Ultrastructural degenerative changes of age-dependent ECHO 9 virus-induced polymyositis in infant mice

Experimental inoculation of newborn NMRI mice with Echo virus, type 9, strain A. Barty *ECHO 9 virus AB) resulted in diffuse polymyositis 4 days later. The disease, after a delay of 1 day, increased in intensity and was accompanied by a rapid, progressive paresis leading to death 7-11 days following infection. As early as 24-48 h after inoculation, we detected initial ultrastructural degenerative changes, characterized by segmental dilation fo the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Disruption and breakage of myofibrils followed, and lead to the formation of increasing numbers of contraction bands. Ultimately, virus-mediated nuclear and other organellar injury resulted in muscle fiber necrosis. In addition, we observed some substructural cellular events related to virus propagation. Beginning on the 4th day after infection, pronounced proliferation of the sarcoplasmic-reticulum membranes became evident in perinuclear and subsarcolemmal areas in the mature muscle fibers, myoblasts, and post-fused myotubes of mice inoculated within 18 h after birth. These cytological alterations were not noted in the myoblasts and myotubes of NMRI mice injected with virus 2 or 4 days after birth.     

Multiple regulatory elements contribute differentially to muscle creatine kinase enhancer activity in skeletal and cardiac muscle.

We have used transient transfections in MM14 skeletal muscle cells, newborn rat primary ventricular myocardiocytes, and nonmuscle cells to characterize regulatory elements of the mouse muscle creatine kinase (MCK) gene. Deletion analysis of MCK 5'-flanking sequence reveals a striated muscle-specific, positive regulatory region between -1256 and -1020. A 206-bp fragment from this region acts as a skeletal muscle enhancer and confers orientation-dependent activity in myocardiocytes. A 110-bp enhancer subfragment confers high-level expression in skeletal myocytes but is inactive in myocardiocytes, indicating that skeletal and cardiac muscle MCK regulatory sites are distinguishable. To further delineate muscle regulatory sequences, we tested six sites within the MCK enhancer for their functional importance. Mutations at five sites decrease expression in skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and nonmuscle cells. Mutations at two of these sites, Left E box and MEF2, cause similar decreases in all three cell types. Mutations at three sites have larger effects in muscle than nonmuscle cells; an A/T-rich site mutation has a pronounced effect in both striated muscle types, mutations at the MEF1 (Right E-box) site are relatively specific to expression in skeletal muscle, and mutations at the CArG site are relatively specific to expression in cardiac muscle. Changes at the AP2 site tend to increase expression in muscle cells but decrease it in nonmuscle cells. In contrast to reports involving cotransfection of 10T1/2 cells with plasmids expressing the myogenic determination factor MyoD, we show that the skeletal myocyte activity of multimerized MEF1 sites is 30-fold lower than that of the 206-bp enhancer. Thus, MyoD binding sites alone are not sufficient for high-level expression in skeletal myocytes containing endogenous levels of MyoD and other myogenic determination factors.     

Postnatal differentiation of the Golgi apparatus and the dendrites of Purkinje cells of the rat cerebellum

Summary The morphology of postnatal differentiation of the Golgi apparatus, the nucleus, the perikaryon, and the dendrites was studied in Purkinje cells of the rat cerebellum for 30 days after birth using histochemical, histological, and electron microscopic methods.The Golgi apparatus during differentiation undergoes morphological and positional changes. From the 1st to 7th postnatal day, the Golgi apparatus is found in a supranuclear position, and is connected with the axes of differentiating primary dendrites by beam-like processes. From days 8 to 11 this connection disappears, and most of the Golgi apparatus assumes a lateronuclear and infranuclear position. After the 11th or 12th day, the Golgi apparatus is found in perinuclear and peripheral cytoplasmic positions. The formation of granular endoplasmic reticulum occurs in the vicinity of the perinuclear Golgi apparatus. The differentiation of cell and nuclear forms requires approximately 20 days. The morphological changes of differentiation are discussed in relation to the participation of the Golgi apparatus in the differentiation of dendrites and in the formation of the granular endoplasmic reticulum.     

