Effect of nitrous oxide on human bone marrow cells and its synergistic effect with methionine and methotrexate on functional folate deficiency

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate homocysteine methyltransferase activity in human bone marrow cells obtained from patients undergoing surgical operation became low after about 4 hr of nitrous oxide (N2O) anesthesia. The deoxyuridine suppression test performed on these bone marrow cells also became abnormal after about 6 hr of N2O anesthesia. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA in the bone marrow cells preincubated with methionine or methotrexate was much higher after N2O anesthesia than before anesthesia. Since N2O and methionine or methotrexate have a synergistic effect on depletion of functional folate, N2O alone or in combination with methionine or methotrexate might be of value for cancer treatment and deserve clinical trials.

"The choledocho-pancreatic long common channel disorders" in relation to the etiology of congenital biliary dilatation and other biliary tract disease

The amylase level of bile and various cholangiograms was studied in 36 cases of congenital biliary dilatation. (C.B.D.) The amylase level above 10000 U/L was considered to suggest the existence of choledocho-pancreatic long common channel formation. Radiologically, the dilatation of intrahepatic bile duct was seen in 9 out of 19 (47%) Type I cases and in all (100%) Type II cases. The cystic dilatation of intrahepatic bile duct was seen in all Type I cases which have cystic choledochal dilatation. On the other hand, fusiform dilatation was seen in all Type II cases with fusiform choledochal dilatation. End to side Choledocho-pancreatic anastomosis was performed to produce an experimental model of human choledocho-pancreatic long common channel disorders, thus leading to the dilatation of the common bile duct as well as the reflux of pancreatic juice into the bile duct. The reflux of Pancreatic juice and congenital stricture due to the choledocho-pancreatic long common channel formation were considered to be the important causative factors in the etiology of C.B.D.. Furthermore, pathology of the choledocho-pancreatic long common channel disorders was found to be important in relation to the etiology of both C.B.D. and other lesions of the biliary tract and pancreas.

Effects of early monocular deprivation on development of cortico-geniculate projections in the cat

In 16 cats monocularly deprived from 2 to 3 weeks of age, we studied 53 striate cortical cells which were identified as projecting to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) on the basis of antidromic activation from LGN and of histological localization within cortical layer VI. As in the normal cat, these cortico-geniculate cells could be classified as slow, intermediate or fast, according to their axonal conduction velocities. The sampling ratio of the slow cells (mostly unresponsive to visual stimuli) was much higher than normal. On the other hand, the ratio of the intermediate (one half were simple cells) and fast cells (all except one were complex cells) was significantly lower than the norm. Also, the average axonal conduction velocities of the complex and simple cells were significantly slower than normal. These results suggest that normal maturation of cortico-geniculate cells, particularly fast and intermediate ones, is retarded or arrested by monocular visual deprivation.

Differences of the ventral and dorsal anlagen of pancreas after fusion

The distribution of the ventral pancreas after fusion was considered as a dorsal portion of the head containing the area surrounding the intrapancreatic view and by the distribution of "irregularly shaped islets". These special islets were not uniform in shape and contained few A, B, and D cells and many argyrophil cells with Grimelius stain. In some cases the ventral pancreas was identified macroscopically from the dorsal one by the presence of the smaller and closely packed lobuli. As for the differences of both anlagen, we emphasized "the irregularly shaped islets" and scantier fat in the ventral pancreas.

[Modification of hepatotoxic effect of halogenated hydrocarbons on partially hepatectomized rats (author's transl)]

The effect of hepatectomy on the hepatotoxic effect of halogenated hydrocarbons was studied. Male rats received oral administration of chloroform of carbon tetrachloride at a single dose of 500 mg/kg, 3 days prior to or after the partial hepatectomy. The hepatotoxic effect of the toxins was modified in a different manner according to the time of the hepatectomy. In the animals hepatectomized 3 days after the hepatotoxins administration, histological changes of the liver were similar to those of the non-hepatectomized rats, except with an increase in the activity of GOT and GPT. Contrary, in the animals hepatectomized 3 days prior to the hepatotoxins administration, the toxic effect of the chemicals was less enhanced than in the non-hepatectomized animals.

