Morphological assessment in pinealectomy and foetal pineal gland transplantation in rats: Part I

Summary The effects of pineal gland, an endocrine organ known to affect the physiology of various organs and systems including the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis, on the morphological characteristics of target organs were investigated in rats after pinealectomy and foetal pineal gland transplantation to a subpial cortical area close to the pinealectomized region.It was demonstrated that weight gain was significantly slower in pinealectomized male rats (p<0.01); pituitary gland weight was lower in the pinealectomized group (p<0.01) and transplantation had no effect on the weight of this organ; weight of adrenal gland and testis were lower after pinealectomy (p<0.01) but restored back to control levels after transplantation; the mitotic activity in seminiferous tubules increased with pinealectomy and returned back to control indexes after transplantation.Research on hypothalamic catecholaminergic content revealed a diminished histofluorescence in pinealectomized rats which showed a potentiated restoration after transplantation.The innervation of the pineal gland was studied by anterograde and retrograde injections of Wheat Germ Agglutinin Horse Radish Peroxidase from superior cervical ganglion and pineal gland, respectively. It was demonstrated that cell bodies were traced both at the transplanted tissue and hypothalamus.In view of these data, the multifunctional and a probable high level homeostatic harmony regulator essence of pineal gland is discussed.The paper has been awarded the 1993 Upjohn prize for Neurosurgical Research of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies.     

2-甲基-7-亚甲基-1,4,6-三氧螺[4,4]壬烷与丙烯腈、丙烯酸甲酯的共聚合反应及竞聚率的测定

用高效液相色谱跟踪2-甲基-7-亚甲基-1,4,6-三氧螺[4,4]壬烷(MMTN)与丙烯腈(AN),丙烯酸甲酯(MA)的共聚合反应。根据Lowry-Meyer共聚积分方程式,采用插值法进行数据拟合测定单体的竞聚率。对于体系MMTN(M_1)-AN(M_2),r_1=0.048;r_2=0.213;MMTN(M_1)-MA(M_2)r_1=0.025,r_2=0.764。说明两组共聚体系均有较强的交替共聚趋势。     

The isolated spinal cord-skin preparation of the newborn rat and effects of some algogenic and analgesic substances

We have developed an isolated spinal cord-skin preparation of the newborn rat. The spinal cord together with a piece of skin connected to the cord by the saphenous nerve was isolated from 1- to 4-day-old rats and separately superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid in two neighbouring chambers. Potentials were recorded extracellularly from the third lumbar ventral root. Application of capsaicin (0.5-2 μM) or KCl (60–350 mM) with brief pressure pulses to the perfusion bath of the skin evoked a depolarizing response of 20- to 40-s duration in the ventral root. The response was depressed by [Met⁵]enkcphalin (0.03–3 μM). morphine (0.1–2 μM) and a tachykinin antagonist, [D-Arg¹,D-Trp^7,9,Leu¹¹] substance P (spantide), 1–10 μM), applied to the spinal cord by superfusion, whereas the response was augmented by centrally administered calcitonin gene-related peptide (0.1–0.2 μM) or bicuculline (0.5–1 μM).     

Natural killer cell activity and CSF monoamine metabolites in suicide attempters

The aim of this study was to investigate markers of serotonin and immune function in suicidal patients. Cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells (NK) and CD16 lymphocytes were studied in 28 suicide attempters and 26 healthy controls, and related in patients to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Patients with CSF 5-HIAA below the median had significantly lower NK cell activity than other patients. CD16 cell frequency was significantly lower in patients than in controls, and patients also tended to have lower NK cell cytotoxicity than healthy controls. There were no statistically significant correlations between 4-hydroxy-3methoxyphenyl glycol (HMPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), CSF cortisol and NK cell activity. The results support the hypothesis of compromised immune function in suicidal patients with evidence of disordered serotonin function.     

泪腺肿瘤中P53蛋白表达的意义

目的了解P53基因在泪腺肿瘤的表达及其临床病理学意义。方法应用免疫组织化学ABC法检测57例泪腺上皮性肿瘤患者和10例正常人泪腺组织中P53蛋白的表达情况，并与病理分级、复发相联系。结果10例正常人泪腺组织中P53表达全部为阴性；恶性肿瘤患者的表达率为48．6％，良性肿瘤中P53达率为18％，二者相比有显著性差异（P＜0．025）；复发患者阳性率为76．9％，明显高于未复发患为31．8％（P＝0．015）。结论P53基因参与了泪腺肿瘤的发生发展并与肿瘤的分化和复发有关。     

胃复春片对慢性胃病患者窦D细胞的影响

目的：探讨胃复春片治疗慢性胃病患者前后生长抑素内分泌细胞(D细胞)数量变化。方法：用免疫组化酶链亲合素过氧化酶复合技术(SABC)对患者治疗前后胃粘膜组织的D细胞染色，观察治疗前后D细胞的形态和数量变化。结果：经胃复春片治疗后，患者胃窦粘膜D细胞阳性数及强阳性率均明显下降，有显著意义。结论：胃复春片对慢性胃病患者生长抑素D细胞有调整作用。     

Effects of synchronization in the pacemaker during high-frequency atrial stimulation

I. M. Sechenov Medical Academy, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. D. Ado.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 111, No. 5, pp. 454–456, May, 1991.     

Chronic Administration of Glucocorticoids Directly Upregulates Prepro-Neuropeptide Y and Y1-Receptor mRNA Levels in the Arcuate Nucleus of the Rat

The complete sequence of the cDNA encoding the neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y₁-receptor has recently been deduced from a rat brain library, and the presence of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) encoding Y₁-receptor protein has been demonstrated within the brain. Using quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry, the content and distribution of Y₁receptor and preproNPY mRNAs have been investigated in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of adrenalectomized rats receiving glucocorticoid replacement therapy for 12 days by means of either high doses of dexamethasone in their drinking water or by subcutaneous corticosterone pellets. Basal metabolic parameters such as weight gain or loss, blood glucose and plasma insulin were monitored: Dexamethasone treatment induced weight loss and a state of hyperinsulinemia with normoglycemia, while corticosterone treated animals displayed metabolic parameters identical to sham ADX animals. Within the arcuate nucleus of glucocorticoid treated animals, levels of Y₁receptor and preproNPY mRNAs were increased. In contrast, adrenalectomy itself had no effect upon Y₁-receptor mRNA levels or preproNPY mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus. These studies demonstrate that glucocorticoids exert a stimulatory action on levels of Y₁-receptor mRNA and preproNPY mRNA levels in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. This is the first evidence to suggest that the expression of a neuropeptide-receptor gene in the central nervous system may be directly sensitive to peripheral hormonal signals.     

胚鼠黑质细胞悬液移植于帕金森病模型鼠侧脑室的实验研究

将胚鼠中脑腹侧组织制成细胞悬液移植于帕金森病(PD)模型鼠侧脑室,动态观察受体鼠在移植前后的行为变化。移植后16周应用诱发荧光及免疫细胞化学等方法,对移植物在受体鼠脑内的存活及生长情况进行了研究。结果,受体鼠旋转行为明显改善,侧脑室内可见黄绿色荧光细胞及酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)免疫反应阳性细胞,有的发出突起伸向室管膜及迁于尾核区.提示:移植的胚鼠黑质细胞生长良好,似作为触液神经元发挥其作用。