Identification of periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe nucleus neurons projecting to both the trigeminal sensory complex and forebrain structures: a fluorescent retrograde double-labeling study in the rat

The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) including the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) has been known to contain serotoninergic neurons projecting to many brain regions. Employing fluorescent retrograde double labeling combined with immunofluorescence histochemistry for serotonin (5-HT), we examined in the rat whether or not single PAG/DR neurons with 5-HT send their axons to both the trigeminal sensory complex and forebrain regions. Stereotaxic injections of Diamidino Yellow (DY) and Fast Blue (FB) were performed unilaterally; DY was injected into the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus or principal sensory trigeminal nucleus, and FB into the ventrolateral orbital cortex, nucleus accumbens or amygdala. A small percentage of PAG/DR neurons were doubly labeled with DY and FB, and the majority of them showed 5-HT-like immunoreactivity (5-HT-LI). Most of these 5-HT-LI PAG/DR neurons that were indicated to send their axons simultaneously to both the trigeminal sensory complex and forebrain regions were distributed in the ventrolateral PAG subdivision and ventral aspects of the medial PAG subdivision at the middle and caudal PAG levels, bilaterally with a predominant distribution on the side ipsilateral to the injections. This indicates a possible role of these PAG/DR neurons in the limbic or affective-motivational aspect of the pain-related neural system.

The sites of origin of serotoninergic afferent fibers in the trigeminal motor, facial, and hypoglossal nuclei in the rat

The sites of origin of serotoninergic afferents in the trigeminal motor (Vm), facial (VII), and hypoglossal nuclei (XII) were studied in the rat by fluorescent retrograde labeling with Fluoro-Gold, in combination with immunofluorescence histochemistry for serotonin (5-HT). The results indicated: (1) The nucleus raphe magnus, nucleus raphe pallidus, and nucleus raphe obscurus contained 5-HT neurons projecting to the Vm, VII or XII. (2) The nucleus raphe dorsalis sends 5-HT fibres to the Vm and VII, but not to the XII. (3) The gigantocellular reticular nucleus pars alpha contained 5-HT neurons projecting to the VII.

Demonstration of habenular neurons which receive afferent fibers from the nucleus accumbens and send their axons to the midbrain periaqueductal gray

After injecting Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) and wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP), respectively, into the medial part of the nucleus accumbens (NA) and the midbrain periaqueductal gray including the dorsal raphe nucleus (PAG/DR) on one side of single rat brains, we observed that axon terminals labeled anterogradely with PHA-L made possible synaptic contact with neurons in the habenula (Hb) which were retrogradely labeled with WGA-HRP. These Hb neurons were distributed in the medial part of the lateral Hb. The results indicate that the medial part of the lateral Hb relays neuronal information from the medial part of the NA to the PAG/DR.

The sites of origin of dopaminergic afferent fibers to the lateral habenular nucleus in the rat

The lateral habenular nucleus of the rat contains a dense plexus of dopaminergic fibers, which are more marked in the medial part of the lateral habenular nucleus than in its lateral counterpart. Employing a combination of fluorescent retrograde axonal tracing with fluorogold and tyrosine hydroxylase immunofluorescence histochemistry, we investigated the distribution of cells of origin of the dopaminergic afferent fibers to the lateral habenular nucleus in the rat. The cells double-labeled with both fluorogold injected into the lateral habenular nucleus and tyrosine hydroxylase antisera were seen in a variety of fore- and midbrain regions, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial preoptic area, periventricular, ventromedial, and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei, ventral tegmental area, interfascicular nucleus, substantia nigra pars compacta, ventrolateral division of the midbrain periaqueductal gray, and dorsal raphe nucleus. The double-labeled cells were located bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance, and constituted approximately 10% of the total fluorogold-positive cell population. We have further observed by anterograde axonal tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin that projection fibers arising from the sites of origin of the dopaminergic afferent fibers to the lateral habenular nucleus terminate mainly in the medial part of the lateral habenular nucleus, and to a lesser extent in its lateral counterpart. Thus, we have found in the present study that the dopaminergic neurons sending their axons to the lateral habenular nucleus are widely distributed in the A9, A10, A14, and A15 dopaminergic cell groups. Such dopaminergic neurons may exert regulatory influences upon many limbic-associated brain regions via the lateral habenular nucleus.

Serotoninergic projections from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the nucleus submedius in the rat and cat

The nucleus submedius in the medial thalamus has been known to receive spinothalamic and trigeminothalamic fibers, and to contain neurons which can be activated by noxious stimuli. These previous findings suggest that the nucleus submedius may be involved in the processing and relay of pain-related information. In the present study, we immunohistochemically observed in the rat and cat that the nucleus submedius was distributed with a considerable amount of serotoninergic fibers. After iontophoretic injection of cholera toxin B subunit into the nucleus submedius, the sequential double-antigen immunofluorescence histochemistry for retrogradely transported cholera toxin B subunit and serotonin revealed that the serotoninergic fibers to the nucleus submedius arose mainly from the dorsal raphe nucleus, and additionally from the ventrolateral and medial parts of the midbrain periaqueductal gray. The direct projections from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the nucleus submedius were confirmed by anterograde axonal tracing after iontophoretic injection of Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin into the dorsal raphe nucleus. The disappearance of almost all serotoninergic fibers in the nucleus submedius was also observed after destruction of the dorsal raphe nucleus. The fluorescent retrograde double-labeling with Diamidino Yellow and Fast Blue further revealed that some neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus projecting directly to the nucleus submedius sent their axon collaterals to the ventrolateral orbital region of the cerebral cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, nucleus raphe magnus, caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus, or spinal cord. The possible roles of the serotoninergic projections from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the nucleus submedius in pain control and/or the olfactolimbic functions are discussed.

Effects of rhGM-CSF on myeloid clonogenic cells in acute myelogenous leukemia patients

The effects of rhGM-CSF in vivo on the myeloid clonogenic cells present in 6 AML patients was evaluated. The relative number of clonogenic cells fell in 4 of the 6 patients. The effects of rhGM-CSF on the percentage of clonogenic cells in S phase and the sensitivity of clonogenic cells to cytosine arabinoside varied among the patients. These effects were not related to the effects of rhGM-CSF on the white blood cell count or on the proliferative rate of the leukemia cell population as a whole.

Identification of premotor interneurons which project bilaterally to the trigeminal motor, facial or hypoglossal nuclei: a fluorescent retrograde double-labeling study in the rat

With the aid of a fluorescent retrograde double-labeling technique, we examined in the rat the distribution of single neurons which project bilaterally to one of the orofacial motor nuclei (the trigeminal motor, facial and hypoglossal nuclei) by branching axons. The results suggested that premotor interneurons were distributed most frequently in the medial part of the parvicellular reticular nucleus; such neurons were further scattered in the other regions of the medullary reticular formation, in the regions around the trigeminal motor nucleus, in the parabrachial area, and in the mesencephalic reticular formation.

Analysis of the c-myc and N-ras genes in acute myelogenous leukemia cells which manifest the constitutive expression of the c-myc gene

The "constitutive" expression of the c-myc gene was detected in leukemia cells obtained from 4 patients with an acute myeloid leukemia, 3 with chronic myeloid leukemia and 1 with a myelodysplastic syndrome. Studies were undertaken to determine whether or not the myc gene was rearranged or mutated in exon I within a 3'Pvu II region, a transcriptional attenuation site. Studies to explore the possibility of a point mutation in the N-ras gene were also conducted. No abnormalities were detected in either gene. Studies should be undertaken evaluating the possibility of a post-transcriptional mechanism, such as alteration of RNA stability, which could be responsible for the constitutive expression of c-myc gene.

Direct projections from the midbrain periaqueductal gray and the dorsal raphe nucleus to the trigeminal sensory complex in the rat

It is well known that analgesia can be produced by stimulation of the midbrain periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe nucleus. This stimulation-produced analgesia may operate, at least partly, through direct projections to nociceptors in the primary sensory nuclei. In the present study, direct projections from the midbrain periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe nucleus to the trigeminal sensory complex were studied in the rat. After injection of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin into the periaqueductal gray or dorsal raphe nucleus, terminal labeling was found in the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and the oral, interpolar and caudal subnuclei of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance. The terminal labeling was prominent in the ventrolateral parts of the trigeminal sensory complex; it was particularly marked in the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and laminae I and III of the caudal subnucleus of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. After injection of cholera toxin B subunit into the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus or one of the subnuclei of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, retrogradely labeled cells were seen in the periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe nucleus, bilaterally with an ipsilateral dominance. In the periaqueductal gray they were most often seen in the ventrolateral and dorsolateral subdivisions, but no particular topographic organization was detected in the distribution of retrogradely labeled neurons in the periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe nucleus after tracer injection into each subdivision of the trigeminal sensory complex. After injections of Fast Blue and Diamidino Yellow, respectively, into the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and the caudal subnucleus of the spinal trigeminal nucleus on one side of the brain, a number of doubly labeled neurons were found in the periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe nucleus, bilaterally with an ipsilateral dominance. The results indicate that a considerable number of neurons in the periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe nucleus send projection fibers to the trigeminal sensory complex, and that some of them send their axons to both the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and the caudal subdivision of the spinal trigeminal nucleus by way of axon collaterals. These projections may subserve suppression of the activity of nociceptive neurons in the trigeminal system.

Collateral projections of single neurons in the periaqueductal gray and dorsal raphe nucleus to both the trigeminal sensory complex and spinal cord in the rat

After injecting Diamidino yellow (DY) and Fast blue (FB), respectively, into the trigeminal sensory complex and lumbar cord segments, neurons were doubly labeled retrogradely with both DY and FB in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DR). The fluorescent retrograde double-labeling method combined with serotonin (5HT) immunofluorescence histochemistry revealed that more than 70% of the doubly labeled PAG/DR neurons showed 5HT-like immunoreactivity (5HT-LI). These 5HT-LI PAG/DR neurons may modulate nociceptors in the trigeminal sensory complex and spinal cord by sending axon collaterals to these regions.

Demonstration of axon terminals of projection fibers from the periaqueductal gray onto neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus which send their axons to the trigeminal sensory nuclei

Axon terminals of projection fibers from the periaqueductal gray (PAG) onto neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) sending their axons to the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus (Vp) or caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vc) were demonstrated light microscopically: In the rats which were injected with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) and wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) respectively into the PAG and trigeminal sensory complex (Vp or Vc), presumed axon terminals labeled anterogradely with PHA-L appeared to make synaptic contacts with NRM neurons labeled retrogradely with WGA-HRP.

Premotor neurons projecting simultaneously to two orofacial motor nuclei by sending their branched axons. A study with a fluorescent retrograde double-labeling technique in the rat

Premotor neurons innervating simultaneously two of the trigeminal motor (Vm), facial (VII) and hypoglossal nuclei (XII) by sending their branched axons were demonstrated in the lower brain stem of the rat by means of a fluorescent retrograde double-labeling method with Fast Blue (FB) and Diamidino Yellow (DY). After injections of FB and DY, respectively, into the Vm and VII, into the Vm and XII, or into the VII and XII, the majority of neuronal cell bodies labeled doubly with FB and DY were distributed in the lateral tegmental field, especially its medial part in the medulla oblongata.

Biological characteristics of newly diagnosed poor prognosis acute myelogenous leukemia

A pilot study was conducted of the biological characteristics of the leukemia cells of newly diagnosed patients with poor prognosis acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). This study included measurements of the pretherapy proliferative rate of the leukemia cells in vivo, assessment of differentiation in vivo during remission induction therapy, and the level of expression of the fms, myc, and IL1 beta genes in pretherapy leukemia cells. Short cell cycle times were characteristic of the best prognostic category and were associated with a rapid reduction in marrow leukemia cells in cytosine arabinoside (araC)-sensitive patients. Expression of c-fms was associated with rapid reduction in marrow leukemia cells during araC therapy and with a successful treatment outcome. Expression of the IL1 beta gene was associated with short remissions. These studies suggest that when compared to newly diagnosed standard prognosis AML, the leukemia of poor prognosis patients is more likely to exhibit long cell cycle times, low levels of fms expression, and is less likely to be associated with myeloid differentiation during remission induction therapy.

Collateral projections of single neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus to both the sensory trigeminal nuclei and spinal cord in the rat

After injecting Diamidino yellow and Fast blue respectively into the sensory trigeminal nuclei and spinal cord, we observed doubly labeled cells in the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM). Combining the fluorescent retrograde double labeling with serotonin (5-HT) immunofluorescence histochemistry, we further found that about 30% of the doubly labeled NRM neurons showed 5-HT-like immunoreactivity (5-HT-LI). Such 5-HT-LI NRM neurons may modulate nociceptive activities simultaneously in the sensory trigeminal nuclei and spinal cord by sending axon collaterals to these regions.

Collateral projections of trigeminal ganglion neurons to both the principal sensory trigeminal and the spinal trigeminal nuclei in the rat

Employing a combination of fluorescent retrograde double labelling and immunofluorescence histochemistry for substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), we examined collateral projections from single neurons in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) of the rat to both the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus (Vp) and the oral, interpolar or caudal subnuclei of the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vo, Vi or Vc). In the rats that were unilaterally injected with fast blue (FB) into the Vp and with diamidino yellow (DY) into the Vo, Vi or Vc, neurons labelled with FB and/or DY were observed in the TG ipsilateral to the injections. Of the labelled TG neurons, about 2% were double labelled with both tracers in the rats that were injected with FB into the Vp and with DY into the Vo or Vi, and about 10% were double labelled in the rats that were injected with FB into the Vp and with DY into the Vc. The results indicate that TG neurons sending their axons to the Vp project, by way of axon collaterals, to the Vc more frequently than to the Vo or Vi. Some of the TG neurons double labelled with FB and DY exhibited SP- or CGRP-like immunoreactivity (LI): Of the TG neurons that were double labelled with FB injected into the Vp and with DY injected into the Vo, Vi or Vc, about 38%, 49% and 42%, respectively, displayed SP-LI, and about 54%, 58% and 59%, respectively, showed CGRP-LI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical and experimental study of xiao er ke cuan ling oral liquid in the treatment of infantile bronchopneumonia]

