bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Long and Winding Road: The Story of Rock Music in Scottish Schools
Authors: Byrne Charles , Sheridan Mark
Published: March 2007

What drives young people to become involved in music making in the secondary school? Changes to the curriculum in Scottish schools over the last three decades have resulted in a marked upturn in the numbers of pupils studying music. The inclusion of a wider range of acceptable instruments for examination purposes has resulted in rock music being accepted as a valid form of music within the curriculum. The paper discusses the growth and development of this phenomenon and the philosophical and practical issues arising from what, in some ways, has been a quiet and gentle revolution. The conditions required to allow this new musical democracy to flourish are examined and Csikszentmihalyi's ‘flow’ model (Csikszentmihalyi, 1992) is suggested as a possible reflective tool that educators can use to monitor, regulate and assess learning in music.
Creativity and Music Education: The Impact of Social Variables
Authors: Macdonald Raymond A.R. , Miell Dorothy
Published: March 2007

Recent publications within the psychology of music and music education have begun to highlight the importance that social factors have for a child's developing musicality, but there is still much to understand about this influence. This paper highlights two projects that investigated aspects of the intrinsically social nature of musical participation. One study investigated the communication (both verbal and musical) taking place during compositions created by friends and non-friends. The second study investigated the musical and communication gains made by individuals with special needs who attended Gamelan workshops. The educational implications of these studies are considered, as are directions for future research.
Heritage: the Survival of Cultural Traditions in a Changing World
Authors: Campbell Patricia Shehan
Published: March 2007

With easy accessibility to recorded music comes the need for our sensitivity regarding what to select and how to avoid presenting distorted pictures of musical cultures, and also the concern as to whether a culture which “owns” its musical traditions can be bought or sold. With this access comes our responsibility for respecting the people whose musical expressions they are, and of taking good care of how we transmit these expressions. Questions for discussion include the use of culturally representative music, the need for a standardized system of recompense for songs from a culture-bearer, consultation with members of a musical community in the selection of music, and the controversial matter of music's preservation intact vs. music as a launch for the creative music-making. The paper concludes with a discussion of Malm's categories of musical change (1993) as relevant to teachers, and a call for action by isme in support for the survival of cultural traditions in a changing world.
Universalism against contextual thinking in multicultural music education – Western colonialism or pluralism?
Authors: Westerlund Heidi
Published: March 2007

Hellenic-Cartesian-Kantian thinking is omnipresent in Western and European culture. This paradigm is culturally lived and experienced in music education as well. Could African thinking in its implicit cultural constructions recall for Westerners their long forgotten ontology? Could African music form a backdrop for the amnesis of Western music teachers and researchers?

What are the concrete structures and practices which constitute knowing and understanding on the basis of sound? For Africans, music signifies social sharing and attendance in the most forceful ways. Is it possible for a Western music educator to gain the experience and insight of the modes of meaning which constitute traditional African music? Models which are based on the typical Western dichotomy between subject and object and between body and mind or which represent atomistic methodological individualism, should be abandoned when African music is included in education and research.
Responsibility for Staff Evaluation
Authors: Tracey John
Published: March 2007

The present model of staff evaluations in the Probation Service was introduced at the beginning of this decade. The purpose of this article is to fit the introduction of evaluations into the managerial thinking which was current at that time. How well has our scheme stood the test of time? Does it meet present day Service needs? Upon what criteria should evaluations be based and where should responsibility for them lie?
You can keep on chewing that Gum, Chum!
Authors: Whyham Mary C.
Published: March 2007

The author feels there may be some lessons for us in the organisation and methods of the Virginia State Probation and Parole Service. Whether they should lead to aversion or conversion, readers must decide.
Acquisition of Scientific Literature in Developing Countries
Authors: Lundu Maurice C. , Lungu Charles B. M.
Published: March 2007

The fourth of a series of articles on the acquisition of scientific literature by libraries in developing countries. Based on a study of the situation in a few institutions selected to be representative of the national picture. Discusses the relationship between technology and information and the problems of transferring technology through the transfer of information. Describes selected scientific and technical libraries and information services in Zambia and their collection development policies. Considers different types of material and different methods of acquisition, including direct purchase, donations, grants, exchanges, interlibrary lending and legal deposit and analyses acquisitions problems. Reviews the future of information transfer in Zambia and present proposals for further action.
Interlending and document supply in Kenya
Authors: Inoti Virginia I. , Matanji Peter
Published: March 2007

Report on a survey of interlibrary lending among academic and special libraries in Kenya, carried out in 1989. Analyzes the results under the headings: holdings; areas of specialization; involvement in interlending; materials lent and borrowed most; volume of interlibrary lending; problems encountered; trends in interlibrary lending; importance of interlending. Discusses the future of interlending in Kenya.
Information technology and information training in West Africa
Authors: Anaba Alemna A.
Published: March 2007

