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Nephrectomy-induced alterations in the synthesis of catecholamines in the sympathetic nervous system and central nervous system.

Reduction in renal function is a key factor to the development of salt-dependent hypertension; however, the mechanism is obscure. To examine the role of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and central catecholaminergic neurons in this predisposition to the development of hypertension, the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was determined in SNS and in several brain regions. In another group of unilaterally nephrectomized rabbits, cardiovascular responsiveness to norepinephrine was determined. A unilateral nephrectomy increased the activity of TH in the midmedulla, a brain region important in the baroreflex regulation of blood pressure, and in the adrenal gland, the major source of circulating catecholamines. The activity of TH was decreased in the pons-upper medulla region. No alterations were found in the proximal and distal mesenteric arteries, lower medulla, midbrain or hypothalamus. No alteration in blood pressure or cardiovascular responsiveness to norepinephrine was found. This study indicates that a unilateral nephrectomy produces long-lasting effects on central catecholaminergic neurons and the sympathetic nervous system without an effect on blood pressure or cardiovascular responsiveness.

Adrenal Glands

Interrelationships among the renin-angiotensin system, sympathetic nervous system and atrial natriuretic peptide in end-stage renal failure.

Since it remains unclear how the regulatory mechanism of blood pressure and volume is associated with the renin-angiotensin system, the sympathetic nervous system, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), we examined the changes in blood pressure and vasoactive hormones occurring in 12 patients with end-stage renal failure. They were divided into two groups, those who were anuric (group A, n = 7), and those who had a daily urine volume of more than 700 ml (group B, n = 5). The changes in the mean blood pressure (MBP) and these vasoactive hormones were observed during hemodialysis with water removal in group A and without water removal in group B, and during blood pressure reduction with sodium nitroprusside in group A. The basal levels of ANP in groups A and B were twice as high as those of normotensive subjects. During hemodialysis, MBP did not reveal any changes in both groups. In group A, ANP and body weight (BW) decreased, whereas the plasma renin activity (PRA) and norepinephrine (NE) increased. In group B, ANP remained stable during the first 3 hr and decreased at the end of hemodialysis. However, BW, PRA, and NE were unchanged. In group A, significant correlations were observed between the changes in BW and those in ANP (r = 0.52, p less than 0.05), PRA (r = -0.57, p less than 0.01), and NE (r = -0.76, p less than 0.01). During blood pressure reduction, MBP decreased with accompanying increases in NE and PRA. However, ANP did not show any change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Atrial Natriuretic Factor

Immunolocalization of cathepsin D in the human central nervous system and central nervous system neoplasms.

The cellular distribution of the lysosomal proteinase cathepsin D was studied in a series of 76 neoplasms and 18 non-neoplastic tissues from the human central nervous system, using a well-characterized polyclonal antibody in a peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. In the normal and developing brain, cathepsin D is confined to neurons and choroid plexus epithelium. Strong granular cytoplasmic staining was present in neuronal and choroid plexus neoplasms, and in reactive macrophages. A large variety of other neoplasms also exhibited positive cytoplasmic staining, albeit usually of a weaker diffuse type. Cathepsin D cannot be considered a specific marker for neuronal or choroid plexus neoplasms, but the antiserum used in this study may be of value in antibody panels for the investigation of these tumours. Its localization may also be of value in embryological studies, particularly in the cerebellum, and in investigations of steroid hormone receptor-associated proteins in meningiomas and Schwannomas.

Brain Neoplasms

Immunohistochemical detection of GTP-binding regulatory protein (Go) in the autonomic nervous system including the enteric nervous system, superior cervical ganglion and adrenal medulla.

The localization of a GTP-binding regulatory protein, Go, in the autonomic nervous system including the enteric nervous system, superior cervical ganglion, and adrenal medulla, has been immunohistochemically examined by use of affinity-purified antibody against the alpha-subunit of Go. In the small intestine, dense Go-immunoreactive products were localized on the enteric nervous system, i.e. the myenteric plexus of Auerbach and the submucosal plexus of Meissner. In the superior cervical ganglion, presynaptic terminals were strongly immunoreactive to the Go antibody. The adrenal medulla was stained with this antibody, but the adrenal cortex was not immunoreactive to this antibody. Thus, the present study strongly suggests that Go is localized in the autonomic nervous system and plays its role in transmembrane signal transmission in this system.

