RESUMEN
Objective·To evaluate if ultrasound acoustic force can reduce cerebrovascular micro-emboli after cardiac surgery. Methods·Seven pigs were used during the experiment, three for air emboli injection, three for solid emboli injection, and one for safety study. After anesthesia, right carotid artery, left atrial appendage, ascending aorta, and proximal innominate artery were exposed surgically. An intravenous catheter was inserted into left atrial appendage for injecting air or solid micro-emboli. The ultrasound transducer was placed at the bifurcation of the aorta and the innominate artery, with the sonic beacon toward the descending aorta. Micro-emboli through the right carotid artery were monitored by ultrasound transducer. Micro-emboli mixture (10 mL, air emboli or solid emboli) was injected with or without ultrasonic activation, each repeating three times. Micro-emboli through right carotid artery were measured under each condition. Ultrasonic time-intensity curves were performed and analyzed. For safety test, ultrasound with the same energy on a pig for 5 minutes was applied. The tissue samples were obtained for pathological evaluation from sonicated and non-sonicated areas of the aorta, trachea and the esophagus. Results·Ultrasonic time-intensity curve showed that the mean ultrasonic intensity of the right common carotid artery significantly decreased after ultrasonic activation. The intensity of air emboli reduced from 128.8±32.7 to 56.4±21.1 (P=0.000), while the intensity of solid emboli reduced from 109.8±19.9 to 75.4±21.9 (P=0.000). H-E staining of the surrounding tissues showed no differences between sonicated and non-sonicated areas of the aorta, trachea and the esophagus. Conclusion·Ultrasonic acoustic force can decrease the number of micro-emboli that enter the brain. Thus, it may lower the risk of postoperative neurological complications after cardiac surgery.
RESUMEN
Aims: The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of continuous action of ultrasonic waves of variable frequencies on behavior of rats in "classical" tests used to reveal depression-like behavior, to evaluate the influence of different psychotropic drugs on rates of these tests and to analyze expression of several genes involved in pathogenesis of depression. Study Design: Rats in individual cages were exposed to ultrasonic irradiation for 21 days. Place and Duration of Study: V.P. Serbsky National Recearh Center For Social and Forensic Psychiatry, Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, Moscow, Russian Federation, between November 2012 and January 2013. Methodology: 48male non-pedigree albino rats were divided into 5 groups: nonultrasound- saline, ultrasound-saline, ultrasound-fluoxetine, ultrasound-bupropion and ultrasound-tianeptine. After 21 days of irradiation social interaction test, forced swimming test and sucrose preference test (anhedonia test) were conducted. Than rats were decapitated and prefrontal cortex were taken for RT-qPCR gene expression analysis of 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5HT1B, 5HT2B receptors and SERT. Results: Depression-like behavior manifests itself in reduced social activity in social interaction test, increased immobility in forced swimming test and lower sucrose consumption in anhedonia test. The administrated antidepressants demonstrated their effectiveness, except for bupropion in the social interaction test. RT-qPCR gene expression analysis showed reduced expression of 5HT2A receptor gene and increased expression of SERT gene in the prefrontal cortex of rats stressed with ultrasonic radiation. Conclusion: The obtained data allow to conclude that further investigations with lager number of animals, extended tests battery may allow to claim that this model meets the main requirements set to animal models (face, predictive and construct validity) and can be used in studies of depression-like disorders caused by a situation of informational uncertainty and in pre-clinical development of new antidepressants.