Ameliorating Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation Combined With Deep Breathing Training on Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Mediated via the Autonomic Pathway.

AIMS: To investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) combined with deep breathing training (DBT) on refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (rGERD). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with rGERD were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either only esomeprazole (ESO, 20 mg bid) (group A, n = 7), TEA + DBT + ESO (group B, n = 7), or sham-TEA + DBT + ESO (group C, n = 7) in a four-week study. The reflux diagnostic questionnaire (RDQ) score and heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded and evaluated at baseline and at the end of each treatment. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of serum acetylcholine (Ach) and nitric oxide (NO). Esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH monitoring were performed before and after the treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, 1) the participants in group B had significantly lower scores of RDQ and DeMeester and increased lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) than those in group C (all p < 0.05), suggesting the role of TEA; 2) low frequency band (LF)/(LF + HF) ratio in groups B and C was decreased, compared with group A (p = 0.010, p = 0.042, respectively); high frequency band (HF)/(LF + HF) ratio in B and C groups was significantly increased, compared with group A (p = 0.010, p = 0.042, respectively); 3) The serum Ach in groups B and C was significantly higher than group A (p = 0.022, p = 0.046, respectively); the serum NO in groups B and C was significantly lower than group A (p = 0.010, p = 0.027, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: TEA combined with the DBT can effectively improve the reflux symptoms in rGERD patients by increasing LESP and reducing gastroesophageal reflux, which may be mediated via the autonomic and enteric mechanisms.

Cancer-related Fatigue in Patients with Advanced Cancer Treated with Autonomic Nerve Pharmacopuncture.

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of autonomic nerve pharmacopuncture (ANP) treatment on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with advanced cancer. This observational case study was conducted at the East West Cancer Center of Daejeon University's Dunsan Korean Medical Hospital. Two patients were observed. One patient was diagnosed with left thymic cancer metastatic to the left pleura. The other patient had terminal-stage cervical cancer with iliac bone and lumbar 5 metastases. We injected mountain ginseng pharmacopuncture (MGP) into acupoints alongside the spine (Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue, EX B2). We examined the patients for CRF using the Korean version of the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale (RPFS-K), which is a self-assessment tool. The scores on the RPFS-K for both patients tended to decrease during the treatment. Laboratory findings, including hematological changes, were also checked. Liver and renal function tests showed that the treatment was safe. Although further large-population studies are necessary, this case study suggests that ANP has a favorable effect on CRF in patients with advanced cancer.

Ameliorating effects and autonomic mechanisms of needle-less transcutaneous electrical stimulation at ST36 on stress-induced impairment in gastric slow waves.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Stress has long been documented to alter gastrointestinal motility. The effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on stress and gastric motility are relatively well known; however, whether EA has an ameliorating effect on stress-induced dysmotility remained unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanisms of needle-less transcutaneous electroacupuncture (TEA) on stress-induced impairment in gastric slow waves. METHODS: A watch-size digital stimulator was developed. Ten healthy volunteers were involved in a four-session study (control, cold stress, TEA, and sham TEA). Electrogastrograpy was used to assess gastric slow waves, and electrocardiogram was recorded for the assessment of autonomic functions. The recordings were made in each session with/without stress and with TEA at ST36 or sham points. RESULTS: The results are as follows: (i) Cold stress-induced gastric dysrhythmia and impaired normal slow waves (P < 0.01). TEA showed a preventive effect on cold stress-induced impairment in gastric slow waves. TEA at ST36, but not sham TEA, normalized slow waves (P = 0.03 vs stress; P = 0.44 vs control), attributed to the suppression of gastric dysrhythmia; (ii) Postprandially, there was a decrease in vagal activity in both control (P = 0.004) and stress (P = 0.002) sessions; this decrease was prevented with TEA (P < 0.05). Similarly, there was a postprandial increase in sympathetic activity in both control (P = 0.01) and stress (P = 0.002) sessions, and this increase was suppressed with TEA. CONCLUSIONS: Needle-less TEA at ST36 using a watch-size stimulator is able to improve stress-induced impairment in gastric slow waves, possibly mediated via the autonomic mechanism. Home-based needle-less TEA may be a viable therapy for stress-induced impairment in gastric motility functions.

