Effects of thyroid status on NEI concentration in specific brain areas related to reproduction during the estrous cycle

We previously showed that short-term hypo- and hyperthyroidism induce changes in neuropeptide glutamic-acid-isoleucine-amide (NEI) concentrations in discrete brain areas in male rats. To investigate the possible effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on NEI concentrations mainly in hypothalamic areas related to reproduction and behavior, female rats were sacrificed at different days of the estrous cycle. Circulating luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol and progesterone concentrations were measured in control, hypothyroid (hypoT, treated with PTU during 7-9 days) and hyperthyroid (hyperT, l-T4 during 4-7 days) animals. Both treatments blunted the LH surge. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism increased estradiol concentrations during proestrus afternoon (P-PM), although hypoT rats showed lower values compared to control during proestrus morning (P-AM). Progesterone levels were higher in all groups at P-PM and in the hyperT during diestrus morning (D2). NEI concentrations were lower in hypoT rats during the estrous cycle except in estrus (E) in the peduncular part of the lateral hypothalamus (PLH). They were also reduced by both treatments in the perifornical part of the lateral hypothalamus (PeFLH) during P-PM. Hypothyroidism led to higher NEI concentrations during P-PM in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (OVLT+AVPV). The present results indicate that NEI concentration is regulated in a complex manner by hypo- and hyperthyroidism in the different areas studied, suggesting a correlation between NEI values and the variations of gonadal steroid levels during estrous cycle. These changes could be, in part, responsible for the alterations observed in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in these pathologies.

Lokalisation und Quantifizierung von 4-Hydroxynonenal in der Kochlea des Meerschweinchens nach Applikation von Gentamicin

Einleitung und Literaturdiskussion: Gentamicin ist ein aus Bakterien gewonnenes Aminoglykosid-Antibiotikum, das seit vielen Jahren im klinischen Alltag zur Therapie von bakteriellen Infektionen und zur Behandlung des Morbus Ménière eingesetzt wird. Ein bedeutender, jedoch noch nicht vollständig verstandener, Pathomechanismus ist dabei die Entstehung von 4-HNE durch Lipid Peroxidation und die konsekutive Schädigung durch das gebildete Aldehyd. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die Beeinflussung der Expression von 4-HNE in sieben verschiedenen Regionen der Kochlea (SV, SL, CO, NF, LF, IDZ und SGZ) durch Gentamicin zu beschreiben und quantitativ zu ermitteln.rnMaterial und Methoden: Die Meerschweinchen wurden in vier Gruppen unterteilt: eine unbehandelte Kontrollgruppe und je eine Gruppe 1, 2 und 7 Tage nach Gentamicin-Applikation. Nach Ablauf der Inkubationszeit wurden die Kochleae den Tieren entnommen, das Gewebe fixiert, geschnitten und auf Objektträgern aufgebracht. Die Schnitte wurden mit 4-HNE-Antikörpern behandelt und die Immunreaktion mikroskopisch lokalisiert und zelluläre quantitative Unterschiede am Computer berechnet.rnErgebnisse: Die Auswertung der Daten ergab signifikante Anstiege der Immunreaktion auf 4-HNE von der Kontrollgruppe zu allen drei Behandlungsgruppen in vier der sieben untersuchten Regionen (Stria vascularis, Spirales Ligament, Cortisches Organ und Nervenfasern). In zwei Bereichen (Fibrozyten im Limbus und Interdentalzellen) kam es zwischen Kontrollgruppe und nur einer Behandlungsgruppe D (7d) zu einer signifikanten Erhöhung. Lediglich die Spiralganglionzellen erbrachten keine signifikanten Differenzen. Der Vergleich der Einzelwindungen erbrachte für die Stria vascularis, das Spirale Ligament, das Cortische Organ und die Nervenfasern signifikante Anstiege innerhalb der drei Windungen von der Kontrollgruppe zu den drei Behandlungsgruppen. Bei der Stria vascularis zeigte sich als einzige Region eine signifikant erhöhte Immunfärbung in allen drei Einzelwindungen von der Kontrollgruppe zu allen Behandlungsgruppen. Beim Vergleich der Gesamtwindungen ließ sich ausschließlich für die Region der Stria vascularis von der ersten zur dritten Windung ein Anstieg der Braunfärbung feststellen. Zudem konnten Korrelationen der Färbeintensitäten einerseits zwischen den beiden Regionen der Lateralen Wand und andererseits zwischen zwei Zelltypen im Limbus aufgezeigt werden.rnDiskussion: Die durch Gentamicin-gesteigerte 4-HNE-Expression kann durch genomische und nicht-genomische Prozesse hervorgerufen werden.

