychological aspects of glossodynia (author's transl)]. The term glossodynia refers to all conditions with pain and dysaesthesia of the tongue and entire oral mucosa manifesting themselves in burning, prickling, itching, stinging, and other frequently bizarre sensations as well as subjective xerostomia and bad taste. In most cases psychiatric diseases are the cause of the complex of complaints whereas local and general disorders are of only minor importance. Menopausal women with atypical depression are most often affected. Schizophrenia and abnormal personality development are far less frequent in glossodynia. After exclusion or therapy of organic disorders antidepressants are the treatment of choice in glossodynia. Thereapeutic difficulties may arise in patients suffering from marked xerostomia whose complaints may intensify during therapy because of the anticholinergic effect of most antidepressants, and in neurotic persons.


[Cefamandol: pharmacokinetics with normal and impaired renal function (author's transl)]. 1.0 g cefamandol was injected in 25 patients with various degrees of renal function. Half-life and distribution volume of this antibiotic and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were then measured. The distribution volume was 18.5 +/- 3.5% of body weight, similar to the extracellular space. Half-life and GFR were related in a way which could be expressed in the formula: half-life = 400 sqaure root GFR. Levels of blood concentration of cefamandol could be estimated from half-life and GFR, with the construction of "isoconcentration dosages", by which it is possible to achieve levels similar to those in normal subjects receiving a normal dosage.


[Psychiatric and psychometric examinations in Raynaud's syndrome (author's transl)]. 20 patients with Raynaud's syndrome were examined psychiatrically, 15 of them psychometrically as well (Giessen test, Freiburg personality inventory). Psychiatrically, there were neither psychoses nor manifest neuroses, but a chronic overconformity, emotional restraint and a compulsive, often stiff way of life were found as group-characteristic features. Psychometrically, the group-personality profiles lay within normal range. Psychopathologically, they showed contours, uncertain at best, of obsessional structure. Coincidence of psychic conflict situations due to chronically social influences and frequent occurrences of Raynaud attacks was confirmed. Incorporation of psychotherapeutic and sociomedical measures into the therapy of Raynaud's syndrome is thus well founded and necessary.


[Results of intensive care and intensive therapy of very low birth-weight infants (author's transl)]. Newborns of less than 1500 g birth-weight are thought to be especially at risk with regard to their psychomotor development. Among 71 such infants admitted to the University Childrens Clinic, Tübingen, in 1974-1975, 43 survived (38% mortality). All but two of them were followed serially and assessed for their psychomotor development. Five were found to be abnormal (12%), three of them most probably having sustained CNS damage prenatally.


[Abnormal left-ventricular contraction and filling in patients receiving adriamycin for solid tumours (author's transl)]. Various ventricular functions, as obtained by echocardiography (M-mode), were measured on 14 patients with solid tumours receiving adriamycin (mean total dosage 330 +/- 188 mg/m2 body surface area), the results being compared with those on 14 normal subjects of similar ages. There were statistically highly significant differences between the two groups. In those receiving the drug there was (1) a decrease in the percentage shortening fraction and (2) a reduction in the maximal velocity of endocardial circumferential fibre shortening, as expression of reduced contractility. The abnormal filling was characterized by a marked decrease in maximal velocity of endocardial fibre stretch, diminution of diameter increase during the rapid filling phase, and a shortened duration of the rapid filling phase. There was no electrocardiographic or radiological evidence of myocardial damage. The findings suggest that it will be possible by serial echocardiography to recognize a higher tolerance to the drug in some individuals and, at the same time, reveal abnormal contractility and filling due to adriamycin before irreversible heart failure has occurred.


Severe asthma: prevention is better than cure. Asthmatic patients during sympton-free periods almost invariably have abnormalities in lung mechanics and gas exchange. Tentacious secretions and mucosal thickening exaggerate maldistribution of ventilation and cause flow limitation in small airways. Hence, the maximal expiratory flow volume loop in these patients will show impaired flow rates at low lung volumes and many will show a widened alveolar-arterial O2 tension difference. Preventive treatment should be aimed at reversing these abnormalities. The regular use of inhaled sympathomimetics and oral theophylline preparations is justified in the symptom-free patient whose history suggests that he is susceptible to acute exacerbations. Such patients commonly experience an improved sense of well-being, increased exercise tolerance, and a decrease in the frequency and severity of their acute episodes.


Rehabilitation and the client with epilepsy: a survey of the client's view of the rehabilitation process and its results. A survey of epileptic clients of the Maryland State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation was conducted to evaluate the success of the rehabilitation process from the client's point of view. Less than half had become employed, 70% had continuing seizures, most had psychosocial problems. Recommendations are made as to how the rehabilitation process could better serve persons with epilepsy.


Pharmacokinetic comparison of tablet and suspension dosage forms of carbamazepine. The bioavailability of two preparations of carbamazepine--the tablet and a new syrup-was studied in 9 adult male volunteers by measuring saliva and serum levels. Peak time was significantly earlier and peak level significantly higher in serum for syrup as compared to tablet. Levels remained higher for syrup for 12 hr. Saliva was contaminated for up to 2 hr by syrup ingestion, possibly for a half hour by the tablet. Beyond that, saliva/serum ratios remained stable. Saliva level variation was too large for pharmacokinetic studies but acceptable for clinical purposes if sampling was long enough after the last dose.


Quantitative analysis and characterization of infantile spasms. An effective, time-synchronized monitoring system for the study of patients with infantile spasms has been developed. This system utilizes concurrent graphically recorded data, including EEG, body movement via triaxial accelerometry, respiration, electrocardiogram, electromyogram, electro-oculogram, and galvanic skin response. These data, when evaluated in conjunction with a closed-circuit TV recording of the patient, greatly facilitate the differentiation of seizures from nonictal activity and permit the characterization and quantification of the behavioral, motor, and autonomic phenomena intrinsically associated with infantile spasms.


Contractile activity of neonatal heart cells in culture derived from offspring of exercised pregnant rats. 5-day-old neonatal offspring of exercised or non-exercised pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were used to prepare primary cultures of beating myocardial cells. The cells from the exercise group exhibited a slower beating rate for both single and aggregate cells; a larger cell size; an increased percentage of contracting cells; a greater capacity to form confluent monolayers, and a greater viability. It was concluded that exercise during the period of pregnancy produced morphological alterations in the myocardium of the progeny.


The effects of blood loss on the performance of physical exercise. Seven male subjects were studied before and up to 53 days after the loss of 11 of blood. The resting hematocrit fell from 44.0 to 38.7% and returned to control level after 3 weeks. Maximal oxygen uptake decreased from 4.00 1/min to 3.54 1/min and returned to the initial level within 2 weeks. Submaximal oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, maximal heart rate and blood lactate were not found to change significantly. Submaximal heart rate was increased from 125 beats . min-1 to about 135 beats . min-1 and remained elevated for 3 weeks, whereas blood lactate was increased only in the first week. Maximal work time decreased from 5.1 min to 3.8 min and remained low for the first 2 weeks, but rose thereafter above the starting level. Comparison with a control study suggested that there is some training effect, which, when allowed for, indicates that maximal work time returns to starting values at the same time as does the maximal oxygen uptake. It is concluded that the drop in Hct, maximal oxygen uptake and work capacity, found after the loss of 11 of blood, are related to each other both in magnitude and duration.


Variable resistance versus constant resistance strength training in adult males. Changes in strength, body composition and anthropometric measures for groups training with constant resistance and variable resistance training procedures was compared. Thirty-six male volunteers were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Constant Resistance (CR), Variable Resistance (VR) and Control (C). Strength training was conducted 3 days per week, 45 min per day, for 10 weeks. The results demonstrated that both the CR and the VR groups increased muscular strength. The CR group demonstrated significant increases in strength over the VR group when strength was assessed by CR procedures. Conversely, the VR group demonstrated significant increases in strength over the CR group when strength was assessed by VR procedures. Neither group exhibited superiority over the other relative to changes in body composition and anthropometric measures. The significance of these results is discussed.


CO2 dissociation curves of oxygenated whole blood obtained at rest and in exercise. In vitro CO2 dissociation curves for oxygenated whole blood were determined in 19 healthy male subjects at rest and during submaximal and maximal bicycle work. Hemoglobin concentration and blood lactate increased with increasing work load and accordingly buffer value of the whole blood increased while bicarbonate and Base Excess (BE) decreased, resulting in a downward shift of the CO2 dissociation curve during exercise. Despite the marked increase in buffer values of the blood, the slopes of the CO2 dissociation curves during exercise were found to be about the same as those obtained at rest. It was inferred that the increasing effect of increased buffer value, on the dissociation slope, was essentially compensated by the decreasing effect of diminished bicarbonate content. The advantages of this relatively constant CO2 dissociation slope for the indirect measurement of cardiac output by the Fick principle are discussed.


Effect of glucose on plasma glucagon and free fatty acids during prolonged exercise. The effects of glucose ingestion on the changes in blood glucose, FFA, insulin and glucagon levels induced by a prolonged exercise at about 50% of maximal oxygen uptake were investigated. Healthy volunteers were submitted to the following procedures: 1. a control test at rest consisting of the ingestion of 100 g glucose, 2. an exercise test without, or 3. with ingestion of 100 g of glucose. Exercise without glucose induced a progressive decrease in blood glucose and plasma insulin; plasma glucagon rose significantly from the 60th min onward (+45 pg/ml), the maximal increase being recorded during the 4th h of exercise (+135 pg/ml); plasma FFA rose significantly from the 60th min onward and reached their maximal values during the 4th h of exercise (2177 +/- 144 muEq/l, m +/- SE). Exercise with glucose ingestion blunted almost completely the normal insulin response to glucose. Under these conditions, exercise did not increase plasma glucagon before the 210th min; similarly, the exercise-induced increase in plasma FFA was markedly delayed and reduced by about 60%. It is suggested that glucose availability reduces exercise-induced glucagon secretion and, possibly consequently, FFA mobilization.


