Effect of Lesioning the Ventral Tegmental Area on Food Intake, Water Intake, Body Weight and Alcohol Consumption in Wistar Albino Rats.

AIM: To study the effect of lesion of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) on food intake, water intake, alcohol consumption, and alcohol preference in the post-lesion period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 38 young adult healthy male Wistar albino rats was included in this experiment. The groups of rats were subjected to the bilateral electrolytic lesion of VTA, and the effect on water intake, food intake, alcohol consumption, and alcohol preference in the post-lesion period was analyzed. A sham lesioned control group was maintained for all experimental groups. RESULTS: There was no change observed in food intake and the body weight in lesioned animals (p > 0.05). It was found that increased water intake was observed if only water was given. There was also increased alcohol intake when alcohol was only provided (p < 0.05). However, two bottle-free choice tests for alcohol preference revealed that the rats preferred to consume water and not alcohol when the choice was given. There was an increase in the total volume consumed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was an increase in water intake and no notable changes in the food intake and body weight following the lesion. When offered alone, alcohol consumption was raised, but when a choice of alcohol and water was given in a two-bottle freechoice test, rats preferred to drink water. The present study suggests that VTA lesions may be associated with increased thirst and high fluid consumption, which may have implications in water balance.

Dimensions of pes anserinus of the lower extremity, an anatomical study with its surgical implications / 대한해부학회지

The reconstructive surgeries utilize pes anserinus (PA) tendons, because of their lesser post-operative clinical deficits and donor site morbidity. These surgeries require anatomical knowledge about the extent of PA formation. The goal of this study was to determine the length and width of the PA formation. The objectives were to measure the distance of its upper limit, lower limit, and vertical distance from the tibial tuberosity (TT). The present descriptive cross sectional study included 53 embalmed cadaveric lower extremities. The upper and lower limits of PA were exposed with the careful dissection. Measurements of the dimensions were performed with the help of a digital vernier caliper (Mitutoyo Co., Kanagawa, Japan). The PA length, width, distance of its upper limit, lower limit, and vertical distance of it from the TT were 47.4±13.3 mm, 37.3±7.2 mm, 47.6±12.5 mm, 54.6±10.4 mm, and 39.1±14.2 mm, respectively over the right extremity. The same measurements were 46.3±14.7 mm, 39.1±9.4 mm, 39.1±5.9 mm, 49.5±8.2 mm, and 36.4±12.1 mm, respectively for the left extremity. The extent of PA was observed to be extremely variable. The preoperative knowledge about the dimensions of PA will help the plastic and orthopedic surgeon put the accurate skin incision, decreasing the donor site morbidity and biomechanical instability of the PA grafts. We suggest that, preoperative ultrasound measurement of the PA may help the operating surgeon to prevent the complications like injury to the infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve.

Dimensions of pes anserinus of the lower extremity, an anatomical study with its surgical implications / 대한해부학회지

The reconstructive surgeries utilize pes anserinus (PA) tendons, because of their lesser post-operative clinical deficits and donor site morbidity. These surgeries require anatomical knowledge about the extent of PA formation. The goal of this study was to determine the length and width of the PA formation. The objectives were to measure the distance of its upper limit, lower limit, and vertical distance from the tibial tuberosity (TT). The present descriptive cross sectional study included 53 embalmed cadaveric lower extremities. The upper and lower limits of PA were exposed with the careful dissection. Measurements of the dimensions were performed with the help of a digital vernier caliper (Mitutoyo Co., Kanagawa, Japan). The PA length, width, distance of its upper limit, lower limit, and vertical distance of it from the TT were 47.4±13.3 mm, 37.3±7.2 mm, 47.6±12.5 mm, 54.6±10.4 mm, and 39.1±14.2 mm, respectively over the right extremity. The same measurements were 46.3±14.7 mm, 39.1±9.4 mm, 39.1±5.9 mm, 49.5±8.2 mm, and 36.4±12.1 mm, respectively for the left extremity. The extent of PA was observed to be extremely variable. The preoperative knowledge about the dimensions of PA will help the plastic and orthopedic surgeon put the accurate skin incision, decreasing the donor site morbidity and biomechanical instability of the PA grafts. We suggest that, preoperative ultrasound measurement of the PA may help the operating surgeon to prevent the complications like injury to the infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve.

A case of inferior alveolar nerve encircling the arteria maxillaris / 대한해부학회지

Here we report a case of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), which had variability in its formation. IAN was formed by dual roots, which were branching out from the posterior division of mandibular nerve. The observed roots were forming a loop around the pterygoid part of arteria maxillaris (MA). One of the roots was superficial to the MA and the other was deep to it. It is believed that this type of morphological variation in the formation of IAN can have clinial implications, which include compression by adjacent structures and nerve entrapment. The knowledge of this variation is important to anaesthesiologists and dentists, while administering local anaesthesia. This is also enlightening to the maxillofacial surgeons, neurologists and radiologists.

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging morphometry of the patella bone in South Indian population / 대한해부학회지

Racial differences exist in the dimensions of structures and the commercially available prostheses are designed based on the Caucasians. In this context, the goal of the present investigation was to determine the gender wise measurements of patella bone in South Indians. The present study included axial magnetic resonance images of the knee joint from 140 South Indian adults (70 males, 70 females; aged between 20–70 years). The angle, width, thickness, lateral facet width, facet thickness, ratio of the lateral facet, the relative thickness and ratio of facet thickness were measured in the patella by using the digital ruler. The statistical analysis was performed by using the SPSS software. The dimensions exhibited statistically highly significant sexual dimorphism (P≤0.001). The mean value was higher in males than females except for the ratio of patellar lateral facet and patellar facet thickness ratio. It was observed that the males exhibit more variability than females in all the measurements of patella except patellar thickness, patellar facet thickness, patellar relative thickness, and patellar facet thickness ratio. The present study of the in vivo morphometry of patella bone from the South Indians can provide a population and gender specific database for the morphometric measurements of the patella. We believe that the data of the present study will be useful to the orthopaedician during the procedures like arthroplasty of the total knee, patellofemoral arthroplasty, resurfacing of patella, and designing the prosthetic implant.

Morphological study of styloid process of the temporal bone and its clinical implications / 대한해부학회지

The objective of this study was to study the morphometry of the styloid process of temporal bone and prevalence of elongated styloid process. The morphology of elongated styloid process along with its embryological and clinical importance are discussed. The present study included 110 human dry skulls which were procured from the bone collections of the department of anatomy. The styloid process was observed macroscopically on both sides of all the skulls, the elongations if any were noted. All the styloids were measured for their length, thickness at different levels and interstyloid distance at various levels. Out of 110 specimens, only 5 skulls (4.5%) exhibited the elongated styloid process. Among them, 3 skulls (2.7%) had unilateral elongation and 2 skulls (1.8%) had bilateral elongation of the styloid process. The mean length of the styloid process was 17.8+/-9.3 mm and 18.2+/-5.6 mm for the right and left sides, respectively. The prevalence of elongated styloid process in the present study was 4.5%. The clinical anatomy of this congenital variant is important to the neurosurgeon and radiologist, while interpreting the computed tomogram and magnetic resonance image scans. The morphological knowledge of elongated styloid process is clinically important since the course of the vertebral artery may be distorted in such situations.