Yonosuke Watanabe

A pathological survey of intracranial Germinoma and Pinealoma in Japan

Pathologic survey was performed on 43 cases of intracranial germinoma and 12 cases of pinealoma. The present study suggests that, in Japan, the incidence of teratoma groups including germinoma is remarkably higher than that in U.S. and Europe, whereas the rate of true pinealoma is lower. Using ultrastructural, enzyme‐histochemical, and fluorescence‐histochemical methods for a few surgical specimens, a strong similarity between intracranial germinoma (so‐called “pinealoma” with a two‐cell pattern) and seminoma and dysgerminoma was confirmed. The true pinealoma could be classified as pineoblastoma and pineocytoma, according to the degree of pineocytic differentiation of the tumor cells, and as “neuroblastoma‐like” and “pineal‐like” on the basis of the histologic architecture.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 expression is down-regulated during the adipocyte differentiation of H-1/A marrow stromal cells and induced by cachectin/tumor necrosis factor.

We isolated clonal sublines of the established mouse marrow stromal cell line, H-1. These clonal sublines underwent differentiation into adipocytes in various degrees. One subline, H-1/A, underwent adipocyte differentiation after confluence, while another subline, H-1/D, did not differentiate. In H-1/A cells, the 4.5- and 2.5-kb major mRNA species of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) were expressed before differentiation and were down-regulated at a posttranscriptional level during the differentiation of H-1/A cells. The down-regulation of the CSF-1 gene was not a result of arrested cellular growth, because no down-regulation was detected in the nondifferentiating sister line, H-1/D. This down-regulation appeared to be an early event in differentiation. Cachectin/tumor necrosis factor transiently induced the expression of CSF-1 and inhibited the differentiation of H-1/A cells into adipocytes. This induced expression of CSF-1 was due to an increased rate of transcription.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS ON HUMAN THYMUS AND THYMOMA

The thymus has been an object of many controversial discussions both in morp h o l o g i ~ a l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ S O ~ ~ 7 ) and functional a ~ p e c t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . Recently, however, the importance of its role in the immunological responsiveness of experimental animals during the neonatal period has been recognized~5~‘~~eO). In morphological aspect, on the other hand, the opinions are still divided as to the nature of cells comprising its parenchyma. There is a group of investigat~rsl~’~”~a~) who believe in the endodermal origin of all parenchymal cells including the lymphoid cells, the reticular cells and the cells comprising the Hassall’s corpuscles, whereas there are others who regard‘*”#”) the lymphoid cells and a part of reticular cells as being of mesenchymal origin which secondarily invade the young endodermal cell mass from the surrounding mesenchymal tissue. The development of electron microscopy, other new techniques of embryologyl*z~*) and tissue c ~ l t u r e ~ . ~ * ~ ’ is throwing some new light on this problem. In the field of electron microscopy there are a good number of reports on the thymus of experimental anim~8~1e~1e~27~60~61~ez~65~66) . The majority of them are in agreement with the fact that the thymic reticular cells reveal the characteristics of epithelial cells indicating their endodermal origin. Concerning the origin of the lymphoid cells of the thymus, however, the electron microscopy seems to give little contribution for the solution of the problem”. There is no structural feature to differentiate the thymic lymphoid cells from those of other lymphoid tissues. So far as the present studies on the definitive thymus are concerned, there is no evidence showing the transition from endodermal reticular cells into lymphoid cells. Although a considerable number of electron microscopic studies on the thymus of experimental animals have been carried out, no authentic report has so far appeared in the literature in concern with the human thymus. The aim of this paper is to

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Associated with Multiple Nodular Hyperplasia of the Liver

Three autospy cases of systemic lupus erythematosus with uinique association of multiple nodular hyperplasia (MNH) of the liver, portal hypertension, and hypertensive pulmonary vascular disease are reported. None of the patients had received oral contraceptive or androgenic steroid, but they were treated with glucocorticoids for 2 to 11 years. Raynauds phenomenon, sclerodactyly, and mild impairment of the kidney were the common clinical features. Macroscopically, MNH is characterized by many nodules scattered throughout the non‐cirrhotic liver, and histologically, each nodule is made up of normal‐appearing hepatocytes and not encapsulated. Portal tracts are scanty in the nodules. MNH seems to be a regenerative‐hyperplastic process, but its true nature still remains unclear. Relationships between MNH and portal hypertension, MNH and pulmonary hypertension, and collagen disease and pulmonary hypertension are discussed. A brief review of the literature concerning multiple benign hepatocellular tumors similar to MNH is also presented. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 32: 547∼560, 1982.

Small cell carcinoma (non-oat cell type) of the esophagus concomitant with invasive squamous cell carcinoma and carcinoma in situ: a case report

A case of double primary invasive carcinoma of the esophagus, consisting of well‐differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and non‐oat cell small cell carcinoma without squamous differentiation, is presented. This is the first reported case of a double or multiple primary invasive carcinoma of the esophagus in which one component is small cell carcinoma (oat cell or non‐oat cell). Furthermore, the mucosal epithelium around the non‐oat cell small cell carcinoma revealed multiple dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. These lesions were definitely separated from the invasive carcinoma and from each other. The results suggest that pure non‐oat cell small cell carcinoma of the esophagus without squamous differentiation is derived from the esophageal squamous epithelium, and is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma.

