Subcortical nuclei volumetry in idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

PURPOSE: The exact anatomic and neurophysiologic correlates of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) in humans are still not well understood, although the thalamus has frequently been invoked as the crucial structure in the generation of primary generalized seizures. The few in vivo magnetic resonance (MR)-based studies in IGE patients suggest an altered cortical/subcortical gray matter ratio, but with no evidence of structural alterations of the thalamus. In this study, we sought to determine the volumes of the other subcortical structures. METHODS: The volumes of the caudate nucleus, putamen, pallidum as well as the thalamus were each determined in both hemispheres in 11 patients with various IGE syndromes, normalized for whole-brain volumes and then compared with 15 age-matched controls. RESULTS: No differences were noted in thalamic volumes, confirming previous reports. However, smaller subcortical volumes were noted in the IGE patients (p < 0.009), mainly due to smaller putamen bilaterally (p < or = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: It is speculated that the presence of discrete frontal dysfunction, as noted in neuropsychological studies in IGE patients, indirectly supports our results because the putamen projects predominantly to the frontal cortex. Larger studies with more homogeneous patient populations are needed to determine the robustness of these findings and whether they are specific for particular IGE syndromes.

Saw palmetto alters nuclear measurements reflecting DNA content in men with symptomatic BPH: evidence for a possible molecular mechanism.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the nuclear chromatin characteristics of epithelial cells, looking for an SPHB-mediated effect on nuclear DNA structure and organization. Saw palmetto herbal blend (SPHB) causes contraction of prostate epithelial cells and suppression of tissue dihydrotestosterone levels in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia, but a fundamental mechanism remains unknown. METHODS: A 6-month randomized trial, comparing prostatic tissue of men treated with SPHB (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20), was performed. At baseline, the two groups were similar in age (65 versus 64 years), symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score 18 versus 17), uroflow (maximal urinary flow rate 10 versus 11 mL/s), prostate volume (59 versus 58 cm(3)), prostate-specific antigen (4.2 versus 2.7 ng/mL), and percentage of epithelium (17% versus 16%). Prostatic tissue was obtained by sextant biopsy before and after treatment. Five-micron sections were Feulgen stained and quantitatively analyzed using the AutoCyte QUIC-DNA imaging system. Images were captured from 200 randomly selected epithelial cell nuclei, and 60 nuclear morphometric descriptors (NMDs) (eg, size, shape, DNA content, and textural features) were determined for each nucleus. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the differences in the variances of the NMDs between the treated and untreated prostate epithelial cells. RESULTS: At baseline, the SPHB and placebo groups had similar NMD values. After 6 months of placebo, no significant change from baseline was found in the NMDs. However, after 6 months of SPHB, 25 of the 60 NMDs were significantly different compared with baseline, and a multivariate model for predicting treatment effect using 4 of the 25 was created (P <0.001). The multivariate model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 94% and an accuracy of 85%. CONCLUSIONS: Six months of SPHB treatment appears to alter the DNA chromatin structure and organization in prostate epithelial cells. Thus, a possible molecular basis for tissue changes and therapeutic effect of the compound is suggested.

Effect of chronic alcoholism on neuronal nuclear size and neuronal population in the mammillary body and the anterior thalamic complex of man.

The effect of chronic alcoholism on neuronal nuclear size and neuronal population of two memory-related diencephalic centres, the mammillary body and the anterior thalamic complex, has been examined in 24 chronic male alcoholics and 22 age-matched male controls. Cases were subdivided into three age groups (30-44 years, 45-59 years and 60-75 years). The results showed a significant reduction in both neuronal numbers and nuclear size in alcoholics compared to controls. Differences were especially high in the youngest alcoholics. The intensity of liver damage (steatosis vs. cirrhosis) did not have any significant effect. Moreover, an age-related decrease of neuronal number and karyometry was seen in controls but not in alcoholics. Our results suggest that chronic alcoholism accelerates the rate of neuronal loss in the mammillary body and anterior thalamic complex to a degree equivalent to aging. Likewise, chronic alcoholism impairs the compensatory increase in neuronal nuclei area seen in normal aging in these same structures. Our findings show that medial diencephalic memory centres are damaged in chronic alcoholism, which may contribute to the clinical symptomatology of these persons.

[The influence of CCNU (lomustine) on the neurosecretion of hypothalamic nuclei and the neurohypophysis during early stages of extrauterine development of the rat]. / Wplyw CCNU (Lomustine) na neurosekrecje jader podwzgórza i nerwowej czesci przysadki szczura we wczesnym okresie rozwoju pozamacicznego.

The hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal neurosecretory system was investigated in 8-, 15- and 30-day-old rats subjected to three intragastric doses of CCNU - 12.5 mg/kg b. wt. each on the 3rd, 5th and 7th day after birth. Neurosecretory neurons in the hypothalamus were visualized in the paraffin sections by the immunoenzyme (PAP) technique using antibodies against neurophysin and by Gomori chrome-hematoxylin staining. Accumulation of neurophysin was observed in these cells after treatment with CCNU. Karyometric measurements showed an increase of the mean nuclear cross-section area in PVN neurons in 8-day-old rats exposed to CCNU. In four experimental rats disseminated intracerebral hemorrhagic foci were present. Plasma osmolality was far below the normal values on the 8th day, on the 15th day of life it shifted to hyperosmolality and returned to normal at the age of 30 days. Discussion of the results leads to the conclusion that the increase of the neurosecretory function observed in this experiment was secondary to vasogenic changes.

Changes in the hypothalamus and ependyma of the third ventricle of the brain in sheep after irradiation and hormone stimulation.

In the present study the authors focused their attention on the studies of PAS positive mucopolisaccharides in the hypothalamus and ependyma of the third ventricle and on the observation of changes in the volume of cell nuclei of neurons--nucl. supraopticus (NSO), nucl. hypothalamicus ventromedialis (NVM) and nucl. tuberomammillaris (NTM) in sheep after irradiation with 2.46 Gy and hormone stimulation during anestrous. Ageline sponges and serum gonadotropins were used for estrous synchronization and hormone stimulation, respectively. The increased amount of PAS positive substances found in the examined hypothalamic nuclei after irradiation and hormone treatment seem to stimulate the function of the hypothalamic structures. The results of caryometric analysis in spring sheep also confirm this view. Administration of hormones in combination with irradiation results in increased number of ependyma cells and desquamation of the surface layers.

[Qualitative and quantitative changes in the hypothalamus and the ependyma of the 3d cerebral ventricle in sheep after irradiation and hormonal stimulation]. / Kvalitatívne a kvantitatívne zmeny v hypotalame a v ependýme. III. mozgovej komory oviec po oziarení a hormonálnej stimulácii.

In the submitted work we concentrated our attention on the study of the changes in neurosecretion. PAS positive mucopolysaccharides in the hypothalamus and ependyma of the IIIrd cerebral ventricle and on studying the changes in the volume of the cell nuclei of the neurons of nucl. supraopticus (NSO), nucl. hypothalamicus centromedialis (NVM) and nucl. tuberomamillaris (NTM) of sheep after irradiation and after hormonal stimulation. We made our observations on 28 sheep of the Slovak Merino breed, of average live weight 35 to 40 kg, two- and three-years old in the period of physiological anoestrum. The first group of four ewes and the second group of four yearling lambs were controls. The third group of six ewes and the fourth group of six yearlings were exposed to irradiation all over with a dosage of 2.46 Gy (250 R) for a period of five days. To synchronize the oestrum of all the sheep we used agelline sponges which we fitted five days before irradiation. After the irradiation and removal of the sponges we gave the test sheep hormonal stimulation with 3 X 500 i. u. of serum gonadotropin. The fifth group of four ewes and the sixth group of four yearlings were only stimulated without irradiation. The fifth day after stimulation we slaughtered the sheep. We processed the brain samples by the usual histological methods. We carried out karyometric analysis with 3000X magnification and the measurement of 200 cells from one sample. We processed the values obtained mathematically according to Fischer and Inke (1956). We evaluated the quantity of neurosecretion material with a light microscope according to Nakahara (1962). We found that the multiplication of neurosecretion and the increased activity of the PAS reaction in the hypothalamic nuclei studied show that the irradiation and hormonal treatment stimulate the function of the hypothalamic structures. The results of the karyometric analysis in the yearlings also confirm this opinion. In the ewes the inhibitive influence of irradiation was probably manifest. The giving of hormones in combination with irradiation causes the multiplication of ependyma cells and the desquamation of surface layers.

Blood vessel endothelia in rat brain following experimental administration of BCNU (carmustine): karyometric studies and cytophotometric studies on DNA.

Studies on the effect of BCNU (Carmustine), administered in 4 intraperitoneal injections of 7.5 mg each, on cell nuclei of blood vessel endothelia were performed on the parietal cortex and the thalamus of 20 adult rats of Wistar strain. Karyometric studies demonstrated increased circumference and cross-section area of cell nuclei in vascular endothelia following administration of the cytostatic drug. The nuclei acquired a more spheric shape and a decreased surface irregularity (decreased folding) of their cross-sections. Extinction of endothelial cell nuclei estimated following administration of BCNU showed also an increased content of DNA as well as a more compact and concentrated nuclear chromatin. The alterations noted in endothelial nuclei of thalamic blood vessels were more pronounced than those seen in the parietal cortex.

[Changes in neurosecretory activity in the hypothalamus of sheep after administration of PMSG]. / Zmeny neurosekrecnej aktivity u hypotalame oviec po podaní PMSG.

