Transplant-induced recovery from 6-OHDA lesions of the nigrostriatal dopamineneurones in mice

Attempts to reconstruct the damaged nigrostriatal pathway in experimental models of Parkinson's disease have thus far been carried out in animals with neurotoxically induced dopamine deficiency. Our study established that unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons produced a well-characterized functional asymmetry in the behaviour of the C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice. The intraperitoneal administration of methamphetamine induced ipsilateral rotation at 7-20 turns/min 1 x 10(6) syngenic DA-rich cells of embryonic ventral mesencephalon were stereotaxically transplanted in the caudate-putamen. A complete recovery of methamphetamine-induced rotational response was produced around the 60th day after the syngenic cell suspension graft. And a complete compensation of the rotational response was also brought about with the DA-rich cells from embryonic ventral mesencephalon (crown-rump length; 10-13 mm) of allogenic C3H/HeN (H-2k) mice. The FACS IV analysis revealed no H-2 (Kk and Iak) antigens before transplantation of these embryonic cells. Immunohistochemistry showed that the dopaminergic fibers had grown predominantly into the ipsilateral caudate-putamen. These results provide evidence of integration of syngenic and allogenic grafts and host tissue. And the immunological response in the transplanted brain are under investigation.

[Chemotherapy of malignant brain tumors]

Chemotherapy of malignant glioma has been discussed in relation to recent attempts to enhance the effect, such as multi-drug combination, local administration and high dose with rescue. Recent studies on drug resistance and attempts to overcome the resistance were also reviewed.

Intermediate filaments and anaplastic change of ENU-induced gliomass: immunohistochemical study with vimentin and astroprotein (GFAP)

To study the expression of two different subclasses of intermediate filaments in ethylnitrosourea-induced rat cerebral gliomas, the number of cells immunopositive for each subunit protein, vimentin and astroprotein (GFAP), was quantitatively analyzed. Vimentin is a subunit protein of non-specific intermediate filaments which appear transiently in immature glial cells, while astroprotein (GFAP) is a subunit protein of glial filaments, normally expressed in mature astrocytes. Although most normal astrocytes were negative for vimentin, many tumor cells showed weak to strong immunoreaction for vimentin. The expression of vimentin was more frequent and intense in anaplastic forms of gliomas than in benign forms. Accordingly, the vimentin/GFAP ratio [the number of vimentin-positive cells divided by the number of astroprotein (GFAP)-positive cells] was increased from 0.23 to 1.86, and from 0.26 to 1.85, respectively, as oligodendrogliomas and mixed gliomas become anaplastic. The present study demonstrated that the immunohistochemical study for those two subclasses of intermediate filaments can provide important informations on the cell biological nature of glial tumors.

[Hyperprolactinemia in patients with non-functioning adenoma: analysis of 85 patients treated by transsphenoidal operation]

Today, many gynecologists consider that the first choice of the treatment of prolactinomas is bromocriptine therapy. Because bromocriptine not only decreases the levels of serum prolactin but also reduces the tumor size. On the other hand, the patients with non-functioning adenoma sometimes show hyperprolactinemia, probably because PIF (prolactin inhibiting factor) cannot reach the normal prolactin-producing cells of the adenohypophysis. Therefore non-functioning adenoma with elevated serum prolactin levels should be distinguished from prolactinoma. Eighty five patients with non-functioning adenoma were treated with transsphenoidal operation at Hiroshima University Hospital, and Kansai Rosai Hospital from May, 1978 to March, 1981 and at Osaka University Hospital, The Center for Adult Diseases, and Kansai Rosai Hospital from April, 1981 to May, 1986. Non-functioning adenomas were diagnosed by clinical feature, endocrinologic examination, and immunohistochemical study. There were 42 male and 43 female patients, whose age ranged from 17 to 76 years (mean: 49). The most frequent chief complaint was visual disturbance (86%). Amenorrhea-galactorrhea was complained by 9 female patients. However, 7 of them had visual disturbance at the same time. Hyperprolactinemia was seen in 21 patients (30%). The highest serum level of prolactin was 163.2 ng/ml. All of the patients had macroadenomas. There were 2 invasive adenomas and 83 expensive adenomas in them. After operation, cure or improvement of the visual disturbance was noted in almost all the patients. The serum levels of prolactin were normalized in 16 of 17 hyperprolactinemic patients. In conclusion, transsphenoidal operation is the best treatment of non-functioning adenomas. However, it is difficult to decide before operation whether the macroadenoma with serum prolactin level between 100 and 200 ng/ml is non-functioning adenoma or prolactinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Primary cerebellar hemorrhage. Quadrigeminal cistern obliteration on CT scans as a predictor of outcome

