Opioid µ-receptors in the rostral medullary raphe modulate hypoxia-induced hyperpnea in unanesthetized rats.

AIM: It has been suggested that the medullary raphe (MR) plays a key role in the physiological responses to hypoxia. As opioid µ-receptors have been found in the MR, we studied the putative role of opioid µ-receptors in the rostral MR (rMR) region on ventilation in normal and 7% hypoxic conditions. METHODS: We measured pulmonary ventilation (VE) and the body temperatures (Tb) of male Wistar rats before and after the selective opioid µ-receptor antagonist CTAP (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2, cyclic, 0.1 µg per 0.1 µL) was microinjected into the rMR during normoxia or after 60 min of hypoxia. RESULTS: The animals treated with intra-rMR CTAP exhibited an attenuation of the ventilatory response to hypoxia (430 ± 86 mL kg(-1) min(-1)) compared with the control group (790 ± 82 mL kg(-1) min(-1) ) (P < 0.05). No differences in the Tb were observed between groups during hypoxia. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that opioids acting on µ-receptors in the rMR exert an excitatory modulation of hyperventilation induced by hypoxia.

5-HT1A, but not 5-HT2 and 5-HT7, receptors in the nucleus raphe magnus modulate hypoxia-induced hyperpnoea.

AIM: In the present study, we assessed the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors (5-HT(1A), 5-HT(2) and 5-HT(7)) in the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) on the ventilatory and thermoregulatory responses to hypoxia. METHODS: To this end, pulmonary ventilation (V(E)) and body temperature (T(b)) of male Wistar rats were measured in conscious rats, before and after a 0.1 microL microinjection of WAY-100635 (5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, 3 microg 0.1 microL(-1), 56 mm), ketanserin (5-HT(2) receptor antagonist, 2 microg 0.1 microL(-1), 36 mm) and SB269970 (5-HT(7) receptor antagonist, 4 microg 0.1 microL(-1), 103 mm) into the NRM, followed by 60 min of severe hypoxia exposure (7% O(2)). RESULTS: Intra-NMR microinjection of vehicle (control rats) or 5-HT antagonists did not affect V(E) or T(b) during normoxic conditions. Exposure of rats to 7% O(2) evoked a typical hypoxia-induced anapyrexia after vehicle microinjections, which was not affected by microinjection of WAY-100635, SB269970 or ketanserin. The hypoxia-induced hyperpnoea was not affected by SB269970 and ketanserin intra-NMR. However, the treatment with WAY-100635 intra-NRM attenuated the hypoxia-induced hyperpnoea. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that 5-HT acting on 5-HT(1A) receptors in the NRM increases the hypoxic ventilatory response.

[Retinal phacomas. Apropos of 10 cases of astrocytoma]. / Les phacomes rétiniens. A propos de dix observations d'astrocytomes.

Clinical and angiographic findings in 10 cases of retinal astrocytomas seen at the Clinique Ophtalmologique de Créteil are described. Classical features concerning onset of the disease, clinical aspects, and evolution of these tumors are confirmed. Some atypical findings are reported, including the marked proportion of isolated astrocytomas unrelated to phacomatosis, and the high frequency of complications of these lesions, usually considered to be stable.

[Ocular electrophysiology and synthetic antimalarial agents (author's transl)]. / Electrophysiologie oculaire et antipaludéens de synthèse.

Ocular electrophysiology investigations are essential for detecting retinal complications of prolonged treatment with synthetic antimalarial agents. The techniques employed and the principal lesions discovered by the examination are described. The analysis of lesions found in 29 out of 120 cases examined showed that only simple close surveillance was necessary in 17 cases, a reduction in daily dosage in 11 cases, and interruption of treatment in one case only. The modalities of ocular electrophysiology surveillance during prolonged treatment with antimalarial agents are outlined.