Structural changes in spinal cord gray matter induced by gravitational overloads

After acute exposure of rats to gravitational overloads (GO) the reactive changes in neurons and interneuronal synapses of spinal cord were found. These are interpreted as morphologic signs of increased functional activity of neurons and activation of interneuronal impulse transmission. Chronic application of GO results in both reactive changes and damage of spinal cord structures. These changes were not seen after an acute exposure to GO, and thus they are associated with the repeated GO, indicating GO cumulative effect. Administration of "Vitavis" provides a membrane-protective effect, especially in respect to mitochondria of neurons and perineuronal glial cells in cervical and thoracic segments of spinal cord. The effect was less pronounced in spinal cord lumbar segments as a result of pericapillary edema, preventing the transport or drug from capillary bed to the neural structures.     

Histopathology of endocervical infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

We determined the histologic correlates of clinically identified mucopurulent cervicitis, culture-proven cervical infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, herpes simplex virus (HSV), and vaginal infection with Trichomonas vaginalis by examining cervical biopsies from 83 women. Clinical mucopurulent cervicitis and culture-documented infection with one or more of these pathogens correlated histologically with intraepithelial neutrophils, reactive endocervical cells, edema, luminal neutrophils, and with several deeper tissue changes such as extensive and dense subepithelial inflammation, granulation tissue, and necrotic ulceration. Focal loss of surface columnar cells and spongiosis were also correlated with culture-confirmed infection. Well-formed germinal centers were seen in biopsies from 14 of 21 patients (67%) with C trachomatis infection alone, but in none of 17 patients with infections other than C trachomatis (P less than 0.001). A predominantly plasmacytic infiltrate was also significantly associated with chlamydial infection. Necrotic ulcers overlying a predominantly lymphocytic infiltrate were seen in six of nine patients (67%) with HSV infection alone but in only two of 40 patients (5%) with other infections (P less than 0.001). Marked inflammatory changes were not seen in the patients infected with N gonorrhoeae. The organism T vaginalis was not associated with any endocervical pathology. If these results are confirmed by prospective studies, they suggest that pathologists should alert clinicians to the possibility of recent or current infection with C trachomatis or HSV when cervical biopsies show the above changes. The loss of surface columnar epithelium with HSV, chlamydial, and gonococcal infection offers a possible explanation for the reported association of these infections with increased risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus infection.     

Plasmatic B-type natriuretic peptide and C-reactive protein in hyperacute stroke as markers of CT-evidence of brain edema

OBJECTIVE. Plasmatic B-type-natriuretic peptide (NT-PBNP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been reportedly elevated in stroke patients; however their clinical significance remains uncertain. The purpose of this work is to investigate whether elevation of these proteins at baseline predicts CT-evidence of brain edema.METHODS. We recruited 41 consecutive patients with stroke and determined NT-PBNP and CRP at baseline (within 5 hours after onset), after 48-72 hours, and at discharge. Stroke severity was measured by means of the NIHS scale at baseline and at discharge. We also carried out brain CT at admittance and after 48 hours.RESULTS. There were 29 ischemic strokes and 12 hemorrhagic strokes. Evidence of brain edema on delayed scan was seen in 14 patients. Baseline levels of NT-PBNP did not predict CT-evidence of edema but CRP levels did so significantly (0.7 mg/dl in patients without edema versus 4.7 mg in patients with edema; p=0.001). Both NT-PBNP and PC levels correlated poorly to NIHSS score and increased markedly from baseline to the second determination in patients with edema. For these patients the NT-PBNP increase was 133.6 pmol/l in comparison to 1.58 pmol/l in patients without edema (p=0.002). Neither CRP nor NT-PBNP baseline levels were predictive of dependency or death.CONCLUSIONS. We conclude that CRP at baseline but not NT-PBNP predicts CT evidence of brain edema in stroke patients. We hypothesize that NT-PBNP levels elevated in response to edema after 48 hours of admission.     