The authors studied a consecutive series of 75 patients with cerebellar hemorrhage diagnosed by computerized tomography (CT) scanning, and assessed the relationship of outcome to the CT appearance of the quadrigeminal cistern, which in some cases was obliterated by rostral displacement of the vermis resulting from the cerebellar mass. Obliteration of the quadrigeminal cisterns was classified on the CT scans into three grades: normal (Grade I), compressed (Grade II), or absent (Grade III). There were 43 patients with Grade I, 16 with Grade II, and 16 with Grade III cisterns. Of the 75 patients, 38 (88.4%) of those with Grade I, 11 (68.8%) of those with Grade II, and none of those with Grade III cisterns returned to their previous activities at 6 months or more after onset. A Grade I cistern predicted a good outcome whether the hematoma was evacuated or not, as long as obstructive hydrocephalus, if present, was relieved early. However, a Grade II cistern was not predictive of a good outcome unless the hematoma was evacuated within 48 hours after onset of the hemorrhage. A Grade III cistern invariably predicted an unfavorable outcome. It is concluded that the CT grade of quadrigeminal cistern obliteration is an accurate indicator of outcome and is highly useful in selecting appropriate treatment for patients with cerebellar hemorrhage.

The mechanism and overcoming of resistance in ACNU-resistant sublines of C6 and 9L rat glioma

In order to study the mechanism of the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, especially ACNU [1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride), two variant cell lines (C6/ACNU and 9L/ACNU) resistant to ACNU were selected in vivo from rat C6 and 9L glioma, respectively. Uptake and efflux of ACNU in these resistant cells were studied with Ethylene[14C]ACNU. The result indicated that the resistance exhibited by both sublines were due to both the reduced uptake of the drug and the increased efflux. The study of the effects of oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor, DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol), on the uptake and retention of ACNU suggested that there is an active outward transport mechanism for ACNU in both glioma sublines and that enhanced activity of this efflux mechanism renders cells highly resistant to the cytotoxic action of ACNU. In an attempt to clarify the more detailed biochemical mechanisms of this active efflux system, we surveyed various membrane-modifying agents which potentiate the sensitivity of these resistant cells to ACNU. Among a number of membrane-modifying agents, reserpine was found to retain ACNU in the resistant cells and to enhance the action of ACNU on these resistant cell lines. It may be concluded that drugs such as reserpine may overcome a mechanism of ACNU resistance.

[Effects of phenytoin on cell-mediated immunity]

Phenytoin is a highly effective anticonvulsant agent that is widely administrated to prevent some kinds of patients with brain tumor. But it has been said that phenytoin may have some immunosuppresive potential for hosts. In this study, we evaluated the effects of phenytoin upon cellular immunity such as NK, CTL and LAK activity in murine models. Fresh splenocytes were taken out from mice (CBA/J, C 3 H/HeN, C 57 BL/6) into which phenytoin had been injected intraperitoneally at a daily dose of 1,000 micrograms for 28 days. The serum concentration of phenytoin in the experimental models was 10-20 micrograms/ml. The cytotoxic activities were estimated by a 4-hr 51Cr release assay. The mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte function was evaluated by 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. The NK activity was estimated by cytotoxicity of splenocytes of CBA/J mice against NK-sensitive YAC-1 cells. The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity was estimated by cytotoxicity of splenocytes of C 57 BL/6 mice which were stimulated in vitro for 5 days by splenocytes of C 3H/HeN treated with mitomycin C, against RSV-M glioma cells. Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity was estimated by cytotoxicity of LAK cells, which were induced from splenocytes of C 3 H/HeN mice by human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), against syngeneic RSV glioma and allogeneic 203 glioma cells. 3H-thymidine incorporation of splenocytes of C 57 BL/6 mice was reduced significantly (p less than 0.01) in phenytoin-treated mice. The cytotoxicity of splenocytes of non-treated CBA/J mice against YAC-1 cells was 75%, but that of phenytoin-treated CBL/J mice was a few %.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intraoperative measurement of cortical blood flow and its CO2 response in childhood moyamoya disease

Cortical blood flow was monitored during craniotomy for bypass surgery to treat childhood moyamoya disease. The patients were hyperventilated, and changes in cortical surface blood flow were detected by a heat clearance method with plate type thermocouple probes. End-tidal CO2 was monitored during hyperventilation to avoid excessive reduction of CO2. There were three types of blood flow responses to hyperventilation: simple reduction, prolonged reduction, and increase. Simple reduction was noted in four cases and was related to constriction of basal and ethmoidal moyamoya vessels. Prolonged reduction was noted in three cases and was related to excessive constriction of basal moyamoya vessels. Increase was noted in four cases and was related to increase in blood flow from cranial vault moyamoya vessels. The results indicate that the basal moyamoya vessels are constricted by hyperventilation. This may be the cause of ischemic symptoms provoked by hyperventilation.

