Differential expression of somatostatin and dopamine receptor subtype genes in adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-secreting pituitary tumors and silent corticotroph adenomas

Somatostatin analogs and dopamine agonists are clinically used for medical therapy of functioning pituitary tumors, such as growth hormone- and prolactin-secreting tumors, however, their effects on ACTH-secreting tumors are controversial. This study was aimed to determine whether somatostatin receptor (SSTR) subtype (1-5) and dopamine receptor type 2 (D2R) are differentially expressed in pituitary tumors causing Cushing's disease (CD), silent corticotroph adenoma (SCA), and non-functioning pituitary tumor (NFT). Tissue specimens were obtained from 35 pituitary tumors during transsphenoidal surgery. The steady-state mRNA levels of SSTR1-5 and D2R genes were determined by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Both SSTR1 and 2 mRNA levels in SCA were greater than CD, while SSTR1 mRNA levels, but not SSTR2, in SCA were also greater than NFT. SSTR5 mRNA levels in CD were greater than SCA, but did not differ between NFT and SCA. SSTR4 mRNA expression was undetectable. D2R mRNA levels were markedly lower in CD and SCA than in NFT. The present study suggests that somatostatin analogs more selective for SSTR5 and for SSTR1 and/or 2may have the therapeutic potential for medical treatment of CD and SCA, respectively, whereas clinical application of dopamine agonists selective for D2R is very limited in either CD or SCA.

Integration of broadband conductance input in rat somatosensory cortical inhibitory interneurons: an inhibition-controlled switch between intrinsic and input-driven spiking in fast-spiking cells

Quantitative understanding of the dynamics of particular cell types when responding to complex, natural inputs is an important prerequisite for understanding the operation of the cortical network. Different types of inhibitory neurons are connected by electrical synapses to nearby neurons of the same type, enabling the formation of synchronized assemblies of neurons with distinct dynamical behaviors. Under what conditions is spike timing in such cells determined by their intrinsic dynamics and when is it driven by the timing of external input? In this study, we have addressed this question using a systematic approach to characterizing the input-output relationships of three types of cortical interneurons (fast spiking [FS], low-threshold spiking [LTS], and nonpyramidal regular-spiking [NPRS] cells) in the rat somatosensory cortex, during fluctuating conductance input designed to mimic natural complex activity. We measured the shape of average conductance input trajectories preceding spikes and fitted a two-component linear model of neuronal responses, which included an autoregressive term from its own output, to gain insight into the input-output relationships of neurons. This clearly separated the contributions of stimulus and discharge history, in a cell-type dependent manner. Unlike LTS and NPRS cells, FS cells showed a remarkable switch in dynamics, from intrinsically driven spike timing to input-fluctuation-controlled spike timing, with the addition of even a small amount of inhibitory conductance. Such a switch could play a pivotal role in the function of FS cells in organizing coherent gamma oscillations in the local cortical network. Using both pharmacological perturbations and modeling, we show how this property is a consequence of the particular complement of voltage-dependent conductances in these cells.

Defective expression of prohormone convertase 4 and enhanced expression of insulin-like growth factor II by pleural solitary fibrous tumor causing hypoglycemia

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of unconsciousness. His plasma glucose was very low, but his serum levels of insulin and IGF-I were also low. He was found to have a giant solitary pleural tumor, which was completely resected, after which his hypoglycemia ameliorated postoperatively. Histologically, the tumor was consistent with the pathological diagnosis of a solitary fibrous tumor derived from the pleura. Immunohistochemical study revealed positive immunostaining for IGF-II in tumor cells. The presence of high molecular weight (HMW) form of IGF-II in the tumor tissue and patient's serum was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Steady-state mRNA levels of IGF-II and prohormone convertases (PC) 4, a potential protease responsible for IGF-II processing, as determined by RT-PCR were about 14-fold greater and 5-fold less in the tumor tissue than those in normal placental tissue, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that biologically active, unprocessed HMW form of IGF-II generated from the impaired processing of IGF-II precursor by the defective PC4 expression in the tumor was responsible for the non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) in the present case.