The professional training of librarians for information work in West Africa should be viewed from a very broad perspective instead of the parochial orientation to work in library institutions only. Reviews the extent to which information technology has been incorporated into library science courses in the library schools in West Africa. Concludes that there is still too much reliance on traditional academic courses in librarianship. Suggests that library schools should try to keep pace with new technologies to ensure that future information managers will be able to satisfy the information needs of their clientele. This will also enable library school graduates to work in a variety of organizations dealing with the processing and dissemination of information.
Developing information systems in the water and sanitation sector
Authors: Parker J. Stephen
Published: March 2007

Describes the findings of assignments carried out on behalf of the International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) and concerned with the development of information systems in the water supply and sanitation sector in Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Philippines. Four areas of information activity in the sector have been identified: Project and Sector Information; Management Information Systems; Technical Information Exchange; and Public Information and Promotion. Discusses the information situation in the water and sanitation sector in the four countries in terms of: information users and their needs; the supply of information; organizational structure; manpower; information resources; accommodation and equipment; finance; technical operations; and information products and services. Concludes that the importance of developing information systems in the water sector seems to have been seriously neglected, both by national government and donor agencies. There is a need to improve the quality and level of support for information activities in the sector from external support agencies.
The information age
Authors: Hughes Graeme C.
Published: March 2007

Reviews the economic, social and psychological impact of information technology, which has brought about the Information Age. Information is now being treated as a scientific concept and should also be regarded as an economic commodity. It has also created a new paradigm of thinking. Information technology has an enabling effect at five levels: cost reduction; quality improvement; generation of new products and services; strategic management; and the creation of new ways of thinking. Public policy, particularly educational policy, should take full account of information technology.
Universal Availability of Publications in the developing world
Authors: Iwe Josephine I.
Published: March 2007

Introduces the Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) programme of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and identifies barriers to UAP in developing countries in general, and in Nigeria in particular.
Scientific journals of Sri Lanka
Authors: Amarasuriya Nimala R.
Published: March 2007

Scientific journals occupy a pivotal position in the dissemination of scientific information. The advantages of journals for the communication of scientific research results are outlined. The historical background of scientific and technical journal publishing in Sri Lanka is described. The necessity for publishing national journals and the problems involved in production are discussed. The Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority of Sri Lanka carried out a survey of thirty-eight local scientific and technical journals in order to identify the problems and constraints of scientific journal publishing in the country. Issues identified included: lack of professionally-qualified editors; failure to observe international standards of presentation; inadequate refereeing; lack of coverage by secondary information services; financial problems; poor circulation, distribution and marketing; limited supply of suitable articles; and delays in printing. Suggestions for improving the situation are presented.
Environmental information in Czechoslovakia
Authors: Stanciková Pavia
Published: March 2007

Outlines environmental problems in Czechoslovakia, the nature of environmental information and new recognition of the importance of such information in Czechoslovakia in the European context, following recent political changes. Provides general information about the organizational and legal framework of environmental matters in Czechoslovakia. Describes existing environmental information systems and their problems and the scope of action required. Describes the conceptual framework of the proposed Integrated Information System for Environment of the Slovak Republic, and its proposals with regard to environmental data, information management and public access strategy. Identifies the international cooperation and resources required, and outlines future plans.
Switch from depression to mania, or from mania to depression
Authors: Angst J.
Published: March 2007

By means of two retrospective record studies of 300 patients hospitalized for mania, and 906 patients hospitalized for depression, the rate and point of switch from mania to depression and from depression to mania between 1920 and 1981 were investigated. The switch rate is mainly explained by polarity; patients with a previous history of mania/ hypomania have switch rates of 21 per cent (mania to depression) to 29 per cent (depression to mania)—in prospective studies the rates are around 30 per cent. Unipolar depressive patients have a switch rate of 2.7-4.6 per cent, which may be due to potential bipolars. The switches occur about 4 months after onset of the episodes and about 7 weeks after hospital admission (medians). The lack of any significant change within this time period does not support the existence of a substantial drug-induced switch. The majority of switches seem to occur as a consequence of the spontaneous course of bipolar illness.
Objective and subjective effects of remoxipride, alone and in combination with ethanol or diazepam, on performance in healthy subjects
Authors: Mattila M.J. , Mattila M.E. , Konno K. , Saarialho-Kere U.
Published: March 2007

Effects on human performance of remoxipride (RX), an antipsychotic drug of substituted benzamide structure, were studied in a randomized double-blind crossover trial where 12 young healthy volunteers took at 1 week intervals single oral doses of placebo or remoxipiride 100 mg both alone and in combination with 15 mg diazepam (DZ) or 0.8 g/kg ethanol (EtOH). Objective (digit symbols, tracking, choice reaction, flicker fusion, Maddox wing, body balance, memory) and subjective (visual analogue scales, questionnaire) tests were administered at baseline and 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 h post-treatment.
Difference in scopolamine sensitivity during ageing in rats: dichotomy between behavioural repertoire and learning performances
Authors: Soffié Monique , Bronchart Marie , Lamberty Yves
Published: March 2007

