Heart Rate Variability reveals the fight between racially biased and politically correct behaviour.

In this study, we explored vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) responses, a psychophysiological index of cognitive self-regulatory control, to map the dynamics associated with empathic responses for pain towards an out-group member. Accordingly, Caucasian participants were asked to judge the experience of African and Caucasian actors touched with either a neutral or a harmful stimulus. Results showed that (1) explicit judgment of pain intensity in African actors yielded higher rating score and (2) took longer time compared to Caucasian actors, (3) these behavioural outcomes were associated with a significant increment of RMSSD, Log-HF-HRV and HF-HRV n.u., (4) resting HF-HRV n.u. predicted the participants' lag-time to judge painful stimulations delivered to African actors. Interestingly, these dynamics were associated with a measure of implicit racial attitudes and were, in part, abolished when participants performed a concurrent task during videos presentation. Taken together our results support the idea that a cognitive effort is needed to self-regulate our implicit attitude as predicted by the 'Contrasting Forces Model'.

Maternal creatine supplementation affects the morpho-functional development of hippocampal neurons in rat offspring.

Creatine supplementation has been shown to protect neurons from oxidative damage due to its antioxidant and ergogenic functions. These features have led to the hypothesis of creatine supplementation use during pregnancy as prophylactic treatment to prevent CNS damage, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Unfortunately, very little is known on the effects of creatine supplementation during neuron differentiation, while in vitro studies revealed an influence on neuron excitability, leaving the possibility of creatine supplementation during the CNS development an open question. Using a multiple approach, we studied the hippocampal neuron morphological and functional development in neonatal rats born by dams supplemented with 1% creatine in drinking water during pregnancy. CA1 pyramidal neurons of supplemented newborn rats showed enhanced dendritic tree development, increased LTP maintenance, larger evoked-synaptic responses, and higher intrinsic excitability in comparison to controls. Moreover, a faster repolarizing phase of action potential with the appearance of a hyperpolarization were recorded in neurons of the creatine-treated group. Consistently, CA1 neurons of creatine exposed pups exhibited a higher maximum firing frequency than controls. In summary, we found that creatine supplementation during pregnancy positively affects morphological and electrophysiological development of CA1 neurons in offspring rats, increasing neuronal excitability. Altogether, these findings emphasize the need to evaluate the benefits and the safety of maternal intake of creatine in humans.

Maternal dietary loads of alpha-tocopherol increase synapse density and glial synaptic coverage in the hippocampus of adult offspring.

An increased intake of the antioxidant α-Tocopherol (vitamin E) is recommended in complicated pregnancies, to prevent free radical damage to mother and fetus. However, the anti-PKC and antimitotic activity of α-Tocopherol raises concerns about its potential effects on brain development. Recently, we found that maternal dietary loads of α-Tocopherol through pregnancy and lactation cause developmental deficit in hippocampal synaptic plasticity in rat offspring. The defect persisted into adulthood, with behavioral alterations in hippocampus-dependent learning. Here, using the same rat model of maternal supplementation, ultrastructural morphometric studies were carried out to provide mechanistic interpretation to such a functional impairment in adult offspring by the occurrence of long-term changes in density and morphological features of hippocampal synapses. Higher density of axo-spinous synapses was found in CA1 stratum radiatum of α-Tocopherol-exposed rats compared to controls, pointing to a reduced synapse pruning. No morphometric changes were found in synaptic ultrastructural features, i.e., perimeter of axon terminals, length of synaptic specializations, extension of bouton-spine contact. Glia-synapse anatomical relationship was also affected. Heavier astrocytic coverage of synapses was observed in Tocopherol-treated offspring, notably surrounding axon terminals; moreover, the percentage of synapses contacted by astrocytic endfeet at bouton-spine interface (tripartite synapses) was increased. These findings indicate that gestational and neonatal exposure to supranutritional tocopherol intake can result in anatomical changes of offspring hippocampus that last through adulthood. These include a surplus of axo-spinous synapses and an aberrant glia-synapse relationship, which may represent the morphological signature of previously described alterations in synaptic plasticity and hippocampus-dependent learning.

Physical exercise and environment exploration affect synaptogenesis in adult-generated neurons in the rat dentate gyrus: possible role of BDNF.

