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Within the study, attempts towards standardized cryopreservation procedure for cultured pikeperch semen were undertaken. The specific aims of this study were to examine the effects of final glucose and sperm concentrations on the cryopreservation success of cultured pikeperch semen measured by sperm quality indices. We also examined the effect of different solutions for activation of sperm motility as well as tested the effect of the dilution of semen in Kurokura solution on the cryopreservation success of pikeperch. The final glucose concentrations within the range 0.11–0.15 M in 7.5% methanol achieved good results for the percentage of sperm motility after freezing/thawing, with the highest values at 0.13 M (44 ± 12%). The highest sperm motility after freezing/thawing (56–58%) was observed within the range of 3.0 to 4.0 × 109 spermatozoa ml−1. Dilution of semen in seminal plasma resulted in activation of spontaneous sperm motility. Moreover, the extender used for cryopreservation caused activation of sperm motility at a level similar to that of an activation solution. Cryopreserved sperm was characterized by sperm motility similar to that of equilibrated semen. A significant decrease in the sperm motility was recorded in samples not diluted in immobilizing solution after 10 min of post-thaw storage compared to values recorded immediately after thawing. These differences were not observed in semen samples diluted in Kurokura solution. In our opinion, development of standardized cryopreservation protocol presented in this study is a prerequisite for the future implementation of cryopreserved semen in hatchery practice. However, control of spontaneous motility seems to be an important challenge for further improvement of cryopreservation techniques for pikeperch semen.

Background: The quality of general movements (GMs) is a widely used criterion to assess neurological dysfunction in young infants. It is unknown, however, whether the birth process influences the motor repertoire of healthy full term infants during the first week after birth.Aims: To assess the quality of GMs and to determine the motor optimality score (OS) in healthy full term infants during the first week after birth and to evaluate the influence of the mode of delivery on GM quality.Study design: Thirty-three healthy full term infants born either vaginally or after caesarean section (CS) under spinal anaesthesia were video recorded in the first week after birth in order to assess GM quality and to determine OS with Prechtl's method.Results: Abnormal GMs were observed mainly on the early recordings: 86% on the day of birth (day 0), 94% on day 1, and 68% on day 2. On days 5 to 7 (day 5-7) all GMs were normal (P Conclusions: Healthy full term infants often showed abnormal GM quality and lower OSs during the first week after birth, irrespective of the mode of delivery. GM quality normalised during subsequent days and was normal on day 5-7. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous oscillations displayed by hair bundles of the bullfrog sacculus have complex temporal profiles, not fully captured by single limit-cycle descriptions. Quiescent intervals are typically interspersed with oscillations, leading to a bursting-type behavior. Temporal characteristics of the oscillation are strongly affected by imposing a mechanical load or by the application of a steady-state deflection to the resting position of the bundle. Separate spectral components of the spontaneous motility are differently affected by increases in the external calcium concentration. We use numerical modeling to explore the effects of internal parameters on the oscillatory profiles, and to reproduce the experimental modulation induced by mechanical or ionic manipulation.

