Disturbed spermatogenic signaling in pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-deficient mice

PACAP is a neuropeptide with diverse functions in various organs, including reproductive system. It is present in the testis in high concentrations, and in addition to the stage-specific expression within the seminiferous tubules, PACAP affects spermatogenesis and the functions of Leydig and Sertoli cells. Mice lacking endogenous PACAP show reduced fertility, but the possibility of abnormalities in spermatogenic signaling has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we performed a detailed morphological analysis of spermatozoa, sperm motility and investigated signaling pathways that play a role during spermatogenesis in knockout mice. No significant alterations were found in testicular morphology or motility of sperm in homozygous and heterozygous PACAP-deficient mice in spite of the moderately increased number of severely damaged sperms. However, we found robust changes in mRNA and/or protein expression of several factors that play an important role in spermatogenesis. Protein kinase A expression was markedly reduced, while downstream phospho-ERK and p38 were elevated in knockout animals. Expression of major transcription factors, such as Sox9 and phospho-Sox9, was decreased, while that of Sox10, as a redundant factor, was increased in PACAP-deficient mice. The reduced phospho-Sox9 expression was partly due to increased expression and activity of phosphatase PP2A in knockout mice. Targets of Sox transcription factors, such as collagen type IV, were reduced in knockout mice. In summary, our results show that lack of PACAP leads to disturbed signaling in spermatogenesis, which could be a factor responsible for reduced fertility in PACAP knockout mice, and further support the role of PACAP in reproduction.

Changes of expression of endogenous sugar receptors by polymorphonuclear leukocytes after prolonged anaesthesia and surgery

Anaesthesia and surgery are known to depress granulocyte function in the early postoperative period, leading to deterioration of the immune defence against infection. Carbohydrate-lectin interactions may play an important role in the activities of phagocytic cells in that they facilitate initial host defence in the event of microbial antigenic challenge. A panel of biotinylated (neo)glycoproteins (chemically glycosilated carrier proteins) was used to detect endogenous carbohydrate-binding receptors /lectins/, on peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes of patients undergoing prolonged anaesthesia for replantation surgery. Four hours after induction of anaesthesia, a progressive decline of expression of endogenous sugar receptors on granulocytes was detected using the labelled (neo)glycoproteins lactose-BSA, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-BSA, D-mannose-BSA, sialic-acid-BSA and D-xylose-BSA. Concomitant changes in peripheral white blood cell counts and the lack of depression in the absence of general anaesthetic agents suggested the existence of a possible relationship between reduced expression of (neo)glycoprotein receptors to impaired granulocyte function and anaesthetic-induced immunodepression.

Variations in lectin localization in different parts of the bovine heart

In order to study the distribution of endogenous sugar-binding proteins (lectins) in various areas of the adult bovine heart, we used a battery of biotinylated neoglycoproteins. These tools expose carrier-immobilized carbohydrate moieties as ligands for receptor detection. Characteristic staining patterns depending on the type of carbohydrate ligand were observed in all constituents examined. Comparison to data obtained for lectin distribution in the respective areas of the human heart indicate that the localization of certain types of endogenous sugar receptors can exhibit species-dependent variations.

Heparin binding lectin of human placenta as a tool for histochemical ligand localization and isolation

Biotinylated heparin has been used to detect the presence of specific binding sites in sections of human placenta, which has prompted demonstration of expression of lectin activity for this proteoglycan. Purification of this lectin from full-term placenta facilitates the synthesis of its biotinylated derivative, using biotin-amidocaproyl hydrazide, without affecting its activity. It also enables immunization to obtain antibodies. The labeled lectin is shown to bind specifically to nuclear and cytoplasmic locations in various cell types of human placenta, nuclear expression of lectin binding sites being more pronounced at the full-term stage than after 8 weeks of development. The structurally related histone H2B exhibits obvious differences in its binding pattern. The presence of ligands accessible to the lectin whose binding activity can be inhibited by addition of an excess of heparin correlates in most instances with the level of lectin expression detected immunohistochemically. Biochemical information on the nature of the glycohistochemically inferred lectin-specific ligand(s) is obtained by affinity chromatography on resin-immobilized lectin. It leads to isolation of a proteoglycan with similar electrophoretic mobility in agarose-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis relative to the independently purified heparan sulfate-containing fibronectin binding proteoglycan from human placenta. Both fractions inhibit binding of heparin to the lectin and contain immunologically detected co-purified lectin, emphasizing their ligand properties. Application of labeled tissue lectins in conjunction with lectin-specific antibodies is proposed to obtain valuable insights into the expression of the receptor as well as the ligand part of protein-carbohydrate recognition.

Triosephosphate isomerase deficiency: haemolytic anaemia, myopathy with altered mitochondria and mental retardation due to a new variant with accelerated enzyme catabolism and diminished specific activity

A new triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) variant is described in an 8-year-old Turkish girl suffering from chronic haemolytic anaemia, myopathy and developmental retardation since early infancy. The enzyme activity profile revealed a generalized deficiency in erythrocytes, granulocytes, mononuclear blood cells, skeletal muscle tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. The concentration of enzyme substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate was distinctly elevated. Biochemical examination showed accelerated enzyme deamidation, the first step in the normal catabolism of TPI during aging of the erythrocyte. The specific activity of the variant TPI, determined by antibody titration, was reduced to 61% of normal. Its heat stability was markedly decreased. Muscle biopsy and neuropsychological testing further clarified the pathogenesis of the disorder. A prevalent alteration of mitochondria similar to that seen in mitochondrial myopathy and an elevated amount of intracellular glycogen were found. The patient's retarded intellectual development was mainly due to impaired visual perception and sensory-motor co-ordination in addition to a lack of syllogistic reasoning. The findings indicate that the low TPI activity leads to a metabolic block of the glycolytic pathway and hence to a generalized impairment of cellular energy supply.

Familial myopathy with elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 5

A family is reported in which two members presented with proximal myopathy associated with high serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (SACE), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 5. Examination of three relatives revealed elevated SACE levels in all of them, but no myopathy. No evidence of sarcoidosis, the most common disease associated with high SACE levels, could be found. Muscle biopsies of the two affected men revealed myopathic features without granuloma formation. Extensive biochemical, metabolic, immunological, and microbiological studies were all non-contributory. Corticosteroid and, in one patient, azathioprine treatment resulted in an improvement of muscle weakness and in a decrease of SACE as well as CK levels.

