PACAP stimulates the release of interleukin-6 in cultured rat Müller cells.

We have investigated the in vivo effect of PACAP on rat Müller cells that are the predominant glial element in the retina. Müller cells were treated with PACAP38, either alone or in the presence of the PACAP-selective antagonist, PACAP6-38. Cellular proliferation was determined by measuring the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine, while interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the culture medium were examined using a B9 cell bioassay. In cultured rat Müller cells, the expression of PACAP receptor (PAC1-R) was assessed with immunohistochemistry using a PAC1-R-specific antiserum. PACAP stimulated IL-6 production in Müller cells at a concentration as low as 10(-12) M, which was not sufficient to induce cell proliferation. This elevation of IL-6 production was significantly inhibited by PACAP6-38. These data suggest that Müller cells are one of the target cells for PACAP, stimulating the release of IL-6, and providing a mechanism whereby PACAP exerts a significant neuroprotective effect in the retina.

Intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt: report of two cases assessed by helical computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) anatomic analysis was carried out, using helical computed tomography (helical CT), to evaluate its usefulness in two cases of large intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (IPSVS). METHODS: Case 1, a 74-year-old man with type-C hepatitis, underwent hepatic angiography to confirm suggested IPSVS of the left hepatic lobe in 1994. Case 2, a 62-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis associated with type-B hepatitis, was hospitalized for evaluation of suspected hepatocellular carcinoma in 1994. Hepatic angiography disclosed a large IPSVS in the right hepatic lobe. Retrospective evaluation of CT showed that the size of this shunt had increased over the 5 years 3D anatomic analysis was carried out, and the shunt vessels were clearly demonstrated. CONCLUSION: 3D anatomic analysis using helical CT was less invasive and useful for evaluating large IPSVS.

Superficial location of malignant glioma with heavily lipidized (foamy) tumor cells: a case report.

A case of malignant glioma, localized superficially in the cerebrum and composed of heavily lipidized tumor cells, is described. Microscopically, the lipid-laden tumor cells were GFAP-positive and exhibited marked cellular and nuclear pleomorphism. In the present case the tumor was superficially located in the cerebral hemisphere, as opposed to the usual deep localization described by Kepes and Rubinstein, and others.

Paraventricular nucleus lesions attenuate the development of hypertension in DOCA/salt-treated rats.

To determine whether paraventricular nucleus (PVN) can play a role in the hypertension in DOCA/salt-treated rats, DOCA/salt hypertension was produced in PVN lesions and sham-operated rats. In lesioned rats, the development of hypertension was significantly attenuated (day 7: 132 +/- 3 v 157 +/- 5 mm Hg, P less than 0.01; day 14: 132 +/- 3 v 157 +/- 5 mm Hg, P less than 0.01; day 21: 189 +/- 2 v 224 +2- 6 mm Hg, P less than 0.01). Lesions lowered systolic blood pressure in even control rats. Mean blood pressure (mBP) from awake free moving rats was also significantly lower in lesioned DOCA/salt-treated rats than those of sham-operated DOCA/salt-treated rats (155 +/- 14 mm Hg v 193 +/- 13, P less than 0.01), while mBP was not different between lesioned and sham-operated control rats. The reduction of mBP by hexamethonium injections was significantly larger in sham-operated DOCA/salt-treated rats than those of lesioned DOCA/salt rats. (-53 +/- 3% v -45 +/- 2, P less than 0.05). Plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine were significantly elevated in DOCA/salt-treated rats, however, PVN lesions inhibited significantly those elevations. 1-Deaminopenicillamine, 4-valine, 8-D-arginine Vasopressin (dPVDAVP) injections did not affect BP and heart rate in all rats. Body weight, water intake, urine volume, urine Na, K, and vasopressin excretion, and urine osmorality were not altered by lesions. These findings suggest that PVN contributes to development of hypertension in DOCA/salt-treated rats with sympathetic nervous activations.

Effects of cimetidine on lidocaine distribution in rats.

The effects of cimetidine on the disappearance from plasma, plasma protein binding, tissue distribution, tissue binding in vitro and uptake by erythrocytes of lidocaine were studied in rats. The plasma disappearance of lidocaine after a 10 mg/kg bolus injection was analyzed by a two-compartment open model. In the cimetidine-treated rats (50 mg/kg bolus injection, the plasma total body clearance (Cltot), the volume of distribution at the steady state (Vdss) and the elimination rate constant of the central compartment (kel) of lidocaine decreased by 27, 28 and 32% of those of the non-treated rats, respectively. The plasma concentration of lidocaine at the steady state, after a loading dose (7.62 mg/kg body weight) followed by an infusion (0.16 mg/min/kg), increased from 1.62 to 2.69 micrograms/ml after cimetidine treatment. The tissue-to-plasma concentration ratio (Kp) in spleen, stomach and skin decreased to 64, 62 and 62% of the values of the non-treated rats. In addition, the blood-to-plasma concentration ratio (Rb) decreased by 26% in cimetidine-treated rats. In vitro tissue-to-plasma concentration ratios (Kp, vitro) of lidocaine in spleen, stomach and skin homogenate were decreased to 58, 45 and 68% by cimetidine treatment. In these tissues, the percentage decreases of Kp, vitro agreed with those of Kp determined in vivo. The decrease of Kp by cimetidine treatment may be due to the inhibition of tissue binding of lidocaine. The uptake of lidocaine by erythrocytes was decreased by cimetidine treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Regional renogram and functional imaging with I-123-orthoiodohippurate in obstructive nephropathy].

Renal scintigraphy and regional renography using I-123- orthoiodohippurate were performed in 26 cases of obstructive nephropathy. After 1 mCi of I-123- orthoiodohippurate was given intravenously, serial renal scintigrams were obtained for 25 minutes and regional renogram curves were derived from the whole kidney, the cortical and pelvic areas. At the same time, renal functional images with Tmax as the peak arrival time were processed. Tmax in normal cases ranged from 2 to 3 minutes in the cortex and from 4 to 5 minutes in the pelvis, while there was some delay in Tmax in the obstructive nephropathy. In the case of acute ureteral obstruction by stones, most of the regional renograms in the cortex and pelvis improved soon after the removal of the obstruction. On the contrary, in the case of chronic obstructive nephropathy obstructive patterns on renogram curves was usually observed postoperatively. However, in some cases, functional images in cortical and/or pelvic areas showed marked recovery before improvement of findings on renograms or IVP. I-123- orthoiodohippurate renoscintigraphy is a useful adjunct for assessing pre- and post-operative renal function in obstructive nephropathy. Particularly, the analysis of regional renogram curves enables early prediction of postoperative recovery, and the functional image enables early detection of the functional recovery of the hydronephrotic kidney.