In vitro secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone by pituitary chromophobe adenomas

Of 20 female and 14 male patients with chromophobe adenomas, 4 male patients, aged 38 to 47 years, and one female patient, aged 54, showed above normal basal plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). An in vitro tissue culture study that was performed using chromophobe cells obtained from 3 of the 4 male patients and the 1 female patient showed moderate FSH secretion into the culture media. The secretion of FSH by pituitary chromophobe adenomas might be more frequent than hitherto suspected.

Three groups of cortico-geniculate neurons and their distribution in binocular and monocular segments of cat striate cortex

Among 409 neurons recorded from binocular and monocular segments of the cat striate cortex, 91 were identified as cells (C-G cells) projecting to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) on the basis of antidromic activation from LGN and of histological localization of cortical layer VI. The axonal conduction velocity of these C-G cells was calculated from differences in latency between antidromic responses to electrical stimulation of LGN and the optic radiation. According to this velocity, 70 C-G cells from the binocular segment could be classified as fast (13--32 m/sec), intermediate (3.2--11 m/sec) and slow (0.3--1.6 m/sec) cells. The fast cells (47% of the total) were spontaneously active and had receptive fields of complex type. Histologically they were located mostly in the upper half of layer VI. The intermediate cells (31%) were mostly simple. The slow cells (21%) were completely silent, not driven by visual stimuli, and located mostly in the lower VI. From the monocular segment of the cortex, the intermediate cells could not be recorded, while the other two groups of cells were sampled with the same frequency as from the binocular segment. These findings suggest an existence of three functionally distinct groups of C-G cells and a possible participation of the intermediate cells in binocular vision.

The choledocho-pancreatico-ductal junction in infantile obstructive jaundice diseases

A histopathological study on how the common bile duct and main pancreatic duct open into the duodenum was performed on autopsied cases of infantile obstructive jaundice diseases, and control cases. The so-called "common channel" formation type (Type III) was divided into two types; the junction of the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct was situated in the mucosal or submucosal layer of the duodenum in type IIIa and the junction below the propria muscularis of the duodenum in type IIIb. Type IIIb was identified in 17 out of 28 cases in congenital biliary atresia and in 2 cases of congenital choledochal cyst, while the control cases all belonged to type IIIa. In cases of type IIIb the well-developed sphincter muscle was located in the submucosal layer and it surrounded the common channel after joining of both ducts suggesting the possibility of free communication of both ducts. As the intraductal pressure of pancreatic duct is normally higher than that of the bile duct, reflux of pancreatic juice may occur into the bile duct. Abnormal choledocho-pancreaticoductal junction was suggested to be a pathogenic factor which causes infantile obstructive jaundice diseases. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 30: 187 approximately 194, 1980.

A histopathologic study of the region of the ampulla of Vater in congenital biliary atresia

A histopathologic investigation of the duodenal wall and adjacent tissues in the vicinity of the papilla of Vater was performed in 37 autopsied cases of congenital biliary atresia which were treated in the Department of Pediatric Surgery of the Juntendo University Hospital during the past 11 years. A high incidence of the association of a congentially abnormal junction of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct, that is, a long common channel and a poorly developed sphincter musculature, were found in congenital biliary atresia. This suggests the possibility that reflux of pancreatic juice into the biliary system, followed by nonsuppurative chronic inflammation of bile ducts, may ultimately lead to the obstructive cholangiopathy seen in biliary atresia.

Dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin production by an intestinal carcinoid tumor

Substantial amounts of both dopamine and norepinephrine in addition to serotonin were found in a mesenteric metastasis of an ileal carcinoid tumor. Correspondingly, the norepinephrine-synthesizing enzymes were present in the tumor tissue and tyrosine hydroxylase was found in amounts substantially higher than the levels normally present in adrenal medullary cells. These findings confirm that the carcinoid tumors belong to the APUDomas and indicate that catecholamines might play an important role in the pathogenesis of the carcinoid syndrome.

