Early biochemical and morphological changes of the rat adrenal medulla induced by xylitol

Long-term administration of high doses of xylitol and other polyols in rats has been associated with an increase in adrenal medullary hyperplasia and neoplasia. In order to exclude age-related factors and to differentiate between unspecific stress reactions and direct effects of the compound administered, a model was developed for quantifying early adrenomedullary responses. Male SD rats were fed xylitol (10% or 20% in the diet) for 2 and 8 weeks, and early biochemical changes were correlated with a stereological analysis of the adrenal medulla. At first, the in vivo rate of catecholamine (CA) biosynthesis was slightly decreased (at 2 weeks). This was followed by an increase in dopamine--hydroxylase (DBH) activity (at 8 weeks). By that time, the total chromaffin cell volume had increased and the number of chromaffin cells per reference volume had decreased in a dose-dependent way. The total number of chromaffin cells per adrenal gland showed a distinct tendency towards an increase. Adrenal epinephrine and norepinephrine contents were not altered, and both tyrosine hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase activities remained unchanged. These data suggest that continued xylitol administration evoked an inhibitory effect on CA synthesis that, together with stimulation of the adrenal medulla brought about by the compound, resulted in compensatory medullary hypertrophy and hyperplasia.     

In vivo inhibition of dopamine-β-hydroxylase in rat adrenals during exposure to carbon disulphide

Male rats were exposed for a maximum of 4 h to carbon disulphide at atmospheric levels of 1.0—4.0mg/l and the turnover rates of adrenal dopamine was determined by injecting -methyl-p-tyrosine and measuring the rate at which dopamine disappears. Although the level of exposure was significantly higher than the 30.0 g/l permissible limit, or the average occupational exposure, similar or even higher peak exposure values were reported from the viscose rayon industry.After inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by -methyl-p-tyrosine, adrenal dopamine contents declined at a slower rate in rats exposed to carbon disulphide than in controls. The reduced rate of dopamine metabolism during exposure to carbon disulphide indicates inhibition of dopamine--hydroxylase in vivo. The size of this effect, which could be detected as soon as 30 min after starting the exposure to carbon disulphide, was dose dependent. The rate of dopamine turnover was still reduced 2 h after the end of a single exposure. However at that time, because of the larger dopamine pool present in the adrenals, the amount of dopamine converted per unit of time was again at pre-exposure levels.S. C. was supported during these studies by grants from the British Wellcome Trust and from the European Medical Research councils.     

利用CT表现鉴别肾上腺隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤和皮质腺瘤

目的探讨如何利用CT表现对肾上腺隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤和肾上腺皮质腺瘤进行鉴别诊断。方法收集2010年1月至2020年1月期间中国医科大学附属第一医院收治的177例肾上腺肿瘤患者进行回顾性分析,对比各组患者之间的一般临床资料和CT表现。结果隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤56例、皮质醇腺瘤32例、醛固酮腺瘤44例、无功能腺瘤45例,隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤组在肿瘤侧别上与无功能腺瘤组差异有统计学意义,在肿瘤最大直径、平扫CT值、动脉期和延迟期增强CT值上均显著大于三组肾上腺腺瘤组。以肿瘤直径≥2.95 cm诊断隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤,曲线下面积(AUC)为0.872,敏感度为87.5%,特异性为76.0%;当平扫CT值≥24.5 Hu时,AUC为0.929,敏感度为94.0%,特异性为82.5%;当动脉期增强CT值≥89.5 Hu时,AUC为0.886,敏感度为72.7%,特异性为90.6%;当延迟期增强CT值≥82.5 Hu时,AUC为0.937,敏感度为84.6%,特异性为95.3%;联合以上四个指标时,AUC为0.981,阈值为≥0.118,敏感度为100%,特异性为90.6%。结论以肿瘤直径2.95 cm、平扫CT值24.5 Hu、动脉期增强CT值89.5 Hu和延迟期增强CT值82.5 Hu为阈值对肾上腺隐匿型嗜铬细胞瘤有较好的鉴别诊断价值。     

肾上腺髓质微血管构筑

本文以树脂铸型扫描电镜法,观察大鼠和小鼠肾上腺髓质的微血管构筑,并特别注意髓质血管和皮质血管的相互关系;此外切片观察测量了肾上腺髓质两种嗜铬细胞的分布。肾上腺皮质集合小静脉发出侧支,分布于髓质,构成了门静脉循环特点。小鼠的肾上腺髓质,主要由这种侧支供应;而大鼠的髓质,还有多支髓质动脉供应。从血管铸型上表现出的明显局部环形缩窄推测,肾上腺髓质血液循环有若干括约装置控制。大、小鼠两种嗜铬细胞在肾上腺髓质内的分布不同,大鼠的呈随机分布;小鼠的 NA 细胞多靠近皮质,而 A 细胞多远离皮质。     

Adrenal Medullary Nodules in Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Resemble Extra-Adrenal Paraganglia

Clues to mechanisms regulating development and tumorigenesis may be provided by studies of unusual diseases. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare congenital disorder apparently related to abnormal regulation of insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) production. IGF-2 mRNA has been previously localized to the chief cells of extra-adrenal paraganglia and to adult, but not fetal, adrenal medulla. Expression of IGF-2 by neuroblastomas has been hypothesized to reflect extra-adrenal paraganglionic differentiation. In the adrenals of a fetus with BWS, we have observed both increased numbers of chromaffin cells and organoid nodules resembling extra-adrenal paraganglia. Immunoreactive IGF-2 was observed in both cell types, but was also observed in chromaffin cells in the normal fetal adrenal. The findings suggest autocrine or paracrine influences of IGF-2 in regulating the number and phenotype of cells derived from sympathoadrenal precursors in the developing adrenal medulla as well as in extra-adrenal paraganglia. These results have implications for the interpretation of data from neuroblastoma studies.     

