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Behavioral depression and perinatal action of pituitary-adrenocortical hormones
2x that in glucocorticoid treated animals has been described in depressed patients. We suggest that further investigation of the above described phenomena may lead to a better understanding of biochemical mechanisms of illness.
BEHAVIORAL DEPRESSION AND PERINATAL TION OF PITUITARY-ADRENOCORTICAL MONES
Klara Felszeghy. Maria Sasvari, C. Nyakas Central Research Division. University Medicine. Budapest, Hungary
ACHOR-
and E. Endroczi of Postgraduate
Depression is closely related to an abnormal hormonal state of the pituitaryadrenocortical axis. Since early postnatal hormonal manipulations exert a long-term modulation on adaptive behavior in rats we studied the effects of neonatal administration of dexamethasone (DEXI and that of an ACTH peptide (4-Y analogue. ORG 2766) on adult behavior related to depression. Psychomotor activity was tested in different situations: Porsolt‘s test, open- and closed-field tests, avoidance conditioning. To relate motor behavior to neurotransmitter function striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity was assayed. Escape attempts were reduced in the Porsolt test and exploration in other activity-tests after DEX treatment. ACTH 4-9 administration resulted in an opposite effect to that of DEX in all activity-tests. Striatal TH activity was decreased by DEX and increased by ACTH peptide treatments. In conclusion, neonatal DEX treatment induced behavioral depression and ACTH exerted an antidepressive type of action. The behavioral effects could be related to striatal dopamine metabolism.
REDUCING STRESS GAIN IN PREEMIES
AND
Tiffany Field University of Miami Medical
FACILITATING
School,
Miami,
WEIGHT
FL, U.S.A.
Massage appears to reduce stress and facilitate growth in preterm infants treated in the NICU. In a study on massage with preterm NICU neonates we noted that TcPO, did not decrease during massage as compared to the decreases noted during procedures such as heelsticks, suggesting that massage is a safe procedure. Massage also facilitates growth in preemies as evidenced by a 47% greater weight gain following 45 minutes massage/day for 10 days. The underlying mechanism for weight gain is not yet clear. However, vagal activity and catecholamine production are apparently increased. These increases may contribute to increased food absorption by gastrointestinal hormones such as gastrin and insulin. Related
research on increased vagal weight gain in cocaine exposed
activity, catecholamines infants is also discussed.
and
TIIE USE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS EVALUATOR TO MEASURE LEVELS OF ACTIVATION DURING A PLAY AND A LEARNING TASK
Barbara Fisher North Shore University U.S.A.
Hospital.
Manhasset.
New, York. NY.
Controversy exists among researchers regarding the contribution of play to cognitive restructuring. However, because of the unavailability of unobtrusive physiological measures and the difficulty in using them, few studies of the contribution of children’s play have been conducted. Recently, a relationship has been established between levels of activation, cognitive activity. and the fundamental frequency in the voice. In this study, the levels of activation of three to five year olds were measured during a play and a learning task, using the Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE). The PSE is thought to measure the fundamental frequency in the voice and, therefore, levels of physiological activation. The levels of activation for each task were plotted across time and compared. A significantly higher level of activation was obtained during the Syllogism (learning) and Puzzle (play) task (P = 0.01). Results supported the relationship between levels of activation and the need for continued research to validate the use of the PSE as an unobtrusive measure of physiological activation.