脑啡肽和多巴胺在大鼠实验性脑震荡脑组织中的表达及意义

目的：探讨大鼠实验性脑震荡脑组织中脑啡肽和多巴胺的表达及其意义。方法：采用Wistar雄性二级大鼠复制脑震荡动物模型，于伤后1、3、7、14及30d活杀。取脑组织，经免疫组化染色等技术，研究脑震荡发生发展中脑啡肽和多巴胺的变化规律。结果：体质量100g大鼠组出现典型的脑震荡临床表现，其病理改变为脑血管收缩与扩张、脑组织淤血与水肿、神经元变性、凋亡与坏死。脑啡肽于伤后1d表达增强，阳性部位见于大脑、小脑和海马区的血管内皮细胞胞质中；于伤后7d达高峰，阳性部位仍见于大脑皮层、海马区和小脑神经元中。14d后表达逐渐减少，30d仍高于正常水平。多巴胺于伤后7d，在大脑、海马区、丘脑及小脑各部分血管内皮细胞、血管壁的表达明显增多，但各时间点无明显变化。结论：脑震荡后可出现以血液循环障碍和实质细胞变性和坏死为主的病理改变。脑啡肽和多巴胺参与了脑震荡发生时脑损伤的病理生理过程，可能对脑血管损伤、血脑屏障功能和神经细胞变性、坏死起重要的调节作用。     

Immunohistochemical localization of chemokine CXCL14 in rat hypothalamic neurons

We immunohistochemically investigated the distribution of CXCL14, also called BRAK protein in the rat hypothalamus using anti-human CXCL14 serum. CXCL14-immunoreactive somata were localized in the periventricular area and paraventricular and supraoptic hypothalamic nuclei. In the former, immunoreactive neuronal somata, confirmed by double staining with a neuronal marker, NeuN, contained diffuse CXCL14-like immunoreactivity in their perikarya. In contrast, immunoreactive somata in the latter contained immunoreactive puncta within their perikarya. Very dense immunoreactive fibers and puncta were seen in the median eminence. Dense immunoreactive fibers were seen in the arcuate nucleus and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Other hypothalamic areas contained a few immunoreactive fibers and puncta. These results demonstrated for the first time that CXCL14 protein is present in a subset of hypothalamic neurons and suggest that CXCL14 participates in hypothalamic functions such as control of autonomic nervous systems and/or participates in immune cell recruitment via the median eminence.     

Changes in the ultrastructure of the rat bulbar nuclei caused by kainic acid administration

The effect of kainic acid (KA) injection into the commissural area of nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of rats was studied to evaluate its influence on the ultrastructure of neurons and gliocytes at the site of injection and in the ventrolateral medulla (VM). 30 min after KA injection, in the perikarya of neurons in rostral and caudal NTS and VM the increased number of ribosomes, lysosomes, lipofuscin granules and edema of mitochondria were noted. Giant mitochondria were found in terminals and axons of myelin fibers. 14 days after KA injection, the increased volume of Golgi complex cisterns was found in single neurons in NTS rostral parts, while the neurons of caudal NTS demonstrated pronounced degenerative and destructive changes. During this period, the volume of mitochondria and of vacuoles was increased in dendrites within caudal NTS and VM, where degenerating processes of the nervous cells were found. In gliocytes of caudal NTS, the hypertrophy of cytoplasm was noted with the accumulation of dilated cisterns of endoplasmic reticulum and redistribution of nuclear chromatin. In the same areas of NTS the reaction of endotheliocytes and pericytes, perivascular edema and accumulation of microgliocytes were found. The results obtained indicate the reactive changes in VM in response to intracentral injection of neurotoxin.     

A comparison of the postnatal development of muscle-spindle and periodontal-ligament neurons in the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus of the rat

The trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus (Vmes) is known to include primary afferent neurons of jaw muscle spindles (MS neurons) and periodontal ligament receptors (PL neurons). The aim of this study was to clarify the postnatal development of Vmes neurons by comparing MS neurons with PL neurons using horseradish peroxidase labeling. We measured somal diameter and somal shape of MS and PL neurons in rats from postnatal day (P)7 to P70. No significant changes were seen between postnatal day P7 and P70 in somal diameter or somal shape of MS neurons. Conversely, PL neurons showed a larger somal diameter at P7 than at P14, and in terms of somal profile, multipolar neurons comprised 0% at P7, but 4.8% at P14 and 16.9% at P70. These findings suggest that PL neurons develop with the eruption of teeth, taking into account the fact that tooth eruption occurs from around P14 in rats. Conversely, the lack of postnatal changes in MS neurons is due to the fact that these neurons have been active since the embryonic period, as swallowing starts in utero.     