Objective: To assess the quality of general movements (GMs) in the first fourteen days of life in relation to obstetric and postnatal risk factors and neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.Study design: The GMs of nineteen infants were assessed on days 2, 4, 6, 10 and 14 with Prechtl's method. Additionally, detailed GM assessment produced optimatity scores (OSs). GMs and the OSs were related to obstetric and postnatal data and to neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 months.Results: GMs and OSs fluctuated substantially during the first fourteen days of life. Most infants had abnormal GMs, especially poor repertoire (PR) GMs. No relation was found between GMs and obstetric factors. Regarding postnatal factors, septicaemia correlated to hypokinesia (H) and artificial ventilation correlated to a tower OS.Conclusions: Due to physiological disturbances the quality of GM in ELBW infants fluctuates substantially during the first fourteen days of life. Abnormal GMs, especially PR GMs, are mostly seen for the same reason. Septicaemia and artificial ventilation are associated with deterioration of the GMs (lower OSs), and in case of septicaemia also with hypokinesia. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: The assessment of the quality of general movements (GMs) in young infants is a reliable and valid diagnostic tool for detecting brain dysfunction early in Life. Poor repertoire GMs are the most frequently observed abnormal GMs during the preterm, term and early postterm period. However, their predictive value for the neurological outcome is low.Aim: To find out whether a detailed scoring of poor repertoire GMs might lead to a better prediction of the neurological outcome.Subjects: We studied 18 preterm infants who were repeatedly videoed from birth to 22 weeks postterm age, including several recordings assessed as poor repertoire GMs. At 8 to 10 years, six children were neurologically normal, six had mild neurological abnormalities, and the remaining six were classified as cerebral palsy.Study design: Each GM globally assessed as poor repertoire was scored in details according to several aspects of neck and trunk, arm and Leg movements applying Prechtl's optimality concept.Results: By and large, the detailed score of poor repertoire GMs was not related to the neurological outcome.Conclusion: For the clinical application of the GM assessment, it remains important to assess the fidgety movements of those infants with poor repertoire GM trajectories in order to predict their outcome. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Panax notoginseng root is highly prized in China for its supposed hemorheological properties. Its behavioural effects are still not scientifically investigated; therefore, our preliminary study aim is to evaluate the influence of this phyto-drug on rats spontaneous behaviour. High quality P. notoginseng root dry extract has been orally administered through gastric tube for 10 days in two doses (43 and 86 mg/kg in a volume of 5 ml/kg per day) and its effects on locomotion, emotional reactivity and nutrition have been evaluated in different groups of Wistar rats (ten per group) versus animals treated with 5 ml/kg per day of saline. Actimeter test, open field test and microstructural analysis of unconditioned behaviour were carried out. The data were processed by ANOVA-test followed by the Student's one-tail t-test and a 0.05 significance level was chosen for all statistical tests. A significant increase in spontaneous motility being not associated to an increase in grooming episodes duration and number was found in all tests (P

Effects of body temperature on the immobile response and brain glucose metabolism were examined in the forced swimming test in mice. The first experiment was performed to study behavior, after initial periods of vigorous activity, a characteristic immobile posture occurred when the water was 25 and 35 degrees C. However, several minutes after forced swimming at 25 degrees C, significantly decreased spontaneous motility occurred in a time-dependent manner, but no changes was observed at 35 degrees C. Our interpretation was that mechanisms of acquisition and retention of the forced swim-induced immobile response differed. Body temperature was also significantly decreased at 25 degrees C but not at 35 degrees C in the forced swimming test. This lowering of body temperature almost paralleled the immobile response. The second experiment was a biochemical study in which the uptake of [(14)C] 2-deoxy-d-glucose into the brain significantly decreased after forced swimming at 25 degrees C but did not change in the forced swim loaded mice when the water was 35 degrees C. These results suggested two types of immobile mechanisms in the forced swimming test: (1) an early phase acquisition of the immobile response which might be related to adaptive response and (2) a late phase to retain the immobile response which might be related to the decrease in brain glucose metabolism.

The development of spontaneous motility and posture was studied longitudinally in 14 carefully selected low-risk preterm infants. The aim of the investigation was to provide a set of data suitable for comparison with fetuses and with neurologically abnormal preterm infants. The infants were videorecorded weekly, for one hour in a supine position, from birth until their discharge from the hospital. Ten of them were thereafter also observed at home at 3-week intervals from 3 to 18 weeks of corrected age, together with 10 healthy fullterm infants. Occurrence and duration of motor patterns and postures in periods of rest and activity were obtained by off-line analysis of the videotapes. Few significant changes were found from birth until term age in the composition and quantity of the spontaneous movement patterns. Only twitches and stretches during activity periods showed a small decline approaching term age. However, notable inter-individual differences and intra-individual fluctuations from week to week were observed. Postterm development of preterm infants was similar to that of the fullterms. Both showed considerable changes in the qualities of general movements after the first postterm weeks. Only fidgety character movements occur earlier in preterm infants. No age-specific preference postures of the limbs were found in the preterm period. Midline position of the head in supine was observed at about the same postterm age in preterm and fullterm groups. Asymmetrical tonic neck postures were very inconsistently present before term age and rapidly disappeared after term, earlier so in preterm infants.

Effects of temperature and variations of the extracellular Ca 2+ content on the activity of rabbit ileum were investigated. The spasmolytic efficacy of papaverine was also studied. A rise of temperature from 25 to 42°C significantly increased the spontaneous pendular movements, whereas the contraction amplitude was not significantly altered. Reduction of the extracellular Ca 2+ to one half did not affect spontaneous motility or the tension developed at a bath temperature of 25°C. At 42°C, however, lowering of the extracellular Ca 2+ decreased the frequency of motility but increased the contraction amplitude. At the high temperature the pD 2 value of papaverine was higher than at the low temperature. This effect was partly abolished after exposure to iodoacetic acid (IAA). Ca 2+ reduction had the same effect as a temperature rise: at a low extracellular Ca 2+ content the pD 2 of papaverine increased. It is concluded, therefore, that high temperatures stimulate the energy-requiring Ca 2+ pump mechanism thus leading to a lowered concentration of free intracellular Ca 2+ . As a consequence, the concentration of papaverine required to produce relaxation is less at the higher temperature than at the lower temperature.

