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Biomedical subjects

B Meister

Publications and source records attributed to B Meister.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Peptide-containing nerves in the human pregnant uterine cervix: an immunohistochemical study exploring the effect of RU 486 (mifepristone).

The presence of several neuropeptides (neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), galanin (GAL), enkephalin (ENK), somatostatin (SOM) was established in the early pregnant human cervix using indirect immunofluorescence immunohistochemistry. Several peptides (VIP, NPY, CGRP, GAL) were present both in free nerves among smooth muscle cells and around blood vessels. Others (SP, SOM) were only seen as single varicosities among smooth muscle cells. Randomized treatment of patients with RU 486 (mifepristone) prior to surgical sampling revealed no clearcut differences in peptide immunoreactivities. After RU 486 treatment, however, there was a tendency towards a decrease of NPY- and VIP-immunoreactivity, and an increase of CGRP-immunoreactivity.

Calcitonin↗
PubMed1990

Endogenous IFN-gamma during human bone marrow transplantation. Analysis of serum levels of interferon and interferon-dependent secondary messages.

Serum levels of interferon-gamma and the IFN-dependent marker molecules neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin were assessed in BMT recipients. Concentrations of the latter two markers were corrected for creatinine levels in order to eliminate the impact of alteration of kidney function. Serum levels were assessed daily using commercially available radioimmunoassays. Twelve patients were studied during the early phase of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and eleven additional patients during complications of BMT. Results indicated that both the conditioning regimen for BMT as well as major clinical complications such as infection and acute graft-versus-host disease strongly influence the endogenous patterns of the lymphokine and its secondary messages. During allogeneic BMT IFN-gamma and neopterin levels exhibited a biphasic pattern with a first peak during conditioning with high-dose cyclophosphamide and a second still higher peak at the time of hemopoietic regeneration. beta-2-microglobulin ratios increased during conditioning and remained elevated throughout observation. Serious infections of bacterial and viral origin as well as GvHD were accompanied by elevated levels of all three serum parameters studied. The kinetics of enhanced endogenous production, however, differed between infectious complications and GvHD. Increasing concentrations were observed during infections subsequent to clinical manifestation, whereas they preceded disease manifestation in GvHD.

Biopterins↗
PubMed1989

Galanin-, neuropeptide Y- and enkephalin-like immunoreactivities in catecholamine-storing paraganglia of the fetal guinea pig and newborn pig.

The occurrence and distribution of several neuropeptides and transmitter enzymes have been investigated by means of indirect immunofluorescence histochemistry in preaortal and carotid body-like paraganglia of the fetal guinea pig and the newborn pig. Preaortal paraganglia from the celiac and inferior mesenteric ganglion regions in fetal guinea pigs showed cell bodies immunoreactive (IR) for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), galanin (GAL) and metenkephalin (ENK). Almost all cells were IR for TH and DBH, whereas NPY-like immunoreactivity (-LI), GAL-LI and ENK-LI occurred less frequently. Direct double-labeling revealed the coexistence of NPY/GAL, NPY/ENK and GAL/ENK in paraganglion cells from the celiac and inferior mesenteric region. Nerve fibers and terminals were IR for ENK; fibers IR for calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) were present in the inferior mesenteric ganglion region. Preaortal paraganglia cells from the newborn pig showed TH-LI, DBH-LI, GAL-LI and ENK-LI, the distribution pattern being similar to that seen in the guinea pig; however, NPY-LI was absent. Carotid-body-like paraganglia from the newborn pig showed cell bodies IR to TH, GAL and ENK. Few cells were seen with DBH-LI. A rich supply of nerve fibers with CGRP-LI was present; some fibers exhibited ENK-LI and CCK-LI. In the adjacent superior cervical ganglion, ganglion cell bodies showed immunoreactivity to TH, DBH and NPY. A small number of cells were positive for GAL, CGRP and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Physiological activation of the paraganglia, leading to release or increase in catecholamines, may also change the content of the neuropeptides present in the paraganglia.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and binding sites in the rat mediobasal hypothalamus: effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) lesions.

