The left central nucleus of the amygdala contributes to mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia following right-sided peripheral nerve injury.

The left and right central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) exert asymmetric pronociceptive functions. In the setting of a transient noxious stimulus or persistent inflammatory pain, neuronal activity increases in the right but not left CeA, regardless of side of injury. Much less is known regarding this lateralization with respect to the behavioral manifestations of persistent neuropathic pain.

Regulatory acceptability of the minipig in the development of pharmaceuticals, chemicals and other products.

As part of the RETHINK European FP6 Project an overview of the acceptability and usefulness of minipigs has been carried out in the regulatory arenas of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, biocides and agrochemicals, chemicals and medical devices. The safety of new pharmaceuticals for human use should be tested in non-rodents, but the regulatory world is not too prescriptive regarding the choice of species. The choice is most often dogs through long tradition.

Noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus contribute to neuropathic pain.

Current theories of neuropathic hypersensitivity include an imbalance of supraspinal inhibition and facilitation. Our overall hypothesis is that the locus coeruleus (LC), classically interpreted as a source of pain inhibition, may paradoxically result in facilitation after tibial and common peroneal nerve transection (spared sural nerve injury--SNI). We first tested the hypothesis that non-noxious tactile hind paw stimulation of the spared sural innervation territory increases neuronal activity in the LC in male rats.

Transfection of mutant CREB in the striatum, but not the hippocampus, impairs long-term memory for response learning.

Extensive research has shown that the striatum is necessary for response learning. We reported previously that rats using a response strategy to solve a cross maze task showed sustained phosphorylation of striatal CREB [Colombo, P. J.

Long-term memory for place learning is facilitated by expression of cAMP response element-binding protein in the dorsal hippocampus.

Extensive research has shown that the hippocampus is necessary for consolidation of long-term spatial memory in rodents. We reported previously that rats using a place strategy to solve a cross maze task showed sustained phosphorylation of hippocampus cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), a transcription factor implicated in long-term memory formation. In the current study, we used viral vector-mediated gene transfer to test the hypothesis that formation of long-term memory for place learning can be facilitated by increasing levels of CREB in the dorsal hippocampus.

Hippocampal overexpression of mutant creb blocks long-term, but not short-term memory for a socially transmitted food preference.

Phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB on Ser133 is implicated in the establishment of long-term memory for hippocampus-dependent tasks, including spatial learning and contextual fear conditioning. We reported previously that training on a hippocampus-dependent social transmission of food preference (STFP) task increases CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampus of trained rats in comparisons with controls. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that CREB function is necessary for long-term memory for STFP using herpes simplex viral (HSV) vector-mediated gene transfer.

Enhanced zinc consumption causes memory deficits and increased brain levels of zinc.

Zinc deficiency has been shown to impair cognitive functioning, but little work has been done on the effects of elevated zinc. This research examined the effect on memory of raising Sprague-Dawley rats on enhanced levels of zinc (10 ppm ZnCO3; 0.153 mM) in the drinking water for periods of 3 or 9 months, both pre- and postnatally.

CREB phosphorylation and c-Fos expression in the hippocampus of rats during acquisition and recall of a socially transmitted food preference.

In the present study, phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (pCREB) and expression of c-Fos were measured in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus, as well as in a control region, the retrosplenial cortex, of rats following acquisition and recall of a socially transmitted food preference (STFP). Behavioral analyses revealed that STFP-trained rats showed a stronger preference for the demonstrated food than did rats in social-control or odor-control conditions. Rats in a social + odor control condition displayed an intermediate preference that was not significantly different from either STFP-trained rats or the social- or odor-controls.

Hippocampal CREB1 but not CREB2 is decreased in aged rats with spatial memory impairments.

Recent evidence has shown that abnormal signal transduction is related to non-pathological memory impairment among aged subjects. Members of the CREB family of transcription factors contain enhancers (i.e.

Cognitive strategy-specific increases in phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein and c-Fos in the hippocampus and dorsal striatum.

Extensive research has shown that the hippocampus and striatum have dissociable roles in memory and are necessary for "place" and "response" learning, respectively. In the present study, rats were trained on a cross maze task that could be solved by either a place or a response strategy, and the strategy used was determined by a probe trial. Phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) and c-Fos immunoreactivity (IR) were measured in the hippocampus and striatum either immediately or 1 hr after cross maze training.

Comparison of doxorubicin- and MEN 10755-induced long-term progressive cardiotoxicity in the rat.

The delayed functional cardiotoxic effects of repeated treatment with the new disaccharide anthracycline MEN 10755 and doxorubicin (1.5 mg/kg, i.v.

Prospective evaluation of the argon laser in the treatment of trichiasis.

We report the results of argon-laser treatment in 60 consecutive eyelids with focal, symptomatic trichiasis. Permanence of eyelash destruction compared favorably with that reported for cryosurgery; complications were limited to minimal contour abnormalities and hypopigmentation.

Experimental comparison of laser and cryosurgical cilia destruction.

