Effects of long-term Hydergine administration on lipofuscin accumulation in senescent rat brain

The effects of ageing and of 6 months of Hydergine treatment on lipofuscin deposition within the cytoplasma of pyramidal neurons of rat prefrontal cortex, hippocampus (fields CA1 and CA3) and of Purkinje neurons were assessed microfluorimetrically. No lipofuscin autofluorescence was detected in the nerve cell populations of 3-month-old rats, but lipopigment had accumulated in nerve cell bodies of 16-month-old animals and increased significantly thereafter in rats of 22 months of age. In 22-month-old rats, Hydergine administration (0.6 and 1 mg/kg p.o.) started at 16 months caused a significant dose-related decrease in lipofuscin accumulation within the cytoplasm of the various kinds of nerve cells examined.

Enzyme histochemistry of the choroid plexus in old rats

The influence of ageing on the metabolic profile of lateral ventricle choroid plexus epithelial cells from young (3-month-old) and aged (26-month-old) male Wistar rats was studied using enzyme histochemical techniques. The following enzymatic activities related to energy transduction were examined: lactate-(LDH) and succinate- (SDH) dehydrogenases; NADH2-tetrazolium reductase (NADHD) and alpha-glycerophosphate-dehydrogenase (GPDH). The intensity of enzymatic staining within single choroid plexus epithelial cells from young and old animals was assessed microphotometrically. In the choroid plexus epithelial cells of young rats NADHD was the enzymatic activity more heavily stained; cell levels of LHD and GPDH were approximately the same and SDH reactivity was less intense. In old age LDH was reduced by 9.3%, SDH was reduced by 26.1%, NADHD was reduced by 8.6% and GPDH was reduced by 3.6%. The possibility that impaired energy transduction mechanisms at the level of choroid plexus epithelium in old age may influence functional activity of the choroid plexus is discussed.

Autoradiographic localization of the dopaminergic agonist 3H-dihydroergotoxine within the male reproductive system

By the use of combined radioreceptor binding and autoradiographic techniques, we analyzed the anatomical localization of the dopaminergic agonist 3H-dihydroergotoxine in tissue sections of rat male sex organs. The drug was bound by smooth muscle cells of the deferent duct, seminal vesicles and prostate gland as well as by the glandular tissue of seminal vesicles and prostate gland. These data allow us to hypothesize that the effect of dopaminergic agonists on male sexual function may be due, at least in part, to a direct interaction with dopamine receptors present in the reproductive organs.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide levels and distribution in the penis of old rats

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) levels and distribution were studied in the penis of young-adult (3-month-old) and old (30-month-old) Wistar rats by radioimmunoassay and immunofluorescence. No significant changes in tissue VIP concentrations or distribution occurred in the penis of old rats compared to young-adult rats. The present data indicate that the age-related impairment of male sexual function is not dependent on modifications of the VIP-ergic innervation of penile tissue.

Adaptive cytoprotection: an endoscopic study in man

We studied the protective effect of the mild irritant 20% ethanol against the damage caused by the strong irritant 40% ethanol to the duodenal mucosa of 10 healthy volunteers. At time 0, placebo (1% ethanol) or 20% ethanol (6 ml) was sprayed directly onto the duodenal wall through an endoscope. After 15 min 40% ethanol (50 ml) was given; damage was assessed by endoscopic examination 30 min after ethanol. The damage was scored arbitrarily: score 0, no damage; 1, duodenal hyperemia; 2, one hemorrhagic lesion; 3, two to five hemorrhagic lesions; 4, five hemorrhagic lesions. In separate experiments, the effect of acetylsalicylic acid (20 mg/kg iv) on adaptive cytoprotection was evaluated. It was found that 1) 20% ethanol does not damage the duodenal mucosa, whereas 40% ethanol does; 2) duodenal hyperemia and hemorrhagic lesions caused by 40% ethanol can be prevented by the previous administration of 20% ethanol; and 3) acetylsalicylic acid does not damage the duodenal mucosa but abolishes the protective effect of 20% ethanol. "Adaptive cytoprotection" is a physiological phenomenon in humans too and further supports the probable defensive role of endogenous prostaglandins in the gastrointestinal tract.

Protection of gastric mucosa in rats. Differences between vagotomy, atropine, and PGE2

We have studied the protective effects of truncal vagotomy, atropine, and PGE2 against gastric mucosal injury produced by necrotizing agents (0.2 N NaOH, 0.6 N HCl, absolute ethanol), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and HCl, or serotonin (5HT). Vagotomy, atropine, and PGE2 prevent the effects of different noxious agents. Vagotomy is protective only against 5HT and against ASA + 0.15 N or 0.35 N HCl, whereas atropine and PGE2 are also protective against the necrotizing agents. The effectiveness of vagotomy against ASA + 0.35 N HCl does not depend on the inhibition of acid secretion and supports the hypothesis that removal of the vagal drive counteracts the effect of H+ back-diffusion.

A new technique for preparing continent gastric fistulas in dogs

A new technique is described for making continent gastric fistulas in dogs. It is characterized by an antireflux flap of the gastric wall. It does not require a large laparotomy incision or gastric sutures, is simple, and takes only 30 minutes. Gastric secretion tests have demonstrated that this technique is followed by stable reproducible secretion.