[Changes in protein and RNA synthesis following acute hindbrain ischemia]

Protein and RNA synthesis of the brain is affected by focal transient ischemia. Protein synthesis is depressed by the depletion of energy metabolism during ischemia, and its recovery following recirculation is slower than restoration of energy metabolism. On the other hand, RNA synthesis is more tolerable to ischemia than protein synthesis. Present study has designed to evaluate changes of protein and RNA synthesis of the brain after ischemia. We used a hindbrain ischemia model of gerbils, and quantitative autoradiography was applied for estimation of regional protein and RNA synthesis. The model was made by occluding the basilar artery for 15 minutes and recirculating afterwards. 14C-valine was used as a tracer for protein synthesis. In the ischemic group, protein synthesis was inhibited extremely in the medial thalamus, inferior colliculus, gray matter of the pons and midbrain, and cerebellum, RNA synthesis by salvage pathway was evaluated using tracer doses of 14C-uridine. It increased 1.6-2.4 folds of sham controls in the thalamus, and gray matter of the pons and midbrain. De novo synthesis of RNA was evaluated using 14C-carbamoylphosphate and 14C-NaHCO3. 14C-NaHCO3 antoradiogram showed inhibition of tracer incorporation into RNA and protein fraction in the ischemic lesions. 14C-carbamoylphosphate autoradiogram showed no significant change. These results indicate that protein synthesis is inhibited after ischemia but response of RNA synthesis to ischemia is not uniform. De novo synthesis of RNA is inhibited following ischemia, but RNA synthesis by salvage pathway increases in the ischemic lesion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Convexity meningioma associated with Werner's syndrome--histopathological findings with electron microscopical and immunohistochemical findings]

Werner's syndrome is rare and autosomal recessive condition with multiple progeroid features. There is an increased incidence of neoplasm such as meningioma or sarcoma in association with this syndrome. However, the pathogenesis of this subject is still controversial. To date, only two cases have been reported, dealing with surgical operation. Our present case of a 39-year-old woman who had a meningioma associated with Werner's syndrome is the third of such cases. In this rare case we did histopathological examinations including electron microscopic and immunohistochemical studies, which showed intense proliferation of the connective tissue in the tumor tissue. The present morphological study may imply a close relationship between proliferation of collagen fibers in the meningioma and the aberration of connective tissue metabolism in context of theory of the pathogenesis of Werner's syndrome.

[Treatment of rat glioma with a beta-adrenergic agonist and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor in vivo]

Rat C 6 glioma is known to possess a beta-adrenergic receptor with which intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels are altered to control cell growth in vitro. In order to study the effect of beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, in growth-inhibitory action upon C 6 glioma cells, subcutaneous tumor models and meningeal gliomatisis (MG) models as a brain tumor model have been exposed to the treatment of isoproterenol. Growth of subcutaneous tumor was suppressed by the treatment of the drug, and the survival time of MG rats was prolonged by the intrathecal (i. t.) injection of isoproterenol. The addition of papaverine, phosphodiesterase inhibitor, to the treatment schedule augmented the growth-inhibitory effect of isoproterenol. Therefore, it is concluded that the survival time of the brain tumor models could be prolonged through the inhibition of the growth of C 6 glioma cells by such drugs as those which elevate intracellular cAMP levels.

Malignant recurrence of childhood cerebellar astrocytoma: case report

A 15-year-old boy developed a glioblastoma in a cerebellar hemisphere 7 years after surgical excision and local irradiation of a pilocytic astrocytoma in the cerebellar vermis. Clinical and histopathological details are presented, and the literature on late malignant recurrence of childhood cerebellar astrocytoma is reviewed.

