Noboru Goto

Discriminative Staining Methods for the Nervous System: Luxol Fast Blue–Periodic Acid-Schiff– Hematoxylin Triple Stain and Subsidiary Staining Methods

This paper describes a new series of staining methods which can discriminatively demonstrate every structure of the nervous system, including axons and capillaries, in animal and human materials. Methods described in this paper consist of one primary stain, luxol fast blue-periodic acid Schiff-hematoxylin (LPH) and six different subsidiary staining methods. The LPH triple stain can precisely differentiate the following structures: neurons (Nissl bodies, cytoplasm, nuclear membrane and nucleolus), various kinds of nuclei (glia, ependyma, endothelium, leucocyte, connective tissue, etc.), myelin sheaths, neuronal processes (axons and dendrites), reacted glial cell bodies (protoplasmic astrocytes, foamy cells, etc.), blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries), meninges, intervening connective tissue, erythrocytes, lipofuscin granules, amyloid bodies, and others. Subsidiary staining methods are also described briefly. Applications are discussed in the context of staining technology and neuromorphological research.

Primary pontine hemorrhage and gustatory disturbance: clinicoanatomic study.

A clinicoanatomic study of 12 patients with tegmental-type primary pontine hemorrhage proved the presence of a gustatory disturbance among other clinical symptoms on the same side of the tongue as that of the pontine lesion, and suggested the secondary pathway of gustatory sensation from the solitary tract nucleus ascends without decussation in the homolateral pontine tegmentum. These results contradict textbook descriptions regarding the human secondary gustatory pathway.

Primary pontine hemorrhage: clinicopathological correlations.

In 18 autopsies from patients with primary pontine hemorrhage we studied the sites of bleeding, the volumes and development of hematomas and clinicopathological correlations. A modular optical electronic planimeter was introduced to measure the size of hematomas. The series of patients can be divided into 2 groups from the viewpoint of bleeding sites, their development and clinical symptomatology. These are 1) the tegmentobasiiar type and 2) the tegmentai type. The precise location of the orgin of hemorrhage, and the approximate volume of hematomas can now be determined with the help of computerized tomography. This information will be of help in understanding clinical symptoms. Two different typical patient reports, selected from the collection, are presented.

Development of the human dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve: a morphometric study

The development of the human dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve was studied on serial sections of the brain of 10 fetuses at 16-40 weeks of gestation, an infant at 2 months of age and an adult of 63 years. A morphometric analysis revealed that the nucleus is divided into three subnuclei (caudal, dorsal and ventral) and that this subdivision is maintained from 16 weeks of gestation to adulthood. The early development of the nucleus is gradual between 16 and 40 weeks of gestation without the rapid growth phase apparent with the motor trigeminal, hypoglossal and facial nuclei.

Development of human cerebellar nuclei: morphometric study

The morphometric development of the human cerebellar nuclei was examined in 9 fetuses (16-40 weeks of gestation; WG), an infant (2 months old) and 2 adults (16 and 63 years old). With the morphological observation of serial sections of the brain containing the cerebellar nuclei, the authors measured sections to get several morphometric parameters: the volume of nuclear column and number, packing density and cell body area of neurons. Each nucleus (dentate, emboliform, globose and fastigial nucleus) was recognized even at 16 WG. Nerve cells containing Nissl bodies were observed in all nuclei after 23 WG. Degenerative changes were detected in some neurons for every nucleus at 21 and 23 WG. Three stages were observed in the developmental course of nuclear volume and neuronal packing density: the primary or undifferentiated stage at 16 WG, the secondary stage with variability at 21-32 WG and the tertiary stage with monotonous increase (nuclear volume) or gradual decrease (neuronal packing density) after 35 WG. No significant correlation between neuronal number and gestational age was noticed for every nucleus. The analysis of cell body area (neuronal size) demonstrated that the dentate neurons developed after the intermediate or fastigial neurons. It is concluded that there is a critical period between slightly before 20 WG and slightly after 30 WG, matched with the secondary stage in the development of the cerebellar nuclei.

