Cytochrome P-45011 beta in rat brain

The presence of cytochrome P-45011 beta in rat brain was studied by immunohistochemistry using polyclonal rabbit antibodies raised against purified bovine adrenocortical P-45011 beta, which is involved in the steroid 11 beta-hydroxylation and glucocorticoid formation. The results showed that cytochrome P-45011 beta immunoreactivity is selectively localized to the tracts of myelinated fibers throughout the brain. The specificity of immunohistochemical stainings with P-45011 beta antibodies was established by control tests including nonimmune rabbit immunoglobulin Gs and P-45011 beta antibodies absorbed with purified antigen. Western immunoblots of homogenates from different brain areas with P-45011 beta antibodies, together with biochemical enzymatic assays for cytochrome P-45011 beta monooxygenase activity in these homogenates, confirmed the selective localization of this enzyme observed with immunohistochemistry. Cytochrome P-45011 beta and 11 beta-hydroxylase activity were detected in a homogenate from the cortical white matter (brain area rich in myelinated fibers) as in that from the rat adrenal, but were not detectable in a homogenate from the cerebral cortex (brain area poor in myelinated fibers). Furthermore, quantitation of the P-45011 beta bands on the immunoblots by the areal density revealed that the cortical white matter contains approximately 1.4 pmol of cytochrome P-45011 beta/mg of tissue protein, the value of which was about one sixth of the corresponding value estimated in the rat adrenal. This relatively high content of cytochrome P-45011 beta was also reflected in a relatively high level of 11 beta-hydroxylase activity measured in a homogenate of this brain area by biochemical enzymatic assays using [4-14C]-11-deoxycorticosterone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The somatotopic localisation of the descending cortical tract in the cerebral peduncle: a study using MRI of changes following Wallerian degeneration in the cerebral peduncle after a supratentorial vascular lesion

We studied the effects of Wallerian degeneration in the cerebral peduncle shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following a supratentorial vascular lesion, to identify the somatotopic localisation of the descending cortical tracts. Patients with a lesion involving a large area of a cerebral hemisphere had an area of abnormal signal intensity in the whole cerebral peduncle, suggesting Wallerian degeneration of all the whole descending cortical tracts. With a small lesion confined to the precentral gyrus, corona radiata, or posterior limb of the internal capsule there was an abnormal signal at the centre of the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the precentrospinal tract. Those with a small lesion confined to the paracentral gyrus had an abnormal area slightly lateral to the centre of the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the parietospinal tract. Patients with a lesion of the parietal or temporal lobes, not including the paracentral or precentral gyri, corona radiata, or the posterior limb of the internal capsule, had an abnormal area laterally in the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the parietopontine or temporopontine tract.     

多发性硬化皮质脊髓束的扩散张量纤维束成像定量研究

目的利用扩散张量纤维束成像(DTT)定量研究复发-好转型多发性硬化(RRMS)患者的皮质脊髓束分数各向异性(FA)值与正常志愿者之间的差异及其与扩展病残状态评分(EDSS)的相关性。方法对36例正常志愿者和64例RRMS患者进行扩散张量成像检查,重组出皮质脊髓束,计算出该纤维束的平均FA值,比较RRMS组与对照组之间是否存在差异,研究该指标与EDSS和锥体束评分的相关性。结果正常志愿者的皮质脊髓束FA值(男:0.501±0.026,女:0.493±0.024,左侧:0.500±0.031,右侧:0.494±0.024),无性别和侧别差异(P值均>0.05)。RRMS患者皮质脊髓束的FA值(0.472±0.037)明显低于对照组(0.497±0.028),差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。脑型(0.469±0.038)与脊髓型(0.476±0.035)RRMS患者的皮质脊髓束FA值之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。RRMS患者皮质脊髓束FA值与EDSS(平均3.0分)(r=-0.193,P<0.05)和锥体束评分(平均2.0分)(r=-0.218,P<0.05)存在弱相关性,其中,脑型患者的皮质脊髓束FA值与EDSS(平均3.1分)(r=-0.273,P<0.05)和锥体束评分(平均2.1分)(r=-0.268,P<0.05)的相关性较高,而在脊髓型患者的皮质脊髓束FA值与EDSS(平均2.8分)和锥体束评分(平均1.9分)均无显著相关性(r值分别为-0.080和-0.115,P值均>0.05)。结论RRMS患者皮质脊髓束的FA值存在明显异常,该指标可用作评价脑型RRMS患者的临床功能状态。     