Autoradiographic study of regional protein synthesis in focal cerebral ischemia with TCA wash and image subtraction techniques

The standard biochemical method of trichloracetic acid (TCA) wash and the image processing technique were combined to differentiate and visualize the distributions of polypeptide-incorporated and unincorporated tracers in an autoradiographic study of regional protein synthesis. The validity of applying TCA wash procedures to cryostat sections was considered by histologic and chemical evaluations. For the autoradiographic study of in vivo protein synthesis, a tracer dose of L-[14C]valine was administered 30 min after occlusion of the posterior communicating artery in gerbils. Images of total (polypeptide-incorporated and unincorporated) radioactivity and of polypeptide-incorporated radioactivity were obtained from an identical cryostat section before and after TCA wash. The polypeptide-unincorporated radioactivity image was produced with an image processing system by subtracting pixel by pixel the polypeptide-incorporated radioactivity from the total radioactivity. The present study clearly demonstrated that in spite of the sufficient delivery of tracer amino acids, the polypeptide synthesis was completely lost in the ischemic focus. Free tracer was markedly accumulated in the brain adjacent to the ischemic focus. This kind of autoradiographic technique seems to be indispensible in studying the topographical complexity of the altered protein metabolism in the pathologic brain.

Simulation and experimental study of respiratory motion effect on image quality of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

The effect of respiratory motion on the image quality of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was investigated by computer simulation and experimentation. In the computer simulation, the phantom was assumed to be cylindrical with a uniform background and a spherical cold or hot spot. To simulate respiratory motion, a cyclic linear motion parallel to the axis of rotation of a gamma camera was assumed. The contrast in the transaxial images was calculated for various respiratory amplitudes and its dependence on lesion size and object contrast was investigated. In the experiments, a moving phantom was used to simulate respiratory motion. The simulation and the experimental results were in good agreement within the range of statistical error. The effect on the lesion detectability was investigated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, and a method for correcting respiratory motion was devised.

Glioblastoma after radiotherapy for craniopharyngioma: case report

A 6-year-old girl developed a glioblastoma in the basal ganglia and brain stem 5 years after surgical excision and local irradiation (5460 cGy) for craniopharyngioma. Clinical and histological details are presented, and the literature on radiation-induced gliomas is reviewed.

[Treatment of a rat meningeal gliomatosis model with neocarzinostatin]

Meningeal gliomatosis (MG), pathologically, is caused by the diffuse dissemination or infiltration of glioma cells in the subarachnoid space, for which an effective, systematic treatment has not been contrived. Although, in the case of malignant leptomeningeal tumor, in general, intrathecal chemotherapy with such anticancer drugs as methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) has been applied, the effect of this kind of treatment is limited, especially on MG. Therefore, the development of a new type of treatment is urgently needed. According to recent reports, neocarzinostatin (NCS) has been disclosed to have a strong cytocidal effect on glioma cells instead of injuring normal glia cells, and the intrathecal injection of NCS is suggested to be effective on MG. In order to evaluate the efficacy of intrathecal treatment with NCS on MG, a rat MG model using C 6 glioma cells has been produced and intrathecal chemotherapy with NCS was performed on this MG model. In MG rats which were treated intrathecally with NCS (1 microgram/kg) 1 day after tumor inoculation, the survival time was significantly prolonged by this treatment, where % ILS was 52.1%. Furthermore, it was more significantly prolonged with 10 micrograms/kg NCS, where 108.5% of % ILS was obtained. Contrary to these effects, this prolongation of the survival time of MG rats by the treatment with NCS showed a tendency to decrease in MG rats treated with NCS 3 days after tumor inoculation. No chemotherapeutic effect was observed in MG rats treated with even 100 micrograms/kg NCS 5 days after tumor inoculation. In conclusion, intrathecal chemotherapy with a low dose of NCS was proved to be effective in the early stages of MG.

[Experimental studies on the treatment of recurrent gliomas]

For the purpose to study reasonable treatment for recurrent gliomas, in vitro immunochemosensitivity tests were performed by using human malignant glioma cell line (ONS-12) and its ACNU-resistant cell line (ONS-12/ACNU), which were established in our laboratory. ONS-12/ACNU cells showed a cross-resistance to Ara-C, but not for cisplatin and methotrexate. The lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells induced in vitro from the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of healthy subjects, showed stronger cytotoxicity to ONS-12/ACNU than ONS-12 cells. From these data, selection of appropriate anti-tumor agents on the in vitro sensitivity tests was a most useful method for the treatment of recurrent gliomas, and the adoptive immunotherapy with LAK cells may be useful for ACNU-resistant gliomas.

