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Title: Effects of deuterium oxide and galvanic vestibular stimulation on visual cortical cell function

Abstract

The spontaneous and evoked unit activities of complex visual cortical cells were recorded from Brodmann's area 18 in immobilized, unanesthetized cats before, during, and after stimulation of the vestibular system. The vestibular system was stimulated by intravenous injection of deuterium oxide (D2O)--a noted nystagmogenic agent--or by direct galvanic stimulation of the labyrinth. Measures of the receptive-field areas, poststimulus time histograms, directional preferences, and the optimal speed of the light bar stimulating the cell were obtained before and after the application of D2O. Directional preferences were determined in a novel manner, using a method derived from a hierarchical clustering technique. Data were collected and analyzed from a) visual cortical cells in cats with intact labyrinths, b) visual cortical cells in cats following bilateral labrinthectomies, and c) nonvisual cortical cells in cats with intact labyrinths. The other cellular characteristics were also altered by the D2O. Galvanic stimulation of the labyrinth resembles, in its effects, the injection of D2O. In labyrinth-intact cats, the time course of area 18 spontaneous activity dramatically increased 30 min or more after D2O was administered. It peaked 2-3 h later and still had not returned to preinjection levels even 7 h after the D2O administration. In bilaterally labyrinthectomizedmore » cats, the spontaneous activity of the visual cells did not change following D2O administration. In nonvisual cells from labyrinth-intact cats, the spontaneous activity demonstrated a slight but significant decrease over time after D2O injection. In pilot studies, the cats were injected with D2O. Within 8-10 min afterward, signs of positional nystagmus commenced; and within 30 min, problems in maintaining balance were noted. This continued for 7-8 h before disappearing. In the labyrinthectomized animals, such effects were not observed.« less

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
OSTI Identifier:
6914745
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Neurophysiol.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 51:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; HEAVY WATER; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; BRAIN; CATS; EYES; STIMULATION; VISION; ANIMALS; BODY; BODY AREAS; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; FACE; HEAD; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; MAMMALS; NERVOUS SYSTEM; ORGANS; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; SENSE ORGANS; VERTEBRATES; WATER; 560162* - Radionuclide Effects, Kinetics, & Toxicology- Animals, Plants, Microorganisms, & Cells

Citation Formats

Reinis, S, Landolt, J P, Weiss, D S, and Money, K E. Effects of deuterium oxide and galvanic vestibular stimulation on visual cortical cell function. United States: N. p., 1984. Web.
Reinis, S, Landolt, J P, Weiss, D S, & Money, K E. Effects of deuterium oxide and galvanic vestibular stimulation on visual cortical cell function. United States.
Reinis, S, Landolt, J P, Weiss, D S, and Money, K E. 1984. "Effects of deuterium oxide and galvanic vestibular stimulation on visual cortical cell function". United States.
@article{osti_6914745,
title = {Effects of deuterium oxide and galvanic vestibular stimulation on visual cortical cell function},
author = {Reinis, S and Landolt, J P and Weiss, D S and Money, K E},
abstractNote = {The spontaneous and evoked unit activities of complex visual cortical cells were recorded from Brodmann's area 18 in immobilized, unanesthetized cats before, during, and after stimulation of the vestibular system. The vestibular system was stimulated by intravenous injection of deuterium oxide (D2O)--a noted nystagmogenic agent--or by direct galvanic stimulation of the labyrinth. Measures of the receptive-field areas, poststimulus time histograms, directional preferences, and the optimal speed of the light bar stimulating the cell were obtained before and after the application of D2O. Directional preferences were determined in a novel manner, using a method derived from a hierarchical clustering technique. Data were collected and analyzed from a) visual cortical cells in cats with intact labyrinths, b) visual cortical cells in cats following bilateral labrinthectomies, and c) nonvisual cortical cells in cats with intact labyrinths. The other cellular characteristics were also altered by the D2O. Galvanic stimulation of the labyrinth resembles, in its effects, the injection of D2O. In labyrinth-intact cats, the time course of area 18 spontaneous activity dramatically increased 30 min or more after D2O was administered. It peaked 2-3 h later and still had not returned to preinjection levels even 7 h after the D2O administration. In bilaterally labyrinthectomized cats, the spontaneous activity of the visual cells did not change following D2O administration. In nonvisual cells from labyrinth-intact cats, the spontaneous activity demonstrated a slight but significant decrease over time after D2O injection. In pilot studies, the cats were injected with D2O. Within 8-10 min afterward, signs of positional nystagmus commenced; and within 30 min, problems in maintaining balance were noted. This continued for 7-8 h before disappearing. In the labyrinthectomized animals, such effects were not observed.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6914745}, journal = {J. Neurophysiol.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 51:3,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1984},
month = {Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1984}
}