Cholinergic balance in dementia with Lewy bodies: reversible worsening of Parkinsonism at rivastigmine dosage modulation

We describe a patient with probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) whose Parkinsonism worsened after administration of rivastigmine within the therapeutic dose range. Some extrapyramidal signs (EPS) then reversed to pre-treatment level after rivastigmine dose reduction. We draw attention to the need of EPS monitoring during titration of cholinesterase inhibitors in patients with DLB. This is the first report to our knowledge of iatrogenic worsening of Parkinsonism which was successfully managed by dose reduction.

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Sommario Si descrive il caso di un paziente affetto da Demenza a corpi di Lewy (Dementia with Lewy Bodies, DLB) probabile, in cui si è assistito ad un peggioramento del parkinsonismo dopo somministrazione di rivastigmina a dosi terapeutiche. Alcuni segni extrapiramidali sono regrediti al livello pre-trattamento con una riduzione posologica di rivastigmina. Si sottolinea la necessità di un monitoraggio dei segni extrapiramidali durante la titolazione della terapia con inibitori dell’acetilcolinesterasi cerebrale in pazienti con DLB. Questo è il primo caso descritto, a nostra conoscenza, di un peggioramento iatrogeno di parkinsonismo efficacemente gestito con una riduzione posologica della terapia con rivastigmina.

     

White Matter Fiber Tracking Computation Based on Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Clinical Applications

Fiber tracking allows the in vivo reconstruction of human brain white matter fiber trajectories based on magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI), but its application in the clinical routine is still in its infancy. In this study, we present a new software for fiber tracking, developed on top of a general-purpose DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) framework, which can be easily integrated into existing picture archiving and communication system (PACS) of radiological institutions. Images combining anatomical information and the localization of different fiber tract trajectories can be encoded and exported in DICOM and Analyze formats, which are valuable resources in the clinical applications of this method. Fiber tracking was implemented based on existing line propagation algorithms, but it includes a heuristic for fiber crossings in the case of disk-shaped diffusion tensors. We successfully performed fiber tracking on MR-DTI data sets from 26 patients with different types of brain lesions affecting the corticospinal tracts. In all cases, the trajectories of the central spinal tract (pyramidal tract) were reconstructed and could be applied at the planning phase of the surgery as well as in intraoperative neuronavigation.     

Hyperdipsia produced by severing ventral septal fiber systems.

The septum of male hooded rats (N = 59) was completely isolated from the rest of the brain (ISS) or was partially isolated by severing dorsal (DP), ventral (VP), anterior (AP), or posterior (PP) fiber tracts using a knife-cut technique. Daily water intakes and intakes following hypertonic NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PG) injections were measured. The septum totally degenerated for the ISS group and these rats had normal or hypodipsic daily intakes, likewise for intakes following NaCl and PG. Rats of the VP group sustained little septal damage, yet these cuts yielded the highest percentage (55 percent) of hyperdipsic daily drinkers of any group. The daily hyperdipsic rats drank normally in response to NaCl and PG, demonstrating a dissociation between daily drinking and drinking in response to specific thirst stimuli. The results indicate the importance of ventral fiber systems in the production of Septal Hyperdipsia, and support the notion that the septum has multiple effects upon water regulation.     

