Biological Effects of Low Frequency High Intensity Ultrasound Application on EX Vivo Human Adipose Tissue

In the present work the effects of a new low frequency, high intensity ultrasound technology on human adipose tissue ex vivo were studied. In particular, we investigated the effects of both external and surgical ultrasound-irradiation (10 min) by evaluating, other than sample weight loss and fat release, also histological architecture alteration as well apoptosis induction. The influence of saline buffer tissue-infiltration on the effects of ultrasound irradiation was also examined. The results suggest that, in our experimental conditions, both transcutaneous and surgical ultrasound exposure caused a significant weight loss and fat release. This effect was more relevant when the ultrasound intensity was set at 100% (∼ 2.5 W/cm2 for external device; ∼19–21 W/cm2, for surgical device) compared to 70% (∼ 1.8 W/cm2 for external device; ∼13–14 W/cm2 for surgical device). Of note, the effectiveness of ultrasound was much higher when the tissue samples were previously infiltrated with saline buffer, in accordance with the knowledge that ultrasonic waves in aqueous solution better propagate with a consequently more efficient cavitation process. Moreover, the overall effects of ultrasound irradiation did not appear immediately after treatment but persisted over time, being significantly more relevant at 18 h from the end of ultrasound irradiation. Evaluation of histological characteristics of ultrasound-irradiated samples showed a clear alteration of adipose tissue architecture as well a prominent destruction of collagen fibers which were dependent on ultrasound intensity and most relevant in saline buffer-infiltrated samples. The structural changes of collagen bundles present between the lobules of fat cells were confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which clearly demonstrated how ultrasound exposure induced a drastic reduction in the compactness of the adipose connective tissue and an irregular arrangement of the fibers with a consequent alteration in the spatial architecture. The analysis of the composition of lipids in the fat released from adipose tissue after ultrasound treatment with surgical device showed, in agreement with the level of adipocyte damage, a significant increase mainly of triglycerides and cholesterol. Finally, ultrasound exposure had been shown to induce apoptosis as shown by the appearance DNA fragmentation. Accordingly, ultrasound treatment led to down-modulation of procaspase-9 expression and an increased level of caspase-3 active form.

Effect of lidocaine and NMDA injections into the medial pontobulbar reticular formation on mastication evoked by cortical stimulation in anaesthetized rabbits

Neurons of the dorsal nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis (nPontc) fire rhythmically during fictive mastication, while neurons of the ventral half tend to fire tonically (Westberg et al., 2001). This paper describes the changes in the pattern of rhythmical mastication elicited by stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex during inhibition or excitation of neurons in this nucleus and adjacent parts of nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (Rgc) in the anaesthetized rabbit. Masticatory movements and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the masseter and digastric muscles produced by cortical stimulation were recorded before, during and after injections of a local anaesthetic (lidocaine) or excitatory amino acid N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) into nPontc and Rgc through a microsyringe with attached microelectrode to record neuronal activity. Lidocaine inhibited local neurons and modified the motor program, and the effects varied with the site of injection. Most injections into the ventral half of nPontc increased cycle duration, digastric burst duration and burst area. The action of lidocaine in dorsal nPontc was more variable, although burst duration and area were often decreased. The effects on the muscle activity were always bilateral. Lidocaine block of the rostromedial part of Rgc had no effect on movements or on EMGs. Injections of NMDA excited local neurons and when injected into ventral nPontc, it completely blocked mastication. Dorsal injections either had no effect or increased cycle frequency, while decreasing burst duration and area. No increases in EMG burst duration or area were observed with NMDA. Our findings suggest that neurons of ventral nPontc tonically inhibit other parts of the central pattern generator during mastication, while dorsal neurons have mixed effects. We incorporated these findings into a new model of the masticatory central pattern generator.