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Biomedical subjects

B Böttger

Publications and source records attributed to B Böttger.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Peripheral peptidergic fibers of the trigeminal nerve in the olfactory bulb of the rat.

Axons immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P are present in the olfactory nerve, although few, if any, olfactory receptor cells contain immunocytochemically detectable levels of these peptides. The possible trigeminal origin of these fibers was tested by performing unilateral stereotaxic lesions of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, followed 2-25 days later by immunocytochemistry for CGRP and substance P. As reported previously, free nerve endings immunoreactive for both peptides were found transversing the nasal epithelium on the unlesioned side. Also on the unlesioned side, peptidergic axons, immunoreactive for both CGRP and substance P, could be traced from the olfactory nerve into the glomerular layer throughout the olfactory bulb, but especially into its rostral third. Ipsilateral to the trigeminal ganglion lesion, such peptide-immunoreactive fibers were absent or markedly reduced in the bulb, nerve, and epithelium. These results indicate that the peripheral branches of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve enter the olfactory bulb along with the olfactory nerve and terminate in the glomerular layer along with the olfactory axons. Ultrastructural analysis of the CGRP-immunoreactive terminals in the glomeruli reveal vesicle-filled axonal processes terminating in the absence of obvious pre- or postsynaptic specializations. Whether the trigeminal fibers in the bulb are functional, e.g., convey information to the olfactory bulb via an axon reflex, or relay information from the olfactory bulb to the brainstem trigeminal nuclei is unclear.

Animals

Expression of the dopaminergic phenotype in the olfactory bulb: neither calcitonin gene-related peptide nor olfactory input is necessary.

In the olfactory bulb, expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in juxtaglomerular neurons is dependent on innervation by the olfactory nerve. The presence of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) within the olfactory nerve has led to the hypothesis that CGRP is responsible for regulation of TH expression in the bulbar neurons. On the other hand, other investigators claim that olfactory receptors never produce CGRP and that functional contact with olfactory axons regulates production of TH by bulbar neurons. Two different experimental procedures were used to test whether either CGRP or contact with the olfactory nerve is essential for production of TH by bulbar neurons in vivo. The peptidergic innervation of the olfactory bulb was eliminated either by neonatal capsaicin treatment, or by stereotaxic, electrolytic lesions of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. Both of the treatments leave the olfactory innervation of the bulb intact while eliminating the CGRP-immunoreactive fibers in the olfactory nerve and glomeruli. Subsequent immunocytochemistry reveals a normal complement of bulbar TH-immunoreactive juxtaglomerular neurons in the absence of peptidergic innervation. In order to test whether olfactory nerve input is necessary for expression of TH in vivo, the anlage of the olfactory bulb was removed from embryonic (E16) rat pups and transplanted into the anterior chamber. These ectopic olfactory bulbs, although devoid of olfactory nerve input, contain numerous TH-immunoreactive neurons. Thus olfactory nerve input is not necessary for expression of TH in bulbar neurons.

Afferent Pathways

Transcellular labeling of taste bud cells by carbocyanine dye (DiI) applied to peripheral nerves in the barbels of the catfish, Ictalurus punctatus.

In order to study the pattern of innervation of taste buds and the surrounding epithelium, the carbocyanine dye diI was applied to the nerve stump in isolated, paraformaldehyde-fixed barbels obtained from channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. After a diffusion period of 7-41 days, the barbels were sectioned on a vibratome and examined with epifluorescence. Labeled axons were observed up to 1 cm from the site of application. Frequently, a fascicle of labeled axons turned outward toward the epithelium to innervate taste buds or to end apparently as free endings within the epithelium. Within 2-3 mm of the dye-application site, many taste buds contained one or at most 5-10, labeled spindle-shaped, presumed receptor, cells. In taste buds containing multiple labeled cells, the cells usually were arranged as intertwined pairs or triplets rather than being homogeneously distributed within the taste bud. In a few cases, labeled basal cells could be discerned among the labeled axons of the basal plexus. The cells of the taste bud apparently were labeled by transcellular passage of the dye from the nerve fibers into the cells. The limited number of labeled cells within each taste bud may indicate a special relationship between these cells and the nerve fibers innervating them.

Afferent Pathways

Avoidance and rheotropic responses in phycomyces. Evidence for an 'avoidance gas" mechanism.

If a mature sporangiophore is placed next to a barrier that is moving in a clockwise direction, it grows both away from the barrier and into the wind; the wind is generated by the moving barrier itself. When the barrier is moving in a counterclockwise direction, the sporangiophore grows towards both the barrier and the wind. The net direction of growth appears to be the vector sum of the rheotropic response and the avoidance aiming error and does not involve the classic stationary-barrier avoidance response. Our experiments all support the suggestion that the avoidance response, the rheotropic response and the variety of reported wind responses can be explained by the presence of a self-emitted, growth-simulating avoidance gas. We present data that suggest that it is the direction of the net flux (mass transfer) of this gas that determines both the direction and the magnitude of the sporangiophore growth. We further suggest that the region of the cell wall showing maximum mass transfer will show a minimum growth rate, i.e., the direction of growth will always be in the direction of maximum transfer. If water is the avoidance gas, then it would follow that the total hydration of the cell wall in an aqueous salt solution should result in cell wall softening; cell wall softening has been correlated directly to cell wall growth. Using the Instron technique, we now show that submerging the entire sporangiophore in an aqueous salt solution for 4 min causes an increase in cell wall extensibility.

Air Movements

Phycomyces: irregular growth patterns in stage IVb sporangiophores.

Net rotation and net elongation of a stage IVb Phycomyces growing zone were simultaneously measured minute by minute with a photographic apparatus coupled with a rotating stage. A direct correlation between a growth response and a twist response after either a light stimulus or a house stimulus was found. There were significant irregularities in growth rate in both the elongation and rotation that were not a result of measurement error; these irregularities were poorly, if at all, correlated. We believe that these fluctuations reflect the underlying molecular mechanism of cell wall synthesis.

Fungi

Citrate lyase: a pantothenate-containing enzyme.

Citrate lyase from Klebsiella aerogenes inactivated by reaction in the presence of substrate or by treatment with hydroxylamine can be reactivated with acetic anhydride only if its sulfhydryl groups are reduced. Alkaline hydrolysis of pure citrate lyase yields about 3 mol of phosphopantothenate per mol of enzyme.

Acetates

Analysis of chemotaxis in white blood cells.

We wish to report the development of an assay system for the study of white blood cells in vitro. With this system we have demonstrated that a yet unidentified substance found in red blood cell membranes and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) cause the chemotactic response in white blood cells. We have not yet determined whether the substance released from the membrane is cAMP.

Animals