The effects of different doses of scopolamine in adult and aged rats were compared in two behavioural experiments. The first experiment involved visual reversal learning, while the second experiment investigated individual and social behavioural patterns. Results showed that the same dose of scopolamine was more effective in impairing the reverse discrimination in aged than in adult rats. In contrast, low doses which were effective in modifying behavioural patterns in adults, were inactive in aged rats. This difference in scopolamine sensitivity (supersensitivity versus hyposensitivity), observed between the two types of behaviour, is discussed in relation to age-related functional receptor adaptation, selective changes in muscarinic receptors in the different brain areas and dopaminergic- cholinergic interactions.
Opiate receptor modifications in the rat brain after chronic treatment with haloperidol and suipiride
Authors: Giardino L. , Calzà L. , Piazza P.V. , Zanni M. , Sorbera F. , Amato G.
Published: March 2007

Anatomical, electrophysiological and pharmacological data support the existence of a pronounced interaction between dopamine (DA) and opioids. In particular, chronic administration of DA antagonist drugs modifies opiate peptides and opiate receptors. In this paper we focused, by means of quantitative receptor autoradiography, on the modifications induced by chronic neuroleptic treatment, in patches versus diffuse distribution, of opiate receptors in the striatum, and we also studied the different effects of haloperidol and sulpiride on striatal and cortical receptors. We found a significant decrease of the number of (3H)- naloxone binding sites in the striatal patches of treated animals but no effects in the matrix. We also observed, in haloperidol-treated animals, an increase of (3H)-naloxone binding sites in the medial cortex, and in sulpiride-treated animals an increase in the lateral and dorsal cortex. Two main observations arise from our data: (a) a differential effect is produced by neuroleptic treatment on opiate receptors in patches and in matrix; (b) an opposite influence is exerted by sulpiride and haloperidol on opiate receptors in the cortex and in striatum.
Haloperidol-induced catalepsy is modulated by the development of tolerance to amphetamine-induced anorexia
Authors: Streather Angela , Hinson Riley E.
Published: March 2007

The effect of the development of tolerance to amphetamine-anorexia on both amphetamine-induced and haloperidol-induced motor effects was investigated. The animals in experiment 1 showed an acute anorexic reaction to 3 mg/kg amphetamine, whereas the rats in experiment 2 failed to meet the criterion level of acute anorexia. During initial training rats received 13 injections of saline or 3 mg/kg amphetamine intraperitoneally (i.p.) every other day. In both experiments, for one group each amphetamine injection was followed 20 min later by 30 min access to milk (CONT groups). In a second group, each amphetamine injection was followed 24 h later by 30 min access to milk (NONCON groups) and a third group received only saline injections and milk (controls). As expected, in experiment 1 originally anorexic animals in the CONT group developed tolerance, whereas the NONCON and control groups displayed no tolerance to amphetamine-anorexia. The NONCON group showed sig nificantly more stereotypy than either the CONT or control group. Furthermore, following 1.25 mg/kg haloperidol the CONT animals were less cataleptic than the NONCON and control groups which did not differ. In experiment 2, at the end of training the rats in all groups displayed no anorexia following amphetamine injection; they consumed an amount of milk equivalent to that normally consumed under no-drug conditions. Neither was there a difference in the amount of catalepsy between groups following injection of 1.25 mg/kg haloperidol.
Specific α2-adrenoreceptor antagonists induce behavioural activation in the rat
Authors: Dickinson Stephen L. , Gadie Brian , Tulloch Ian F.
Published: March 2007

The behavioural effects of the specific and selective α2-adrenoreceptor antagonists, idazoxan, efaroxan and RX811059, have been investigated in the rat. All three drugs induced periods of behavioural activation characterized by increased locomotion and exploration (rearing and hole dipping). However, these effects were only apparent in animals which were fully habituated to their environments and thus displayed low baseline activity. The behaviour observed lay within the normal range of activity and was not apparent under conditions when exploration was stimulated such as in a novel environment. α 2-Adrenoreceptor antagonist- induced activation was a weak response when compared with the intense and prolonged hyperactivity, in both novel and non-novel environments, induced by the amine releaser D- amphetamine. Possible mechanisms involving a direct action of noradrenaline at postsynaptic α 1-adrenoreceptors (subsequent to enhanced presynaptic α2-receptor feedback blockade) or an indirect action of α2-antagonists on dopamine function in mesolimbic pathways are discussed.
Imipramine in panic disorder. 1. Clinical response and pharmacological changes
Authors: Nutt David J. , Glue Paul
Published: March 2007

Clinical and biochemical variables were monitored in 18 patients with panic disorder before and during treatment with imipramine over 16 weeks. Imipramine dosage was slowly increased from a starting dose of 10 mg daily, to prevent early treatment drop-outs. All patients were effectively treated for at least 6 weeks, and only two patients dropped out before the end of the study. There were substantial reductions in panic attack frequency, ratings of depression and avoidance behaviour, but only small reductions in ratings of state and general anxiety. Plasma levels of the noradrenaline metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl- ethylene glycol initially fell after starting imipramine, but returned to pre-treatment levels by week 8 of treatment. Plasma imipramine and/or desipramine concentrations were very variable and did not correlate with either psychological or biochemical changes during treatment.
Effects of muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists on swim-stress-induced 'behavioural despair' in rats
Authors: Bhattacharya Salil K. , Sen Ananda P.
Published: March 2007

