Afferent and efferent connections of the ventrolateral tegmental area in the rat

The present study examined the organization of afferent and efferent connections of the rat ventrolateral tegmental area (VLTg) by employing the retrograde and anterograde axonal transport of Fluorogold and Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin, respectively. Our interest was focused on whether the anatomical connections of the VLTg would provide evidence as to the involvement of this reticular area in audiomotor behavior. Our retrograde experiments revealed that minor inputs to the VLTg arise in various telencephalic structures, including the cerebral cortex. Stronger projections originate in the lateral preoptic area, the zona incerta, the nucleus of the posterior commissure and some other thalamic areas, the lateral substantia nigra, the deep layers of the superior colliculus, the dorsal and lateral central gray, the deep mesencephalic nucleus, the paralemniscal zone, the intercollicular nucleus, the external cortex of the inferior colliculus, the oral and caudal pontine reticular nucleus, the deep cerebellar nuclei, the gigantocellular and lateral paragigantocellular reticular nuclei, the prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, the spinal trigeminal nuclei, and the intermediate layers of the spinal cord. Most importantly, we disclosed strong auditory afferents arising in the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei and in the cochlear root nucleus. The efferent projections of the VLTg were found to be less widespread. Telencephalic structures do not receive any input from the VLTg. Moderate projections were seen to diencephalic reticular areas, the zona incerta, the nucleus of the posterior commissure, and to various other thalamic areas. The major VLTg projections terminate in the deep layers of the superior colliculus, the deep mesencephalic nucleus, the intercollicular nucleus and external cortex of the inferior colliculus, the oral and caudal pontine reticular nucleus, the gigantocellular and lateral paragigantocellular reticular nuclei, and in the medial column of the facial nucleus. From our data, we conclude that the VLTg might play a role in sensorimotor behavior.

Preliminary results of a differentiated emotion-stimulating interview in patients with essential hypertension as compared with inpatients of a psychosomatic unit and normal controls

BACKGROUND

The question of psychophysiologic reaction specificity is still controversial.

METHODS

Blood pressure and heart rate were measured for different emotional effects induced during a semistandardized interview.

RESULTS

Generally, a stronger increase in blood pressure was observed in hypertensive patients than in inpatients of a psychosomatic unit and normal controls. Differences related to various phases of the stress interview (regarding feelings of aggression, rage and anger, professional situation) were statistically significant as compared to controls, not only in hypertensives but also in the inpatients of a psychosomatic unit.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are discussed with respect to the specificity theory of Alexander.

Time-action profiles of the intermediate-acting insulin analogue des(64,65)-human proinsulin

Des(64,65)-proinsulin (DPRO) is one of several endogenous intermediates arising during the conversion of proinsulin to insulin. In pharmaceutic preparations it is a clear solution containing no other proteins. Animal experiments and preliminary human studies indicated that DPRO should have a protracted time-action profile similar to that of NPH-insulin. Accordingly, we compared the time-action profiles of these two preparations, using the euglycaemic glucose clamp-technique in 9 healthy male volunteers. Different doses of DPRO (0.1, 0.15, 0.2 U/kg) or equipotent doses of NPH ( 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 U/kg) were injected subcutaneously into the abdominal wall. The maximal metabolic effect (GIRmax) of DPRO was greater than that of NPH-insulin (p < 0.05). With increasing doses, GIRmax differed significantly for DPRO but not for NPH-insulin. The time to maximal metabolic effect (tmax) was similar for the three doses of either preparation. However, tmax was reached 30 min earlier with DPRO than with NPH-insulin (p < 0.01). the decline to half-maximal after maximal activity was significantly faster with DPRO than with NPH-insulin (p < 0.0001). Subcutaneous injection of DPRO thus produced a time-action profile between that of regular insulin and NPH-insulin.

