Is the cultural context of MMR rejection a key to an effective public health discourse?

OBJECTIVES: (1) To explore the social and cultural influences, and health beliefs associated with low uptake of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine). (2) To describe and explore the prevalence of health beliefs associated with non-compliance with MMR, with a view to improving the personal relevance and impact of information for parents, in the context of persisting low uptake following public controversy. METHODS: We undertook a survey of mothers' experiences of and attitudes to the MMR, developed through ethnographic study, which was linked to maternal and child information on the Child Health Database in Brighton, England. RESULTS: Mothers interpret MMR risk through concepts of child health embedded in family health history, with a majority both of compliers and non-compliers holding that each child's immune system is unique. Cultural 'risk factors' for non-compliance relate strongly to the use of complementary healthcare, such as homeopathy, with evidence that rejection of vitamin K is associated with MMR non-compliance. Forty per cent, both of compliers and non-compliers, did not consider the possible benefits to other children of MMR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have paradoxical and challenging consequences for the promotion of immunization in the policy context of increasing emphasis on healthy choices. They demonstrate the need for immunization information that acknowledges and addresses lay concepts of immunity.

Further studies of elevated cerebrospinal fluid neuronal cell adhesion molecule in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of the present study were to attempt to replicate a previous finding of increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neuronal cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) in schizophrenia, and to assess whether the increases could be related to medication, clinical state effects, or brain structural measures. METHODS: CSF N-CAM was measured by the Western blot technique in 45 DSM-III-R diagnosed male schizophrenic patients both on and off haloperidol treatment and in 20 healthy male control subjects. RESULTS: CSF N-CAM was significantly increased in schizophrenic patients, with no overlap in the ranges, when compared to controls. There were no significant effects of medication or exacerbation on CSF N-CAM. No associations with measures of brain structure were found. CONCLUSIONS: Because N-CAM levels were not shown to be different on and off treatment or in exacerbated versus nonexacerbated patients, the higher levels seen in schizophrenic patients may be inherent to the disorder and possibly related to neurodevelopment.

N18-RE-105 cells: differentiation and activation of p53 in response to glutamate and adriamycin is blocked by SV40 large T antigen tsA58.

Process extension was induced in cells of the N18-RE-105 neuroblastoma-retinal hybrid line by toxic agents, including glutamate and the p53-inducing anticancer agents adriamycin and etoposide. Both adriamycin and glutamate activated p53 as measured by a plasmid transfection assay. It was therefore hypothesized that SV40 large T antigen, which binds p53, would interfere with cellular differentiation. To test this hypothesis, the temperature-sensitive form of SV40 large T was transduced into N18-RE-105 cells by retroviral infection. SV40 large T-infected cells became de-differentiated, grew in tightly-packed colonies, lost expression of neurofilament, and lost the ability to differentiate in response to glutamate and adriamycin. The de-differentiating effect of SV40 large T antigen may be due to binding and inactivation of cellular proteins, such as p53, p107, p130, p300, and retinoblastoma protein, which are important in cellular growth and differentiation. It is suggested that p53 may play a role in cellular differentiation, perhaps under unusual circumstances involving stress or cytotoxicity.

Intracerebroventricular transplantation of embryonic neuronal tissue from inflammatory resistant into inflammatory susceptible rats suppresses specific components of inflammation.

