Localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-receptor-immunoreactivity in human salivary glands.

A monoclonal VIP-receptor antibody derived from a human adenocarcinoma cell line (HT 29) was used in combination with immunogold silver staining for the immunohistochemical demonstration of VIP-receptor (rec) immunoreactivity (IR) in paraffin-embedded human salivary glands (parotid, palatal, labial glands). VIP-rec-IR was localized to mucous endpieces of labial and--to a lesser extent--palatal glands, intercalated ducts of the parotid gland, and excretory ducts of all glands investigated. The findings correlate well with known effects of VIP on mucous release and electrolyte transport in salivary glands. Lack of VIP-rec-IR at serious acini may point to immunologically different receptor subtypes in these glands.

The innervation of the great saphenous vein: an immunohistochemical study with special regard to regulatory peptides.

The human great saphenous vein is often used in by-pass surgery. In spite of its importance little is known about the neuronal regulation and innervation of this vessel. On the other hand, therapeutic phlebectomy of the saphenous vein provides a good basis for investigations on the nervous supply of human veins. In former studies the human great saphenous vein has been proved to be a richly innervated portion of the low pressure vascular system. We studied the innervation of the proximal femoral saphenous vein by immunohistochemical methods and with special regard to regulatory neuropeptides. A peptidergic innervation mainly localized along the vasa vasorum and associated with immunoreactivity of substance P and CGRP was found which yields evidence for a mechanosensory innervation of this vascular segment.

Glomus tumours of the skin: an immunohistochemical investigation of the expression of marker proteins.

Immunohistochemical studies were carried out on cutaneous glomus tumours from 10 patients. The glomus areas in these tumours reacted strongly with anti-smooth muscle (CGA-7), anti-muscle (HHF-35) and anti-vimentin antibodies. Their neural supply was analysed using several nervous tissue markers (anti-neurone specific enolase, anti-S 100, anti-Leu 7, anti-neurofilaments). The results indicate a sprouting and proliferation rather than entrapment of pre-existing nerve fibres.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor-like immunoreactivity in human sweat glands.

Human sweat and sebaceous glands were studied immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody recognizing a vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptor. The staining pattern correlated well with the known distribution of sympathetic VIP-containing nerves in the human skin. The luminal cell layer of the sweat gland ducts and some acinar cells of the secretory coil of eccrine sweat glands were the major sites of VIP receptor-like immunoreactivity. From these findings and the known pharmacological actions of VIP it is concluded that a major role of VIP released from sympathetic nerves in the skin is to regulate chloride reabsorption from the primary sweat at the ductal segment.

[Unusual cutaneous angiofibromatosis following gold therapy of primary chronic polyarthritis]. / Ungewöhnliche kutane Angiofibromatose nach Goldtherapie einer primär chronischen Polyarthritis.

An unusual case of late cutaneous intolerance reaction following gold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis is reported. In keloidlike angiofibromatoid lesions that were spread over the upper part of the trunk and the arms, perivascular macrophages carrying gold deposits inside lysosomes were detected with two recently introduced methods--energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) and electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI)--for definitive ultrastructural localization.

Carcinoid tumors of the thymus. An immunohistochemical study.

Five carcinoid tumors of the thymus were screened immunohistochemically for the occurrence of neuropeptides (ACTH, calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, cholecystokinin, gastrin, neurotensin, somatostatin, substance P), as well as of serotonin, chromogranin A, and neuron-specific enolase. Most of the patients exhibited local symptoms evoked by growing tumor masses in the upper mediastinum without any clinical evidence of endocrine activity. Light and electron microscopic examination showed characteristic uniform large epithelial cells in polar or palisade arrangement, containing variable amounts of electron-dense secretory granules. Only a few of the tested neuropeptide antisera reacted with the investigated tumors. Cholecystokinin-immunoreactive cell populations were seen in all tumors. Expression of neurotensin could be observed in three neoplasms, two of which also exhibited ACTH immunoreactivity. Chromogranin A-immunoreactive cells were found in two neoplasms. Neuron-specific enolase showed strong staining in three tumors, one of the tumors also being immunoreactive for calcitonin. The results were confirmed by control reactions. Apart from the demonstration that conventional marker proteins are not reliable in identifying all carcinoid tumors, the present study proves that the visualization of neuropeptide-immunoreactive cells in thymus carcinoids does not necessarily correspond to the manifestation of the clinical symptoms. Furthermore, each of the investigated neoplasms, as also known from other carcinoid tumors, appears to be able to produce more than one hormone.

[Primary pulmonary hypertension in childhood--clinical course and morphologic correlations with particular reference to the endocrine heart]. / Primäre pulmonale Hypertonie im Kindesalter--klinischer Verlauf und morphologisches Korrelat unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des endokrinen Herzens.

This is a case report of a 13-year-old girl who developed clinical symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). The prognosis is determined by progressive overloading of the right heart. Tissue from both the right and the left atria was examined using immunohistochemical methods. Cardiodilatin/alpha-ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide)-producing myoendocrine cells were analysed. As recent investigations have shown, the atrium and especially the atrial appendages of the heart function as an endocrine organ which is stimulated by pressure and volume overload, and which produces a natriuretic and vasodilatory peptide hormone from myoendocrine cells. In our case we found a general hyperplasia of the myoendocrine cells of the right atrium which is interpreted as a secondary reaction towards an increasing overload. This also means a temporary compensation of the progressive obstruction of the small pulmonary arteries, initiated by vasodilatory heart peptides. These investigations are in agreement with those of other groups who found an increased production of cardiac hormones in atrial overload. In the perinuclear area, electron microscopy shows zones of autophagolysis and the typical specific atrial granules which account for a dysfunction of atrial myoendocrine cells, as seen in other cardiac diseases. Our results may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of PPH and may help in diagnosis and therapy.