A monoclonal antibody to limbic system neurons.

A monoclonal antibody produced against hippocampal cell membranes labeled the surface of neurons in the rat limbic system. With a few exceptions, all nonlimbic components were unstained. This specific distribution of immunopositive neurons provides strong evidence of molecular specificity among functionally related neurons in the mammalian brain and supports the concept of a limbic system.

Differential antiviral immunity to Japanese encephalitis virus in developing cortical organoids.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) poses a serious threat to the world's public health yet without a cure. Certain JEV-infected neural cells express a subset of previously identified intrinsic antiviral interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), indicating brain cells retain autonomous antiviral immunity. However, whether this happens in composited brain remains unclear. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived organoids can model disorders caused by human endemic pathogens such as Zika virus, which may potentially address this question and facilitate the discovery of a cure for JE. We thus generated telencephalon organoid and infected them with JEV. We found JEV infection caused significant decline of cell proliferation and increase of cell death in brain organoid, resulting in smaller organoid spheres. JEV tended to infect astrocytes and neural progenitors, especially the population representing outer radial glial cells (oRGCs) of developing human brain. In addition, we revealed variable antiviral immunity in brain organoids of different stages of culture. In organoids of longer culture (older than 8 weeks), but not of early ones (less than 4 weeks), JEV infection caused typical activation of interferon signaling pathway. Preferential infection of oRGCs and differential antiviral response at various stages might explain the much more severe outcomes of JEV infection in the younger, which also provide clues to develop effective therapeutics of such diseases.

Production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 in rat brain is stimulated by intracerebroventricular administration of an endothelin ETB receptor agonist.

The role of endothelin (ET)B receptors in chemokine production in the brain of rats was examined. Intracerebroventricular administration of 500 pmol/day of Ala(1,3,11,15)-ET-1, a selective ETB agonist, for 3 or 7 days increased monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1 mRNA in the caudate-putamen and cerebrum, whereas it had no effects on regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), fractalkine and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha mRNA expression. Immunoreactive MCP-1 and CINC-1 in the caudate-putamen and the cerebrum were increased by the ETB agonist. Immunohistochemical observations on the Ala(1,3,11,15)-ET-1-infused rats showed that glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes had immunoreactivity for MCP-1 and CINC-1. These findings indicate that the activation of brain ETB receptors causes the production of MCP-1 and CINC-1, and suggest a pathophysiological role for brain ETB receptors in nervous system damage.

Distribution of beacon immunoreactivity in the rat brain.

Beacon is a novel peptide isolated from the hypothalamus of Israeli sand rat. In the present study, we determined the distribution of beacon in the rat brain using immunohistochemical approach with a polyclonal antiserum directed against the synthetic C-terminal peptide fragment (47-73). The hypothalamus represented the major site of beacon-immunoreactive (IR) cell bodies that were concentrated in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the supraoptic nucleus (SON). Additional immunostained cells were found in the septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, subfornical organ and subcommissural organ. Beacon-IR fibers were seen with high density in the internal layer of the median eminence and low to moderate density in the external layer. Significant beacon-IR fibers were also seen in the nucleus of the solitary tract and lateral reticular formation. The beacon neurons found in the PVN were further characterized by double label immunohistochemistry. Several beacon-IR neurons that resided in the medial PVN were shown to coexpress corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and most labeled beacon fibers in the external layer of median eminence coexist with CRH. The topographical distribution of beacon-IR in the brain suggests multiple biological activities for beacon in addition to its proposed roles in modulating feeding behaviors and pituitary hormone release.

Cleft cavum of the septum pellucidum in victims of fatal road traffic accidents: a distinct type of cavum associated with severe diffuse axonal injury.

BACKGROUND: The cavum of the septum pellucidum (CSP) is a small cavity constantly present in fetuses and newborns, of variable frequency among necropsied adults and with a high frequency in professional boxers. METHOD: A pathologic study was conducted on brains of 626 patients without a history of head trauma (group 1) autopsied consecutively from a general hospital and of 120 random victims of fatal road traffic accidents (group 2). RESULTS: In group 1, 237 (37.9%) cases of CSP were observed, virtually all in a triangular or trapezoidal shape. In group 2, 65 (54.2%) cases of CSP were observed, 50 (76.9%) in triangular or trapezoidal shape and 15 (23.1%) in cleft shape. Cleft CSP was always associated with severe diffuse axonal injury (grades 2 and 3). CONCLUSION: Although described in boxers, the CSP has not been reported in other types of head injury. The largest frequency of CSP found in fatal victims of head trauma, particularly in patients with severe diffuse axonal lesion (grades 2 and 3), when compared with the individuals without a history of head trauma, suggests that the high-intensity angular acceleration of the head causes complementary and independent displacement of the 2 cerebral hemispheres and dislocation of one of the leaves of the septum pellucidum on the other. This could result in separation of the 2 leaves and formation of CSP, usually in cleft shape.

