Pharyngo-esophageal diverticulum arising from Laimer's triangle.

Among pharyngo-esophageal diverticula the most frequent type is Zenker's diverticulum, which originates above the cricopharyngeal muscle and below the thyropharyngeal muscle. Laimer's diverticulum, located below the cricopharyngeal muscle, is a much rarer type. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman with a 3-year history of pharyngeal discomfort that was diagnosed as Laimer's diverticulum. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third such reported case.

[Head and neck tuberculosis].

Since the advent of antituberculous therapy, the incidence of the tuberculosis has decreased. However, the number of cases of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis have risen recently, especially in urban areas of Japan. The recent increase in tuberculous infections is of special concern to otolaryngologists as a greater proportion of cases will have extrapulmonary involvement with head and neck manifestations. Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been reported to cause infectious lesions in a wide variety of sites in the head and neck. The most common extrapulmonary site in the head and neck for tuberculosis is the cervix. Other head and neck sites with frequent reported involvement include the larynx and middle ear. In the present paper, clinical features of tuberculous infections of the head and neck are reviewed and the recommendations in the management of this disorder are presented.

Immunohistochemical localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid- and aspartate-containing neurons in the guinea pig superior olivary complex.

The immunohistochemical localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and aspartate-containing neurons was demonstrated in the guinea pig superior olivary complex, using purified antisera to GABA and aspartate, respectively. Medium-sized oval GABA-containing neurons were found in the lateral superior olive, and bipolar medium-sized GABA-containing neurons were observed in the dorsal hilus of the lateral superior olive. Medium-sized to large round GABA-containing neurons were observed in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body. GABA-containing terminals were found throughout the superior olivary complex with the highest density in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body. Aspartate-like immunoreactivity was observed in medium-sized round or oval neurons in the lateral superior olive, small fusiform neurons in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body, fusiform medium-sized neurons in the medial superior olive and oval medium-sized neurons in the superior paraolivary nucleus and round medium-sized neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. Double staining method demonstrated that aspartate-containing neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body were surrounded by GABA-containing terminals. The present results suggested the possible origin of GABAergic and aspartatergic olivocochlear bundles.

Immunohistochemical localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid- and aspartate-containing neurons in the rat deep cerebellar nuclei.

The immunohistochemical localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and aspartate-containing neurons was evidenced in the rat deep cerebellar nuclei, using purified antisera to GABA and aspartate, respectively. Most GABA-containing neurons had small cell bodies and were scattered unevenly throughout the deep cerebellar nuclei. The medial cerebellar nucleus had a few GABA-containing cell bodies and interpositus and lateral nuclei contained many GABA-containing cell bodies. GABA-containing terminals were distributed throughout the nuclei. A large number of various-sized aspartate-containing cells were present in the deep cerebellar nuclei and most of these cells were large or medium-size. Aspartate-containing cells in the medial, interpositus and lateral nucleus were surrounded by GABA-like immunoreactive terminals, thereby suggesting the modulation of aspartate-containing neurons by GABA-ergic fibers from Purkinje cells.

Immunohistochemical localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid- and aspartate-containing neurons in the guinea pig vestibular nuclei.

The immunohistochemical distributions of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and aspartate-containing neurons were studied in the guinea pig vestibular nuclei using purified antisera to GABA and aspartate, respectively. Most GABA-containing neurons had small cell bodies and were scattered throughout all regions of the vestibular nuclei. The largest number of these cells was found in the medial nucleus. Intraventricular injection of colchicine markedly increased GABA-like immunoreactivity in these cell bodies. GABA-containing terminals were distributed throughout all 4 subdivisions of the nuclei, with the richest localization found around the floor of the fourth ventricle. Various sized aspartate-containing neurons were noted in the vestibular nuclei and small cells were present in the superior, medial and lateral nucleus. Medium-sized cells were observed throughout the vestibular nuclei. Giant cells in the lateral nucleus also contained aspartate and were surrounded by GABA-like immunoreactive terminals, thereby suggesting the modulation of aspartate-containing neurons by GABAergic fibers from Purkinje cells.

Aspartate-like immunoreactivity in mitral cells of rat olfactory bulb.

Antisera against aspartate (Asp) were prepared by immunizing rabbits with Asp conjugated to bovine serum albumin by glutaraldehyde, after which the antisera were purified using an Asp-immobilized epoxy-activated affinity column. The purified Asp antiserum showed no cross-reactivity, except for a 3% cross-reactivity against D-Asp. Asp-like immunoreactivity in mitral cells of the rat olfactory bulb was demonstrated, using this purified Asp antiserum.