Effect of intracerebral injection of chlorpromazine and diazepam on acid phosphatase activity in the mouse brain.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) administration resulted in an increase in acid phosphatase (AcP) activity in the lamina VI of the neocortex, pyramidal cell layer, granular cell layer and hilus of the hippocampal formation. Diazepam (DZ) administration also induced an increase in AcP activity in the lamina VI of the neocortex and in the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampal formation. The large-sized pyramidal cells of the hippocampal formation indicated a more prominent and continuous reaction in the cell processes during the administration of CPZ and DZ. The possible role of CPZ and DZ has been discussed in relation to the AcP activity in the regions studied.

Comparative distribution of acid phosphatase and simple esterase in the mouse neocortex and hippocampal formation.

The present study deals with the detailed distribution of acid phosphatase (AcP) and simple esterase (SE) in different layers of the neocortex and hippocampal formation of the mouse brain. The neurons, in general, had moderate to intense enzyme activity for AcP and mild to moderate activity for SE. The AcP activity dominated in the neuronal population as compared to the neuropil; the neuropil stained mildly for SE. The large pyramidal cells in the neocortex and cornu ammonis, and the granular cell layer of the gyrus dentatus, demonstrated strong enzyme activity both in AcP and SE preparations. The role of AcP and SE has been discussed in relation to various structures of the neocortex and hippocampal formation.

Controlled trial of rice powder and glucose rehydration solutions as oral therapy for acute dehydrating diarrhea in infants.

A controlled, randomized trial was conducted in 50 infants (3 to 18 months old) hospitalized with acute noncholera dehydrating diarrhea to compare the safety, efficacy, and acceptability of the standard World Health Organization (WHO) recommended glucose oral rehydration solution (ORS) (Group A: 25 infants) with that of a rice powder ORS (Group B: 25 infants), containing 30 g/L of rice powder instead of glucose (20 g/L). The electrolyte composition of both solutions was identical. The proportion of successfully treated patients in each group was 92%, and the two rehydrating solutions proved comparable in correcting and maintaining the hydration status and the serum sodium and potassium levels. The mean rehydration time, stool output, stool frequency, ORS intake, weight gain, and urine output were comparable (p greater than 0.05) in both groups. It is concluded that rice powder ORS is safe, effective, and acceptable as the standard WHO glucose ORS for the treatment of acute noncholera dehydrating diarrhea in infants.

Glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein in vertebrates: immunofluorescence and immunoblotting study with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.

We report a comparative immunofluorescence and immunoblotting study of GFA protein, the subunit of glial filaments, in nonmammalian vertebrates. The study was conducted with polyclonal antibodies raised to human and shark antigen and with monoclonal antibodies isolated from mice immunized with chicken and bovine antigen. With the exception of cyclostomes, glial filaments appeared remarkably conserved in vertebrate phylogeny, both with respect to the molecular weight and immunoreactivity of their protein subunit. In most species, the antibodies decorated a single band in brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve extracts by the immunoblotting procedure. This band had the same molecular weight in the different CNS regions. With the exception of the turtle, species differences in the molecular weight of the band were not greater than those observed among mammalian vertebrates (human, bovine, and rat). However, there were some exceptional findings in fish. In goldfish and trout brain and spinal cord extracts, the antibodies decorated with the same intensity two bands. In accordance with previous immunofluorescence findings, goldfish optic nerve extracts were negative by the immunoblotting procedure. In four fishes (sea bass, tautog, trout, and scup), optic nerves reacted with the antibodies. However, the band decorated by the antibodies was higher in molecular weight than that obtained from brain and spinal cord extracts. Glial fibers were demonstrated by immunofluorescence in the brain, spinal cord, optic nerve, and retina of most species studied. In amphibia immunofluorescent structures were comparatively few, probably accounting for the negative results by immunoblotting. A comparative immunohistological study of the cerebellum showed the presence of perpendicular glial fibers in the molecular layer of most species examined. Birds and amphibia were different in this respect. Bergmann glia in chicken were GFA negative. In the frog and the toad, immunofluorescent fibers in the molecular layer of the cerebellum were haphazardly oriented. Ependymal radial glia was GFA-negative in the cerebellum of subavian vertebrates. Antisera raised in rabbit to shark GFA protein reacted with the same bovine GFA fragments recognized by polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies raised to human and bovine antigens, respectively, i.e., 30-kDa N-bromosuccinimide fragment (tryptophan cleavage); 35-kDa 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid fragment (cysteine cleavage); 18-kDa cyanogen bromide fragment (methionine cleavage). Conversely, the chicken GFA monoclonal antibodies selected for this study only reacted with noncleaved protein.

