Nodal and paranodal structural changes in frog optic nerve during early Wallerian degeneration

Summary Ultrastructural changes in the nodal and paranodal regions of myelinated nerve fibres of frog optic nerves were studied during early stages of Wallerian degeneration. The earliest changes seen include retraction of paranodal loops of myelin from the axolemma and disconnection of paranodal myelin loops from myelin lamellae. These paranodal changes are asymmetric around the node and may be more advanced on either the proximal or distal side. Axoplasmic changes, including segregation of microtubules from neurofilaments, disorientation of microtubules and accumulation of abnormal organelles at nodes, appear shortly. In some axons the undercoating along the widened nodal surfaces becomes patchy, and blebs appear in the nodal axolemma. In freeze-fracture replicas a mixture of particle clusters and particle-free areas appears in both E- and P-faces of the nodal axolemma. Blebs remain particle free. Initially, E-face particles remain segregated to the node and are present only at much lower concentrations in the demyelinated paranodal axolemma, suggesting that they are not freely mobile at this stage. Nodal E-face particles begin to decrease on day 5 associated with an increase in particles at the adjacent demyelinated paranode, and by day 11 the particle distribution is uniformly low over the entire extent of the nodal and demyelinated paranodal axolemma. If nodal E-face particles represent sodium channels, as has been proposed, the sequence of changes in Wallerian degeneration would be compatible with a gradual redistribution of nodal sodium channels into the demyelinated paranode.     

P物质、亮氨酸脑啡肽、5-羟色胺样成分在新生儿中脑导水管周围灰质的分布

本文用PAP和ABC法对3例生后1—2天新生儿中脑导水管周围灰质(PAG)内P物质、亮氨酸脑啡肽、5-羟色胺样成分的分布进行了观察。发现P物质样阳性胞体主要位于PAG的中、尾段,分为位于腹外侧区的腹侧群和位于腹外侧区与背外侧区交界处的外侧群等两群。其阳性纤维和终末以背侧区为最密。亮氨酸脑啡肽样阳性胞体也出现于PAG中、尾段的各个区内,以腹外侧区数量为多,其阳性纤维及终末也以腹外侧区最密集。5-羟色胺样阳性胞体集中在PAG中、尾段的腹外侧区,其阳性纤维及终末主要分布于PAG的内侧区。本文还对此三种物质与镇痛机制的关系进行了讨论。     

Morphological and proliferative responses of cultured Schwann cells following rapid phagocytosis of a myelin-enriched fraction

Summary Cultured Schwann cells were found to phagocytose exogenously applied myelin membranes within 1 h. However, the resulting proliferative response required an additional 9 h of incubation. Treatment with ammonium chloride, a lysosomal inhibitor, delayed the appearance of the proliferative response to the myelin membranes by 12 h. Processing of myelin within the Schwann cells was followed by the appearance of immunocytochemically detectable myelin basic protein which was first visible at 4 h. Similar to the proliferative response, the appearance of immunoreactive material was delayed by the addition of ammonium chloride. Schwann cells were observed initially to ingest myelin fragments at their distal-most tips after which time the myelin phagosomes collected in the perinuclear region and fused with lysosomes. Phagocytic Schwann cells had a notable increase in Golgi membranes and microfilaments and contained widely dilated, rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. In purified cell cultures, Schwann cells phagocytosed myelin slower than macrophages, but displayed phagocytic abilities much greater than fibroblasts. The ability of cultured Schwann cells to phagocytose myelin rapidly suggests that these cells may aid in the breakdown and removal of myelin during Wallerian degeneration. These data further confirm the mitogenic effect of myelin and its possible role during nerve regeneration.     

Mesp1-nonexpressing cells contribute to the ventricular cardiac conduction system.

Previous fate mapping analysis, using Cre recombinase driven by the Mesp1 locus, revealed that Mesp1 is expressed in almost all of the precursors of the cardiovascular system, including the endothelium, endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium. Mesp1-nonexpressing cells were found to be restricted to the outflow tract cushion and along the interventricular septum (IVS), which is a location that is suggestive of specialized cardiac conduction system (CCS). In our current study, we examined the identity of these IVS cells by using the pattern of beta-galactosidase activity in CCS-lacZ mice. In addition, by crossing Mesp1-Cre and floxed GFP reporter mice with CCS-lacZ mice, we have calculated that approximately 20% of the ventricular CCS within the IVS corresponds to Mesp1-nonexpressing cells. These data suggest that the ventricular CCS is of heterocellular origin. Furthermore, we indicate a possibility that a population of the cells that contribute to the ventricular CCS might be distinguished at an early stage of development.     

Pregnancy-Associated Uterine Granulated Metrial Gland Cells in Mutant and Transgenic Mice

PROBLEM: Granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells are pregnancy-specific uterine lymphocytes found in rodents. The lineage relationships of GMG cells are incompletely defined, although genetic and immunophenotyping studies suggest membership in the natural killer (NIC) cell lineage. Pregnancy-specific functions have been postulated for GMG cells, but no successful depletion of these cells has been achieved that would permit assessment of any critical roles that might influence gestational outcome. METHOD: Routine histological methods for light microscopy were used to assess implantation sites from wild-type mice and mice of the following genotypes: tgE26, mi/mi, and p53 knockout. RESULTS: GMG cells are transient, histamine-negative cells found in the pregnant uteri of most mice. Pregnancies in the NK and T-cell-deficient tgE26 were characterized by infrequent GMG cells, very small placentae, and an elevated rate of fetal and perinatal mortality. In term placentae of mi/mi with dystocia, GMG cells were found in a new location along the plane of placental separation, and they appeared degranulated. A normal life-history was observed for GMG cells in p53 knockout mice. CONCLUSION: Pregnancies in mutant and transgenic mice indicate that GMG cells are natural killer cells and have critical roles in placental development and pregnancy success. The disappearance of GMG cells at term is independent of p53 gene expression.     

