Protein and water contents of aging brain.
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Aging↗
Biomedical subjects
G Lustyik
Publications and source records attributed to G Lustyik.
Intracellular water and dry mass content as measured in bulk specimens by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis.
Intracellular water content (IWC) was measured in freeze-fractured biological bulk specimens by means of energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The method is based on the concentration differences of certain elements (potassium and phosphorus) between frozen-hydrated and frozen-dried states of the tissues as applied formerly to sectioned material by others. A new mathematical formula has been derived giving rather precise figures for IWC. No elemental standards are necessary for the measurement: one has to obtain only the peak to background ratios in wet and dry states of the cells. the method is sensitive enough to reveal age-dependent as well as drug-induced changes of IWC in liver and brain cells. The values obtained are quite comparable with the theoretically expected one. Technical problems of the application of this method are discussed in detail.
Animals↗
In vivo effects of vitamin E deficiency on the intracellular monovalent electrolyte concentrations in brain and liver of rat. An energy dispersive X-ray microanalytic study.
Vitamin E is known to play a protective role for cell membranes against free-radical attacks. Vitamin E deficiency causes a rapid macroscopic ageing of rats. On the other hand, during normal ageing, cell membranes undergo functional alterations resulting in an increased intracellular potassium concentration in brain and liver cells. Therefore, is was of interest to study whether vitamin E deficiency produces similar alterations in young rats. Female Wistar rats were fed with a vitamin E deficient diet from 1 month of age for 10 months. The parietal brain cortex and the liver were analyzed by means of a quantitative energy dispersive X-ray microanalytic method using a JEOL JSM-35C-EDAX-711-NOVA-3 system. Monovalent electrolyte contents as well as the water content of the cells were determined in 5 treated and 5 control animals. Water content was measured by analyzing the potassium content in aqueous, frozen state, and again in the dry mass of the cells. On the basis of these data, a computer program calculated the water proportions. Average values for 200 or more cells of each organ per group revealed a significant increase in the intracellular potassium content of the brain cells, whereas the sodium and chloride contents increased to a much lower extent. There was a 2.6% loss of intracellular water in the brain cells in the vitamin E deficient group. The liver monovalent ions and water content remained unchanged. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the membrane hypothesis of ageing.
Aging↗
Intracellular Na+:K+ ratios in human cancer cells as revealed by energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis.
Intranuclear sodium, potassium, and chloride contents were measured by energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis in freeze-fractured, freeze-dried, bulk-tumor samples taken from 10 patients suffering from invasive urogenital cancers. Human biopsies were carried out during the first diagnostic interventions before any cytostatic treatment had been applied. Pathohistological diagnosis established the malignancy in each case. The cancers were classified in three types: keratinizing, transitional cell, and hypernephroid carcinoma. More than 250 cell nuclei were measured from each type of cancer. The results were compared with those obtained in intact human urothelium taken from patients having no malignant processes. Proximal and distal tubular epithelial cell nuclei representing the origin of human hypernephroid cancer were also measured in rat kidney because corresponding healthy human material cannot be obtained. The analyses revealed, in all three types of cancer cells, that the average intranuclear sodium content increased more than three-fold, the potassium content decreased 32, 16, and 13%, respectively; meanwhile the chloride content increased, but to a lesser extent than did the sodium. The intranuclear Na+:K+ ratios were more than five-fold higher in the cancer cells on the average, and their distribution histograms were much broader than in the normal human urothelium and in the tubular cell nuclei of the rat kidney. The results obtained fit well with the theory of Cone, C. D., Jr. 1971. J. Theor. Biol. 30: 151-181 according to which the sustained depolarization of the cell membrane may be of mitogenic effect.
Adult↗
Experimental glomerular lesions induced by chronic immune complex formation. I. Formation and elimination of the immune complex (relationship between the immune status and the glomerular changes).
Chronic immune complex formation was induced in rabbits by daily administration of 12.5 g bovine serum. In good antibody producer animals immediate immune complex production and elimination from the circulation were demonstrable. This was followed within a few minutes by the appearance of free 125I in fairly large amounts in blood, as a sign of immediate phagocytosis and disintegration of the 125I-labelled immune complexes. Phagocytic activity decreased in the host animal during chronic heteroprotein administration in every case. The earliest glomerular changes were those of exudative glomerulonephritis, the extent of which depended on the antibody productivity of the animal. Persistent immunocomplexaemia induced by administration of the antigen over 60 and 100 days, respectively, resulted in mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis in 7, in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in 3, and in membraneous glomerulonephritis in 1 out of 11 laboratory animals.
