Neurobiotin, a useful neuroanatomical tracer for in vivo anterograde, retrograde and transneuronal tract-tracing and for in vitro labeling of neurons

The biotin derivative, N-(2-aminoethyl) biotinamide hydrochloride, or Neurobiotin, has been shown recently to be a useful marker for intracellular and anterograde tracing. The properties of Neurobiotin as a tracer were further examined in this study by making pressure injections into different regions of the cerebral cortex or the rostral neostriatum of rats or by incubating striatal cells in culture with the tracer. Results showed extensive anterograde transport of Neurobiotin in cortical axons and terminals within the neostriatum 2-70 h after single or multiple cortical injections of the tracer. Similarly, profuse axonal projections to the medial portion of the globus pallidus were seen after an injection of Neurobiotin into the rostral neostriatum. Transneuronal labeling of medium-size neostriatal neurons was observed following injections of Neurobiotin into the prefrontal cortex. At the ultrastructural level, anterogradely labeled cortical axon terminals and transneuronally labeled neurons were readily identified in the caudate-putamen by the presence of both fine particulate and large punctate reaction products. Retrograde fillings of neurons resembling a Golgi-impregnation were seen in the ventral posterior complex of the thalamus after injections in the sensorimotor cortex. Neurons in the medial globus pallidus were also retrogradely labeled following tracer injections in the rostral caudate-putamen. Finally, Neurobiotin was readily and selectively taken up by striatal neurons in culture, where it extensively labeled somata and neurites. These results show that Neurobiotin is a versatile new tracer, which can be potentially useful for the study of neuronal organization in vivo and in vitro.

Vestibular and cerebellar modulation of expiratory motor activities in the cat

1. The purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the hypothesis that components of the vestibular and cerebellar systems regulate efferent respiratory-modulated activities of cranial and spinal nerves. The hypothesis was based upon the observation that spinal neural activities during expiration are greatly altered subsequent to a change in posture. 2. In decerebrate and paralysed cats, efferent activities were recorded from the central cut ends of the phrenic nerve, intercostal nerve, branch of the intercostal nerve innervating the triangularis sterni, cranial iliohypogastric (abdominal) nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve. 3. Animals were artificially ventilated. Those with intact vagi were ventilated by a servo-respirator which produced changes in lung volume in parallel with alterations in integrated activity of the phrenic nerve. Animals with bilateral vagotomy were ventilated with a standard respirator. 4. Aspiration of the entire cerebellar cortex did not produce alterations in levels of neural activities; the respiratory frequency was increased modestly. Following ablation of the ventrolateral portion of corpus medullare and cerebellar peduncles, expiratory activities of spinal nerves were completely eliminated whereas inspiratory activities were not greatly altered. Results were similar in animals having either intact or sectioned vagi. 5. Electrical stimulation or chemical stimulation by glutamate of regions of the ventrolateral cerebellum produced little change in respiratory neural activities except when these stimulations were within the infracerebellar nucleus. Stimulations in this nucleus caused pronounced increases in expiratory activities of spinal nerves. Neither inspiratory activities of spinal nerves nor inspiratory or expiratory activities of the recurrent laryngeal nerve were altered. Studies in animals having intact or sectioned vagi yielded similar results. 6. Bilateral lesions of neurons in the infracerebellar nucleus by injections of kainic acid in animals having intact or sectioned vagi caused an irreversible loss of expiratory activities of spinal nerves with neither inspiratory spinal activities nor inspiratory and expiratory laryngeal activities being altered. Similar findings were obtained following unilateral ablation of the infracerebellar nucleus in vagotomized cats. However, in cats with intact vagi, unilateral ablation of the infracerebellar nucleus produced only transient changes in either inspiratory or expiratory neural activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase and aldose reductase in human fetal lenses

The lens HK, G6PD, AR activity and its relationship with fetal age was determined. There is a positive correlation between the age of fetus and the activity (IU/mg pro.) of HK and G6PD (r = 0.8069, 0.8204, P < 0.01) and a negative correlation between the age of fetus and activity of AR (r = -0.810 1, 0.05 > P > 0.01).

