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Biomedical subjects

H R Brown

Publications and source records attributed to H R Brown.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Morphology of nasal lesions induced in Osborne-Mendel rats and B6C3F1 mice by chronic inhalation of allyl glycidyl ether.

Chronic (24-month) inhalation exposure to 5 or 10 ppm allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) induced nasal lesions in Osborne-Mendel rats and B6C3F1 mice. Inflammation, degeneration, regeneration, metaplasia, hyperplasia, and neoplasia were observed in the nasal mucosa. Squamous metaplasia and hyperplasia of the respiratory epithelium and degeneration and regeneration with subsequent squamous and/or respiratory metaplasia of the olfactory epithelium were observed in many AGE-exposed animals. Three primary nasal neoplasms (1 papillary adenoma, 1 squamous cell carcinoma, and 1 olfactory epithelial carcinoma) were observed in rats exposed to 10 ppm AGE, and 1 nasal papillary adenoma was observed in a rat exposed to 5 ppm. Four papillary adenomas and 2 hemangiomas were observed in the noses of mice exposed to 10 ppm AGE. Although the incidence of primary nasal tumors in AGE-exposed rats or mice was not statistically significant compared to the incidence in concurrent controls, the relative rarity of primary nasal tumors in historical controls and the concurrent presence of metaplastic and hyperplastic nasal lesions similar to those reported to be associated with induced tumors of nasal epithelia by other chemicals suggest that the nasal tumors observed may be related to AGE exposure. It was concluded that, in addition to lesions indicating a toxic effect on the nasal mucosa, inhalation exposure to AGE for 24 months resulted in some evidence of carcinogenicity of AGE for male mice, equivocal evidence of carcinogenicity for female mice and male rats, and no evidence of carcinogenicity for female rats.

Administration, Inhalation

Nearly ubiquitous tissue distribution of the scrapie agent precursor protein.

The "modified host protein" model of scrapie proposes that the transmissible agent is composed of the degradation-resistant protein, Sp33-37, and that clinical and pathologic signs result from neurotoxic accumulations of this protein. Sp33-37 is an abnormal, amyloidogenic isoform of the normally occurring cellular protein Cp33-37. This study investigated the tissue distribution of Cp33-37 in hamster. In brain, Cp33-37 was most concentrated in the hippocampal formation. Immunohistochemical studies localized Cp33-37 to neurons and surrounding neuropil in hippocampus; septal, caudate, and thalamic nuclei; dorsal root ganglia cells; and large-diameter dorsal root axons. In non-neuronal hamster tissues, Cp33-37 was detected in circulating leukocytes, heart, skeletal muscle, lung, intestinal tract, spleen, testis, ovary, and some other organs. The presence of Cp33-37 in extracerebral tissues indicates that its function is not unique to brain. These results indicate that the molecular substrate for the production of Sp33-37, the scrapie agent, and scrapie amyloid is present in a variety of cerebral and extracerebral sites.

Animals

Delayed acute measles inclusion body encephalitis in a 9-year-old girl: ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, and in situ hybridization studies.

A 9-yr-old girl developed delayed acute measles inclusion body encephalitis, which was different from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in clinical course. Measles virus was demonstrated by electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. Contrary to the most previous reports, matrix (M) protein was present in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and serum and was demonstrated by Western blot analysis and in situ hybridization. The hybridization was performed by a nonradioactive digoxigenin method.

Antigens, Viral

Radiographic and geometric anatomy of the scapula.

In an effort to study anatomic parameters of the scapula that may be of clinical importance, scapulae were harvested from cadavers and stripped of their soft tissues. For each scapula, three roentgenograms then were obtained: a Y-scapular view, an axillary lateral view, and a glenoid fossa (or true anteroposterior) view. Computed tomographic pneumoarthrograms and randomly selected antero-posterior chest roentgenograms of skeletally mature adults were studied also to measure further roentgenographic parameters of the normal scapula. The geometric anatomy of the scapula is of fundamental importance in the pathomechanics of rotator cuff disease, total shoulder arthroplasty, and recurrent shoulder dislocation. This study presents in detail the exact geometry of scapula anatomy, giving precise figures for distances, angles, and radii of curvature of the scapula. All results then are discussed in terms of their clinical relevance to the above problems.

