Immediate and sustained changes in tongue movement with an experimental palatal Fistula: A case study

Objective: To determine the immediate and longer-term effect(s) on tongue movement following the placement of an experimental opening through a palatal obturator (replicate of subject's prosthesis) worn by an adult male with an unrepaired cleft of the hard and soft palate.Methods: Tongue movements associated with an anterior experimental opening of 20 mm(2) were examined under three conditions: a control condition in which the subject wore the experimental obturator completely occluded, a condition immediately after drilling the experimental openings through the obturator, and a condition after 5 days in which the subject wore the experimental obturator with the experimental opening. An Electromagnetic Articulograph was used for obtaining tongue movements during speech.Results: the findings partly revealed that the immediate introduction of a perturbation to the speech system (experimental fistula) had a temporary effect on tongue movement. After sustained perturbation (for 5 days), the system normalized (going back toward control condition's behavior). Perceptual data were consistent with kinematic tongue movement direction in most of the cases.Conclusions: Although the immediate response can be interpreted as indicative of the subject's attempts to move the tongue toward the opening to compensate for air loss, the findings following a sustained perturbation indicate that with time, other physiological adjustments (such as respiratory adjustments, for example) may help reestablish the requirements of a pressure-regulating system.

Maximal lactate steady state in running mice: Effect of exercise training

1. Maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) corresponds to the highest blood lactate concentration (MLSSc) and workload (MLSSw) that can be maintained over time without continual blood lactate accumulation and is considered an important marker of endurance exercise capacity. The present study was undertaken to determine MLSSw and MLSSc in running mice. In addition, we provide an exercise training protocol for mice based on MLSSw.2. Maximal lactate steady state was determined by blood sampling during multiple sessions of constant-load exercise varying from 9 to 21 m/min in adult male C57BL/6J mice. The constant-load test lasted at least 21 min. The blood lactate concentration was analysed at rest and then at 7 min intervals during exercise.3. The MLSSw was found to be 15.1 +/- 0.7 m/min and corresponded to 60 +/- 2% of maximal speed achieved during the incremental exercise testing. Intra- and interobserver variability of MLSSc showed reproducible findings. Exercise training was performed at MLSSw over a period of 8 weeks for 1 h/day and 5 days/week. Exercise training led to resting bradycardia (21%) and increased running performance (28%). of interest, the MLSSw of trained mice was significantly higher than that in sedentary littermates (19.0 +/- 0.5 vs 14.2 +/- 0.5 m/min; P = 0.05), whereas MLSSc remained unchanged (3.0 mmol/L).4. Altogether, we provide a valid and reliable protocol to improve endurance exercise capacity in mice performed at highest workload with predominant aerobic metabolism based on MLSS assessment.

Effects of 2 or 5 consecutive exercise days on adipocyte area and lipid parameters in Wistar rats

Background: Exercise has been prescribed in the treatment and control of dyslipidemias and cholesterolemia, however, lipid responses to different training frequencies in hypercholesterolemic men have been inconsistent. We sought to verify if different frequencies of continuous moderate exercise (2 or 5 days/week, swimming) can, after 8 weeks, promote adaptations in adipocyte area and lipid parameters, as well as body weight and relative weight of tissues in normo and hypercholesterolemic adult male rats.Methods: Normal cholesterol chow diet or cholesterol-rich diet (1% cholesterol plus 0.25% cholic acid) were freely given during 8 weeks to the rats divided in 6 experimentals groups: sedentary normal cholesterol chow diet (C); sedentary cholesterol-rich diet (H); 5x per week continuous training normal cholesterol chow diet (TC5) and cholesterol-rich diet (TH5); 2x per week continuos traning normal cholesterol chow diet (TC2) and cholesterol-rich diet (TH2).Results: No changes were observed in lipid profile in normal cholesterol chow diet, but both 2 a 5 days/week exercise improved this profile in cholesterol-rich diet. Body weight gain was lower in exercised rats. Decrease in retroperitoneal and epididymal relative weights as well as reductions in adipocyte areas under all diets types were observed only in 5 days/week, while 2 days/week showed improvements mainly in cholesterol-rich diet rats.Conclusion: Our results confirm the importance of exercise protocols to control dyslipidemias and obesity in rats. The effects of 5 days/week exercise were more pronounced compared with those of 2 consecutive days/week training.

