High affinity binding of horseradish peroxidase to collagenous tissue in formalin-paraffin processed human tissue

Collagen arrangement in space of Disse correlates with fluid flow in normal and cirrhotic rat livers

Little is known about collagen arrangement in the space of Disse was related to the fluid flow both in normal and cirrhotic liver. We examined the changes in the arrangement of type-I collagen in thioacetamide-induced cirrhotic rat livers with immunohistochemistry and SEM after maceration of the noncollagenous tissues with NaOH. The sparse bundles of collagen fibers in the spaces of Disse were mostly elongated fibers with a disorganized arrangement in each nodule. They connected with the broad fibrous septa. Based on a comparison of the architecture of the collagen fibers and the established flow of fluid in the space of Disse, we hypothesize that the fluid in the space of Disse streams along collagen fibers in all directions to broad fibrous septa. The appearance of perinodular plexus in cirrhotic rat livers probably helps to reduce portal hypertension.

Collagen subtypes in human vocal folds

OBJECTIVES

The collagen subtypes in human vocal folds are of particular interest, because each collagen subtype has different features that make it uniquely suited for performing specific tissue tasks and each collagen subtype can affect the tissue properties of the vocal fold lamina propria.

METHODS

Human vocal folds from 5 autopsy cases (less than 65 years old) were examined by immunohistochemistry for collagen types I, III, IV, and V and elastin.

RESULTS

Collagen type III was distributed throughout the whole lamina propria. Type I was found just beneath the basal membrane, in the deep layer of the lamina propria and in the anterior and posterior maculae flavae. Types IV and V were present in the epithelial and endothelial basal membrane. Three-dimensional images from thick specimens reconstructed with confocal microscopy showed 2 distinct patterns: type III fibers were wavy, collagenous fibers, as previously observed in the vocal folds, and type I fibers were thinner than type III fibers. These results suggest that type III fibers help maintain the lamina propria structure and that type I fibers provide the tensile strength required around the basal membrane and vocal ligament to maintain the vocal fold shape while withstanding vibratory forces.

Lectin histochemical study of lipopigments with special regard to neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis. Results with concanavalin A

Concanavalin A (ConA) binding to lipopigments (LPs) of the lipofuscin type was proved to be due to the high content of mannose. The nature of the mannose bearing compound was twofold. One part was soluble in modified chloroform-methanol-water mixture (10:10:3) corresponding possibly to the oligosaccharyl diphosphodolichol (oligo-PP-Dol) described to be increased in LPs especially of inherited types. The second part, most probably a glycoprotein (GP), was entirely resistant to various extraction procedures. The ratio of the two components varied. The deposition of the typical lipofuscin (age pigment) was dominated by the GP component. Its amount was greatest in neurolipofuscin (especially in the olivary nucleus) and in the myocardium but very little in hepatocytic lipofuscin. In human neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (of early juvenile, and juvenile types) both components were found in large quantities in the storage granules of the affected neurons. The "protein type variant" of the storage material (Elleder 1978) displayed the highest degree of lipid-bound mannose accumulation, the GP component being extremely low or entirely absent. In the late infantile, infantile and Kufs variants studied in paraffin sections only, the GP component was detectable, too as in the case of the secondary neuronal LP in mucopolysaccharidoses and gangliosidoses. In the dog model of NCL lipid bound mannose clearly predominated, the GP component being concentrated in the cytoplasm and on the periphery od some storage granules. The nature of the GP component, a new finding of LP analysis, is discussed. The metabolic relationship between the two components is uncertain. Neither could be identified as the component resposible for autofluorescence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of malotilate on alcoholic liver injury in rats

Malotilate (diisopropyl 1,3-dithio-2-yldenemalonate), a hepatotrophic drug, was administered to rats with alcohol-pyrazole hepatitis, which is considered to be a suitable experimental model for alcoholic liver injury, in order to elucidate the effects of malotilate on alcoholic liver injury. The number of ballooned hepatocytes and necrotic hepatocytes were smaller in the alcohol-pyrazole hepatitis rats treated with malotilate for 12 weeks (Al-Py Mal group) than for those without malotilate treatment (Al-Py group). Immunohistochemically, the retention of transferrin, one of the secretory proteins from the liver, in the ballooned hepatocytes was inhibited by malotilate. Biochemically, transferrin content in the Golgi fraction of the hepatocytes was significantly lower in the Al-Py Mal group than in the Al-Py group. Hepatic acetaldehyde levels in the Al-Py Mal group were significantly lower than those in the Al-Py group, even though ethanol metabolic rates were not different between the two groups. These results indicated that malotilate prevented the development of hepatocytic injury in alcohol-pyrazole hepatitis by decreasing hepatic acetaldehyde levels and preventing the retention of transferrin in the hepatocytes.

