Characterization of the anti-neural antibodies in the Sera of leprosy patients

Sera from 43 leprosy patients were tested for antibodies that bound to normal human nerve. Thirty-eight percent showed positive staining as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. Only 1 out of 30 control sera tested displayed similar staining. Western blots of myelin and neural intermediate filament (IF) proteins were tested with patient sera. Two of the anti-neural antibody (ANeAb)-positive leprosy sera bound to the P0 protein of PNS myelin. All 17 ANeAb-positive leprosy sera displayed 2 or more bands in the molecular weight range of Mr 45 000-55 000, when tested against IF proteins. One explanation for these findings is that leprosy patients produce antibodies to intermediate filament (IF) proteins released subsequent to the bacterial invasion of the peripheral nerves. The importance of these autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of leprosy is discussed.     

快速眼动睡眠剥夺后大鼠脑内神经元骨架蛋白及超微结构的变化

目的探讨经历不同时间快速眼动（REM）睡眠剥夺对大鼠皮质及海马各区神经元形态结构的影响。方法选择微管相关蛋白（MAP2）和神经丝（NF）作为正常神经元结构的标识物，利用免疫组织化学法和Western blot技术观察REM睡眠剥夺1、3、5、7 d4个时间点大鼠皮质及海马MAP2和NF表达的时空变化规律。同时运用电镜技术观察睡眠剥夺后神经元超微结构的变化。我们的实验是用改良的多平台睡眠剥夺模型进行REM睡眠剥夺，结合免疫组织化学染色技术和蛋白质电泳以及电镜超微结构分析。结果REM睡眠剥夺后5d大鼠皮质、海马CA1及齿状回神经元结构蛋白MAP2和NF表达较对照组明显减少（P〈0．05）；电镜神经元核仁偏位，胞质中出现少量肿胀的线粒体和内质网；部分神经轴突的髓鞘溶解与浓集。环境对照组、REM睡眠剥夺5d和7d组，皮质中超微结构改变的神经元所占比例分别为1．2％、3．6％和5．8％。结论REM睡眠剥夺能够导致大鼠脑内神经元的超微结构发生异常变化。     

Developmental patterns of intermediate filament gene expression in the normal hamster brain

We have examined the patterns of expression of the major intermediate filament (IF) protein mRNAs during development of the hamster brain. Quantitative northern blotting was used to examine changes in the levels of mRNAs for the low, middle and high molecular weight neurofilament proteins (NF-L, NF-M, NF-H) as well as peripherin, vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Total RNA was isolated from hamster brains at embryonic (E) days 12 and 14 and postnatal (P) days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 20, 28 and 60-90 (adult), and probed with specific IF cDNAs. Northern blotting revealed that NF-L and NF-M mRNAs were present at very low levels in embryonic brain and that significant expression of these genes only occurred postnatally when the levels increased dramatically until P28 and then declined again in the adult. Increases in NF-H mRNA levels were somewhat delayed relative to those of NF-L and NF-M. NF-H mRNA was not seen at embryonic stages and was expressed at very low levels prior to P9; after that time the levels increased rapidly until P28 and then declined in the adult. Two of the type III IF genes, peripherin and vimentin, followed a pattern of expression opposite that of the NF genes. Both peripherin and vimentin mRNAs were present in embryonic brain and were expressed at higher levels during early postnatal stages than at later times. The magnitude and rate of reduction in vimentin gene expression in the postnatal interval was much greater than that of peripherin. GFAP mRNA levels were extremely low prior to P9 after which a robust increase occurred, followed by a decline in the adult. We discuss the implication of the dramatic changes in IF isotype expression in brain to the pathways of both neuronal and glial development in vivo.     

Keratin and vimentin distribution patterns in the epithelial structures of the cannie anal region

The intermediate filament labeling pattern of the epithelial structures of the canine anal region was studied with different polypeptide specific keratin monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and with a monoclonal and polyclonal vimentin antibody. The epithelial structures in this region could be discriminated and characterized by differences in their keratin staining pattern. The basal cells in the different epithelial structures showed a similar staining pattern characterized by reactivity with MoAbs staining keratins 5, 8, 14, and 17. Columnar epithelial cells showed a completely different phenotype mostly characterized by reactivity with MoAbs staining keratins 7, 5, 8, 18, and 19. A restricted number of differentiated perianal gland cells showed perinuclear vimentin staining. Myoepithelial cells did not stain for vimentin, but, as other basal cells, were positive for MoAbs staining keratins 5, 8, 14, and 17.© Willey-Liss, Inc.     

重庆城乡育龄妇女中介生育率变量研究

影响妇女生育率的直接因素,如妇女已婚比、避孕及人工流产等的定量分析是卫生人口统计分析中的重要内容。本文应用美国人口学者Bongaarts提出的中介生育率变量模型就重庆城乡妇女生育率直接影响因素作一定量研究     

Activity in deep intermediate layer collicular neurons during interrupted saccades