Arthrography

Digital ranges of motion: normal values in young adults.

Analysis of the range of motion of fingers was done in young (eighteen to thirty-five year old) adult volunteers with no history of previous injury to their hands. The data show that there are slight differences between the individual digits. Notably, metacarpophalangeal flexion and total active motion increase linearly in proceeding from the index to the small finger. There were also minor differences in comparing sexes. Women have greater extension at the metacarpophalangeal joint in both active and passive motion and have a greater total active motion at all digits as a result. A significant tenodesis effect was found at the distal interphalangeal joint in normal subjects. No differences were found that could be attributable to handedness.

Adult

Proliferative and neoplastic lesions in the rodent nasal cavity.

Proliferative lesions in the rodent nasal cavity are reviewed; attempt was made to compare species affected, sex differences, strain differences, route of administration and tumor types occurring both spontaneously and after induction by different chemicals. This review is not meant to be all inclusive but to be representative of observed trends. Our general conclusions in this paper are that: 1) spontaneous nasal tumors in rodents are very rare; 2) spontaneous nasal tumors in rats are most often squamous cell tumors, whereas hemangiomas or respiratory adenomas predominate in mice and squamous cell tumors are rare; 3) rats are usually more susceptible to the induction of epithelial tumors of the nasal cavity than mice; 4) chemically-induced hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas of the nasal cavity have only been reported in mice; 5) tumors of the olfactory epithelium are almost uniformly malignant and invasive, while nonsquamous tumors of the respiratory epithelium are typically less invasive; 6) chemically-induced tumors of the olfactory region, either mesenchymal or epithelial, do not always require an inhalation route of exposure but may occur by systemic targeting of this region; and 7) chemicals inducing tumors in the olfactory region often produce a variety of tumor morphologies in this location as well as squamous and polypoid tumors of the transitional region. More work will be needed to illucidate the mechanisms of nasal carcinogenesis and to further refine the current tumor classification system.

Animals

The mRNA encoding the scrapie agent protein is present in a variety of non-neuronal cells.

PrP 27-30, a unique protease-resistant protein associated with scrapie infectivity, derives from the proteolytic cleavage of a larger precursor encoded by a host gene. To identify sites of PrP biosynthesis, in situ hybridization was done using cloned PrP cDNA as a probe. In rodent brain, PrP mRNA was expressed in neurons, ependymal cells, choroid plexus epithelium, astrocytes, pericytes, endothelial cells and meninges of both scrapie-infected and uninfected animals. PrP mRNA was also detected in vitro in isolated brain microglia cells. Pulmonary cells and heart muscle cells contained high levels of this mRNA. Hybridization was not detected in spleen, confirming earlier RNA blot experiments indicating extremely low levels of PrP mRNA in this tissue. Results indicate that PrP mRNA is a normal component in a variety of non-neuronal tissues and may explain the origin of the amyloid plaques present in the subependymal region of scrapie-infected brain.

Animals

Fordyce's granules of the incisor and molar gingiva in F344 rats.

