The Role of the Locus Coeruleus and its Effect on Spontaneous Motor Activity in Response to Intraperitoneal Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

The locus coeruleus (LC) is a group of norepinephrine (NE)-containing neurons that shows marked NE depletion when rats are exposed to uncontrollable shock. The depletion of NE in the LC region results in an increase in burst-firing of LC neurons. Evidence indicates that an increase in burst-firing of LC neurons results in a decrease in motor activity. Intraperitoneal (ip) administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cell wall of gram-negative bacteria, also causes an increase in burst-firing of LC neurons, apparently via the induction of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the brain. Ip LPS also results in a decrease in spontaneous motor activity in rats, a behavior that expressed in “sickness behavior.” However, a causal relationship between an increase in burst-firing of LC neurons and a decrease in spontaneous motor activity after ip LPS has not yet been established. Therefore, this manuscript examines the effect of IL-1 acting within the LC region on producing an aspect of sickness behavior - a decrease in spontaneous motor activity — that is seen after ip LPS. We hypothesize that the decrease in spontaneous motor activity that occurs after an injection of ip LPS is mediated by the induction of IL- 1 in the LC region. Several experiments conducted measured spontaneous motor activity as affected by 1) ip LPS, 2) LPS infused into the LC region or 3) IL-1 infused into the LC or LC surrounding regions. A final experiment tested whether interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-lra) infused into the LC region would block the decrease in spontaneous motor activity in response to an injection of ip LPS. The results showed that a range of ip LPS doses (5-20 pg/kg), a range of LPS doses (0.1-4.0 ng/rat) or a range of IL-lp doses (0.1-40 ng/rat) infused into the LC region all decreased spontaneous motor activity in a dose-dependent manner. Unexpectedly, an infusion of IL-ip (0.4 ng/rat) into LC surrounding regions did not significantly decrease spontaneous motor activity differently from an infusion of IL-ip (0.4 ng/rat) into the LC region. Finally, central IL-lra (40 pg/rat) was unable to block or affect the decrease in spontaneous motor activity seen after an injection of ip LPS (10 pg/kg). Collectively, the findings do not support the hypothesis that the decrease in spontaneous motor activity that occurs after an injection of ip LPS is mediated by the induction of IL-1 in the LC region. Although LPS infused into the LC region or IL-ip infused into the LC region decreased spontaneous motor activity, IL-lra was unable to block the decrease in spontaneous motor activity seen after an injection of ip LPS

Evaluation of antianxiety and sedative effects of essential oil of Ducrosia anethifolia in mice

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the antianxiety and sedative effects of the essential oil of Ducrosia anethifolia. Boiss. (Apiaceae). METHODS: We used elevated plus maze, spontaneous motor activity and ketamine-induced sleep tests in mice. In addition, the essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty compounds were identified, and n-decanal (70.1%) and alpha-pinene (12.4%) constituted the major components. RESULTS: In elevated plus maze, Ducrosia anethifolia essential oil at doses of 25-200 mg/kg increased the percentage of open arm time and entries. Unlike diazepam, ducrosia anethifolia essential oil could not suppress spontaneous motor activity and did not alter ketamine-induced sleep parameters. These results are indicative of antianxiety effect of Ducrosia anethifolia essential oil without sedative effec

Self-organization of reflexive behavior from spontaneous motor activity

In mammals, the development of reflexes is often regarded as an innate process. However, recent findings show that fetuses are endowed with favorable conditions for ontogenetic development. In this article, we hypothesize that the circuitry of at least some mammalian reflexes can be self-organized from the sensory and motor interactions brought forth in a musculoskeletal system. We focus mainly on three reflexes: the myotatic reflex, the reciprocal inhibition reflex, and the reverse myotatic reflex. To test our hypothesis, we conducted a set of experiments on a simulated musculoskeletal system using pairs of agonist and antagonist muscles. The reflex connectivity is obtained by producing spontaneous motor activity in each muscle and by correlating the resulting sensor and motor signals. Our results show that, under biologically plausible conditions, the reflex circuitry thus obtained is consistent with that identified in relation to the analogous mammalian reflexes. In addition, they show that the reflex connectivity obtained depends on the morphology of the musculoskeletal system as well as on the environment that it is embedded i

Neuropharmacological Profile of Novel Benzopyran-2-One Derivatives in Experimental Mice

