bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strength of hypoxic vasoconstriction determines shunt fraction in dogs with atelectasis
Authors: Thomas H. M. , Garrett R. C.
Published: December 2017

We investigated the degree to which strength of pulmonary hypoxic vasoconstriction affects perfusion of pulmonary shunt pathways in acute atelectasis. In 17 intact supine dogs (anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated) we produced left lower lobe atelectasis by occluding the lobar bronchus during oxygen inhalation. Subsequently, shunt fraction (reflecting perfusion of that lobe) was measured using an SF6 infusion while the dogs breathed room air; the mean was 26% (range 1413;40%). Pulmonary pressor response to hypoxia was assessed in 13 dogs using the increase in pulmonary end-diastolic gradient (PDG) produced by inhalation of 10% oxygen. Those animals with the largest increase in pulmonary diastolic gradient had the smallest shunt fraction while breathing room air, whereas those with the smallest response had the largest shunt fraction. The contribution of local hypoxia to vasoconstriction in the shunt pathway was assessed in 13 dogs breathing room air by measuring the increase in shunt fraction produced by infusing prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). Those with the largest increase in shunt fraction had the smallest pre-PGE1 shunt fraction. Thus the strength of pulmonary vascular reactivity to hypoxia markedly influences the degree of vasoconstriction in shunt pathways and is a major determinant of shunt pathway perfusion.
Effect of respiratory acidosis on metabolism in exercise
Authors: Ehrsam R. E. , Heigenhauser G. J. , Jones N. L.
Published: December 2017

Five healthy males took part in two separate studies. In one study subjects breathed air (control, C) and in the other 5% CO2 in 21% O2 (respiratory acidosis, RA). Measurements were made at rest, during exercise at 30 and 60% maximal O2 uptake (VO2 max), (20 min each) and in recovery. RA was associated with higher arterial CO2 partial pressure (PCO2) and bicarbonate and lower pH than C. The increase with exercise in plasma lactate (mmol . l-1) was less in RA than C from 1.0 +/- 0.15 (SE) (C = 1.1 +/- 0.17) at rest to 5.3 +/- 1.25 (C = 6.8 +/- 0.98) at 60% VO2 max (P less than 0.10). Plasma pyruvate, alanine, and glycerol concentrations increased with exercise; free fatty acids did not change. There were no significant differences between RA and C in any of these metabolites. Norepinephrine concentrations were similar at rest but increased to a greater extent during exercise in RA than C (P less than 0.02). Epinephrine levels were also higher in RA than C at 60% VO2 max (NS); the two subjects in whom lactate was not lower with RA showed the greatest increase in epinephrine. Exercise in RA was associated with higher heart rates (P less than 0.05), blood pressures (NS), and ventilation (P less than 0.01). In hypercapnia the metabolic effects of acidosis are modified by increased levels of circulating catecholamines.
Hemodynamic response to converting enzyme inhibition at rest and exercise in humans
Authors: Fagard R. , Lijnen P. , Vanhees L. , Amery A.
Published: December 2017

The response of the systemic circulation to acute inhibition of the converting enzyme with 25 mg of oral Captopril (Squibb) was studied in six normal sodium-replete male volunteers at rest and during exercise, together with its effects on exercise capacity for graded uninterrupted exercise. In recumbent subjects at rest Captopril did not affect arterial pressure or heart rate, and plasma renin activity rose 2.5-fold (P less than 0.05). In subjects in the sitting position, at rest and during exercise until exhaustion, Captopril reduced mean brachial intra-arterial pressure by an average of 7 Torr in comparison to placebo (P less than 0.001). Captopril's hypotensive effect was caused by a reduction of systemic vascular resistance (P less than 0.01), without changes of cardiac output (measured by CO2 rebreathing), heart rate, or stroke volume. Plasma renin activity was significantly higher during Captopril (P less than 0.001). Peak oxygen uptake and exercise duration were the same after administration of Captopril or placebo. The data demonstrate that the renin-angiotensin system is not involved in the homeostasis of blood pressure in supine sodium-replete humans, but has a modest role in blood pressure regulation when posture is changed from supine to upright. The orthostatic effect of Captopril is maintained during upright exercise. Furthermore the reduction of systemic vascular resistance by Captopril does not affect peak oxygen uptake.
Effect of posture on the ventilatory response to CO2
Authors: Weissman C. , Abraham B. , Askanazi J. , Milic-Emili J. , Hyman A. I. , Kinney J. M.
Published: December 2017

The effect of sitting and supine posture on breathing patterns and gas exchange during room air breathing and administration of 2 and 4% CO2 was studied in nine normal subjects using a noninvasive canopy system. During air breathing minute ventilation (VE) was 21% (P less than 0.005) higher in the sitting position. Tidal volume (VT) and mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI) were also greater in the sitting position. With the administration of 4% CO2, VE was 13.9 and 20.0 1/min in the supine and seated position, respectively. The relationship between VE and VT was the same in both cases. For any given level of VE, VT/TI was higher in the seated position. No difference in response to CO2 as measured by delta VE/delta PaCO2 and (delta VT/TI)/delta PaCO2 was observed. However, arterial PCO2 was lower both in the resting and stimulated states when sitting.
Respiratory failure after endotoxin infusion in sheep: lung mechanics and lung fluid balance
Authors: Esbenshade A. M. , Newman J. H. , Lams P. M. , Jolles H. , Brigham K. L.
Published: December 2017

Infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin (0.12–0.5 micrograms/kg) into unanesthetized sheep causes transient pulmonary hypertension and several hours of increased lung vascular permeability, after which sheep recover. To produce enough lung injury to result in pulmonary edema with respiratory failure, we infused larger doses of E. coli endotoxin (2.0–5.0 micrograms/kg) into 11 chronically instrumented unanesthetized sheep and continuously measured pulmonary arterial, left atrial and aortic pressures, dynamic lung compliance, lung resistance, and lung lymph flow. We intermittently measured arterial blood gas tensions and pH, made interval chest radiographs, and calculated postmortem extravascular bloodless lung water-to-dry lung weight ratio (EVLW/DLW). Of 11 sheep 8 developed respiratory failure; 7 died spontaneously 6.3 +/- 1.1 h, and one was killed 10 h after endotoxin infusion. All sheep that had a premortem room air alveolar-arterial gradient in partial pressure of O2 (PAo2-Pao2) greater than 42 Torr (58 +/- 5 (SE) Torr) died. Of eight sheep that had radiographs made, six developed radiographically evident interstitial or interstitial and alveolar edema. Pulmonary artery pressure rose from base line 22 +/- 2 to 73 +/- 3 cmH2O and remained elevated above baseline levels until death. There was an initial fourfold decrease in dynamic compliance and sixfold increase in pulmonary resistance; both variables remained abnormal until death. EVLW/DLW increased with increasing survival time after endotoxin infusion, suggesting that pulmonary edema accumulated at the same rate in all fatally injured sheep, regardless of other variables. The best predictor of death was a high PAo2-Pao2. The marked increase in pulmonary resistance and decrease in dynamic compliance occurred too early after endotoxin infusion (15–30 min) to be due to pulmonary edema. The response to high-dose endotoxin in sheep closely resembles acute respiratory failure in humans following gram-negative septicemia. Respiratory failure and death in this model were not due to pulmonary edema alone.
Antiarrhythmic mechanisms during exercise
Authors: Paterson D. J.
Published: December 2017

Exercise disturbs cardiac sympathovagal and ionic balance. In arterial blood, vigorous exercise can double plasma K(+), decrease pH by 0.4 unit, and raise catecholamines 15-fold. If any of these changes are experienced at rest, there is an increased risk of arrhythmia and cardiac arrest, yet in exercise they are usually tolerated. How the heart is protected from the chemical stress caused by exercise is not fully understood but may be related to a collective antiarrhythmic effect of these chemical changes, so when they combine there is a mutual antagonism. Catecholamines can offset the harmful cardiac effects of hyperkalemia and acidosis in isolated hearts and whole hearts in vivo and improve action-potential characteristics in K(+)-depolarized ventricular myocytes. This results from an increase in the inward Ca2(+) current that is modulated by both adrenergic and nonadrenergic hormones. Conversely, hyperkalemia can reduce or abolish the incidence of norepinephrine-induced arrhythmias. The efficacy of the mutual antagonism is reduced when the combination of acidosis, hyperkalemia, and high levels of norepinephrine are superimposed on a heart with regional ischemia or a small infarct. However, the heart may be at greatest risk in the postexercise period when plasma K(+) is low and the adrenergic tone is high. Little is known about this period, but abnormal regulation of electrolyte and cardiac sympathovagal balance may increase the incidence of arrhythmia, especially if there is underlying ischemia. Although regular physical activity can reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death, recent epidemiological studies show that vigorous exercise can trigger myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death, especially in habitually sedentary subjects with coronary artery disease. This may be partly related to disruption of the normal protective mechanism that allows the heart to cope with the chemical stress caused by exercise.
Exhaled nitric oxide during exercise: site of release and modulation by ventilation and blood flow
Authors: Phillips C. R. , Giraud G. D. , Holden W. E.
Published: December 2017

To define the site of release and factors modulating exhaled nitric oxide (NO) during exercise in humans, we measured exhaled NO output during exercise, during exercise after balloon occlusion of the nasopharynx (to exclude nasal NO), and at rest with isocapneic hyperventilation or dobutamine infusion. Exhaled NO output increased from rest to exercise (57 +/- 10 to 171 +/- 30 nl.min-1.m-2; P < 0.003; n = 8). Exclusion of nasal NO reduced exhaled NO at rest and during exercise. Calculated nasal contribution at rest (53 +/- 5%) decreased during exercise (29 +/- 6%; P < 0.05), whereas nonnasal contribution increased (47 +/- 5 to 71 +/- 6%; P < 0.05). Isocapneic hyperventilation at rest increased exhaled NO output (51 +/- 8 to 94 +/- 22 nl.min-1.m-2; P = 0.05). Dobutamine infusion did not increase exhaled NO output. We conclude that nasal exhaled NO decreases (and nonnasal exhaled NO increases) with exercise. We also conclude that, under the conditions of this study, increased exhaled NO output during exercise is more closely related to increased ventilation than to increased blood flow.
Arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreflexes in 60- to 69- vs. 18- to 36-yr-old humans
Authors: Shi X. , Gallagher K. M. , Welch-O'Connor R. M. , Foresman B. H.
Published: December 2017

