Effect of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation on sexual behaviour of male rats.

Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation for 3 to 4 days by the platform pedestal procedure produced an increase in sexual behaviour of male rats. The possible factors contributing towards the increase in sexual behaviour are discussed.

REM sleep deprivation and food intake.

The effect of REM-sleep deprivation (REM-SD) on diet preference was studied in rats. REM-SD for a period of 72 hrs produced an increase in day, night and 24 hrs (day plus night) intakes of Carbohydrate Rich diet (CRD) and Total diet (TD). Body weight (BWt) was also increased. The maximum increase in the above parameters were recorded on the 2nd day of REM-SD. During recovery period the intakes of TD fully recovered, but the BWt and consumption of CRD remained high. Intakes of Balanced diet (BD) remained significantly on the lower side when compared to the pre REM-SD mean values. During REM-SD, the rats preferred CRD than BD. The body temperature did not show any change. The increase in TD intake and BWt could be the result of an increase in insulin level and the change appears to be mediated by the activation of hypothalamic feeding centre.

Correlation of preoptic neuronal activity with spontaneous and induced cortical EEG changes.

Preoptic area has neurons which change their firing rate along with spontaneous alterations of the cortical EEG between synchronization and desynchronization. The cortical EEG synchronization and desynchronization could be induced by stimulation of the caudal and the rostral brain stem respectively. This study was aimed at finding out whether stimulation of the brain stem structures produce the same change in the unit activity as that occurring during spontaneous alteration of the EEG. The changes in unit activity showed some concordance and dissociation between spontaneous and induced EEG alterations. The possible interaction of inputs from cortex and brain stem at the level of the preoptic area is discussed.

The human vas-its lumen in relation with age and neuromuscular transmitters.

Specimens of human was deferens were obtained during elective surgery under local analsthesia. The internal diameter of the vas lumen was measured by means of set of rods of 0.10 mm diameter increments. These measurements were made within 5 minutes of the removal of vas and noted as control values. The effect of its immersion in epinephrine 1/1000, nor-epinephrine 1/1000 and acetylcholine 1/1000 on diameter of lumen was determined. The mean diameter of vas lumen in saline was 0.83 +/- .09 mm in subjects of 29 to 32 years age and 0.89 +/- .009 mm in subject of 33 to 48 years. This value was significantly lower in subjects of 49 to 52 years (0.69 +/- .06 mm). The lumen diameter decreased significantly in response to epinephrine and nor epinephrine and increased when the vas was immersed in acetylcholine. The response of vasal smooth muscle as indicated by alteration of lumen size was significantly lower in subjects of 49 to 52 years of age to epinephrine and acetylcholine. It has been proposed that diameter of the vas at different age groups and its responsiveness to neuromuscular transmitters may be taken into consideration when designing vas occlusive devices.

Development and initial evaluation of a vas deferens valve.

In 17 cases of vasectomy, the external diameter of vas deferens was found to be 2.07 +/- .27 mm (Mean +/- S.D.) with a range from 1.7 to 2.8 mm. The internal diameters were 0.93 +/- 0.13 at 5 g and 1.24 +/- 0.16 mm at 100 g insertion force applied to the measuring cone, with lumen ranges from 0.7 to 1.2 and 1.0 to 1.7 mm, respectively. The left-right variations in the same inidividual were of a similar order as between different individuals. Measurements in 6-10 kg rhesus monkeys revealed an internal vas diameter around 0.6 mm with the measuring cone only eased in. At considerably high pressure the vas could be distended to show an internal diameter around 1 mm. The external diameters ranged from 1.5 to 2 mm. Local application to the vas in vivo or in vitro of alpha or beta adrenergic blocking agents, and sodium nitrate had no appreciable effects on the diameters. Three types of valves were developed and tested. The tap-like and the rotary valves were not satisfactorily leak-proof. But the valve with stop-cock mechanism was found to be satisfactory. It was further tested by examining the ejaculate obtained by the method of electro-ejaculation after implanting the valve in the monkey vas. The stop-cock valve is being proposed as a working model for producing reversible vas-occlusion.