Characteristics of the sympathetic innervation of the nictitating membrane and of the vasculature of the nose and tongue of the cat

Summary Vasomotor responses from the nasal mucosa and tongue, and contractions of the nictitating membrane, were recorded on stimulation of the cervical sympathetic or internal carotid nerves.Preganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres which elicited a membrane response possessed a lower threshold than those which evoked nasal vasoconstriction, while the latter displayed a lower threshold than fibres which evoked tongue vasoconstriction. The sympathetic vasodilator fibres to the tongue, whose activity was revealed after-receptor blockade, had a similar threshold to the vasoconstrictor fibres.Membrane contraction, nasal vasoconstriction and occasionally tongue vasoconstriction could be evoked by stimulating the internal carotid nerve. The postganglionic fibres innervating the nasal mucosa had a similar threshold to those of the nictitating membrane, which may indicate that there are small myelinated fibres innervating the mucosa.The preganglionic compound nerve action potential had four major components, S₁–S₄. S₁, S₂ and usually S₃ fibres were associated with membrane contraction; S₂, S₃ and sometimes S₁ fibres were associated with nasal vasoconstriction; and S₃, usually S₂ and occasionally S₁ fibres were associated with vasoconstriction in the tongue. It is concluded that each of these three groups of nerve fibres, but not S₄ fibres, may include fibres associated functionally with the three effectors.There was a considerable difference between the relative amplitude of the responses of the three effectors elicited by stimulation of the cervical sympathetic nerve at frequencies between 0.2 and 2 Hz. Vasoconstrictor responses were relatively larger than membrane contractions suggesting differences in the mechanisms of neurotransmission at the neuroeffector junctions.     

Fibrous xanthomas and xanthosarcomas of the meninges and the brain

Summary Three cases of intracranial fibrous xanthomas and a case of multicentric cerebral xanthosarcoma are reported. All three fibrous xanthomas developed in the temporal area of boys in their early teens, one was within the leptomeninges (without dural attachment), the other two involved meninges and the superficial portions of the temporal lobe itself. These tumors were characterized by mono- and multinucleated cells with morphological features of histiocytes, Touton type giant cells and a storiform pattern in areas of spindleshaped tumor cells.Because of cellular atypism, giant cells and mitotic figures such tumors may suggest the diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme but the absence of glial fibers, negative Cajal impregnation, presence of reticulin fibers in close proximity to tumor cells and the morphological similarity to the bizarre cells found in atypical xanthofibromas of the skin and soft tissues help to establish the diagnosis. Since the menigeal forms are probably derived from local meningeal mesenchyme, occasional abortive whorls and pseudopsammoma bodies may be encountered, the overall picture, however, is very different from meningiomas. Two patients had a 2.5 and a 12 year long symptomfree survival, respectively. The third boy had a local recurrence 14 months after initial removal which was excised and the patient is presently doing well.The xanthosarcoma first developed in the right frontal lobe of a 26 year old woman. This tumor was almost exclusively made up of various sized anaplastic cells filled with birefringent lipids. It is suggested that this tumor which had a diffuse network of reticulin, had originated from primitive adventitial cells. It was histologically more malignant than the first three and the patient died within a year after removal of the frontal lobe tumor, from a second mass in the cerebellum. The relationship of this tumor to glioblastomas and to other types of giant cell sarcomas is discussed.This paper was presented in part at the 6th International Congress of Neuropathology in Paris, France, on August 31, 1970.     

Investigating the construct validity of the SPAI-C: comparing the sensitivity and specificity of the SPAI-C and the SAS-A

Investigates the construct validity of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C) by comparing its sensitivity and specificity with another self-report measure of social anxiety, the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A). Participants were 252 adolescents (124 males and 128 females) 13-17 years old. Adolescents completed the SPAI-C and the SAS-A and were interviewed using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV: Child Version (ADIS-IV:C). Parents were also interviewed and composite diagnoses were formed. Youth were classified as socially phobic or non-anxious based on these composite diagnoses. By comparing clinical cutoff scores with diagnostic group classification, the sensitivity and the specificity of the SPAI-C and SAS-A were compared. Results indicated that the SPAI-C was a more sensitive measure than the SAS-A (61.5% vs. 43.6%) providing evidence of the scale's construct validity. The two measures were similar with regard to specificity (82.7% for both). Implications of these results for assessment and research are discussed.     

Afferent and sympathetic innervation of the dome and the base of the urinary bladder of the female rat.

