Lingual nerve stimulation-induced c-Fos expression in the trigeminal spinal nucleus

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether electrical stimulation of the unilateral central cut ends of the lingual nerve produces trigeminal-parasympathetic reflex vasodilatation in both sides of the lower lip and stimulates neurons in the trigeminal nuclear complex in rats subjected to cervical vagosympathectomy, deeply anesthetized with urethane and artificially ventilated. Immunohistochemical detection of c-Fos expression was used to assess the impact of prolonged lingual nerve stimulation. We found that unilateral lingual nerve stimulation at 10min intervals for 200min produced the following: (1) consistent blood flow increases predominantly in the ipsilateral side of the lower lip, (2) more profound expression of c-Fos protein ipsilaterally in all subnuclei of the trigeminal spinal nucleus (Vsp) except the trigeminal subnucleus oralis, (3) a greater number of c-Fos-positive neurons in the ipsilateral trigeminal subnucleus interpolaris/caudalis transition zone (Vi/Vc) compared with the four other areas (trigeminal subnucleus caudalis/upper cervical spinal cord transition zone, subnucleus caudalis, subnucleus interpolaris, and subnucleus oralis) of the Vsp, and (4) no statistically significant increase in c-Fos expression in all subnuclei of the Vsp of the contralateral side in comparison with the control rats. The present studies and our previous data suggest that impulses elicited by electrical stimulation of the lingual nerve converge on the ipsilateral Vi/Vc in the Vsp and that the parasympathetic vasodilator neurons and salivatory nucleus, after receiving projections from the Vi/Vc in the Vsp, project to the lower lip via the otic ganglion

Acupuncture Improves Sleep Conditions of Minipigs Representing Diurnal Animals through an Anatomically Similar Point to the Acupoint (GV20) Effective for Humans

Acupuncture, an alternative medicine, has been widely applied for people with sleep disturbances; therefore, the effects should be evaluated objectively. Micro-minipigs (MMPigs), the smallest miniature pigs for animal experiments, were used. Acupuncture was performed at two different points: Dafengmen is located on the head and is an anatomically similar point to human-Baihui (GV20), an effective acupoint for sleep disturbances in humans; pig-Baihui is on the back. The procedure was performed as follows: shallow, within 5 mm depth for several seconds; deep, 10–20 mm depth for 20 min. The sleep conditions were evaluated by actigraph, and the amount of catecholamine in pooled urine after acupuncture treatment. MMPigs with deep acupuncture at Dafengmen showed significantly efficient values on actigraph and catecholamine analysis as compared with untreated MMPigs. The effective acupoint for sleep conditions in the porcine model is at an anatomically similar point to humans, rather than the point determined by traditional Chinese medicine

Comparative data on emotional (psychotic) aggressive biting behavior in mice of ddY strain measured by using two devices; Aggressive response meter and powerlab-compatible type aggressive response meter

The Aggressive Response Meter (ARM) has been validated for measuring emotional (psychotic) aggression triggered by mental irritation in mice. In the present article, we newly developed a device, pARM (PowerLab-compatible type ARM). We collected on the aggressive biting behavior (ABB) intensity and ABB frequency of 20 male and female mice of ddY strain studied over a period of 6 days by using pARM and the former ARM. We calculated Pearson's correlation between the values of pARM and those of ARM. The accumulated data can be referred as a basis for demonstrating the consistence of pARM and the former ARM, and used in future research to augment the understanding of stress-induced emotional aggression in mice