Qian XB, Andy OJ, Dearman C, Andrews M,
Rockhold RW
Department of Neurosurgery,
University of Mississippi Medical
Center,
Jackson USA
A variety of abnormal sensory/motor
behaviors associated with electrical discharges
recorded from the bilateral brainstem were
induced in adult WKY rats by mechanical
(electrode implants) and DC electrical current
stimulations and by acute and chronic
administration of cocaine.
The electrode implant implicated one side or
the other of the reticular system of the
brainstem but subjects were not incapacitated by
the stimulations. Cocaine (40 mg/kg) was
injected subcutaneously for an acute experiment
and subsequent 20 mg/kg doses twice daily for 3
days in a chronic study.
Cocaine generated more abnormal behaviors in
the brainstem perturbation group, especially the
electrically perturbated subjects. The abnormal
behaviors were yawning, retrocollis,
hyperactivity, hypersensitivity, "beating drum"
behavior, squealing, head bobbing, circling,
sniffing, abnormal posturing, and facial
twitching. Shifts in the power frequency spectra
of the discharge patterns were noted between
quiet and pacing behavioral states.
Hypersensitivity to various auditory, tactile,
and visual stimulation was present and shifts in
the brainstem ambient power spectral frequency
occurred in response to tactile
stimulation.
These findings suggest that the brainstem
generates and propagates pathological discharges
that can be elicited by mechanical and DC
electrical perturbation. Cocaine was found to
activate the discharge system and thus induce
abnormal behaviors that are generated at the
discharge site and at distant sites to which the
discharge propagates. Cognitive functions may
also be involved since dopaminergic and
serotonergic cellular elements at the brainstem
level are also implicated.
Symptoms
of neonatal ethanol withdrawal
Curr Alcohol 1981; 8; 485-493
Robe LB, Gromisch DS, Iosub S
Neonatal withdrawal symptoms in 15 cases of
fetal alcohol syndrome with maternal
intoxication at time of delivery, reported in 9
studies, are compared with symptoms reported in
138 cases of neonatal narcotic withdrawal. Seen
frequently in ethanol but rarely in narcotic
withdrawal are abdominal distention and
opisthotonos. Seen frequently in narcotic but
rarely in ethanol withdrawal are high pitch cry,
frequent yawning, excessive sucking,
mottling of the skin, excoriation, nasal
stuffiness, excess sweating, sleeplessness and
diarrhea. Seen frequently in both are increased
muscle tonicity and tremors; however,
convulsions are rare in narcotic yet are fairly
frequent in neonatal ethanol withdrawal.
