Immunocytochemical localization of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the submandibular gland of adult mice by light and electron microscopy

Summary Nerve growth factor (NGF) was localized in the submandibular gland of adult male mice by a direct immunocytochemical method using highly purified antibodies against NGF coupled to horseradish peroxidase. In light microscopic sections the reaction product was entirely confined to the cells of the secretory tubules. The acinar part of the gland was free of reaction product. This finding was confirmed by electron microscopy. Within the cells NGF was localized exclusively in the apical secretory granules.No reaction was observed in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi region or in the granules of the basal part of the cells. This observation favours the assumption that NGF is derived from a precursor molecule and that the precursor is transformed into immunologically active NGF within the secretory granules during their transport from the basal to the apical part of the tubular cells. Stimulation of the submandibular gland with carbachol (2 mg/kg) led to a massive release of the content of the secretory granules, including NGF, into the salivary duct.We wish to thank Dr. C. Rufener, Geneva, for communicating to us a new method of antibodyperoxidase coupling and Mrs. M. Durand-Wenger for her excellent technical assistance. This study was supported by the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research (Grant Nr. 3.432.74)     

A scanning electron microscope study of the development of free axonal sprouts at the cut ends of dorsal spinal nerve roots in the rat

Summary Rat dorsal spinal nerve roots were cut and the tip on the ganglionic side of the cut was examined by scanning electron microscopy at 0, 7, 20 and 48 h after operation. Seven hours after cutting, free axonal sprouts had started to protrude from the cut end of the nerve. After 20 h the free sprouts were more profuse than at 7 h but were smaller and had a rougher surface. At both 7 and 20 h many of the sprouts consisted of a stalk 2–7 m in diameter with a bulbous end 5–20 m in diameter. A few branching sprouts were seen. At 48 h the sprouts were shrunken with a deeply furrowed surface. The significance of the surface structure of the sprouts is discussed.I.R.D. is supported by the Medical Research Council; P.K. thanks the Mental Health Trust for a project grant     

Fine structure of nerve-melanophore contacts in the angelfish Pterophyllum scalare

Contacts between small unmyelinated nerve fibres and dermal melanophores of the angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare, exhibit several features characteristic of synapses, including small synaptic vesicles and dense core vesicles, a narrow synaptic cleft, electron-dense material at the postsynaptic membrane (cell membrane of the melanophore) and, occasionally, presynaptic densities. An analysis of serial thin sections shows that the synapses described here represent varicosities of an otherwise more or less straight nerve fibre. A single axon thereby may form several en passant synapses with a single melanophore. It is suggested that the synaptic contacts described here not only represent sites of transmitter release but also play a role as sites of firm attachment between nerves and melanophores which guarantee a stable arrangement of nerve fibres and melanophores.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Cellular organization of the lateral and postinfundibular regions of the median eminence in the rat

Summary The structural organization of the rostral, lateral and postinfundibular regions of the median eminence (ME) of 5-day cyclic diestrous rats was studied with light and electron microscopic methods. The ependymal cells lining (i) the floor of the infundibular recess (IR) at rostral levels, (ii) the lateral extensions of the IR, and (iii) the floor of the premammillary recess appear to represent the same type of tanycyte ependyma (1 tanycytes). In the entire width of the rostral and postinfundibular palisade regions, as well as in the lateral palisade region of the preinfundibular ME, the processes of the 1 tanycytes form a continuous cuff. This cuff separates the nerve endings from the blood vessels and the pars tuberalis. At this level, synaptoid contacts between neurosecretory axons and the ependymal cuff can be observed. The ultrastructural characteristics of the 1 tanycytes are described and their ependymal endings tentatively classified into three types. In the lateral regions of the ME, the Golgi study revealed the presence of two fiber systems: (i) one possessing a latero-medial trajectory and distributed in the subependymal region; (ii) the other formed by a loose longitudinal tract originating from neurons of the arcuate nucleus. Some functional implications of the cellular organization of the rat ME are discussed.Supported by Grants from PLAMIRH (92.171.2.77) and from the Dirección de Investigaciones, Universidad Austral (S-77-28)The authors wish to thank Miss Rosario Andrade, Mrs. Elizabeth Santibáñez and Mr. Armando Bilbao for their assistance     

The subcommissural organ of the adult and pouch-young brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Summary Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface features of the subcommissural organ (SCO) and the roof of the cerebral aqueduct of 35 adult and 33 pouch-young Trichosurus vulpecula. The animals were at various developmental stages and of both sexes. In the adult animals, the surfaces of the groove and the adjacent medial walls of the ridges of the SCO were characterized primarily by microvilli. Typically, Reissner's fibre was associated closely with the median groove of the SCO. The ridges and the paramedian grooves of the SCO were often heavily ciliated displaying many cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nerve processes. These processes were of varying lengths with terminal and preterminal varicosities. The observed morphology supports a hypothesis suggesting that under certain physiological and pathological conditions the flow of CSF may be directed away from the heavily ciliated ridges to the poorly ciliated groove containing the Reissner's fibre. In the youngest pouch-young animals there were no cilia, CSF-contacting nerve processes, nor supraependymal cells. Also the surface features of the SCO in the young assumed adult appearance before the adjacent roof of the cerebral aqueduct. These findings suggest the possibility that the SCO begins to function early in ontogenetic development. Acknowledgement. Technical assistance of Mrs. G. Hermanis is gratefully acknowledged.The author thanks the Director of Wild Life and National Parks, South Australia, for permission to use brush-tailed possums     

The Distribution of Nerve Growth Factor in the Male Sex Organs of Mammals

Abstract: The Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) content of male sex organs of the mouse, rat, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, human, and bull has been investigated using both a biological assay and a two-site radioimmunoassay. The prostate glands of the rabbit and bull have been found to contain moderate levels of NGF, these being lower than the concentrations found in the guinea pig prostate and mouse submaxillary glands. The sex organs investigated of the mouse, rat, hamster, and human contained no detectable NGF activity. Genital organs, other than the prostate glands, of the guinea pig and rabbit were also devoid of NGF. The NGFs from the rabbit and bull are immunologically related to those found in the submaxillary glands of the mouse and the prostate glands of the guinea pig, but immunodiffusion and radioimmunoassay experiments show that there are also clear differences between the NGFs. The use of a two-site radioimmunoassay, based on purified antibodies against mouse submaxillary gland NGF, for the determination of NGF levels in species other than the mouse, is described. It is essential during such applications to compensate for the fact that the NGFs from different species are sufficiently distinct that only part of the antibody population (raised against mouse NGF) is capable of recognizing NGF from species other than the mouse. The results of radioimmunoassay and biological assay determinations are in reasonable agreement, if corrections for this feature are made.     

Schistosoma mansoni: fine structure of cercarial acetabular glands

Emerged cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni were studied with the electron microscope for the purpose of describing the acetabular (penetration) glands and their cellular investment. The two pre- and three postacetabular unicellular glands consist of enlarged aboral areas (funduses) and their oral extensions as ducts. The glands were morphologically similar except for their shape and secretory globules. In the funduses of the postacetabular glands the globules were of a single type, spheroidal to irregular in shape, with numerous electron-dense areas. Preacetabular secretory globules appeared to be of several types, varying in size, shape, and homogeneity. Some were of uniform density; others showed electron-lucid areas. The fine structure of both pre- and postacetabular globules changed as they were compared in the funduses, in progressively oral areas of the ducts and after extrusion. These changes were thought to be transitional. Microtubules and close cellular investiture of the glands by muscle, nerve, and unclassified cells with extended interwoven processes appeared to provide structural support.     

不同局部浸润镇痛技术对前交叉韧带重建术后患者的镇痛效果

目的:比较关节内与关节周围浸润镇痛对前交叉韧带重建术(ACLR)后患者的镇痛效果。方法:选择2014年1月至2015年11月在我院拟行ACLR的前交叉韧带断裂患者40例,将其随机分为关节内浸润镇痛组(IA组)与关节周围浸润镇痛组(PA组),每组20例。两组均于术前3d定时口服塞来昔布(200mg,bid),术前0.5h行股神经阻滞(3.3g/L罗哌卡因30mL)。术中IA组于关节内给予30mL复合镇痛药物,而PA组于关节周围滑膜内注射相同药物。术后均给予24h冰敷治疗。观察两组患者术后12-72h及出院时的静息与活动疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS),术后24-72h及出院时膝关节活动度,记录患者术后吗啡用量及不良反应情况。结果:PA组术后12-72h在静息与活动时以及在出院当天的活动时,VAS评分均显著低于IA组(P0.05)。术后24-72hPA组关节活动度均优于IA组(P0.05)。术后IA组、PA组吗啡镇痛使用率分别为30%、15%,且IA组吗啡平均用量为(10.3±1.1)mg,明显高于PA组的(5.4±0.9)mg(P0.05)。两组不良反应率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:关节周围浸润镇痛为主的多模式镇痛对ACLR围手术期患者的镇痛效果更好,更有利于关节功能的康复,值得临床推广应用。     

SPR‐based plastic optical fibre biosensor for the detection of C‐reactive protein in serum

A plastic optical fibre biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance for the detection of C‐reactive protein (CRP) in serum is proposed. The biosensor was integrated into a home‐made thermo‐stabilized microfluidic system that allows avoiding any thermal and/or mechanical fluctuation and maintaining the best stable conditions during the measurements. A working range of 0.006–70 mg L^–1 and a limit of detection of 0.009 mg L^–1 were achieved. These results are among the best compared to other SPR‐based biosensors for CRP detection, especially considering that they were achieved in a real and complex medium, i.e. serum. In addition, since the sensor performances satisfy those requested in physiologically‐relevant clinical applications, the whole biosensing platform could well address high sensitive, easy to realize, real‐time, label‐free, portable and low cost diagnosis of CRP for future lab‐on‐a‐chip applications.

3D sketch (left) of the thermo‐stabilized home‐made flow cell developed to house the SPR‐based plastic optical fibre biosensor. Exemplary response curve (shift of the SPR wavelength versus time) of the proposed biosensor (right) for the detection of C‐reactive protein in serum.     

微创穿刺引流术治疗颅内血肿100 例临床观察

目的:探究微创穿刺引流术治疗颅内血肿患者临床疗效。方法:选取2014年1月至2014年10月我院收治的颅内血肿患者100例,给予微创穿刺引流术治疗。治疗结束后,随访一年,记录观察100例颅脑损伤患者ADL评分、并发症、血肿清除率、存活率以及死亡率。结果:1治疗后一年内,患者ADL评分,I级43例,Ⅱ级31例,Ⅲ级14例,Ⅳ级4例,Ⅴ级3例;2手术一周后,患者血肿清除率≥90%者91例,60%≤血肿清除率90%者7例,血肿清除率60%者2例;3100例患者中并发肺炎6例,并发脑梗死4例,并发应激性溃疡5例;4手术后一年内,死亡患者5例,生存患者95例。结论:微创穿刺引流术能有效降低颅内血肿患者并发症的形成,恢复神经缺损功能,降低死亡率,提高生存率。在临床用以治疗颅内血肿患者具有较好的前景。