Beta-amyloid disrupted synaptic vesicle endocytosis in cultured hippocampal neurons

Neuronal death leading to gross brain atrophy is commonly seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Yet, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the pathogenesis of AD involves early and more discrete synaptic changes in affected brain areas. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie such synaptic dysfunction remain largely unknown. Recently, we have identified dynamin 1, a protein that plays a critical role in synaptic vesicle endocytosis, and hence, in the signaling properties of the synapse, as a potential molecular determinant of such dysfunction in AD. In the present study, we analyzed beta-amyloid (Abeta)-induced changes in synaptic vesicle recycling in rat cultured hippocampal neurons. Our results showed that Abeta, the main component of senile plaques, caused ultrastructural changes indicative of impaired synaptic vesicle endocytosis in cultured hippocampal neurons that have been stimulated by depolarization with high potassium. In addition, Abeta led to the accumulation of amphiphysin in membrane fractions from stimulated hippocampal neurons. Moreover, experiments using FM1-43 showed reduced dye uptake in stimulated hippocampal neurons treated with Abeta when compared with untreated stimulated controls. Similar results were obtained using a dynamin 1 inhibitory peptide suggesting that dynamin 1 depletion caused deficiency in synaptic vesicle recycling not only in Drosophila but also in mammalian neurons. Collectively, these results showed that Abeta caused a disruption of synaptic vesicle endocytosis in cultured hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, we provided evidence suggesting that Abeta-induced dynamin 1 depletion might play an important role in this process.     

Ageing changes in the transplants of fetal substantia nigra grafted to striatum of adult rat.

Fetal nigral neurons from 16 and 17 gestational days were transplanted into the intact striatum of adult rat. On different post-transplantation days (30-360 days), the structural and immunohistochemical details of the transplants were studied. The grafted neurons matured and showed phenotypical characteristics comparable to that of normal nigral neurons in adult rats until 180 days. Tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons were seen not only in the transplant but also in the adjacent host striatum. Tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibres were also seen extending for a short distance into the host striatum. A large number of synapses in the transplants were of asymmetric type, containing clear round vesicles. These synapses resembled the few intrinsic type present in the normal substantia nigra. On the other hand, the predominant type 2 synapses with pleomorphic vesicles in the normal nigra were infrequently encountered in the transplants. On the 300th day, the cytoplasm of a few of the neurons showed ageing changes in the form of clear spaces, paucity of organelles especially rough endoplasmic reticulum, membrane-bound vacuoles and increase in the lipofuscin population. In addition, localized thickening of the soma and the dendrites were seen in relation to randomly distributed neurons. By 360 days, more than one quarter (26%) of the total neurons showed these changes indicating ageing. The number per unit volume of normal neurons decreased significantly when compared to the transplants on 60 and 90 days. In the substantia nigra of age-matched control, except for an increase in the lysosomal population, other ageing changes were not detectable. The neurons of intact substantia nigra of the host rat, chronologically 4-8 months older than the transplanted neurons, also appeared normal but for lipofuscin granules. The present study provides morphological evidence for rapid ageing of neurons in the long term nigral transplants. These observations raise fresh doubts regarding permanent survival of grafted neurons in the host brain. Studies so far conducted are after prior nigral lesions. Trophic factors following lesions of the host tissue may have influenced the long term survival of the transplanted neurons. On the other hand, such changes may have been missed since no detailed morphological investigations of the long term transplants have been done so far.     

Striatal neurons expressing somatostatin-like immunoreactivity: evidence for a peptidergic interneuronal system in the cat