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that aging diminished baroreflex function during central hypovolemia. Eleven healthy young and eleven older (age 60-69 yr) individuals were assessed by using heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses to neck pressure and suction during rest and lower body negative pressure (LBNP) of -15 Torr. The slope of forearm vascular resistance to central venous pressure during low-level LBNP was assessed as the index of cardiopulmonary baroreflex sensitivity. Baseline cardiovascular variables were not significantly different between the groups. In addition, there was no group difference in cardiopulmonary baroreflex (-3.6 vs. -3.7 units/mmHg for young vs. older, respectively) or carotid baroreflex (-0.39 vs. -0.35 beats.min-1.mmHg-1 and -0.26 vs. -0.35 mmHg/mmHg, for young vs. older, respectively) sensitivity. LBNP did not affect either HR or MAP, whereas it decreased CVP and increased FVR in both groups. LBNP significantly augmented the carotid-HR (-0.47 +/- 0.03 beats.min-1.mmHg-1) and carotid-MAP (-0.42 +/- 0.04 mmHg/mmHg) reflex gains in the young subjects only. We concluded that there was no difference in the discrete baroreflex function between the two age groups; however, the interaction of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors with carotid baroreflex function was absent in the older subjects, suggesting that the central integration of afferent neural inputs from the discrete baroreceptors was altered with aging.
Effect on breathing of ventral medullary surface cooling in neonatal goats
Authors: Lowry T. F. , Forster H. V. , Pan L. G. , Ohtake P. J. , Epshteyn I. , Korducki M. J. , Franciosi R. A.
Published: December 2017

The present study was designed to determine whether neurons near the ventral medullary surface (VMS) that are important to control of breathing in adult mammals are also important to control of breathing in neonates. In 7-day-old goats (n = 22), the VMS was surgically exposed under halothane anesthesia. Stainless steel thermodes (2 x 2 mm) were used to cool (20 degrees C) and thereby create neuronal dysfunction of discrete VMS sites. Bilateral cooling under anesthesia 0-2 or 2-4 mm lateral to the midline between the exit of cranial nerves VI and XII resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) of breathing and most often in apnea. Cooling caudal or rostral to this area did not have a consistent effect on breathing. In 7-day-old goats (n = 8), 3 x 3-mm thermodes were chronically implanted bilaterally on the VMS surface between the exit of cranial nerves VI and XII. The goats recovered and were studied over several days thereafter. VMS cooling while the goats were awake caused breathing to decrease (P < 0.05), but apnea was never observed. The decrease was less (P < 0.05) than while the goats were anesthetized. After 10 s of cooling, the hypopnea while the goats were awake was uniform during eupnea, hypercapnia, hyperoxia, and hypoxia, but after 10 s of cooling, the decrease was relatively greater (P < 0.05) during hyperoxia and hypercapnia. These effects of VMS cooling are qualitatively the same as in adult goats; thus the data are consistent with mature VMS contribution to the control of breathing in neonatal goats.
Blood flow distribution in working in situ canine muscle during blood flow reduction
Authors: Kurdak S. S. , Grassi B. , Wagner P. D. , Hogan M. C.
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine whether reduction in apparent muscle O2 diffusing capacity (Dmo2) calculated during reduced blood flow conditions in maximally working muscle is a reflection of alterations in blood flow distribution. Isolated dog gastrocnemius muscle (n = 6) was stimulated for 3 min to achieve peak O2 uptake (VO2) at two levels of blood flow (controlled by pump perfusion): control (C) conditions at normal perfusion pressure (blood flow = 111 +/- 10 ml.100 g-1.min-1) and reduced blood flow treatment [ischemia (I); 52 +/- 6 ml.100 g-1.min-1]. In addition, maximal vasodilation was achieved by adenosine (A) infusion (10(-2)M) at both levels of blood flow, so that each muscle was subjected randomly to a total of four conditions (C, CA, I, and IA; each separated by 45 min of rest). Muscle blood flow distribution was measured with 15-microns-diameter colored microspheres. A numerical integration technique was used to calculate Dmo2 for each treatment with use of a model that calculates O2 loss along a capillary on the basis of Fick's law of diffusion. Peak VO2 was reduced significantly (P < 0.01) with ischemia and was unchanged by adenosine infusion at either flow rate (10.6 +/- 0.9, 9.7 +/- 1.0, 6.7 +/- 0.2, and 5.9 +/- 0.8 ml.100 g-1.min-1 for C, CA, I, and IA, respectively). Dmo2 was significantly lower by 30-35% (P < 0.01) when flow was reduced (except for CA vs. I; 0.23 +/- 0.03, 0.20 +/- 0.02, 0.16 +/- 0.01, and 0.13 +/- 0.01 ml.100 g-1.min-1.Torr-1 for C, CA, I, and IA, respectively). As expressed by the coefficient of variation (0.45 +/- 0.04, 0.47 +/- 0.04, 0.55 +/- 0.03, and 0.53 +/- 0.04 for C, CA, I, and IA, respectively), blood flow heterogeneity per se was not significantly different among the four conditions when examined by analysis of variance. However, there was a strong negative correlation (r = 0.89, P < 0.05) between Dmo2 and blood flow heterogeneity among the four conditions, suggesting that blood flow redistribution (likely a result of a decrease in the number of perfused capillaries) becomes an increasingly important factor in the determination of Dmo2 as blood flow is diminished.
Role of tachykinins in sulfur dioxide-induced bronchoconstriction in anesthetized guinea pigs
Authors: Hajj A. M. , Burki N. K. , Lee L. Y.
Published: December 2017

