THE EFFECTS OF FOREBRAIN MULTIPLE LESIONS ON THE PRESSOR-RESPONSE INDUCED BY BILATERAL CAROTID OCCLUSION IN CONSCIOUS RATS

In the present study, the effects of electrolytic lesions of the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) region and of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) on the pressor response induced by bilateral carotid occlusion (BCO) in conscious intact and aortic baroreceptor-denervated (AD) rats were investigated. In intact control rats, BCO during 60 s produced a pressor response that could be divided into an early response (ER = 50 +/- 3 mmHg) that reachs a peak during the first 20 s and a sustained late response (LR), smaller than ER (32 +/- 2 mmHg), observed during the last 30 s. In intact-innervated rats, AV3V lesion (2 days) reduced ER (22 +/- 3 mmHg) and LR (16 +/- 2 mmHg), whereas the bilateral MFB lesions (6 days) mainly reduced LR (9 +/- 1 mmHg). Rats with simultaneous lesion of both the AV3V region and the MFB showed additional reduction of the ER (15 +/- 3 mmHg), but not LR (11 +/- 1 mmHg) when compared to the effect of MFB lesions alone. Compared to the AV3V lesion alone, LR but not ER was reduced in rats with a double lesion. In sham-lesioned rats, AD induced a significant increase in the pressor response to BCO (ER = 75 +/- 4 mmHg and LR = 65 +/- 3 mmHg) when compared to intact controls. A similar reduction in ER and LR was observed in AD rats after AV3V (ER = 35 +/- 3 mmHg and LR = 40 +/- 2 mmHg) and MFB (ER = 49 +/- 6 mmHg and LR = 41 +/- 5 mmHg) lesions alone or combined (ER = 40 +/- 6 mmHg and LR = 35 +/- 7 mmHg). The results showed that simultaneous lesions of both the AV3V region and the MFB practically abolished the pressor response to BCO. They also suggested that aortic baroreceptor activity plays a significant role in the effects of AV3V and MFB lesions on the pressor response to BCO.

Commissural NTS contributes to pressor responses to glutamate injected into the medial NTS of awake rats

In the present study we investigated whether interruption of the chemoreceptor reflex by an electrolytic lesion of the commissural subnucleus of the nucleus tractus solitarii (commNTS) influenced presser and bradycardic responses induced by microinjection of L-glutamate (L-Glu) into the medial NTS (mNTS) of conscious rats. Seven days after sham lesions, seven rats demonstrated significant presser [change in mean arterial pressure (MAP) = +33 +/- 3 mmHg] and bradycardic [change in heart rate (HR) = -74 +/- 8 beats/min (bpm)] responses to chemoreceptor reflex activation by intravenous injection of KCN. Likewise, L-Glu (1 nmol in 100 nl) injected into the mNTS in sham rats induced presser (+29 +/- 2 mmHg) and bradycardic responses (-90 +/- 8 bpm). However, in 11 rats with lesions in commNTS, presser and bradycardic chemoreceptor reflex responses were abolished, and injection of L-Glu into the mNTS decreased MAP (-14 +/- 6 mmHg) and HR (-59 +/- 16 bpm) as is reported in anesthetized control rats. We conclude that presser responses induced by L-Glu microinjected into the baroreceptor reflex region of mNTS in conscious rats depend on the integrity of the commNTS, which plays an important role in central chemoreceptor reflex pathways.

Liver lesions produced by aflatoxins in Rana catesbeiana (bullfrog)

This study describes alterations induced in Rana catesbeiana (bullfrog) liver after extended dietary exposure to aflatoxins (AFs). Bullfrogs of both sexes were fed for 120 days a commercial chow blended with a rice bran-based mixture of Al's containing 667.0, 11.65, 141.74, and 3.53 mg/kg of AFs B1, B2, G1, and G2, respectively. Animals were sacrificed on study days 45, 90, and 120. Severe and progressive liver lesions with structural collapse, increased hepatocyte and biliary duct cell proliferation, appearance of basophilic hepatocytes, and diffuse scarring, were observed at all time points. There were no quantitative alterations in the liver melanomacrophage centers of the AFs-exposed animals. Increased amounts of lipid hydroperoxides, indicative of ongoing oxidative stress, were more evident in the Addutor magnum muscle than in the AFs-damaged livers. No tumors were found in the R. catesbeiana livers after 120 days of exposure to relatively high doses of AFs. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Lateral parabrachial nucleus serotonergic mechanisms and salt appetite induced by sodium depletion

This study investigated the effects of bilateral injections of a serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonist into the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) on the intake of NaCl and water induced by 24-h water deprivation or by sodium depletion followed by 24 h of sodium deprivation (injection of the diuretic furosemide plus 24 h of sodium-deficient diet). Rats had stainless steel cannulas implanted bilaterally into the LPBN. Bilateral LPBN injections of the serotonergic 5-HT1/2 receptor antagonist methysergide (4 mu g/200 nl at each site) increased hypertonic NaCl intake when tested 24 h after sodium depletion and after 24 h of water deprivation. Water intake also increased after bilateral injections of methysergide into the LPBN. In contrast, the intake of a palatable solution (0.06 M sucrose) under body fluid-replete conditions was not changed after bilateral LPBN methysergide injections. The results show that serotonergic mechanisms in the LPBN modulate water and sodium intake induced by volume depletion and sodium loss. The finding that sucrose intake was not affected by LPBN serotonergic blockade suggests that the effects of the methysergide treatment on the intakes of water and NaCl are not due to a mechanism producing a nonspecific enhancement of all ingestive behaviors.

EFFECTS OF MASSIVE TELENCEPHALIC LESIONS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF BEHAVIOR IN PIGEONS (COLUMBA-LIVIA)

The effects of massive lesions of the telencephalon on the behavioral repertoire of captive pigeons were investigated. The behavior of four birds with an intact telencephalon was compared to that of four birds submitted to ablation of telencephalic structures. Behavioral audio recording was done according to previously defined categories in three daily sessions for fifteen days. Experimental birds were followed up for one month. Immediately after the lesion, operated birds showed decreases in the occurrence of different behaviors such as coordinated movements, feeding, interaction, preening, maintenance, exploration and vocalization and increases in locomotion and discrete movements of the body when compared to the control birds (P < 0.05). Recovery of exploration (P < 0.05), feeding and localization was observed during the follow-up period. These data are interpreted as suggestive of a functional role of the telencephalon in the organization of behavior and a long-term recovery of behavior after detelencephalation.