The afferent and sympathetic innervation of different regions of the urinary bladder (bladder dome vs. bladder base) was examined in the female rat using simultaneous injections of two fluorescent tracers. Retrogradely labeled cells were found in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG; L1-L3 and L6-S1), the sympathetic chain (SC; T12-L6), the inferior mesenteric ganglia (IMG) and the major pelvic ganglia (MPG). There were very few double-labeled cells, indicating that the dome and the base of the bladder receive innervation (afferent or sympathetic) from separate and distinct neuronal populations. Most of the sympathetic innervation of the bladder arose from the SC (dome: 77%; base: 89%) and it was carried equally by the hypogastric and pelvic nerves. The distributions of SC postganglionic neurons innervating the dome and the base of the bladder were very similar. In contrast, the contribution of IMG neurons was almost entirely restricted to the dome of the bladder (22%), with less than 1% innervating the base. Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH) neurons in the MPG displayed a strong sexual dimorphism. Many TH neurons were found in the male MPG, but very few in the female MPG. In the female, these TH neurons projected almost exclusively to the bladder base of the female rat and were responsible for 10% of the sympathetic innervation of the base. Less than 1% innervated the dome. Therefore, prevertebral ganglia (IMG and MPG) show a strong regional selectivity in the innervation of the bladder of the female rat. The possible functional implications of this organization are discussed.     

Observations on the afferent and efferent organization of the vagus nerve and the innervation of the stomach in the squirrel monkey

Horseradish peroxidase was injected into the cervical vagus nerve or stomach wall of adult squirrel monkeys. Following cervical vagus nerve injections, labelled afferent fibres were present in the tractus solitarius and labelled fibres and terminals were present in medial and lateral parts of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) ipsilaterally. Afferent labelling was also seen in the ipsilateral commissural nucleus and in the area postrema. Labelling was present contralaterally in caudal levels of the medial parts of the NTS, in the commissural nucleus, and in the area postrema. Afferent projections to the ipsilateral pars interpolaris of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and to the substantia gelatinosa of the C1 segment of the spinal cord were also labelled. Following injections of HRP into the anterior and posterior stomach walls, the tractus solitarius was labelled bilaterally. Afferent labelling was concentrated bilaterally in the dorsal parts of the medial division of the NTS, i.e., in the subnucleus gelatinosus, and in the commissural nucleus. The regions of NTS immediately adjacent to the tractus solitarius were largely unlabelled. Injections of HRP into the cervical vagus nerve resulted in heavy retrograde labelling of neurons in the ipsilateral dorsal nucleus of the vagus (DMX) and in the nucleus ambiguus (NA). In addition a few neurones were labelled in the intermediate zone between these two nuclei. Retrogradely labelled neurons were also present in the nucleus dorsomedialis in the rostral cervical spinal cord and in the spinal nucleus of the accessory nerve. Injections of HRP into the left cricothyroid muscle in two cases resulted in heavy retrograde labelling of large neurons in the left NA. Following stomach wall injections of HRP retrograde labelling of neurons was seen throughout the rostrocaudal and mediolateral extent of the DMX; there was no apparent topographical organization of the projection. In these cases, a group of labelled smaller neurons was found lying ventrolateral to the main part of the NA through its rostral levels. This study in a primate indicates that a large vagal afferent projection originates in the stomach wall and terminates primarily in the subnucleus gelatinosus of the NTS and in the commissural nucleus with a distribution similar to that described previously in studies in several subprimate mammalian species. The present results and those of other studies suggest some degree of segregation of visceral input within different subnuclei of the NTS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Diurnal variation in the concentrations of catecholamines and indoleamines in the median eminence and in the intermediate and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland of the male rat

Diurnal changes in monoamine concentrations were studied in the median eminence and in the intermediate and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland of the male rat. The concentrations of serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) were analyzed at 7 time points over a 24-h period. Diurnal variation was analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) with time of day as a class variable as well as by 24 h and 12 h cosine curve fittings. There were marked time-dependent changes in the median eminence concentrations of 5-HT (ANOVA: P = 0.0085), 5-HIAA (P = 0.003) and NA (P = 0.0003). Cosine curves with 24-h periods fit the data points with peaks around 13.00 h. DA levels also varied with an apparent 24-h rhythm in the median eminence, but the changes did not reach the level of significance in the ANOVA. In the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland, the concentrations of DA varied significantly during the course of the 24-h cycle (P = 0.0011) and were well-fitted to a 24-h cosine wave. The 5-HIAA levels also showed marked diurnal changes (P = 0.025) with an evident 12-h rhythm. In contrast, NA and 5-HT concentrations did not appear to vary during the 24-h cycle. In the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. DA had a 24-h rhythm (P = 0.0005) similar to the intermediate lobe. NA and indoleamine levels did not show any significant variation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The complementary contribution of the rhinologist and the neurologist at the clinical study and treatment of the cluster headache

New neurophysiological techniques and pluridisciplinary approach contribute to progress in the diagnosis and medico-surgical treatment of headaches.

