bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alternating leg muscle activation during sleep and arousals: A new sleep‐related motor phenomenon?
Authors: Chervin Ronald D. , Consens Flavia B. , Kutluay Ekrem 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe describe a quickly alternating pattern of anterior tibialis activation, recorded during nocturnal polysomnography in 16 patients. Polysomnography, usually for sleep‐disordered breathing, included surface electromyograms over the anterior tibialis of each leg. Cases were identified from approximately 1,500 studies reviewed in the course of standard clinical care. Patients were 12 men and 4 women (mean age, 41 ± 15 years; range, 12–70 years). Brief activation of the anterior tibialis in one leg alternated with similar activation in the other leg. Activations occurred at a frequency of approximately 1 to 2 Hz, each lasted between 0.1 and 0.5 seconds, and sequences of alternating activations usually lasted between several and 20 seconds. The phenomenon occurred in all sleep stages but particularly during arousals. Ten of the 16 patients had periodic leg movements during sleep at a rate ≥ 5.0 per hour, and 12 of the 16 patients were taking antidepressant medication. Alternating leg muscle activation (ALMA) during sleep, at this relatively high frequency, may be a newly described phenomenon. We speculate that ALMA could represent transient facilitation of a spinal central pattern generator for locomotion, perhaps due to serotonergic effects of antidepressant medication. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society
Trigemino‐facial inhibitory reflexes in idiopathic hemifacial spasm
Authors: Pavesi Giovanni , Cattaneo Luigi , Chierici Elisabetta , Mancia Domenico 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe investigated trigemino‐facial excitatory and inhibitory responses in perioral muscles in hemifacial spasm (HFS). We examined 15 patients affected with idiopathic HFS and 8 healthy controls. Five patients had spasms mostly limited to the periocular region and 10 had spasms also involving the perioral muscles. Responses were recorded from the resting orbicularis oculi (OOc), levator labii superioris (LLS) and orbicularis oris (OOr) muscles, after supraorbital (SO) nerve stimulation and during isolated voluntary contraction of LLS muscle. Eight patients showed complete or partial preservation of the late silent period (SP2) in activated LLS muscle. The remaining 7 patients showed absence of SP2. Early and late excitatory responses were variably present in LLS muscle at rest. Patients with HFS clinically restricted to periocular muscles had at least partial preservation of the SP2. In conclusion, in HFS patients inhibitory trigemino‐facial reflexes are impaired and excitatory trigemino‐facial responses are elicited in perioral muscles. These two phenomena seem to develop independently; the degree of trigemino‐facial reflex impairment parallels the extension of involuntary movements to the lower facial muscles. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society
Indonesian tea mistletoe (Scurrula oortiana) stem extract increases tumour cell sensitivity to tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)
Authors: Murwani Retno 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe water extract of Indonesian tea mistletoe, Scurrula oortiana (‘benalu teh’), has been used for generations to treat tumours, however, little is known of its biological action. In the present study the stem and leaf extracts of S. oortiana were investigated for their modulation of tumour cell sensitivity toward TNFα, a potent anti‐tumour cytokine. WEHI‐164 cells which are known to be sensitive to TNFα, were used as a model. The assay results showed that either the stem or leaf extract of S. oortiana increased the sensitivity or susceptibility of WEHI‐164 cells to TNFα as shown by decreases in LD50 values in the TNFα sensitivity assay. The stem extract showed a greater increase than the leaf extract, increasing the sensitivity more than 160 times compared with the normal untreated tumour cells. This study showed for the ﬁrst time that water extracts of S. oortiana were signiﬁcantly cytotoxic to the WEHI‐164 tumour cell line and increased tumour cell sensitivity to TNFα mediated lysis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Essential oil composition and antifungal activity of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. obtained by different distillation conditions
Authors: Mimica‐Dukić N. , Kujundžić S. , Soković M. , Couladis M. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe inﬂuence of different hydrodistillation conditions was evaluated from the standpoint of essential oil yield, chemical composition and antifungal activity from seeds of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Three hydrodistillation conditions were considered. The main constituents of the oils were: (E)‐anethole (72.27%–74.18%), fenchone (11.32%–16.35%) and methyl chavicol (3.78%–5.29%). The method of distillation signiﬁcantly effected the essential oil yield and quantitative composition, although the antifungal activity of the oils against some fungi was only slightly altered. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Butanolides from Machilus thunbergii and their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide synthesis in activated macrophages
