Case Report: amyopathic dermatomyositis associated with transformed malignant lymphoma

Amyopathic dermatomyositis is a disease of unknown origin characterized by the specific skin lesions of dermatomyositis but without clinical or laboratory evidence of myopathy. During the past 15 years, a great controversy between the different reports concerning a possible association of dermatomyositis with malignancy has been noted. In this report, the authors describe a patient with amyopathic dermatomyositis who presented first with a benign hyperplasia of the lymph node, which finally transformed into frank malignant lymphoma. In addition to follow-up care, screening tests to search for occult malignancy in patients with amyopathic dermatomyositis (or dermatomyositis) are recommended.

Viral antigen and B and T lymphocytes in lymphoid tissues of gnotobiotic piglets infected with hog cholera virus

Four 4-day-old gnotobiotic piglets infected intranasally with the Kanagawa/74 strain of hog cholera virus (HCV) did not develop severe illness over a period of 3 weeks. Large amounts of HCV were isolated from the lymphoid tissues and serum at necropsy. After the acute phase, hyperplasia of histiocytes and plasmacytopoiesis were observed in two pigs (killed 14 and 21 days after inoculation). The number of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes increased significantly and their location was consistent with the site of HCV replication. The results suggest that a CD8+ T-lymphocyte reaction is associated with persistent HCV infection.

Detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and Mycoplasma hyorhinis antigens in pulmonary lesions of pigs suffering from respiratory distress

Eleven field cases of a disease characterized by severe dyspnoea or abdominal breathing were examined post mortem. The affected pigs had antibody against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The predominant lung lesions were severe proliferative and interstitial pneumonia, and slight suppurative bronchopneumonia. The lesions were closely associated with the sites at which PRRSV and Mycoplasma hyorhinis antigens were detected. Four of five pigs inoculated with PRRSV developed slight pneumonitis. The fifth animal, which died of severe pneumonitis, yielded a heavy culture of M. hyorhinis. These findings demonstrate that dual infection with M. hyorhinis and PRRSV caused severe pulmonary lesions.

[Three cases of hyperkalemia after reperfusion associated with revascularization for massive acute arterial occlusions]

We encountered three cases of hyperkalemia after the reperfusion of ischemic limbs associated with revascularization surgery for acute arterial occlusions. Two patients died because of uncontrollable hyperkalemia in spite of intravenous insulin and forced diuresis. Careful attention should be paid to hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis for several hours after the reperfusion in cases of ischemia and/or extensive ischemia of long duration. The aggressive prophylaxis and treatment for MNMS are vital to the anesthetic management of revascularization for acute arterial occlusions.

Immunoglobulin G avidity testing in serum and cerebrospinal fluid for analysis of measles virus infection

We studied a variety of patients with measles virus infection by using avidity testing for measles virus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples. For the avidity testing, an Enzygnost measles IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used with an 8 M urea denaturing method. With this method, low-avidity IgG (acute primary infection, avidity of < 30% within 15 days of the onset of rash) and high-avidity IgG (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, avidity of > 75%) could be clearly distinguished by using serum samples. One patient, who developed a typical course of measles despite a previous vaccination, showed a positive IgM response with an initial low titer of measles virus-specific IgG of low avidity, but a later sample revealed a high titer of IgG of intermediate (40%) avidity, suggesting previous immunological priming. Two patients with breakthrough infection (secondary vaccine failure), both having central nervous system involvement, showed a positive IgM response with initial high titers of serum IgG of high avidity. In addition, one of the patients had a detectable level of measles-specific IgG in cerebrospinal fluid. In this patient, the avidity of both serum and cerebrospinal fluid IgG decreased during the short follow-up period. This phenomenon has never before been reported. In subacute sclerosing panencephalitis patients, the avidity of cerebrospinal fluid IgG was consistently lower than that of serum IgG. The difference in avidity between cerebrospinal fluid and serum IgG may be used as a direct indicator of intrathecal production of IgG. In conclusion, the avidity testing is simple to perform, reliable, and highly informative in the analysis of measles virus infection.

