Lexical processing of visually and auditorily presented nouns and verbs: evidence from reaction time and N400 priming data.

We investigated two aspects of lexical organization in normal adults employing behavioral and electrophysiological indices of semantic priming, namely: (1) Is there evidence for differential processing of nouns and verbs? (2) Is there evidence for separate systems for processing of orthographic and phonologic representations of words? Reaction time (RT), N400 amplitude and latency were used to examine the effect of semantic priming on lexical access of auditorily and visually presented nouns and verbs. We found that the temporal patterns of primed RTs and N400 latencies differed for nouns and verbs, indicating a functional difference in processing. However, the absence of topographic differences in N400 between nouns and verbs did not support anatomically distinct representations of these word classes. By contrast, a modality-specific topography at N400, in addition to RT and N400 amplitude differences between auditory and visual conditions, supported the proposed separation of the orthographic and phonologic representations of words. The implications of the findings for general theories of lexical organization are discussed.

Electroencephalographic consequences of sodium dehydrocholate-induced blood-brain barrier disruption: Part 1. Acute and chronic effects of intracarotid sodium dehydrocholate.

Prior work has shown that the intracarotid infusion of sodium dehydrocholate can produce prolonged reversible blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Associated with barrier disruption is the occasional presence of behavioral seizure activity. Electroencephalographic changes were monitored in 32 rats after BBB disruption by the left internal carotid artery infusion of sodium dehydrocholate. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was monitored for 3 hours after disruption in 20 animals, and the remaining 12 animals were followed for 24 hours. The EEG was also monitored in 8 additional control animals: 4 had undergone carotid artery infusion with normal saline, and 4 had received sodium dehydrocholate intravenously. The 20 rats monitored for up to 3 hours postinfusion were found to have varying grades of BBB disruption as measured by the presence of Evans blue staining of the brain. EEG alterations in this group included decreased amplitude and slowing as well as the presence of spike activity over the disrupted and the nondisrupted hemispheres. The more extensive the disruption, the more severe the EEG changes. In animals with minimal to moderate disruption, the EEG usually returned to base line levels within 3 hours after infusion. Animals with marked disruption usually had bilaterally flat EEGs before the end of the observation period. The remaining 12 animals were followed for 24 hours postinfusion. Of 9 animals surviving 24 hours, 1 animal had a decrease in amplitude over the disrupted hemisphere; in the remaining 8 animals, the spontaneous EEG was unchanged from predisruption levels except for occasional spikes in 2 animals. Animals infused with intracarotid saline or intravenous sodium dehydrocholate demonstrated no EEG changes or Evans blue staining.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electroencephalographic consequences of sodium dehydrocholate-induced blood-brain barrier disruption: Part 2. Generation and propagation of spike activity after the topical application of sodium dehydrocholate.

Sodium dehydrocholate was applied topically to the right hemispheric cortex of eight rats and the electrocorticogram was monitored from both the treated cortex and the homotopic cortex of the contralateral hemisphere. All animals developed blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in the treated cortex as evidenced by cortical staining with systemically administered Evans blue dye. Spike activity developed in three of eight animals after the topical application of dehydrocholate. The subsequent intravenous injection of sodium dehydrocholate provoked spike activity in both hemispheres in all eight animals. Dependent and independent spike activity was recorded in the nondisrupted hemisphere. The intravenous administration of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) resulted in alterations in spike activity in four of five animals because of penetration of the GABA through the altered BBB. These findings demonstrate that sodium dehydrocholate can result in increased BBB permeability when applied directly to the cortical surface. Spike activity subsequent to the topical application of dehydrocholate can be enhanced by systemic loading with dehydrocholate. Spike activity occurring over the nontreated cortex (secondary focus) represents interhemispheric propagation of spike activity from the disrupted hemisphere (primary focus). The lack of Evans blue staining in the actively discharging secondary focus suggests that spike activity does not account for the increases in BBB permeability observed with dehydrocholate treatment.

Pseudomonas stutzeri and related species undergo natural transformation.

Cells of Pseudomonas stutzeri are naturally transformed by homologous chromosomal DNA; they do not require chemical treatment to become competent. This capacity to undergo natural transformation was found to be shared by the closely related species P. mendocina, P. alcaligenes, and P. pseudoalcaligenes, but was not detectable in strains of P. aeruginosa, P. perfectomarinus, P. putida, P. fluorescens, or P. syringae. P. stutzeri could be transformed either on plates or in liquid medium. Only double-stranded chromosomal DNA was effective; single-stranded DNA and plasmid DNA were not. DNA fragments larger than 10 kilobase pairs were more effective than smaller fragments. The transformation frequency was proportional to DNA concentration from 1 ng/ml to 1 microgram/ml; higher concentrations were saturating. The maximum frequency, about 10(-4) transformants per recipient cell, was obtained with cells from a culture in the early stationary growth phase. A variety of chromosomal mutations have been transformed, including mutations to auxotrophy and to antibiotic resistance. Other systems for genetic exchange in P. stutzeri have not yet been found; transformation offers a means for the genetic analysis of this metabolically versatile organism.