Adrenal Medulla

Immunoperoxidase labelled antibody staining in differential diagnosis of central nervous system haemangioblastomas and central nervous system metastases of renal carcinomas.

The problem of the differential diagnosis both of central nervous system haemangioblastomas and metastases of renal clear cell carcinomas was investigated by immunoperoxidase labelled antibody staining of five cases each of haemangioblastoma and metastatic renal carcinoma. Staining using anticarcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), antikeratin, antifactor VIII related antigen, and antibrush border was unhelpful. All five of the haemangioblastomas were negative and all five of the metastases were positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), as defined by immunoperoxidase staining. This shows that commercially available anti-EMA monoclonal antibody is useful in distinguishing the two pathological entities.

Adenocarcinoma

New approaches to the study of central nervous system function. Immune-nervous system interactions and cell culture.

The paper by Lal and Forster is discussed with reference to future experiments which might provide insight into mechanisms regarding their exciting data that circulating brain reactive antibodies may cause learning deficits. The paper by Azmitia et al. on cell culture techniques is discussed with respect to the types of studies in which culture systems have proven most valuable in the past, and should continue to do so in the future.

Aging

Synthesis of spiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),4'-piperidines] as potential central nervous system agents. 4. Central nervous system depressants.

The synthesis of 1'-[3-(4-fluorobenzyoyl)propyl]-3-phenylspiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),4'-piperidine] (2a) and eight halo and methoxy analogues is described. The compounds were generally more potent per os than chlorpromazine in the Sidman avoidance paradigm in rats and less potent than haloperido. 1'-[3-(4-Fluorobenzoyl)propyl]-3-(4-fluorophenyl)spiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),4'-piperidine] (2e) approached the per os potency of haloperidol in this test and was shown to be active in inhibiting monkey avoidance also. Compound 2e was much less active than haloperidol in antagonizing apomorphine-induced emesis in dogs, apomorphine-induced stereotypy in rats, and amphetamine-induced circling in lesioned rats. This lack of nonselective, dopamine-receptor blocking effects makes 2e attrative as a potential neuroleptic.

Amphetamine

Remyelination in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

Remyelination in the PNS is efficient, quick, and consistently found in all demyelinating diseases. Schwann cell proliferation in response to demyelination is rapid and prolific, and the numbers of Schwann cells generated are in excess of those required for adequate remyelination. This cell poses no limit to regenerative potential, and it can divide and remyelinate following numerous repetitive episodes. The Schwann cell generally has easy access to the denuded axons. The limiting factor to remyelination is the persistence of the demyelinating agent, be it directed at the myelin or secondarily through axonal disease. CNS remyelination differs in some respects. Although it has now become clear that it may occur in a variety of clinical and experimental situations, it is slower and often less complete than in the PNS. The limiting factors here include the nature of the demyelinating process, the regenerative potential of the oligodendrocyte, and the accessibility of the latter to the demyelinated axon. It is apparent that the oligodendrocyte is capable of some proliferation, but the time frame in which this can occur is more constrained than for the Schwann cell. Nevertheless the demonstration that the process occurs leads to increasing hope that clinically useful remyelination may be encouraged in the future either by more carefully controlling the extent of demyelination or by finding ways of stimulating oligodendrocyte proliferation and access to the axon.

Animals

Progressive systemic sclerosis and nervous system involvement. A review of 14 cases.

Nervous system involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) has been considered rare compared to other collagen diseases. We present 14 additional cases of PSS with neurological manifestations. Primary involvement of the peripheral nerves could be detected in 4 of 14 patients and is documented by electromyo- and electroneurographical examinations. Central nervous system (CNS) manifestations directly related to PSS are a rarity, which may reflect the lack of collagen in the brain, histological differences between cerebral and other arteries and the immunological particularity of the brain. There may have been a direct relationship between CNS involvement and PSS in only one patient presenting with an overlap-syndrome.