A brief training in a pool maze, with or without cognitive tasks, modifies the synaptogenesis and maturation of newborn neurons in adult rat dentate gyrus. These types of trainings have many aspects, including physical activity and exploration. Therefore, to evaluate whether physical exercise and environment exploration are able to affect synapse formation and the maturation of adult-generated neurons, GFP-retrovirus infusion was performed on rats which, on the fourth day after injection, were housed under running conditions or allowed to explore an enriched environment briefly in the absence of exercise for the following three days. Afterward, at the end of the trainings, electrophysiological and morphological studies were conducted. Considering that neurotrophic factors increase after exercise or environment exploration, hippocampal BDNF levels and TrkB receptor activation were evaluated. In this study, we show that both spontaneous physical activity and enriched environment exploration induced synaptogenesis and T-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) currents in very immature neurons. Hippocampal BDNF levels and TrkB receptor activation were determined to be increasing following physical activity and exploration. A possible contribution of BDNF signaling in mediating the observed effects was supported by the use of 7-8-dihydroxyflavone, a selective TrkB agonist, and of ANA-12, an inhibitor of TrkB receptors.

Growth hormone plus resistance exercise attenuate structural changes in rat myotendinous junctions resulting from chronic unloading.

Myotendinous junctions (MTJs) are specialized sites on the muscle surface where forces generated by myofibrils are transmitted across the sarcolemma to the extracellular matrix. At the ultrastructural level, the interface between the sarcolemma and extracellular matrix is highly folded and interdigitated at these junctions. In this study, the effect of exercise and growth hormone (GH) treatments on the changes in MTJ structure that occur during muscle unloading, has been analyzed. Twenty hypophysectomized rats were assigned randomly to one of five groups: ambulatory control, hindlimb unloaded, hindlimb unloaded plus exercise (3 daily bouts of 10 climbs up a ladder with 50% body wt attached to the tail), hindlimb unloaded plus GH (2 daily injections of 1 mg/kg body wt, i.p.), and hindlimb unloaded plus exercise plus GH. MTJs of the plantaris muscle were analyzed by electron microscopy and the contact between muscle and tendon was evaluated using an IL/B ratio, where B is the base and IL is the interface length of MTJ's digit-like processes. After 10 days of unloading, the mean IL/B ratio was significantly lower in unloaded (3.92), unloaded plus exercise (4.18), and unloaded plus GH (5.25) groups than in the ambulatory control (6.39) group. On the opposite, the mean IL/B ratio in the group treated with both exercise and GH (7.3) was similar to control. These findings indicate that the interaction between exercise and GH treatments attenuates the changes in MTJ structure that result from chronic unloading and thus can be used as a countermeasure to these adaptations.

Surface and inner cell behaviour along skeletal muscle cell in vitro differentiation.

During muscle tissue differentiation, in particular in the formation of myotubes from the myoblasts, plasma membrane changes its morpho-functional characteristics. In this study, muscle cell membrane behaviour has been studied along the differentiation of C2C12, a mouse myoblastic adherent cell line. Flat undifferentiated cells, cultured for 3-4 days in the differentiation medium, progressively become thick, long and multinucleated myotubes covered with microvilli. They lose stress fibers and adhesion to the underlying substrate evidentiating an actin redistribution, followed by the spatial organization of thick and thin myofilaments. Sarcomeres and myofibrils occasionally appear, even if a certain percentage of "myosacs" containing randomly oriented filaments can be identified all along the differentiation. M-cadherin, a molecule involved in cell-cell adhesion, also appears in the early differentiation stage, during myoblast fusion. Occasional focal contractions can also be observed in myotubes, which prompt an electrophysiological membrane analysis. When studied by means of patch clamp technique, resting membrane potential appears to undergo a transient depolarization, while input resistance increases until day 5 after differentiation induction, then successively decreases. Capacitance declines until day 5, later appearing enhanced. Moreover, with the induction of differentiation, the pattern of functional voltage-dependent ion channels changes. Therefore, during myogenesis, cell maturation is coupled with changes in cell membrane morphological features and functional characteristics.

Synaptically-silent immature neurons show gaba and glutamate receptor-mediated currents in adult rat dentate gyrus.