Cytokines and adhesion molecules expression in the brain in human cerebral malaria.

Although the role of systemic proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, and their up-regulation of adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-Selectin, in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria (CM) is well established, the role of local cytokine release remain unclear. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to compare the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-Selectin, IL-1beta, TNF-a and TGF-beta at light microscopic level in cerebral, cerebellar and brainstem postmortem cryostat sections from 10 CM, 5 severe malarial anemia (SMA), 1 purulent bacterial meningitis (PBM), 2 non-central nervous system infections (NCNSI) and 3 non-infections (NI) deaths in Ghanaian children. Fatal malaria and Salmonella sepsis showed significantly higher vascular expression of all 3 adhesion molecules, with highly significant co-localization with sequestration in the malaria cases. However, there was negligible difference between CM and SMA. TGF-beta showed intravascular and perivascular distribution in all cases, but expression was most intense in the PBM case and CM group. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta showed prominent brain parenchymal staining, in addition to intravascular and perivascular staining, in only the PBM case and CM group. The maximal expression of all 6 antigens studied was in the cerebellar sections of the malaria cases. Endothelial activation is a feature of fatal malaria and Salmonella sepsis, with adhesion molecule expression being highly correlated with sequestration. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha are upregulated in only cases with neurodegenerative lesions, whilst TGF-beta is present in all cases. Both cytokines and adhesion molecules were maximally upregulated in the cerebellar sections of the malaria cases.

Identification and immunocytochemical localization of a new thyrotropin-releasing hormone precursor in rat brain.

Antisera were raised to a tridecapeptide, Ser-Asp-Val-Thr-Lys-Arg-Gln-His-Pro-Gly-Arg-Arg-Phe, that was synthesized based on the sequence (residues 166-178) of a proposed cDNA for pro-TRH reported by Lechan et al. With this antiserum, immunostaining of Western blots of rat brain extracts revealed two major proteins with mol wt (Mr = 39,000 and 52,000) considerably larger than that of the largest protein (Mr = 29,000) that could be encoded by the cDNA of Lechan et al. Because these observations suggested the possibility of novel TRH precursors, we studied the immunocytochemical distribution of pro-TRH (39-52K) in rat brain. Our anatomical findings were 4-fold. 1) The distributions of 29K pro-TRH and 39-52K pro-TRH are not identical. 2) TRH is found only in regions containing 29K pro-TRH, 39-52K pro-TRH, or both. 3) There are regions that contain both 29K pro-TRH and 39-52K pro-TRH, but no TRH. 4) Regions containing only 39-52K pro-TRH do not contain 29K pro-TRH mRNA as mapped by Segerson et al. From these electrophoretic and anatomical observations, we postulate the existence of at least one and possibly two additional precursors that can be processed to TRH in rat brain.

Corticotropin releasing factor-like immunoreactivity in the rat brain as revealed by a modified cobalt-glucose oxidase-diaminobenzidine method.

A cobalt-glucose-oxidase diaminobenzidine (Co-GOD) method, employing a specific antiserum against rat corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), was applied to determine immunohistochemically a widespread and detailed localization of corticotropin releasing factor-like immunoreactivity (CRFI) in the rat brain. Besides the CRFI cells in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus that project to the median eminence, CRFI cells were demonstrated in many brain regions, including the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, septal nuclei, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamic nuclei, medial hypothalamic nuclei, lateral hypothalamic area, perifornical area, central gray, cuneiform nucleus, inferior colliculus, raphe nuclei, mesencephalic reticular formation, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, locus coeruleus, parabrachial nuclei, mesencephalic tract of the trigeminal nerve, pontine reticular formation, lateral superior olive, vestibular nuclei, prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, lateral reticular nucleus, nucleus of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve, external cuneate nucleus, inferior olive, and medullary reticular formation. CRFI-reacting neural processes were also detected in these same areas. In particular, the median eminence, lateral septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, mesencephalic reticular formation, parabrachial nuclei, and nucleus of the solitary tract contained large numbers of CRFI fibres. The widespread localization of CRFI demonstrated in the present study strongly suggests that CRF, like many other neurohormones and peptides, may act as a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator in numerous extrahypothalamic circuits, as well as participate in neuroendocrine regulation.

