Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in ileal neobladder

Abstract  Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a recently described mesenchymal tumor that can develop in any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The occurrence of a GIST in the urinary tract is rare, but GIST can present as tumor of the urinary tract or invade the urinary tract. This is the first reported case of GIST in the ileal neobladder, which presented as a submucosal tumor. The patient underwent an open exploration and partial resection of the neobladder pouch.     

Amphibian terminal nerve: distribution revealed by LHRH and AChE markers

Immunocytochemical and histochemical studies in the tiger salamander and bullfrog demonstrated the presence of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-like immunoreactive (LHRH-ir) material and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the terminal nerve (TN). Immunoreactive perikarya and processes were found within the olfactory, vomeronasal and trigeminal nerves and in the nasal epithelium. Central TN projections consisted of fibers terminating in the olfactory bulb and bundles that projected to another group of LHRH-ir perikarya in the preoptic region. Up to 4 weeks following hypophysectomy, the labeling intensity and number of TN-immunoreactive neurons were not altered. Acetylcholinesterase histochemistry in the salamander revealed two distinct groups of neurons associated with the TN: a lightly labeled group of fusiform perikarya was located in the olfactory nerve proper and a more heavily labeled group of larger oval perikarya was found within AChE-positive trigeminal fascicles in the ventral mucosa. This study has demonstrated that the amphibian TN follows olfactory, vomeronasal and trigeminal nerves to reach peripheral targets in the nasal mucosa. The projection of TN fibers to discrete olfactory bulb glomeruli, especially evident in the bullfrog, suggests that the TN functions in odor processing. The TN projection to the preoptic region in both of these amphibians implicates the TN in reproductive processes.     

Synthesis and biological activity of Substance P C-terminal hexapeptide and heptapeptide analogues

The analogues [Glu(OBzl)¹¹]SP_6–11 and [Glu(OBzl)¹¹]SP_5–11 of the C-terminal hexapeptide and heptapeptide of Substance P have been synthesized by conventional solution methods. In each analogue the SCH₃ group of Met¹¹ is replaced by the COOCH₂C₆H₅ group. The in vitro activity of both analogues has been determined on three biological preparations: guinea pig ileum (GPI), rat vas deferens (RVD), and rat portal vein (RPV). The selectivity for the different receptors has been studied by utilizing atropine-treated guinea pig ileum (GPI + At). The results showed that both analogues are mainly active on GPI through the NK-1 receptor and that both analogues are equipotent to Substance P.     

Terminal complement complexes in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis

Activation of the complement cascade occurs in most cases of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) and results in the formation of the terminal complement complexes (TCC). To examine the possible role of TCC in the pathogenesis of glomerular injury in APSGN, we studied 30 patients with the clinical diagnosis of APSGN. All patients had an elevated plasma SC5b-9 concentration at the onset of clinical nephritis. Serial plasma concentrations showed an inverse linear relationship with time after onset of clinical disease (r=–0.59,P=0.0008), while plasma C3 concentrations showed a positive linear relationship (r=0.78,P=0.0001). Renal biopsies of 5 patients demonstrated co-localization of C5b-9, S-protein, and C3 deposition in a glomerular capillary loop and mesangial distribution. Urinary excretion of TCC in the acute phase of APSGN was not elevated and was not a useful marker of disease activity. These data suggest that in APSGN with terminal complement pathway activation the local generation of TCC may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.     

Characterisation of pre- and post-synaptic α-adrenoceptors in modulation of the rat ileum longitudinal and circular muscle activities

Previous study has shown that α_2D-adrenoceptors are involved in modulation of peristalsis in the rat ileum. The aim of the present study was to determine the tissue location of α-adrenoceptors in the rat ileum by using a recently devised method. The pre-synaptic α-adrenoceptors were characterised by measuring the potencies of agonists to inhibit transmurally-evoked (1 ms pulses, 10 Hz, 8-10 s trains) contractions of the longitudinal and circular muscles and the affinities of antagonists. Post synaptic α-adrenoceptors were identified by screening agonists and antagonists in carbachol-contracted tissues. In the circular muscle the order of potencies for inhibiting transmurally-induced contraction was: clonidine ≥ oxymetazoline ≥ UK 14,304 ≥ guanfacine > talipexole > phenylephrine > azepexole. The potency ratios relative to clonidine correlated to those previously derived using the rat ileum peristaltic reflex preparation. Most of the α-adrenoceptor agonists, however, caused only small inhibitions of the longitudinal muscle contraction in response to transmural stimulation, except phenylephrine and azepexole. RX 821002, yohimbine, rauwolscine, BRL 44408, phentolamine, idazoxan, ARC 239, and prazosin inhibited the effect of clonidine on the circular muscle response with apparent pK_B values best correlated with pK_B or pK_i values derived from the rat ileum peristaltic reflex preparation and other tissues known to have the α_2D-subtype. The rank order of potencies at inhibiting carbachol-induced responses of both muscle layers was: phenylephrine ≥ oxymetazoline > clonidine ≥ talipexole > azepexole >> guanfacine. UK 14,304 was inactive up to 10 μM. The EC₅₀ value of each agonist on the longitudinal muscle was not significantly different to the corresponding value on the circular muscle. Prazosin was more potent than yohimbine at inhibiting the relaxant effect of phenylephrine in both muscle layers of carbachol-contracted tissues. It is concluded that the recently identified α_2D-adrenoceptors of the rat ileum are located on cholinergic neurons controlling circular muscle contraction. The study also demonstrated the presence of postsynaptic α₁-adrenoceptors involved in mediating relaxation in both muscle layers. Received: 4 November 1996 / Accepted: 10 April 1997     

