Noradrenaline and neophobia

Lesions of the ascending noradrenergic bundles using the selective neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine increased neophobia to a number of novel tastes in rats. These lesions also increased some, but not all, measures of neophobia in novel environments. The results are discussed with reference to a recent hypothesis which suggests that the noradrenergic projections of the locus coeruleus mediate some aspects of fear and anxiety. Contrary to the prediction of this hypothesis, the noradrenergic lesions significantly increased rather than decreased neophobia. While these results point to an involvement of ascending noradrenergic systems in fear, at present the nature of this involvement cannot be specified in detail.     

The bone marrow in disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection

Thirteen cases of disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI), representing a total of 27 bone marrow specimens, were studied. The patients ranged from 25 to 46 years of age and included ten immunocompromised and three immunocompetent hosts. Peripheral blood findings included anemia in all patients, leukopenia in 73%, thrombocytopenia in 45%, and pancytopenia in 45%. Fourteen of the specimens (52%) showed granulomas ranging from small, subtle lymphohistiocytic aggregates to larger lymphohistiocytic lesions and clusters of epithelioid histiocytes; almost half of these lesions were missed initially. Rare acid-fast bacilli were seen in only one case, but 53% grew MAI on culture. In one case of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, culture was positive in the absence of inflammation or AFB on staining. These findings are not significantly different from those reported in disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.     

Changes in the oral flora in Sjögren''s syndrome

The oral flora of 10 patients with Sjögren''s syndrome was compared with that of 10 healthy control subjects. Significantly greater numbers of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and coliform bacilli were present in the Sjögren''s group. Possible reasons for these changes are discussed.     

Regression of v-src DNA-induced sarcomas is under host genetic control.

Previous results have established that subcutaneous inoculation of chickens (line SC) with a v-src(+) subviral DNA fragment induces the formation of progressor sarcomas at the wing web site of inoculation. Because the sarcoma cells are incompetent for production of exogenous progeny virus, this system is a useful model of tumor expansion by sarcoma cell division, in the absence of infection-mediated recruitment of new tumor cells. The present study was undertaken to define conditions that modulate the pattern of growth (regression vs progression) of v-src DNA-induced sarcomas. These conditions were found to include the line of chicken or the presence on the subviral v-src(+) DNA fragment of a viral replication-specific sequence that includes env.     

Immunohistological analysis of the lymphoid infiltrate in cutaneous malignant melanomas

Summary The immunological phenotypes of the lymphoid cells in 39 cutaneous malignant melanomas have been investigated by staining cryostat sections with a panel of 20 monoclonal antibodies against lymphoid cells and their subsets. Staining was performed by the alkaline phosphatase: anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) method in which the substrate label (red) is easily distinguishable from melanin. The lymphoid infiltrates had an essentially identical composition in all cases, consisting of T-lymphocytes associated with both Langerhans cells and HLA-DR-positive tissue macrophages. B-lymphocytes and natural killer cells were either absent or only present in low numbers. The ratio between T8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) and T4 (helper/inducer) lymphocytes varied and showed no correlation with melanoma subtype, level of invasion or magnitude of lymphocytic response. Examination for markers associated with T-cell activation and/or with cell proliferation revealed that all lesions contained HLA-DR-positive T-lymphocytes, whereas expression of the transferrin receptor and the interleukin-2 receptor (Tac-antigen) occurred mainly in melanomas with a significant inflammatory infiltrate. These data support the concept that malignant melanomas are capable of evoking autologous T-cell immune reactions.     

Altered neuronal sensitivity of lateral geniculate neurones to noradrenaline and 5-HT following exposure to continuous lighting

Rats were housed in either continuous lighting (LL), an extended photoperiod of 18 h light-6 h dark (LD 18:6) or a 12 h light-12 h dark (LD 12:12) lighting cycle. The effects of these various lighting regimens on the sensitivity of dorsal lateral geniculate neurones to iontophoresed noradrenaline and serotonin (5-HT) was examined. Exposure to either continuous lighting or to an extended photoperiod (LD 18:6) resulted in the development of an enhanced responsiveness to iontophoresed noradrenaline (alpha 1-adrenoceptor) and 5-HT. The development of light-induced noradrenaline and 5-HT supersensitivity resembles the changes obtained with antidepressant treatments.