Cholinergic neurons contain Calbindin-D28k in the monkey medial septal nucleus and nucleus of the diagonal band: an immunocytochemical study

The distribution patterns of choline acetyltransferase (CAT), as a marker for cholinergic neurons, and Calbindin-D_28k (CaBP) immunoreactivities in the forebrain basal ganglia of the Japanese monkeyMacaca fuscata were compared. Similar distribution patterns of CAT and CaBP immunoreactivities were found in the medial septal nucleus (MS) and the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca (DBB). Double-labeling fluorescence immunocytochemistry revealed that most, but not all, cholinergic neurons were CaBP-immunoreactive in the MS and DBB. The results suggest that CaBP may play a role in the septohippocampal cholinergic neuron system of the monkey.     

Involvement of D1 and D2 Dopamine Receptors in the Control of Horizontal Cell Electrical Coupling in the Turtle Retina

We studied the actions of D1 and D2 dopamine agonists and antagonists on the coupling of horizontal cell axons in the turtle retina by a combination of pharmacological and electrophysiological methods. Both D1 and D2 receptors were identified in membrane fractions by radioligand binding using [3H]-SCH 23390 and [3H]-spiperone, respectively. The KD of both receptor classes were identical (0.21 nM) but D1 receptor density exceeded that of D2 receptors by more than four-fold. D1 agonists increased the activity of adenylate cyclase in a dose-dependent manner, whereas D2 agonists were without significant effect by themselves, nor did D2 antagonists block the D1-mediated increase in adenylate cyclase activity. Intracellular recordings and Lucifer Yellow dye injections were used to characterize the modifications of the receptive field profile of horizontal cell axons (H1AT) exposed to different pharmacological agents. Dopamine or D1 agonists (0.05 - 10 microM) induced a marked constriction of the H1AT receptive field, whereas D2 agonists elicited a small expansion of the receptive field. However, in the presence of a D1 antagonist, as well as IBMX to inhibit phosphodiesterase, D2 agonists (10 - 70 microM) induced a marked increase in the receptive field profile. These results indicate that both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors play a role in shaping the receptive field profile of the horizontal cell axon terminal in the turtle retina.     

T-cell specificity in murine autoimmune haemolytic anaemia induced by rat red blood cells

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) can be induced in mice by repeated injections with rat red blood cells (RBC). Here we describe the identification of rat and murine RBC antigens recognized by T-cells from mice with this disease. Splenic T-cells from mice with AIHA proliferated in response to multiple murine RBC membrane components, each of which is recognized by rat RBC induced autoantibodies. Thus, there were responses to murine autoantigen fractions that correspond in apparent molecular mass with the anion channel Band 3, with spectrin from the membrane skeleton and with the high and low molecular mass glycophorins, and the equivalent fractions from rat RBC also stimulated proliferation by T-cells. It was confirmed that purified Band 3 from murine and rat RBC also elicited responses. In contrast with the results in AIHA, T-cells from healthy control mice failed to respond to the antigens from either species, with the exception of proliferation induced by murine spectrin in one experiment and weak responses elicited by rat Band 3. It is suggested that T-cells activated by multiple cross-reactions between rat and murine RBC proteins, and by epitope spreading, are necessary to drive autoantibody production in this model of AIHA.     

大鼠隔－斜带复合体中含小白蛋白蛋白和含胆碱乙酰化酶的神经元

用免疫细胞化学ＰＡＰ法，对成年大白鼠隔－斜带（Ｓ－ＤＢ）复合体中，含小白蛋白（ＰＶ）神经元的分布和形态学进行了研究，并与含胆碱乙酚化酶（ＣｈＡＴ）神经元的观察进行了比较。含ＰＶ神经元主要位于内侧隔核（ＭＳ）、斜带垂直支（ｖＤＢ）和斜带水平支（ｈＤＢ）。ＰＶ免疫反应神经元的形状和大小在Ｓ－ＤＢ复合体的各个核区或同一核区都不相同，表明这些神经元具有多样的形态学特征。在整个Ｓ－ＤＢ复合体中，含ＰＶ和含ＣｈＡＴ神经元的比例，各占ＰＶ和ＣｈＡＴ阳性反应细胞总数的４７／和５３／，在ＭＳ、ｖＤＢ和ｈＤＢ中，ＰＶ免疫反应神经元的比例分别为３８％、５４％和５９．５％，其余为含ＣｈＡＴ的胆碱能神经元。     

A composite poly-hydroxybutyrate-glial growth factor conduit for long nerve gap repairs

There is considerable evidence that peripheral nerves have the potential to regenerate in an appropriate microenvironment. We have developed a novel artificial nerve guide composed of poly 3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) filled with glial growth factor (GGF) suspended in alginate hydrogel. Gaps of 2-4 cm in rabbit common peroneal nerve were bridged using a PHB conduit containing either GGF in alginate hydrogel (GGF) or alginate alone (Alginate), or with an empty PHB conduit (Empty). Tissues were harvested 21, 42 and 63 days post-operatively. Schwann cell and axonal regeneration were assessed using quantitative immunohistochemistry. At 21 days, addition of GGF increased significantly the distance of axonal and Schwann cells regeneration in comparison with that observed in Alginate and Empty conduits for both gap lengths. The axons bridged the 2-cm GGF conduits gap by 63 days, with a comparable rate of regeneration seen in 4-cm conduits. Schwann cells and axonal regeneration quantity was similar for both gap lengths in each group. However, at all time points the quantity of axonal and Schwann cells regeneration in GGF grafts was significantly greater than in both Alginate and Empty conduits, the latter showing better regeneration than Alginate conduits. The results indicate an inhibitory effect of alginate on regeneration, which is partially reversed by the addition of GGF to the conduits. In conclusion, GGF stimulates a progressive and sustainable regeneration increase in long nerve gap conduits.     

