Experimental dissociation between hippocampal theta activity in wakefulness and hippocampal theta activity in paradoxal sleep in the rat]

The effects of electrolytic lesion of the septum on the theta activity of the dorsal hippocampus were studied in the chronically implanted Rat during wakefulness and paradoxical sleep. The experimental results show that depending on its localization, septal lesion can either: (1) eliminate the wakefulness theta rhythm without suppressing that of paradoxical sleep; (2) eliminate the paradoxical sleep theta rhythm without suppressing that of wakefulness. These results suggest that there are two kinds of theta activity having different anatomophysiological bases and a different functional significance: one associated with wakefulness and the other with paradoxical sleep.     

Effects of bilateral dorsolateral pontine tegmentum lesions on hippocampus theta rhythm during paradoxical sleep in the rat]

Electrolytic lesions of the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum aimed at the locus coeruleus (LC) were performed bilaterally in 13 chronically implanted Rats. Following lesions, transient alterations of characteristic components of theta rhythm appeared. No shortening of duration of paradoxical sleep (PS) was observed. These results do not support the hypothesis that neurons of LC are directly involved in the production of theta rhythm during PS; moreover they seem not to be necessary to the normal appearance of this state of sleep.     

Phasic hippocampal activity during paradoxical sleep in the rat: selective suppression after diazepam administration

Summary The effects of diazepam on tonic (T) and phasic (P) components of the paradoxical-sleep hippocampal theta rhythm were studied in the rat. Results show that diazepam, a benzodiazepine analogue known to interfere with the putative neurotransmitter -aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the mammalian central nervous system, selectively abolishes P. They confirm previous data according to which sedative/anaesthetic drugs cause, an apparent dissociation of T and P of the paradoxical-sleep hippocampal theta rhythm. Moreover, they suggest a possible involvement of GABA in the neurochemical mechanisms underlying P in the rat.     

Electrical colonic activity in the conscious dog]

Identification of two distinct rhythms of the colonic slow waves at a mean frequency of 5 and 18 cycles/min. Evidence is provided for an origin of the faster rhythm from the mascularis mucosae.     

Réalisation de la différence phasaire du rythme cardiaque chezLocusta Migratoria L. I. Vie larvaire

Summary Except for a higher value of the cardiac rhythm at the beginning of the first stage ofLocusta migratoria solitary phase, phase difference of the cardiac rhythm sets up during the 4th stage very progressively and is clearly expressed in the 5th stage, the solitarian locusts showing a higher rhythm.     

The effect of eating behavior on the circadian rhythm of plasma corticosterone in growing rats]

The circadian rhythm of plasma corticosterone was studied in growing Rats fed on an ad libitum or controlled feeding schedule (six meals per day). Circadian plasma corticosterone rhythm was conventional in ad libitum Rats. Increases of circulating hormone occurred during the last light hours and the first dark hours. Plasma corticosterone rhythm was modified by controlled feeding. Meal feeders exhibited a high value during the last light hours and a secondary hump at midnight. Feeding schedule was not the main synchronizing factor in rat circadian corticosterone rhythm.     

Single-cell recordings from chick pineal glands in vitro reveal ultradian and circadian oscillations

Evidence is clear that each melatonin-producing cell in the chick pineal gland contains a circadian oscillator that continues to function in vitro, resulting in a prominent day/night rhythm of melatonin secretion. The aim of the present investigation was to examine whether the circadian organization of the gland has an electrophysiological correlate. To this end, single-cell recordings were made from isolated chick pineal glands kept in vitro under a light/dark cycle of 12:12 h, identical to that of the donors, or under continuous light or darkness. In all the glands investigated, a very small percentage of cells exhibited sodium-dependent spontaneous spike activity with a mean frequency below 10 Hz. The cells revealed rhythms with periods in the 15- to 60-min range and, additionally, exhibited ultradian and circadian rhythms in firing, with periods of 10.75+/-1.06 h and 26.25+/-1.26 h (mean +/- standard deviation), respectively. Most of the cells exhibited circadian rhythms with higher activity during daytime than at night, showing that the electrical activity and melatonin rhythm were out of phase. Under constant light or darkness, the circadian rhythm persisted. When the light/dark cycle of the donors was phase-advanced by 5 h, the cells revealed complete entrainment. We discuss whether the cells, albeit small in number, could function as a secondary ultradian/circadian oscillator contributing to the ultradian/circadian organization of the gland.     

Developmental characteristics of histamine methyltransferase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase of rat brain

Summary The specific activity of histamine methyltransferase of rat brain increases rapidly from the 16th until the 25th day of gestation (7 days after birth). The specific activity of phenylethanolamine-N-methyl-transferase shows a rapid incrase during the 1st and the 2nd week after birth, the adult values being obtained by the end of the 2nd week.     

Disaccharidase rhythm in rat small intestine; no relationship with mitosis rhythm.

Same circadian difference in the specific activities of sucrase and maltase was observed in the purified brush border fraction as in the crude homogenate of the mucosa of rat small intestine, suggesting that the disaccharidase rhythm is not due to the mitosis rhythm of epithelial cells.     

