The influence of the antimitotic drug CCNU on the neurosecretion of rat hypothalamo-hypophyseal system.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of the antimitotic drug CCNU on the morphology of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal neurosecretory system of rat. Adult Wistar rats were treated intragastrically with 2.5 mg CCNU once a week during 3 consecutive weeks and 5 mg at the end of the 4th week. The brains and hypophyses were fixed in Zenker-formol solution. Paraffin slices were stained with chromhematoxylin to demonstrate neurosecretory material and with cresyl violet. PAS reaction was also performed. The experiment resulted in disturbances of the neurosecretory function of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system in form of alteration in the content of neurosecretion in the neuronal cytoplasm and processes within supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei as well as in the neurohypophysis. The morphometric measurements showed enlargement of the cell nuclei and cytoplasm volumes in the nucleus supraopticus of hypothalamus.

[A case of multiple neoplasm metastases to the brain with few clinical symptoms]. / Skapoobjawowy przypadek kilkudziesieciu przerzutów nowotworowych do mózgu.

In the reported case 74 malignant metastases were found in the brain. The primary tumour was a bronchogenic carcinoma. The clinical symptoms were scant and were restricted mainly to those produced by involvement of the pons without evidence of intracranial hypertension. In the discussion the only relative value of laboratory investigations is stressed, including computerized tomography. The case deserves publication in view of rare occurrence of such oligosymptomatic course despite a high number of metastases.

[A case of the acinous form of meningeal cysticercosis]. / Przypadek postaci groniastej wagrzycy opon mózgowych.

A case of chronic cerebrospinal meningitis is described which caused considerable diagnostic difficulties. Postmortem examination demonstrated parasitic character of the disease. Although all cysts were sterile, the authors suggest in the discussion that in the case the cause was infestation with the larval from of the canine tapeworm Taenia multiceps.

Karyometry and cytophotometry of oligodendroglial DNA in the corpus callosum of rats treated with vicristine during the second part of foetal life.

The effect of transplacentally administered vincristinee on postnatal developmental events occurring in the oligodendroglial cell nuclei of the corpus callosum were studied by means of an automatic analyzer of microscopic pictures "Morphoquant" (VEB Carl Zeiss Jena, GDR). Karyometric and cytophotometrically determined developmental changes of the DNA content were studied in both, the vincristine treated and control rats aged 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. vincristine was administered to pregnant rats four times during the second term of gestation, the single dose containing 0.01 mg of Vincristin per kg of body weight. In the Vincristin treated animals we have found an advanced developmental increase of the perimeter, the surface and convexion areas of oligodendroglial cell nuclei as well as statistically significant differences of parameters characterizing the nuclear shape. In comparison with control animals, the intoxicated ones demonstrated a higher DNA content in oligodendroglial cell nuclei both during the premyelinating (7 days postnatal) and during the early stage of myelination (14 and 21 days postnatal).

The effect of vincristine on enzymatic activity in the brain.

Adult Wistar rats of either sex were treated intraperitoneally on alternate days with 0.0015 mg of Vincristin over a period of 24 days, and their brains examined with respect to histoenzymatic activity. It has been found that the adopted treatment resulted in a drop of the cerebral AChE, alkP, acP and ATPase activities. The activity of NsE was depressed in some regions of the brain, whereas in others an enhancement of NsE activity was found. TPPase activity appeared to increase following treatment with Vincristin. The observed differential reaction of NsE to Vincristin treatment could be indicative of an existence of multiple isoenzymes of carbocylesterases in the brain. The moderate intensity of changes in the enzymatic activity of the experimental brains evoked by the treatment of rats with Vincristin makes it feasible to assume that after cessation of the treatment the original enzymatic activity of the brain will be restored.

Histoenzymatic and morphometric changes occurring in nerve cells of gyrus cinguli following treatment of young rats with vincristine.

The effect of treatment with vincristine on nerve cells of gyrus cinguli was studied. Wistar rats aged 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days were given single intraperitoneal injections of vincristine (0.01 mg/kg body weight). All experimental animals were decapitated at the age of 29 days and their brains subjected to histoenzymatic and morphometric examination. The control group consisted of untreated rats aged 29 days. The activity of phosphatases and esterases of the cingulum was evaluated histochemically and the morphometric parameters of pyramidal cells in this region were determined by means of a computer microscope "Morphoquant" (VEB Carl Zeiss JENA). The results of this study have shown that administration of therapeutic doses of vincristine to young rats brings about a drop of the neuronal AChE and NsE activity, contrary, to this, TPPase and acP activities of the pyramidal cells are enhanced by this treatment. Morphometric determinations have revealed elongation of the neuronal perikaryons along with an increase of indices of the cytoplasmatic area and volume of pyramidal cells. The observed alterations are considered to reflect degenerative processes of moderate intensity.

[Meningeal cryptococcosis]. / Grzybica kryptokokowa opon.

A 53-year-old man with meningeal cryptococcosis lasting 9 years is reported. Microscopic examination demonstrated presence of extensive leptomeningeal fibrosis with presence of single or aggregated cryptococci varying in size. In the calcified capsules of the organisms presence of calcium, silicon, magnesium, phosphorus and copper was demonstrated.

Karyometric studies and quantitation of the DNA content in nerve and oligodendroglial cells after intraperitoneal administration of Vincristine.

Karyometric and cytophotometric investigations were conducted on nuclei of nerve cells of the Gyrus cinguli and on oligodendroglial nuclei of the corpus callosum following a 12-fold intraperitoneal injection of Vincristine into Wistar rats. The results of our investigations have shown a distinctly decreased content of DNA in neuronal nuclei of experimental rats along with a slightly increased content of DNA in glial cells. It is assumed that intraperitoneal administration of Vincristine does not inhibit the replication of DNA by oligodendroglial cells and that the observed reduction of DNA in neurocytes is the result of a disturbed turnover of DNA that is due to some damage of cytoplasmatic structures (rough endoplasmatic reticulum and microtubules) induced by the applied cytostatic compound.