Cell adhesion and cell surface topography in aggregates of 3T3 and SV40-virus-transformed 3T3 cells. Visualization of interior cells by scanning electron microscopy.

A technique for exposing the interior of aggregates of cultured cells has been developed and is described in this report. Using this technique, we have examined for the first time, by scanning electron microscopy, cell morphology and cell contact ultrastructure in the interior of aggregates of BALB/c 3T3 and SV40-transformed 3T3 cells. The 3T3 cells make initial intercellular contact by means of microvillar processes. Over a period of 3-8 h, some of these microvillar contacts are replaced by broader projections. In contrast, the SV40-transformed cells make initial intercellular contact by means of blebs or blunt projections which are also broadened and extended over a period of 3-8 h. For both 3T3 and SV40-3T3 cells, the surfaces of the cells which form the outer layer of the aggregate resemble the surfaces of single cells fixed in suspension, regardless of how long the aggregates have been cultured. Thse cells are covered with many cellular processes and are roughly hemispherical in profile. The surfaces of the internal cells of the aggregates, however, lose many of their cellular processes, develop smooth patches, and many become irregular in shape. This smooth morphology was also observed on the interior surfaces of the peripheral cell layer. From these observations we conclude that: (a) the stabilization of adhesive contacts is a slow process which takes at least 3-8 h; (b) the outer surfaces of peripheral cells differ significantly from the surfaces of interior cells; and (c) clear differences in surface topography exist between nonmalignant 3T3 cells and their malignant SV40 transformants.

Dibutyryl cyclic AMP treatment of 3T3 and SV40 virus-transformed 3T3 cells in aggregates. Effects on mobility and cell contact ultrastructure.

The random cell movement of BALB/c 3T3 and SV40 virus-transformed BALB/c 3T3 cells within homogeneous aggregates was studied by observing the degree of penetration of newly attached [3H]thymidine-labeled cells into the interior of the aggregates. The 3T3 cells penetrated into 3T3 aggregates an average of 0.89 cell diameter in 1.5 days, whereas the SV40-3T3 cells penetrated into SV40-3T3 aggregates an average of 3.20 cell diameters in the same time. Treatment of the aggregates with theophylline, theophylline plus prostaglandin E1, or theophylline plus dibutyryl cyclic AMP all decreased the penetration of the SV40-3T3 cells into SV40-3T3 aggregates (2.36, 1.22, and 0.79 cell diameters, respectively). The same treatments had little effect on 3T3 aggregates. The ultrastructure of 3T3 and SV40-3T3 cells in aggregates was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The 3T3 cells in aggregates were surrounded by microvilli and lamellipodia which were in contact with neighboring cells, whereas SV40-3T3 cells were nearly devoid of microvilli and lamellipodia and made contact at broader, less regular surface undulations. Treatment with theophylline plus dibutyryl cyclic AMP resulted in the appearance of microvilli on SV40-3T3 cells and also appeared to increase the area of intercellular contacts in both 3T3 and SV40-3T3 cells. These observations were supported for the surface cells of the aggregates by scanning electron microscopy.

Superior recall of letters in the right visual field with bilateral presentation and partial report.

The present investigation addresses itself to the question of whether a right visual field effect would emerge under conditions of bilateral letter presentation and partial report. Tachistoscopic trials consisting of eight letters, four in each field, were presented for 100 msec., to twenty right-handed adults. Ss were instructed to report the content of only one field on each trial. Under these conditions a right field superiority was obtained and an interaction between field and stimulus position. The field asymmetry appears to reflect the operations of cerebral dominance while the interaction suggests the influence of mnemonic factors.

Electron-probe microanalysis of silicon in the epidermis of rice (Oryza sativa L.) internodes.

Electron-probe X-ray microanalysis showed that significant amounts of silicon are accumulated in the entire epidermal system of the rice internode except in the stomatal apparatuses. Thus, there is a lack of specific sites for Si deposition from levels just above the base to the tip of the rice internode. In the intercalary meristem region, 1 cm above the base of the internode, point-count data indicate more Si accumulation in the dumb-bell shaped silica cells than in the long epidermal cells. Above this region, Si is accumulated essentially in a uniform pattern in all epidermal cells. Such a pattern for Si accumulation in rice internodes markedly contrasts with that for Avena internodes and may explain, in part, why rice plants have a higher percentage Si (dry weight basis) in their shoots. The adaptive significance of this silicification pattern in rice is discussed.

Central nervous system: recovery of function.

Rats with one- or two-stage lesions in the hippocampus, anzygdala, or frontal cortex were tested on a variety of tasks. Even though locus and amount of tissue damage were very similar in the two groups, animals with one-stage lesions were impaired as judged by performance on all problems, while aninmals with two-stage lesionis were not.