Aged

[A model for exploring afferent signals from the immune system to the nervous system].

Mechanisms of information transmission from the immune system to the nervous system have been studied. The results of the studies support the assumption that these signals can be transmitted by oligopeptides (the products of limited proteolysis) which are the fragments found in the active sites of many regulatory peptides of the nervous and immune systems. The testing of a synthesized tripeptide (Ser-Lys-Asp) has shown that it inhibits the antibody-forming cells in intact mice only in response to the administration of large antigen doses and exerts a protective effect against viral infection. When added to the culture of the incubated leukocytes from the peripheral blood of the oncological patients, the tripeptide lowers an increased or normal functional activity of natural killers. In rabbits, tripeptide administration brings about a complex long-lasting reorganization of bioelectrical activity in subcortical structures of the brain.

Animals

L3T4 and the immunoglobulin gene superfamily: new relationships between the immune system and the nervous system.

L3T4 is a mouse cell surface protein expressed on most thymocytes and on the subset of mature T cells that recognizes class II MHC molecules. Its primary function on T cells is most likely that of increasing the avidity of the interaction between T cells and antigen-presenting or target cells. It may accomplish this by binding to a nonpolymorphic region on class II MHC molecules. The cDNA and gene encoding L3T4 have been isolated and sequenced. Analysis of the amino acid sequence predicted by the nucleotide sequence indicates that L3T4 is a member of the Ig gene superfamily. It is most closely related to Ig and Tcr V regions. Although the amino-terminal domain of L3T4 is the portion of the molecule that is most similar to V-regions, L3T4 is one of the polydomain members of the Ig gene superfamily. Studies of the expression of L3T4 mRNA in various tissues led to the surprising finding that this gene is transcribed not only in T lymphoid cells, but also in brain. The predominant form of L3T4 mRNA expressed in brain is foreshortened as compared to that in T lineage cells, and it is most likely the product of a distinct transcriptional start site. If translated, the protein encoded by this brain transcript would be 217 amino acids in length and would lack the signal peptide and the amino-terminal 214 amino acids of the mature protein. It is not known whether a stable protein product is synthesized from this mRNA or what its function might be. However, these findings place L3T4 in an intriguing class of Ig gene superfamily members characterized by coexpression in the immune system and the nervous system.

Animals

Extensive intraneuronal spread of horseradish peroxidase from a focus of vasogenic edema into remote areas of central nervous system. Observations on mouse central nervous system subjected to cortical cold injury.

A study was made of the uptake of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into neurons from a cryogenic cortical lesion in the mouse brain associated with vasogenic edema, following intravenous administration of the tracer. Particular emphasis was placed on the axonal spread of HRP from the primary lesion to other areas of the central nervous system. The distribution of HRP was studied by light microscopy, using highly sensitive histochemical methods, 3-144 h after the onset of the injury. Extravasated HRP was taken up into nerve cell bodies in and around the primary lesion, forming different patterns of labelling: (1) granular, (2) diffuse, and (3) a combination of granular and diffuse staining. Granularity is considered to be the result of HRP accumulation in lysosomes occurring in undamaged or slightly damaged nerve cells, whereas the diffuse, non-granular pattern presumably occurs in severely damaged neurons. Nerve cell bodies containing HRP reaction product were also found in the contralateral cortex, ipsilateral thalamus, substantia nigra, amygdala and ventral tegmental area, presumably a consequence of retrograde axonal transport of the tracer from the primary injury. HRP-containing axons were present in the corpus callosum and in the pyramidal tract of the injured hemisphere all the way down to the cervical spinal cord. Labelling of axonal terminals and preterminal axons in the ipsilateral thalamus, entopeduncular nucleus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra and pons indicated anterograde transport of HRP to these regions. Thus very extensive intraneuronal spread of a macromolecular edema component takes place from a primary focal brain lesion to areas located far away from but neuroanatomically connected to this injured region. The brain thus seems to be affected by focal vasogenic edema in many more ways than are recognized at present.

