Biomedical subjects

C Passig

Publications and source records attributed to C Passig.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Deficit in the water-maze after lesions in the anteromedial extrastriate cortex in rats.

The Morris water-maze task was used to evaluate the role of the anteromedial extrastriate visual cortex in the processing of visuospatial information in rats. Six gray male rats received bilateral ibotenic acid injections targeted stereotactically to the rostral part of the anteromedial extrastriate visual cortex. These operated subjects and six other unoperated control rats were tested in the maze. Histological analysis confirmed the localization, symmetry, and depth of lesions in the rostral part of anteromedial area (AMa) in the operated subjects. In these animals, a significantly greater latency to reach the submerged platform was found (U = 0, p = 0.004). The Morris water-maze may be considered as a reference memory task. It presents a stronger demand on the use of allocentric spatial visual cues than on the use of egocentric cues for navigation. Therefore, the present data lend support to the participation of area AMa in the integration of allocentric visuospatial cues or as a link in the memory system involved in the acquisition of this task.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

[Persistence of the cognitive effects of early stimulation assessed with an animal model].

Human and animal studies have clearly demonstrated the advantageous effects of sensorially enriched rearing environments. Nevertheless, little work has been done concerning the long-lasting persistence of all these behavioral modifications. To undertake this question, a very early enrichment animal model was used. From days 10 to 24 after birth, 28 male albino rats were exposed to a multisensory stimulated environment, while other 28 littermates constituted the control group. At 3 and 6 months old two cognitive abilities were analyzed; the spatial working memory (short term memory) and the latent learning capacity (long term memory). The results evidenced an improved working memory in both 3 and 6 months old rats exposed to the early enriched environment. Moreover, the adult early stimulated group performed as well as younger subjects both on error scores and speed to solve this test. Only in the adult group of rats a superior latent learning capacity of stimulated subjects was evidenced. To conclude, the early enriched environment induced: a) persistent cognitive benefits in the adult rat and b) a more relevant influence on the subsequent behavior of older rather than younger subjects.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1992

Development of a computerized system for simultaneous visual discrimination in rats.

In order to automate a simultaneous visual discrimination system, a Sutherland jumping-stand box was modified by adding two lateral alleys which connect the feeder compartment with the starting box. By means of a digital interface, this modified box was connected to an Apple IIe PC. A group of rats (n = 8) was trained. All subjects learned. Advantages relevant to the apparatus design, as well as the benefits derived from the automated procedure are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of cigarette smoking in psychiatric patients].

In opinion of the WHO, AIDS and smoking are the two major epidemies, and smoking is the most important avoidable risk for health. According to epidemiological studies, smoking is a relevant risk factors connected to different types of cancers, as well as respiratory, cardiovascular, and mother-infant pathologies. In Chile 7% of the death toll can be blamed on smoking. The present information about cigarette consumption was obtained from the clinical record of 297 in-patients, discharged from the Psychiatric Clinic, University of Chile, between the year 1983 and the year 1985. Prevalence of smoking is 66.7%, with no difference per sex. 9.6% patients smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day. The prevailing clinical diagnoses are: Drug addiction (alcoholism excluded), 96.6%; schizophrenia, 81.7%; and alcoholism, 73.2%. Smoking is associated to a background of alcohol abuse, 78.9%, as well as other drug abuses, 89.7%: In other words, this is a statistically significant difference. In this study, it was found out that psychiatric in-patients were smoking more heavily than the general population--41%, and more heavily than somatic in-patients as well--42%.

Adult↗