PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Y Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to F Y Zhao.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Functional projection distances of spinal interneurons mediating reciprocal inhibition during swimming in Xenopus tadpoles.

The basis for longitudinal coordination among spinal neurons during locomotion is still poorly understood. We have now examined the functional projection distances for the longitudinal axons of reciprocal inhibitory 'commissural interneurons' in the spinal cord of young Xenopus tadpoles. In quiescent animals, glycinergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were evoked in ventral spinal neurons by stimulating small rostral and caudal groups of commissural interneuron somata at different distances on the opposite side of the hindbrain and spinal cord. Unitary IPSPs, produced by single synaptic contacts, could be distinguished from background noise. Local cord stimulation at different distances revealed maximum functional projection distances up to approximately 0.5 mm for both descending and ascending axons, but with the probability of recording connections falling steeply over this distance. These maximum longitudinal projection distances are smaller than predicted by axonal anatomy (approximately 1.2 mm). We then measured functional projection distances during swimming by examining the synaptic output of a surgically isolated group of rostral commissural interneurons, mapping the occurrence of the mid-cycle, reciprocal IPSPs they produced in more caudal neurons. IPSPs occurred with high probability up to 0.9 mm away, nearly twice the projection distance found in quiescent tadpoles. These results show that synaptic contacts from commissural interneurons could influence longitudinal coupling during swimming at distances of up to 0.9 mm (approximately 4-5 myotome segments or approximately 25% of the spinal cord). They provide direct evidence for functional projection distances of a characterized class of interneurons belonging to a spinal locomotor pattern generator.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cerebral ischemic hypoxia: discrepancy between apparent diffusion coefficients and histologic changes in rats.

PURPOSE: To compare the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) and histologic changes in young rats subjected to cerebral ischemic hypoxia (IH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen 3-week-old rats were subjected to a 30-minute IH insult (unilateral common carotid arterial ligation and exposure to 8% oxygen) and were examined at diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and light and electron microscopy on cessation of the insult (n = 5), 60 minutes after resuscitation (n = 5), or 48 hours after resuscitation (n = 5). Twelve control rats either underwent unilateral common carotid arterial ligation or were subjected to hypoxia. RESULTS: The experimental rats showed primary ADC reduction during the insult, transient ADC recovery after resuscitation, and secondary ADC reduction 48 hours after the insult. Histologic examination revealed dendritic swelling and mild swelling of the perivascular astrocytic end-feet during the primary ADC reduction phase, dark neurons and pronounced swelling of the perivascular astrocytic end-feet during the transient ADC recovery phase, and severely retracted dark neurons and extensive swelling of the astrocytic end-feet during the secondary ADC reduction phase. CONCLUSION: Transient ADC normalization after cerebral IH does not necessarily mean that histologic normalization has occurred. The transient ADC recovery phase appeared to have limited potential for neuronal salvage.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Central circuits controlling locomotion in young frog tadpoles.

The young Xenopus tadpole is a very simple vertebrate that can swim. We have examined its behavior and neuroanatomy, and used immobilized tadpoles to study the initiation, production, coordination, and termination of the swimming motor pattern. We will outline the sensory pathways that control swimming behavior and the mainly spinal circuits that produce the underlying motor output. Our recent work has analyzed the glycinergic, glutamatergic, cholinergic, and electrotonic synaptic input to spinal neurons during swimming. This has led us to study the nonlinear summation of excitatory synaptic inputs to small neurons. We then analyzed the different components of excitation during swimming to ask which components control frequency, and to map the longitudinal distribution of the components along the spinal cord. The central axonal projection patterns of spinal interneurons and motoneurons have been defined in order to try to account for the longitudinal distribution of synaptic drive during swimming.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Non-linear summation of excitatory synaptic inputs to small neurones: a case study in spinal motoneurones of the young Xenopus tadpole.