Localization of endogenous sugar-binding proteins (lectins) in tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system by biotinylated neoglycoproteins

The carbohydrate part of cellular glycoconjugates - glycoproteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids and proteoglycans - and specific endogenous sugar receptors, i.e. lectins, can establish a system of biological recognition based on protein-sugar interactions on the cellular and subcellular levels. To gain insight into the role of proteins in this type of interaction, sections of surgically removed tumor specimens of central and peripheral nervous tissue were analyzed glycohistochemically, using biotinylated neoglycoproteins with different sugar part. A specific staining with this type of probe, exposing different sugar moieties as ligands, indicated the presence of sugar receptors in different types of meningiomas, glioblastomas, gangliocytomas, anaplastic and well-differentiated oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas as well as in neurinomas and neurofibromas of peripheral nerves. In comparison to the well-differentiated ependymomas, the anaplastic form of this tumor exhibited a generally higher capacity to specifically bind the neoglycoproteins, containing alpha- or beta-glucosides. Inverse intensity of the glycohistochemical reaction was observed with galactose-6-phosphate-, galactose-beta(1.3)-N-acetylglucosamine-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine- and mannose- (BSA- biotin), respectively, when anaplastic and differentiated oligodendrogliomas were compared with each other. Tumorously dedifferentiated neurons, i.e. in gangliocytomas, showed a changed spectrum of endogenous sugar receptors in comparison to neurons of normal cerebral cortex. Qualitative and quantitative differences of sugar receptors were observed among the distinct subtypes of meningiomas. Receptors for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine were present only in the anaplastic form, while glucuronic acid-specific receptors were only found in the meningotheliomatous meningiomas. Distinctions in binding spectrum of neoglycoproteins suggest the presence of a possible additional subtype of meningiomas, called submalignant meningioma. Analysis of the spectrum of endogenous sugar receptors can serve to distinguish between different cell populations composing a given tumor, as shown in neurofibromas in the cases of Schwann cells and fibroblastoid cells stained with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-(BSA-biotin). The analysis of expression of endogenous sugar receptors, as part of an intercellular information code system, may represent a further way of studying the mechanism of tumor differentiation and propagation.

[Histochemical identification of endogenous lectins using labelled neoglycoproteins in human head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma]

According to the "Population-based cancer register" of the Federal Republic of Germany only malignant neoplasms of the buccal cavity, the pharynx and larynx as well as cancers of the respiratory tract show an increasing rate of incidence and mortality. The molecular mechanisms and etiological factors causing this phenomenon are still little understood despite intensive research work. Recognition between receptors on a cellular level may be mediated by specific amino acid sequences on the level of protein-protein recognition. Additionally, the interactions between cell sugars and the corresponding protein receptor may play a decisive role in development, regeneration and organisation of cells and tissue. The high specificity of the binding of biotinylated neoglycoproteins in tissue sections enables to detect glycohistochemically binding sites for the carbohydrate ligands of the glycosylated carrier protein. The evidence of lectins in squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx has not been established so far. Squamous cell cancer tissue samples of twelve patients with different tumour locations were investigated by incubation of sections of paraffin-embedded samples and application of an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex for visualisation with synthetic biotinylated neoglycoproteins. Altogether 168 stained sections were evaluated including controls. Pronounced cytoplasmatic staining was seen with the following neoglycoproteins: sialic acid-bovine serum albumin (BSA), glucuronic acid-BSA, N-acetylglucosamine (glcNAc)-BSA, N-acetylgalactosamine (beta-galNAc)-BSA, lactose-BSA, maltose-BSA, mannose-BSA, mannose-6-phosphate-BSA. No corresponding lectins seems to exist for the following investigated sugars: fucoidan, heparin, and the alpha-anomeric form of N-acetylgalactosamine, because no specific staining was seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lectin localization in human nerve by biochemically defined lectin-binding glycoproteins, neoglycoprotein and lectin-specific antibody

Molecular recognition can be mediated by protein (lectin)-carbohydrate interaction, explaining the interest in this topic. Plant lectins and, more recently, chemically glycosylated neoglycoproteins principally allow to map the occurrence of components of this putative recognition system. Labelled endogenous lectins and the lectin-binding ligands can add to the panel of glycohistochemical tools. They may be helpful to derive physiologically valid conclusions in this field for mammalian tissues. Consequently, experiments were prompted to employ the abundant beta-galactoside-specific lectin of human nerves in affinity chromatography and in histochemistry to purify and to localize its specific glycoprotein ligands. In comparison to the beta-galactoside-specific plant lectins from Ricinus communis and Erythrina cristagalli, notable similarities were especially detectable in the respective profiles of the mammalian and the Erythrina lectin. They appear to account for rather indistinguishable staining patterns in fixed tissue sections. Inhibitory controls within affinity chromatography, within solid-phase assays for each fraction of lectin-binding glycoproteins and within histochemistry as well as the demonstration of crossreactivity of the three fractions of lectin-binding glycoproteins with the biotinylated Erythrina lectin in blotting ascertained the specificity of the lectin-glycoprotein interaction. In addition to monitoring the accessible cellular ligand part by the endogenous lectin as probe, the comparison of immunohistochemical and glycohistochemical detection of the lectin in serial sections proved these methods for receptor analysis to be rather equally effective. The observation that the biotinylated lectin-binding glycoproteins are also appropriate ligands in glycohistochemical analysis warrants emphasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enzyme histochemistry of endomyocardial biopsies in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

The etiology of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is yet unknown; this study aimed at further differentiation of the disease by means of enzyme histochemistry. Endomyocardial biopsies from the left ventricle of 40 DCM patients and 5 control specimens had enzymes examined histochemically and semiquantitatively and analyzed according to staining intensities of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR), succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase, lactate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase (aPh). In DCM, the NADH-TR activity was elevated as compared to controls, indicating impaired mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. However, a concrete relation of enzyme histochemical intensity to anamnestic, hemodynamic or histomorphometric data could not be determined, except for the fact that the intensity of the lysosomal enzyme aPh was elevated in DCM patients with a relatively high left ventricular ejection fraction. The results demonstrate an interindependence of structural, hemodynamic and historical parameters as well as enzyme concentrations in DCM. Thus, a pathological change in the enzyme concentrations tested here cannot be responsible for the functional myocardial impairment in DCM.