[Adaptive modifications of cold pain. III. Communication: short-term experiments with 1-min-intervals (author's transl)]. The subjective short-term habituation to pain-inducing cold stimuli is demonstrated for the first time by measuring the tolerated exposition time. It proves impossible to separate temporally a detection threshold of cold pain from the distress reaction level. The slope of subjective habituation is clearly dependent on the individual vegetative starting position. It is discussed why the blood pressure reaction may be used as a valid parameter for experienced intensity of a cold pain sensation only to a limited extent.


Fat and carbohydrate metabolism during low intensity exercise: effects of the availability of muscle glycogen. Four subjects were studied during exercise at 50% of maximum oxygen uptake after a normal diet, after a low carbohydrate (CHO) diet following exercise-induced glycogen depletion, and after a high CHO diet. This regime has previously been shown to cause changes in the amount of glycogen stored in the exercising muscles. Metabolic and respiratory parameters were measured during the exercise. The respiratory exchange ratio, blood lactate, blood pyruvate, blood glucose and plasma triglycerides were lower than normal following the low CHO diet and higher than normal following the high CHO diet. Plasma free fatty acids and plasma glycerol were higher than normal after the low CHO diet and lower than normal after the high CHO diet. The contribution of CHO to metabolism was less than normal after the low CHO diet and greater than normal after the high CHO diet. The altered availability of FFA does not appear to be a result of the variations in the blood lactate content.


A structural model of cholinergic synaptic vesicles from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata deduced from density measurements at different osmotic pressures. Density measurements made on cholinergic synaptic vesicles from the electric organs of Torpedo marmorata at different osmotic pressures are consistent with the following structural model of the vesicle. The particle behaves like a sphere 80-100 nm in diameter bounded by a semi-permeable membrane. The bulk of its soluble constituents are in true solution at physiological osmolalities. The limiting membrane is approximately 4-5 nm thick, suggesting that it contains large areas of phospholipid bilayer exposed to its bathing medium. The limiting membrane takes up about 26% (v/v) of the particle, a further 34% (v/v) of which is osmotically active water and 31% (v/v) hydrated core material at 800 mosmol/1. The buoyant density of the membrane is 1.132 g . cm-3. The density of the hydrated core material is approximately 1.05 g . cm-3. The membrane is selectively permeable to small molecules when subjected to hypo-osmotic stress. It is proposed that this occurs by the formation of small transient pores in the lipid bilayer of the membrane, which are induced by stretching caused by the osmotic pressure change.


Regulation of mammary gland metabolism: pathways of glucose utilization, metabolite profile and hormone response of a modified mammary gland cell preparation. 1. A method for the preparation of isolated mammary gland cells of the rat is described. 2. The procedure involves disaggregation of the tissue in a collagenase-hyaluronidase mixture and subsequent purification of the heterogeneous population of cells by centrifugation in discontinuous Ficoll-400 gradients; the preparation takes 60 minutes. The yield of cells is approximately 14%. 3. The cells as prepared have high rates of metabolism and synthetic capacity and exhibit metabolic characteristics comparable to intact tissue. 4. Measurements of the content of metabolic intermediates show cells to have, and retain, outstandingly high levels of ATP and to have an energy charge close to 0.9. Levels of other intermediates approximate to those found in the intact tissue. The level of glycolytic intermediates below the triose phosphate stage indicate the highly aerobic state of the cells. 5. The pattern and scale of glucose utilization, measured using specifically labelled glucose incorporation into 14CO2 and 14C-labelled lipid production, approximates closely in isolated cells at 5 and 20 mM glucose and in tissue slices at 20 mM glucose concentration. Mammary gland slices incubated with 5 mM glucose have a considerably lower rate of metabolism. Isolated cells exhibit a higher proportionate rate of glucose utilization by way of the pentose phosphate pathway. 6. The isolated cells are hormone responsive. Insulin increases the oxidation of glucose by the pentose phosphate pathway and stimulates lipid synthesis. Addition of progesterone and cortisone in vitro (10 muM) leads to a marked and rapid decrease in the rate of glucose oxidation and conversion to lipid.


Effect of zinc(II) on the refolding and reactivation of liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Horse-liver alcohol dehydrogenase requires Zn2+ for enzymatic activity. Reactivation experiments after dissociation and denaturation of the enzyme in 6 M guanidinium hydrochloride and subsequent separation of zinc prove that the effect of the metal on the rate and yield of reconstitution is complex. In the absence of Zn2+ no reactivation is detectable, while excess of Zn2+ leads to inactive aggregates. Optimum reactivation yields are obtained at 10 muM Zn2+ after short incubation in the denaturant; increasing zinc concentration causes a decrease of the rate of reactivation. The refolding of the zinc-free enzyme is characterized by consecutive first-order processes which may be separated from second-order dimer formation. Addition of 10 muM Zn2+ during refolding may be used to block side reactions competing with the reconstitution. The transition from sigmoidal kinetics to second-order profiles by adding Zn2+ after completion of the aforementioned first-order process corroborates the proposed uni-bimolecular reactivation mechanism which implies the involvement of inactive monomers. These gain their enzymatic function as a consequence of dimerization. The effect of Zn2+ may be explained by a side reaction in the overall reaction scheme of reactivation and renaturation which allows the kinetic measurements to be quantitatively described.


Hypothalamic-pituitary functions in patients with idiopathic pituitary dwarfism. Further evidence for hypophysiotropic human deficiencies. Somatotropic, thyrotropic, gonadotropic and corticotropic functions in 10 patients with idiopathic hypopituitary dwarfism (IH) were investigated. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (5 patients) had normal plasma T4 levels, and Group II (5 patients) had T4 levels of less than 4.6 microgram/dl. In Group I three cases had isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency and two cases had GH and gonadotropin (Gn) deficiencies; in Group II the 5 cases showed multiple anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies. In Group II, the plasma thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was 4.1-9.4 muU/ml and the response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was greatly delayed and prolonged, with a maximum after 120 min instead of 15 min. The basal prolactin (PRL) level in Group II was 12-31 ng/ml, which was significantly higher than normal (P less than 0.001). In 4 cases in Group II, the plasma cortisol level increased 120 min after the infusion of lysine-vasopressin, whereas oral administration of metyrapone and hypoglycemia induced by insulin did not increase the plasma cortisol levels. From these findings it is concluded that hypothalamic lesions caused the pituitary hormone deficiencies in 4 Group II cases, and Group I may tentatively be differentiated from Group II by T4 determinations.


Morphological observations on the vasculitis in the mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. A skin biopsy study of 27 patients. Twenty-seven skin biopsies were obtained from the exanthemata of patients in the acute stage of the mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (MCLS). The three vascular systems of different caliber size--the intrapapillary capillary loops (ICL), the superficial arteriolar or venular plexus (SAP, SVP) and the small subcutaneous vessels--were examined to investigate the characteristics of the vasculitis in MCLS and differentiate it from infantile polyarteritis nodosa (IPN). Significant papillary edema and dilatation of ICL, SAP and SVP were observed on the 4th day after the onset of the illness, and then gradually decreased. In the subcutaneous regions, vasculitis began with endothelial necrosis, and subendothelial edema and degenerative changes in the muscle cells followed. These changes in the small subcutaneous vessels were observed for a longer period than in the ICL, SAP and SVP. Moderate mononuclear cell infiltrations were observed. Both arteries and veins were affected.


Electronic platelet counting with capillary blood samples--experiences in a paediatric clinic. For several reasons, electronic platelet counts have not been generally adopted in paediatric routine laboratories. A method of platelet counting in capillary blood samples using an electronic counter is described. This is based on brief centrifugation of the blood sample after the addition of a diluent containing heparin/dextran and with a density of 1.050. The thrombocytes are uniformly suspended in the supernatant after 5 min of centrifugation at 250 g, so that the counting procedure in the electric unit can follow immediately. This simplified, dependable and reproducible method is also suitable for venous blood, and as a result of several years of successful trial, it can be recommended for routine use, especially in clinics with paediatric patients.


Pituitary function in a patient with septo-optic dysplasia and pituitary dwarfism (Kaplan-Grumbach-Hoyt syndrome). The cause of a seventeen-year-old female patient with septo-optic dysplasia and pituitary dwarfism is presented. Mental retardatin and epilepsy, in addition to absence of the septum pellucidum, point to a widespread lesion of the central nervous system. There is unilateral hypoplasia of the optic nerve. She is of small stature. The dynamic pituitary tests point to deficiency of GH, TSH and ACTH, and an adequate reserve of prolactin, gonadotropins and vasopressin. TSH insufficiency is probably of primary pituitary origin.


Idiopathic arterial calcification in infancy. A case report. An infant with idiopathic arterial calcification is presented. The disease was diagnosed during the life of the patient as an aortogram demonstrated a stenosis of the left coronary artery and complete occlusion of the right coronary artery.


Cranial morphology in the 18p-syndrome.

Cranial morphology in the 18p-syndrome. Three of four recently described children with the 18p- syndrome were reinvestigated using cranial computerized tomography (CCT). More severe deformities were found in the cases with severe cerebral malformation, but there was no correlation with the degree of mental retardation.


Reduced capillary resistance in allergic patients. Fifty four of 67 allergic children (81%) had a pathologically reduced capillary resistance (CR) of less than 16 cm Hg. Five of the 13 allergic children with normal CR were treated with corticosteroids. Prednisone improved CR in on patient for at least 24 h, and this was reflected by improvement of hemorrhagic parameters such as bleeding intensity, bleeding pattern and blood loss. There was no correlation between CR and IgE levels. 90% of the symptomatic relatives of allergic children had a reduced CR, but only 44% of asymptomatic relatives. CR presents a simple additional tool for diagnosing allergy and might give hints to the carrier state of allergy.


Peripheral circulation in the newborn: interaction of peripheral blood flow, blood pressure, blood volume, and blood viscosity. Peripheral blood flow and systolic blood pressure (strain-gauge plethysmograph), blood volume (Evans blue) and whole blood viscosity (cone-plate viscometer) have been measured in 66 premature and full-term infants 6 to 144h of age. Blood flow and blood volume were moderately decreased in the infants with respiratory distress. Highly significant (P less than 0.001) correlations were found between blood flow and blood volume (r = 0.77), blood pressure and blood volume (r = 0.50), peripheral resistance and blood volume (r = -0.44), blood flow and blood pressure (r = 0.50), blood flow and peripheral resistance (r = -0.67), peripheral resistance and blood viscosity (r = 0.45), and blood viscosity and haematocrit (r = 0.86). There was no correlation between peripheral blood flow and blood viscosity. However, at given blood volume, peripheral blood flow decreased with increasing blood viscosity. These results indicate that in newborn infants peripheral blood flow, blood pressure and peripheral resistance are influenced by blood volume, but also depend on blood viscosity.