1. We examined the steady-state summation of postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) in small, electrotonically compact neurones with short dendrites, using a one-compartment electrical equivalent model of the passive membrane with conductances to represent chemical synapses and electrotonic junctional connections to neighbouring neurones. 2. Our model shows that PSP summation is non-linear and for small depolarizations is mainly determined by the increase in total neurone conductance due to the opening of synaptic channels. At bigger depolarizations the change in synaptic driving force becomes an equally important cause of non-linearity. 3. Non-linear summation of AMPA-mediated PSPs was measured experimentally when two monosynaptic pathways to motoneurones were stimulated. The conductances underlying these PSPs were calculated relative to the resting neurone conductance using our model. These conductance ratios were hardly affected by the size of electrotonic coupling conductances. The non-linearity in PSP summation could be predicted by the model provided that the depolarizations remained negative to potentials at which voltage-dependent channels open. 4. The model was used to estimate the relative contributions of glutamatergic, cholinergic and electrotonic excitation to EPSPs measured in Xenopus tadpole spinal motoneurones during swimming. Estimates of synaptic conductances and electrotonic coupling to other motoneurones suggest that ligand-gated conductance mediated by glutamate may be twice that due to acetylcholine. 5. We conclude that in small electrotonically compact motoneurones of the Xenopus tadpole, our simple model can predict the non-linearity in PSP summation and may allow the conductances of different synaptic inputs to be compared. Furthermore, excitatory synaptic conductances can increase the resting neurone conductance significantly and limit depolarization. Our general model may also be applicable to other small neurones.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Longitudinal distribution of components of excitatory synaptic input to motoneurones during swimming in young Xenopus tadpoles: experiments with antagonists.

1. Recent studies have revealed that the excitatory synaptic input to spinal motoneurones during fictive swimming in Xenopus tadpoles has three main components: glutamatergic (Glu) from premotor excitatory interneurones, nicotinic cholinergic (nACh) from more rostral motoneurones, and electrotonic coupling from neighbouring motoneurones. During swimming, these components sum to produce two kinds of excitation: phasic excitation (EPSPs) underlying spikes, and tonic depolarization. 2. We have investigated the longitudinal distribution of these excitatory synaptic inputs to presumed motoneurones at different positions along the spinal cord using intracellular recording techniques. Different antagonists (10 microM dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHbetaE) for nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs), 2 mM kynurenate (Kyn) for glutamate receptors (GluRs), and 100 microM Cd2+ for all chemical synapses) were microperfused very locally to unmask the relative contributions of these components to the total excitatory drive, and their distribution along the spinal cord during swimming. 3. If the potentials remaining when all chemical components were blocked by Cd2+ were subtracted from potentials recorded after blocking nAChRs and GluRs with DHbetaE plus Kyn, a small unidentified component was observed. This component was blocked by the specific AMPA antagonist 6-nitro-7-sulphamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline-2,3-dione (NBQX, 5 microM), so is glutamate mediated. 4. We used the potential measurements to calculate the relative synaptic conductances of the different synaptic inputs, and conclude that: (a) there is a rostral-caudal gradient in input during EPSPs and tonic depolarization; (b) the glutamatergic component accounts for most of the excitation, and decreases caudally; (c) cholinergic and electrotonic components are relatively constant in different positions along the spinal cord; and (d) these two components provide an increasing proportion of the input in more caudal neurones. 5. We propose that the glutamate components of excitation are fundamental to rhythm generation in the brainstem and rostral cord, while the electrotonic and cholinergic components ensure that the central pattern generator activates motoneurones effectively in all parts of the spinal cord.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Asymmetries in sensory pathways from skin to motoneurons on each side of the body determine the direction of an avoidance response in hatchling Xenopus tadpoles.

