The role of beta-catenin, TGF beta 3, NGF2, FGF2, IGFR2, and BMP4 in the pathogenesis of mesenteric sclerosis and angiopathy in midgut carcinoids

A subset of midgut carcinoids (MCs) result in mesenteric angiopathy (MA) and bowel infarction as a consequence of vascular compression caused by extensive mesenteric sclerosis (MS). The goal of this study was to determine whether the level of expression of several fibrosing-related growth factors was related to the finding of MA and/or MS in MCs. Eighteen cases of MC, 6 with both extensive MS and MA (group I), 5 with extensive MS only (group II), and 7 with ordinary MS only (group III), were analyzed for immunoexpression of beta-catenin, transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF beta 2), nerve growth factor 2 (NGF2), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), insulin growth factor receptor (IGFR), and bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Standard immunohistochemical technique was used following antigen retrieval. Immunostaining was scored semiquantitively as the product of the percentage and intensity (0 to 2+) of the immunostaining, giving a possible range of 0 to 200. One-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney nonparametric analyses were used for statistical analysis. The mean scores of immunoreactivity of each factor in groups I, II, and III were as follows: 135, 174, and 147 for beta-catenin (cytoplasmic reactivity only); 106, 112, and 92 for TGF beta 3; 1.67, 32, and 36 for NGF-2; 2.5, 48, and 55 for FGF-2; 19, 112, and 66 for IGFR2; 140, 45, and 52 for BMP4. There were significant differences in NGF-2 immunoreactivity between groups I and III (P = 0.0023) and in BMP4 immunoreactivity between groups I and II (P = 0.017) and groups I and III (P = 0.022). All MCs expressed high levels of membranous beta-catenin, moderate levels of TGF beta 3 and IGFR2, and low levels of FGF-2, with no significant differences seen among the groups. MCs with prominent MS and MA (group I) expressed significantly higher BMP4 than those in groups II and III, suggesting a potential role of BMP4 in the pathogenesis of MA. The level of NGF-2 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group III, possibly indicating abnormal angiogenesis in the formation of angiopathy.     

Receptive fields of single cells in the cat's superior colliculus

Summary Receptive field analysis of single units in the superior colliculus of the mid-pontine, pretrigeminal cat has confirmed previous reports of directionally selective units in the tectum. The directional property was based principally upon a unilateral inhibitory mechanism, although some directional responses to small moving objects depended equally upon summation of excitation. Receptive field size varied greatly, with field diameters not uncommonly exceeding 30 degrees. Fields near the area centralis and along the horizontal meridian tended to be smaller than those elsewhere. An inhibitory influence from the field periphery was demonstrated.Post-doctoral fellow of the National Science Foundation. Present address: Department of Experimental Psychology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D. C. 20012 (USA).     

Aberrant retinal projections to midbrain targets mediate spared visual orienting function in hamsters with neonatal lesions of superior colliculus

Summary Rodents, cats, and most nonmammalian vertebrates with bilateral tectal deafferentation or ablation in adulthood are extremely deficient at orienting to visual stimuli; yet animals with neonatal lesions of superficial layers of the superior colliculus (SC) show partial sparing of this response, particularly for targets in the central visual field. In this study, we sought to determine whether these spared orienting abilities are mediated by aberrant retinal projections to the remaining intermediate layers of the SC, or whether visual cortex (VC) mechanisms or alternative behavioral strategies are responsible. Neonatal golden hamsters received either bilateral heat lesions of the SC (rlSC), or a heat lesion of the right SC and enucleation of the right eye (rSCrE). This latter procedure causes axons from the left eye to recross the tectal midline and terminate in the wrong (left) SC (Schneider 1973). As adults, both groups of hamsters were extremely deficient in visually guided approach to stationary targets, although rlSC-lesioned hamsters showed some sparing for central field targets and rSCrE-lesioned hamsters often made wrong-direction turns for targets in the left peripheral field. We then subjected both groups of neonatally lesioned hamsters to bilateral aspiration lesions of the VC. Retesting showed no change in visual orienting behavior as a result of the cortical lesions. Labeling of the optic tract with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) revealed abundant aberrant retinal projections to remaining intermediate layers of the SC and thalamic nucleus lateralis posterior (LP), as well as supernormal innervation of pretectal nuclei, the dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract, and the ventral nucleus of the lateral geniculate body (LGv). We conclude that the spared visual orienting capabilities of hamsters with rlSC and rSCrE lesions are mediated by the aberrant midbrain projections, and that cortical mechanisms are not involved in spared visual orienting functions following these neonatal lesions.     

