Paucity of glutaminase-immunoreactive nonpyramidal neurons in the rat cerebral cortex.

Glutaminase has been considered to be a synthesizing enzyme of transmitter glutamate in pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex. In the present study, an attempt was made to examine with a double immunofluorescence method whether or not nonpyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex are immunoreactive for glutaminase. Glutaminase was stained with mouse anti-glutaminase IgM and FITC-labeled anti-[mouse IgM] antibody. In the same section, parvalbumin (PA), calbindin (CB), choline acetyltransferase (CAT), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin (SS), or neuropeptide Y (NPY) was visualized as a marker for nonpyramidal neurons with an antibody to each substance, biotinylated secondary antibody and Texas Red-labeled avidin. Virtually no glutaminase immunoreactivity was seen in PA-, CB-, CAT-, VIP-, CRF-, CCK-, SS-, or NPY-immunoreactive neuronal perikarya in the neocortex and mesocortex (cingulate and retrosplenial cortices), although it was detected in a few PA-, CB-, VIP-, CCK-, SS-, or NPY-immunoreactive nonpyramidal neurons in the piriform, entorhinal, and hippocampal cortices. PA- and CB-positive neurons have been reported to constitute the major population of GABAergic neurons in the cerebral cortex. Thus, the present results, together with the previous reports, suggest that most GABAergic, cholinergic and peptidergic nonpyramidal neurons in the neo- and mesocortex do not contain glutaminase.     

Interleukin-4 as a potent down-regulator for human alveolar macrophages capable of producing tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1.

The effects of recombinant human interleukin-4 (IL-4) on the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) by human alveolar macrophages (AM) and autologous peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were examined. AM and PBM were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage and centrifugal elutriation, respectively, from healthy donors. The production of IL-1 (alpha and beta) and TNF alpha by human AM and PBM were quantitated by enzyme immunoassays (EIA). When activated with LPS, AM secreted much more TNF alpha, but less IL-1 beta than PBM. The production of IL-1 (alpha and beta) by activated AM and autologous PBM was suppressed dose-dependently by IL-4. The inhibitory effect of IL-4 was greatest when it was added to AM or PBM simultaneously with LPS or within 3 h after LPS. The suppressive effect of IL-4 was completely neutralized by pretreatment with rabbit anti-IL-4 antiserum. IL-4 also suppressed the production of IL-1 and TNF alpha by monocyte-derived macrophages. As measured by thymocyte co-stimulation assay, the production of cell-associated IL-1 was inhibited by coculture of AM plus LPS with IL-4. Northern blot analysis showed suppression by IL-4 of expression of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for IL-1 and TNF alpha in LPS-stimulated AM. We conclude that IL-4 is a potent down-regulator for human alveolar macrophages capable of producing IL-1 and TNF alpha.     

Glial localization of four‐repeat tau in atypical progressive supranuclear palsy

In the present case, a patient in whom limb apraxia and asymmetrical parkinsonism developed suggesting corticobasal degeneration, is reported. Neuropathologic examination revealed numerous tufted astrocytes in the precentral cortex in addition to the characteristic pathologic findings of PSP. Therefore, on the basis of clinicopathologic features, atypical progressive supranuclear palsy was diagnosed. In addition, the brain tissue of the present patient was investigated with an antibody specific for four‐repeat tau (4R‐tau). In the precentral cortex, numerous tau‐positive tufted astrocytes, pretangles, and threads were positive for 4R‐tau. Using a confocal microscopy we demonstrated that tufted astrocytes positive for 4R‐tau were adjacent to astrocytes positive for GFAP. The present findings suggest that accumulation of four‐repeat tau in astrocytes is a degenerative process rather than a reactive process.     

Immunoreactive opsin and glial fibrillary acidic protein in persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous

An 8-month-old boy had an anterior type of persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous in the right eye. Results of needle biopsy, performed because of elevated intraocular pressure, disclosed clusters of blastic cells. The eye was enucleated on the suspicion of retinoblastoma. Histological examination showed retrolental fibrovascular tissue and retinal dysplasia. Immunoreactive opsin was detected in the innermost structures and in photoreceptor-like cells of rosettes. We conclude that photoreceptor cells differentiated to express opsin, even when neighbouring cells were abnormally arranged. An immunocytochemical study of glial fibrillary acidic protein demonstrated glial proliferation in the inner layer of the retina but not in the preretinal space.     

A study of revised self-monitoring scale]

The present study attempted to construct the Japanese version of Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (Lennox & Wolfe, 1984). Factor analysis of this scale yielded two factors: 1) Sensitivity to expressive behavior of others, 2) Ability to modify self-presentation. This scale and its two factors had acceptable internal consistency: these results were almost similar with the original study. In correlational analyses with other personality measures, this scale correlated positively with both Private and Public Self-Consciousness Scale and Maudsley Personality Inventory-E Scale, but positively or negatively with some scales of Yatabe-Guilford Personality Inventory (e.g., G, S: positively. I, T: negatively.). Moreover the correlations between the two factors and the above mentioned measures provided interesting results. The availability of this scale was discussed.     

Laser Raman spectroscopic study of hereditary cataractous lenses in ICR/f-strain rat

The lenses of ICR/f-strain rats with hereditary cataract were monitored in situ by laser Raman spectroscopy. The lenses used were within the age of 3-10 weeks before lens opacification became manifest. The reduction of protein SH group content and the increase of protein S-S bond content were observed in ICR/f rats in the precataractous stage. No significant change in the water content was observed.     

The sites of origin of dopaminergic afferent fibers to the lateral habenular nucleus in the rat

The lateral habenular nucleus of the rat contains a dense plexus of dopaminergic fibers, which are more marked in the medial part of the lateral habenular nucleus than in its lateral counterpart. Employing a combination of fluorescent retrograde axonal tracing with fluorogold and tyrosine hydroxylase immunofluorescence histochemistry, we investigated the distribution of cells of origin of the dopaminergic afferent fibers to the lateral habenular nucleus in the rat. The cells double-labeled with both fluorogold injected into the lateral habenular nucleus and tyrosine hydroxylase antisera were seen in a variety of fore- and midbrain regions, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial preoptic area, periventricular, ventromedial, and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei, ventral tegmental area, interfascicular nucleus, substantia nigra pars compacta, ventrolateral division of the midbrain periaqueductal gray, and dorsal raphe nucleus. The double-labeled cells were located bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance, and constituted approximately 10% of the total fluorogold-positive cell population. We have further observed by anterograde axonal tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris–leucoagglutinin that projection fibers arising from the sites of origin of the dopaminergic afferent fibers to the lateral habenular nucleus terminate mainly in the medial part of the lateral habenular nucleus, and to a lesser extent in its lateral conterpart. Thus, we have found in the present study that the dopaminergic neurons sending their axons to the lateral habenular nucleus are widely distributed in the A9, A10, A14, and A15 dopaminergic cell groups. Such dopaminergic neurons may exert regulatory influences upon many limbic-associated brain regions via the lateral habenular nucleus. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.