Hyperbilirubinemia and phototherapy in newborns: Effects on cardiac autonomic control.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal jaundice and its phototherapeutic treatment can lead to several side effects involving activation of autonomic control mechanisms. AIM: The aims of this study are to investigate the autonomic nervous system changes in icteric neonates using heart rate variability (HRV) and to assess the effect of phototherapy on short-term heart rate dynamics as an indicator of autonomic nervous control of cardiovascular system. METHODS: HRV recordings from 20 icteric full-term neonates before, during and after phototherapy and from 20 healthy controls were analyzed. In addition to traditional time and frequency domain measures, heart rate complexity parameters including normalized complexity index (NCI), normalized unpredictability index (NUPI), pattern classification indices (0V%, 1V%, 2LV%, 2UV%) and irreversibility index (P%) on four time scales were evaluated. All measures were derived from data segments of 1000 RR intervals. RESULTS: The analysis revealed higher values of 1V%, 2LV%, and lower P% in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia compared to controls. While HRV magnitude did not change, mean heart rate increased during and after the phototherapy. Nonlinear analysis showed a decrease of complexity, unpredictability and pattern classification measures 2LV% and 2UV%. In contrast, 0V% and irreversibility index P% were increased during and at least 30min after phototherapy. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a shifted autonomic balance in icteric neonates compared to the controls and its further alterations during phototherapy. As the nonlinear HRV parameters are independent of the linear methods, they can provide new information about the cardiac regulatory mechanisms and their changes in neonates.

[Glucose homeostasis and gut-brain connection]. / Contrôle de la glycémie par l'axe nerveux intestin-cerveau.

Since the XIX(th) century, the brain has been known for its role in regulating food intake (via the control of hunger sensation) and glucose homeostasis. Further interest has come from the discovery of gut hormones, which established a clear link between the gut and the brain in regulating glucose and energy homeostasis. The brain has two particular structures, the hypothalamus and the brainstem, which are sensitive to information coming either from peripheral organs or from the gut (via circulating hormones or nutrients) about the nutritional status of the organism. However, the efforts for a better understanding of these mechanisms have allowed to unveil a new gut-brain neural axis as a key regulator of the metabolic status of the organism. Certain nutrients control the hypothalamic homeostatic function via this axis. In this review, we describe how the gut is connected to the brain via different neural pathways, and how the interplay between these two organs drives the energy balance.

Olfactory stimulatory with grapefruit and lavender oils change autonomic nerve activity and physiological function.

This review summarizes the effects of olfactory stimulation with grapefruit and lavender oils on autonomic nerve activity and physiological function. Olfactory stimulation with the scent of grapefruit oil (GFO) increases the activity of sympathetic nerves that innervate white and brown adipose tissues, the adrenal glands, and the kidneys, decreases the activity of the gastric vagal nerve in rats and mice. This results in an increase in lipolysis, thermogenesis, and blood pressure, and a decrease in food intake. Olfactory stimulation with the scent of lavender oil (LVO) elicits the opposite changes in nerve activity and physiological variables. Olfactory stimulation with scent of limonene, a component of GFO, and linalool, a component of LVO, has similar effects to stimulation with GFO and LVO, respectively. The histamine H1-receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine, abolishes all GFO-induced changes in nerve activity and physiological variables, and the hitstamine H3-receptor antagonist, thioperamide, eliminates all LVO-induced changes. Lesions to the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus and anosmic treatment with ZnSO4 also abolish all GFO- and LVO-induced changes. These findings indicate that limonene and linalool might be the active substances in GFO and LVO, and suggest that the suprachiasmatic nucleus and histamine are involved in mediating the GFO- and LVO-induced changes in nerve activity and physiological variables.

[Progress of Researches on Relationship between Acu-moxibustion Induced Modulation of Small Intestinal Motility and Autonomic Nervous Activity ].

A large body of evidence of clinical and experimental outcomes showed that acupuncture and moxibustion can effectively treat disorders of small intestinal motility. The present articJe collected related literatures and made an analysis on the correlation between the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion intervention and needle-manipulation techniques, stimulating quantities, acupoint recipes, and the body functional states, as well as the corresponding mechanisms. Results indicate that acupuncture stimulation of acupoints of the limbs mainly enhance the motility of the small intestine, while acupuncture stimulation of acupoints in the abdominal region predominately suppress it, which may be closely associated with its effects on activities of the autonomic nervous system. This conclusion tells us that in clinical treatment of small intestinal hypodynamia, acupoints of the limbs should be selected first while in treating intestinal hyperdynamia, those acupoints in the abdominal region should be taken preferably. In ad- dition, at present, non-invaded detection techniques of the small intestinal motility are definitely and urgently needed and will greatly promote the progress of researches of acu-moxibustion on the mechanism underlying modulation of small intestinal motility.