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Sommario Nuove tecniche neurofisiologiche e un approccio pluridisciplinare contribuiscono al progresso nella diagnosi e nel trattamento medico-chirurgico delle cefalee.

     

Dissociation of the immunoreactivity of synaptophysin and GAP-43 during the acute and latent phases of the lithium-pilocarpine model in the immature and adult rat

RATIONALE: Lithium-pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) generates neuronal lesions in the limbic forebrain, cerebral cortex and thalamus that lead to circuit reorganization and spontaneous recurrent seizures. The process of reorganization in regions with neuronal damage is not fully clarified. METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated by immunohistochemistry the early reorganization during the latent period with two neuronal markers, synaptophysin and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in rats subjected to SE at PN21 and as adults. RESULTS: Synaptophysin immunoreactivity increased between 24 h and 3 weeks post-SE in regions with severe and rapidly occurring neuronal loss, namely thalamus, amygdala, piriform and entorhinal cortices. GAP-43 expression decreased at 1 and 3 weeks in the same regions. The immunoreactivity of synaptophysin and GAP-43 increased in the inner molecular layer of dentate gyrus from 24 h after SE, and decreased in the outer molecular layer from 72 h after SE. These changes likely result from the death of hilar neurons and the reduction of the input from the entorhinal cortex. In 21-day-old rats that experience less SE-induced neuronal loss, increased immunoreactivity of synaptophysin was only found in piriform and entorhinal cortex while no changes occurred in GAP-43 expression. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there is an age-related relation between the extent and rapidity of the process of neuronal death and the expression of these markers. Synaptophysin appears to be a more sensitive marker of plasticity induced by SE than GAP-43.     

Comparison of the distributions of urocortin-containing and cholinergic neurons in the perioculomotor midbrain of the cat and macaque

Urocortin is a novel neurotransmitter that appears to play a role in eating and drinking behavior. Most urocortin-positive (urocortin(+)) neurons in rodents are found in the cytoarchitecturally defined Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EW). However, the EW is traditionally described as the source of the preganglionic parasympathetic outflow to the ciliary ganglion. We examined the distribution of urocortin(+) cells and motoneurons by use of immunohistochemical staining for this peptide and for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in macaque monkeys, in which most preganglionic motoneurons inhabit the EW, and in cats, in which most do not. In both species, lack of overt double labeling indicated that the ChAT(+) and urocortin(+) cells are separate populations. In the monkey, most nonoculomotor ChAT(+) neurons were found within the EW. In contrast, urocortin(+) cells were distributed mainly between the oculomotor nuclei and in the supraoculomotor area. In the cat, most nonoculomotor ChAT(+) cells were located in the supraoculomotor area and anteromedian nucleus. Few were present in the cat EW. Instead, this nucleus was filled with urocortin(+) cells. These results highlight the fact the term EW has come to indicate different nuclei in different species. Consequently, we have adopted the identifiers preganglionic (EW(PG)) and urocortin-containing (EW(U)) to designate the cytoarchitecturally defined EW nuclei in monkeys and cats, respectively. Furthermore, we propose a new open-ended nomenclature for the perioculomotor (pIII) cells groups that have distinctive projections and neurochemical signatures. This will allow more effective scientific discourse on the connections and function of groups such as the periculomotor urocortin (pIII(U)) and preganglionic (pIII(PG)) populations.     

