Cell sparse zones in the ventrolateral thalamic mass in humans, monkeys and cats: their special reference to kinesthetic neurons

The Vim nucleus of the human thalamus is the cell sparse zone. The neurons in this zone respond to peripheral stimuli of kinesthetic modality with a short latency. In the cytometrical study, the cell sparse zone is identifiable in both the monkey and cat thalamus. The cell dimension and density in a 1 mm2 area in the cell sparse zone of each species are as follows: humans--large neuron 500-900 microns2, medium neuron 200-400 microns2, cell density 60-90/mm2/50 microns thickness; monkeys--large neuron 400-800 microns2, medium neuron 200-400 microns2, cell density 120-250/mm2/50 microns thickness; cats--large neuron 400-800 microns2, medium neuron 200-400 microns2, cell density 120-250/mm2/50 microns thickness. In this zone, there are large and medium thalamocortical relay neurons defined by the Golgi impregnated and HRP studies. It is still obscure which neurons respond to kinesthetic stimulation and which neurons or afferent fibers play important roles in the tremor mechanism.

Plastic change of thalamic organization in patients with tremor after stroke

Thirteen patients with tremor after stroke were treated by stereotactic thalamotomy. Prior to making therapeutic lesions, microrecordings were tried and the findings were compared with our own results obtained in Parkinson's disease. Several characteristic features were revealed in terms of changes in electrical activity in and around the thalamic Vim nucleus. These findings support the idea that reorganization of the thalamic sensory nuclei might take place.

Bioavailability of Nalidixic acid from uncoated tablets in humans--Part II: Bioavailability in beagles and its correlation with bioavailability in humans and in vitro dissolution rates

The bioavailability of nalidixic acid in beagles was determined using the same tablet formulations previously tested on humans and was compared with bioavailability in humans and with in vitro dissolution rates. The beagle bioavailability test provided lower power in all of the bioavailability parameters than did the human test. Tmax of the tablets did not greatly differ in beagles, although in humans a wide variation of Tmax was seen. A linearity between Cmax and AUC0-infinity was observed in beagles, but Tmax did not show a linearity with Cmax or AUC in dogs, which is quite different from the relations observed in humans. The rank order of tablets according to Cmax was exactly the same between humans and beagles. AUC also showed the same rank order between humans and beagles except for on tablet with a poor disintegrating ability. A significant correlation between human and beagle Cmax values was obtained (r = 0.8952; p less than 0.05), but not between human and beagle AUC and Tmax values.

Bioavailability of nalidixic acid from uncoated tablets in humans--Part I: Correlation with the dissolution rates of the tablets

Bioavailabilities of three commercially available tablets and two trial tablets of nalidixic acid were determined. The correlation between in vivo bioavailability parameters and in vitro dissolution rates derived by eight methods (oscillating basket I and II, beaker I, II, and III, rotating basket, paddle and rotating flask) is discussed. Nalidixic acid and its metabolite, 7-hydroxynalidixic acid, were determined in serum by HPLC with a strong anion-exchange resin column. All parameters for nalidixic acid bioavailability showed significant differences among the tablets tested. The relationship between Cmax and AUC was not linear but concave. However, Cmax decreased linearly in proportion to the delay of Tmax. The rank order of tablets according to bioavailabilities was just the same as the rank order obtained when comparing dissolution rates determined by any of the above methods, with the exception of one tablet which had a poor disintegrating ability. The parameters for the rate of bioavailability (Cmax and Tmax) showed good linearity with 1/T50 determined by all of the methods. However, AUC showed significant correlation with neither T50 nor 1/T50.

