bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Prenatal Survival Rate at 70 days of Gestation and Morphometric Parameters of Vagina, Uterus and Placenta in Gilts
Authors: Vianna WL , Pinese ME , de Campos Rosseto A , Bombonato PP , Rodrigues PHM , de Sant'Anna Moretti A 
Published: December 2004

ContentsSwine uterine capacity affects litter size, and it could be used as a selection parameter of reproductive performance. Although there are some controversial results, evidences show that the catheter penetration length is positively correlated with litter size, and it could be used as a tool for predicting selection methods. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any association between the prenatal survival rate and placental size at 70 days of gestation, the vaginal length [catheter penetration length during artificial insemination (AI)] and the uterine capacity in a homogeneous group of gilts. Sixty‐six commercial‐line gilts in pre‐pubertal phase had their oestrus induced by hormonal treatment [600 UI of Equine Chorionic Gonadtrophin (eCG) i.m. and after a 72‐h period 5 mg of luteinizing hormone (LH) i.m.], but only 40 gilts showed cyclicity after induction. The AI catheter penetration length was tested on these 40 gilts at the moment of AI using a calibrated AI catheter. Four gilts returned to oestrus and the other 36 were killed at around day 69 of pregnancy. The uterine length and weight showed a significant and positive correlation with the prenatal survival rate (p < 0.05). The catheter penetration length was unable to predict the conceptus survival rate on 70 days of gestation; however, the uterine size influenced the survival rate positively. The mean placental area was positively correlated with the mean placental weight (p < 0.0001), and both with the mean foetal weight (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The analysis of the results obtained showed that neither did the catheter penetration length measurement during AI, nor the prenatal survival rate on day 70 of pregnancy predict the uterine capacity, but the uterine and placental size had a significant influence on the prenatal survival and foetus weight, respectively.
Production of Lambs After the Transfer of Fresh and Cryopreserved in vitro Produced Embryos from Prepubertal Lamb Oocytes and Unsorted and Sex‐sorted Frozen‐thawed Spermatozoa
Authors: Morton KM , Catt SL , Hollinshead FK , Maxwell WMC , Evans G 
Published: December 2004

ContentsCumulus‐oocyte complexes from hormone‐stimulated 3–4‐week‐old (n = 43) and 6–7‐week‐old (n = 12) prepubertal lambs were matured in vitro and incubated with unsorted, or X‐ or Y‐spermatozoa separated with a high‐speed cell sorter (SX MoFlo®) frozen‐thawed. Presumptive zygotes were then cultured to the blastocyst stage, and transferred to recipients fresh or after cryopreservation (frozen). Oocyte cleavage was higher (p < 0.05) with unsorted (515/926, 55.6%) than X‐ or Y‐spermatozoa (261/672, 38.8% and 229/651, 35.2%, respectively) and blastocyst formation (% zygotes) by Day 9 of in vitro culture was lower (p < 0.05) for X‐ (102/261, 39.1%) than unsorted spermatozoa (249/515, 48.3%), but did not differ between Y‐spermatozoa (103/229, 45.0%) and unsorted spermatozoa, or between X‐ and Y‐spermatozoa (p > 0.05). For fresh embryos, survival to term was 50.0% (3/6) for unsorted, 0.0% (0/6) for X‐ and 16.7% (1/6) for Y‐spermatozoa‐derived embryos (p > 0.05), and for frozen embryos was 4.0% (2/50) for unsorted, 9.1% (2/22) for X‐ and 2.9% (1/34) Y‐spermatozoa‐derived embryos (p > 0.05). Of the two lambs born from X‐spermatozoa‐derived embryos, one was female (50%), and from the two Y‐spermatozoa‐derived lambs, both were male (100%), demonstrating that lambs can be produced after the transfer of fresh and cryopreserved IVP embryos derived from prepubertal lamb oocytes and frozen‐thawed sex‐sorted sperm.
