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Results for “sensory function”

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PubMed1989

Novel peptide pancreastatin: its occurrence and codistribution with chromogranin A in the central nervous system of the pig.

The distribution of pancreastatin immunoreactivity was investigated in porcine brain, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, and pituitary. In the brain, immunoreactive cell bodies were present in many areas including the cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, mesencephalic reticular formation, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. Immunoreactive fibres were most abundant in the globus pallidus, stria terminalis, entopeduncular nucleus, hippocampus, and in the substantia nigra. In the spinal cord, immunoreactive cells were found in laminae IV-IX. Immunoreactive fibres were concentrated in the dorsal horn. Pancreastatin immunoreactivity was localised to fibres and small cells (5-10% of the total) in the dorsal root ganglia. In the posterior pituitary, many immunoreactive fibres were present and in the anterior lobe subsets of gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs were pancreastatin-immunoreactive. The localisation of pancreastatin showed a parallel distribution with chromogranin A. Coexistence of pancreastatin with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in cell bodies in the spinal cord, including motoneurones, and with CGRP or galanin immunoreactivities in dorsal root ganglion cells was also noted. The differential pattern of pancreastatin immunostaining was reflected in the extractable levels of peptide with highest concentrations in the cortex (55.8 +/- 6.0 pmol/g wet weight, mean +/- S.E.M.), thalamus (60.0 +/- 5.0 pmol/g), hypothalamus (54.4 +/- 6.5 pmol/g), and anterior pituitary (2,714 +/- 380 pmol/g). Characterisation of pancreastatin immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and pituitary by gel permeation and high-pressure liquid chromatography revealed multiple molecular forms, one of which was indistinguishable from natural porcine pancreastatin. The widespread distribution of pancreastatin immunoreactivity suggests this peptide may play a part in several neuroendocrine, autonomic, somatic, and sensory functions, and its colocalisation with chromogranin A is consistent with a precursor-product relationship.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Comparative study of histamine immunoreactivity in nervous systems of Aplysia and Pleurobranchaea.

The distribution of histamine in the nervous system of the marine molluscs Aplysia californica and Pleurobranchaea californica was studied by using a newly available immunohistochemical localization technique and specific antiserum against histamine-protein conjugate. We examined several sets of complete histological sections through the major ganglia of both animals, as well as all nerve roots of the buccal and cerebral ganglia and the corresponding target tissues. The results indicate that histamine is present in several neurons and/or nerve fibers of all major ganglia. An especially dense histamine fiber network in the buccal ganglion of both species suggests a major role for histamine in regulation of buccal-oral behaviors. Histamine was also observed in several identified nerve roots of the buccal and cerebral ganglia, as well as in the corresponding target tissues. Its localization in the Aplysia radular sac and in the statocyst neurons of both species suggest a role for histamine in sensory functions. Our study revealed many previously unknown histamine cells or cell clusters, some of which may be identifiable by electrophysiological methods. The findings also point to possible reinterpretation of previous findings, indicating that histamine may be a cotransmitter in identified cells, whereas the methodology itself suggests that special precautions must be taken to avoid spurious interpretations of specificity. As has now been observed in studies of serotonergic immunohistochemistry and in our own findings on VIP, histamine terminals were observed to lie in close contact with somata and axon hillocks, all of which suggest that axo-somatic connections in molluscs may be more prevalent than previously considered.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Spinal and facial innervation of the skin in the gadid fish Ciliata mustela (Teleostei).

The pattern of innervation of the skin of the rockling Ciliata mustela was investigated to sort out spinal from facial nerve innervation of cutaneous chemosensory and mechanosensory systems. This fish has a variety of appendages with different functional sensory specializations, i.e., the chin barbel, pelvic fin, anterior dorsal fin, and dorsal trunk skin. The carbocyanine dye, diI, was applied to nerve stumps in dissected aldehyde-fixed tissue. In the case of the chin barbel, the dye was applied to both the trigeminal and facial nerve components. In the other cases, the dye was applied either selectively to the spinal nerves, to the facial nerves, or to both components. In the chin barbel, diI labeled nerve fibers associated with taste buds (TBs) and solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) as well as relatively blunt free nerve endings, which closely approach the epidermal surface. In the pelvic fin, anterior dorsal fin, and dorsal trunk skin, taste buds, solitary chemosensory cells, and their innervation were labeled only after diI was applied to the facial nerve stumps. Application of diI to spinal nerves labeled delicate, free nerve endings and nerve fibers associated with small cells deep in the epidermis with features characteristic of Merkel cells. Transmission electron microscopy supports these results; after denervation of the facial component of the anterior dorsal fin, synaptic contacts with Merkel cells remained intact, whereas the synapses with the SCCs vanished.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Quantitative analysis of central terminal projections of visceral and somatic unmyelinated (C) primary afferent fibers in the guinea pig.

