Investigations of the sensory blockade effect of perineurally injected ethanol on the tail nerve of the mouse

The effect of an alcohol block on the conduction of sensory stimuli in the tail nerve of the mouse was investigated using the perineural injection of solutions of ethanol (35, 40 and 45%). One hundred and fifty white mice of either sex were given 2 X 0.03 ml of the relevant alcohol solution into both sides of the tail. Before and after the injections repeated sensory conduction measurements were made using the rat tail method. Using 35% ethanol a temporary block of pain conduction could be achieved in both sexes. By increasing the concentration to 40 or 45%, a prolongation of the blocking effect and an increase in the accompanying increase of the pain threshold was observed in some animals. On the other hand, in some animals, temporary motor paralysis occurred following 35% ethanol, and this effect became more frequent and severe using 40 and 45% ethanol. A further increase in the alcohol concentration was not possible because of the occurrence of anatomical changes in the tails of the experimental animals.

Some morphological, physiological and behavioral specializations in North American beavers (Castor canadensis)

In order to gain insight into the functional properties of the tail in North American beavers (Castor canadensis) we (1) examined morphological features of skeletal, muscular, vascular, cutaneous and neural structures; (2) determined the segmental organization of spinal roots and certain stimulus-response features of receptive fields of single dorsal root fibers; (3) mapped the main somatic sensory area (SI) of the cerebral neocortex, and (4) attempted to relate these findings to observations of tail behavior in living beavers. The behavioral observations revealed the beaver capable of forceful yet discrete movements of the tail in water. A morphological correlate of these motor skills was the distinct segmentally organized pattern of serial muscle tendon arrangements and spinal sensory and motor innervation. Neither the receptors innervating the scales or hairs of the tail, the stimulus-response properties of single dorsal root afferents, nor the representation of the tail in SI suggested unusual cutaneous sensory capabilities associated with the morphological and behavioral specializations exhibited by the beaver's tail.

Differentiation in vitro of innervated tail regenerates in larval Ambystoma

Larval Ambystoma tail regenerates, innervated by the intact spinal cord, were cultured with their epidermal covering in modified Parker's medium (CMRL-1415) and the morphological integrity of the explanted regenerates was maintained with consistent success. The results show that the larval urodele tail blastema is capable of undergoing growth and differentiation when isolated in vitro and regeneration follows the normal in vivo pattern. A diffuse aggregate of blastema cells, which extended caudally from the cut end of the notochord at the time of explantation, underwent differentiation in vitro in the presence of the regenerating spinal cord. The importance of the nerve in regeneration is discussed in relation to the in vitro system.

Habituation: regulation through presynaptic inhibition

During tail-flip escape responses of crayfish, synaptic transmission at the habituation-prone synapses of the lateral giant reflex pathway is presynaptically inhibited. This prevents transmitter release and all subsequent postsynaptic actions and spares the reflex from becoming habituated to stimuli produced by an animal's own escape movements. These observations demonstrate the existence of a control circuit whose adaptive function is to regulate the malleability of inherently plastic synapses. They also suggest that regulation of plasticity could be a common use of presynaptic inhibition.

The topology of dermatomal projection in the medial lemniscal system

1. The topographic organization of first order afferent fibres in the lumbar, sacral and coccygeal dorsal roots, and in the fasciculus gracilis was studied in squirrel monkeys.2. At the entry zone, progressing from caudal to rostral, dorsal root filaments receive fibres from tail and hind-limb receptive fields which serially overlap and describe a spiral-shaped trajectory. The latter starts with tail, progresses post-axially towards the foot, crosses the foot from lateral to medial, and ascends the preaxial leg.3. In the fasciculus gracilis, this arrangement of fibres at the dorsal root entry zone is preserved in its entirety. It assumes the form of a fibre lamination, with the most caudal dorsal root fibres occupying a dorso-medial location; further rostral dorsal root fibres come to lie more ventrolaterally.4. Dorsum and sole of foot project in an overlapping and interdigitating manner to the fibre lamina of the 7th lumber dermatome in the fasciculus gracilis. Thereby, dorsum and sole of foot behave in the projection as if they were one and the same surface.5. The argument is presented that the foot and its projection on to the cross-sectional plane of the dorsal funiculus are topologically equivalent and that the hind-limb as a whole and its projection are not. On the other hand, homotopic mapping of the foot together with the sequential fibre organization in the dorsal funiculus enable many more types of closed curves on the body surface to remain arc-wise connected in the projection than would otherwise be possible.