Histochemical mapping of ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase in the telencephalon and diencephalon of mouse.

The paper deals with a detailed histochemical mapping of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and 5'-Nucleotidase (5'-N) in the telencephalon and diencephalon of mouse. The majority of brain matter nuclei demonstrated high activity for ATPase while, in contrast, only a few nuclei revealed high intensity of 5'-N. In general, the neuronal population dominated in ATPase activity as compared to the neuropil. The highest ATPase activity was observed in the cerebral cortex, nucleus caudatus-putamen, hippocampus, habenular complex and hypothalamus as compared to the thalamus, subthalamus and metathalamus. The motor dominating regions have indicated, invariably, intense ATPase activity than the sensory dominating or sensory-motor nuclei. The highest 5'-N activity was observed in nucleus caudatusputamen, globus pallidus, induseum griseum, nucleus amygdaloideus anterior, nucleus amygdaloideus centralis and nucleus accumbens. The heterogeneous distribution of 5'-N activity was observed in the different regions of hippocampus ranging from mild through moderate to very intense. The brain matter nuclei which dominated with the myelinated fibers demonstrated very intense 5'-N activity. The significance of ATPase and 5'-N has been discussed in relation to the nature of brain matter nuclei and fiber tracts.

The distributive pattern of beta-galactosidase in the forebrain and mid-brain of the mouse.

The present study demonstrates the distribution pattern of beta-galactosidase (BGL) in the forebrain and mid-brain of the mouse. Mild enzyme activity was observed in the neurons of the forebrain and mid-brain. Interestingly, strong enzyme activity in some nuclei was due to the presence of myelinated fibers. Most of the fiber tracts and commissures showed strong enzyme activity. The involvement of BGL in myelin metabolism is discussed.

Distributive patterns of 5'-nucleotidase and simple esterase in the diencephalon and mesencephalon of the garden lizard (Calotes versicolor).

Different enzymatic patterns of 5'-nucleotidase and simple esterase have been observed in the diencephalon and mesencephalon of the garden lizard, Calotes versicolor. Most of the brain centers have shown the enzyme activities, ranging from negligible through very strong, in the neurons and neuropil. However, two brain centers, the DLH and NM, were found negative to 5'-nucleotidase. On the other hand, no brain center showed negative picture in the preparations of simple esterase. In general, it has been observed that the enzyme activity dominates in the neurons than the neuropil both for 5'-nucleotidase and simple esterase. The major fiber tracts have shown mild reaction product of 5'-nucleotidase except a solitary fiber bundle, the lateral forebrain bundle, which demonstrated, invariably, strong to very strong enzyme activity; the commissura colliculi superioris was, however, negative for the enzyme activity. On contrary, most of the fiber tracts showed strong to very strong activity of simple esterase. The significance of the distributive patterns of the two enzymes in relation to various brain centers and fiber tracts has been discussed.

Chemoarchitectonics in a reptilian cerebral hemisphere--acid phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase.

Variations on the distribution of acid phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase were observed among the cerebral nuclei of the Uromastix hardwickii. Most of the nuclei revealed more intensely positive reaction for 5'-nucleotidase than the acid phosphatase. However, an identical enzymatic pattern, demonstrating intense activity for the two enzymes, was observed in the cortical centers excepting the primordial hippocampus. The possible causes of the intensity and the functions of the enzymes were established in relation to the nuclei and fiber bundles.

Distribution of beta-galactosidase in the cerebral hemisphere of Calotes versicolor.

The histoenzymological mapping of beta-galactosidase in various nuclei and fiber tracts of reptilian cerebral hemisphere (Calotes versicolor) has been reported for the first time. Almost all the enzymatic preparations demonstrate mild activity in the nuclei except one nucleus (HPD) which reveals intense activity. On the other hand, the fiber tracts, in view of the intense activity of the enzyme, have presented themselves as well delineated tracts along their entire courses so much so that in certain nuclei they can be clearly distinguished passing through the nuclei. The metabolic significance of the enzyme in various locales has been discussed.