Indirect immunofluorescence histochemistry and receptor autoradiography were used to study the localization of transmitter-/peptide-containing neurons and peptide binding sites in the mediobasal hypothalamus in normal rats and in rats treated neonatally with repeated doses of the neurotoxin monosodium-glutamate (MSG). In the arcuate nucleus, the results showed a virtually complete loss of cell bodies containing immunoreactivity for growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), galanin (GAL), dynorphin (DYN), enkephalin (ENK), corticotropin-like intermediate peptide (CLIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and neuropeptide K (NPK). Tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)-glutamic acid decarboxylase(GAD)-, neurotensin(NT)- and somatostatin(SOM)-immunoreactive (IR) cells were, however, always detected in the ventrally dislocated, dorsomedial division of the arcuate nucleus. In the median eminence, marked decreases in numbers of GAD-, NT-, GAL-, GRF-, DYN-, and ENK-IR fibers were observed. The numbers of TH-, SOM- and NPY-IR fibers were in contrast not or only affected to a very small extent, as revealed with the immunofluorescence technique. Biochemical analysis showed a tendency for MSG to reduce dopamine levels in the median eminence of female rats, whereas no effect was observed in male rats. Autoradiographic studies showed high to moderate NT binding sites, including strong binding over presumably dorsomedial dopamine cells. In MSG-treated rats, there was a marked reduction in GAL binding in the ventromedial nucleus. The findings implicate that most neurons in the ventrolateral and ventromedial arcuate nucleus are sensitive to the toxic effects of MSG, whereas a subpopulation of cells in the dorsomedial division of the arcuate nucleus, including dopamine neurons, are not susceptible to MSG-neurotoxicity. The results indicate, moreover that the very dense TH-IR fiber network in the median eminence predominantly arises from the dorsomedial TH-IR arcuate cells, whereas the GAD-, NT-, GAL-, GRF- and DYN-IR fibers in the median eminence to a large extent arise from the ventrolateral arcuate nucleus. Some ENK- and NPK-positive cells in the arcuate nucleus seem to project to the lateral palisade zone of the median eminence, but most of the ENK-IR fibers in the median eminence, located in the medial palisade zone, seem to primarily originate from an area(s) located outside the arcuate nucleus, presumably the paraventricular nucleus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) and dopamine DA1 agonist-sensitive Na+,K+-ATPase in renal tubule cells.

The cellular localization of DARPP-32, a dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of Mr 32,000 that appears to mediate certain actions of dopamine in the mammalian brain by acting as an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1, was studied in the kidney of several species. DARPP-32 mRNA and DARPP-32-like immunoreactivity were found in the cytoplasm of cells in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. The specific dopamine DA1 agonist SKF 82526 caused a dose-dependent inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase activity, which could be blocked by SCH 23390, a specific DA1 antagonist, and by PKI-(5-24) amide, a specific inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The results indicate that DA1 dopamine receptors and DARPP-32, an intracellular third messenger for dopamine, are part of the signal-transduction process for dopamine acting on renal tubule cells.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed1989

Lymphokine overproduction in severe aplastic anemia is not related to blood transfusions.

The production of interferons (IFNs), IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) and TNF-alpha (TNF-alpha) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) of untransfused and transfused, but otherwise untreated patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) was determined using bioassays and immunoassays. In untransfused and pretransfused SAA patients, spontaneous and lectin-induced production of these cytokines by PBMNCs was strongly enhanced. Cytokine production in untransfused SAA patients did not differ from that in pretransfused patients. Similar relative frequencies of activated (HLA-DR+) lymphocyte subpopulations present in the PBMNCs demonstrated cytokine overproduction per cells. Cytokine production was studied in three SAA patients before and after blood cell transfusions. Spontaneous and lectin-induced production of these cytokines was abnormally high and unaffected by blood transfusions. In another patient exhibiting abnormal cytokine production, the hematopoietic response to cyclosporin-A in vivo was accompanied by normalization of cytokine production in vitro. We conclude that overproduction of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha by lectin-stimulated PBMNCs is an intrinsic abnormality of SAA unrelated to blood transfusions. Normalization of production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha accompanying a clinical response to cyclosporin-A may cautiously be taken as further evidence suggesting a pathogenetic role of cytokine overproduction in SAA.

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMed1989

Hypothalamic neurosecretory systems and their messenger molecules.

