SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Trunk”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Trunk deformity is associated with a reduction in outdoor activities of daily living and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older people.

We have evaluated the association between trunk deformities of the sagittal plane and functional impairment of daily living in community-dwelling elderly subjects. The analysis involved a detailed assessment of indoor and outdoor activities of daily living, satisfaction with life, and mental status. The participants in this study were 236 community-dwelling older adults, aged 65 years and older, living in Kahoku district of Kochi in Japan. The participants were classified based on their posture, which was assessed using photographs of the subjects, and interviewed to assess their basic activities of daily living (BADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), and cognitive well-being in the cross-sectional study. The statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. The lumbar kyphosis group received significantly lower BADL and IADL scores than the normal group. The trunk deformity group which were defined as kyphosis, flat back, and lumbar lordosis groups exhibited decreases in activities that included going out, shopping, depositing and withdrawing money, and visiting friends in the hospital. These activities require going outdoors; thus, this study showed that the trunk deformity group had limitations in outdoor activities. There was no significant difference between the geriatric depression score (GDS) and the pattern of posture. The abnormal trunk deformity groups tended to score lower than the normal group with regard to subjective healthiness and life satisfaction measures, including subjective health condition, everyday feeling, satisfaction with human relationships, satisfaction with economic condition, and satisfaction with present life.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

Experimental muscle pain changes feedforward postural responses of the trunk muscles.

Many studies have identified changes in trunk muscle recruitment in clinical low back pain (LBP). However, due to the heterogeneity of the LBP population these changes have been variable and it has been impossible to identify a cause-effect relationship. Several studies have identified a consistent change in the feedforward postural response of transversus abdominis (TrA), the deepest abdominal muscle, in association with arm movements in chronic LBP. This study aimed to determine whether the feedforward recruitment of the trunk muscles in a postural task could be altered by acute experimentally induced LBP. Electromyographic (EMG) recordings of the abdominal and paraspinal muscles were made during arm movements in a control trial, following the injection of isotonic (non-painful) and hypertonic (painful) saline into the longissimus muscle at L4, and during a 1-h follow-up. Movements included rapid arm flexion in response to a light and repetitive arm flexion-extension. Temporal and spatial EMG parameters were measured. The onset and amplitude of EMG of most muscles was changed in a variable manner during the period of experimentally induced pain. However, across movement trials and subjects the activation of TrA was consistently reduced in amplitude or delayed. Analyses in the time and frequency domain were used to confirm these findings. The results suggest that acute experimentally induced pain may affect feedforward postural activity of the trunk muscles. Although the response was variable, pain produced differential changes in the motor control of the trunk muscles, with consistent impairment of TrA activity.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Recovery of the locomotor function after prolonged microgravity exposure. I. Head-trunk movement and locomotor equilibrium during various tasks.

Recovery of locomotor function was investigated in seven cosmonauts exposed to microgravity for 6 months. Crew members executed a locomotor task with visual cues (eyes open, EO) and without them (eyes closed, EC). The locomotor task consisted of ascending a two-step staircase, jumping down from a 30-cm high platform, and finally walking 4 m in the straight-ahead direction. Subjects were tested before the flight (D-30), and on the second day (R+2) and the sixth day (R+6) after the flight. Cosmonauts succeeded in all locomotor sub-tasks as early as R+2. In particular, microgravity exposure did not prevent cosmonauts from producing a straight walking trajectory even when blindfolded (deviation at R+2 with EO 2.0+/-0.7 degrees, and with EC 4.7+/-1.9 degrees ). However, lateral movements of trunk were found to be increased at R+2 (16%), suggesting post-flight gait instability. Modifications of the timing of forward trunk movements were also detected at R+2. Unexpectedly, coordination patterns between head and trunk movements remained unchanged. The maximum amplitude of head pitches was 5 degrees or less. Yet, the cosmonauts held their heads at lower positions at R+2 in comparison with their pre-flight postures, and they lowered their heads even further during blindfolded locomotion. In general, comparable spatial and temporal modifications of head and trunk movements at R+2 were observed during the stair and gait cycles. Mean values of locomotor descriptors measured at R+6 did not deviate from the pre-flight baseline. When performing jumps after the return from their flight, cosmonauts decreased the amplitude and speed of head rotation by approximately 50% in comparison with the pre-flight values. In addition, the timing of head pitches was uncertain after weightlessness. All the above changes endured at R+6. Previous studies reported that prolonged exposure to microgravity adversely affects the motor performance in the initial hours upon re-entry to Earth. However, gait analysis revealed that cosmonauts recovered near-optimal locomotor abilities as early as the second day post-flight. Results suggest a notable capability of the central nervous system to rapidly accommodate to changing physical environment and body properties. The role of head stabilization at a lower position is conjectured to be an adaptive response to microgravity-induced motor disorders.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2005

