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Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the formulation of descriptive principles, potentially applicable to early spontaneous motility throughout the animal kingdom. The possibility is explored that the neural systems generating these most primitive of behavior patterns persist into later life and that they again become manifestly active during sleep. The chapter also discusses the physiological basis of embryonic, fetal, and larval movements. A number of striking parallels suggest that motor activity cycles during sleep may have, as their antecedents, the spontaneous motility rhythms typical of early stages in development and evolution. The neurological mechanisms underlying such primitive behavior patterns, and their possible significance for the maturation of the nervous system, are still virtually unknown.

Strychnine (STR), glycine (GLY), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were injected intravenously into 6- and 7-day chick embryos and subsequent effects upon spontaneous motility were observed. In 7-day embryos STR alone increased motility and when injected simultaneously with GLY antagonized the GLY-induced motility decrements; STR did not antagonize GABA-induced motility decrements. In 6-day embryos STR injected alone had no effect on motility, but did antagonize motility decrements induced by the simultaneous injection of GLY; again STR did not antagonize GABA-induced motility decrements.

The lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin of lymphocytes and spontaneous motility, chemotaxis and phagocytic activity of granulocytes were studied in the newborn and adult blood in the presence of bilirubin and photobilirubin. All of these activities were inhibited to the same extent by these substances. In addition, a significant difference between newborn and adult values was found. In conclusion, the authors suggest that phototherapy does not decrease bilirubin cellular toxicity.

1. 1. The general pharmacological properties of musk were studied. 2. 2. After the application of musk, inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing, hemolytic effect and excitation of spontaneous uterine motility of rats, inhibition of spontaneous motility in isolated ileum of rabbits, and anti-inflammatory effects and potentiation of β-adrenergic action in isolated preparations of guinea pig trachea were observed. 3. 3. These effects were not observed after application of muscone or allantoin, constituents of musk.

Summary. Continuous recordings of the electrical and mechanical activities of the cervix were made. Two basic patterns of electrical signal, short spike bursts and long spike bursts, showed close mechanical relationships with the record of mechanical activity. Electrical activity was organized in myoelectrical complexes including the regular alternation of phases of irregular spiking activity and phases of regular spiking activity. The myoelectrical complexes of the cervix existed independently of the sexual status although the frequency of recurrence did vary. The highest frequency was recorded during the periovulatory period around oestrus when each complex was synchronized with a similar pattern recorded from the uterine horns. At the end of the periovulatory period, the irregular spiking activity decreased, the myoelectrical complex pattern of the cervix and uterine horns consisting mainly of regular spiking activity at a high frequency until metoestrus. During the luteal phase, only the cervix remained active, with myoelectrical complexes formed mainly by phases of regular spiking activity recurring at long intervals. This pattern was also recorded after ovariectomy in the absence of hormonal treatment.

When restrained in a quasi-fetal position, infant rats (2–3 weeks old) remain for an extended period in a sleep-like state as judged by polygraphic criteria. Moreover, they become very difficult to arouse by sensory stimuli, and show a level of spontaneous motility considerably higher than is normally found at this age during sleep. Phasic generalized body movements, which are often quite stereotyped, occur in trains at regular intervals, against a low background level of neck muscle tonus. The amplitude of the cortical EEG, especially in the delta band, is negatively correlated with the frequency of spontaneous motor burst activity. It is suggested that these REM-like “rapid body movements” in immature mammals may well represent a transitional stage between fetal behavior patterns and sleep motility in the adult organism.

From the leaves of COLUBRINA ASIATICA B RONGEN (Rhamnaceae) two saponins have been isolated and structurally elucidated, mainly by (13)C-NMR-spectroscopic methods, as jujubogenin-3-O-[2-O-acetyl-3-O-(3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-4-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-alpha-L-arabinoside] (colubrinoside) and jujubogenin-3-O- [2-O-acetyl -3-O- (2-O- beta -D- xylopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-alpha-L-arabinoside] (colubrin) respectively. Both saponins inhibit the spontaneous motility of mice, even at low doses (1 mg/ kg), they show an antagonistic effect on amphetamine and exert a synergistic activity on chlordiazepoxide.

Histamine (5 X 10(-6) to 10(-3) M) depressed the spontaneous motility of the isolated rat uterus in a dose-dependent manner. Under these conditions uterine cyclic AMP was raised up to 92%. Both effects, uterine relaxation and cyclic AMP accumulation after 2 min could be inhibited dose dependently by the H2-antihistaminic compound metiamide (1.7 X 10(-6) M to 1.7 X 10(-4) M). By contrast, the H1-antagonist pheniramin (4.4 X 10(-5) M) was ineffective. It was concluded that the histamine-induced inhibition of rat uterine motility is mediated by cyclic AMP which is formed in response to stimulation of H2-histaminergic receptors.

