Immunohistochemical localization of proteoglycans in interstitial elements of human pancreas and biliary system.

The immunohistochemical localization of large proteoglycan and small proteoglycan was observed, using antibodies 2B1 and 6B6 (Sobue et al., 1988, 1989a), in fetal and adult pancreas and biliary system as well as in tumour tissues, obtained from 11 autopsies and 74 biopsies. The distribution of chondroitin 4- and 6-sulphate side chains, type I and IV collagen and elastin were also studied. In adult pancreas and all the biliary tracts examined, periductal fibrous tissues consisted mainly of dermatan sulphate small proteoglycan with networks of fibrous elements, which were composed of large proteoglycan, elastin, type I collagen and type IV collagen. In the interstitial components of cystadenoma of pancreas and biliary duct carcinoma, similar small proteoglycan-rich components were relatively abundant, although large proteoglycan was present in much larger amounts than that in non-neoplastic adult tissues. In some cholangiomas, the extra- and intracellular hyaline globules formed by the carcinoma cells were found to contain chondroitin sulphate large proteoglycan, laminin and fibronectin. The distribution of proteoglycans was observed to be different in the arterial walls of the interlobular tissues of the adult and the fetal pancreas. The biological significance of large and small proteoglycans in the interstitial connective tissues was discussed.

Immunohistochemistry of carcinoembryonic antigen, secretory component and lysozyme in benign and malignant common bile duct tissues.

An immunoperoxidase technique has been utilized for the localization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), secretory component (SC) and lysozyme ( LZ ) in normal and cancerous common bile duct tissues. Little or no CEA was found in the non-cancerous common bile duct tissues. SC was found in the surface epithelium and accessory gland epithelium and LZ was demonstrated only in the accessory glands. Some inflammatory cells were also positively stained for LZ . In adenocarcinoma, CEA was always present on the luminar border of the carcinoma cells, occasionally with intercellular and intracellular localization. LZ was absent, or only faintly detected in carcinoma. SC was generally distributed in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma cells, but showed a reduced intensity of staining with progressive dedifferentiation. These findings suggest that CEA, SC and LZ could be useful markers providing valuable information in the pathological diagnosis of bile duct carcinoma.

Adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the common bile duct in men and cats.

To clarify whether or not the common bile duct (CBD) has peristaltic movement, the muscular structure and intrinsic innervation were investigated for the full length of the CBD in 50 fresh human autopsy specimens and 50 cats. Nearly the same results were obtained in control groups of humans and cats. 1) Abundant sympathetic noradrenergic innervation, mainly composed of two plexuses, was demonstrated in each layer of the common bile duct tissue. 2) Parasympathetic nervous innervation was also abundant in each layer of the common bile duct and was composed of two ganglionated cholinergic plexuses. 3) Human and cat ganglia were composed of several nerve cells, which were mostly of Dogiel type II. 4) No other biogenic monoamines than adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) were detected. 5) Digestive tract hormones were undetectable. 6) The presence of smooth muscle was confirmed all along the common bile duct in all cases. The muscular tissue of the CBD was more abundant in humans than in cats. 7) The results of quantitation of catecholamine and acetylcholine esterase in the common bile duct tissue demonstrated a good correlation between biochemical and histochemical activities.

The muscle content and contractile capability of the common bile duct.

The supraduodenal portion of the human and canine common bile duct has been shown by indirect immunofluorescent staining with anti-actin sera to contain scattered bundles of smooth muscle arranged predominantly in a longitudinal direction with respect to the axis of the bile duct. Isolated strips of canine common bile duct in vitro can contact in response to stimulation with cholecystokinin. The force of contraction in a longitudinal direction is about three times that in a transverse direction but only 3% of that produced by isolated gallbladder strips. There appears to be a roughly proportional relationship between the amount of muscle demonstrated and the force of contraction in response to cholecystokinin.

Comparative biliary concentrations of cephazolin and cephalothin in patients with biliary tract disease.

The concentration of cephazolin in the serum, gall bladder bile, common duct bile, and gall bladder wall were consideredably higher than cephalothin especially with IV administration and indicate that cephazolin should be a useful antibiotic in the surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis.