Oncogenesis and altered differentiation induced by activated Ras in neuroblasts of transgenic mice

Sympathetic neurons, enteric neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells all derive from the neural crest. During development these cells migrate, proliferate, survive and differentiate in a highly controlled fashion influenced by local signals encountered during their migration. Aberrations of these processes are responsible for a variety of developmental defects and malignancies. Many of the environmental signals influencing these precursor cells activate receptor tyrosine kinases that can signal, at least in part, via Ras pathways. To assess the extent to which Ras can alter neuroblast cell number and fate in vivo, we expressed activated H-Ras in transgenic mice using the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase promoter, which directs expression to these cells prior to and after their differentiation. Ganglioneuromas and occasional neuroblastomas formed in the adrenal gland and preaortic sympathetic ganglia. Curiously, neurons of the superior cervical ganglia and the gut were largely unaffected despite demonstrated expression of activated Ras. The sensitivity of preaortic sympathetic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells to the effects of oncogenes such as Ras may explain the predilection of neuroblastomas in humans to these sites. The ability to analyse neuroblastoma development in these mice may shed light on the molecular basis of certain types of human neuroblastoma.

Effect of varying noise stress duration on rat adrenal gland: an ultrastructural study

The present study was performed to examine the effect of varying duration of noise exposure on rat adrenal gland. Animals were exposed to noise for 1, 6 and 12 h continuously and the sections obtained from exposed rats were compared to those from corresponding controls. No significant ultrastructural changes were found in the zona glomerulosa, while mitochondria of the zona fasciculata showed matrix dilution and cristolysis after 1 and 12 h of noise stress. At all exposure times examined, the zona reticularis exhibited areas of diluted cytoplasm, disarranged endoplasmic reticulum, membrane vestigia and some altered mitochondria. Diluted cytoplasmic areas appeared in noradrenaline- and adrenaline-storing cells after 6 and 12 h of exposure, respectively. Our findings indicate that each zona of the adrenal cortex and the two cell types of adrenal medulla show a differential reaction to noise stress.

Functioning adrenal neoplasms

Neoplasms of the adrenal gland may cause increased hormone activity, which has profound effects on the growing child. The adrenal gland should be viewed as two functionally separate glands: the adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex. Neoplasms of the adrenal cortex secrete excess glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, or androgens. Adrenal medulla neoplasms generally secrete excess catecholamines. Understanding the anatomy, embryology, and physiology of the adrenal cortex and medulla allows surgeons to diagnose these tumors, prepare the patients for surgery, and treat them effectively after resection. Because adjuvant therapy for adrenal cortical and medullary tumors is of limited effectiveness, the surgeon's role in the treatment of these neoplasms is extremely important.

Immortalization of neuro-endocrine cells from adrenal tumors arising in SV40 T-transgenic mice

Pheochromocytomas are adrenal medullary tumors which arise from the transformation of neural crest-derived cells. In the course of studies of mice transgenic for an SV40 T-gene ectopically expressed in the adrenal medulla, we observed the occurrence of large, mainly bilateral tumors in a high proportion of transgenic animals. From these tumors we established immortalized cell lines which grow in vitro at 32 degrees C (the permissive temperature for the tsA58 T-protein encoded by the transgene), but not at 38 C. These cells demonstrate characteristics of both neuronal (160 kd neurofilament) and endocrine (chromogranins) cells. The expression of Mash-1 and ret supports their initial characterization as early bipotential neuro-endocrine progenitors.

Functional recovery from sciatic nerve crush lesion in the rat correlates with individual differences in responses to chronic intermittent stress

The aim of the present study was to monitor the influence of chronic stress on functional recovery from a sciatic nerve crush lesion in the rat. Male Wistar rats underwent standard unilateral sciatic nerve crush. Subsequently, chronic stress was induced during the recovery phase using a daily 30 min shock box session where rats received three electric footshocks each session (0.5 sec, 1 mA). Reduced body weight gain, adrenal gland hypertrophy, and thymus involution indicated that the stress rats were chronically stressed. Evaluation of sensorimotor function revealed significant differences in recovery between control and stress groups. Correlational analysis of individual stress rats indicated that recovery of the walking pattern was negatively correlated with adrenal gland and medulla enlargement, thymus involution, and plasma levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone 45 min following the final stress session. In control rats, the index of sciatic nerve function (SF index, expressed as the difference between the injured paw and the intact contralateral paw as a percentage) was significantly correlated with adrenal medulla weight only. The present study reveals that chronic intermittent footshock stress impedes sensorimotor recovery following a sciatic nerve crush lesion and that the consequences of chronic intermittent stress are individually determined. We suggest that the quality of functional locomotor recovery after nerve crush lesion is related to the adaptive capacity or coping style of the individual rat.

