Paraganglioma of thoracic spine: a case report

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors that share consistent histological features with pheochromocytomas. Approximately 80-90% of these tumors are located in the head and neck region, and rarely produces cathecholamine excess. This report presents a case of 58-year-old man with paraganglioma of the thoracic spine which is extremely rare. Surgical removal is the gold standard treatment. An understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of familial paragangliomas of the spine may lead to better diagnosis and clinical management and novel therapies.

Effect of APA Microencapsulized Bovine Chromaffin Cells Transplantation on Endogenous Opioid Peptides and Catecholamine Concentration in CSF of Cancer Pain Patients / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To observe the effect of APA-BCC(alginate-polylysine-alginate microencapsulated bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells)microcapsules transplantation into the subarachnoid space of cancer pain patients on endogenous opioid peptides and catecholamine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF).Methods The different doses of APA-BCC microcapsules were transplanted into the spinal subarachnoid space of cancer patients with moderate or serious pain.The concentrations of Leu-enkephalin(L-EK),β-endorphin(β-EP),dynorphin A(DynA),noradrenaline(NA)and adrenaline(AD)in CSF were tested.Results L-EK concentration in CSF increased remarkably after transplantation,and the increase was most remarkable when transplantation doses were 1.0×107and 1.25×107;there were no remarkable changes of β-EP,DynA,NA and AD after transplantation.Conclusion The analgetic effects of APA-BCC microcapsules tranplantation may correlate with the increase of L-EK in CSF of cancer pain patients;the dose of 1.0×107 and 1.25×107cells may be the most effective dose.

Function study on cryopreservation of APA microencapsulated bovine chromaffin cells / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective To observe the morphology, cell viability and secretion function of catecholamine of the alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) microencapsulated bovine chromaffin cells (BCCs) before and after cryopreserving with liquid nitrogen. Methods The APA microencapsulated BCCs were cryopreserved with dimethyl sulfoxide as cryopreservative agent by slow cooling and rapid rewarming for revivification. The change of cell function was observed by detecting the cell viability and secretion of catecholamine. Results As compared with the precryopreseving cells, the morphology and cell viability of the resuscitated APA microencapsulated BCCs showed no significant change. The catecholamine secretion volume of BCCs remained 80% of that by the precryopreserving cells. Conclusion It demonstrates that the resuscitated cryopreserved APA microencapsulated BCCs still remained good morphology, cell viability and secretion function of catecholamine.

Quantitative Analysis of Secreted Catecholamines from Chromaffin Cells in Vitro and in Vivo / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Adrenal medullary transplants into the subarachnoid space have been demonstrated to reduce pain sensitivity. This analgesia most likely results from the release of neuroactive substances, particularly catecholamines and opioid peptides from the transplanted cells into spinal cord. METHODS: Isolated bovine chromaffin cells were encapsulated with alginate and poly-L-lysine prior to implantation into rat's subarachnoid space to protect them from host immune system. And then catecholamines from encapsulated chromaffin cells were measured quantitatively in vitro by High Performance Liquid Chromatograph. The animals were randomized into 2 groups, one of which received microencapsulated chromaffin cells and the other empty capsules. The effects of such implants were evaluated on the pain behavior resulting from a chronic constriction injury of the rat sciatic nerve for 30 days. RESULTS: Catecholamine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analyzed. Data (mean SD) are considered significant at P <0.05 (ANOVA for repeated measure and Dunnett's test). Continuous release of catecholamine and met-enkephalin with responsiveness to nicotine stimulation was measured from encapsulated cells in vitro. A significant reduction of allodynic response to acetone evaporation was observed in the animals implanted with cell loaded capsules compared to control animals with empty capsules. Catecholamine concentration in CSF was higher in the cell loaded capsule group. There were no complications related to implantation. CONCLUSION: We found that encapsulated chromaffin cells released continuously catehcolamines and opioids peptides in vitro and in the CSF. Those results may prove chromaffin cell's anagesic effect indirectly.

Pain-reducing Effect by Transplants of Isolated Xenogeneic Chromaffin Cells in Mouse

OBJECTIVE: Adrenal medullary chromaffin cells are known to release analgesic substances such as opioides and catecholamines. Transplantation of them is a novel method that challenges current approaches in treating chronic pain. The transplantation of xenogeneic chromaffin cells into the central nervous system(CNS) supply antinociception in animals. In this study, we investigated the analgesic effects of rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells transplanted into the CNS of the mouse. To study the antinociceptive efficacy of transplanted chromaffin cells, the survival of rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells transplanted into the CNS of mouse was determined. METHODS: The adrenal medullary chromaffin cells isolated from rat were transplanted into the striatum of mouse. These cells were confirmed of the release of Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin by HPLC, and immunoblots for tyrosine hydroxylase(TH). Two weeks after transplantation, we performed immunohistochemistry for TH to determine the survival of implanted cells and assessed pain sensitivity at the same time. RESULTS: The isolated rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells were positive for anti-TH antibody and released Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin more than rat endothelial cells. Transplanted rat chromaffin cells were stained with anti-TH antibody in striatum of mouse after 2 weeks. Pain sensitivity was reduced on the chromaffin cell-transplanted mouse compared to endothelial cell-transplanted mouse by the hot plate test. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the rat chromaffin cells were suitably transplanted into the CNS of mouse. This approach could be used as a therapy for reducing of chronic pain induced by cancer or neuronal injury.