To investigate the role of tachykinin release in mediating the bronchoconstrictive effect of sulfur dioxide (SO2) inhalation, measurements of dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), total pulmonary resistance (RL), and arterial blood pressure (ABP) were made in anesthetized guinea pigs. Brief exposure (six tidal breaths) to SO2 at concentrations between 500 and 2,000 parts/million resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in RL, decrease in Cdyn, and systemic hypotension. For example, SO2 at 2,000 parts/million induced reversible and reproducible changes in RL, Cdyn, and ABP of 1,041 +/- 234, -60 +/- 6, and -25.8 +/- 4.3% of the baseline values, respectively. Pretreatment with two selective neurokinin- (NK) receptor (NK1 and NK2) antagonists, CP-99994 and SR-48968, resulted in almost complete inhibition of the increase in RL and of the decrease in Cdyn while preserving the decrease in ABP. Antagonism of the NK2 receptor alone resulted in inhibition of the majority of the SO2-induced bronchoconstriction, whereas that of the NK1 and muscarinic receptors did not have a significant effect. We conclude that the release of tachykinins from sensory endings plays a central role in SO2-induced bronchoconstriction in anesthetized guinea pigs, primarily via the activation of the NK2 receptor.
Catchlike property of human muscle during isovelocity movements
Authors: Binder-Macleod S. A. , Lee S. C.
Published: December 2017

This study examined the catchlike property of skeletal muscle during eccentric and concentric isovelocity contractions of fresh and fatigued quadriceps femoris muscles of 10 healthy subjects. During concentric contractions of fresh muscles, stimulation trains that elicited a catchlike response (CITs) produced greater force outputs and rates of rise force than comparable constant-frequency trains. These enhancements became more pronounced during fatigue. CITs were less effective in enhancing forces during eccentric contractions but did improve the rates of rise of force. Overall, the CIT that produced the greatest augmentation had a 5-ms initial interpulse interval. Proposed mechanisms for the catchlike property involve enhanced muscle stiffness for more efficient transmission of tension and increased calcium release. These results suggest that stimulation trains that take advantage of the catchlike property of skeletal muscle may be helpful during clinical applications where neuromuscular electrical stimulation is used to restore function in patients with damaged central nervous systems.
Effects of inspired gas on sleep-related apnea in the rat
Authors: Christon J. , Carley D. W. , Monti D. , Radulovacki M.
Published: December 2017

Central apneas have been reported to occur in the rat during all stages of sleep. Two types of apnea have been described: spontaneous and postsigh, which are immediately preceded by an augmented breath. We studied the effect of inspired gas on the number and type of apneas in nine adult male Sprague-Dawley rats that were surgically prepared with cortical electroencephalogram and nuchal electromyogram electrodes. In addition to the electroencephalogram and electromyogram, we recorded respiration by the barometric method by using a single-chamber plethysmograph. Each rat was recorded from 1000 until 1600 on 4 separate days by using different inspired gases: room air, 100% O2, 15% O2, and 5% CO2. We found that the sleep-related apnea index was significantly higher during 100% O2 compared with room air (P < 0.05) and was significantly lower during 15% O2 and 5% CO2 compared with room air (P < 0.05). Postsigh apneas occurred more frequently than did spontaneous apneas (P < 0.0001). The coupling between sighs and apneas was strengthened by hyperoxia and weakened by hypoxia and hypercapnia (P < 0.05 for each). We conclude that stimulation of chemoreceptors acts to oppose apnea in the rat.
Responses of primate spinothalamic tract neurons to electrical stimulation of hindlimb peripheral nerves
Authors: Foreman R. D. , Applebaum A. E. , Beall J. E. , Trevino D. L. , Willis W. D.
Published: December 2017

The responses of spinothalamic tract neurons were studied by extra- and intracellular recordings from the lumbosacral spinal cord in anesthetized rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). The neurons were identified by antidromic activation from the contralateral diencephalon. They were then classified by the mildest form of mechanical stimulation applied to the ipsilateral hindlimb. The effects of electrical stimulation of the nerve(s) supplying the receptive field were investigated. Graded electrical stimulation revealed that the threshold responses of spinothalamic tract neurons excited by weak mechanical stimuli occurred when the largest afferent fibers were activated. On the other hand, neurons that required intense mechanical stimulation for their excitation tended to have higher thresholds to electrical stimulation. Some spinothalamic tract cells were shown to receive monosynaptic excitatory connections from peripheral nerve fibers, although polysynaptic connections may generally be more important. An input from unmyelinated afferent fibers was demonstrated. It is concluded the primate spinothalamic tract neurons receive a rich convergent input from a variety of cutaneous receptors. The experiments provide some evidence for the most likely types of receptors.
A neurophysiological analysis of commissural projections to dentate gyrus of the rat
Authors: Deadwyler S. A. , West J. R. , Cotman C. W. , Lynch G. S.
Published: December 2017