The effects of some selective agonists and antagonists of cholinergic muscarinic receptor subtypes on swim-stress-induced immobility (SI) was investigated in rats. This paradigm has been proposed to assess 'behavioural despair' in rodents as a laboratory model for clinical depression. All the rats were pre-treated with atropine ethoiodide i.p. to obviate any peripheral cholinergic influence. SI was only marginally less in intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) cannulated rats administered artificial cerebrospinal fluid than in uncan nulated rats administered normal saline i.p. The drugs which do not have access across the blood-brain barrier were administered i.c.v. The muscarinic M1 receptor agonists, arecholine and McN-A-343, and the non-specific muscarinic receptor agonist, oxotremorine, induced dose-related increases in SI, whereas the muscarinic M1 receptor antagonists, scopolamine and pirenzepine, and the non-specific antagonist, atropine, produced significant decreases in SI. Carbachol, an M2 receptor agonist, and physostigmine induced a dose- dependent dual effect, with lower doses attenuating and higher doses augmenting SI. The M2 receptor antagonists, gallamine and AF-DX 116, increased SI. The data may be interpreted to suggest that muscarinic M1 receptors may function to accentuate depression whereas muscarinic M2 receptors may exert an inhibitory modulatory effect.
Differential effect of lithium treatment on fenfluramine-induced decreases in food intake and locomotor activity in rats
Authors: Aulakh C.S. , Zohar J. , Wozniak K.M. , Hill J.L. , Murphy D.L.
Published: March 2007

Administration of fenfluramine to rats decreased 1-h food intake and locomotor activity. Short-term (2-6 days) but not long-term (21-25 days) lithium treatment potentiated fenfluramine-induced suppression of food intake. However, neither short-term nor long-term lithium treatment had any significant effect on fenfluramine-induced suppression of locomotor activity. These findings demonstrate a differential effect of lithium treatment on fenfluramine-induced suppression of food intake and locomotor activity. Furthermore, these findings are consistent with results from several other animal and clinical studies demonstrating a differential effect of lithium treatment on two different serotonin-mediated functions.
Clinical and humoral effects of beta-blockade with ICI 118,551 in the general neurotic syndrome
Authors: Tyrer Peter , Marsden Charles , Ferguson Brian , Murphy Siobhan , Hannon Serena , Greenwood David
Published: March 2007

Fifty-six patients satisfying the diagnostic criteria for the general neurotic syndrome, a mixed anxiety-depressive disorder, were randomly allocated to treatment with a selective β 2-blocking drug, ICI 118,551, in a dose of 50 mg tds, or placebo for 4 weeks after a 2-week placebo run-in period. Ratings of anxiety using the Hamilton anxiety rating scale and patient self-assessments in 46 evaluable patients showed no significant difference in the outcome of active drug and placebo groups, and also no significant improvement over time during the study. This unusual finding supports the impression of the general neurotic syndrome as a severe form of neurotic disorder which shows little evidence of placebo response. Diastolic blood pressure was increased and heart rate reduced after 2 weeks on ICI 118,551, and plasma levels of noradrenaline and adrenaline showed no evidence of an expected decrease with active drug; on the contrary the data showed some evidence of increased catecholamine levels. The results suggest that selective β-blockade has little part to play in the treatment of anxiety and that on repeated dosage the effects of selective blockade are attenuated or reversed.
A comparison of sulpiride, dothiepin, diazepam and placebo in the treatment of depressed out-patients
Authors: Mindham R.H.S. , Jerram T.C. , Cole H.L. , Oswald A.G. , Khan S.
Published: March 2007

The effects of sulpiride, dothiepin, diazepam and placebo were compared in out-patients who were suffering from depressive states of moderate severity. No major differences were found between the regimens after 4 weeks administration. A notable finding was the high recovery rate among those patients who received the placebo. The need for drug treatment in the milder depressive states is discussed.
Pain control and mechanisms for the measurement of pain
Authors: Skevington Suzanne M.
Published: March 2007

Three different aspects of pain measurement have been selected for review in this paper. In the first section important scales for the measurement of subjective pain are evaluated and some of the main shortcomings outlined. Then follows a discussion of how perceptions of pain control can be assessed using available scales. Finally ways of looking at coping strategies for pain control are addressed.
Effects of buspirone on fixed interval responding in rats
Authors: Panickar Kiran S. , McNaughton Neil
Published: March 2007