The fate of adult-generated neurons in dentate gyrus is mainly determined early, before they receive synapses. In developing brain, classical neurotransmitters such as GABA and glutamate exert trophic effects before synaptogenesis. In order for this to occur in adult brain as well, immature non-contacted cells must express functional receptors to GABA and glutamate. In this investigation, patch-clamp recordings were used in adult rat dentate gyrus slices to assess the presence and analyze the characteristics of GABA- and glutamate-evoked currents in highly immature, synaptically-silent granule cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that all the analyzed cells responded to puff application of GABA and most of them responded to glutamate. Currents evoked by GABA were mediated exclusively by GABAA receptors and those elicited by glutamate were mediated by NMDA and AMPA/Kainate receptors. GABAA receptor-mediated currents were reduced by furosemide, which suggests that synaptically-silent immature neurons express high-affinity, alpha4-subunit-containing GABAA receptors. Gramicidin-perforated-patch recordings showed that GABAA receptor-mediated currents exerted a depolarizing effect due to high intracellular chloride concentration. Synaptically-silent immature cells shared morphological and electrophysiological properties with GFP-expressing, 7-day-old adult-generated granule layer cells, indicating that they could be in the first week of life, the period of maximal newborn cell death. Moreover, the presence of functional GABA and glutamate receptors was confirmed in these GFP-expressing cells. Present findings are mostly consistent with previous data obtained in female mice undergoing spontaneous activity and in transgenic mice, except for some inconsistencies about the presence of functional glutamatergic receptors. We speculate that adult-generated, non-contacted granule cells may be able to sense activity-related variations of GABA and glutamate extracellular levels. This condition is necessary, even if not sufficient, for these neurotransmitters to have a direct role in addressing cell survival.

The role of sensory input in motor neuron sprouting control.

Primary sensory neurons project to motor neurons directly or through interneurons and affect their activity. In our previous paper we showed that intramuscular sprouting can be affected by changing the sensory synaptic input to motor neurons. In this work, motor axon sprouting within a peripheral nerve (extramuscular sprouting) was induced by nerve injury at such a distance from muscle so as not to allow nerve-muscle trophic interactions. Two different procedures were carried out: (1) sciatic nerve crush and (2) sciatic nerve crush with homosegmental ipsilateral L3-L5 dorsal rhizotomy. The number of regenerating motor axons innervating extensor digitorum longus muscle was determined by in vivo muscle tension recordings and an index of their individual conduction rate was obtained by in vitro intracellular recordings of excitatory postsynaptic end-plate potentials in muscle fibers. The main findings were: (1) there are more regenerated axons distally from the lesion than parent axons proximally to the lesion (sprouting at the lesion); (2) sprouting at the lesion was negatively affected by homosegmental ipsilateral dorsal rhizotomy; (3) the number of motor axons innervating extensor digitorum longus muscle extrafusal fibers counted proximally to the lesion increased following nerve injury and regeneration but this did not occur when sensory input was lost. A transient innervation of extrafusal fibers by gamma motor neurons may explain the increase of motor axons counted proximally to the lesion.

Immunolocalization of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in rabbit kidney.

We recently isolated a cDNA encoding a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger from rabbit kidney that was highly similar to the canine cardiac sarcolemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. In the present study, we used two different antibodies to the exchanger to identify the protein and establish its cellular and subcellular localization in the kidney. The first antibody was prepared against a fusion protein consisting of 190 amino acids of the large, presumably intracellular loop of the rabbit renal exchanger fused to the maltose-binding protein. The second was a monoclonal antibody generated against the isolated purified canine cardiac sarcolemmal exchanger. To identify the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger protein, we performed immunoblot analysis against a membrane vesicle preparation from rabbit kidney cortex. Both antibodies immunoblotted proteins of 120 and 70 kDa that are known to be associated with the exchanger. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that both antisera labeled the basolateral surface of the majority of cells in the connecting tubule (CNT). Since the phase-dense (intercalated) cells in the CNT were not stained, this suggested that the labeled cells were CNT cells. No labeling was detected in other nephron segments with the exception of occasional faint staining of the majority cell population of the cortical collecting duct. The fact that we did not detect labeling in other nephron segments is consistent with either 1) the absence of expression of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in these segments, 2) the expression of the exchanger in levels below the threshold of detection of the two antibodies used in this study, or 3) the exchanger in these segments is represented by a different isoform.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Periradicular lymphoma: differentiation from inflammation.

Although endodontists concern themselves primarily with inflammatory disease, constant vigilance should be maintained so that the diagnosis of periradicular malignant disease is not delayed. This article reviews oral lymphoma and presents two cases that illustrate the difficulty that can be encountered in establishing a timely and accurate diagnosis. Suggestions for maximizing the chances of early differentiation of inflammatory from malignant disease are presented. The role of the biopsy and its limitations are offered.

Glycogen-rich adenocarcinoma of a minor salivary gland.

A case of a glycogen-rich adenocarcinoma arising in the minor salivary glands of the hard palate is described. The clinical, light microscopic, histochemical, and ultrastructural findings supporting this diagnosis are presented.

Neonatal intestinal oxygen consumption during arterial hypoxemia.