The correlation between tremor characteristics and the predicted volume of effective lesions in stereotaxic nucleus ventralis intermedius thalamotomy

In 51 cases (6 cases with bilateral operations) with various kinds of tremor, stereotaxic ventralis intermedius (Vim) thalamotomies were performed using Leksell's apparatus and the results of operation evaluated. Several characteristics of the tremor, including clinical features and EMG, were correlated with the assumed location and volume of the coagulative lesion. In 54 of the 57 operations, the thalamic Vim nucleus was identified physiologically and a therapeutic lesion placed at a site that included the Vim neurons. In all these cases, except one in which the lesion was estimated to be too small, tremor was immediately abolished by a relatively small lesion. The estimated volume of the lesion was about 40 to 200 mm3 and the effect persisted over a long follow-up period (maximum ten years). The size of the lesion that was necessary apparently depended on several features of the tremor. A larger lesion was required in cases of movement type tremor, tremor with a low rate (less than 4 Hz), tremor of high amplitude (more than 600 microV), and tremor involving proximal muscles or with a wide distribution. Tremor following a cerebrovascular lesion and post-traumatic tremor were characterized by coarse oscillation (high amplitude and low frequency) involving proximal muscles. A relatively larger coagulative lesion was therefore necessary to relieve this type of tremor. In contrast, parkinsonian and essential tremor were usually of low amplitude and distal in distribution. For the relief of such tremor, the lesion could be very small: if aided by electrophysiological methods to identify Vim neurons, the minimal effective volume of the lesion was estimated as about 40 mm3 and restricted to the Vim nucleus. Based on these results, the importance of the Vim nucleus in tremor mechanisms is discussed.

Microiontophoretic studies on the nature of the neurotransmitter in the subthalamo-entopeduncular pathway of the rat

The aim of the present study was to determine the identity of the neurotransmitter released by the pathway from the subthalamic nucleus to the entopeduncular nucleus in the rat, using extracellular stimulating and recording techniques and microiontophoresis. In order to avoid stimulation of passing fibers at the level of the subthalamic nucleus, (collaterals to the entopeduncular nucleus of the caudato-nigral pathway, or direct projections to the entopeduncular nucleus from the substantia nigra or nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus), the experiments were performed in rats bearing chronic ipsilateral lesions in order to make these pathways degenerate. Under such conditions, subthalamic nucleus stimulation suppressed the spontaneous firing of all the entopeduncular nucleus cells studied (n = 40) for 15-25 ms (mean duration +/- S.E.M.:21.88 +/- 1.57 ms). Entopeduncular nucleus cells were identified by antidromic activation from the ventral anterior thalamic nucleus (40%) or lateral habenula nucleus (68%). Low doses of iontophoretically applied GABA (60 cells) or glycine (15 cells) were inhibitory upon entopeduncular cells, while acetylcholine or carbamylcholine were poorly excitatory (18 cells), or had no effect (28 cells). The subthalamic nucleus-evoked inhibition of entopeduncular neurons was reversed by microiontophoretically applied bicuculline or picrotoxin, at doses which blocked the GABA-induced response, but not that produced by glycine or acetylcholine. With similar experiments, strychnine and atropine were ineffective. This excludes a possible role of glycine or acetylcholine in the subthalamic-evoked inhibitory response of entopeduncular cells. The present study strongly suggest that GABA is a neurotransmitter in the inhibitory subthalamo-entopeduncular pathway.

Branched output neurons of the rat subthalamic nucleus: electrophysiological study of the synaptic effects on identified cells in the two main target nuclei, the entopeduncular nucleus and the substantia nigra

The synaptic responses of entopeduncular and nigral cells to subthalamic stimulation were studied with extracellular recording techniques in rats with and without chronic lesions. Entopeduncular output cells were identified by antidromic activation from the lateral habenula, ventral anterior thalamic nucleus and tegmenti pedunculopontine nucleus. Nigral cells projecting to superior colliculus were identified by antidromic discharge. Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus produced a short latency suppression of spontaneous activity (10-60 ms duration) of 89% of the entopeduncular cells tested in chronically lesioned rats. Of these cells, 50% were identified as projecting to lateral habenula. On the other hand, subthalamic nucleus stimulation produced a short latency excitation of 73% of the nigral cells tested (4.16 +/- 0.07 ms). Forty-eight percent of these cells projected to superior colliculus. The subthalamic fibres which terminate in entopeduncular nucleus and substantia nigra, come from the same neuronal population since the majority, if not all, rat subthalamic neurones send branched projections to both these nuclei. Therefore, the two different types of responses recorded in these nuclei are elicited by the activation of a single neuronal population. This dual effect could be easily explained if one of the responses is mediated by local interneurones. If not, the same transmitter induces the two responses. The entopeduncular nucleus and substantia nigra which are the main target nuclei of the subthalamic nucleus, are also the only known outputs of the striatum. The subthalamic efferent cells could thus modulate the activity of the entire striatal descending output. It is noteworthy that this subthalamic control is different in entopeduncular nucleus than in substantia nigra.