Buspirone is a novel anxiolytic which does not share the muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant and sedative properties of classical anxiolytics such as the benzodiazepines. Its effects in different animal models of anxiety are also variable. The present experiments investigated the effects of buspirone on a fixed interval 60 s schedule of reinforcement (FI). In experiment 1, four doses of buspirone (10, 3.3, 1.1 and 0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) and two doses of chlordiazepoxide (5 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered to separate groups of rats throughout acquisition of the FI task. In experiment 2, four doses of buspirone (1.1, 0.3, 0.1 and 0.03 mg/kg, i.p.) and a single dose of chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg, i.p.) were used. Chlordiazepoxide generally released responding. At higher doses (1.1 mg/kg and above) buspirone suppressed responding in the later parts of the FI interval. The effects of lower doses were variable but included some response release in the later parts of the FI interval. At no dose did buspirone release responding at the beginning of the FI interval. The experiments show that buspirone differs qualitatively as well as quantitatively from chlordiazepoxide and that current animal models based on behavioural inhibition may need to be used with considerable care if detection of novel anxiolytics is to be ensured.
Psychiatric effects of androgenic and anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse in men: a brief review of the literature
Authors: Williamson D.J. , Young A.H.
Published: March 2007

Drug abuse is common in sport and many athletes take large doses of anabolic-androgenic steroids. It has been suspected for some time that these drugs may have psychological effects. In the past, attempts have been made to demonstrate beneficial psychotropic effects. Recent literature suggests a high incidence of psychiatric morbidity in anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers. In addition, some anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers have been noted to exhibit addictive behaviour. Further study of this unique group who self-administer massive doses of synthetic male hormones is warranted.
D-1 dopamine receptors and the topography of unconditioned motor behaviour: studies with the selective, 'full efficacy' benzazepine D-1 agonist SKF 83189
Authors: Daly Siobhan A. , Waddington John L.
Published: March 2007

Approaches to studying the role of the D-1 receptor in the regulation of unconditioned motor behaviour, and the current status of results derived therefrom, are reviewed; the desirability of utilizing drug tools other than the benzazepine partial D-1 agonist SKF 38393 is emphasized, particularly the need for studies with full D-1 agonists. Behavioural responses to the benzazepine putative full D-1 agonist SKF 83189 were compared with those to its high potency but only partial agonist counterpart SKF 77434. Both agents produced qualitatively and generally quantitatively similar behavioural responses, particularly intense grooming in the absence of vacuous chewing; thus, their behavioural properties appeared entirely unrelated to their efficacies to stimulate adenylate cyclase, the classical definition of a D-1 agonist. There may be complex interactions between selectivity, intrinsic activity and CNS penetrability, or a high D-1 receptor reserve ('spare' receptors); however, these results point towards the notion of behaviourally relevant subtypes of D-1 receptor, possibly utilizing transduction mechanisms other than, or additional to, adenylyl cyclase, for which there is emerging evidence.
A comparison of the effects of a secondary task and lorazepam on cognitive performance
Authors: File Sandra E.
Published: March 2007

In order to test whether the lorazepam-induced impairments in a variety of cognitive tasks were similar to those of divided attention, the effects of lorazepam (2.5 mg) in healthy volunteers were compared with those requiring subjects to perform an additional task (detecting silences superimposed onto classical music). Neither treatment impaired implicit memory or judgements of frequency. Both treatments impaired performance in tests of speed, lorazepam having the greatest effect on number cancellation and the additional task having the greatest effect on simple reaction time. Both treatments impaired performance in a coding task, in a test of explicit episodic memory and in judgements of recency (indicating impaired coding of contextual information). Lorazepam significantly reduced performance in a word completion task, but this was unimpaired in the group performing the additional task. In general, the pattern of results suggests that there are similarities between the effects of divided attention and lorazepam treatment, and that lorazepam-induced cognitive impairments are not restricted to explicit tests of episodic memory.
Attenuation of place preference conditioning but not place aversion conditioning by chronic mild stress
Authors: Papp Mariusz , Lappas Spiros , Muscat Richard , Willner Paul
Published: March 2007

Chronic exposure to very mild unpredictable stress has previously been found to reduce or abolish the acquisition of place preference conditioning. In the present study, chronic mild stress was found to abolish the acquisition of preferences for a distinctive environment paired with morphine (0.7 mg/kg). However, chronic mild stress did not impair the acquisition of place aversion conditioning induced by naloxone (0.7 mg/kg) or picrotoxin (2.0 mg/kg). The results demonstrate that chronic stress does not cause a general impairment of associative learning but, rather, a specific impairment of rewarded behaviour.
Potentiation of licking in rats by stimulation of both D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors
Authors: Zarrindast Mohammad-Reza , Roushan-Zamir Farshad , Amir-Rahmat Forough , Moslehi Mojtaba
Published: March 2007