Perceived versus actual head-on-trunk orientation during arm movement control.

Static roll head tilt induces bias in the trajectory of upper limb voluntary movements. The aim of the experiment was to investigate whether this bias is dependant on the perception of body configuration rather than on its actual configuration. We used the 'return' phenomenon as a method to produce dissociation between perceived and actual head tilt. Static roll head tilt in supine subjects was sustained for 15 min during which subjects were periodically required to estimate verbally the tilt of their head respective to their trunk and draw, with their right index finger, straight lines aligned with their trunk. After 15 min, subjects' head were realigned with the trunk, and subjects continued to give verbal estimate of head position and perform the motor task. Results showed that the initial angular deviation of the lines in the direction opposite to head tilt gradually diminished. The adaptation was noticeable within the first 3-5 min of tilt and subsequently diminished. Verbal estimates confirmed the return phenomenon, i.e. subjects perceived their head as slowly returning towards its neutral position after a few minutes of sustained tilt. When realigned with the trunk, subjects experienced the illusion that their head was tilted in the opposite direction to the initial head tilt and a line deviation in the opposite direction to those made on initial exposure was observed (after-effect). These results indicate that the angular deviation in motor production observed in condition of static head tilt were largely related to the perceived body configuration and therefore favour the hypothesis that the conscious perception of body configuration plays a key role in organising sensorimotor tasks.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Representation of the midline trunk, bilateral arms, and shoulders in the monkey postcentral somatosensory cortex.

Single neuronal activities were recorded in the arm/trunk region of the postcentral gyrus in awake Japanese monkeys. A total of 1608 units were isolated from four hemispheres of two animals, and receptive fields (RFs) and submodalities were identified in 1162 units. Deep or skin submodality neurons were dominant in area 3a or area 3b, respectively. The deep/skin ratio increased as the recording site moved from area 3b to the more caudal areas. In areas 3a and 3b, neuronal RFs were almost exclusively on either the arm or trunk. In areas 2 and 5, neurons with RFs on the trunk decreased and those with RFs on the hand or covering more than one body part, etc. increased. We found a total of 107 neurons with bilateral RFs and 56 with ipsilateral RFs, while the rest (n=999) were with contralateral RFs. Bilateral or ipsilateral neurons of skin submodality (n=37) were found in areas 1, 2, and 5. Twenty six (70%) had RFs on the trunk and/or occiput, five on the forelimb, and the rest (n=6) on both the trunk and forelimb (the combined type). Among 33 skin bilateral neurons, 90% (n=30) had RFs across the midline. Bilateral or ipsilateral neurons responding to joint manipulation (n=104) were found in areas 2 and 5. Most of them were activated by manipulation of the shoulder and/or elbow (the proximal type, n=72, 69%). There were 25 neurons of the combined type (both the proximal and distal joints were effective, 24%). Bilateral or ipsilateral neurons of deep-others submodality (n=20) were found in areas 1, 2, and 5. The forelimb type (n=12, 60%) was dominant in this category. The combined-type neurons in both the skin- and joint-manipulation categories were found only or mostly in area 5. These results indicate the presence of hierarchical processing for bilateral as well as contralateral information within the arm/trunk region of the postcentral gyrus.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Directionality of anticipatory activation of trunk muscles in a lifting task depends on load knowledge.

