Recurrent salzmann’s corneal degeneration

Three keratoplasties were carried out on two patients because of nodular degeneration of the cornea. Progress after keratoplasty could be followed up in one eye for 17 months and in the other two eyes, for 2.5 and 9 years, respectively. The implant with the short follow-up of only 17 months remained glass-clear; nothing abnormal was discovered during the checkups. In the case of the other patient in whom a longer follow-up period was possible, the following findings were evident: (1) a remarkably late epithelial immune response in one eye (after 18 months) with subsequent incomplete reepithelisation and formation of fine, superficial, cloudy opacity (observation period 2.5 years); (2) formation of dense but flat, superficial areas of opacity in the cornea of the other eye (observation period 9 years). These areas may be regarded as a precursor of Salzmann’s corneal degeneration. No difference could be found between the histological findings in the explants and those in a degenerative pannus or an older scar caused by inflammation of the Bowman membrane.     

Neuron-like cells in long-term neural crest cultures are not targets of nerve growth factor

It has been shown previously that a subpopulation of long-term (7-14 days) cultured neural crest cells undergoing differentiation possesses receptors for nerve growth factor (NGF). These cells are likely to be targets of NGF during the early stages of embryonic development. This study was conducted to determine whether cells exhibiting neuron-like characteristics (i.e. process formation, presence of putative neurotransmitters) in neural crest cultures have NGF receptors. This was accomplished by combining 125I-NGF radioautography and immunocytochemistry using antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase, serotonin, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Examination of light microscopic radioautographs revealed that none of the neuron-like cells with tyrosine hydroxylase-like, serotonin-like, or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity bound 125I-NGF, and, therefore, do not possess NGF receptors. It is not known whether the lack of NGF receptors on neuron-like cells is due to the early developmental stage of these cells, or is caused by a difference in the microenvironment in vitro as compared to in vivo. The identity of the cultured neural crest cells which do possess NGF receptors remains to be determined.     

Effects of trapidil-derivatives on calcium channel currents in isolated ventricular cells from mice

Summary A single glass micropipette voltage clamp technique with intracellular dialysis was used to study the effects of the trapidil derivatives AR 12–456 and AR 12–463 on Ca channel currents carried by Bat+ in isolated ventricular cells from mice hearts. Inspite of a more potent inhibition of the cAMP phosphodiesterase from heart (Bartel et al. 1985) a reversible Ca channel blocking action of both compounds could be observed. The concentration of half maximal block was calculated to about 50 mol/l for both derivatives tested. Neither a shift in the current-voltage relationships nor a significant change in the potential for half maximal activation was found. The maximal Ba²⁺ -conductance was reduced. The steady state inactivation was shifted towards more negative potentials by application of 100 mol/l AR 12–463. The decay of the Ba currents was accelerated in the range of the applied test potentials between –20 and +20 mV. It is concluded that the new trapidil derivatives with more potent inhibitory action on cardiac phosphodiesterase than trapidil can block myocardial Ca channels. Send offprint requests to B. Nilius     

CGP 6809 — A new nitrosoureido-sugar derivative with activity in human tumor xenografts

Summary CGP 6809 [ethyl-6-deoxy-3,5-di-O-methyl-6-(3-methyl-3-nitrosoureido)--d-glucofuranoside] is a new methylnitrosoureido-sugar derivative that has been shown to be active against a broad spectrum of transplantable tumours in mice and rats [14]. We investigated the anti-tumour effect of CGP 6809 in ten selected, human tumour xenograft lines growing s. c. in nude mice. The p. o. administration of 125 mg/kg per day for 10–15 days was less toxic (lethality 12% in tumour-bearing nude mice) than the i. p. injection of 62.5 mg/kg per day (lethality 22%). The anti-tumour effect was similar for both application routes; two large bowel cancers responded to treatment with CGP 6809, rectal cancer CXF 158 showed a remission, and the rapidly growing, undifferentiated colonic cancer CXF 280 exhibited a transient no-change. Furthermore, remissions were observed in the epidermoid lung cancer LXF 322 and in thyroid cancer 117. Tumour progression was found in another epidermoid lung cancer and in three stomach cancers, one melanoma, and one soft tissure sarcoma. CGP 6809 is a promising new agent for clinical trials, especially for large bowel and epidermoid lung cancer.Supported in part by grant PTB 8467 from the Bundesminister für Forschung und Technologie, Bonn, FRG     

Inhibitory effect of amiloride and gadolinium on fine afferent nerves in the rat knee: evidence of mechanogated ion channels in joints