1. When swimming is initiated by tail stimulation in hatchling Xenopus tadpoles, the first trunk contraction is usually on the opposite side and directs the animal away from the stimulus. We have investigated how asymmetries in the skin sensory pathways mediate this response. 2. In alpha-bungarotoxin-immobilized tadpoles, intracellular recordings were made of responses to ipsilateral (ISS) and contralateral skin stimulation (CSS) in thirty-two presumed motoneurons. ISS evokes an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) followed by an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) whereas CSS only evokes an EPSP. Blocking the short latency IPSP evoked by ISS with strychnine reduced the difference in spike latency on the two sides but spikes still occurred first to CSS. 3. Motoneuron EPSPs evoked by ISS and CSS were therefore recorded during microperfusion of strychnine to block the short latency IPSP. We found: (a) the CSS-EPSPs have lower threshold, larger amplitude at a given intensity of stimulus, faster rising phase, and shorter latencies than those of ISS-EPSPs; (b) the ISS-EPSP onset latencies were longer than CSS-EPSPs and became shorter as the stimulus intensity increased while those of CSS-EPSPs remained little changed. At high stimulus intensities, EPSPs caused by CSS and ISS became similar; and (c) onset latencies of ISS-EPSPs had higher variance than those of CSS-EPSPs. However, this difference was reduced as the stimulus intensity was increased. 4. Since motoneuron EPSP onset latencies varied with stimulus intensity, we proposed that the pathway from the opposite side had stronger synapses from afferents to sensory interneurons. To test this proposal we built a neuronal population model of the spinal pathway from skin afferents, via sensory interneurons to ipsilateral and contralateral motoneurons incorporating this asymmetry. Inhibition was omitted from the model. 5. Simulated motoneuron EPSPs in response to skin stimulation on each side of the body showed the major asymmetries found experimentally. If the distribution and axonal projections of the interneurons in the two sensory pathways were made the same these differences remained. However, if the synaptic strength from sensory afferents onto interneurons projecting to the two sides were made equal, the difference between the two sides were lost. 6. We propose that the sensory pathway to contralateral motoneurons has more effective excitation from afferents to sensory interneurons which leads to these motoneurons firing first. At higher stimulus strengths, when population recruitment can blur these subtle differences in excitation between the two sides, inhibition normally plays a significant role to ensure that most first responses are still contralateral.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1998

Assessing the roles of glutamatergic and cholinergic synaptic drive in the control of fictive swimming frequency in young Xenopus tadpoles.

This paper investigates the proposal that the frequency of the swimming central pattern generator in young Xenopus tadpoles is partly determined by the population of glutamatergic premotor interneurons active on each cycle. During fictive swimming spinal neurons also receive cholinergic and electrotonic excitation from motoneurons. As frequency changes during swimming we make two predictions: first, since most motoneurons fire very reliably at all frequencies, the electrotonic and nicotinic drive from motoneurons should remain constant, and second, when swimming frequency decreases, the glutamatergic drive should decrease as the number of active premotor excitatory interneurons decreases. We have tested these predictions by measuring the excitatory synaptic drive to motoneurons as frequency changes during fictive swimming. The components of synaptic drive were revealed by the local microperfusion of strychnine together with different excitatory antagonists. After blocking the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the mainly glutamatergic excitatory synaptic drive still changed with frequency. However, when glutamate receptors or all chemical transmission was blocked, excitation did not change with frequency. Our predictions are confirmed, suggesting that premotor excitatory interneurons are a major factor in frequency control in the tadpole central pattern generator and that motoneurons provide a stable background excitation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Tachykininergic synaptic transmission in the coeliac ganglion of the guinea-pig.