Late-night salivary cortisol as a screening test for the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome in Japan

Measurement of late-night and/or midnight salivary cortisol currently used in US and European countries is a simple and convenient screening test for the initial diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome (CS). Unfortunately, this test has not been widely used in Japan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the measurement of late-night salivary cortisol as a screening test for the diagnosis of CS in Japan. We studied 27 patients with various causes of CS, consisting of ACTH-dependent Cushing's disease [5] and ectopic ACTH syndrome [4] and ACTH-independent adrenal CS [11] and subclinical CS [7]. Eleven patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity and 16 normal subjects served as control group. Saliva samples were collected at late-night (23:00) in a commercially available device and assayed for cortisol by radioimmunoassay. There were highly significant correlations (P<0.0001) between late-night serum and salivary cortisol levels in normal subjects (r = 0.861) and in patients with CS (r = 0.788). Late-night salivary cortisol levels in CS patients (0.975 +/- 1.56 microg/dl) were significantly higher than those in normal subjects (0.124 +/- 0.031 microg/dl) and in obese diabetic patients (0.146 +/- 0.043 microg/dl), respectively. Twenty-five out of 27 CS patients had late-night salivary cortisol concentrations greater than 0.21 microg/dl, whereas those in control group were less than 0.2 microg/dl. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that the cut-off point of 0.21 microg/dl provides a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 100%. Therefore, it is concluded that the measurement of late-night salivary cortisol is an easy and reliable noninvasive screening test for the initial diagnosis of CS, especially useful for large high-risk populations, such as diabetes and obesity.

Differential gene expression in ACTH -secreting and non-functioning pituitary tumors

OBJECTIVE

Differential expression of several genes between ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors causing Cushing' disease (CD), silent corticotroph adenoma (SCA), and non-functioning pituitary tumors (NFT) was investigated.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We used tissue specimens from 35 pituitary tumors (12 CD, 8 SCA, and 15 NFT). Steady-state mRNA levels of the genes related to proopiomelanocortin (POMC) transcription, synthesis, processing, and secretion, such as neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD1), T-box 19 (Tpit), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor (CRHR), vasopressin receptor 1b (V1bR), prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 and PC2, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) type 1 and type 2, glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRalpha), annexin A1, histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), and BRM/SWI2-related gene 1, were determined by real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

POMC and Tpit mRNA levels were greater in CD and SCA than those in NFT. NeuroD1 mRNA levels were less in CD than those in NFT, but almost comparable between SCA and NFT. PC1/3 mRNA levels were greater in CD, but less in SCA than those in NFT. PC2 mRNA levels in CD and SCA were less than those in NFT. CRHR, V1bR, and 11beta-HSD2 mRNA levels in CD were greater than those in SCA and NFT. HDAC2 mRNA levels in CD and SCA were lower than those in NFT. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the genes related to transcription, synthesis, processing, and secretion of POMC are differentially regulated in ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors causing CD and SCA compared with those in NFT. This may partly explain the development of clinically active and inactive CD.

Defective expression of prohormone convertase 1/3 in silent corticotroph adenoma

Silent corticotroph adenoma (SCA) is defined as an ACTH-producing pituitary tumor not associated with clinical and endocrine feartures of Cushing's syndrome, but its underlying molecular mechanism(s) remains unknown thus far. We tested the hypothesis that reduced expression of prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 responsible for proteolytic processing of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in SCA may lead to production of unprocessed, biologically inactive POMC and/or precursor of ACTH. Among 30 non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFA) examined, we found 6 SCAs by immunohistochemical study using anti-ACTH antibody. Preoperative endocrine and diagnostic image tests did not reveal any differences between SCA and the remaining NFA except for the higher recurrence rate of SCA. While steady-state PC1/3 mRNA levels determined by RT-PCR were almost comparable between SCAs and NFAs, immunohistochemical study showed negative immunostaining for PC1/3 in all 6 SCAs. Our data suggest that defective PC1/3 expression may lead to preferential production of unprocessed, biologically inactive ACTH variants in SCA.

