Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Jayaraman

Publications and source records attributed to A Jayaraman.

67 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Brain stem afferents to the fastigial nucleus in the cat demonstrated by transport of horseradish peroxidase.

Although retrograde and anterograde degeneration studies have provided important information concerning brain stem afferents to the fastigal nucleus (FN), these data may be incomplete and should be confirmed by axonal transport methods. Attempts were made to inject horseradish peroxidase (HRP) unilaterally into the FN in a series of adult cats. Animals were perfused with dextran and a fixative solution of paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M phospate buffer. Representative sections were treated by the Graham and Karnovsky ('66) method. Selective HRP injections in one FN resulted in retrograde transport of the marker to Purkinje cells of the ipsilateral vermis and distinctive appendages of the contralateral medial accessory olivary (MAO) nucleus (nucleus beta and the dorso-medial cell column). Retrograde transport of the label was found bilaterally in cells of the medial (MVN) and inferior (IVN) vestibular nuclei, in cell group x and in the nucleus prepositus (PP). Labeled vestibular neurons, most numerous in MVN, were identified in dorsal, caudal and lateral regions, with a slight ipsilateral preponderance. Only a few neurons in caudal, dorsal and lateral regions of the IVN were labeled and none of these included cells of group f. Labeled cells in the caudal third of PP were greatest ipsilaterally. Rostral and caudal injections of FN labeled smaller numbers of cells in MVN, IVN, cell group x and PP. HRP injections of FN and portions of lobules VIII and IX resulted in bilateral retrograde labeling of larger numbers of cells in MVN, IVN and cell group x, and ipsilateral labeling of cells in group y and the interstitial nucleus of the vestibular nerve. Injections of HRP into basal folia of lobules V and VI resulted in retrograde transport of the marker to cells of the medial and dorsal accessory olivary nuclei contralaterally, and to cells of the ipsilateral accessory cuneate nucleus. Transport of label injected into portions of the pyramis was detected in parts of the contralateral MAO and bilaterally in parts of the pontine and reticulotegmental nuclei. This study suggests that the principal afferents of the fastigial nucleus arise from: (1) Purkinje cells of the ipsilateral vermis, (2) restricted portions of the contralateral MAO (nucleus beta and dorsomedial cell column), (3) portions of the MVN and IVN (bilaterally) and (4) caudal parts of the PP. Secondary vestibular inputs to the fastigial nucleus probably are relayed mainly by Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex.

Afferent Pathways↗

Cerebral arteriovenous malformation and the primitive trigeminal artery.

A 27-year-old woman with a small cerebral arteriovenous malformation and a primitive trigeminal artery had subarachnoid hemorrhage. This case and a review of the literature suggest that some of the "spontaneous" subarachnoid hemorrhages reported in patients with a primitive trigeminal artery may have been due to rupture of an unrecognized small arteriovenous malformation or aneurysm.

Adult↗

Projections of the globus pallidus and adjacent structures: an autoradiographic study in the monkey.

Because the globus pallidus gives rise to the principal efferent system of the corpus striatum and is traversed by several fibers systems, attempts were made to study the projections of its cells by autoradiographic technics. Tritiated amino acids (L-leucine, L-proline and L-lysine) were injected into: (1) the medial pallidal segment (MPS), (2) the MPS and the substantia innominata (SI), (3) portions of the MPS and the lateral pallidal segment (LPS) and (4) parts of the putamen. Cells labeled by injections of the MPS transported isotope to thalamic nuclei (ventral anterior, VApc, ventral lateral, VLo and VLm, and the centromedian, CM), the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), and the lateral habenular nucleus (Hbl). Labeled cells of the MPS and SI transported isotope to: (1) thalamic nuclei (VLo, VLm and CM), (2) PPN, (3) Hbl, (4) lateral and posterior regions of the hypothalamus, and (5) extensive dorsal regions of the substantia migra (SN). Comparisons of label transported from uptake of isotope by cells of the MPS, and cells of both pallidal segments, suggest that the LPS projects fibers only to the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Not all regions of the STN appear to receive fibers from the LPS. Selectively labeled neurons of the putamen transport isotope to broad regions of both pallidal segments and to the pars reticulata of the SN. This study suggests that cells of the MPS project profusely and topographically to: (1) the rostral ventral tier thalamic nuclei (VApc, VLo and VLm), (2) lateral portions of CM, and (3) the PPN. Fibers of the lenticular fasciculus appear to terminate preferentially in VLo. Cells in sublenticular portions of SI, and those extending into the medullary laminae of the pallidum, appear to project to: (1) HB1 via the stria medullaris, (2) the pars compacta of SN, (3) lateral and posterior regions of the hypothalamus, and (4) the so-called nucleus of the ansa lenticularis. Some fibers from cells of SI appear to join the dorsal stria terminalis, but none enter the inferior thalamic peduncle and none project to any part of the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus.

Amygdala↗

Hydrocephalus in Down's syndrome.

An infant with hydrocephalus, aqueductal stenosis and partial agenesis of the corpus callosum in association with Down's syndrome is reported. Review of the literature reveals that hydrocephalus is infrequent in Down's syndrome. Of special interest is the occurrence of agenesis of the corpus callosum in our patient, a lesion often reported with other chromosomal abnormalities, but not previously observed in Down's syndrome.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone metabolism is attenuated in the cerebrospinal fluid of the human neonate.