To more directly define the role of central nervous system factors in susceptibility to peripheral inflammatory disease, we examined the effect of intracerebroventricular transplantation of neuronal tissue from inflammatory resistant into inflammatory susceptible rats on subcutaneous carrageenan-induced inflammation (a measure of innate immunity), and on the relative percentage of naive and memory T helper cells in peripheral blood (a measure of the anamnestic immune response). Female inflammatory disease susceptible Lewis (LEW/N) rats transplanted with hypothalamic tissue from inflammatory resistant Fischer (F344/N) rats exhibited > 85% decrease in carrageenan inflammation compared to naive LEW/N rats, LEW/N rats transplanted with F344/N spinal cord, or sham-operated animals. LEW/N rats transplanted with LEW/N hypothalamic tissue exhibited > 50% decrease in carrageenan inflammation. In contrast, intracerebroventricular transplantation of neuronal tissue did not affect the characteristically twofold higher percentage of naive versus memory T helper cells in LEW/N rats, suggesting that the central nervous system (CNS) and hypothalamus play a greater role in the innate inflammatory response than in the acquired immune processes. Grafted tissue survived well and did not show extensive gliosis or inflammation. Compared to naive LEW/N rats, LEW/N rats transplanted with F344/N or LEW/N hypothalamic tissue expressed significantly greater hypothalamic corticotropin releasing hormone mRNA. LEW/N rats transplanted with F344/N hypothalamic tissue also showed significant increases in plasma corticosterone responses to lipopolysaccharide. These data indicate that intracerebroventricular transplantation of fetal hypothalamic tissue from inflammatory resistant into inflammatory susceptible rats suppresses peripheral inflammation partially through hypothalamic factors. These findings have implications for understanding the contribution of specific neuronal tissue in regulation of components of the immune/inflammatory response and in susceptibility to inflammatory disease. Furthermore, this model could be used in the development of potential new treatments for inflammatory/autoimmune diseases aimed specifically at sites within the CNS.

Monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia are discordant for N-CAM and L1 in CSF.

While schizophrenia has a genetic component, its pathogenesis is unknown. Abnormal concentrations of two cell recognition molecules (CRMs), neural-cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) and L1 antigen have been described in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with schizophrenia. Studies of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia may help separate genetic and environmental contributions to the disease. In the present study of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia, the affected twins had increased N-CAM and decreased L1 antigen in their CSF. Non-affected twins were not different from normals. Although processes related to genetic instability cannot be entirely ruled out, these results suggest that these abnormalities are not a part of the genetic predisposition to become schizophrenic. Thus the changes in N-CAM and L1 antigen may reflect either the events which precipitated the onset of schizophrenia, or events which are associated with the experience of having the disease.

Changes in L1 antigen expression in the rat striatum after substantia nigra lesions.

L1 antigen promotes neurite outgrowth from dopaminergic neurons in tissue culture. In the present study, we examined the effects of dopaminergic deafferentation of the striatum on L1 expression. In the medial-periventricular part of the striatum, both complete and partial substantia nigra (SN) lesions decreased L1 expression. Complete lesions increased L1 expression in the dorso-medial and ventro-lateral parts of the striatum on the lesioned side when compared with that on the non-lesioned side. The decrease in the ventro-lateral area was maintained in animals examined three months after the lesioning. Animals with partial SN lesions showed a different pattern of altered L1 expression. After frontal cortex lesions, changes in L1 expression also occur preferentially in the dorso-medial and periventricular striatum. Therefore, the results indicate a complex regulation of L1 expression after damage of striatal circuitry, manifested by a preferential occurrence of changes in periventricular regions.

In vitro properties of a newly established medulloblastoma cell line, MCD-1.

Medulloblastomas are poorly differentiated brain tumors believed to arise from primitive pleuripotential stem cells, and tend to express mixed neuronal and glial properties. In the present study, we examined immunohistochemical and neurotransmitter phenotypic properties in a newly established medulloblastoma cell line, MCD-1. MCD-1 cells were immortal, not contact-inhibited, but did not grow in soft agar. Immunohistochemical studies showed positive staining for neurofilament protein (NF), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin, MAP 2, tau, NCAM 180, vimentin, and S-100 protein. The cells expressed specific uptake of glutamate, serotonin, and choline, but not GABA or dopamine. A significant increase in process extension was seen in response to agents that enhance intracellular cyclic AMP, especially 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Process formation induced by IBMX was associated with a decrease in cell proliferation as evidenced by a reduction in numbers of cells incorporating 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU). No increase in process extension was observed following exposure to NGF or retinoic acid. MCD-1 cells were shown to produce transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), and were immunopositive for mutant p53. Transfection assays with the PG13-Luc reporter plasmid, which contains a p53-responsive enhancer element and a luciferase reporter gene, suggested MCD-1 cells are deficient in wild-type p53 and do not activate p53 on treatment with the anticancer agent adriamycin. The MCD-1 cell line is suggested to represent an abnormally differentiated cell type, which has some properties consistent with a multipotent neuronal phenotype while retaining some properties of immature cells of a glial lineage. The MCD-1 cell line can be used to provide a model of a medulloblastoma cell line that is resistant to growth-controlling and anticancer agents.

