Two types of Na(+)-currents in cultured rat optic nerve astrocytes: changes with time in culture and with age of culture derivation.

Na+ channel expression was studied in cultures of rat optic nerve astrocytes using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings. Astrocytes from postnatal day 7 rat optic nerve (RON) expressed two distinct types of Na+ currents, which had significantly different h infinity curves. Stellate, GFAP+/A2B5+ astrocytes showed currents with h infinity curve midpoints close to -65 mV, similar to Na+ currents in most neurons. In contrast, flat fibroblast-like GFAP+/A2B5- astrocytes showed Na+ currents with h infinity midpoints around -85 mV, almost 20 mV more hyperpolarized than in neurons or A2B5+ astrocytes. Interestingly, Na+ current expression was maintained in A2B5+ astrocytes but began to decrease in A2B5- astrocytes after 6 days in vitro (DIV) and fell to or below the level of detection (i.e., 1 pA/pF) at 12 DIV. Astrocytes cultured from neonatal rats (P0) are almost exclusively GFAP+/A2B5-. These cells did not display measurable Na+ currents when studied at 2 DIV; however, Na+ current was observed after 5 DIV in A2B5- astrocytes from these neonatal (P0) cultures. These findings were substantiated by immunocytochemical experiments using 7493, an antibody raised against purified rat brain Na+ channels; in P0-derived astrocyte cultures 7493 antibody staining was initially lacking (up to 3 DIV), but it was prominent in cultures after 5 DIV, suggesting that Na+ current expression in RON astrocytes occurs postnatally.     

Microtubule dynamics in axons and dendrites.

We have investigated the stability, alpha-tubulin composition, and polarity orientation of microtubules (MTs) in the axons and dendrites of cultured sympathetic neurons. MT stability was evaluated in terms of sensitivity to nocodazole, a potent anti-MT drug. Nocodazole sensitivity was assayed by quantifying the loss of MT polymer as a function of time in 2 micrograms/ml of the drug. MTs in the axon and the dendrite exhibit striking similarities in their drug sensitivity. In both types of neurites, the kinetics of MT loss are biphasic, and are consistent with the existence of two types of MT polymer that depolymerize with half-times of MT polymer that depolymerize with half-times of approximately 3.5 min and approximately 130 min. We define the more rapidly depolymerizing polymer as drug-labile and the more slowly depolymerizing polymer as drug-stable. The proportion of MT polymer that is drug-stable is greater in axons (58%) than in dendrites (25%). On the basis of current understanding of the mechanism of action of nocodazole, we suggest that the drug-labile and drug-stable polymer observed in both axons and dendrites correspond to two distinct types of polymer that differ in their relative rates of turnover in vivo. In a previous study, we established that in the axon, these drug-stable and drug-labile types of MT polymer exist in the form of distinct domains on individual MTs, with the labile domain situated at the plus end of the stable domain (Baas and Black, J Cell Biol 111:495-509, 1990). Because of the great difference in drug sensitivity between the drug-labile and drug-stable MT polymer, we were able to dissect them apart by appropriate treatments with nocodazole. This permitted us to evaluate the drug-labile and drug-stable polymer in terms of polarity orientation and relative content of alpha-tubulin variants generated by posttranslational detyrosination or acetylation. In both the axon and the dendrite, the modified as well as unmodified alpha-tubulins are present in both drug-labile and drug-stable polymer, but at different levels. Specifically, the modified forms of alpha-tubulin are enriched in the drug-stable MT polymer compared to the drug-labile MT polymer. In studies on MT polarity orientation, we demonstrate that in axons, MTs are uniformly plus-end-distal, whereas in dendrites, MTs are non uniform in their polarity orientation, with roughly equal levels of the MTs having each orientation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

New pharmacologic developments in physical urticaria--therapeutic consequences

Recent evidence suggests that mast cell derived mediators other than histamine are likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of physical urticarias. Much of the work has been performed in idiopathic cold contact urticaria where the presence of neutrophil and eosinophil chemotactic factors, and platelet activating factor-like lipid substances have been previously demonstrated. Now, an increase in prostaglandin D2 measured by GC-MS has been demonstrated in venous blood draining the cold challenged area. This appeared a few minutes later than histamine, but then both substances paralleled the onset, development and subsidence of the urticarial reaction. There appeared to be no quantitative relationship between histamine and PGD2 release. A similar rise in histamine and PGD2 occurred on heat challenge of a subject with the rare localized form of heat urticaria. This rise of both substances was considerably reduced after combined treatment with induction of tolerance and oral indomethacin. The concentrations of PGD2 measured suggested that it plays an indirect role.     

Antenatal and postnatal findings in intra-abdominal pulmonary sequestration.

A hyperechoic mass in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen was demonstrated in a fetus by antenatal ultrasonography (US) at 20 and 33 weeks' gestation. Postnatal US, myelography and computed tomography were performed preoperatively; the findings were judged consistent with neuroblastoma. Surgical excision and pathological examination revealed bronchopulmonary sequestration.     

Type II sodium channels in spinal cord astrocytes in situ: Immunocytochemical observations

The expression of sodium channel α-subunit isoforms in astrocytes in adult rat spinal cord and optic nerve was examined utilizing immunocytochemical methods with antibodies generated against conserved and subtype-specific sequences of the sodium channel. In adult rat spinal cord, astrocytes within the dorsal and ventral funiculi were immunolabelled with antibody SP20, which recognizes a conserved sequence within sodium channel types I, II, and III. In addition, astrocytes within these spinal cord white matter tracts were immunostained with antibody SP11-II, which recognizes sodium channel type II. Antibodies SP11-I and SP32-III, which are directed against subtype-specific sequences in sodium channel types I and III, respectively, did not label astrocytes in the dorsal and ventral funiculi of the spinal cord. In optic nerves, astrocytes were immunostained with antibody SP20. However, no detectable labelling of cells within the optic nerve was observed with antibodies SP11-I, SP11-II, and SP32-III. These observations demonstrate that sodium channel II is expressed by astrocytes in spinal cord white matter. Moreover, these data suggest that regional factors regulate the level of sodium channel isoform expression in astrocytes.     

Aggressive angiomyxoma with gastrointestinal communication: a case report

We report the imaging findings of an abdominal aggressive angiomyxoma, which communicated with the gastrointestinal tract. The literature on this rare tumor is reviewed.