B. Csillik

Topographic correlation between the hemato-encephalic barrier and the cholinesterase activity of brain capillaries

SummaryCapillaries of the rat central nervous system (CNS) stain intensely for butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). No such enzyme activity could be observed, however, in areas not protected by the blood-brain barrier. BuChE is located in the cytoplasms of endothelial cells, probably associated with pinocytotic vesicles.

Lymphatic drainage of the brain

In krassem Gegensatz zur heute herrschenden Auffassung spielt eine Lymphdrainage beim Flüssigkeitskreislauf des Gehirns eine ausschlaggebende Rolle. Werden die zervikalen Lymphbahnen verschlossen, so entsteht eine lymphostatische Enzephalopathie, welche u.a. durch ein Hirnödem, Ganglienzell- und Myelinveränderungen sowie durch Beeinträchtigung der Funktion des Zentralnervensystems gekennzeichnet ist. Es wird ein Durchbruch der Lymphologie in das Gebiet der Neurologie und Neuropathologie gefordert und darauf hingewiesen, dass bei der Pathologie des Hirnödems die Rolle der Lymphzirkulation nicht ausser acht gelassen werden sollte.

CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY OF ARCHICEREBELLAR MOSSY FIBRE APPARATUSES

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HISTOCHEMICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS IN THE ISOLATED ARCHICEREBELLUM OF THE RAT

THOUGH the ultrastructural and the histochemical structure of the central nervous system (CNS) has been studied intensively during recent years, few data are available regarding those ultrastructural and histochemical alterations that follow the degeneration of neural components. In the present paper the ultrastructural and histochemical consequences of degeneration in the cerebellar cortex are discussed, with special reference to the archicerebellar mossy fibre apparatuses.

The kynurenate analog SZR-72 prevents the nitroglycerol-induced increase of c-fos immunoreactivity in the rat caudal trigeminal nucleus: Comparative studies of the effects of SZR-72 and kynurenic acid

Administration of nitroglycerol in a migraine model results in an increased number of c-fos-expressing secondary sensory neurons in the caudal trigeminal nucleus. Since synapses between first- and second-order trigeminal neurons are mediated by excitatory amino acids, NMDA receptors are inhibited by kynurenic acid, though this crosses the blood-brain barrier only poorly. Systemic treatment of rats with SZR-72, a newly synthetized kynurenic acid analog, diminished the nitroglycerol-induced increase of c-fos immunoreactivity in the brain stem highly significantly, while treatment with kynurenic acid resulted in a significantly smaller decrease, proving that SZR-72 is much more effective than kynurenic acid.

Transganglionic regulation and fine structural localization of lectin-reactive carbohydrate epitopes in primary sensory neurons of the rat

SummaryLight- and electron microscopic lectin histochemical studies showed that small dorsal root ganglion cells of the rat projecting to substantia gelatinosa Rolandi (Lamina II) contain terminal α-d-galactose carbohydrate epitopes: while those projecting to Waldeyers marginal zone (Lamina I) and the outer part of Lamina II contain terminal β-d-galactose residues. These glycoconjugates are manufactured in the Golgi apparatus and transported to preterminal and terminal axoplasmic surface membranes. Both of the axolemmal carbohydrate moieties were shown to be subjected to transganglionic regulation, even though the effects of transganglionic degenerative atrophy become evident considerably later than the depletion of axoplasmic marker substances like fluoride resistant acid phosphatase and thiamine monophosphatase.

Transganglionic degenerative atrophy in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord after peripheral nerve transection in rhesus monkeys

SummaryThe effect of sciatic nerve transection on its centrally located terminals in the spinal cord was analyzed by electron microscopy in adult rhesus monkeys one and three months following lesion. Although the peripheral and intermediate portions of the dorsal roots, where the axons are enveloped by Schwann cells were normal, their central portion and their terminals in the substantia gelatinosa were remarkably altered. Transganglionic degenerative atrophy (TDA) is characterized by three distinct types of electronmicroscopic alterations. The first type exhibits a conspicuous electron density of the terminal and pre-terminal axoplasm. Importantly, shrinkage replaces fragmentation and glial engulfement of the terminal seen in the course of Wallerian degeneration. The second type is characterized by the disappearance of synaptic vesicles from the terminals. The third type of TDA consists of intricate labyrinthine structures, composed of flattened profiles of axonal, dendritic and glial elements. The complex and diverse cellular changes that occur in the upper dorsal horn following peripheral nerve injury may provide the structural basis of plasticity of the primary nociceptive system.

Decreased expression of kynurenine aminotransferase-I (KAT-I) in the substantia nigra of mice after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treatment

Nerve cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNPC) are known to express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). By means of light and electron microscopical immunohistochemical techniques, we have shown that the dopaminergic neurons of SNPC express also kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT-I), the enzyme taking part in the formation of kynurenic acid, a neuroprotectant which is one of the endogeneous antagonists of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. It was also found that microglial cells and astrocytes express KAT-I. It has been shown that the highly selective dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), widely used as a model of Parkinsons disease (PD), affects not only TH of dopaminergic neurons in the SNPC but also their KAT-I immunoreactivity as well: MPTP treatment decreased the number and optical density of KAT-I immunoreactive SNPC neurons. Decrease of KAT-I after MPTP treatment has been proved also by Western blot analysis. MPTP also reduced KAT-I immunoreactivity of microglial cells, except for those involved in reactive gliosis, which were arranged in groups surrounding affected neurons of the SNPC; also the number of KAT-I immunoreactive (IR) astroglial cells was increased in SNPC. We conclude that MPTP treatment may have a dual effect: in addition to being deleterious for neurons expressing TH and KAT-I, it also affects glial cells which could exacerbate the neurodegenerative process characterizing PD.

Lectin binding: A genuine marker for transganglionic regulation of human primary sensory neurons

Medium-sized human dorsal root ganglion cells and their central terminals in the upper dorsal horn exert preferential affinity for Ulex europaeus I lectin. Lectin binding of glycoconjugates outlines lamina III (+IIi) and disappears after peripheral neurotomy, which renders it a useful marker to study transganglionic regulation in man.

Depletion of substance P and somatostatin in the upper dorsal horn after blockade of axoplasmic transport

SummaryIn the upper dorsal horn of the rat lumbosacral spinal cord, substance P and somatostatin are present in two distinct and different populations of primary central afferent terminals. Substance-P-positive terminals are mainly concentrated in lamina I, while somatostatin-positive terminals are confined to lamina II. Although these two populations of primary afferent terminals differ at light- and electron-microscopic level, they are equally affected by transganglionic degenerative atrophy (TDA) which is induced by the blockade of axoplasmic transport in the segmentally related, ipsilateral sensory nerve by the local application of Vinblastin, a microtubule inhibitor. In consequence, substance P and somatostatin are depleted in the medial and intermediate portions of the upper dorsal horn, while the lateralmost area, which represents the postaxial portion of the dermatome, remains virtually intact. Substance P and somatostatin in propriospinal elements and the axonal meshwork within the dorsolateral funicle are not affected by TDA. Neurotensine, a propriospinal neuropeptide, does not show any alterations in the affected spinal segments.