Authors: Kim Nam Yi , Ryu Jae‐Ha 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn activated macrophages the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) generates high amounts of the toxic mediator, nitric oxide (NO), that contributes to the circulatory failure associated with septic shock. Three butanolides were isolated from Machilus thunbergii as active principles which inhibit the production of NO in lipopolysaccharide‐activated RAW 264.7 cells, and their structures were identiﬁed as litsenolide A2 (1), B1 (2) and B2 (3). They showed dose‐dependent inhibition of NO syntheses and the IC50s were 3.36, 3.70 and 6.19 µm, respectively. These new inhibitors of iNOS may have potential in the treatment of endotoxaemia and inﬂammation accompanied by the overproduction of NO. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developmental effects of early postnatal treatment of rats with prochlorperazine
Authors: Rech R. H. , Borsini F. , Samanin R. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThis study examined effects of neonatal prochlorperazine in rats tested as adults in a variety of behaviors. The drug exposure impaired open field behavior during treatment neonatally. However, no differences in open field behavior were observed in adulthood. Adult females that had received drug were less efficient in obtaining food reinforcement in a conditioned maze performance than were respective controls and showed a slight increase in motor activity during accommodation. d‐Amphetamine‐induced motor activity was greater in both treated males and females relative to respective controls. Spaced trials in shuttle‐box avoidance uncovered an avoidance decrement in the treated females only. This drug treatment appears to cause subtle changes in brain development in the rat.
Effects of changes in neonatal thyroid status on the development of neuropeptide systems in the rat brain
Authors: Woodhams P.L. , McGovern J. , McGregor G.P. , O'Shaughnessey D.J. , Ghatei M.A. , Blank M.A. , Adrian T.H. , Lee Y. , Polak J.M. , Bloom S.R. , Balázs R. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe effects of neonatal thyroid deficiency or hyperthyroidism on the development of neurones containing certain neuropeptides was examined in the brains of rats killed at two weeks of age. Five brain areas were dissected and extracted for radioimmunoassay measurement of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), somatostatin, cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK), substance P and neurotensin, whilst corresponding immunocytochemical data were obtained from a quantitative morphological analysis of cell bodies in the cingulate cortex. The two methods of analysis did not always agree, but in hypothyroidism both the concentration of VIP and the number of cells containing VIP‐like immunoreactivity were significantly decreased in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex. In contrast to these effects on the late maturing VIP neurones, the earlier developing somatostatin system was relatively unaffected, whilst neuropeptides localized in cortical fibres rather than cell bodies (such as substance P and neurotensin) were found by radioimmunoassay to be elevated. Hyperthyroidism had less marked effects than neonatal thyroidectomy, although the concentration of CCK (but not the number of immunostained cells) was significantly increased in the cingulate cortex. Radioimmunoassay results from three subcortical areas showed a decrease in VIP concentration in the hypothyroid hypothalamus, and in hyperthyroidism significant elevations of VIP in the basal ganglia, somatostatin in the hypothalamus and CCK in the hippocampus. It appears that in the brain areas studied thyroid disorders result in dis‐synchronous shifts in the developmental patterns of the different neuropeptides, and that the effects of thyroid hormone on peptides as on other transmitters are critically dependent on the developmental profile of the system in question.
Ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines in developing rat brain and heart: Effects of perinatal hypothyroidism
Authors: Slotkin Theodore A. , Johnson Anne , Whitmore William L. , Slepetis Ruta J. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractHypothyroidism induced by perinatal administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) had profound effects on growth of the heart, with major organ weight deficits persisting well beyond the termination of drug treatment. These effects were preceded by disruption of the developmental patterns of cardiac ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and the polyamines, which are thought to be intracellular modulators of cellular maturation. Activity of cardiac ODC was depressed in the PTU‐treated group and putrescine and spermidine levels were markedly subnormal. PTU administration also affected brain growth, but much less so than in the heart. The disruption of the brain ODC/polyamine system was also less pronounced, with relatively small degrees of spermidine depletion and a slight elevation of ODC. For both tissues, the biochemical effects of perinatal hypothyroidism were opposite to those found previously for administration of exogenous thyroid hormones. These results support the views that: (1) endogenous thyroid hormones contribute to the maintenance of normal developmental patterns of ODC and the polyamines, and (2) the ODC/polyamine system participates in events modulating subsequent tissue growth.