The bioavailability of flufenamic acid and its dissolution rate from capsules

The bioavailabilities of five commercially available flufenamic acid (FA) capsules were studied in humans and beagle dogs. The dissolution rates of these capsules were determined by several methods. Experiments on in vitro/in vivo and humans/dogs correlations were performed to evaluate the dissolution test methods and the values of beagle dogs as models for predicting bioavailability of weak acid drugs in humans. Significant differences in the rates and extents of bioavailability of the different capsules were observed both in humans and dogs, but results in humans differed from those in dogs. The dissolution rates, determined by dissolution methods involving pretreatment with acidic solutions, correlated significantly with bioavailabilities in humans and dogs; however, those obtained by the rotating basket and paddle methods without any surface active agents did not correlate with in vivo data.

Stereotactic selective thalamotomy for the treatment of tremor type cerebral palsy in adolescence

6 cases with tremor-athetotic type cerebral palsy and 2 cases with moderate dystonia-tremor type cerebral palsy were treated by selective stereotactic thalamotomy. In the former group, postural-movement type tremor in the upper limb gradually progressed with age while athetosis remained unchanged. In the latter group, dystonia in the truncal muscles predominated over the irregular tremulous movement of the upper limbs. In all cases, the intelligence was almost normal. Stereotactic selective thalamotomy (Vim for tremor athetosis, VL-Vim for dystonia tremor) was performed under local anesthesia with the aid of radiological and neurophysiological control methods. The results of the operations were satisfactory in regard to the tremor relief and concomitant improvement of motor performances in most of the cases. Stereotactic treatment might be an effective way to make possible a one-step progress in these handicapped cases. The importance of postoperative physical therapy is also emphasized.

Correlation of the bioavailability of diazepam from uncoated tablets in beagle dogs with its dissolution rate and bioavailability in humans

The bioavailability of diazepam (I) in uncoated tablets in beagles was tested using tablets tested previously in humans. The correlations of the dissolution rates and bioavailabilities of these tablets in humans and beagles were examined. The plasma level of N-desmethyldiazepam (II), the main metabolite of I, was used as an index of bioavailability after p.o. administration of uncoated tablets of I, because I is rapidly metabolized. Thus the plasma level of I is very low, and AUCs (areas under plasma level-time curves) calculated from plasma levels of II were related to the dose of I (2-10 mg). With different tablets, the rates and extents of bioavailability of I differed significantly in beagles, but only the rate of bioavailability showed significant differences in humans. The rank orders of tablets, based on the blood levels of II soon after p.o. administration of the tablets were the same, but other parameters of bioavailability of I in the tablets were quite different in beagles and humans. Consequently, there was no significant correlation between the bioavailabilities of I in beagles and humans. The gastric fluid of beagles is almost neutral, and the bioavailabilities of the tablets in beagles correlated well with the dissolution rates of I determined at pH 4.6, but not at pH 1.2. The differences in the bioavailabilities of I in humans and beagles were attributed to differences in transit time in the gastrointestinal tract and/or in the volume of the gastrointestinal fluid.

Primary writing tremor treated by stereotactic selective thalamotomy

Three cases with primary writing tremor were treated successfully by stereotactic selective thalamotomy centred mainly on the ventralis intermedius nucleus. They exhibited progressive coarse tremor of 5-7 Hz during writing, and Westphal's phenomenon on stretch, as the only neurological manifestations. Within the thalamus, a very high incidence of irregular burst discharges was recorded. These findings suggest that the writing tremor is an organic disorder.