Neurons expressing immunoreactivity to antisera against somatostatin 14 and other somatostatin-related peptides were identified in the striatum of cats and nonhuman primates. In each species, immunoreactive neurons were distributed singly and in small groups in the caudate nucleus, putamen and ventral striatum. A detailed study was made of somatostatin-positive neurons and neuropil in the caudate nucleus of the cat. First, the mean diameters and surface areas of neurons expressing immunoreactivity to somatostatin 14 were made from peroxidase-antiperoxidase stained material. Second, fluorescence immunohistochemistry was combined with retrograde labeling of striatal neurons to determine whether such somatostatin 14-positive neurons emit axons projecting out of the striatum. Third, the distributions of neurons and neuropil expressing immunoreactivity to somatostatin 14 or somatostatin 28 (1-12) were plotted in relation to the locations of acetylcholinesterase-poor zones ("striosomes") visible in adjoining sections. The morphometric analysis suggested that somatostatin 14-positive neurons in the caudate nucleus form a single population of medium to medium-large neurons having mean diameters of 20 micron and mean surface areas of 154 micron2. The retrograde tracer study suggested that these somatostatin 14-positive neurons are interneurons. Injections of fast blue into all of the known targets of striatofugal fiber projections failed to label somatostatin 14-positive neurons save in a few instances (less than 0.3% of more than 4000 neurons) in each of which labeling was equivocal. Analysis of the distribution of somatostatin-positive neurons and neuropil in the striatum demonstrated that both observe striosomal ordering. Somatostatin immunoreactive neuropil was dense outside and weak inside identified striosomes, and most immunoreactive neurons lay outside. Often somatostatin-positive neurons lay beside, and sometimes striosomes partly rimmed them. The processes of such neurons tended to run along the borders of the striosomes without crossing them, but occasionally single processes and rarely entire dendritic trees crossed from one compartment to the other. These results suggest that, in the striatum of the cat, somatostatin is present: (1) in fibers organized according to the compartmental distribution already recognized for other neurochemical compounds in the striatum as well as for its afferent and efferent systems, and (2) in interneurons, mostly present in the extrastriosomal matrix, but also located near striosomes, where they could serve as interfaces between the striosomes and extrastriosomal matrix.     

Bamboo-joint-like appearance of the stomach: a histopathological study.

A bamboo joint-like (BJL) appearance is an endoscopic finding characterized by swollen longitudinal folds transversed by erosive fissures or linear furrows, and it seems to be associated with Crohn's disease (CD). We performed gastroduodenoscopy in 1781 patients, and found BJL lesions in 15 (65.2%) of 23 CD patients and 20 (1.1%) of 1758 non-CD patients. Histological examination of the biopsy specimens showed sharp, fissure-like erosion or mucosal cleft in 7 (50%) out of 14 CD patients and one (20%) out of 5 non-CD patients. All cases with fissure-like erosion or, mucosal cleft revealed lymphoid aggregates, eosinophilic infiltration and edema in the superficial portion of the surrounding lamina propria. Epithelioid granuloma was seen at the base of the fissure-like erosion in two cases with CD. Our results indicated that fissure-like erosion or mucosal cleft in gastric biopsy specimens reflects the BJL appearance, and that such findings may provide a diagnostic clue to CD.     

Fundamental morphological changes in human olivary hypertrophy.

Morphological features of neurons in human inferior olivary nuclei were studied in 6 autopsied patients with dentato-olivary pathway lesions, who had survived for between 6 days and 15 months. Central chromatolysis-like neuronal enlargements were already present in the acute cases. Electron microscopy revealed round, homogeneous and electron-dense granules, varying in diameter from 0.15 micron to 2.5 microns, occurring frequently within the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in the chromatolytic neurons of all 6 patients. No similar granules were observed in 6 controls. The vacuoles were due to dilatation of the rough ER, and often contained floccular materials. Neurofilamentous hyperplasia in the neurons was more frequently seen in the chronic cases. These findings suggest that the fundamental changes in the neurons in olivary hypertrophy occur within the rough ER.     

Quantification of cerebral edema on diffusion tensor imaging in acute-on-chronic liver failure

