Effects of exercise after focal cerebral cortex infarction on basal ganglion.

Identification of functional molecules in the brain related to improvement of motor dysfunction after stroke will contribute to establish a new treatment strategy for stroke rehabilitation. Hence, monoamine changes in basal ganglion related to motor control were examined in groups with/without voluntary exercise after cerebral infarction. Cerebral infarction was produced by photothrombosis in rats. Voluntary exercise using a running wheel was initiated from 2 days after surgery. Motor performance was measured by the accelerated rotarod test. Monoamine concentrations in striatum were analyzed using HPLC and immunohistochemical staining performed with anti-tyrosine hydroxylase antibody. In behavioral evaluation, the mean latency until falling from the rotating rod in the group with exercise (infarction-EX group) was significantly longer than that in the group without exercise (infarction-CNT group). When concerning the alteration of monoamine concentration between before and 2 days after infarction, dopamine level showed a significant increase 2 days after infarction. Subsequently, dopamine level was significantly decreased in the infarction-EX group at 10 days after infarction; in contrast, both norepinephrine and 5-HT concentrations were significantly higher in the infarction-EX group than in the infarction-CNT group. Furthermore, duration of rotarod test showed a significant inverse correlation with dopamine levels and a significant positive correlation with 5-HT levels. In immunohistochemical analysis, tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in substantia nigra pars compacta was shown to increase in the infarction-CNT group. In the present study, at least some of the alterations of monoamines associated with the improvement of paralysis in the basal ganglion related to motor control might have been detected.

Alteration of protein expression profile following voluntary exercise in the perilesional cortex of rats with focal cerebral infarction.

Identification of functional molecules in the brain related to improvement of the degree of paralysis or increase of activities will contribute to establishing a new treatment strategy for stroke rehabilitation. Hence, protein expression changes in the cerebral cortex of rat groups with/without voluntary exercise using a running wheel after cerebral infarction were examined in this study. Motor performance measured by the accelerated rotarod test and alteration of protein expression using antibody microarray analysis comprised 725 different antibodies in the cerebral cortex adjacent to infarction area were examined. In behavioral evaluation, the mean latency until falling from the rotating rod in the group with voluntary exercise for five days was significantly longer than that in the group without voluntary exercise. In protein expression profile, fifteen proteins showed significant quantitative changes after voluntary exercise for five days compared to rats without exercise. Up-regulated proteins were involved in protein phosphorylation, stress response, cell structure and motility, DNA replication and neurogenesis (11 proteins). In contrast, down-regulated proteins were related to apoptosis, cell adhesion and proteolysis (4 proteins). Additional protein expression analysis showed that both growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) and phosphorylated serine41 GAP43 (pSer41-GAP43) were significantly increased. These protein expression changes may be related to the underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced paralysis recovery, that is, neurite formation, and remodeling of synaptic connections may be through the interaction of NGF, calmodulin, PKC and GAP43. In the present study at least some of the participation of modulators associated with the improvement of paralysis might be detected.

The distribution of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and dendritic-like cells of the anal tonsil in the laboratory shrew, Suncus murinus.

We investigated the distribution of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and S-100 protein-immunoreactive dendritic-like in the anal tonsil of the laboratory shrew, Suncus murinus. In adult animals, T lymphocytes were located mainly at the periphery of the anal tonsil, especially around small blood vessels. B lymphocytes were located in the central and subepithelial region of the anal tonsil, which includes primary lymphoid follicles, and in which there are small numbers of scattered T lymphocytes. B and T lymphocytes were distributed over 72.7 and 27.3% of the tonsillar area, respectively. However, their areas of distribution were not clearly distinguished. The areas containing B lymphocytes were enriched in S-100 protein antibody-immunoreactive cells, which exhibited a dendritic shape. These S-100-positive cells appeared to be identical to the follicular dendritic cells (FDC) seen in the follicles of lymphoid organs. These results suggest that the anal tonsils constitute one of the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT), and that a function of the anal tonsil includes the capture of intruding antigens that would generate protective antibody responses.

Cubital fossa venipuncture sites based on anatomical variations and relationships of cutaneous veins and nerves.

Venipuncture is a routine procedure performed at medical institutions for blood collection and blood donation, as well as for health screening and testing. Venipuncture is invasive and usually mildly painful, but it occasionally causes internal bleeding and chronic persistent pain, which is referred to as complex regional pain syndrome. The most common site of venipuncture is the upper arm. The present study macroscopically and anatomically ascertained positional relationships between cutaneous nerves and veins in the cubital (aka antecubital) fossa in many cadaveric dissections to determine the risk of peripheral nerve injury during venipuncture. We identified the most suitable venipuncture site in the upper arm. The medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm (MCNF) passed above the median cubital vein (MCBV) in 27 of 128 cases (21.1%), and was located inferior to the MCBV in 37 of 128 cases (28.9%). The MCBV also passed above the lateral cutaneous nerve forearm (LCNF) in 8 of 128 cases (6.2%). The LCNF was located deeper than the MCBV in 56 of 128 cases (43.8%). The distribution of cutaneous veins and nerves widely varies, and while no single area suitable for all individuals was identified, puncture of the MCBV near the cephalic vein is the least likely to cause nerve damage.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)- and aromatic-L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC)-immunoreactive neurons of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) brain: an immunohistochemical analysis.

From the perspective of comparative morphology, the distribution of non-monoaminergic neurons in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) was investigated using an immunohistochemical method with specific antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and aromatic-L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC).TH-immunoreactive (IR) neurons (but not AADC-IR) neurons were observed in the olfactory tubercle, preoptic suprachiasmatic nucleus, periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, periaqueductal gray matter, medial longitudinal fasciculus, substantia nigra, and nucleus solitaris. In contrast, AADC-IR (but not TH-IR), small, oval and spindle-shaped neurons were sparsely distributed in the following areas: the hypothalamus from the anterior nucleus to the lateral nucleus, the dorsomedial nucleus, the dorsomedial area of the medial mammillary nucleus and the arcuate nucleus; the midbrain, including the stria medullaris and substantia nigra; and the medulla oblongata, including the dorsal area of the nucleus solitaris and the medullary reticular nucleus. The distribution of AADC-IR neurons was not as extensive in the marmoset as it is in rats. However, these neurons were located in the marmoset, but not the rat substantia nigra. Furthermore, AADC-IR neurons that are present in the human striatum were absent in that of the marmoset. The present results indicate that the distribution of non-monoaminergic neurons in the brain of the common marmoset is unique and different from that in humans and rodents.

Light and electron microscopic observation of intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the locus coeruleus of the hamster.

The authors previously demonstrated that intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies (1-3 microm) in the mouse locus coeruleus under light and electron microscopy are characteristically stained using the Holmes modified method. We reported that one inclusion body existed in almost all neurons of the locus coeruleus. The present study examined whether similar inclusion bodies are present in the Syrian hamster (weight, about 60 g). Paraffin sections stained with the modified Holmes' method dis played numerous small inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm of cells in the locus coeruleus. Epon sections (1 microm thick) stained using toluidine blue were observed under light microscopy, and numerous small inclusion bodies were again observed. Under electron microscopy observation, inclusion bodies (<1 microm in diameter) predominantly comprised small granular materials, similar to those described by previous investigators. Although inclusion bodies were devoid of a limiting membrane, the relation ship to cytoplasmic organelles was unclear. However, free and polyribosomes were occasionally noted in close proximity to inclusion bodies. Inclusion bodies may thus be formed from ribosomes. Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the hamster locus coeruleus differed in appearance compared with inclusion bodies in the mouse locus coeruleus.