Immunohistochemical investigations of the influence of botulinum toxin A on the immunoreactivity of nNOS in the parotid gland of the rat

PURPOSE

We wanted to prove the hypothesis that local injections of botulinum toxin A have an influence on the immunoreactivity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in parotid glands of adult rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our group carried out immunohistochemical reaction of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the parotid gland of female adult Wistar rats, in native (untreated) glands and after intraglandular injection of botulinum toxin A under general anesthesia. The immunoreactivity of nNOS was investigated on different times after injection.

RESULTS

Compared with the untreated glands, there was a significant decrease of nNOS in the treated organs that became stronger with extended toxin exposure time. After our laboratory in a pilot study had already shown in general a decrease of nNOS immunoreactivity after injection of botulinum toxin A into the cephalic salivary glands of the rat, the present study shows more explicit data on the effect of botulinum toxin A injection on a higher number of examined parotid glands and analyzes a time course of the effect duration.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, it was shown that botulinum toxin A had an influence on the immunoreactivity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in parotid glands. Participation of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of secretion from the parotid gland of the rat seems to be likely. It might be assumed that the influence of botulinum toxin A on nNOS in the parotid gland of the rat is able to explain the sometimes longer duration of toxin effect at the neuroglandular junction than at the motor endplate.

Nursery pollination by a moth in Silene latifolia: the role of odours in eliciting antennal and behavioural responses

Since the 1970s it has been known that the nursery pollinator Hadena bicruris is attracted to the flowers of its most important host plant, Silene latifolia, by their scent. Here we identified important compounds for attraction of this noctuid moth. Gas chromatographic and electroantennographic methods were used to detect compounds eliciting signals in the antennae of the moth. Electrophysiologically active compounds were tested in wind-tunnel bioassays to foraging naïve moths, and the attractivity of these compounds was compared with that to the natural scent of whole S. latifolia flowers. The antennae of moths detected substances of several classes. Phenylacetaldehyde elicited the strongest signals in the antennae, but lilac aldehydes were the most attractive compounds in wind-tunnel bioassays and attracted 90% of the moths tested, as did the scent of single flowers. Our results show that the most common and abundant floral scent compounds in S. latifolia, lilac aldehydes, attracted most of the moths tested, indicating a specific adaptation of H. bicruris to its host plant.

The effect of local injection of botulinum toxin A on the immunoreactivity of nNOS in the rat submandibular gland: an immunohistochemical study

PURPOSE

In our study, we intend to investigate the influence of local injections of botulinum toxin A on the activity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in submandibular glands of adult rats. Since interest has been focused on the role of nitric oxide (NO) as a possible neuromodulator of secretory regulation processes in the upper aerodigestive tract, it was the aim of the present study to show that the toxin also interferes with the metabolic actions of NO on investigated rat submandibular glands. It is of great clinical interest whether the NO pathway is able to influence salivary gland secretion. Increasing of knowledge in this field maybe helpful to treat sialorrhoea, especially in juvenile otolaryngologic and neurologic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed immunohistochemical reaction of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the submandibular gland of female adult Wistar rats, both in native (untreated) glands and after intraglandular injection of botulinum toxin A under general anesthesia. The immunoreactivity of nNOS was investigated on different times after injection.

RESULTS

Other than in the untreated glands, there was a significant decrease of nNOS in the treated organs, which became stronger with extended toxin exposure time. The present study shows explicit data on the effect of botulinum toxin A injection on a higher number of examined submandibular glands and is able to analyze a time course of the effect duration.

CONCLUSION

In our study, it was shown that botulinum toxin A had an influence on the immunoreactivity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in submandibular glands. Therefore, the participation of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of secretion from these organs seems to be evident. It might be assumed that the influence of botulinum toxin A on nNOS in the submandibular gland of the rat is able to explain the sometimes longer duration of toxin effect at the neuroglandular junction than at the motor endplate.

Immunohistochemical evidence of nNOS and changes after intraglandular application of botulinum toxin A in cephalic salivary glands of adult rats

The purpose of our study was to investigate the possible influence of local injections of botulinum toxin A on the activity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in cephalic salivary glands of adult rats. The role of nitric oxide (NO) as a possible neuromodulator of vascular regulation and in particular regulation of secretion in the upper respiratory and aerodigestive tract is discussed. We present immunohistochemical evidence of nNOS in the salivary glands of female adult Wistar rats, both in native (untreated) glands and after intraglandular injection of botulinum toxin A under general anesthesia. Other than in the untreated glands, there was a significant decrease in nNOS in the treated organs which became stronger with extended toxin exposure time. After our laboratory had already shown a decrease in acetylcholinesterase immunoreactivity after injection of botulinum toxin A into the cephalic salivary glands of the rat, the present study discusses a possible participation of NO in the regulation of secretion from these organs. As a conclusion, it might be assumed that the influence of botulinum toxin A on nNOS in the cephalic salivary glands of the rat is able to explain the sometimes longer duration of the toxin effect at the neuroglandular junction than at the motor endplate.