Fabry's disease: otoneurologic findings in twelve members of one family

Fabry's disease corresponds to an inherited disorder transmitted by an X-linked recessive gene. It generates a dysfunction of glycosphingolipid metabolism due to an enzymatic deficiency of alpha-galactosidase activity, resulting in glycosphingolipid deposits in all areas of the body. The clinical (heart, kidney, and central nervous system) manifestations are more severe in hemizygous boys than in heterozygous girls. They appear during childhood or adolescence: acroparesthesia, joint pain, angiokeratoma, corneal dystrophy, hypohydrosis or anhydrosis, and renal failure. The otoneurologic symptoms consist of hearing fluctuation, progressive unilateral or bilateral hearing loss, and episodes of vertigo or dizziness. Otoneurologic findings in 12 of 26 members of the same family are presented: the mother and 9 of her 12 children, as well as 2 of her 14 grandchildren: 4 healthy persons, 4 heterozygous female carriers, and 4 hemizygous male patients. Three of the male patients had fluctuation of hearing, sudden hearing loss, and episodes of vertigo and dizziness. The otoneurologic examinations showed a bilateral cochleovestibular deficit (n = 1), a right cochleovestibular deficit (n = 1), and a bilateral hearing loss combined with a right vestibular deficit (n = 1). Histopathologic evidence of glycosphingolipid accumulation in vascular endothelial and ganglion cells, as well as atrophy of the stria and spiral ligament, might explain the otoneurologic symptoms and findings.

Differential distribution of stem cells in the auditory and vestibular organs of the inner ear

The adult mammalian cochlea lacks regenerative capacity, which is the main reason for the permanence of hearing loss. Vestibular organs, in contrast, replace a small number of lost hair cells. The reason for this difference is unknown. In this work we show isolation of sphere-forming stem cells from the early postnatal organ of Corti, vestibular sensory epithelia, the spiral ganglion, and the stria vascularis. Organ of Corti and vestibular sensory epithelial stem cells give rise to cells that express multiple hair cell markers and express functional ion channels reminiscent of nascent hair cells. Spiral ganglion stem cells display features of neural stem cells and can give rise to neurons and glial cell types. We found that the ability for sphere formation in the mouse cochlea decreases about 100-fold during the second and third postnatal weeks; this decrease is substantially faster than the reduction of stem cells in vestibular organs, which maintain their stem cell population also at older ages. Coincidentally, the relative expression of developmental and progenitor cell markers in the cochlea decreases during the first 3 postnatal weeks, which is in sharp contrast to the vestibular system, where expression of progenitor cell markers remains constant or even increases during this period. Our findings indicate that the lack of regenerative capacity in the adult mammalian cochlea is either a result of an early postnatal loss of stem cells or diminishment of stem cell features of maturing cochlear cells.

Transesophageal echocardiography for verification of the position of the electrocardiographically-placed central venous catheter

OBJECTIVE: Compare changes in P-wave amplitude of the intra-atrial electrocardiogram (ECG) and its corresponding transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-controlled position to verify the exact localization of a central venous catheter (CVC) tip. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: University, single-institutional setting. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: CVC placement via the right internal jugular vein with ECG control using the guidewire technique and TEE control in 4 different phases: phase 1: CVC placement with normalized P wave and measurement of distance from the crista terminalis to the CVC tip; phase 2: TEE-controlled placement of the CVC tip; parallel to the superior vena cava (SVC) and measurements of P-wave amplitude; phase 3: influence of head positioning on CVC migration; and phase 4: evaluation of positioning of the CVC postoperatively using a chest x-ray. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The CVC tip could only be visualized in 67 patients on TEE with a normalized P wave. In 198 patients with the CVC parallel to the SVC wall controlled by TEE (phase 2), an elevated P wave was observed. Different head movements led to no significant migration of the CVC (phase 3). On a postoperative chest-x-ray, the CVC position was correct in 87.6% (phase 4). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the position of the CVC tip is located parallel to the SVC and 1.5 cm above the crista terminalis if the P wave starts to decrease during withdrawal of the catheter. The authors recommend that ECG control as per their study should be routinely used for placement of central venous catheters via the right internal jugular vein.

