Kensaku Kawakatsu

Histochemical and electron microscopical studies on the effect of duct ligation of rat salivary glands

Abstract The effects of duct ligation on the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands were studied by histological, histochemical and electron microscopical methods. Ligation of the main excretory duct led to acute atrophy of both glands within a few days, showing disappearance of mucous secretory granules from acini and luminal dilatation of ducts in which the activity of oxidative enzymes decreased. After prolonged duct ligation, duct and acinar cells of both glands showed extreme atrophy histologically; however, individual cells still contained cellular organelles and low activity of oxidative enzymes for essential vital functions. Moreover, some acinar cells after prolonged ligation revealed regeneration at the periphery of each lobule. Myoepithelial cells showed no reduction of alkaline phosphatase activity throughout the period of ligation.

A histochemical and electron-microscopic study of the trigeminal ganglion of the rat.

Abstract The electron-microscopic and the enzyme histochemical studies were carried out and the following findings obtained: 1. (1) Light-microscopically, three types of the nerve cells were distinguished, i.e., large cells, small cells and intermediate cells. Electron-microscopically, three types of cells were also discernible, i.e., clear cells, dark cells and transitional cells. The diameter of large cells was about 60 μ and that of dark cells, 30 μ. The mitochondrial dehydrogenases were more evident in the nerve cell bodies than in capsular cells. Mitochondria were more numerous in nerve cell bodies than in capsular cells. In dark cells, the mitochondrial dehydrogenases were concentrated in the perinuclear area and AChE was mainly localized in the peripheral portion of the perikaryon. In large cells, these enzymes were distributed throughout the perikaryon. The intracellular localization of the enzymes were coincident with the intracellular distributions of the mitochondria and the rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in the perikaryon of the aforementioned nerve cell types. Therefore, it was suggested that the large cell was identical with the clear cell, the small cell with the dark cell and the intermediate cell with the transitional cell. 2. (2) The capsular and/or the Schwann cell intervened between the neuron and capillary vessels. 3. (3) The capsular cell showed the characteristically prominent stainability to NADP-dependent IDH, G6PDH and to ALP. Electron-microscopically, the two types of the capsular cells were discernible, i.e., dark capsular cells and clear capsular cells. At the junction of clear cells and capsular cells there were “labyrinthine structures” and “trophospongium” and these structures may play a role in the transportation of nutrition between the two cells. On the other hand, no such structure was observed in dark cells. 4. (4) It is reasonable to assume that there is transformation of the nerve cell types in various biological states from dark cell to clear cell.

Histochemical study of enzyme patterns in the human submaxillary gland

SummaryThe histochemical distribution of various enzymes, such as alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, esterase, β-glycosidase, aminopeptidase, succinic dehydrogenese and TPN diaphorase, in human submaxillary glands has been determined.Acini and ducts of human submaxillary gland were devoid of alkaline phosphatase activity, but this enzyme was observed in capillaries and somewhat in myoepithelium.Activities of acid phosphatase, esterase, β-glucuronidase and β-galactosidase were generally observed in the entire cytoplasm of serous acini; but the cytoplasm of mucous acini was either negative or showed only trace amounts.Aminopeptidase reaction of both acini and ducts was generally negative.Succinic dehydrogenase and TPN diaphorase activities were strongly active in intralobuler ducts. Serous acini exhibited less activity with these enzymes; and mucous cells showed still less and were almost negative. In serous acini, there was much greater activity of TPN diaphorase than of succinic dehydrogenase.

A case of neurilemmoma in the mandible

Abstract A case of neurilemmoma located in the mandible of an 11-year-old boy is presented with clinical findings as well as histochemical and electronmicroscopic features of the tumor. The histopathologic examination in the light microscope revealed that most of the tumor tissue was composed of typical neurilemmoma of Antoni Type A, with a few Antoni Type B. Ultrastructural findings support the concept that neurilemmoma may be derived from the Schwann cells of the nerve sheath but could not be differentiated from neurofibroma.

Histochemical observations of enzymes in adenoameloblastoma: Histochemical comparisons of enzymes among tooth germ, adenoameloblastoma, and ameloblastoma

Abstract An adenoameloblastoma which had developed from the 2−5 region was subjected histochemical enzymatic study. Epithelial structures of adenoameloblastoma contained high alkaline and acid phosphatase activity and slight aminopeptidase activity. Oxidative enzymatic activities in neoplastic epithelia revealed low succinate dehydrogenase, high lactate and malate dehydrogenase, and moderate to low glucose-6-phosphate and isocitrate dehydrogenase activity. In comparing histochemical enzymatic localization patterns between adenoameloblastoma and ameloblastoma, the differences were in the alkaline phosphatase distribution in the neoplastic epithelia, although tumor cells of ameloblastoma were devoid of the alkaline phosphatase activity. Oxidative enzyme localization in adenoameloblastoma resembled that of ameloblastoma. Histochemical properties of enzymes in developing tooth germs were also compared with those of neoplastic epithelia in adenoameloblastoma. Comparisons of histochemical features of both structures were discussed in detail.