Selective retrograde transsynaptic transfer of a protein, tetanus toxin, subsequent to its retrograde axonal transport

The fate of tetanus toxin (mol wt 150,000) subsequent to its retrograde axonal transport in peripheral sympathetic neurons of the rat was studied by both electron microscope autoradiography and cytochemistry using toxin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) coupling products, and compared to that of nerve growth factor (NGF), cholera toxin, and the lectins wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and ricin. All these macromolecules are taken up by adrenergic nerve terminals and transported retrogradely in a selective, highly efficient manner. This selective uptake and transport is a consequence of the binding of these macromolecules to specific receptive sites on the nerve terminal membrane. All these ligands are transported in the axons within smooth vesicles, cisternae, and tubules. In the cell bodies these membrane compartments fuse and most of the transported macromolecules are finally incorporated into lysosomes. The cell nuclei, the parallel golgi cisternae, and the extracellular space always remain unlabeled. In case the tetanus toxin, however, a substantial fraction of the labeled material appears in presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminals which innervate the labeled ganglion cells. In these terminals tetanus toxin-HRP is localized in 500-1,000 A diam vesicles. In contrast, such a retrograde transsynaptic transfer is not at all or only very rarely detectable after retrograde transport of cholera toxin, NGF, WGA, PHA, or ricin. An atoxic fragment of the tetanus toxin, which contains the ganglioside-binding site, behaves like intact toxin. With all these macromolecules, the extracellular space and the glial cells in the ganglion remain unlabeled. We conclude that the selectivity of this transsynaptic transfer of tetanus toxin is due to a selective release of the toxin from the postsynaptic dendrites. This release is immediately followed by an uptake into the presynaptic terminals.

Portable optical particle (0.06 microm) counter

An improved portable optical counter, using a He-Ne laser with 8 mW output, measures particles ranging in size from 0.06 to 10 microm in diameter in situ.

Argyrophil cells in the exocrine pancreas

The silver positive cells of the exocrine pancreas and primary pancreatic cancers were studied with the Grimelius silver stain and the Fontana-Masson technique. In the pancreas, cells containing black granules with the Grimelius method, which at the same time react negative to Fontana-Masson, are considered argyrophil. These cells were present in the basal portion of some of the acinar tissue and in the ductal epithelia, as well as in the A cells of islets. The incidence and distribution of these argyrophil cells were also studied in a variety of ductal lesions. In the so-called ductal proliferation numerous numbers of positive cells were found. Argyrophil cells were frequently situated in the basal portion of ductal squamous cell metaplasia. In goblet cell metaplasia the numbers were few, and less than in normal ducts. We concluded that the distribution and incidence of argyrophil cells in the ductal epithelia is related to chronic pancreatitis, and in particular to regenerative processes. The incidence of argyrophil cells in primary pancreatic cancer, excluding islets cell origin, was 18 per 41 cases (43.4%). We considered them pancreatic cancer with argyrophil cells.

Abnormal choledocho-pancreatico ductal junction related to the etiology of infantile obstructive jaundice diseases

According to our current radiologic, histopathologic, and experimental studies, the congenital stenosis associated with anomalous choledocho-pancreatico ductal junction is considered to be the most important etiologic factor in congenital biliary dilatation. Furthermore, the possibility of pancreatic juice reflux into the biliary tract due to the abnormal choledocho-pancreatico ductal junction, which could lead to obstructive cholangiopathy, was suggested in relation to the pathogenesis of congenital biliary atresia.

Nerve growth factor in mouse and rat serum: correlation between bioassay and radioimmunoassay determinations

High levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) determined by competition radioimmunoassay do not agree with values obtained by bioassay. This discrepancy is illustrated here with rat and mouse serum as examples in which values up to 1000 ng/ml have been found by using competition radioimmunoassays. An explanation for the discordant results is presented: serum components bind NGF with an intermediate affinity (Kd = 10(-7) M) but with a very large capacity (up to 0.5 mg of NGF per ml of rat serum). The binding of 125I-labeled NGF to serum components competes with the binding to the solid-phase antibodies (Kd = 10(-9)M) present in limiting amounts, according to the principle of competition radioimmunoassays. Thus, less radioactivity is recovered bound to the antibodies and this gives the erroneous impression that NGF is present. To overcome this difficulty, a two-site radioimmunoassay has been developed which utilizes nonlimiting numbers of antibody binding sites. This assay provides a reliable determination of NGF levels in serum and it can be shown that in rat and mouse serum (either sex) there is less than 5 ng of NGF per ml, in agreement with the results of the bioassay.