[Immunohistochemical study of human brain tumors with vimentin and astroprotein (GFAP)]

Distributions of two different subclasses of intermediate filaments, vimentin and glial filaments, were studied immunohistochemically in human brain tumors using specific antiserum to each protein subunit, vimentin and astroprotein (GFAP), Surgical specimens (5 meningiomas, 4 ependymomas, 5 benign astrocytomas, 5 anaplastic astrocytomas and 7 glioblastomas) were fixed in 95% ethanol or ethanol-acidic acid (95:5) and embedded in paraffin Avidin biotin peroxidase-complex (ABC) method (Vectastain) was carried out on 6 microns-thick paraffin sections. All meningioma cells were negative for astroprotein (GFAP) and positive for vimentin. Ependymoma cells showed various patterns of immunoreaction for astroprotein (GFAP) but were invariably positive for vimentin. In benign astrocytomas, many cells (or cell body and processes) were positive for astroprotein (GFAP). Immunoreaction for vimentin was, however, less frequent and intense. In anaplastic astrocytomas, population of astroprotein (GFAP)-positive cells decreased and vimentin-positive cells increased. Astroprotein (GFAP)-positive cells were further decreased in glioblastomas and the population of vimentin-positive cells varied among tissues. The present study suggests that the anaplastic change of astrocytoma cells were associated with decreased expression of glial filaments and increased expression of vimentin filaments. It was also suggests that the expression of both intermediate filaments may be suppressed in highly-malignant glial tumor cells.

A comparative study of attenuation correction algorithms in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

A computer based simulation method was developed to assess the relative effectiveness and availability of various attenuation compensation algorithms in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The effect of the nonuniformity of attenuation coefficient distribution in the body, the errors in determining a body contour and the statistical noise on reconstruction accuracy and the computation time in using the algorithms were studied. The algorithms were classified into three groups: precorrection, post correction and iterative correction methods. Furthermore, a hybrid method was devised by combining several methods. This study will be useful for understanding the characteristics, limitations and strengths of the algorithms and searching for a practical correction method for photon attenuation in SPECT.

Distribution of radiolabeled 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitros ourea hydrochloride in rat brain tumor: intraarterial versus intravenous administration

To assess the rationale of intraarterial (i.a.) 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea chemotherapy, distribution of 14C-labeled 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)- 3-nitrosourea in rat glioma was studied after i.a. or i.v. infusion. Immediately after infusion, the tumor located in the hemisphere of intracarotid infusion received 4.6-fold higher radioactivity than the tumor located contralaterally to intracarotid infusion and 2.8-fold higher radioactivity than i.v. infusion. The difference was kept up to 30 min after i.a. infusion. Autoradiographic observation indicated rather uniform distribution of the tracer in the central portion of i.a. infusion. However, in the periphery of i.a. infusion, distribution of the tracer was nonhomogenous. The results indicate that i.a. 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea chemotherapy is useful when the tumor has high blood flow and is located in the center of an infused area.

Adoptive immunotherapy of human meningeal gliomatosis and carcinomatosis with LAK cells and recombinant interleukin-2

Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that peripheral blood lymphocytes activated with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) generated cells that were lytic for fresh autologous tumor cells but not for normal lymphocytes or lymphoblasts. Adoptive transfer of autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells induced in vitro with rIL-2 was used in two patients: one with meningeal gliomatosis and the other with meningeal carcinomatosis. The adoptive transfer of LAK cells was very effective in reducing the clinical symptoms and signs, and in eliminating the malignant cells from the cerebrospinal fluid. Thus, this therapy is an attractive approach for the treatment of malignant tumors that have poor immunogenicity and are insensitive to several anti-cancer agents, and for patients with severe immunosuppressive conditions induced by repeated radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

[Antitumor effect of bromocriptine on estrogen-induced rat prolactinomas: special reference to changes in secretory granules by stereological analysis]

Bromocriptine (CB) not only lowers serum prolactin (PRL) levels but also reduces tumor size of human prolactinomas. Gen et al and we have suggested that the size reduction of human prolactinomas by bromocriptine treatment results from the reduction in size of individual tumor cell as well as the reduction in number of tumor cells secondary to cell necrosis. This implies that bromocriptine has a cytosuppressive action and possibly a cytocidal action on human prolactinomas which causes reduction in cell size and cell necrosis, respectively. The mechanism of cytosuppressive action of CB has been investigated by using mostly non-neoplastic pituitary tissues of experimental animals. A decrease in exocytosis of secretory granules and a subsequent accumulation of granules within the cells are suggested to cause the reduction in serum levels of PRL in early stage of CB treatment. However we have reported that in spite of a pronounced reduction of serum PRL levels, the number of exocytosis of the granules in human prolactinomas treated with CB for 2 weeks increased to more than 4 times much as that in the untreated prolactinomas. This is a phenomenon which contradictory to the current hypothesis. The present study is intended to clarify whether the phenomenon we observed is specific for human prolactinomas or common also to the prolactinomas in experimental animals. Seventeen female SD rats were used. They were implanted subcutaneously with a pellet of 20 mg of 17 estradiol-benzoate (20% in cholesterol), and left to grow a pituitary tumor for 10 weeks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)