Xiao Er Ke Chuan Ling Oral Liquid (KCL) is a Chinese herbal preparation consisted of 10 herbs such as Prunus armeniacae, Scutelaria baicalensis, Lonicera japonica etc. 30 children suffering from bronchopneumonia and/or acute bronchitis were treated with KCL (treated group) and another 30 cases were treated with penicillin and aminophylline (control group).

RESULTS

cure rate and effective rate in treated group was 26.6%, and 93.3% respectively. While in control group was 30% and 96.6% respectively. No significant differences were seen between them(P > 0.05). The pharmacodynamic experiment showed KCL had potent pharmacological action. The experiment on tracheal fragment of Guinea pig in vitro showed it caused moderately strong smooth muscle relaxation, through inhibition the effect of histamine and acetylcholine. Asthma induction experiment of Guinea pig in vivo showed KCL could significantly prolong the latent period of asthma and alleviate asthmatic symptom. Ammonium water cough induction experiment in mice showed it may apparently prolong cough latent period and reduce times of cough relapse and alleviate cough symptom. KCL had potent antipyretic effect on fever model induced by triple vaccine in rabbits. Bacteriostatic and antiviral experiment in vitro showed the drug had quite strong inhibitory effects for Streptococcus hemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Flexners Dysentery bacillus, Diplococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and it could potently inhibit the respiratory syncytial virus. KCL is an effective drug in treating bronchopneumonia and acute bronchitis.

A possible explanation for the differential cancer incidence in the intestine, based on distribution of the cytotoxic effects of carcinogens in the murine large bowel

The ability of four mutagenic/carcinogenic chemicals administered as single doses to induce a programmed form of cell death (apoptosis) in the BDF1 mouse large bowel was studied and compared with a previous study on the small intestine using the same mice. The number of apoptotic cells was counted following treatment with the direct-acting agents N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) and N-nitroso-N-ethylurea (NEU) and two agents which require metabolic activation 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). DMH (80 mg/kg) was the most effective at inducing acute cell death and this was closely followed by NMU (200 mg/kg). The least effective agent in the large bowel was NDMA. The peak yield of apoptosis occurred between 4 h (NEU) and 8 h (DMH) after treatment. An analysis of the changing shapes of the frequency plots of apoptosis at each cell position in the crypt at various times after exposure permits an estimate to be made of the position in the crypt of the primary target cells for the cytotoxic action at time t = 0. For the agents studied, this is in the range of the 5th to the 10th position from the base of the crypt. This distribution for the target cells for apoptotic cell death is not coincident with that for the presumptive stem cells, which is at cell position 1 or 2. Comparisons with results previously obtained in the small intestine (ileum) of the same mice show that the relative cytotoxic effectiveness of the four agents differs. Furthermore, the position of the target cells is at about the 4th position from the bottom of the crypt in the ileum, and here the distribution is coincident with that presumed for the stem cells. Our interpretation of the data is that damaged cells in the stem cell region of the small bowel are removed by the activation of a cell suicide programme, which effectively removes potentially harmful genetic alterations. In contrast, in the large bowel, cell death is not initiated particularly strongly in the stem cell region but tends to occur higher in the crypt. The absence of this selective deletion process may result in the perpetuation of deleterious mutations in the colonic stem cell population and this may explain in part, the higher incidence of cancers observed in the large bowel.

Periodic deposition of arabinogalactan epitopes in the cell wall of pollen tubes of Nicotiana tabacum L

The monoclonal antibodies MAC 207 and JIM 8, recognizing arabinogalactan epitopes, were used to localize the corresponding antigenic sites in pollen tubes of Nicotiana tabacum L. grown in vitro or semi in vivo. The analysis of the immunofluorescence labelling was performed by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy. Most pollen tubes were labelled along their length, with the exception of the tip region, in a ring-like pattern with remarkable periodicity. The diameter of the rings was approx. 12 μm and the distance between two rings was about 6 μm. No labelling of the cytoplasm, the vegetative nucleus or the generative cell was observed. The presence of labelling in the non-apical tube wall after pectinase and cellulase digestion indicates that the epitopes for MAC 207 and JIM 8 are located in the inner callosic sheath of the pollen-tube wall.