1. The responses of coeliac ganglion neurones of the guinea-pig to electrical stimulation of the mesenteric nerves and applications of tachykinin receptor agonists were investigated by use of intracellular recording techniques. 2. Ganglion neurones were classified into three groups based on firing patterns in response to a depolarizing current pulse: phasic (38% of the population), tonic (39%) and atypical (23%). In the majority of phasic neurones (91%) a long after-hyperpolarization (LAH) lasting 5-8 s followed action potentials induced by a train of depolarizing current pulses. In contrast, LAH was rarely observed in tonic neurones (5%). 3. In most of tonic neurones (90%) slow excitatory post-synaptic potentials (e.p.s.ps) lasting 3-10 min were evoked by repetitive electrical stimulation of the mesenteric nerves. Prolonged depolarizations were also evoked in most tonic neurones by applications of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) or senktide, a tachykinin NK3 receptor agonist. 4. In most of phasic neurones (73%), mesenteric nerve stimulation did not induce an obvious depolarization but induced a prolonged inhibition of LAH lasting 3-10 min. Bath-applied tachykinin receptor agonists similarly induced an inhibition of LAH without causing depolarization in most of the phasic neurones. 5. GR 71251 (5 microM), a tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist, partially depressed the nerve-evoked slow e.p.s.ps in tonic neurones and the nerve-evoked LAH inhibition in phasic neurones. 6. Capsaicin (0.1-5 microM) induced a prolonged depolarization in tonic neurones and an inhibition of LAH in phasic neurones. 7. A mixture of peptidase inhibitors potentiated the depolarization and the LAH inhibition evoked by nerve stimulation, SP and NKA, but not those evoked by senktide. 8. It is concluded that tonic neurones respond to repetitive mesenteric nerve stimulation preferentially with slow e.p.s.ps and that phasic neurones respond preferentially with LAH inhibition. The present study further suggests that SP and NKA, released from axon collaterals of primary afferent neurones, produce slow e.p.s.ps in tonic neurones and the LAH inhibition in phasic neurones via NK1 receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Pharmacological characterization of GR82334, a tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist, in the isolated spinal cord of the neonatal rat.

Pharmacological characteristics of [D-Pro9,[spiro-gamma-lactam]Leu10,Trp11]physalaemin-(1-11) (GR82334), a tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist, and its effects on slow depolarizing responses of lumbar ventral roots evoked by primary afferent stimulation were examined in isolated spinal cord preparations of neonatal rats. GR82334 (1-3 microM) caused dose-dependent rightward shifts of the concentration-response curves for substance P, substance P methyl ester, delta-aminovaleryl [Pro9,N-Me-Leu10]substance P-(7-11) (GR73632) and neurokinin A in normal artificial cerebrospinal fluid and those for substance P methyl ester, GR73632 and neurokinin A in the presence of tetrodotoxin. GR82334 (10 microM) did not evoke gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release from spinal cords of neonatal rats, whereas [D-Pro9,[spiro-gamma-lactam] Leu10,Trp11]substance P (GR71251), another tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist, induced a significant increase in GABA release. GR82334 (1-3 microM) markedly depressed the slow depolarizing response of ventral roots, referred to as slow ventral root potential, evoked by the stimulation of the contralateral dorsal root or the ipsilateral saphenous nerve. In contrast, cyclo[Gln,Trp,Phe,Gly,Leu,Met] (L-659,877, 1 microM), a selective tachykinin NK2 receptor antagonist, did not depress the saphenous nerve-evoked slow ventral root potential and did not antagonize the action of neurokinin A to induce ventral root depolarization. The present results provide further evidence for the involvement of substance P, neurokinin A and tachykinin NK1 receptors in the primary afferent-evoked slow ventral root potentials.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Subtypes of tachykinin receptors on tonic and phasic neurones in coeliac ganglion of the guinea-pig.