Monkeys receiving acetylmethadol thrice weekly were more active on dosing days, and less active on between-dose days, than while drug-free. Aggressive social behaviours increased significantly on drug-dosing days, while quiescent resting behaviors were much more common on between-dose days. Tolerance to these effects was modest, and the effects were not blocked by naltrexone. These subtle but potentially disruptive behavioral effects appear to parallel many of the actions of acetylmethadol in man.

was examined using three parameters, frequency, intensity and activity units. Differences in motility were demonstrated between sites and between some of the stages of the cycle. The activity of the ampulla was greater than that of the isthmus during the proliferative and secretory stages. The isthmic region had constant activity throughout the cycle, but the ampulla was less active during the puerperium.

1. 1. The capacity of human uterine muscle for spontaneous shortening was found to decrease with age, and the activity of myometrial samples from old, postmenopausal women was characterized by relatively rapid, feeble contraction waves. 2. 2. Myometrial samples excised from uteri with secretory endometria exhibited a slower rate of spontaneous motility than did those from uteri in the proliferative phase. Muscle shortening, however, was found to be unaffected by the ovarian cycle. 3. 3. Repeated pregnancies and labors, the presence of leiomyomas else-where in the uterus, sedatives, analgesics and anesthetic agents administered at the time of operation, as well as race, were found to be of no statistical significance as factors influencing the spontaneous motility of myometrial strips excised from the nongravid human uterus. 4. 4. Muscle samples removed from gravid uteri (from 2 months' gestation until term) exhibited no statistical differences in regard to motility, when compared with tissues from the nongravid viscus. 5. 5. In a limited number of tests, myometrial tissues from patients with primary uterine inertia exhibited a significantly reduced muscle shortening with increased frequency of contraction when compared with “normal” tissues from both nongravid and gravid uteri.

In previous communications, I have paid tribute to Professor Wilhelm Preyer, to whom this volume is dedicated. The importance of his theoretical and observational contributions to the embryology of behavior has been acknowledged particularly in a recent essay (Hamburger, 1971). If his name does not appear in the following pages, this means that his influence has reached the stage of anonymity which is the fate of all great innovators.

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.

The eyes of 43 hypnotized Ss were examined to determine the reality and nature of the “trance stare.” Hypnotized Ss were found to present a reduction in overall spontaneous ocular motility and in responsiveness to stimulation. Such changes were found to fall into two classes: (a) those which were influenced and/or determined by certain instructions and/or suggestions contained in the induction of hypnosis procedure, and (b) those which were not. The second group included reduced spontaneous motility, reduced blink rate and reduced optokinetic nystagmus. Evidence was also found that the initial fixation of a target, as part of the induction procedure, was not responsible for any of the observed ocular changes. A number of Ss of high hypnotizability were also found to produce characteristic funnel-shaped wave-trains of eye movements during the deepening phase of the induction. The eyes of hypnotized Ss were found generally to take on and maintain a parallel-axis position.

Objective To ascertain whether specific abnormalities (ie, cramped synchronized general movements [GMs]) can predict cerebral palsy and the severity of later motor impairment in preterm infants affected by brain lesions. Design Traditional neurological examination was performed, and GMs were serially videotaped and blindly observed for 84 preterm infants with ultrasound abnormalities from birth until 56 to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age. The developmental course of GM abnormalities was compared with brain ultrasound findings alone and with findings from neurological examination, in relation to the patient's outcome at age 2 to 3 years. Results Infants with consistent or predominant (33 cases) cramped synchronized GMs developed cerebral palsy. The earlier cramped synchronized GMs were observed, the worse was the neurological outcome. Transient cramped synchronized character GMs (8 cases) were followed by mild cerebral palsy (fidgety movements were absent) or normal development (fidgety movements were present). Consistently normal GMs (13 cases) and poor repertoire GMs (30 cases) either lead to normal outcomes (84%) or cerebral palsy with mild motor impairment (16%). Observation of GMs was 100% sensitive, and the specificity of the cramped synchronized GMs was 92.5% to 100% throughout the age range, which is much higher than the specificity of neurological examination. Conclusions Consistent and predominant cramped synchronized GMs specifically predict cerebral palsy. The earlier this characteristic appears, the worse is the later impairment.

A new piperidine derivative, the 2-diphenylmethylpiperidine, produces already in doses of 0.001 g/kg s.c. a strong increase of the spontaneous motility of various animals. On mice it has about the same potency as d-desoxy-ephedrine and is about 3 times more potent than amphetamin. It also acts markedly antagonistic on various narcotics but has practically no peripheral sympathomimetic effects.

IN the course of the search for the hormone which results in inhibition of gastric secretion and motility after fat has entered the duodenum, the ability of duodenal extracts to inhibit the motility of denervated gastric pouches has become crucial. The presence of fat in the duodenum inhibits the spontaneous motility of Heidenhain pouches1, but many duodenal extracts which inhibit acid secretion will not do this. Extracts of duodenal mucosa containing secretin2 and even more conclusively extracts containing cholecystokinin/pancreozymin3 inhibit gastric acid secretion.