Trigeminal ganglion neurons which project by way of axon collaterals to both the caudal spinal trigeminal and the principal sensory trigeminal nuclei

Employing a combination of fluorescent retrograde double labeling and immunofluorescence histochemistry, we found that some single neurons in the trigeminal ganglion of the rat projected by way of axon collaterals both to the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus and to the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus, and that about 40% or 57% of these neurons showed respectively substance P- or calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity.

c-myc and c-myb expression in acute myelogenous leukemia

Monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression of c-myc and c-myb in the bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) cells of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The expression of neither gene was correlated with the percent blast cells in the BM or PB nor was there a correlation between c-myc and c-myb expression. A wide range of expression of each gene was found within each FAB type of AML. Patients who had a high proportion of leukemia cells expressing c-myb were less likely to respond to remission induction therapy than patients in whom a low proportion of cells expressed c-myb. This association appears to reflect an inverse relationship between the proportion of cells expressing c-myb and the sensitivity of leukemia cells to the killing effects of chemotherapy in vivo. Treatment outcome was unrelated to c-myc expression.

Abnormal regulation of the myc gene in myeloid leukemia

To study the regulation of expression of the myc protooncogene, cells from normal individuals and patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and chronic phase and blastic crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells were put in overnight culture in the presence or absence of fetal calf serum. Myc expression in normal marrow cells and chronic phase CML cells fell after culture in vitro. In contrast, myc expression was maintained or increased in a majority of the AML and blastic crisis CML specimens. These data demonstrate that the regulation of myc expression is disordered in many AML and blastic crisis specimens but not in chronic phase CML cells.

Target cells for the cytotoxic effects of carcinogens in the murine small bowel

Two direct-acting mutagens, N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) and N-nitroso-N-ethylurea (NEU), and two agents requiring metabolic activation, 1-2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), were administered i.p. to mice. Sections of crypts of the small intestine were assayed for acute histological cell death at various times up to 12 h after treatment. Dead or dying cells exhibited the typical light microscopic morphological features of apoptosis. The incidence of apoptosis at each cell position along the side of longitudinal crypt sections was recorded and frequency plots of the incidence against cell position were determined. NEU (50 mg/kg) produced the highest incidence of cell death but this was closely followed by NDMA (50 mg/kg) and NMU (200 mg/kg). DMH (40 or 80 mg/kg) was the least cytotoxic but even here significantly elevated levels of cell death were observed. The highest incidence of cell death occurred 4-5 h after treatment with NEU, NMU and DMH and at 6 h after NDMA. The data obtained at 4 h after NEU suggest that approximately 22 cells out of a total crypt population of 250 cells are killed, but that for some cell positions near the crypt base (stem cell regions) up to 24% of the cells may be killed. Analysis of the changing shape of the frequency plots with time after treatment enabled the target cell position in the crypts for cytotoxicity to be estimated. This was at cell position 4 for NEU, NMU and DMH and at cell position 5 for NDMA. The stem cells in the crypts are believed to be located at the fourth cell position and hence at least NEU, NMU and DMH are targeting the stem cells with some specificity.

[A study on the morphogenesis, tumor marker and DNA content in early gastric signet ring cell carcinoma]

From the study of 20 specimens of micro-signet ring cell carcinoma of stomach, it was noticed that fusiform epithelioid or round monocytoid carcinoma cells were usually found prior to the appearance of signet ring cells. Therefore, from the point of view in morphogenesis, cells of this tumor might be considered better to be differentiated into two stages--early and late stage, which not only represented a morphological evolution of these carcinoma cells, but also expressed their biological characteristics, as it was shown that the expressions of associated antigen to MCab MG-7 and receptors of PNA, PHA reached the highest degree in the monocytoid carcinoma cells, but was markedly attenuated in the signet ring cells and the difference present was 20 times quantitatively additionally, the nuclear DNA content was increased significantly in cancer cells of the early stage, especially the monocytoid cells, with a pattern of aneuploid and polyploid. On the contrary, signet ring cells usually belong to diploid. It seemed logical that monocytoid carcinoma cells would have the greatest value in the early diagnosis of this carcinoma.

Serotonin-, substance P- and tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive neurons projecting from the midbrain periaqueductal gray to the nucleus tractus solitarii in the rat

Serotonin-, substance P- and tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) were observed to send their axons to the nucleus tractus solitarii in the rat by the retrograde horseradish peroxidase tracing method combined with the immunocytochemical technique. These neurons were most frequently observed in the ventrolateral subnucleus and ventral portion of the medial subnucleus of the PAG at the entire rostrocaudal levels.