Anatomy of the naso-lacrimal duct in new-borns: therapeutic considerations. The topography and morphology of the lacrimal ducts in newborn infants was demonstrated by means of post mortem dacryocystograms and microphotograms of histologic slides. Because of bends in the course of the lower tear duct, a percentage of probings will fail to effect satisfactory perforation of the Hasner membrane. In most cases, the soft texture of this membrane requires no more than syringing under pressure, using a hollow probe as described by Bangerter (1953).


Lymph node excision as a simple diagnostic aid in rare lipidoses. Autopsy material from a case of Niemann-Pick disease was subjected to lipid analysis. Among the six tissues investigated, lymph nodes exhibited the greatest storage of several lipids. Since lymph nodes are relatively easy to obtain by biopsy, they may be utilized for chemical diagnosis of this type of lipidosis.


Self-established porto-caval and porto-pulmonary shunts in mechanically induced portal hypertension. An experimental study. Portal hypertension was mechanically induced in rats by partial constriction of the portal vein. Angiography revealed the spontaneous development of porto-systemic and porto-pulmonary shunts in all hypertensive animals. A coincident decompression of the portal system was recorded. Release of the portal vein constriction led to disappearance of the collaterals in most of the experimental animals.


Exocrine secretion of canine pancreas perfused extracorporeally. A canine gastroduodenopancreatic block was isolated and perfused extracorporeally with homologous blood. This preparation was used for studying stimulated exocrine secretion of the pancreas. Stimulants were infused intra-arterially. Both vagi were stimulated electrically. Hydrochloric acid or L-phenylalanine were instilled intragastrically. Pancreatic secretion induced by secretin and during HCl instillation was rich in bicarbonate and poor in total protein. Pancreatic secretion obtained during the infusion of normal saline, cholecystokinin, bethanechol chloride or acetylcholine chloride and during instillation of amino acid as well as during electrical stimulation of vagi, contained less bicarbonate and more protein than secretin-induced secretion.


Microvascular bypass grafts. Experimental study of pathologic changes in arterial and venous grafts. Experimental autogenous grafts were made on adult Wistar rats using microvascular techniques. 3 months postoperatively, the grafts were controlled by angiography and by histopathological examination. We obtained a total patency rate of 52.7% and we observed that failure of the grafting can be explained by progressive hypertrophy of the walls of the vessels inducing thrombosis.


Hypothalamic LH-releasing activity in young and aged intact and gonadectomized rats. Hypothalamic LH-releasing activity content was measured in young (3-5 mo) and aged (22-26 mo) intact and gonadectomized male and female rats. Hypothalamic extracts (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 hypothalamus equivalents) from young and aged rats were incubated with untreated hemisectioned rat pituitaries in medium 199. All hypothalamic extract treatments stimulated LH release from the incubated pituitaries. Increased amounts of hypothalamic extracts added to to the incubation medium proportionally increased LH release. There were no differences in LH release stimulated by young or aged hypothalamic extracts from either the intact or gonadectomized groups. In addition serum testosterone concentrations were reduced in the aged male rats and serum LH was lower in aged male and female rats than in the young groups. Although serum LH was increased after gonadectomy in all groups, the increase was of smaller magnitude in the aged rats. These data indicate significant alterations in the responsiveness of the hypothalamus to steroid feedback in the aged rat. Although the hypothalamus contains sufficient LH-releasing activity to stimulate higher levels of pituitary and gonadal endocrine function, aging effects on the neuroendocrine control mechanisms inhibit hypothalamic hormone function.


Cognitive maps of environmental knowledge and preference in nursing home patients. Two studies examined cognitive maps of environmental knowledge and preference shown by nursing home patients. In study I, knowledge of the nursing home environment was investigated. Age was found to be negatively related to accuracy in identifying the locations of slide-depicted scenes. Also, patients who had lived several years in the nursing home were less able to identify the locations than were students who received a five-minute exposure to each area. Variable identification performance across areas was determined to be the result of relative visual distinctiveness rather than differential familiarity. Study II examined preference structures for different areas of the nursing home. Patients indicated a marked preference for their own room relative to common areas. Two different models of nursing design were suggested: 1) a social facilitation model emphasizing the allocation of a large proportion of space to common areas, and 2) an ethological model emphasizing preferences of patients for more private space.


Age differences in verbal mediation: a structural and functional analysis. Five experiments were conducted to investigate potential structural and functional differences in verbal mediators given by young and elderly adults to CVC material. Experiment 1 found no significant differences in the complexity and flexibility of mediator formation by the two age groups. Experiment 2 replicated these findings using a different sample and task, and different materials. Additionally, this study also indicated a significant rank order correlation for the particular types of mediators used. Experiment 3 indicated that under some situations young subjects may be able to discriminate young from old mediators while Experiment 4 showed that younger subjects had no preference for which mediator would be most helpful to them in a learning task. Experiment 5 found that, in a paired associate learning task, young subjects learned faster the mediators given by other young subjects. The data were discussed in terms of current methodolical practices and in terms of localizing age-related memory deficits in structure or process variables.


Age differences in a controlled-lag recognition memory task. Sixty subjects, 30 young and 30 old, were treated for word recognition using a controlled-lag method. A significant age differences was found for both recognition and for a subsequent recall task. Young subjects were superior to old on both recognition and recall. The greater the lag between the two presentations of a word, the greater the number of errors for both age groups. Most errors were made towards the beginning of the list, with a sharp drop in the middle, and a slight increase in the end. The older people took more time to complete the recognition task than the young.


The effects of overtraining on mediational processes in elderly males. To examine the effects of overtraining on mediational processes, 81 male residents (aged 55 or above) of a VA domicillary were tested using a two-choice discrimination task. Upon reaching criterion, the men were given, 0, 15, or 30 overtraining trials and then shifted to either a reversal, intradimensional, or extradimensional task. Analysis of the error scores resulted in a significant initial versus shift task main effect and type of shift by initial versus shift task interaction. Further analysis indicated no difference among the three shift groups for the initial task. However, in the shift task, the reversal group had significantly fewer errors than the other two groups who were not statistically different. Participants thus appeared to be mediationally sufficient when reversal and extradimensional tasks were compared, but mediationally deficient when intra- and extradimensional, and reversal and intradimensional tasks were contrasted. While overtraining had no significant effect, examination of the three way interaction suggested potentially facilitative effects of overtraining and a possible regression effect among participants not receiving overtraining.


Instrumentality--terminality values in relation to age. Terminal and instrumental value preference was investigated by asking young adults and older adults to respond to a modified version of the Rokeach Value Survey. Terminal and instrumental values were almost identical among the age and sex groups. Thus, the present data provide no evidence to support the hypothesis that older adults have a higher priority for terminal values than do young adults.


The neuromuscular blocking activity of a new aminoglycoside antibiotic netilmicin sulphate (SCH 20569). The neuromuscular blocking activity of netilmicin sulphate (Sch 20569), a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, was studied on the rat sciatic nerve-gastrocnemius muscle preparation. The i.v. administration of netilmicin caused a gradual fall, up to complete blockade, of the muscular contraction elicited by nerve stimulation. Conversely, the muscular response to direct stimulation was not affected. The response pattern was similar to that seen with known aminoglycoside antibiotics. The acute toxic effects (LD50 i.p. in mice) of netilmicin were antagonized by pretreatment with neostigmine; this latter partially prevented netilmicin-induced blockade, but was not able to reverse it. Calcium chloride was the only agent effective both to prevent and to reverse the neuromuscular blocking effects of netilmicin.


Positive chronotropic and inotropic effects of angiotensin II in the dog heart. The effects of angiotensin II on sinus rate and atrial contractility were investigated in 17 isolated canine atria and 5 isolated paced ventricular preparations perfused with arterial blood conducted from a heparinized donor dog. When angiotensin II was injected into the cannulated sinus node artery, positive chronotropic responses were dose-dependently produced starting from the 0.01 microgram dose although inotropic responses to angiotensin II were not consistently induced. Angiotensin II produced a similar inotropic response pattern in the paced ventricular preparation. Moreover, when angiotensin II was given into the jugular vein of the donor dog, similar positive chronotropic and inotropic responses were also shown in the isolated atrium. Angiotensin II-induced positive chronotropic and slight inotropic effects were not influenced by treatment with the beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents, propranolol and carteolol, but significantly suppressed by saralasin which has been reported to be a competitive antagonist of angiotensin II. From these results, it is suggested that angiotensin II induced a positive chronotropic and slight positive inotropic effect via angiotensin II receptors in the dog heart.


The postjunctional effects and neural release of purine compounds in the guinea-pig vas deferens. The smooth muscle of the in vitro guinea-pig vas deferens was shown to contract upon addition of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP), the order of potency being ATP greater than ADP greater than AMP. Adenosine did not produce contraction. Pretreatment of animals with reserpine or treatment of tissues with an alpha-adrenoceptor blocking agent failed to alter the dose-response relationship for ATP. Because ATP is both a potent contractile agent and is present in the adrenergic storage complex, evidence was sought for the role of ATP as a possible co-transmitter following neural stimulation. Tissues preincubated in 3H-adenosine, a procedure which results in the incorporation of label into 3H-adenine nucleotides in the vas deferens, released significant amounts of tritium upon transmural stimulation. Because contraction per se can contribute to the tritium overflow, experiments were conducted with bathing solution made hypertonic with sucrose (12.5%). Hypertonic solution prevented the electrically induced tissue contraction, but failed to prevent a tetrodotoxin-sensitive release of tritium from tissue preincubated with either 3H-norepinephrine or 3H-adenosine. Because of the known association of ATP with norepinephrine in synaptic vesicles of adrenergic nerves and in view of the present evidence of a postjunctional action of ATP as well as the release of tritium from 3H-adenosine-treated vasa deferentia, it seems possible that in this tissue ATP, in addition to its other functions, may serve as a co-transmitter with norepinephrine.


