Expression of epithelial and nervous-system-related antigens on pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands--an analysis of 20 cases

The expression of cytokeratin (40-52 kD), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), vimentin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were investigated in 20 cases of pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands and 10 cases of normal salivary glands, in order to analyze and correlate the antigens' expressions with the probably histogenetic mechanisms of the various histopathological differentiations in pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands and their probably original cells in normal salivary glands. Immunohistochemistry has provided some evidence for the relationship of the tumor cells to normal salivary glands: In the normal glands, the acinic cells exhibited cytokeratin, CEA and focal, predominantly nuclear S-100 protein staining. In both normal glands and pleomorphic adenomas, the duct-lining cells were immunoreactive for cytokeratin, CEA and had both cytoplasmic and nuclear S-100 positivity; The myoepithelial cells of the normal glands as well as the periduct cells, epithelial nests/cords, squamous metaplasia and the stellate/spindle/cartilaginous cells in the myxomatous-chondroid areas of the pleomorphic adenoma contain immunoreactive vimentin, NSE, S-100 proteins and GFAP, and lesser amounts cytokeratin (40-52 kD)/CEA. The varicosities of the terminal axon may lie directly on the basal membrane, or penetrate the basal membrane and lie in direct contact with the effector cells (duct-acinar-myoepithelial cells) of the salivary glands. The peripheral neurons and axons of the autonomic nervous system were identified by vimentin, NSE, S-100 proteins and GFAP. The combination of epithelial cytokeratin and nervous system-related vimentin, NSE, S-100 and GFAP immunostaining in myoepithelium of the normal glands and in all component elements (particularly the periduct cells) of pleomorphic adenoma reflects pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands is an epithelial tumor, the probably original cells or the probably histogenetic mechanisms of the various histopathological differentiations is correlated not only with "duct-acinar-myoepithelial cells" but also with the neuroectoderm in the normal salivary glands."     

Immunohistological study with peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining in a case of generalized prepubertal periodontitis

A case of prepubertal periodontitis was observed and examined immunohistologically with peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining. The patient was an 11-year and 7-month-old Japanese girl, well-developed and well-nourished. Her parents were first cousins. Her chief complaint was the loosening and loss of the permanent teeth. There was a similar history of primary dentition. Her remaining permanent teeth were loosened with severe alveolar bone loss, but calculus deposit was minimal. Significantly, there was no palmar-plantar hyperkeratosis. General examination showed normal data except for the increase of the immunoglobulin concentrations. In neutrophil function tests chemotaxis was depressed, although phagocytosis, random migration and superoxide production were within normal limits. Histologically, neutrophils were seen in the gingival tissue and other findings were also similar to those of adult periodontitis. In immunohistological examination, IgG-bearing cells which mostly consisted of plasma cells predominated in the lesion. Considering the past history, the immunodeficiency and the absence of palmar-plantar hyperkeratosis, the case was diagnosed as prepubertal periodontitis.     

Numerical identification of teeth in Japanese shrew-moles, Urotrichus talpoides and Dymecodon pilirostris.

Numerical determination of the teeth of two species of Japanese shrew moles, Urotrichus talpoides and Dymecodon pilirostris (Talpidae, Insectivora), was based on the position of the premaxillo-maxillary suture, comparison of the dentitions of the two species with those of their relatives and the supernumerary tooth. The premaxillo-maxillary suture is situated between the fifth and sixth tooth anterior to the M1, and the fifth tooth anterior to the M1 was determined to be C both in the two species. The supernumerary tooth which appears in the gap between the third and fourth anterior to the M1 of the lower jaw of Urotrichus talpoides was considered as a relic of pdl which seems to have been lost relatively recently in the evolution of this species. It was also shown that the first premolar of the upper jaw of the Urotrichus talpoides and the first premolars of the Dymecodon pilirostris are dihyodont. Retention of the dihyodont first premolars in these species seems to be a primitive character and is significant in determining the phylogenetical positions of these species.