The electrophysiological properties of the commissural projections to the dentate gyrus of the rat were investigated using extracellular field-potential and unit-recording techniques. The following conclusions with respect to those investigations were obtained: 1) The CA3c/CA4 region of the contralateral hippocampus proved to be the most effective site for eliciting the commissural field potentials in the dentate gyrus dorsal and ventral leaves. 2) The location of the short-latency negative field potential in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus was restricted to a region 50-100 mum distal to the granule cell layers corresponding to the inner one-third of the granule cell dendrites. 3) The negative field potential proved to satisfy a number of criteria for the extracellular representation of the summed EPSPs of synchronously activated granule cells. 4) The excitatory nature of the commissural projections to the dentate was confirmed by the short-latency driving of units recorded from the granule cell layers. 5) A comparison of both commissural and entorhinal cortical stimulation procedures showed the field potentials elicited by the different convergent anatomical systems to be localized within different regions of the dentate molecular layer. 6) The distribution of commissural potentials along the septotemporal axis of the dentate gyrus indicated that stimulation sites homotopic to the recording electrode in the contralateral CA3c/CA4 region were the most effective in eliciting these potentials. 7) These findings were discussed with reference to the mode of activation of the dentate granule cells by the commissural system with specific comparison to the larger and apparently more powerful projections from the entorhinal cortex.
An electrically evoked slow potential of the frog's retina. II. Identification with PII component of electroretinogram
Authors: Knighton R. W.
Published: December 2017

1. To show conclusively that the electrically evoked retinal response (EERG) is in fact an electrically evoked component of the usual ERG, it is necessary to show that the two responses have the same intraretinal pattern of current generators. A method for determining when two responses have the same origin has been developed. This method utilizes measurements from a single microelectrode penetrating the retina. 2. The method was sensitive enough to detect differences in the origins of two responses when they were present. 3. The EERG had the same intraretinal origin as the PII component of the ERG, and thus is the PII component evoked by electricity rather than by light. 4. The hypothesis that electrical stimuli act on the synaptic terminals of the photoreceptor cells predicts that electrical current will evoke components of the ERG. The fact that the EERG is an electrically evoked component of the ERG fulfills that prediction.
Visual activation of neurons in inferotemporal cortex depends on striate cortex and forebrain commissures
Authors: Rocha-Miranda C. E. , Bender D. B. , Gross C. G. , Mishkin M.
Published: December 2017

Neurons in inferotemporal cortex respond only to visual stimuli and a majority have receptive fields that extend well into both visual half-fields. After bilateral removal of striate cortex, no inferotemporal neurons responded to visual stimuli. After unilateral removal of striate cortex, inferotemporal neurons in both hemispheres responded only to stimuli in the hemifield contralateral to the intact striate cortex. After section of the corpus callosum and anterior commissure, inferotemporal neurons in both hemispheres responded only to stimuli in the hemifield contralateral to the recording site. These results indicate that inferotemporal cortex visual information from striate cortex and that the pathway from striate cortex to the contralateral inferotemporal cortex includes the forebrain commissures. This same striate-temporal pathway is also necessary for normal discrimination learning. We suggest that the converging input onto single inferotemporal neurons from widely separated retinal areas may provide a mechanism for stimulus equivalence over different parts of the visual field, and it may be the absence of such a mechanism that contributes to the visual discrimination deficit that follows inferotemporal lesions.
Neural control of circulation in Aplysia. III. Neurotransmitters
Authors: Liebeswar G. , Goldman J. E. , Koester J. , Mayeri E.
Published: December 2017

In the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica, seven motoneurons have been described which modulate the myogenic heart beat and vasomotor tone (28). These neurons mediate their motor effects by chemical transmission. In this paper we have attempted to specify the transmitters of six of these motoneurons. We have 1) studied the effects of several common transmitters on the innervated structures and compared these effects with the effects of firing the motoneurons, 2) examined whether blocking agents influence similarly the effect of a putative transmitter applied to the innervated structure and the effect of firing a motoneuron, and 3) tested the capability of the motoneurons to synthesize the putative transmitters from precursors. The positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of firing the excitor motoneuron RB(HE) were mimicked by perfusion of the heart with serotonin at a low concentration. Cinanserin blocked both the effects of motoneuron excitation and serotonin perfusion. RB(HE) was also shown to synthesize [3H]serotonin from L-[3H]tryptophan injected directly into the cell body. The effects of firing the two LD(HI) heart-inhibitory motoneurons were mimicked by perfusion of the heart with acetylcholine. Benzoquinonium blocked the effects of the inhibitory motoneuron and acetylcholine perfusion. Perfusion with arecoline also inhibited the heart beat. Acetylcholine applied to the arteries mimicked the vasoconstriction caused by the LB(VC) motoneurons. Aortic constriction in response to activity in LB(VC) cells or to acetylcholine was blocked by hexamethonium and curare. The heart inhibitor and vasoconstrictor motoneurons synthesized [3H] acetylcholine from [3H] choline injected into their cell bodies. Thus, as in vertebrates, acetylcholine mediates inhibition to the heart. Unlike vertebrates, however, serotonin mediates excitation to the heart and acetylcholine mediates peripheral vasoconstriction.
Interaction of pulmonary afferents and pneumotaxic center in control of respiratory pattern in cats
Authors: Feldman J. L. , Gautier H.
Published: December 2017

