ABSTRACT
Bipolar disorder has been associated with a decrease in hippocampal size, and lithium appears to reverse this neuroanatomical abnormality. The objective of this work was to evaluate, at a cellular level, the size of both cell body and nucleus of pyramidal neurons located throughout the Cornu Ammonis (CA1 to CA4 regions). To perform this duty, we used 16 rats that were randomized into two groups: control and dietary lithium-treated. After one month, they were sacrificed and their brains removed for histopathological analysis. Serial photos of the entire Cornu Ammonis were taken and, after dividing them into 4 regions of interest, we measured the cell body and nucleus on each pyramidal neuron belonging to the first 5 photos of each region of interest. As a result of this histological analysis, cell body area and nuclear area were significantly larger in the experimental group in a specific area of the Cornu Ammonis that could correspond to CA2 or the transition between CA1 and CA2. These results suggest that the effect of lithium is not homogeneous throughout the hippocampus and allows directing future studies to a specific area of this structure.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In Argentina, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) constitutes the most frequent cause of acute renal failure in children. The aim of our study was to analyze the early tubular response under the effect of Shiga toxin type 2 (Stx2) in a rat experimental model of HUS. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with culture supernatant from recombinant Escherichia coli expressing Stx2. Functional, histological, immunohistochemical and Western blot studies were performed at 48 h postinoculation. RESULTS: Renal tubules showed the loss of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and ß-catenin, and an increase in transforming growth factor-ß1 expression. We detected the expression of α-smooth muscle actin in the interstitium and fibrosis in the periglomerular areas. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the early tubular response to the effects of Stx2 is related to an immunophenotype change of tubular cells and the presence of mild fibrosis in the interstitium.
Subject(s)
Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome/pathology , Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome/physiopathology , Kidney Tubules/pathology , Actins/analysis , Animals , Cadherins/analysis , Epithelial Cells/chemistry , Epithelial Cells/drug effects , Immunohistochemistry , Kidney Tubules/chemistry , Male , Models, Animal , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Shiga Toxin 2 , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/analysis , beta Catenin/analysisABSTRACT
We report the case of a young white man with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 that began at 4 years. At 15 years, he developed proteinuria, arterial hypertension, and renal insufficiency. Renal biopsy specimens studied by electron microscopy showed deposition of nonamyloidotic microfibrils. This is the first report of fibrillary glomerulopathy associated with this neurological disorder.
Subject(s)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/complications , Glomerulonephritis/complications , Glomerulonephritis/diagnosis , Actin Cytoskeleton/ultrastructure , Adolescent , Glomerular Mesangium/pathology , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Fibrillar collagen in the glomeruli is considered specific of the nail-patella syndrome. A new nephropathy with diffuse intraglomerular deposition of type III collagen without nail and skeletal abnormalities has been described. We report the case of a 26-year-old woman who presented persistent proteinuria, hematuria, deafness without nail and skeletal abnormalities. The renal biopsy showed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis by light microscopy. The electron microscopy revealed the presence of massive fibrillar collagen within the mesangial matriz and the basement membrane. This is the first patient reported in our country. We emphasize the usefulness of electron microscopy in the study of glomerular diseases.