The present study was aimed to assess the neuropharmacological properties of the novel Benzopyran-2-one (coumarin) derivatives i.e., 7-(2-(m-nitro)-phenyl thiazolidinyl)-4-methyl benzopyran-2-one (comp-I), 7-(2-(o,p-dichloro)-phenyl thiazolidinyl)-4-methyl-benzopyran-2-one (comp-II) and 7-(2-(p-methyl)-phenyl thiazolidinyl)-4-methyl-benzopyran-2-one (comp-III) by using the various pharmacological activities i.e., anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, spontaneous motor activity, skeletal muscle relaxant and analgesic activities along with assay of serum gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) levels. Methods: Investigation of all neuropharmacological profiles were evaluated by performing the various pharmacological activities using the different screening models, i.e., anticonvulsant activity by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure model, anxiolytic activity (exploratory behaviour) by evasion test, assay of GABA levels after anticonvulsant model was performed by using chromatographic technique, spontaneous motor activity (SMA) by actophotometer test, skeletal muscle relaxation by rotarod test and analgesic activity by Eddy’s hot plate and Haffner’s tail clip methods in Wistar albino mice. Results: All the Benzopyran-2-one derivatives showed significant anticonvulsant activity by prolonging the onset of seizures and reducing the duration of seizures and mortality rate when compared with control group. The test compounds showed significant anxiolytic effect. The serum GABA levels were significantly elevated in the treated groups, when compared with that of control group. The test compounds showed significant decrease in the spontaneous motor activity. The test compounds significantly showed a skeletal muscle relaxation after 30 min of dosing. The test compounds showed significant increase in paw licking time to heat stimuli in hot plate method and increase in the reaction time of mice to dislodge the clip. Conclusion: The present study has revealed that all the Benzopyran-2-one derivatives possess significant neuropharmacological properties confirmed by anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, skeletal muscle relaxant, analgesic effects and decrease in spontaneous motor activity at a dose of 20 mg/kg p.o. in swiss albino mice

Spontaneous motor activity in the kindergarten

Cílem bakalářské práce je porovnat, jaké spontánní pohybové aktivity preferují děti z měst a venkova. Dále práce zjišťuje, jak učitelky v MŠ ovlivňují dětské spontánní pohybové aktivity, jaké jsou prostorové a materiální podmínky pozorovaných mateřských škol a jestli ovlivňují spontánní pohyb předškolních dětí. V práci byl proveden experiment, jehož cílem byl pokus o ovlivnění spontánní pohybové aktivity dětí změnou prostředí a nabídnutím pomůcky. První kapitola teoretické části se zabývá pohybovými aktivitami dětí předškolního věku. Zmiňuje druhy pohybových činností a popisuje motorický vývoj předškolního dítěte. Druhá kapitola popisuje spontánní pohybovou aktivitu dětí předškolního věku a uvádí možnost ovlivnění podmínek pro spontánní pohybové aktivity. Mezi tyto podmínky patří umístění MŠ, vnitřní a vnější prostory MŠ, pomůcky vhodné pro spontánní pohyb a práci učitele. Třetí kapitola teoretické části se zaměřuje na pohyb v režimu dne MŠ. Praktická část se zabývá pozorováním spontánní pohybové aktivity předškolních dětí ve městě a na venkově . Pozorována je také práce učitele s dětmi při pohybu, ovlivňování prostředí a pomůcek. Dále je analyzováno prostředí MŠ a proveden experiment ovlivňující spontánní pohybové aktivity dětí skrze prostředí a nabídnutí pomůcky. Závěr práce je věnován porovnání...The aim of this bachelor thesis is to compare the spontaneous motion activity of children from cities and countryside. The thesis also surveys how teachers in kinder-gardens influence spontaneous motion activities. It also investigates the spatial and material conditions in observed kinder-gardens and if they influence spontaneous motion activity of pre-school children as well. Part of the thesis is an experiment with aim to influence the spontaneous motion activity with a change of surroundings and offering the tool. First chapter deals with the motion activity of pre-school kids. It mentions types of motion activities and describes motion development of pre-school kid. Second chapter describes the spontaneous motion activity of pre-school kids and presents the possible influence of conditions for spontaneous motion activity. The conditions can be the location of kinder- garden, inner and outer space of kinder-garden, tools for spontaneous motion and work of a teacher. Third chapter of theoretic part deals with motion in a daily regime of kinder-garden. Practical part deals with observing the spontaneous motion activity of pre-school kids in the city and countryside. It is also observed work of a teacher with kids in motion, his influence on an environment and tools. It is analyzed environment of...Katedra tělesné výchovyFaculty of EducationPedagogická fakult

