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Biomedical subjects

C S Lin

Publications and source records attributed to C S Lin.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Nonintralaminar thalamostriatal projections in the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and tree shrew (Tupaia glis).

In mammals, the corpus striatum receives prominent projections from the neocortex and from the intralaminar nuclei of the dorsal thalamus. The present study provides evidence based on anterograde degeneration and axonal transport that the corpus striatum also receives input from two nonintralaminar thalamic nuclei, the pulvinar and the medial geniculate body. Each of these nuclei projects to a separate region of the corpus striatum. Moreover, the same regions of the corpus striatum that receive projections from the pulvinar and medial geniculate body also receive projections from the cortical targets of these nuclei.

Animals↗

Mapping the body representation in the SI cortex of anesthetized and awake rats.

We have used single unit recording techniques to map the representation of cutaneous and joint somatosensory modalities in the primary somatosensory (SI) cortex of both anesthetized and awake rats. The cytoarchitectonic zones within the rat SI were divided into the following main categories: (1) granular zones (GZs)--areas exhibiting koniocortical cytoarchitecture (i.e., containing dense aggregates of layer IV granule cells), (2) perigranular zones (PGZs)--narrow strips of less granular cortex surrounding the GZs, and (3) dysgranular zones (DZs)--large areas of dysgranular cortex enclosed within the SI. The narrow strip between the SI and the rostrally adjacent frontal agranular cortex was termed the "transitional zone" (TZ). Initial computer-based studies of the properties of cutaneous receptive fields (RFs) in SI showed that, although there were differences in response threshold, adaptability, frequency response, and overall RF size and shape of adjacent neurons, the size and location of the "centers" of the RFs were quite constant and were similar to those seen in multiple unit recordings. The same was true of RFs of single neurons recorded through different anesthetic states. The body representation in SI was first mapped by determining single unit and unit cluster RFs within a total of 2,170 microelectrode penetrations in barbiturate-anesthetized rats. Cutaneous RFs in the GZs were quite discrete. Thus, a single, finely detailed, continuous map of the cutaneous periphery was definable within the GZs themselves. Only the forepaw had a double representation. RFs in the PGZs were larger and more diffuse, but since they covered roughly the same skin areas as the RFs in the most closely adjacent GZs, they fit into the same body map. Neurons in the DZs were unresponsive to any sensory stimuli in the anesthetized animal. In chronically implanted, freely moving, awake animals cutaneous RFs were larger and more volatile than in the anesthetized, but the accuracy of the map was clearly preserved by the fact that the locations of the RF centers (which often must be defined quantitatively) were unchanged. The PGZs and DZs in the awake animals exhibited a multimodal convergence of cutaneous and joint movement RFs within single vertical penetrations, or even on single neurons. Directionally specific and bilateral cutaneous RFs were also observed in the DZs. It was concluded the DZs are more associational or integrative areas within the SI, but they could not be shown to comprise a distinct and separate body representation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Anesthesia, General↗

Response properties of neurons in the visual cortex of the rat.

Response properties of neurons in the visual cortex, area 17, of Long Evans pigmented rats were investigated quantitatively with computer-controlled stimuli. Ninety percent of the cells recorded (296/327) were responsive to visual stimulation. The majority (95%, 281/296) responded to moving images and were classified as complex (44%), simple (27%), hypercomplex (13%) and non-oriented (16%) according to criteria previously established for cortical cells in the cat and monkey. The remaining 5% of the neurons responded only to stationary stimuli flashed on-off in their receptive field. Results of this study indicate that neurons of the rat visual cortex have properties similar to those of cells in the striate cortex of more 'visual' mammals.

Animals↗

The interatrial septal echocardiogram: relationship to left atrial volume change in the normal and diseased heart.

The echocardiogram of the interatrial septum (IAS) was examined using the right-sided parasternal approach. The IAS can be detected in 56% of patients with heart disease and in 24% of normal subjects. In this study, we analyzed 15 normal subjects and 35 patients with right (RA) or left (LA) atrial overloading. The normal IAS shows anterior motion during ventricular systole and predominantly posterior motion in three phases during ventricular diastole. The normal IAS motion is easily correlated with events in the cardiac cycle and reflects LA volume change. In patients with pure mitral stenosis (MS), the IAS was motionless and the total amplitude of the IAS echocardiogram was decreased. In seven patients with pure mitral regurgitation (MR), the features of systolic fluttering (SF) and systolic premature anterior motion (SPAM) of the IAS movement were noted in three and six patients, respectively. The total amplitude of the IAS echocardiogram was increased. In 14 patients with MS combined with MR, SPAM was noted in six patients and three other patients presented SF of the IAS. The total amplitude of the IAS echocardiogram was normal or decreased. In two patients with tricuspid regurgitation, a reverse systolic motion of the IAS was found. These abnormal IAS motions can be explained on the basis of LA volume changes in each type of heart disease. Thus, a study of IAS motion can aid the understanding of various cardiac disease states.