The activity of some hydrolytic enzymes in the brain after administration of "Cynkotox".

The effect of peroral administration of "Cynkotox" (diethyl-dithio-carbamate, zinc salt) on the histoenzymatic activity of the brain was examined. 1.0 g of Cynkotox was given daily to adult Wistar rats over a period of 10 days (the per os DL50 for rats is 5200 mg/kg of body weight). The results have shown that chronic ingestion of large doses of Cynkotox may cause degenerative changes of neurons in various brain regions as well as alterations in the activity of various enzymes. The cerebral activities TPPase and of acP were evidently increased, whereas those of AChE, BuTJ and ATPase were markedly reduced. In some regions of the experimental rat brains. NsE activity was elevated in other ones some loss of NsE activity was noticed.

The effect of ethylmercury-p-toluenesulphanilide on the neurosecretory hypothalamic-hypophyseal system.

The effect of Ethylmercury-p-toluenesulphanilide on the neurosecretory function of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal system has been studied. The p-toluenesulphanilide of ethylmercury is a pesticide with fungicidal properties. The poison has been administered intragastrically for 10 days at a daily dose of 4 mg. The results of experiments presented herewith have shown that ingestion of EMTSA lead to an accumulation of neurosecretory material in the nerve cells of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei as well as in those of the neurohypophysis. In spite of the increased content of neurosecretory substances in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal system, the secretory cells of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei did not show any features of enhanced secretory activity. Basing on the observations made in this study an assumption was raised that the intragastric poisoning by EMTSA exerted an inhibitory effect on the release of ADH from the neurosecretory system. Intoxication by EMTSA induced only negligible degenerative changes in neurocytes of the hypothalamic nuclei.

Neurosecretion of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system after intragastric administration of zinc oxide.

Considering the importance of Zn for normal metabolic processes as well as its neurotoxic properties when ingested in undue amounts we have undertaken a study on the effect of ZnO intoxication on the neurosecretory function of the hypothalamus and hypophysis. The investigations were performed on rats that have been treated intragastrically with ten daily (100 mg) doses of ZnO. The intoxicated rats revealed elevated contents of neurosecretion in the neurosecretory nuclei of the hypothalamus along with decline amounts of neurosecretion in the nervous parts of the hypophysis. The contents of PAS-positive substances was increased all over the neurosecretory hypothalamo-hypophyseal system. The concurrent enlargement of the nuclear and cytoplasmatic areas of the secreting cells speaks in favour of the conclusion that the observed histochemical and morphometric alterations reflect both an increased neurosecretory activity of the hypothalamus and in enhanced release of antidiuretic hormone.

Postmortem activity of respiratory enzymes in human brain.

Post-mortem changes in the activity of various cerebral dehydrogenases have been investigated in 41 human brains. Histoenzymatic examinations were conducted 1, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h after clinically established death. The results have shown that the individual dehydrogenase become inactivated by the post-mortem processes at different rates. Succinate and lactate dehydrogenase activities were lost at first rate, followed by glucose-6-phosphate and beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and then by isocitrate and NADH and NADPH dependent reductases, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase remained active for the longest period after death. The structural sequence of the post mortem loss of respiratory enzymes in the human brain was opposite to that at which these enzymes appeared during ontogenic development. The topography of the post mortem inactivation of cerebral dehydrogenases instead was adverse to the order of constitution of the individual parts of the CNS in the course of phylogenetic development.

[Histochemical changes in the neurosecretory hypothalamic nuclei as result of an intoxication with mercury compounds (author's transl)]. / Histochemische Veränderungen in den neurosekretorischen Hypothalamuskernen als Folge einer Intoxikation mit Quecksilberverbindungen.

The effect of experimental poisoning by organic compounds, frequently used in agriculture as fungicides, on the histochemical and histoenzymic pattern of the hypothalamic neurosecretory system has been studied. The experimental rats were fed by means of a gastric tube with the following compounds: Phenylmercuryacetate, 0.1 g daily, for 10 days; Aethylmercury-p-toluenesulphanilide, 0.2 g daily, for 10 days, and Methoxyethylmercurychloride (Ceresan), 0.1 g daily, for 6 days. The histochemical and histoenzymic investigations have shown that ingestion of Phenylmercuryacetate brought about an increase in the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) with a concomitant enhancement of production of neurosecretory substances. The peroral administration of Aethylmercury-p-toluenesulphanilide and of Methoxyethylmercury chloride instead, resulted in the accumulation of the neurosecretion within the hypothalamic-hypophyseal system with a parallel inhibition of ADH release. The experimental poisoning of Ceresan had also a stimulatory effect on the activity of many enzymes in the neurosecretory nuclei of the rat hypothalamus. Morphological changes resulting from the experimental intoxication were only rarely observed in the neurosecretory cells of the investigated hypothalamic nuclei.

Morphological and histochemical changes occurring in the brain of rats fed large doses of zinc oxide.

An experimental study on the effect of feeding large doses of ZnO on the morphological and histoenzymatic pattern of the brain was conducted. 12 Wistar rats were given daily 100 mg of ZnO via a gastric tube. The poison was fed over a period of 10 days. The experimental rats developed minor morphological changes mainly in the hippocampal cortex and in the basal ganglia. A generalisation decrease of acP, ATPase, AChE and BuTJ activities along with an appreciable increase of TPPase and NsE activity was found in the brains of the intoxicated animals. An attempt was made to elucidate the pathogenesis of some of the findings.