Spatial differences of endogenous lectin expression within the cellular organization of the human heart: a glycohistochemical, immunohistochemical, and glycobiochemical study

Protein-carbohydrate recognition may be involved in an array of molecular interactions on the cellular and subcellular levels. To gain insight into the role of proteins in this type of interaction, surgically removed specimens of human endomyocardial tissue were processed for histochemical and biochemical analysis. The inherent capacity of these sections to bind individual sugar moieties, which are constituents of the carbohydrate part of cellular glycoconjugates, was assessed using a panel of biotinylated neoglycoproteins according to a standardized procedure. Together with appropriate controls, it primarily allowed localization of endogenous lectins. Differences in lectin expression were observed between layers of endocardial tissue, myocardial cell constituents, connective-tissue elements, and vascular structures. The endocardium proved to be positive with beta-galactoside-bearing probes; with neoglycoproteins carrying beta-xylosides, alpha-fucosides, and galactose-6-phosphate moieties; and with probes containing a carboxyl group within the carbohydrate structure, namely sialic acid and glucuronic acid. In contrast, only fucose-and maltose-specific receptors were apparent in the elastic layers of the endocardium. Aside from ascertaining the specificity of the protein-carbohydrate interaction by controls, i.e., lack of binding of the probe in the presence of the unlabelled neoglycoprotein and lack of binding of the labelled sugar-free carrier protein, respective sugar receptors were isolated from heart extracts by using histochemically effective carbohydrates as immobilized affinity ligand. Moreover, affinity chromatography using immobilized lactose as affinity ligand as well as the use of polyclonal antibodies against the predominant beta-galactoside-specific lectin of heart demonstrated that the lactose-specific neoglycoprotein binding was due to this lectin. Remarkably, the labelled endogenous lectin, preferred to plant lectins for detecting ligands of the endogenous lectin, localized ligands in tissue parts where the lectin itself was detected glycohistochemically as well as immunohistologically. This demonstration of receptor-ligand presence in the same system is a further step toward functional assignment of the recorded protein-carbohydrate interaction. Overall, the observed patterns of lectin expression may serve as a guideline to elucidate the precise physiological relevance of lectins and to analyze pathological conditions comparatively.

Reduced expression of mannose-specific receptors on murine peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes following prolonged anaesthesia with different inhalation agents

Inhalation anaesthetic agents are known to depress phagocytic functions such as mobilization, attachment, chemotactic motility, engulfment and intracellular killing. Mannose-specific sugar receptors on the surface of leukocytes are involved in a series of phagocytosis-related activities. To investigate the effect of anaesthesia on the expression of this type of sugar receptor, mice were anaesthetized with halothane, enflurane and isoflurane. The presence of mannose-binding receptors on peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes was examined glycocytochemically using the biotinylated neoglycoprotein mannosylated bovine serum albumin. Prolonged administration of inhalation anaesthetic agents, especially halothane, markedly depressed expression of mannose-specific receptors. This reduction may possibly contribute to postoperative immunodepression, resulting from the impaired cellular interaction which is involved in the phagocytic function of granulocytes.

Regional differences in the distribution of endogenous receptors for carbohydrate constituents of cellular glycoconjugates, especially lectins, in cortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia and thalamus of adult human brain

Ten different types of labelled neoglycoproteins, exposing glycohistochemically pivotal carbohydrate moieties that mostly are constituents of naturally occurring glycoconjugates with an aromatic spacer, were synthesized. The panel was applied to fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of different cortical regions and white matter, of hippocampal gyrus, basal ganglia, thalamus nuclei and adjacent areas of adult human brain to comprehensively map the presence of respective binding sites in these parts. Compliance with accepted criteria for specificity of binding was routinely ascertained. Overall, not a uniform binding pattern, but a distinct distribution with regional differences on the level of specific cytoplasmic and nuclear staining in nerve cells was determined, fiber structures being generally labelled with medium or strong intensity. For example, among the neurons localized in the five cortical laminae the binding of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine varied from strong to undetectable. Biochemical analysis, employing carbohydrate residues as affinity ligands in chromatography, proved that the neuroanatomically different regions exhibited a pattern of receptors with notable similarities. These results on endogenous binding sites for glycoconjugates, especially lectins, are complementary to assessment of localization of cellular glycoconjugates by plant lectins and carbohydrate-specific monoclonal antibodies. They are thus a further obligatory step to substantiate the physiological roles of recognitive protein-carbohydrate interactions in the central nervous system.

Morphometric comparison between human and rat abducens and oculomotor nerves

A morphologic and morphometric comparison between normal human and rat extraocular muscle nerves was performed using a computer-assisted method to obtain scatter diagrams of relative sheath thickness (g ratio = quotient axon diameter/fiber diameter). Human and rat extraocular muscle nerves (nervus abducens and ramus medialis n. oculomotorii) were excised immediately before the nerve branching at the entering point into the muscle. There was no difference in the absolute number of myelinated fibers between the oculomotor and abducens nerves in both species. The distribution of myelinated fibers was classified according to their g ratios into a two-stage density cluster analysis. Two main populations of nerve fibers for human oculomotor and rat oculomotor and abducens nerves and three main populations for human abducens nerve were differentiated morphometrically and mathematically, differing in their relative sheath thicknesses. There are distinct differences between scatter diagrams of human and rat extraocular muscle nerves, in correlation with the basically different oculomotor functions of these two species. The morphometric differences between human and rat extraocular muscle nerves suggest a difference in the myelination process and the presence of functionally different nerve fibers, strongly indicated by the populations and subpopulations of myelinating nerve fibers peculiar to extraocular muscle. The existence of more than two different types of myelinated fibers in the human nerves implies that the traditional classification based on fiber caliber must be reviewed and a comparison of different classes of nerve and muscle fibers should be performed.

