Conditioned seizures susceptibility in the hamster induced by prior auditory exposure

Zusammenfassung Nachweis audiosensibilisierter Anfälle beim HamsterMesocricetus auratus nach Konditionierung auf akustischen Reiz.

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Supported in part by grant No. EC 00447-01 from the PHS. We thank Mrs.Barbara Beagle for technical assistance.     

Forskolin supresses seizures induced by pentylenetrazol in mice

Summary Forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator when injected s.c. (1 mg/kg) in mice, caused an elevation of cAMP in the forebrain and cerebellum of up to 170% and 130%, respectively. The treatment was found to prevent seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol. This suppression had subsided 30 min after the injection, when cAMP level was again normal in the cerebellum but still elevated in the forebrain.     

Forskolin suppresses seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol in mice

Forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator when injected s.c. (1 mg/kg) in mice, caused an elevation of cAMP in the forebrain and cerebellum of up to 170% and 130%, respectively. The treatment was found to prevent seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol. This suppression had subsided 30 min after the injection, when cAMP level was again normal in the cerebellum but still elevated in the forebrain.     

Narcotic antagonism of seizures induced by a dopamine-derived tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid

This paper describes experiments designed to evaluate whether the narcotic antagonist naloxone significantly interferes with seizures induced by tetrahydroisoquinolines (TIQs). In these experiments we found that naloxone significantly reduced seizure scores induced by intra-cranially infusing mice with 50 micrograms of the dopamine-derived tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) alkaloid, 6,7-dihydroxy TIQ. These findings support an opioid involvement in the actions of TIQs and may lead to further understanding of opioid-mediated novel excitatory receptors.     

Narcotic antagonism of seizures induced by a dopamine-derived tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid

Summary This paper describes experiments designed to evaluate whether the narcotic antagonist naloxone significantly interferes with seizures induced by tetrahydroisoquinolines (TIQs). In these experiments we found that naloxone significantly reduced seizure scores induced by intra-cranially infusing mice with 50 g of the dopamine-derived tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) alkaloid, 6,7-dihydroxy TIQ. These findings support an opioid involvement in the actions of TIQs and may lead to further understanding of opioid-mediated novel excitatory receptors.     

Diabetic syndrome in the Chinese hamster induced with monosodium glutamate

Summary Neuronal necrosis in the arcuate and ventromedial hypothalamus regions is easily induced in 1-day-old Chinese hamsters by the administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG). New-born Chinese hamsters injected with MSG showed no sign of obesity, even when grown up, but apparently developed a diabetic syndrome.This work was supported in part by the grant 349024 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Dr K. Suzuki, Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo University, for his kind and valuable suggestion.     

Alopecia induced in young mice by exposure to excess dietary zinc

Second generation mice were exposed to normal (50 ppm, Group I) or excess (2000 ppm, Group II) zinc in the maternal diet during gestation and lactation, then weaned and continued on the mother's diet until sacrifice at 8 weeks. Tibia zinc reflected dietary intake. Group II had reduced plasma copper, body weight, and hematocrit; the second coat of hair appeared late and was lighter in color than Group I, possibly as an effect of copper and pigmentation development and hair growth.     

Alopecia induced in young mice by exposure to excess dietary zinc

Summary Second generation mice were exposed to normal (50 ppm, Group I) or excess (2000 ppm, Group II) zinc in the maternal diet during gestation and lactation, then weaned and continued on the mother's diet until sacrifice at 8 weeks. Tibia zinc reflected dietary intake. Group II had reduced plasma copper, body weight, and hematocrit; the second coat of hair appeared late and was lighter in color than Group I, possibly as an effect of copper and pigmentation development and hair growth.     

The control of amygdaloid seizures by the globus pallidus

Summary Both in acute and chronic cats entopeduncular stimulation inhibits, to a greater extent than caudate activation, focal paroxysmal activity in the ventro-basal complex of the amygdala. Lesion of entopeduncular neurons, by means of kainic acid injection, induces a decrease of the caudate inhibitory effect. It is suggested that neostriatal control of the amygdaloid seizures occurs partly through the globus pallidus.This work was supported by a grant from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, Italy.     

Duration of hornet sleep induced by ether anesthesia is curtailed by exposure to sun or UV irradiation

Irradiation of hornets anesthetized by diethyl ether curtails their sleep duration from the ordinary 20–30 min to a mere 2–3 min. This effect on sleep is dependent on the intensity of the sun irradiation or, when exposed to monochromatic UV at 366 nm, on the duration of the irradiation. Of the various hornet cuticular areas of the body, the yellow cuticular areas of the abdominal segments are the most sensitive to the treatment. We assume that the cuticles of both live and dead hornets act as a converter of light to electric energy.     

Biotin deficiency in the hamster

Zusammenfassung Durch einen Eiweissgehalt von 40% in einer Diät wurde ein extremer Biotinmangel erzeugt. Folgende Symptome waren das Resultat: Wachstumshemmung, Hautentzündung (Dermatitis), Haarausfall und Verlust der Haarfarbe. Durch tägliche Dosen von 4 µg Biotin konnte dieser Zustand rasch gebessert werden.     

Developmental nicotine exposure induced alterations in behavior and glutamate receptor function in hippocampus

In the developing brain, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are involved in cell survival, targeting, formation of neural and sensory circuits, and development and maturation of other neurotransmitter systems. This regulatory role is disrupted when the developing brain is exposed to nicotine, which occurs with tobacco use during pregnancy. Prenatal nicotine exposure has been shown to be a strong risk factor for memory deficits and other behavioral aberrations in the offspring. The molecular mechanisms underlying these neurobehavioral outcomes are not clearly elucidated. We used a rodent model to assess behavioral, neurophysiological, and neurochemical consequences of prenatal nicotine exposure in rat offspring with specific emphasis on the hippocampal glutamatergic system. Pregnant dams were infused with nicotine (6 mg/kg/day) subcutaneously from the third day of pregnancy until birth. Results indicate that prenatal nicotine exposure leads to increased anxiety and depressive-like effects and impaired spatial memory. Synaptic plasticity in the form of long-term potentiation (LTP), basal synaptic transmission, and AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic currents were reduced. The deficit in synaptic plasticity was paralleled by declines in protein levels of vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1), synaptophysin, AMPA receptor subunit GluR1, phospho(Ser845) GluR1, and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95). These results suggest that prenatal nicotine exposure by maternal smoking could result in alterations in the glutamatergic system in the hippocampus contributing to the abnormal neurobehavioral outcomes.     

Hippocampal lesions produced by prolonged seizures in paralyzed artificially ventilated baboons

Résumé Des états de mal, durant de 3 à 7 h 30 sont provoqués par la bicuculline chez 3 babouins adolescents, immobilisés par de la gallamine et ventilés artificiellement. La tension artérielle et le débit cérébral sont augmentés pendant la première partie de la crise et redeviennent normaux secondairement. Des lésions ischémiques sont observées dans la zone fragile de l'hippocampe (zone de Sommer) et dans le cortex mais le cervelet reste indemne.     

Lithium suppresses hibernation in the Turkish hamster

Daily uptake of lithium salt (LiCl) in the drinking water at a rate of over 100 micrograms/g b.wt (or 2.4 mEq/kg) reduced or suppressed natural torpidity (hibernation) in the Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti). The data indicate a direct influence of lithium on clock-related functions controlling the hibernation process rather than indirect effects by preventing gonadal regression and thereby also hibernation.