Calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity, in botulinum toxin-paralysed rat muscles

Changes in calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) at the motor endplates of botulinum toxin-paralysed rat muscles were investigated using immunohistochemistry. One day following toxin injection, a dramatic increase in CGRP-LI was detected at the motor endplates and within preterminal axons of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. The upregulation of CGRP-LI persisted throughout the period during which muscle fibres were paralysed and new neuromuscular junctions were being formed by the growing sprouts. Decline of CGRP-LI at the motor endplates coincided with clinical recovery. Both up- and down-regulation of CGRP-LI took place earlier in the soleus than in the gastrocnemius muscle. Up-regulation of CGRP-LI was also detected in a subpopulation of motor axons in the sciatic nerves and in the spinal motor neurons innervating the paralysed muscles. These results indicate that levels of CGRP are regulated, at least partly, by changes in the target innervation. They also suggest an important role for CGRP in the regenerative processes following muscle paralysis.     

星状神经节阻滞对炎症痛兔血清皮质醇和炎症局部β-内啡肽的影响

目的 :观察星状神经节阻滞 (SGB)对福尔马林炎症痛家兔血清皮质醇 (CS)和炎症局部 β -内啡肽 (β -EP)含量的影响。方法 :选择健康家兔 1 6只 ,随机分为SGB组和对照组 ,各 8只。两组均用 8%福尔马林 0 .5ml在右前肢足底皮下注射致痛 ,致痛前 1 0minSGB组经预置导管给 0 .2 5 %布比卡因 0 .5ml,对照组给等量生理盐水。用放免法测定致痛前 1 0min(T0 )、致痛后 1 0、60和 1 2 0min(T1 、T2 和T3)血清CS及致痛 1 2 0min炎症局部 β-EP含量。结果 :致痛后对照组血清CS在各时点均较致痛前升高 ,且在T2 时达高峰 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,而SGB组各时点较致痛前无明显差异 (P >0 .0 5) ;两组相比 ,T0 时无差异 (P >0 .0 5) ,而在T1 、T2 和T3时有明显差异 (P <0 .0 5 ,P<0 .0 1 )。SGB组致痛后 1 2 0min时炎症局部 β -EP含量明显高于对照组 (P <0 .0 1 )。 结论 :SGB可抑制福尔马林刺激引起的血清CS的升高 ,并且可增加炎症局部 β-EP含量     

带血管蒂前臂后皮神经电缆式移植修复上臂桡神经缺损

目的：介绍带血管蒂前臂后皮神经电缆式移植修复上臂桡神经缺损的应用解剖、手术方法及临床效果。方法：在２０侧成人上肢标本上，观测前臂后皮神经及桡侧副动脉的行程及外径，设计以桡侧副动脉为蒂的前臂后皮神经电缆式移植修复上臂桡神经缺损的新术式并应用于临床。结果：前臂后皮神经与桡侧副动脉伴行关系密切，具有形成带血管蒂前臂后皮神经转移的解剖学条件；前臂后皮神经横径２．０ｃｍ左右，可切取长度１５．０ｃｍ左右，折叠后可以修复７．０ｃｍ左右的桡神经缺损。同时，术中发现神经供体断端出血活跃，说明带血供的前臂后皮神经移植的血供是可靠的。临床应用８例，神经缺损３．５～６．０ｃｍ，随访１０个月～３年，效果满意。按陆裕朴介绍的评定标准：优４例，良３例，可１例。结论：该术式转移灵活，操作简单、安全、可靠，对供区影响小，是修复上臂桡神经缺损的一种有用的方法。     

A Comparative Study of the Percutaneous versus Intraoral Technique for Mental Nerve Block

