[Rare localization of a glomus tumor in the knee]. / Rara localizzazione di tumore glomico nel ginocchio.

The glomus tumor, characterized by the classic trio of tumefaction, acute pain on palpation, and sensitivity to cold, is localized most commonly in the hand and quite rarely in the knee. It occurs most frequently in subjects between the ages of 20 and 40, and its cause is unknown. Masson divided glomus tumors into 4 main types: angiomatous, stromal, nervous, and myxoid, according to the histo-pathological features present. The authors believe that the histological appearance may be affected by the functional phase of the tumor at the moment of surgery: with sphincters closed, meaning very little dilatation of the venous collection areas, or with sphincters open, meaning considerable dilatation of the venous collection areas due to increased hematic flow.

[Antero-lateral laxity or a combination of anterior and postero-lateral laxity? Therapeutic considerations]. / Lassità antero-laterale o combinata anteriore e postero-laterale? Considerazioni terapeutiche.

The study involves a group of patients affected with inveterate lesion of the A.C.L. for at least 18 months. Homogeneous two-staged surgical treatment was carried out: 1) reconstruction of the A.C.L. according to Kenneth-Jones; 2) retention of the popliteus according to Bousquet. Results were: excellent: 18; good: 10; fair: 2. Follow-up was obtained after an average of 18 months.

A genetic study of neostriatal cholinergic neurones in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.

In the present study Butcher's pharmaco-histochemical technique for acetylcholinesterase has been employed for a morphometrical analysis of striatal cholinergic neurones in crossbred C57BL/6 x DBA/2 F1 mice. The general organization of neostriatal cholinergic systems in hybrid mice was similar to that of parent strains. However, as shown by morphometry, the size of neostriatum in hybrids was larger than that of both parental strains, and the density of striatal cholinergic neurones was significantly lower than that of DBA/2 mice, being close to that of the C57BL/6 strain. The present data indicate that a reduced number of striatal cholinergic neurones is inherited as a dominant trait by these hybrid mice.

Quantitative pharmacohistochemistry of acetylcholinesterase in neostriatum of inbred strains of mice.

A quantitative pharmacohistochemical technique has been used in the present study to assay acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the neostriatum of C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice. This technique permits the measurement of enzyme activity into microscopically defined compartments and is suitable for the study of striatal AChE-containing, putatively cholinergic, neurons. Microphotometric measurements have been performed in the cytoplasm of AChE-containing perikarya and in the striatal matrix: in both compartments, AChE activity was significantly higher in DBA/2 than in C57BL/6 mice. The present data show that AChE quantitative pharmacohistochemistry is suitable for studying the enzyme activity in nervous tissue and, particularly, in the cytoplasm of individual AChE-containing neurons. In addition, interstrain comparison indicates the presence of a genetically determined higher AChE content in striatal neurons of the DBA/2 strain.

A comparative study of mossy fiber distribution in the brain of the precocial Acomys cahirinus and of the altricial Rattus norvegicus: neuroanatomical bases and behavioral correlates.

Acomys cahirinus, the spiny mouse, is the only precocial murid. Given the relatively advanced state of neural maturation at birth, this species is therefore of interest for comparative studies of brain and behavioural development. Previous work on this species has indicated that (i) hippocampal thickness (relative to body weight) is greater in adult Acomys than in rats and mice; (ii) the hippocampus appears laminated at birth, unlike that of related altricial species; (iii) the degree of olfactory bulb maturation at birth is greater in Acomys than in gerbils or rats. In the study reported, the distribution of hippocampal mossy fibers of Acomys was compared with that of Rattus norvegicus, in order to extend our earlier findings. In addition, the implied involvement of hippocampal mossy fibers in olfaction suggests a relation to our studies of exploratory behaviour in this species.

Histochemical demonstration of heavy metals in the reptilian archicortex.

The topographic distribution of heavy metals has been studied in the reptilian brain by means of Timm's sulphide silver method. Timm-positive histochemical reaction was detected in the archicortex and in the septum. In the first region, the staining pattern yielded evidence of cortical layering and the distribution of mossy fiber terminals. In the septum, uneven distribution of histochemical staining permitted identification of different functional territories. These data show that the reptilian archicortex is in many ways homologous to the mammalian hippocampus and fascia dentata, and also indicate that it undergoes significant remodeling during evolution.

Strain-dependent variations in the number of forebrain cholinergic neurons.

The morphological organization of putatively cholinergic neurons was studied in the forebrain of two inbred mouse strains (C57BL/6 and DBA/2) by means of acetylcholinesterase pharmacohistochemistry. In both strains, putatively cholinergic perikarya were seen in the caudato-putamen, medial septum, diagonal band, and basal nucleus of Meynert: in all these regions, their distribution was similar in both strains, but their density was significantly higher (from 20 to 32%) in DBA/2 mice. The present data demonstrate the existence of genetically determined differences in the organization of forebrain cholinergic systems.