Cerebral edema is a major complication of acute liver failure but may also be seen in other forms of liver failure such as acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and chronic liver failure (CLF). ACLF develops in patients with previously well-compensated chronic liver disease following acute hepatitis A or E superimposed on underlying liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to detect the occurrence, and determine the nature, of cerebral edema in patients with the defined subset of ACLF using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics. Twenty-three patients with ACLF were studied and compared with 15 healthy controls and 15 patients with CLF. DTI metrics including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), linear anisotropy (CL), planar anisotropy (CP), and spherical isotropy (CS) were calculated by selecting regions of interest in the white matter and deep grey matter of the brain. Significantly decreased FA and increased CS were observed in the anterior limb (ALIC) and posterior limb (PLIC) of the internal capsule and frontal white matter (P<0.05) in patients with different grades (1-4) of ACLF when compared with healthy controls. No significant changes in MD and CP were seen in any brain region. However, significantly decreased CL was observed in the PLIC, caudate nuclei and putamen. In patients with CLF, significantly decreased FA with increased CS in the ALIC and PLIC along with significantly increased MD in the ALIC and caudate nuclei were observed. The presence of significantly decreased FA and CL and increased CS along with no significant change in MD and CP suggests the presence of both intracellular and extracellular components of cerebral edema in patients with ACLF.     

Up-regulation of substance P and NMDA receptor mRNA in dorsal horn and preganglionic sympathetic neurons during adjuvant-induced noxious stimulation in rats.

Substance P (SP) and glutamate-containing terminals are found in the dorsal horn and preganglionic sympathetic neurons (PSNs) in the intermedio-lateral nucleus of the spinal cord. SP receptor (SPR) and N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptor (NMDAR) were also recognized in portions of the dorsal horn and PSNs. Primary sensory nerve fibers containing SP and glutamate terminated around PSNs, or partly on PSNs directly as well as on dorsal horn neurons (DHNs). The present study was performed to investigate the changes in SPR and NMDAR mRNA expressions during nociception in rats. Upon the injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the front paw, edema and hyperalgesia occurred immediately, with the difference in latency score between injected and non-injected paws continuing to day 10. The up-regulation of SPR and NMDAR mRNAs in DHNs and PSNs was recognized using in situ hybridization and northern blot techniques. CFA injection increased SPR mRNA expression in PSNs at days 1 and 4, and NMDAR mRNA expression at days 1, 4 and 7. At day 14, the mRNA expression of both receptors decreased to the control level. These changes in the amount of receptor mRNAs in DHNs and PSNs may cause hyperalgesia and sympathetically mediated pain.     

慢性酒精中毒性胼胝体变性急性期临床诊疗分析

目的探讨慢性酒精中毒性胼胝体变性急性期的治疗措施。方法对15例慢性酒精中毒性胼胝体变性急性期昏迷病例使用大剂量维生素B1治疗,常规减轻脑水肿、神经营养和改善脑血循环治疗,在治疗24、48、72h按照Glasgow’s昏迷评分标准进行神志监测及神经系统体征变化,观察临床治疗效果。结果在治疗72h内,13例患者由昏迷转为神志清醒,Glasgow’s评分达到15分,后遗症减少。结论对慢性酒精中毒性胼胝体变性急性期患者使用大剂量维生素B1治疗,具有使患者尽快苏醒,后遗症减少的临床效果。     

大鼠颈部淋巴引流阻断后海马Bcl-2、Bax表达和超微结构的变化

为了研究大鼠颈部淋巴引流阻断后海马内Bcl-2、Bax的表达和超微结构的变化,本研究采用结扎颈部淋巴管并摘除浅、深淋巴结的方法制作大鼠淋巴滞留性脑病模型,并分别于术后1、2、3、5、7和14d处死动物。透射电子显微镜观察海马脑组织的超微结构变化,Western blotting方法检测海马内Bcl-2和Bax蛋白的表达。结果显示:(1)电镜下可见海马组织有水肿的结构变化,血管周围出现半月形间隙,毛细血管受压变形;还可观察到有些神经细胞出现凋亡,细胞皱缩变小,轮廓不清晰,核皱缩变形,核染色质边集,细胞质电子密度增高。以上变化于术后第2d出现,第5d最明显,14d时恢复至正常水平。(2)Western blotting技术在海马内检测到Bax蛋白的表达明显高于对照组,于术后2d开始增高,3d达最高值,7d恢复至正常水平,2、3和5d时均高于对照组(P<0.01);但未在海马内检测到Bcl-2蛋白的表达。本文结果提示:阻断颈部淋巴引流可导致海马出现脑水肿的超微结构变化,并出现神经细胞的凋亡,故推测海马神经细胞的凋亡与Bax的表达增加有关。     