We investigated to what extent subjects base anticipatory activity patterns of trunk muscles before lifting a load on knowledge of the inertial properties of the load. Eight healthy male subjects performed rapid arm lifts of a load with a varying center of mass position in the frontal plane. In one set of trials subjects were familiar with the center of mass position, in another set of trials they were not. In both cases trunk extensor muscles were active before the onset of lift force applied to the load. In the trials with load knowledge this anticipatory activity was specific with respect to center of mass position. In the absence of load knowledge left and right extensor muscles were equally active before the lift and the rate of lifting was reduced. Thus anticipatory control of trunk muscles appears specifically tuned to counteract the expected perturbation. In the absence of load knowledge trunk stiffness is increased by bilateral activity and the perturbation is attenuated since the rate of lifting is reduced.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neuronal pathways from low-threshold muscle and cutaneous afferents innervating tail to trunk muscle motoneurons in the cat.

We studied neuronal pathways from low-threshold muscle (group I, II) and cutaneous afferents (group A(alpha)beta) innervating the tail to motoneurons innervating trunk muscles (m. iliocostalis lumborum and m. obliquus externus abdominus) in 18 spinalized cats. Stimulation of group I muscle afferents produced excitatory postsynaptic potentials or excitatory postsynaptic potentials followed by inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in all motoneurons innervating the m. iliocostalis lumborum which showed effects (32%), and predominantly inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in motoneurons innervating the m. obliquus externus abdominus (47%). Stimulation of group I+II afferents produced significant increases of the incidence of motoneurons showing postsynaptic potentials (the notoneurons innervating the m. iliocostalis lumborum, 87%; the motoneurons innervating the m. obliquus externus abdominus, 82%). The effects of low threshold cutaneous afferents were bilateral, predominantly producing inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in motoneurons innervating both muscles. These results suggest that neuronal pathways from muscle afferents to back muscle motoneurons mainly increase the stiffness of the trunk to maintain its stability, while those to abdominal muscles help to extend the dorsal column by decreasing their activities. The results also indicate that neuronal pathways from cutaneous afferents to trunk motoneurons functionallY disconnect the tail from the trunk.

Action Potentials↗

PubMedDate not supplied

EMG power spectra of trunk muscles during graded maximal voluntary isometric contraction in flexion-rotation and extension-rotation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the electromyographic (EMG) power spectral characteristics of seven trunk muscles bilaterally during two complex isometric activities extension-rotation and flexion-rotation, in both genders to describe the frequency-domain parameters. Eighteen normal young subjects volunteered for the study. The subjects performed steadily increasing isometric extension-rotation and flexion-rotation contractions in a standard trunk posture (40 degrees flexed and 40 degrees rotated to the right). A surface EMG was recorded from the external and internal oblique, rectus abdominis, pectoralis, latissimus dorsi, and erector spinae muscles at the 10th thoracic and the 3rd lumbar vertebral levels, at 1 kHz and 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The median frequency (MF), mean power frequency (MPF), frequency spread and peak power were obtained from fast Fourier transform analysis. The MF and MPF for both extension-rotation and flexion-rotation increased with the grade of contraction for both males and females. The EMG spectra in flexion-rotation were different from those of extension-rotation (P < 0.001). The left external and right internal oblique muscles played the role of antagonists in trunk extension-rotation. There was an increase in the MF of the trunk muscles with increasing magnitude of contraction. Frequency-domain parameters for both the male and female subjects were significantly different (P < 0.001).

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed2006

Seasonal, daily and diurnal variations in the stable carbon isotope composition of carbon dioxide respired by tree trunks in a deciduous oak forest.

The stable C isotope composition (delta13C) of CO2 respired by trunks was examined in a mature temperate deciduous oak forest (Quercus petraea). Month-to-month, day-to-day and diurnal, measurements were made to determine the range of variations at different temporal scales. Trunk growth and respiration rates were assessed. Phloem tissue was sampled and was analysed for total organic matter and soluble sugar 13C composition. The CO2 respired by trunk was always enriched in 13C relative to the total organic matter, sometimes by as much as 5 per thousand. The delta13C of respired CO2 exhibited a large seasonal variation (3.3 per thousand), with a relative maximum at the beginning of the growth period. The lowest values occurred in summer when the respiration rates were maximal. After the cessation of radial trunk growth, the respired CO2 delta13C values showed a progressive increase, which was linked to a parallel increase in soluble sugar content in the phloem tissue (R=0.95; P<0.01). At the same time, the respiration rates declined. This limited use of the substrate pool might allow the discrimination during respiration to be more strongly expressed. The late-season increase in CO2 delta13C might also be linked to a shift from recently assimilated C to reserves. At the seasonal scale, CO2 delta13C was negatively correlated with air temperature (R=-0.80; P<0.01). The diurnal variation sometimes reached 3 per thousand, but the range and the pattern depended on the period within the growing season. Contrary to expectations, diurnal variations were maximal in winter and spring when the leaves were missing or not totally functional. By contrast to the seasonal scale, these diurnal variations were not related to air temperature or sugar content. Our study shows that seasonal and diurnal variations of respired 13C exhibited a similar large range but were probably explained by different mechanisms.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