Cardiac Volume↗

Molecular cloning and characterization of mutant and wild-type human beta-actin genes.

There are more than 20 beta-actin-specific sequences in the human genome, many of which are pseudogenes. To facilitate the isolation of potentially functional beta-actin genes, we used the new method of B. Seed (Nucleic Acids Res. 11:2427-2446, 1983) for selecting genomic clones by homologous recombination. A derivative of the pi VX miniplasmid, pi AN7 beta 1, was constructed by insertion of the 600-base-pair 3' untranslated region of the beta-actin mRNA expressed in human fibroblasts. Five clones containing beta-actin sequences were selected from an amplified human fetal gene library by homologous recombination between library phage and the miniplasmid. One of these clones contained a complete beta-actin gene with a coding sequence identical to that determined for the mRNA of human fibroblasts. A DNA fragment consisting of mostly intervening sequences from this gene was then used to identify 13 independent recombinant copies of the analogous gene from two specially constructed gene libraries, each containing one of the two types of mutant beta-actin genes found in a line of neoplastic human fibroblasts. The amino acid and nucleotide sequences encoded by the unmutated gene predict that a guanine-to-adenine transition is responsible for the glycine-to-aspartic acid mutation at codon 244 and would also result in the loss of a HaeIII site. Detection of this HaeIII polymorphism among the fibroblast-derived clones verified the identity of the beta-actin gene expressed in human fibroblasts.

Actins↗

Two-dimensional echocardiographic detection of pericardiocentesis-induced intrapericardial thrombus.

Heart puncture-induced hemopericardium is a serious complication of the pericardiocentesis. Two-dimensional echocardiographic examination performed in two patients just before and after the development of hemopericardium revealed a unique image in which pericardial bleeding manifested itself by an echodensity thrombus appearance adjacent to the cardiac chambers. With appropriate differentiation to some other intrapericardial echodensity masses, such distinctive images can be highly specific for active bleeding into the pericardial sac.

Aged↗

Capsular polysaccharides of nongroupable streptococci that cross-react with pneumococcal group 19.

The cross-reactivity and chemical characterization of the nongroupable streptococcal and pneumococcal group 19 polysaccharides (PS) have been studied. Extensive cross-reactions were observed between capsular PSs of streptococcal strains 14636/74, 4907, 4731 and pneumococcal type 19F and 19A antisera. Streptococcal 14636/74 PS had an identical composition to that of pneumococcal 19F PS. Type 19F and 14636/74 PS were composed of equimolar amounts of rhamnose, glucose, N-acetyl mannosamine, and phosphorus. The capsular PS of strains 4731 and 4907 contained rhamnose, glucose, ribose, N-acetyl mannosamine, and N-acetyl glucosamine in different molar ratios. Extensive immunologic reactivity was observed between the 19F and 14636/74 PS, as determined by light scattering rate nephelometry, passive immune hemolysis, and precipitin reaction. There was an identity reaction by immunodiffusion between type 19F and 14636/74 PS when reacted with rabbit antiserum against either organism. Biochemical studies showed that strain 14636/74 was not a pneumococcus, because it was optochin resistant, was bile insoluble, did not possess the C-carbohydrate antigen common to all pneumococci, and produced neither pneumolysin nor IgA protease. Furthermore, it grew in comparatively simple media in contrast to the complex nutritional requirements of pneumococci. The 13C-NMR spectra of the 19F and 14636/74 PS were identical. These two capsular PS can, therefore, be considered identical.

Animals↗

[Tumor cell kinetics in uterine cervical carcinoma following irradiation].