Comparative studies of chromaffin cell proliferation in the adrenal medulla of rats and mice

Spontaneous and drug-induced pheochromocytomas are common in rats and rare in mice. The antihypertensive drug reserpine has been shown to both induce pheochromocytomas and stimulate chromaffin cell proliferation in rats, leading to the hypothesis that reserpine causes pheochromocytomas indirectly by providing a proliferative setting in which DNA damage may occur. The present investigation was undertaken to obtain baseline information on the relationship across species between chromaffin cell proliferation and pheochromocytomas. Basal chromaffin cell proliferation was compared in age-matched young adult mice and rats. In addition, mice were studied for adrenal medullary responses to reserpine, and mouse chromaffin cells in vitro were studied for responses to agents that are mitogenic for cultured rat chromaffin cells. Concurrently maintained F-344 rats and several strains of mice showed no significant difference in basal BrdU incorporation over a 1-week period. Mice also showed an adrenal medullary proliferative response to reserpine that was comparable to the response previously reported for rats. However, there was a marked disparity between rat and mouse chromaffin cells in vitro, and cultured mouse chromaffin cells did not respond to any mitogens. The in vivo data indicate that interspecies differences in basal- or reserpine-stimulated chromaffin cell proliferation sufficient to account for different frequencies of pheochromocytomas are not detectable at a single time point in young adult animals. However, the possibility that such differences might emerge with aging has not been ruled out. These data further suggest either that stimulation of chromaffin cell proliferation might be necessary but not sufficient for development of pheochromocytomas or that stimulated proliferation in mice might not be sustained. The inability of cultured mouse chromaffin cells to respond to mitogens raises the speculation of whether mechanisms that prevent proliferation of normal chromaffin cells in vitro might also help to protect mice from developing pheochromocytomas.

Evaluation of apoptotic parameters in normal and neoplastic human adrenal

The migration and proliferation of adrenocortical cells is accompanied by mechanisms of cellular knock-out. We compared the programmed cell death of normal and malignant adrenocortical tissues on the basis of apoptotic rates by the nonradioactive in situ end-labelling of DNA-fragments, immunohistochemistry against PCNA, CD95 and ultrastructural analysis. The highest labelling index (LI) was detectable in the outermost zones of the adrenal cortex of normal adrenals. Average LI in normal adrenal cortex was 20% whereas only 2% was detectable in adrenocortical neoplasms. MHC class II, which was previously shown to be involved in programmed cell death in lymphocyte populations (1), was detectable in normal and benign but not in malignant adrenocortical neoplastic cells. In conclusion, the analysis of apoptosis provides new aspects of normal adrenal zonation and allows the differentiation between normal and neoplastic adrenal cortex although the differentiation between malignant and benign neoplasms requires further markers.

Replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in the medulla of the adrenal gland after vaginal infection of mice

After vaginal infections of mice with neuroinvasive strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2) virus replicates in the epithelium of the vagina, in the paravaginal ganglia, in the spinal cord and finally in the brain and in the adrenal glands. However, viral antigens could be demonstrated only in the medulla of the adrenal glands but not in the cortex, as assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). HSV could not be isolated from liver, spleen, uterus, and ovaries. This contrasts to the intraperitoneal (i.p) route of infection with replication in different visceral organs including the adrenal gland's cortex.