Effect of paradoxical sleep deprivation on dna synthesis in fetal rat brain
Authors: Grassi‐Zucconi G. , Belia S. , Franciolini F. , Menichini E. , Giuditta A. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe have investigated the effect of PS‐D induced in gestating rats by treatment with clomipramine or with the platform technique on the process of DNA synthesis taking place in fetal organs. This parameter was taken as a biochemical index of ongoing cellular proliferation. In brain and, to a minor extent, in liver and kidney the rate of fetal DNA synthesis was markedly increased in both experimental groups. The effect was more prominent in the clomipramine group. PS‐D treatment of gestating rats, notably by the platform technique, left long‐lasting effects in the offspring with regard to organ weight and DNA concentration as well as to learning capacity. It is concluded that the occurrence of PS in gestating rats may exert a significant influence on fetal development.
Effects of NaCl and sultopride on striatal [3H]spiperone binding in neonatal, adult and senescent rats
Authors: Makihata Junko , Nomura Yasuyuki 
Published: April 2003

AbstractEffects of NaCl, (+)‐and (−)‐sultopride on striatal [3H]spiperone binding was investigated in 7‐day, 70‐day and 2‐year‐old rats. The amount of specific [3H]spiperone binding was the highest at 70 days and the value at adult stage was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than those at 7 days and 2 years. NaCl (100 mM) significantly increased [3H]spiperone binding in neonatal (P < 0.01), adult (P < 0.05) and senescent (P < 0.05) animals. Scatchard analysis showed that the Bmax of low‐affinity [3H]spiperone binding was significantly elevated by 100 mM NaCl compared to the value in control of adult animals. More potent inhibition of (−)‐sultopride for [3H]spiperone binding than that of the (+)‐enantiomer at adult stage was also observed at neonatal and senescent stages. NaCl (100 mM) significantly enhanced inhibitory activities of (+)‐ and (−)‐sultopride at every stage. It is suggested that stabilizing effect of Na+ on dopamine (DA) receptor complexes and increasing effect of Na+ on binding affinity of benzamide to DA2 receptors keep functions through development and aging.
Behavioral effects of phosphatidylserine after perinatal administration in rats
Authors: Drago F. , Continella G. , Alloro M.C. , Presti L. Lo , Scapagnini U. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBehavioral effects of the acidic phospholipid phosphatidylserine (PS) were studied in rats after perinatal (prenatal or neonatal) administration. PS was administered to pregnant rats from day 5 of pregnancy. PS liposomes were also injected i.p. to offspring from postnatal days 1–5. PS‐treated rats showed a more precocious onset of neonatal behaviors, and a significant improvement in acquiring avoidance responses when tested at 60 days of age. Behavioral effects of PS may be related to a possible influence on dendritic arborization during perinatal period.
Histochemical study of biogenic monoamines in early (“Prenervous”) and late embryos of sea urchins
Authors: Markova L.N. , Buznikov G.A. , Kovačević N. , Rakić L. , Salimova N.B. , Volina E.V. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractTreatment of the embryos of sea urchins with glyoxylic acid results in the appearance of luminescence which is indicative of the presence of biogenic monoamines. At the early stages of development (cleavage divisions, blastula, gastrula) the histochemical method reveals a tryptamine‐like substance which is first found in all embryonic cells and later is concentrated mainly in the cells of the primary gut and ciliary bands. At the stages of prism and pluteus there appear neuron‐like cells containing dopamine. The inhibitors of monoamine oxidase and neurotoxins reliably increase the histochemical reaction to monoamines only in late embryos which suggests a change in the properties of monoaminergic systems in the course of embryogenesis.