Conditional viral tracing reveals that steroidogenic factor 1-positive neurons of the dorsomedial subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamus project to autonomic centers of the hypothalamus and hindbrain.

Excitation of neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), especially those residing in the dorsomedial part of the nucleus (VMHdm), evokes sympathetic nervous system (SNS) outflow, modulating a number of physiological functions including feeding and blood glucose homeostasis. However, the anatomical basis of VMH-mediated SNS activation has thus far proved elusive. To understand how VMH neurons exercise output functions and describe an anatomical link between these neurons and the SNS, we identified downstream neural targets of the VMHdm by injecting an adenoviral vector encoding Cre recombinase (Cre)-regulated farnesylated green fluorescent protein (GFPf ) into the VMHdm of mice that express Cre in neurons expressing the VMH-specific transcription factor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1). We confirm previously described projection patterns of the VMHdm and report the existence of a formerly unidentified projection pathway to a number of autonomic centers in the brainstem. These VMH efferents travel caudally through the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and then ventrally through the lateral lemniscus to the ventral surface of the brain, where they eventually reach caudal autonomic centers including the C1 catecholamine cell group of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), where VMH efferents make close contacts with catecholaminergic neurons. We also found that VMHdm fibers reach a number of brainstem areas, including the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), which are important in regulating respiration. Thus, the present study indicates that the VMH may modulate sympathetic and autonomic activity via synaptic contacts in the RTN, NTS, and RVLM and provides significant anatomical evidence to support a role of the VMH in respiratory regulation.

Perinatal taurine exposure programs patterns of autonomic nerve activity responses to tooth pulp stimulation in adult male rats.

Perinatal taurine excess or deficiency influences adult health and disease, especially relative to the autonomic nervous system. This study tests the hypothesis that perinatal taurine exposure influences adult autonomic nervous system control of arterial pressure in response to acute electrical tooth pulp stimulation. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with normal rat chow with 3% ß-alanine (taurine depletion, TD), 3% taurine (taurine supplementation, TS), or water alone (control, C) from conception to weaning. Their male offspring were fed with normal rat chow and tap water throughout the experiment. At 8-10 weeks of age, blood chemistry, arterial pressure, heart rate, and renal sympathetic nerve activity were measured in anesthetized rats. Age, body weight, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, plasma electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, and plasma cortisol were not significantly different among the three groups. Before tooth pulp stimulation, low- (0.3-0.5 Hz) and high-frequency (0.5-4.0 Hz) power spectral densities of arterial pressure were not significantly different among groups while the power spectral densities of renal sympathetic nerve activity were significantly decreased in TD compared to control rats. Tooth pulp stimulation did not change arterial pressure, heart rate, renal sympathetic nerve, and arterial pressure power spectral densities in the 0.3-4.0 Hz spectrum or renal sympathetic nerve firing rate in any group. In contrast, perinatal taurine imbalance disturbed very-low-frequency power spectral densities of both arterial pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity (below 0.1 Hz), both before and after the tooth pulp stimulation. The power densities of TS were most sensitive to ganglionic blockade and central adrenergic inhibition, while those of TD were sensitive to both central and peripheral adrenergic inhibition. The present data indicate that perinatal taurine imbalance can lead to aberrant autonomic nervous system responses in adult male rats.

Pontomedullary and hypothalamic distribution of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons after acute exercise in rats.

During exercise, intense brain activity orchestrates an increase in muscle tension. Additionally, there is an increase in cardiac output and ventilation to compensate the increased metabolic demand of muscle activity and to facilitate the removal of CO(2) from and the delivery of O(2) to tissues. Here we tested the hypothesis that a subset of pontomedullary and hypothalamic neurons could be activated during dynamic acute exercise. Male Wistar rats (250-350 g) were divided into an exercise group (n=12) that ran on a treadmill and a no-exercise group (n=7). Immunohistochemistry of pontomedullary and hypothalamic sections to identify activation (c-Fos expression) of cardiorespiratory areas showed that the no-exercise rats exhibited minimal Fos expression. In contrast, there was intense activation of the nucleus of the solitary tract, the ventrolateral medulla (including the presumed central chemoreceptor neurons in the retrotrapezoid/parafacial region), the lateral parabrachial nucleus, the Kölliker-Fuse region, the perifornical region, which includes the perifornical area and the lateral hypothalamus, the dorsal medial hypothalamus, and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus after running exercise. Additionally, we observed Fos immunoreactivity in catecholaminergic neurons within the ventrolateral medulla (C1 region) without Fos expression in the A2, A5 and A7 neurons. In summary, we show for the first time that after acute exercise there is an intense activation of brain areas crucial for cardiorespiratory control. Possible involvement of the central command mechanism should be considered. Our results suggest whole brain-specific mobilization to correct and compensate the homeostatic changes produced by acute exercise.

