Surface disinfection procedure and in vitro regeneration of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) axillary buds.

Establishment of an efficient explants surface disinfection protocol is essential for in vitro cell and tissue culture as well as germplasm conservation, such as the case of Grapevine (Vitis spp.) culture. In this research, different procedures for disinfection and regeneration of field-grown grapevine cv. 'Flame seedless' axillary buds were evaluated. The buds were disinfected using either NaOCl or allyl, benzyl, phenyl and 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanates. Two different media for shooting and four media for rooting were tested. Shoot and root development per buds were registered. The best disinfection procedure with 90 % of tissue survival involved shaking for 60 min in a solution containing 20 % Clorox with 50 drops/L Triton(®) X-100. These tissues showed the potential to regenerate a complete plant. Plant regeneration was conducted using full strength Murashigue and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 8 µM benzyl aminopurine for shoot induction and multiplication, whereas rooting was obtained on half strength MS supplemented with 2 mg L(-1) of indole-3-butyric acid and 200 mg L(-1) of activated charcoal. In this work, it was designed the protocols for obtaining sterile field-grown grapevine buds and in vitro plant development. This methodology showed potential to produce vigorous and healthy plants in 5 weeks for clonal grapevine propagation. Regenerated plants were successfully established in soil.

The termination of geniculocortical fibres in area 17 of the visual cortex in the macaque monkey.

The termination of geniculocortical fibres within the different subdivisions of lamina IV in area 17 of the visual cortex of the monkey has been studied quantitatively with the electron microscope. In lamina IVC alpha the axon terminals of fibres coming from the magnocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) make significantly more synapses per bouton than those of fibres arising from the parvocellular layers and terminating in laminae IVA and IVC beta. In all parts of area 17 examined there was a clear difference in the relative proportions of multisynaptic geniculocortical boutons between the alpha and beta divisions of lamina IVC. Calculations have shown that a single cell in the magnocellular laminae of the LGN may make about 6 times as many synaptic contacts within lamina IV of the visual cortex than one in the parvocellular laminae. It has also been estimated that there are at least 500 million geniculocortical boutons, or 1200 million synapses, in lamina IVC alpha and 100 million boutons, 1200 million synapses, in lamina IVC beta for one hemisphere, giving an approximate total number of 1500 million boutons and 2400 million synapses.

The number and distribution of Meynert cells in area 17 of the macaque monkey.

A study has been made of the number and distribution of the Meynert cells in area 17 of the visual cortex in the macaque monkey. There are between 30 000 and 40 000 Meynert cells in one hemisphere and these are randomly distributed with an average uniform area density of about 25 cells per square millimetre. The area density of Meynert cells is similar in the representation of the fovea and the perifoveal cortex. These findings are discussed in relation to the basic uniformity of the functional architecture of the visual cortex.

Quantitated flexor response in acute spinal cord injury patients.

Flexor reflexes were compared with phasic stretch reflexes in 12 acute spinal cord injury patients with upper motor neuron lesions. Initial flexor reflex activity appeared later than initial stretch reflex activity in the majority of cases whereas maximal flexor reflexes developed at about the same time as maximal stretch reflexes. A quantitative method for evaluating flexor and stretch reflex activity at bedside is presented.

Pes cavus and claw toes deformity in patients with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.

Patients with spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis were surveyed for the presence of extreme foot deformities and spasticity. Pes cavus and claw toes were found in eight of 80 spastic spinal cord injury and two of 20 multiple sclerosis patients. Pes cavus and claw toes were not found in 29 flaccid spinal cord injury patients. Pes cavus and claw toes were associated with flexor reflexes which could be elicited by pin prick proximal to the knee, suggesting extreme spasticity--and by low excitatory thresholds for the anterior tibialis as indicated electromyographically. Complications of severe spasticity associated with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis include pes cavus and claw toes, mediated in part by spasms of the anterior tibialis.