Suprasellar chordoid neoplasm with expression of thyroid transcription factor 1: evidence that chordoid glioma of the third ventricle and pituicytoma may form part of a spectrum of lineage-related tumors of the basal forebrain.

Chordoid glioma of the third ventricle is a rare neuroepithelial tumor characterized by a unique histomorphology and exclusive association with the suprasellar/third ventricular compartment. Variously interpreted as either astrocytic- or ependymal-like, and speculatively ascribed to the lamina terminalis/subcommissural organ, its histogenesis remains, nevertheless, unsettled. Here, we report on a suprasellar chordoid glioma occurring in a 52-year-old man. Although displaying otherwise typical morphological features, the tumor was notable for expression of thyroid transcription factor 1, a marker of tumors of pituicytic origin in the context of the sellar region. We furthermore found overlapping immunoprofiles of this example of chordoid glioma and pituicytic tumors (pituicytoma and spindle cell oncocytoma), respectively. Specifically, phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6, a marker of mTOR pathway activation, was expressed in both groups. Based on these findings, we suggest that chordoid glioma and pituicytic tumors may form part of a spectrum of lineage-related neoplasms of the basal forebrain.

Inquérito para a expansão do comércio português no Brasil.

Mode of access: Internet.

Relatorio da Repartição Geral dos Telegraphos apresentado ao Ministro da Industria Viação e Obras Publicas ...

1889-1890 apresentado ao Ministro da Instrucção Publica, Correios e Telegraphos.

Boletim.

Publication suspended 1933-Sept. 1948.

Comunicações dos Serviços Geológicos de Portugal.

At head of title: -t. 47, Direcção Geral de Minas e Serviços Geológicas; t. 48- Ministério da Economia, Secretaria de Estado da Indústria, Direcção-Geral de Minas e Serviços Geológicos, Serviços Geológicas.

Postnatal developmental expression of the PDZ scaffolds Na+-H+ exchanger regulatory factors 1 and 2 in the rat cochlea

Sensory transduction in the mammalian cochlea requires the maintenance of specialized fluid compartments with distinct ionic compositions. This is achieved by the concerted action of diverse ion channels and transporters, some of which can interact with the PDZ scaffolds, Na+-H+ exchanger regulatory factors 1 and 2 (NHERF-1, NHERF-2). Here, we report that NHERF-1 and NHERF-2 are widely expressed in the rat cochlea, and that their expression is developmentally regulated. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting initially confirmed the RNA and protein expression of NHERFs. We then performed immunohistochemistry on cochlea during various stages of postnatal development. Prior to the onset of hearing (P8), NHERF-1 immunolabeling was prominently polarized to the apical membrane of cells lining the endolymphatic compartment, including the stereocilia and cuticular plates of the inner and outer hair cells, marginal cells of the stria vascularis, Reissner's epithelia, and tectorial membrane. With maturation (P21, P70), NHERF-1 immunolabeling was reduced in the above structures, whereas labeling increased in the apical membrane of the interdental cells of the spiral limbus and the inner and outer sulcus cells, Hensen's cells, the inner and outer pillar cells, Deiters cells, the inner border cells, spiral ligament fibrocytes, and spiral ganglion neurons (particularly type II). NHERF-1 expression in strial basal and intermediate cells was persistent. NHERF-2 immunolabeling was similar to that for NHERF-1 during postnatal development, with the exception of expression in the synaptic regions beneath the outer hair cells. NHERF-1 and NHERF-2 co-localized with glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin in glia. The cochlear localization of NHERF scaffolds suggests that they play important roles in the developmental regulation of ion transport, homeostasis, and auditory neurotransmission.