Effects of milk curd on saliva secretion in healthy volunteer compared to baseline, 2% pilocarpine and equivalent pH adjusted acetic acid solutions.

Background: Dry mouth is a common clinical problem, and different products have been proposed to improve it. In this investigation, the effects of "milk curd" on the amount of saliva secretion were studied. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 patients (aged 20-30) were selected from healthy volunteers. Milk curd concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4%, and 2% pilocarpine were prepared as drops. The impact of the drugs on the saliva weight was assessed after 1-5 min. To determine the effects of the pH of the milk curd on the amount of saliva secretion, different concentrations of acetic acid were used. Results: At the end of the first minute, the differences between the data for all groups were statistically significant, and the difference between the 2% and 4% milk curd groups was higher than the others (P < 0.0001). The differences in the amount of the saliva secreted at the end of the second minute between the baseline and 4% milk curd groups and between the 0.5% and 4% MC groups were significant (P = 0.006 and P = 0.025, respectively). In total, there was no significant difference between the effect of various pH treatments and the amount of baseline saliva secretion. Conclusion: Milk curd has a significant local impact, and the saliva increase depends on the dose. It seems that this effect is not only related to its acidic taste. As a result, factors other than pH are involved in the effect.

Effect of pilocarpine mouthwash on salivary flow

Pilocarpine is a cholinergic agonist that increases salivary flow and has been used to treat xerostomia. Oral intake is the most frequent route of administration. Adverse effects are dose-dependent and include sudoresis, facial blushing and increased urinary frequency. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of topical pilocarpine solutions as mouthwashes on salivary flow and their adverse effects on healthy subjects. Forty volunteers received 10 ml 0.5, 1 and 2 percent pilocarpine solutions or 0.9 percent saline in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled manner. Salivation was measured before and 45, 60 and 75 min after mouth rinsing for 1 min with 10 ml of saline or pilocarpine solutions. Vital signs were measured and ocular, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms, anxiety and flushing were estimated using visual analog scales. There was a dose-dependent increase in salivation. Salivation measured after 1 and 2 percent pilocarpine (1.4 +/- 0.36 and 2.22 +/- 0.42 g, respectively) was significantly (P<0.001) higher than before (0.70 +/- 0.15 and 0.64 +/- 0.1 g), with a plateau between 45 and 75 min. Cardiovascular, visual, gastrointestinal and behavioral symptoms and signs were not changed by topical pilocarpine. Mouth rinsing with pilocarpine solutions at concentrations of 1 to 2 percent induced a significant objective and subjective dose-dependent increase in salivary flow, similar to the results reported by others studying the effect of oral 5 mg pilocarpine. The present study revealed the efficacy of pilocarpine mouthwash solutions in increasing salivary flow in healthy volunteers, with no adverse effects. Additional studies on patients with xerostomia are needed

Implicacion de la via colinergica muscarinica en la memoria de trabajo espacial / Implication of muscarinic cholinergic neurotransmissionon spatial working memory

Ratas macho de la cepa Wistar, entrenadas en una tarea de alternancia en un laberinto en T (memoria de trabajo) y en una discriminación de claves visuales y tactiles (memoria asociativa) fueron tratadas por vía sistémica, con dos bloqueantes de la neurotransmisión colinérgica muscarinica (escopolamina y atropina), en un rango de dosis entre 0,1 y 3,0 mg/kg. Ambos antagonistas colinergicos indujeron un aumento significativo de los errores (p < 0,05), aunque las dosis requeridas para ello fueron diferentes: 1,0 y 3,0 mg/kg para la atropina, y 0,6 y 1,0 mg/kg para la escopolamina. Estas diferencias podrian ser atribuidas, en primera instancia, a la mayor penetración de la escopolamina a través de la barrera hemato-encefálica. Ninguna de las dosis de atropina o escopolamina empleadas modificó significativamente la ejecución de la tarea de memoria asociativa. LaN-Metil-escopolamina, un análogo cuaternario de la escopolamina y por ende de menor penetración al SNC ante su administración sistémica, no produjo efectos significativos sobre el rendimiento en ninguna de las dos tareas. Ello sugiere que las acciones desarrolladas por la escopolamina y por extensión las observadas con atropina, son de naturaleza central. Finalmente se examina-ron tambien los posibles efectos de la manipulación de la demora y de la cantidad de recompensa, sobre el rendimiento en MT espacial.

