Epidermal Growth Factor Induces the Expression of Its Receptor Gene in Human Gastric Carcinoma Cell Line TMK-1

To ascertain the possible autocrine pathway in the growth promotion of gastric carcinomas, a study was made on the effects of exogenous human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) on the expression of mRNA for EGF, transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), EGF receptor, FOS and MYC genes by TMK-1 cells. Exogenous hEGF increased FOS and MYC mRNA levels 30 min and 1 h after the treatment, respectively. TMK-1 cells accumulated the mRNA for EGF receptor about 7- to 8-fold by 3 h after treatment Expressions of mRNA for EGF and TGF-α genes were detected, but the amounts of the mRNA of these genes in TMK-1 cells were not altered after the treatment.     

Mediastinoscopic diagnosis and drainage of pericardial diverticulum —A case report—

A 38-year-old male was suspected of having an enlarged pretracheal lymph node on chest CT scan. At mediastinoscopy, a cystic lesion was recognized, and showed repeated dilatation and contraction synchronously with the cardiac beat. Pneumopericardium was demonstrated by intraoperative pneumocystograpy. The cystic lesion was diagnosed as pericardial diverticulum. The diverticular wall was partially resected for drainage of the pericardial fluid. Mediastinoscopy as a less invasive procedure may be useful for the differential diagnosis of adenopathies, and in case of lesion such as a small pericardial diverticulum may allow treatment.     

Organization of the intercollicular pathway in rat

The intercollicular pathway of the rat was studied using autoradiographic (ARG) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing techniques. The HRP experiments demonstrated that the cells of origin of the intertectal pathway were located primarily in the rostral stratum griseum intermediale (SGI), stratum album intermedium (SAI) and stratum griseum profundum (SGP). Intertectal neurons were in most cases multipolar and had average somal diameters which ranged between 8 and 33μm. Only a small number of superficial layer neurons contributed axons to the intercollicular pathway. ARG tracing showed that the intertectal pathway terminated in the deep layers of the rostral one half of the colliculus. The primary terminal zone was SGP. In addition, labeled axons left this region and coursed dorsally to terminate in a series of patches in the lower SGI and upper SAI. A small number of labeled fibers also reached the stratum opticum (SO) and lower stratum griseum superficiale (SGS).     

Correlative light and immunohistological study of the basement membrane of the human squamous cervical carcinoma

Immunofluorescent reaction with the use of bullous pemphigoid patients' sera including antibodies to the basement membrane, was applied to the frozen sections of 31 cervical carcinomas. These include 3 in situ carcinomas, 1 microinvasion, and 27 invasive squamous cell carcinomas. We found the essentially normal immunofluorescent basement membrane in all cases of in situ carcinomas and in 7 cases of invasive carcinomas, and poorly formed or absent basement membrane in the remaining 20 cases. We couldn't correlate the presence or absence of basement membrane to any histological characteristics, i.e., CPL classification, histological degree of cancer cell differentiation, lymphocyte infiltration, lymph node metastasis and mucin production in cancer cells. The basement membranes shown by PAS staining were not compatible with immunofluorescent one. This means that the diagnosis of the destruction of basement membranes may not be clear by PAS staining. However, we do not know the conventional methods to stain the basement membrane, except for the immunofluorescent technic.     

HETEROTRANSPLANTATION OF ARGYROPHIL SMALL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX INTEGRATING HPV16 DNA INTO NUDE MICE

Argyrophil small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (ASCC) containing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) DNA has been successfully transplanted in nude mice for the first time, and we have designated the resultant cell line as YIK-1. Histology of YIK-1 was similar to that of the original tumor. The original and YIK-1 tumor cells contained argyrophil granules and neurosecretory granules in the cytoplasm, and were immunohistochemically stained positive for neuron-specific enolase, serotonin and chromogranin. Both tumors contained HPV16 DNA in a multiple-copy integrated form. Thus, YIK-1 maintains the characteristics of the original ASCC, and may therefore be useful as an animal system for experimental studies of ASCC.     

Cholinergic innervation of the rat cerebellum: qualitative and quantitative analyses of elements immunoreactive to a monoclonal antibody against choline acetyltransferase

Cholinergic innervation of the rat cerebellum was investigated immunohistochemically by using a monoclonal antibody against choline acetyltransferase. Immunoreactive structures included: 1) a subpopulation of mossy fibers and glomerular rosettes; 2) thin varicose fibers, which were closely associated with the Purkinje cell layer and also found in the molecular layer; and 3) relatively dense networks of varicose fibers distributing in the cerebellar nuclei. Quantitative analysis indicated that a great many immunoreactive rosettes were localized in lobules IXc and X, although their density in lobule X was approximately four times that in the lobule IXc. A considerable number of immunoreactive structures were also present in all other lobules. In the hemispheres they were confined to a zone immediately beneath the Purkinje cell layer, whereas in the vermis they were scattered throughout the granular layer. Most of the immunoreactive fibers found in the molecular layer coursed toward the pial surface and were distributed within the inner half of the molecular layer. In the cerebellar nuclei, portions of the medial nucleus and magnocellular portion of the lateral nucleus had moderately dense networks of immunoreactive fibers, whereas loose networks of fibers were observed in the posterior interposed nucleus. Other parts of the cerebellar nuclei contained a smaller number of varicose fibers.