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Units of the caudate and putamen were studied during stereotactic operations in 11 patients with movement disorders. Responses of these units to different visual stimuli were found for cells of the caudate nucleus head. These units were activated mainly during the presentation of nutritional stimuli. The responses appeared when a slide was shown presenting an image of drink or food or the corresponding word. Frequently the same unit was activated by slides of the image and the word presented in succession. Responses to similar stimulations were not observed in the putamen. Among the parkinsonian patients, only those with tremor had responsive cells while the rigid patients had not. This discrepancy was correlated with the lowering of cortical metabolism demonstrated by PET scan in the rigid group of patients. These results are in agreement with those obtained in monkeys during food presentation. They present, moreover, the advantage of showing that these responses could be provoked in man by more abstract stimuli, not only the image but the name of the object. These observations do not imply a long testing period; 2 or 3 cells only are studied in each patient. They have the advantage for the patient of ascertaining the position of the trajectory in the striate structure, in the same way as thalamic nuclei are delineated using other types of stimuli. Moreover, it is of interest to have a better knowledge of the behavioral role played by different striatal regions at a time when lesions or stimulations at this level are proposed to cure abnormal movements in human.

GABA, three of its derivatives (l-GABOB, d-GABOB and delta-amino valeric acid), acetycholine (Ach), dopamine (DA) and l-Phe-Tyr all inhibit an identifiable giant neurone (the TAN, tonically autoactive neurone) of Achatina fulica. These effects were examined by microdrop application in two different conditions: in physiological solution and in the absence of chloride ions. The results show that the relatively transient (rapid) inhibitions caused by GABA, by its derivatives and by Ach are dependent on chloride ions; the relatively maintained (long-lasting) inhibitions, caused by DA and l-Phe-Tyr, are independent of chloride ions.

Amygdaloid kindling was studied after locus coeruleus lesion with 6-hydroxydopamine in the rat. Specific lesions, controlled with immunocytochemistry using an anti-norepinephrine antibody, facilitated the amygdaloid kindling. These results indicate that the noradrenergic system plays an inhibitory role in the development of amygdaloid kindling.

Three cases of pyoderma gangraenosum were associated with Takayasu arteritis (pulseless disease), characterized by disappearance of pulse, hypertension and/or aortic insufficiency. Another 11-year-old boy, suffering from a serious congenital heart malformation, presented skin lesions of pyoderma gangraenosum. In spite or rather low incidence of association of ulcerative colitis (10.4 p. 100), Japanese cases show frequent association of cardiovascular diseases, especially Takayasu arteritis (27.1 p. 100).