Biochemical and ultrastructural evaluation of isolated rat liver systems perfused with a hemoglobin-free medium

The viability of hemoglobin-free perfused rat liver was examined with respect to several liver functions and to the intactness of subcellular structures under electron microscopic observation. Provided that rat livers were perfused with the oxygenated buffer solution at a flow rate between 3 and 3.5 ml/min per g of liver, all the biochemical parameters measured in the perfused liver system, i.e. the rates of glucose, pyruvate, and lactate production, the rate of oxygen consumption and the tissue contents of adenine nucleotides, were similar to those observed with perfusion systems containing erythrocytes or albumin. The perfused liver showed a sensitive response to norepinephrine, involving a reduction of pyridine nucleotides and enhancements of glucose production and oxygen consumption. On electron microscopic examination, changes in hepatic-structure indicative of hypoxic injury particularly vacuolar degeneration and mitochondrial swelling, were not detected in the liver after 70 min of perfusion; the fact that the fine structure of the hepatocyte was preserved in all parts of the organ confirmed that the supply of oxygen to the perfused liver was sufficient under the conditions employed. From viewpoint of the generally accepted criteria for the viability of perfused liver, therefore, the results confirmed that the perfusion of liver with a hemoglobin- and albumin-free medium is a convenient and reliable tool for biochemical investigation of the reactions occurring in whole liver.

Potentiation of the NGF-mediated nerve fiber outgrowth by ginsenoside Rb1 in organ cultures of chicken dorsal root ganglia

The fiber outgrowth induced by ACh, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic GMP in explanted chick embryonic dorsal root ganglia differed distinctly from that be nerve growth factor (NGF) and submandibular gland extract of adult male mice. Ginsenoside Rb1 potentiated the effects of NGF and submandibular extract at concentrations of 3 and 30 muM, but did not potentiate the effects of ACh, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic GMP. NGF-antibody inhibited the effects of NGF, but not the effects of ACh, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic GMP, Concanavalin A and KCL did not promote fiber outgrowth.

A histopathological study of the remnant of extrahepatic bile duct in so-called uncorrectable biliary atresia

Histopathological study of the remnant of extrahepatic bile ducts in 40 cases of so-called uncorrectable biliary atresia, upon which we operated the last three years, has been performed. The histological findings of the remnant were classified into three types. Only two cases were found to have type 1a ducts in the porta hepatis area, from which we can expect better prognosis postoperatively. We also found that as the patients become older, the size of the duct in the remnant becomes smaller and the hepatic fibrosis becomes more remarkable. Therefore the operation should be performed in the infant with this lesion as young as possible. As for the evaluation of operative results of hepatic portoenterostomy for this lesion, a proper evaluation can be made only in those cases in which a microscopic examination of the remnant of extrahepatic bile duct at the porta hepatis area has been adequately performed. Concerning the pathogenesis of biliary atresia, we presume that congenital abnormalities of bile ducts are a basic factor, and additional nonspecific inflammation and bile stasis complete its pathological condition.

A histopathological study on the islets of Langerhans and ductal epithelial metaplasia in atrophic lobuli of pancreas

In autopsy material isolated islets of Langerhans are frequently encountered in the fatty or the fibrous tissue replacing the pancreatic lobuli. The incidence of isolated islets of Langerhans was 27.0% in the file of a series of randomly selected 100 autopsy cases and increased with advancing age. Fifteen cases of these 27 showed multiple foci and the total number of foci counted 60. Fifty-two foci (86.7%) were found in the subcapsular area. Clusters of elastic fibers were found in 36 foci (60.0%). Small pancreatic ducts with goblet cell metaplasia were found in 29 foci (48.0%) in the surrounding tissue of the remaining islets of Langerhans. Squamous metaplasia was identified in only 1 focus (0.2%), and luminal dilatation of the duct was found in 4 foci (0.7%). Serial sections showed that the small duct ended without connection to acinar cells. "The isolated islets of Langerhans" should be the result of the atrophy of pancreatic lobuli subsequent to disappearance of acinar cells.

Pattern of somatic segregation of the cytoplasmic drug-resistance factors in yeast

The pattern of somatic segregation of the cytoplasmic factors confering resistances to chloramphenicol, erythromycin and oligomyin in S. cerevisiae was studied. The fractions of the zygotes heterozygous for the chloramphenicol-resistance factor and for the erythromycin-resistance factor decreased exponentially with generation number of zygotes. The rate of the segregation was highest for the chloramphenicol-resistance factor and lowest for the oligomycin-resistance factor. The segregation rate as well as the transmission polarity of the chloramphenicol-resistance factor varied with different carbon sources with which the parental haploids were grown prior to mating.