Stage-specific expression of integrin alphaVbeta3 in neuroblastic tumors

The ligand specificity of the integrin cell adhesion receptors probably determines the ability of specific integrins to promote tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Therefore, we compared the expression of integrin alphaVbeta3, a promiscuous receptor that binds with high affinity to numerous cell matrix proteins, with the expression of integrin alphaVbeta5 and the integrin beta 1 subunit (which pairs with multiple alpha subunits) in neuroblastic tumors at various stages of differentiation. Undifferentiated neuroblastoma tumors rapidly invade and metastasize, whereas ganglioneuroblastomas rarely metastasize. Differentiating neuroblastomas are associated with an intermediate prognosis. Paraffin sections of neuroblastic tumors at various stages of differentiation obtained at biopsy from 17 patients were hybridized with antisense integrin subunit-specific alphaV, beta3, beta1, and beta5 riboprobes. All neuroblastic tumors and seven adrenal glands obtained at autopsy were analyzed immunohistochemically with antibodies directed toward the alphaV, beta3, beta1, and beta5 subunits. The alphaV subunit was expressed in neuroblastic tumors independent of the stage of differentiation, although mRNA and protein expression were generally weak in ganglioneuroblastomas, and was also detected in adrenal gland medullae. The beta1 subunit was detected in most neuroblastic tumors independent of the stage of differentiation as well as in adrenal gland medullae. In contrast, the beta3 subunit, which was not expressed in adrenal gland medullae, was expressed at the protein and mRNA levels in undifferentiated neuroblastomas (six of seven and seven of seven, respectively) but was not expressed in neuroblasts or ganglion cells in ganglioneuroblastomas (one case weakly positive out of five). The beta 5 subunit was expressed at the protein (five of five) and mRNA (four of five) levels in the ganglion cells of ganglioneuroblastomas and, although mRNA for this subunit was detectable in undifferentiated tumors, the protein was not detectable. The expression of integrin alphaVbeta3 in undifferentiated neuroblastomas may contribute to the rapid growth of these tumors and their tendency to metastasize.

[Sporadic unilateral adrenal medullary hyperplasia--a rare cause of hypertension]

Sporadic adrenomedullary hyperplasia (AMH) is characterized by a clinical history of hypertension, increased plasma and/or urinary catecholamine levels and histomorphometric evidence of increased adrenal medullary mass in the absence of MEN 2 syndrome. The case of a 42-year-old female patient is reported who presented with typical clinical and laboratory findings of episodic hypertension and elevated plasma and urinary catecholamines. Sonography and computed tomography revealed no abnormality, but 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) scintigraphy showed increased uptake in the right adrenal. Transabdominal unilateral adrenalectomy was performed. The right adrenal gland was macroscopically inconspicuous. Upon histomorphometry, however, an increased adrenal medullary cell mass was shown, thus confirming AMH. Two years following surgery the patient is asymptomatic and normotensive.

Diagnosis and management of adrenal tumors

Tumors of the adrenal gland are not uncommon. Patients with these tumors usually demonstrate symptoms associated with the biochemical substance or hormone produced by the tumor. Tumors of the adrenal cortex, whether benign or malignant, are often associated with excess production of steroids, whereas tumors of the medulla are generally associated with overproduction of catecholamines. With the ubiquitous use of computed tomographic imaging, many asymptomatic adrenal lesions are discovered, presenting a management problem for the clinician. The algorithm for investigating so-called adrenal "incidentalomas" in the current era of cost containment continues to evolve. This review addresses current trends in the clinical evaluation, biochemical testing, and nuclear and radiologic imaging in the diagnostic work-up of these neoplasms. The mainstay of treatment is still surgical extirpation, the only curative modality. However, advances have occurred in adjuvant therapies, perhaps best typified by the neoadjuvant use of 131I-methyl iodobenzylguanidine in the treatment of neuroblastoma.

Monozygotic twins concordant for congenital neuroblastoma: case report and review of the literature

To date, five sets of monozygotic twins concordant for neuroblastoma have appeared in the literature. Review of the clinical information available for these cases suggests that they represent congenital, versus acquired, diseases in both twins from each twin pair. The question arises, then, whether some or all sets of twins represent simultaneous-onset malignancy of both twins within a twin pair or whether metastasis via placental anastomoses from one twin with congenital disease to the cotwin occurs. This report includes a sixth set of monozygotic twins concordant for congenital neuroblastoma. From analysis of the clinical data from all cases, it appears that two of six twin pairs may represent simultaneous-onset tumors in each twin from a twin pair, and two of the remaining four twin pairs, including the present case, may represent placental metastases from one twin with congenital neuroblastoma to the other. In the remaining two twin pairs insufficient data are available upon which to draw any conclusions. Now that molecular and genetic methodology is available to characterize neuroblastomas, these techniques may be utilized in future cases of monozygotic twins concordant for congenital neuroblastoma, to help clarify whether the neoplasms represent simultaneous primary tumors versus metastatic spread from one twin to another.