Effects of chronic low back pain on trunk coordination and back muscle activity during walking: changes in motor control.

Low back pain (LBP) is often accompanied by changes in gait, such as a decreased (preferred) walking velocity. Previous studies have shown that LBP diminishes the normal velocity-induced transverse counter-rotation between thorax and pelvis, and that it globally affects mean erector spinae (ES) activity. The exact nature and causation of these effects, however, are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to examine in detail the effect of walking velocity on global trunk coordination and ES activity as well as their variability to gain further insights into the effects of non-specific LBP on gait. The study included 19 individuals with non-specific LBP and 14 healthy controls. Gait kinematics and ES activity were recorded during treadmill walking at (1) a self-selected (comfortable) velocity, and (2) sequentially increased velocities from 1.4 up to maximally 7.0 km/h. Pain intensity, fear of movement and disability were measured before the experiment. The angular movements of thorax, lumbar and pelvis were recorded in three dimensions. ES activity was recorded with pairs of surface electrodes. Trunk-pelvis coordination and mean amplitude of ES activity were analyzed. In addition, invariant and variant properties of trunk kinematics and ES activity were studied using principal component analysis (PCA). Comfortable walking velocity was significantly lower in the LBP participants. In the transverse plane, the normal velocity-induced change in pelvis-thorax coordination from more in-phase to more antiphase was diminished in the LBP participants, while lumbar and pelvis rotations were more in-phase compared to the control group. In the frontal plane, intersegmental timing was more variable in the LBP than in the control participants, with additional irregular movements of the thorax. Rotational amplitudes were not significantly different between the LBP and control participants. In the LBP participants, the pattern of ES activity was affected in terms of increased (residual) variability, timing deficits, amplitude modifications and frequency changes. The gait of the LBP participants was characterized by a more rigid and less variable kinematic coordination in the transverse plane, and a less tight and more variable coordination in the frontal plane, accompanied by poorly coordinated activity of the lumbar ES. Pain intensity, fear of movement and disability were all unrelated to the observed changes in coordination, suggesting that the observed changes in trunk coordination and ES activity were a direct consequence of LBP per se. Clinically, the results imply that conservative therapy should consider gait training as well as exercises aimed at improving both intersegmental and muscle coordination.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Influences of trunk muscles on lumbar lordosis and sacral angle.

BACKGROUND: The strength of abdominal muscle and back extensors or their balances are commonly mentioned as major indicators of potential low back pain (LBP). Former studies on anthropometrics in terms of trunk muscle strength seemed to lack precision in methodology. Furthermore, the extension-flexion ratio, which is a good parameter of trunk muscle balance, was not as much studied as simple maximum torques in this area of study. OBJECTIVES: To investigate relationship between trunk muscle strength and lumbar lordosis, sacral angle in patients who did not show significant abnormal findings on their simple lateral radiograph. METHODS: Thirty-one subjects were participated and their mean age was 35. Lumbar simple lateral radiograph was taken and lordotic angle was obtained by altered Cobb's method. Sacral angle was also examined on the same film. The relationship between these angles and muscle strength (isometric maximum torques and ratios of them) was investigated by the correlation analysis. RESULTS: None of the isometric maximum torques was related to sacral angle or lordotic angle. However, the ratio of extension to flexion was significantly related to the lordotic angle (Pearson's correlation coefficient=0.491, p<0.01). Other ratios were not related to any of the angles. CONCLUSIONS: An imbalance in trunk muscle strength can influence significantly lordotic curve of lumbar spine and might be one risk factor for potential low back pain.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed2001

Management-related morbidity and mortality in unselected aneurysms of the basilar trunk and vertebrobasilar junction.