A Correlation Between the Permeability Characteristics of a Series of Peptides Using an in Vitro Cell Culture Model (Caco-2) and Those Using an in Situ Perfused Rat Ileum Model of the Intestinal Mucosa

In an attempt to establish an in vitro/in situ correlation of intestinal permeability data, the permeability coefficients (P _app) for a series of model peptides, which were determined using an in situ perfused rat ileum model, were compared to the permeability coefficients (P _mono) determined using an in vitro cell culture model (Caco-2). The model peptides, which were all blocked on the N-terminal (acetyl, Ac) and the C-terminal (amide, NH2) ends, consisted of D-phenylalanine (F) residues (e.g., AcFNH₂, AcFFNH₂, AcFFFNH₂). To alter the degree of hydrogen bonding potential, the nitrogens of the amide bonds were sequentially methylated [e.g., AcFF(Me)FNH₂, AcF(Me)F(Me)FNH₂, Ac(Me)F(Me)F(Me)FNH₂, Ac-(Me)F(Me)F(Me)FNH(Me)]. These peptides were shown not to be metabolized in the in situ perfused rat ileum system. The results of the transport experiments showed that there were poor correlations between the apparent permeability coefficients (P _app) determined in an in situ perfused rat ileum model and the octanol–water partition coefficients (r = 0.60) or the hydrogen bonding numbers (r = 0.63) of these peptides. However, good correlations were observed between the in situ P _app values for these peptides and their partition coefficients in heptane–ethylene glycol (r = 0.96) and the differences in their partition coefficients between octanol–water and isooctane–water (r = 0.86). These results suggest that lipophilicity may not be the major factor in determining the intestinal permeability of these peptides and that hydrogen bonding potential may be a major contributing factor. A good correlation (r = 0.94) was also observed between the P _app values determined for these peptides in the in situ perfused ileum model and those P _mono values determined in the in vitro cell culture model (Caco-2) (Conradi et al., Pharm. Res. 8:1453–1460, 1991). These results suggest that the permeability values determined in the Caco-2 cell culture model may be a good predictor of the intestinal permeability of peptides.     

Dependence and cross-dependence in the guinea-pig myenteric plexus

Summary Chronic activation of opioid receptors results in the development of tolerance and dependence. Tolerance may be confined to a single receptor type and thus has been termed selective tolerance. The present investigation reveals that prolonged activation of an inhibitory acting receptor type not only results in dependence associated with this receptor but also brings about cross-dependence. Cross-dependence involves both opioid receptors as well as non-opioid receptors, e. g. adrenoceptors. The experimental design employed did not permit conclusions to be drawn about whether those receptors exhibiting cross-dependence also developed tolerance. Regardless of the receptors and their specific subsequent transduction systems, all the receptors which showed dependence and cross-dependence proved sensitive to pertussis toxin, suggesting a critical function of GTP-binding proteins for the development of not only opioid dependence but also for drug dependence in general. Since multiple transmitter receptors may converge on the same ion channel, the concept of convergent dependences may be linked to GTP-binding proteins. However, no conclusions can be drawn with regard to the precise biochemical mechanisms underlying dependence. Send offprint requests to R. Schulz at the above address     

Histochemical localization of NADPH-diaphorase in neurons of the pheasant ileum

Localization patterns of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons in the pheasant ileum were investigated using an enzyme histochemical method. NADPH-diaphorase activity in the pheasant ileum was demonstrated in neuronal cells bodies and nerve fibres. The NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve cells showed a polygonal shape and were present solitary or arranged in groups in the submucosal and muscular layers. Nerve fibres penetrated the wall of the ileum at its serosal surface, frequently in the vicinity of ileal arterial branches. They were abundantly present in muscular and submucosal layers of the ileum forming thicker nerves. Some nerve fibres traversed the submucosa into the lamina propria mucosae to form dense nerve plexuses. Fine nerve fibres were found to penetrate into intestinal villi encompassing the crypts underneath the epithelium. We conclude that the pheasant ileum is characterized by abundance of NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve structures which may play a significant functional role in the small intestine of the pheasant.     

The linear mitochondrial plasmid pAL2-1 of a long-lived Podospora anserina mutant is an invertron encoding a DNA and RNA polymerase

The molecular characterization of an additional DNA species (pAL2-1) which was identified previously in a long-lived extrachromosomal mutant (AL2) of Podospora anserina revealed that this element is a mitochondrial linear plasmid. pAL2-1 is absent from the corresponding wild-type strain, has a size of 8395 bp and contains perfect long terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) of 975 bp. Exonuclease digestion experiments indicated that proteins are covalently bound at the 5 termini of the plasmid. Two long, non-overlapping open reading frames, ORF1 (3,594 bp) and ORF2 (2847 bp), have been identified, which are located on opposite strands and potentially encode a DNA and an RNA polymerase, respectively. The ORF1-encoded polypeptide contains three conserved regions which may be responsible for a 3–5 exonuclease activity and the typical consensus sequences for DNA polymerases of the D type. In addition, an amino-acid sequence motif (YSRLRT), recently shown to be conserved in terminal proteins from various bacteriophages, has been identified in the amino-terminal part of the putative protein. According to these properties, this first linear plasmid identified in P. anserina shares all characteristics with invertrons, a group of linear mobile genetic elements.