Constitutive expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) by striatal cell lines immortalized using the tsA58 allele of the SV40 large T antigen.

Rodent striatal cells were immortalized using the A58 temperature-sensitive allele of the SV40 large T antigen. Seventy-eight clones and 10 mixed cultures were characterized at the nonpermissive and permissive temperatures. Based on morphology and expression of proteins, cells were classified into three primary types, with types b and c expressing some neuronal characteristics. Type a cells have an epithelial-like morphology with coarse cytoplasmic extensions and occasional fine processes. These cells express vimentin, do not grow well under serum-free conditions and, when confluent, form a uniform monolayer. Type b cells have a polygonal shape and usually extend multiple thin processes. These cells possess large nuclei with multiple nucleoli and do not express vimentin. Type c cells have a fibroblast-like appearance, are unipolar or multipolar, and their soma is smaller than that of type b cells. Type c cells do not express vimentin, and when confluent form a uniform monolayer. Some type b and c clones express N-CAM and MAP-2. Several type b and c cell lines were found to consistently express glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) immunoreactivity under several tissue culture conditions. Selected cell lines were transplanted into the intact adult rat brain in several locations. Cells survived well for 15 wk and did not form tumors. The proteins expressed in vivo were similar to those expressed in vitro.

Increased neural cell adhesion molecule in the CSF of patients with mood disorder.

Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) is involved in cell-cell interactions during synaptogenesis, morphogenesis, and plasticity of the nervous system. Disturbances in synaptic restructuring and neural plasticity may be related to the pathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric diseases, including mood disorders and schizophrenia. Disturbances in brain cellular function may alter concentrations of N-CAM in the CSF. Soluble human N-CAM proteins are detectable in the CSF but are minor constituents of serum. We have recently found an increase in N-CAM content in the CSF of patients with schizophrenia. Although the pathogenesis of both schizophrenia and mood disorders is unknown, ventriculomegaly, decreased temporal lobe volume, and subcortical structural abnormalities have been reported for both disorders. We have therefore measured N-CAM concentrations in the CSF of patients with mood disorder. There were significant increases in amounts of N-CAM immunoreactive proteins, primarily the 120-kDa band, in the CSF of psychiatric inpatients with bipolar mood disorder type I and recurrent unipolar major depression. There were no differences in bipolar mood disorder type II patients as compared with normals. There were no significant effects of medication treatment on N-CAM concentrations. It is possible that the 120-kDa N-CAM band present in the CSF is derived from CNS cells as a secreted soluble N-CAM isoform. Our results suggest the possibility of latent state-related disturbances in N-CAM cellular function, i.e., residue from a previous episode, or abnormal N-CAM turnover in the CNS of patients with mood disorder.

Intracerebroventricularly transplanted embryonic neuronal tissue from inflammatory-resistant F344/N rats decreases acoustic startle responses in inflammatory-susceptible LEW/N rats.

Recently, we have shown that intracerebral transplantation of fetal F344/N hypothalamic tissue into LEW/N rats converts the LEW/N inflammatory-susceptible phenotype into an inflammatory-resistant phenotype in LEW/N hosts. Because LEW/N rats also exhibit relatively high acoustic startle responses (ASRs) compared to F344/N rats, in the present study we examined the effects on ASR of transplantation of F344/N hypothalamic tissue into the third ventricle of LEW/N rats. Dissected neuronal tissue from F344/N rats (Day E15-16) was implanted into the third ventricle of LEW/N rats. After 4 wk of postoperative survival, the animals' responses to acoustic startle stimuli were tested. Compared to naive and sham-operated animals, LEW/N rats transplanted with hypothalamic tissue exhibited significant decreases in ASR amplitudes. A similar decrease in ASR amplitude was observed in the group of LEW/N rats transplanted with embryonic striatal tissue. Our results indicate that the third ventricular neuronal grafts may modulate behavioral responses in the LEW/N rats. Although the mechanism of this effect is unknown, these studies suggest that intracerebral neuronal transplantation is a viable method with which to explore mechanisms of behavioral, neuroendocrine, and inflammatory response associations.