Application of the avidin-biotin immunohistochemical method for the diagnosis of alveolar hydatid disease from tissue sections

The avidin-biotin immunohistochemical (ABC) method was applied to the diagnosis of alveolar hydatid disease in patients from the hyperendemic region of western Alaska. The test was specific for larval cestodes of the genus Echinococcus, and exhibited high sensitivity. A negative reaction was obtained in all cases in which spontaneous death of the larval cestode had occurred. Results were inconsistent in sections of lesions from patients who had received long-term therapy with mebendazole, because of the persistence of antigens for a considerable time following the death of the parasite.

Heterogeneous subpopulations of human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells: potential usefulness of P21 protein as a predictor for bone metastasis

Expression of the p21 protein of the ras oncogene family was studied in a case of human prostatic adenocarcinoma tissue and the cell line was derived from the primary tumor. Flow cytometry analysis of the tumor cells obtained from the primary tumor indicated that approximately 25 per cent of the cells were positive for this oncogene product. However, by the immunoperoxidase method almost all of the tumor cells at the vertebral metastatic sites in the same patient were positive for the p21 protein. The cell line established from the primary tumor displayed 2 distinct subpopulation growth patterns in vitro: a monolayer, density-inhibited growth and a multicellular aggregate type growth morphology. These 2 subpopulations could be separated by density elutriation centrifugation. The isolated subpopulation cells were noted to express prostatic acid phosphatase and prostate specific antigen at high frequency. High levels of expression of these 2 prostatic markers also were found in the tumor cells at the vertebral metastatic sites. However, when the isolated subpopulations were analyzed for the expression of p21 protein, the multicellular grown cells were almost 90 per cent positive for the p21 antigen, whereas only approximately 5 per cent of the monolayer grown cells were positive for the same protein. Our findings suggest that primary prostatic carcinomas are composed of heterogeneous subpopulations of neoplastic cells while only specific subpopulations have metastatic potential. Quantification of prostatic acid phosphatase and prostate specific antigen in the primary tumor cells probably will not offer a predictive value for the eventual behavior of the tumors. However, evaluation of oncogene products, such as the p21 protein, may be useful as a clinical predictor for metastatic potential.

Effects of dietary fat on alcohol-pyrazole hepatitis in rats: the pathogenetic role of the nonalcohol dehydrogenase pathway in alcohol-induced hepatic cell injury

Rats were fed with two different alcohol-containing (36% of total calories) liquid diets of high fat and low fat (35% and 15% of total calories) with or without 2 mM of pyrazole for 12 weeks. At the 12th week, the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase level was significantly elevated in the alcohol-pyrazole high fat group, but not in the low fat group. Ballooning and necrotic changes of the hepatocytes in the centrolobular area were more prominent in the alcohol-pyrazole high fat group than in the low fat group and alcohol alone groups, indicating that high fat diet accelerates the development of alcohol-pyrazole hepatitis. In the alcohol-pyrazole high fat group, a decrease of hepatic microtubules content and an accumulation of hepatic export proteins in the hepatocytes were found. The protein accumulation was prominent only in the ballooned hepatocytes. Hepatic acetaldehyde levels were significantly higher in the alcohol-pyrazole high fat group than in the alcohol-pyrazole low fat group. These results suggest that the accelerated ethanol metabolism in the nonalcohol dehydrogenase pathway by a high fat diet may play an important role in the development of hepatocytic injuries, by impairing the microtubular function of the hepatocytes.

Comparison between ballooned hepatocytes occurring in human alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver diseases

To establish clearly what the pathogenetic differences are in the hepatocytic ballooning between human alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver diseases, hepatic microtubules were examined by morphometric and biochemical methods, and staining of transferrin was carried out on liver sections immunohistochemically. Microheterogeneity of serum transferrin was also detected by immunofixation after isoelectric focusing. Hepatic microtubules were significantly decreased in alcoholic liver disease, and transferrin was clearly stained in the ballooned hepatocytes of alcoholic liver disease but not in nonalcoholic liver disease. The degree to which transferrin was stained was related to hepatic microtubular contents and also related to the appearance of the microheterogeneity of serum transferrin in alcoholic liver disease. These findings indicate that ballooning of hepatocytes in alcoholic liver disease, but not in nonalcoholic liver disease, is caused by the accumulation of exportable proteins due to impairment of microtubular polymerization. This accumulation might be related to the inhibition of glycosylation and secretion of glycoproteins by the impairment of microtubular functions. From these results, it was determined that staining of transferrin in the liver may be useful for differentiation of the etiology of liver diseases.

Adenomatoid tumor of ejaculatory duct

Adenomatoid tumors are generally restricted to the epididymal region and occasionally the spermatic cord in the male. Herein we report on a case of adenomatoid tumor apparently originating from the ejaculatory duct which to our knowledge has not been reported previously.