Objective: Mental nerve block is frequently used to aid repair of facial lacerations; both percutaneous and intraoral approaches to blocking this nerve are used, but have never been compared. The authors compared the two techniques for pain of administration and effectiveness of anesthesia. Methods: A prospective, randomized, single-blind, crossover study was conducted using ten healthy volunteers aged 22 to 33 years. Patients having prior experience with mental nerve blocks, lidocaine allergy, active oral/facial infection, or previous facial fractures were excluded. Bilateral mental nerve blocks were done using intraoral technique on one side and percutaneous technique on the other. Both techniques were used by the same investigator and were carried out with 27-gauge needles and 2.5 mL of 2% buffered lidocaine at room temperature injected over 20 seconds. The oral mucosa was topically anesthetized with viscous lidocaine for 1 minute prior to intraoral injection. The orders of the blocks and sides of the face anesthetized were randomized. Subjective and objective pain (visual-analog scale), efficacy (anesthesia of lower lip), time to onset, and duration of anesthesia were evaluated. Results: The intraoral technique was subjectively less painful than the percutaneous approach in nine of ten subjects (p = 0.02). Scores on the visual-analog pain scale were significantly lower for the intraoral technique (p = 0.03). Intraoral injection produced lower-lip anesthesia in 10/10 subjects versus 7/10 for percutaneous (p = 0.25). Times to onset (approximately 1–2 minutes) and durations of anesthesia (approximately one hour) were similar for the two techniques. Conclusion: The intraoral approach to the mental nerve block with adjunctive topical anesthesia was subjectively and objectively less painful than the percutaneous approach without adjunctive anesthesia. While the intraoral approach had a greater efficacy of lower-lip anesthesia and a longer duration of action, these differences were not statistically significant.     

Ventrally emigrating neural tube cells migrate into the developing vestibulocochlear nerve and otic vesicle

Virtually all cell types in the inner ear develop from the cells of the otic vesicle. The otic vesicle is formed by the invagination of non-neural ectodermal cells known as the otic placode. We investigated whether a recently described cell population, originating from the ventral part of the hindbrain neural tube known as the ventrally emigrating neural tube (VENT) cells, also contributes cells to the otic vesicle. The ventral hindbrain neural tube cells were labeled with the fluorescent vital dye DiI or replication-deficient retroviruses containing the LacZ gene in chick embryos on embryonic day 2, after the emigration of neural crest from this region. One day later, the labeled cells were detected only in the hindbrain neural tube. Shortly thereafter, the labeled cells began to appear in the eighth (vestibulocochlear) cranial nerve and otic vesicle. From embryonic day 3.5-5, the labeled cells were detected in the major derivatives of the otic vesicle, i.e. the endolymphatic duct, semicircular canals, utricle, saccule, cochlea, and vestibulocochlear ganglion. That the emigrated cells originated from the ventral part of the hindbrain neural tube was confirmed by focal application of DiI impregnated filter paper and with quail chimeras. It is concluded that, in addition to the otic placode cells, the otic vesicle also contains the ventrally emigrating neural tube cells, and that both cell populations contribute to the structures and cell types in the inner ear. It is well known that inductive signals from the hindbrain are required for the morphogenesis of the inner ear. The migration of the hindbrain neural tube cells into the otic vesicle raises the possibility that the inductive effect of the hindbrain might be mediated, at least in part, by the ventrally emigrating neural tube cells and that, therefore, a mechanism exists that involves cells rather than diffusible molecules only.     

电刺激膈神经中枢端引起降压反应的外周机理

电刺激麻醉家兔膈神经中枢端呆引起动脉血压下降，此降压反应不能被剪断双侧迷走神经所阻断；但可被静脉注射心得１．０ｍｇ／ｋｇ部分阻断；也可被静注射酚妥拉明２．０ｍｇ／ｋｇ部分阻断，去除缓冲神经后其降压效应更为明显。     

Widenings of the myelin lamellae in a typical Guillain–Barré syndrome

The so-called “widenings of the myelin lamellae” are thought to be specific ultrastructural features of peripheral nerve myelin in patients with peripheral neuropathy associated with a monoclonal dysglobulinemia of IgM type and antiglycolipid activity. We report here a case of Guillain–Barré syndrome with no evidence of serum monoclonal dysglobulinemia, presenting the typical widenings of the myelin lamellae in small-diameter myelinated fibers from a sural nerve biopsy. In view of the positive reaction with anti-C3d complement on direct immunofluorescence, an immunological mechanism may be involved in the widenings of the myelin lamellae. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