In 12 chronically catheterized neonatal lambs, we determined intestinal tract blood flow (Qi) and O2 consumption (VO2i) at O2 contents of arterial blood (CaO2) ranging from 15.3 to 3.2 ml O2/dl blood. We measured Qi with the radioactive microsphere technique and computed intestinal O2 delivery (DO2i), VO2i, and O2 extraction (VO2i/DO2i) using the Fick principle. In lambs breathing air, mean Qi = 214 ml X min-1 X 100 g intestine-1, DO2i = 27.0 ml O2 X min-1 X 100 g-1, O2 extraction = 21%, and VO2i = 5.6 ml O2 Xmin-1 X 100 g-1. During reductions in CaO2, Qi and DO2i decreased. Intestinal O2 extraction increased sufficiently, however, so that VO2i was maintained over the range of CaO2 from 15.3 to about 6.5 ml O2/dl blood. VO2i was independent of Qi at Qi greater than 160 ml X min-1 X 100 g-1. When CaO2 was reduced below values of 6.5 ml O2/dl blood, corresponding to Qi less than 160 ml X min-1 X 100 g-1, VO2i fell in association with increases in the H+ concentration difference between mesenteric venous and arterial blood. These data indicate that the intestinal tract of the neonatal lamb can meet its oxygen requirements when O2 supply varies over a wide range. When O2 availability reaches a critically low level, intestinal anaerobic metabolism develops as the O2 supply to the neonatal intestinal tract becomes inadequate for the O2 demand.

Bromocriptine treatment of women with suspected pituitary prolactin-secreting microadenomas.

The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of bromocriptine in reducing serum prolactin (PRL) levels and in decreasing the size of PRL-secreting microadenomas. Bromocriptine, 5.0 mg, was administered daily for 2 years of 17 women who had galactorrhea, hyperprolactinemia, and hypocycloidal polytomographic evidence suggestive of a pituitary microadenoma. Serum PRL levels were normalized in 16 of 17 women during therapy. Associated with this was resumption of regular menses in 15 of 16 women with menstrual dysfunction and cessation of galactorrhea in 16 of the 17 women. Improvement in the roentgenographic appearance of the sella turcica occurred in two women. No progression in tumor size was found during the course of therapy. Side effects attributed to bromocriptine were minimal, transient, and usually well tolerated. These data suggest that bromocriptine is an appropriate therapeutic modality for PRL-secreting pituitary microadenomas.

Achondroplasia and pregnancy.

Five cases and a review of the literature concerning achondroplasia and pregnancy are described. Cephalopelvic disproportion secondary to marked pelvic contracture is the most consistent feature. Preeclampsia is more frequent but usually did not become a major problem regarding obstetric management. Polyhydramnios may indicate a poor prognosis for the fetus. Dyspnea on exertion and at rest is quite variable and may be related to associated vertebral column deformities. Fetal wastage and neonatal death are increased.

Urinary calculi in pregnancy.

Despite earlier studies, there remain unanswered questions regarding urinary calculi in pregnancy. The authors studied 11 cases in 11,292 deliveries over 5 years. Eight previous studies were also studied and data were compiled from 96 cases in 138,296 patients. The incidence of urinary calculi in pregnancy is approximately 1 per 1500, with variance in geographic distribution. Symptoms may occur during any trimester but more often during the second and third trimesters. Incidence among multigravidas is twice that of primigravidas. Incidence on right and left sides is consistent. Because spontaneous passage occurs in more than 50% of cases, conservative therapy is the initial treatment of choice. However, if surgical therapy is indicated, maternal and fetal complications are rare.

Metabolic responses of unanesthetized rats to manipulation of skin temperature.

Body temperatures of albino rats are highly variable compared to those of larger mammals. This paper demonstrates that much of that variability can be attributed to shifts of body temperature thresholds for metabolic response accompanying disturbance or arousal. It also shows that the open-loop gain (OLG) of the metabolic temperature-regulating system is as high as that in larger mammals, ruling out low gain as the source of the variability. Skin temperature (T-sk) of shaved rats was controlled by immersion to the neck in a water bath. Metabolic rate (M), measured during step changes of T-sk and during more gradual changes of colonic (T-c) and hypothalamic (T-hy) temperature, was proportional to deviations of both T-c and T-sk below their respective thresholds. The absolute values of the coupling function (alpha) relating M to T-c were proportional to T-sk; the absolute values of the coupling function (beta) relating M to T-sk were proportional to T-c. Thus, the gain of the system changed systematically with body temperatures. The thresholds of T-sk and T-c below which M increased were inversely proportional to T-c and T-sk, respectively, as well as shifting in response to some unknown variable designated arousal.