The melanocortin system is involved in regulating autonomic nerve activity through central pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a peptidergic neurotransmitter that is highly expressed in the nervous system. We have previously reported that a central injection of PACAP leads to changes in the autonomic nervous system tones including sympathetic excitation and parasympathetic inhibition. An anatomical study revealed that melanocortin and PACAP are colocalized in some hypothalamic nuclei. Here, we investigated the possible role of the melanocortin system in autonomic control by PACAP using SHU9119, an antagonist of the melanocortin receptors (MC3-R/MC4-R). Pretreatment with SHU-9119 did not affect the activating neural responses of adrenal, renal, and lumbar sympathetic nerves following a PACAP injection However, SHU9119 significantly eliminated the suppressing effect of a PACAP injection on gastric vagal nerve activity and excitation effects on liver and brown adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activities. These results suggest that the brain melanocortin system might play a key role in the control of thermogenic sympathetic outflows and digestive parasympathetic outflow by PACAP, but this system does not participate in the central effects of PACAP on cardiovascular function and neural activities of renal, adrenal, and lumbar sympathetic nerves.

Antinociception by motor cortex stimulation in the neuropathic rat: does the locus coeruleus play a role?

We studied whether stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) attenuates pain-related spinal withdrawal responses of neuropathic and healthy control rats, and whether the descending antinociceptive effect is relayed through the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC). The assessments of the noxious heat-evoked limb withdrawals reflecting spinal nociception and recordings of single LC units were performed in spinal nerve-ligated neuropathic and sham-operated control rats under light pentobarbital anesthesia. Electric stimulation of M1 produced equally strong spinal antinociception in neuropathic and control rats. Following microinjection into M1, a group I metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist (DHPG; 10 nmol) and a high (25 nmol) but not low (2.5 nmol) dose of glutamate slightly increased on-going discharge rates of LC neurons in neuropathic but not in control animals. Influence of electric stimulation of M1 on LC neurons was studied only in the neuropathic group, in which discharge rates of LC neurons were increased by electric M1 stimulation. Lidocaine block of the LC or block of descending noradrenergic influence by intrathecal administration of a alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist failed to produce a significant attenuation of the spinal antinociceptive effect induced by electric M1 stimulation in the neuropathic or the sham group. The results indicate that stimulation of the rat M1 induces spinal antinociception in neuropathic as well as control conditions. While M1 stimulation may activate the LC, particularly in the neuropathic group, the contribution of coeruleospinal noradrenergic pathways may not be critical for the spinal antinociceptive effect induced by M1 stimulation.

The intermedius nucleus of the medulla: a potential site for the integration of cervical information and the generation of autonomic responses.

The intermedius nucleus of the medulla (InM) is a small perihypoglossal brainstem nucleus, which receives afferent information from the neck musculature and also descending inputs from the vestibular nuclei, the gustatory portion of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and cortical areas involved in movements of the tongue. The InM sends monosynaptic projections to both the NTS and the hypoglossal nucleus. It is likely that the InM acts to integrate information from the head and neck and relays this information on to the NTS where suitable autonomic responses can be generated, and also to the hypoglossal nucleus to influence movements of the tongue and upper airways. Central to the integratory role of the InM is its neurochemical diversity. Neurones within the InM utilise the amino acid transmitters glutamate, GABA and glycine. A proportion of these excitatory and inhibitory neurones also use nitric oxide as a neurotransmitter. Peptidergic transmitters have also been found within InM neurones, although as yet the extent of the pattern of co-localisation between peptidergic and amino acid transmitters in neurones has not been established. The calcium binding proteins calretinin and parvalbumin are found within the InM in partially overlapping populations. Parvalbumin and calretinin appear to have complementary distributions within the InM, with parvalbumin being predominantly found within GABAergic neurones and calretinin being predominantly found within glutamatergic neurones. Neurones in the InM receive inputs from glutamatergic sensory afferents. This glutamatergic transmission is conducted through both NMDA and AMPA ionotropic glutamate receptors. In summary the InM contains a mixed pool of neurones including glutamatergic and GABAergic in addition to peptidergic neurones. Neurones within the InM receive inputs from the upper cervical region, descending inputs from brain regions involved in tongue movements and those involved in the coordination of the autonomic nervous system. Outputs from the InM to the NTS and hypoglossal nucleus suggest a possible role in the coordination of tongue movements and autonomic responses to changes in posture.