鱼藤酮对体外培养的大鼠中脑脑片多巴胺能神经元的毒性作用

目的研究鱼藤酮（rotenone）对多巴胺（DA）能神经元的早期毒性作用,并探索一种较理想的组织模型.方法采用界面组织培养法建立SD乳鼠的中脑脑片长期培养体系.加入鱼藤酮作用一定的时间,并用测定培养基中乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活力、组织中DA含量以及进行酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）染色等技术观察它对整个脑片及脑片上DA能神经元的毒性效应.结果不同浓度的鱼藤酮作用24 h后,组织中DA含量随浓度增加明显下降,TH阳性神经元突起呈串珠样改变,数量减少甚至消失.低浓度鱼藤酮作用14 d后,脑片组织中的DA水平显著降低,但未见明显的DA能神经元形态学变化.结论建立了长期、稳定的中脑脑片培养体系;鱼藤酮对整个脑片以及脑片上DA能神经元的毒性作用具有浓度依赖性;功能性损伤早于形态学变化,突起的变性是形态学变化的早期特征.     

Study of placenta in sickle cell disorders

Remarkable changes are seen on gross and microscopic examination of placenta of patients with sickle cell disorders, hence the present study was undertaken to find out the pathological changes seen in the placenta of sickle cell disorder patients, as compared to control and to study the effect of maternal sickling on the fetus. It includes total 73 cases, of which 10 were of control group and 63 were from patients with sickle cell disorders, which included 47 sickle cell trait (AS) and 16 sickle cell disease (SS) patients. In group II, 9 (14.28%) patients with SS pattern developed complications during pregnancy, in the form of vaso-occlusive and hemolytic crises. Pregnancy induced hypertension was seen in 4 (25%) out of 16 SS and 11 (23.40%) of the 47 AS patients. Urinary tract infection (UTI) was seen in 6 (37.5%) out of 16 SS and 8 (17.02%) out of 47 AS patients. Placentae in sickle cell disorders showed pathological changes in the form of infarction, calcification, sickled red blood cells and hemorrhage in intervillous spaces, increased syncytial knots, fibrinoid necrosis, stromal fibrosis, hyalinised villi and compensatory proliferation of trophoblastic cells.     

Nerve growth factor receptor and choline acetyltransferase remain colocalized in the nucleus basalis (Ch4) of Alzheimer's patients

Previous investigations have demonstrated an almost exclusive "coupling" between the receptor for nerve growth factor and cholinergic neurons within the basal forebrain. The present series of experiments were carried out to address two questions. First, what is the status of nerve growth factor receptor-containing neurons within the basal forebrain of patients with histopathologically confirmed diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease (AD)? More importantly, the second experiment assesses the degree to which the receptor for nerve growth factor and choline acetyltransferase remain colocalized within AD basal forebrain. A "decoupling" of this relationship, in which nerve growth factor receptors are no longer present upon magnocellular cholinergic neurons, would suggest that a loss of trophic support is functionally antecedent to the neuronal shrinkage and neuronal death seen in the basal forebrain in AD. Data obtained from six AD cases and four normal controls demonstrated an extensive reduction in number and shrinkage in size of nerve growth factor receptor containing neurons within the Ch4 region of the basal forebrain. Double label studies using either immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase techniques demonstrated that the receptor for nerve growth factor and choline acetyltransferase remain colocalized in AD patients. This was true for neurons exhibiting either healthy or dystrophic morphological profiles. These data confirm previous studies, demonstrating that both a loss and shrinkage of cholinergic neurons occurs within the AD basal forebrain. The results of the present immunohistochemical investigation suggest that the degenerative changes associated with these neurons do not result from impaired trophic support related to a loss of NGF receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Non-linear electroencephalogram dynamics in patients with spontaneous nocturnal migraine attacks

We investigated immunohistochemically the localization of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in rat and human brain tissues. In rat, neurons and astrocytes were stained positively for PAI-1 after colchicine treatment. In post-mortem human brain, neurons were stained for PAI-1 but the number of positive neurons varied greatly from case to case. PAI-1 positive astrocytes occurred in the white matter lesions of some patients. In Alzheimer's disease, weak PAI-1 labeling was seen in association with senile plaques and ghost tangles. The present results support a notion that PAI-1 and its target proteases such as plasminogen activators and thrombin are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes in brain.