Apomorphine-induced licking in rats was assessed by recording the total number of licks by direct observation. Apomorphine induced licking dose dependently. The maximum response was obtained by 0.5 mg/kg of the drug and 30 min after drug administration. Pre-treatment with dopamine antagonists, sulpiride and SCH 23390 decreased the apomorphine effect. Pre-treatment of animals with reserpine+α-methyl- p-tyrosine (AMPT) increased apomorphine-induced licking. In normal rats the D-2 agonist quinpirole and the D-1 agonist SKF 38393 also induced significant licking. The effect of quinpirole or SKF 38393 was decreased by reserpine+AMPT pre-treatment. Combined treatment with SKF 38393 and quinpirole induced more intense licking in both reserpinized and non-reserpinized animals. It is therefore concluded that the apomorphine-induced licking is mediated through both D-1 and D-2 receptors, and that pre-treatment with reserpine hypersensitizes these receptors to the drug effect. However, for either SKF 38393- or quinpirole-induced licking, the presence of endogenous dopamine seems essential.
Effect of oestradiol treatment on 5-HT and dopamine-mediated neuroendocrine responses
Authors: Best N.R. , Rees M.P. , Barlow D.H. , Cowen P.J.
Published: March 2007

We assessed the effect of oestradiol treatment in women on the endocrine responses to the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) precursor, L-tryptophan (LTP) (5 g i.v.) and the dopamine agonist, apomorphine (0.005 mg/kg s.c.). Following oestradiol implant (100 mg s.c.) the prolactin (PRL) response to LTP was significantly enhanced but there was no change in the growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine. There was, however, a significant correlation between post-implant oestradiol concentrations and post-implant apomorphine-induced GH release. The results indicate that oestrogen treatment may facilitate 5-HT-mediated PRL release and could also influence the regulation of dopamine-mediated GH responses. However, further studies are needed to exclude direct effects of oestradiol on the pituitary release of PRL and GH.
The effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone and scopolamine in Alzheimer's disease and normal volunteers
Authors: Molchan Susan E. , Mellow Alan M. , Hill James L. , Weingartner Herbert , Martinez Rick , Vitiello Benedetto , Sunderland Trey
Published: March 2007

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a neuromodulator and possibly a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, was shown in a prior study of young normal volunteers to attenuate the memory impairment induced by the anticholinergic drug scopolamine. In the present study, the cognitive, behavioral and physiologic effects of high dose TRH (0.5 mg/kg), both alone and following administration of scopolamine, were examined in 10 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients (mean age±SD=63.5 years) and 12 older normal volunteers (mean age=64.9±8.8 years). On the day AD subjects received TRH alone, modest but statistically significant improvement from baseline performance was documented on some tests of learning and memory, especially in those with mild dementia severity. In comparing cognitive test performance between the scopolamine alone and scopolamine+TRH conditions, only two test scores were significantly higher in the latter condition. In the group of older volunteers, TRH did not attenuate scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment, contrary to prior findings in a group of younger controls. In fact, older subjects performed worse after receiving scopolamine followed by TRH than after receiving scopolamine alone. In addition, no change from baseline cognitive performance was detected after subjects received TRH alone. These findings raise several questions and speculations on possible age-related changes in the cholinergic system, as well as on the mechanism of the interaction of TRH with the cholinergic system.
Serotonin and physical illness: focus on non-ulcer dyspepsia
Authors: Dinan Timothy G. , Chua Andrew S. B. , Keeling P.W.N.
Published: March 2007

The prevalence of psychopathology in patients presenting with functional bowel disorder to the gastroenterology department was determined using formal psychiatric rating scales. There was no evidence of excessive psychiatric disorder compared to a group of patients with peptic ulcer disease. However, greater trait scores for neuroticism and introversion were found in the functional disorder group, together with a greater reporting of life events perceived as negative. Central serotoninergic receptor role in the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia was assessed using a neuroendocrine challenge test. Buspirone, an azaspirone, stimulates central serotoninergic-1A receptors and, as a consequence, releases prolactin, and the extent of prolactin release after the challenge is an indicator of central serotoninergic receptor sensitivity. The mean prolactin response was significantly greater in patients with functional dyspepsia than in healthy controls and peptic ulcer disease patients. The sensitivity of the central serotoninergic receptors was also highly correlated with the degree of delayed solid phase gastric emptying assessed scintigraphically. Finally, dyspeptic symptoms can be reproduced in patients by an intravenous cholecystokinin infusion and severity of response was analysed using a visual analogue scale.
Effects of chronic chlorpromazine or lithium administration on ageing-related lipopigment in rat Purkinje neurones
Authors: Dowson J.H. , Wilton-Cox H. , Cairns M.R.
Published: March 2007

Ageing-related accumulation of neuronal lipopigment is considered to be debris from processes of renewal of cellular constituents, but can also reflect cell damage and certain diseases. Chlorpromazine (an example of a class of drug chronically administered in psychiatric practice) has been reported to reduce neuronal lipopigment accumulation, and the present study investigated the effects of 28 weeks of chlorpromazine administration on lipopigment in rat Purkinje neurones. The effects of 26 weeks of lithium administration (also chronically administered in psychiatric practice) were also studied. Lipopigment was identified by fluorescence microscopy and the area enclosed by an outline of each discrete region of lipopigment was measured. While lithium administration was not associated with significant changes in lipopigment variables, chlorpromazine administration was associated with a significant ( p=0.001) reduction in the number of discrete lipopigment regions and with significant ( p=0.001) differences in the numbers of discrete lipopigment regions in various size categories. The findings are similar to those associated with the administration of acetyl-L-carnitine (which has been reported to reduce some morphological and behavioural associations of brain ageing) and are compatible with a reduction in the rate of lipopigment formation. This could reflect an adverse effect of chlorpromazine administration (i.e. reduced functional activity of neurones) or a beneficial effect (i.e. a reduction in ageing-related changes).
BAP/SKB Young Psychopharmacologist Award Towards a neuroendocrinology of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Lucey J.V.
Published: March 2007