Comparison of ballooned hepatocytes in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver injury in rats

Ballooned hepatocytes are commonly observed in alcoholic and sometimes in non-alcoholic liver diseases. To clarify whether pathogenesis of this change is different in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases, changes of the livers in rats fed alcohol with pyrazole for 12 weeks were compared with those of CCl4 treated rats. Both groups of rats showed marked ballooning of the hepatocytes in the centrolobular area. Immunohistochemically, the ballooned hepatocytes in alcohol-pyrazole treated rats reacted strongly with transferrin and albumin staining. However, staining reaction of the ballooned hepatocytes in the CCl4 treated rats was slight. In alcohol-pyrazole treated rats, hepatic microtubules were significantly decreased. Retention of transferrin and albumin were found only in the ballooned hepatocytes of alcohol-pyrazole treated rats. However, in the CCl4 treated rats, neither microtubular alteration nor retention of the exportable proteins was observed. These findings indicate that the pathogenesis of ballooning of hepatocytes is different in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver injuries. In alcoholic liver injury, microtubular alteration may lead to retention of protein and ballooning of hepatocytes by interfering with the hepatic secretion of proteins.

Urethral verumontanal polyp: evidence of prostatic origin

A papillary adenomatous polyp of the verumontanum was studied morphologically and immunochemically. This rare polypoid neoplasm displayed rather typical prostatic acinar epithelium, and by immunoperoxidase method differentiation products of prostatic origin could be demonstrated easily. Findings support the concept that this type of lesion is prostatic in origin and probably arising from ectopic prostatic tissue in the prostatic urethra. The clinical symptoms of this lesion usually are hematospermia or hematuria, and this lesion can be effectively treated by transurethral excision.

Diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. Evidence of humoral antibody mediated pathogenesis

Immunochemical studies of post-mortem lung tissue from a patient suffering from diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis were conducted. Identifiable deposition of IgG on the alveolar septa was noted by immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescein methods. The antemortem serum obtained from the patient showed high affinity immunologic binding to normal human lung tissue. An antibody-antigen reaction was also detectable by microcomplement fixation procedure with buffer extracts of normal lung tissue, while normal pooled serum showed no significant reaction. These findings, in addition to the gross, light microscopic, and electron microscopic observations, strongly suggest that a humoral antibody mediated reaction is one of the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms eliciting the morphologically and clinically observable manifestations of diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

Predicting the probability of bone metastasis through histological grading of prostate carcinoma: a retrospective correlative analysis of 81 autopsy cases with antemortem transurethral resection specimen

In a retrospective correlative analysis of postmortem findings and antemortem transurethral resection specimens from 81 patients with prostatic carcinoma a simple and reliable prediction index was found. This index was derived from the transurethral resection specimen in regard to the probability of ultimate bone metastasis by tumor and was obtained by dividing the number of prostatic tissue chips involved with tumor by the total number of prostatic tissue chips examined microscopically. We found that when 75 per cent or more of the transurethral resection chips were involved with tumor, regardless of the degree of tumor differentiation, the probability of bone metastasis was more than 9.0 (greater than 90 per cent), whereas the probability was 0.58 for 50 to 75 per cent involvement, 0.38 for 30 to 50 per cent involvement, 0.27 for 20 to 30 per cent involvement, 0.10 for 10 to 20 per cent involvement and 0.06 for less than 10 per cent involvement. Other tumor grading systems, such as the Gleason system, also were compared. A good correlation was obtained by the Gleason grading system in the prediction of bone metastasis but the system is not as simple or as reproducible as the tumor involvement index described herein. Other parameters, such as prostatic acid phosphatase and prostatic specific antigen as determined by the immunoperoxidase method, had no specific or significant value in the prediction of bone metastasis. Our findings reaffirm the relatively old concept that the extensiveness of tumor involvement in the transurethral resection specimen is the single most important factor in the prediction of the clinical behavior of the prostatic carcinoma.

Elimination of iron pigments and background staining which mask immunoperoxidase reactions

When immunohistochemical stainings are applied to demonstration of antigens in histopathological specimens, the ferrous pigments which may be present in the tissues usually mask the final precipitates of the reaction. These pigments can be eliminated with oxalic acid or sodium dithionite after the immunohistochemical staining. These treatments also help in the bleaching of unspecific background stain.

Immunofluorescent staining of Epon embedded kidney sections through simultaneous use of two different fluorochrome-conjugated antisera

Kidney biopsies can be examined in Epon sections for comparison of immunofluorescence and histology. This is possible by an incubation method which has now been modified to allow simultaneous localization of two antigens using fluorescein and rhodamine-conjugated antibodies on the same semithin sections of formalin fixed tissue. Consecutive sections from the same blocks can also be cut for electron microscopy. The method is now used in our immunopathological diagnostic procedures for examination of kidney biopsies.