Topographical distribution of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in the cerebral hemisphere of the garden lizard, Calotes versicolor.

Differential patterns of distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are observed in the cerebral nuclei and fiber tracts of Calotes versicolor. The majority of the nuclei reveal a positive reaction for AChE varying from moderate to intense. In contrast, almost all the nuclei are found negative to BChE, except for the area of the nucleus commissurae anterioris and of the paleostriatum where the positive activity is due to BChE positive fibers. The medial forebrain bundle demonstrates intense activity for AChE, while the lateral forebrain bundle and commissures present a negative picture. Interestingly, all the fiber bundles and commissures show an intense reaction for BChE. The nature of nuclei and fiber tracts in relation to the differential patterns of AChE and BChE is discussed.

Topographical distribution of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in the diencephalon and mesencephalon of the garden lizard (Calotes versicolor).

The present report incorporates the histochemical mapping of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) among the various nuclei and fiber tracts of the diencephalon and mesencephalon of Calotes veriscolor. The various nuclei, for both enzymes, present varying degrees of staining, ranging from negative nuclei, on the one hand, to mild and intense staining on the other hand. Almost all of the fiber tracts reveal intense activity in BChE preparations, while they demonstrate mild and moderate activities for AChE. The nature of the various nuclei in relation to enzymatic patterns is discussed.

Histoenzymological mapping of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in the diencephalon and mesencephalon of Uromastix hardwickii.

The paper deals with a detailed histochemical mapping of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in the diencephalon and mesencephalon of Uromastix hardwickii. In AChE in contrast to BChE preparations, most of the nuclei reveal intense activity Interestingly, the hypothalamic nuclei demonstrate positive reactions to AChE but totally negative reactions in BChE preparations. The enzymatic activity in fiber tracts is totally negative for AChE; on the contrary, it is intensely positive for BChE. Neurosecretory substance, in the hypothalamic region, is positive for the two preparations of the enzymes. The role of these enzymes, as related to the functional activities of the various nuclei and fiber tracts, has also been discussed.

Chemo-architectonic studies in a submammalian brain. Adenosine triphosphatase and simple esterase in the diencephalon and mesencephalon.

The present report deals with the histo-enzymological mapping of adenosine triphosphatase and simple esterase in the diencephalon and mesencephalon of Uromastix hardwickii. The enzymatic make-up, in both cases, does not differ markedly in the various nuclei; few variations, of course, occur in some midbrain areas like pretectal nuclei. The latter are intensely positive for ATPase, while these nuclei are moderate to simple esterase. Nevertheless, one of the most interesting results pertaining to simple esterase activity is of a high order in the fiber tracts in comparison to ATPase. The other interesting feature relates to the fact that generally intensely positive nuclei, in ATPase preparations, are those which have extensive efferent fibres. The metabolic significance of high degree of ATPase activity vis-a-vis extensive efferent connections has been exhaustively discussed, besides the possible significance of the general data obtained.

Histochemical mapping of ATPase and simple esterase in the cerebral hemisphere of the Indian lizard, Uromastix hardwickii.

Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and simple esterase (SE) have been mapped at various levels of the cerebral hemispheres of the lizard, Uromastix. Some areas were intensely positive for one or both enzymes while others were totally negative for both. Variation in enzymatic activity has been observed at different levels in the same nucleus. The functional significance of the findings is discussed.

Histoenzymological mapping of acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase in the diencephalic and mesencephalic centers of Uromastix hardwickii.

The study deals with the histoenzymological mapping of acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase in the various nuclei of diencephalon and mesencephalon of Uromastix hardwickii. Almost all the nuclei and the fiber tracts reveal positive activity, both for acid phosphatase and 5-nucleotidase, althouh the intensity of the enzymatic activity presents great variations. Acid phosphatase preparations have generally revealed moderate or mild activity. On the contrary, the 5-nucleotidase preparations demonstrate the activity of a higher order. For this enzyme beside the nuclei, the commissures and fore-brain bundles are seen equipped with very intense activity. On the other hand, the commissures and fore-brain pundles present moderate activity for acid phosphatase. An attempt has been made to discuss the significance of the distribution of the enzymes at various locales.