Disturbances in cell recognition molecules (N-CAM and L1 antigen) in the CSF of patients with schizophrenia.

Although the pathogenesis of schizophrenia is unknown, there are data which indicate that the disease may be due to neurodevelopmental disturbances. Cell recognition molecules such as N-CAM and L1 antigen are involved in cell-cell interactions during development and in plasticity of the nervous system and could therefore be altered in relation to ongoing or established pathological processes. Using the Western blot technique, we found significant increases in N-CAM immunoreactive proteins and decreases in L1 antigen in the CSF of schizophrenic patients as compared to normal controls. The decrease in L1 antigen was observed in the 140-kDa band, and N-CAM was increased only in the 120-kDa band. The 120-kDa band of N-CAM and the 140-kDa band of L1 antigen were prominent components of CSF, but in serum these bands were minor or not detectable. Neuroleptic treatment did not significantly change either N-CAM or L1 antigen concentrations in CSF. It is possible that these CSF proteins are derived from CNS cells as secreted soluble N-CAM isoforms and L1 peptides. Our results suggest the possibility of a specific pattern of abnormal cellular function in the CNS in schizophrenia.

Localization of gliosis in the corpus striatum of mice following cortical lesions.

Localized lesions of the medial and lateral frontal cortex were used to study gliosis, neurofilament content and changes in synaptic density in the mouse striatum. Relationships between the sites of cortical lesions and the localization of changes in different regions of the striatum were examined after 3 and 12 weeks. Independent of the location of frontal cortex lesions, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity was increased throughout the entire striatum after 3 weeks. Twelve weeks after lesioning, increases in GFAP were confined to the dorsomedial (DM) striatum following medial cortical lesions, and to the dorsolateral (DL) striatum following lateral cortical lesions, suggesting persistent gliosis only in areas of striatal deafferentation. It appears, therefore, that the mechanisms which induce gliosis after short and long time periods are different.

Immunological reactions following intracerebroventricular transplantation of adrenal medulla.

Immunological reactions after intracerebroventricular syn-, allo- and xenogenic transplantation of adrenal medulla were investigated histologically. In xenografts only, T cell infiltration and graft rejection were observed. Syngrafts and allografts were not rejected and were not infiltrated by T cells, although expression of MHC class II antigen was observed at all survival times. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I immunoreactivity was strongly expressed in adrenal cortex syngrafts, which could play a role in the rejection of grafts containing mixed cell populations. The survival of chromaffin cells in allografts was decreased as compared to syngrafts, and there were fewer allograft animals with large numbers of surviving chromaffin cells. There was some increased cellularity (microglia and macrophages) in allografts even though no T cell infiltration was found. Therefore, it appears that this limited survival of intracerebral adrenal medulla allografts is not due to T cell-mediated graft rejection.

Immortalized GABAergic cell lines derived from rat striatum using a temperature-sensitive allele of the SV40 large T antigen.

Embryonic striatal cells were immortalized using the A58 temperature-sensitive allele of the SV40 large T antigen. Two cell lines, M213-2O and M26-1F, with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic properties were selected from 85 clones thus developed. M213-2O is a multipolar, polygonal cell line which expresses SV40 large T antigen and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) at the permissive temperature (33 degrees C) and GAD and MAP-2 immunoreactivity at the nonpermissive temperature (39.3 degrees C). M26-1F has a fibroblast-like morphology and expresses SV40 large T antigen and GAD both at the permissive and nonpermissive temperatures and MAP-2 immunoreactivity at the nonpermissive temperature. Both lines contain GABA as measured by reversed-phase HPLC and M213-2O expresses nipecotic-sensitive [14C]GABA uptake.

Degradation fragments of L1 antigen enhance tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurite outgrowth in mesencephalic cell culture.