Animals

Immunoregulators in the nervous system.

The nervous system, through the production of neuroregulators (neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neuropeptides) can regulate specific immune system functions, while the immune system, through the production of immunoregulators (immunomodulators and immunopeptides) can regulate specific nervous system functions. This indicates a reciprocal communication between the nervous and immune systems. The presence of immunoregulators in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid is the result of local synthesis--by intrinsic and blood-derived macrophages, activated T-lymphocytes that cross the blood-brain barrier, endothelial cells of the cerebrovasculature, microglia, astrocytes, and neuronal components--and/or uptake from the peripheral blood through the blood-brain barrier (in specific cases) and circumventricular organs. Acute and chronic pathological processes (infection, inflammation, immunological reactions, malignancy, necrosis) stimulate the synthesis and release of immunoregulators in various cell systems. These immunoregulators have pivotal roles in the coordination of the host defense mechanisms and repair, and induce a series of immunological, endocrinological, metabolical and neurological responses. This review summarizes studies concerning immunoregulators--such as interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, interferons, transforming growth factors, thymic peptides, tuftsin, platelet activating factor, neuro-immunoregulators--in the nervous system. It also describes the monitoring of immunoregulators by the central nervous system (CNS) as part of the regulatory factors that induce neurological manifestations (e.g., fever, somnolence, appetite suppression, neuroendocrine alterations) frequently accompanying acute and chronic pathological processes.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

Dissociation of the responses of the renin-angiotensin system and sympathetic nervous system to a vasodilator stimulus in congestive heart failure.

The ability of neurohumoral reflex control mechanisms to respond to a vasodilator mediated alteration in hemodynamic status was studied. A sodium nitroprusside infusion was administered to 5 normal subjects and 47 patients with severe congestive heart failure resulting in significant decreases in mean arterial pressure and in systemic vascular resistance. As expected in normals the vasodilator stimulus caused a reflex activation in both the renin-angiotensin system and sympathetic nervous system as measured by increased plasma renin activity and plasma norepinephrine, respectively. In the patients with heart failure, plasma renin activity rose similarly in response to nitroprusside (+63% in heart failure, 100% in normals, P = NS) while plasma norepinephrine remained essentially unchanged (+11% in heart failure, 98% in normals, P less than 0.01). These data demonstrate that the neurohumoral dysfunction seen in patients with heart failure is not uniform. In patients with severe congestive heart failure the renin-angiotensin system apparently is activated by mechanisms other than sympathetic nervous stimulation. This intact reflex humoral response may still function in opposition to the beneficial hemodynamic effects produced by direct vasodilators such as nitroprusside.

Adult

Modulation of electrical activity and cyclic nucleotide metabolism in molluscan nervous system by a peptide-containing nervous system extract.

A peptide-containing extract (PE) from Helix nervous system modifies the endogenous bursting pattern of electrical activity in Helix neurone F-1. This effect is similar to that induced in neuron F-1 by certain phosphodiesterase inhibitors and cAMP derivatives. The PE, and the vertebrate peptide hormones vasopressin and oxytocin, also cause an accumulation of cAMP in Helix ganglia in vitro. The factor in the PE which causes the cAMP accumulation is destroyed by Pronase, is lost on dialysis, and is stable to boiling. In all these respects it is identical to the factor which causes the change in neuronal electrical activity. The PE also stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in a crude membrane fraction prepared from Helix ganglion homogenates. This stimulation is abolished by prior dialysis of the PE, or pretreatment of the PE with pepsin, but is not affected by boiling of the PE. Pepsin-treated PE has no effect on electrical activity in neuron F-1. The adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity of the PE, like the factor which modifies neurone F-1 electrical activity, elutes in the void volume of a Sephadex G-10 column. The included volume of this column contains a factor which inhibits PE modification of neuronal electrical activity, and also inhibits both basal and PE-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The data are consistent with the possibility that cAMP mediates the effects of the PE on electrical activity in molluscan neurones.

Adenylyl Cyclases