Myopathy with altered mitochondria due to a triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) deficiency

Morphological changes are shown in the muscle biopsy specimens of an 8-year-old girl who suffered from a triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) deficiency, resulting in a chronic, nonspherocytic, hemolytic anemia, mental retardation and neuromuscular impairment. The newly introduced enzyme histochemical reaction for TPI demonstrated a total lack of histochemically detectable enzyme activity, whereas biochemical analysis of muscle tissue revealed less than 10% of the normal enzyme activity. Electron microscopy showed a degenerative myopathy with an increase in the amount of intracellular glycogen. Additionally, mitochondrial changes within the muscle fibers were observed to be similar to those in mitochondrial myopathies. The disturbed balance between glycerin-aldehyde phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate, due to the deficiency of the TPI enzyme, is interpreted as the biochemical background of an impaired electron transport across the mitochondrial membrane, resulting in the coexistence of an impaired glycolytic pathway and an impaired mitochondrial metabolism of muscle cells.

Determination of capillary perfusion pattern in rat brain by timed plasma labeling

The pattern of capillary perfusion was studied in the brain of anesthetized rats. Two plasma labels were used to demonstrate the density of capillaries perfused during a 10-min period [fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) globulin], as well as during a 10-, 3-, or 1-s period [lissamine-rhodamine B 200 (RB200) globulin, infused into the left heart chamber], respectively. A special biopsy cutting-freezing system was used to withdraw brain tissue via a cranial window for histological analysis of dye distribution at the end of the infusion period. Complete labeling of all capillaries was already found after 10 s of dye circulation. However, intra-arterial dye infusion for 3 and 1 s led to reduced filling of capillaries: cortex 86.6 +/- 5.2 and 6.8 +/- 1.8%, hippocampus 95.0 +/- 1.6 and 9.9 +/- 2.1%, and thalamus 97.9 +/- 1.0 and 11.7 +/- 1.8%, respectively. The period of 1 s was found to be the circulation time from left heart chamber to brain capillaries. It can thus be concluded that in the studied brain areas greater than 85% of capillaries are reached by a plasma flow within 2 s and that the remaining small fraction completely fills within 10 s.

Cervicogenic, hemicranial attacks associated with vascular irritation or compression of the cervical nerve root C2. Clinical manifestations and morphological findings

Sixteen patients suffering from hemicranial attacks are reported. After many years of unsuccessful conservative treatment (mean = 12.4 years), the patients were treated surgically with good results. The radiological or electrophysiological examinations were non-specific or negative. Only vasoactive tests (provoking or relieving pain) or local anesthesia proved helpful in diagnosing and localizing the origin of pain. Intraoperatively, hemicranial attacks were found to be caused by vascular irritation or compression of the cervical nerve root C2. After decompression (n = 6) or dissection (n = 10) of the nerve root and the ganglion, 12 patients were relieved of their pain, 2 had improved relatively, 1 showed only a slight improvement, and in 1 patient no cause was found and no improvement was achieved. Two patients suffered recurrence of pain postoperatively; one had no further complaints after root extirpation following percutaneous thermorhizotomy. Electron microscopic examination of the nerve root and its ganglion revealed focal morphological changes, including proliferation of connective tissue in the endoneurium and the ganglion itself, the formation of onion-bulb-like structures around single axons, discrete signs of myelin damage and axonal degeneration. These morphological changes are possibly the result of a chronic vascular compression.

Identification of a cell cycle-dependent gene product as a sialic acid-binding protein

A Ca2+-dependent sialic acid-binding protein was purified on fetuin-Sepharose from various types of human tissue. The molecular mass was determined to be 10,315 Da by laser desorption mass spectrometry. Partial sequence analysis after cyanogen bromide cleavage that yielded one N-terminus accessible for Edman degradation revealed an identity to an internal stretch following the only methionine residue within a putative amino acid sequence (Mr 10,048), deduced from the cDNA of a cell cycle-specific gene. The reported biochemical identification is a prerequisite to infer the biological role of the so far undetected gene product. Initial glycohistochemical studies with sialic acid-(BSA-biotin) raised evidence for nuclear localization of sialic acid-binding sites that might reflect, at least in part, detection of this protein.

Expression of endogenous receptors for neoglycoproteins, especially lectins, that allow fiber typing on formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded muscle biopsy specimens. A glycohistochemical, immunohistochemical, and glycobiochemical study

A panel of biotinylated (neo)glycoproteins was used for specific detection of endogenous sugar receptors, especially lectins, in formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded muscle biopsy specimens from human deltoid, quadriceps, and biceps muscles, tibial and quadriceps muscles of rat, and bovine masseter muscle. The glycohistochemical probes used consisted of conjugates of a labeled, histochemically inert carrier protein and various covalently linked, histochemically crucial sugar moieties. Specific binding of alpha-L-fucoside, beta-D-galactoside, beta-D-xyloside, and alpha-D-mannoside to muscle sections was detected, showing no species-specific differences. The presence of receptors for the N-acetylated sugars in natural glycoconjugates, and for sugars with a phosphate group, i.e., mannose-6-phosphate and galactose-6-phosphate, was demonstrated glycohistochemically. However, these binding specificities revealed species-specific differences, e.g., the absence of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific receptors or galactose-6-phosphate-specific receptors in rat muscle. Other charged sugars included glucuronic acid and sialic acid, which bound only to ox and rat muscle or failed to reveal their respective receptors in all types of muscle investigated. This different extent of staining with anionic probes served as a further control to ascertain carbohydrate binding specificity. Positive glycohistochemical reaction developed within sarcomeres only at the level of A-bands. Granular staining was observed in the sarcoplasm among the myofibrils and also in the subsarcolemmal regions. Differences in expression of glycohistochemically detectable sugar receptors were noted between type 1, type 2A, and type 2B fibers. The molecular properties of one type of glycohistochemically detectable sugar receptor were inferred both immunohistochemically and biochemically. An antiserum against an endogenous beta-galactoside-specific lectin from muscle tissue localized this lectin within sections consistently similar to (neo)glycoproteins, detecting beta-galactoside-specific receptor(s). This similarity of binding patterns strongly supports the assumption that (neo)glycoproteins with beta-galactoside termini indeed bind to the respective endogenous lectin. The lectin-specific antiserum enabled us to ascertain that glycohistochemical fiber typing corresponds to enzyme histochemical typing. Moreover, biochemical purification using affinity chromatography and subsequent affinity elution revealed only the immunohistochemically detectable beta-galactoside-specific lectin. Consequently, use of a panel of neoglycoproteins, when frozen sections for histochemical analysis are not available, co