The interaction between the pulmonary afferents (PA) and the pneumotaxic center (PC) in control of respiratory pattern was studied in lightly anesthetized paralyzed cats before and after bivagotomy or lesions of the PC using inflations controlled by the onset or cessation of phrenic nerve discharge, i.e., cycle-triggered inflations. This interaction was also studied using electrical stimulation of the central stumps of cut vagi. Introduction of a delay between inspiratory onset and the commencement of an inflation at constant flow and duration resulted in increases of the durations of inspiration (T1) and expiration (TE) and amplitude of the integrated phrenic nerve discharge (A). The lung volume at inspiratory cutoff, i.e., the volume threshold, increased markedly as T1 increased. There were linear relationships between T1 and TE and between T1 and A. At constant alveolar CO2 and tidal volume, the quantitative effects of delay were dependent on the rate of inflation; i.e., when the flow increased, the volume threshold for a given T1 decreased. Bilateral vagotomy abolished the effects of delay and flow. PC lesions, which resulted in apneusis when the cycle-triggered inflations were stopped, produced the following changes compared to the delay effects seen in intact cats: a) the volume threshold for zero delay doubled and its rate of decrease with increased T1 was significantly smaller, and b) the change in TE for a given change in T1 was reduced markedly. Introduction of a delay between inspiratory onset and the start of electrical stimulation of the afferent vagi resulted in effects similar to those seen for delays in cycle-triggered inflations. The T1-TE relationship remained linear when the stimulus trains ended with inspiratory cessation. These results suggest that: a) the inspiratory cutoff mechanism is responsive to the rate, as well as the level, of lung inflation; b) all of the lung volume information affecting inspiratory cutoff in paralyzed cats is carried via the vagi; c) an intact PC is necessary for the generation of a normal time dependence of the volume threshold for inspiratory cutoff; d) the PC plays an important role in matching TE to T1 when the latter changes. For inflations and vagal stimulations applied during expiration, with introduction of a delay between inspiratory cessation and the start of cycle-triggered inflation or vagal stimulation, the results indicated that the expiratory cutoff mechanism has an irrevocable phase of 300-450 ms.
Relationship between visual and tactile representations in cat superior colliculus
Authors: Stein B. E. , Magalhaes-Castro B. , Kruger L.
Published: December 2017

A stratified organization of visual, somatic and acoustic representations was observed in the cat SC. Cells of the superficial laminae were exclusively visual. Visual, somatic, and acoustic cells were observed in the intermediate laminae while the deeper laminae were predominantly nonvisual. A detailed examination of the tactile representation revealed a somatotopic plan which was in register with the overlying visuotopy. The magnified representation of central visual fields overlapped the magnified tactile representation of the face and, as visual RFS moved temporally, the underlying tactile RFS were displaced caudal and distal. This topographical overlap can be recognized if the visual field is depicted as a flexible sheet which is stretched over the body with the area centralis superimposed on the nose and the limbs radiating out at an acute angle. The overlapping topographies and similarities in stimulus specificity of somatic and visual cells, as well as the similar behavioral deficits previously described following SC lesions, suggests a functional parallel between modalities in the SC. The possibility that visual, somatic, and acoustic cells converge on a common delivery or distribution system, which is located in the intermediate-deeper SC strata and organizes orienting and following responses on the basis of multimodality cues, is discussed.
Organization of monkey superior colliculus: intermediate layer cells discharging before eye movements
Authors: Mohler C. W. , Wurtz R. H.
Published: December 2017

1. We investigated the characteristics of cells in the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus that increase their rate of discharge before saccadic eye movements. Eye movements were repeatedly elicited by training rhesus monkeys to fixate on a spot of light and to make saccades to other spots of light when the fixation spot was turned off. 2. The eye movement cells showed consistent variations with their depth within the colliculus. The onset of the cell discharge led the eye movement by less time and the duration of the discharge was shorter as the cell was located closer to the dorsal edge of the intermediate layers. The movements fields (that area of the visual field where a saccade into the area is preceded by a burst of cell discharges) of each successive cell also became smaller as the cells were located more dorsally. The profile of peak discharge frequency remained fairly flat throughout the movement field of the cells regardless of depth of the cell within the colliculus. 3. A new type of eye movement-related cell has been found which usually lies at the border between the superficial and intermediate layers. This cell type, the visually triggered movement cell, increased its rate of discharge before saccades made to a visual stimulus but not before spontaneous saccades of equal amplitude made in the light or the dark. A vigorous discharge of these cells before an eye movement was dependent on the presence of a visual target; the cells seemed to combine the visual input of superficial layer cells and the movement-related input of the intermediate layer cells. The size of the movement fields of these cells were about the same size as the visual fields of superficial layer cells just above them...
A determination of excitability changes in dorsal spinocerebellar tract neurons from spike-train analysis
Authors: Knox C. K. , Kubota S. , Poppele R. E.
Published: December 2017

