The effects of endurance treadmill training and taper training on the actomyosin ATPace activity of rat soleus muscle was studied. Taper training was defined as a linear regression reduction of time of training by 5% per day after steady state training had been established. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats of the Wistar strain were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (SC) sedentary control, (RC) running control, (TI) 7 day taper trained, or (TII) 14 day taper trained. The steady state exercise protocol consisted of two hours of treadmill running up a 12(DEGREES) slope at 27.5 m/min. for 11 weeks. At the end of the 7-day taper phase, TI animals were running for only 65% of the time of RC animals. At the end of the 14-day taper phase, TII animals were running for only 30% of the time of RC animals. Biochemical analysis of the soleus actomyosin ATPase activity followed procedures set by Baldwin, Winder, and Holloszy (1975). Results indicated a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in Mg++ activated actomyosin ATPase activity for RC (42%), TI (43%), and TII (38%) compared with SC values. Both TI and TII exercise protocols provided enough stimulus to maintain an enhanced actomyosin ATPase activity, and values were not different from RC values. A taper effect was then defined as the maintenance of the previously adapted muscle actomyosin ATPase activity while greatly reducing the amount of exercise stimulus applied to that muscle. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-12, Section: B, page: 3864. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.

This project sought to describe the roles of the dorsomedial-ventromedial nuclei (DMN-VMN) and the medial preoptic area (MPOA) in the regulation of mating-induced prolactin secretion in the female rat. Stimulation of the uterine cervix as in mating, initiates the recurring secretion of daily nocturnal and diurnal surges of prolactin. The DMN-VMN is an important regulatory area for the prolactin surges and operates as a stimulatory center. Electrical stimulation of this area mimics the effects of cervical stimulation inducing both surges of prolactin. The DMN-VMN is essential for induction of the diurnal surge. Electrolytic lesions of the DMN-VMN prevent initiation of diurnal surges by cervical stimulation without affecting nocturnal surge secretion. The regulatory functions of this area are sexually specific and sexually reversible. DMN-VMN stimulation has no effect on prolactin release in normal adult males rates but can trigger nocturnal surges in neonatally feminized male rats. The MPOA also has multiple regulatory functions, serving as an inhibitory center for the nocturnal surge and as both a stimulatory and inhibitory center for the diurnal surge. In conscious, cervically stimulated females electrical stimulation of the MPOA inhibits release of nocturnal or diurnal surges. In anesthetized, non-cervically stimulated females stimulation of the MPOA induces a diurnal surge. Also, electrolytic lesions of the MPOA terminate the diurnal surges in cervically stimulated rats. The prolactin inhibitory role of the MPOA is not sex specific. Lesions of the MPOA trigger nocturnal surges in females and small nocturnal and diurnal surges in males. MPOA stimulation inhibits the nocturnal surge but can not induce a diurnal surge in females bearing lesions of the DMN-VMN. This indicates that the MPOA functions independently of the DMN-VMN for nocturnal surge regulation while these two areas function together for regulation of the diurnal surge. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-09, Section: B, page: 2827. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 40-10, Section: B, page: 4681. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1979.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 40-10, Section: B, page: 4672. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1979.

The subcellular localization and release of the molluscan neuro-peptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH(,2) (FMRFamide) from ganglia of the marine mollusc, Macrocallista nimbosa, was examined. Ganglia were pooled, homogenized and subjected to differential centrifugation. FMRFamide was concentrated in the microsomal pellet. When the medium-speed supernatant was centrifuged in a discontinuous sucrose gradient, three separate peaks of activity were detected and identified as acetylcholine (ACh), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and FMRFamide. The relative concentration of FMRFamide in each fraction was determined by bioassay and by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Both determinations revealed a peak of peptide in the middle of the sucrose gradient. Electron micrographs of each of the gradient interfaces were analyzed. The interface containing the peak of biological FMRFamide activity was enriched two- to five-fold in neurosecretory granules with a mean diameter of 104 nm and various electron densities. Morphologically similar vesicles were also seen in intact ganglia. / Macrocallista ganglia were pooled and incubated in a series of seawater media. Release of immunoreactive FMRFamide into the media was enhanced two to seven times by exposure to a high potassium medium, and was reversibly inhibited by removal of the external calcium from the high potassium medium. Immunoreactive FMRFamide was present in Macrocallista hemolymph at a concentration (10('-9) M) that excites isolated Macrocallista ventricles. These findings strongly suggest that FMRFamide functions as a neurohormone or neurotransmitter in Macrocallista. / The effects of catecholamines, 5-HT and phenylethylamines on the isolated radula protractor muscle of Busycon contrarium were examined. FMRFamide, ACh and dopamine (DA) act at separate excitatory receptors. DA elicits a phasic contraction of the muscle that is rapidly desensitized by repeated high doses of DA. The actions of FMRFamide, ACh and DA are sodium-dependent; FMRFamide is more calcium-dependent than ACH or DA. 5-HT, DA and the phenylethylamines can relax muscles contracted by FMRFamide and ACh, possibly by acting at separate receptor sites, or at sites of action common to the amines. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-07, Section: B, page: 2723. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-01, Section: B, page: 0085. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1979.

The effects of altering skin and core temperature by cold exposure and exercise on substrate mobilization and utilization were examined. Six subjects between the ages of 22-27 years rested and exercised in neutral and cold environments to produce (1)a neutral core and neutral skin temperature, (2)a neutral core and cold skin temperature, and (3)a cold core and cold skin temperature. Free fatty acid (FFA), glucose (GL), lactate (LA), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) concentration were measured after 30, 60, and 90 minutes of exposure to three temperature conditions during rest and three conditions during exercise. In addition, heart rate (HR), respiratory quotient (RQ), and oxygen consumption (VO(,2)) were analyzed during the same time period. Analysis of variance(' ) with repeated measures was used to determine the significance of the effects of skin and core temperatures on the variables of interest. The results indicated that FFA, GL, LA, Hb, and Hct, concentration significantly increased during rest when both mean skin temperature (T(,sk)) and rectal temperature (T(,re)) were reduced. Plasma FFA(' ) concentration was also significantly elevated during exercise when both T(,sk) and T(,re) were lowered. No significant differences were observed when(' ) T(,sk) alone reduced. HR decreased and VO(,2) increased during rest when(' ) T(,sk) and T(,re) reduced but during exercise HR was reduced when T(,sk)(' ) alone was lowered. No significant difference was demonstrated between thermoregulatory VO(,2) during exercise and thermoregulatory VO(,2)(' ) during rest when comparing absolute values. However, when comparing the relative changes during each condition, greater increases were observed in thermoregulatory VO(,2) during rest than during exercise. A significant(' ) inverse correlation was observed between thermoregulatory VO(,2) and(' ) the increase in / FFA concentration during rest in the cold when T(,sk) alone(' ) was lowered. RQ values decreased during exercise in the cold when both T(,sk) and T(,re) were reduced. It was concluded that reductions in both T(,sk)(' ) and T(,re) are necessary during cold exposure to produce increases in substrates, hemoconcentration, lactate, and VO(,2). In addition, fat(' ) mobilization and utilization occurs during exercise in the cold only if reductions in both T(,sk) and T(,re) are produced. Light exercise may inhibit(' )the relative increase in thermogenesis during cold exposure but not whencomparing absolute values at a given time period. An inverse relationshipbetween thermogenesis and fat mobilization occurs during rest in the cold(, )when T(,sk) is reduced. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-03, Section: B, page: 0928. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 32-12, Section: B, page: 7285. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1971.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 36-01, Section: B, page: 0115. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1975.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 37-10, Section: B, page: 4903. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1976.