Contribution of liver nerves,glucagon, and adrenaline to the glycaemic response to exercise in rats

The contribution of hepatic sympathetic innervation, glucagon and adrenaline to the glycaemic response to exercise was investigated in rats. Hepatically denervated (LDX) or sham operated (SHAM) rats with permanent catheters were therefore submitted to swimming with or without infusion of somatostatin in combination with adrenodemedul–lation. Blood samples were taken for measurements of blood glucose, plasma free fatty acids (FFA), adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA), insulin and glucagon. Liver denervation by itself did not influence glucose levels during exercise. Infusion of somatostatin in SHAM animals, which inhibited the exercise–induced glucagon response, led to enhanced sympathoadrenal outflow (measured as plasma A and NA) and a reduced blood glucose during exercise, suggesting that glucagon serves as a powerful mediator of the glycaemic response during swimming. Infusion of somatostatin in LDX animals failed to enhance plasma NA levels and led to a more pronounced reduction in blood glucose levels. This indicates that liver nerves do contribute to the glycaemic response to exercise when glucagon secretion is suppressed. Reduced blood glucose levels after adrenodemedullation revealed that adrenal A is another important mediator of the glucose response to exercise. Infusion of somatostatin in adreno–demedullated SHAM or LDX animals was not accompanied with increased NA outflow, suggesting that adrenal A is necessary to allow the compensatory increased outflow of NA from sympathetic nerves. In conclusion, the study shows that pancreatic glucagon and adrenal A are the predominant factors influencing the glycaemic response to exercise, whereas a role of the sympathetic liver nerves becomes evident when glucagon secretion is suppressed.     

Distribution of human colonic dendritic cells and macrophages

To define the phenotype of intestinal dendritic cells and macrophages, resected colonic specimens were used to obtain lamina propria cell suspensions by EDTA treatment, then enzymatic digestion. The phenotype of dendritic cell-enriched suspensions was compared with that of macrophage-enriched populations by immunocytochemistry using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase (ABC) system and immunoelectron microscopy. Dendritic cells expressed HLA-DR (L243) and HLA-DQ-associated (RFD1) antigens and CD68 in a perinuclear distribution. Staining for S100 was weak or absent. Macrophages also expressed HLA markers (L243 and RFD1) and CD68. The 25F9 antigen was expressed strongly, whilst CD14 was absent from cells isolated from non-inflamed tissues. To determine their anatomic distribution, immunohistochemistry was performed using single- and double-labelling techniques (ABC ± alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase method). Mutually exclusive subsets of 25F9⁺ and S100⁺cells were seen: 25F9⁺ macrophages were concentrated in a band immediately beneath the luminal epithelium; S100⁺/HLA-DR⁺ dendritic cells formed a reticular network throughout the lamina propria and beneath the basement membrane of the crypts. This distribution suggests that macrophages may help regulate intestinal responses by acting as the first line of defence against the entry of luminal antigens. A breach of the macrophage ‘barrier’ by invading antigens may necessitate the recruitment of T cell responses by immunostimulatory dendritic cells.     

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma: evidence for its myogenic origin and for the involvement of 17q25

A typical case of alveolar soft-part sarcoma was examined using ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and cytogenetic methods. Immunohistochemical stains were performed on frozen sections and showed strong desmin expression with the three anti-desmin antibodies used. In addition, the tumour cells were weakly positive for vimentin and myosin. Neural markers were negative. Chromosomal analysis showed consistent involvement of 17q25—an abnormality which has been reported in another alveolar soft-part sarcoma. The histogenesis of alveolar soft-part sarcoma is still debatable but our findings support a myogenic origin. The finding of an apparently identical chromosomal abnormality in two of three thus far examined cases of alveolar soft-part sarcoma is of interest and must await further confirmation, but it may result in the identification of a chromosomal marker for this enigmatic tumour and thus pave the way for further molecular elucidation.     

Frequency and intensity of late asthmatic reactions after bronchial allergen challenge in asthma and rhinitis

The occurrence of late asthmatic reactions after bronchial allergen challenge was studied in 50 house dust mite allergic patients subdivided in three groups: one group had asthma without nasal symptoms, another group had rhinitis without pulmonary symptoms and a third group had a combination of both asthma and rhinitis. Late asthmatic reactions were present in 80% of asthmatic patients and in 18.7% of rhinitis patients. The degree of non-specific bronchial reactivity to histamine (provocative dose 15 or PD15 histamine) and the degree of immediate reactivity to allergen (PD15 house dust mite) did not differ significantly between patients with and without late asthmatic reactions. These findings suggest that an important difference between asthma and rhinitis is the lack of late asthmatic reactions in rhinitis patients, whereas the degree of immediate bronchial reactivity to the allergen is similar in asthma and rhinitis.