1. Intracellular recording techniques were used to investigate the characteristics of tachykinin receptors and their subtypes in tonic and phasic neurones, which constituted two major neuronal populations in the coeliac ganglion of the guinea-pig. 2. In 95% of phasic neurones a long-lasting after-hyperpolarization (LAH), 5-8 s in duration and 10-20 mV in amplitude, was observed following action potentials evoked by passing a train of depolarizing current pulses into the neurones. In contrast, LAH was observed in only 4% of tonic neurones. 3. In most tonic neurones, substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and senktide induced depolarizations, whereas in phasic neurones they usually inhibited LAH but rarely induced depolarization. 4. Tonic and phasic neurones were further classified into three groups based on their responses (depolarization for tonic neurones and LAH inhibition for phasic neurones) to these tachykinin receptor agonists: (1) neurones responsive to SP, NKA and senktide (71-78%); (2) those responsive to senktide but not to SP and NKA (12-23%) and (3) those not responsive to any of the three agonists (7-11%). 5. GR71251 (5 microM), an NK1-selective tachykinin receptor antagonist, depressed the depolarization in tonic neurones and the LAH inhibition in phasic neurones induced by SP and NKA, but not those induced by senktide. 6. Selective NK2 receptor agonists, [Nle10]NKA4-10, [beta-Ala8]NKA4-10 and GR64349, were without effect in both tonic and phasic neurones. Furthermore, an NK2 receptor antagonist, L659,877, did not inhibit the depolarization induced by NKA, SP or senktide in tonic neurones. 7. It is suggested that NK1 and NK3 receptors are present on a large proportion of coeliac ganglion neurones. In tonic neurones both subtypes of tachykinin receptors are coupled to membrane depolarization,whereas in phasic neurones activation of these receptors leads to inhibition of LAH. The present study also suggests that NKA evokes the depolarization in tonic neurones and the LAH inhibition in phasic neurones via NK1, but not NK2 receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Use of NK1 receptor antagonists in the exploration of physiological functions of substance P and neurokinin A.

Tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists were used to explore the physiological functions of substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA). Pharmacological profiles of three NK1 receptor antagonists, GR71251, GR82334, and RP 67580, were examined in the isolated spinal cord preparation of the neonatal rat. These tachykinin receptor antagonists exhibited considerable specificities and antagonized the actions of both SP and NKA to induce the depolarization of ventral roots. Electrical stimulation of the saphenous nerve with C-fiber strength evoked a depolarization lasting about 30 s of the ipsilateral L3 ventral root. This response, which is referred to as saphenous-nerve-evoked slow ventral root potential (VRP), was depressed by these NK1 receptor antagonists. In contrast, the saphenous-nerve-evoked slow VRP was potentiated by application of a mixture of peptidase inhibitors, including thiorphan, actinonin, and captopril in the presence of naloxone, but not after further addition of GR71251. Likewise, in the isolated coeliac ganglion of the guinea pig, electrical stimulation of the mesenteric nerves evoked in some ganglionic cells slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), which were depressed by GR71251 and potentiated by peptidase inhibitors. These results further support the notion that SP and NKA serve as neurotransmitters producing slow EPSPs in the neonatal rat spinal cord and guinea pig prevertebral ganglia.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Vascular anomalies of the maxillofacial region].

513 cases with vascular lesions of oral and maxillofacial regions were followed from 1986 to 1990 by history, physical examination and pathological check. The vascular anomalies which had been termed "hemangioma" in the past were diagnosed anew according to new biological classification of vascular lesions proposed by Mulliken and Glowacki. Hemangioma and vascular malformation were completely different in clinical behavior and endothelial cell characteristics. Hemangiomas are often not present at birth, but appear during the 1st month. Its clinical behavior is that a proliferative phase is followed by a slow involution. Vascular Malformations are always present at birth and never regress, therefore the treatment of hemangioma and vascular malformation is different.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Involvement of NK1 receptors in synaptic transmission in the guinea pig coeliac ganglion.