The distribution and cellular localization of several transmitters, transmitter synthesizing enzymes and peptides in the arcuate, paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei are described with special focus on coexistence of messenger molecules. The role of these compounds in various neuroendocrine events is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Peptide- and transmitter-containing neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamus and their relation to GABAergic systems: possible roles in control of prolactin and growth hormone secretion.

Indirect immunofluorescence histochemistry was used to study the relation among GABAergic, catecholaminergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic neurons in the rat mediobasal hypothalamus. By employing a direct double-labelling procedure using sheep antiserum against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), mouse monoclonal and rabbit antibodies to neurotensin (NT) and rabbit antisera to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), galanin (GAL), growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), or somatostatin (SOM), it was demonstrated that GAD-positive fibers and terminals in the external part of the median eminence co-contained immunoreactivity for TH, NT, GAL or GRF, but not for SOM. In the internal part of the median eminence-infundibular stalk, GAD-positive/NT-, GAL-, and GRF-negative and GAD-positive/TH-positive fiber plexa were shown. When a recently developed direct triple-labelling procedure with biotin-conjugated mouse secondary antibodies in conjunction with diethylaminocoumarin (DAMC)-conjugated avidin was employed, presence of GAD/GAL/NT- as well as GAD/GRF/NT-containing varicosities could be demonstrated close to hypophysial portal vessels. In colchicine-pretreated animals, GAD was shown to coexist with TH, NT, or GAL in cell bodies in both the dorsomedial and ventrolateral domains of the arcuate nucleus, but with GRF only in the ventrolateral division. ChAT-positive neurons in the ventrolateral region were also TH-positive. In the ventrolateral arcuate nucleus, triple-labelling followed by elution-restaining showed GAD/NT/GAL/TH-immunoreactivities in the same cells. Similarly, double-labelling with two following elution-restaining steps showed several NT/GAL/GRF/TH-containing cell bodies in this part of the arcuate nucleus. GAD-positive cells in the anterior hypothalamic periventricular area and fibers in the pituitary neurointermediate lobe were also TH-positive. The results demonstrate complex patterns of storage of chemical messengers in neurons of the arcuate nucleus-median eminence complex. Possible neuroendocrine interactions of these systems in the control of prolactin and growth hormone secretion are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

DARPP-32 as a marker for D-1 dopaminoceptive cells in the rat brain: prenatal development and presence in glial elements (tanycytes) in the basal hypothalamus.

The present article reviews some aspects of the localization of a dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein, DARPP-32, which is assumed to be present in D-1 dopaminoceptive neurons. Its prenatal development starts at day 14 of gestation, is to a large extent complete at birth and seems to be independent of ingrowing dopamine-containing afferents. Rearrangements occur in certain areas, and in some systems DARPP-32 appears to be only transiently expressed. The presence of DARPP-32 in glial structures, the tanycytes, in the arcuate nucleus-median eminence complex in the mediobasal hypothalamus, has given further support to the hypothesis that dopamine, by controlling the shape of the tanycytes and the extension of their processes, can regulate LHRH release by a 'mechanical mechanism'. This hypothesis is now being examined in some experimental paradigms.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

DARPP-32, a dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein in tanycytes of the mediobasal hypothalamus: distribution and relation to dopamine and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons and other glial elements.

