Cytophotometric assessment of T-2 toxin induced alterations in azure B-RNA and Coomassie-protein in supraoptic-magnocellular neurons of rat hypothalami

Cytophotometric analysis of magnocellular azure B-RNA and Feulgen-DNA following chronic GABA infusion into the nucleus basalis of rats

This investigation was undertaken to examine possible cytopathic effects of GABA infusion on nucleus basalis (NBM) magnocellular neurons. Sixty-three male Long-Evans rats received unilateral, intra-NBM infusions of either GABA100 (100 micrograms/microliters/h), GABA10 (10 micrograms/microliters/h), or ultrafiltered saline (1 microliter/h) for a period of 24 hours. Rats from each of these groups were sacrificed at either 24 hours, 48 hours or 8 days following initiation of infusions. The sham operated hemisphere of each rat served as a control for the infused hemisphere. After stoichiometric azure B-RNA and Feulgen-DNA staining of brain sections, scanning-integrating microdensitometry was used to quantify GABA-induced alterations in these well established indices of neuronal toxicity. These results provide evidence that the neurotoxic effects of 24 hours of 100 micrograms/microliters-h GABA infusion are manifested within 48 hours post-initiation of infusions. Although 24 hours of 10 micrograms/microliters-h GABA infusion suppressed NBM neuronal metabolism, the lower magnitude and duration of this effect signified an impending recovery. GABA infusion resulted in little if any NBM neuronal chromatin template impairment (i.e., reduced Feulgen-DNA reactivity), irrespective of the dosage employed and the delay prior to sacrifice.

Cytophotometric assessment of Feulgen-DNA and coomassie-total cell protein in adrenocortical fasciculata cells of noise-exposed Wistar rats

The present investigation was undertaken to examine possible noise-induced alterations in adrenal fasciculata cell (AFC) metabolism, and also to determine if the magnitude of these changes differs in male versus female rats. Wistar rats approximately 3 months old were exposed to intense noise for 60 min (100 dB, re 2 x 10(-5) N(m2)-1, 350-20,000 Hz); control rats were housed under identical conditions, at an ambient noise level of 40-60 dB. Adrenal fasciculata cells (AFC) from each animal were examined for noise-induced alterations in Feulgen-DNA reactivity (as an indicator of chromatin template activity) and Coomassie-total cell protein levels using scanning-integrating cytophotometry. The results provide evidence that intense noise elicited a marked AFC metabolic enhancement in both male and female rats; the degree of this enhancement was more pronounced in males. This disparity may be due to pre-existing differences in male versus female AFC enzymatic capability and subsequent responsiveness to noise-induced activation.