Development of the human hypoglossal nucleus : a morphometric study

Development of the human hypoglossal nucleus was studied using complete serial sections of the brains of 9 fetuses at 16, 18, 21, 23, 27, 32, 33, 35 and 40 weeks of gestation, a 2-month-old infant, a 16-year-old adolescent and a 63-year-old adult. Morphometric analysis produced the following three findings pertaining to the development of the human hypoglossal nucleus: (1) development may accelerate after 32 weeks of gestation; (2) postnatal maturation is observable, and (3) natural cell death, as indicated by a decrease in the number of neurons and the appearance of degenerating neurons, may occur during fetal development.

Development of the Human Motor Trigeminal Nucleus

The morphometric features of the motor trigeminal nucleus of the developing human brain were examined using complete serial celloidin sections of 13 brains, including 10 fetal brains. Our results suggest that the developmental processes of the motor trigeminal nucleus should be divided into four stages as follows: (1) primary stage, characterized by the early neuronal differentiation; (2) secondary or preparatory stage; (3) tertiary stage, characterized by massive neuronal death, and (4) postnatal stage, characterized by the maturation of neuropils. There were differences between the neuronal death observed in human and animal brains. Possible implications of these observations for the development of the nervous system are discussed.

Fifth somatosensory cortex (SV) representation of the whole body surface in the medial bank of the anterior suprasylvian sulcus of the cat

The physiological properties of neurons in the medial bank of the anterior suprasylvian sulcus (ASSS-m) of the cats cortex were studied using unit recording techniques. Receptive fields (RFs) on the face are represented in the most rostral aspects of the ASSS-m. Of these neurons, 84% responded to light touch of the skin on the contralateral region of the face and 12% responded to mechanical stimulation of facial hair. In addition, 4% of the neurons responded to light touch to the skin or mechanical stimulation of the hair on the contralateral face and also to visual stimuli. The RFs of neurons responsive to the hindlimb and tail are located in the most caudal aspects of the ASSS-m. 22% of these neurons responded to the light touch to the skin and 78% responded to movement of hair. The RFs of neurons responsive to the trunk area in the ASSS-m are located between the facial and hindlimb regions. Of these neurons, 2% responded to light touch of the skin and 98% responded to movements of hair. Some neurons which responded to stimulation of hair or skin on the trunk included forelimb and/or hindlimb areas. In addition, some neurons had RFs on both sides of the trunk including the shoulder area. These regions were in area 5a. Various features of representation in ASSS-m distinguish this region from other somatosensory areas. We designate the ASSS-m as the fifth somatosensory cortex (SV).

Laminal distribution of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the occipital cortex of rats: evidence as a neurotransmitter

The laminal distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the rat occipital cortex was determined by an enzymatic procedure following decapitation or microwave irradiation (5 kW for 1.1 s). No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of GABA among 5 layers after microwave irradiation. However, when the animals were sacrificed by decapitation, the concentrations varied among the layers with the highest being detected in the internal granular layer (lamina IV) followed by the external granular (II), external pyramidal (III) and internal pyramidal layers (V). In these layers, GABA was significantly higher than in the other two layers, the molecular (I) and multiform layers (VI). The results are discussed in terms of the neurotransmitter function of GABA in the occipital cortex.

Development Of The Human Mesencephalic Trigeminal Nucleus: A Morphometric Study

Anatomical development of the human mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively, using serial sections of brains, with the help of a computer‐assisted image‐analyser. Five fetuses at 16, 18, 21, 23 and 27 weeks of gestation; five neonates at 30, 32, 33, 35 and 40 weeks of gestation; a two‐month‐old infant and a 63‐year‐old adult were studied. Morphometric analyses of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus revealed that orocaudal columnar length and neuronal areas gradually increased with gestational age. Diversity of neuronal areas appeared after 32 weeks of gestation, but neuronal numbers and shapes showed little change throughout prenatal and postnatal life.