Development of muscimol binding sites in chick embryo neural retina in vivo and in vitro: Regulatory effects of cyclic AMP
Authors: Madtes Paul , Adler Ruben 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe report here the development in the chick embryo retina of binding sites for [3H]muscimol, a potent agonist of GABA receptors. In vivo studies were carried out with isolated neural retinas from different stages of development. High‐affinity binding sites were absent before embryonic day (E) 8, but increased conspicuously between E10 and E16. Scatchard analysis indicated that this rise was due to an increase in the number of binding sites. Kinetic parameters of the embryonic binding sites were consistent with those typically found for mature muscimol receptors. Measurements of the low‐affinity binding site showed a relatively similar developmental pattern although a pronounced decrease in binding to the low‐affinity site was observed between E12 and E14. In vitro studies were carried out using glial‐free, purified monolayers of retinal neurons, starting at E8. Cultured retinal neurons showed a developmental pattern for high‐affinity muscimol binding sites resembling that observed in ovo. These binding sites were susceptible to regulation by cyclic AMP analogues. Increases of 100 to 200% in muscimol binding could be induced by a 24 hr treatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, 8‐bromo cyclic AMP, or the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX. Scatchard analysis showed that this increase was due to a change in receptor affinity. No effects were found with either butyric acid or with adenosine 5′‐monophosphate. These results raise the possibility that cyclic AMP may be involved in the regulation of components of the GABA system.
Ontogeny of opiate receptors in the rat medial preoptic area: Critical periods in regional development
Authors: Hammkr Ronald P. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractOpiate receptor labeling was examined throughout the early postnatal period using autoradiography to localize and quantify [3H]naloxone binding to μ‐type opiate receptors in the medial preoptic area (MPOA). This region begins to exhibit sexual dimorphism of volume and dendritic growth shortly after birth. A distinct concentration of opiate receptor labeling appears on postnatal day 3 in females: this labeling is directly associated with the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN‐POA). SDN‐POA labeling becomes denser through postnatal day 10 in females and the densely labeled area increases in size to encompass and surround the SDN‐POA. These changes in opiate receptor labeling occur only in females, since males show relatively uniform labeling across the region throughout the early postnatal period.The critical time of formation of dense MPOA opiate receptor labeling may be related to endogenous MPOA opioid function and to the critical period of dendritic growth of SDN‐POA neurons. The timing of these critical periods and their focus in the SDN‐POA are coincident. The possible role of MPOA opiate receptors in modulating growth of MPOA neurons is discussed.
Postnatal development of conduction velocity and fibre size in the rat tibial nerve
Authors: Vejsada Richard , Paleček Jiří , Hník Pavel , Soukup Tomáš 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe maximum conduction velocity (CV) and fibre diameters (D) were determined in the tibial nerve of developing rats. In 1‐day‐old rats CV of the fastest motor and sensory fibres (assessed separately) was 1.4 m/sec on the average and increased to 35 m/sec by postnatal day 30. The maximum conduction rate in adult rats ranged from 60 to 84 m/sec. Diameters of at least 100 nerve fibres in each age group were measured in electronmicrographs. The calibre of myelinating fibres in 1‐day‐old rats was 0.5–1.5 μm. By day 90 after birth the range of myelinated fibre size extended to 1.5–12.5 μm. The factor relating conduction rate and total fibre diameter of the largest fibres (i.e. the value of CV/D) was found to vary with age, increasing from 1.1 to 6.2 between postnatal days 1 and 90. These results indicate that functional and morphological properties of peripheral nerve fibres in the rat undergo considerable changes during postnatal ontogeny until they reach adult values.
