Journal of neuroscience methods
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Sep 1992
A sensitive ELISA for glial fibrillary acidic protein: application in CSF of children.
In the present study we describe a sensitive ELISA for determination of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). To validate the method combined determinations of GFAP and S-100 protein were performed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of normal children and children with autism. The GFAP ELISA is of sandwich type and uses the biotin-avidin system. ⋯ High levels of GFAP in combination with normal S-100 protein concentrations in CSF indicates reactive astrogliosis in the CNS. In conclusion, the sensitive ELISA described makes it possible to measure low levels of GFAP present in the CSF of children. Combined assays of GFAP and S-100 protein can be used to discriminate between acute and chronic brain disorders in children.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Jun 1988
Selective averaging of argon laser induced pre-pain and pain related cortical responses.
The argon laser was found to be suitable for pre-pain and pain stimulation. The visible (488 and 515 nm) argon laser light penetrates the skin and is absorbed by melanin and haemoglobin. Argon laser stimuli of different intensities were perceived differently, and could be classified into 3 pre-pain and 3 pain classes. ⋯ Pre-pain related responses were only recorded when selective averaging according to perception was used. The amplitude of the selectively averaged pain related cortical responses correlated with the subjective sensation of pain. Selective averaging of pre-pain and pain related single responses may prove useful in studying the cortical projection of different perceptions or modality patterns, and to investigate the function of the thermal and nociceptive pathways and their interactions.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · May 1988
The automated measurement of hindlimb flexor reflex of the rat as a substitute for the tail-flick assay.
A new method for the study of stimulation-produced analgesia is introduced. The hindlimb flexor EMG, in response to noxious electrical stimulation of the paw, is used as an indirect index of analgesia induced by electrical stimulation at different brain sites. ⋯ The high repetition rate allows a rapid determination of the threshold current intensities or the brain stimuli required to suppress the hindlimb withdrawal. The test is objective, avoids skin damage and sensitization and can be performed semi-automatically when implemented with a small PC.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Sep 1987
Specific, selective, and complete staining of neurons of the myenteric plexus, using cuprolinic blue.
Wholemounts consisting of both muscular layers of the rat's intestine have been stained with Cuprolinic blue and magnesium chloride. The procedure, which is specific for RNA, gives selective coloration of the somata of the neurons of the myenteric plexus. ⋯ The absence of background color enables neurons to be identified more confidently and counted more quickly than is possible with other techniques, in which nuclei or mitochondria in smooth muscle and neuroglial cells are also stained. Numbers of myenteric neurons determined using the new method are higher than those obtained by other means.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Nov 1982
A controlled pneumatic technique for experimental spinal cord contusion.
The 'Allen technique', a weight-drop procedure introduced in 1911, remains the most widely used technique for experimental spinal cord contusion. Control of injury severity in this procedure is achieved by alteration of the height from which the standardized weight (usually 20 g) is dropped. It has not been possible in this technique to independently vary the amount of cord compression and the initial velocity of compression, since both are related to drop-weight kinetic energy. ⋯ More importantly, a pilot series at 2 m/s contact velocity with a range of compression has demonstrated neurophysiologically distinct levels of spinal cord injury as a function of compression. This includes a 'moderate' functional injury with impaired and delayed neuronal conduction through the injury site. Such a 'moderate' injury, at the threshold between recovery and permanent cord dysfunction, is particularly promising for the study of mechanisms underlying progressive post-contusion pathology; 'moderate' injury has not been reproducibly generated in weight-drop techniques.