The present study was designed to investigate the ontogeny of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) metabolism in human cerebrospinal fluid (CFS). The activity of pyroglutamate aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.8), the major enzyme catalyzing TRH metabolism in human CSF, was measured in CSF of 11 premature infants (gestational age, 29-39 weeks; birth weight, 1774 +/- 274 g), 8 newborn infants (term delivery; birth weight, 3648 +/- 240 g), and 11 adults (mean age, 29.6 +/- 1.5 years). Pyroglutamate aminopeptidase activity in CSF of premature and newborn infants was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than that of adult CSF. These observed differences in the enzymatic activities were not due to changes in the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate TRH or the presence of enzyme inhibitor(s)/stimulator(s).

Adult↗

Distribution and metabolism of cyclo (His-Pro): a new member of the neuropeptide family.

Cyclo (His-Pro) is a biologically active cyclic dipeptide derived from thyrotropin-releasing hormone by its limited proteolysis. We have developed a specific radioimmunoassay for this cyclic peptide and shown its presence throughout rat and monkey brains. The normal rat brain concentration of cyclo (His-Pro) ranged from 35-61 pmols/brain. The elution profiles of rat brain cyclo (His-Pro)-like immunoreactivity and synthetic radioactive cyclo (His-Pro) following gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, and high pressure liquid chromatography were similar. An analysis of the regional distribution of cyclo (His-Pro) and TRH in rat and monkey brains exhibited no apparent precursor-product relationship. The possible additional factors determining regional differences in the endogenous cyclo (His-Pro) concentrations are discussed. The endogenous levels of brain cyclo (His-Pro) were elevated when rats were made either hypothyroid by surgical thyroidectomy or forced to drink alcohol for six weeks. These studies demonstrate that cyclo (His-Pro) is present throughout the central nervous system in physiologically relevant concentrations which can be modulated by appropriate physiological and pharmacological manipulations. These data in conjunction with earlier reports of multiple biological activities of exogenous cyclo (His-Pro), suggest that endogenous cyclo (His-Pro) is a biologically active peptide and it may play a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator role in the central nervous system.

Alcoholism↗

Localization of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in the cat hypothalamus.

The distribution pattern of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-Li) in cat hypothalamus was studied using avidin-biotin modification of immunocytochemical method. This study showed cell bodies containing NPY-Li in the periventricular and the infundibular nuclei and also a moderate number of neurons with NPY-Li in the ventromedial nucleus, an observation not reported in earlier studies. Fibers with NPY-Li were noted throughout the hypothalamus, but most prominently within the periventricular regions. The location of NPY cells within the hypothalamus suggests the possibility of an interaction with dopaminergic and other proopiomelanocortinergic neurons.

Animals↗

The distribution pattern of alpha-MSH-like immunoreactivity in the cat central nervous system.

The distribution pattern of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone-like immunoreactivity (alpha-MSH-Li) was studied in cats using avidin-biotin modification of immunocytochemical method. Cell bodies containing alpha-MSH-Li were observed in the medial basal hypothalamus, especially in the infundibular nucleus, the lateral hypothalamus and near zona incerta. Fibers with alpha-MSH-Li extended beyond the hypothalamus, into the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, rostral amygdala, periaqueductal gray, locus ceruleus, parabrachial nucleus and medial nucleus of the nucleus tractus solitarius. Axons with alpha-MSH-Li were also seen diffusely in various cortical areas, but more extensively in the limbic cortical regions. The distribution pattern of the cell bodies and fibers containing alpha-MSH-Li bears several similarities to that seen in rats, but differs in that the alpha-MSH-Li was not observed in cell bodies in locations other than the medial basal and lateral hypothalamus.

Animals↗

Thermal unfolding of bacteriophage T4 short tail fibers.

The short tail fibers of bacteriophage T4 are composed of a homotrimer of the product of gene 12 (P12) with a molecular weight of 165,000. P12 is capable of reconstituting defective phage particles lacking gene 12. After heating to 75 degrees C, P12 was able to retain 90% of its ability to reconstitute T412- particles. When heated above 75 degrees C, P12 was no longer capable of fully reconstituting defective phage particles. By 95 degrees C, the reconstitution efficiency of the P12 preparation was reduced by 4 orders of magnitude. Thermal unfolding was also monitored by heating the protein in the presence of SDS to freeze partially unfolded states; by protease hydrolysis; and by intrinsic fluorescence changes. Exposure to SDS had little effect for temperatures up to 55 degrees C, but by 65 degrees C, the reconstitution efficiency of P12 treated with 0.01% SDS dropped to less than 1% of the original titer. Thermolysin digestion of P12 heated to various temperatures showed that treated P12 started to inactivate before 45 degrees C and inactivation was essentially complete by 55 degrees C. Intrinsic fluorescence data of heated P12 indicated that the protein begins to unfold by 45 degrees C and exhibits distinct peak shifts at 60 degrees C and above 80 degrees C. We conclude that, in the absence of SDS or proteases, P12 heated to 75 degrees C can refold back to an active conformation. Trimeric P12 undergoes some irreversible denaturation between 75 and 85 degrees C, and heating between 85 and 95 degrees C results in dissociation of P12 into monomers.

Bacteriophage T4↗