The effects of a teacher training program in family life and human sexuality on the knowledge and attitudes of public school teachers.

This study evaluated the effects of a teacher training program in family life and human sexuality. An attempt was made to determine the extent to which age, sex, race, marital status and years of teaching experience can be used to predict sex-related attitudes of teachers. Teachers who volunteered for a Title IV-C Teacher Training Program in Family Living and Human Sexuality were tested before and after the training program using a knowledge test and an attitude inventory. The pretest and posttest scores of the experimental teachers were compared with a control group to assess the degree of change. Results indicated the teachers who participated in the teacher training program made significant gains in sex-related knowledge. While no changes were evident in overall attitudes, the experimental teachers became more accepting of the practice of masturbation. A major finding in the study was the relationship between age and permissiveness of attitudes toward controversial issues.

Heterotopic neurogenesis in a rat with cortical heterotopia.

Early cellular development was studied in the neocortex of the tish rat. This neurological mutant is seizure-prone and displays cortical heterotopia similar to those observed in certain epileptic patients. The present study demonstrates that a single cortical preplate is formed in a typical superficial position of the developing tish neocortex. In contrast, two cortical plates are formed: one in a normotopic position and a second in a heterotopic position in the intermediate zone. As the normotopic cortical plate is formed, it characteristically separates the subplate cells from the superficial Cajal-Retzius cells. In contrast, the heterotopic cortical plate is not intercalated between the preplate cells because of its deeper position in the developing cortex. Cellular proliferation occurs in two zones of the developing tish cortex. One proliferative zone is located in a typical position in the ventricular/subventricular zone. A second proliferative zone is located in a heterotopic position in the superficial intermediate zone, i.e., between the two cortical plates. This misplaced proliferative zone may contribute cells to both the normotopic and heterotopic cortical plates. Taken together, these findings indicate that misplaced cortical plate cells, but not preplate cells, comprise the heterotopia of the tish cortex. Heterotopic neurogenesis is an early developmental event that is initiated before the migration of most cortical plate cells. It is concluded that misplaced cellular proliferation, in addition to disturbed neuronal migration, can play a key role in the formation of large cortical heterotopia.