Pharmacokinetics of orally administered desferrithiocin analogs in cebus apella primates. (1/239)

The pharmacokinetic behavior of three iron chelators based on the desferrithiocin (DFT) pharmacophore, (S)-4, 5-dihydro-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid (desmethyldesferrithiocin, DMDFT, 2); (S)-4,5-dihydro-2-(2, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid [4-(S)-hydroxydesazaDMDFT, 3); and (R)-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxazolinecarboxylic acid, the oxazoline analog of desazaDMDFT, 4, is described. Although 2 and 3 are comparably effective in inducing iron excretion upon oral administration, they exhibit markedly different plasma pharmacokinetics. Ligand 2 achieves a substantially higher plasma concentration than does 3, yet the renal clearance of these compounds is similar. The oxazoline analog 4 shows poor iron clearance when administered orally, although it remains in the plasma for extended periods. Chelator 4 demonstrates a marked capacity to bind to human serum albumin compared with the thiazoline derivatives. The possible implications for designing ligands for the treatment of transfusional iron overload are discussed.  (+info)

Evidence for active control of rectus extraocular muscle pulleys. (2/239)

PURPOSE: Connective tissue structures constrain paths of the rectus extraocular muscles (EOMs), acting as pulleys and serving as functional EOM origins. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of orbital and global EOM layers to pulleys and kinematic implications of this anatomy. METHODS: High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to define the anterior paths of rectus EOMs, as influenced by gaze direction in living subjects. Pulley tissues were examined at cadaveric dissections and surgical exposures. Human and monkey orbits were step and serially sectioned for histologic staining to distinguish EOM fiber layers in relationship to pulleys. RESULTS: MRI consistently demonstrated gaze-related shifts in the anteroposterior locations of human EOM path inflections, as well as shifts in components of the pulleys themselves. Histologic studies of human and monkey orbits confirmed gross examinations and surgical exposures to indicate that the orbital layer of each rectus EOM inserts on its corresponding pulley, rather than on the globe. Only the global layer of the EOM inserts on the sclera. This dual insertion was visualized in vivo by MRI in human horizontal rectus EOMs. CONCLUSIONS: The authors propose the active-pulley hypothesis: By dual insertions the global layer of each rectus EOM rotates the globe while the orbital layer inserts on its pulley to position it linearly and thus influence the EOM's rotational axis. Pulley locations may also be altered in convergence. This overall arrangement is parsimoniously suited to account for numerous aspects of ocular dynamics and kinematics, including Listing's law.  (+info)

Binocular disparity can explain the orientation of ocular dominance stripes in primate primary visual area (V1). (3/239)

In the primate primary visual area (V1), the ocular dominance pattern consists of alternating monocular stripes. Stripe orientation follows systematic trends preserved across several species. I propose that these trends result from minimizing the length of intra-cortical wiring needed to recombine information from the two eyes in order to achieve the perception of depth. I argue that the stripe orientation at any point of V1 should follow the direction of binocular disparity in the corresponding point of the visual field. The optimal pattern of stripes determined from this argument agrees with the ocular dominance pattern of macaque and Cebus monkeys. This theory predicts that for any point in the visual field the limits of depth perception are greatest in the direction along the ocular dominance stripes at that point.  (+info)

Photoreceptor topography of the retina in the New World monkey Cebus apella. (4/239)

The number and topographical distribution of photoreceptors was studied in whole-mounted retinas of Cebus apella. It was estimated a total of 48 million rods and 3.8 million cones. The average peak foveal cone density and the Nyquist Limit at the foveola were estimated as 169, 127 cells/mm(2) and 46.77+/-7.98 cyc/deg, respectively. A cone-enriched rim was found near the ora serrata, more noticeable in the nasal retina. Rod distribution was asymmetrical along horizontal and vertical meridians with a higher density in the dorsal retina. The rod/cone ratio was variable and asymmetrical along both meridians.  (+info)

Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of N1,N11-diethylnorspermine in a Cebus apella primate model. (5/239)