[Asymptomatic unilateral adrenal medullary hyperplasia with a cyst: case report]

A 45-year-old man was admitted with asymptomatic adrenal tumor. He had normal plasma and urinary catecholamine levels. The swelling of right gland was detected by CT scan and MRI. Selective venous samplings were performed and the level of catecholamine into the right adrenal vein were much higher than that into the left one. On July 15th, 1993, a right adrenalectomy was carried out and the right adrenal gland with a large cyst could be found. The ratio of cortical area to medullary area was about 4:1. Therefore, it was pathologically diagnosed as adrenal medullary hyperplasia with a cyst. There are relatively few reports of adrenal medullary hyperplasia. Before the operation, the patients were mostly diagnosed as pheochromocytoma by the results of laboratory studies and their symptoms. The condition of this disease is usually bilateral and often associated with type II multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN II). We describe a case of asymptomatic unilateral adrenal medullary hyperplasia.

The mechanism of lactitol (NS-4) in inducing adrenomedullary proliferative lesion in rats

We used 13-week repeated oral administration of lactitol as part of a study to clarify the mechanism by which lactitol induces the proliferation of adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. There was a marked increase in urinary calcium (Ca) excretion even though the lactitol administration had no effect on the blood Ca level. A tendency for an increase in adrenal venous blood epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations was seen. Organ weight measurement of adrenal glands revealed a tendency for an increase in absolute weight and a significant increase in relative weight. Morphometric analysis of adrenomedullary chromaffin cells showed a tendency for an increased total cell volume and a decreased numerical density; but, there was no conspicuous change in the total cell number. Determinations of the anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and antiproliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody-positive cell counts showed a tendency for an increased proliferation rate for adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. Electron microscopy showed a slight increase in the number of Golgi apparatuses in these cells. Because the marked increase in urinary Ca excretion was concomitant with morphological changes that suggested the hyperfunction of chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla and a tendency for an increased cell proliferation rate, we assume that persistent hyperfunction of the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, which was mediated by enhanced Ca absorption from the intestinal tract, may have induced proliferative lesion.

Two-year follow-up study of a patient with Parkinson's disease and severe motor fluctuations treated by co-grafts of adrenal medulla and peripheral nerve into bilateral caudate nuclei: case report

We performed co-grafts of adrenal medulla and peripheral nerve into the bilateral caudate nuclei of a 43-year-old patient with advanced Parkinson's disease who showed severe daily motor fluctuations before surgery. There were no postoperative complications, and a 2-year follow-up result is presented. The patient showed a gradual and significant amelioration of the parkinsonian symptoms starting 2 weeks after transplantation. The alleviation of akinesia during "off" periods was the most apparent clinical improvement and continued for 2 years after surgery. The dosage of L-dopa/benserazide was significantly reduced after surgery compared with that before surgery. The results indicate that co-grafts of adrenal medulla with peripheral nerve may be useful for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in the long term.

[Morphological typing, evaluation of tumor dignity and prognosis and etiologic classification of adrenomedullary and adrenocortical neoplasias]

The aim of morphological tumour diagnosis is to answer clinical questions on type, biological potential, prognosis and aetiology of individual neoplasms. The limitations and perspectives of different methods used in the diagnosis of adrenal tumours, ranging from histology to molecular genetic DNA analyses, are described. When surgical specimens from adrenal neoplasms cannot be typed on the basis of histology and/or with clinica data (e.g., endocrine symptoms and history) as adrenocortical tumours, phaeochromocytomas or metastases to the adrenal, immunohistological investigations with a panel of different antibodies are necessary. After identification of the tissue derivation of an individual adrenal tumour, its biological potential must be assessed. Among adrenocortical neoplasms, adenomas and carcinomas can be distinguished by evaluation of various histological parameters (including structural features and signs of invasion) according to defined algorithms. In addition, conventional histology (by estimation of mitotic activity) allows the discrimination of tumours with especially high malignant potential from other adrenocortical carcinomas. In contrast, among adrenomedullary tumours even the combined use of histological, immunohistological and DNA cytophotometric techniques only allows the definition of risk groups (benign versus suggestive of malignancy), while reliable recognition of an individual malignant phaeochromocytoma is so far impossible. The question as to whether a particular phaeochromocytoma represents a sporadic tumour or a neoplasm inherited as one feature of a defined syndrome cannot be answered with the above methods, but only by the application of molecular genetic techniques.