Regional and systemic haemodynamic changes evoked by 5-hydroxytryptamine in awake and anaesthetized rabbits. The radioactive microsphere method has been used to study the effects of the infusions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on cardiac output and its distribution in both pentobarbital-anaesthetized and conscious rabbits. Doses of 5 and 10 microgram kg-1 min-1 caused progressive decreases in diastolic pressure and total peripheral resistance in the anaesthetized rabbits but not in conscious ones. There was no significant effect on systolic pressure, cardiac output or heart rate. However, in spite of minimal systemic changes, in both groups 5-HT evoked increases in blood flow to the brain, heart and stomach at the expense of the kidneys, skin, liver (hepatic artery) and lungs (bronchial artery plus arteriovenous anastomotic flow). The 10 microgram kg-1 min-1 dose at 5-HT also increased blood flow and decreased resistance in the extracerebral tissues of the head. The significance of these findings in relation to the possible role of 5-HT in the migraine syndrome has been discussed.


Properties of contractions induced by ouabain and K+-free solution in guinea pig taenia coli. The properties of contractions induced by ouabain and by K depletion were studied in comparison with those induced by other stimulants in guinea pig taenia coli. Ouabain 7.5 X 10(-6) M and K depletion produced biphasic contractions with similar time courses. Both contractions were slightly inhibited by low (0.25 mM) and high (7.5 mM) Ca concentrations, while the high K contraction was strongly inhibited by low Ca and potentiated by high Ca. Contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion were highly sensitive to lowering of the temperature and abolished at 15 degrees C, although contractions induced by carbachol 1.1 X 10(-7) M and histamine 5 X 10(-7) M were still observed below 15 degrees C. In Cl deficient solution substituted by SO4 or propionate, contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion were potentiated, while contractions induced by high K, carbachol and histamine were suppressed. These results indicate a striking similarity between contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion suggesting a common mechanism for both contractions.


Structure-activity relationships of bradykinin potentiating peptides. A number of A-VI-5 (Val-Glu-Ser-Ser-Lys) analogues and fragments were synthetized and tested on bradykinin potentiating activity so as to establish the nature of the active group(s) or structural characteristics of some bradykinin potentiating pentapeptides. It could be concluded that (1) the polar groups of the side-chains, such as the two hydroxyl groups of the serine residues, the omega-carboxyl group of the glutamic acid residue and the omega-amino group of the C-terminal lysine, are not essential for the bradykinin potentiating activity; (2) the chain length (at least 5 amino acids) and the lipophilicity of the N-terminal amino acid as well as the whole peptide are of much more importance; (3) the free N-terminal NH2-group is not essential; (4) aromatic amino acids in position 3 of the peptide chain result in highly active bradykinin potentiating peptides.


Effect of papaverine on Ca2+ uptake by a mitochondrial fraction isolated from rat uterine smooth muscle. A mitochondrial fraction was isolated from rat uterine smooth muscle. The effect of papaverine (3 X 10(-6), 10(-5), 3 X 10(-5), 10(-4) M) on Ca2+ accumulation by the fraction was studied. The effect of papaverine was changed by using different substrates for Ca2+ accumulation. Papaverine inhibited the Ca2+ accumulation supported by glutamate plus ATP concentration-dependently. The Ca2+ accumulation supported by ATP alone was also inhibited. On the other hand, the Ca2+ accumulation supported by succinate and ATP was increased by papaverine. The effect was not concentration-dependent; papaverine (3 X 10(-5) M) was the most effective concentration for the effect with a shorter incubation (2 min).


Bencyclan: a new drug with unusual membrane stabilising properties in erythrocytes. Bencyclan, a drug recently introduced to treat peripheral circulatory disease, has been shown to stabilise human erythrocytes in hypotonic saline. Two peaks of maximum stabilisation are present: at 10(-5)--10(-4) M and at 10(-3) M drug concentration.


Apomorphine-induced locomotor stimulation in developing rats treated with 6-hydroxydopa. Apomorphine-induced locomotor stimulation was investigated in the developing rat following injection with 6-hydroxydopa at birth. Treatment with 6-hydroxydopa potentiated locomotor responsiveness to apomorphine in the 20-day-old rat. The 6-hydroxydopa-treated animal at 30 days, however, was less sensitive to the drug than was the control. Apomorphine again elicited more locomotor stimulation in 6-hydroxydopa-treated animals than in the controls on day 50. These results suggest that the altered sensitivity of dopamine receptors induced with 6-hydroxydopa, is influenced by the onset of activity of other "inhibitory" neurons on day 30.


A comparative study of the effects of cinnarizine, sulpiride and thiethylperazine on vestibular nystagmus in rabbits. The effects of cinnarizine, sulpiride, thiethylperazine and a placebo on vestibular nystagmus in rabbits were investigated. The nystagmus was provoked by means of a torsion swing. A suppressive effect was shown by all drugs and not by the placebo. A fast and strong effect was seen after the administration of sulpiride, however this effect decreased after 1 h. The onset of the effect of cinnarizine was slower but the effect lasted longer. Thiethylperazine had a clear suppressive effect but less strong and shorter than that of the other two drugs.


Effect of intracisternal 6-hydroxydopamine on seizure susceptibility in rats. Rats with 60--70% deficits in brain catecholamines produced by the intracisternal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine were examined by 3 tests of seizure susceptibility. In all procedures (minimal and maximal electroshock and flurothyl convulsions) evidence for increased sensitivity to seizures was obtained. All the animals displayed normal rectal temperature at the times of seizure testing and normal blood chemistry at approximately the time of the third seizure test. These observations strengthen the widely held hypothesis that brain catecholaminergic neurons play a fundamental role in governing sensitivity to convulsions.


Sensory defects caused by lesions of the first (SI) and second (SII) somatosensory areas of the dog. Dogs were trained to respond to light tactile stimulation of one of two places on either hindlimb and to flashes of light. One stage or sequential, uni- and/or bilateral lesions were then made in SI and/or SII. The lesions encompassed the hindlimb projection areas, and were placed on the basis of electrophysiological mapping made during surgery. Defects attributable to specific somatosensory deficits were observed after lesions involving SII. No such defects were observed after lesions of SI alone. The defects caused by SII lesions were enhanced by previous or simultaneous lesions of SI. The results suggest that SII rather than SI is of primary importance for the recognition of tactile stimuli, but that SI also may be involved in the tactile conditioned reflex, perhaps as a focus for sensory-motor feedback loops.


Response variability and orientation discrimination of single cells in striate cortex of cat. The response of single cells in the striate cortex of cat to a moving light bar of variable orientation was measured by a method providing data on the mean response as well as the standard deviation (SD) at the different stimulus orientations. At the optimal stimulus orientation the SD was about 1/3 of the mean response. Marked differences in this respect were found between simple and complex cells, i.e., the SD for the simple cells was about 1/2 of the mean response and about 1/4 for the complex cells. The variation coefficient (Vc = SD/mean) was minimal at the optimal orientation and increased relatively in the same manner for simple and complex cells as the stimulus orientation was varied away from optimal orientation. The Vc varied with the mean response at optimal orientation in a nonlinear manner. A function is proposed which fits this relationship and which is equally applicable for both simple and complex cells. The mean orientation discrimination (MOD) was defined as that change in orientation angle away from the optimal which produced a response statistically different--on the 1% level--from the response to the optimal orientation. There were differences in MOD between the two sides of the orientation tuning curve: the mean of the smaller of the two values was 13.5 deg and of the larger 19.7 deg. No significant difference in MOD was found between simple and complex cells despite the fact that the halfwidth of the tuning curves for the two cell types was 19.5 deg and 31.6 deg, respectively. The preciseness in localization of the most sensitive part within the receptive field of single cells was calculated from the variability in time of occurrence of the smallest interspike interval. The degree of preciseness was found to be of the order of 1/4 of the receptive field diameter in both simple and complex cells. When nonoptimal stimulus orientations were presented, the preciseness significantly decreased in complex cells whereas it remained unchanged in simple cells. It is suggested that the same type of intracortical wiring produces orientation selectivity in simple and complex cells, and that the differences in tuning width are mainly due to a larger extension of inhibitory fields in the simple cells. Considering the cortical visual cells as elementary units in a network built for orientation detection and discrimination, the tuning width seems of minor importance for that function.


Reflexes induced by nerve stimulation in walking cats with implanted cuff electrodes. Neural cuffs, implanted around various hindlimb nerves (sural, common peroneal, posterior tibial), were used to deliver brief stimulus trains to unrestrained cats walking on a treadmill. The resulting perturbations of the step cycle were evaluated by analyzing the EMG bursts recorded from the ankle extensors and by high speed cinematography. It was found that relatively weak stimulation (1.4 to 2 X T) of the posterior tibial nerve was very effective in eliciting a prolongation of the flexion phase provided the stimuli were applied just prior to the expected onset of the ankle extensor EMG burst. This ipsilateral hyperflexion was correlated with a prolongation of the contralateral extension. The same stimuli applied during stance usually evoked a yielding of the stimulated leg and a prolongation of the ongoing contralateral stance. In addition to these flexor and extensor reflex effects, it was found that low threshold stimulation of the sural and common peroneal nerves resulted in a powerful reflex activation of the ankle extensors. In contrast, stimulation of the gastrocnemius-soleus nerve (a muscle nerve) produced no discernible behavioral effects, even for stimuli at 3 X T, indicating that the observed reflexes are probably mediated by cutaneous afferents. The results were largely confirmed in experiments using the same cuffs implanted in spontaneously walking premammilliary cats.