The activity of neurons located in the deep intermediate and adjacent deep layers (hereafter called just deep intermediate layer neurons) of the superior colliculus (SC) in monkeys was recorded during saccades interrupted by electrical stimulation of the brainstem omnipause neuron (OPN) region. The goal of the experiment was to determine if these neurons maintained their discharge during the saccadic interruption, and thus, could potentially provide a memory trace for the intended movement which ends accurately on target in spite of the perturbation. The collicular neurons recorded in the present study were located in the rostral three-fifths of the colliculus. Most of these cells tended to show considerable presaccadic activity during a delayed saccade paradigm, and, therefore, probably overlap with the population of SC cells called buildup neurons or prelude bursters in previous studies. The effect of electrical stimulation in the OPN region (which interrupted ongoing saccades) on the discharge of these neurons was measured by computing the percentage reduction in a cell's activity compared to that present during non-interrupted saccades. During saccade interruption about 70% of deep intermediate layer neurons experienced a major reduction (30% or greater) in their activity, but discharge recovered quickly after the termination of the stimulation as the eyes resumed their movement to finish the saccade on the target. Therefore, the pattern of activity recorded in most of the deep intermediate layer neurons during interrupted saccades qualitatively resembled that previously reported for the saccade-related burst neurons which tend to be located more dorsally in the intermediate layer. In contrast, some of our cells (30%) showed little or no perturbation in their activity caused by the saccade interrupting stimulation. Because all the more dorsally located burst neurons and the majority of our deep intermediate layer neurons show a total or major suppression in their discharge during interrupted saccades, it seems unlikely that the colliculus by itself could maintain an accurate memory of the desired saccadic goal or the remaining dynamic motor error required to account for the accuracy of the resumed movement which occurs following the interruption. However, it remains possible that the smaller proportion of our neurons whose activity was not perturbed during interrupted movements could play a role in the mechanisms underlying saccade accuracy in the interrupted saccade paradigm. Interrupted saccades have longer durations than normal saccades to the same target. Therefore, we investigated whether the discharge of our deeper collicular cells was also necessarily prolonged during interrupted saccades, and, if so, how the prolongation compared to the prolongation of the saccade. Sixty percent of our sample neurons showed a prolongation in discharge that was approximately the same as the prolongation in saccade duration (difference < 15 ms in magnitude). The, observation that temporal discharge in our neurons was perturbed to roughly match saccadic temporal perturbation suggests that dynamic feedback about ongoing saccadic motion is provided to the colliculus, but does not necessarily imply that this structure is the site responsible for the computation of dynamic motor error.     

Subperitoneal placenta accreta succenturiate in the case of a successful near-term extrauterine abdominal pregnancy

Placenta from an extrauterine abdominal pregnancy was examined after a 37-week healthy infant gestation. The placenta, with its fetal surface down and maternal surface up, protruded from the pelvic area to peritoneal cavity in the wall of the amniotic sac containing fetus. The placenta was implanted under the thin subperitoneal layer of maternal tissue completely covered by peritoneal serosa and was formed by several small lobes connected by intramembranous placental vessels. Insertion of the trivascular umbilical cord was velamentous. Partially remodeled arteries infiltrated by intermediate trophoblast and frequent veins directly communicating with the placental intervillous space were identified in the subperitoneal maternal tissue. The term "placenta accreta" is appropriate in this case because villi in the basal plate implanted directly in the maternal subserosal connective tissue without intervening decidua.     

Primary rhabdoid tumour of the brain

Summary A posterior fossa tumour in a 3 year old child is presented with characteristic histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features of rhabdoid tumour. Many tumour cells contained cytoplasmic eosinophilic hyaline inclusions. Ultrastructurally concentric whorls of 10 nm intermediate filaments were identified. Immunohistochemical staining disclosed vimentin, cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen positivity. Renal and extrarenal rhabdoid tumours have been well documented but a primary rhabdoid tumour of the brain is extremely rare. Additional ultrastructural features seen were tubular crystalline inclusions in endoplasmic reticulum and abnormal large mitochondria.     

Microfilament system in the microvascular endothelium of the palmar fascia affected by mechanical stress applied from outside

The effect of externally applied mechanical stress was investigated by thin section electron microscopy of the microvessels in the unaffected palmar fascia in the carpal tunnel syndrome and in patients with Dupuytren's contracture before and after application of a continuous elongation device. In the unaffected palmar fascia the microfilaments of the endothelial cells were connected to a few adherens junctions and focal contacts; stress fibres were absent. In the cord of Dupuytren's disease the microfilaments were increased in quantity. The length ratios of the connections with the lateral and basal cell membrane were significantly higher than in the control group and increased to an even greater extent in the continuously extended fascia. Stress fibres appeared in the endothelial cells of postcapillary venules in the nonextended cord and in the endothelium of both arterioles and venules after extension elongation. The numerous intermediate filaments and the rare microtubules remained unchanged in the endothelial cells of all palmar fasciae analysed. In the endothelial cells of the microvessels the mechanical stress applied from outside mainly affected the contractile component of the cytoskeleton.     

The location and distribution of type A and type B atrial endings in cats

Summary In the attempt to explain the difference in discharge pattern of atrial endings, 131 endings were localized by punctate stimulation, 44 were type A, 77 type B and 10 of an intermediate type. All were located on the dorsal wall of the atria with none on the ventral wall or in the appendage. On the right side, 74% of type A were located in the atria and 63% of type B in or near the veins. On the left side, 67% of type A and 94% of type B were located in or near the veins. Thus, there appeared to be some difference in the location of type A and type B endings on the right side, but on the left side both types of endings were for the most part confined to the venous region. Further, on both right and left sides, these endings were present both in the central part of the atria and in or adjacent to veins. This leads to the suggestion that the difference in discharge patterns is not caused by the location but may be due to some other reasons, e. g. difference of arrangement in the atrial wall with respect to the contractile elements.