[Identification of cells of the central nervous system using cell-specific markers]. / Identifizierung von Zellen des Zentralnerven-systems mittels zellspezifischer Marker.

Cell markers are membrane-associated components of the cellular wall or intracellular substances which are specific for the cell types of any tissue. Markers of the major cell types of the central nervous system (CNS) essentially are the components of the cytoskeleton (microtubules, intermediate filaments), several intracytoplasmic enzymes, and specific components of myelin (myelin proteins, myelin-associated glycoproteins, lipids). In this review the fundamental characteristics of specific CNS markers (astroglia, oligodendroglia, neurons) are discussed and examples of marker application in human and veterinary medical neurosciences are presented.

[Epidermotropic lymphosarcoma (mycosis fungoides) in a dog]. / Epidermotropes Lymphosarkom (Mycosis fungoides) bei einem Hund.

The clinical findings in a 16-year-old dog with mycosis fungoides are described. The definitive diagnosis was based on the characteristic histopathological lesions in the skin and mucosal biopsies. An immunohistological examination using monoclonal antibodies directed against the Thy-1 antigen of canine peripheral T lymphocytes did not give any further evidence of the identity of the infiltrating lymphoid cells.

Immunohistological detection of bovine viral diarrhoea virus antigen in the central nervous system of persistently infected cattle using monoclonal antibodies.

In a total of 25 cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) the distribution of viral antigens in the central nervous system was studied. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (anti pestivirus C16; anti cytophathic BVDV C38; anti cytopathic and non-cytopathic BVDV C42; anti gp53 BVDV CA-1 and CA-3) and the indirect immunoperoxidase technique, BVDV antigen was located exclusively in neurons. Predilection sites for viral persistence were cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Morphological cellular alterations were not seen. Reactive perivascular lymphocytic infiltrations were occasional findings.

Detection of canine distemper viral antigen in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue of a fitch (Mustela putorius), using an immunoperoxidase technique.

The present study describes how a naturally infected fitch (Mustela putorius) caused an outbreak of canine distemper in a colony of insufficiently vaccinated dogs. The detection of canine distemper virus (CDV) on paraffin sections of different organs of the fitch and one of the dead dogs was achieved using a monoclonal antibody against the nucleocapsid protein (NP) of CDV and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) technique.

Detection of circulating immune complexes in MRL mice with different forms of glomerulonephritis.

Serum levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in MRL mice were determined using the 125I-C1q binding test and a conglutinin enzyme assay. The serum 125I-C1q and conglutinin binding capacity were correlated to the development of different forms of glomerulonephritis (GN) detected by light microscopy. The study was carried out with a total of 132 MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr and MRL/MpJ(-)+/+ mice of different age groups. From the age of 3 months on an enormous elevation of C1q- and conglutinin-binding CIC occurred in MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr mice, while in MRL/MpJ(-)+/+ mice the mean values of CIC remained low in all age groups studied. The results corresponded to histopathological glomerular findings. In lpr/lpr-mice, from the age of 3 months on, extremely severe proliferative forms of GN occurred. In most cases of +/+(-)mice examined comparatively mild glomerular lesions were found. In serum samples of Han:NMRI and C3H/He mice an increase of conglutinin-binding material was found in certain age groups, while the levels of 125I-C1q binding activity remained low in mice of all age groups studied.

[Reaggregating brain cell cultures: methodical aspects, morphological and biochemical characteristics, possible applications]. / Reaggregierende Gehirnzellkulturen: Methodische Aspekte, morphologische und biochemische Charakteristika, Anwendungsmöglichkeiten.

A survey is given of the characteristics of the culture system of rotation-mediated reaggregating brain cell cultures. Aggregates of dissociated fetal brain cells of different species undergo morphological and biochemical differentiation in vitro, which resembles normal brain development in vivo. The usefulness of this system, e.g. for virological investigations in veterinary medical research is discussed.