The effects of 9-hydroxy-19,20-bis-norprostanoic acid on mucus, acid and gastrin secretion in duodenal ulcer patients

The effects of 9-hydroxy-19,20-bis norprostanoic acid (rosaprostol, IBI), a new prostaglandin analogue, on gastric secretion and gastrin release were studied in 15 patients with duodenal ulcer. In acute experiments, rosaprostol lowered pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion by 27-36%, whereas after chronic administration there were no changes in acid secretion or gastrin release (fasting and oxo-stimulated) but N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA)-glycoproteins increased significantly. Our results indicate that the antisecretory and mucopoietic activities of 9-hydroxy-19,20-bis-norprostanoic acid are the basis of its healing effect in duodenal ulcer patients.

New trends in the diagnosis and therapy of acute cholangitis

For a long time, acute cholangitis has been a difficult therapeutic problem, mostly due to the limited information about the jaundiced patient available from diagnostic investigations. The diagnostic precision of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in association with the great therapeutic possibilities of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage has solved this problem. The successful results obtained in 37 patients with acute cholangitis prove the value of this approach.

Detection of neuronal uptake of [3H]dopamine in the rabbit celiac artery

[3H]Dopamine ([3H]DA) is specifically taken up by slices of rabbit celiac artery. Corticosterone, a selective inhibitor of extraneuronal uptake processes, was found to reduce the uptake of the labelled catecholamine by about 30%. Desimipramine, an inhibitor of uptake processes in noradrenergic neurons, caused a decrease of [3H]DA uptake of about 35%. Benztropine, an inhibitor of uptake processes in dopaminergic neurons reduced [3H]DA uptake by about 30%. The neuronal uptake of [3H]DA was completely inhibited by chemical sympathectomy or by simultaneous incubation of the slices with desimipramine and benztropine. Norepinephrine had a competitive effect on [3H]DA uptake and benztropine inhibited [3H]norepinephrine uptake by 32%. The results are consistent with the existence of a double noradrenergic and dopaminergic innervation of the rabbit celiac artery.

Cholinergic innervation of the human pulmonary circulation

The cholinergic innervation of the pulmonary circulation was studied in man. Both extra- and intrapulmonary branches of the pulmonary artery and vein are provided with a cholinergic of the vein. In the main branches of the pulmonary vessels, the existence of two nerve plexuses, a superficial and a deep one, was observed. The superficial plexus is localized in the outer adventitial layer while the deeper plexus is localized in the adventitial-medial transitional zone. In smaller arteries and veins, the existence of a single plexus (adventitial-medial) was observed. In some specimens, the presence of diffuse masses of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive material or elbow-shaped AChE-positive formations was observed. The nature of these formations as well as the possible functional role of a cholinergic system in the pulmonary circulation are discussed.

The autonomic innervation of the human greater saphenous vein

The existence of a double catecholaminergic and cholinergic innervation was demonstrated in the human greater saphenous vein. Catecholamine-containing nerve fibres are organized in a network-like plexus localized at the adventitial-medial border. Acetylcholinesterase-containing nerve fibres are arranged in a plexus found at the adventitial-medial border as well. Catecholamine and acetylcholinesterase-containing nerve fibres, while localized in close apposition since they occupy the same portion of the vein, represent two distinct and independent populations of nerve fibres coming likely from the sympathetic and parasympathetic sections of the autonomic nervous system respectively. Our findings demonstrating a close relationship between catecholaminergic and cholinergic nerve fibres within the wall of the human greater saphenous vein offer morphological support to physiological and pharmacological results reported in the literature of a presynaptic control exerted by cholinergic nerves on norepinephrine release at the level of the saphenous vein.

Acetylcholinesterase containing nerve fibers in guinea pig ovary

The distribution of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) in the ovary of normal as well as of sympathectomized guinea pigs was studied. In normal animals AChE-positive nerve fibres were found organized in a perivascular plexus. Some nerve fibres reach the corpus luteum and the follicular wall. Chemical sympathectomy performed with he neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine caused an almost complete disappearance of AChE positive nerve fibres suggesting that most of the AChE activity of ovarian nerves is localized in adrenergic nerve fibres. Enzyme activity was also present in smooth muscle cells of the vascular tree.

Cholinergic nerves in the human liver

The cholinergic innervation of the human liver was studied. Slices (150--200 micrometer thick) of human liver and of the greater hepatic blood vessels (hepatic artery and vein, portal vein) were incubated in a solution of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HDA) in order to obtain a selective degeneration of adrenergic nerves. Controls were prepared from samples incubated with buffer alone. The slices were cut on a cryostat into 15-20 micrometer thick sections and processed for the histochemical detection of cholinesterases. Cholinergic nerve fibres innervate the extra hepatic and the intrahepatic branches of the hepatic artery, the portal vein as well as the hepatic vein. Fewer cholinergic fibres innervate the hepatocytes and the hepatic sinusoids. The 6-HDA treatment does not seem to alter the pattern of the cholinergic innervation of the liver. The findings indicate the presence of a cholinergic parasympathetic innervation in the human liver.

