No abstract

We have used quantitative autoradiography to localize in rat brain /3i-and . and 832 receptors are distributed heterogeneously among afatomically discrete nuclei and subregions of rat brain. This new technology will enable investigators to examine -adrenergic receptor subtypes in the brain at a much higher anatomical resolution than was previously possible. METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were decapitated, the brains mounted on a cryostat chuck, and 32-gm sections were cut, thawed, and mounted onto microscope slides as described (10). The sections were stored overnight at -20'C and then stored at -70'C for up to a week before use. The slides were allowed to warm to room temperature 20 min before use. They were then immersed in a Coplin slide jar containing 35 ml of a Tris-saline buffer (20 mM Tris'HCl/135 mM NaCl, pH 7.4), 1251-labeled (1251I-pindolol) pindolol (prepared as described in ref. 12), and various competing drugs. After incubation for 70 min at 230C, the slides were washed (3 x 20 min) in 40C Tris-saline buffer, rinsed quickly in cold distilled water to remove buffer salts, and rapidly dried on a slide warmer at 60'C. We either removed labeled brain sections for scintillation counting or exposed them for either 4.5 or 24 hr against LKB Ultrofilm, as described (10) 1585The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact.

No abstract

Based on prior family interaction studies and a systems conceptualization of deviant behavior, a specific, short-term behaviorally oriented family intervention program designed to increase family reciprocity, clarity of communication, and contingency contracting was developed for delinquent teenagers. The results indicated that 46 families receiving the program demonstrated significant changes in three family interaction measures at the end of therapy, and also significantly reduced recidivism rates at follow-up when compared to 30 families receiving alternate forms of family therapy and a total of 52 families receiving no professional treatment. The stud)' emphasized the utility of a therapy evaluation philosophy that includes a clear description of intervention techniques, a description of expected process changes, stringent nonrcactive outcome measures, and controls for maturation and attention placebo.

A clinical setting was used to cvalulc therapist characteristics, therapist process, and family process in a short-term systems-behavioral model of family intervention. Families were designated by one of four degrees of therapy outcome. These designations were supported by nonreactive recidivism data and independently derived process data in which improved families showed greater supportive communications. A priori assessments of therapists' structuring and relationship skills were strong descriptors of outcome variance. The data suggest that therapist relationship skills, heretofore overlooked in the behavior modification literature, may be crucial determinants of therapy success.