Animals↗
Experimental glomerular lesions induced by chronic immune complex formation. II. Pathomorphological analysis.
Eleven rabbits were given bovine serum albumin i.v., in daily doses of 25 mg. Renal biopsy was performed on the 30th, 60th and 100th day of treatment and the specimens were subjected to light-, electron-microscopic and immunofluorescent studies, so as to follow up the dynamics of the glomerular process. Proteinuria and the serum creatinine and BUN levels were also measured. By the 100th day of treatment mesangioproliferative glomerulopathy had developed in 7, membranoproliferative glomerulopathy in 3 cases and membraneous glomerulopathy in 1 case. On the 30th day of treatment exudative glomerulopathy was demonstrable in the majority of the cases (in 9 animals). It is suggested that the earliest stage of the various glomerulopathies, regardless of their type, is marked by exudative lesions. The heaviest proteinuria was found in membraneous and membranoproliferative glomerulopathies. Changes in the serum creatinine and BUN levels indicative of a deteriorating renal function were noted in the membranoproliferative cases. The results are correlated with clinical observations of human glomerulopathies.
Animals↗
Determination of the numerical density of spherical and ellipsoidal particles in the zona glomerulosa, based on distribution measurements. II. Application of the methods.
Stereologic investigations of the adrenal zona glomerulosa of rats were carried out in control, potassium loaded and heparin treated animals. The nuclei of the cells were considered as spheres, and the mitochondria as prolate (= elongated) ellipsoids of revolution. Size and shape distribution, numerical densities and mean volumes of particles were calculated. Control measurements were performed in order to test the acceptability of estimation errors. These stereologic methods proved to be suitable in experimental studies.
Adrenal Cortex↗
Determination of the numerical density of spherical and ellipsoidal particles in the adrenal zona glomerulosa, based on distribution measurements. I. Methods.
Two methods are described to determine the numerical density of spherical and ellipsoidal particles. Both methods are based on the estimation of distribution of corpuscles. The distribution of spherical elements was determined by an approximate form of the Schwartz-Saltykov method for obtaining the average tangent diameter of particles, and in consequence of measurability limits practical modifications were introduced. The equation published by WEIBEL and GOMEZ (1962) was the basic relationship of the numerical density calculation of elliposidal corpuscles. The required distribution and shape coefficient of this equation was estimated from the size and shape distribution of particles. Statistical independence was assumed between the size and shape, and consequently the two distributions can be estimated separately. To determine the size distribution the Schwartz-Saltykov method, and for determination of the shape distribution the Wicksell's method was used. The mathematical bases of measurements and calcualtions are presented in this paper.
Adrenal Cortex↗
[Quantitative morphological studies on the zoma glomerulosa of the rat adrenal gland. I. Basic principles of stereology].
Quantitative morphological study of the zona glomerulosa of the rat adrenal was carried out. Basic principles of the method used are reviewed. The most important stereological methods and correlations described in the literature and used for the study of quantitative relations of the stereological structure on two-dimensional microscopic pictures are discussed.
Adrenal Glands↗
[Quantitative morphological studies on the zona glomerulosa of the rat adrenal gland. II. Effect of potassium and heparin on the zona glomerulosa].
Authors studied the effect of potassium and heparin on the zona glomerulosa of rats by stereological methods. As the effect of potassium tolerance test the weight of the adrenals, the wideness and volume of the zona glomerulosa, the number and the volume of the cells of it, further the volume of the mitochondria and nuclei in each cell have shown significant increase. After treatment with heparin the wideness of the zona glomerulosa and the volume of the mitochondria appeared to be decreased. Results are in accordance with the aldosterone-level-increasing effect of potassium and with the antialdosteron effect of the heparin.
Adrenal Glands↗
Experimental studies on factors causing acute serum sickness glomerulonephritis of immune complex origin. II. Pathomorphological analysis.