1. Responses of DSCT neurons to random electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves of the hindleg at group I intensity were studied using cross-correlation analysis of the output spike train with the stimulus. Three types of response were found: type 1 was due to monosynaptic activation of DSCT cells, type 2 resulted from inhibition of those cells, and type 3 was due to a long-latency excitation that was probably polysynaptic. 2. Most of the units studied responded to stimulation of both proximal and distal flexor and extensor nerves. The extensive convergence of afferent input on DSCT cells is much greater than has been observed previously, with type 2 and type 3 responses totaling 80% of the observed responses. We attribute this to the sensitivity of the analysis in detecting small changes in postsynaptic excitability. 3. The results of the study, particularly the derivation of postsynaptic excitability changes, generally confirm those of earlier work employing intracellular recording. 4. By varying stimulus rate and stimulus intensity in the group 1 range and simulating the resulting correlations, we conclude that excitability changes in DSCT cells are the net result of complex interactions involving excitation and inhibition. A summary of these findings is presented as a model for the minimum circuitry necessary to account for the observed behavior.
Nonequivalent visual, auditory, and somatic corticotectal influences in cat
Authors: Stein B. E.
Published: December 2017

1. The effects of cortical cooling on the responses of cells to visual, somatic, and acoustic stimuli were studied in the cat superior colliculus (SC). When the visual cortex was cooled, the responses of many visual cells of the SC were depressed or eliminated, but the activity of nonvisual cells remained unchanged. This response depression was found in visual cells located in both superficial and deep laminae and was most pronounced in neurons which were binocular and directionally selective. 2. Cooling somatic and/or auditory cortex had no effect on visual SC cells and, with few exceptions, did not alter the activity of somatic or acoustic cells either. 3. The specificity of visual cortex influences on visual responding in the SC was most apparent in multimodal cells. In trimodal cells, the simultaneous cooling of visual, somatic, and auditory cortex eliminated responses to visual stimuli, but did not affect responses to somatic or acoustic stimuli. Visual responses were returned to the precooling level in both unimodal and multimodal cells by cortical rewarming. 4. The present experiments indicate that despite the organizational parallels among visual, somatic, and acoustic cells of the cat SC, the influences they receive from cortex are non-equivalent. Cortical influences appear to play a more critical role in the responses of visual cells than in the responses of somatic and acoustic cells. These observations raise questions about the functional significance of nonvisual corticotectal systems.
Vestibulothalamic projections in man--a sixth primary sensory pathway
Authors: Hawrylyshyn P. A. , Rubin A. M. , Tasker R. R. , Organ L. W. , Fredrickson J. M.
Published: December 2017

1. Responses suggesting activation of the vestibular system, elicited by electrical stimulation of the human thalamus during 22 routine stereotaxic neurosurgical procedures, were examined in a retrospective study to determine the possible existence of vestibulothalamo-cortical projections in man. 2. Such responses were most frequently described as sensations of movement through space and were associated with two distinct vestibulothalamic projections: a) an anterior relay was situated ventral to the medial lemniscus, passing lateral to the red nucleus and dorsal to the subthalamic nucleus prior to terminating in the nucleus ventrointermedius (Vim) (comparable to VPLo in primates); b) a posterior relay associated with the auditory pathway (lateral lemniscus and brachium of the inferior colliculus) projected to the medial geniculate body. 3. The production of sensations of motion in conscious patients by stimulating areas that are similar to those reported constituting vestibulothalamic pathways in cats and primates implies a distinct primary sensory cortical projection for processing information from the vestibular receptors pertaining to the recognition of spatial movements.
Neuronal mechanisms underlying physiological tremor
Authors: Allum J. H. , Dietz V. , Freund H. J.
Published: December 2017

1. Tremor force was recorded during stationary isometric contractions of intrinsic hand muscles of normal subjects. Subjects maintained a steady force level between their thumb and forefinger for 30 s. The force level varied from weak (0.2 kg) to strong contractions (7 kg). These experimental conditions were the same as those in two preceding studies, where single motor-unit activity (14) and the correlation between the discharges of two simultaneously recorded motor units and physiological tremor (11) have been investigated. 2. Two alterations of the power spectra were observed at successively stronger contractions: increase of tremor amplitude and changes in the shape of the power spectrum. At all force levels, the power spectra of tremor force show the well-known decay of tremor amplitude from the lower to the higher frequencies with a local peak at 6--10 Hz. This peak does not show a significant change with respect to frequency when the force level is varied. It is shifted toward lower frequencies in a pathological condition (Parkinsonism) where the recruitment firing rates of the motor units are significantly lower than in the normal. 3. Higher frequencies (greater than 20 Hz) are barely present in the power spectrum during the very weak contractions. They become significant as the contractions become stronger. 4. The steep decay of the power spectrum toward higher frequencies has a similar slope (--43 dB/decade) as the reduction in amplitude of the unfused part of the muscle contractions with increasing stimulus rates (--38 dB/decade). The cutoff of the power spectrum above 25 Hz parallels the achievement of total fusion of muscle twitches above this rate. 5. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the power spectrum over the range of 6--25 Hz is mainly caused by the unfused parts of the twitch contractions of motor units firing between recruitment (6--8/s) and total fusion of the twitches (25--30/s). The decline of the power spectrum toward higher frequencies can be explained by mechanical damping, which results from increasing fusion of the twitch contractions. The low-frequency part of the power spectrum is assumed to be the result of the slow force deviations produced by changes in the net output of the motoneuron pool. 6. These assumptions were supported by additional animal experiments where the number and rate of force-producing elements could be controlled. Bundles of ventral root filaments innervating cat soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were stimulated synchronously and asynchronously at a number of different rates. The force output of the strain gauge was recorded, filtered, and analyzed in the same way as the human force records. 7. Stimualtion of one nerve bundle at one fixed frequency led to a sharp peak in the power spectrum at that frequency plus peaks of decreasing height representing the harmonics of the stimulation frequency. The height of the peaks decreased at --37 dB/decade. 8...
A single-unit analysis of inferior colliculus in unanesthetized bats: response patterns and spike-count functions generated by constant-frequency and frequency-modulated sounds
Authors: Pollak G. K. , Marsh D. S. , Bodenhamer R. , Souther A.
Published: December 2017