Distribution and origin of noradrenergic and serotonergic fibers in the cochlear nucleus and inferior colliculus of the rat

We examined the monoaminergic innervation of the rat cochlear nucleus (CN) and the inferior colliculus (IC) by using retrograde transport of the fluorescent dye Fluoro-Gold combined with immunohistochemistry. We used antisera against the catecholamine synthesizing enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT), and one against the transmitter serotonin (5-HT). Each substance revealed a distinct pattern of immunoreactive staining in the CN and the IC. In the CN, DBH-immunoreactive (-ir) fibers were present in all subnuclei. The molecular layer of the dorsal CN and the granular layer of the ventral CN, however, were largely devoid of DBH-ir fibers. In contrast, 5-HT-ir fibers were abundant in the molecular layer and the granular cell layer of the CN. In the dorsal CN and the postero- and anteroventral CN, however, this innervation was less dense and evenly distributed across subnuclei. In the IC, the DBH-ir fibers were slightly more numerous in layer 2 of the dorsal cortex than in other subnuclei, while the layer 1 of both the dorsal and the external cortex contained only a few fibers. In contrast, the 5-HT-ir fibers formed a dense network in both the dorsal and external cortices of the IC, while they were less abundant in the remaining subnuclei. PNMT-ir fibers were not found in any of the auditory brainstem nuclei. Following Fluoro-Gold injections into the CN or IC, retrogradely labeled DBH-ir neurons were found in the A6 noradrenergic cell group (locus coeruleus). The CN received additional projections from the A5 noradrenergic cell group, as well as sparse projections from the A4 and A7 cell groups. The serotonergic innervation of the CN and IC originated largely in the B7 serotonergic cell group (dorsal raphe nucleus). Serotonergic neurons in other groups of the raphe nuclei were only occasionally labeled. Our data indicate that both noradrenaline and serotonin may play a role in central auditory processing. Their differential distribution in the IC and CN subnuclei suggests that these transmitter systems might influence different functional circuits.

[Doppler and reduction of perinatal mortality]

The authors think that perinatal mortality can be substantially reduced by accurate evaluation of chronic fetal distress by means of ultrasonic biometry routinely applied to pregnant women at each consultation and a Doppler examination carried out whenever retardation is detected or in any abnormal situations which could lead to such retardation. The authors present their experience in 353 women followed-up in their Service.

Beta blocker therapy in 125 cases of hypertension during pregnancy

Over a period of 4 years, a team of obstetricians and nephrologists have used beta-blockers in the treatment of hypertension in high risk pregnancies. One hundred and twenty one patients (125 pregnancies) were treated with this new therapeutic approach: Acebutolol (56 cases), Pindolol (38 cases) and Atenolol (31 cases) were used. In our group of patients, 56% (70/121) had a previous record of hypertension. Treatment was started when diastolic pressure reached 90 mmHg. The mothers showed excellent tolerance and in 95% of cases blood pressure was controlled in a satisfactory manner. Three groups of new-born infants were defined. In 20 infants, the weight was less than 2.5, in 15 infants between 2.5 and 2.8 kg, and in 90 infants more than 2.8 kg. There was no evidence of low Apgar scores, bradycardia or hypotension in the infants. The importance of team management of the patient is emphasised.

[Treatment of hypertension in pregnant women with beta-blockers. 60 cases (author's transl)]

Fifty-nine hypertensive women were treated with beta-blockers during 60 pregnancies. Acebutolol was used in 28 cases, pindolol in 21, atenolol in 10 and propanolol in one. Concomitant administration of dihydralazine was required in 6 cases. In 6 women beta-blockade was started before, and continued throughout pregnancy. Treatment was initiated after the 13th week of gestation in the majority of patients and before the 12th week in two. Twenty women were known to have hypertension long before they became pregnant, and renal disorders were diagnosed in seven. Satisfactory control of blood pressure, with values below 140-90 mmHg, was achieved in 55 cases, and in the same number of cases delivery occurred after 38th week. No clinical or biological side-effects were observed in either mothers or infants. The birth weight was superior to 2500 g in 51 children, including 37 who weighed more than 3000 g. There was only one death in utero. One child born at 35 weeks with multiple malformations and another with meconium ileus also died. Beta-blockers may therefore be safely used to treat most cases of hypertension during pregnancy, provided close supervision is exerted throughout the gestation period.