Synovial joints are complex sensory organs which provide continuous feedback regarding position sense and degree of limb movement. The transduction mechanisms which convert mechanical forces acting on the joint into an electrochemical signal which can then be transmitted to the central nervous system are not well understood. The present investigation examined the effect of the mechanogated ion channel blockers amiloride and gadolinium on knee joint mechanosensitivity. In deeply anaesthetised rats (sodium thiopental: 100–120 mg/kg, i.p.), single unit extracellular recordings were made from knee joint group III (Aδ) and group IV (C) primary afferents in response to mechanical rotation of the joint. Afferent firing rate was measured before and after topical application of either amiloride (0.1 mM, 1 mM) or gadolinium (250 μM) onto the receptive field of the sensory unit and recording was continued every 10 min up to a total of 50 min. With normal rotation of the knee, joint mechanosensitivity was significantly reduced by both amiloride (P<0.0001; n=10–21) and gadolinium (P=0.001; n=12) and this effect was sustained throughout the recording period. This investigation provides the first in vivo electrophysiological evidence that joint mechanotransduction involves the activation of amiloride and gadolinium-sensitive mechanogated ion channels. Future studies to determine the mechanogated ion channel subtypes present in joints and the modulation of their gating properties during inflammation may yield novel approaches for the control of arthritis pain. Funding: JJMcD is funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, and the Arthritis Society of Canada.     

Einige Befunde zur Sinnesphysiologie der Kaltblüterzecke Amblyomma testudinis

Zusammenfassung Aus eigener Zucht stammende Larven, Nymphen und Imagines von Amblyomma testudinis wurden auf ihre Sinnesleistungen hinsichtlich Phototaxis, Thermotaxis, Geotaxis und Chemotaxis untersucht. Es ergab sich ein entwicklungsabhängiger Wandel im phototaktischen Verhalten von anfangs positiver Phototaxis bei den Larven über indifferente Phototaxis bei vollgesogenen Larven und nüchternen Nymphen zu negativer Phototaxis bei vollgesogenen Nympen sowie - und -Imagines. Sämtliche Entwicklungsstadien mit Ausnahme der -Imagines verhalten sich temperaturindifferent vor dem Kontakt mit einem Wirt; vollgesogene Larven und Nymphen dagegen bevorzugen niedrige Temperaturen. Nymphen und Imagines, die noch nicht gesogen haben, reagieren negativ geotaktisch. Sie erklettern vermutlich in der Natur die Spitzen von Pflanzen und Steinen, um dort das Vorbeikriechen eines Wirtes abzuwarten. Imagines von Amblyomma testudinis reagieren mit einer positiven Chemotaxis auf Schlangen stärker als auf Kröten. Auch Substrat aus Schlangenbehältern enthält mindestens für 30 Std nach der Entfernung der Schlangen chemotaktisch wirksame Stoffe.

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Contributions to sensory physiology of the tick Amblyomma testudinis

Summary Phototaxis, thermotaxis, geotaxis and chemotaxis of larvae, nymphs and adults of Amblyomma testudinis from own breedings were studied. The phototactic behaviour changed according to the different stages of development: unfed larvae were positively phototactic, fed larvae and unfed nymphs were indifferent, fed nymphs but also the adults showed a negative phototaxis.—All stages of development besides the females reacted without any preference for a distinct temperature, whereas larvae and nymphs after feeding prefered lower temperatures.—Unfed nymphs and adults were negatively geotactic which corresponds to their natural behaviour of climbing plants for catching hosts.—Adults of Amblyomma testudinis showed a higher rate of chemotaxis for snakes than for toads; substrate from snake cages containes chemotaxis inducing substances for more than 30 hours after elimination of the snakes.

     

Changed visuomotor transformations during and after prolonged microgravity

A series of step-tracking experiments was conducted before, during, and after a 3-week space mission to assess the effects of prolonged microgravity on a non-postural motor-control task. In- and post-flight accuracy was affected only marginally. However, kinematic analyses revealed a considerable change in the underlying movement dynamics: too-small force and, thus, too-low velocity in the first part of the movements was mainly compensated by lengthening the deceleration phase of the primary movement, so that accuracy was regained at its end. The observed in-flight decrements in peak velocity and peak acceleration point to an underestimation of mass, in agreement with the re-interpretation hypothesis of Bock et. al. Post-flight no reversals of the in-flight changes (negative aftereffects) were found. Instead, there was a general slowing down, which could be due to post-flight physical exhaustion.     

Cushing's Syndrome Secondary to Olfactory Neuroblastoma

A case of olfactory neuroblastoma in a 36-year-old woman who presented with florid Cushing's syndrome is reported. A nasal polyp, which proved to be an olfactory neuroblastoma, was resected. The procedure was followed by complete remission from the endocrinologic abnormalities. Postoperatively, the patient was well for 5 years until recurrence of both Cushing's syndrome and the nasal polyp was noted. Following combined transnasal-transcranial resection of the tumor, which extended into the anterior cranial fossa, the patient again experienced complete remission of Cushing's syndrome. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor to be positive for neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, chromogran-in, adrenocorticotropic hormone, (J-endorphin, and S-100 protein. Electron microscopy revealed neuritic processes containing microtubules and neurosecretory granules. This is the first reported case of Cushing's syndrome secondary to olfactory neuroblastoma.