Distribution of galaninlike immunoreactivity in the rat central nervous system.

The localization of galanin (GAL) immunoreactive (IR) neuronal structures in the rat central nervous system has been investigated by using the indirect immunofluorescence technique. GAL-IR structures were seen in high concentrations in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord. Less extensive systems were detected in the telencephalon, thalamus, mesencephalon, and pons, while virtually no GAL-positive structures were seen in the olfactory bulb and cerebellum. Major populations of cell bodies staining for GAL-like material were seen in many areas. In the telencephalon somata were revealed in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, in the nucleus of the diagonal band, medial septum, and in the medial aspects of the central amygdaloid nucleus, and in small numbers in cortical areas. The anterodorsal and periventricular nuclei of the thalamus contained positive cell bodies. In the hypothalamus GAL-IR somata were seen in the medial and lateral preoptic nuclei, arcuate nucleus, periventricular nucleus, in the dorsomedial nucleus, in the medial forebrain bundle area, in the tubular, caudal, accessory, supraoptic, and paraventricular magnocellular nuclei and lateral to the mammillary recess. The dorsal raphe nucleus hosted a large number of GAL-positive somata. Locus coeruleus of the pons contained a large number of GAL-IR perikarya. In the medulla oblongata positive somata were found in the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus, the nucleus of the solitary tract, and in the ventral lateral area just rostral to area postrema. Small cell bodies were detected in the superficial layers of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord at all levels and in lamina X at lumbar levels. Analysis of GAL-positive fibers in the telencephalon revealed highly or medium-dense networks in the lateral septal nucleus, in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, and in the central and medial amygdaloid nuclei. Positive fibers were found in the thalamus in and around the periventricular nucleus as well as in the lateral habenular nucleus and extending in a lateral, caudal direction from the third ventricle and fasciculus retroflexus to the lateral tip of the medial lemniscus. In the hypothalamus the external layer of the median eminence contained a very dense fiber network. Dense or medium-dense GAL-IR networks were detected in the periventricular nucleus, throughout the medial and lateral preoptic areas, in the medial forebrain bundle area, in the dorsomedial nucleus, and lateral to the mammillary recess. In the pons GAL-IR fibers were seen in the parabrachial nuclei, dorsal to the superior olive, and in the periaqueductal central gray.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Distribution and regulation of telencephalic aromatase expression in the zebra finch revealed with a specific antibody.

In songbirds, aromatase (estrogen synthase) activity and mRNA are readily detectable in the brain. This neural aromatization presumably provides estrogen to steroid-sensitive targets via autocrine, paracrine, and synaptic mechanisms. The location of immunoreactive protein, however, has been difficult to describe completely, particularly in distal dendrites, axons, and terminals of the forebrain. Here we describe the neuroanatomical distribution of aromatase in the zebra finch by using a novel antibody raised specifically against zebra finch aromatase. The distribution of aromatase-positive somata in the zebra finch brain is in excellent agreement with previous reports. Additionally, this antibody reveals elaborate, spinous dendritic arbors, fine-beaded axons, and punctate terminals of telencephalic neurons that may synthesize estrogen. Some of these axon-like fibers extend into the high vocal center (HVC) and the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA) in males and females, suggesting a role for presynaptic aromatization in cellular processes within these loci. Adult males have more aromatase-positive fibers in the caudomedial neostriatum (NCM) and the preoptic area (POA) compared to females, despite the lack of detectable sex differences in the number of immunoreactive somata at these loci. Thus, the compartmentalization of aromatase in dendrites and axons may serve a sexually dimorphic function in the songbird. Finally, in adult males, aromatase expression is down-regulated by circulating estradiol in the hippocampus, but not in the NCM or POA. The distribution of aromatase suggests a role for aromatization in the regulation of pre- and postsynaptic function in steroid sensitive areas of the songbird forebrain.

Organization of vasotocin-immunoreactive cells and fibers in the canary brain.