Summary The effect of cycloheximide (2 μg/ml), puromycin (2 μg/ml) and actinomycin D (1 μg/ml), as well as the relation between the influence of cycloheximide and prostaglandin (PG) production on the spontaneous motility of 20 days-ovariectomized rat uterus, were studied. Cycloheximide evoked a more stable motility during the experimental period (180 min) when compared with controls. Neither puromycin nor actinomycin D could madify the spontaneous activity. In the presence of cycloheximide, the rat uterus released more PGE-like material than the untreated one, and no differences were found in the generation of PGF-like material. Indomethacin, acetylsalicylic acid and eicosa-5,8,11, 14- tetraynoic acid could partially block the cycloheximide-induced constancy of motility of uterine strips. Cyproheptadine and atropine had no effect at all. It is suggested that cycloheximide prevents the spontaneoys decay of the contractile activity at least in part by influencing PGE-like material production.

1. 1.|An injection of capsaicin into normal young rabbits resulted in a preference for a cooler environment, signs of increased heat loss, and a suppression of the overall metabolic rate. 2. 2.|Body temperature declines with the preferred temperature, despite brown fat activation. 3. 3.|The response is greatly reduced after short-term desensitization, although the spontaneous motility, temperature selecting behaviour and body temperature appear to be normal.

Posture and spontaneous motor patterns during the first days of life were studied in ten healthy fullterm infants by direct observation and videorecording. The aim of the study was to provide a description of motor and postural characteristics of normal newborns. The infants were recorded for 1 h on their first and fourth day of life, when unstimulated in an incubator. Incidence and duration of the different body postures and motor patterns were scored during the replay of the videorecordings. The preference for the fully flexed posture of arms and legs described in the literature could not be confirmed. There was a large intra- and inter-individual variability in the postural repertoire. No particular posture, characteristic for each behavioural state, existed. Similar postures rarely occurred in the same infant on the first and fourth day. Extended postures more often occurred on the fourth day. Spontaneous motility consisted of several distinct movement patterns, the occurrence of which in states 1 and 2 was computed for day 1 and day 4. Motor patterns were differently related to the states. No differences were noted in the motor activity between the first and fourth days. Large inter-individual differences, but an intra-individual consistency, were found in the rates of specific motor patterns: infants who showed a low or high rate of particular movements on day 1 maintained the same characteristic on day 4. There was no overall low or high motor activity.

Summary Male spontaneously hypertensive Wistar rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKR) were maintained on low taurine (T-) diet and high T (T+) diet (T 3 % in the drinking fluid) and their spontaneous motility and open field exploratory activity were measured at the age of three months. T+ diet decreased the spontaneous motility of the SHR when compared to controls. SHR showed significantly greater open field activity than WKR. This exploratory activity was further enhanced by both T+ and T- diets in the SHR but not in the WKR strain. There were no significant differences between total brain T and 5-HT contents due to the strain or the diet. Taurine rich diet seems to inhibit the spontaneously very intensive activity of the SHR but at the same time to decrease their reactivity to stressful stimuli.

The effects of prostaglandins (PG) F2α and E2 on the spontaneous motility of pig oviducts were studied in vivo and in vitro using intraluminal pressure transducers. PGF2α always increased the muscular activity of the oviducts, gradually augmenting their sensitivity to PGF2α stimulation from pro-oestrus, reaching their highest responsiveness at the peri-ovulatory stage, and decreasing thereafter. PGE2 elicited inhibitory responses from the tubal preparations during oestrus and the third day of the cycle in vivo, and during pro-oestrus and oestrus in vitro. The isthmic longitudinal muscle layer was always contracted by the exogenous PGE2 in vitro. During the luteal phase, PGE2 elicited a stimulatory response both in vivo and in vitro, of a similar type of that of the PGF2α. These stimulatory responses could be blunted, but not abolished, by selective blocking of α-adrenoceptors in vitro. Indomethacin inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the spontaneous motility of the pig oviducts in vitro. This inhibition was reversible and the spontaneous motility could be fully restored after total abolition of activity by addition of PGF2α, but not of noradrenaline, which only increased the tonus of the inhibited preparations.