The characterization of the increase of membrane conductance after depolarization in single rat adrenal chromaffin cells

The conductance change evoked by step depolarization was studied in primarily cultured rat adrenal chromaffin cells using patch-clamp and capacitance measurement techniques. When we applied a depolarizing pulse to a chromaffin cell, the inward calcium current was followed by an outward current and depolarization-induced exocytosis was accompanied by an increase in conductance trace. The slow inward tail current which has the same time course as the conductance change was observed in current recording. The activation of slow tail current was calcium-dependent. Reversal potentials agreed with Nernst equation assuming relative permeability of Cs+ to K+ is 0.095. The outward current and tail current were blocked by apamin (200 nM) and d-tubocurarine (2 mM). The conductance change was blocked by apamin and did not affect membrane capacitance recording. We confirmed that conductance change after depolarization comes from the activation of the SK channel and can be blocked by application of the SK channel blockers. Consequently, it is necessary to consider blocking of the SK channel during membrane capacitance recording.

Comparison of viabilities of homologous adrenal medullary pieces and isolated chromaffin cells following implantation into subarachnoid space of rat / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To compare the survival of isolated chromaffin cells with that of adrenal medullary pieces implanted into the subarachnoid space .Methods Forty male Sprague Dawley rats, 180 220g, were randomly allocated to be implanted into the subarachnoid space with the homologous adrenal medullary pieces washed with PBS(group A,n=20) or the isolated chromaffin cells 5?107 in 10?l suspension (group B,n=20), respectively, after the implants were in vitro cultured in three days . The thermal threshold was determined before ,5 and 10 weeks after the transplantation. Five or ten weeks after the transplantation, 6 rats of either group were randomly selected to obtain the adrenal medullary grafts from the subarachnoid space or the sediments of cerebrospinal fluid ,observed with an electron microscopy.Results Five weeks after transplantation, the thermal threshold in both groups increased markedly,but without significant difference between them ,and there were intact chromaffin cells in the sections of both groups. Ten weeks after the operation, the thermal threshold in group A decreased to basaline, and was significantly lower than in group B; no intact chromaffin cells were found ,with the infiltration of a large number lymphocytes in the sections of group A , and in the sections of group B, the intact chromaffin cells were found with the infiltration of lymphocytes in lower amount and density. Conclusions The isolated chromaffin cells implantation is superior to the adrenal medulla pieces implantation for analgesia.

Reversion of down-regulated mRNA expression for Nav1.8 in dorsal root ganglia of rats with neuropathic pain by APA microcapsulized BCCs subarachnoid transplantation / 中国药理学通报

AIM To invesigate the effect of subarachnoid transplantation of APA microcapsulized bovine chromaffin cells (BCCs) on mRNA expression for Nav1.8 in the dorsal root ganglia neurons(DRG) of rats with neuropathic pain by means of in situ hybridization. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into four groups of five. Normal rats were used as control group (group C). Rats with right sciatic nerve been ligated were used as CCI group. Five to six hundred empty APA microcapsules(group APA) or 5?10 6 APA microcapsulized BCCs (group APA-BCCs) were grated into subarachnoid space of CCI rats 7 days after operation. Allodynia and hyperalgesia were measured by Von-Frey filaments and CO 2 laser 7 days after transplantation. DRG in lumbar four and five was taken out and 15 ?m freezing sections were made 7 days after tansplantation. Sections was used to detect mRNA expression for TTX-resistent Na + Nav1.8 by in situ hybridization with Dig-labeled RNA probe. RESULTS The mRNA hybridization signal for Nav1.8 in DRG of group CCI and group APA was lower than that of group C. The expression of mRNA for Nav1.8 in DRG was higher in group APA-BCCs than that in group CCI and group APA with abatement of allodynia and hyperalgesia. There was no difference in the mRNA hybridization signal for Nav1.8 in DRG between group APA-BCCs and group C. CONCLUSION mRNA expression for Nav1.8 in DRG of CCI ratswas down-regulated. APA microcapsulized BCCs grafting can reverse the down-regulation of mRNA expression for Nav1.8 in DRG of CCI rats. Restoration of mRNA expression for Nav1.8 in DRG contributes to the analgesic effect of subarachnoid transplantation of APA microcapsulized BCCs.

A STEREOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CHROMAFFIN CELLS IN GUINEA PIG ADRENAL MEDULLA / 解剖学报

Stereological methods were applied in the qantitative ultrastructural analysis of the chromaffin cells in adrenal medulla of normal adult guinea pigs.The main result includes:(1)The average volume(V)of each cell(714?m~3)and its nucleus (167?m~3);(2)volume density(Vv)of mitochondria(0.082?m~3/?m~3),lysosomes (0.0045?m~3/?m~3),rough-endoplasmic reticulium(0.013?m~3/?m~3),smooth-endopas- mic reticulium including Golgi apparatus(0.024?m~3/?m~3)and granule vesicles (0.23?m~3/?m~3);(3)surface density(Sv)of cell membrane(0.87/?m~2/?m~3)and mitochondrial outer membrane(0.90?m~2/?m~3);(4)numerical density(Nv)of mitochondria(0.89/?m~3),lysosomes(0.11/?m~3)and granule vesicles(59.98/?m~3); (5)the mean diameter of granule vesicles(144 nm),In addition,several small- granule chromaffin cells were quantified separately from the general chromaffin cells.They contain granule vesicles with an average diameter of 97 nm and show a significant difference in surface density of cell membrane(1.54?m~2/?m~3)from that relevant value of general chromaffin cells(P