In guinea pigs, intracellular labeling of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells with Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) was used to demonstrate the central projections of somatic and visceral afferent C-fibers. The terminations of the afferent fibers were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively with the aid of camera lucida drawings. Terminal branches of C-fibers of both somatic and visceral origin were, in general, distributed in accord with the organization of the neuropil in lamina of the spinal cord. Terminal boutons arranged from longitudinally coursing fibers were distributed in lamina I, while boutons in lamina II were scattered in an apparent random fashion. The synaptic enlargements were counted in gray matter of the spinal dorsal horn and measured on each terminal branch of a fiber. All synaptic boutons (over one thousand) of somatic fibers were found in the superficial dorsal horn (laminae I and II). More than 60% of the synaptic enlargements of the visceral afferents also were localized superficially (lamina I and adjacent dorsal funiculus) while 10-20% of the visceral enlargements appeared in deeper layers of the spinal cord. Boutons of somatic C-fibers were larger than those of visceral origin. Quantitative data of the unmyelinated afferent fibers are discussed in the context of the sensory functions of myelinated afferent fibers.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Perceptual learning in adults with amblyopia: a reevaluation of critical periods in human vision.

Critical periods for experience-dependent plasticity are ubiquitous. The idea that experience-dependent plasticity is closely linked with the development of sensory function is still widely held; however, there also is growing evidence for plasticity in the adult nervous system. This article reviews the notion of a critical period for the treatment of amblyopia in light of recent experimental and clinical evidence for neural plasticity. Specifically, adults with amblyopia can improve their perceptual performance via extensive practice on a challenging visual task, and this improvement may transfer to improved visual acuity. Amblyopes achieve this improvement via the mechanisms that have been shown to explain perceptual learning in the normal visual system. It is hypothesized that these same mechanisms account for at least some of the improvement that occurs in the treatment of amblyopia.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Effects of unusually early visual stimulation on the development of homing behavior in the rat pup.

Two studies examined the theory that early limitations on sensory functioning contribute to the organization of a structure for perceptual development and intersensory functioning. Rat pups' eyelids were surgically opened on Day 7, following which the development of homing to their nest site was investigated, with each animal alone in its living cage. Control pups increased homing until Day 14, and then decreased. Experimental pups showed no such decline, with the highest rate of homing evident on the last day of testing. The importance of visual cues for this altered development of homing was examined. Visual cues for the home were reduced by removing all shavings during testing, while leaving an odorous substrate in place. Under these conditions, both groups showed the characteristic increase and decline in homing, suggesting that premature eyelid opening results in a modification of the distribution of attention to visual and olfactory characteristics of the nest.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Role of Thy-1 in in vivo and in vitro neural development and regeneration of dorsal root ganglionic neurons.

We have examined the expression of Thy-1, an abundant glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoprotein, in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and associated nerve fascicles, during postnatal development and following a nerve crush. The expression levels of Thy-1 in DRG neurons, dorsal roots, and central processes in spinal cord were rather low at postnatal day 2, and gradually increased as DRG neurons matured. During early development, the expression of Thy-1 within DRG neurons was low and equally distributed between plasma membrane and cytosol. With maturation, the staining intensities of Thy-1 in both the plasma membrane and the cytosol of DRG neurons became increased. We also studied Thy-1 expression in the regeneration of mature DRG neurons following the crush injury of sciatic nerve. Two days after the crush injury, Thy-1 expression dramatically decreased in the DRG neurons on the lesion side. Between 4 and 7 days after the injury, the expression of Thy-1 gradually increased and returned to a normal level 1 week after the sciatic nerve crush. The time course of the up-regulation of Thy-1 expression during regeneration matched that of the recovery of sensory functions, such as pain withdraw reflex, placing reflex, and the score of Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale. Taken together, our results suggest that Thy-1 expression is developmentally regulated and is closely associated with the functional maturation of DRG neurons during both postnatal development and nerve regeneration. Furthermore, perturbation of Thy-1 function with anti-Thy-1 antibodies promoted neurite outgrowth from primary cultured DRG neurons, again confirming the inhibitory role of Thy-1 on neurite outgrowth.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sonographic detection of an isolated cuboid bone fracture not visualized on plain radiographs.