Using intracellular recording techniques, we examined the effects of tachykinin receptor agonists and antagonists on electrophysiologically identified tonic neurons of the isolated guinea pig coeliac ganglion. In most of the tonic neurons, substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and/or senktide induced a depolarization. The effects of SP and NKA were blocked by the NK1-selective antagonist, GR71251 (5 microM), but not by the NK2-selective antagonist, L659,877 (10 microM), whereas the effect of senktide was not affected by these antagonists. The NK1-selective agonists, [Sar9,Met(O)2(11)]SP and SP methyl ester, and the NK3-selective agonist, [MePhe7]neurokinin B, also evoked depolarizations in tonic neurons. By contrast, the NK2-selective agonists, [Nle10]NKA4-10, [beta-Ala8]NKA4-10 and GR64349, at 1 microM each, did not evoke any significant depolarizing response. Repetitive electrical stimulation of the mesenteric nerves induced slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in the majority of tonic neurons, which were depressed by GR71251 (5 microM). These results suggest that NK1 and NK3 receptors but not NK2 receptors are involved in the tachykinin-induced depolarization of tonic neurons, and that the NKA-induced response is due to the activation of NK1 receptors. This study also suggests the involvement of NK1 receptors in the slow EPSPs in tonic neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Flow cytometric analysis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral and maxillofacial region].

Fifty fresh tissue samples and fifty paraffin embedded specimens from squamous cell carcinoma of the oral and maxillofacial region were analyzed for nuclear DNA content and cell kinetics by flow cytometry (FCM). Mean DNA index (DI) was 1.154, and 59% of them showed aneuploidy patterns. Mean S phase cell population, which represents the "proliferative activity", was 22.62%. With the increase of surgical stage, aneuploid population rose from 51.7% to 82.8%, and with the increase of histology grade, it rose from 54.17% to 71.4%. S phase cell population also showed a tendency to increase with the increase of surgical stage or histology grade, and in those with cervical metastasis. The results indicate that nuclear DNA analysis by FCM is quite useful as a supplement to histology diagnosis and evaluation of malignant grade of squamous cell carcinomas of the oral and maxillofacial region.

Aneuploidy↗
PubMed1990

Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of malignant tumours: an analysis of 540 cases.

Malignant tumours (540 cases), including tumours of the lung, oesophagus, cardia, stomach, rectum, bladder, other urinary genital organs, face and mouth, eyes, ear, nose and throat (ENT), head and neck, breast and skin, were treated using photodynamic therapy (PDT) between 1982 and 1985 in Beijing. All of the cases were identified pathologically and the patients received haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) (5 mg kg-1) intravenously 48-72 h prior to PDT. An argon-pumped dye laser emitting at 630 nm was used for the treatment. The results were as follows: complete response (CR) was obtained in 227 cases (42.1%), partial response (PR) was obtained in 114 cases (21.1%), mild response (MR) was obtained in 120 cases (22.2%) and 79 cases (14.6%) showed no response (NR). The effectiveness of PDT in the different organs was compared. HPD fluorescence was examined in 409 cases of malignant tumours: 344 lesions (84.1%) revealed red fluorescence (positive reaction), 32 gave an equivocal response and 33 gave a negative reaction. Positive fluorescence was seen in all types of malignant tumour in our study. Indications and limitations of PDT for the different organs are discussed and compared.

Argon↗
PubMed1990

Nephrotoxic limit and annual limit on intake for natural U.

Our experience with a U-intoxicated patient and human data in the literature suggest the kidney U burden should not be allowed to exceed 0.26 micrograms g-1. The Annual Limit on Intake (ALI) for natural U was calculated from the chemical toxicity of U and was found to be lower than that reported previously.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1990

[The results of treatment in 570 cases of oral cancer].

This paper presents results of treatment in 570 cases with oral cancers. The overall 5-year survival rate was 64.5%; and 92.8%, 84.9%, 50.2% and 16.4% respectively in Stage I, II, III and IV. Five kinds of therapy have been used and discussed. The mortality rate of operation was 0.35%. The 5-year survival rates of 127 and 443 cases with and without cervical node metastases were 28.3% and 74.7% respectively. The 5-year survival rates of 81.30 and 16 cases with involvement of 1.2 and more than 3 nodes were 33.6%, 27.9% and 6.3% respectively. 46 cases recurred and operated again, their 5-year survival rate was 23%.

Adult↗