Plasticity in the myenteric plexus of the rat ileum after long-term sympathectomy.

To investigate the effect of chronic sympathectomy on the innervation of a tissue with an extensive intrinsic component, 1-week-old rat pups were treated with 50 mg/kg guanethidine for 3 weeks, a treatment shown to produce complete and long-lasting sympathectomy, and the ileum examined. Changes in the levels of noradrenaline, neuropeptide Y, calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the external muscle layers containing the myenteric plexus of the ileum were determined between 6 and 20 weeks of age. After sympathectomy, noradrenaline levels were initially depleted (3% of age-matched controls at 6 weeks, P < 0.

Conditions required for the measurement of nitric oxide synthase activity in a myenteric plexus/smooth muscle preparation from the rat ileum.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was measured, by the conversion of arginine to citrulline, in a preparation from the rat ileum consisting of the myenteric plexus and smooth muscle layers. A variety of incubating media were used in order to establish the optimal conditions required for the assay. NOS activity was present in the soluble fraction and was Ca(2+)- and calmodulin-dependent, characteristic of neuronal NOS.

In situ isolation of mRNA from individual plant cells: creation of cell-specific cDNA libraries.

A method for isolating and cloning mRNA populations from individual cells in living, intact plant tissues is described. The contents of individual cells were aspirated into micropipette tips filled with RNA extraction buffer. The mRNA from these cells was purified by binding to oligo(dT)-linked magnetic beads and amplified on the beads using reverse transcription and PCR.

Randomized, controlled trial of the efficacy of carprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Seventy dogs were included in a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial to test the efficacy of carprofen (2.2 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 12 h) for relief of clinical signs associated with osteoarthritis. Thirty-six dogs received carprofen, and 34 received a placebo.

Innervation of cerebral arteries by nerves containing 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline.

Noradrenaline (NA)-containing nerves, mainly originating in the sympathetic superior cervical ganglia, supply large and small cerebral arteries. In large cerebral arteries, nerves containing serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) may represent neuronal uptake of circulating 5-HT by sympathetic nerves. 5-HT-containing nerves supplying small pial vessels probably have a central origin in the dorsal raphe nucleus.

All-solid-state self-mode locking of a Nd:YLF laser.

An all-solid-state, Kerr-lens mode-locked Nd:YLF laser is reported that uses a simple X-fold cavity with separate gain and nonlinear media. Self-starting pulses of 3 ps are reported at 1.047 microm with significant enhancements in stability and starting behavior over previous Kerr-lens mode-locked Nd:YLF lasers.

Effects of acrylamide on cotransmission in perivascular sympathetic and sensory nerves.

The effects of chronic administration of acrylamide on sympathetic and sensory nerves were examined in the mesenteric artery of rabbits. The noradrenaline (NA) content of the artery was significantly decreased and the total contractile response to electrical field stimulation (4-64 Hz) markedly reduced in the acrylamide group. This was not due to an impairment of the contractility of the smooth muscle or to alterations in the postjunctional receptors.

Role of factor XII in thrombin generation and fibrinolysis during cardiopulmonary bypass.

During cardiopulmonary bypass, thrombin is generated, which is thought to be initiated by activation of factor XII on the surface of the bypass equipment. We present a patient with severe factor XII deficiency who underwent cardiac surgery. As much thrombin was formed during cardiopulmonary bypass (measured by the prothrombin activation fragment F1 + 2 and thrombin-antithrombin complexes) as in normal patients, showing that factor XII was not necessary for thrombin generation.

Plasticity of autonomic nerves: differential effects of long-term guanethidine sympathectomy on the sensory innervation of the rat uterus during maturation.

The sensory nerves, containing substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide, and noradrenaline-containing sympathetic nerves of the rat uterus were analyzed following long-term sympathectomy with guanethidine in prepubertal (four weeks), young adult (eight weeks) and fully adult animals (18 weeks). Immunohistochemical and histochemical methods were used in association with nerve density measurements and biochemical assays. The main findings were as follows: (1) long-term guanethidine treatment completely abolished the noradrenergic innervation of the uterine horn and parametrial tissue and markedly reduced the tissue levels of noradrenaline in both regions at the three ages analysed; (2) in the uterine horn guanethidine treatment had no effect on the tissue levels of either calcitonin gene-related peptide or substance P or on the density of calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing nerves, at any of the three ages studied; (3) in the parametrial tissue increased levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide were observed at 8 and 18 weeks of age, together with a significant increase in the density of calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing nerves.

All-solid-state intracavity-doubled Nd:YLF laser producing 300 mW of 659-nm light.

A mode-locked Nd:YLF laser is described, which uses two diode-pumped Nd:YLF rods and intracavity doubling in LiB(3)O(5) to give an all-solid-state source of high-beam-quality 659-nm red light suitable for pumping Kerr-lens-mode-locked Cr:LiSAF. Significant increases in the quantity of 659-nm light produced on active mode locking of the laser are characterized. Reductions in the noise characteristics of the 659-nm output by detuning the mode-locking frequency from cavity resonance indicate a preferential mode of operation for this device.

