Biomaterial Database

Effects of nicotine given into the brain of fowls. 1974

E Marley, and T J Seller

1 The effects of nicotine, given into the IIIrd ventricle of adult conscious fowls (Gallus domesticus) or infused into various brain regions of conscious young chicks, were tested on behaviour, electrocortical activity, respiratory rate and body temperature. Its effects given intraventricularly or applied externally to the brain-stem of anaesthetized fowls were also examined.2 After intraventricular nicotine, fowls squatted for 3 to 5 min with eyes closed, electrocortical activity resembling that during sleep but with superimposed spike activity. Following this, fowls reawakened and tachypnoea developed, together with partial abduction of the wings from the trunk, the back becoming horizontal and the tail flexed. These effects were prevented by pempidine.3 Intraventricular nicotine suppressed or, less commonly, reduced operant key-pecking, an effect unrelated linearly to dose.4 Intraventricular nicotine given to fowls anaesthetized with chloralose produced brief apnoea, followed by increased amplitude of respiratory excursion for about 5 minutes. Respiratory rate accelerated slightly but tachypnoea did not develop. Nicotine applied directly to the ventral brain-stem increased respiratory amplitude in three out of seven fowls.5 In anaesthetized fowls, intraventricular nicotine raised blood pressure for 2 to 3 min, an effect prolonged up to 70 min by acute bilateral vagotomy, whereas pressor effects of intravenous nicotine were extended merely two to three fold. Dividing the spinal cord at C2 prevented pressor effects of intraventricular nicotine; those of intravenous nicotine were unaltered.6 In young chicks, nicotine infused into the diencephalon, telencephalon and myelencephalon induced effects similar to those observed immediately after intraventricular nicotine, i.e. chicks squatted with closed eyes but recovered within 3 to 5 minutes. Simultaneously, electrocortical activity changed from an alert to the sleep pattern, usually with superimposed ;spike' activity. Tachypnoea and associated postural changes did not develop. Pempidine prevented the behavioural and electrocortical effects of nicotine.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007267	Injections	Introduction of substances into the body using a needle and syringe.	Injectables,Injectable,Injection
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D009538	Nicotine	Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke.	Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D010393	Pempidine	A nicotinic antagonist most commonly used as an experimental tool. It has been used as a ganglionic blocker in the treatment of hypertension but has largely been supplanted for that purpose by more specific drugs.
D010830	Physostigmine	A cholinesterase inhibitor that is rapidly absorbed through membranes. It can be applied topically to the conjunctiva. It also can cross the blood-brain barrier and is used when central nervous system effects are desired, as in the treatment of severe anticholinergic toxicity.	Eserine
D012119	Respiration	The act of breathing with the LUNGS, consisting of INHALATION, or the taking into the lungs of the ambient air, and of EXHALATION, or the expelling of the modified air which contains more CARBON DIOXIDE than the air taken in (Blakiston's Gould Medical Dictionary, 4th ed.). This does not include tissue respiration (	Breathing
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D001831	Body Temperature	The measure of the level of heat of a human or animal.	Organ Temperature,Body Temperatures,Organ Temperatures,Temperature, Body,Temperature, Organ,Temperatures, Body,Temperatures, Organ
D001933	Brain Stem	The part of the brain that connects the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES with the SPINAL CORD. It consists of the MESENCEPHALON; PONS; and MEDULLA OBLONGATA.	Brainstem,Truncus Cerebri,Brain Stems,Brainstems,Cerebri, Truncus,Cerebrus, Truncus,Truncus Cerebrus
D002552	Cerebral Ventricles	Four CSF-filled (see CEREBROSPINAL FLUID) cavities within the cerebral hemispheres (LATERAL VENTRICLES), in the midline (THIRD VENTRICLE) and within the PONS and MEDULLA OBLONGATA (FOURTH VENTRICLE).	Foramen of Monro,Cerebral Ventricular System,Cerebral Ventricle,Cerebral Ventricular Systems,Monro Foramen,System, Cerebral Ventricular,Systems, Cerebral Ventricular,Ventricle, Cerebral,Ventricles, Cerebral,Ventricular System, Cerebral,Ventricular Systems, Cerebral