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Biomedical subjects

M Lambertz

Publications and source records attributed to M Lambertz.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

The dynamic structure of rabbit blastocyst coverings. III. Transformation of coverings under non-physiological developmental conditions.

Under physiological conditions the zona pellucida disappears in the rabbit between Day 3 and early Day 4 post coitum (p.c.) and is replaced by a new layer, the neozona. The dissolution of the zona pellucida and the formation of the neozona was investigated in three different experimental approaches, all of them characterized by non-physiological developmental conditions for the embryo: Prevention of embryo migration from the oviduct into the uterus by postcoital (48 h p.c.) tubal ligation, in vitro culture, and asynchronous embryo transfer into uteri of recipient rabbits. Embryos of age 2 1/2, 3, 4 and 4 1/2 days p.c. were cultured for 12 to 72 h. The media used for in vitro culture were supplemented with BSA, serum or with uterine secretions that were collected either synchronously or asynchronously to the developmental stage of the cultured embryos. Three-day-old embryos were transferred into uteri of pseudopregnant foster rabbits of either synchronous (Day 3) or asynchronous stages (Day 0, 2, 4, 5, 6) and were recovered 24 to 72 h after transfer. The transformation of the coverings was evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopy. The dissolution of the zona pellucida was greatly disturbed in tube-locked embryos, and in cultured embryos if standard protein supplements (BSA or serum) had been used for in vitro culture. In many cases the zona was still completely preserved after 2 or 3 days in culture, at a time when it normally would have already been replaced by the neozona in vivo. The dissolution in vitro, however, progressed incomparably better if the culture medium had been substituted with synchronous or asynchronous uterine secretions. The formation of the neozona could not be verified in cultured blastocysts. After embryo transfer, the dissolution of the zona pellucida was completed in most cases by 2 days after transfer, irrespective of the recipients' progestational stage. Present results indicate that uterine components are essential for the dissolution of the rabbit zona pellucida. These components appear to be present in the uterine cavity constitutively, i.e. independently of the uterine progestational transformation, and need not be in synchrony with the embryo's developmental stage for dissolution of the zona. Normal formation of the neozona does not take place under the non-physiological developmental conditions of in vitro culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Amygdala neurons influence cardiovascular reactions preceding psychomotor behavior.

In unanesthetized chronically instrumented cats single neuron discharges were recorded in the amygdaloid complex together with blood pressure, heart rate (HR), EEG, and motor activity. In response to complex sensory stimuli neuronal activity changed followed by blood pressure changes preceding the arousal reaction. Besides the impact of neuronal discharges on the cardiovascular system, the neurons in turn received an input from the cardiovascular system. It is hypothesized that an exaggerated reactivity of amygdala neurons to complex sensory stimuli can lead to high blood pressure.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1985

Reticular formation of the lower brainstem. A common system for cardio-respiratory and somatomotor functions. Cross-correlation analysis of discharge patterns of neighbouring neurones.

Temporal relations of discharges of 73 pairs of neurones located in the medial parts of the reticular formation of the lower brainstem were studied by cross correlation analyses in chloralose-urethane anaesthetized dogs. The action potentials of 2 or 3 neighbouring neurones were recorded with one electrode simultaneously. Uncorrelated discharges of neurones and 4 different types of correlated discharges were observed in cross correlation histograms: they were: (1) rhythmic couplings with frequencies between 2 and 5 Hz related to the same rhythm in the EEG; (2) strong, non-rhythmic couplings with short latencies up to 5 ms; (3) a combination of strong and rhythmic couplings, and (4) high-frequency oscillation couplings. Most pairs of neurones showed different types of correlation during the recordings. The different forms of correlated discharge behaviour could be related to different types of functional organization of the neuronal network in the reticular formation.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1985

Reticular formation of the lower brainstem. A common system for cardio-respiratory and somatomotor functions. Considerations aided by computer simulations.

Parallel investigations were done using the reticular formation of the lower brainstem of dogs and computer simulated neuronal networks with properties of reticular neurones. By the aid of the simulations, understanding of the functional organisation of the common brainstem system, reticular formation and the experiments performed were optimized. The fact that discharge sequences of model neurones are very similar to those of reticular neurones was proved by interval histograms and covariance histograms. Discharges of neighbouring reticular neurones tend to be strongly coupled. In the model the discharges of the neurones could be coupled by common afferent inflows. Physiologically, neighbouring reticular neurones receive common afferents from peripheral somato-sensory systems. Neighbouring neurones with strongly coupled discharging are organized in subpopulations. The configurations of the subpopulations are determined by number and type of afferents actively influencing neurones and by the level of intrinsic activity of the network. Signal processing and transfer by neuronal subpopulations depend on the level of activity and on the degree of coupled discharging, i.e. the local organisation of the neurones.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1983

Reticular formation of the lower brainstem. A common system for cardiorespiratory and somatomotor functions: discharge patterns of neighboring neurons influenced by cardiovascular and respiratory afferents.