Differences in peripheral and foveal effects observed in stabilized vision. Foveal images fade much faster than peripheral images, at light-on as well as at light-off. An opposite result can be obtained, however, in case of unsatisfactory stabilization. The amount and extension of the brightness spreading before the fading depend on the stimulus brightness and its location on the retina. The intensity threshold and the maximal obtainable sharpness of the image decrease towards the periphery, the image becomes wider and sharper on increasing the stimulus intensity. In the foveal area brightness or darkness can be observed (even from stimuli below the foveal threshold) by a filling-in from the periphery, which has a lower threshold. On increasing the stimulus intensity very small pinpoints of light, tiny dots are observable in the foveal area. Each dot measures less than 1 min arc in diameter and is visible for a few hundred milliseconds only. The final sharply contoured foveal percept of a narrow line, observed at higher intensities, is made up of a crowding of these tiny dots. When lines wider than about 10 min arc are used as stimuli these small foveal dots are only seen along the inside contours but not on the (diffuse) interior of the line. In the periphery no tiny dots but only spots of larger size can be observed. At each location of the visual field the final percept seems to be built up from the co-operation of a number of perceptive elements of different sizes. Small elements fade faster, have higher thresholds, habituate more easily on repeated stimulation and become easier activated by small-amplitude stimulus displacements than larger elements. The results described, contradicting some literature date, depend heavily on the quality of the stabilization.


Spatial summation of responses in receptive fields of single cells in cat striate cortex. Spatial summation of responses in striate neurons in cats under N2O/O2 anaesthesia was examined quantitatively both along the line of the optimal stimulus orientation (length summation) using moving light bars and single light and dark edge stimuli, and at right angles to the optimal orientation (width summation) using stationary flashing bars. Activity profiles and length-response curves were prepared from simple, complex and hypercomplex I and II cells. An activity profile indicates the responsiveness of a cell at locations along the length of its receptive field. The activity profiles from all cell types were usually well fitted by Gaussian functions. Length summation occurs both in end-free (simple and complex) and, to a lesser extent, in end-stopped (hypercomplex I and II) cells over a wide range of stimulus contrasts (0.13 to 0.95). The linearity of length summation was tested either by comparing the recorded length-response curves with the curves predicted from the linear integration of the activity profiles or by comparing the response to the activation of two regions of the receptive field with the sum of the responses to each region activated separately. Although length summation was usually non-linear (either greater than or less than direct proportionality) it was more nearly linear in complex than it was in simple and hypercomplex I cells. Mechanisms responsible for non-linear length summation were studied, including a threshold for discharge, response saturation and summation of end-zone inhibition. Complex cells show little width summation for bars wider than 0.3 degrees. In simple and hypercomplex I cells there was also relatively little width summation either in an ON or an OFF discharge region at contrasts above about 0.4 but at lower contrasts width summation may be apporximately linear. Spatial summation of responses does not appear to be a useful characteristic for distinguishing one striate cell type from another.


A new auditory area of the songbird forebrain: a connection between auditory and song control centers. Single unit microelectrode recordings followed by electrolytic lesions which mark the recording sites demonstrate that there is an auditory region of the songbird forebrain that is distinct from and superficial to field L, the primary auditory region of the telencephalon. The location of the superficial auditory area and its large cells suggest identification with HVc, the large-celled telencephalic nucleus which controls song in the canary.


Chronic asymmetry in the extraocular muscles of adult cats: stability in binocularity of cortical neurons. During the first 2 weeks following unilateral severance of the 6 extraocular eye muscles in adult cats, the operated eye is partially immobile as shown by electrooculographic (EOG) recordings of horizontal eye movements. Although the motility of the operated eye improves with time (mainly in terms of amplitude but also with regard to direction and frequency of movements), it does not reach (up to 2 months) the level of the normal eye. Unit recording was done in visual cortex area 17 of these cats while paralyzed, either immediately (acute group, 5 cats), or 3-60 days (chronic group, 6 cats) following the operation. The number of visually inactive cells was slightly higher in the operated cats (13.8%) than in normal cats (8.3%), but the number of nonoriented cells or cells with disorganized receptive fields was similar in both groups of cats. The proportion of binocularly activated cells in the operated cats, especially in the chronic group (greater than 10 days after the operation, 71.2% of 153 cells), was similar to that of the normal control cats (72.8% of 236 cells). No ocular dominance shift was found when either the operated eye was compared to the normal one or the ipsilateral eye to the contralateral one. It was concluded that distortion of afferent proprioceptive input from the extraocular eye muscles to visual centers has no effect on binocularity of cortical neurons in adult cats.


Discharge patterns in the cochlear nucleus of the chinchilla following noise induced asymptotic threshold shift. Chinchillas were exposed to an 86 dB SPL octave band of noise centered at 4.0 kHz for 3.5--5 days. The noise elevated the hearing thresholds between 4.0 and 16.0 kHz to between 60 and 75 dB SPL. Measurements from single neurons in the cochlear nucleus revealed abnormalities in the response properties of neurons with characteristic frequencies (CF) above 2.0 kHz. Units above 2.0 kHz had elevated thresholds (between 50 and 90 dB SPL) and broad tuning curves due to a greater loss in sensitivity near CF than at lower frequencies. The tuning curve Q10dB values for high frequency neurons were generally less than 3.0 and approached the Q10dB values for basilar membrane displacement. Spontaneous activity rates in units above 2.0 kHz were also low. In a few units, the threshold for single tone inhibition was significantly lower than that for excitation; the best inhibitory frequencies were always below 2.0 kHz. Two-tone inhibition was present in both low and high threshold neurons, but its strength was not assessed. Cochleagrams obtained 12 hours postexposure revealed discrete hair cell lesions in the basal third of the cochlea. The locations of the lesions were consistent with the frequencies of maximum hearing loss. The behavioral thresholds and the thresholds at CF  of the most sensitive units were within 10--15 dB of each other. The results indicate that intense sounds reduce the sensitivity, frequency selectivity and spontaneous activity of units in the cochlear nucleus. The findings are similar to those obtained in auditory nerve fibers with ototoxic drugs and hypoxia.


The prefrontal cortex of the cat: anatomical subdivisions based on retrograde labeling of cells in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus. Different areas of the frontal cortex of the cat were injected with small amounts of horseradish peroxidase. The region of labeled cells in the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus (MD) were related to the injected areas. Distinct relations between subdivisions of MD and of the prefrontal cortex were established: a rather large central sector of MD projects to the gyrus proreus and the anterior parts of the gyri sigmoideus, rectus, and frontalis. A narrow lateral band of anterior MD neurons projects predominantly to an area on both sides of the sulcus praesylvius, whereas a postero-lateral band sends fibers to a region on the ventral anterior sylvian gyrus. The area between the presylvian sulcus and the sylvian gyrus is apparently free of MD afferents, but not of other thalamic afferents. A fourth sector of MD, situated dorsomedially, projects to the middle parts of the gyri rectus and frontalis. And a fifth sector, located ventrally to the dorsomedial MD sector, projects to the ventral part of the gyrus rectus. The established subfields of MD and of the prefrontal cortex are discussed with respect to previous anatomical research in the cat.


Electrophysiological properties of identified output neurons of the rat substantia nigra (pars compacta and pars reticulata): evidences for the existence of branched neurons. In Ketamine-anaesthetized rats the nigral efferents to the ipsilateral striatum, to both VL/VM thalamic nuclei and to both superior colliculi were studied. Nigral output neurons were antidromically activated from these target nuclei and characterized by their spontaneous activity and cellular localization within the substantia nigra. Neurons in the pars compacta, which give rise to the dopaminergic nigro-striatal pathway, exhibited a low spontaneous discharg rate (3 to 6/sec) and their axon had a slow conduction velocity (0.33 to 1 m/sec). They were antidromically activated from the striatum only. Neurons in the pars reticulata were characterized by a higher spontaneous activity (20 to 40/sec) anda faster conduction velocity (1.9 m/sec to 10 m/sec). They were antidromically activated from the thalamus, superior colliculus and striatum. Furthermore, some of these neurons were found to have branching axons projecting at least to two of the different target nuclei studied.


Influence of a low-frequency tone on the sensitivity of primary auditory neurons: two fiber populations. The influence of biasing low-frequency tone on the sensitivity of primary auditory nerve fibers to tone bursts at the characteristic frequency is determined. In 7% of the investigated fibers the sensitivity varied systematically with the position of the tone burst within the low-frequency tone period. In the remaining 93% of fibers this dependence was not observed. A comparison of the ratio of these numbers with the ratio of fibers from inner and outer hair cells leads to the suggestion that different responses stem from fibers innervating different types of hair cells.


Time course of the disappearance of pineal noradrenaline following superior cervical ganglionectomy. Pineal glands were collected from superior cervical ganglionectomized (SCGX) and sham-treated rats at time intervals following surgical manipulation. Pineal noradrenaline (NA) levels were quantitated by a radioisotopic-enzyme technique, or the pineals were examined by histofluorescence or electron microscopic techniques. A significant decline in pineal NA content was observed by 12 hours with a virtual disappearance of NA by 24 hours following SCGX. The depletion of NA content correlated with the disappearance of synaptic vesicles and the appearance of generalized fine structural degeneration of the sympathetic nerve endings in the pineals. Then results indicate that less than one day is required to remove all of the potentially, functional neurotransmitter from the denervated pineal gland. These observations agree closely with the time course of degeneration of other sympathetic nerve terminals following SCGX.


Connections of behaviorally identified cat omnipause neurons. The afferent and efferent connections of omnipause neurons involved in saccadic eye movements were studied electrophysiologically in ketamine anesthetized cats. Omnipause neurons were identified by their characteristic discharge pattern which was qualitatively unaltered by ketamine anesthesia.


Erythrocytophagocytosis by arterial smooth muscle cells in experimental atherosclerosis. The morphological examination of advanced atherosclerosis caused by atherogenic diet in the coronary arteries and in the aorta abdominalis (trifurcation) of pigs showed plaque hemorrhage and signs of vascularisation. In these areas phagocytosis of erythrocytes could be observed. The cells involved in the phagocytic process vary considerably in size and shape but show common features of arterial smooth muscle cells. The modulation of smooth muscle cells is evident and progresses as the process of phagocytosis progresses. In early stages of erythrocyte engulfment the morphological characteristics which identify these cells as of smooth muscle origin are parts of surrounding basement membrane, caveolae intracellulares and myofilaments. The authors suggest, that under certain conditions arterial smooth muscle cells participate in phagocytic processes in the injured vessel wall as potential macrophages with lysosomal enzyme adaptation. Changes in extracellular surroundings and the actual situation of the vessel wall condition seem to play an important role in the induction of phagocytosis. Relations to vascularisation processes of the arterial plaques are evident.