Spontaneous uterine motility and reactivity to intravenous oxytocin were recorded in eight ovari-ectomised, oestrogen-primed goats before and after oral meclofenamic acid treatment. Spontaneous motility was completely abolished within 50 to 100 min of meclofenamate administration. However, although uterine reactivity to oxytocin was significantly reduced, the sensitivity was not altered. It is suggested that, in the goat, oxytocin has two effects on the uterus: it increases myometrial activity and also stimulates prostaglandin synthesis.

Variations in the spontaneous contractile activity during 6 hours following isolation of uterine horns from proestrus, metestrus and spayed rats, were explored. In estrus and metestrus preparations the contractions declined during 60 min and between 180–200 min a progressive spontaneous recovery (abolished by indomethacin) was observed up to 360 min. Uteri from proestrus and spayed animals exhibited a continuous depression without recovery during the whole experimental period. At 60 min, uterine horns from estrus animals (which showed a marked contractile decrement) released to the suspending medium significantly less prostaglandin E-like material than at 360 min, i.e. when contractions had almost completely recovered. No modification in the amount of prostaglandin F-like material was detected accompanying these spontaneous contractile variations. In the spayed group at 60 min of functioning (i.e. when the contractile impairment was significantly smaller than at a later time) the release of PGE was greater than at 360 min. These findings suggest a possible control of rat uterine contractions by PGE, rather than by PGF.

The motility of isolated uterine horns as well as the generation of PGE and PGF-like material by uterus from spayed rats, treated or untreated with progesterone or progesterone plus estradiol-17-beta, were studied. The changes of Functional Activity (FA) with time (constancy) of control uterine horns and that preparations treated wtih 2 mg of progesterone (P) were not significantly different. However, the PGF-like material released into the bathing solution was significantly higher when the animals were treated with P. PGE-like material in the medium was similar in both groups. With higher doses to P (4 mg/day/2 days) the constancy of FA was similar to that observed in untreated animals, and the PGF-like material released into the medium was significantly higher than in the control group FA and PGs releases into the bathing medium by uterine horns from supra-renalectomized-ovariectomized animals (treated or not with P) were similar to those obtained in spayed rats with the intact suprarenal gland, but the absolute values of PGF-like material were always lower than in this group. Estradiol-17-beta injected prior or after P diminished the stimulation induced by P on the release of PGF-like material into the medium. The constancy of the contractile activity as well as the uterine release of PGE-like material was also diminished in rats treated with P plus estradiol-17-beta. The novel finding that progesterone stimulates the synthesis of PGF in uterine horns from ovariectomized rats without changing that of PGE is discussed.

Summary The spontaneous isometric developed tension (IDT) and the frequency of contractions (FC) of the implantation or linea uteri (LU) and the non implantation or myometrial region (M) from uterine horns in different stages of the sex cycle were studied. The functional activity (FA= IDT × FC) of LU and M decreased with time comparably in proestrus and metestrus whereas during estrus the stability was significantly higher in the implantation region than in M. In uterine strips isolated from proestrus animals indomethacin (2; 5 or 10 μg/ml) did not change the functional activity neither of LU nor of M; on the contrary in metestrus, indomethacin diminished significantly the functional activity of both uterine regions. When the uterine strips (M and LU) were obtained from animals in estrus, only the implantation region was depressed by indomethacin at the 3 concentrations tested. The release of PGE and PGF-like material by incubated strips of M and LU obtained from estrus rats was also studied. The PGE-like material generated by the implantation zone was significantly higher than that released by non implantation region. Regarding PGF-like material, the spontaneous release was similar in M and LU. On the other hand PGI 2 -like material generated by LU and M was not significantly different. The probable implications of the differences found in these two regions of the estrus uterus are discussed.