Asymmetrical effects of the unilateral implant of pilocarpine on the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area on spontaneous ovulation of the adult rat

The effects on ovulation at the next strus after unilaterally implanting pilocarpine in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area (POA-AHA) of rats on each day of the estrous cycle were analyzed. Implantation on the left side of POA-AHA on the day of estrus blocked ovulation in all animals, whereas implantation on the right side did not (0/5 vs. 4/4, p<0.05). Implantation on diestrus 1 or 2 on either side of the POA-AHA blocked ovulation. Implatation on the righ side of the POA-AHA at the day of proestrus blocked ovulation (1/6 animals ovulated), while 10/12 with pilocarpine on the left side ovulated (p<0.05).The administration of 3.7 µg of GnRH at 13:00 h o the expected day of proestrus induced ovulation in 36/42 treated animals. In rat with a pilocarpine implant, the injection of estradiol benoznate on diestrus 2 restored ovulation only in those animals with the pilocarpine implant placed in the left side of the POA-AHA, performed on the day of estrus. The results support the previous estatements that in the adult rat POA-AHA, the cholinergic mechanism regulating preovulatory GnRH release, is lateralized. In addition, at the beginning of the estrous phase, the PAO-AHA-cholinergic system needs to remain undisturbed for normal ovulation to take place at the next estrus

A comparative evaluation of pilocarpine 1% and clonidine 0.125% versus timolol 0.5%.

All the presently available antiglaucoma medications have either local or systemic adverse effects. Combinations of drugs are being used not only to increase the effectivity and compliance but also to decrease the incidence and magnitude of side effects. The single dose response of open angle glaucoma eyes to pilocarpine 1%, clonidine 0.125%, a combination of pilocarpine 1% and clonidine 0.125%, and timolol 0.5% was studied in a double blind, masked, cross over study. Over a period of twelve hours the effectivity of the combination of pilocarpine 1% and clonidine 0.125% was significantly more than that of either drug alone and was found to be similar to that of timolol 0.5%. No local or systemic adverse effects were seen.

Electrical and chemical stimulation of the same hypothalamic loci in relation to agressive behaviour in cats: a comparison study.

Chemitrodes which permit electrical and chemical stimulation of the same hypothalamic loci were implanted in anterior hypothalamic and preoptic regions. These sites were stimulated electrically using biphasic square wave pulse (1 ms, 60 Hz) at a current strength ranging from 150-800 microA to evoke an aggressive response. At lower current strength of 150-200 micro A, defence response, a sort of non-specific response can be elicited from these regions. Increasing the current strength to 400 microA led to the recruitment of affective and somatic components and changed the response pattern either to affective attack or flight. The loci producing affective attack response were localized more laterally and ventrally while the loci producing flight response were located in the dorsomedial regions of the hypothalamus. In this response the animal made a goal-directed attempt to escape through an escape route. Increasing the current strength to 500 microA in the dorsomedial regions changed the flight response to violent flight, which involved vigorous running with unsheathed claws and attacking objects if obstructed. Similar increase in current strength at loci producing affective attack only led to a decrease in the latency of response and made the attack more vigorous. Microinfusion of carbachol in graded doses of 2-15 microgram at all these loci produced a profound affective display. At lower doses of 2 and 5 microgram, only some components of affective display like alertness, pupillary dilation and ear flatness were exhibited. Increasing the dose to 10 micrograms and 15 micrograms led to the recruitment of other affective components like piloerection, salivation, hissing and baring of teeth. Microinfusion of carbachol at all loci producing affective attack on electrical stimulation produced a prononced affective display while microinfusion of carbachol at loci producing flight response led to the development of defence posture. At six loci a typical flight response was obtained while violent flight was never exhibited at any of these sites. Microinfusion of atropine (10 microgram in 1.0 microliter saline) at these loci completely blocked the carbachol induced response. Both somatomotor and affective components were completely inhibited. However, the responses obtained on electrical stimulation were not totally blocked following atropine infusion and some of the somatomotor and affective components could be elicited with higher current strength. These studies indicate the involvement of cholinoceptive mechanisms in the elicitation of hypothalamically induced aggresive behaviour. Microinfustion of hexamethonium bromide, a nicotinic blocker in 50 micrograms doses did not affect the aggressive response.