The distribution of vasotocin (VT)-immunoreactive neuronal perikarya and fibers in the canary (Serinus canaria) was investigated with immunohistological techniques. The results suggest that most VT-stained cell bodies are located in three diencephalic regions. First, a large number of densely packed neurons are found in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the anterior preoptic nucleus. Neurons here vary widely in size and shape. Small-size rounded neurons and large-size multipolar neurons appear to concentrate in separate subdivisions. Second, a series of loosely organized cell groups of medium- to large-size cells occurs in the lateral parts of the hypothalamus. These aggregates of neurons apparently correspond to subdivisions of the supraoptic nucleus (SON). Third, diffusely distributed, lightly stained cells are found dorsal to the paraventricular nucleus in the dorsal diencephalon. A number of cells of this group seem to be located in the basal septal area and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Immunoreactive fibers and varicosities concentrate in brain regions that are associated with neuroendocrine, autonomic, and limbic functions. Axons from the PVN and SON form compact bundles of the hypothalamohypophysial tract in the lateral hypothalamus and then funnel into the internal zone of the medium eminence (ME). Furthermore, a heavy innervation seems to be present in the palisadal, external zone of the ME. A substantial number of fibers appear to leave the PVN toward extrahypothalamic areas. Most extrahypothalamic VT fibers innervate telencephalic and brainstem regions that are thought to be involved in mediation of limbic and autonomic functions. These areas include the lateral and medial septum, the lateral habenula, the substantia grisea centralis, the area ventralis (Tsai), the locus coeruleus, raphe nuclei, the nucleus tractus solitarii, and lateral medulla. In addition, fibers with immunoreactivity for VT innervate structures such as the optic tectum and the nucleus ovoidalis that have been implicated in sensory processing of visual and auditory information. Finally, VT fibers and varicosities occur in centers including the nucleus robustus archistriatalis and nucleus intercollicularis that have been implicated in vocal control.

Expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors in the brain and retina of chick embryos: comparison with cholinergic development.

The expression of nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) transcripts was investigated with in situ hybridization techniques in the CNS of chick embryos from 3 days of incubation (E3) to 14 days posthatch (P14). The time course and distribution of NGFR expression was compared with the development of the cholinergic phenotype. Cholinergic properties were assessed by immunolabeling for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and histochemistry for acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity. NGFR transcripts are expressed transiently in the inner plexiform layer and ganglion cell layer of the retina (E4-P1), neostriatum and hippocampus (E18), infundibular hypothalamus (E7-18), spiriform complex (E9-15), layers 2, 3 (E9-18), and 10 (E11-18) of the optic tectum, nucleus mesencephalicus profundus, pars ventralis (E9-18), parvicellular isthmic nucleus (E7-P1), magnocellular isthmic nucleus (E9-E18), nucleus semilunaris (E7-18), isthmo-optic nucleus (E7-P14), rostral motor nuclei (E5-18), developing cerebellum (E7-15), internal granule cell layer (E11-18) and Purkinje cell layer (E15-P14) of the cerebellar cortex, and the inferior olivary nucleus (E9-15). A small number of neuronal populations with embryonic expression of NGFR remain strongly NGFR-positive in the posthatch animal:habenular nuclei (labeled after E5), nucleus subrotundus (after E9), mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (after E5), caudal parts of locus ceruleus and nucleus subceruleus (after E7), medullar reticular nuclei (after E11), and motor nuclei IX, X, and XII (after E9). The majority of neuronal populations with NGFR expression show cholinergic properties in development, and NGFR expression always precedes the onset of ChAT immunoreactivity. Postnatal expression of growth factor receptors is largely confined to neurons of the reticular type. NGFR expression in avian CNS nuclei differs from that in mammals. Early loss of NGFR expression in the cholinergic basal forebrain (which remains strongly NGFR positive in mammals) and persistent NGFR expression in parts of the avian locus ceruleus indicate changes of growth factor receptor expression and growth factor requirements in phylogeny. Knowledge of the time and distribution of NGFR expression in the chick embryo will facilitate the assessment of specific functions of NGF and NGF-like molecules in an embryonic model with easy access for experimental manipulations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Neurotensin in the human brain.

