Étude cinétique de l'hypersensibilité de type retardé dans la candidose expérimentale de la souris

Mice were inoculated with different quantities of blastospores ofCandida albicans by subcutaneous or intravenous ways. Delayed hypersensitivity was then studied during the course of infection by means of the inhibition of macrophage spreading test. In the same time retrocultures were done from kidney material, target organs in the experimental candidiasis. The results obtained in this way enabled the authors to think that cellular immunity plays a role in this experimental model as described by Mackaness.

Travail de l'Unité 42 de l'INSERM et du Groupe de Mycologie Fondamentale et Appliquée de LILLE.     

Conséquences de la chimiothérapie anticancéreuse sur la fertilité de la femme

Sterility is a potential toxic effect of chemotherapy. This risk is well established for alkylating agents, but is less clearly defined for anthracyclines, methotrexate and fluorouracil and poorly defined for alkaloids, platinum, etoposide and taxanes. The main predictive factors for ovarian toxicity are the additive effect of cytotoxic drugs, the cumulative dose of each drug and the patient’s age. This effect of chemotherapy is evaluated on menstrual cycles, hormonal assays and the number of pregnancies observed in patient cohorts. Chemotherapy induces destruction of oocytes and granulosa cells. In mice, it has been shown that adriamycin may induce oocyte apoptosis, which can be prevented by modulation of cycle cell signalling (dysregulation of Bax gene or, on the contrary, expression of its antagonist gene Bcl-2 or inhibition of apoptosis with sphingosine-1-phosphate or caspase inhibitors). Clinical data in the literature are usually based on retrospective studies and are somewhat confused: global fertility after MOPP chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s disease is about 20%, adjuvant chemotherapy with CMF, F(A)C or TAC for breast cancer induces amenorrhea in 50% to 70% of cases, PVB or BEP chemotherapy for ovarian germ cell tumors has little effect on fertility when the uterus and one ovary can be preserved, and the majority of women treated with methotrexate, actinomycin D or various combinations for persistent trophoblastic disease remain fertile. Preservation of fertility is a major goal for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: in vitro fertilization could preserve the couple’s fertility, but is usually not feasible as it would delay initiation of chemotherapy until after stimulation of ovulation; oocyte or ovarian tissue cryopreservation is at the stage of research; oral contraceptives have not been demonstrated to be effective to preserve ovarian function; gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists prevent cyclophosphamide toxicity in rat and monkey ovaries, and a few pilot clinical studies suggest that chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea could be prevented by administration of GnRH analogues simultaneously to chemotherapy, but randomised studies are necessary.     

Activité cholinestérasique des corpuscules sensoriels cutanés de Herbst et de Grandry

Résumé L'activité cholinestérasique (ChE) a été étudiée dans les corpuscules de Herbst et de Grandry du bec de canard par la méthode de Karnovsky. Le BW 284 C 51, l'iso-OMPA et l'ésérine ont été utilisés comme inhibiteurs. Une activité cholinestérasique non spécifique (nsChE) a été identifiée dans les corpuscules. Elle est présente dès le début de leur différenciation.Corpuscule de Herbst: l'activité nsChE est localisée dans les cellules du bulbe interne (citernes périnucléaires, reticulum endoplasmique granulaire, vésicules associées à l'apppareil de Golgi) et à la surface de la membrane plaamique des cellules du bulbe interne et de la terminaison nerveuse.Corpuscule de Grandry: l'activité nsChE est localisée dans les cellules satellites (citernes périnucléaires, reticulum endoplasmique granulaire) et à la surface de la membrane plasmique des cellules satellites, des cellules de Grandry et de la terminaison nerveuse.Une forte activité nsChE a été mise en évidence dans certaines zones de contact entre les cellules dites sensorielles (cellules du bulbe interne et de Grandry) et les terminaisons nerveuses. Une réaction positive a été observée au niveau des mitochondries des cellules satellites et de la terminaison nerveuse du corpuscule de Grandry, et dans des vésicules du réticulum endoplasmique lisse des terminaisons nerveuses.Aucune activité ChE n'a été détectée dans les cellules capsulaires, les cellules de l'espace interne, les cellules de Grandry, et dans les vésicules synaptiques.Ces résultats ont été discutés en relation avec ce que l'on sait sur l'activité ChE des autres types de corpuseules sensoriels. La signification fonctionnelle de cette activité ChE et le problème de l'origine des différentes catégorics cellulaires qui constituent les corpuscules de Herbst et de Grandry ont été envisagés.

---

Cholinesterase activity in the Herbst and Grandry cutaneous sensory corpusclesHistochemical study at the light and electron microscope

Summary Cholinesterase activity (ChE) was localized in the Herbst and Grandry cutaneous sensory corpuscle of the duck beak with Karnovsky's method. Controls with BW 284 C 51, iso-OMPA and eserine were carried out. A non-specific cholinesterase activity (nsChE) was identified in the corpuscles. This enzyme activity is present from the beginning of their differenciation.Herbst corpuscle: nsChE activity was localized in the inner bulb cells (perinuclear cisterna, granular endoplasmic reticulum, vesicles associated with the Golgi complex) and along the plasma membrane of inner bulb cells and nerve ending.Grandry corpuscle: nsChE activity was localized in the satellite cells (perinuclear cisterna, granular endoplasmic reticulum) and along the plasma membrane of satellite cells, Grandry cells, and nerve ending.A high nsChE activity was evident in certain zones of contact between the so-called sensory cells (inner bulb and Grandry cells) and the nerve endings. A positive reaction was seen in mitochondria of satellite cells and nerve ending for the Grandry corpuscle, and in smooth endoplasmic vesicles of the nerve endings.No ChE activity was detected in capsular cells, inner space cells, Grandry cells and in synaptic vesicles.These results are discussed in relation with what is known about ChE activity of other sensory corpuscles. The functional significance of this ChE activity and the problem of the origin of the different cells of Herbst and Grandry corpuscles have been considered.