Positional specificity for methyl-n-amylnitrosamine hydroxylation by cytochrome P-450 isozymes determined with monoclonal antibodies

Inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were used to determine the contribution of epitope-specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes in rat liver microsomes to hydroxylation of the esophageal carcinogen methyl-n-amylnitrosamine. These P-450-catalyzed reactions form 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-hydroxymethyl-n-amylnitrosamine, formaldehyde (demethylation), and pentaldehyde (depentylation). With uninduced microsomes from male rats, MAb 1-68-11 inhibited 4-hydroxylation by 73% and demethylation by 46%. This indicated the major contribution of constitutive male-specific P-450 IIC11 to the metabolism. Inhibition studies with MAbs 2-66-3 and 1-91-3 indicated that P-450 IIB1 contributed 19% and IIE1 35% to demethylation. With uninduced microsomes from females, MAb 1-68-11 produced similar inhibitions to those in male rats, indicating that female-specific P-450 IIC12 (which is closely related to IIC11) also catalyzed 4-hydroxylation and demethylation. With microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-induced male rats, P-450 IA1 and/or IA2 were responsible for 60% of 3-hydroxylation and 40% of depentylation. With microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rats, P-450 IIB1 and IIB2 catalyzed all 6 reactions but especially 4-hydroxylation and depentylation, which were 50-75% inhibited by MAb 2-66-3. Microsomes from Aroclor-induced males behaved as if they were induced by both 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital. After treatment with isoniazid (a P-450 IIE1 inducer), inhibition by MAb 1-91-3 indicated a 45% contribution of P-450 IIE1 to demethylation, and both P-450 IIE1 and IIB1 (or IIB2) appear to have been induced. A major finding with uninduced microsomes was the high specificity of MAb 1-68-11 for inhibiting 4-hydroxylation, indicating that P-450 IIC11 and IIC12 catalyzed most of this omega-1-hydroxylation. In microsomes from induced rats, the MAb inhibitions showed the role of the induced P-450 IA1 (or IA2), IIB1 (or IIB2), and IIE1 in methyl-n-amylnitrosamine hydroxylation at different positions, as well as the presence of P-450 IIC11. This study illustrates the usefulness of inhibitory MAbs for defining the contribution of individual P-450s to position-specific metabolism.

[The effect of ginger on serotonin induced hypothermia and diarrhea]

One of the important medicinal properties of ginger is known to remove chills caused by common cold and to warm body. In the present study, acetone extract of ginger at 100 mg/kg p.o. significantly inhibited serotonin (5-HT) induced hypothermia. Therefore, the active constituents of ginger were further examined. The acetone extract was functioned into 4 fractions by column chromatography. Fractions 1 and 2 showed significant activity. Fraction 2 was further purified and [6]-shogaol which was obtained from fraction 2-2, at 10 mg/kg p.o. was shown to inhibit 5-HT induced hypothermia. Anticathartic activity is known to be one of the medicinal effects of ginger. In the present study, acetone extract of ginger at 75 mg/kg p.o., significantly inhibited 5-HT induced diarrhea. In order to clarify the active constituents, the acetone extract was fractionated into 4 fractions by silica gel chromatography. Fractions 2 and 3, which was especially effective, were further purified and [6]-shogoal, [6]-dehydrogingerdione, [8]- and [10]-gingerol were found to have an anticathartic action. [6]-Shogaol was more potent than [6]-dehydrogingerdione, [8]- and [10]-gingerol.

[Electron microscopic observation of the sporogonic stage of Plasmodium gallinaceum after five antimalarials]

Ultrastructural changes in Plasmodium gallinaceum oocysts and sporozoites were studies after 5 antimalarials (pyrimethamine, primaquine, artemisinine, 5-p-fluorobenzoxyl-primaquine citrate and nitroquine) were administered to Aedes albopictus. Obvious disfigurement, such as abnormal vacuoles of various sizes in the cytoplasma, thickened oocyst capsules and damaged sporozoite pellical membranes were found in many oocysts and sporozoites in the mosquitoes. When the grade of infection of sporozoites in the salivary glands of the 5 different groups of mosquitoes were compared with the control, the rank test (Hc = 271) showed a very significant variance (P less than 0.01).