Protein kinase activities associated with ribosomes of developing rat brain. Identification of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 kinases
Authors: Alcazar Alberto , Fando Juan L. , Azuara Carmen , Galea Elena , Salinas Matilde 
Published: April 2003

AbstractProtein kinases associated with ribosomes in the brains of suckling (4–10 days) and adult (2 months) rats were extracted from ribosomal fraction with 0.5 M KCl. The different protein kinase activities were characterized by their ability to phosphorylate three exogenous substrates: casein, histone IIs and histone IIIs in the presence of different modulators. Ribosomal salt wash fractions contain a high casein kinase activity which was partially inhibited by heparin and stimulated by calmodulin in the presence of Ca2+, indicating the presence of casein kinase I and II and calcium/calmodulindependent kinases. Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP‐dependent kinases and protein kinase C (calcium/phospholipids‐dependent kinase) were also present. No differences were found in the casein kinase activities of suckling and adult animals, but histone kinase activities were higher in adult than in suckling animals.To identify initiation factor 2 kinases, purified factor from adult brains was used as a protein marker. In addition to the phosphorylation of both factor subunits α and β by casein kinase I or II, an increased phosphorylation was detected of a subunit in the presence of cyclic AMP, and β subunit, in the presence of Ca2+/calmodulin or Ca2+/phospholipids.Present results reinforce our hypothesis that, as occurs in other eukaryotic cells, the decreased rate of protein synthesis during brain development may be regulated by phosphorylation of initiation factor 2.
Effects of neonatal undernutrition of rats on the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine by microsomes from gray matter and white matter
Authors: Reddy T. Sanjeeva , Horrocks Lloyd A. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractUndernutrition of rats during the suckling period produces deficits of glycerophospholipids in white matter but not in gray matter. The synthetic enzymes, CDPethanolamine:diacylglycerol phosphoethanolaminetransferase (EC 2.7.8.1) and CDPcholine:diacylglycerol phosphocholinetransferase (EC 2.7.8.2), were assayed in washed microsomal fractions from moderately and severely undernourished rats at 21 days of age. Deficits in brain weight were 14 and 31%, respectively. The transferase activities in white matter were more than 2‐fold greater than in gray matter. Moderate undernutrition has less effect on total transferase activities but Km values were increased for CDPethanolamine with phosphoethanolamine transferase and for CDPcholine and dicaprin with phosphocholine transferase. Severe undernutrition produced by feeding the dams a diet with 4% protein gave deficits for phosphoethanolamine transferase of 52 and 55% and for phosphocholine transferase of 40 and 46% for gray matter and white matter, respectively. These results are consistent with the deficits of glycerophospholipids in white matter. Additional factors, such as synthetic rates in vivo and a reduction of turnover rates, must be sought for the sparing of the glycerophospholipid content of gray matter during undernutrition.
Effect of exogenous dopamine on hypothalamic dopamine and norepinephrine concentrations in the neonatal brain in rats
Authors: Ohkura Takeyoshi , Lee J. W. , Hagino N. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractHypothalamic dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations were studied in the neonatal rats after acute (postnatal day 4) or chronic (postnatal days 1–10) DA injections (0.5 mg in 5% dextrose in 0.45% saline). Acute injection of DA twice on postnatal day 4 resulted in an increase of hypothalamic DA and NE concentrations 16 hr later. Chronic treatment with the DA (twice in a day) for 10 days resulted in a reduction of NE concentration in the hypothalamus. The results of these studies suggest that the amount and duration of exposure to exogenous DA during postnatal development may result in divergent effects on hypothalamic catecholamine concentration.
Some electrophysiological properties of cultured rat cerebral cortical neurons dissociated from fetuses at various gestational ages
Authors: Brodie Chaya , Bak Asia , Sampson S. R. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractNeurons from dissociated cerebral cortex of fetal rat of different gestational ages were grown in culture for up to 4 weeks. Studies of membrane and action potentials, input resistance, neuron size and neurite outgrowth showed that neurons from 7‐day fetuses develop rapidly both electrophysiologically and morphologically, but are maintained for only about 2 weeks. In contrast, neurons from 14 to 17 day fetuses mature slowly, but can be maintained for at least 4 weeks. Neurons from both young and old fetuses show an increase in resting Em with age, the maximum value of −60 to −65 mV being attained by about 2 weeks. While neurons can be maintained in serum‐free medium, their membrane electrical properties deteriorate with time. Thus, appropriate development of neurons in culture depends upon both the age of the starting tissue and the presence of adequate, but still undefined factors found in animal serum for at least the first several days in culture.