X-ray and magnetic resonance stereotaxy for functional and nonfunctional neurosurgery

By means of new plastic stereotactic ring and head fixers, stereotactic procedures can be combined with MRI, with stereotactic coordinates obtained from the MRI images. The method was rechecked against CT stereotaxy and shows a good correspondence of the target coordinates. With MRI stereotaxy, structures near bony regions will be more accessible than with CT stereotaxy. Moreover, the MRI procedure seems to have advantages for functional therapy without the necessity of contrast ventriculography.     

Receptor specificity of Ia-restricted T lymphoblasts activated against trinitrobenzene sulfonate-coupled spleen cells: recognition of distinct trinitrophenyl and Ia moieties

The receptor specificity of H-2-restricted T lymphoblasts activated against trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS)-coupled spleen cells was examined using an antigen binding assay. A population of Lyt-1+,2-T lymphoblasts acquired syngeneic Ia determinants during 4 days of primary culture with hapten-coupled stimulator cells. Syngeneic Ia was not reexpressed after trypsin treatment of the T cells, but was found after incubation with soluble Ia shed from lipopolysaccharide-activated blasts. Self-Ia binding was specific in that Lyt-1+,2- but not Lyt-1-,2+ cells acquired the antigen, and in that self-Ia bound more effectively than allogeneic Ia material. To determine the relationship of self-Ia binding to the recognition of foreign antigen, the binding of trinitrophenyl (TNP)-coupled plasma membrane vesicles by TNP-specific T cells was studied. TNP-vesicle binding occurred via TNP and H-2(Ia) molecules on the vesicles in that binding was inhibited with antibodies against TNP or H-2(Ia) molecules but not non-major histocompatibility complex (e.g., Ly-6.2) molecules on the vesicles. Complete inhibition of TNP-vesicle binding by an Iak-restricted TNP-specific T-cell line occurred with soluble TNP-lysine, but not an unrelated hapten, N-iodoacetyl-N-(5-sulfonic-1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine (I-AED)-cysteine. Conversely, I-AED-cysteine, but not TNP-lysine, inhibited binding of I-AED-coupled B6 vesicles by B6 anti-I-AED T cells. Significant, but weak inhibition of TNP-vesicle binding by the anti-TNP line was observed with glycoprotein preparations containing partially purified self-Ia molecules. However, inhibition was specific for I-Ak molecules, in that inhibition was lost after removal of I-Ak molecules from the glycoprotein preparation, and very little inhibition occurred with soluble glycoproteins prepared from thymocytes which contained very little Ia material or from LPS blasts of an unrelated H-2 haplotype. These results suggest a recognition model in which TNP and Ia determinants are recognized by neighboring receptor combining sites.     

The canine sympathetic neuropeptide galanin: a neurotransmitter in pancreas, a neuromodulator in liver.

Our laboratory has investigated the role of the neuropeptide galanin in the sympathetic neural control of both the canine endocrine pancreas and liver. Galanin mRNA and peptide were found in the neuronal cell bodies of the celiac ganglion, which projects fibers to both organs. Galanin fibers formed dense networks around the islets. Galanin was released from these nerves and the amount released appeared sufficient to markedly inhibit basal insulin secretion. We therefore propose that galanin is a sympathetic neurotransmitter in canine endocrine pancreas. Galanin was also found in hepatic nerves usually co-localized with tyrosine hydroxylase, a sympathetic marker. Further, intraportal administration of the sympathetic neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine, abolished galanin staining in the hepatic parenchyma. We evaluated the role of galanin in mediating the actions of sympathetic nerves to increase hepatic glucose production and decrease hepatic arterial conductance. Local infusion of synthetic galanin had little effect by itself, but it did potentiate the action of norepinephrine to stimulate hepatic glucose production, demonstrating a neuromodulatory action. In contrast, galanin had no effect on hepatic arterial blood flow. We therefore propose that in the liver galanin functions as a neuromodulator of norepinephrine's metabolic action.     

Biomarkers of toxicity in Clarias gariepinus exposed to sublethal concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Physiological, biochemical and histological indices in Clarias gariepinus broodstock, and teratogenic indices in embryos exposed to sublethal concentrations of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene were investigated in 2014 using a static-renewal bioassay protocol. Phenanthrene (1.41 mg l^?1) was the most toxic, followed by pyrene (1.53 mg l^?1) and naphthalene (7.21 mg l^?1), based on 96 h LC50 values. Hepatosomatic indices were significantly higher in naphthalene- and pyrene-treated males compared with solvent controls, whereas fecundity in females was significantly lower by factors of 2.4 (naphthalene), 2.8 (phenanthrene) and 2.4 (pyrene), compared with controls. Catalase levels were lower in female phenanthrene-treated fish compared with controls. Histological alterations observed in PAH-treated fish include oedema, inflammatory cells, epithelial lifting and hyperplasia in the gills, vacuolation, haemosiderin pigments and sinusoidal congestion in the liver, and degenerated zona radiata in the ovary. Teratogenic effects were not observed, as evidenced by the lack of histological alterations in embryos spawned from pre-exposed broodstock. Sex-specific responses and the utility of biomarkers at cellular and individual levels of organisation are therefore demonstrated for holistic evaluations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ecotoxicological studies.     

Herpetomonas roitmani (Fiorini et al., 1989) N. Comb.: A Trypanosomatid with a Bacterium-like Endosymbiont in the Cytoplasm

The trypanosomatid previously described as Crithidia roitmani is characterized here at the ultrastructural and biochemical levels. The data indicates that the parasite belongs to the Herpetomonas genus, and we therefore suggest the flagellate to be denominated as Herpetomonas roitmani n. comb. Cladistic analysis of isoenzyme data generated by eight different enzymes showed that the parasite presented a distinct banding pattern and could be grouped with some Herpetomonas spp., but not with Crithidia spp., used as reference strains. Accordingly, when the parasites were grown for longer periods in Roitman's defined medium, expontaneous differentiation from promastigotes to opisthomastigotes (typical of the Herpetomonas genus) occurred. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of bacterium-like endosymbionts in the cytoplasm of all evolutive forms of the parasite. All morphological alterations characteristic of endosymbiont-bearing trypanosomatids could be observed.