Neuroendocrine research has made an important contribution to the understanding of psychiatric illness in vivo. This review is a summary of the recent neuroendocrine studies on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients carried out at the Departments of Psychiatry at Trinity College Medical School and St. Patrick's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. We found that both serotonergic and cholinergic abnormalities were present in OCD, while noradrenergic responsivity and hypothalmic-pituitary axis function were normal. The data suggests that OCD may have a unique neuroendocrinology.
Dyskinesias following treatment with 5-HT re-uptake inhibitors
Authors: Scheepers Bruce D. M. , Rogers Daniel G.
Published: March 2007

Three cases of dyskinesia attributable to selective serotonergic antidepressant drugs are presented. The patients were not on other medication nor had they been in preceding weeks. The movement disorder disappeared on cessation of the drug within a time period corresponding to the expected wash-out for the different preparations. The emergence of dyskinesic symptoms coincided with a significant deterioration in mental state after an initial good response to the particular medication. Considering the apparently selective action of the serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, these cases suggest that movement disorders and psychiatric symptoms are unlikely to be due to single neurotransmitter mechanisms and that a disturbance of the balance between the different systems is a more likely hypothesis.
Critical flicker fusion threshold and anticholinergic effects of chronic antidepressant treatment in remitted depressives
Authors: Hale A.S. , Pinninti N.R.
Published: March 2007

The persistence of deficits in cognitive performance in major depressive patients taking maintenance antidepressant medication was assessed by examining groups of patients in clinical remission, stable on one of a range of tricyclics or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for at least 3 months, compared with controls. Measures of critical flicker fusion (CFF), choice reaction time (CRT), subjective sedation, and anticholinergic side-effect score were made. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) produce a significant deficit in critical flicker fusion threshold compared both to controls and SSRIs. Similar effects were seen with choice reaction times which were significantly affected by age. Sedation scores were significantly higher with TCAs than SSRIs. Anticholinergic side effects were strongly related to CFF, less so to visual analogue sedating scales and not significantly to CRT. The effect measured by CFF is different from sedation, and may be related to the anticholinergic potency of the drug; it may be considered a drug-induced pseudodementia. This effect represents a risk factor for accidents during maintenance therapy and may impair work and leisure performance. The relative risk of weight gain with TCAs compared to SSRIs in women was 5.92 (95% CI 1.79-19.50).
A comparison of the acute effects of a low dose of alcohol on mood and performance of healthy volunteers and subjects with upper respiratory tract illnesses
Authors: Smith A.P. , Whitney H. , Thomas M. , Brockman P. , Perry K.
Published: March 2007

An experiment was carried out to determine whether a low dose of alcohol produced different behavioural effects in healthy volunteers to those suffering from an upper respiratory tract illness. Ninety-nine subjects were tested, with 48 subjects being assigned to the alcohol condition and 51 to the juice only condition. A dose of 1.5 ml of vodka per kg body weight was used and the alcohol manipulation was double-blind. Approximately half of the subjects in each condition were healthy and the others had upper respiratory tract illnesses, probably colds. Subjects with colds reported an increase in negative affect and were slower at performing psychomotor tasks. Few main effects of alcohol were obtained. Of major interest were the interactions between health status and alcohol conditions. The alcohol improved the mood of healthy subjects but produced greater negative moods in subjects with colds. Similarly, performance of selective and sustained attention tasks showed different effects of alcohol in healthy and ill subjects.
The effects of a low tryptophan diet on brain 5 -HT metabolism and 5-HT-mediated neuroendocrine responses in the male rat
Authors: Franklin M. , Cowen P.J. , Craven R.D.
Published: March 2007

The study was undertaken to assess the effects of periods of dietary tryptophan (TRP) depletion on (i) plasma total and free TRP together with brain TRP, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5- HIAA) and (ii) the prolactin (PRL) responses to the 5-HT releasing agent, D-fenfluramine (FEN), and the 5-HT agonist, m-chlorophenylpiperazine ( mCPP). The TRP-deficient diet caused significant reductions in plasma total and free TRP for a short-lived period; however, it caused longer lasting and significant reductions in brain TRP, 5-HT and 5-HIAA content. Following periods of dietary TRP depletion, plasma PRL responses to FEN were significantly reduced for 14 days but had normalised by day 21. In contrast, the PRL responses to mCPP were significantly enhanced after 6 and 21 days, the response at 14 days being similar to control. The result suggests that periods of dietary invoked TRP depletion cause a deficiency of brain TRP content which subsequently leads to a fall in brain 5-HT. This is associated with a reduced PRL response to FEN and an enhanced PRL response to mCPP, the latter possibly resulting from functional up-regulation of post-synaptic 5-HT receptors.
A comparative trial use of sulpiride and risperidone in Huntington's disease: a pilot study
Authors: Reveley M.A. , Dursun S.M. , Andrews H.
Published: March 2007