Are glycoconjugates and their endogenous receptors involved in the fusion of mononuclear macrophages resulting in multinucleate giant cells? Histochemical and electron microscopic determination of endogenous sugar-binding proteins (lectins) in mononuclear macrophages and multinucleate giant cells appearing in granulomatous foreign body reaction

Protein-carbohydrate recognition has been found to play an important role in phagocytosis. Labelled (neo)glycoproteins were employed to comparatively analyze the histochemical pattern and ultrastructural localization of endogenous carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins) of mononuclear macrophages and multinucleate giant cells involved in the granulomatous foreign body reaction. Sugar receptors having an affinity to simple alpha- and beta-galactoside-structures, to alpha-mannose residues, to N-acetylglucosamine, to N-acetylgalactosamine and to glucuronic acid, respectively, were detected in both cell types. However, alpha-fucoside- and beta-xyloside-specific receptors were present only in the mononuclear macrophages. Pronounced differences were seen with labelled, suitably modified glycoproteins, exposing different complex sugar parts with common beta-galactoside-termini. Among the population of multinucleate giant cells, a positive histochemical reaction was observed with mannose-6-phosphate-, galactose-6-phosphate- and glucuronic acid-(BSA-biotin), respectively, only in giant cells in which fusing mononuclear cells were recognizable. This transient expression indicates changes within the profile of endogenous sugar receptors in the stages from fusion to establishment of giant cells. Aside from the diffuse intracytoplasmic distribution of carbohydrate-binding proteins, a prominent accumulation of various types of glycosylated ferritin, used as a marker for electron microscopic evaluation, was ultrastructurally found in membranous subcellular structures and vesicles. This study is a basis for further investigation of the potential involvement of various sugar receptors in the process of macrophage fusion, resulting in multinucleate giant cells of foreign body type, and the process of phagocytosis.

Mapping of receptors for carbohydrate constituents of glycoconjugates in well-differentiated and malignant ependymomas: a glycohistochemical study

Recognitive interactions between the carbohydrate part of cellular glycoconjugates and endogenous receptors supposedly govern important biological processes. Consequently, their elucidation can be of considerable value in tumour diagnosis. The histochemical patterns of expression of endogenous sugar receptors (e.g. endogenous lectin-like proteins) of 10 cases of well-differentiated ependymoma and 10 cases of malignant ependymoma were analysed, using a panel of 18 biotinylated (neo)glycoproteins and a standardized staining protocol. Within this panel, differences in the extent of staining for intracellular sugar receptors in well-differentiated and malignant ependymomas were histochemically detectable. In comparison to the well-differentiated ependymomas, the anaplastic form of the tumour exhibited a generally higher capacity to specifically bind labelled (neo)glycoproteins, containing alpha- or beta-glucosides and a disaccharide, characteristic for one type of beta-galactoside-terminated chain structure of glycoproteins. A significantly reduced binding was seen for tumours of the anaplastic type with labelled markers, carrying histochemically indispensable glucuronic acid residues. These findings suggest that labelled neoglycoproteins are a valuable tool for assessing the endogenous sugar-binding capacity in diagnostic histopathology. Our descriptive analysis of endogenous sugar receptors may also be a rational basis for studies on the functional significance of changes in the expression of their endogenous ligands and the cellular glycoconjugates. Further investigations are also possible on the correlation between the degree of differentiation and expression of both parts of a recognitive system, based on protein (receptor)-carbohydrate (ligand) interactions, in tumours of the central nervous system, especially ependymomas.

Schwann cell recruitment from intact nerve fibers

Two proximal branches of the rat facial nerve were transected and anastomosed end-to-end within a silicone tube, each of them being exposed to a massive invasion of ascending regenerating axons. The proximal nerves contained extremely large bundles of regenerated fibers, often associated with preexistent "parent fibers." The bundles showed many signs of rash and disordered cell proliferation and myelination. These included multiple Schwann cells surrounded by a common basement membrane, occurrence of different phases of myelination and even myelination of two axons by one Schwann cell. There was no evidence of mitogenic signals for fibrocytes. This model may be used for studying the mitogenic effect of axons on Schwann cells. It also suggests that so-called "groups of regenerating fibers" in neuropathy are caused by Schwann cell recruitment.

Morvan's fibrillary chorea. A case with possible manganese poisoning

The clinical picture of Morvan's fibrillary chorea includes a. spontaneous muscular activity resulting from repetitive motor unit action potentials of peripheral origin (multiplets), b. autonomic dysregulation with profuse hyperhidrosis, and c. central nervous system involvement as shown by severe insomnia and hallucinosis. A case featuring all these symptoms is presented. Whereas known causative factors range from gold or mercury poisoning to autoimmune disorders, the presented case is the first one in which chronic manganese intoxication (occupational exposure) seems to be implicated. Manganese has been found to inhibit acetylcholine esterase, and, as a consequence, may produce peripheral and central cholinergic hyperactivity.

Is part of the molecular basis of the perineurial barrier function the lack of endogenous carbohydrate-binding proteins?