[Myocardial sympathetic activity and characteristics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: comparison with hypertensive hypertrophy]

The characteristics of myocardial sympathetic activity were studied using myocardial imaging with I-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in 16 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 12 patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (HT) and 10 normal subjects. Myocardial imaging with MIBG and thallium-201 (T1) was performed at rest on a separate day. The index of myocardial MIBG uptake, "uptake ratio", was calculated from the percentage uptake of MIBG and T1. Reduction of myocardial MIBG during 3 hours (percentage washout) was also calculated. The extent of the defect was quantitatively assessed (defect score) from the bull's eye map. Global "uptake ratio" of the delayed image decreased in the order of normal subjects, patients with HT and those with HCM (p < 0.01). Defects in MIBG images were observed in all patients with HCM and 92% in those with HT. The defects were located in the inferior and lateral segments in patients with HT, but around the entire left ventricle in patients with HCM. Both groups had smaller regional "uptake ratio" than normal subjects, but HT and HCM demonstrated different behaviors: reduced in the inferior and lateral segments as compared with other segments in HT, but distributed equally in all segments in HCM. In patients with HCM, percentage washout was significantly accelerated in comparison with patients with HT and normal subjects in both global and regional analyses, but there was no difference between the latter two groups. Disturbance of myocardial sympathetic activity observed in patients with HCM by MIBG uptake and washout differed from that caused by HT.

A genetic algorithm approach to optimization for the radiological worker allocation problem

This paper describes a new approach to the radiological worker allocation problem using a multiple objective genetic algorithm. The worker allocation problem in radiological facilities involves various types of constraints and even mutually conflicting ones, such as individual dose limits, working time limits, etc. A major difficulty of this highly working time limits, etc. A major difficulty of this highly constrained problem is the way of finding an optimal solution in the huge search space where a large proportion of solutions are not feasible because some of the constraints cannot be satisfied. The paper proposes a model of evolution to establish an optimal assignment efficiently, based on the biological insights into the evolutionary process and heuristic ideas. The experimental results show a very rapid evolution to produce feasible solutions, and the application of multiple evaluation functions converges the feasible solutions to good ones. The genetic algorithm approach was found to be superior to the goal programming and simplex methods.

Effects of repeated administration of a kappa-opioid agonist on phorbol ester binding to membrane-bound protein kinase C in rat brain

The dissociation constant (KD) of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) binding to protein kinase C (PKC) in membranes of rat cortex and midbrain was significantly decreased with no change in the receptor density (Bmax) following 7-d treatment with a kappa-opioid agonist, U-50,488 (20 mg/kg/d, i.p.). Neither the Bmax nor KD values in pons/medulla were altered by repeated U-50,488 treatment. These results suggest that repeated administration of a kappa-opioid agonist increases the affinity for PDBu binding to the membrane-bound PKC in rat cortex and midbrain, but not in pons/medulla.

[Anesthetic management of ten Jehovah's Witness patients]

We experienced the anesthetic management of 10 Jehovah's Witness patients. Some patients accepted either blood products, autologous blood transfusion with closed circuit, or Cell Saver. The patients' families expressed their wish that blood transfusion could be done in life threatening situations against the patient's wish in some cases. It would be desirable to clear up an acceptable standard and write out it in each medical institution to avoid conflicts with the patient and families. Prior agreement is required among medical staffs on refusal of blood transfusion.

Pretreatment with beta-endorphin facilitates the attenuation of delta-opioid receptor-mediated antinociception caused by delta-opioid receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotide

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) pretreatment of male ICR mice with beta-endorphin (0.6 nmol) or intrathecal (i.t.) pretreatment with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to delta-opioid receptor mRNA (163 pmol) alone given 24 h earlier did not have any effect on i.t. administered delta-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2]deltorphin II (6.4 nmol)-induced antinociception. However, a concomitant i.c.v. pretreatments with beta-endorphin (0.08-0.6 nmol) and i.t. pretreatment with delta-opioid receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (163 pmol) for 24 h dose-dependently attenuated i.t. challenged [D-Ala2]deltorphin II-induced antinociception. A concomitant i.c.v. pretreatment with mu-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2,N MePhe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAMGO) or kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50,488H and i.t. pretreatment with delta-opioid receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotide for 24 h did not affect i.t. challenged [D-Ala2]deltorphin II-induced antinociception. beta-Endorphin given supraspinally has been documented to release [Met5]enkephalin acting on delta-opioid receptors in the spinal cord. Our results indicate that supraspinal pretreatment with beta-endorphin selectively causes a loss of spinal delta-opioid receptor-mediated antinociception in mice receiving delta-opioid receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotide.