THE BEHAVIORAL SENSITIZATION INDUCED BY FENCAMFAMINE IS NOT RELATED TO PLASMA DRUG LEVELS

Fencamfamine (FCF) is a CNS stimulant that facilitates central dopaminergic transmission primarily through blockade of dopamine uptake. In the present study we evaluated the relationship between plasma FCF concentration and behavioral sensitization effect. Adult male Wistar rats (250-300 g) received FCF (10 mg/kg, kg, ip) or saline once or daily for 10 consecutive days (N = 10 for each group). Blood samples were collected 30 min after injections and plasma FCF was measured by gas chromatography using an electron capture detector. FCF treatment enhanced sniffing duration (16.8 +/- 0.8 vs 26.6 +/- 0.9 s) and decreased rearing behavior (8.2 +/- 0.8 vs 3.7 +/- 0.6 s) when days 1 and 10 of drug administration were compared. Comparison of pair of means by the Student t-test did not show significant differences in plasma FCF concentration (390 +/- 40 vs 420 +/- 11 ng/ml) when blood samples were collected 30 min after acute FCF administration or after daily administration of 10 mg/kg for 10 days. In conclusion, the behavioral sensitization to FCF could not be correlated with plasma drug levels, and changes in the activity of dopaminergic systems should be considered to explain the sensitization to the effect of FCF.

Food deprivation and hypothermia in desynchronized sleep-deprived rats

Reports of the effect of desynchronized sleep (DS) deprivation on body temperature (Tb) of rats in the literature are contradictory. Since conspicuous body weight loss is common in such deprivation, the effect of food plus DS deprivation on Tb of adult male Wistar rats was studied. DS deprivation carried out by the small platform method with food ad libitum(N = 8) induced hyperthermia (Tb above 38.5 degrees C) in 1 to 3 rats daily until the 8th day, when a case of discrete hypothermia (Tb below 36.9 degrees C) appeared. Food deprivation alone started to induce hypothermia on the third day in one (20%) out of five rats. Fasting imposed from the 5th to the 8th day of DS deprivation (N = 12) caused hypothermia in 33% and 67% ofthe animals on the second and third day of starvation, respectively. DS compensatory manifestations in 6 starved rats intensified (N = 2) or precipitated (N = 2) hypothermia after the end of sleep deprivation. It is concluded that the hypothermia is not a primary effect of DS deprivation, and this state of sleep seems to have its particular functional role which is independent of thermoregulation.

Structure and ultrastructure of the ventral prostate of isogenic mice (C57B1/6J) submitted to chronic alcohol ingestion

Morphological and functional alterations caused by chronic alcohol ingestion in testes and accessory sex organs have been studied both in man and in laboratory animals. The aim of the present study was to examine the possible occurrence of deleterious effects of chronic alcohol ingestion on the secretory epithelium of the ventral prostate of mice. Twenty-four adult male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups. The alcohol-treated group was allowed to drink only 6% (v/v) ethanol, the isocaloric group received a diet of water/sucrose with a calorie content equivalent to a 6% alcohol solution and the control group received water. Both groups were fed ad libitum with solid Purina rat chow. After 120 days, animals from each group were anesthetized with ethyl ether, weighed and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrated reduction in the glandular epithelium cell height and disorganization of the Golgi complex. Moreover, abundant membrane-bound structures, most likely representing cytoplasmic material, were observed, as well as accumulation of dense bodies. Statistical analysis showed that bodyweight gain was similar for both groups. In conclusion, chronic alcohol ingestion has harmful effects on the secretory epithelium cells of the ventral lobe of the prostate of mice after 120 days of treatment. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Cytogenetics of three Brazilian Goniosoma species: A new record for diploid number in Laniatores (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae, Goniosomatinae)

