Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) and memantine attenuate periventricular tissue injury of the fourth ventricle in hydrocephalic rabbits

This study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Morinda citrifofia L. （Rubiaceae） commonly known as noni, and memantine （a N-methy-D-aspartate receptor inhibitor） on hydrocephalus-induced neurodegenerative disorders. Kaolin was injected into the cistern magna of male adult New Zealand rabbits to establish a hydrocephalus animal model. Memantine （20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally; memantine-treated group） or noni （5 mL/kg, intragastrically; noni-treated group） was administered daily for 2 weeks. Microtubule-associated protein-2 and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry were performed to detect neuronal degeneration and apoptosis in the periventricular tissue of the fourth ventricle of rabbits. Microtubule-associated protein-2 staining density was significantly decreased in the hydrocephalic group, while the staining density was significantly increased in the memantine- and noni-treated groups, especially in the noni-treated group. Noni treatment decreased the number of caspase-3-positive cells in rabbits with hydrocephalus, while memantine had no effect. These findings suggest that noni exhibits more obvious inhibitory effects on hydrocephalus-induced neurodegenerative disorders than memantine in periventricular tissue of the fourth ventricle.

Individual flexible endoscopic procedure for treatment of obstruction of fourth ventricle outlet

Objective To summarize the indication,method and effect of individual flexible endoscopic procedure for treatment of obstruction of fourth ventricle outlet. Methods The clinical data of 32 cases of obstruction of fourth ventricle outlet treated by individual flexible endoscopic

Role of the area postrema of medulla oblongata in the regulation of canine interdigestive migrating motor complex

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the area postrema (AP) of the medulla oblongata on gastrointestinal interdigestive migrating motor complex (MMC) and the plasma motilin level. METHODS: Interdigestive MMC activities of the antrum and duodenum were recorded by strain gauge implanted on the serosa of 8 conscious dogs. A cannula was intubated in femoral vein for motilin injection. The plasma motilin concentration was measured by RIA. We observed: (1) normal interdigestive MMC activity and fluctuations in plasma motilin concentration; (2) the effects of electrically damaging the AP on MMC activity and plasma motilin level; (3) whether intravenous injection of motilin could induce phase III contractions after the AP was destroyed. RESULTS: (1) Typical interdigestive MMC with phase I, II, III, and IV was recorded in normal dogs. Phase III was concurrent with the peak of plasma motilin level. (2) In damaged AP dogs, antroduodenal interdigestive MMC contractions were suppressed; cyclic, phasic and migratory pattern of MMC was disrupted. Plasma motilin concentration was decreased. Intravenous injection of motilin could not induce phase III contractions. CONCLUSIONS: The area postrema might play an important role, which is mediated by motilin, on the regulation of interdigestive MMC.