Inaccuracy and inefficiency of urinary sediment analysis

When the efficiency of urine sediment analysis was studied: we found that: (1) In tests of repeatability, counts of red blood cells, white blood cells, and epithelial cells, but not of casts, showed high precision, even when they were conducted by relatively inexperienced technologists; (2) Correlation of counts of red blood cells, white blood cells, and epithelial cells was good for results obtained by an expert technologist and those obtained by relatively inexperienced technologists, but the correlation was low in the case of casts, perhaps because of their low incidence in urine sediment; (3) Hematuria and leukocyturia were often detected in specimens positive for occult blood, albumin, or both; (4) Most casts were hyaline, which are physiologic in nature. Pathologic casts such as granular casts, were found in specimens containing red and white blood cells; (5) Although urine sediment analysis was frequently requested by clinicians, most analyses showed negative results; (6) Microscopic sediment analysis requires considerable time, labor, and experience, and is more sensitive than tape tests. The results of our study indicate that there are advantages to the present method for analyzing urine sediment, but that its efficiency is doubtful.

Diazepam pretreatment suppresses morphine withdrawal signs in the mouse

The effect of diazepam on the development of physical dependence on morphine and on the naloxone-precipitated increase in cortical NA turnover were investigated in mice. Co-administration of diazepam (1-4 mg/kg, i.p.) during chronic morphine treatment suppressed the expression of naloxone (3 mg/kg, s.c.)-precipitated withdrawal signs (jumping, exploratory rearing and weight loss). However, a single injection of diazepam (4 mg/kg, i.p.) in morphine-dependent mice did not affect the expression of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs. The 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) level and noradrenaline (NA) turnover (MHPG/NA) in the cerebral cortex were increased by naloxone (3 mg/kg) challenge. These increases in the cortical MHPG level and NA turnover were significantly prevented by co-administration of diazepam (4 mg/kg, i.p.) during chronic morphine treatment. These findings suggest that the co-administration of diazepam during chronic morphine treatment may prevent some neurochemical changes in the central noradrenergic system during chronic morphine treatment, and may suppress the development of physical dependence on morphine. Therefore, the inhibitory action of GABA via benzodiazepine binding sites may play an important role in the development of physical dependence on morphine.

Molecular cloning and chromosomal assignment of the human brain-type phosphodiesterase I/nucleotide pyrophosphatase gene (PDNP2)

Phosphodiesterase I/nucleotide pyrophosphatase is a widely expressed membrane-bound enzyme that cleaves diester bonds of a variety of substrates. We have cloned brain-type cDNA for this enzyme from rat brain and designated it PD-I alpha (M. Narita, J. Goji, H. Nakamura, and K. Sano, 1994, J. Biol. Chem. 269: 28235-28242). In this study we have isolated cDNA and genomic DNA encoding human PD-I alpha. Human PD-I alpha cDNA, designated PDNP2 in HGMW nomenclature, has a 2589-nucleotide open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 863 amino acids with a calculated M(r) of 99,034. Northern blot analysis revealed that human PD-I alpha transcript was present in brain, lung, placenta, and kidney. The database analysis showed that human PD-I alpha was identical with human autotaxin (ATX), a novel tumor motility-stimulating factor, except that human PD-I alpha lacks 156 nucleotides and 52 amino acids of human ATX. Human PD-I alpha and human ATX are likely to be alternative splicing products from the same gene. The 5' region of the human PDNP2 gene contains four putative binding sites of transcription factor Sp1 without typical TATA or CAAT boxes, and there is a potential octamer binding motif in intron 2. From the results of fluorescence in situ hybridization, the human PDNP2 gene is located at chromosome 8q24.1.