Study and application of a new adenosine electrode with thymus tissue

A new adenosine-selective membrane electrode using rabbit thymus tissue as catalyst is described. A typical response slope of 51.2 mV per concentration decade is observed over a linear range which extends from 3.16 x 10(-5) M to 5.62 x 10(-3) M. Detection limits of 2.99 x 10(-5) M have been established. Measured response times are 7 min. The coefficient of variation ranged from 1 to 5.62% (n = 7, m = 5). Fourteen compounds were specifically tested as possible interferents, but no significant response was observed. The standard recoveries of adenosine were from 95.3 to 104.0% (m = 5, n = 5), and the recoveries of adenosine in rabbit blood ranged from 94.0 to 108.4% (n = 3, m = 5) over the linear range. This tissue-based biosensor has excellent sensitivity and selectivity, and has additional advantages of simplicity and low cost. The biosensor can be used to measure directly the concentration of adenosine in body fluid samples without sample processing.

The multiple drug resistance gene, MDR1: expression at the protein and RNA levels

A comparison of three different approaches to detect MDR1 expression in myeloid leukemia cells was undertaken. With respect to the 4 different antibodies studied, a high proportion of false positive reactions were detected. Substantial discordance between MDR1 expression as indicated by Northern blot analysis, PCR, and immunohistochemistry was found. These findings complicate the clinical interpretation of data derived from these methods.

Serotonin-, substance P- and tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive neurons projecting from the periaqueductal gray to the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus in the rat

Direct projections from serotonin-, substance P- and tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) to the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) in the rat were investigated by the retrograde horseradish peroxidase tracing method combined with the immunocytochemical technique. Serotonin-, substance P- and tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive PAG neurons sending their axons to the VMH were distributed in the ventrolateral subnucleus and ventral portion of the medial subnucleus of PAG at the middle and caudal levels.

Diversity of a ribonucleoprotein family in tobacco chloroplasts: two new chloroplast ribonucleoproteins and a phylogenetic tree of ten chloroplast RNA-binding domains

Two new ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) have been identified from a tobacco chloroplast lysate. These two proteins (cp29A and cp29B) are nuclear-encoded and have a less affinity to single-stranded DNA as compared with three other chloroplast RNPs (cp28, cp31 and cp33) previously isolated. DNA sequencing revealed that both contain two consensus sequence-type homologous RNA-binding domains (CS-RBDs) and a very acidic amino-terminal domain but shorter than that of cp28, cp31 and cp33. Comparison of cp29A and cp29B showed a 19 amino acid insertion in the region separating the two CS-RBDs in cp29B. This insertion results in three tandem repeats of a glycine-rich sequence of 10 amino acids, which is a novel feature in RNPs. The two proteins are encoded by different single nuclear genes and no alternatively spliced transcripts could be identified. We constructed a phylogenetic tree for the ten chloroplast CS-RBDs. These results suggest that there is a sizable RNP family in chloroplasts and the diversity was mainly generated through a series of gene duplications rather than through alternative pre-mRNA splicing. The gene for cp29B contains three introns. The first and second introns interrupt the first CS-RBD and the third intron does the second CS-RBD. The position of the first intron site is the same as that in the human hnRNP A1 protein gene.

Projections from serotonin- and substance P-like immunoreactive neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray onto the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars alpha in the rat

Serotonin- and substance P-like immunoreactive (5HT-LI and SP-LI) neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the rat were observed to send their axons to the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars alpha (Rgc alpha) by the retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-tracing method combined with the 5HT- or SP-immunohistochemical technique. These 5HT- or SP-LI PAG neurons were distributed mainly in the ventrolateral subdivision and ventral portion of the medial subdivision at the middle and caudal levels of the PAG, and additionally in the nucleus raphe dorsalis (DR).

Tobacco nuclear gene for the 31 kd chloroplast ribonucleoprotein: genomic organization, sequence analysis and expression

We have previously identified three chloroplast ribonucleoproteins and characterized their cDNAs. Here we present the genomic organization, sequence and expression of one of their genes. The 31 kd ribonucleoprotein (cp31) from tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) chloroplasts is coded for by a single-copy nuclear gene. This gene was isolated and its sequence was determined. The gene contains four exons and three introns. The position of its first intron is conserved among the genes for the maize abscisic acid-induced glycine-rich protein, the human hnRNP A1 protein and cp31. The transcription start site was determined to be 168 bp upstream from the translational initiation codon in both leaf and root tissues. No alternatively spliced transcripts was detected, suggesting that a diversity of chloroplast ribonucleoproteins is generated probably by gene amplification rather than alternative splicing.