The "in vitro" spontaneous magnitude and stability with time of the isometric developed tension (IDT) and frequency of contractions of ampullar longitudinal and ampullar circular as well as isthmic longitudinal and isthmic circular muscle, from human Fallopian tubes, were explored. The effects of polyphloretin-phosphate (PPP), an inhibitor of prostaglandins (PG), upon the IDT and frequency of different tubal segments, were also explored. We looked for PGE 1 and F 2α in extracts of ampullar and isthmic tubal segments. The initial IDT and frequency (recorded at 10 minutes following equilibration) as well as the stability with time (explored afterward during 40 minutes) were comparable among all the preparations, with the exception of the isthmic longitudinal muscle, which suffered a progressive decrement of IDT. PPP inhibited significantly the IDT of the isthmic circular muscle but had no effect upon the ampullar circular muscle. Whereas PGF 2α was frequently detected in extracts from the isthmic region, those from the tubal ampullar region showed the consistent presence of PGE 1 . The results suggested a possible relationship between isthmic PGF 2α and its spontaneous motility. Also, the peculiar distribution of PGE 1 and PGF 2α could have some bearing on the regulation of the different functions of isthmic and ampullar regions of human Fallopian tubes.

Piperidine is a biogenic alicyclic amine possessing potent pharmacological activity. Interest has recently been focussed on its possible role as an endogenous hypnogenic substance. Using a mass fragmentographic technique with deuterium-labelled piperidine as an internal standard, the time relations of the change in brain levels of piperidine and the anesthetic activity of urethane were determined in mice. The brain piperidine level increased prior to the loss of the righting reflex and the elevated level declined prior to the reappearance of the reflex. The change in brain piperidine level correlated with neither that in spontaneous motility nor that in body temperature. The findings favor the idea that piperidine might at least partly regulate the level of consciousness.

Summary The method permits the simultaneous differential count of various types of motility in small laboratory animals. The equipment consists of a cage jointed and balanced by means of a torsion-spring. Numerical evaluation of the faculty of spontaneous motion is effected by means of a special photocell counter for registration of total movements and a contact-closing mechanism for counting locomotor activity. The physical and technical details of the apparatus are described. The effects of some centrally acting substances amphetamine, caffeine and bemigride on rats are discussed.

The effects of dopamine administered intraventricularly in various doses (5–100 μg) on the spontaneous motility of rats were tested. The effects of dopamine were dosedependent: doses of 5–10 μg dopamine caused a small but statistically significant (P< 0.05) increase in spontaneous motor activity 20–30 min after intra ventricular administration. Greater doses of dopamine (50–100 μg) produced initially (for 20 min) a decrease in the rat's motility with stuporous signs and assymetric body posture. During the next 20–60 min after injections of greater doses of dopamine there was an increase in the number of motions observed. Biochemical determinations showed that after the administration of 10μg dopamine to whole rat brain tissue no alterations in the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline occurred. After injection of 50 μg dopamine, a statistically significant rise in the dopamine level was found. Sixty minutes after injection of this dose the level of noradrenaline was also increased.

400 mg/kg alpha-methyldopa i.p. inhibits the convulsion facilitating effect of 2,5 mg/kg reserpine i.p. in mice and rats. The effect of reserpine potentiating narcosis and decreasing spontaneous motility was not influenced by alpha-methyldopa. In animals pretreated with alpha-methyldopa reserpine does not decrease the norepine-phrine content of the brain, but the serotonin level is as low as in animals given reserpine alone.

Summary A miniature electromagnetic transducer was utilized to record accurately esophageal pressures after swallowing. The changes in pressure in normal persons followed a definite pattern, which consisted of an initial wave of negative pressure and three subsequent waves of positive pressure. Analysis indicated that the final positive wave was produced by a true peristaltic wave passing the transducer. Patients who had cardiospasm showed considerable spontaneous motility as well as extremely variable responses in pressure as the result of deglutition. Though waves of positive pressure were noted occasionally in these patients after swallowing, a co-ordinated, distally traveling wave of the peristaltic type could not be identified.

Publisher Summary This chapter elaborates the catecholamine metabolism and amphetamine effects on sensitive and insensitive mice. d -Amphetamine neither increases the spontaneous motility nor does it induce the stereotyped behavior, and grouping effect in C3H mice as do the doses active in NMRI mice. d -Amphetamine does not significantly increase the body temperature of C3H mice, while it elicits a dose-dependent hyperthermia in NMRI mice. On the contrary, at low doses, it decreases the body temperature in C3H mice. d -Amphetamine decreases noradrenaline in the brain-stem, and increases homovanillic acid in the striatum, but it only slightly affects noradrenaline, and does not modify HVA concentrations of C3H mice. The thermic response to amphetamine in normal untreated mice is probably a polygenically-inherited trait. In an attempt to understand the genetically determined different reactivity to amphetamine, the basal brain concentrations of the biogenic amines and of their metabolites were compared in the two strains.