The tissue distribution, metabolic profile, and pharmacokinetic parameters of i.v.-administered N1,N11-diethylnorspermine (DENSPM) are evaluated in Cebus apella primates, and the results are compared with data gathered from canine and human studies. Although the metabolic processing of DENSPM (i.e., deethylation and deaminopropylation) in dogs and primates is very similar, there are some significant differences in tissue distribution of the parent drug. In dogs, the organ concentration of DENSPM follows the order kidney >> liver approximately = lung > spleen. In the primate, the order is liver >> kidney approximately = spleen > lung. The difference in pharmacokinetic parameters between the species is profound with (area under the time-concentration curve)primate << (area under the time-concentration curve)dog; (terminal elimination half-life)primate << (terminal elimination half-life)dog; and (mean residence time)primate << (mean residence time)dog. The most notable difference between dogs and primates is seen in the fraction of parent drug excreted unchanged in the urine, 50% in the dog and < 1% in the primate. However, the pharmacokinetic parameters and urinary drug clearance in C. apella primates are remarkably similar to those in humans. Thus, C. apella is established as an excellent model for assessing the metabolism, tissue distribution, and pharmacokinetic properties of polyamine analogues.  (+info)

Scanning electron microscopy study of the choroid plexus in the monkey (Cebus apella apella). (6/239)

The cells of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles of the monkey Cebus apella apella were examined through scanning electron microscopy at contributing to the description of such structures in primates. The animals were anesthetized previously with 3% hypnol intraperitoneally and after perfusion with 2.5% glutaraldehyde, samples of the choroid plexus were collected after exhibition of the central portion and inferior horn of the lateral ventricles. The ventricular surface of those cells presents globose form as well as fine interlaced protrusions named microvilli. Among those, it is observed the presence of some cilia. Resting on the choroid epithelial cells there is a variable number of free cells, with fine prolongations which extend from them. They are probably macrophages and have been compared to Kolmer cells or epiplexus cells, located on choroid epithelium. The choroid plexus of the encephalic lateral ventricles of the monkey Cebus apella apella at scanning electron microscopy is similar to that of other primates, as well as to that of other species of mammals mainly cats and rats, and also humans.  (+info)

Cerebellar projections to the prefrontal cortex of the primate. (7/239)

The cerebellum is known to project via the thalamus to multiple motor areas of the cerebral cortex. In this study, we examined the extent and anatomical organization of cerebellar input to multiple regions of prefrontal cortex. We first used conventional retrograde tracers to map the origin of thalamic projections to five prefrontal regions: medial area 9 (9m), lateral area 9 (9l), dorsal area 46 (46d), ventral area 46, and lateral area 12. Only areas 46d, 9m, and 9l received substantial input from thalamic regions included within the zone of termination of cerebellar efferents. This suggested that these cortical areas were the target of cerebellar output. We tested this possibility using retrograde transneuronal transport of the McIntyre-B strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 from areas of prefrontal cortex. Neurons labeled by retrograde transneuronal transport of virus were found in the dentate nucleus only after injections into areas 46d, 9m, and 9l. The precise location of labeled neurons in the dentate varied with the prefrontal area injected. In addition, the dentate neurons labeled after virus injections into prefrontal areas were located in regions spatially separate from those labeled after virus injections into motor areas of the cerebral cortex. Our observations indicate that the cerebellum influences several areas of prefrontal cortex via the thalamus. Furthermore, separate output channels exist in the dentate to influence motor and cognitive operations. These results provide an anatomical substrate for the cerebellum to be involved in cognitive functions such as planning, working memory, and rule-based learning.  (+info)

M and P retinal ganglion cells of the owl monkey: morphology, size and photoreceptor convergence. (8/239)

We have estimated photoreceptor convergence to M and P retinal ganglion cells of two closely related nocturnal (owl monkey, Aotus) and diurnal (capuchin monkey, Cebus) anthropoids. Rod convergence is higher in the owl monkey retina while cone convergence to both M and P cells are very similar in the retinas of the owl monkey and the capuchin monkey. These results indicate that during evolution, the owl monkey retina has undergone changes compatible with a more nocturnal lifestyle, but kept a cone to ganglion cell relation similar to that found in diurnal primates.  (+info)