SCHWANN CELLS AND THE REGROWTH OF AXONS IN THE MAMMALIAN CNS: A REVIEW OF TRANSPLANTATION STUDIES IN THE RAT VISUAL SYSTEM

1. We have used peripheral nerve transplants or cultured Schwann cells grafted in association with different types of polymer to study axonal regrowth in the rat visual system. In some instances the glia were co-grafted with fetal tectal tissue. 2. The studies have two main aims: (i) to determine whether retinal axons can be induced to regrow at a site distant from their cell soma, that is, after damage to the brachial region of the optic tract; (ii) to determine whether retinal axons exposed to Schwann cells retain the ability to recognize their appropriate target neurons in CNS tissue. 3. In brachial lesion studies, Schwann cells were placed in the lesion site in association with nitrocellulose papers, within polycarbonate tubes in the presence or absence of a supporting extracellular matrix (ECM), or within polymer hydrogel scaffolds. Autologous sciatic nerve grafts were also used. Immuno-histochemical studies revealed the presence of regenerating axons within all polymer bridges. Regrowth of retinal axons was also seen, however, growth was not extensive and was limited to the proximal 1–1.5 mm of the implants. 4. In target innervation experiments, two surgical paradigms were developed. In one experiment, a segment of sciatic nerve was autografted onto the transected optic nerve in adult rats and the distal end of each graft was placed adjacent to fetal tectal (target) tissue implanted into the frontal cortex. To date, we have not been able to demonstrate selective recognition of target regions within tectal transplants by retinal axons exiting the sciatic nerve implants. 5. In the second experiment, Schwann cells were mixed with fetal tectal cells and co-grafted to the midbrain of newborn host rats. Schwann cells altered the characteristic pattern of host retinal growth into tectal grafts; in some cases axons were induced to grow away from appropriate target areas by nearby co-grafted Schwann cells. 6. In summary, Schwann cell/polymer scaffolds may provide a useful way of promoting the regrowth of damaged axons in the CNS, however: (i) in adults, at least, their effectiveness is reduced if they are located at a distance from the cell bodies giving rise to regenerating axons; (ii) in some circumstances exposure to a peripheral glial environment may affect the capacity of regenerating axons to recognize appropriate target cells in the CNS neuropil.     

前臂骨间背侧神经断裂的显微外科治疗

从1988年8月以来,应用显微外科技术修复前臂骨间背侧神经断裂10例,4例行自体神经游离移植,6例直接缝合。经术后4月～1年随访8例,肌力恢复均在4级以上,疗效满意。讨论了有关诊断,手术注意事项,修复时间与疗效的关系。自体神经移植与直接缝合的疗效比较等。     

Aldose reductase inhibition with imirestat — effects on impulse conduction and insulin-stimulation of Na+/K+-adenosine triphosphatase activity in sciatic nerves of streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Summary This study describes reduced motor nerve conduction velocity and increased resistance to hypoxia-induced conduction failure in sciatic nerves of rats after four weeks of streptozotocin-induced diabetes (both effects were significant at p <0.05). These changes occurred in the absence of any deficit in the steady-state ouabain-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of sciatic nerve endoneurial homogenates. The addition of 10 nmol/l insulin to endoneurial homogenates from control animals resulted in a 34% increase in ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity and a 19% reduction in ouabain-insensitive ATPase activity (both p <0.01). This stimulation of ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity by insulin did not occur in homogenates from diabetic rats. Treating diabetic rats daily with the aldose reductase inhibitor, imirestat (1 mg/kg) improved nerve conduction velocity (p <0.05) but was without effect upon the resistance to hypoxic conduction blockade or the deficit in insulin-stimulated oubain-sensitive ATPase activity. These data suggest that in streptozotocin-diabetic rats the functional disorders of reduced motor nerve conduction velocity and increased resistance to hypoxic conduction blockade do not share a common aetiology and that impaired nerve conduction is not related to reduced maximal potential oubain-sensitive ATPase activity.