Currently, 60 species of harvestmen have been karyotyped and all of these are from the Nearctic and Palearctic regions. This work is the first cytogenetic report of three gonyleptid species of the suborder Laniatores: Goniosoina aff. badiuln, G. proxiinuni and G. spelaeum of the Neotropical region, from the southeastern region of Brazil. Conventional Giemsa stain chromosome preparations were obtained from embryonic cells and adult male testes. Embryo mitotic plates of G. aff. badium and G. proximum indicated 88 chromosomes, and mitotic spermatogonial plates of G. spelaeum males revealed intra- and interindividual variation of chromosome number, ranging from 92-109 chromosomes. In the three analyzed species, the mitotic chromosomes were meta- or subinetacentric with no obvious sex chromosomes being identified during mitosis. Prophase I spermatocytes of G. spelaeum also revealed intra- and interindividual bivalent number variation and furthermore indicated the presence of multivalence. The karyotypes of these three Goniosoina species exhibited the largest chromosome pair with a negative heteropycnosis in the distal region of the shortest arrn chromosomes of G. spelaeum submitted to silver impregnation evidenced this negative heteropycnotic region as nucleolus organizer region (NOR). These results, when compared with cytogenetic data of other Laniatores species from the Palearctic region, indicated that a new record for diploid chromosome number probably characterize the genus Goniosoma in the Neotropical region.

DIFFERENT EFFECTS ON RAT ARTERIAL-PRESSURE AND HEART-RATE WHEN LOSARTAN IS INJECTED INTO THE 3RD-VENTRICLE OR 4TH-VENTRICLE

Cardiovascular responses to central losartan (LOS), a non-peptide angiotensin II (ANG II) receptor antagonist, were investigated by comparing the effects of LOS injection into the 3rd and 4th cerebral ventricles (3rdV, 4thV) on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). Adult male Holtzman rats were used (N = 6 animals per group). Average basal MAP and HR were 114 +/- 3 mmHg and 343 +/- 9 bpm (N = 23), respectively. LOS (50, 100 or 200 nmol/2 mu l) injected into the 3rdV induced presser (peak of 25 +/- 3 mmHg) and tachycardic (peak of 60 +/- 25 bpm) responses. LOS injected into the 4thV had no effect on MAP, but it induced bradycardia (peak of -35 +/- 15 bpm). KCl (200 nmol/2 mu l) injected into the 3rdV or into the 4thV had no effect on either MAP or HR compared to 0.9% saline injection. The results indicate that LOS injected into the third ventricle acts on forebrain structures to induce its presser and tachycardic effects and that bradycardia, likely dependent on hindbrain structures, is obtained when LOS is injected into the fourth ventricle.

Antagonism of the renin-angiotensin system and water deprivation-induced NaCl intake in rats

Adult male rats (n = 5-7 per group) were water deprived for 24 h with only food available. Then they had access to water for 2 h. At the end of the 2 h, 1.5% NaCl was offered to the animals and the intake was measured for another 2 h. The rats drank an average of 9.8 +/- 3.0 ml/120 min of 1.5% NaCl; water intake during this time was negligible (not more than 1.0 ml/120 min). Captopril injected IP at the doses of 12 and 24 mg/kg induced 60-90% inhibition of the intake. Losartan or PD123319 injected ICV induced 50-80% inhibition of the intake. Losartan (80 nmol) inhibited the intake at a lower dose than PD123319 (160 nmol). Neither losartan nor PD123319 inhibited 10% sucrose intake. The inhibition of 1.5% NaCl intake was not related to alterations in arterial pressure. The results show that the antagonism of the renin-angiotensin system inhibits the 1.5% NaCl intake induced by water deprivation. The inhibition induced by the angiotensin II antagonists suggest that this peptide is important for the control of salt intake induced by water deprivation.

Effect of intracerebroventricular injection of ramipril on the drinking response caused by injection of noradrenaline into the third ventricle

We studied the effect of ramipril injected into the third ventricle (3rdV) on the control of water intake induced by injection of noradrenaline into the 3rdV of adult male Holtzman rats (250-300 g) implanted with a chronic stainless steel cannula into the 3rdV. The injection volume was always 1 mu l and was injected over a period of 30-60 sec. Control animals were injected with 0.15 M NaCl. After the injection of isotonic saline (control, 0.15 M NaCl) into the 3rdV, water ingestion was 0.3 +/- 0.1 ml/h. Ramipril (1 mu g/mu l) injected into the 3rdV prior to isotonic saline produced no changes in water ingestion (0.4 +/- 0.2 ml/h). The injection of noradrenaline (40 nmol/mu l) after isotonic saline induced an increase in water intake (3.0 +/- 1.1 ml/h). The prior injection of ramipril decreased this ingestion to 1.8 +/- 0.3 ml/h. These data show that the inhibition of converting enzyme in the brain reduces the water intake induced by catecholaminergic stimulation. We conclude that the brain is able to transform the prodrug ramipril into the active drug ramiprilat.