Nucleic acid-binding specificities of tobacco chloroplast ribonucleoproteins

Many ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) are involved in the regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. We previously isolated three nuclear-encoded RNPs from tobacco chloroplasts. Here we report their binding specificities for various nucleic acids. The three RNPs synthesized in vitro were subjected to binding assays using ssDNA, dsDNA and four ribonucleotide homopolymers. The affinities for ribonucleotide homopolymers are higher than those for ssDNA and dsDNA, suggesting that they bind preferentially to RNA in vivo. All three RNPs show high specificities for poly(G) and poly(U) in the presence of 1.2-1.8 M NaCl, providing additional evidence for the similarity to HeLa hnRNP proteins. Possible involvement of these RNPs in the post-transcriptional regulation of chloroplast gene expression is discussed.

Serotonin-, substance P- or leucine-enkephalin-containing neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray and nucleus raphe dorsalis send projection fibers to the central amygdaloid nucleus in the rat

By a double-labeling method combining the retrograde tracing of horseradish peroxidase and the immunocytochemical technique, serotonin-, substance P- or leucine-enkephalin-like immunoreactive neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) and the nucleus raphe dorsalis (DR) of the rat were found to send projection fibers to the central amygdaloid nucleus bilaterally with an ipsilateral dominance. These PAG neurons were chiefly distributed in the ventrolateral PAG subdivision and the ventral parts of medial PAG subdivision at the middle and caudal levels of PAG.

Midbrain periaqueductal gray neurons with substance P- or enkephalin-like immunoreactivity send projection fibers to the nucleus accumbens in the rat

Employing a combination of retrograde tracing and immunocytochemistry, midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) neurons with substance P- or leucine-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the rat were found to send projection fibers to the nucleus accumbens bilaterally with an ipsilateral dominance. These neurons were most frequently seen in the ventrolateral and ventral parts of the medial PAG subdivisions at all rostrocaudal levels of PAG.

Extended asymptotic theory of unstable resonator modes

The modes in an unstable resonator can be computed within the limit of a large Fresnel number using the asymptotic expansion of the diffraction integral, as shown by Horwitz, Butts, and Avizonis. The expansion is not valid for the points of interest around or beyond the shadow boundary of the output light. We use a better numerical representation, which extends the regions of use. The comparison of several cases with earlier work shows that the asymptotic theory can be successfully applied for all parameters without restrictions.

[Intermittent negative pressure aspiration in the treatment of chronic pneumothorax with report of 35 cases]

The authors reported 35 cases of chronic pneumothorax who failed to the treatment with bed rest, gas aspiration from cavity and simple closed drainage. In order to re-expand the collapsed lung, intermittent negative pressure aspiration and periodic injection of drugs into pleural cavity was performed with good results. During and after the negative pressure aspiration. There was no severe side effect such as hypotension, shock.

Three distinct ribonucleoproteins from tobacco chloroplasts: each contains a unique amino terminal acidic domain and two ribonucleoprotein consensus motifs

Chloroplasts contain their own genetic system. Eighteen different split genes have been found among approximately 130 chloroplast genes from higher plants. However, little is known about the chloroplast splicing system. Mammalian heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP proteins) have been shown to be involved in splicing. We applied a purification procedure developed for HeLa cell hnRNP proteins, which uses a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) affinity column, directly to the tobacco chloroplast lysate to isolate their chloroplast counterparts. Four proteins (mol. wt approximately 30 kd) bound strongly to the column. The amino-terminal sequences of three of them were determined and their cDNA clones were isolated from a tobacco leaf cDNA library. Sequence analysis of these clones revealed that all three proteins contain two ribonucleoprotein consensus sequences (RNP-CS), confirming their ribonucleoprotein (RNP) nature. The presence of putative transit peptides in their predicted protein sequences, and an in vitro import experiment confirmed they are located in the chloroplast. This is the first report of organellar proteins containing RNP-CS. In addition, these three chloroplast proteins have a very acidic amino-terminal domain, a novel feature among RNP proteins identified so far. They are expressed both in leaves and roots; their mRNA levels showed different light modulation in mature leaves. The three proteins might be involved in splicing and/or processing of chloroplast RNAs.

Collateral projections from the midbrain periaqueductal gray to the nucleus raphe magnus and nucleus accumbens in the rat. A fluorescent retrograde double-labelling study

Collateral projections of single neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) to the nucleus accumbens (ACB) and nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) were observed in the rat by a fluorescent retrograde double-labelling technique. After injecting propidium iodide into the ACB and bisbenzimide into the NRM, doubly labelled PAG neurons were most frequently seen in the ventrolateral subnucleus and ventral part of the medial subnucleus at the middle and caudal levels of the PAG.