The sugar part of cellular glycoconjugates and specific endogenous sugar receptors, i.e., lectins, can establish a system of biological recognition based on protein-carbohydrate interactions. An assortment of labelled (neo)glycoproteins, carrying different types of sugar moieties, is synthesized to localize respective sugar receptors. With these tools, the histochemical patterns of endogenous carbohydrate-binding receptors of the epi-, peri-, and endoneurium were analyzed in human sural and accessory nerves and in swine sciatic nerve. This approach is complementary to the application of plant lectins, focusing on endogenous carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins). In contrast to the epi- and endoneurium, which bound certain types of carbohydrates, such endogenous sugar receptors were histochemically not detectable in the perineurial cells. Moreover, no histochemical reaction was present in the "connective tissue septa" localized in the endoneurium in which the endoneurial vessels were embedded. This common property supplies evidence that these septa are composed of perineurial cells. They may represent a barrier in addition to the capillary endothelium. Our observations suggest histogenetical differences between the cell populations of epi- and endoneurium vs. perineurium. This significant difference in the ability to bind carbohydrate residues, conjugated to a carrier protein, is contradictory to the assumption that perineurial cells and fibroblasts are functional variants of the same cell type. The histochemical patterns of endogenous carbohydrate-binding receptors found in human and swine nerves were similar but not identical, with exception of the perineurium, reflecting phylogenetic differences in the expression of sugar-binding proteins. The absence of specific sugar receptors in perineurial cells, however, seems to be a more general phenomenon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Distribution of different fiber types in whole cross-sections of human platysma. A histological and morphometric study

Analysis of cryostat cross-sections of the entire platysma muscle from human autopsies revealed enzyme histochemical and morphometric differences between normal human limb and facial muscles. The mean diameter of platysma fibers was about 50% of that of normal limb muscle fibers. Fiber type diameter increased from the medial to the lateral parts of the platysma. A variability coefficient of 356 indicated great variation in fiber caliber, with many fibers of 10 microns and less. Type I fibers showed an increase in density from the medial to the lateral parts of the muscle. The arrangement of histochemical fiber types was irregular with a tendency to form fiber type groupings.

Endogenous sugar receptor pattern in human glioblastomas and gangliocytomas studied by histochemical application of biotinylated (neo)glycoproteins and affinity chromatography

Biotinylation of chemically glycosylated bovine serum albumin, yielding a panel of neoglycoproteins, and of desialylated, naturally occurring glycoproteins allowed to systematically evaluate presence and distribution of various types of endogenous sugar receptors in the sections of human glioblastomas and gangliocytomas by a routine histochemical procedure. Pronounced cytoplasmic staining with markers, carrying constituents of natural glycoconjugates, e.g. for beta-galactoside-specific receptors, contrasted with the different intensities, noticed for alpha- and beta-glucoside-specific receptors. Significant qualitative differences between the two tumor types were detected with N-acetyl-D-galactosamine- and sialic acid-carrying probes. Nuclear staining with only a part of the applied panel underscored the specificity of the protein-carbohydrate interaction. Fine structural features of the synthetic neoglycoproteins, e.g. the mode of coupling of the carbohydrate moiety to the protein, were found to exert a significant influence on their suitability as histochemical markers. On the basis of the histochemical results, exemplary biochemical analysis of certain classes of endogenous sugar receptors by affinity chromatography and subsequent gel electrophoresis, namely of beta-galactoside-, alpha-fucoside-, alpha-mannoside- and alpha-glucoside-specific proteins, revealed presence and characteristics of respective sugar receptors that can contribute to the histochemical staining. Similar extent of histochemical staining with the respective probes notwithstanding, the different tumor types exhibited qualitative differences in the expression of individual endogenous sugar receptors. The combined histochemical and biochemical analysis is supposed to be of conspicuous value for biological and clinical investigations on endogenous sugar receptors.

(Neo)glycoproteins as tools in neuropathology: histochemical patterns of the extent of expression of endogenous carbohydrate-binding receptors, like lectins, in meningiomas

Biotinylated (neo)glycoproteins were used to specifically detect endogenous sugar receptors such as lectins in sections of formaldehydefixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from meningiomas. The histochemical methods used consisted of the application of a carrier protein and various covalently linked sugar moieties, available mainly through chemical synthesis, in an optimized standard protocol. They proved valuable in elucidating differential binding patterns within the various meningioma subtypes. alpha-Fucoside-, beta-galactoside-, alpha-mannoside- and beta-xyloside-specific carbohydrate-binding receptors were detected in all the tumor subclasses examined, although the levels of expression exhibited pronounced quantitative differences. In addition, differences in the extent of histochemical staining were observed, using a labelled carrier protein, derived from N-acetylglucosamine and mannose-6-phosphate moieties, respectively. Quantitative differences in the reaction intensity were also measured in the respective subtypes. Receptors for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine were detected only in the analplastic forms, while glucuronic acid-specific receptors were only present in the meningotheliomatous meningioma. In contrast to the other types, malignant meningiomas failed to show cytoplasmic staining with the alpha-glucoside-specific maltose-(BSA-biotin). Distinct differences in the pattern of expression of endogenous sugar receptors, evaluated by a standard protocol, provided further evidence for a possible additional subtype of meningioma, the submalignant meningioma. Our results suggest that labelled (neo)glycoproteins could be used routinely as tools for assessing the expression of endogenous sugar receptors in diagnostic neuro-oncology.

Multiple unusual leptomeningeal glioneural heterotopias in a case of adult micrencephaly

An adult patient with micrencephaly combined with unusual multiple glioneural leptomeningeal heterotopias is presented. In spite of the large number of leptomeningeal heterotopias supra- and infratentorially, the cortices of the cerebrum and the cerebellum were well-organized and the white matter was well-myelinated. The heterotopias contained glial tissue and mature neurons, those in the cerebellum resembling Purkinje cells and granular cells, along with axons and mineralizations. The pathogenesis of the leptomeningeal heterotopias and micrencephaly is discussed.