Respiratory activities of intralaryngeal branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve

To distinguish experimentally between motor nerve activity destined for vocal cord abductor muscles and that bound for muscles that adduct the cords, we recorded efferent activities of intralaryngeal branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in decerebrate, vagotomized, paralyzed, ventilated cats. Activities of the whole RLN and phrenic nerve were also recorded. Nerve activities were assessed at several steady-state end-tidal O2 and CO2 concentrations. The nerve to the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle, a vocal cord adductor, was only slightly active under base-line (normocapnic, hyperoxic) conditions but in most cats developed strong activity during expiration in hypocapnia or hypoxia. In severe hypocapnia, phasic expiratory TA activity persisted even during phrenic apnea, indicating continuing activity of the respiratory rhythm generator. The nerve to the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle, the vocal cord abductor, was always active in inspiration but often showed expiratory activity as well. This expiratory activity was usually enhanced by hypercapnia and often inhibited by hypoxia. The results are consistent with previous electromyographic findings and emphasize the importance of distinguishing abductor from adductor activity in studies of laryngeal control.

Influence of lung volume on activities of branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve

To investigate the influence of inspiratory lung inflation on the respiratory activities of laryngeal motor nerves, vagally intact decerebrate paralyzed cats were ventilated by a servorespirator in accordance with their own phrenic nerve activity. Records were made of the activities of the phrenic nerve, the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), and the intralaryngeal branches of the RLN serving the thyroarytenoid (TA) and posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscles. Neural activities were assessed in the steady state at different end-tidal O2 and CO2 concentrations. Transient responses to withholding inspiratory lung inflation and to preventing expiratory lung emptying were also studied. Hypercapnia and hypoxia increased the inspiratory activities of the phrenic nerve, SLN, RLN, and its PCA branch. TA inspiratory activity was not changed. Expiratory activities of RLN, PCA, and TA were all increased in hypoxia. When lung inflation was withheld, neural inspiratory duration and the inspiratory activities of all nerves increased. The subsequent period of neural expiration was marked by an exaggerated burst of activity by the TA branch of the RLN. TA expiratory activity was also sharply increased after inspiratory efforts that were reflexly delayed by the prevention of lung emptying. TA activity in expiration was enhanced after vagotomy and was usually more prominent than when lung inflation was withheld before vagal section. The results demonstrate the importance and complexity of the influence of vagal afferents on laryngeal motor activity.

Respiratory neural activities after caudal-to-rostral ablation of medullary regions

The purpose is to assess the importance of medullary mechanisms for the neurogenesis of eupnea. Cats that were used were decerebrate, cerebellectomized, vagotomized, paralyzed, and ventilated. Activities of the phrenic, facial, and mylohyoid nerves were monitored. Progressive caudal-to-rostral transections of the spinal cord and medulla were performed. Phrenic activity was eliminated by C1 spinal transections. Only modest changes in facial and mylohyoid activities resulted from transections as far rostral as the level of the dorsal respiratory nucleus. Rhythmic discharges ceased on transections at the pontomedullary junction. However, rhythmic mylohyoid discharges were maintained if protriptyline and strychnine were administered before and during the transection. In other studies rhythmic phrenic, facial, and mylohyoid discharges continued, albeit with an altered rhythm, after destruction of neurons in the dorsal respiratory nucleus by kainic acid. We conclude that caudal medullary mechanisms do not play an essential role in the neurogenesis of breathing movements. Rather, structures in rostral medulla and pons appear necessary for sustaining eupneic neural activities. The concept of multiple brain stem sites for ventilatory neurogenesis is discussed.

[Diagnosis and treatment of cerebral metastasis from lung cancer]

A clinical analysis of 38 patients with cerebral metastasis from lung cancer is reported 17 patients had primary cancer symptoms prior to the increased intracranial pressure 34 patients were examined by cerebral angiography or ventriculography and 4 by CT scan. The incidence of cerebral metastasis with lung as the primary focus ranks first (54.7%). Three pathologic processes of intracranial metastasis: (1) cancer cell thrombosis stage (2) growth reaction stage (3) increased intracranial pressure stage. In this series, 16 patients were given conservative treatment and 22 were operated by craniotomy and resection. The results show that the operation could improve the symptoms and signs and prolong the survival time. The surgical treatment of lesions in the brain is emphasized and the indications are discussed.