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES INFANT REACTIVITY
Nathan A. Fox Institute for Child Study, Park, MD, U.S.A. 20742
IN VAGAL
University
TONE
of Maryland,
AND
College
In this paper I will present evidence for an association between individual differences in resting vagal tone and infant temperament. We have recorded the spontaneous EKG in infants and have derived from these data a measure of the influence of parasympathetic activity on the heart. This measure, known as vagal tone, is derived via spectral analysis of the heart period process and quantification of the power spectra in the respiratory frequency band. This measure was computed from the EKG which had been recorded in infants while the infant was in a quiet alert state. Subsequent to the recording infant behavior was observed in response to a number of different affect eliciting situations. The data to he presented indicate stable individual differences across the first two years of life in the level of resting vagal tone. They also reveal a significant association between resting level of
BEHAVIORAL DEPRESSION AND PERINATAL TION OF PITUITARY-ADRENOCORTICAL MONES
Klara Felszeghy. Maria Sasvari, C. Nyakas Central Research Division. University Medicine. Budapest, Hungary
ACHOR-
and E. Endroczi of Postgraduate
Depression is closely related to an abnormal hormonal state of the pituitaryadrenocortical axis. Since early postnatal hormonal manipulations exert a long-term modulation on adaptive behavior in rats we studied the effects of neonatal administration of dexamethasone (DEXI and that of an ACTH peptide (4-Y analogue. ORG 2766) on adult behavior related to depression. Psychomotor activity was tested in different situations: Porsolt‘s test, open- and closed-field tests, avoidance conditioning. To relate motor behavior to neurotransmitter function striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity was assayed. Escape attempts were reduced in the Porsolt test and exploration in other activity-tests after DEX treatment. ACTH 4-9 administration resulted in an opposite effect to that of DEX in all activity-tests. Striatal TH activity was decreased by DEX and increased by ACTH peptide treatments. In conclusion, neonatal DEX treatment induced behavioral depression and ACTH exerted an antidepressive type of action. The behavioral effects could be related to striatal dopamine metabolism.
REDUCING STRESS GAIN IN PREEMIES
AND
Tiffany Field University of Miami Medical
FACILITATING
School,
Miami,
WEIGHT
FL, U.S.A.
Massage appears to reduce stress and facilitate growth in preterm infants treated in the NICU. In a study on massage with preterm NICU neonates we noted that TcPO, did not decrease during massage as compared to the decreases noted during procedures such as heelsticks, suggesting that massage is a safe procedure. Massage also facilitates growth in preemies as evidenced by a 47% greater weight gain following 45 minutes massage/day for 10 days. The underlying mechanism for weight gain is not yet clear. However, vagal activity and catecholamine production are apparently increased. These increases may contribute to increased food absorption by gastrointestinal hormones such as gastrin and insulin. Related
research on increased vagal weight gain in cocaine exposed
activity, catecholamines infants is also discussed.
and
TIIE USE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS EVALUATOR TO MEASURE LEVELS OF ACTIVATION DURING A PLAY AND A LEARNING TASK
Barbara Fisher North Shore University U.S.A.
Hospital.
Manhasset.
New, York. NY.
Controversy exists among researchers regarding the contribution of play to cognitive restructuring. However, because of the unavailability of unobtrusive physiological measures and the difficulty in using them, few studies of the contribution of children’s play have been conducted. Recently, a relationship has been established between levels of activation, cognitive activity. and the fundamental frequency in the voice. In this study, the levels of activation of three to five year olds were measured during a play and a learning task, using the Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE). The PSE is thought to measure the fundamental frequency in the voice and, therefore, levels of physiological activation. The levels of activation for each task were plotted across time and compared. A significantly higher level of activation was obtained during the Syllogism (learning) and Puzzle (play) task (P = 0.01). Results supported the relationship between levels of activation and the need for continued research to validate the use of the PSE as an unobtrusive measure of physiological activation.
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES INFANT REACTIVITY
Nathan A. Fox Institute for Child Study, Park, MD, U.S.A. 20742
IN VAGAL
University
TONE
of Maryland,
AND
College
In this paper I will present evidence for an association between individual differences in resting vagal tone and infant temperament. We have recorded the spontaneous EKG in infants and have derived from these data a measure of the influence of parasympathetic activity on the heart. This measure, known as vagal tone, is derived via spectral analysis of the heart period process and quantification of the power spectra in the respiratory frequency band. This measure was computed from the EKG which had been recorded in infants while the infant was in a quiet alert state. Subsequent to the recording infant behavior was observed in response to a number of different affect eliciting situations. The data to he presented indicate stable individual differences across the first two years of life in the level of resting vagal tone. They also reveal a significant association between resting level of