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Biomedical subjects

C E Franklin

Publications and source records attributed to C E Franklin.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Neuropeptide immunoreactivity and co-existence in cardiovascular nerves and autonomic ganglia of the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, and cardiovascular effects of neuropeptides.

The two aortas of the crocodile are in open connection at two sites, the foramen of Panizzae immediately outside the ventricles, and the arterial anastomosis at the level of the gut. The present study was performed to elucidate the innervation of the cardiovascular structures of the crocodile, in part to provide a further basis for the assumption that the apertures of the foramen and the anastomosis may be altered, possibly leading to changes in the flow profiles of the central vessels. The presence of smooth muscle arranged at the circumference of the foramen and in the walls of the anastomosis was demonstrated. The cardiovascular structures were innervated by nerves containing co-existing tyrosine hydroxylase, NPY and somatostatin immunoreactivities, which also occurred in neurons of the sympathetic ganglia. CGRP and substance P immunoreactive material co-existed in cardiovascular nerves, and in the nodose ganglion. In addition, bombesin, VIP and galanin immunoreactive nerves were found. Effects of neuropeptides on blood flows and blood pressures were studied in vivo. Substance P increased all blood flows measured, NPY increased the flow through the arterial anastomosis while neurotensin caused an initial decrease in the flow through the arterial anastomosis. In conclusion, there is a rich innervation of the heart and major vessels of the estuarine crocodile, including the foramen of Panizza and the arterial anastomosis. These nerves possibly regulate the distribution of blood in the cardiovascular system, which is further suggested by the results of the injection of neuropeptides.

Alligators and Crocodiles↗

Ventilatory and metabolic responses to hypoxia in the echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus.

Oxygen consumption (VO2), CO2 production (VCO2), and minute ventilation (VE) together with breathing pattern were measured in echidnas during normoxia and hypoxia. In normoxia, VO2, VCO2, and VE were all found to be approximately 30% of the allometric prediction for a eutherian. As a consequence VE/VO2 and VE/VCO2 are as predicted for a mammal. This is in contrast to previous reports on the echidna in which the VE was shown to be low and the echidna, subsequently, to be in a state of hypoventilation. It is possible that the difference between this and previous studies is related to the resting state of the echidna; echidnas in this study adopted a curled-up "sleeping" posture, and measurements were made without tactile disturbance. Breathing pattern was typical of a semifossorial species in that inspiration time to total breath time was short when compared with the normal eutherian value. In graded hypoxia VE increased [threshold fractional concentration of inspired O2 (FIO2) = 0.125], predominantly the result of changes in frequency achieved through a shortening in expiration time. In acute hypoxia (FIO2 = 0.10) VE/metabolic rate showed a tendency to increase, mainly because of the increase in VE. Approximately 50% of the increase in VE could be attributed to the 25% increase in VO2 and VCO2 that occurred in acute hypoxia. Given that the general mammalian response to hypoxia is a drop in metabolic rate, possible reasons as to why the echidna does not decrease metabolic rate in hypoxia are discussed.

Animals↗

Coronary hemodynamics in elasmobranchs and teleosts.

Until recently, direct measurements of coronary blood flow in fishes had not been made. This review presents and compares in vivo measurements of coronary flow recorded from the school shark, Galeorhinus australis, and the coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. In both species, the coronary blood flow was phasic and strongly influenced by the cardiac cycle. Coronary blood flow in the school shark was more severely compromised by the cardiac cycle with a short retrograde flow occurring during systole. In the coho salmon, there was an anterograde coronary blood flow throughout the cardiac cycle. Differences in coronary hemodynamics are discussed in relation to differences in the myoarchitecture of the school shark and coho salmon hearts. The regulation of coronary blood flow through changes in vascular resistance (vasoactivity of the coronary vessels) is also discussed.

Animals↗

Respiratory and cardiovascular responses to hypoxia in the Australian lungfish.