Phase resetting curves and oscillatory stability in interneurons of rat somatosensory cortex

Synchronous oscillations in neural activity are found over wide areas of the cortex. Specific populations of interneurons are believed to play a significant role in generating these synchronized oscillations through mutual synaptic and gap-junctional interactions. Little is known, though, about the mechanism of how oscillations are maintained stably by particular types of interneurons and by their local networks. To obtain more insight into this, we measured membrane-potential responses to small current-pulse perturbations during regular firing, to construct phase resetting curves (PRCs) for three types of interneurons: nonpyramidal regular-spiking (NPRS), low-threshold spiking (LTS), and fast-spiking (FS) cells. Within each cell type, both monophasic and biphasic PRCs were observed, but the proportions and sensitivities to perturbation amplitude were clearly correlated to cell type. We then analyzed the experimentally measured PRCs to predict oscillation stability, or firing reliability, of cells for a complex stochastic input, as occurs in vivo. To do this, we used a method from random dynamical system theory to estimate Lyapunov exponents of the simplified phase model on the circle. The results indicated that LTS and NPRS cells have greater oscillatory stability (are more reliably entrained) in small noisy inputs than FS cells, which is consistent with their distinct types of threshold dynamics.

Quantifying noise-induced stability of a cortical fast-spiking cell model with Kv3-channel-like current

Population oscillations in neural activity in the gamma (>30 Hz) and higher frequency ranges are found over wide areas of the mammalian cortex. Recently, in the somatosensory cortex, the details of neural connections formed by several types of GABAergic interneurons have become apparent, and they are believed to play a significant role in generating these oscillations through synaptic and gap-junctional interactions. However, little is known about the mechanism of how such oscillations are maintained stably by particular interneurons and by their local networks, in a noisy environment with abundant synaptic inputs. To obtain more insight into this, we studied a fast-spiking (FS)-cell model including Kv3-channel-like current, which is a distinctive feature of these cells, from the viewpoint of nonlinear dynamical systems. To examine the specific role of the Kv3-channel in determining oscillation properties, we analyzed basic properties of the FS-cell model, such as the bifurcation structure and phase resetting curves (PRCs). Furthermore, to quantitatively characterize the oscillation stability under noisy fluctuations mimicking small fast synaptic inputs, we applied a recently developed method from random dynamical system theory to estimate Lyapunov exponents, both for the original four-dimensional dynamics and for a reduced one-dimensional phase-equation on the circle. The results indicated that the presence of the Kv3-channel-like current helps to regulate the stability of noisy neural oscillations and a transient-period length to stochastic attractors.

Presence of immunoreactive salusin-alpha in human serum and urine

Salusins, identified from a full-length enriched human cDNA library by bioinformatics analyses, show mitogenic, neuromodulatory and hemodynamic activities in rats. They are expressed in a wide variety of human tissues, but their precise structures and levels in human body fluids remain unknown. We developed a radioimmunoassay suitable for the detection of immunoreactive human salusin-alpha and characterized the molecular forms and concentrations of salusin-alpha in human serum and urine. The assay allowed for measurement of immunoreactive salusin-alpha concentrations as low as 1 fmol/tube after extraction of serum with an octyl-silica column, and the concentration required for 50% inhibition of binding was 40 fmol/tube. Cross-reactivities with salusin-beta and other bioactive peptides were negligible. Salusin-alpha-like immunoreactivity in normal human serum and urine ranged from 11.0 to 40.4 pmol/l (mean+/-S.D., 23.3+/-8.1 pmol/l, n=31) and from 18.6 to 367.3 pmol/l (mean+/-S.D., 156.8+/-95.8 pmol/l), respectively. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with radioimmunoassay detection revealed a major immunoreactive component that coeluted with authentic salusin-alpha. These data indicate the presence of salusin-alpha in human serum and urine, thereby verifying the initially predicted processing sites for salusin-alpha in humans.

Angiotensin II induces monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression via a nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent pathway in rat preadipocytes