成人房室束、假腱索和节制索的亚显微构造

本文研究了两例成人房室束、假腱索和节制索的亚显微构造。结果表明,在成人房室束、假腱索和节制索中均可见浦肯野细胞,细胞宽而短,肌原纤维和组成肌原纤维的肌丝均较少;核多为一个,核周肌浆中有大量线粒体,核附近偶见高尔基复合体;肌浆中亦见肌浆网、糖原颗粒和溶酶体等。另外在房室束中,还可见一般心肌细胞和介于浦肯野细胞与一般心肌细胞之间的过渡细胞(或称移行细胞)。胶原纤维和毛细血管等分布在几种肌细胞之间。房室束浦肯野细胞的端与端之间有不甚典型的闰盘。相邻并列的过渡细胞之间见两种连接形式:一种是一个过渡细胞的分支与另一个过渡细胞的外侧面形成闰盘样连接;另一种是并列相邻的两个过渡细胞,以短的分支几乎呈直角互相连接。     

The nucleus basalis magnocellularis: The origin of a cholinergic projection to the neocortex of the rat

The cells of origin of a neocortical cholinergic afferent projection have been identified by anterograde and retrograde methods in the rat. Horseradish peroxidase injected into neocortex labelled large, acetylcholinesterase-rich neurons in the ventromedial extremity of the globus pallidus. This same group of neurons underwent retrograde degeneration following cortical ablations. The region in which cell depletion occurred also showed significant decreases in the activities of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase. Discrete electrolytic and kainic acid lesions restricted to the medial part of the globus pallidus each resulted in significant depletions of neocortical choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase. Hemitransections caudal to this cell group did not result in such depletions. Taken together these observations suggest that the acetylcholinesterase-rich neurons lying in the ventromedial extremity of the globus pallidus, as mapped in this study, constitute the origin of a major subcortical cholinergic projection to the neocortex. The utility of acetylcholinesterase histochemistry in animals pretreated with di-isopropylphosphorofluoridate in identifying cholinergic neurons is discussed in the light of this example; specifically, it is proposed that high acetylcholinesterase activity 4–8 h after this pretreatment is a necessary, but not sufficient, criterion for the identification of cholinergic perikarya.The neurons in question appear to be homologous to the nucleus basalis of the substantia innominata of primates, and are thus termed ‘nucleus basalis magnocellularis’ in the rat. No evidence was obtained to support the hypothesis that nucleus of the diagonal band projects to neocortex. However, striking similarities in size and acetylcholinesterase activity were observed among the putative cholinergic perikarya of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis, the nucleus of the diagonal band, and the medial septal nucleus.Kainic acid lesions of the neocortex produced uniform and complete destruction of neuronal perikarya. These lesions decreased neocortical glutamic acid decar?ylase activity, suggesting that there are GABAergic perikarya in the neocortex. However, the same lesions did not affect neocortical choline acetyltransferase. This observation suggests that there are no cholinergic perikarya in the neocortex, a conclusion that is consistent with the absence of intensely acetylcholinesterase-reactive neurons in the neocortex.     

一个遗传性非综合征型耳聋家系的突变分析

目的分析一个遗传性非综合征型耳聋家系的突变，并探讨缝隙连接蛋白beta2(gap junction protein beta 2，GJB2)基因235delC突变是否会加重线粒体A1555G突变导致的非综合征型耳聋症状。方法对一个母系遗传性非综合征型耳聋核心家系72个成员取外周血提取DNA，经聚合酶链反应扩增后，利用Alw26Ⅰ限制性内切酶酶切及直接测序验证，对其线粒体DNA突变进行研究；利用ApaⅠ限制性内切酶酶切及直接测序验证，筛查核心家系中GJB2基因235delC突变情况，并对GJB2基因235delC和线粒体A1555G突变的关系进行研究。结果在27名母系成员中均发现具有线粒体A1555G突变，呈母系遗传；具有耳聋表型的为21人(77．8％)，家族外显率高；所筛查的包括配偶在内的72名个体中，仅3例具有GJB2基因235delC杂合子突变，且均出现在母系成员中，但3例的耳聋表型却不同。结论线粒体A1555G突变是本家系耳聋遗传易感性的基础，在该家系中GJB2基因的235delC杂合子突变未加重线粒体A1555G突变导致的非综合征型耳聋。     

An ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of microcystic meningioma with emphasis on matrix proteins and connexin 26 type gap junctions

Although the histopathological subtypes of meningioma do not themselves appear to have prognostic significance, they are collectively important for defining the overall histopathological entity of microcystic meningioma (MCM) and allowing a distinction from other intracranial tumors, such as capillary hemangioblastoma, glioma, and metastatic renal cell carcinoma showing similar histology. Four cases of MCM were analyzed by conventional histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. The present series of MCM was characterized by spindle- or cobweb-shaped tumor cells, characteristically associated small blood vessels, and a peculiar microcystic pattern. Among the microcystic meningeal tumor tissue, small areas of conventional subtypes were identified. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells showed the mesenchymal features of vimentin positivity and a rich distribution of matrix proteins around tumor cells. They lacked epithelial marker positivity but were faintly EMA positive. Ultrastructurally, primitive cellular junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions were frequently seen between tumor cells. The gap junctions correlated with connexin 26 immunoreactivity. Although lacking an obvious epithelial nature, these features could be interpreted as showing an abortive differentiation mimicking meningothelial (arachnoidal) cells, which, physiologically, regulate cerebrospinal fluid between blood vessels and brain parenchyma.