Simultaneous measurements of pulmonary blood flow (qPA), coeliacomesenteric blood flow (qCoA), dorsal aortic blood pressure (PDA), heart rate (fH) and branchial ventilation frequency (fv) were made in the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, during air breathing and aquatic hypoxia. The cholinergic and adrenergic influences on the cardiovascular system were investigated during normoxia using pharmacological agents, and the presence of catecholamines and serotonin in different tissues was investigated using histochemistry. Air breathing rarely occurred during normoxia but when it did, it was always associated with increased pulmonary blood flow. The pulmonary vasculature is influenced by both a cholinergic and adrenergic tonus whereas the coeliacomesenteric vasculature is influenced by a beta-adrenergic vasodilator mechanism. No adrenergic nerve fibers could be demonstrated in Neoceratodus but catecholamine-containing endothelial cells were found in the atrium of the heart. In addition, serotonin-immunoreactive cells were demonstrated in the pulmonary epithelium. The most prominent response to aquatic hypoxia was an increase in gill breathing frequency followed by an increased number of air breaths together with increased pulmonary blood flow. It is clear from the present investigation that Neoceratodus is able to match cardiovascular performance to meet the changes in respiration during hypoxia.

Animals↗

Cardiac performance of an isolated eel heart: effects of hypoxia and responses to coronary artery perfusion.

The pericardial sac containing the heart was removed from large (2.7-6.3 kg) long-finned eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii). Coronary arteries were cannulated in preparation for perfusion with eel Ringer or red cell suspensions. The hearts were maintained by Ringer perfusion while the performance of the heart was assessed. Responses of the hearts to increases in filling pressure and output pressure were recorded. Maximum cardiac output was 22.3 +/- 1.4 ml/min/kg body mass (mean +/- 1 SEM; N = 9). The highest cardiac power output was measured at maximum cardiac output and was 3.39 +/- 0.32 mW/g ventricle mass (mean +/- 1 SEM; N = 9). Eel hearts could sustain output pressures near 80 cm H2O, but cardiac output was reduced and cardiac power output was 1.89 +/- 0.24 mW/g ventricular mass (mean +/- 1 SEM; N = 9). Maximum cardiac output decreased by 14% when hearts pumped hypoxic Ringer with a PO2 of 11.5 torr. At high input pressures concomitant with high output pressures (80 cm H2O), cardiac power output decreased by 38% upon exposure to hypoxic Ringer. Coronary perfusion of hypoxic hearts with red cell suspensions (mean hematocrit 10.4%) at a rate of 2% of control cardiac output (0.20 ml/min/kg body mass) had no effect on maximum cardiac output. However, coronary perfusion enabled hypoxic hearts to maintain cardiac output when output pressure was raised to 80 cm H2O. Under conditions of high input pressure and high output pressure, power output increased by 20% compared to hypoxic hearts without coronary perfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Myocardial oxygen consumption and mechanical efficiency of a perfused dogfish heart preparation.

Oxygen consumption of an in-pericardium heart preparation from the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) was linearly related to cardiac power output. Basal oxygen consumption, predicted from the regression, was 0.127 microliters.s-1.g ventricle mass-1 and increased by 0.189 microliters.s-1.g ventricle mass-1 per milliwatt of power generated. From the relationship between cardiac power output and mechanical efficiency, mechanical efficiency was predicted to increase with cardiac power output to a maximum of 21%. Mechanical efficiency was measured during volume loading and pressure loading at two power outputs (50% and 72% of maximum power output). At 50% of maximum power output, mechanical efficiency increased significantly by 2.87%, from 11.9 +/- 0.3% to 14.8 +/- 0.5% (n = 7), when flow was halved and output pressure doubled to achieve the same power output. Similarly, at 72% of maximum power output, mechanical efficiency increased from 14.74 +/- 0.92% to 17.61 +/- 0.84% (n = 6) when flow was halved and output pressure doubled to generate the same higher level of power output. The increased mechanical efficiency at higher output pressures is believed to result from cardiac myocytes working within a length range where they are able to generate the most tension during contraction and are most efficient. We speculate that the loss of mechanical efficiency associated with large changes in sarcomere length, when stroke volume is large, is a driving force behind the use of frequency as the principal means of increasing cardiac output as observed in more active fishes, birds and mammals.

Animals↗

Redistribution of air within the lungs may potentiate "fright" bradycardia in submerged crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus).

