Involvement of the white matter in hypomelanosis of Ito (incontinentia pigmenti achromiens).

We report our clinical and neuroradiologic findings in 13 patients affected by hypomelanosis of Ito. Seven patients were boys and six were girls; their ages ranged from 11 months to 16 years. Neurologic signs were present in all but two cases, and they consisted of language disabilities, seizures, hypotonia, mental retardation, and autistic behavior. MRI was performed in all patients. We observed anomalies of the white matter in seven of the 13 patients; all but one of these seven had neurologic signs that included seizures, hypotonia, language disabilities, and mental retardation. The abnormal signals in the white matter were mostly located in the parietal periventricular and subcortical regions of both hemispheres. Moreover, we found asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres in one of our 13 patients and atrophy of the cerebellar vermis in another patient, with no involvement of the white matter in either. In the remaining four of the 13 patients results of MRI appeared normal. There was a relationship between the anomalies in the central nervous system at MRI, as a whole, and the neurologic manifestations, even though two patients with apparently normal images on MRI had partial and generalized tonic clonic seizures, respectively. A correlation was also found between white matter anomalies and neurologic signs; extended and deep changes in white matter images were associated with more severe neurologic abnormalities and delayed language milestones appeared to be a constant finding in this group of patients. These anomalies of the white matter, which did not progress over time, resembled those seen in other neurocutaneous syndromes. The hypothesis is presented that underlying disarray of cortical lamination or neuronal loss with subsequent wallerian degeneration and altered or delayed myelination could be the cause of the abnormal findings on MRI.

CT morphology of a median nerve neurilemmoma at the arm. Case report and review.

Computed tomography was performed in a patient with a median nerve tumor at the arm, histologically confirmed as neurilemmoma. Neurilemmoma was a slightly hypodense, solid tumor with no vascular contrast enhancement. To our knowledge this is the first CT description of a median nerve neurilemmoma at the arm. According to our experience and to previous literature, CT gives useful information regarding extent, anatomic location, size and relationship of peripheral nerve neoplasm to surrounding structures and may be an useful tool for evaluation arm nerve mass and for appropriate planning of surgical therapy.

Acrofacial dysostosis of Nager and ocular abnormalities.

Acrofacial dysostosis of Nager is a little known hereditary syndrome in which the findings of mandibulofacial dysostosis are associated with defects of the limbs. The present case showed other abnormalities including the Stilling-Turk-Duane syndrome, conductive deafness and ptosis of the transverse colon.

[Role of the amygdala in the sedation induced by low doses of apomorphine]. / Ruolo dell'amigdala nella sedazione indotta da basse dosi di apomorfina.

In the present study the role of amygdala in the antidepressant action of imipramine is discussed. An animal model of depression is induced, in rats, by systemic injection of low doses of apomorphine. Systemic administration of imipramine prevents, as already reported, apomorphine-induced sedation. The same effect is observed following intra-amygdaloid imipramine administration. On the contrary, local injection of imipramine in frontal cortex or caudate nucleus does not affect apomorphine-induced sedation.

[Modification of the nigro-striatal system by estrogens and prolactin. Clinical and experimental data]. / Modulazione del sistema nigrico-striatale da parte di estrogenie prolattina. Dati clinici e sperimentali.

We have investigated the effects of estrogens and prolactin on nigro-striatal dopaminergic function. In this regard, apomorphine-induced hyperactivity has been evaluated in hyperprolactinemic rats. Results obtained suggest the possibility that hyperprolactinemia potentiates nigro-striatal dopaminergic transmission inducing, in chronic, charges in dopamine receptor sensitivity. As a neurochemical parameter of the extrapyramidal motor system, we have investigated the activity of the GABA-synthesizing enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD, EC 4.1.1.15) in corpus striatum and substantia nigra. Hyperprolactinemia induced by anterior pituitary homograft under the kidney capsule or systemic sulpiride injection significantly increases GAD activity. In contrast, estrogen treatment decreases nigral GAD activity even though increases plasma prolactin levels. From a clinical point of view, preliminary data indicating a good therapeutical efficacy of estrogens and progesterone in psychiatric patients are reported.

[Hyperprolactinemia and catalepsy induced by haloperidol]. / Iperprolattinemia e catalessi indotta da aloperidolo.

The effect of endogenous hyperprolactinemia induced by pituitary transplantation under the kidney capsule on haloperidol induced catalepsy was evaluated in male Wistar rats treated with two doses of the drug (500 gamma/kg; 2 mg/kg i.p.). Rats of 220 +/- 30 g received intraperitoneal injection of haloperidol. Every five minutes following drug administration the rats were assessed for catalepsy by placing the forepaw on a horizontal bar, and observed for two minutes. Data obtained show that hyperprolactinemia potentiates the cataleptic score in rats treated with dose of 500 gamma/kg i.p., while no significant difference was observed between hyperprolactinemic rats and control rats, at the dose of 2 mg/kg i.p. of haloperidol.