[Study on carcinogenic activity of several nickel compounds in mice]

This paper reports the result of the tumor in site induced by several nickel compounds in mice. Three nickel compounds (Ni3S2, NiCl, pure nickel powder) were injected separately to the right arm pit subcutaneously (5 mg/mouse). At the end of the 62nd week, the tested mice were sacrificed. Only nickel sulfide induced tumors in the site of injection, the incidence of tumor was 36%. The majority of the tumors were fibrosarcomas, only 2 rhabdomyosarcomas. The tumors might infiltrate into the surrounding tissues, a few metastasized to the liver and/or the lungs.

[Influence of zinc deprivation on thymus, spleen development and adenosine deaminase activity in young rats]

This study on the thymus and spleen development and ADA activity was done in young rats with zinc deprivation and supplementation. The serum zinc level, body weight, absolute and relative weight, and ADA activity of the thymus and spleen were compared between the experimental rats and the control group. Above indications were all decreased; especially both the thymus weight and the thymus ADA activity were markedly decreased in the zinc deficient group. The averages of thymic absolute weight, relative weight and ADA activity were dropped by 61.32%, 54.54% and 47.59%, respectively. After zinc supplementation for one month, all the body weight, weight of the thymus and spleen, and ADA activity of the spleen were recovered to the control group's level, while ADA activity of the thymus was 33.03% higher than that of the control group. Our data suggested that zinc was not only an important trace element in maintaining the growth of the body, the development of the thymus and spleen, but it may be an important agent to activate the ADA or to prompt synthesis of ADA.

Serotoninergic projections from the midbrain periaqueductal gray to the nucleus accumbens in the rat

A combined method of retrograde tracing of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and serotonin (5-HT) immunocytochemistry indicated that some 5-HT-like immunoreactive neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the rat send their axons to the nucleus accumbens. These PAG neurons are mainly located in the ventromedial and ventrolateral subdivisions at the middle and caudal levels of PAG.

[Comparative study of the ECG exercise test and ambulatory ECG monitoring after recovery from acute myocardial infarction]

Early ECG exercise tests (EET) and ambulatory ECG monitoring (AEM) were performed in 42 patients surviving AMI in order to determine the sensitivity of the two methods for detecting ST-segment deviation and arrhythmias. 23 patients had ST changes during EET and AEM. Of them, 21 patients had ST changes induced by EET and 10 were recorded by AEM. The more the ECG leads used for monitoring during and after EET, the higher the percentage of patients with ST changes will be. There were 2 cases with ST changes found in AEM only. All the 6 patients who had ST elevations during EET had an anterior infarction and echocardiograms did show that they had left ventricular aneurysms or abnormal ventricular wall movement. AEM recorded ventricular premature beats (VPBs) in 37 cases (88.0%), while EET induced VPBs in 8 patients. The 42 patients were followed up for an average time of 6 +/- 1.7 m. (3.4 to 9.3 m.) Cardiac death occurred in 2 cases. One of them had horizontal ST depression of 3 mm during EET, the other had a negative EET but multifocal VPBs during AEM. It is concluded that for detecting ST changes EET is more sensitive than AEM, while VPBs are more frequently found in AEM than in EET. The authors are of the opinion that for better, prediction of the prognosis of patients after AMI, it is preferable to have early EET in combination with AEM.

[Urine-Cr assay with diphenylcarbazide]

Systemic investigations of chromium determination in urine with diphenylcarbazide were carried out and suitable analytic conditions for the determination established. Urine samples were first digested with nitric acid-hydrogen peroxide and then the chromium in the sample was oxidized to the hexavalent state by permanganate in acidic medium. After the excess oxidizing reagent was destroyed with sodium nitrite, chromium (VI) combined with diphenylcarbazide, forming a stable red color. The average recovery was 101.1%, ranging from 82.0% to 115.8%. Coefficients of variation were in the range from 2.0% to 8.4%. The method can be conveniently applied to the analysis of trace chromium in urine samples with satisfactory sensitivity and recovery. The method was applied to the measurement of 180 normal and 124 CHD (coronary heart disease) urine samples from Chengdu city. The mean of chromium level in normal urine was 6.1 micrograms/L and the range with 95% confidence of urine chromium was determined as 1.7-11 micrograms/L. The mean of chromium level in CHD urine samples was 4.2 micrograms/L. By statistical analysis, there was a significant difference between the means of the two groups (t' = 6.9, P less than 0.05).