Selective spermatic arteriography for localization of an impalpable undescended testis

Thirty patients with undescended testes, including 15 children, were studied by selective spermatic angiography. Six patients had both arteriography and venography, and 24 had bilateral arteriography for assessment of testicular size. In 7 patients, arteriography revealed an impalpable testis following unsuccessful surgical exploration. In 17, subsequent surgery confirmed the angiographic findings; testicular agenesis was diagnosed in 7, and catheterization failed in 2. There were no complications. Preoperative testicular arteriography localizes the testis, facilitates surgery, and may aid in tumor detection. Angiographic identification of testicular agenesis precludes exploration. Arteriography is more accurate, simpler, and less complicated than venography.     

Analysis of the major lipid classes in human peripheral nerve biopsies. Age group differences and abnormalities of ganglioside level in perhexiline maleate therapy.

We report here the results of a simple and reproducible technique which can be used in semi-routine analysis of peripheral nerve biopsy specimens, so as to have a quantitative analysis of the major lipid classes, i.e. cholesterol, cerebrosides, ethanolamine phospholipids, phosphatidyl-choline, phosphatidyl-serine + phosphatidylinositol, sphingomyelin and gangliosides. Glycolipid hexoses, cholesterol and total phospholipids have been compared in different age groups. Although all lipid classes increased from the younger to the older age group, the molar ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid differed less than the glycolipid to phospholipid ratio. Both increased significantly, even between age group 10--16 and older patients (36, 54, 61, 68, 72 and 73 years old). Although individual variations in lipid content are noteworthy, it must be emphasized that evolution with age of the lipid composition must be taken into account. Furthermore, this study confirms and extends earlier findings of increased ganglioside levels in some cases of peripheral neuropathies observed during perhexiline maleate therapy where characteristic lipid-like polymorphous inclusions have been demonstrated.     

Inhibition of implantation by the intrauterine administration of phospholipases in the rat

Phospholipases A₂ and C (93 and 500 mU) were administered to uterine horns of Long-Evans adult rats during the first five days of pregnancy. As control material, saline (0.15 M) was administered to contralateral uterine horns. The animals were sacrificed on the ninth day of pregnancy, the uterine horns were removed and the number of implanted embryos were counted. Both horns were examined with light and electron microscopes. For electron microscopy, Ruthenium red was used to visualize possible changes of the outer coat (glycocalix) of the plasma membrane of endometrial epithelial cells. Implantation was inhibited when phospholipases A₂ and C were administered during the first three days of pregnancy. Ultrastructural modifications included decrease of glycoproteins as demonstrated by diminution of the Ruthenium red staining that may indicate a decrease in the negative surface charges of endometrial surface epithelium.     

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the squirrel monkeys

Four different strains of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease virus (2 primary and 2 passaged in primates or mice) were inoculated intra-cerebrally into squirrel monkeys implanted with continuously-recording indwelling electrodes. Simultaneous EEC and videotape recordings were made on unrestrained animals. In addition EEG recordings were made of evoked visual potentials on restrained animals. EEG abnormalities appeared in every animal before the first clinical signs (6 to 20 months after inoculation) and included generalized slowing, epileptiform patterns and occasional episodes of pseudo-periodic activity. Abnormal evoked visual potentials and disturbances of consciousness were also noted. All viral strains produced similar disorders and the death of inoculated animals. The relative frequency of epilepsy seen in the CJD-inoculated squirrel monkey contrasts with its irregular occurrence in most other monkey species, and its total absence in the spider monkey. This could be related to the lesser complexity of neo-cortical evolution in the squirrel monkey and a less pronounced development of inhibitory CNS mechanisms under the general control of GABA-ergic neurons.