The localization of neurotensin-immunoreactive sites in the adult human brain was investigated by the indirect immunoperoxidase method of Sternberger [Sternberger (1979) Immunocytochemistry. Wiley, New York]. Our results demonstrate a widespread, albeit uneven occurrence of neurotensin-immunoreactive cells and processes throughout the central nervous system. Immunoreactive cells are prominent in the medial hypothalamus and in various regions of the limbic system, including the amygdaloid body, septal area, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and piriform cortex. A few cells were also found in the dorsal synencephalon, superior colliculus, periaqueductal grey and spinal trigeminal nucleus. The distribution of immunoreactive fibres corresponds well with that reported for rodents. Areas with the highest concentration of neurotensin-immunoreactive processes included all the areas where immunoreactive neurons were found and, in addition, periventricular thalamic nuclei, the sublenticular region, lateral parts of the brainstem reticular formation and the vagus-solitarius complex. Comparison mapping studies of melanin-containing neurons on sections treated with neurotensin antiserum revealed an anatomical relation between almost all the catecholaminergic cell clusters with peptide-containing fibres.

Immunohistochemical localization of argininosuccinate synthetase in the rat brain in relation to nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons.

The distribution of the urea cycle enzyme, argininosuccinate synthetase, in the rat brain was determined using immunohistochemistry. This enzyme participates in the only known metabolic pathway for citrulline, its condensation with aspartate to form argininosuccinate, which can then be cleaved to fumarate and arginine. It may thus provide a mechanism to recycle citrulline, formed in the nervous system via nitric oxide synthase activity, back to the nitric oxide precursor, L-arginine. Argininosuccinate synthetase immunoreactivity was detected in discrete populations of neurons throughout the brain. Double-staining with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form)-diaphorase histochemistry for the localization of nitric oxide synthase demonstrated that argininosuccinate synthetase coexists with nitric oxide synthase in some brain regions. However, many neurons were found that contained one of these two enzymes, but not the other. Thus some nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons appear able to recycle citrulline via argininosuccinate, while others do not. Additional roles for argininosuccinate synthetase in the brain are discussed.

Association of immune responses and ischemic brain infarction in rat.

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases including ischemia. Occlusion of common carotid artery and middle cerebral artery has been used to produce focal ischemic lesions in the rat. Here, we examined the associations between immune reactions and postischemic brain infarction. Ischemia/reperfusion time-dependently caused brain infarction. The kinetics of inflammatory reactions in rat brain including inflammatory cell infiltration, edema formation, cytokines/chemokines and adhesion molecules production and matrix metalloproteinase activation were relevant to the progression of ischemic infarction. Differential induction profile after ischemia suggests that this activation might contribute to secondary brain damage in ischemic tissues. On the other hand, another possibility of this response is to trigger processes that mediate the neural regeneration after ischemic injury.

Expression of proinflammatory cytokines in four regions of the brain in Macaque mulatta (rhesus) monkeys infected with Plasmodium coatneyi.

We have characterized brain cytokine expression profiles in the Plasmodium coatneyi/rhesus (Macaque mulatta) malaria model. Eight rhesus monkeys were included in the study; four were infected with P. coatneyi, and four were used as uninfected controls. All inoculated animals became infected. Eleven days after parasite inoculation, the rhesus monkeys were killed and tissue samples from 4 regions of the brain (cortex and white matter of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and midbrain) were collected for quantitation of mRNA expression of cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression levels of tumor necrosis actor-alpha (TNF-alpha), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1-beta (IL-1beta), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and inducible nitric oxide synethetase (iNOS) were highest in the cerebellum of infected animals, correlating well with pathologic observations of sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes in this region of the brain. Infected animals also had higher TNF-alpha expression levels in the cortex and IL-1beta expression levels in the cortex, white matter, and midbrain. Thus, the expression of pro-inflammatory and T helper-1 (TH-1) cytokines, adhesion molecules, and iNOS appears to predominate in the cerebellum of infected rhesus monkeys.

Distribution of corticotropin-releasing factor immunoreactive neurons in the brain of the tigerfrog, Rana tigrina.

The distribution of immunoreactive (ir) neurons containing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is described in the brain of the tigerfrog, Rana tigrina. The olfactory bulb, medial pallium, nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca and medial area of the amygdala of the telencephalon showed ir-CRF perikarya. The anterior and ventromedial thalamic nuclei, and the magnocellular nucleus preopticus (NPO) revealed several ir cells; a few NPO neurons were cerebrospinal fluid contacting in nature. The nucleus hypothalamicus ventromedialis contained a few cells, but the nucleus infundibularis ventralis of the infundibulum revealed several diffusely distributed perikarya. Individual ir-CRF perikarya were visualized in the optic tectum and interpeduncular nucleus. Extensive fiber terminals were present in the median eminence, but no fibers were discerned either in the neural lobe or in the pituitary gland.

