ABSTRACT
We studied the effects of osmotic stimulation on the expression of FosB and c-Fos in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Adult male rats were divided into two groups that were injected with lidocaine (0.1-0.2 ml sc) followed by either 0.9% or 6% NaCl (1 ml/100 g bw sc). After the NaCl injections, the rats were anesthetized and perfused 2, 6, or 8 h after the injections. Their brains were prepared for immunocytochemistry and stained with FosB and c-Fos antibodies. The number of c-Fos-positive cells was significantly increased only at 2 h in the SON and PVN. In contrast, the number of FosB-positive cells was significantly increased at 6, and 8 h in both the SON and PVN. In a second experiment, the effect of water availability on FosB staining 8 h after injections of 6% NaCl was tested in 3 groups of rats: water ad libitum, rats that had no access to water, and rats that were given water 2 h prior to perfusion. FosB staining was significantly reduced in both the SON and the PVN of rats that had ad libitum water compared to the two water-restricted groups. In the third experiment, rats were injected with either 0.9% NaCl or 6% NaCl and were either given ad libitum access to water or water restricted for 6 h after the injections and perfused 24 h after the saline injections. FosB staining was not increased when water was available ad libitum. FosB staining was significantly increased at 24 h in the rats injected with 6% NaCl when water was restricted. Thus, FosB may continue to influence protein expression in the SON and PVN for at least 24 h following acute osmotic stimulation.
Subject(s)
Drinking/physiology , Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism , Supraoptic Nucleus/metabolism , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Water-Electrolyte Balance/physiology , Animals , Cell Count , Cell Proliferation , Down-Regulation/physiology , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Oxytocin/metabolism , Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/cytology , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Saline Solution, Hypertonic/pharmacology , Supraoptic Nucleus/cytology , Time Factors , Up-Regulation/physiology , Vasopressins/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcome of patients with occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration treated with transpupillary thermotherapy. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, nonmasked case series. METHODS: All patients with age-related macular degeneration with a predominantly occult choroidal neovascular membrane and an initial visual acuity of 20/400 or better were offered treatment using transpupillary thermotherapy. The treatment consisted of using a diode laser, a spot size of about 3000 to 6000 micro m delivered over 60 seconds, and a power of 600 to 1000 mW. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A stable, improved, or worsened visual acuity and the need for additional treatment. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were treated. All patients have been followed up for at least 6 months. At the 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up visits, 71% of patients have stable or improved visual acuity and 29% have lost 2 or more lines of visual acuity on the Snellen letter chart. CONCLUSION: Large-spot size transpupillary thermotherapy is effective in stabilizing the visual acuity in those patients who have occult choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration.
