The effects of dynorphin B (an agonist of κ-opioid receptors) and naloxone (an antagonist of opioid receptors) on the field potentials (FPs) evoked in the lumbar spinal cord of spinalized cats were examined following successive stimulation of pairs of identical peripheral nerves on both sides of the body. The FPs were recorded bilaterally using microelectrodes from symmetrical sites of the gray...

Unregulated Ca(2+) entry is thought to underlie muscular dystrophy. Here, we generated skeletal-muscle-specific transgenic (TG) mice expressing the Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger 1 (NCX1) to model its identified augmentation during muscular dystrophy. The NCX1 transgene induced dystrophy-like disease in all hind-limb musculature, as well as exacerbated the muscle disease phenotypes in δ-sarcoglycan (Sg...

This study investigated the antispasticity potential of Sativex in mice. Chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis was induced in adult ABH mice resulting in hind limb spasticity development. Vehicle, Sativex, and baclofen (as a positive control) were injected intravenously and the "stiffness" of limbs assessed by the resistance force against hind limb flexion. Vehicle alone cau...

we have previously observed that neonatal or adult splenectomy has no significant effect on the multiplication of Mycobacterium leprae in mice. Additionally, creating abnormal reaction to hind feet with a mixed infection with M. leprae and Corynebacterium kuscheri or by mixing oil (adjuvant such as Drakeol No. 6, liquid paraffin, or vegetable oil) with M. leprae caused either no growth or reduc...

The objective of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that -calpain is largely responsible for postmortem proteolysis of muscle proteins. To accomplish this objective, we compared proteolysis of known muscle proteins in muscles of wild type and -calpain knockout mice during postmortem storage. Knockout mice (n = 6) were killed along with control mice (n = 6). Hind limbs were removed an...

OBJECTIVE Influence of low-level (810 nm, Ga-Al-As semiconductor) laser on bone and cartilage during joint immobilization was examined with rats' knee model. MATERIALS AND METHODS The hind limbs of 42 young Wistar rats were operated on in order to immobilize the knee joint. One week after operation they were assigned to three groups; irradiance 3.9 W/cm2, 5.8 W/cm2, and sham treatment. After ...

The discovery of three new species of Enyalioides from the tropical Andes in Ecuador and northern Peru is reported. Enyalioidesaltotambo sp. n. occurs in northwestern Ecuador and differs from other species of Enyalioides in having dorsal scales that are both smooth and homogeneous in size, a brown iris, and in lacking enlarged, circular and keeled scales on the flanks. Enyalioidesanisolepis sp....

PURPOSE To investigate whether cilostazol has a protective effect on acute ischemia and reperfusion of hind limbs of rats through study of biochemical variables in blood and urine. METHODS Forty six animals were randomized and divided into two groups. Group I received a solution of cilostazol (10 mg/Kg) and group II received saline solution 0.9% (SS) by orogastric tube after ligature of the a...

Mice varying in age from 1 day to 8 months were inoculated intraperitoneally with Coxsackie A virus, type 9 and studies were made of the quantity of virus in striated muscle and myocardium, the presence of neutralizing antibody in the serum, and the pathological changes in the tissues. The hind limbs of young (1- to 20-day-old) mice yielded high titers of virus and showed diffuse myositis, wher...