Parasympathetic schwannoma of the submandibular gland.

Schwannomas of the submandibular gland have only been documented sporadically throughout the medical literature. We describe a case of schwannoma of the submandibular gland originating from the submandibular branch of the lingual nerve, which carries the preganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers. The clinical aspect of this tumor is discussed, followed by a brief literature review.

Growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) mRNA is upregulated in the rat superior cervical ganglia after preganglionic transection.

Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) is a growth-associated protein which is synthesised in high amounts in neurons during neuronal outgrowth. In a previous study we have shown that GAP-43 immunoreactivity is increased in neurons in superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and in nerve terminals in the irides after preganglionic denervation. We have now examined changes in GAP-43 mRNA using in situ hybridisation. GAP-43 mRNA was seen to be constitutively expressed by principal neurons of the rat superior cervical ganglion. Expression was increased further by section of the cervical sympathetic trunk, reaching a maximum (increased by about 30%) 3 days after decentralisation. The increased GAP-43 protein seen after decentralisation thus appears to be due to an upregulation of GAP-43 mRNA in the adrenergic neurons. The results imply that GAP-43 expression in the SCG is under presynaptic control, acting at least partly by control of mRNA levels.

Withdrawal of collaterals of sympathetic axons to the rat eye during postnatal development: the role of function.

Neurones in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of the rat can be retrogradely labelled by injection of Fast blue (FB) into the anterior eye chamber with the maximum number being labelled during the second postnatal week. In adult rats, however, many fewer neurones can be so labelled. In the present study, we have investigated whether this reduction may be due to the withdrawal of collaterals of neurones which project to the posterior eye compartments. For these experiments, we have used either one (FB) or two (FB and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)) retrogradely transported markers injected with a micropipette into the anterior or posterior (vitreous) parts of the eye in rats aged 14, 31 and greater than 50 days. Using FB, we have shown that in 14-day-old rats, 40% of the neurones which project to the eye have collaterals in anterior and posterior compartments while only 1% of neurones maintain dual projections in animals aged more than 7 weeks. Furthermore, there is a reduction in the total number of neurones projecting to the eye between 14 and 31 days postbirth. The presence of significantly greater numbers of cells with collaterals to both eye compartments in the young versus the adult rats has been confirmed using both FB and HRP as retrograde markers. The importance of function on the rearrangement of these projections was investigated by either rearing animals in the dark from the time of birth, or by sectioning the preganglionic nerve trunk to the SCG, soon after birth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regeneration of the eight cranial nerve. I. Anatomic verification in the bullfrog.

The regenerative capacity of the eight cranial nerve of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was investigated. The nerve was sectioned between the ganglion and the brain stem in 16 experimental animals. Horseradish peroxidase was extracellularly injected distal to the site of the nerve section five or more weeks postoperatively. Labeled fibers were identified histologically and their central nervous system projections studied. The findings were as follows: 1. The eight cranial nerve of the bullfrog regenerated after preganglionic axotomy. 2. Fibers of all sizes regenerated. The regenerated fibers in the nerve were disorderly at the site of nerve section. Most fibers entered the brain stem and formed a vestibuloauditory tract, although some "escaped" and coursed along the brain stem. 3. The regenerated vestibuloauditory tract was situated more laterally than normal, with thick and thin fibers intermixed. 4. Regenerated tertiary fibers were long and tortuous and had unusual trajectories. 5. All vestibuloauditory nuclei received thick and thin afferent fibers.

Hyperhidrosis and its surgical treatment.

111 sections of high thoracic sympathectomies in 60 cases suffering from primary palmar hyperhidrosis are reported. Surgical results and postoperative complications are discussed in detail. Complications were few in number and were of a transitory nature. No mortality occurred in our series. Various surgical and nonsurgical procedures of treatment are reviewed. Surgical intervention remains the treatment of choice in essential idiopathic hyperhidrosis.

Effects of pre-ganglionic decentralization or post-ganglionic excision of the superior cervical ganglia on brain edema and heat stroke in rats.

The preventive effect of pre-ganglionic decentralization (Sympathetic trunk resectioN) or postganglionic excision (ganglionectomy) of the superior cervical ganglia on thermal injury induced brain edema or the development of heat stroke was assessed in rats. Brain edema was induced by cold or heat injury to the cortex in 24 rats. The results showed that decentralization, but not excision, of the superior cervical ganglia greatly inhibited the formation of brain edema which was subsequently induced. When heat stroke was induced by exposing 24 rats to an ambient temperature of 41 degree C, the latency for the onset of the heat stroke and the survival time after the heat stroke were greatly prolonged by the former surgical procedure, but shortened by the later one. The present study demonstrates the potential benefit to brain edema and heat stroke of the pretreatment with decentralization of the superior cervical ganglia.

Transnasal preganglionic vidian nerve section.

Vidian neurectomy is a useful procedure in relieving the symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis. However, the nerve is difficult to approach because of its deep location in the pterygopalatine fossa. A direct transnasal approach to the pterygopalatine fossa, passing through the sphenopalatine foramen in the lateral wall of the nose, is described and its merits are discussed. We have operated upon 247 cases by this approach over the past four years without any significant complications.

[Molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase in the chicken ciliary ganglion; changes after denervation, axotomy and double section]. / Formes moléculaires de l'acétylcholinestérase dans le ganglion ciliaire du Poulet; évolution après dénervation, axotomie et double section.

Four main molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with sedimentation coefficients of 5, 7.5, 11.5 and 20 S, are found in Chicken ciliary ganglion. After denervation, the loss in 11.5 and 20 S forms occuring in 48 hrs coincides with the disappearance of presynaptic structures. In contrast, axotomy induces an early and durable increase in 7.5 S form. From these results, it is inferred that 11.5 and 20 S forms are predominant in presynaptic structures and 7.5 S form is mainly postsynaptic. In addition, the effects observed after simultaneous denervation and axotomy show a reciprocal control between pre- and postsynaptic elements. Finally, a trans-synaptic effect is exerted on 20 S AChE in controlateral ganglion after preganglionic sections.

Infravesical nerve resection for detrusor dyssynergia. The Ingelman-Sundberg operation.

In 1959 a paper was published in Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand (38:487, 1959) by Axel Ingelman-Sundberg (1) entitled "Partial Denervation of the Bladder--a new operation for the treatment of Urge Incontinence and similar conditions in women". The basis for the operation was stated in the initial sentence: "The function of an autonomous neurogenic bladder is usually superior to that of a neurogenic bladder, where higher centers are still partially in function." His operation consisted of transection of the preganglionic pelvic nerves near the inferior surface of the bladder and involved division of both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nerves.