Seventeen rabbits were given a single, large dose of bovine serum albumin (BSA) intravenously. Percutaneous kidney biopsy was carried out on the 14th and 31st days after BSA administration. Proteinuria was measured and the glomerular changes were analysed in order to find a correlation between the degree of proteinuria and glomerular alterations, i.e. number of electron-dense deposits (EDD), polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), and mononuclear marcophages (MNM). The results speak in favour of the decisive role of mononuclear macrophages in enhancement of glomerular permeability.
Animals↗
Electron microscopic investigation on the zona glomerulosa of rats after treatment with heparin and potassium.
Adrenal zona glomerulosa of rats was investigated by means of electron microscopy after stimulation with potassium and suppression with heparin. Both intreated and control animals two types of mitochondria -- one with tubular and the other with tubulosaccular cristae -- were found. Stimulation with potassium increased the amount of mitochondria with tubular cristae, heparin treatment caused a simplification of the structure of tubulosaccular cristae. It was assumed that these two mitochondrium-poulations contain different enzyme systems, which catalyze the different step-series of aldosterone biosynthesis. On the basis of cytoplasmic density, dark and light cells could be distinguished only in the zona glomerulosa of control rats, they were absent in both groups of treated animals. The density of these cells probably did not depend on their metabolic activity, but rather on their hormone storage.
Adrenal Cortex↗
[Nephropathy associated with systemic lupus erythematosus].
The investigation of needle- kidney biopsy from patients with SLE- nephrotic syndrome was carried out by the aid of light- immunofluorescent- and electron microscopy. Membranous-, focal-proliferative-, and diffuse-proliferative forms of the SLE- nephrotic syndrome were distinguished. Clinical characteristics of the different forms are described. Authors believe, that the underlying process of nephrological symptoms of various degree as well as readily distinguishable clinico-pathological pictures is the formation of circulating immunocomplexes of different size, developing due to basic disease itself. Comparison of the clinical symptoms and the morphological picture indicate that the elapse of time between the onset of the underlying disease and the nephrotic syndrome has an important part in the formation of the SLE-nephropathy of focal- and diffuse-proliferative type.
Adolescent↗
Electron microscopic morphometry of the zona glomerulosa cells of the Wistar rat.
Results of morphometric measurements were compared on the cells of the zona glomerulosa (ZG) of the adrenal gland of the rat. The mean area covered by the cells, the nuclei, the mitochondria and the lipid droplets, as well as the surface density of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and of internal mitochondrial membrane indicated an inhomogeneity even in the ZG cells of the same animal, with considerable deviations in the ZG of different animals. The dark and light ZG cells were compared too. The results suggest hormonal-functional differences, both among the normal animals and among the cells of the same animals.
Adrenal Cortex↗
The effect of vascular perfusion fixation on the ultrastructure of the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the rat.
After fixation by low pressure retrograde perfusion the electron microscopic picture of the rat JGA was studied and compared with the picture obtained after fixation by dripping and immersion. The most conspicuous difference was the presence of the basal compartments of the macula densa cells, which might land electron microscopic support to the tubulo-glomerular feedback theory. Among the JG granular cells, desmosome-like connected structures were seen. Crystalline and granule in granules specific secretion forms were frequent in the epitheloid cells.
Animals↗
Glomerulonephritis of immunocomplex origin associated with Hodgkin's disease.
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Adult↗
A simple vascular perfusion method for electron microscopic investigation of the juxtaglomerular apparatus.
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Animals↗
Effects of preliminary culture on the membrane microviscosity of lymphocytes from young and old donors. Microviscosity correlates with mitogenic response.
Membrane microviscosity was assessed by a fluorescence polarization technique in fresh and precultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes of young and old subjects. Membrane microviscosity was significantly higher in fresh, non-treated cells of old donors as compared to young adults. Preincubation of cells in culture medium supplemented with pooled human serum diminishes the original microviscosity difference between the age groups. The observed increase in membrane fluidity correlates with the improvement of the mitogen-induced proliferative response due to preculturing cells from aged subjects. The results support the suggestion that membrane microviscosity can affect the proliferative response of lymphocytes, and it may play a role in the decline of the immune responsiveness in the elderly.
Journal Article↗