Viral antigen distribution in the central nervous system of cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Distribution of viral antigens in the central nervous system of 25 cattle with a persistent bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection was studied. Using a polyclonal antiserum produced in pigs and the direct immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase technique, BVDV antigen was located exclusively in neurons. Predilection sites for viral persistence were cerebral cortex and hippocampus; in other areas of brain and spinal cord, viral antigens were in single neurons or small groups of neurons. There was no morphological evidence of cellular alteration due to viral persistence. Perivascular lymphocytic infiltrations were in affected nervous tissue. It is concluded that the central nervous system is an important location for persistence of BVDV.

[The pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis in MRL mice--murine lupus erythematosus]. / Untersuchungen zur Pathogenese der Glomerulonephritis bei MRL-Mäusen--muriner Lupus erythematodes.

In a sequential study the spontaneously occurring glomerular lesions in MRL mice were analysed by light and immunofluorescence microscopy. The study was carried out with a total of 265 MRL mice of both substrains (MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr and -+/+) and of different age-groups. The glomerular lesions were classified in five forms of glomerulonephritis (GN): focal GN, diffuse GN, intra- and extracapillary-proliferative (crescentic) GN, membranoproliferative GN, and membranous GN. Crescentic GN was exclusively seen in mice of substrain lpr/lpr. Marked substrain-related differences concerning frequency, age of onset and severity of glomerular lesions were found. The occurrence of severe glomerulopathies in mice of substrain lpr/lpr at the age of 3 months was associated with a highly significant increase of circulating immune complexes.

[Pathogenesis of spontaneous chronic polyarthritis in MRL mice]. / Beitrag zur Pathogenese der spontanen chronischen Polyarthritis der MRL-Mäuse.

In a sequential study the pathogenesis of chronic polyarthritis occurring spontaneously in MRL mice was analysed by light microscopy. A total of 128 MRL mice of both substrains (MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr and +/+) and different age groups was studied. In 50 lpr/lpr mice, tinctorial and histochemical methods were applied for the identification of fibrin/fibrinoid, iron compounds, amyloid, and proteoglycan. The earliest lesions seen in mice of substrain lpr/lpr at the age of 2 months were proliferation of synovial lining cells and loss of tinctorially demonstrable proteoglycan in the articular cartilage. Beginning at 3 months, severe joint destruction associated with pannus formation was encountered usually in knee, carpal and tarsal joints. Besides inflammatory processes in tendons, nerves and musculature fibrinoid-necrotising panarteritis occurred in the intra- and extraarticular tissue. Furthermore, fibrin-containing exudations and deposits of fibrinoid material, occurred in the synovium of large joints and in the periarticular connective tissue of phalangeal joints. The occurrence of these morphological changes, destructive arthritis, vasculitis and periarticular inflammatory changes, was, at the age of 3 months, associated with a highly significant increase of circulating immune complexes. In mice of substrain +/+ aged 1 year and older, arthritic changes with synovial lining cell proliferation, cartilage destruction and inflammatory periarticular lesions developed.

Sequential study of vasculitis in MRL mice.

The frequency, age of onset and organ distribution of spontaneously occurring vasculitis was examined in a sequential study with 170 MRL mice of both substrains. Necrotizing vasculitis was seen in 55.8% of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice studied, beginning at the age of 3 months. The kidney and urinary bladder were most frequently involved. In MRL/Mp- +/+ mice necrotizing vasculitis was much less frequently present (7.6%), beginning at the age of 18 months, and was seen only in the kidney, stomach and testes. In both substrains mononuclear infiltration of pulmonary vessel walls preceded the occurrence of necrotizing arteritis in other organs. The immunofluorescence study revealed the presence of immune complex components (immunoglobulin G, C3, murine leukaemia virus antigen gp71) in the vessel walls of the renal arteries of six out of 36 lpr/lpr mice with necrotizing arteritis.