Fordyce's granules were observed in the gingiva of the upper incisor and molar teeth in F344 rats. The data were based on 734 males and 722 females that were used as control and treated animals in 26-week, 65-week, and 2-year studies by the National Toxicology Program. The incidence of Fordyce's granules was markedly different when comparing sex, age, and site of the lesion. Fordyce's granules were very common in the midsagittal gingiva of the upper incisor in males and increased in incidence with age (34.2, 50, and 56.3% in 26-week, 65-week, and 2-year studies, respectively). The granules of the incisor gingiva were rare in females (0,0, and 2.8% in 26-week, 65-week, and 2-year studies, respectively). Fordyce's granules of the molar gingiva were very rare in both sexes and were found only in 9/734 (1.2%) males and in 3/722 (0.4%) females. Only three unilateral granules of the molar were grossly recognized as focal swelling of the gingiva or a white nodule with a huge cyst in the third upper molar. Histologically, Fordyce's granules were arranged as a collection of sebaceous glands unassociated with hair follicles. In addition, the granules of the molar gingiva were associated with cystically dilated ducts filled with sebum. Ultrastructurally, the sebaceous cells were characterized by varying numbers of cytoplasmic lipid droplets and occasional desmosome and hemidesmosome formation. Fordyce's granules previously reported in rats of other strains were also reviewed and compared with those in F344 rats in regard to incidence, location, and age.

Animals

Neoplastic and potentially prenoeplastic changes in the upper respiratory tract of rats and mice.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) database was examined for tumor incidences and chemicals producing tumors in the nasal cavity, larynx, or trachea. Slides from appropriate studies were then examined in an attempt to unify terminology and make comparisons between induced and spontaneous tumors and hyperplastic or preneoplastic lesions produced in the upper respiratory system. An attempt was also made to compare the species affected, route of administration, and tumor types produced by different chemicals. The results are not meant to be all inclusive of the NTP database but to be representative of observed trends. General conclusions that emerged from this review were that rats are much more susceptible to epithelial tumors of the nasal cavity than mice; that only mice have been reported to have chemically induced hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas of the nasal cavity; that tumors of the olfactory epithelium and squamous cell tumors of the respiratory epithelium are almost uniformly malignant and invasive, while other tumors of the respiratory epithelium are typically less invasive; that most chemically induced tumors of the olfactory region, either mesenchymal or epithelial, do not require an inhalation route of exposure but appear to occur by systemic targeting of this region; and that a uniform nomenclature for tumors of the nasal cavity is needed.

Animals

Thirteen-week toxicity study of n-hexane in B6C3F1 mice after inhalation exposure.

B6C3F1 mice were exposed to n-hexane 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks at concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, 4000, and 10,000 ppm and at 1000 ppm 22 h/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks (1000C group). Toxicological endpoints assessed included clinical signs, body and organ weight changes, gross and histopathology, neuropathology, and a battery of neurobehavioral tests. All mice survived the treatment. Exposure-related effects of n-hexane included sneezing at 10,000 ppm and body weight gain depression at 1000C and 10,000 ppm. Histopathologic changes included mild inflammatory, erosive and regenerative lesions in the olfactory and respiratory epithelium of the nasal cavity at 1000C, 4000, and 10,000 ppm. The only neurobehavioral parameter affected was a decrease in locomotor activity in female mice at 1000C and 10,000 ppm. In teased fiber preparations of tibial nerve, paranodal axonal swellings were observed at 1000C or at 10,000 ppm, but not in the control groups. The severity of the peripheral nerve lesion was mild. These studies show that n-hexane has minimal toxicity to the nervous system and respiratory system of mice.

Administration, Inhalation

Postmortem detection of measles virus in non-neural tissues in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare, progressive, fatal central nervous system disease of children, is caused by measles virus. Clinical signs occur months to several years after recovery from acute measles infection. It is not known where the virus persists while the disease is inapparent. Involvement of organs outside the central nervous system has rarely been documented. To search for possible peripheral reservoirs of measles virus we used in situ hybridization to probe for measles virus RNA and immunocytochemical studies to localize measles virus antigens ina variety of organs taken at autopsy from confirmed cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Seven of 9 cadavers were found to contain measles virus RNA or antigens, or both, in at least one location outside the central nervous system. These sites included lymphoid organs such as thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and tonsil, suggesting a role for lymphocytes in disease pathogenesis. Virus was also detected in kidney, lung, and glandular tissues such as pancreas, adrenal, and pituitary. These reservoirs may provide the antigenic stimulus leading to the elevated response characteristic for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Adolescent

Kidney and urinary bladder lesions in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice after 13 weeks of 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol administration.