Chronic feeding study of pyrilamine in Fischer 344 rats

The antihistamine, pyrilamine maleate, was fed for up to 2 years to groups of 57 Fischer 344 (F344) rats of each sex at dietary levels of 0, 300, 1500, or 3000 ppm (free base). Eight or nine of these rats per sex and dose group were killed at 65 weeks to analyze hematology and clinical chemistry in all groups and histopathology of control and high-dose animals. Histopathology also was performed on all dead or moribund rats and on all that survived for 2 years. Average daily exposures were 11 to 150 mg/kg pyrilamine compared to human dosages up to 3 mg/kg. Pyrilamine treatment did not reduce survival. Final body weights were reduced relative to controls (mid-dose males, 93%, females, 82%: high-dose males, 82%, females, 70%). The incidences of inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct (chronic in females; suppurative in males), liver cytoplasmic vacuolization (males), and the combination of animals with either liver basophilic or clear cell foci (males) tended to significantly increase with dose. Adrenal pheochromocytomas, mammary gland fibroadenomas, and neoplasms of the clitoral gland, thyroid c-cell, and pituitary gland all tended to decrease with increasing dose in females. In males only preputial gland neoplasms exhibited a similar negative trend. While two ovarian granulosatheca cell benign tumors occurred in high-dose females, these were thought to be a random occurrence. There was no evidence for the carcinogenicity of pyrilamine in F344 rats in the current study.

Expression of c-ErbB2 in human neuroblastoma tissues, adrenal medulla adjacent to tumor, and developing mouse neural crest cells

We have examined the expression of c-ErbB2 in primary neuroblastoma tissues, mouse neural crest-derived tissues, and human adrenal gland adjacent to neuroblastoma tissue and of age-matched controls. c-ErbB2 expression was observed in approximately 60% of cases analyzed, and there were two staining patterns; one showed focal and cytoplasmic and the other showed diffuse and membrane staining patterns. The expression of c-ErbB2 in neuroblastoma tissues was confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Diffuse and membrane staining of c-ErbB2 was well correlated with high urinary catecholamine secretion. In mouse tissues, cytoplasmic expression of c-ErbB2 was observed in immature peripheral neurons and adrenomedullary cells. In mature neurons, the immunoreactivity was confined to the plasma membrane. These results suggest that the expression of c-ErbB2 in neuroblastoma reflects the phenotype of developing peripheral neurons. Postnatal human and mouse adrenomedullary cells lacked c-ErbB2 immunoreactivity, although apparently normal adrenomedullary cells adjacent to neuroblastoma tissues showed strong cytoplasmic expression of c-ErbB2. It is not known whether the phenotypic conversion of adjacent adrenal medullary cells had occurred before or after tumor progression at present.

Pathology of adrenal neoplasms

The use of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy enables the strict separation of adreno-cortical and adreno-medullary tumors in every case, as tumors of the medulla are generally positive for neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin A, synaptophysin) and negative for D11 whereas those of the cortex are stained with D11 and are negative with the other markers. Our surgical collection of cortical tumors and tumor-like lesions (n = 104) covers adenomas (39%), carcinomas (15%), microadenomatosis (2%), macronodular hyperplasia (4%), hemangioma (1%), myelolipoma (2%), hematoma (1%), pseudocysts (2%), and metastases (6%). The often difficult interpretation of dignity was aided by a point system of criteria. Isolated nodules were differentiated from adenomas by their size (ie less than 3 cm), the histological pattern and the lack of cellular atypia. Correlations of the lesions with the endocrine functions were presented. The tumors of the medulla (n = 42) were differentiated in pheochromocytomas (88%), malignant pheochromocytomas (7%), neuroblastomas (2%), and ganglioneuroblastomas (2%). 8-10% of pheochromocytomas are malignant, but with the exception of invasion of the capsule or of the veins or the demonstration of metastases, no other reliable criteria for malignancy exist. The lack of S100-protein-immunoreacting satellite cells may indicate a malignant growth. 89% of pheochromocytomas in our collection were shown to be endocrine active secreting catecholamines and in one case additionally ACTH.