Disaccharidase rhythm in rat small intestine; no relationship with mitosis rhythm

Summary Same circadian difference in the specific activities of sucrase and maltase was observed in the purified brush border fraction as in the crude homogenate of the mucosa of rat small intestine, suggesting that the disaccharidase rhythm is not due to the mitosis rhythm of epithelial cells.     

Chlorpromazine causes vesicle population changes in the monoaminergic synapse of the rat caudate nucleus.

The population of monoaminergic synaptic vesicles in the rat caudate nucleus remained unchanged or slightly decreased 3 h after chlorpromazine (CP) administration, and clearly increased after 24 h. The diameter of synaptic vesicles became smaller when the vesicles increased. These findings suggest that CP causes presynaptic blocking in part of its actions and leads to a condition in which neural transmission is inactive. In the control animals, population of the vesicles tended to fluctuate following the circadian rhythm.     

Antidepressant drugs can slow or dissociate circadian rhythms

Summary The circadian rest-activity cycle of female hamsters was lengthened by chronic administration of the monoamineoxidase inhibitor antidepressant drug clorgyline. Chronic treatment with clorgyline or the tricyclic antidepressant drug imipramine also induced dissociation of circadian activity rhythm components. Thus these drugs may be added to the very small group of substances (including the prophylactic antidepressant and antimanic drug lithium) that modify circadian frequency and/or coupling between circadian rhythms.A preliminary analysis of these results was presented at the 18th Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Puerto Rico 1979²⁸.Neuropharmacology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health.     

Chlorpromazine causes vesicle population changes in the monoaminergic synapse of the rat caudate nucleus

Summary The population of monoaminergic synaptic vesicles in the rat caudate nucleus remained unchanged or slightly decreased 3 h after chlorpromazine (CP) administration, and clearly increased after 24 h. The diameter of synaptic vesicles became smaller when the vesicles increased. These findings suggest that CP causes presynaptic blocking in part of its actions and leads to a condition in which neural transmission is inactive. In the control animals, population of the vesicles tended to fluctuate following the circadian rhythm.     

A phase response curve for the locomotor activity rhythm of the rat

Summary A phase response curve was obtained for the locomotor activity rhythm of the rat,Mus norvegicus albicus, by interrupting a free-running rhythm with light signals of short duration. The response curve obtained was continuous and had the switch-over point at the position of 2 h before the acrophase, followed by the portion of advancing phase shift. The pattern of the curve was typical for the nocturnal rodent.     

Effect of food and light schedule on bile flow in the rat

In the rat after food intake, whether during the dark or light period, bile flow increases. Food intake seems to be a major factor in the circadian rhythm of bile secretion.     

Effect of food and light schedule on bile flow in the rat

Summary In the rat after food intake, whether during the dark or light period, bile flow increases. Food intake seems to be a major factor in the circadian rhythm of bile secretion.     

Endogenous oscillatory activity and TTX-sensitive spikes of the heart muscle in early juveniles of the isopod crustaceanLigia exotica

The heart beat of early juveniles of the littoral isopodLigia exotica occurred at a frequency of 250 to 350/min, associated with rhythmic activity of the heart muscle. Each burst was composed of a slow depolarizing potential with superimposed spike potentials. The spike potential was eliminated by perfusion with TTX-containing or Na⁺-free saline. In TTX-saline, the slow potential was unchanged in frequency and amplitude. By current injection into the heart muscle, the rhythm of the slow potential was phase-shifted and its frequency was changed in a membrane potential-dependent manner. These results show that the heart ofLigia early juveniles acts as an endogenous muscle oscillator generating oscillatory slow potentials and Na⁺-dependent spikes.     

Arousal deficit shown in aged rat's quantitative EEG and ameliorative action of pramiracetam compared to piracetam

Summary The basal EEG profile of the aged Fisher-344 rat was consistently different from that of the young rat, showing dominant high voltage slow-wave components. These slow waves were present in both the frontal cerebral cortex and dorsal hippocampus. Absent or greatly attenuated in the aged rat's hippocampal EEG was rhythmic theta activity, which was always dominant in the young awake rat's hippocampus. These EEG differences were clearly apparent only under basal test conditions, i.e, following habituation to the test situation. Pramiracetam sulfate acted strongly to normalize the aged rat's EEG, while the action of piracetam was weak and appeared to undergo tolerance development.     

Arousal deficit shown in aged rat's quantitative EEG and ameliorative action of pramiracetam compared to piracetam

The basal EEG profile of the aged Fisher-344 rat was consistently different from that of the young rat, showing dominant high voltage slow-wave components. These slow waves were present in both the frontal cerebral cortex and dorsal hippocampus. Absent or greatly attenuated in the aged rat's hippocampal EEG was rhythmic theta activity, which was always dominant in the young awake rat's hippocampus. These EEG differences were clearly apparent only under basal test conditions, i.e., following habituation to the test situation. Pramiracetam sulfate acted strongly to normalize the aged rat's EEG, while the action of piracetam was weak and appeared to undergo tolerance development.     

Diurnal rhythm of active calcium transport in rat intestine

The active calcium transport along the small intestine of adult rat was shown to exhibit daily rhythmic variations of considerable amplitude. Both the light-dark cycle and the time of food presentation acted as synchronizers of the rhythm observed.