The distribution of a dopamine- and cyclic adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-regulated phosphoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 32,000 (DARPP-32) was investigated in the rat diencephalon and monkey hypothalamus by use of immunohistochemical techniques. In addition to single cells located peri- and paraventricularly in hypothalamus and thalamus in the rat, and ependymal cells, DARPP-32-immunoreactivity was found to be present in a subpopulation of ependymal tanycytes. These DARPP-32-positive tanycytes lined the walls and floor of the third ventricle, sending processes towards the arcuate nucleus, surrounding blood vessels in this nucleus, and continuing towards the median eminence, where they abutted on portal vessels. A second group of DARPP-32-positive tanycytes with cell bodies within the median eminence was also observed. Simultaneous labeling with antiserum against tyrosine hydroxylase, a presumptive marker for tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons, revealed a close relation to DARPP-32-containing tanycytes in several anatomical locations. Thus, in the periventricular area DARPP-32-positive tanycytes ensheathed tyrosine hydroxylase-positive processes. These processes, presumably representing dopaminergic dendrites, virtually penetrated between the ependymal cells to the ventricular space and thus perhaps established direct contact with the cerebrospinal fluid. Tyrosine hydroxylase-terminals were also observed in close association with DARPP-32-immunoreactive tanycytes in the rat median eminence. However, in view of the density of DARPP-32-positive processes in the external layer of the median eminence, the DARPP-32 processes may be related to a number of other types of nerve endings, including luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, as shown in this study. The close association of DARPP-32-immunoreactive processes with tyrosine hydroxylase- and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-immunoreactive nerve endings in the rat was directly visualized at the ultrastructural level using triple-labeling immunocytochemistry. Both the ultrastructural analysis and immunohistochemistry at the light microscopic level, comparing the distribution of DARPP-32 and glial fibrillary acidic protein, indicated the presence of two types of glial processes in the median eminence. The electron microscopic studies also suggested the presence of both DARPP-32-positive and DARPP-32-negative glial processes in the external layer of the median eminence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Studies on dopamine-, tyrosine hydroxylase- and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase-containing cells in the rat diencephalon: comparison between formaldehyde-induced histofluorescence and immunofluorescence.

The morphology, number and distribution of catecholaminergic neurons, as visualized either with the aluminum-catalysed formaldehyde method for catecholamines or with the immunohistochemical method for the catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, respectively, were analysed within the rat dorsal hypothalamus, ventral thalamus and adjoining regions (A11 and A13 cell groups). Both polyclonal rabbit and monoclonal mouse tyrosine hydroxylase antibodies were used in elution-restaining and double-staining experiments, respectively. Some of the animals also received spinal injections of the fluorescent tracer True Blue in order to retrogradely label cells projecting to the spinal cord. With respect to the number and distribution of catecholaminergic neurons in the A11 and medial A13 cell groups, including the spinal-projecting subpopulation, the results obtained with the two methods were very similar, indicating that within these regions of the CNS the two methods in principle visualize identical cell populations. However, the catecholaminergic cells were distinctly larger and their processes appeared more extensive with the immunohistochemical method. Animals processed for immunohistochemistry exhibited a lower total number of retrogradely labelled cells in the A11 area than those analysed with aldehyde-induced fluorescence despite the fact that both methods revealed similar numbers of retrogradely labelled tyrosine hydroxylase-positive and catecholamine-containing cells, respectively. The reason for these discrepancies, which are probably of methodological nature, are discussed. While this study shows that the results obtained with the two methods within the A11 and medial A13 cell group are very similar and thus strengthens the earlier proposed concept of the organization of the diencephalospinal dopaminergic system, it also documents that in intermingling and nearby CNS regions there are cell bodies which cannot be demonstrated with the aldehyde fluorescence method, but which still contain tyrosine hydroxylase and/or aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase-like immunoreactivity. One explanation is low levels of enzyme and/or dopamine combined with a comparatively low sensitivity of the histochemical method. Thus, neurons containing both enzymes are probably dopaminergic, even if catecholamine fluorescence cannot be demonstrated. Neurons containing tyrosine hydroxylase, but lacking both aldehyde induced fluorescence and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, may also still be dopaminergic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Immunohistochemical evidence for the existence of a dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) in brown adipose tissue of pigs.

The indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to study the cellular localization of DARPP-32, a dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein, in brown adipose tissue of newborn piglets. Clusters of strongly DARPP-32-immunoreactive cells were found in brown adipose tissue from the interscapular area and around lymph nodes close to the kidneys, adrenal glands, descending aorta, and great veins in the neck. The DARPP-32-immunoreactive cells contained multilocular lipid droplets, had round, centrally located nuclei, and were polygonal in shape, thus possessing characteristics and location sites typical for brown fat cells. The results indicate that brown adipose tissue from the newborn pig contains DARPP-32, an intracellular third messenger for dopamine. Together with recent functional data, these results strongly suggest that dopaminergic D1 mechanisms--i.e., activation of adenylate cyclase and formation of cyclic AMP--may be involved in cold-induced, nonshivering, and/or diet-induced thermogenesis.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