Both monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a member of chemokine family, and angiotensinogen, a precursor of angiotensin (ANG) II, are produced by adipose tissue and increased in obese state. MCP-1 has been shown to decrease insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and several adipogenic genes expression in adipocytes in vitro, suggesting its pathophysiological significance in obesity. However, the pathophysiological interaction between MCP-1 and ANG II in adipose tissue remains unknown. The present study was undertaken to investigate the potential mechanisms by which ANG II affects MCP-1 gene expression in rat primary cultured preadipocytes and adipose tissue in vivo. ANG II significantly increased steady-state MCP-1 mRNA levels in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The ANG II-induced MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression was completely abolished by ANG II type 1 (AT1)-receptor antagonist (valsartan). An antioxidant/NF-kappaB inhibitor (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) and an inhibitor of 1kappaB-alpha phosphorylation (Bay 11-7085) also blocked ANG II-induced MCP-1 mRNA expression. ANG II induced translocation of NF-kappaB p65 subunit from cytoplasm to nucleus by immunocytochemical study. Luciferase assay using reporter constructs containing MCP-1 promoter region revealed that two NF-kappaB binding sites in its enhancer region were essential for the ANG II-induced promoter activities. Furthermore, basal mRNA and protein of MCP-1 during preadipocyte differentiation were significantly greater in preadipocytes than in differentiated adipocytes, whose effect was more pronounced in the presence of ANG II. Exogenous administration of ANG II to rats led to increased MCP-1 expression in epididymal, subcutaneous, and mesenteric adipose tissue. In conclusion, our present study demonstrates that ANG II increases MCP-1 gene expression via ANG II type 1 receptor-mediated and NF-kappaB-dependent pathway in rat preadipocytes as well as adipose MCP-1 expression in vivo. Thus the augmented MCP-1 expression by ANG II in preadipocytes may provide a new link between obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Rate coding and spike-time variability in cortical neurons with two types of threshold dynamics

Neurons and dynamical models of spike generation display two different classes of threshold behavior: type 1 [firing frequency vs. current (f-I) relationship is continuous at threshold] and type 2 (discontinuous f-I). With steady current or conductance stimulation, regular-spiking (RS) pyramidal neurons and fast-spiking (FS) inhibitory interneurons in layer 2/3 of somatosensory cortex exhibit type 1 and type 2 threshold behaviors, respectively. We compared the postsynaptic firing variability of type 1 RS and type 2 FS cells, during naturalistic, fluctuating conductance input. In RS neurons, increasing the level of independently random, shunting inhibition caused a monotonic increase in spike reliability, whereas in FS interneurons, there was an optimum level of shunting inhibition for achieving the most reliable spike generation and the most precise spike-time encoding. This was observed over a range of different degrees of synchrony, or correlation, in the input. RS cells displayed a progressive rise in spike jitter during natural-like transient burst inputs, whereas for FS cells, jitter was mostly kept low. Furthermore, RS cells showed encoding of the input level in the spike shape, whereas FS cells did not. These differences between the two cell types are consistent with a role of RS neurons as rate-coding integrators, and a role of FS neurons as resonators controlling the coherence of synchronous firing.

Role of C-terminus of Kir7.1 potassium channel in cell-surface expression

Inward rectifier K+ channel Kir7.1 is predominantly expressed on the plasma membrane of a variety of ion-transporting epithelia. The electrophysiological property of Kir7.1 has been well characterized but the mechanism underlying the plasma-membrane targeting remains elusive. To address this issue, we examined the effect of deletion and site-directed mutagenesis on the plasma-membrane localization of Kir7.1 in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells by immunofluorescence microscopy and cell-surface biotinylation. Although deletions of up to 37 amino acid residues from the C-terminus had no effect, further deletion resulted in accumulation of the mutant proteins in intracellular membranes. No sequence motif for subcellular targeting was found in the distal C-terminal region. The cell-surface expression of the deletion mutant lacking 38 or 40 C-terminal residues was restored by addition of one or three alanine residues, respectively, to the C-terminus end. These results suggest that the C-terminal length plays an important role in the plasma-membrane localization of Kir7.1.

Subclinical Cushings disease with amelioration of metabolic comorbidities after removal of pituitary tumor

A 49-year-old woman with hypertension, obesity and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was admitted for evaluation of pituitary incidentaloma. Although she presented no Cushingoid feature, endocrine examination of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis showed elevated basal plasma ACTH and cortisol levels, their lack of circadian rhythm, non-suppressibility to low-dose (1 mg) dexamethasone, and responsiveness to CRH, suggesting autonomous ACTH secretion from a pituitary tumor. She underwent transsphenoidal surgery, and was diagnosed as chromophobe adenoma with positive ACTH immunoreactivity. Postoperatively, her abnormal HPA axis was resolved, along with improvement of hypertension, obesity and IGT. Thus, her metabolic comorbidities are likely due to subclinical Cushings disease.