Targeting of cardiac autonomic plexus for modulation of intracardiac neural tone.

AIMS: Ventricular rate control is considered as an initial choice of therapy in many patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We could previously show that electrostimulation of the right inferior ganglionated plexus (RIGP), which supplies the AV node, instantly decreases ventricular rate during AF. This study describes the development of a technique to reliably implant a chronic lead inside the RIGP. METHODS AND RESULTS: In nine mongrel dogs with AF, the RIGP was identified by neuromapping with probatory high-frequency stimulation (20 Hz) over steerable electrode catheters until a significant ventricular rate slowing was achieved. Then an active fixation, permanent pacemaker lead was fixed closed to the mapping catheter left in place as anatomical marker. Initially (n = 4) available guiding catheters and steerable lead stylets were employed to navigate and anchor the lead, which resulted in repetitive screw-in attempts. Therefore, a guiding catheter was developed, which allowed angiography, lead advancement through its lumen, and probatory neurostimulation over its tip. This tool allowed lead delivery within 40 min (n = 5). Neurostimulation via the permanent lead elicited negative dromotropic effects with stimulation frequency, voltage, and impulse duration as determinants of stimulation efficacy. CONCLUSION: Active fixation of a permanent pacing lead inside the RIGP is feasible without thoracotomy. Thereby, ventricular rate control during AF can be achieved with stimulus voltages applied for myocardial electrostimulation.

Inhibitory regulation of blood pressure by manual acupuncture in the anesthetized rat.

Effect of manual acupuncture (twisting; lifting and thrusting; combination of them) at acupoints Nei-guan (PL-6) in the fore limb and Zu-san-li (ST-36) in the hind limb on mean arterial blood pressure was investigated in anesthetized rats. During acupuncture treatment mean arterial blood pressure was decreased but fluctuated in intact rats, intensively decreased after vagotomy and completely abolished after spinalization. The depressor response was significantly higher with combination treatment than others at PL-6, rather than at ST-36. Results suggest that manual acupuncture at either PL-6 or ST-36 can reduce blood pressure in anesthetized rats, and its modulatory site might be supraspinal.

Oestrogen receptors in the central nervous system and evidence for their role in the control of cardiovascular function.

Oestrogen is considered beneficial to cardiovascular health through protective effects not only on the heart and vasculature, but also on the autonomic nervous system via actions on oestrogen receptors. A plethora of evidence supports a role for the hormone within the central nervous system in modulating the pathways regulating cardiovascular function. A complex interaction of several brainstem, spinal and forebrain nuclei is required to receive, integrate and co-ordinate inputs that contribute appropriate autonomic reflex responses to changes in blood pressure and other cardiovascular parameters. Central effects of oestrogen and oestrogen receptors have already been demonstrated in many of these areas. In addition to the classical nuclear oestrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta) a recently discovered G-protein coupled receptor, GPR30, has been shown to be a novel mediator of oestrogenic action. Many anatomical and molecular studies have described a considerable overlap in the regional expression of these receptors; however, the receptors do exhibit specific characteristics and subtype specific expression is found in many autonomic brain areas, for example ERbeta appears to predominate in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, whilst ERalpha is important in the nucleus of the solitary tract. This review provides an overview of the available information on the localisation of oestrogen receptor subtypes and their multitude of possible modulatory actions in different groups of neurochemically and functionally defined neurones in autonomic-related areas of the brain.

Longitudinal assessment of the effects of oestrogen on blood pressure and cardiovascular autonomic activity in female rats.