[Assessment of left ventricular contraction kinetics by ECG-gated myocardial SPECT with 99mTc-MIBI: a new attempt with multi-plane long axial tomography]

To investigate left ventricular (LV) contraction kinetics, we performed ECG gated myocardial tomography (gated-SPECT) with 99mTc-MIBI (99mTc methoxy-2-isobutyl isonitrile) at rest. Data were obtained from 32 views and R-R interval was divided into 16. To clarify whether myocardial count change during systole (%CC) reflected LV wall thickening (%WT), we compared septal and posterior %CC in short axis image with %WT which were obtained by echocardiography. And %CC correlated well with %WT (r = 0.86, p < 0.01). In order to assess myocardial contraction kinetics in various parts of LV, multi-plane long axial tomograms were constructed in 10 normal subjects and 9 patients with myocardial infarction (MI). By multi-plane long axial tomography, LV was divided into 17 segments. In each segment %CC was calculated from time activity curves of myocardial count of 99mTc-MIBI. And the disparity of the appearance of peak count in each segment was also observed. In normal subjects %CC was greatest at apex and they decreased from apex to cardiac base. Besides %CC at lateral segments was greater than that in septal segments. Normal range of %CC was determined segment by segment. In normal subjects the intervals from ECG R-wave to peak count were not different in each segment. But in patients with MI they distributed in wide range and prolonged intervals were observed in segments with rest perfusion defect (infarcted segment). In patients with MI decreased %CC was observed in 91% of infarcted segments, in 83% of the segments with exercise induced ischemia and in 89% of the segments with 123I-BMIPP defects. These results indicated decreased %CC represented viable but compromised myocardium as well as necrotic myocardium. In gated-SPECT we obtained useful informations in addition to myocardial perfusion. But it took more than 30 minutes to perform. More experience will be necessary to ascertain the value of this technique.

Two receptor systems are involved in the plasma clearance of tissue factor pathway inhibitor in vivo

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a potent inhibitor of the blood coagulation factor VIIa-tissue factor complex, as well as a direct inhibitor of factor Xa. Intravenously administered TFPI is rapidly cleared from circulation predominantly via liver. We previously reported that the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), a multifunctional endocytic receptor, mediates the uptake and degradation of TFPI in hepatoma cells. This process is inhibited by a 39-kDa receptor-associated protein which binds to LRP and regulates its ligand binding activity. However, a distinct, low affinity binding site (perhaps heparin sulfate proteoglycans, HSPGs) on the endothelium and liver is thought to be responsible for the majority of TFPI cell surface binding. In the current study, we investigated the role of LRP and this second binding site in the clearance of 125I-TFPI in vivo using competitors and inhibitors of the receptors. Mice overexpressing the 39-kDa protein via adenoviral-mediated gene transfer displayed diminished plasma clearance of 125I-TFPI. Blockade of cell surface HSPGs sites by incubation with the positively charged molecule, protamine, inhibited 125I-TFPI binding to the hepatoma cells in vitro. In addition, preadministration of protamine in vivo prolonged the plasma clearance of 125I-TFPI in a dose-dependent manner. However, a dramatic increase of the plasma half-life of 125I-TFPI and virtual elimination of 125I-TFPI clearance was observed in mice overexpressing the 39-kDa protein and administered protamine. Taken together, our results suggest that two receptor mechanisms are involved in the clearance of TFPI in vivo.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to a delta-opioid receptor blocks the antinociception induced by cold water swimming

The type of opioid receptors in the spinal cord involved in antinociception induced by cold water swimming (CWS) was studied in male ICR mice. Mice were submitted to CWS for 3 min and antinociception was measured 7 min after the CWS by the tail-flick test. Intrathecal (i.t.) injection of naltrindole (NTI, 5 micrograms) which blocked i.t. DPDPE ([D-Pen2,D-Pen5]en-kephalin, 5 micrograms)-induced antinociception, blocked the CWS-induced antinociception. On the other hand, i.t. injection of CTOP (D-Phe-Cys-Try-D-Try-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2, 50 ng) and norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI, 5 micrograms) which blocked i.t. DAMGO ([D-Ala2,NHPhe4,Gly-ol]enkephalin, 10 ng)- and U50,488H (trans(+/-)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)- cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide, 75 micrograms)-induced antinociception, respectively, did not block CWS-induced antinociception. Intrathecal pretreatment with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to delta-opioid receptor mRNA (delta-AS oligo, 163 pmol) once a day for 1 to 3 days caused a time-dependent attenuation of CWS-induced antinociception. delta-AS at doses from 1.6 to 163 pmol pretreated i.t. for 3 days caused a dose-dependent blockade of CWS-induced antinociception. However, i.t. pretreatment with mismatch oligodeoxynucleotide (MM oligo, 163 pmol) for 3 days did not affect the CWS-induced antinociception. The results indicate that CWS-induced antinociception is mediated by the stimulation of delta-opioid receptors in the spinal cord.