Olfactory neuroblastoma causing ectopic ACTH syndrome

A 39-year-old woman who presented with typical Cushingoid appearance (moon facies, central obesity, purpura) was admitted to our hospital because of pulmonary infection. She was found to have hypertension, severe hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. Endocrine data revealed elevated plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol with lack of circadian rhythm, non-suppressibility to high-dose dexamethasone, and hyperresponsiveness to CRH stimulation. Although no pituitary mass was detected by MRI of the brain, inferior petrosal sinus sampling showed a step-up of central to peripheral ACTH levels; these data are consistent with the diagnosis of Cushing's disease. She was successfully treated with metyrapone to control hypercortisolemia. Ten months later, a mass was detected in the ethmoid sinus, which was surgically removed. After resection of the ethmoid sinus tumor, her Cushingoid features and hypercortisolemia disappeared, but recurred after enlargement of a second mass in the maxillary sinus. After resection of the maxillary sinus tumor, her hypercortisolemia subsided. Histologically, the tumor tissues from both the ethmoid and maxillary sinus were identical and consistent with the diagnosis of olfactory neuroblastoma. Immunohistochemically, the immunoreactivities of ACTH and POMC were positive in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, and immunoreactive ACTH was demonstrated in both tumor tissues. Thus, this is the second rare case with ectopic ACTH syndrome caused by olfactory neuroblastoma thus far reported.

Malignant gastric carcinoid causing ectopic ACTH syndrome: discrepancy of plasma ACTH levels measured by different immunoradiometric assays

Discrepancy of plasma ACTH levels measured by different immunoradiometric assays (IRMA) in a case with malignant gastric carcinoid causing ectopic ACTH syndrome was examined by gel chromatography and immunohistochemical analysis. A 49-year-old male was found to have a large gastric tumor, with muscle wasting, hypertension, diabetes and hypokalemia caused by hypercortisolemia. His plasma ACTH levels, although initially elevated, were found to be almost in normal ranges. The discrepancy of plasma ACTH levels was proven to be due to different IRMA kits used; the initial assay was performed by a kit that could recognize high-molecular weight (HMW) form as well as ACTH(1-39), but the later assay by another kit that could recognize only ACTH(1-39). Pathological examination of the gastric tumor was consistent with the diagnosis of malignant carcinoid. Immunohistochemical study revealed that immunoreactivity of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) was positive within the tumor cells, whereas those of ACTH and prohormone convertase 1/3 were negative. Molecular sieving analysis of patient's plasma by gel chromatography coupled with ACTH radioimmunoassay which could recognize HMW form and ACTH(1-39) and two different IRMAs revealed that the predominant form of ACTH was HMW form with a minor peak of ACTH(1-39). This is a rare case of ectopic ACTH syndrome caused by malignant gastric carcinoid with preferential production of HMW form of ACTH, possibly due to unprocessed POMC.

Spatio-temporal cholinergic modulation in cultured networks of rat cortical neurons: spontaneous activity

Activation of the cholinergic innervation of the cortex has been implicated in sensory processing, learning, and memory. At the cellular level, acetylcholine both increases excitability and depresses synaptic transmission, and its effects on network firing are hard to predict. We studied the effects of carbachol, a cholinergic agonist, on network firing in cultures of rat cortical neurons, using electrode arrays to monitor the activity of large numbers of neurons simultaneously. These cultures show stable spontaneous synchronized burst firing which propagates through dense synaptic connections. Carbachol (10-50 microM), acting through muscarinic receptors, was found to induce a switch to asynchronous single-spike firing and to result in a loss of regularity and fragmentation of the burst structure. To obtain a quantitative measure of cholinergic actions on cortical networks, we applied a cluster Poisson-process model to sets of paralleled spike-trains in the presence and absence of carbachol. This revealed that the time series can be well-characterized by such a simple model, consistent with the observed 1/f(b)-like spectra (0.04<b<2.08). After applying higher concentrations of carbachol the property of the spectra shifted toward a Poisson-process (white) spectrum. These results indicate that cholinergic neurotransmitters have a strong and reliable desynchronizing action on cortical neural activity.