Somatic mosaicism of CAG repeat in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA)

An unstable expansion of CAG repeat in the coding region ofthe DRPLA gene on chromosome 12p is the mutation specific forhereditary dentatorubralpallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). We studiedthe CAG expansion in brain and other tissues from six unre latedDRPLA patients. The CAG repeat lengths showed distinct difterencesbetween tissues. The sizes of the CAG expansion in various regionsof the brain except the cerebellum were generally larger byseveral repeats than in other peripheral tissues. Brain samplesshowed greater variation of the expansion compared with othertissues, but neither the size of the CAG expansion nor the degreeof CAG repeat variation parallels the detailed findings of neuropathologicalinvolvement. We conclude that somatic instabilities of the CAGrepeat cause tissue variability of the CAG repeat size in DRPLAbut other region or cell type-specific factors would be involvedto explain the selectivity of cell damage in DRPLA.     

Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis E Virus in Veterinarians Working with Swine and in Normal Blood Donors in the United States and Other Countries

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is endemic in many developing and some industrialized countries. It has been hypothesized that animals may be the source of infection. The recent identification of swine HEV in U.S. pigs and the demonstration of its ability to infect across species have lent credence to this hypothesis. To assess the potential risk of zoonotic HEV infection, we tested a total of 468 veterinarians working with swine (including 389 U.S. swine veterinarians) and 400 normal U.S. blood donors for immunoglobulin G anti-HEV. Recombinant capsid antigens from a U.S. strain of swine HEV and from a human HEV strain (Sar-55) were each used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The anti-HEV prevalence assayed with the swine HEV antigen showed 97% concordance with that obtained with the human HEV antigen (kappa = 92%). Among the 295 swine veterinarians tested from the eight U.S. states (Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Alabama) from which normal blood donor samples were available, 26% were positive with Sar-55 antigen and 23% were positive with swine HEV antigen. In contrast, 18% of the blood donors from the same eight U.S. states were positive with Sar-55 antigen and 17% were positive with swine HEV antigen. Swine veterinarians in the eight states were 1.51 times more likely when tested with swine HEV antigen (95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 2.20) and 1.46 times more likely when tested with Sar-55 antigen (95% confidence interval, 0.99 to 2.17) to be anti-HEV positive than normal blood donors. We did not find a difference in anti-HEV prevalence between veterinarians who reported having had a needle stick or cut and those who had not or between those who spent more time (> or = 80% of the time) and those who spent less time (< or = 20% of the time) working with pigs. Similarly, we did not find a difference in anti-HEV prevalence according to four job categories (academic, practicing, student, and industry veterinarians). There was a difference in anti-HEV prevalence in both swine veterinarians and blood donors among the eight selected states, with subjects from Minnesota six times more likely to be anti-HEV positive than those from Alabama. Age was not a factor in the observed differences from state to state. Anti-HEV prevalence in swine veterinarians and normal blood donors was age specific and paralleled increasing age. The results suggest that swine veterinarians may be at somewhat higher risk of HEV infection than are normal blood donors.     

乙肝病毒e抗原反式激活蛋白的亚细胞定位研究

目的 验证HBeAgTP基因在细胞内的表达及表达蛋白的亚细胞定位。方法 构建HBeAgTP基因的酵母表达诱饵质粒pGBKT7-HBeAgTP及绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒DEGFP-C1-HBeAgTP，pEGFP-C1．HBeAgTP转染HepG2细胞，24h后荧光显微镜下观察蛋白表达的亚细胞定位。pGBKT7-HBeAgTP转化AH109酵母细胞，提取转化了质粒的酵母蛋白质，进行Western免疫印迹分析。结果 成功构建出HBeAgTP基因。HBeAgTP基因的酵母表达诱饵质粒pGBKT7-HBeAgTP及绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒pEGFP-C1．HBeAgTP，Western免疫印迹法印证HBeAgTP可表达蛋白，其表达的蛋白亚细胞定位于细胞质。结论 HBeAgTP基因可表达蛋白，其表达蛋白亚细胞定位于细胞质。     

原发性胆囊癌CT诊断与鉴别诊断

目的 探讨原发性胆囊癌的CT诊断与鉴别诊断要点。方法 回顾性分析23例原发性胆囊癌CT征象，并与手术和病理对照。结果 本组23例胆囊癌术前CT正确诊断18例，5例误诊，根据CT表现可分为：腔内型8例、厚壁型5例、肿块型10例；其中共8例并肝门和腹膜后淋巴结转移；3例肝内转移；病理结果：腺癌20例，鳞癌3例。结论 原发性胆囊癌CT的诊断价值较高，但仍容易误诊，早期的诊断仍有一定困难，掌握其CT征象，注意鉴别诊断可以提高本病的诊断水平。