The L1 antigen has been implicated in adhesion events controlling axonal elongation during formation of major fiber tracts, and promotes neurite outgrowth in culture. It is possible that injury of brain tissue causes neuronal surface molecules such as L1 antigen to be shed, and degradation fragments may therefore be present adjacent to the damage. These L1 fragments might then influence regeneration or injury-induced growth. We have evaluated neurite outgrowth from tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH +) E13 mesencephalic neurons grown in vitro on a substrate of mouse L1 antigen and on L1 degradation fragments separated by molecular weight. Mouse myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), laminin, poly-D-lysine, and fetal calf serum served as control substrates. L1 antibodies were added to one set of cultures (experimental), and compared to control cultures containing normal rabbit serum. After 3 days in vitro, the cultures were stained using an antibody against TH, and the length of the TH + neurites was measured by computer-assisted image analysis in a double-blind fashion. TH+ neurites were significantly longer when grown on L1 antigen, as well as on L1 degradation fragments, as compared to the control substrates. As compared to control normal rabbit serum, L1 antibodies eliminated the neurite-promoting effect of both the L1 substrate and the L1 degradation products. In addition, L1 substrates promoted clustering of TH + cells and the formation of loose bundles of TH + neurites. It is suggested that the L1 substrates influence TH-immunoreactive neurite outgrowth, at least partially, through indirect effects on glial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Certain host-donor strain combinations do not reject brain allografts after systemic sensitization.

To investigate the factors related to allogenic brain graft rejection, rat cortex from either LEW-RT1l or BN-RT1n rats was transplanted into brains of several isogenic and allogenic inbred strains: F344-RT1l, LEW-RT1l, BN-RT1n, AO-RT1u, PVG-RT1c, PVG-RT1u, and PVG-RT1l. Each donor and host combination was subsequently subdivided into two subgroups. One group was systematically sensitized twice with donor skin tissue and another group served as a sham-sensitization control. Four weeks after the second sensitization, host brains were examined histologically, and the percentage volume of each graft that showed increased cellularity was estimated. Expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and T cell antigens was also studied immunocytochemically. Almost all grafts in sham-sensitized animals from all groups were accepted with minimal or no reaction. However, two strains (AO-RT1u and F344-RT1l) showed considerable cell infiltration and expression of MHC antigens even without sensitization. After sensitization, almost all allogenic strain combinations showed greater signs of rejection-related responses. The severity of the tissue reaction, however, varied considerably between groups. All grafts from BN-RT1n donors were rejected severely in all host strains. For LEW-RT1l donors, grafts survived well in some host strains (BN-RT1n, AO-RT1u, PVG-RT1c, and PVG-RT1u), even with MHC + non-MHC disparity. Curiously, F344-RT1l hosts rejected LEW-RT1l grafts even though the two strains have the same MHC loci, but different minor histocompatibility (mH) loci. For both donor strains, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-susceptible hosts tended to show more vigorous rejection responses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of frontal cortical lesions on mouse striatum: reorganization of cell recognition molecule, glial fiber, and synaptic protein expression in the dorsomedial striatum.

Brain injury induces trophic effects within adjacent tissue through an unknown molecular mechanism. One model of this lesion effect involves the enhanced outgrowth of neuronal processes from transplanted substantia nigra in animals with cerebral cortex lesions. Since cell recognition molecules are involved in the molecular mechanisms of contact between cells and surrounding extracellular matrix components, and are important in plasticity of the nervous system, we investigated changes in L1, N-CAM, and tenascin, as well as synapse-associated proteins and gliosis, in the striatum of mice with cortical lesions. The removal of somato-sensory and motor cortex would be expected to produce changes predominantly in the dorsal striatum. Lesioned mice, however, showed a significant enhancement of both L1 and N-CAM immunostaining intensity only within the most medial-periventricular and dorsomedial parts of the striatum, as compared to the nonlesioned side. Tenascin expression was significantly decreased, but only in the most medial part of the striatum. The changes in intensity of immunostaining with L1, N-CAM, and tenascin did not diminish with time after lesioning. These changes in cell recognition molecule expression indicate a possible molecular basis of lesion-induced plasticity in neuronal circuits within the dorsomedial striatum. These changes were accompanied by decreased synapsin and synaptophysin expression, but without any significant change in neurofilament expression. In contrast, glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin immunoreactivities were increased in almost the entire striatum on the lesioned side. Therefore, the areas of changes in cell recognition molecule expression did not simply correlate to the increased astrogliosis or neuronal fiber damage. We postulate that the periventricular dorsomedial striatum is relatively sensitive to disturbances of corticostriatonigral circuits and, simultaneously, this striatal area has a unique ability to support and promote neurite growth.