15 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix which received radiotherapy were investigated in order to elucidate tumor cell kinetics following irradiation. The DNA content of Pararosanillin-Feulgen stained tumor cells were measured by fluorescence cytophotometry which provided great precision in the field of microspectrophotometry. Besides the cell preparation, tumor cells were precisely identified under blue light excitation (405nm). It is of great value to obtain a reliable DNA histogram of tumor cells with this method. In both groups of radioresistant cases (n = 3) and radiosensitive cases (n = 12), the same trend in cell kinetics was noted until 1400 rad, such as G2-block, endoreduplication, and a decrease in the 2c cell (G0 + G1) population. Most of the residual cells at 3000 rad of radioresistant cases showed little irradiation-induced morphological change. These cells were proved to be 2C cells in this study. This indicates that these radioresistant cells were non-cycling cells (G0). The mean value for the 2C cell population before irradiation was 65% in radioresistant cases and 46% in radiosensitive cases, respectively. The former contained a larger proportion of 2C cells than the latter. Clinically, the 2C cell population before irradiation may be used as a useful parameter to forecast radiosensitivity.

Aged↗

A computer-interfaced photometer and systematic spacing of duplicates to control within-plate enzyme-immunoassay variation.

A Multiskan photometer for reading microtiter plate enzyme immunoassays was linked with a time sharing computer to facilitate control of assay variation and analysis of results. The interface that converted photometer output to RS-232-C format required changes to divide the output into segments short enough for input to the computer. To measure within-plate variation and investigate how the method of allocating sample duplicates to plate wells may affect the estimation of sample variance, uniformity tests were conducted with 47 plates. Coefficients of variation (CV) among wells within-plates ranged from 4.6 to 20.7% and in two-thirds of the plates exceeded 10%. Duplicates allocated to adjacent wells (method 1) gave consistently higher CV for sample means than duplicates allocated to opposite plate quadrants (method 2). In general, the CV by method 2 was about 30% smaller than that by method 1. Analysis of variance confirmed the effectiveness of the quadrant pattern of duplicate allocation as a method of controlling variation that arises from well position effects.

Analysis of Variance↗

The distribution of neocortical projection neurons in the locus coeruleus.

The present study was conducted to examine the spatial organization of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons that project to rat cerebral cortex. Long-Evans hooded rats received unilateral pressure injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in either frontal (n = 6) or sensorimotor (n = 11) or occipital (n = 7) cortex to determine the intranuclear location of LC neurons which project to specific neocortical regions. Coronal and sagittal sections (40-100 micron) through the LC were examined by light microscopy after carrying out the tetramethyl benzidine reaction and staining with neutral red. The locations of retrogradely labeled cells were recorded on a three-dimensional biological coordinate system maintained by a computer linked to the light microscope. LC neurons labeled from cerebrocortical injections of HRP were primarily located in the ipsilateral and to a lesser extent (fewer than 5% of total labeled cells) in the contralateral nucleus. Coeruleocortical projection neurons were concentrated in the caudal three-fifths of the dorsal division of the ipsilateral LC. Within this portion of the nucleus, HRP-filled neurons were distributed so that individual groups of cells projecting to occipital or sensorimotor or frontal cortex were coarsely aligned in a dorsal to ventral array, respectively. Moreover, in the sagittal plane of the nucleus the pattern of labeling was spatially graded so that the subset of neurons projecting to the occipital cortex was displaced more caudally in the LC than the groups of cells sending axons to sensorimotor or frontal cortex. Only the frontal area of the cortex received a projection from both dorsal and ventral divisions of the ipsilateral LC. Computer-assisted analysis of the data further suggested that neocortical projection neurons in the dorsal LC are loosely organized into two groups which run rostrocaudally through the core of the caudal nucleus. The zone of labeling resulting from injections confined to the neocortical gray matter overlapped with but was not coextensive with that observed following injections into the caudate, hippocampus, and cerebellum. These results suggest that partially overlapping subsets of LC cells might independently influence separate populations of neurons within noradrenergic terminal fields of the neocortex.

Afferent Pathways↗

Distribution and morphology of functionally identified neurons in the visual cortex of the rat.