Insect-based BioFETs with improved signal characteristics

Insect-based BioFETs (biologically sensitive field-effect transistors) with improved signal characteristics have been developed. These BioFETs require a specifically adapted signal interfacing between a FET as signal transducer and an intact insect antenna as biocomponent. Therefore, different field-effect transistors have been fabricated in order to study the signal transfer at the bioelectronic interface. As relevant features of the BioFET, its current-voltage characteristics, the transconductance and the signal-to-noise ratio have been investigated as affected by the choice of gate insulator materials and gate dimensions (width-to-length ratio, thickness of the dielectric layers). The performance of the improved FET arrangement in the isolated-antenna BioFET was validated by employing dilution series of the plant odour component Z-3-hexen-1-ol.

Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty in horseshoe kidney in children: is it effective without symphysiotomy?

Contemporary reports on surgery for horseshoe kidney (HK) still recommend isthmotomy and lateropexy to complete an open pyeloplasty. To evaluate whether simple Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty without symphysiotomy is effective for relief of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in HK, we studied the records of ten children, two of whom had bilateral UPJO. Only one child presented with calculi; 11 units were operated upon for UPJO, 1 needed a partial nephrectomy. The surgical outcome was evaluated with emphasis on the changes in renal drainage and function assessed by ultrasonography and diuretic renal scans. Associated vesicoureteral reflux was observed more often (25%) than with UPJO in normal kidneys. Obstruction was caused by a crossing lower-pole vessel in three cases, a high ureteral insertion in two and narrowing of the UPJ 7. Postoperative follow-up (mean 5.5 years) revealed improved renal function and good drainage in all cases. Hydronephrosis vanished in 7, whereas grade 2 hydronephrosis remained in two children with former refluxive megaureter and grade 3 in one. All children are doing well and have no symptoms due to the persistent isthmus (Rovsing syndrome). It is concluded that simple Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty via a flank incision is a highly effective and safe procedure for treating UPJO in HK.

Bioelectronic noses: a status report. Part II

The present state of the art to record or to mimic electronically the human senses of olfaction and taste is characterized. In this part II, strategies are outlined to utilize chemical and biological structures with their different complexities which serve as sensor elements in (bio-) electronic noses. Finally a survey is given on the computer-science aspects of odor recognition based on these elements.

[Anxiety and stress reaction and its management in ambulatory gastrointestinal endoscopy: is premedication justified?]

This study is a contribution to the the question, whether the fear of ambulant gastrointestinal endoscopy generally justifies an anxiolytic premedication. Intensity of the stress reaction (subjective stress reactions, cardiovascular and endocrinological stress parameters), situation-specific determinants and coping behavior were analyzed one week and immediately before and immediately after the diagnostic procedure in N = 135 patients. The results showed significant effects of the procedure on subjective, cardiovascular and endocrinological stress parameters. Furthermore, other stress-eliciting conditions like former experiences with the procedure, behavior of the doctor and the assisting staff, organisational conditions could be identified. All in all, for most of the patients the endoscopy examination was less aversive as reported in the literature. According to our results, the amount of fear and stress reactions cannot justify the risks of an anxiolytic premedication. Only for a small group of patients (about 25%) the question of premedication should be proved individually. These patients can be identified by a questionnaire or by a rough screening of the anxiety level by behavior observation during a preparating anamnesis.

Early expression of all the components of the renin-angiotensin-system in human development

Increasing evidence suggests that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is not only a potent regulator of blood pressure and fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, but that it also plays an important role in growth and differentiation in development as well as in pathological states. We, therefore, investigated the expression of all components of the RAS in the human embryo and fetus by in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry. This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of all components of the RAS in very early human development (30-35 days of gestation). Angiotensinogen mRNA is expressed in very high amounts in the yolk sac, liver, and kidney, whereas renin mRNA and angiotensin-converting enzyme are expressed in the chorion, kidney, and heart, thus allowing fetal production of angiotensin II. This effector molecule of the RAS mediates its effects through binding to specific receptor types, AT1 and AT2. Both of these receptors are also expressed very early in development (24 days of gestation), suggesting a role for angiotensin II in organogenesis. Based on the expression pattern of these receptors, angiotensin II likely plays a role in the growth and differentiation of the kidney, adrenal gland, heart, and liver, all organs that are of major importance for the regulation of blood pressure later in life.

[Results of transabdominal placental biopsy in the 2nd and 3d trimester]

From August 1988 to October 1990, 115 transabdominal placental biopsies were performed in the second (68%) and third trimenon (32%). The main indication (80%) was the detection of pathological ultrasonographic findings (foetal malformation, growth retardation, oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios). The success rate of chorionic villus sampling (89%) was independent of the localisation of the placenta. A definite cytogenetic result was found in 83% of patients. By combination of placental biopsy and amniocentesis (n = 77) karyotyping was successful in 97% of pregnancies. Chromosomal abnormalities were observed in 15 (13%) cases (7 autosomal and 2 gonosomal aneuploidies, 1 unbalanced translocation, 1 autosomal deletion, 4 structural variants). The outcome of the pregnancies was substantially influenced by the indication for the procedure and by the cytogenetic result. Foetal and peri-/neonatal losses were found in 53% (3% spontaneous abortions) of patients with sonographic abnormalities (n = 92) and in 9% (abortion rate 4%) of pregnancies with regular findings (n = 23). The pregnancy loss rates were 37.7% and 5.9%, respectively. The results confirm the clinical significance of placental biopsy in the management of pregnancies with pathological ultrasonographic findings.