Comparative histochemical and biochemical analysis of endogenous receptors for glycoproteins in human and pig peripheral nerve

Endogenous sugar-binding proteins were localized in sections of human and pig peripheral nerves by the application of two types of labelled ligands: neoglycoproteins (chemically glycosylated carrier proteins that had proven to be histochemically inert) and desialylated, naturally occurring glycoproteins. These proteins allowed evaluation of the presence and distribution of endogenous receptors for carbohydrates, commonly present in cellular glycoconjugates. (Neo)glycoprotein binding was similar, but not identical, for the two types of mammalian peripheral nerves. The pig nerve differed from the human nerve in more pronounced staining when using different types of beta-galactoside-terminated (neo)glycoproteins and charge-carrying neoglycoproteins, such as bovine serum albumin, bearing galactose-6-phosphate residues, glucuronic acid residues, and sialic acid residues. Comparative biochemical analysis of certain classes of sugar receptors by affinity chromatography and gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of sugar receptors that can contribute to the histochemical staining in a pattern with certain significant differences among rather similar expression for the two species. The assessment of sugar receptor distribution by application of (neo)glycoprotein binding among morphologically defined regions in nerves may hold promise in detecting developmental regulation and changes during nerve degeneration and subsequent regeneration after trauma or pathological states. Correlation of these results to changes in the structure and abundance of glycoconjugates, which are the potential physiological ligands of endogenous sugar receptors commonly detected by plant lectins, may help to infer functional relationships.

Meningeal carcinomatosis: origin of local IgG production in the CSF

We found that eight of 22 patients with meningeal carcinomatosis from different primary tumors produced local IgG in the CSF, as indicated by elevated IgG index and/or oligoclonal IgG subfractions. Local IgG production, when present, appears in an early stage of the leptomeningeal manifestation and remains detectable over extended observation periods. In autopsied cases with local IgG production, we observed numerous perivascular round-cell infiltrates containing plasma cells and large lymphocytes within the leptomeningeal tumor tissue. After incubation with immunoperoxidase, only these cells showed IgG-specific staining, indicating the site of local IgG production.

Endogenous carbohydrate-binding proteins in oligodendrogliomas. A histochemical study

Differentiated and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas revealed intracytoplasmic and nuclear presence of endogenous carbohydrate-binding proteins by application of labelled (neo)glycoproteins in histochemical analysis. The histochemical patterns showed differences between the differentiated and anaplastic forms of the same tumor type. Xylose-, lactose- and asialofetuin-specific carbohydrate-binding proteins could be detected in both types of tumors with the same staining intensity. However, maltose-specific carbohydrate-binding proteins were present only in the differentiated form. An inverse intensity of the histochemical reaction was observed with galactose-6-phosphate-, galactose-beta(1.3)-N-acetylglucosamine-N-acetylglucosamine- and mannose-(BSA-biotin) and fucose-(BSA-biotin) respectively, when the differentiated and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas were compared with each other. These differences document changes in the pattern of histochemically detectable carbohydrate-binding proteins, suggesting a role for endogenous carbohydrate-binding proteins in the tumor cell differentiation. These data indicate the potential usefulness of labelled (neo)glycoproteins as a new type of marker for histopathological diagnosis.

Nebulin and titin expression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy appears normal

Monoclonal antibodies which recognize different epitopes on either titin or nebulin show normal staining patterns on frozen sections of three muscle biopsies of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting performed on two of these muscle biopsies show the normal pattern of titin and nebulin polypeptides. Since the donor of one of these biopsies has a large deletion of the 5'-region of the DMD gene, our results argue against the recent proposal that nebulin is the gene mutated in DMD.

Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency

Myoadenylate deaminase (MAD) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the purine nucleotide cycle which is biochemically linked to glycolysis and the citric cycle and thereby providing energy during intense muscular activity. In muscle fibers, myoadenylate deaminase operates at considerably higher activity levels than in other organs. First detected using enzyme-histochemical methods, it now appears that deficiency of myoadenylate deaminase is one of the most frequent enzyme defects in muscle. The primary defect may occur as an isolated nosological entity or not infrequently it is also associated with a large spectrum of different neuromuscular conditions. It seems to be the primary unassociated MAD deficiency that has recently become amenable to successful treatment with D-ribose in high doses. Secondary MAD deficiency may occur in muscle fibers and muscles that have undergone structural damage as seen, for instance, in polymyositis, muscular dystrophy, and denervation. The wealth of biochemical, morphological, and clinical data that has accumulated since the discovery of MAD deficiency during the past decade provides nosological significance of MAD deficiency as a real entity.

Acute subdural and subgaleal empyema

A case is presented in which the initial CT scan failed to demonstrate subdural suppuration over both convexities. Definitive CT finding of subdural empyema (SDE) was only positive at an advanced stage, when a bilateral subgaleal empyema also spread out. Because of the fulminant development of the subdural empyema and the delayed diagnosis, the outcome was fatal in spite of neurosurgical operation. Subdural empyema is a neurological and neurosurgical emergency. Early diagnosis is imperative, because the mortality is about 25-40% and the outcome depends upon the promptness of diagnosis and the appropriate operation. In the recent literature the value of computerised tomography for early detection of subdural empyema is controversial. Some reports failed to demonstrate any evidence of purulent subdural collection in CT scans while others were able to make an early diagnosis. This report presents a case which demonstrates the difficulties in making an early diagnosis of a subdural empyema by CT.

Myo-, neuro-, gastrointestinal encephalopathy (MNGIE syndrome) due to partial deficiency of cytochrome-c-oxidase. A new mitochondrial multisystem disorder

A 42-year-old woman had a 10-year history of external ophthalmoplegia, malabsorption resulting in chronic malnutrition, muscle atrophy and polyneuropathy. Computer tomography revealed hypodensity of her cerebral white matter. A metabolic disturbance consisted of lactic acidosis after moderate glucose loads with increased excretion of hydroxybutyric and fumaric acids. Post-mortem studies revealed gastrointestinal scleroderma as the morphological manifestation of her malabsorption syndrome, ocular and skeletal myopathy with ragged red fibers, peripheral neuropathy, vascular abnormalities of meningeal and peripheral nerve vessels. Biochemical examination of the liver and muscle tissues revealed a partial defect of cytochrome-c-oxidase (complex IV of the respiratory chain). This mitochondrial multisystem disorder may represent a separate entity to be classified between the spectrum of myoencephalopathies and oculo-gastrointestinal muscular dystrophy.

A morphometric study on sural nerves in metachromatic leucodystrophy

This study reexamines peripheral neuropathy in infantile, juvenile and adult metachromatic leucodystrophy. A computer-assisted method was used which gives more detailed information on abnormal fibre structure from scatter diagrams of the g ratio (axon diameter/fibre diameter). The data show marked and statistically significant reductions in sheath thickness, particularly for the thick myelinated fibres, and most severe in the juvenile and adult forms. This is interpreted as evidence of remodelling of virtually the entire fibre population, without a clear-cut selectivity for either thin or thick fibres.