[Symptoms and endocrinologic features of catecholamine-secreting tumors. Results in 106 consecutive patients]

The clinical and endocrinological features in 106 patients (40 men, 66 women, mean age 48 +/- 14.3 years) treated between 1973 and 1993 for proven catecholamine-secreting tumours (phaeochromocytoma: n = 88, paraganglioma: n = 10, adrenal medullary hyperplasia: n = 8) were analysed. The most frequent symptoms were palpitations (68%), severe sweating (53%) and headache (42%). 10% of patients were symptom-free. 58% of patients had consistently raised blood pressure, and 20% of patients suffered paroxysmal blood pressure crises. However, 22% of patients did not have hypertension. Raised urinary catecholamines were found in more than 95% of cases; MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scintigrams were abnormal in more than 85% of cases. Patients with catecholamine-secreting tumours do not always have "classical" features. The high sensitivity of properly performed catecholamine measurement on plasma and urine has made dangerous stimulation and suppression tests obsolete.

The adrenal medulla and Parkinson's disease

This paper reviews the literature describing the condition of the adrenal medulla in Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized primarily by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Clinical observations have revealed that Parkinson's disease is also frequently accompanied by a variety of autonomic symptoms. The adrenal medulla is a major component of the autonomic nervous system. However, until recently this organ has not been of particular interest in Parkinson's disease. Early studies found histologic abnormalities in adrenal medullary cells, and several groups measured urinary and plasma catecholamines to determine general autonomic status. In the late 1980s adrenal medullary tissue was first transplanted to the caudate nucleus in an attempt to augment the decreased levels of dopamine, and thus treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. At this time the status of the adrenal medulla in this disease became clinically important. We measured the total catecholamine content of the parkinsonian adrenal medulla in tissue collected both at autopsy and in conjunction with adrenal-caudate transplants. Adrenal medullary catecholamines and several neuropeptides were severely depressed in parkinsonian glands. Thus, the adrenal medulla appears to be a target of the peripheral manifestations of Parkinson's disease.

Calcified foci at the junction between adrenal cortex and medulla of rhesus monkeys

The occurrence of calcified foci at the junction of adrenal medulla and cortex in monkeys obtained from toxicity studies during a 10-year period is reported. The survey included reinvestigated adrenal samples from 274 male and 270 female rhesus monkeys and 52 male and 52 female cynomolgus monkeys. The incidence of calcified foci was 46% in male and 45% in female rhesus monkeys, and 6% in male cynomolgus monkeys, while their females did not show the lesion. In male rhesus monkeys, the mean number of foci was 4 for both glands, in females, 2 for the right and 4 for the left one. Initial stages indicated that the lesions develop possibly from focal apoptosis of medulla cells followed by a dystrophic mineralization. No correlation was observed concerning dose groups, test article, study length, testing facility, origin of monkeys, their sex, age, diet or final body weight. The foci of mineralization were dystrophic, species-specific in the rhesus monkey and possibly related to stress. The location of the foci at the cortico-medullary junction, precisely the location of the remnants of the fetal zone, may indicate their origin from this zone.

Low affinity nerve growth factor receptor, adrenal transplant and Parkinson's disease

Immunohistochemistry of low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR) was performed postmortem in the striatum and the adrenal gland of a parkinsonian patient with an adrenal to brain transplantation. Few LNGFR-positive fibers were observed in the necrotic graft. By contrast numerous immunostained fibers were detected in a restricted zone of the host striatum adjacent to the graft, corresponding to a selective zone of sprouting of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibers. This suggests that nerve growth factor or related growth factors may promote sprouting of catecholaminergic fibers in the host striatum.