Lectin‐binding sites in clear cell acanthoma

Lectin‐binding sites in clear cell acanthoma (CCA) were studied using an avidin‐biotin complex (ABC) with 9 lectins. Formaldehyde‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded sections of 7 CCA lesions were employed. Positive stainings, similar to those seen in normal epidermis, were observed on the cell surface in CCA with Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA‐I), Ricinus communis agglutinin II (RCA‐II), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Reduced reactivities were observed with Concanavalin A (ConA) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) in CCA. In some areas of CCA lesions, faint stainings were seen with Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA‐I). Capability of staining with soybean agglutinin (SBA) was completely lost in the lesions. With Bandeiraea simplicifolia agglutinin II (BSA‐II), cytoplasmic stain was seen in a part of upper and spinous layers in CCA lesions. Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) did not bind to either CCA or normal epidermis. These results indicate that the lectin‐binding sites of proliferating cells of CCA resemble those of epidermal keratinocytes and suggest that CCA is a tumor of epidermal origin.

Correlation between Production of Colony-Stimulating Activity (CSA) and Adipose Conversion in a Murine Marrow-Derived Preadipocyte Line (H-1/A)

Abstract The correlation between adipose conversion of cloned H-1 cells (H-1/A) and their production of colony-stimulating activity (CSA) was examined. The production of CSA from H-1/A cells declined after adipose conversion, although H-1/A cells are active producers of CSA during their fibrocytic stage. The addition of 2 × 10−5 M 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine to the cultures almost completely inhibited adipose conversion and there was no reduction of CSA levels after 9 days of culture. On the other hand, the addition of 10−6 M hydrocortisone sodium succinate to the culture markedly enhanced adipose conversion, and a greater reduction in the CSA level was observed in the supernatants than in the control cultures after 12 days of culture. Indomethacin had no effect on the production of CSA or on adipose conversion. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the CSA levels of nondialyzed supernatants and dialyzed supernatants from the control cultures during the entire course of the experiment. Supernatants during the adipocyte stage of H-1/A cultures did not inhibit the CSA derived from the fibrocytic stage. There were no differences in colonies in agar cultures stimulated by supernatants derived from cultures that had undergone either of the above treatments. These results suggest that the reduction of CSA is not due to the production of inhibitors, but that the production of CSA declines after adipose conversion of H-1/A cells. Preadipocytes in bone marrow therefore appear to contribute to granulopoiesis during the fibrocytic stage and are hematopoietically inactive when they convert to adipocytes.

Immunohistochemical Characterization of Human Cutaneous Mast Cells in Urticaria Pigmentosa (Cutaneous Mastocytosis)

To clarify the origin and function of human cutaneous mast cells (CMCs), immunohistochemical characterization was done in 19 cases of urticaria pigmentosa (cutaneous mastocytosis) using 9 antibodies (anti leukocyte common antigen, MX‐PanB, anti lysozyme, anti α1, antitrypsin, anti α1‐antichymotrypsin, anti vimentin, anti‐neuron specific enolase, anti factor VIII related antigen, and anti‐ACTH). CMCs showed positive reactions with anti α1 anti‐chymotrypsin and anti vimentin in almost all of the specimens. In more than half of the specimens, CMCs were stained positively with anti ‐α1‐antitrypsin, MX‐PanB, and anti factor VIII related antigen. Anti‐leukocyte common antigen and anti ACTH also showed positive reactions in some specimens. These results confirm the existence of vimentin filaments in CMCs and suggest a functional role of CMCs in hemostasis via factor VIII. Furthermore, immunohistochemical similarity between CMCs and granulocyte/macrophage group cells is also suggested.

Translocation t(3;4)(q26;q21) in myelodysplastic syndrome with megakaryoblastic proliferation

A 74-year-old Japanese male with a 4-year history of refractory anemia with excess of blasts is reported here. Chromosome study revealed the bone marrow cells of this patient to contain a t(3;4)(q26;q21). Ultrastructural analysis of platelet peroxidase and immunocytochemical study using monoclonal antibody for platelet antigen revealed a large number of blasts in the bone marrow to be megakaryoblasts. Thus, this case was thought to be one of a myelodysplastic syndrome with excess of blasts including megakaryoblastic proliferation showing chromosome changes at 3q26 and 4q21. The relationship of the anomaly on the long arm of a chromosome #3, especially at band 3q26, to abnormal megakaryoblastic proliferation is discussed.

EXPERIMENTAL PHOSPHOLIPIDOSIS INDUCED BY 4,4′-DIETHYL-AMINOETHOXYHEXESTROL

The effect of a generalized phospholipidosis inducing drug, diethylamino‐ethoxyhexestrol (DH, a coronary vasodilator), was studied using rats. The initial alterations are characterized by the appearance of abnormal cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. At the early stage of DH administraion, they appeared near the Golgi apparatus. Histochemical and ultrastructural evidence showed that the inclusion bodies consisted of polar lipid, mainly of phospholipids. From cytochemical and biochemical observation, the lysosome was regarded as the primary site of the drug‐induced morphological changes. The drug‐induced abnormal cytoplasmic inclusion bodies were of three basic morphological types, i.e., multilamellated, crystalloid and finger‐print‐like bodies. Additionally, many intermediate forms were found showing structural features of those basic types. These drug‐induced cytoplasmic changes, namely storage of phospholipids, were considered to be reversible both morphologically and biochemically after the cessation of DH administration.