Lack of association between occult hepatitis B virus DNA viral load and aminotransferase levels in patients with hepatitis C virus‐related chronic liver disease
Authors: FUJIWARA KEI , TANAKA YASUHITO , ORITO ETSURO , OHNO TOMOYOSHI , KATO TAKANOBU , SUGAUCHI FUMINAKA , SUZUKI SEIJI , HATTORI YUKO , SAKURAI MAYUMI , HASEGAWA IZUMI , OZASA TAKASHI , KANIE FUTOSHI , KANO HIDEYUKI , UEDA RYUZO , MIZOKAMI MASASHI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected patients might enhance the severity of chronic liver disease (CLD). To elucidate the correlation between occult HBV infection and the clinical course of HCV‐related CLD, we evaluated whether the fluctuation of occult HBV‐DNA directly affects the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level.Methods:  Forty‐one patients with HCV‐related CLD who received regular outpatient treatment and 42 age‐, sex‐, and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen positivity‐matched healthy volunteers were enrolled. Serum HBV‐DNA was quantitatively detected using real‐time detection polymerase chain reaction (RTD–PCR). Serial serum samples in three patients were measured for HBV‐DNA, ALT and HCV core antigen.Results:  Hepatitis B virus DNA was amplified in eight of the HCV‐related CLD patients (19.5%), which was significantly higher than that of healthy volunteers (2.4%). No significant difference between the genotype 1 HCV‐related CLD group and the genotype 2 group was found. Based on the analyses using serial serum samples, the elevation of HBV‐DNA did not occur before the ALT flares, but occurred at the same time or after the ALT flares.Conclusions:  The prevalence of occult HBV infection of HCV‐related CLD is significantly higher than that of control. Occult HBV infection has no influence on ALT flares among patients with HCV‐related CLD.
An enigmatic eye: the histology of the tuatara pineal complex
Authors: Ung Casey Y‐J , Molteno Anthony CB 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim:To examine the histology of the tuatara pineal complex and to compare findings wtih those of Dendy. Some reptiles have an anatomically sophisticated pineal complex with a median pineal eye, a paraphysis and a pineal sac. In comparison, the human pineal gland is simple and homogenous and thought to be a phylogenetic relic. It is now considered a neuroendocrine gland the function of which is still not fully understood. Its simple anatomical structure is in contrast to its biochemical complexity; its secretions (the most studied being melatonin) modifying the function of the adeno‐ and neurohypophysis, thyroid and parathyroids, adrenal cortex and medulla, endocrine pancreas and the gonads.Methods:Histological sections of the brain of a neonatal tuatara were studied by light microscopy.Results:The histological findings of the pineal eye demonstrated a cornea‐like structure, rudimentary lens and simple retina. The adjacent paraphysis was a large, multisaccular organ and the pineal sac a very large saccular organ with a poorly differentiated retina.Conclusion:The pineal eye of the tuatara has a remarkably eye‐like structure with photoreceptors that in other reptiles have been shown to exhibit photoreceptive capabilities. The paraphysis appeared to have a secretory function that is as yet undetermined, while the pineal sac had the appearance of a poorly differentiated retina. Thus it appears that the complex biochemistry of the human pineal gland is reflected in the complex anatomical structure of this primitive reptile.
Application of physical principles in the development of tonometry
Authors: Stuckey Gordon C 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA review of the development of applanation tonometry is undertaken from the perspective of the physical principles involved. Original articles that have contributed to this process are discussed. The result of this endeavour leads to a conclusion that corneal thinning procedures have no effect on original intraocular pressure. Also concluded is a methodology that would allow the direct measurement of original intraocular pressure.
Developments in the management of uveal melanoma
Authors: Damato Bertil 
Published: December 2004

AbstractUveal melanomas threaten visual loss, enucleation, and death from metastatic disease. Most patients present because of symptoms, but failures of detection and diagnosis still occur commonly. Treatments aimed at avoiding enucleation include: plaque, proton beam or stereotactic radiotherapy; trans‐scleral or trans‐retinal local resection; and transpupillary thermotherapy. Increasingly, different modalities are being used in combination. The ocular outcomes are related to tumour size, location, spread and cell type. Metastatic disease occurs in many patients and is related to factors such as tumour dimensions, ciliary body involvement, cell type, extravascular matrix patterns and cytogenetics. Abnormalities related to chromosomes 3, 6 and 8 are strongly related to tumour behaviour, for the first time enabling survival probability to be estimated with a high degree of reliability in an individual patient. This enables high‐risk individuals to be targeted for screening while providing reassurance to those with a minimal chance of developing metastatic disease. Such targeting would allow selection of patients for adjuvant systemic therapy, should a suitable treatment become available, and would also facilitate the evaluation of such treatment by increasing the statistical power of any randomized prospective study. The high mortality in patients with monosomy 3 melanoma suggests that in these patients ocular treatment is only palliative. Cytogenetic studies suggest that some melanomas may never develop any metastatic potential and if these impressions are confirmed by further studies, then in these patients the main priority of treatment would be to conserve vision.
