Agustín Castañeyra-Ruiz

Aquaporin-4 expression in the cerebrospinal fluid in congenital human hydrocephalus

BackgroundAquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a water channel mainly located in the ventricular ependymal cells (brain-CSF barrier), the sub-ependymal glia, glia limitans and in end-feet of astrocytes in at the blood–brain barrier (BBB).MethodsIn the present work, the expression of AQP4 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in control and congenital human hydrocephalus infants (obstructive and communicating), was analysed by Western-blot and enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).ResultsAQP4 was found to be high compared to the control in the CSF in congenital hydrocephalus patients. Western-blot showed higher values for AQP4 than controls in communicating hydrocephalus (communicating: 38.3%, control: 6.9% p < 0.05) although the increase was not significant in obstructive hydrocephalus (obstructive: 14.7%). The AQP4 quantification by ELISA also showed that, the mean concentration of AQP4 in CSF was significantly higher in communicating hydrocephalus (communicating: 11.32 ± 0.69 ng/ml, control: 8.61 ± 0.31 ng/ml; p < 0.05). However, there was no increase over control in obstructive hydrocephalus (obstructive: 8.65 ± 0.80 ng/ml).ConclusionsAQP4 has a modulatory effect on ependyma stability and acts in CSF production and reabsorption. Therefore, the increase of AQP4 in the CSF in congenital hydrocephalus could be due to the fact that AQP4 passes from the parenchyma to the CSF and this AQP4 movement may be a consequence of ependyma denudation.

Early treatment of Kallmann syndrome may prevent eunuchoid appearance and behavior

Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a genetic disorder which combines hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia. Hypogonadism is characterized by the absence or reduced levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and anosmia due to olfactory bulb aplasia. KS treatment usually begins just before puberty, but brain sexual maturation occurs long before puberty normally at perinatal age. As brain cells implicated in the development of the olfactory and reproductive system have a rostral and a caudal origin, and the rostral origin is affected by aplasia in KS and the caudal origin does not seem to be affected, the early treatment of KS, as proposed in this paper, is to attain brain sexual maturation at the most appropriate age possible to prevent the eunuchoid behavior and appearance observed in KS.

High Blood Pressure Effects on the Blood to Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier and Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Composition: A Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis Study in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The aim of the present work is to analyze the cerebrospinal fluid proteomic profile, trying to find possible biomarkers of the effects of hypertension of the blood to CSF barrier disruption in the brain and their participation in the cholesterol and β-amyloid metabolism and inflammatory processes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a system linked to the brain and its composition can be altered not only by encephalic disorder, but also by systemic diseases such as arterial hypertension, which produces alterations in the choroid plexus and cerebrospinal fluid protein composition. 2D gel electrophoresis in cerebrospinal fluid extracted from the cistern magna before sacrifice of hypertensive and control rats was performed. The results showed different proteomic profiles between SHR and WKY, that α-1-antitrypsin, apolipoprotein A1, albumin, immunoglobulin G, vitamin D binding protein, haptoglobin and α-1-macroglobulin were found to be up-regulated in SHR, and apolipoprotein E, transthyretin, α-2-HS-glycoprotein, transferrin, α-1β-glycoprotein, kininogen and carbonic anhidrase II were down-regulated in SHR. The conclusion made here is that hypertension in SHR produces important variations in cerebrospinal fluid proteins that could be due to a choroid plexus dysfunction and this fact supports the close connection between hypertension and blood to cerebrospinal fluid barrier disruption.

Reissner's fibre proteins and p73 variations in the cerebrospinal fluid and subcommissural organ of hydrocephalic rat.

Reissner’s fibre (RF) is formed by the polymerization of the glycoprotein secreted by the subcommissural organ (SCO). The SCO also secretes soluble glycoprotein into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); variations in RF and SCO have been reported in hydrocephalus. On the other hand, hydrocephalus and other brain alterations have been described in p73 mutant mice. The p73 belongs to the tumour suppressor p53 protein family and has two isoforms: the TAp73 with apoptotic activity and ΔNp73 with anti‐apoptotic function. Moreover, the TAp73 isoform is glycosylated and secreted into the CSF. In the present work, we analysed the variations in RF and p73 proteins in the CSF and SCO of spontaneously hydrocephalic rats. Brains from control rats and spontaneously hydrocephalic rats of 12 months of age were used. The SCO sections were immunohistochemically processed with anti‐TAp73 and anti‐Reissner fibre (AFRU). The spontaneous hydrocephalus presents a decrease in the AFRU immunoreactive material in the SCO and an absence of RF. The anti‐TAp73 was also present, slightly decreased, in the hydrocephalic SCO. AFRU and p73 bands were also detected in the CSF by western blot and six AFRU and p73 protein bands of a similar molecular weight were found in the CSF of the control rats. The number of AFRU and p73 bands was lower in the hydrocephalic rats than in the control rats. In conclusion, hydrocephalus produces a decrease in the secretions of the SCO and an absence of RF and a decrease in p73 and RF proteins in the CSF.

Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Distribution in the Anterior Hypothalamus of the Female Rats

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons and fibers are located in the anteroventral hypothalamus, specifically in the preoptic medial area and the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis. Most luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons project to the median eminence where they are secreted in the pituitary portal system in order to control the release of gonadotropin. The aim of this study is to provide, using immunohistochemistry and female brain rats, a new description of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone fibers and neuron localization in the anterior hypothalamus. The greatest amount of the LHRH immunoreactive material was found in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis that is located around the anterior region of the third ventricle. The intensity of the reaction of LHRH immunoreactive material decreases from cephalic to caudal localization; therefore, the greatest immunoreaction is in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, followed by the dorsomedial preoptic area, the ventromedial preoptic area, and finally the ventrolateral medial preoptic area, and in fibers surrounding the suprachiasmatic nucleus and subependymal layer on the floor of the third ventricle where the least amount immunoreactive material is found.

What is relationship between the medial preoptic area, the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and Kallmann syndrome?

The medial preoptic area is a structure located in the hypothalamic anteroventral third ventricle region, and is closely related to the olfactory brain development and sexual differentiation of the brain. The medial preoptic area surrounds the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, and both structures are the main areas where synthesis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone occurs in the brain. Neurons synthesizing gonadotropin-releasing hormone migrate from the medial nasal epithelium to the rostral brain and reach the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and the medial preoptic area. Kallmann syndrome is a genetic disorder which combines hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia. Hypogonadism is characterized by the absence or reduced levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and anosmia due to olfactory bulb aplasia. This paper speculates on the connection between the development of the medial preoptic area, the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and olfactory bulbs with Kallmann syndrome, since the anteroventral third ventricle region is crucial for the normal development of these structures and its connection with the olfactory nerves and sexual maturation.

The Neuroepithelium Disruption Could Generate Autoantibodies against AQP4 and Cause Neuromyelitis Optica and Hydrocephalus

Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory disease characterized by neuritis and myelitis of the optic nerve. Its physiopathology is connected with the aquaporin-4 water channel, since antibodies against aquaporin-4 have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood of neuromyelitis optica patients. The seropositivity for aquaporin-4 antibodies is used for the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease. On the other hand, aquaporin-4 is expressed in astrocyte feet in the brain-blood barrier and subventricular zones of the brain ventricles. Aquaporin-4 expression is high in cerebrospinal fluid in hydrocephalus. Furthermore, neuroepithelial denudation precedes noncommunicating hydrocephalus and this neuroepithelial disruption could allow aquaporin-4 to reach anomalous brain areas where it is unrecognized and induce the generation of aquaporin-4 antibodies which could cause the neuromyelitis optica and certain types of hydrocephalus.

Vasopressin, Angiotensin II and Tyrosine-Hydroxylase Expression in the Hypothalamus of the Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH: A Case Report

The Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) is a disease characterized by hyponatremia and hyperosmolality of urine, and where vasopressin, angiotensin II and catecholamines are implicated in salt water balance, cardiovascular and blood pressure regulation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the hypothalamic distribution of vasopressin (VAS) Angiotensin II (AGII) and tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) in a case of SIADH and compare it with a case without SIADH. Two hypothalamus taken from a 66 year-old man with SIADH, and the other from a 63 year-old man without SIADH, were used. An immunohistochemical study was performed using anti-VAS, anti-AGII and anti-TH as primary antibodies. The vasopressin immunoreactive material was mainly found in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN), but VAS was also shown in the periventricular nucleus, preoptic medial area, perifornical nucleus and hypothalamic lateral area. The AGII was also mainly found in the SON and PVN. The TH was found in the SON, PVN, arcuate nucleus, periventricular nucleus, perifornical nucleus, preoptic medial and lateral area. VAS was less intensive and in a lesser number of cells and fibres in the case of SIADH, as opposed to the AGII and TH which were similar in both cases.

Protein changes in the cerebrospinal fluid of the different types of perinatal human hydrocephalus

Background Hydrocephalus is a disorder characterized by brain ventricular dilation and excess of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), in many cases its etiopathic origin is acquired as: post-hemorrhage, meningitis and tumours. But, there is no attributable cause in 45% of hydrocephalus cases and foetal hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis is one of the two main groups of non acquired or congenital hydrocephalus, however whether narrowing of the aqueduct of Sylvius is cause or consequence of hydrocephalus is discussed by different authors. Anyhow, most investigators describe an alteration in the SCO and certain circumventricular structures in the hydrocephalus, that can even occur before hydrocephalus is present and of course before the aqueduct stenosis. The objective of the present work is to investigate probable changes in the protean composition of the CSF in perinatal hydrocephalus and to analyze, in those liquids, the presence of soluble proteins that are immunoreactive or antibodies against Reissner fibre proteins and human foetal SCO extracts

Angiotensin II, Vasopressin, and Collagen-IV Expression in the Subfornical Organ in a Case of Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH

The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is a disease characterized by hyponatremia and hyperosmolarity of urine where vasopressin and angiotensin II are implicated in the alteration of salt water balance and cardiovascular and blood pressure regulation. The aim of this study is to analyse the expression of substances related with cardiovascular and salt water regulation in the subfornical organ in a case of SIADH. Two brains, one taken from a 66-year-old man with SIADH and the other from a 63-year-old man without SIADH, were used. Immunohistochemical study was performed using anti-angiotensin II, anti-vasopressin, and anti-collagen-VI as primary antibodies. Angiotensin and vasopressin immunoreaction were found in neurons, in perivascular spaces, and in the ependymal layer in the subfornical organ in both cases. However, in the SIADH case, the angiotensin II and collagen-IV expression in the SFO were different suggesting this organ’s possible participation in the physiopathology of SIADH.