Bioavailability of griseofulvin from tablets in beagle dogs and correlation with dissolution rate and bioavailability in humans

The bioavailability of four griseofulvin tablets in beagle dogs, including an ultramicrosize tablet used previously in a human bioavailability study, was investigated on the basis of the plasma 6-demethyl-griseofulvin concentration. The relations with the in vivo findings in humans and the in vitro dissolution rates also were examined. Contrary to the lower bioavailability of the ultramicrosize formulation in humans, it provided the best bioavailability in beagles. The microsize griseofulvin formulations showed similar in vivo results to those in humans. Poor correlation of in vivo parameters between humans and beagles was attributed to the discrepancy of the availability of the ultramicrosize formulation between the two species. The dissolution rates determined by the pretreatment method using plastic beads were correlated more with the in vivo findings than those determined by the other methods. Beagles were a useful animal model for bioavailability studies of certain griseofulvin formulations but not ultramicrosize ones.

Bioavailability of griseofulvin from tablets in humans and the correlation with its dissolution rate

Dissolution rates of 10 commercial microsize griseofulvin tablets and one ultramicrosize griseofulvin tablet were preliminarily determined in 18 liters of pH 7.2 phosphate buffer and in 900 ml of 40% dimethylformamide as test media. Addition of dimethylformamide affected the dissolution behavior of the formulations. The products, three microsize and one ultramicrosize, were selected for further studies on the bioavailability in humans and dissolution. Significant differences among the formulations were found in serum levels Cmax, and AUC47.5 hr, but not in AUC infinity and tmax. The maximum difference of Cmax was approximately 40%. The ultramicrosize product showed lower Cmax and serum levels at earlier sampling times than two microsize products. The dissolution rates determined under sink and nonsink conditions without pretreatment significantly correlated with the serum level at 1 hr but not with the other in vivo parameters. Only the dissolution rate determined by the sink method with pretreatment with a small quantity of water (1.0 ml) and plastic beads significantly correlated with serum levels at 3 and 5 hr, Cmax, and AUC 47.5 hr.

The bioavailability of diazepam from uncoated tablets in humans--Part II: effect of gastric fluid acidity

The healthy male volunteers participating in bioavailability tests of diazepam tablets were classified into two groups, high and low acidity groups, on the basis of the acidity of their gastric fluid. This was estimated by the Gastrotest method. The bioavailability parameters of four tablet preparations of diazepam (5 mg) after single administration were compared statistically between the two groups. Subjects with low acidity showed significantly lower diazepam serum levels than subjects with high acidity at 1 and/or 2 h after administration of tablets B, C, and D, which showed slower rates of dissolution at pH 4.6. Tablet B gave a significantly lower peak concentration than the other tablets in the high acidity group, whereas in the low acidity group tablet A gave a higher level than the other tablets. The peak concentration in the low acidity group correlated well with the dissolution rates represented as 1/T70 (time of 70% dissolution) at pH 4.6, but we could not find a good method for determining the dissolution rates except for T50 values with the rotating flask method at pH 4.6; these values significantly correlated with the peak concentrations of the high acidity group. From our results we conclude that the acidity of the gastric fluid affects the bioavailability of a drug such as diazepam, which has a pH-dependent dissolution rate and an especially slow rate of dissolution at pH 3-7.

The bioavailability of diazepam from uncoated tablets in humans--Part I: correlation with the dissolution rates of the tablets

Dissolution studies of 15 preparations of commercial uncoated tablets of diazepam (5 mg) were performed by six methods (beaker, rotating basket, oscillating basket, solubility simulator, rotating flask, and single basket). Diazepam dissolved rapidly at pH 1.2; the T50 (the time of 50% dissolution) values were less than 5 min. But at pH 4.6, T50 estimated by rotating basket method lasted 3-120 min. Four different tablets of diazepam were chosen for the bioavailability tests in humans. The bioavailabilities of the four tablet preparations were estimated by serum level measurements after a single dose to 12 adult male volunteers. Statistical analysis of the data showed significant differences in the rate of bioavailability (peak concentrations and serum concentrations at 1, 2, and 3 h after administration), but not in the amount of available (AUC). The mean peak concentration and serum concentration at 1 h showed significant correlation with T50 and T70 determined by the rotating flask method at pH 4.6 in log-log regression. The peak concentration and serum concentration at 1 h were also correlated with T70 determined by the rotating flask method at pH 4.6 and T70 determined by the rotating basket method at pH 4.6 on normal-normal regression. In contrast, the dissolution rates determined at pH 1.2 did not show a good correlation with in vitro parameters.