OBJECTS: To analyze the management-related morbidity and mortality in unselected aneurysms of the basilar trunk and vertebrobasilar junction. The secondary objective was to investigate the factors associated with favourable or unfavourable surgical outcome in order to define subgroups for surgical and endovascular treatment. METHODS: 24 consecutive patients with aneurysms of the basilar trunk and vertebrobasilar junction were included in this study. They comprised 2.7% of all aneurysms treated during the study period between 1990 and 1997. 22 patients presented with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and 2 patients with symptoms of brainstem compresssion. All patients were managed using a standard protocol including surgery at the earliest possible moment, aggressive tripe-H therapy in patients with symptomatic vasospasm and mandatory follow-up angiography. 23 patients underwent surgical clipping and one patient endovascular coiling of the aneurysm. 12 patients had an excellent outcome. 6 patients had a good outcome, resulting in a total of satisfactory outcomes in 18 patients (75%). 4 patients (17%) had moderate to severe deficits. Two patients died (8%). Both patients had fusiform basilar trunk aneurysms. Good or excellent outcome was observed in 7 of 8 patients with aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar junction, 13 of 14 patients with moderate or minor SAH or without SAH (Fisher grade 0 to 2) and all patients with small sized aneurysm (n = 6). Factors mostly associated with poor outcome or death after surgical treatment were aneurysm location at the basilar trunk, large aneurysm size or fusiforme aneurysm type and severe SAH. CONCLUSIONS: Location, aneurysm size and the severity of SAH may help to predict the subgroup which highly benefits from surgical clipping of these rare vascular lesions.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Treatment of aortic arch dissection using the elephant trunk technique.

The elephant trunk technique was developed to facilitate multiple-stage treatment of extensive aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. However, little information is available concerning its usefulness for aortic dissection. From April 1992 to July 1998, we used the elephant trunk technique for treatment of aortic arch dissection in 22 patients (including 19 men) with a mean age of 58.5 years (range 21 to 85 years). Twelve patients presented with type A dissection (acute in 3 and chronic in 9), 3 with type B acute dissection, and 7 with "non A/non B" dissections with retrograde extension to the aortic arch or entry site located in the aortic arch without involvement of the ascending aorta. All patients had aneurysms of the descending (n = 7) or thoracoabdominal (n = 15) aorta. Procedures were performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest at between 15 degrees and 20 degrees C. Antegrade cerebral perfusion was used in three cases. The procedure was associated with aortic valve replacement and/or coronary bypass in 6 cases and bypass of one or more supraaortic vessels in 13. In two patients the distal end of the elephant trunk was attached with an endovascular prosthesis during the same procedure. The ensuing results in these patients indicate that the elephant trunk technique can be highly effective for treatment of complex aortic arch dissection.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) on rainforest tree trunks: arboreal specialists, but substrate generalists?

Predatory mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) on tree trunks without significant epiphytic growth in a subtropical rainforest in Eastern Australia were assessed for habitat specificity (i.e. whether they are tree trunk specialists or occupying other habitats) and the influence of host tree and bark structure on their abundance, species richness and species composition. The trunks of nine tree species from eight plant families representing smooth, intermediate and rough bark textures were sampled using a knockdown insecticide spray. In total, 12 species or morphospecies of Mesostigmata (excluding Uropodina sensu stricto) were collected, most of which are undescribed. Comparison with collections from other habitats indicates that epicorticolous Mesostigmata are mainly represented by suspended soil dwellers (six species), secondarily by generalists (four species) and a bark specialist (one species). A typical ground-dwelling species was also found but was represented only by a single individual. In terms of abundance, 50.5% of individuals were suspended soil dwellers, 40.7% bark specialists, and 8.3% generalists. Host species and bark roughness had no significant effect on abundance or species richness. Furthermore, there was no clear effect on species composition. The distribution of the most frequently encountered species suggests that most mesostigmatid mites living on bark use many or most rainforest tree species, independent of bark roughness. These findings support the hypothesis that some epicorticolous Mesostigmata use tree trunks as 'highways' for dispersing between habitat patches, while others use it as a permanent habitat.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Studies on oil palm trunks as sources of infection in the field.

