Organization and efferent projections of nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta with special reference to its cholinergic aspects

In an attempt to evaluate the cellular organization and efferent projections of the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta, several experiments were performed in the rat. From measurements of neurons in the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta in Nissl-stained sections, the nucleus was observed to contain many large neurons which made it possible to demarcate this nucleus from surrounding pontomesencephalic reticular formation. Two other neuronal populations, medium and small neurons, were also seen in the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta. Detailed measurements showed that 90% by volume of all neurons in the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta were large and medium-sized neurons. After injections of [ ³H]leucine into the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta, transported label was observed in dorsally and ventrally coursing ascending fibers. The dorsally coursing fibers entered the centrolateral nucleus and centre median-parafascicular complex of the thalamus. The ventrally coursing fibers produced accumulation of silver grains in the ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra pars compacta, subthalamic nucleus, zona incerta and lateral hypothalamus. Crossed fibers of the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta were observed sparsely at the levels of the thalamus and posterior commissure, and to a greater degree through the supraoptic commissure of Meynert. Much less anterograde labeling was seen in the equivalent terminal sites on the contralateral side of the brain. By electron microscopic autoradiography major terminal sites of axons of the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta were examined in rats injected with [ ³H]leucine in the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta and later injected with horseradish peroxidase in the striatum and pallidum. Statistical data showed preferential radiolabeling of terminals forming asymmetrical synaptic contact with dendrites in the centrolateral nucleus, centre median-parafascicular complex and subthalamic nucleus. Apparent terminations in the substantia nigra pars compacta proposed in earlier studies and shown in the present light microscopic autoradiograms were not supported by this ultrastructural analysis. Several radiolabeled terminals of the asymmetrical type contacting horseradish peroxidase labeled dendrites in the thalamus confirmed direct input from the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta to the thalamostriate projection neurons. [ ³H]choline injections into the thalamus and subthalamic nucleus produced retrograde perikaryal labeling of large neurons in the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta. These neurons were unlabeled after [ ³H]choline injections in the substantia nigra. Other findings suggested retrograde transport of [ ³H]choline through cholinergic terminals as well as cholinergic fibers of passage. These data suggested a selective uptake mechanism for cholinergic fibers of passage.The results emphasize the cholinergic nature of the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta innervation of the thalamus and subthalamic nucleus. Large neurons in the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta seem responsible for this cholinergic innervation and probably provide the axon terminals making asymmetrical synapses in the thalamus and subthalamic nucleus as described above. In addition, large neurons as well as medium and small ones in the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus pars compacta whose transmitters and exact destinations remain unknown send a number of axons through the supraoptic commissure of Meynert to innervate the contralateral subthalamic nucleus.     

Antiradical efficacy of phytochemical extracts from defatted rice bran.

The phytochemical compounds oryzanols, tocopherols, tocotrienols and ferulic acid were identified in the crude methanolic extracts (CME) of defatted rice bran (DRB) by HPLC. Enrichment of antioxidants in CME was achieved by sequential extraction and fractionation resulting in three enriched fractions viz. acetone extract (AE), acetone extract-lipophilic fraction (AE-LP) and acetone extract-polar fraction (AE-PP). The scavenging effects of DRB extracts and their phytochemical constituents against DPPH and superoxide radicals were investigated. The EC(50) (g antioxidant/kg DPPH) values of CME, AE, AE-LP, AE-PP, oryzanols, ferulic acid, tocols (Tmix), tricin, beta-sitosterol, BHT and TBHQ were 1,977, 1,945, 7,985, 1,072, 972, 174, 164, 3,947, 21,416, 1,120 and 61, respectively. Tricin and beta-sitosterol isolated from CME were identified with the help of spectral data. The DRB extracts and their phytochemical constituents when assayed by cytochrome c and NBT methods showed positive superoxide radical scavenging effects. The order of efficacies of the extracts was AE-PP>AE>CME>AE-LP in both assays, but the activities were higher for the former method. The DPPH as well as superoxide scavenging activities of AE, AE-LP and AE-PP could largely be attributed to the levels of total phenols (TPC) and ferulic acid in it.     

Total phallic construction techniques in transgender men: an updated narrative review

From 2012, the World Professional Association Transgender Health defined a structured therapeutic path and standards of care for transgender patients undergoing genital gender affirming surgery (GGAS). The main goal of GGAS in transgender males is to provide patients with an aesthetically appealing appearance of the neophallus that should allow standing micturition and enabling penetrative intercourse along with erogenous and tactile sensitivity. The optimal procedure should be safe, reproducible and performed in the fewest number of surgical stages. The ideal technique for total phallic construction (TPC) has not yet been demonstrated; TPC remains challenging and, from a functional point of view, it is also make more demanding as yet there are no perfect replacement materials for erectile and urethral tissues. Several procedures and different type of flaps (pedicled and free-flaps) have been proposed and investigated over time to address TPC with significant advances over the years especially after microsurgical procedures introduction. Due to its high complexity TPC is not free from complications. Local tissue ischaemic complications, complete and partial flap loss, donor site morbidity and urethral complications (fistulae and strictures) are reported. This narrative review aims to provide the readers with a contemporary overview of surgical procedures for TPC in transgender males focusing on key surgical steps, as well as surgical and functional outcomes.     

Quinoline alkaloids in honey: Further analytical (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS,multidimensional diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy), theoretical and chemometric studies

The wound-healing properties of honey are well established and it has been suggested that, among its pharmaco-active constituents, kynurenic acid (KA) exerts antinociceptive action on injured tissue by antagonizing NMDA at peripheral GABA receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the quantitative profile of KA and of two recently identified, structurally related derivatives, 3-pyrrolidinyl-kynurenic acid (3-PKA) and its γ-lactamic derivative (γ-LACT-3-PKA), by examining their mass spectrometric behavior, in honeys from different botanical sources. We used a combination of HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and NMR techniques (one-dimensional ¹H NMR and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy NMR).