Tissue culture study on neuronal migration in the rat cerebral cortex: effects of low dose radiation.

In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal migration in the developing rat cerebral cortex, a novel primary tissue culture system in which neuronal migration can be evaluated was developed. Using this culture system, through autoradiographic studies we demonstrated the migration of [3H]thymidine labeled cells, and also revealed that this neuronal migration was delayed by such low dose radiation as 10 cGy. In addition, an immunohistochemical study revealed that the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), was undetectable in the matrix cell layer. When anti-N-CAM monoclonal antibodies were added to the tissue culture system, the neuronal migration delay was comparable with that observed in the case of 20 cGy radiation. These results suggest that N-CAM is related to neuronal migration in the rat cerebrum and that the neuronal migration delay evoked by low dose radiation might be caused by disorder of N-CAM present in the matrix cells.

[Cerebral hypoperfusion and leukomalacia].

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is one of the neuropathological varieties of the neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Recently we established a new canine model of PVL, by ligation of bilateral common, external and internal carotid arteries. In this paper we describe the relationship between neuropathological and neurological/behavioral findings of the PVL dogs.

Bilateral carotid artery occlusion causes periventricular leukomalacia in neonatal dogs.

At 14 days of age, seven mongrel puppies were anesthetized and bilateral carotid arteries, not only the common but also the external and internal carotid arteries, were ligated with sutures. Seven sham-operated littermates served as controls. They were sacrificed at 3 months of age, and their brains were examined macro- and microscopically. Neuropathological examination revealed dilated posterior communicating and basilar arteries in bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO) animals. Six out of 7 BCAO brains had uni- or multiloculated cysts in the periventricular white matter which were surrounded by a band of GFAP-positive glial cells. Scattered small areas of gliosis were found in all experimental animals. Four BCAO brains also showed ventricular dilatation. Although the cerebral cortex seemed to be intact, the periventricular white matter and the corpus callosum were reduced in width in experimental animals. Myelination in the white matter was significantly reduced in BCAO animals compared with the controls. This study directly demonstrates that cerebral hypoperfusion alone can produce periventricular leukomalacia in neonatal dogs.

Administration of human leukocyte interferon to patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Between 1979 and 1982, fifteen patients with SSPE were treated with human leukocyte interferon (HuIFN-alpha). They were administered interferon (IFN) in doses ranging from 25 x 10(6) IU to 126 x 10(6) IU by various routes in regimens that ranged for 20 days to 14 months. In 3 of the 5 cases with rapid deterioration, HuIFN-alpha did not alter the course of the disease; however, 6 cases with mild progression showed various degrees of clinical improvement during the IFN therapy. In 3 of the 4 cases in remission, HuIFN-alpha caused no significant changes in clinical courses. No severe adverse reactions were seen during IFN administration. These results suggest that HuIFN-alpha has a potentially beneficial effect on the course of SSPE.