Evidence for a GABAergic inhibitory nigrotectal pathway in the rat

The aim of the present study was to test the GABAergic nature of the inhibitory projection from substantia nigra, pars reticulata (SNr) to superior colliculus (SC) in the rat, through the use of extracellular recordings and microiontophoresis. The effect of SN stimulation on the spontaneous or glutamate-evoked firing of SC units was analyzed. Among 28 SC cells inhibited by SNr stimulation, 27 decreased their firing rate following iontophoretic application of either GABA or glycine. The effect of the iontophoretic administration of bicuculline on SN4-evoked inhibition was studied on 14 of these GABA- and glycine-sensitive neurons. Bicuculline reversibly blocked nigral inhibition on 12 neurons, with iontophoretic current which did not affect glycine depression. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that GABA is the inhibitory transmitter of the nigrotectal projection.

Dissolution systems for chloramphenicol tablet bioavailability

The relationship between chloramphenicol (I) tablet bioavailability and in vitro dissolution rates was examined. The effect of solid food on the I tablet and powder bioavailability was also studied. Five tablets of I were selected for bioavailability testing on the basis of the dissolution rates of 18 I tablets (250 mg) determined by several methods. Compound I, 500 mg, was administered orally to five subjects, following overnight fasting, according to a crossover design. The bioavailability parameters were obtained from urinary I excretion. Among the five formulations studied, only one tablet (F) showed significantly poorer bioavailability. The dissolution rates at pH 1.2 did not give the same rank order as the bioavailability. The dissolution rate of Tablet F showed remarkable pH dependency. The dissolution rates at pH 4 showed good correlation with in vivo bioavailability data. The bioavailability of I powder was not affected by solid food. Tablet F, which had poor bioavailability in the fasting state, showed good bioavailability when administered just after the standard breakfast.

Comparative studies on eight dissolution method using 21 commercial chloramphenicol tablets and a nondisintegrating benzoic acid tablet

Eight dissolution methods (beaker, rotating basket, oscillating basket, solubility simulator, rotating flask, and column) were evaluated using 21 commercial film-coated chloramphenicol (I) tablets and a nondisintegrating benzoic acid (II) tablet. The relative agitating intensities obtained from different dissolution methods were compared through the relative zero-order nondisintegrating tablet dissolution rate constants. Correlation coefficients between I dissolution rate parameters (lag time, T20, T50, and T80) were determined. Significant correlation was observed for the lag time among seven methods, and all pairwise regression lines passed through zero except one. The regression line slopes reflected the relative destructive force intensities produced by each dissolution method on the coated I tablet films. The seven dissolution methods could be classified into two main groups according to correlations of four dissolution rate parameters. The classification criterion agreed well with that based on the agitation method. However, dissolution methods may not be interchangeable even though they belong to the same dissolution method group.

Physiologically controlled selective thalamotomy for the treatment of abnormal movement by Leksell's open system

In the course of stereotaxic thalamotomy by Leksell's open system in 20 cases of abnormal movement, recording and stimulation of the subcortical structures have been performed by means of two semimicro-electrodes introduced parallel to the frontal plane. Taking advantage of simultaneous recording and electrical stimulation through these two electrodes, several critical points in the caudate nucleus and thalamus have been clearly delineated. Thus in each individual case an outline of the thalamic configuration in the frontal plane could be obtained, so that the final therapeutic lesion was placed with good precision at the lower-most border of VL or Vim nucleus. It has been shown that the physiologically determined minimum lesion resulted in satisfactory alleviation of the abnormal movements without notable untoward effects.