Experiments were done in dogs with chloralose-urethane anesthesia. Long-lasting extracellular recordings were made from the medial parts of the reticular formation of the lower brainstem for up to 250 min. The study is based on reactions of 103 neurons. The activities of 2 or 3 neighbouring neurons recorded under identical conditions with one electrode or of neurons recorded with two electrodes at the same time could be changed regularly and synchronously by experimental changes of hemodynamic or ventilatory parameters. Action potentials were separated by amplitude discrimination. Rhythmic pulsatile modulations were proved to be present in 78% of all neurons by post-event-time histograms triggered by the R-wave of the ECG. In the 96 neurons tested 86% changed their activity when arterial pressure was raised by inflating a balloon in the abdominal aorta (79% decreased and 7% increased their activity). In post-event-time histograms triggered by the start of inspiration, 83% of the neurons showed modulations of their activity with respiratory rhythm. Experimental lung inflation decreased the activity in 75% of the tested neurons, while experimental lung deflation activated 47% of the tested neurons. Stimulation of arterial chemoreceptors activated 77% of the tested neurons. It was thus demonstrated that receptors in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems exert an influence on nearly all neurons from which recordings were made in that part of the reticular formation. Arterial baroreceptors and lung stretch receptors revealed a generalized depressing effect on the neuronal activity while chemoreceptors exert a generalized augmenting effect. At different times of recording these neurons did not always react to the same extent to comparable stimulations of afferents.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1983

Reticular formation of the lower brainstem. A common system for cardiorespiratory and somatomotor functions: discharge patterns of neighboring neurons influenced by somatosensory afferents.

Extracellular recordings were made from 103 neurons located in the medial parts of the reticular formation of the lower brainstem of chloralose-urethane anesthetized dogs. Activities of 2 or 3 neighbouring neurons under identical conditions could be recorded with one electrode. In 9 recordings it was possible to register simultaneously up to 5 neurons with two electrodes placed in both halves of the medulla. Action potentials of individual neighbouring neurons were identified by amplitude discrimination. The influences of somatosensory afferents from skin, joints and muscles on neuronal discharge patterns were tested. Responses of single neurons were characterized by multisensory afferent spectra including afferents from various parts of the body. The combinations of afferents converging onto neighbouring neurons were similar, whereas neurons in more distant parts of the medulla revealed different combinations of converging afferents. In long-lasting recordings the influence of somatosensory afferents on the discharge behaviour changed from time to time. When the discharge behaviour was mainly determined by somatosensory afferents, neighbouring neurons were shown to be organized in sub-populations. The results led to the conclusion that in this part of the reticular formation different types of functional organization of the neuronal network are possible. The type of functional organization depends on the actual preponderances of different inputs to the neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Central control and interactions affecting sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.

Current thinking concerning the central control of the autonomic nervous system and the central interactions affecting sympathetic and parasympathetic activity is presented. Among the questions discussed are the following: are there neurons within the common brain stem system which exert an influence on preganglionic parasympathetic neurons and can they be differentiated from neurons which affect sympathetic preganglionic neuron functions? What interactions occur between sympathetic and parasympathetic tone-mediating neurons? In discussing these problems information is presented as obtained by recording from reticular formation (RF) neurons with discharge patterns similar to efferent parasympathetic activity. The general conclusion reached is that there is a common central control; interactions occur in the brain stem as well as peripherally; depending on the functional situation, these two systems can be organized to act either reciprocally or non-reciprocally.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Discharge pattern of neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS): its cardiac rhythm is modulated by firing rate of the neurons.

In the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) neurons discharge in relation to cardiac rhythm. This cardiac rhythm exhibits various patterns designated as CRDPs (cardiac rhythmic discharge patterns). The CRDPs are estimated by post-event-time histograms (PETH) triggered by the R-waves of the ECG. Modulations of CRDPs appear as changes in the number and height of peaks in the PETHs. The amount of basic activity, which is not related to the cardiac cycle, alters CRDP. PETHs constructed during various phases of respiration reveal modulations of CRDPs within the respiratory cycle. As our previous work indicated, the NTS neurons exhibit typical reticular rhythms. In this paper we also found that the basic activity of NTS neurons was often changed by other influences for which no comparable patterns could be observed in other simultaneously acquired signals. When we constructed PETHs according to the activity level of the NTS neurons, i.e., firing level per cardiac cycle, modulations of CRDPs which were even stronger than respiratory or reticular rhythmical modulations became clear. The modulations of CRDPs caused by different origins were found to be present in the same neuron interlaced in time. The possible role played by these modulations of CRDPs in the coordination of different functional systems in the organism is discussed.

Animals↗