Antidepressant activity of aqueous extract of Momordica charantia leaves

Background: Depression is a common debilitating illness contributing to increase in morbidity and mortality worldwide. 20% of all depressed patients are refractory to treatment with available antidepressants at adequate doses. Momordica charantia commonly known as Karela is widely used in Indian cuisine. This study was carried out to evaluate its lesser known Antidepressant activity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the Antidepressant activity of Aqueous extract of Momordica charantia leaves.Methods: This study was done in Department of Pharmacology, JNMC, AMU. Tail Suspension test and 5-Hydroxytrytophan induced Head Potentiation was evaluated in Swiss Albino mice. Forced swim test, Learned Helplessness test and Spontaneous motor activity was noted in Albino Wistar rats respectively at doses of AEMC (Aqueous extract of Momordica charantia leaves) 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg.Results: AEMC at all three doses 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg exhibited antidepressant activity by significantly decreasing the immobility time in Tail Suspension test and except 100mg/kg. In forced swim test psychostimulant activity of AEMC was ruled out in Spontaneous motor activity. Number of Escape failures was decreased in Learned Helplessness test at doses of AEMC 200mg/kg and 300 mg/kg. Increase in Head twitches was seen only with AEMC 300mg/kg in 5-Hydroxytrytophan induced Head Potentiation in mice.Conclusions: Aqueous Extract of Momordica Charantia leaves exhibits Antidepressant activity in animal models of Depression

The joint role of trained, untrained, and observed actions at the origins of goal recognition

Recent findings across a variety of domains reveal the benefits of self-produced experience on object exploration, object knowledge, attention, and action perception. The influence of active experience may be particularly important in infancy, when motor development is undergoing great changes. Despite the importance of self-produced experience, we know that infants and young children are eventually able to gain knowledge through purely observational experience. In the current work, three-month-old infants were given experience with object-directed actions in one of three forms and their recognition of the goal of grasping actions was then assessed in a habituation paradigm. All infants were given the chance to manually interact with the toys without assistance (a difficult task for most three-month-olds). Two of the three groups were then given additional experience with object-directed actions, either through active training (in which Velcro mittens helped infants act more efficiently) or observational training. Findings support the conclusion that self-produced experience is uniquely informative for action perception and suggest that individual differences in spontaneous motor activity may interact with observational experience to inform action perception early in life.PostprintPeer reviewe

Procena spontane motoričke aktivnosti novorođenčeta i odojčeta

Introduction: Conventional methods of neurological assessment of newborns and infants include neurological examination, neurokinesiological examination, quantitative assessment using scales and tests, and the use of supplementary diagnostic neuroimaging procedures. All the above methods are of great importance for the common clinical practice. They enable rapid detection of central (and peripheral) nervous system damage, but also have common defect which is the inability to adequately predict neurological deficits. In this study Prechtl’s method of the qualitative assessments of spontaneous motor activity was used. In former studies this method had demonstrated high level of reliability in very early prediction of neurological abnormalities in new-borns and infants. Aim: To evaluate the quality of the spontaneous motor activity during neonatal period, to evaluate the quality of spontaneous motor activity during infancy, to determine neurological outcome and motor functional status during the period of 24 months of corrected calendar age, to determine predictive value of the spontaneous motor activity for neurological and functional outcome at 24 moths corrected calendar age. Research methods: The study was conducted as prospective clinical study which included children born in the maternity ward in Clinical Center Nis in 2012, ≤ 37 weeks gestational age. Whole research included 80 respondents. The observation of spontaneous motor activity was conducted according to the basic principles of the Prechtl Method. The evaluation of spontaneous activity was conducted by the educated person with valid license for evaluation of spontaneous motor activities. The evaluation was based on video analysis. Spontaneous motor activity was observed in three time periods: within 5 days of birth, period of 44.- 46. gestation weeks, and period of 50. – 54. gestation weeks postmenstrual age. Definitive neurological outcome was evaluated on the basis of a detailed neurological examination at 24 months (corrected calendar age). Neurological outcome is classified as: normal result, minimal neurological dysfunction and cerebral palsy. Results: All respondents with normal patterns of spontaneous movements in the neonatal and infant period had a normal neurological functional outcome at 24 months. Respondents with pathological patterns of spontaneous movements (cramped synchronized movements or absence of “fidgety” movements) in the neonatal and infant period in the final outcome had minimal neurological dysfunction or cerebral palsy. Conclusion: Thanks to the Prechtl Method it is possible to recognize specific neurological symptoms in preterm infants which are excellent indicators of later neurological development. Early detection of symptoms of minimal neurological deficit and cerebral palsy is of crucial importance because it enables timely inclusion of children in neurodevelopmental treatment, which contributes to the improvement of functional motor status at later age, taking into account biological phenomenon “brain plasticity”

First evidence for an anxiolitic effect of a diterpenoid from Salvia cinnabarina

The potential anxiolytic and anti-depressive activity of CMP1 was studied in the elevated plus-maze test and in the forced swimming test. Furthermore, CMP1 sedative activity was evaluated in pentobarbital treated animals; the effect of CMP1 on spontaneous motor activity (total locomotion) was also evaluated. Our data show that CMP1, at doses that did not affect locomotion, was able to induce anxiolytic and sedative, but not anti-depressive effects. In conclusion, our results represent first evidence for an anxiolytic activity of this diterpenoid from Salvia cinnabarina