The ultrastructure of normal and denervated human facial muscle

The ultrastructure of normal human facial muscles from 25 nonparalytic and 17 paralytic patients revealed normal features in nondenervated human facial muscles, identical to the fine structure of other normal human and mammalian cross-striated muscle fibers. However, in denervated facial muscle, a broad spectrum of ultrastructural lesions had affected sarcomeres, abnormal inclusions, and organelles. A large variety of inclusion bodies, some of which have not been described, were also found. The spectrum of ultrastructural changes showed no dependence on the length of the denervation period. There were no inclusion bodies in all the normal facial muscle biopsies. To our knowledge, this study represents the first systematic electron microscopic investigation of normal and denervated human facial muscles.

The angiogenesis of the micrencephalic rat brains caused by methylazoxymethanol acetate. III. Internal angioarchitecture of cortex

The intracortical angioarchitecture of normal and micrencephalic rat brains was examined. The neuroblast migration was disturbed by injection of the neurotoxin methylazoxymethanol acetate, administered on day E14. The internal vascularization of the malformed cortex showed severe damage to the layered distribution of vascular trunks in contrast to controls. A pathological course and marked variability in the density of the radial vessels were seen in the parieto-occipital areas, in which the neuroblast migration was most severely affected. These observations show the decisive role of neuroblast migration and maturation in the development of the cortical angioarchitecture.

Necrotizing myopathy with paracrystalline inclusion bodies in hypervitaminosis E

A necrotizing, nonprogressive myopathy with unusual paracrystalline inclusion bodies is described in a patient who underwent long-term treatment with megadoses of vitamin E. The clinical course and morphological findings suggest a close relationship to the administration of the vitamin. The theoretical pathogenesis of muscle damage and the possible origin of paracrystalline inclusion bodies are discussed.

Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency

This report concerns two unrelated males; one had sarcoidosis, sarcoid myopathy and muscle weakness, and the other had exercise-induced weakness and myalgia. Both patients had a lack of ammonia rise in their serum after an ischemic work test, minimal histochemical activity of myoadenylate deaminase in repeated muscle biopsies, and less than 5% of normal biochemical activity of myoadenylate deaminase in their skeletal muscles. These three criteria establish primary myoadenylate deaminase deficiency as a separate primary metabolic muscle disease which merits differential diagnostic consideration when patients complain of muscle weakness and cramps.

Sural nerve biopsy studies in Leigh's subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy

Peripheral neuropathy marked by reduced nerve conduction velocities was found in four unrelated children, between the ages of 15 months and 9 years, whose autopsies revealed Leigh's subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy. Sural nerve biopsies disclosed primary demyelination and remyelination, as well as loss of myelinated and unmyelinated axons. The use of morphometric and electron microscopic studies shows that these techniques may reveal peripheral neuropathy in Leigh's disease more often than light microscopic methods alone.

[Hemodynamic findings in the adult form of type II glycogenosis]

This report describes a family with late-onset acid maltase deficiency. In two sisters a disturbed left ventricular function could be demonstrated, although skeletal muscle involvement with respiratory insufficiency was responsible for the clinical symptoms. The findings present evidence that myocardial involvement may exist in adult type II glycogenosis.

Muscular alteration in agyria with pyramidal tract anomaly

A 4-year-old boy with a history of muscular hypotonia, mental retardation, microcephaly, and generalized convulsions was found at autopsy to have agyria, agenesis of the anterior commissure and posterior corpus callosum as well as an abnormal decussation of pyramidal tracts which descended in the spinal dorsal columns. Postmortem muscular alterations included type IIc fiber hypertrophy and type I fiber grouping, variably expressed in individual muscles and intramuscular fascicles. This may represent a developmental delay compatible with a gestational age between the 34th and 40th week. These studies also indicate the importance of examining multiple samples of postmortem muscles and muscles from patients afflicted with cerebral malformations.

Generalised glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI) deficiency causing haemolytic anaemia, neuromuscular symptoms and impairment of granulocytic function: a new syndrome due to a new stable GPI variant with diminished specific activity (GPI Homburg)

A new glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI) variant is described which is characterised by very low specific activity in erythrocytes, granulocytes and muscle tissue, nearly normal stability, normal kinetic properties and a decreased electrophoretic mobility. The propositus suffers from a complex syndrome involving erythrocytes (congenital haemolytic anaemia), granulocytes (decreased production of superoxide anion and reduced bactericidal activity in vitro) and the neuromuscular system (myopathy, mental retardation). It is suggested that the clinical syndrome results from generalised GPI deficiency due to a decreased specific activity of the variant enzyme, which cannot be compensated by an increase of de-novo synthesis of GPI protein even in cells exhibiting active protein synthesis such as granulocytes and muscle cells.

Effects of cold adaptation and starvation on sciatic nerve fibers in the frog

The conditions under which frogs are kept prior to experimentation were found to have a measurable effect on peripheral nerve structure. Frogs kept for 12 weeks at 4 degree C had markedly shrunken sciatic nerve fibers compared with frogs kept at 19 degrees C. Intermediate fiber shrinkage was found for frogs kept at 19 degrees C without feeding. Counts of neurofilaments and microtubules showed that fiber shrinkage was from a preferential loss of filaments, indicating cold- or starvation-induced atrophy of the axon's cyto-skeleton. This effect, however, was superimposed with additional osmotic axonal shrinkage, causing filament densities to increase per area. There were no changes in myelin sheath thickness due to cold adaptation or fasting.

Constant position of the superficial cerebral veins of the rat: a quantitative analysis

The normal anatomical position of the point of junction of the superficial cerebral veins with the superior sagittal and transverse sinuses of the rat was studied with an analytical mathematical method. There were eight fixed veins, each characterized by a constant point of juncture having minimal variance. The findings indicate that the points of juncture between large veins and sinuses are developmentally fixed and that there is a definite order in the number and the territories of the large veins.