Collagen-bound glycoprotein of Guerin epithelioma. The polymeric collagen of Guerin epithelioma is strongly bound to a large amount of noncollagenous substance. Almost full dissociation of this complex was achieved by heating in 7 Murea, at 100 degrees C for 4 hours. The collagen bound substance was identified as an acidic glycoprotein containing glucose, galactose, glucosamine, galactosamine and M-acetylneuraminic acid. Heterogeneity of this substance in regard to molecular weight was found.


Structural changes in brain mitochondria of mice subjected to hyperthermia. Structural changes in brain mitochondria of mice subjected to hyperthermia have been examined under the electron microscope. In electronmicrographs of mice heated up to 41 degrees C the mitochondria were slightly damaged and those heated up to 42 degrees C showed marked destruction.


Differential response to chick skeletal muscle to denervation. A histopathological study with reference to lipid and lipase distribution. The effects of denervation on the three gastrocnemii muscle of chick have been studied with regard to the lipid and lipase distribution on the different fibre types, for a maximum period of 8 weeks after unilateral sciatectomy. The observations exhibit a loss of intrafibrillar lipids which is not on account of enhanced lipolytic activity within the muscle fibres. The lipases also exhibit lowered intrafibrillar activity during the corresponding period and may be one of the several lytic enzymes responsible for the degenerative changes in the muscle cells. The differential response of the three muscles, the muscle bundles in each of them and the different fibre types, to denervation, has been explained on the basis of the balance maintained between the trophic and the intrinsic regulatory mechanisms.


Distinct muscarinic mediation of suspected dopaminergic activity in sympathetic ganglions. The competitive neuromuscular blocking agents, gallamine and pancuronium, enhanced the nictitating membrane contraction, in the cat, resulting from muscarine ganglionic transmission. Inhibition of ganglionic muscarinic hyperpolarization, in response to short tetanic bouts of preganglionic cervical sympathetic stimulation, was an associated event and is considered by us to be causally related. The neuroleptic drug, haloperidol, enhanced ganglionic hyperpolarization under similar stimulatory conditions, and reduced the nictitating membrane contraction elicited via ganglionic muscarine pathways, effects opposite to those produced by the skeletal muscle relaxants. Apomorphine reduced both ganglionic hyperpolarization and the ganglionic muscarinic-induced nictitating membrane contractions. The action of gallamine and pancuronium conforms to a speculative cholinergic antagonism at the specific muscarinic receptors, termed Mi, on the ganglionic dopaminergic interneuron. Haloperiodol and apomorphine are anticipated to be exerting distinct antagonistic and agonistic actions, respectively, on prejunctional dopamine receptors of the ganglionic interneuron. Ganglionic slow depolarization mediated through the muscarinic receptors, termed Me, was unaltered by any of the agents studied.


Amenorrhea-etiologic approach to diagnosis. Amenorrhea is a ubiquitous problem, and clearly tangible causes are evident only in a relatively small number of patients. The clinician should proceed cautiously and select appropriate laboratory studies which will be of maximal benefit to the patient. While the evaluation of endogenous estrogen, skull x-rays, and serum gonadotropin levels are in progress, a continued dialogue with the patient must continue in order to identify factors that may contribute to psychogenic amenorrhea. Continued studies in the area of neuroendocrinology may help to clarify the relationship between the functions of the neocortex and gonadotropin production. Advancements in this area should help the clinician in his attempts to separate dysfunction from organic pathology. Meanwhile, the approach to amenorrhea should be tempered by a constant vigilance for pituitary tumors. The physician must always be aware of the role of psychosocial and nutritional factors in the interruption of the cyclinic mechanism.


Spontaneous pregnancy during the infertility evaluation. Of 299 patients evaluated for infertility between July 1, 1974, and December 31, 1976, 21 (7.2%) became pregnant during the initial evaluation prior to any recognized therapy. A comparative analysis was made between these 21 couples and the 223 completely evaluated infertility couples. No significant difference in sexual, psychiatric, or menstrual history was found. There was a significantly increased incidence of low coital frequency in the pregnancy group (P less than 0.01). The mean duration of infertility was also significantly less (1.6 years versus 2.9 years) in the pregnancy group. It is concluded that the majority of patients who become pregnant during an evaluation for infertility do so because of prior low coital exposure. There was no evidence in this study to support the concept that psychophysiologic factors were altered in these 21 couples during the initial clinical visits.


Profile of women requesting reversal of sterilization. One hundred consecutive patients requesting reversal of sterilization have been analyzed. At the time of sterilization 52% were 25 years old or under and 89% were 30 years old or under. Fifty-three patients were not in a stable marital relationship. The mean number of children per patient was 2.39. Two-thirds of the 47 patients who underwent pueperal sterilization regretted their decision within the 1st year. Twenty-six percent of the patients felt psychologically adversely affected by the procedure. The reason for requesting reversal of sterilization in the majority (63%) was a change in marital status. Other reasons were crib death (17%), desire for more children (10%), psychologic factors (6%) accidental tragedies (4%).


Release of prolactin during pregnancy: effect of sulpiride. The aim of this trial was to study the prolactin-releasing capacity of the pituitary during pregnancy by means of an acute stimulation with sulpiride. Thirty women with normal pregnancies were included in the study (first trimester, nine women; second trimester, eleven women thir trimester, ten women). Each woman received an intramusclar injection of 100 mg of sulpiride sulfate between 8 and 9 A.M. Three similar groups received injections of a saline solution. Blood samples were obtained before and 30 and 60 minutes after the injection. In each sample the prolactin concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. Basal prolactin levels increased during pregnancy. Significant responses to sulpiride were observed during the three stages of pregnancy, and the levels in the second and third trimesters were higher than those in the firsttrimester. The prolactin-releasing capacity of the pituitary, as judged by the response to sulpiride, seems to be maintained during pregnancy.


Salpingitis in ovarian endometriosis.

Salpingitis in ovarian endometriosis. A histologic study of 87 cases of ovarian endometriosis with salpingectomy revealed 29 cases (33%) in which the removed fallopian tubes showed chronic salpingitis. Tubal obstruction could be demonstrated in only one of these patients. Tubo-ovarian adhesions were found in 15 patients (17%) and in only 7 of these in association with salpingitis. Although the patients in the present series did not consult their physicians because of infertility, but rather for other symptoms related to pelvic endometriosis, the finding of chronic salpingitis in 33% of the cases suggests that salpingitis may play a role in the infertility associated with endometriosis, possibly through altered tubal secretion.


Corrosion of copper in utero.

Corrosion of copper in utero. The influence of corrosion on the copper wire in the Copper T-200 intrauterine device (IUD) was studied in devices which had been in utero for 3 to 52 months. This was done mainly by examining cross-sections of the wires under a light microscope. Corrosion was normally localized to narrow areas and led to breakage and fragmentation of the copper wire. Neither deposits on the wire nor corrosion products prevented the dissolution of the copper. The progress of the corrosion over a given time was determined by comparing the depth of corrosion with the original dimension of the wire. The lifetime of the IUD was evaluated on the basis of the progress of corrosion, the calculated copper release, and the number of cases of wire breakage. It was found that the Copper T-200 could be left in place for up to 45 months.


A simultaneous assay to quantitate plasma and endometrial hormone concentrations. A method for radioimmunoassay determination of hormones in both plasma and endometrium is presented. Total estrogen (TE) and progesterone (P) concentrations were measured simultaneously in plasma and endometrium in 59 women throughout the menstrual cycle. TE values in endometrium showed an increase of 0.45 ng/gm wet tissue weight on days 7 to 9, reaching a peak of 4.89 ng/gm wet weight at midcycle; values of 2.2 ng/gm wet weight were constant during the secretory phase. The endometrial P concentrations were 5.31 and 44.93 ng/gm wet weight during the proliferative and luteal phases, respectively. Plasma P levels during the proliferative phase were below 1 ng/ml, in comparison with values above 5.71 ng/ml during the luteal phase. The quadratic coefficients of correlation between plasma and endometrial concentrations of TE and P were 0.8 and 0.9, respectively, indicating that under such conditions modifications in the amount of circulating hormones are reflected in the target tissue. These simultaneous studies may permit further investigation of the role of circulationg hormones in local biologic phenomena.


Effects of prostaglandin F2alpha on egg transport and in vivo egg recovery from the vaginas of rabbits. The effects of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) on egg transport and vaginal egg recovery were examined in rabbits. Little disturbance of egg transport was induced by an injection of 2 or 5 mg/kg of PGF2alpha 12 hours after mating. A remarkable disturbance of egg transport was seen when 5 mg/kg were injected 22 hours after mating. The administration of PGF2alpha24 hours after mating led to maximal vaginal egg recovery: 48.4% and 54.8% of eggs were recovered by 51 hours after treatment, and implantation rates were 3.2% and 6.5% after treatment with 2 and 5 mg/kg, respectively. The earliest eggs were recovered vaginally 3 hours after administration of PGF2alpha at 24, 36, 48, or 96 hours after mating. The recovery of slightly bloody washing fluids at the first and second vaginal washings in animals treated 24 or 36 hours after mating appears to indicate that severe uterine contractions were induced by PGF2alpha.


Interruption of pregnancy in rats by azastene, an inhibitor of ovarian and adrenal steroidogenesis. Azastene (4,4,17alpha-trimethylandrost-5-eno[2,3-d]isoxazol-17-ol), when given orally to rats at a dose of 12 mg/kg once on day 10 of pregnancy, induced resorption of all fetuses and a precipitous decline of circulating progesterone levels in all test animals. The disruption of pregnancy was prevented by a single, concurrent, subcutaneous injection of progesterone (4 mg/rat). Thus, the interruption of pregnancy occurs via an acute, short-term, reversible progesterone withdrawal. The reduction of progesterone levels is brought about by competitive inhibition of ovarian 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. Despite its potency as an interceptive agent, azastene exhibited only moderate endocrine-related effects if given daily for 2 weeks to female rats at doses as high as 1000 mg/kg. Those effects were an increase in the number of vaginal estrous days and a dose-related increase in adrenal weight. The latter effect is consistent with the known adrenal inhibitory properties of this drug.