1. Published data concerning the effects of ovarian hormones on haemodynamic variability are contradictory. For the first time, the present study used radiotelemetric haemodynamic monitoring to investigate the long-term effects of chronic oestrogen depletion and repletion on cardiovascular autonomic control and arterial baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in female rats. 2. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and +dP/dt(max) of arterial pressure (an estimate of myocardial contractility) were monitored in sham-operated (SO), ovariectomized (OVX) and oestrogen-replaced OVX rats (OVXE2) for 16 weeks. Cardiovascular autonomic control and baroreflexes were assessed by frequency domain analysis of interbeat intervals (IBI) and systolic BP (SBP). 3. Compared with SO rats, OVX rats exhibited no changes in BP, short-lived decreases in HR and sustained reductions in +dP/dt(max) of arterial pressure. The high- (HF; 0.75-3 Hz) and low-frequency (LF; 0.25-0.75 Hz) components of spectral power of IBI were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, by ovariectomy. An increase in the IBI(LF/HF) ratio in OVX rats suggests a shift in the cardiac sympathovagal balance towards sympathetic dominance. Index alpha, the spectral index of spontaneous BRS, was reduced by OVX. 4. Oestrogen replacement caused significant reductions in BP and HR and reversed OVX-induced changes in +dP/dt(max) of arterial pressure and cardiac autonomic activity. The LF oscillations of SBP were reduced in OVXE2 rats, suggesting a reduction in vascular sympathetic tone by oestrogen. 5. These findings highlight the importance of long-term oestrogen therapy in rectifying the detrimental effects of depletion of ovarian hormones on the cardiovascular system and baroreflex.

A neuroanatomical dissociation for emotion induced by music.

Does feeling an emotion require changes in autonomic responses, as William James proposed? Can feelings and autonomic responses be dissociated? Findings from cognitive neuroscience have identified brain structures that subserve feelings and autonomic response, including those induced by emotional music. In the study reported here, we explored whether feelings and autonomic responses can be dissociated by using music, a stimulus that has a strong capacity to induce emotional experiences. We tested two brain regions predicted to be differentially involved in autonomic responsivity (the ventromedial prefrontal cortex) and feeling (the right somatosensory cortex). Patients with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex were impaired in their ability to generate skin-conductance responses to music, but generated normal judgments of their subjective feelings in response to music. Conversely, patients with damage to the right somatosensory cortex were impaired in their self-rated feelings in response to music, but generated normal skin-conductance responses to music. Control tasks suggested that neither impairment was due to basic defects in hearing the music or in cognitively recognizing the intended emotion of the music. The findings provide evidence for a double dissociation between feeling emotions and autonomic responses to emotions, in response to music stimuli.

Electroacupuncture changes the relationship between cardiac and renal sympathetic nerve activities in anesthetized cats.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is known to affect hemodynamics through modulation of efferent sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), however, possible regional differences in the SNA response to EA remains to be examined. Based on the discordance between arterial blood pressure and heart rate changes during EA, we hypothesized that regional differences would occur among SNAs during EA. To test this hypothesis, we compared changes in cardiac and renal SNAs in response to 1-min EA (10 Hz or 2 Hz) of a hind limb in adult cats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. Renal SNA remained decreased for 1 min during EA (P<0.01 for both 10 Hz and 2 Hz). In contrast, cardiac SNA tented to decrease only in the beginning of EA. It increased during the end of EA (P<0.05 for 2 Hz) and further increased after the end of EA (P<0.01 both for 10 Hz and 2 Hz). There was a quasi-linear relationship between renal and cardiac SNAs with a slope of 0.69 (i.e., renal SNA was more suppressed than cardiac SNA) during the last 10 s of EA. The discrepancy between the renal and cardiac SNAs persisted after sinoaortic denervation and vagotomy. In conclusion, EA evokes differential patterns of SNA responses and changes the relationship between cardiac and renal SNAs.

Chronic food restriction differentially affects NPY mRNA level in neurons of the hypothalamus and in neurons that innervate liver.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is found in neurons of the brain and in the neurons that innervate abdominal organs including liver. Major biological function of hypothalamic NPY is regulation of appetite and body weight homeostasis. In the periphery, biological function of NPY varies, depending on the organ/tissue. Increased hypothalamic NPY mRNA level in response to chronic caloric restriction is a well documented phenomenon. The effect of food restriction on NPY mRNA level in neurons that innervate liver has not been published so far. To evaluate how chronic food restriction affects liver (and other abdominal organs) NPY mRNA level, we compared NPY mRNA abundance in liver, kidney cortex, perirenal white adipose tissue and in hypothalamus of rats maintained on chronic restricted diet. Data presented in this paper indicate that chronic food restriction: (a) caused the increase of NPY mRNA level in the hypothalamus, (b) caused the decrease of NPY mRNA level in the liver, and (c) was without effect on NPY mRNA level in kidney cortex and perirenal white adipose tissues. Moreover, rats maintained on restricted diet displayed lower serum NPY, leptin and insulin concentrations and higher serum corticosterone concentration. Together, these data suggest that hypothalamus and liver (and other abdominal organs) NPY gene expression is differentially regulated by caloric restriction. It seems that liver NPY gene expression in contrast to the hypothalamus NPY gene expression is not suppressed by leptin.