Thirteen-week toxicity studies of the flame retardant 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1,3-propanediol (BMP; dibromoneopentyl glycol; FR-1138; CAS No. 329690-0) were conducted in male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. The chemical was administered by oral gavage in corn oil 5 days per week for 13 weeks to rats at doses of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg and to mice at doses of 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, or in the feed for 13 weeks at concentrations of 0, 1250, 2500, 5000, 10,000, and 20,000 ppm for rats and at 0, 625, 1250, 2500, 5000, and 10,000 ppm for mice. There was a dose-related decrease in body weight gain in rats and mice after chemical administration. Mortality attributed to toxicity of BMP was seen in the gavage study in 2/10 high-dose (800 mg/kg) male rats and 3/10 high-dose (400 mg/kg) male mice no dose-related mortality occurred in the feed study. Minimal degeneration in the renal papilla was seen in male rats at 800 mg/kg in the gavage study and at doses of 5000 ppm or more in the feed study. This was also present in one female rat at the 20,000 ppm dose. In male mice renal papillary necrosis occurred at 400 mg/kg after dosing by the gavage route and at 2500, 5000, and 10,000 ppm in the dosed-feed study. In female mice papillary necrosis occurred only at the 10,000 ppm dose in the feed study. Tubular cell regeneration of the renal cortex was also present in mice at the same dose levels at which the papillary necrosis was observed. Transitional cell hypeplasia of the urinary bladder was seen in male rats at 400 and 800 mg/kg and in both sexes of mice at 200 and 400 mg/kg. Hyperplasia of the urinary bladder was also seen when BMP was administered in the feed at doses of 20,000 ppm to male rats; at doses of 2500, 5000, and 10,000 ppm to male mice; and at doses of 5000 and 10,000 ppm to female mice. The kidney and urinary bladder are target organs when BMP is administered by gavage or the dosed-feed route; mice were more sensitive than rats for the development of kidney and bladder lesions. Male rats and mice were more sensitive than females for the development of renal papillary degeneration or necrosis.

Animals

Work site blood pressure control: the evolution of a program.

In 1976, in an employee population of approximately 8700, there was little information about the prevalence of hypertension or the level of control in the known hypertensive workers. The problem was approached initially by screening and then by aggressive follow-up. Ultimately, 21.4% of the employees were identified as hypertensive or in a borderline range. In the population treated at the work site and those treated by outside sources, the level of control was brought to a point consistently over 80% by 1987. It is apparent that continued efforts to identify hypertension, combined with aggressive follow-up, can achieve a significant level of control in a work site population.

Absenteeism

Lack of delayed neurotoxic effect after tri-o-cresyl phosphate treatment in male Fischer 344 rats: biochemical, neurobehavioral, and neuropathological studies.

Tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), which produces a delayed neurotoxic syndrome in humans and some animal species, was given to Fischer 344 (F344) male (18 week old) rats to determine if it causes biochemical, sensorimotor, and neuropathological effects. Animals were given TOCP by gavage in doses ranging from 10 to 100 mg of TOCP/kg daily for a period of 63 days. The rats were subjected to a series of neurobehavioral tests including fore- and hindlimb grip strength, motor activity, tremor, and latency to respond to a thermal stimulus. Central and peripheral nervous tissues were examined for damage characteristic of organophosphorous compound-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN). Brain neurotoxic esterase and acetylcholinesterase activities were inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion. A group of three chickens treated with 100 mg of TOCP/kg/day for 18 days was included as the positive control for enzymatic and histopathological alterations associated with OPIDN. Rats showed no consistent neurobehavioral changes or evidence of neuropathological damage in nervous tissues associated with treatment. In contrast, chickens treated with TOCP developed delayed neurotoxicity characterized by ataxia, which progressed to paralysis. These neurological changes included swelling, fragmentation, and degeneration of the axon and myelin in both central and peripheral nervous tissues. This study concludes that the F344 rat is not sensitive to the delayed neurotoxic effects of TOCP. When studying OPIDN in rats, care must be exercised in choosing the experimental animal since some strains, e.g., F344, are not sensitive.