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase-immunohistochemistry in the cat lower brainstem and midbrain

By indirect immunohistochemistry, the present study examined the distribution of neuronal structures in the cat medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain, showing immunoreactivity to aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), which catalyzes the conversion of L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) to dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin (5HT). With simultaneous and serial double immunostaining techniques, immunoreactivity to this enzyme was demonstrated in most of the catecholaminergic and serotonergic neurons. We could also demonstrate AADC-IR cell bodies that do not contain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH-) or 5HT-immunoreactivity (called "D-type cells") outside such monoaminergic cell systems. At the medullo-spinal junction, very small D-type cells were found within and beneath the ependymal layer of the 10th area of Rexed surrounding the central canal. D-type cells were localized in the caudal reticular formation, nucleus of the solitary tract, a dorsal aspect of the lateral parabrachial nucleus, and pretectal areas as have been reported in the rat. Furthermore, the present study describes, in the cat brainstem, new additional D-type cell groups that have not been reported in the rat. Dense or loose clusters of D-type cells were localized in the external edge of the laminar trigeminal nucleus, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, external cuneate nucleus, nucleus praepositus hypoglossi, central, pontine, and periaqueductal gray, superficial layer of the superior colliculus, and area medial to the retroflexus. D-type cells were loosely clustered in the lateral part of the central tegmental field dorsal to the substantia nigra, extending dorsally in the medial division of the posterior complex of the thalamus and medial side of the brachium of the inferior colliculus. They extended farther rostrodorsally along the medial side of the nucleus limitans and joined with the pretectal cell group. Almost all these cells were very small and ovoid to round with 1-2 short processes with the exception of dorsal motor vagal cells. AADC-IR axons were clearly identified in the vagal efferent nerves, longitudinal medullary pathway, dorsal tegmental bundle rostral to the locus coeruleus. Serotonergic axons were identified not only in the central tegmentum field and lateral side of the central superior nucleus, but also in the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata. We describe principal densely stained fiber plexuses in the cat brainstem. The findings of the present study provide a morphological basis for neurons that decarboxylate endogenous and exogenous L-DOPA, 5HTP, and other aromatic L-amino acids.     

第十一肋间胸、腹膜外切口在肾及肾上腺手术中的应用

目的 探讨第十一肋间胸、腹膜外切口在肾及肾上腺手术中的应用。方法 对65例患者采用经第十一间胸、腹膜外切口进行肾及肾上腺的手术。结果 65例无手术死亡,完成切口所需时间10－25分钟,术后7－8天切口拆线,无并发症发生。结论 经第十一肋间胸、腹膜外切口进行肾及肾上腺手术具有操作简单,组织损伤小,术野显露好,术后恢复快的优点。     

L-Arg-NO通路对大鼠延髓腹面加压区心血管活动的影响及与L-Glu通路的关系

目的：研究一氧化氮（ＮＯ）前体Ｌ－精氨酸（Ｌ－Ａｒｇ）单侧微量注入大鼠延髓腹面加压区（ＶＳＭｐ）对动脉血压（ＡＰ）、心率（ＨＲ）、肾灌流压（ＰＰｋ）的影响及与Ｌ－谷氨酸（Ｌ－Ｇｌｕ）升压作用的关系。方法 采用延髓腹外侧部微量注射法,以整体灌流肾为模型观察与ＮＯ有关药物对心血管活动的影响。结果 （１）ＶＳＭｐ内微量注入Ｌ－Ａｒｇ（４０～１００ｎｍｏｌ）,ＡＰ和ＨＲ呈剂量依赖性下降,与生理盐水注入后的变化相比较,差异均有显著性。如预先注入ＮＯ合酶抑制剂Ｌ－硝基－精氨酸甲酯（Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ）或鸟苷酸环化酶抑制剂甲基蓝,Ｌ－Ａｒｇ的降压效应被衰减。（２）ＶＳＭｐ内微量注入Ｌ－Ａｒｇ（１００ｎｍｏｌ）,ＰＰｋ与ＡＰ同步下降,与基础值比较,差异有显著性。（３）ＶＳＭｐ内微量注入Ｌ－Ｇｌｕ（３５０ｎｍｏｌ）,ＡＰ上升。如预先注     

非NMDA受体拮抗剂对大鼠牙髓伤害性刺激诱导的延髓Fos表达

目的 研究兴奋性氨基酸非ＮＭＤＡ受体在牙髓伤害性信息传递中的作用,为揭示牙痛的产生机制打下基础。方法 将实验动物随机分为４组。第１组单纯给予机械穿髓刺激;第２组预先侧脑室注射非ＮＭＤＡ受体拮抗剂ＣＮＱＸ,再给予相同的穿髓刺激;第３组只行ＣＮＱＸ侧脑室注射,不予穿髓刺激;第４组为正常对照组。动物存活相同时间后取延髓做Ｆｏｓ蛋白免疫组化反应。观察３组动物Ｆｏｓ免疫反应阳性细胞的数量与第１组比较没有显著