Transiently higher release probability during critical period at thalamocortical synapses in the mouse barrel cortex: relevance to differential short‐term plasticity of AMPA and NMDA EPSCs and possible involvement of silent synapses
Authors: Yanagisawa Takufumi , Tsumoto Tadaharu , Kimura Fumitaka 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThalamocortical connections undergo remarkable plasticity during the critical period and mounting evidence serves to demonstrate that the activation of silent synapses at postsynaptic sites is an important underlying mechanism in this process. However, relatively little is known about the nature of the presynaptic properties. In the present study, we examined the release probability (Pr) of thalamocortical synaptic terminals on a layer IV neuron in the developing mouse barrel cortex. Using the conventional paired‐pulse ratio (PPR) method, both AMPA and NMDA receptor‐mediated PPR were observed during development. We found that the NMDA PPR increased gradually (thus, a reduction in Pr) from postnatal day (P)4 to P22 but, unexpectedly, the AMPA PPR exhibited a simultaneous decrease. We then used an additional method for assessing release probability, the observation of a progressive block of NMDA receptor‐mediated EPSCs using MK‐801. With this method, we were able to identify two classes of terminals with high or low probabilities of release. Interestingly, the higher release showed a reduction in probability during the critical period, consistent with the NMDA PPR results. We confirmed that the discrepancy between the NMDA and the AMPA PPR results was due to the existence of silent, or NMDA‐only, synapses, as suggested in previous literature. By analysing the correlation between the NMDA or AMPA PPR and the PPR discrepancy, we discuss the hypothesis that the terminals with transiently higher probability of release were found preferentially on silent synapses. Our results suggest that these presynaptic sites may also have an active role in plasticity by working concomitantly with postsynaptic sites during the critical period.
Nitric oxide modulates the transfer function between cones and horizontal cells during changing conditions of ambient illumination
Authors: Levy H. , Twig G. , Perlman I. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIt has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) serves as a retinal neuromodulator, adjusting retinal function to changing conditions of adaptation. We tested this hypothesis in the intact turtle retina by recording the photoresponses of L‐cones and L1‐horizontal cells, while changing retinal NO level and background illumination. Raising the retinal level of NO, by adding an NO donor (sodium nitroprusside) or the precursor for NO synthesis (l‐arginine), induced response augmentation in L‐cones and L1‐horizonmtal cells. Lowering retinal level of NO by adding l‐NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthesis, reduced the amplitudes of the photoresponses in these retinal neurons. The transfer function between L‐cones and L1‐horizontal cells, constructed from the photoresponses of these cells, was modified by NO and by background lights. The nonlinear transfer function, characteristic of the dark‐adapted retina, became linear and of low gain when the retinal NO level was increased or by increasing the level of ambient illumination. In contrast, inhibiting NO synthesis in the light‐adapted retina induced nonlinearity in the cone‐to‐horizontal cell transfer function similar to that seen in the dark‐adapted state. NADPH diaphorase histochemistry, conducted on isolated retinal cells, demonstrated activity in cone inner segments and distal process of Müller cells. These findings support the hypothesis that NO synthesis in the distal turtle retina is triggered by background illumination, and that NO acts to adjust the modes of visual information processing in the outer plexiform layer to the conditions required during continuous background illumination.
Recovery and refractoriness of auditory evoked fields after gaps in click trains
Authors: Gutschalk Alexander , Patterson Roy D. , Uppenkamp Stefan , Scherg Michael , Rupp André 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWhen clicks are presented in a train at a rate above ∼5 Hz, they evoke a sustained field in human auditory cortex that can be recorded by magnetoencephalography. In this study we evaluated how this sustained field continues when a click train is interrupted by a silent gap. The stimuli were click trains with interclick intervals of either 12 or 24 ms, which produce pitches of 83.3 or 41.7 Hz, respectively. The click trains were 996 ms in duration with a gap of 12, 24, 48, 96, or 192 ms beginning 504 ms post‐stimulus onset. The sustained field for click trains with short gaps was similar to the one evoked by a continuous click train. Subtraction of the response evoked by a solitary click train of 504 ms enabled estimation of the sustained field in the interval after the gap. The comparison revealed that the sustained field amplitude after the gap was larger than that at the onset of the initial click train in the interval from 150 to 350 ms after onset, and the difference decreased with gap duration. In contrast, the transient P1m was refractory for gaps up to 48 ms, but had nearly recovered its initial amplitude for gaps of 192 ms. We discuss how these results might relate to the perception, i.e. if an interrupted click train is perceived as one continuous sound with a transient gap or as two successive events.
