Development of Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Jaundiced Gunn Rats: A Morphological Study

Abstract The developmental process of cerebellar hypoplasia was investigated in homozygous (j/j) Gunn rats (born from heterozygous (+/j) mothers) with hereditary hyperbilirubinemia by light microscopy of Epon-embedded sections and Golgi preparations, electron microscopy and immunofluorescence with anti-SlOO protein immune serum. No abnormalities were found in the cerebellar cortex at postnatal day 1. But at day 3, some Purkinje cells contained whorled membranous inclusions, enlarged Golgi cisternae and vesicles, and/or dilated endoplasmic reticulum. Membranous inclusions filled the cytoplasm of a large number of Purkinje cells at day 10. These severely damaged Purkinje cells died and disappeared by day 30. The remaining Purkinje cells contained only a few membranous inclusions at day 30. At the adult stage, membranous inclusions were no longer detected in the remaining Purkinje cells. In these Purkinje cells, the dendrites were poorly developed and primitive synaptic junctions with parallel fibers were occasionally found on the dendritic shafts even at the adult stage. The perisomatic processes were often present on the remaining Purkinje cell soma from day 18 to the adult stage and were in synaptic contact with climbing fibers. The external granular layer was thinner in j/j than in +/j rats without hyperbilirubinemia at days 12 and 15 and disappeared at day 18 in j/j rats, i.e., earlier in j/j than in +/j rats. The molecular layer was thinner at day 10 and became slightly thicker thereafter. Cells in the molecular layer were scarce after day 12. The internal granular layer was thinner after day 12. An insufficient number of cells in the internal granular layer was apparent after day 12. Bergmann glia cells were hypertrophied after day 10 and filledthe spaces where Purkinje cells had disappeared. Subsequently, Bergmann fibers and astrocytes in the internal granular layer were hypertrophied after day 15. Thus, in the developmental process of cerebellar hypoplasia in j/j Gunn rats, Purkinje cell damage preceded the histogenetic abnormalities of the cortex including astrocytic changes.     

Relationship between Plasma Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations and Cardio-Thoracic Ratio during the Early Neonatal Period

ABSTRACT. Twenty-seven neonates were examined at 2.6±1.5 hours of age (stage 1) and 21 ±4.9 hours of age (stage 2) to clarify the relationship between cardio-thoracic ratio (CTR) on chest roentgenograms and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration. Among 22 infants who showed elevated plasma ANP, 14 had gained body weight (group A), while 8 other infants had lost weight (group B) at stage 2. The remaining 5 infants had decreased plasma ANP concentrations combined with weight loss at stage 2 (group C). All infants of group B had a patent ductus arteriosus. The plasma ANP concentration and CTR of groups A and B increased during the study period, while those of group C decreased. A linear relation was found between plasma ANP concentration and CTR in all cases (p<0.02). This study indicates that increased plasma levels of ANP are associated with an increased CTR.     

胆红素脑病仔鼠血清S-100蛋白水平及其脑组织蛋白表达的动态变化

目的探讨胆红素脑病血清S-100蛋白(S-100)水平的变化及其意义。方法7日龄Wistar大鼠腹腔注射胆红素200 mg/kg,制备胆红素脑病动物模型。应用酶联免疫法动态观察胆红素脑病仔鼠血清S-100水平及免疫组织化学的方法动态观察胆红素脑病仔鼠不同时间点脑组织S-100蛋白水平。结果与对照组比较,造模后12 h仔鼠血清S-100水平升高(P<0.001),24 h达峰值,至72 h仍高于对照组,96 h降至正常组水平;造模后仔鼠不同时间点脑组织S-100蛋白的表达阳性面积的变化随时间变化逐渐增加。结论S-100可反映胆红素脑病仔鼠神经胶质的损伤程度,是判定胆红素脑病的可靠指标。     

新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病血清胆红素变化及其与肌酸激酶同功酶的关系

目的探讨新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病(HIE)血清总胆红素(TBil)、肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)的变化及其临床意义。方法对49例(轻度组15例,中度组20例,重度组14例)HIE患儿和31例正常足月新生儿(对照组)于生后24 h及生后d4,分别测其血清TBil及CK-MB值,并进行比较。结果HIE患儿生后24 h血清胆红素水平较对照组升高,且病情越重升高越明显(P<0.01),与CK-MB呈显著正相关(r=0.48 P<0.01)。生后d4血清胆红素水平较对照组明显降低,且病情越重降低越明显(P<0.01),与CK-MB呈显著负相关(r=-0.72 P<0.01)。结论HIE患儿血清胆红索作为抗氧化剂被大量消耗,与CK-MB、病情程度有关。可作为判断病情轻重的指标之一。     

Relationship between Protein and Energy in the Feeding of Preterm Infants during the First Month of Life

ABSTRACT. Energy and protein quantity and quality in the diet are factors regulating the rate of growth in the preterm infant. In the present study twenty infants 31–36 weeks of gestational age were fed with two identical test formulas which vried only in the content of energy. One formula (F-81) contained 3.1 g protein (60 bovine whey: 40 bovine caseins) and 81 kcal per dl. The second formula (F-94) contained the same amount of protein but 94 kcal per dl. At an intake of 150 ml/kg/d the infants received 4.6 g protein/kg/d and either 121 or 141 kcal/kg/d. The infants on F-94 had a significantly higher rate of weight gain, but growth of length and head circumference was equal in the two groups. Significant differences were found in the plasma concentrations of glutamine and alanine between the two feeding groups. The other plasma amino acids were not statistically different in the two groups of infants. Urine excretion of threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, histidine, tyrosine, glutamine and cystathionine was significantly increased in the high caloric, F-94-group. The results indicate that increasing the caloric intake above 120 kcal/kg/d in preterm infants on a relatively high protein intake does not increase linear growth but does produce increased weight gain. The biochemical results provide indirect evidence that this weight increase is the result of increased fat accretion.