[Establishment of human glioma cell line--nude mice solid tumor model NHG-1 and its characteristics]

Establishment and its characteristics of a nude mice solid tumor model NHG-1 from human glioma cell line are reported. 5-8 week old NC nude mice of both sexes and SHG-44 cell line used in this experiment were from our laboratory. The initial successful transplantation rate was 7/11 (64%) and that of 30 passages in the subsequent 4 years was 100%. After subcutaneous inoculation, growth curve showed a latent period in week 1-2, slow growing period in week 3-4, rapid growing period in week 5-6 and a final plateau period in week 7. The doubling time was 7 days and cell cycle time was 2.5 days. The cells in G1, S and G2M phases comprised 56%, 27% and 17%, respectively. The survival time of the host was 54 +/- 15 days. The tumor tissues showed a tendency towards invading the surrounding soft tissues. By morphological observation with light and electron microscopes, LDH isozyme assay, PAP immuno-histochemistry labelling GFAP and chromosome analysis, it is confirmed that the transplantable tumor possesses the characteristics of human malignant glioma. The estrogen receptor in the transplantable tumors demonstrated by cytochemical assay indicates that the glioma carcinogenesis is related to endocrine factor of the host. The therapeutic effects of anticancer drugs, such as ACNU, BCNU and 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid from the royal jelly on NHG-1 model are evaluated.

The mast cell response to substance P: effects of neuraminidase, limulin, and some novel synthetic peptide antagonists

We have investigated certain aspects of the mechanism whereby substance P triggers secretion of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro. Substance P-induced release of 5-HT was inhibited following pretreatment of rat peritoneal cells with 0.01-1.0 units/ml neuraminidase; secretion induced by anti-IgE antibody was inhibited by pretreatment with 1.0 units/ml but not by lower concentrations of enzyme. Addition of the sialic acid-rich substances N-acetyl-neuraminlactose (up to 1.0 mM) and mucin (up to 1.0 mg/ml) to substance P in free solution failed to block the activity of the neuropeptide. Limulin, a sialic acid-specific lectin, failed to block substance P-induced secretion of 5-HT, but was found to possess intrinsic non-lytic secretory activity (at 5-20 micrograms/ml). Release of 5-HT induced by limulin was independent of that induced by substance P. A range of octapeptides incorporating the C-terminal sequence Gly-Ser-Phe-Phe, but differing in degree of cationicity and positioning of cationic residues in the four N-terminal positions, were tested for their capacity to antagonise the mast cell-triggering activity of substance P. A peptide incorporating two lysine residues at the N-terminus was found to have partial substance P antagonist activity; no effects on IgE-mediated secretion were observed.

Studies on beta-lactoglobulin as an experimental allergen in rats

The allergenicity of bovine beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG) in rats was investigated by measurement of both mast cell-bound and circulating IgE antibody produced in response to immunisation with this cow's milk constituent. The responsiveness of the animals' peritoneal mast cells to in vitro challenge with beta-LG was determined by measurement of release of radiolabelled 5-hydroxytryptamine. Using aluminium hydroxide gel as adjuvant, the responsiveness of mast cells to beta-LG was transient, peaking at 21 days after immunisation. The optimal dose of injected beta-LG was 100 micrograms. Circulating IgE antibody to beta-LG, measured by ELISA, was also detected transiently during the 3rd week post-immunisation.

Investigation of the allergenicity of beta-lactoglobulin and its cleavage fragments

Fragments of beta-lactoglobulin were produced by proteolytic cleavage with trypsin, and chemical cleavage with cyanogen bromide, followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. The antigenicity and allergenicity of the products were studied, before and after reductive cleavage by treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol. The former was determined by inhibition ELISA using IgG anti-beta-lactoglobulin raised in rabbits, whilst the latter was determined by inhibition ELISA and mast cell challenge, using respectively the sera and peritoneal cells of rats experimentally sensitised to beta-lactoglobulin. The findings raise interesting points about the structural basis of allergenicity in relation to antigenicity.