The distribution and morphology of functionally identified neurons were examined in the visual cortex of Long Evans pigmented rats. The results, based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of single cell spike activity, have shown that neurons in the rat visual cortex have well-defined receptive field properties and are similar to those reported for animals with more highly developed visual systems. Unlike the cat and monkey, the distribution of receptive field types appeared even throughout the visual cortex. Exception was provided by layer IV which, similar to the more 'visual' animals, contained the largest percentage of simple cells. Horseradish peroxidase injected into single, physiologically identified neurons allowed for detailed morphological characterization of functional cell types. Of the cells successfully filled with horseradish peroxidase, complex cells were pyramidal in morphology and located in layers II through VI. Simple cells were both pyramidal and non-pyramidal in appearance and were located in layers II + III and IV. Finally, hypercomplex cells were pyramidal in appearance and their perikarya were situated in layers II + III and V.

Animals↗

Prostaglandins and renin release from submaxillary glands in vitro.

The present studies were undertaken to investigate the effect of prostaglandins (PGs) on renin release from the submaxillary glands of mice. Pooled mouse submaxillary gland slices were incubated in Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution following a preincubation period, and renin release was measured by a radioimmunoassay for the direct measurement of submaxillary gland renin. Arachidonic acid (AA) significantly stimulated renin release at 10, 20, and 30 min of incubation. These increases of renin release were abolished by the presence of indomethacin. The synthetic prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue (EPA) strongly stimulated renin release at 10, 20, and 30 min of incubation. However, at a higher concentration the stimulating effect of EPA virtually disappeared. PGI2 caused the highest increase of renin release at 10 and 20 min of incubation. At higher concentrations the effect of PGI2 on renin release was drastically reduced, although it was still statistically significant. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha also exerted a significant increase in renin release; however, the extent of this effect was much less than that of EPA and PGI2. Other prostaglandins such as PGE1, PGA2, PGD2, PGF1 alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were found to have no significant effect on renin release. These results suggest that the prostaglandin system directly affects renin release from submaxillary gland independent of systemic hemodynamic and neurogenic influences.

Animals↗

Cortical connections of striate cortex in the owl monkey.

Injections of tritiated proline and horseradish peroxidase were used to study cortical connections of striate cortex in owl monkeys. All cases resulted in label in area 18 (V-II) and the middle temporal visual area (MT). In most, but not all cases, label was also present in the dorsomedial visual area (DM). The connections between striate cortex and each of these three visual areas were retinotopic and reciprocal. Projections to V-II, MT, and DM were concentrated in layers IV and III, while pyramidal cells in layers III, V, and VI of these areas projected back to striate cortex.

Animals↗

Characteristics of the isolated purine nucleotide binding protein from brown fat mitochondria.

The isolation of the purine nucleotide binding protein (NbP), the putative uncoupling protein, from hamster brown adipose tissue mitochondria and some of its functional characteristics are described. (1) Among various detergents tested, Triton is the most suitable; the total GDP binding capacity can be recovered after solubilization by Triton and is rather stable in this extract. (2) For separation of NbP from the ADP/ATP carrier, differences in the solubilizing conditions and the stability at room temperature between both proteins are exploited. The preparation is substantially free of ADP/ATP carrier. (3) The purified NbP has a binding capacity for 16 mumol of GDP/g of protein, corresponding to a 16-fold purification from mitochondria. (4) In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in single band of Mr 32 000 is found. A dimer structure is suggested from chemical cross-linking, from the binding capacity for GDP, and from the previously reported centrifugation equilibrium. (5) The isolated NbP preparation consists of Triton-protein-phospholipid mixed micelles with a Stokes radius of 60.5 A as determined by gel filtration. The Triton binding is 1.9 g/g of protein, and the phospholipid binding is 0.2 g/g of protein. (6). The amino acid composition has a polarity index of 43.5%. The N-terminal peptide has the sequence Val-Asp-Pro-Thr-Thr-Ser-Glu-Val. (7) The affinity of NbP for different purine nucleotides decreases in the order GTP greater than GDP greater than ATP greater than ITP greater than ADP greater than IDP. The affinity for the monophosphates is 100 time lower. (8) Photooxidation and the lysine reagent 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid decrease the binding capacity without influencing the affinity of the unaffected sites. GDP protects against photooxidation.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

Studies on melanocytes. VI. Melanocytes in the middle ear.

Melanocytes are present in the lamina propria of the middle ear mucosa of young children to elderly adults in both whites and blacks. Melanin pigment melanin pigment also is seen in the epithelial cells, so-called melanogenic metaplasia. The melanocytes in the middle ear mucosa are of neural crest origin and their presence explains melanocytic tumors at this anatomic site.

Adolescent↗