Histochemical studies of enzymatic patterns during experimental carcinogenesis in the mouse parotid gland

Abstract Histochemical studies of the distribution patterns of the following enzymes during experimental carcinogenesis induced by 9,10-dimethyl-l,2-benzanthracene in the mouse parotid gland were made; alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, esterase, β-glucuronidase, aminopeptidase, aconitase, aldolase, monoamine oxidase and succinate-, lactate-, malate-, glutamate-, α-glycerophosphate-, β-hydroxybutyrate-, isocitrate-, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases. The carcinogen produced a relatively constant sequence of histological changes consisting of degenerative, proliferative, squamous metaplastic and malignant neoplastic changes. Most of the neoplasms induced were epidermoid carcinomata and fibrosarcomata, and occasionally cystadenomata and adenocarcinomata. There was one malignant pleomorphic adenoma. The carcinomata were considered from the histological and histochemical appearances to originate from duct cells and not from acinar or myoepithelial cells. Enzymatic behaviour in the epithelial cells during carcinogenesis showed a marked decrease in alkaline phosphatase, esterase and succinate dehydrogenase, but a marked increase in lactate, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The distribution patterns of the enzymes in induced carcinomata were similar to those in naturally-occurring epidermoid carcinomata. Mesodermal tumours showed no clear-cut patterns of enzyme reactivity. The study suggests that the pentose cycle may play a role in the metabolism of carcinogenesis.

Two cases of plasmacytoma in the oral cavity

Two cases of plasmacytoma in the oral cavity are described. The first case was a plasmacytoma of the palate in a 64-year-old man, which be an oral manifestation of multiple myeloma, with fatal course 17 months after the first examination. The second was a plasmacytoma in a 43-year-old man, manifesting first in the mandible. A review of the recent Japanese dental literature was made: 14 cases were found in the literature exhibiting evidence of plasmacytoma in the oral region. Eight of these patients had oral manifestations of multiple myeloma (IgG myeloma, 3; IgA myeloma, 1; IgD myeloma, 1; B-J myeloma, 1; undetermined, 2). The other six cases were single lesions of plasmacytoma. The ratio of males to females was 1:1. The mandible was more frequently involved than the other oral structures. The site of predilection was the posterior portion of swelling and, less frequently, pain. Surgical treatment was favored in single lesions of plasmacytoma, while in myeloma chemotherapy and a combination of radiotherapy-chemotherapy constituted 75% of treatment.

Zymograms and histochemistry of non-specific esterase in the salivary glands.

SummaryZymogramic analysis of esterase in the mouse, rat and guinea-pig salivary glands was undertaken and demonstrated species and organ specificities of esterase with electrophoretic method. Salivary glands esterase was classified into A, B and C types based on the electrophoretic mobility. Mouse submandibular gland had the most complicated pattern, while guinea-pig showed the simpliest patterns which was devoid of B type of esterase. Rat salivary glands exhibited rather regular patterns. Similar zymogram patterns were obtained with many kinds of ester compounds, that is simple and substituted naphthol esters and indoxyl derivatives. The tests of inhibition and activation for esterase activity was obtained. Histochemical properties applied to inhibitor test in the esterase zymogram patterns showed no marked differences between ducts and acini.

Electromyographic activities of jaw muscles in ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint

Abstract Electromyographic activities of jaw muscles in ten patients with ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint were studied. With the mandible in the resting position, there were increased spontaneous discharges in both digastric muscles of the affected patients, although the digastric muscles in the subject with normal occlusion were electromyographically “silent.” The increase in activities of the digastric muscle and a slight decrease in the activities of the masseter muscle and the anterior, medial, and posterior parts of the temporal muscle in our patients, as compared with those in the normal subjects, were recorded during powerful biting. During powerful opening, the digastric muscles showed greater activities in the affected patients than in the subjects with normal occlusion and a slight increase in activity of elevator muscles (such as masseter and temporal), which were “silent” in the subjects with normal occlusion. A slight increase in the activities of the digastric muscles on the affected and unaffected sides, and a loss of activities in the masseter muscle and the anterior, medial, and posterior parts of the temporal muscle on the deviated side were recorded during lateral deviation of the mandible. In conclusion, it may be stated that in the patients with ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint there was increased activity in the opening muscles, whereas the activities of the elevator muscles were slightly decreased. Furthermore, the magnitude of the electromyographic activities of the masticatory muscles had no relation to the side on which the temporomandibular joint was affected.

Fibrinolytic activity in cystic lesions of jaw bones

The fibrinolytic activity in the tissues of cystic lesions of jaw bones was investigated by the semiquantitative method of Astrup. The specimens examined were ameloblastoma (9 cases), follicular cyst (8 cases) and radicular cyst (14 cases). High fibrinolytic activity was observed in ameloblastoma, while in radicular cyst the activity was variable. It is suggested that in radicular cyst inflammatory episodes play an important role in activating local fibrinolysis, while in ameloblastoma the tissue itself has a great capacity to induce locally activated plasmin.