1. Voluntary undisturbed dives by Crocodylus porosus were short in duration (3.08 +/- 1.87 min, mean +/- SD) and accompanied by a small but significant bradycardia (14.3 +/- 5.9% drop). 2. When crocodiles were disturbed underwater there was a rapid onset of "fright" bradycardia, to 65 +/- 6.0% of surface heart rates and dive durations were prolonged to 19.6 +/- 1.8 min. 3. The development of "fright" bradycardia was not accompanied by any increase in intratracheal pressure or expulsion of lung gas. However, sustained contraction of the abdomen and expansion of the thorax revealed a redistribution of air anteriorly within the lungs. 4. We propose that the redistribution of air within the lungs may generate an afferent signal which potentiates the initiation of a severe, dive-prolonging bradycardia.

Afferent Pathways↗

Dimensional analysis of the ventricle of an in situ perfused trout heart using echocardiography.

The linear dimensions of the ventricle of an in situ perfused trout heart were measured with an ultrasound scanner. Using a pyramidal model, linear dimensions taken from real-time, two-dimensional, echotomographic images of the ventricle were used to calculate ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and, by the difference between them, stroke volumes for various filling and output pressures. Stroke volumes calculated from the ultrasound measurements were significantly correlated with actual stroke volumes determined from cardiac output and heart rate and had a regression line slope close to one. Increases in stroke volume with greater filling pressures resulted from increased ventricular end-diastolic volume with constant end-systolic volume; end-systolic volumes were negligible. Maintenance of stroke volume with increasing output pressure was by increases in both end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes. Decreases in stroke volume with very high output pressures may result from convergence of end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes.

Animals↗

Behavioural observations and neurophysiological responses of cockroaches envenomated with Latrodectus katipo venom.

1. The behaviour of American cockroaches envenomated with Latrodectus katipo venom was correlated with neurophysiological events recorded from an isolated cockroach CNS preparation to which venom was applied. 2. The injection of a venom extract into cockroaches caused convulsions (3 behavioural categories: quivering, jerking and hyperextension) which eventually led to paralysis and death. 3. Changes in the spontaneous activity of nerve 5 (from the metathoracic ganglion) corresponded to the time course of envenomation behaviours. An initial increase in discharge peaked 5-10 min after application and subsequently decreased to become irreversibly blocked.

Action Potentials↗

Survey of potential drug interaction incidence in an outpatient clinic population.

A study was conducted at a large VA outpatient facility to determine the total number of potential drug interactions resulting from outpatient clinic prescribing. Interactions classified as of moderate or major clinical significance were tabulated. No attempt was made to ascertain whether patients taking digoxin and a thiazide diuretic without a potassium supplement were having their serum potassium levels monitored or if patients had been instructed to space their antacid dosages away from potential reacting drugs. Of the 3028 patients studied, 710 received drugs which had the potential to interact. A dramatic increase of potential interactions was seen as the number of prescriptions received per patient increased. Drug combinations which had potential for interaction and frequency of prescription are listed.

Adult↗

Effect of ontogenetic increases in body size on burst swimming performance in tadpoles of the striped marsh frog, Limnodynastes peronii.

The effect of ontogenetic increases in total length on burst swimming performance was investigated in tadpoles of the striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) over the total-length range of 1. 5-4 cm and Gosner developmental stages 25-38. The burst swimming performance of tadpoles at 10 degrees and 24 degrees C was determined by videotaping startle responses with a high-speed video camera at 200 Hz and analysing the sequences frame by frame. Maximum swimming velocity (Umax) and acceleration (Amax) increased with total length (L) at a rate that was proportionally greater than the increase in total length (i.e., positive allometry; exponents >1) and was described by the allometric equations Umax=0.061L1.34 and Amax=1.15L1.11 at 10 degrees C and Umax=0.114L1.34 and Amax=1.54L1. 11 at 24 degrees C. Stride length increased with a total-length exponent of approximately 1 but was unaffected by temperature. Tail-beat frequency was not affected by total length and increased from 7.8+/-0.2 Hz at 10 degrees C to 21.7+/-0.7 Hz at 24 degrees C. Developmental stage did not significantly influence the relationship between total length and Umax or Amax. Furthermore, temperature and the associated changes in water viscosity did not affect the relationship between total length and burst swimming performance. At their Umax, Reynolds numbers ranged from approximately 1,500 in the smaller tadpoles up to 50,000 for the larger animals at 24 degrees C. We suggest the positive allometry of Umax in larval L. peronii was due in part to the increases in tail width (TW) with total length (TW=-1.36L1.66), possibly reflecting the increasing importance of burst swimming performance to survival during larval development.

Animals↗