Hormonal factors related to the incidence of testicular tumors in male pseudohermaphrodite rats. Pieces of testicular tumor from male pseudohermaphrodite (tfm) rats were transplanted between the skin and body wall musculature of 4-day-old female, male, and tfm hosts and to the anterior chambers of the eyes of gonadectomized and intact adult tfm, female, and male hosts. These transplants grew in all hosts except normal males. To determine whether these tumors were hormone-dependent, the levels of circulating gonadotropins were measured in all host types to ascertain which were low in the males and high in all of the others. Prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured in intact and castrated normal and tfm rats. Normal males had low levels of prolactin, estrogen, LH, and FSH; however, transplants grew well in other hosts with low titers of these hormones. Except for normal males, all hosts had high serum levels of LH. Thus, testicular tumors in tfm rats appear to be LH-dependent.


Nursing-mediated prolactin and luteinizing hormone secretion during puerperal lactation. Alterations in plasma prolactin (PRL) concentrations in response to nursing in puerperally lactating women are often significant beyond the 90th postpartum day, yet the increment appears unrelated to the frequency or duration of the nursing stimulus. Tonic gonadotropin secretion is low, assuming a more episodic secretory pattern either when the frequency of breast-feeding is reduced or when weaning takes place. Significant increments in peripheral concentrations of luteinizing hormone can be seen in response to weaning coincident with a fall in peripheral plasma PRL concentration. At the same time, peripheral estrogen concentrations increase, suggesting that a specific set point for ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins exists. Whether this set point is related solely to the peripheral concentration of gonadotropins or whether it is also related to the peripheral PRL concentration is not known at this time.


Human cervical mucus. IV. Viscoelasticity and sperm penetrability during the ovulatory menstrual cycle. Quantitative viscoelastic and sperm penetration measurements were made on individual human cervial mucus samples collected from several ovulatory menstrual cycles. An inverse relationship was found to exist between these two mucus properties, with peak penetrability seen during the ovulatory phase of the cycle when viscoelasticity was lowest. Limited sperm penetration was also observed with follicular phase mucus. When mucus was collected three times daily, the first sample of the day showed reduced pH values and elevated percentage of nondialyzable solids (NDS) and viscoelastcity. Rates of mucus production were calculated for two cycles; the highest rate was seen during the ovulatory phase, with the follicular and luteal phases showing approximately 50% and 30% of this rate, respectively. Limited disparities were noted between midcycle changes in percentage of mucus NDS and viscoelasticity and in blood levels of total estrogens.


Preliminary studies on streoid-binding proteins in human testes of testicular feminization syndrome. This study was designed to detect either 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 17beta-estradiol (E2)-binding protein in the testes of a 1-year-old patient with testicular feminization syndrome (TFS) and in the testes of patients with prostatic cancer. Sucrose gradient analyses revealed E27S protein binding (but no such 7S protein binding of DHT) in the testes of the patient with TFS, but both E2 and DHT 7 S protein binding was observed in normal senile testes. The dissociation constants (Kd) were measured by charcoal adsorption. The Kd of E2 protein binding in both testes of different status was approximately 1.3 x 10(-9) M, and the Kd of DHT protein binding was 2.0 x 10(-9) M in the senile testes. A ligand specificty study indicated characteristics of both E2 and DHT receptors in the senile testes. It is speculated that a deficiency of androgen receptor and the presence of estrogen receptor in the testes of patients with TFS lead to insensitivity to androgen as a result of the androgen receptor deficiency and to sensitivity to estrogen as a result of the presence of the estrogen receptor.


Alterations in human endometrial protein synthesis during the menstrual cycle and in progestone-stimulated organ culture. The cytoplasmic protein content of endometrium from women at various times in the menstrual cycle has been examined by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a double-label isotope technique. Analysis of the gels for altered label ratios suggests an increase in the concentration of a single protein band during the immediate postovulatory period that can be duplicated by the addition of progesterone to organ cultures of preovulatory endometrium. An alteration in the protein content is also observed in the same section of these gels when they are stained and scanned. The protein band of interest migrates on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels at a rate that establishes its approximate molecular weight as 51,500.


Transplantation of a human testis for anorchia. One of two genetically identical twins (30 years old) had been born with two normal testes and the other with none. In the anorchic twin, preoperative serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were extremely high, and the serum testosterone level was extremely low. In the twin with two testes, preoperative serum FSH, LH, and testosterone levels were normal. After successful transplantation of a testis from the twin with two testes to the twin with no testes, using the microvascular technique, the recipient twin developed a normal serum testosterone level within 2 hours of surgery; his FSH and LH levels came down toward a normal range more slowly over the ensuing 4 weeks. The donor's FSH level became mildly elevated 2 days postoperatively but returned to normal by 3 months. Thereafter, serum FSH, LH, and testosterone levels remained persistently normal in both twins. In the donor, pre- and postoperative sperm counts were normal. Preoperatively the recipient's semen had no sperm, but postoperatively the sperm content has slowly increased to normal levels.


Size and size distribution of subfertile human spermatozoa. An improved apparatus for measuring the electrical size (shape factor times volume) of particles based on the Coulter counter principle was used to characterize 110 subfertile semen specimens; size distributions were attainable in the 97 cases with a count above 1 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml. The typical size distribution was unimodal and positively skewed. Spermatozoa maintained a constant profile during their passage through the orifice of the sizing apparatus, with an effective shape factor of 1.28. Two groups of cells were found. The larger one consisted of 68 specimens with a modal volume of 18.1 +/- 2.0 cu micron and a cell count of 27.5 +/- 9.2 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml (mean +/- 1 SD). The smaller group contained 29 cases and had a modal volume of 6.6 +/- 0.9 cu micron and a count of 10.2 +/- 7.8 x 10(6). Samples with cell counts below 10 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml tended to have low modal volumes (less than one-half the normal), but those above showed no particular trend.


Fructose and hormone levels in semen: their correlations with sperm counts and motility. Levels of fructose, growth hormone (GH), prolactin (HPr), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were determined in semen. The samples were obtained from patients attending an infertility clinic and separated into four groups according to the number of spermatozoa. Levels of HPr, LH, and FSH showed significant positive correlations with sperm counts. Significant differences in fructose and hormone levels were found between various groups. Expressed as concentrations of hormones or fructose per milliliter of semen, none of the hormones showed a significant negative correlation with sperm motility whereas fructose showed a significant negative correlation. Expressed as amounts per ejaculate of semen, only prolactin showed a significant positive correlation with sperm motility. The significance of these findings is discussed.


Restoration of cyclic ovarian function by metergoline treatment in a patient with a prolactin-secreting pituitary microadenoma. A patient with amenorrhea due to a prolactin-secreting pituitary microadenoma was treated with the antiserotoninergic drug metergoline for 8 months. The first menstruation occurred after 1 month of therapy, and it was followed by regular menses by the 3rd month. Presumptive evidence of ovulation was obtained in at least some instances by serum progesterone and gonadotropin determination. Serum prolactin was only slightly lowered by treatment. The patient had menses and possibly ovulation in the 2 months following drug withdrawal. Metergoline might restore ovarian function in hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea either by prolactin suppression or perhaps by direct stimulation of gonadotropin release.


Secondary amenorrhea in obesity: etiologic role of weight-related androgen excess. A massively obese, amenorrheic young woman had elevated levels of plasma androgens which could be reduced either acutely by dexamethasone administration or chronically by weight loss. Normalization of plasma androgen levels in both instances led to resumption of ovulation, suggesting that weight-related hyperandrogenism is a cause of amenorrhea in obesity.


[The meaning of nonlinear distortions in the internal ear for acoustic and ultrasonic stimuli]. A comparative study of nonlinear distortion of microphonic potentials in the rabbit cochlear at the air and bone conduction showed equal values for the air as well as for the within the ultrasonic frequency range did not exceed the hearing spectrum values. The hearing response to ultrasonic stimuli was found not to be due to formation of overtones of ower frequencies but to represent rather the direct cochlear response.


[Polyaxonal innervation of frog phasic muscle fibers]. A cholinesterase activity was revealed in two to four regions of each of the 120 fibers isolated from the frog sartorius muscle, which suggests polysynaptic character of innervation of the phasic muscle fibers. Electrophysiological methods showed the participation of different axons in formation of synapses with a single fiber, as well as the existence of synapses with the correlation between EPP's amplitude and strength of stimulation. The data obtained show such EPPs to be connected with polyaxonal innervation of one region of a muscle fiber.


[Adrenosensitivity of isolated rat organs after a change in their noradrenaline content]. The 30-day dynamics of noradrenaline contents after a single administration of guanitidine (50 mg/kg) was similar in the heart and small intestine but different in the vas deferens. The decrease of the noradrenaline content in the small intestine and vas deferens duct was followed by an increase of their adrenosensitivity, and the restoration of noradrenaline level--by a decrease of the adrenosensitivity, which reveals an invert relationship between these parameters (the correlation coefficient for small intestine being 0.78 and for vas deferens duct--0.61). The role of the catecholamine level near the adrenoreceptors in regulation of the adrenosensitivity of effectors is discussed.


[Physiologic properties of heparin--thromboplastin complex]. The complexes of heparin with components of tissue thromboplastine occurring in vivo and in vitro, reveal an anticoagulating and antipolymerizational effects as well as a nonfermentative fibrinolytic activity. The latter becomes obvious in presence of proteinase inhibitors. On i. v. administration, the complex increases the fibrinolytic and anticoagulating properties of the blood. Its nonfermentative fibrinolytic activity in the bloodstream lasts for 60--90 min.