Aldosterone increases osteopontin gene expression in rat endothelial cells

Aldosterone is currently recognized as one of the important risk hormones for cardiovascular disease. However, the cellular mechanism by which aldosterone affects the process of cardiovascular injury has not been well understood. In the present study, we investigated whether aldosterone induces pro-inflammatory genes expression in rat aortic endothelial cells. Aldosterone significantly increased steady-state osteopontin mRNA and protein levels, but not those of adhesion molecules or chemokine. The stimulatory effect of aldosterone on osteopontin expression was time-dependent (3-24h) and dose-dependent (10(-10)-10(-6)M), and abolished by a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist spironolactone, but not by a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486. The aldosterone-induced osteopontin mRNA expression was completely blocked by a transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D, and a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. Thus, the present study demonstrated for the first time that aldosterone directly acts on endothelial cells to induce osteopontin gene expression via MR-mediated genomic action, which may be responsible for the initiation of inflammation and fibrosis in cardiovascular tissue induced by aldosterone.

Aldosterone induces angiotensin converting enzyme gene expression via a JAK2-dependent pathway in rat endothelial cells

Aldosterone is currently recognized as a risk hormone for cardiovascular disease. However, the cellular mechanism by which aldosterone acts on vasculature has not been well understood. In the present study, we investigated whether aldosterone affects angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene expression in rat endothelial cells. Cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) from Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. ACE mRNA levels and its enzyme activities in RAECs were examined by real-time RT-PCR and enzyme assay using hippuryl-His-Leu as substrates, respectively. Aldosterone significantly increased steady-state ACE mRNA levels and its enzymatic activities. This effect was dose dependent and time dependent and abolished by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone or transcription inhibitor actinomycin D. Dexamethasone also increased steady-state ACE mRNA levels, whose effect was completely blocked by glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486, but not by spironolactone. By contrast, the aldosterone-induced ACE mRNA expression was only partially blocked by RU486. The stimulatory effect of aldosterone on ACE mRNA expression was completely blocked by a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein) and JAK2 inhibitor (AG490), partially by Src kinase inhibitor (PP2) and epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor (AG1478), but not by platelet-derived growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor (AG1296). Transfection of dominant-negative JAK2 construct, but not wild-type construct, significantly blocked the aldosterone-induced ACE mRNA up-regulation. Furthermore, aldosterone induced phosphorylation of JAK2, whose effect was blocked by spironolactone and actinomycin D. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates for the first time that aldosterone induces ACE gene expression and its enzyme activity mainly via a mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated and JAK2-dependent pathway in rat endothelial cells. This may constitute a positive feedback loop for a local renin-angiotensin system, possibly involved in the development of aldosterone-induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular injury.

Spatio-temporal cholinergic modulation in cultured networks of rat cortical neurons: Evoked activity

We studied the effects of carbachol, a cholinergic agonist, on extracellularly evoked firing of networks in mature cultures of rat cortical neurons, using multi-electrode arrays to monitor the activity of large numbers of neurons simultaneously. These cultures show evoked burst firing which propagates through dense synaptic connections. When a brief voltage pulse was applied to one extracellular electrode, spiking electrical responses were evoked in neurons throughout the network. The response had two components: an early phase, terminating within 30-80 ms, and a late phase which could last several hundreds of milliseconds. Action potentials evoked during the early phase were precisely timed, with only small jitter. In contrast, the late phase characteristically showed clusters of electrical activity with significant spatio-temporal fluctuations. The late phase was suppressed by applying a relatively small amount of carbachol (5 microM) in the external solution, even though the spontaneous firing rate was not significantly changed. Carbachol increased both the spike-timing precision and the speed of propagation of population spikes, and selectively increased the firing coincidence in a subset of neuron pairs in the network, while suppressing late variable firing in responses. Hence, the results give quantitative support for the idea that cholinergic activation in the cortex has a general role of focusing or enhancing significant associative firing of neurons.