Inhibition of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase by aglycons of natural glucuronides in kampo medicines using SN-38 as a substrate

7-Ethyl-10-[4-(piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (CPT-11), a potent anticancer agent for lung and gynecological cancers, is metabolized in vivo to the active compound, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38), which is subsequently conjugated to SN-38-glucuronide by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT). Three purified aglycons of natural glucuronides, baicalein, luteolin and glycyrrhetic acid, inhibited UDP-GT activity towards SN-38 as a substrate. The inhibitory potencies of these aglycons toward UDP-GT were similar to that of 1-naphthol. Based on these results, together with our previous finding that the corresponding glucuronides used in the present study strongly inhibited beta-glucuronidase in gut flora, we propose that materials in Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines containing these aglycons of natural glucuronides could be used in vivo to decrease the enterohepatic circulation of SN-38 and other drugs.

Effect of physical defenses of the respiratory tract on the development of pneumonia in pigs inoculated endobronchially with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

Seven pigs inoculated endobronchially with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) serotype 1 developed acute and subacute necrotizing pleuropneumonia. When treated with high doses of atropine (0.25 mg per kg) and/or xylocaine spray using a bronchoscope, which suppressed mucus secretion and ciliary activity, the pigs showed severe pleuropneumonia and 2 treated pigs died within 36 hr after inoculating 320 colony forming units (CFU)/2ml of App serotype 1. Histopathologically, their lungs had alveolar and interlobular edema and intravascular fibrinous thrombosis. In the surviving pigs, the lymph nodes had App antigens in the germinal centers corresponding closely with activated follicular dendritic cells and increased in the number of IgG- and IgM-containing cells. The bacterial antigens were also observed as small sized granules in the cytoplasm of bronchoalveolar macrophages. These findings suggest that the attachment of App to the mucosal surface may be crucial in the development of pneumonic lesions.

Gastrointestinal and skin lesions in piglets naturally infected with pseudorabies virus

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection was diagnosed in 4 piglets from a litter by immunohistopathologic examination and virus isolation. Three piglets had moderate to severe neuronal degeneration, and PRV antigen was detected in Auerbach's myenteric plexus and Meissner's submucosal plexus of the gastrointestinal tract. One piglet had 2 types of skin lesions. One lesion appeared on the hip and ear and was characterized by ballooning degeneration, necrosis of epithelial cells, and intranuclear inclusion bodies. The other was found on the ear and hematoma-like lesion was composed of fibrinoid exudation and degenerative connective tissue. PRV antigen was clearly demonstrated in both skin lesions. These results suggested that degeneration of myenteric plexuses might be another characteristic of lesions in PRV-infected pigs and that the virus spreads by interaction between the skin and myenteric plexuses to the central nervous system.

Stimulation of spinal delta-opioid receptors in mice selectively enhances the attenuation of delta-opioid receptor-mediated antinociception by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide

Intrathecal (i.t.) pretreatment of male ICR mice with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to delta-opioid receptor mRNA once a day for 1-3 days caused a time-dependent attenuation of i.t. administered [D-Ala2]deltorphin II-induced antinociception as measured by the tail-flick test. The attenuation of the antinociception induced by i.t. administered [D-Ala2]deltorphin II, a delta-opioid receptor agonist, was enhanced by i.t. pretreatment for 1 day with [D-Ala2]deltorphin II, but not [D-Ala2,N MePhe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAMGO), a mu-opioid receptor agonist, or U50,488H, a kappa-opioid receptor agonist, given together with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to delta-opioid receptor mRNA. The present results indicate that stimulation of spinal delta-opioid receptors by i.t. injection of [D-Ala2]deltorphin II selectively causes a loss of delta-opioid receptor-mediated antinociception in mice pretreated with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to delta-opioid receptor mRNA.