We report the case of an isolated cuboid bone fracture in a child that was missed on radiography but was diagnosed on sonography. Plain radiographs of the patient's right foot showed no fracture, whereas sonograms demonstrated a fracture of the cuboid bone that appeared as a steplike discontinuity in the cortical bone. The diagnosis was confirmed on MRI. The fracture was treated with cast immobilization and no weight bearing for 4 weeks. In 8 weeks, the patient had no symptoms and good motor and sensory function of her right foot. Other imaging modalities are usually advocated for diagnosing fractures that are missed by radiography. Over the last decade, sonography has been increasingly used for diagnosing occult fractures. Although its use in such cases is not yet fully established, we believe that in the future, the sonographic detection of an injury that corresponds to the site of the reported pain will be adequate for initiating treatment of many types of fractures.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed2006

Sensilla and secretory glands in the antennae of a primitive ant: Dinoponera lucida (Formicidae: Ponerinae).

Morphology of the antennae of the female workers of the ponerine ant Dinoponera lucida was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. In several antennomers, we found secretory gland cells of class I and III. Class III gland cells release their secretion through single pores in the antennal surface, whereas class I secretory cells are seen as tall epidermal cells close to the cuticle. Both gland types have weak reaction for total proteins and neutral polysaccharides. Six distinct sensilla types were observed: trichodea, chaetica, campaniform, basiconica, placodea, and coeloconica. The possible sensory functions of these sensilla and the gland functions are discussed.

Animal Structures↗

PubMed2004

Estrogen treatment induces a novel population of regulatory cells, which suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurological disease characterized by a progressive loss of motor and sensory function, eventually leading to paralysis and death. The primary cause of neurological impairment is demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by an inflammatory autoimmune response. Previous studies have shown that the severity of MS is reduced during pregnancy, suggesting that the increased level of sex hormones may reduce the autoimmune response. Recently, we have shown that estrogen treatment confers protection from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is an animal model for MS. However, the cellular basis of estrogen's action remains unknown. In the current study, we demonstrate that estrogen treatment led to the induction of a novel subpopulation of regulatory cells in spleen and CNS, which also occurs naturally in pregnant mice. These previously uncharacterized cells display a low level expression of CD45 (CD45(dim)) and no detectable expression of many cell surface markers related to TCR signaling, including CD3 and TCR. However, these cells retained expression of VLA-4, an extracellular protein involved in cellular migration. Several lines of evidence suggest that these novel cells, defined as CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells, may play a role in the protective effects of estrogen in EAE. Injection of purified CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells conferred protection from spontaneous EAE (Sp-EAE). In contrast, injection of CD45(high)VLA-4(+) cells exacerbated the disease course. CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells also suppressed antigen-specific proliferation of primed lymphocytes in coculture. A better understanding of how CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells suppress the harmful immune response of EAE may help in explaining the induction of immune tolerance during pregnancy and lead to novel therapeutic approaches to combat MS and other autoimmune diseases.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2003

Subthalamic somatosensory evoked potentials in Parkinson's disease.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an effective treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease. It also provides an opportunity to record neural activity from the human basal ganglia. In this study, to investigate the involvement of the human STN in sensory functions, we recorded somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) elicited by contralateral median-nerve stimulation, from STN electrodes implanted for DBS in patients with Parkinson's disease. We suggest that the STN N18 component of SEPs in Parkinson's disease is a mainly local field potential elicited by muscle afferent input to the nucleus.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Preoperative assessment of the adult plexus patient.

Methods of assessing brachial plexus lesions are presented in relation ot the type of lesion, the severity, the prognosis, and the timing of nerve repair and reconstructive surgery. A careful physical examination of both muscles and sensory function, the sweating concordance, and the Tinel sign are considered the most important aspects of assessment which is completed by electromyography (evoked potentials), radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast computerised axial tomography (CT scanning). Contrast-CT is considered the most reliable investigation to reveal root avulsion from the cord. An assessment chart able to show the extent and location of the lesion at a glance is included.

Adult↗

PubMed1982

Metastatic epidural tumors in children.

Spinal cord compression is a rare but serious complication of malignant diseases in children. Epidural cord compression was noted in 81 patients within the past 17 years at this center. The complication developed at different times during the course of the primary disease. For 29 of our patients, cord dysfunction was one of the initial signs of cancer--Ewing sarcoma, neuroblastoma, Hodgkin disease, and malignant lymphoma. By contrast, for most of the patients with osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, it appeared later in their clinical course. The treatment outcome of patients who were paraplegia with complete loss of sensory function for greater than or equal to 48 hours was poor. Only four of 22 in this group became ambulatory. Ten patients with osteosarcoma did not undergo laminectomies because they all had multiple metastases and terminal disease. Paraplegia developed in all ten. There was no difference in ambulatory rates among other patients, with or without laminectomies.

