ABSTRACT
The reticular thalamic nucleus (RTn) controls the overall activity of thalamo-cortical neurons information processing. GABAergic RTn neurons have one of the highest densities of D4-type dopamine receptors in subcortical structures. The unitary electrical activity of RTn neurons was recorded in vivo in Wistar rats in order to study the effects of local activation and blockade of D4 receptors under both conditions, normal and ipsilateral lesion of the dopaminergic pathways. Our data suggest that: i) there is a tonic dopaminergic input to the RTn; ii) local activation of D4 receptors increases the basal firing rate of RTn neurons in normal and lesioned rats, and iii) local blockade of D4 receptors diminishes the firing rate in normal but not in lesioned rats. Altogether, our findings support that dopamine contributes to the spontaneous basal firing of the RTn neurons through D4-type dopamine receptors.
Subject(s)
Dopamine/metabolism , Receptors, Dopamine D4/metabolism , Thalamic Nuclei/metabolism , Animals , Electrophysiological Phenomena/physiology , GABAergic Neurons/metabolism , Male , Neural Pathways/physiology , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Receptors, Dopamine D4/physiology , Thalamic Nuclei/physiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of the introduction of a programme for rational use of medicines (PRUM) on the pharmacotherapeutic prescription profile of the primary care teams in the Ciudad Real health area. DESIGN: A longitudinal and prospective intervention study. The Area's total general medical prescription (January, May and August, 1994 and 1995) was used. SETTING: Ciudad Real Primary Care Area of INSALUD. PARTICIPANTS: 166 general practitioners, all the prescribing doctors in the area. INTERVENTION: Introduction of a programme of rational use of medicines. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Expenditure/inhabitant, prescriptions/inhabitant, expenditure/prescription, units of drugs of low therapeutic value (LTV), cost of calcitonins/pensioner and units of hypolipaemiants/100 pensioners were measured, in function of seven variables of the prescriber and six variables of the population group. Breaking down the prescriber's variables, least expenditure/inhabitant per month corresponded to doctors over 50, followed by temporary doctors, those not in paediatrics and those with their post in an urban centre. There was a positive correlation between expenditure/inhabitant per month and the number of prescriptions issued. CONCLUSIONS: 1. After the initial phase of PRUM, an increase in expenditure and improvement in the qualitative profile of prescription were noted. 2. Information taken from the study has proved to be an adequate planning and management tool.