Animals

Transmission of measles virus encephalitis to ferrets by intracardiac inoculation of a cell-associated SSPE virus strain.

Ferret fibroblasts infected with a cell-associated strain of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis virus were inoculated into the hearts of ferrets in order to study whether the virus can spread from the blood to the brain in this animal model. Five of 21 inoculated ferrets developed encephalitis 5-7 days later and were sacrificed. Sick animals showed inflammatory lesions in the brain, both perivascular cuffings and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the choroid plexus and meninges. Virus was isolated in cell cultures from various parts of the brain and virus antigen was found by immunostaining, particularly in the cortex. Virus was not detected in inflammatory cells by immunostaining but in situ hybridization with a cDNA probe demonstrated measles virus RNA in neurons and glia cells surrounding perivascular inflammatory cuffings and in a lymph node of one ferret. Ferrets inoculated into the heart with cell-associated SSPE virus seem to be a suitable animal model to study how the virus spreads from the blood to the brain.

Animals

Histopathological assessment of triphenyl phosphite neurotoxicity in the hen.

The signs of neurotoxicity observed in the cat and the rat following single or multiple doses of the phosphorous acid ester triphenyl phosphite (TPP) have been reported to differ from the syndrome known as organophosphorous compound induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) caused by some phosphoric acid esters. Since the hen is the test animal traditionally used to test compounds for OPIDN, we chose to study the neurotoxicity of single, subcutaneous doses of TPP using the hen. TPP (1000 mg/kg) produced progressive ataxia and paralysis which developed 5-10 days after dosing. The clinical signs were accompanied by axonal damage in the lateral columns of the spinal cord and peripheral nerve. Similar signs were observed following neurotoxic doses of the OPIDN-causing agents tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) or diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP). In addition, TPP caused damage to axons in the brain and gray matter of the spinal cord, and chromatolysis and neuronal necrosis were frequently observed in the spinal cord. These latter areas were not affected by TOCP or DFP. The minimum neurotoxic dose of TPP was found to be 500 mg/kg. Prior administration of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) reduced the incidence of damage to the peripheral nerve of animals dosed with TPP, but did not prevent toxic effects on the cell bodies in the spinal cord or the clinical effects. The results of this study indicate that TPP causes neuronal damage in addition to the axonal damage observed with OPIDN. Therefore, we conclude that two distinct mechanisms underlie the neurotoxicity of TPP.

Animals

Measles virus matrix protein gene expression in a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis patient brain and virus isolate demonstrated by cDNA hybridization and immunocytochemistry.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, fatal disease of children caused by a persistent measles virus infection of the central nervous system. A defect in synthesis of measles virus matrix (M) protein may be a factor in virus persistence in the brain. This study details attempts to detect expression of M protein in the brain of an SSPE patient, in the cell-associated virus isolated from this brain, and in brains of ferrets inoculated with the isolate. In situ hybridization with a tritiated cloned cDNA probe was used to search for RNA encoding M protein. Immunostaining with monospecific antiserum and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique was done to locate the polypeptide. The data obtained indicate that although nucleotide sequences coding for M protein were detected in the patient and ferret brains, expression of M protein in these tissues could not be detected. In the culture SSPE virus isolate, the results were the same until the infected cells were examined by electron microscopy and a very limited expression of M protein was revealed. This suggests either diminished synthesis and/or rapid degradation of M protein in this cell-associated virus strain.

Adolescent