Ultrastructure of cholinergic innervation in the cirrhotic liver in guinea pigs. Neurohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Hepatic cirrhosis was induced in guinea pigs by ligation of the common bile duct and innervation of the liver was studied by fluorescence histochemistry (glyoxylic acid method), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) neurohistochemistry (modified Karnovsky and Roots method), and transmission electron microscopy. In control animals the adrenergic terminals showed connections with endothelial cells, hepatocytes and fat-storing cells, but no cholinergic terminals were evident. Cirrhosis was present 6 weeks after the bile duct ligation and marked fibrosis, accompanied by bile duct proliferation, was evident in the portal areas. Numerous AChE-positive nerve fibers traversed the collagenous bundles in the fibrotic areas, and cholinergic terminals formed close contacts with fibroblasts. Each axon terminal was found to contain numerous small coreless vesicles and AChE-reaction products were confirmed in the space between a nerve terminal and a fibroblast. In contrast, fluorescence adrenergic nerve fibers and their terminals remained unchanged. This study demonstrates that parasympathetic cholinergic innervation participates in some stages in the development of hepatic cirrhosis.     

Antibiotic therapy in acute diffuse peritonitis]

The pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of antibiotics administered by various routes in acute diffuse peritonitis were studied on 25 non-inbred dogs and potential of lymphotropic administration of the antibiotics through the mesentery of the small intestine in urgent surgical operations because of the diseases of the abdominal cavity was estimated. It was shown that the intra-mesenteric administration of the antibiotics was more efficient. In acute diffuse peritonitis it provided high therapeutic concentrations of gentamicin in the central lymph and lymph nodes of the abdominal cavity.     

Neurohistochemical study of autonomic nerve ganglia and lungs in burns

Adreno-cholinergic nerve structures of vegetative nerve ganglia and lungs in 20 departed in different periods of burn disease aged from 19 to 85 have been studied with neurohistological methods. Definite dynamics of mentioned structure changes have been shown. It was stated that in different stages of burn disease adreno-cholinergic nerve structures of vegetative nerve ganglia and lung tissues changed greatly and afferent part suffered more in comparison with efferent one. Adrenergic fluorescence was considerably weaker in elderly and senile patients in comparison with younger ones. Luminescence deterioration was more noticeable in neuron cytoplasm. In young aged such nerve structures were more reactive and remarkable with more compensating abilities.     

The detoxifying and immunocorrective properties of some sorption treatment methods in suppurative-septic poisoning in experimental diffuse peritonitis]

During septic intoxication in diffuse peritonitis poisoning is accompanied by circulatory and volemic failures, considerable changes in immune status, basically of the cellular component of T-system. Several sorption methods were applied which produced different effects on the pathologic process. Extracorporeal application of spleen-xeno and ultraviolet irradiation of autoblood considerably increased the immune reactivity. Plasmapheresis and hemosorption administration had low immunocorrective effect. It is believed reasonable to employ a combination detoxication methods.     

Examinations of cell mediated immunity in diffuse peritonitis]

Phagocytic index and rosette test E have been determined in 50 patients, including 15 with diffuse peritonitis and the noncomplicated diffuse peritonitis, 20 patients with septic complications, and 15 patients who underwent abdominal surgery. It was found, that phagocytic index is decreased in all patients after abdominal surgery. The most marked decrease of this index was found in patients with complicated peritonitis. It still decreases in the course of peritonitis and increases in the reference group. The marked decrease in the number of T-cells was observed in complicated peritonitis during the whole period of follow-up while it normalizes in case of noncomplicated peritonitis as in the reference group. Using the tests under study it was possible to assess cell-mediated immunity which is depressed in peritonitis. The tests enable also the prediction of septic complications of peritonitis.     

Peptide-containing innervation of the human intestinal mucosa

Summary The three-dimensional distribution of the peptide-containing invervation in the human intestinal mucosa was studied by fluorescence immunohistochemistry on whole-mount mucosal preparations. An extensive VIP-immunoreactive nerve supply was demonstrated at all levels, but was markedly increased in density in the distal intestine, where it formed a particularly rich network in close contact with the luminal epithelium. In contrast, substance P-containing nerve fibres formed a looser and evenly distributed innervation at all levels. The muscularis mucosae was richly supplied by VIP-and substance P-containing fibres. Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity was confined to a few scattered nerve bundles running in the muscularis mucosae and around the bottom of epithelial crypts.G.-L.F. is a Research Fellow from the Department of Medicine 1, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, supported by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (European Science Exchange Programme with the Royal Society)     

Role of adrenergic innervation in experimental renal hypertension

Renal hypertension was induced by ligation of the aorta between renal arteries in rats sympathectomized with 6-hydroxydopamine. In the early phase, equally severe hypertension developed in the denervated group as compared to innervated controls. Later, blood pressure was lower in the denervated rats. Initially, increases in plasma renin were seen in both groups; the levels, however, were markedly lower in the denervated rats. Later, the renin levels were similar and not different from baseline. It is concluded that adrenergic neural activity is not essential in the development of renal hypertension; the maintenance of the chronic state, however, depends in part on adrenergic innervation.     

Trace element levels in the experimental peritonitis

Electron transfer from iron or copper ions to oxygen is an important example of cellular free radical initiation. Oxygen derived free radicals have been implicated as mediators of cellular injury in several model systems. To evaluate the importance of iron, copper and zinc levels on lipid peroxidation in peritonitis, we measured peritoneum malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation, zinc, copper, and iron levels during an animal model of intraperitoneal sepsis. Additionally the effects of the free radical scavenger alpha-tocopherol administration was studied. The peritoneum MDA, iron, copper and zinc levels were increased after induction of peritonitis with Escherichia Coli. The treatment with alpha-tocopherol was decreased the peritoneum MDA, iron and copper levels significantly, except the zinc level (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally the alpha-tocopherol treatment for three days prior to injection of E.Coli more decreased MDA, copper and iron levels than that of the treatment with alpha-tocopherol at the time of injection of E. Coli (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Our results indicated that copper, iron and zinc had important effects on peroxidation events in E. Coli induced peritonitis, and alpha-tocopherol treatment can improve the oxidant status.     

Peptide-containing innervation of the human intestinal mucosa. An immunocytochemical study on whole-mount preparations

The three-dimensional distribution of the peptide-containing innervation in the human intestinal mucosa was studied by fluorescence immunohistochemistry on whole-mount mucosal preparations. An extensive VIP-immunoreactive nerve supply was demonstrated at all levels, but was markedly increased in density in the distal intestine, where it formed a particularly rich network in close contact with the luminal epithelium. In contrast, substance P-containing nerve fibres formed a looser and evenly distributed innervation at all levels. The muscularis mucosae was richly supplied by VIP- and substance P-containing fibres. Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity was confined to a few scattered nerve bundles running in the muscularis mucosae and around the bottom of epithelial crypts.     

Polyantibiotic therapy in the complex treatment of patients with acute diffuse peritonitis

On the basis of the analysis of 217 records of acute diffuse peritonitis peculiarities of the postoperative process of that complication in persons treated with 2 antibiotics (161) and 4 antibacterial drugs (56) were discussed. 4 risk levels were defined with an account of the inflammation process severity. The use of poly-antibiotic therapy was validated. The technique of its application is described in detail. The technique allowed to lower the frequency of postoperative complications and lethality 5-fold.