Effects of adrenal medulla grafts on plasma catecholamines and rotational behavior.

The mechanisms by which adrenal medulla grafts influence the function of host brains in animal models of Parkinson's disease are unclear. To explore this issue, fragments of adrenal medulla or sciatic nerve were transplanted into the lateral ventricle of bilaterally adrenalectomized (ADX) or sham-ADX rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra. Additional control group received sham-transplantation surgery. Behavioral effects of these procedures were tested following administration of apomorphine, amphetamine, or nicotine. Plasma catecholamines were measured before and after transplantation surgery. In both ADX and sham-ADX rats, adrenal medulla grafts produced greater decreases in apomorphine-induced rotational behavior than did sciatic nerve grafts or sham-transplanted groups. Decreases in rotation were smaller in ADX than in sham-ADX animals, regardless of graft treatment. Plasma catecholamines increased after transplantation surgery in each of the sham-ADX groups, regardless of graft type. Increases in plasma dopamine concentrations were associated with decreases in rotational behavior. Five months after transplantation, grafted chromaffin cells demonstrated catecholamine fluorescence, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and chromogranin A immunoreactivities, and expression of TH mRNA. It is concluded that adrenal medulla grafts produce decreases in apomorphine-induced rotation through a combination of two independent effects. One is a specific effect of adrenal medulla grafts. The second is a nonspecific effect that requires an intact adrenal gland and may be related to increases in plasma catecholamine concentrations.

L1 substrate enhances outgrowth of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurites in mesencephalic cell culture.

We have evaluated neurite outgrowth from mesencephalic tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons grown in vitro on different substrates. Cultures of ventral mesencephalon from rat embryos (E13) were plated on plastic dishes coated with the following substrates: L1, L2/HNK-1 "residual" (mainly J1/160 but also tenascin), MAG antigens from mouse brains, laminin, fibronectin, poly-L-lysine, RGD peptide, and plastic alone. After 3, 4, and 6 days in vitro, the cultures were stained using an antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and the length of TH-positive neurites was measured by computer-assisted image analysis in a double-blind fashion. L1 antigen had a significant positive effect on neurite outgrowth compared to the other substrates studied. Laminin and fibronectin were also favorable substrates. In cultures treated with cytosine arabinoside to prevent mitoses and glial proliferation, the positive effect of L1 was abolished, but laminin still had a stimulatory effect. These data indicate that L1 may be indirectly involved in differentiation or axonal elongation of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons and suggest a complex effect involving both neurons and glia on dopaminergic neurite development.

Human cortical neuronal cell line (HCN-1): further in vitro characterization and suitability for brain transplantation.

The human neuronal cell-1 (HCN-1) line has recently been established. Under favorable conditions, these cells differentiate into mature neuronal phenotypes. Here we report on further characterization of these cells. Cultured HCN-1 cells express fibronectin immunoreactivity and grow well on fibronectin substrate but do not respond to human bFGF. In the undifferentiated state, some HCN-1 cells show MHC class I antigen expression. After differentiation, HCN-1 cells and their processes are MHC class I negative. On the other hand, interferon-gamma stimulation enhances MHC class I expression but does not induce MHC class II immunoreactivity. Our in vitro data indicate that HCN-1 cells express mixed characteristics, including both neuronal and mesenchymal markers, and are consistent with the suggestion that the HCN-1 cell line resembles an immature neuroepithelial cell precursor with a complex origin. One possible application of the use of the HCN-1 cells includes intracerebral transplantation. We also examined the survival of dissociated HCN-1 cells implanted into rat brain parenchyma. The host animals were not immunosuppressed. Despite expression of MHC class I antigens, small clusters of HCN-1 cells survived in the rat brain. These xenografts did not induce distinct immunological responses within the host brain tissue. Surviving HCN-1 cells demonstrated similar features to those observed in culture. Our preliminary results suggest that the HCN-1 cell line would be suitable for intracerebral transplantation in primates or humans. However, it may be that short-term host immunosuppression or addition of HCN-1 cell differentiation factors would be beneficial for enhanced cell survival.