Role of early GnRH administration in sexual behavior disorders of rat pups perinatally exposed to lead

The effects of maternal exposure to lead (Pb) during the perinatal ( 1% and 0.1% Pb) periods of sexual brain differentiation were studied in adult male offspring. Maternal Pb levels were measured after treatment. Behavioral (open field and sexual behavior), physical (sexual maturation, body and organ weights), and biochemical (testosterone levels and hypothalamic monoamine and respective metabolite levels) data were assessed in perinatally exposed offspring. The effects of gonadrotopin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration to pups at birth on puberty and sexual behavior were also investigated in offspring postnatally exposed to the metal. Results showed that perinatal administration of the two Pb concentrations did not modify maternal weight gain; 1% Pb exposure reduced offspring body weight during the 7 days of treatment while no changes were observed after 0.1% Pb exposure; neither ph concentration altered offspring sexual maturation; the higher Pb concentration improved sexual behavior while the 0.1% concentration reduced it; exposure to 0.1% Pb caused decrease in testis weight, an increase in seminal vesicle weight and no changes in plasma testosterone levels; hypothalamic VMA levels were increased compared to the control group; GnRH administration reversed the effects of 0.1% Ph administration on male sexual behavior. These results show that perinatal exposure to ph had a dose-dependent effect on the sexual behavior of rats and that a decrease in GnRH source in the offspring was probably involved in the reduction of their sexual performance. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potassium intake during cell dehydration

Isotonic NaCl is ingested in addition to water by cell-dehydrated rats in two-bottle tests. The objective of the present work was to find out whether mineral intake in the cell-dehydrated rat is specific to NaCl in a five-bottle test. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats had distilled water and four mineral solutions at palatable concentrations (0.01 M KCl, 0.05 mM CaCl2, 0.15 M NaHCO3, 0.15 M NaCl) simultaneously available for consumption. Cell-debydration was produced infusing 1.5 ml of NaCl solution (0.15, 0.25, 0.5, 1.01, 2.0, 4.0 M) intravenously for 10 min and intakes were recorded for the next hour. It was observed a NaCl concentration-dependent increase in 0.01 M KCl intake. The ingestion of the other mineral solutions was not significantly altered compared to infusion of 0.15 M NaCl. The ingestion of KCl was not related to changes in serum potassium concentration. The ingestion of KCl was reduced in half and water was the preferred fluid when the five-bottle test was performed with mineral solutions at isomolar (0.15 M) concentrations. There was no increase in intake of other mineral solution in the isomolar test. No preference was observed for palatable or isomolar solutions during early extracellular dehydration until 4 h after subcutaneous injection of furosemide, in spite of the increase in total volume intake. Therefore, mineral intake induced by cell dehydration is not specific for NaCl solution. The type of mineral solution available influences the choice and KCl. is the preferred solution of the cell-dehydrated rat in the conditions of the present study. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ALPHA-ADRENERGIC PATHWAYS IN THE LATERAL HYPOTHALAMUS ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE DIPSOGENIC EFFECT OF CARBACHOL INJECTED INTO THE MEDIAL SEPTAL AREA