By means of histological methods of histochemical nature we examined the qualitative alterations in neurosecretory cells of anterior (nucl. paraventricularis - NPV. nucl. preopticus medialis - NPM), medial (nucl. arcuatus s. infundibularis - NARC), and posterior (nucl. tuberomamillaris - NTM) hypothalamus of sheep with a simultaneous caryometric analysis of neurons of the same nuclei after administration of various PMSG doses. The examination was performed on the brain samples of 23 two- to three-year-old sheep, of the Slovak Merino breed, at the live weight of 30 to 40 kg. in the period of physiological anoestrus (June-July). The animals were divided into three experimental groups and were instilled agellin sponges (20 mg). On the 13th day the sponges were removed and the first group was applied 1000 i. u. PMSG, the second group 750 i. u. PMSG. The sheep were killed within 30 to 36 hours after the oestrus determination with a teaser ram. After bleeding of animals the brains were perfused with 2% buffered paraformaldehyde and after taking out the brains from the crania their fixation was finished in buffered picroformol. Paraffin slices were stained with haematoxylin-eosine and crotonaldehyde-fuchsin to neurosecretions. Caryometric analysis was carried out with a 1000 fold magnifying and with a measuring of 200 cells from one sample. We recorded the neurosecretion increase in all hypothalamic nuclei under study. The caryometric analysis has shown a moderate shift to the right, it means the volume increase of nuclei of neurosecretory cells, which demonstrates a stimulation of the function of hypothalamic structures.

Quantitative histological study on the thalamic ventro-basal complex of the cat. Numerical aspects of the transfer from medial lemniscal fibers to cortical relay.

A quantitative analysis was carried out on the thalamic ventrobasal (VB) complex of the cat. The following numerical and metrical parameters of the neuronal elements (cells and fibers) were determined: 1. Volume of nucleus: 27.38 mm3 2. Total number of neurons: 243,000 3. Total number of fibers of medial lemniscus: 26,000 4. Volume of arborization space of one lemniscal fiber: 2.26 X 10(6) micrometers 3. Numerical data of relay neurons and lemniscal fibers and their relations as basic factors in the estimation of the degree of divergence and convergence of lemniscal input were calculated and compared. It was found that the probable degree of convergence is four-fold (1-4) and of divergence 27-fold (1-27) with regard to the relationship of fibers and cells in the VB. The quantitative data obtained in the VB and our considerations on convergence and divergence were compared with analogous values obtained for the lateral geniculate body LGB. The differences between the two sensory relay nuclei reflect differences in their modes of impulse transmission.

Effect of reserpine (Serpasil) and chlorpromazine (Largactil) on hypothalamic nuclei of adult female rat.

The effects of reserpine (Serpasil) and chlorpromazine (Largactil) on preoptic area (POA), supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of hypothalamus were studied in female rats having 4-day normal oestrus cycle. 30 rats were treated with reserpine in three doses i.e. 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg and 1.5 mg/kg body weight, whereas 20 other rats were treated with chlorpromazine in two doses i.e. 5.0 mg and 10.0 mg/Kg body weight. Gomori positive neurosecretory neurons of the hypothalamus were studied by measuring the diameters of nuclei and cells of POA, SON and PVN. When compared to controls both drugs caused a significant (p less than 0.001 to p less than 0.05) decrease in the nuclear and cell size of the neurons.

[Morphometric study of the effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan on the activity of various hypothalamic centers in rats depending on the state of their sexual system]. / Morfometricheskoe izuchenie vliianiia 5-oksitriptofana na aktivost' nekotorykh gipotalamicheskikh tsentrov u krys v zavisimosti ot sostoianiia ikh polovoi sistemy.

The effect of 5-oxytryptophan (serotonin metabolic precursor), injected intraperitoneally to female rats (intact and with deafferented mediobasal hypothalamus) on the activity of a number of hypothalamic centres was studied. The activity of cells, both outside and inside the isolated area, proved to alter under the effect of 5-oxytryptophan. The direction of these effects depends on the initial state of the hypothalamic centres and on the hormone in whose presence serotonin acts.

[Karyovolumetric studies on the pre-pubertal differentiation of the nucleus infundibularis in female rats]. / Karyovolumetrische Untersuchung zur Frage der präpuberalen Differenzierung des Nucleus infundibularis bei weiblichen Ratten.

Cell nuclear volumes of neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus were measured in immature female rats autopsied at 21, 26, 32 or 36 days of age, or on the day of the first vaginal estrus. As opposed to limbic cell nuclei measured at the same ages in a former study (DOCKE aND SMOLLICH 1978), significant age-dependent changes of nuclear volumes could not be revealed with the exception of a continuous slight increase during the period of investigation. Neonatal ovariectomy whereas this treatment induced distinct activation of limbic neurons as recorded in a previous experiment (SMOLLICH et al. 1978). It is suggested that the puberty-controlling functions of the arcuate nucleus and of limbic structures depend on different mechanisms.