Histological appearances of the long saphenous vein

The long saphenous vein is frequently used as a graft in both coronary artery and femoro-distal bypass surgery. The histological changes which are seen after implantation into the arterial system have been well documented in the past, but little attention has been focused on the histological appearances of the donor long saphenous vein prior to grafting. In this study, samples of the long saphenous vein in excess of that required for bypass have been examined. In none of the veins did the histological appearances conform to the described normal. All showed evidence of intimal fibrosis which contained elastic tissue and enmeshed smooth muscle cells. The longitudinal and circular muscle layers showed evidence of muscle cell hypertrophy with increase in intervening connective tissue. Elsewhere, similar histological changes have been attributed to 'arterialization'. This study shows that many of the changes are present prior to grafting and may be important in graft failure.     

Irreversible shock of rats after acute renal vein thrombosis

Summary After occlusion of the renal veins rats die quickly in progressive shock (within 4.5 h), but after ligating the renal hilum of both Kidneys they survive 27 h. To learn why renal vein occlusion is so rapidly lethal, and what substances are given off and by what method from the hemorrhagically infarcted kidneys, we studied eight groups of rats, each containing at least seven animals. The groups differed in the combination of hilar structures (renal veins, ureters, lymphatics) ligated. We compared: survival times, changes in blood pressure, blood volume, levels of plasma kinins, adenosine, and lactate, changes of blood pH, responses to Indomethacin, Trasylol^®, and plasma expanders, tubular and capillary flow rates, histopathological changes in organs and cerebral blood flow and changes in the blood coagulation system. Our results suggest that the venous stasis, anoxia, and hemorrhagic necrosis caused by bilateral venous occlusion release into renal lymphatics toxic substances which reach the systemic circulation and induce irreversible shock. We have excluded prostaglandins and adenosine as the toxic substances inducing shock but could not rule out an action of the kallikrein-kinin-system. We postulate that the striking degenerative changes occurring in the arterioles of the brain after bilateral venous occlusion may mean these vessels are especially susceptible to high levels of lactic acid and that this may explain why these animals die so quickly. Our conclusions should help not only in understanding why high levels of lactate in shock portend a poor prognosis but also help in formulating appropriate therapy for circulatory failure of renal origin and for protracted hypotension after extensive tissue injury.The studies were supported by the German Research Foundation within the SFB 90 Cardiovasculäres SystemPresented in part: Jäckh and Steinhausen, 1976; Dallenbach et al., 1978; Zimmerhackl et al., 1979We dedicate this paper to Wilhelm Doerr, Dr. med., Professor of Pathology, University of Heidelberg on the occasion of his 65th birthday (August 25th, 1979)     

Various types of corticotectal neurons of cats as demonstrated by means of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase

Summary The retrograde labeling of cortical neurons with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to investigate the morphological features of neurons in various cortical areas projecting to the superior colliculus in the cat.Corticotectal cells were found to be labeled in layer V of the entire cerebral cortex. The number of labeled cells and their locations varied according to the sites of injections of HRP in the colliculus. Most of the Corticotectal cells identified in the present study were small (9–20 m in diameter, 66%) and medium (20–40 urn, 30%) pyramidal neurons and only 4% of them were large (more than 40 m). The labeled cells, 261 in total number, had somal diameters of 20.8±8.0 m (mean and SD). The range of sizes of the labeled neurons was different in different cortical areas. For example, the labeled neurons in the Clare-Bishop area had a greater proportion of large diameter cells than in other areas.The present findings are largely in agreement with the previous data of anterograde degeneration methods with respect to the topographical correlation of the Corticotectal projections. However, in some cortical areas, e.g., the sensorimotor and the first visual (area 17) cortex of the lateral surface of the hemisphere, relatively small numbers of Corticotectal neurons appear to have been labeled by retrogradely transported HRP. The sparsity of the labeled neurons in certain cortical areas may reflect the existence of Corticotectal neurons with axon collaterals supplying brain structures other than the superior colliculus.Abbreviations A.c. Aqueductus cerebri - AEct Gyrus ectosylvius anterior - AEs Sulcus ectosylvius anterior - AI Stratum album intermediale - AL Gyrus lateralis anterior - AP Stratum album profundum - AS Gyrus sylvius anterior - Cd Nucleus caudatus - F.l.m. Fasciculus longitudinalis medialis - GI Stratum griseum intermediale - GP Stratum griseum profundum - GS Stratum griseum superficiale - Ic Inferior colliculus - L Left - MEct Gyrus ectosylvius medius - MS Gyrus sylvius medius - MSup Gyrus suprasylvius medius - N.r. Nucleus ruber - O Stratum opticum - P Pontine nuclei - P.c. Pedunculus cerebri - PEct Gyrus ectosylvius posterior - P.g. Periaqueductal gray matter - PSigm Gyrus sigmoideus posterior - PSup Gyrus suprasylvius posterior - R Right - Sc Superior colliculus - S.n. Substantia nigra - Z Statum zonale - II Optic nerve - III and IV Motor nuclei of cranial nerves     

左肝管全程剖开胆肠吻合术的应用解剖学研究

左肝管全程剖开手术,必须熟悉左肝管与邻近血管的局部解剖关系.为此我们用 ABS 丙酮溶液灌注塑型了6具新鲜成人尸肝脏,解剖40例(成人30,儿童10)肝脏标本,测量了左肝管长度和管径,左肝管与肝总管夹角。全程剖开左肝管与右肝管,并观察左肝管与右肝管、左肝动脉、门静脉左干和肝圆韧带的关系,提出了右肝管全程剖开手术方法和注意事项。     

周围神经干自然分束部位血管形态及临床意义

应用微血管灌注透明法观察研究5具成人周围神经干标本.重点观察神经自然分束部位微血管形态和分支分布规律.神经干内有非常完兽的血供系统.手术中循神经自然分束进行追踪分离,不会对神经血供产生明显影响.但在张力下牵拉缝合神经,将对神经干血供产生严重影响.神经束膜缝合比神经外膜缝合更强调在无张力下进行.     

国人胃后动脉及其临床意义

本文在查阅了资料后就胃后动脉以下几方面进行综述。1.胃后动脉的起源、出现率、类型;起源于脾动脉者最多,占78％;出现率为62％～88％;绝大部分为一支类型,占75.44～92％。2.外径、长度、毗邻;外径在1.53～3mm之间;长度为2.2～8.1cm;90％的与胃后静脉伴行。3.行径、供血区:在脾动脉上缘发出后,在网膜囊后壁腹膜外向上方走行,经胃膈韧带内最后进入贲门侧的胃底部,并供应该区的血液。     

Superior colliculus neurons provide the saccadic motor error signal

Summary Studies of the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus have suggested that it provides a desired change in eye position signal (E) for the generation of saccadic eye movements. Recent evidence, however, has shown that some neurons in these layers may be related to the velocity of saccades. We present single cell recordings from the intermediate layers of monkey superior colliculus that are consistent with the hypothesis that many superior colliculus neurons provide instead a motor error signal, e_m. Our hypothesis about the function of these cells places them inside the local feedback loop controlling the waveform of the saccade.Supported by Individual NRSA F32-EY05950 from the National Eye Institute