成年白腰文鸟端脑新生神经元的光镜和电镜研究

应用光镜和电镜放射自显影方法,对成年雄性鸣禽白腰文鸟脑中新生神经元的起源和分布进行研究,结果发现,（１）端脑室带区（ＶＺ）中存在不均匀分布的（＾３Ｈ）标记细胞,大量标记细胞分布在端脑尾侧新纹状体水平（Ｌ１－Ｌ１４）的ＶＺ,形成标记细胞的“热点”区１（２）标记细胞经两次有丝分裂后,大约在肌肉注射（＾３））的第６天后开始从ＶＺ向外迁移,在３０天左以达目的脑区分化成为成熟神经元,这些神经元不均匀分布在端     

Ontogeny of IgE-bearing lymphocytes in the rat

IgE-bearing lymphocytes were detected by immunofluorescence in the spleen of neonatal Hooded Lister strain rats within 24 hr after birth. The same cells were detected in the bone marrow as early as the 4th day after birth. Both fetal spleen and liver obtained 1 day before birth contained IgM-bearing cells but no detectable IgE-bearing cells. The proportion of IgE-bearing cells in the spleen and bone marrow increased during the neonatal period and reached an adult level within 3 to 4 weeks after birth. In adult Hooded Lister rats, IgE-bearing cells were 3 to 6% of total spleen cells and 1.5 to 2.2% of bone marrow cells. Most of the IgE-bearing cells from bone marrow cells. Most of the IgE-bearing cells from both newborn and adult animals carried IgM determinants on their surface. Capping experiments showed that epsilon chain determinants and mu chain determinants belonged to separate molecules. IgG2a-bearing lymphocytes were detected in the neonatal spleen as early as the 4th day after birth, but a significant number of these cells was not detected in the bone marrow until the 4th week. In newborn spleen the percentage of IgE-IgM double bearing cells was higher than that of IgG2a-bearing cells.     

Quantitative studies on the ultrastructural differentiation and growth of mammalian cardiac muscle cells. The atria and ventricles of the cat

Ultrastructural differentiation of cardiac muscle cells in the bilateral atria and ventricles of the cat at 1, 16, 25 and 40 days and 6 months after birth was studied by morphometry on electron micrographs. At the newborn stage, no T-tubule was found in the ventricular muscle cells, but specific granules were already noted in the atrial myocytes. The cell diameter of the ventricular myocardium was greater than that of the atrium at this stage. The T-tubule was first recognized in the ventricular muscle cells at day 16, at which stage the area occupied by the mitochondria and glycogen in the atrial muscle cells was definitely found to differ from that in the ventricular muscle cells. Thereafter, the differences in the ultrastructure between the atria and ventricles became more remarkable, particularly in the cell diameter and in the mitochondrial area. The cat cardiac muscle cells are characterized by numerous lipid droplets within the cytoplasm in contrast to those of the rat and the guinea pig.     

Distributional change of achromatic epithelial cells of the intestine in the fetuses and young of rats.

The achromatic epithelial cells (AEC), whose cellular materials remain unstained by several stains, e. g., H.E, PAS, Alcian blue, Orange G Anilin blue and Mucicarmin, are detected in the intestinal mucous epithelium of the Iar: Wistar Imamichi rat from the 19th day of gestation to the 21st day after birth. The results of light microscopic and transmission electron microscopic observations suggest that the rats AEC are equivalent to the previously reported vacuolar cells (VC) in cattle and in mice. The present paper describes that rat intestinal AEC appear first in the small intestine, and spread progressively toward the anal direction, while they disappear first in the cecum, and finally disappear at the ileum and the colon 22 days after birth.     

The postnatal development of the hypoglossal nucleus in the rat]

Using light and electron microscopy the neurons, glial cells and capillaries in hypoglossal nucleus of the rats have been examined up to 20 days after birth. The neuronal nuclei are usually situated ecentrically. The mitochondria and extensively developed Golgi-zones occupy the perinuclear region. The microtubules and lysosomes become more numerous with aging. At the earliest periods rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) occupies the neuronal periphery, whereas after 14th day it is extended to the perinuclear region also. The ER forms elongated and concentric lamellated bodies and subsurface cisternae. At this time nucleolus like bodies are also numerous in the cytoplasm. After 4th and 6th days the extensive growth of dendrites, containing many cell organelles, and axons rich in microtubules are observed. Only at the birthday do neurons contain glycogen deposit. After 1st day the glycogen leaves the pericaryon, but it persists a long time in the neuronal processes. The symmetrical and asymmetrical contacts are characteristic for the examined period. The axo-somatic and axo-dendritic synapses are more abundant, but "double synapses" are also established. More synaptic boutons possess besides synaptic vesicles dense-core vesicles at the earlier periods. The quantity of asymmetric synapses increases with differentiation. Extensive cell degeneration has been established between 8 and 18th days. At 4 and 6 days the glial cells penetrate from subependymal layer and they have satellite neuronal position. This is more pronounced between 14 and 18 days when the oligodendrocytes are more numerous and active. At the same time fibrous astrocyte like cells are appeared. Microglial cells were not observed. Capillary differentiation, expressed by changes of the endothelial cells, pericytes and connective tissue cells, continues after birth also.     