Child↗

PubMed2005

Towards creation of a unified view of the neurodevelopment of the infant.

During the twentieth century, study of the neurologic development of the fetus and infant has resulted in multiple neurodevelopmental assessments. They have been used both for determination of the integrity of the neonate as well as for assessment of the child's outcome from prenatal and neonatal medical interventions. These models of assessment have broadened our view and understanding of the development of functions such as movement, posture, attention, oromotor skills, and behavior. The link between these areas and the traditional areas of neurologic and psychiatric examination of older children and adults is explored through discussion of the maturation of movement, cranial nerve function, sensory, cognitive, and behavioral responses. Gaps in knowledge remain about the relationship between early neurodevelopmental assessments and later findings. A single unified means of examining the infant is also lacking.

Brain↗

PubMed2002

High b-value q-space analyzed diffusion-weighted MRI: application to multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which affects nearly one million people worldwide, leading to a progressive decline of motor and sensory functions, and permanent disability. High b-value diffusion-weighted MR images (b of up to 14000 s/mm(2)) were acquired from the brains of controls and MS patients. These diffusion MR images, in which signal decay is not monoexponential, were analyzed using the q-space approach that emphasizes the diffusion characteristics of the slow-diffusing component. From this analysis, displacement and probability maps were constructed. The computed q-space analyzed MR images that were compared with conventional T(1), T(2) (fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) images were found to be sensitive to the pathophysiological state of white matter. The indices used to construct this q-space analyzed MR maps, provided a pronounced differentiation between normal tissue and tissues classified as MS plaques by the FLAIR images. More importantly, a pronounced differentiation was also observed between tissues classified by the FLAIR MR images as normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in the MS brains, which are known to be abnormal, and the respective control tissues. The potential diagnostic capacity of high b-value diffusion q-space analyzed MR images is discussed, and experimental data that explains the consequences of using the q-space approach once the short pulse gradient approximation is violated are presented.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Polyneuropathy in lithium intoxication.

Two patients developed acute sensorimotor polyneuropathy after intoxication with lithium carbonate. Nerve conduction studies, electromyography, and sural nerve biopsy proved it to be an axonal neuropathy. Recovery of muscle strength, reflexes, and sensory function started weeks after discontinuation of lithium therapy. One patient fully recovered within a year. In the literature we found nine other cases of lithium polyneuropathy.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Cell lines in inner ear research.

Cell lines have provided important experimental tools that have enhanced our understanding of neural and sensory function. They are particularly valuable in inner ear research because the auditory and vestibular systems are small, complex, and encased in several layers of bone. Organotypic cultures provide an invaluable experimental resource but require repeated microdissection and culture, and remain complex in terms of cell types and states of differentiation. A number of laboratories have established cell lines that offer a range of potential applications to hearing research. This review describes the advances that have already been made with these lines and the potential applications that they offer in the future. The majority of the cell lines are immortalized with a conditionally expressed, temperature sensitive variant of the SV40 tumor antigen. We discuss the value of these cells in developmental studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Dose-dependent effects of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on rates of local cerebral glucose utilization in rat.

Recent reports have demonstrated that Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) stimulates locomotor activity at low doses (<2.5 mg/kg), while higher doses (>2.5 mg/kg) produce decreases in spontaneous activity. Using quantitative 2-[(14)C]deoxyglucose (2-DG) autoradiography, we systematically studied the effects of acute Delta(9)-THC on rates of local cerebral glucose utilization. The first series of experiments was designed to determine if Delta(9)-THC-mediated changes in cerebral metabolism followed a clear dose-response relationship. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either vehicle or Delta(9)-THC (0.25-2.5 mg/kg) and the 2-DG procedure was initiated 15 min following exposure. Administration of 2.5 mg/kg Delta(9)-THC produced significant decreases in cerebral metabolism in most brain regions studied. In contrast, administration of 0.25 mg/kg Delta(9)-THC produced no significant alterations in any brain region studied, while 1.0 mg/kg of Delta(9)-THC produced a restricted pattern of metabolic decreases. Significant decreases in metabolism following 1.0 mg/kg were concentrated in structures subserving limbic and sensory functions. In a second series of experiments, the effects of pretreatment with the cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR141716A (1.0 mg/kg) on Delta(9)-THC-induced changes in functional activity were measured. Pretreatment with SR141716A attenuated the majority of functional changes produced by Delta(9)-THC, suggesting that these effects are primarily mediated by central cannabinoid receptors. Moreover, these findings indicate that the effects of Delta(9)-THC on cerebral metabolism are dose-dependent and that there are regional differences in the metabolic response to acute cannabinoid exposure.

Animals↗