Convergent inputs from articular,cutaneous and muscle receptors onto ascending tract cells in the cat spinal cord

Summary 1.Responses were recorded from 160 ascending tract cells in segments L4 to L6 of the spinal cord in chloralose anaesthetized, spinalized cats. The tract cells were identified by antidromic activation following stimulation of pathways in the lateral and ventral funiculi at the level of the spinal cord transection at the thoracolumbar junction. Axonal conduction velocities ranged from 9 to 114 m/s. 2. A sample of 152 of the neurones examined could be subdivided according to the distribution of their receptive fields into 49 cells activated just from receptors located in skin (s cells), 17 neurones excited by receptors in deep tissues (d cells), 15 units with a convergent input from receptors in skin and deep tissues (sd cells), and 25 neurones with a convergent input from the knee joint and either skin (sj cells), deep tissues (dj cells) or both (sdj cells). No receptive fields could be demonstrated for the remaining 46 neurones. 3. S and sj cells were found almost exclusively in the dorsal horn, whereas many d, sd, sdj and dj units were in the ventral horn. Almost all of the cells that lacked receptive fields were in the ventral horn or intermediate grey. 4. Ninety-one of 158 cells (56%) demonstrated no background activity. Of these, 43 cells (27%) lacked receptive fields. Many of the silent neurones were in the ventral horn, but some were in the dorsal horn. Of 25 cells having knee joint input, 18 (72%) had background activity. 5. All of the neurones that had a receptive field in the knee joint also had a convergent input from receptors in other tissues. In 3 cases, there was a receptive field in the skin over the foot (sj cells). For 16 cells, receptive fields included not only the knee joint but also skin and deep tissue (sdj cells). Usually, the cutaneous receptive field was near the knee joint, but sometimes it was remote, such as on the foot. The deep receptive fields were chiefly in the muscles of the thigh and/or leg. For 6 dj cells, the receptive fields included not only the knee joint but also deep fields like those of sdj cells. 6. Cutaneous receptive fields were classified as low threshold (cells excited best by innocuous intensities of mechanical stimulation), wide dynamic range (cells activated by weak mechanical stimuli, but the best responses were to noxious stimuli) or high threshold (innocuous stimuli had little effect, but noxious mechanical stimuli produced a vigorous discharge). Similarly, stimulation of the knee joint with weak mechanical stimuli could excite some neurones, while others could be activated by weak or strong articular stimuli but were excited best by noxious stimuli, and still other neurones were activated by knee joint stimuli only if the intensity was noxious. 7. In several instances, contralateral receptive fields were noted. These were generally in deep tissue or in the knee joint. 8. It was concluded that many of the responses to articular stimulation of the spinal cord ascending tract cells examined in this study could have been mediated by the fine afferent fibres that supply the knee joint. Although further work will be required to determine which particular ascending tracts transmit nociceptive information concerning the knee joint, it can be proposed that many of the responses demonstrated here were likely to play a role in either joint pain of in triggering responses associated with joint pain.     

Morphology and distribution of Alzheimer neuritic (senile) and amyloid plaques in striatum and diencephalon

Summary Mapping of striatal and diencephalic plaque distribution was conducted in 25 cases of dementia of the Alzheimer type. This analysis was carried out by fluorescence microscopy of paraffinembedded tissue sections treated with Thioflavine S as fluorochrome. Consistent differences in plaque morphology and density between nuclei and fiber tracts were observed. Striatal and pallidal distribution was uneven, with plaque aggregation near and within certain fiber tracts: capsules, medullary laminae, and radial fasciculi. Diencephalic plaques showed also preferred aggregation near and within fiber tracts and within the intralaminar nuclei.The different subcortical plaque morphologies observed according to the nuclear or fiber tract location of the amyloid plaque, indicates that the peripheral (halo) portion of the plaque is determined by the neuropil response to the primary event: the amyloid deposit.No correlation was observed between the distribution of plaques and any particular neurotransmitter system. In that respect, plaques were present within the nucleus basalis. Neurofibrillary tangle distribution was also seen to be dissociated from plaque distribution.