Developmental expression of dystrophin on the rat myocardial cell membrane

The Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene product, dystrophin, is expressed on the cell membrane of skeletal and cardiac muscles. We examined the developmental time course of dystrophin expression in the rat ventricular myocardium. Dystrophin was immunohistochemically undetectable on the 15th embryonic day, but a small amount was expressed on the cell membrane on the 17th embryonic day. The amount increased during the perinatal period reaching adult level at 2 weeks after birth. These findings were supported by immunoblot analysis. Chemical sympathectomy in newborn rats by 6-hydroxydopamine (prevention of innervation) had no detectable influence on myocardial dystrophin expression at 2 weeks after birth. Our results show that dystrophin lining on the rat myocardial cell membrane increases during the perinatal period, and that this process is little influenced by the development of sympathetic innervation.     

Developmental expression of dystrophin on the rat myocardial cell membrane

Summary The Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene product, dystrophin, is expressed on the cell membrane of skeletal and cardiac muscles. We examined the developmental time course of dystrophin expression in the rat ventricular myocardium. Dystrophin was immunohistochemically undetectable on the 15th embryonic day, but a small amount was expressed on the cell membrane on the 17th embryonic day. The amount increased during the perinatal period reaching adult level at 2 weeks after birth. These findings were supported by immunoblot analysis. Chemical sympathectomy in newborn rats by 6-hydroxydopamine (prevention of innervation) had no detectable influence on myocardial dystrophin expression at 2 weeks after birth. Our results show that dystrophin lining on the rat myocardial cell membrane increases during the perinatal period, and that this process is little influenced by the development of sympathetic innervation.     

Changes in cell surface and intracellular glycoproteins of trophoblastic giant cells during mouse placentation

Summary Changes in lectin bindings of mouse trophoblastic giant cells (TGCs) were examined by light and electron microscopy. Neither Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin (GS)-II nor succinyl-wheat germ agglutinin (s-WGA) bound to the 1st and 2nd TGCs on day 6.5 post coitum (p.c.), but did so from days 8.5 to 12.5 p.c. Positive reactions with s-WGA were localized in the perinuclear region and cell surface of both 1st and 2nd TGCs; while GS-II bound only to the perinuclear region, where it appeared as network-like deposits. This region was identified as well-developed Golgi lamellae by electron microscopy. Moreover, SDS-PAGE and lectin-blot analysis of the 1st TGCs indicated that the intensity of s-WGA and GS-II bindings increased in the glycoproteins of approximately 43, 40, 37, and 26 kDa and in those of 43 and 38 kDa, respectively, during the 8.5th to 10.5th day p.c. The reaction with GS-I was detected on cell surface of both the 1st and 2nd TGCs on day 6.5 p.c. The reaction in the 1st TGCs was intensely positive throughout their development, whereas the reactivity decreased in the 2nd TGCs on day 10.5 p.c. and completely disappeared on day 12.5 p.c. The GS-I reaction in TGCs was more intense at the maternal side than at the embryonic side. These results suggest that certain Gal and/or GlcNAc glycoproteins on the cell surface and in Golgi lamellae of TGCs dynamically change from the 8.5th to 10.5th day p.c. in association with mouse placentation.     

Changes in cell surface and intracellular glycoproteins of trophoblastic giant cells during mouse placentation

Changes in lectin bindings of mouse trophoblastic giant cells (TGCs) were examined by light and electron microscopy. Neither Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin (GS)-II nor succinyl-wheat germ agglutinin (s-WGA) bound to the 1st and 2nd TGCs on day 6.5 post coitum (p.c.), but did so from days 8.5 to 12.5 p.c. Positive reactions with s-WGA were localized in the perinuclear region and cell surface of both 1st and 2nd TGCs; while GS-II bound only to the perinuclear region, where it appeared as network-like deposits. This region was identified as well-developed Golgi lamellae by electron microscopy. Moreover, SDS-PAGE and lectin-blot analysis of the 1st TGCs indicated that the intensity of s-WGA and GS-II bindings increased in the glycoproteins of approximately 43, 40, 37, and 26 kDa and in those of 43 and 38 kDa, respectively, during the 8.5th to 10.5th day p.c. The reaction with GS-I was detected on cell surface of both the 1st and 2nd TGCs on day 6.5 p.c. The reaction in the 1st TGCs was intensely positive throughout their development, whereas the reactivity decreased in the 2nd TGCs on day 10.5 p.c. and completely disappeared on day 12.5 p.c. The GS-I reaction in TGCs was more intense at the maternal side than at the embryonic side. These results suggest that certain Gal and/or GlcNAc glycoproteins on the cell surface and in Golgi lamellae of TGCs dynamically change from the 8.5th to 10.5th day p.c. in association with mouse placentation.     