We studied the effect of the alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) on the control of water intake induced by injection of carbachol into the medial septal area (MSA) of adult male Holtzman rats (250-300 g) implanted with chronic stainless steel cannulae into the LH and MSA. The volume of injection was always 1 mu l and was injected over a period of 30-60 s. For control, 0.15 M NaCl was used. Clonidine (20 nmol) but not phenylephrine (160 nmol) injected into the LH inhibited water intake induced by injection of carbachol (2 nmol) into the MSA, from 5.4 +/- 1.2 ml/h to 0.3 +/- 0.1 and 3.0 +/- 0.9 ml/h, respectively (N = 26). When we injected yohimbine (80 nmol) + clonidine (20 nmol) and prazosin (40 nmol) + clonidine (20 nmol) into theLH, water intake induced by injection of carbachol into the MSA was inhibited from 5.4 +/- 1.2 ml/h to 0.8 +/- 0.5 and 0.3 +/- 0.2 ml/h, respectively (N = 19). Water intake induced by carbachol (2 nmol) injected into the MSA was decreased by previous injection of yohimbine (80 nmol) + phenylephrine (160 nmol) and prazosin (40 nmol) + phenylephrine (l60 nmol) from 5.4 +/- 1.2 ml/h to 1.0 +/- 0.7 and 1.8 +/- 0.8 ml/h, respectively (N = 16). The cannula reached both the medial septal area in its medial portion and the lateral hypothalamus. It has been suggested that the different pathways for induction of drinking converge on a final common pathway. Thus, adrenergic stimulation of alpha(2),-adrenoceptors ofLH can influence this final common pathway.

Healing of dehiscence defects following root surface demineralization with tetracycline: A histologic study in monkeys

Background: the purpose of this study was to histologically evaluate the healing of experimental dehiscence defects after surface demineralization with tetracycline hydrochloride.Methods: Six adult male monkeys (Cebus apella) were used in this study. Dehiscence defects were surgically created on the buccal aspect of the mandibular lateral incisors in all animals. The root surfaces were debrided and planed. In a split-mouth design, a 10% tetracycline hydrochloride solution was applied to one tooth for 4 minutes (T group), followed by irrigation with saline. The contralateral tooth served as a control (C group). The flaps were repositioned and sutured. The animals were sacrificed at 6 months postoperatively and histological sections were processed. Computer-assisted histomorphometric analysis was used to evaluate the formation of new cementum, new bone, new connective tissue attachment, and length of the epithelium (junctional and sulcular).Results: Bone regeneration was similar in both groups (1.5 +/- 0.3 mm for the T group and 1.5 +/- 0.6 mm for the C group). The C group showed more new cementum than the T group (2.3 +/- 0.3 mm versus 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm) as well as a longer epithelium (1.0 +/- 0.3 mm versus 0.9 +/- 0.2 mm). The T group presented more new connective tissue attachment (3.1 +/- 0.2 mm) than the C group (2.9 +/- 0.6 mm). However, no statistically significant differences were detected between the two groups.Conclusions: the amount of new attachment was similar in both groups. Root conditioning with 10% tetracycline solution did not produce any additional new attachment in comparison to the controls.

THE LONG-TERM EVOLUTION OF IMMUNE DEPOSITS IN PASSIVE HEYMANN NEPHRITIS

1. To study the long term course of passive Heymann nephritis (PHN), 42 adult male Wistar rats were injected with rabbit anti-FX1A serum (PHN group) and 42 rats received normal rabbit serum (control group). Two animals from each group were sacrificed 2 weeks after the inoculation and 10 animals each from the control and PHN groups were sacrificed 4, 13, 25 and 53 weeks later.2. The PHN group exhibited a significant elevation in 20-h proteinuria which lasted from the first week (control group, 9.19 +/- 0.87; PHN group, 25.3 +/- 2.66) to the 25th week (control group, 22.6 +/- 2.15; PHN group, 66.7 +/- 10.4) except for week 17. From week 29 to week 53 there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups.3. Light microscopy showed no difference between the kidneys of PHN and control rats. Immunofluorescence microscopy in PHN rats showed granular deposition of autologous and heterologous IgG on the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), whose intensity and pattern did not change during 53 weeks of observation.4. When examined by electron microscopy the glomeruli of PHN rats showed: a) electron-dense deposits which were initially subepithelial and homogeneous and later intramembranous, granular and often surrounded by an electron-transparent halo; b) focal thickening of the GBM at the sites of intramembranous deposits; c) effacement of podocytes located close to the deposits; d) penetration of the podocytes into the GBM associated with the deposits; e) presence of osmiophilic granules in the cytoplasm of the podocyte located inside the GBM similar to the granules of the deposits next to them. The association of the penetration of the podocytes into the GBM with the deposits and the presence of the osmiophilic granules inside the foot process have not been described previously in PHN.5. The results suggest that the podocytes play a role in the clearing of intramembranous deposits in PHN.