Diseases of oil palm caused by Ganoderma boninense are of major economic importance in much of South-East Asia. This paper describes results from an ongoing field trial concerning the spread of the pathogen from artificially inoculated trunks used to simulate spread from windrowed trunks. Three planting distances for bait seedlings revealed that the closer the seedling was planted to the source of inoculum the sooner it succumbed to the disease. However, infection only occurred when the trunks were mounded (covered with soil), and seedlings planted around uncovered trunks (at any distance) have showed no symptoms of disease to date. Isolates are being collected from infected plants and molecular analysis is being undertaken to give more information on the spread of the pathogen.

Arecaceae↗

PubMed1982

Fetal weight estimation from ultrasonic three-dimensional head and trunk reconstructions: evaluation in vitro.

The theoretical usefulness of volume as a predictor of fetal weight was assessed on 25 dead neonates with weight ranges between 364 and 3,650 gm. The correlation between volume, measured by water displacement, and weight was r = 0.999, with a standard error of 37 gm. A method is described for using volume, calculated from three-dimensional ultrasonic head and trunk reconstructions, to predict fetal weight. For the dead neonates, the correlation between measured weight and calculated head plus trunk volume was r = 0.985, with a standard error of 190 gm. The regression coefficient was 1.73, thus indicating that head and trunk volumes underestimate weight, as might be expected since limbs were not included. We conclude from this "ideal" situation that volume measurements will eventually provide the best estimates of fetal weight, and that three-dimensional head trunk reconstructions are reasonably accurate measures of overall volume.

Body Weight↗

PubMed1986

Analysis of the early stages of trunk neural crest migration in avian embryos using monoclonal antibody HNK-1.

The monoclonal antibody HNK-1 was used to identify neural crest cells in serial sections of avian embryos to provide a detailed description of the distribution of trunk neural crest cells. The results indicate the presence of three migratory routes in the trunk: (1) a ventral pathway through the anterior sclerotome; (2) a ventral pathway between the neural tube and the posterior sclerotome; and (3) a dorsolateral pathway between the somites and ectoderm. Neural crest cells were first seen entering the anterior half of the sclerotome at about the time the somite begins to dissociate to form the dermomyotome and sclerotome, approximately 5-10 somites rostral to the most recently formed somite. In contrast, neural crest cells were never observed in the posterior sclerotome or in the perinotochordal space. The distribution of neural crest cells was compared with that of injected latex beads which were previously found to translocate along the ventral trunk neural crest pathway (Bronner-Fraser, Dev. Biol. 91, 130, 1982). During the early stages of neural crest migration, injected latex beads were found to extensively colocalize with cells stained by the HNK-1 antibody. Injected latex beads (78%) were found immediately adjacent to HNK-1 positive cells and another 11% were within one cell diameter. The results suggest that latex beads injected into the trunk somites are deposited onto a normal pathway of neural crest migration.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Plasticity and predetermination of mesencephalic and trunk neural crest transplanted into the region of the cardiac neural crest.

The cardiac neural crest contains ectomesenchymal and neural anlagen that are necessary for normal heart development. It is not known whether other regions of the neural crest are capable of supporting normal heart development. In the experiments reported herein, quail donor embryos provided cardiac, trunk, or mesencephalic neural crest to replace or add to the chick host cardiac neural crest. Neither trunk nor mesencephalic neural crest was capable of generating ectomesenchyme competent to effect truncal septation. Addition of mesencephalic neural crest resulted in a high incidence of persistent truncus arteriosus, suggesting that ectomesenchyme derived from the mesencephalic region interferes with ectomesenchyme derived from the cardiac neural crest. Derivatives from the trunk neural crest, on the other hand, did not result in abnormal development of the truncal septum. While mesencephalic neural crest seeded the cardiac ganglia with both neurons and supporting cells, this capability was limited in the trunk neural crest to the more mature regions. These studies indicate a predetermination of the ectomesenchymal derivatives of the cranial neural crest and a possible competition of neural anlagen to form neurons and supporting cells in the cardiac ganglia.

Animals↗