gAd-globular head domain of adiponectin increases fatty acid oxidation in newborn rabbit hearts

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that has a number of metabolic effects in the body, including the control of both glucose and fatty acid metabolism. The globular head domain of adiponectin, gAd, has also been shown to increase fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle. Within days after birth, a rapid increase in fatty acid oxidation occurs in the heart. We examined whether adiponectin or gAd plays a role in this maturation of cardiac fatty acid oxidation. Plasma adiponectin increased in newborn rabbits following birth: 1.2 +/- 0.3 microg/ml in 1-day-old, 6.8 +/- 1.8 microg/ml in 7-day-old, and 45 +/- 5 microg/ml in 6-week-old rabbits. Because plasma insulin levels decrease and remain low throughout the suckling period, and because this decrease may contribute to the maturation of fatty acid oxidation, we examined the effects of adiponectin and gAd on fatty acid oxidation in isolated perfused 1-day-old rabbit hearts in the presence or absence of 100 microunits/ml insulin. Adiponectin (10 microg/ml) did not alter fatty acid oxidation in the presence of insulin. In the absence of insulin, the addition of recombinant gAd (1.5 microg/ml) increased fatty acid oxidation compared with control (129 +/- 18 versus 66 +/- 11 nmol.g dry weight(-1).min(-1), respectively (p < 0.05). In 7-day-old hearts, where fatty acid oxidation rates were 5-fold higher than 1-day-old hearts, gAd did not alter fatty acid oxidation rates. The increase in fatty acid oxidation in 1-day-old hearts occurred independently of changes in 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, or malonyl-CoA. The effect of gAd on fatty acid oxidation was reversed in the presence of 100 microunits/ml insulin. These results suggest that a decrease in plasma insulin and increase in gAd are involved in the increase of cardiac fatty acid oxidation in the immediate newborn period.     

Concentration and comparison of adenylic nucleotides in the eye tissues of rabbits during ontogenesis]

The ATP content in the rabbit eye tissues increases from birth till the time of sight appearance (12-15th day after birth). The ADP and AMP content did not increase during the period of sight appearance. After this period, the ATP content decreased down to the level of newborn tissues. The ADP and AMP content increased in the eye tissues of 2 months old and adult rabbits.     

Ontogeny of pituitary responsiveness to corticotropin-releasing hormone in rat

The ontogeny of the pituitary's responsiveness to synthetic rat corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the late prenatal and early postnatal periods of rats was studied by a superfusion system using whole pituitaries. A significant increase of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (IR-beta-Ep) secretion in response to 10(-10) M CRH but not to 10(-11) M CRH was observed in pituitaries from the 15th day of gestation, the earliest day that we tested, whereas 10(-11) M CRH stimulated IR-beta-Ep release from the pituitaries of 17.5-day-old fetuses. Dose-related IR-beta-Ep secretions induced by 10(-12) M to 10(-10) M CRH were observed in pituitaries of 19.5- and 21.5-day-old fetuses, and 1-, 3- and 9-day-old newborn pups. CRH stimulated not only IR-beta-Ep and IR-adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) but also IR-alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (IR-alpha-MSH) secretions from fetal pituitaries. The content of IR-CRH in the hypothalamic extract from 15-day-old fetus was 6.6 +/- 3.6 pg/hypothalamus (mean +/- S.E.M.) and it gradually increased to reach 212.7 +/- 20.3 pg/hypothalamus on the 21.5th day of gestation. However, the content of IR-CRH in the hypothalamus dramatically decreased just after birth and then rapidly increased again from the 5th day after birth. These data indicate that the responsiveness of corticotrophs to CRH is already present on the 15th day of gestation, when the content of IR-CRH in the hypothalamus is extremely low and that the amount of hypothalamic IR-CRH dramatically dropped for several days just after birth in rats.     

Angiotensin II vascular receptors in fetal and neonatal rats

Specific binding sites for angiotensin II in aorta and renal arteries have been studied in rat fetuses (18th day of pregnancy) and 1-day-old newborn rats by binding studies in arterial membranes using [125I] ileu-5-angiotensin II. One type of angiotensin receptor was found both in fetuses and in the newborns; the capacity of this (RT) decreased immediately after birth (from 0.06 +/- 0.01 nM to 0.02 +/- 0.005 nM; +/- SEM) and the affinity (Kd) increased at birth (from 3.5 +/- 0.6 nM to 19.5 +/- 1.2 nM; +/- SEM). Localization of the specific binding sites was studied by autoradiography on arteries from fetal and newborn rats either perfused with iodinated angiotensin II by cannulation of the aorta or in vitro on cryostat sections incubated with the radioactive angiotensin II. Both in fetuses and in the newborn the binding sites were located in the tunica media of the arteries.     