[Importance of the "proximity effect" in recording intracardiac electrograms]. Intracardiac "local" electrograms were recorded and studied in 73 dogs. When unipolar macroelectrode (to 1 mm in diameter) approaches immediately the main conduction pathway the resistance between them disappears, the "proximity effect" takes place and simultaneously the quick and synchronous spread of the excitation wave through the corresponding preferential pathways may be recorded as a spike. Spike potential of the sinus node, atria of the bundle of His obvious during the "proximity effect"; in absence of the latter the above spikes are recorded as rudimentary spikes. The moment of the sinus impulse generation occurs in a form of a spike of this node which precedes by 10--30 msec the onset of P wave on the body surface ECG. The atrial depolarization appears in the intracardiac right atrium ECG in the form of a slow wave A and three superimposed spikes. Genesis of these spikes and the influence of the heart valves upon the amplitude of H potentials and atrial wave A, are discussed.


[Circulatory responses to adrenaline administration at rest, during physical loading and under anesthesia]. In chronic experiments, the effects of 0.5 and 2.5 mcg/kg/min adrenaline infusion on central hemodynamics of conscions and anesthetized dogs were studied. Circulatory reactions elicited by blood volume change and running on treadmill were compared before and during adrenaline infusion. In conscions dogs, infusion of 0.5 mcg/kg/min adrenaline increased cardiac output and central venous pressure, decreased systemic vascular resistance and pumping heart capacity, while mean arterial pressure and heart rate were unchanged. It did not change pumping heart capacity in anesthetized dogs. Infusion of 0.5 mcg/kg/min adrenaline did not change the tendency of hemodynamic reactions on hemorrhage and blood transfusion. Exercise during adrenaline infusion resulted in a more cardiac output increase and lesser heart rate increase than without adrenaline. Infusion of 2.5 mcg/kg/min adrenaline induced more significant increase of arterial pressure in conscions dogs than in anesthetized.


[Effect of phrenicotomy on extravagal diaphragmatic reflexes]. In experiments on decerebrated or anesthetized with nembutal and vagotomized cats responses of phrenic motoneurons were studied before and after bilateral phrenicotomy. The tracheal occlusion and changes of the lung and chest volumes were used as stimuli. Phrenicotomy did not eliminate the responses. As before the diaphragm denervation, tracheal occlusion evoked only a small shortening of inspiration, extending of the expiration and respiratory cycle, decreasing the amplitude of activity of the phrenic nerve. In response to lung inflation expiration was a little shortened. With lung deflation activity of phrenic motoneurons was not changed. Impulses of the diaphragm mechanoreceptors and excitatory intercostal-to-phrenic reflex from caudal intercostal proprioceptors had no significance in regulation of activity of phrenic motoneurons in response to tracheal occlusion and changes of the lung and chest volumes in decerebrated and anesthetized cats.


[Effect of the dynamic factor on the discharge frequency of high threshold pulmonary stretch receptors in cats]. The discharge frequency of high threshold pulmonary stretch receptor at the end of inspiration is much greater than at the corresponding lung volume under static conditions. During inspiratory phase the discharge frequency of some receptors (type IV) is created by dynamic factor by 90% ("rate" receptors). In static conditions the lowering of discharge frequency of most of the receptors under study makes 9--13% at 10s, though in some receptors (type III)--makes 28% at 10s. Properties of most of the pulmonary stretch receptors under study were changed with increasing of threshold. The frequency of discharges during inspiratory phase or lung inflation becomes lower, the influence of dynamic factor on receptor activity becomes relatively potent, the frequency of discharges vs lung volume ratio becomes different.


[Role of pneumotaxic centers in regulating the length of inspiration in decerebrate cats]. Off-switch of pneumotaxic centers (PTC) as well as vagotomy evoked an increment in tidal volume (VT) and inspiratory duration (TI) in quiet breathing. Increase of TI is more pronounced after off-switch of PTC. In such cats lung ventilation is diminished in result of decrease in sensitivity to chemoceptive stimuli. With increment of VT evoked by rebreathing after hyperventilatory apnoae TI at first were increased. Inspirations become apneustic with weak dependence on VT (diapason I). Then TI quickly diminished, inverse relationship between VT and TI was preserved (diapason II). TI reached its minimal values (diapason III). Inspiratory off-switch threshold and minimal TI were more increased after PTC lesion than after vagotomy. PTC and lung stretch receptors affected relationship between VT and TI synonymously, but PTC had a relatively greater importance in its determining.


[Neuronal activity of the submucous plexus of the pyloric and ileocecal sphincters]. In plexus of isolated segments of pyloric and ileo-caecal sphincters of the cat, three types of spontaneously active cells were revealed: 1) with single, 2) with fast, and 3) with slow burst type of discharges, as well as a group of silent neurons only responding to mechanical stimulation with electrode or application of acetylcholine. The data obtained indicated the qualitative unity of neuronal organization of submucous plexus along the alimentary canal, the neurons of the sphincters' plexus included. However, an increasing number of the silent cells and neurons with the single burst activity were revealed in the vicinity of mesenteric border and in the central belt of the segment which, probably, reflected the functional specifics of sphincters.


[Criteria for heat resistance and individual peculiarities]. In white rats, the body temperature recorded in the course of heat effect could not serve as an index of the heat resistance and its alteration in the course of adaptation in these animals. The adequate index of the rat heat resistance turned out to be the period of keeping the body temperature at a plateau level establishing within 30--70 min of the heat action, duration of the plateau significantly increasing in the course of heat adaptation. The individual peculiarities of the organism adaptability varied rather largely.


[Role of a decrease in the body's heat content on the thermoregulatory reaction of the vessels of the external ear]. At the constant ambient temperature 28--30 degrees C the rabbit ear vessels were dilated and their temperature was 34.8/0.1 degrees C. Administration of the 23--29 degrees water into the stomach entailed thermoregulatory constriction of the ear vessels within 15--25 min. The response occurred at various combinations of temperature changes in different parts of the body. The heat content of the rabbit body, as calculated by the blood temperature in the aorta arc, reduced by 266.3 +/- 26.2 cal/kg at the beginning of the response. The decrease in the organism heat content seems to serve as a signal for occurrence of a corresponding thermoregulatory response.


[Role of tissue glycolysis in combined exposure to hypercapnia, hypoxia and hypothermia]. The amount of metabolites of the glycolytic way of carbohydrates transformation and the enzymatic activity were studied in the tissues of brain, myocardium, liver, skeletal muscles, and the blood serum of rats subjected to cooling in conditions of gradually increasing concentrations of CO2 and decreasing concentrations of O2. Single as well as repeated actions of these factors entailed changes of the substrates under study and of some enzymatic activity which revealed a moderate intensification of the glycolysis within the general rearrangement of metabolism during adaptation to sharp hypoxia under the above conditions.


[Autonomic nerve firing and small intestinal motoricity following introduction of a sucrose solution into its lumen]. Changes in potentials and motility of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the small intestine, as well as the impulsation of afferent fibers of the mesenteric, splanchnic, and vagus nerves and the impulsation of sympathetic efferent fibers at the pre- and post-ganglionic levels during excitation of the mucosa by 1 M sucrose solution, were studied in acute experiments on cats. Intraluminal administration of sucrose increased the motility of both muscle layers as well as spike potential and firing rate of mesenteric afferents, decreased the firing rate of the left vagus afferents, and evoked a biphasic change of the firing rate of the left splanchnic afferents. The firing rate of sympathetic efferents increased.


[Proteolytic processes in rat brain and liver during adaptation to cold]. The autolysis and the neutral proteinase activity with respect to protamine in the brain and liver of rats were studied during cold adaptation, on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 15th, and 45th days in the cold chamber at 2--4 degrees C. A short cold effect (1--3 days) decreases the brain autolysis by 33%, the liver one by 18%. The activity of protamine-lytic peptide-hydrolase diminishes nearly by half both in the brain and in the liver. In cold-adapted rats (45 days) the autolysis increases by 50% in the brain and by 24% in the liver. The activity of neutral peptide-hydrolase remains lowered by 43% in the brain and by 36% in the liver. Thus, only autolytic processes are intensified in cold-adapted animals while the neutral peptide-hydrolase does not participate in the increasing protein catabolism in the brain and liver.


[Asymmetric nature of a focus of maximal activity of transcallosal responses]. In immobilized cats, transcollosal (TCR) and direct cortical responses (DCR) from 170 points of the motor cortex, were recorded. The TCR maximal activity focus (MAF) is shifted in relation to the point symmetrical to stimulation (PSS) in oral--caudal direction. Ablation of the cortex around the stimulating electrode is followed by disappearance of TCR in MAF and of PSS and DCR beyond the ablation limits. Ablation of PSS entails diminishing of TCR in MAF. Transection of the corpus callosum eliminates TCR  in MAF and PSS. The MAF shift seems to be due to a relatively strengthened convergence of several excitation flows in PSS, the flows spreading over the callosal fibers and intrahemisphere projections of both hemispheres.


[Excitability levels of the auditory fields of the cerebral cortex in the presence of different experimental effects]. The interrelationships of stimulation thresholds in the auditory cortical areas AI, AII, and Ep were studied in chronic experiments on cats. The linear correlation existed between the fluctuations of excitation levels of the auditory areas. The correlation coefficients could be changed by sound stimulation. Administration of amphetamine and aminazine as well as anodal polarization of the midbrain reticular formation revealed participation of the latter in establishing of the above interrelationships.


[Effect of static work on the baroreceptor reflex in cats]. 10 cats were trained to pull a weight for escaping a noxious stimulation. Arterial pressure and heart rate increased during isometric exercise, while cardiac output did not change. Artificial rising of the blood pressure by noradrenaline infusion or by short-lasting occlusion of thoracic aorta was used to test chronotropic component of the baroreceptor reflex. The baroflex bradycardia was partly inhibited during presentation of conditioned stimulus (tone 1000 Hz) and even more during isometric exercise. Mechanisms of the suppression of baroflex during muscular exercise are discussed.


[Analysis of the activity of fibers in an entire nerve trunk and a study of impulse frequency in sympathetic preganglionic fibers]. The firing rate in type "B" preganglionic sympathetic fibers during strong pressor reactions varied in different fibers from 0 to 80/sec. With an increase of the pressor reaction, the maximum of the density of frequency distribution shifts from 30--40 to 50--60/sec, previously "silent" fibers becoming involved.