The origin and development of the vagal and spinal innervation of the external muscle of the mouse esophagus

Retrograde and anterograde tracing and immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine the origin of the extrinsic innervation, and the development of the vagal innervation to the mouse esophagus. Cholinergic nerve terminals were localised using an antiserum to the vesicular acetylcholine transporter and cholinergic cell bodies were localised using an antiserum to choline acetyltransferase. Cholinergic nerve terminals, which also contained calcitonin gene-related peptide, were present at the motor end plates in the external (striated) muscle of the esophagus. Following injection of Fast Blue into subdiaphragmatic or cervical levels of the esophagus, the only retrogradely-labelled cholinergic nerve cell bodies that also contained calcitonin gene-related peptide were found in the nucleus ambiguus. Neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, the nodose ganglia and dorsal root ganglia gave rise to a number of different types of nerve terminals within the myenteric plexus. Retrogradely-labelled neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus contained cholinergic markers only, nitric oxide synthase only or cholinergic markers plus nitric oxide synthase, retrogradely-labelled neurons in the dorsal root ganglia contained calcitonin gene-related peptide only, and a small number of retrogradely-labelled neurons in the nodose ganglia contained tyrosine hydroxylase. The development of the vagal innervation to the esophagus was examined following application of DiI to the vagus nerve of fixed mouse embryos. Anterogradely-labelled nerve fibres, which arose from both nodose ganglia and the medulla, were already present in the esophagus of embryonic day 12 (E12) mice. Some of the DiI-labelled vagal nerve fibres were present in among the smooth muscle cells of the external muscle layer prior to their transdifferentiation to striated muscle. We conclude that the neurons in the nucleus ambiguus that project to the esophagus differ from other extrinsic neurons in their chemistry as well as their targets within the esophagus. The development of the extrinsic innervation precedes the transdifferentiation of the external muscle to striated muscle, raising the possibility that, during development, smooth muscle of the esophagus is innervated transiently by vagal neurons.     

Imaging and modelling of digestion in the stomach and the duodenum

Gastroduodenal physiology is traditionally understood in terms of motor-secretory functions and their electrical, neural and hormonal controls. In contrast, the fluid-mechanical functions that retain and disperse particles, expose substrate to enzymes, or replenish the epithelial boundary with nutrients are little studied. Current ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging allows to visualize processes critical to digestion like mixing, dilution, swelling, dispersion and elution. Methodological advances in fluid mechanics allow to numerically analyse the forces promoting digestion. Pressure and flow fields, the shear stresses dispersing particles or the effectiveness of bolus mixing can be computed using information on boundary movements and on the luminal contents. These technological advances promise many additional insights into the mechanical processes that promote digestion and absorption.     

Response of olfactory ensheathing cells to the degeneration and regeneration of the peripheral olfactory system and the involvement of the neuregulins

In this study we examined the proliferative response of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) to olfactory receptor neuron injury induced by zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) irrigation and related the response of OECs within the peripheral system to the inflammatory response induced by injury and the expression profile of neuregulins. After ZnSO4 treatment, degeneration in the epithelium is reproducible and rapid, with regeneration following after 4 days, and is morphologically complete by 5 weeks. Changes in the olfactory bulb are less dramatic, although degeneration of both the outer and the glomerular layers occurred. Treatment also induced a marked inflammatory response in both the epithelium and the bulb. Unlike Schwann cell changes associated with Wallerian degeneration, OECs did not proliferate or obviously migrate within the olfactory system in response to axonal loss, suggesting that the new nerves generated from the epithelium regrow back through conduits already formed by the glia. Expression of neuregulin 1alpha was maintained in the nerve by OECs, and changes in neuregulin 1 mRNA and erbB2 mRNA expression were detected, indicating that these growth factors may play a role in the regeneration of the peripheral olfactory system but not in OEC proliferation.     

The fate of desmin and titin during the degeneration and regeneration of the soleus muscle of the rat

Summary We studied the fate of desmin and titin in rat skeletal muscle during a cycle of degeneration and regeneration induced in vivo by the inoculation of a snake venom. Cryosections of muscle were labelled using antibodies to the two proteins, and examined at fixed time points after venom injection. Early pathological changes in the muscle, such as hypercontraction, preceded the loss of desmin. Immunolabelling using anti-desmin antibodies showed that desmin bridges were still intact when adjacent myofibrils were no longer aligned. The results suggested that although the hydrolysis of desmin is not necessary for the hypercontraction of muscle fibres, it probably contributes to complete fibre breakdown. Titin, or at least the part which lies close to the M-line, remained intact longer than desmin, but was also hydrolysed prior to complete disintegration of the fibres. Both desmin and titin were re-expressed in the regenerating myotubes by 2 days after venom inoculation, and became well organised even before the myofibrils became aligned. We conclude that desmin and titin are involved in both establishing and maintaining the structural integrity of the muscle fibres.Supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Group of Great Britain, the Wellcome Trust and the MRC