Regulation of gonadotrophin secretion in rams from birth to sexual maturity. I. Plasma LH, FSH and testosterone levels.

Plasma LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays in male crossbred Merino/Corriedale sheep from birth to 45 weeks of age. FSH levels were 11 and 22 ng/ml at birth, increased to peak levels (mean value of 47 ng/ml) at 5 weeks and fluctuated between 25 and 35 ng/ml for the next 40 weeks. Similarly, LH (less than 0-5 ng/ml) and testosterone (less than 38 ng/100 ml) levels were low at birth and were significantly elevated by 5 weeks of age. LH values varied betwen 0-9 and 3-0 ng/ml for the next 30 weeks and then a secondary rise occurred reaching levels of 2-4 ng/ml by the 41st week after birth. Concentrations of LH subsequently fell to levels observed in adult rams. Testosterone levels rose gradually between the 5th and the 25th week, and then increased rapidly to values of 270-517 ng/100 ml by the 41st week after birth, a time coincident with the peak LH levels. Histological examination of testicular biopsies demonstrated that Sertoli cell maturation occurred 17-21 weeks after birth and was followed by activation of spermatogenesis leading to the presence of spermatozoa in the seminiferous epithelium by 39-42 weeks of age.     

The uptake of 3H-serotonin by neural elements of the rat hypothalamus in ontogeny

Development of serotoninergic system of rat hypothalamus has been studied. The level of its maturity was measured by specific absorption of 3H-serotonin by hypothalamus of fetuses (days 16-20 of intra-uterine development), newborn (9 days after birth) and adult rats. Inhibitors of specific serotonin capture by serotoninergic neural elements (cocaine, fluoxetin and cytalopram) were used in control experiments. Specific uptake of 3H-serotonin by hypothalamus was detected on day 16 of intra-uterine development. It increased twice by day 18 and remained unchanged until birth. No statistically significant increase of 3H-serotonin uptake was detected in newborn and adult animals.     

新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病血清S-100B蛋白与NBNA评分动态监测 的临床研究

目的:观察新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病(hypoxic-ischemicencephalopathy,HIE)血清S-100B蛋白的动态变化规律,探讨其在HIE早期诊断中的价值,以及其浓度变化与病情严重程度及预后的关系。同时研究围产期高危因素以及NBNA评分在HIE发生发展与预后中的作用。方法:30例住院正常新生儿作为对照组,于出生后采血,55例HIE患儿(HIE组)分别于出生后1天、2天、7天采血,采用酶联免疫吸附试验、双抗体夹心法检测。收集并分析两组围产期相关资料。HIE组并于采血同时进行NBNA评分。结果:(1)HIE患儿生后第一天与第二天血清S-100B蛋白浓度明显高于对照组(P<0.05),生后第七天轻度HIE与对照组比较没有统计意义,中、重度HIE与对照组比较有统计学意义。(2)生后第一天与第二天不同病情组HIE患儿NBNA评分相互比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),第七天轻、中和重度患儿NBNA评分<35分的患儿分别占33.3%,47.1%,100%。结论:动态监测HIE患儿血清S-100B蛋白浓度和NBNA评分的变化,对HIE的早期诊断,严重程度的判断以及预后的估计有重要意义。     

In vivo developmental modifications of the expression of genes encoding muscle-specific enzymes in rat

cDNA clones for rat muscle-type creatine kinase and glycogen phosphorylase and aldolase A were isolated from a rat muscle cDNA library. An additional clone recognizing an unidentified 2.7-kilobase pair mRNA species was also isolated. These cDNA clones were used as probes to investigate the expression of the corresponding mRNAs during muscle development. Two aldolase A mRNA species were detected, one of 1650 bases expressed in non-muscle tissues, fetal muscle, and adult slow-twitch muscle, the other of 1550 bases was highly specific of adult fast-twitch skeletal muscle differentiation. These aldolase A mRNAs were shown by primer extension to differ by their 5' ends. The accumulation of muscle-type phosphorylase and creatine kinase and muscle-specific aldolase A mRNA accumulation during muscle development seems to be a coordinate process occurring progressively from the 17th day of intrauterine life up to the 30th day after birth. In contrast, the 2.7-kilobase pair RNA species is maximally expressed at the 1st week after birth as is the neonatal form of myosin heavy chain mRNA.