Clozapine‐, but not haloperidol‐, induced increases in ΔFosB‐like immunoreactivity are completely blocked in the striatum of mice lacking D3 dopamine receptors
Authors: Robertson George S. , Lee Christopher J. , Sridhar Kavita , Nakabeppu Yusaku , Cheng Michael , Wang Yan‐Min , Caron Marc G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractOn the basis of anatomical and pharmacological evidence, we have proposed that D3 receptor antagonism plays a role in the mediation of clozapine‐, but not haloperidol‐, induced immediate‐early gene expression in the striatum. To test this hypothesis directly, we compared the effects of repeated administration of vehicle (8 mL/kg/day), clozapine (20 mg/kg/day) and haloperidol (2 mg/kg/day) for 17 days on expression of ΔFosB‐like immunoreactivity (ΔFosB‐Ir) in the island of Calleja major, nucleus accumbens and caudate‐putamen of wild‐type C57Bl6 (WT) and D3 receptor knockout (D3KO) mice. In vehicle‐treated mice, the number of ΔFosB‐Ir neurons in the nucleus accumbens was greater in D3KO than in WT mice. This finding is consistent with results implicating D3 receptor activation in the tonic inhibition of this limbic structure. Unlike rats, clozapine significantly increased the number of ΔFosB‐Ir neurons in both the nucleus accumbens and the caudate‐putamen of WT mice albeit to a lesser extent in the caudate‐putamen than nucleus accumbens. Similar to rats, however, ΔFosB‐Ir in the island of Calleja major of WT mice was elevated by clozapine but not by haloperidol. In the nucleus accumbens and caudate‐putamen, haloperidol produced similar increases in ΔFosB‐Ir in WT and D3KO mice. By contrast, clozapine‐induced increases in ΔFosB‐Ir in the island of Calleja major, nucleus accumbens and caudate‐putamen of WT mice were absent in D3KO mice. These findings, which indicate that D3 receptor blockade is essential for clozapine‐induced increases in striatal ΔFosB‐Ir, suggest that D3 receptor antagonism may contribute to the unique therapeutic profile of this atypical antipsychotic.
Pre‐ and postsynaptic GABAA receptors at reciprocal dendrodendritic synapses in the olfactory bulb
Authors: Panzanelli Patrizia , Homanics Gregg E. , Ottersen Ole Petter , Fritschy Jean‐Marc , Sassoè‐Pognetto Marco 
Published: December 2004

AbstractPresynaptic ionotropic receptors are important regulators of synaptic function; however, little is known about their organization in the presynaptic membrane. We show here a different spatial organization of presynaptic and postsynaptic GABAA receptors at reciprocal dendrodendritic synapses between mitral and granule cells in the rat olfactory bulb. Using postembedding electron microscopy, we have found that mitral cell dendrites express GABAA receptors at postsynaptic specializations of symmetric (GABAergic) synapses, as well as at presynaptic sites of asymmetric (glutamatergic) synapses. Analysis of the subsynaptic distribution of gold particles revealed that in symmetric synapses GABAA receptors are distributed along the entire postsynaptic membrane, whereas in asymmetric synapses they are concentrated at the edge of the presynaptic specialization. To assess the specificity of immunogold labelling, we analysed the olfactory bulbs of mutant mice lacking the α1 subunit of GABAA receptors. We found that in wild‐type mice α1 subunit immunoreactivity was similar to that observed in rats, whereas in knockout mice the immunolabelling was abolished. These results indicate that in mitral cell dendrites GABAA receptors are distributed in a perisynaptic domain that surrounds the presynaptic specialization. Such presynaptic receptors may be activated by spillover of GABA from adjacent inhibitory synapses and modulate glutamate release, thereby providing a novel mechanism regulating dendrodendritic inhibition in the olfactory bulb.
