0000000000135045
AUTHOR
T. Fink
Expression of C1q, a subcomponent of the rat complement system, is dramatically enhanced in brains of rats with either Borna disease or experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.
In situ hybridization, RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis as well immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of C1q, a subcomponent of the rat complement system, in brains of rats infected with Borna disease virus (BDV) and rats afflicted with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by the adoptive transfer of myelin basic protein specific T cells. C1q mRNA, which was not detected in normal brain, became clearly detectable using RT-PCR analysis by d14 post infection (p.i.) with BDV. Maximal levels of C1q mRNA were reached 21 days p.i. when inflammatory reactions in the brain were also at a peak. Similarly, C1q mRNA was elevated when the clinical symptoms of EAE be…
Regional specificities in the distribution, chemical phenotypes, and coexistence patterns of neuropeptide containing nerve fibres in the human anal canal
Despite the pivotal clinical significance of the human anal canal, little is known about its total and specific innervation. This study assessed the comparative distribution and histotopology of nerve fibres immunoreactive for neural markers and a variety of regulatory active neuropeptides in the human anal canal by light microscopic immunohistochemistry. Depending on the epithelial zone and region of the anal canal, the neural elements were differentially immunoreactive for the pan-neural marker protein gene product 9.5, the catecholamine marker tyrosine hydroxylase, the neuroendocrine marker chromogranin A, and various neuropeptides. Protein gene product 9.5-immunoreactive nerve fibres we…
Molecular Anatomical Basis of Interactions between Nervous and Immune Systems in Health and Disease
Traditionally, the nervous and immune systems have been regarded to function largely independently of each other. Interdisciplinary investigations of the recent past, however, have demonstrated that the nervous and immune systems have close functional interrelationships at several nodal intersections (Ader & Cohen, 1993; Besedovsky & del Rey, 1996b; Felten & Felten, 1994; Ottaway & Husband, 1994; Weihe, Nohr, Michel, Muller, Zentel, Fink, & Krekel, 1991a). Transmitters of the nervous system act on immune cells and messengers of the immune system influence the nervous system. Typical neuronal messengers appear to be synthesized in immune cells, and typical immune cell messengers appear to be…
Hautblasenbildung durch lokale Barbituratwirkung in der frühen Postmortalphase
Eine 31 Jahre alte Frau wurde tot mit anhangender Infusionsflasche und peripherem Venenzugang im Bereich des linken Handruckens aufgefunden. Bei der Leichenschau fielen ausgepragte Hautblasen mit seros-blutigem Inhalt sowie eine extreme Darstellung des Hautvenennetzes an der gesamten linken oberen Extremitat auf. Autolyseerscheinungen waren bei kurzer postmortaler Liegezeit (maximal ca. 24 h) nicht nachweisbar. Bei der toxikologischen Untersuchung wurde das bestimmungsgemas als Kurznarkotikum eingesetzte Barbiturat Thiopental nachgewiesen. Auffallig war eine hohe Thiopentalkonzentration in der Hautblasenflussigkeit von 1025 μg/ml, die die Konzentration im Oberschenkelvenenblut (5,35 μg/ml) …
Pro-enkephalin opioid peptides are abundant in porcine and bovine splenic nerves, but absent from nerves of rat, mouse, hamster, and guinea-pig spleen
The opioidergic innervation of the mammalian spleen and possible species differences were investigated. Light-microscopic immunohistochemistry revealed that splenic nerves of bovine and porcine spleen, but not of rat, mouse, hamster and guinea-pig spleen contained proenkephalin-derived opioidergic innervation. Immunoreactivity to both prodynorphin and pro-opiomelanocortin was absent from splenic nerves. In bovine and porcine spleen, fibers immunoreactive for met-enkephalin, met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe, met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu, leu-enkephalin and peptide F formed perivascular plexus, traveled in trabecular connective tissue, and extended into the capsule. Spatial relationships with immune cell…
Multiplicity of Opioidergic Pathways Related to Cardiovascular Innervation: Differential Contribution of All Three Opioid Precursors
The endogenous opioid family consists of the three precursors proenkephalin (proenkephalin A), prodynorphin (proenkephalin B), and proopiomelanocortin (POMC), from which various opioid and nonopioid peptides can be processed, apparently in a tissue-specific manner (cf. Civelli et al. 1984; Goldstein 1984; Herz 1984; Udenfriend and Kilpatrick 1984; Civelli et al. 1985; Khachaturian et al. 1985; Kosterlitz 1985). Their distribution in areas of the CNS which are involved in cardiovascular regulation is well documented. The biochemistry and functions of endocrine (pituitary and adrenal) opioids have also been well characterized (cf. Millan and Herz 1985). The conception that endocrine and CNS o…
Molecular anatomy of the neuro-immune connection.
Light microscopic immunohistochemistry was employed to elucidate and compare the presence, distribution, and coexistence of various peptides, neuroendocrine markers and enzymes of the catecholamine pathway in nerves supplying lymphoid tissues in a variety of mammalian species. All lymphoid organs and tissues receive innervation by fibers containing dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and/or tyrosine hydroxylase, neural markers like protein gene product 9.5, synaptophysin and neurofilament and a varied spectrum of peptides. The prominent peptides were tachykinins (substance P, neurokinin A), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/peptide his…
Use of the software ‘Poser4’ in reconstruction of accident and crime scenes
The reconstruction of accident and crime scenes demands the full attention of the forensic working physician. Description by words is often difficult and liable to be misunderstood. Reconstruction in the original places of events are expensive and in some cases impossible. Computer graphics and animations give the possibility to construct the original course of events. Poser4 is a software package to perform these reconstructions in an easy and vivid way. We investigated the possibilities of reconstructing an accident with this software.
The organized subdural blood clot in forensic case work - a case report.
The medico-legal assessment of a subdural haematoma (recent or organized) usually requires some information regarding its cause. Quite often, especially in the absence of a known history of trauma, minor head injuries, which are no longer verifiable, are simply assumed to be the most likely causes. Considering the fact that a subdural haematoma could also be non-traumatic, e.g. in haemorrhagic disorders, cardiac conditions with persistent passive hyperaemia, true inflammatory and degenerative processes of the dura, etc., the medico-legal implication of a possible head injury would require the exclusion of such non-traumatic conditions capable of causing subdural bleeding. In this respect, t…
Changes of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) immunoreactive nerves in inflamed appendix.
The existence of chronic appendicitis is controversial. In this prospective study, we investigated possible changes in the innervation of the appendix under different pathological conditions and correlated histological findings with clinical observation. Thirty appendectomy specimens and 14 appendices obtained from organ donors or patients who underwent right hemicolectomy were immediately fixed in Bouin's solution and processed for immunocytochemistry using an antiserum directed against the panneuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5). The density of PGP 9.5 immunostaining was evaluated by digitized morphometry. Significant differences in the density of the PGP 9.5-immunoreactive …