Levels Of Jumping Research Articles

Effect of Sharp Jumps at the Edges of Phase Response Curves on Synchronization of Electrically Coupled Neuronal Oscillators

We study synchronization phenomenon of coupled neuronal oscillators using the theory of weakly coupled oscillators. The role of sudden jumps in the phase response curve profiles found in some experimental recordings and models on the ability of coupled neurons to exhibit synchronous and antisynchronous behavior is investigated, when the coupling between the neurons is electrical. The level of jumps in the phase response curve at either end, spike width and frequency of voltage time course of the coupled neurons are parameterized using piecewise linear functional forms, and the conditions for stable synchrony and stable antisynchrony in terms of those parameters are computed analytically. The role of the peak position of the phase response curve on phase-locking is also investigated.

Comparison of withdrawal precipitating properties of various morphine antagonists and partial agonists in relation to their stereospecific binding to brain homogenates

In morphine-dependent rats the withdrawal precipitating properties of various morphine antagonists and partial agonists were studied by quantitatively evaluating a variety of different withdrawal signs. A comparison of the dose response curves of the various substances obtained for the different signs revealed marked differences in respect to the lowest effective doses (EDs) necessary to precipitate the withdrawal signs as well as in the maximum frequencies of the signs induced. The "pure" antagonist, naloxone, which was judged very potent according to the ED, precipitated the lowest levels of jumping, whereas certain partial agonists of the benzomorphane type, which were less potent according to the ED, induced very high levels of this sign. These latter compounds, however, failed to precipitate "complete" withdrawal, as evidenced by the nearly complete absence of some of the withdrawal signs. The jumping precipitating potency of the antagonists as judged from the ED was found to be highly correlated to the stereospecific binding of these substances to rat brain homogenate. On the other hand, the ability of the substances to precipitate high levels of jumping was seen to increase, at least within a certain range, with increasing degree of agonistic properties, as indicated by the ratio of stereospecific binding in the presence and absence of sodium.