Cilium‐attached and excised patch‐clamp recordings of odourant‐activated Ca‐dependent K channels from chemosensory cilia of olfactory receptor neurons
Authors: Delgado Ricardo , Bacigalupo Juan 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIt has previously been proposed that a Ca2+‐dependent K+ conductance is implicated in the inhibitory odourant response in rat and toad olfactory receptor neurons. Previous whole‐cell and single‐channel measurements on inside‐out excised patches, in addition to immunochemical evidence, indicated the presence of Ca2+‐dependent K+ channels in olfactory cilia, the transducing structures of these sensory cells. Ca2+‐dependent K+ channels opened in ‘on‐cilium’ membrane patches from C. caudiverbera upon odourant stimulation. Furthermore, after excision in the inside‐out configuration, the channel could be opened by micromolar Ca2+, in a Ca2+‐dependent fashion, but it was unresponsive to cyclic AMP. We estimated that the Ca2+ concentration in the proximity of a Ca2+‐dependent K+ channel within the cilia reaches at least 100 µm during the odour response. The K+ channel displayed a higher selectivity for K+ than for Na+. Our results support a role for this Ca2+‐dependent K+ channel in chemotransduction.
The role of NGF uptake in selective vulnerability to cell death in ageing sympathetic neurons
Authors: Gatzinsky Kliment P. , Thrasivoulou Christopher , Campioni‐Noack Maddalena , Underwood Clare , Cowen Tim 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe have examined the hypothesis that differences in nerve growth factor (NGF) uptake and transport determine vulnerability to age‐related neurodegeneration. Neurons projecting to cerebral blood vessels (CV) in aged rats are more vulnerable to age‐related degeneration than those projecting to the iris. Uptake of NGF was therefore examined in sympathetic neurons projecting from the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) to CV and iris in young and old rats by treating the peripheral processes of these neurons with different doses of I125‐NGF. Total uptake of I125‐NGF was reduced in old CV‐projecting, but not iris‐projecting, neurons. Numbers of radiolabelled neurons projecting to each target were counted in sectioned ganglia. The data showed age‐related reductions in numbers of labelled neurons projecting to CV, but no change in numbers of neurons projecting to the iris. Calculation of uptake of I125‐NGF per neuron unexpectedly showed no major age‐related differences in either of the two neuron populations. However, uptake per neuron was considerably lower for young and old CV‐projecting, compared to iris‐projecting, SCG neurons. We hypothesized that variations in NGF uptake might affect neuronal survival in old age. Counts of SCG neurons using a physical disector following retrograde tracing with Fluorogold confirmed the selective vulnerability of CV‐projecting neurons by showing a significant 37% loss of these neurons in the period between 15 and 24 months. In contrast, there was no significant loss of iris‐projecting neurons. We conclude that vulnerability to, or protection from, age‐related neurodegeneration and neuronal cell death are associated with life‐long low, or high, levels of NGF uptake, respectively.
Pro‐VGF‐derived peptides induce penile erection in male rats: possible involvement of oxytocin
Authors: Succu Salvatora , Cocco Cristina , Mascia Maria Stefania , Melis Tiziana , Melis Maria Rosaria , Possenti Roberta , Levi Andrea , Ferri Gian Luca , Argiolas Antonio 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe effect of five peptides derived from the C‐terminal portion of rat pro‐VGF (VGF577‐617, VGF588‐617, VGF599‐617, VGF556‐576 and VGF588‐597) on penile erection was studied after injection into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of male rats. VGF577‐617, VGF588‐617, VGF599‐617 and, to a lower extent, VGF588‐597 (0.1–2 µg) induced penile erection episodes in a dose‐dependent manner when injected into the paraventricular nucleus, while VGF556‐576 was ineffective. VGF588‐617‐induced penile erection was reduced by nitroω‐l‐arginine methylester (L‐NAME; 20 µg), by morphine (5 µg) and by muscimol (1 µg), but not by dizocilpine [(+)MK‐801; 1 µg], nor by cis‐flupenthixol (10 µg) given into the paraventricular nucleus 10 min before the VGF peptide. d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)‐Orn8‐vasotocin (1 µg) effectively reduced VGF588‐617‐induced penile erection when given into the lateral ventricles but not when injected into the paraventricular nucleus. Immunocytochemistry with antibodies specific for the C‐terminal nonapeptide sequence of pro‐VGF (VGF609‐617) revealed numerous neuronal fibres and terminals within the paraventricular nucleus, including its parvocellular components. Here, many immunostained neuronal terminals impinged on parvocellular oxytocinergic neurons. The present results show for the first time that certain pro‐VGF C‐terminus‐derived peptides promote penile erection when injected into the paraventricular nucleus and suggest that, within this nucleus, these or closely related pro‐VGF‐derived peptides may be released to influence sexual function by activating paraventricular oxytocinergic neurons mediating penile erection.