Threshold firing frequency-current relationships of neurons in rat somatosensory cortex: type 1 and type 2 dynamics

Neurons and dynamical models of spike generation display two different types of threshold behavior, with steady current stimulation: type 1 [the firing frequency vs. current (f-I) relationship is continuous at threshold) and type 2 (discontinuous f-I)]. The dynamics at threshold can have profound effects on the encoding of input as spikes, the sensitivity of spike generation to input noise, and the coherence of population firing. We have examined the f-I and frequency-conductance (f-g) relationships of cells in layer 2/3 of slices of young (15-21 DIV) rat somatosensory cortex, focusing in detail on the nature of the threshold. Using white-noise stimulation, we also measured firing frequency and interspike interval variability as a function of noise amplitude. Regular-spiking (RS) pyramidal neurons show a type 1 threshold, consistent with their well-known ability to fire regularly at very low frequencies. In fast-spiking (FS) inhibitory interneurons, although regular firing is supported over a wide range of frequencies, there is a clear discontinuity in their f-I relationship at threshold (type 2), which has not previously been highlighted. FS neurons are unable to support maintained periodic firing below a critical frequency fc, in the range of 10 to 30 Hz. Very close to threshold, FS cells switch irregularly between bursts of periodic firing and subthreshold oscillations. These characteristics mean that the dynamics of RS neurons are well suited to encoding inputs into low-frequency firing rates, whereas the dynamics of FS neurons are suited to maintaining and quickly synchronizing to gamma and higher-frequency input.

Absence of microdeletions in the Y chromosome in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome with cryptorchidism

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism is found in 80-100% of male patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Recently, the relationship between Yq deletions and cryptorchidism has been assessed. However, the relationship between Yq deletions and PWS patients with cryptorchidism remains unclear. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 51 DNA loci encompassing all of the regions for azoospermia factor (AZF) of the Y chromosome, including the deleted in azoospermia (DAZ) and ribonucleic acid-binding motif (RBM) genes, were examined for microdeletions in 10 PWS males with cryptorchidism and 20 healthy control male subjects. No microdeletions of 51 loci were found in any of the PWS males. The present study therefore suggests that microdeletions in the AZF regions of the Y chromosome do not relate to the occurrence of cryptorchidism in PWS patients.

Mutation screening and CAG repeat length analysis of the androgen receptor gene in Klinefelter's syndrome patients with and without spermatogenesis

BACKGROUND

Mutations of the androgen receptor (AR) gene give rise to a wide array of phenotypic abnormalities. A systematic analysis of the AR gene in patients with 47,XXY has not previously been performed.

METHODS

Mutations of the AR gene and expansion of the CAG repeats in exon 1 of the AR gene were studied in 13 patients with Klinefelter's syndrome either with (n = 1) or without (n = 12) spermatogenesis.

RESULTS

No abnormalities in the AR gene were detected by single strand conformational polymorphism analysis. The CAG lengths ranged from 17 to 27 (mean +/- SD 22.8 +/- 3.3, median 23) for Klinefelter patients or from 17 to 28 (mean +/- SD 23.2 +/- 2.6, median 23) for control subjects. X-inactivation analysis for the methylation status of the AR gene was performed in seven patients who were heterozygous for CAG repeats of different length, showing that the longer CAG repeat alleles underwent random but more frequent inactivation in five patients and skewed inactivation in two.

CONCLUSIONS

An AR gene abnormality does not constitute an important factor for impaired spermatogenesis in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome.

Bilateral cryptorchidism associated with 47,XYY karyotype

We describe an 11-month-old boy with karyotype of 47,XYY who presented with bilateral cryptorchidism, and discuss the hormonal condition of the patient.

Reevaluation of testicular biopsies of males with nonobstructive azoospermia in assisted reproductive technology

Spermatogenesis was investigated in seminiferous tubules of 100 males with nonobstructive azoospermia. Forty-four (44%) cases had Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, 23 (23%) had spermatogonium in the tubules, 17 (17%) had primary spermatocyte in the tubules, and 16 (16%) had round or late spermatid in the tubules. No cases showed secondary spermatocyte present in the tubules. The mean serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in males with nonobstructive azoospermia was significantly higher than that in males with obstructive azoospermia (p < .001). The mean concentrations of serum FSH in cases with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and spermatogonium in the tubules were significantly higher than those in cases with primary spermatocyte and spermatid in the tubules (p < .05-.001). The results indicate that the evaluation of testicular histology using the type of germ cells present in seminiferous tubules is available for assisted reproductive technology.