Autoantibodies in childhood post-varicella acute cerebellar ataxia.

BACKGROUND: Anti-Purkinje cell antibodies have been reported in cerebellar ataxia following Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. We investigated autoantibody responses, including anti-Purkinje cell antibodies, and the clinical course in eight children who developed post-varicella ataxia, five of their siblings with uncomplicated varicella, one child with post-EBV ataxia, two children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and one with neuroblastoma associated ataxia, and in age and gender matched controls. METHODS: Autoantibodies were tested by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on cryopreserved cerebrum and cerebellum sections. Other autoantibodies were measured by conventional IIF protocols using HEp-2 cells as a substrate. Antibodies to myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG), asialo-GM1, beta2 glycoprotein 1, cardiolipin and myelin basic protein (MBP) were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Three of eight children with acute post-varicella ataxia, one child with post-EBV ataxia, one child with ADEM and one child with uncomplicated varicella, had high titer autoantibodies (>1/160) that reacted with cerebrum and cerebellar tissue. This reactivity was not seen in one child with ADEM, in one with neuroblastoma and ataxia, in the remainder of the children with uncomplicated varicella or age and gender matched controls. Autoantibodies were not seen in CSF from two children with post-varicella ataxia. The punctate staining seen on cerebrum and cerebellum sections co-localized with rabbit antibodies to the centrosome protein pericentrin. All patients with strong reactivity with cerebrum and cerebellar tissue by IIF had elevated levels of anti-MAG that was not confirmed by absorption assay. No reactivity was seen with asialo-GM1, MBP, beta2 glycoprotein 1 or cardiolipin. None of the sera had autoantibodies directed against endosomes, the Golgi complex, or the paraneoplastic autoantigens Hu and Yo. CONCLUSION: Some children with post-viral ataxia develop antibodies that have strong reactivity with cerebral and cerebellar tissue. Some of the antigenic reactivity co-localized with the centrosome protein pericentrin.

Prevalence of autoantibody in cerebrospinal fluids from dogs with various CNS diseases.

To examine the prevalence of autoantibody in canine cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs), CSFs were collected from 14 healthy controls and 88 clinical cases with various diseases in the central nervous system (CNS), and were analyzed by an indirect fluorescence antibody test on frozen sections of the cerebrum from normal Beagle dogs. An anti-astrocyte autoantibody was detected in 31 clinical cases with titers ranging from 1:1 to >/=1:100. All tested cases with necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME: n=22) and granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME: n=3) possessed the anti-astrocyte autoantibody, while the autoantibody was negative in most cases with other inflammatory CNS diseases. The autoantibody was also detected in 4 of 12 cases with brain tumors. Hence, examination of the autoantibody in the canine CFS would be significant for diagnosing NME and/or GME, as well as for understanding peritumoral events in cases with brain tumors.

Parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the telencephalic hemispheres of the tench, Tinca tinca.

The distribution of parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the telencephalic hemispheres of the tench (Tinca tinca L.) was studied using a monoclonal antibody and the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method. A wide distribution of immunoreactive structures was found in both dorsal and ventral areas of the telencephalic hemispheres. Normally, the parvalbumin-immunostained neurons in the dorsal area were smaller, more weakly stained, and more scattered than those in the ventral one. In the dorsal area, parvalbumin-immunoreactivity was observed in practically all divisions. The highest density of positive somata was found in the lateral nucleus. Density of stained fibres was generally low. Labelling in the ventral area appeared in the ventral and dorsal nuclei, with a high density of both immunoreactive fibres and cell bodies. Neurons were seen close to the ventricle, arranged in two groups of neurons with different sizes and morphologies. The distribution and morphological characteristics of the parvalbuminergic cells were similar to those of previously described GABAergic elements, suggesting a possible colocalization of both substances in the teleost telencephalon, as it has been observed in different telencephalic areas of land vertebrates. On the other hand, significant differences were seen between the distribution of parvalbumin in the telencephalic hemispheres of the tench in comparison with its distribution pattern in supposed homologous structures of the forebrain of amniotes.