Femtosecond pulses from an all-solid-state Kerr-lens mode-locked Cr:LiSAF laser.

We report on an all-solid-state Kerr-lens mode-locked femtosecond laser. Using an intracavity-doubled mode-locked Nd:YLF laser with two Nd:YLF rods, we have produced 295 mW of light at 659 nm that pumps a Cr:LiSAF laser. Self-sustained Kerr-lens mode locking is achieved in the Cr:LiSAF laser with pulse durations as short as 90 fs.

All-solid-state actively mode-locked Cr:LiSAF laser.

We have demonstrated an actively mode-locked Cr:LiSAF laser pumped by 659-nm radiation from an intracavity frequency-doubled diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser. The laser was tunable from 815 to 915 nm, and pulses of 30-ps duration at an average power of 3.5 mW were generated.

Maturational changes in sympathetic and sensory innervation of the rat uterus: effects of neonatal capsaicin treatment.

The plasticity of the sympathetic and sensory innervation of the rat uterus was examined, before and after puberty, in controls and in animals where primary sensory nerves had been destroyed by neonatal capsaicin treatment. Immunohistochemical and histochemical methods were used in association with nerve density measurements and biochemical assays. The main findings were as follows: (1) Puberty was associated with a marked increase in the weight of the uterine horn, uterine cervix and parametrial tissue.

Innervation of normal human sural and optic nerves by noradrenaline- and peptide-containing nervi vasorum and nervorum: effect of diabetes and alcoholism.

Histochemical, immunohistochemical and neurochemical techniques were used to examine the innervation of epineurial nerve sheaths and fascicular nerve bundles of human sural and optic nerves from controls and patients with peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes or alcoholism. The normal distribution of autonomic nerves in both nerve trunk sheaths consisted of a dense innervation by noradrenaline (NA)-containing nerves of the vasa nervorum, together with some fibres in the nervi nervorum. Intrafascicular NA-containing nerves were only present in the sural nerve.

Differential regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase protein and activity in rabbit sympathetic neurones after long-term cold exposure: altered responses in ageing.

The aim of this study was to investigate the response of sympathetic neurones to prolonged neural stimulation, using cold exposure as a non-invasive experimental paradigm. We examined the effects of prolonged (8 days and 4 wk) cold exposure on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein and activity and neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in sympathetic neurones of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), together with NPY levels in the ear artery from young and aged rabbits. The main findings were as follows.

LE-ACS4, a fruit ripening and wound-induced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Expression in Escherichia coli, structural characterization, expression characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis.

ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) synthase is the key regulatory enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of the plant hormone ethylene and is encoded by a highly divergent multigene family in tomato (Rottmann, W. H., Peter, G.

Cervical vertebral malformation/malarticulation syndrome in large dogs.

To anticipate improvement of a chronically affected animal may be expecting too much because reserve or functional spinal cord tissue may be minimal. An accurate prognosis is sometimes impossible to formulate because the extent of spinal cord damage is not known. Treatment may result only in halting progression of the disease, and even with total relief of spinal cord compression, recovery may be minimal.

Postnatal development of noradrenaline-containing nerves of the rat uterus.

The postnatal development of noradrenaline (NA)-containing nerves of the rat uterus and its associated blood vessels was investigated using histochemical and biochemical methods. These studies were carried out in conjunction with examination of the morphology of the uterus and the density of blood vessels at the prepubertal, peripubertal and adult stages. It was demonstrated that: (1) the rat uterus is innervated at birth; (2) the innervation of blood vessels develops earlier than that of the myometrium and the density of NA-containing perivascular nerves is not affected by puberty; (3) between birth and day 30 (prepubertal) there was a progressive increase in the innervation of the myometrium which was accompanied by a progressive increase in the total NA content of the organ; (4) at the first oestrus there was a marked increase in the weight of the uterus and isolated myometrial and parametrial tissue.

Treatment of open, delayed union, and nonunion fractures with external skeletal fixation.

ESF is useful in treatment of open fractures and delayed union and nonunion fractures. The fixation pins can be placed away from the fracture site to avoid disruption of blood supply. The appliance is well tolerated and inexpensive, and many of the parts can be reused.

Guanethidine sympathectomy of mature rats leads to increases in calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing nerves.

Changes in the innervation of the heart (right atrium), mesenteric blood vessels, vas deferens and superior cervical ganglia have been examined following long-term sympathectomy of the mature rat. Patterns of innervation were investigated by histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, while levels of noradrenaline and neuropeptides were measured by neurochemical assays. Large doses of guanethidine (80 mg/kg) were given daily for four weeks to 12-14 week-old male rats which were killed at 18-20 weeks of age.

Changes in sympathetic and endothelium-mediated responses in the rabbit central ear artery after acrylamide treatment.

The effect of acrylamide intoxication on the innervation and local control of the rabbit central ear artery was investigated. There was no difference in the noradrenaline, neuropeptide Y and calcitonin gene-related peptide tissue content between control and experimental animals. There was, however, a slight reduction in catecholamine histofluorescence.