Acetylcholinesterase containing nerve fibres in coronary circulation

The cholinergic innervation of coronary arteries and veins has been studied in the human. Structures resembling cholinergic nerve fibres are localised at the level of the extraparenchymal branches of the coronary arteries, organised in the adventitial plexus. Neither the coronary veins nor the intraparenchymal blood vessels are provided with a cholinergic innervation. Those findings are discussed.

Acetylcholinesterase-containing nerve fibers in the dura mater of guinea pig, mouse, and rat

The cholinergic innervation of the dura mater in the guinea pig, mouse and rat has been investigated. The dura mater is provided with a cholinergic innervation. After short incubation times (4--6 hours) we found acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-containing nerve fibers in close relationship with the main meningeal blood vessels. After longer incubation times, AChE-containing nerve fibers appear also in the meningeal tissue proper. Chemical sympathectomy, performed with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxy-dopamine, does not seem to interfere with the pattern of the dural cholinergic innervation. The findings are discussed.

Cholinergic nerves in dog cerebral vessels

The presence of a cholinergic innervation of the main cerebral blood vessels has been studied in the dog. Cholinergic nerve fibers are found in all examined arteries and veins, organized in two or in a single nerve plexus. The cerebral veins appear to be less innervated than arteries. The meaning of a cholinergic innervation in the cerebral circulation is discussed.

The cholinergic innervation of the aorta

The cholinergic innervation of the aorta has been studied in some mammalian species. Cholinergic nerve fibers (CNF) are organized in the aorta of the rabbit, kid, lamb, and guinea pig in 2 plexuses. The plexuses of CNF consist of a superficial plexus localized in the adventitial layer and a deep one localized in the adventitial-medial transitional zone. Some CNF reach the outer layers of the media. In the aorta of the dog, mouse and rat CNF are organized in a single plexus localized in the adventitial layer. This nerve plexus is formed of CNF that for the most part are distributed to the vasa vasorum. The chemical sympathectomy don't alters the pattern of the cholinergic innervation of the aorta, indicating that stained CNF are parasympathetic in nature. The meaning of a cholinergic innervation of the aortic wall is discussed.

Histochemical studies on the autonomic innervation of the femoral artery and vein

The innervation of the femoral artery and vein in the dog was studied using: a) glyoxylic acid fluorescence (for the histochemical localization of adrenergic nerve fibers); b) acetylcholinesterase (for the histochemical localization of cholinergic nerve fibers). -Andrenergic nerve fibers and related terminals in both vessels are confined to the adventitial-medial transitional zone and the outer layers of the media. Acetylcholinesterase containing nerve fibers are localized in the adventitial-medial transitional zone of the femoral artery. These findings may indicate the presence of a cholinergic vasodilatator system in the control of the circulation in the femoral artery.

Pain thresholds in rats during recovery from REM sleep deprivation

Using 30 Sprague-Dawley female rats, threshold to pain was measured over the course of recovery from REM sleep deprivation. Relative to the untreated controls and to their own pretreatment thresholds, the REM-deprived animals showed significantly reduced pain thresholds which were still evident 96 hours after the termination of the REM deprivation. Possible implications of these data for research with analgesic drugs were noted.

Pupillary attributions of college students to happy and angry faces

As evidence for an hypothesis that pupil size plays an important role in nonverbal communication, Hess (1975) has reported that adults draw in appropriately sized pupils on his happy and angry faces task. However, he did not report a statistical test of his data. In this study, we replicated Hess' research and found congruent with his hypothesis that college students (n = 223) draw in significantly larger pupils on the happy face.

Cholinergic nerves in blood vessels of the female reproductive system

Cholinergic innervation of the blood vessels of the female reproductive system was investigated in human by the cholinesterase method. The following results were obtained: 1. The uterine and vaginal arteries are provided with a rich cholinergic innervation. 2. The ovarian, tubaric and ovarian-uterine artery are poorly innervated. 3. The ovarian and uterine vein are not provided with a cholinergic innervation.

Cholinergic nerves in the thyroid gland

The cholinergic innervation of the thyroid gland has been studied in the human. AChE positive nerve fibers are localized in the wall of the thyroid artery, arranged in two plexuses, a superficial (adventitial) and a deep one (medial). The glandular tissue is provided with cholinergic nerve fibers, localized between and around thyroid follicles. The present results suggest that the endocrine activity of the thyroid gland is also under the control of the autonomic nervous system.

Double-blind clinical comparison between a gastrin-receptor antagonist, proglumide, and a histamine H2-blocker, cimetidine

A double-blind trial was carried out in 30 patients with peptic ulcers to assess the effects of treatment with a gastrin-receptor antagonist, proglumide, compared with a histamine H2-blocker, cimetidine. Patients received either 1200 mg proglumide or 1200 mg cimetidine per day for 28 days. The results showed that both drugs significantly reduced clinical symptoms and gastric secretion. In patients treated with cimetidine there was a significant increase in blood gastrin levels and marked hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the antral mucosa was observed in almost all patients. No such changes were found in the patients treated with proglumide.