Sulpiride and risperidone treatment significantly improved the abnormal involuntary movements of two patients with Huntington's disease on both actometer and clinical assessments. However, treatment with risperidone, but not sulpiride, significantly improved the functional activities as assessed by the Functional Disability Scale. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of the successful treatment of Huntington's disease with risperidone.
A novel test of visual learning in the rat: effects of 8 -OH-DPAT and WAY-100579
Authors: Cassaday H.J. , Gaffan E.A.
Published: March 2007

The 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPATand the 5-HT3 antagonist WAY-100579 were tested in a novel computerized visual learning task. Since rats show substantial learning of new problems within each single session, drug effects on new learning could be compared within subjects. Both the reaction time (RT) and choice accuracy were measured. A dose of 0.3 mg/kg of 8-OH-DPAT lengthened the RTs while 0.1 mg/kg of 8-OH-DPAT and 0.1 mg/kg of WAY-100579 shortened the RTs. In the absence of drugs, accuracy was independent of the RT for RTs > 1.5 s. Therefore, in order to unconfound the drug effects on accuracy from motor effects, only responses with longer RTs were analysed. Both 0.3 and 0.1 mg/kg of 8-OH-DPAT and 0.1 mg/kg of WAY-100579 significantly impaired accuracy, though some learning was seen in all cases. These findings may have implications for animal models of Alzheimer's disease.
Involvement of 5 -HT1D receptors in cortical extracellular 5-HT release in guinea-pigs on exposure to the elevated plus maze
Authors: Rex A. , Fink H. , Skingle M. , Marsden C.A.
Published: March 2007

Previous studies have shown that guinea-pigs handled daily from birth exhibit on exposure to the elevated plus maze similar behaviour to rats and increased cortical extracellular 5-HT determined by in vivo microdialysis. The present study investigates the effects of a non-selective 5-HT1 agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) and the 5-HT1D antagonist GR 127935 on behaviour and the release of cortical extracellular 5-HT both in a familiar environment and on exposure to the elevated plus maze. In the familiar environment of the home cage GR 127935 (0.3mg/kg i.p.) had no effect on extracellular 5-HT. The non-selective agonist 5-CT (0.1 mg/kg i.p) produced a prolonged decrease (-25%) in cortical 5-HT release, an effect noT antagonized by GR 127935 (0.3mg/kg). Under aversive conditions, exposure to the elevated plus maze, the release of extracellular 5-HT increased (155% of basal release), an effect abolished by 5-CT. Pre-treatment with the selective 5.HT1D antagonist GR 127935 antagonized the effect of 5-CT on the aversion-induced increase in extracellular 5-HT on exposure to the elevated plus maze, but did not change the effects of 5-CT on basal 5-HT release. The results suggest that GR 127935 is an effective antagonist at the 5 -HT1D terminal autoreceptor in vivo under conditions of increased 5- HT function. Furthermore, the results indicate that the 5-HT 1D receptor in the frontal cortex is functionally active under aversive conditions.
Changes in head twitch response induced by a 5-hydroxytryptamine agonist in mice fed a low-protein diet
Authors: Minakami K. , Shimizu T. , Toriire Y. , Fukuda T.
Published: March 2007

Long-term intake of a protein diet in infants causes the malnutrition syndrome known as kwashiorkor. Neurological symptoms in kwashiorkor have been reported occasionally. We studied the effects of malnutrition on murine behaviour by feeding growing mice a long-term low-protein diet. Three groups of 3-week-old male ddY mice were fed protein-controlled diets of 8,15 and 25% (control group) of total diet weight for 11 weeks immediately after weaning. The number of head twitches in 2 min were measured 2 min after injection of 10 mg/kg 5 -methoxy- N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT), a 5 -hydroxytryptamine (5 -HT) receptor agonist i.p. Organs were weighed after 10 weeks of feeding. Intracerebral monoamines and their metabolites were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Bodyweights of mice that were fed the 8% protein diet for 10 weeks were lower than in the other groups. The frequencies of the 5 -MeODMT-induced head twitch in mice that were fed the 8% low-protein diet for 4, 7 and 10 weeks were, respectively, 37.4, 21.4 and 45.2% those of the control group. The frequencies of head twitch also decreased in mice that were fed the 15% low-protein diet for 7 or 10 weeks. The locomotor activity of the mice was unchanged by the amount of protein in the diet. In assays of intracerebral monoamines, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the whole brain and metabolic turnover of 5-HT increased significantly in mice that were fed the 8% low-protein diet for 11 weeks. Results suggest that head twitches in mice on long-term low-protein diets are suppressed due to the changes in the intracerebral serotonin system.