1. Single-unit activity evoked by constant-frequency (CF) and frequency-modulated (FM) sounds was recorded from the inferior colliculus of unanesthetized Mexican free-tailed bats. The FM bursts were designed to mimic the natural orientation cries emitted by this species. 2. The feature of greatest concern in this study is the response patterns evoked by acoustic signals. Four major types of response patterns are recognized: a) the phasic on patterns where up to 4 spikes were evoked with a total firing duration occurring within a period of about 5 ms, b) the on-off patterns characterized by a phasic on-response followed by a silent interval with a brief burst of impulses occurring to the off-set of the signal, c) the phasic burst patterns where the unit typically fired 3-7 spikes over a 5-10 ms (or longer) duration with the same response pattern being evoked by a wide range of signal durations, d) the tonic or sustained patterns characterized by a sustained firing whose duration faithfully followed the signal duration. 3. Constant frequency and FM signals were not equally effective for eliciting the various response patterns. While all of the major response categories and most of the subtypes were evoked with CF stimulation, FM signals, which mimicked the natural echolocation cries, evoked predominantly phasic on-responses and a much smaller number of phasic bursters. Tonic and on-off patterns were never observed with FM signals. 4. Many units exhibited a particular response pattern with CF signals which differed from the pattern evoked by FM signals. This finding demonstrated that utilizing CF signals to investigate encoding features relevant for echolocation is an inappropriate approach and can result in misleading conclusions. 5. In many electrode penetrations most units, and in some cases all units, had the same response pattern. This was observed for phasic constant-latency responders (pELRs), phasic erratic-latency responders (pELRs), phasic burst, and tonic units, and provides evidence that units having a particular response pattern are organized in vertical arrays within the volliculus. 6. Several of the response patterns were strongly correlated with a particular spike-count function. The pCLRs almost always had a steeply rising monotonic function, phasic bursters were always nonmonotonic but never upper threshold, while the tonic units typically had monotonic functions. The pELRs were heterogeneous with regard to spike counts having monotonic, nonmonotonic, and upper-threshold functions. Upper-threshold functions were observed only in pELRs.
Generation of scratching. I. Activity of spinal interneurons during scratching
Authors: Berkinblit M. B. , Deliagina T. G. , Feldman A. G. , Gelfand I. M. , Orlovsky G. N.
Published: December 2017

1. In decerebrate, curarized cats, stimulation of the cervical spinal cord evoked fictitious scratching (9), i.e., periodical activity of the hindlimb motoneurons with a discharge pattern typical of actual scratching (cycle duration about 250 ms, flexor phase about 200 ms, extensor phase about 50 ms). During fictitious scratching, extra-cellular records were obtained from 182 spinal neurons located in different regions of the gray matter cross section (except for the motor nuclei), from segments L4 and L5. 2. The firing rate of 73% of neurons was rhythmically modulated in relation with the scratch cycle. Most of the modulated neurons fired in bursts and were silent between bursts. They were located mainly in Rexed's (22) layer VII. 3. Burst onsets ("switchings on" of the neurons) were distributed rather evenly throughout the scratch cycle except for a small maximum at the very beginning of the cycle (the cycle was assumed to start with the termination of the extensor phase). Burst terminations ("switchings off") in the overwhelming majority of the neurons were distributed over the last-third part of the cycle. As a result, those neurons which began to fire earlier in the cycle usually had longer bursts, compared to the neurons which began to fire later. Besides, since there were very few switchings off in the first half of the cycle, the number of simultaneously active neurons increased during the first half of the cycle, reached the maximum somewhat later than the middle of the cycle, and considerably decreased by the end of the cycle. 4. With more intensive scratching, the firing rate in the bursts considerably increased in all neurons tested, while the duration of the scratch cycle changed only slightly. 5. A correlation between the burst position in the cycle and the behavior during the latent period of scratching (when stimulation of the cervical spinal cord had already been started but rhythmical oscillations had not yet appeared) was found in many neurons. Most of the neurons which began to fire at the beginning of the scratch cycle and had long bursts were tonically activated during the latent period. On the contrary, most of the neurons which fired in short bursts at the end of the cycle were either inhibited or not affected during this period. 6. A correlation betwen the burst position in the cycle and the frequency pattern was found in many neurons. In most of the neurons which began to fire in the first half of the cycle (except for the very beginning), the discharge rate increased in the course of the burst. In the remaining neurons, the discharge rate changed only slightly during the burst. 7. Hypotheses concerning organization of the spinal mechanism of scratching are discussed.