We compared cryosurgery with the argon and carbon dioxide lasers in a rabbit model to evaluate the permanence of eyelash destruction as well as the gross and histologic effects on the eyelid. Each modality was equally effective in preventing eyelash regrowth. Cryosurgery and the carbon dioxide laser produced the greatest acute soft tissue swelling; the carbon dioxide laser produced the most pronounced gross eyelid alterations.

Tumours of the respiratory tract in rats and hamsters following chronic inhalation of engine exhaust emissions.

The potential carcinogenic effect of inhaled automobile exhaust emissions was examined in rodents. Both rats and hamsters were exposed to the emissions from (1) a gasoline engine, (2) a gasoline engine fitted with a three-way catalytic converter, (3) a diesel engine and (4) a diesel engine with particle filtration. Exposures were for 16 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 2 years.

Enhancement of epidermal regeneration by biosynthetic epidermal growth factor.

Epidermal regeneration depends on mitosis and migration of keratinocytes. Epidermal growth factor is known to stimulate growth of keratinocytes in vitro, thus it might be expected to promote wound healing. The results of this study show that topical application of biosynthetic human epidermal growth factor accelerates epidermal regeneration in split-thickness wounds and partial-thickness burns.

Effect of growth factors with dexamethasone on healing of rabbit corneal stromal incisions.

Treatment of rabbit corneal wounds with topical corticosteroid retards both epithelial regeneration and healing of penetrating stromal wounds. Currently, no clinical agent is available which accelerates the rate of stromal wound healing. Epidermal growth factor (EGF, 0.

Biosynthetic human EGF accelerates healing of Neodecadron-treated primate corneas.

Topical administration of biosynthetic human epidermal growth factor (h-EGF), given in combination with an antibiotic and synthetic steroid (Neodecadron) accelerated the rate of corneal epithelial regeneration and significantly increased the strength of full-thickness stromal incisions in primates. The regenerated epithelial cells of EGF-Neodecadron-treated corneas appeared normal on histologic examination and showed no evidence of hypertrophy or hyperplasia. The EGF-Neodecadron-treated stromal incisions were characterized by new collagen formation and a smaller epithelial cell plug than Neodecadron-treated control corneas.

Epidermal growth factor binding by breast tumor biopsies and relationship to estrogen receptor and progestin receptor levels.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) may be important in regulating the growth of some breast cancer cells in vivo because of its mitogenic action on some breast cancer cell lines in vitro. Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) were measured in a series of breast tumors to determine what percentage of breast tumors express EGF-R and whether EGF-R was independent of expression of estrogen receptor and progestin receptor. Specific binding of 125I-EGF to membranes from pooled homogenates of breast tumors reached equilibrium after 45 min at 25 degrees and remained constant.

Oestrogen dependence of lactate dehydrogenase and peroxidase in cell subpopulations of 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene-induced mammary tumours in the rat.

Recent investigations of certain enzymes as markers for predicting the response of breast tumours to hormonal therapy have neglected the possible differential contribution of cell subpopulation(s) within a solid tumour to enzyme activity. In this investigation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and peroxidase activities in density-defined cell subpopulations from autotransplanted 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene-induced mammary tumours were determined. The effects of ovariectomy and subsequent oestrogen administration on the activity of these enzymes were also examined.

Peroxidase content in cell subpopulations of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumors in rats.

Peroxidase has been investigated as a potential marker protein for the prediction of response to hormonal therapy in tumors of steroid-sensitive tissues, but the cellular origin of the enzyme has been questioned. To localize the observed peroxidase activity, in this study cell subpopulations were isolated from mammary tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and from mammary tissue of virgin and lactating female rats. Cells from each of the four cell bands, regularly obtained by isopyknic velocity sedimentation after mechanical and enzymatic dispersion of these tissues, were assayed biochemically and histochemically for peroxidase activity.

The kinetics of macrophage and surfactant replacement in hamster lung following bronchopulmonary lavage.

The effects of bronchopulmonary lavage with isotonic NaCl have been investigated in the hamster, and methods are described for separating pulmonary surfactant from cells in lavage fluid and for the quantitative isolation of surfactant from lung. It has been shown that hamsters almost invariably survived a lavage which consisted of ten successive washes each of 2 ml saline. This procedure removed about 80 per cent.

Effect of inhaled plutonium dioxide on development of urethan-induced pulmonary adenomas.

Mice were exposed to plutonium dioxide (PuO2) aerosols 2 weeks before or after urethan injection. Both exposures reduced the number and size of adenomas. The incidence of arrested metaphases showed no consistently significant differences between plutonium-exposed and mock-exposed animals.

Comparative measurements of the shortterm lung clearance and translocation of PuO2 and mixed Na2O + PuO2 aerosols in mice.

Mice were exposed to aerosols of either plutonium dioxide alone, or mixed oxides of plutonium and sodium with atomic ratios (Na/Pu) in the range 1.5 to 16. In the case of the mixed oxides, the lung clearance of the plutonium was represented by the sum of two exponentials, of which the short-term component accounted for 27 +/- 8% of the initial lung content with a clearance half-time of 6.