Modification of AgNOR staining to reveal the nucleolus in thick sections specified for stereological and pathological assessments of brain tissue.

BACKGROUND: Various stains have been devised to reveal degenerative or reactive cell phenotypes, or the disintegrative and/or neuropathic lesions associated with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Pick's diseases, Down's syndrome, or chemical toxicity. Utilization of silver staining has allowed researchers to elucidate neural pathways promoting a greater understanding of the functional connections between brain regions. All of these methods employing silver can be characterized as 'directed staining technologies'. NEW METHODS: The argyrophilic proteins (AgNOR) staining protocol was modified to stain nucleoli in thick sections prepared for stereological evaluation of brain tissue. Nucleoli appeared as black dots against a pale amber background. Tissue sections were counterstained with Toluidine Blue, or reduced-strength Tyrosine Hydroxylase immunohistochemistry to facilitate visualization of basic cellular morphology and regional nucleus identification. Here, we present a modified method for nucleolar staining in free-floating thick sections of brain embedded in a gelatin matrix. The modifications in our procedure include incubation in HCl to denature ('unravel') the DNA, a bleaching step to reduce non-specific background silver staining, and counterstaining with Toluidine Blue or reduced-strength tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. COMPARISON WITH OLD METHODS: Prior to the development of immunohistochemistry, silver staining was used primarily to identify pathological profiles and trace axon pathways; however, in many cases, a combination of silver staining and immunohistochemistry are required to fully visualize pathomorphology. The mechanism of these stains requires the binding of silver ions to cellular components and the subsequent reduction of the ions to metallic silver. Dilutions of TH primary antibody were evaluated to maximize identification of neurons and the nucleolus amongst the soma and processes present in the thick section. The use of stereology as a tool to estimate cell number has become increasingly prevalent in neuroscience experiments. As requirements for the preparation of experimental tissue have been refined, researchers have begun to use thicker sections, between 40 to 80 microns, to increase the number of optical planes available for analysis. These thick sections require modified staining protocols to assure complete penetration of stains throughout the tissue section. CONCLUSIONS: This method is particularly useful in nucleolar identification for Stereology, and automated counting methods. Use of the nucleolus avoids some of the problems associated with use of the nucleus. The nucleolus is smaller than the nucleus and is less susceptible to transection during sectioning. It has a higher density than the nucleus and is easier to visualize. It is generally darker staining than the immunohistochemical reaction product that provides the identification marker for the cells to be counted. Examples of the method in several brain sections of the rat are shown, though the method has been also proven in other mammalian models.

Positive inotropic effects of adrenomedullin on rat papillary muscle.

Adrenomedullin is a peptide recently isolated from pheochromocytoma that has vasorelaxant and long-lasting hypotensive activities. Plasma levels of adrenomedullin are elevated in patients with congestive heart failure, but the effects of adrenomedullin on the cardiac function are unclear. We, thus, investigated the effects of adrenomedullin on the contraction of rat papillary muscles. We measured the isometric tension and cAMP contents of isolated rat papillary muscles. Adrenomedullin exhibited concentration-dependent inotropic effects. Adrenomedullin also significantly increased intracellular contents of cAMP. Addition of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist inhibited both contractile force and cAMP generation of papillary muscles stimulated by adrenomedullin. The adrenomedullin-induced inotropic effect was further increased in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX), while the effect was significantly suppressed by KT5720 and Rp-8-bromoadenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-8-Br-cAMPS), protein kinase A inhibitors. These results indicate that adrenomedullin has positive inotropic effects on the heart, at least partially through a cAMP-dependent pathway.

Effects of N-acetylcysteine on nitroglycerin-induced relaxation and protein phosphorylation of porcine coronary arteries.

We investigated the effects of the sulfhydryl-donor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), on nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle. Addition of histamine to isolated porcine coronary arteries induced an initial rapid contraction followed by a gradual decrease in tonic contraction. NTG applied to the coronary artery strips before histamine caused relaxation of the histamine-induced rapid (3 min) and tonic (48 min) contraction. The inhibition of the tonic contraction by NTG was less at 48 min than at 3 min. Application of NAC (NTG-NAC) enhanced the relaxing effects of NTG on the histamine-induced tonic contraction rather than the acute contraction. In phosphorylation studies, changes in the phosphorylation of an intermediate filament, desmin, were parallel with changes in contraction in NTG-treated and NTG-NAC samples at 48 min. These phosphorylation changes of desmin at 48 min, which might be responsible for tonic phase contraction, were more extensive than those of myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation at 3 min, which might be responsible for acute contraction. These results suggest that treatment with the sulfhydryl donor, NAC, inhibited the phosphorylation of desmin associated with the enhancement of NTG-induced relaxation, which might be related to the mechanisms of recovery from NTG tolerance by sulfhydryl groups.

Nitroglycerin inhibits the phosphorylation of intermediate filament proteins rather than myosin light chain on porcine coronary artery sustained contraction.

The smooth muscle relaxation induced by nitroglycerin is hypothesized to be mediated by an increase in the cytoplasmic concentration of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) and subsequent dephosphorylation of the 20-kilodalton myosin light chain (MLC). We investigated this hypothesis in procine coronary arterial smooth muscle stimulated with histamine (3 microM) or K+ (30 mM). Stimulation of [32P]Pi-labeled muscle with histamine or K+ for 2 min resulted in a four- or 6.2-fold increase, respectively, in the incorporation of 32P into MLC. After 48 min of exposure to histamine, MLC phosphorylation decreased to the basal level and the phosphorylation of desmin, synemin, and of three unidentified cytosolic proteins was increased. K+ stimulation resulted in a sustained increase of MLC phosphorylation but had no effect on the phosphorylation of desmin, synemin, or the three unidentified cytosolic proteins. Application of nitroglycerin (1 microM) 48 min after histamine stimulation inhibited the phosphorylation of desmin, synemin, and the three cytosolic proteins. The sustained phase of histamine-induced contraction was also inhibited to a greater extent then the acute phase of histamine-induced contraction and both the acute and sustained phases of K(+)-induced contraction. These results suggest that MLC phosphorylation is required for both phases of K(+)-induced contraction, whereas phosphorylation of intermediate filament proteins is required for the sustained phase of histamine-induced contraction. Intermediate filament proteins, rather than MLC, may also be the target for the relaxant action of nitroglycerin during histamine-induced sustained contraction.

[Two adult cases with corrected transposition of the great arteries treated with permanent endocardial pacemaker implantation].

[Case 1] A 32 year-old male had (I, D, D) type corrected transposition of the great arteries (cTGA) associated with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis. [Case 2] A 69 year-old male had (S, L, L) type cTGA associated with tricuspid regurgitation. Both cases showed advanced atrioventricular (AV) block due to HV block. Both patients had endocardial DDD pacemakers implanted, with no complication. (I, D, D) type cTGA is rarely accompanied with AV block, while the incidence of AV block is high in (S, L, L) type cTGA. We speculate that this results from the difference in the position of the AV node between these two types.