Two receptor systems are involved in the plasma clearance of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) in vivo

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a serine protease, catalyzing the initial step in the fibrinolytic process. Intravenously administered t-PA is rapidly cleared from the circulation by the liver. Two distinct clearance mechanisms, which are mediated by the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) on liver parenchymal cells and by the mannose receptor on liver endothelial cells, have been described. Using competitors and inhibitors of the receptors, we investigated the role of LRP and carbohydrate receptors in t-PA clearance in vivo. To inhibit LRP, the 39-kD protein, which is a potent inhibitor of LRP activity, was overexpressed in the liver of mice using an adenoviral gene transfer technique. Expression of the 39-kD protein resulted in a sustained plasma concentration and an increase in the plasma half-life of 125I-t-PA from less than 1 min to 4-5 min. Blockade of the mannose receptor by intravenous administration of ovalbumin also prolonged the plasma half-life of 125I-t-PA to 3-4 min. The same degree of inhibition of t-PA clearance was also observed after administration of an inhibitor of the fucose receptor, fucosyl-BSA. However, under the conditions established for the complete blockade of the mannose receptor, no additional inhibition of t-PA clearance was observed using fucosyl-BSA, suggesting little or no role for the fucose receptor in the clearance of t-PA. Furthermore, a dramatic increase of the plasma half-life of 125I-t-PA (>> 20 min) was observed in mice overexpressing 39-kD protein and administered ovalbumin +/- fucosyl-BSA. Our results clearly demonstrate that two independent receptor systems, LRP and the mannose receptor, are involved in the hepatic clearance of t-PA.

Interleukin-6 in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with central nervous system infections

Interleukin(IL)-6 levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from pediatric patients with central nervous system (CNS) infections by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean IL-6 concentrations in CSF samples from patients with bacterial meningitis (49,017 +/- 44,730 pg/ml) were significantly higher than those in patients with aseptic meningitis (1076 +/- 1572 pg/ml) or encephalitis (409 +/- 835 pg/ml). In aseptic meningitis and encephalitis, IL-6 levels in serum were within the lower ranges (< 100 pg/ml), in contrast with the highly elevated levels found in bacterial meningitis (14,332 +/- 18,385 pg/ml). In 5 of the 15 patients with encephalitis, elevated levels of IL-6 were observed in the initial CSF samples despite normal findings of routine CSF examinations. Also, sequential CSF samples revealed that there was an increase in the CSF cell count in two of the five patients. These results validated the potential of measuring IL-6 in CSF samples for the purpose of providing additional information on routine laboratory test results.

Inhibition of protein kinase C, but not of protein kinase A, blocks the development of acute antinociceptive tolerance to an intrathecally administered mu-opioid receptor agonist in the mouse

A specific protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin C, which injected alone had no effect on the antinociception induced by intrathecal (i.t.) administration of a selective mu-opioid receptor agonist, [D-Ala2,NMePhe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAMGO), dose-dependently attenuated the development of acute tolerance to the i.t. DAMGO-induced antinociception in male ICR mice. On the other hand, a selective protein kinase A inhibitor, KT5720, did not have any effect on the development of acute tolerance to DAMGO antinociception. These findings suggest that protein kinase C, but not protein kinase A, plays an important role in the development of acute tolerance to the mu-opioid receptor agonist-induced antinociception.

Distribution of nitric oxide synthase in the central nervous system of Macaca fuscata: subcortical regions

The distribution of nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive neurons was studied in the Macaca fuscata by immunohistochemistry using antiserum against nitric oxide synthase. In the macaque lower brainstem, many nitric oxide synthase-containing cell bodies were found in the gigantocellular and parvocellular reticular nuclei, the nucleus of the spinal tract of trigeminal nerve, the cochlear nucleus, the prepositus hypoglossi and the nucleus of the solitary tract. Many nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive perikarya were observed in the laterodorsal-pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus complex of the macaque pontine and midbrain tegmentum. In addition, there were many highly immunoreactive cell bodies in the superficial layers of the inferior and superior colliculi. In the forebrain, numerous cell bodies were observed in the caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens, nucleus of the diagonal band, anterior perforated substance and amygdaloid complex. Whereas most of these neurons were labeled highly intense for nitric oxide synthase, there were also many lightly labeled nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive neurons in the substantia innominata, globus pallidus, ansa peduncularis and lateral hypothalamic nucleus. The present observation indicated some species difference in the distribution of central nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons. Furthermore, the present neuroanatomical evidence that nitric oxide synthase is distributed in a variety of specific neuronal systems, with some differences in the patterns of cytoplasmic localization, further indicates the neural messenger role of nitric oxide in the central nervous system.