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Biomedical subjects

J Szczech

Publications and source records attributed to J Szczech.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Blood vessel endothelia in rat brain following experimental administration of BCNU (carmustine): karyometric studies and cytophotometric studies on DNA.

Studies on the effect of BCNU (Carmustine), administered in 4 intraperitoneal injections of 7.5 mg each, on cell nuclei of blood vessel endothelia were performed on the parietal cortex and the thalamus of 20 adult rats of Wistar strain. Karyometric studies demonstrated increased circumference and cross-section area of cell nuclei in vascular endothelia following administration of the cytostatic drug. The nuclei acquired a more spheric shape and a decreased surface irregularity (decreased folding) of their cross-sections. Extinction of endothelial cell nuclei estimated following administration of BCNU showed also an increased content of DNA as well as a more compact and concentrated nuclear chromatin. The alterations noted in endothelial nuclei of thalamic blood vessels were more pronounced than those seen in the parietal cortex.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effect of hyperthermia on morphology and histochemistry of spinal cord in the rat.

Studies were performed on mature Wistar strain rats, subjected to 43 degrees C environmental temperature for 4 h at a relative air humidity of 60-70%. Spinal cords of rats sacrificed 1, 24, 48, 72 h and one week after hyperthermia served as a material for the studies. Routinely stained preparations (H+E, Nissl) and enzymatic activity of some phosphatases and esterases was estimated as well in sections subjected to Feulgen reaction karyo- and cytophotometric measurements were performed on cell nuclei of anterior horns neurocytes, anterior columns oligodendrocytes and on anterior funicle astrocytes of the spinal cord lumbar segment. The hyperthermia resulted in rat spinal cords in several morphological and histochemical alterations. Signs of diffuse spinal cord lesion of vascular origin were present with degenerative alterations of neurocytes, oligodendroglia proliferation and astroglia hyperplasia. In histoenzymatic studies changes in enzymatic activity of NsE, AChE, ChE, AcP, ATPase and TPPase were noted. They were dependent upon the time which elapsed after hyperthermia. Karyo- and cytophotometric measurements demonstrated cell nuclei oedema in neurocytes, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes associated with a decrease in the relative DNA level and changes in density and concentration of nuclear chromatin. The observed morphological, histoenzymatic and cytophotometric changes were of a reversible type and majority of them vanished within a week after hyperthermia.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1986

Histoenzymatic, karyometric, and DNA cytophotometric studies on rat neuroglia following administration of BCNU (carmustine).

BCNU is a nitrosourea derivative applied in anti-neoplastic therapy. As a result of conversion under in vivo-conditions, products of alkylating properties are formed which derrange DNA metabolism, and products of carbamylating activity which disturb protein metabolism. Studies on BCNU neurotoxicity were performed on 20 adult rats of Wistar strain which were given the compound intraperitoneally, in doses corresponding to those used for tumour treatment in humans. Material for estimating unfavorable effects of the drug on central nervous system involved brains, the sections of which were subjected to histoenzymatic reactions and stained according to FEULGEN for karyometric studies and DNA cytophotometry. Size and shape estimates for nuclei of the cells and their DNA content were obtained using Morphoquant automatic microscopic image analyzer (VEB Carl Zeiss, Jena) and compared to those of neuroglia of control animals, given no drug. Multiple intraperitoneal injections of BCNU induced distinct histoenzymatic, karyometric, and cytophotometric changes in oligodendroglia and astroglia. In oligodendroglia, lowered NsE and AcP activities and augmented TPPase activity were noted while in astroglia decreased activity of the former 2 enzymes was associated with an augmented ATPase activity. In karyometric studies, significant decrease in the size of astroglia and in DNA extinction was noted. No karyometric or cytophotometric alterations were noted in oligodendroglia nuclei. Results of the presented studies may indicate primary injury to vascular walls and secondary damage to neuroglia.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1986

Karyometric, cytophotometric and histoenzymatic studies on neuroglia of rats treated with 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU/lomoustine).

CCNU is a cytostatic drug, a nitrosourea derivative, used--among others--in therapy of tumors of the central nervous system. Even if the drug is regarded safe for central and peripheral nervous systems, a possibility of harmful effects of CCNU on the central nervous system should be examined caused by the affinity of all nitrosourea derivatives to lipids. This has prompted us to study the drug effect on neuroglia cells in corpus callosum and gyrus cinguli. The drug was administered to rats by the intragastric route in four doses--one dose a week. Three doses of 2.5 mg each were followed by one dose of 5 mg. Some brains were isolated for the studies, and paraffin sections were prepared for karyometric as well as cytophotometric studies and for section staining according to Nissl and Klüver-Barrer techniques 8 days after the last dosage. Brains of other experimental rats served for preparing cryostat sections for demonstration of phosphatase and esterase activities. The studies, conducted after CCNU administration, documented a significant decrease in size of oligodendroglia nuclei and an increase in size of astroglia nuclei. DNA content of neuroglia nuclei was markedly decreased. Histoenzymatic changes in experimental animals were not very pronounced and included a slight increase in TPPase and nonspecific esterase activities as well as a decrease in ATPase activity. Despite the changes in neuroglia cells no damage to corpus callosum myelin sheaths was observed.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1985

The morphology and histochemistry of adult rats neurocytes after BCNU administration.

Studies were performed on adult rats of Wistar strain given four 7-days-spaced intraperitoneal doses of BCNU with single dose resembling to used in clinical practice. The animals were sacrificed at the seventh day after the last dose of the drug. Morphological alterations were evaluated in H + E or cresyl violet stained sections. In frozen microtome sections histoenzymatic reactions were performed to detect enzymatic activity of some phosphatases and esterases. Karyo- and cytophotometric measurements of pyramidal cell nuclei in frontal and parietal cortex and of motor neurons in trigeminal nerve nucleus were performed in sections subjected to Feulgen reaction, using automatic microscopic image analyzer "Morphoquant" (VEB Carl Zeiss, Jena). The performed studies showed that administration of multiple therapeutic doses of BCNU lead to primary injury of vascular wall as oedema and proliferation of endothelium and small perivascular haemorrhages. The cytostatic drug induced a decrease in NsE and AlkP enzymatic activities, increased activity of AChE, ChE, AcP and ATPase and topographically variable changes in intensity of TPPase enzymatic reaction. Several karyo- and cytophotometric alterations were observed also in neurocyte cell nuclei which became elongated and acquired a more round shape. This was associated with a decrease in relative DNA content, loosening of nuclear chromatin structure and with shifting chromatin lumps toward periphery of cell nuclei.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1985

Effect of BCNU, administered to pregnant female rats, on morphology and histochemistry of brain neurocytes in the progeny.

For evaluation of neurotoxicity of 1,3-bis[2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) effects of the compound were examined on histoenzymatic activity of some phosphatases and esterases and on karyometry and DNA cytophotometry in brain neurocytes of the progeny of mothers who had been given the drug during pregnancy. The studies were performed on young, 14 and 28 days old rats of Wistar strain originating from mothers given intraperitoneal BCNU injections on the 12th and 18th day of pregnancy. Material of the studies included neurocytes of frontal cortex, parietal cortex and of trigeminal nerve nucleus in which enzymatic activities of some phosphatases and esterases were estimated and which were subjected to karyometric and DNA cytophotometric measurements, using Morphoquant automated microscopic image analyzer (VEB Carl Zeiss, Jena). The experiments documented decreased nonspecific esterase and ATPase activities and increased activities of acetylcholinesterase, cholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase in neurocytes of experimental animals, as compared to control animals of the corresponding age. The changes were noted both in 14 and 28 days old animals. Changes in thiamine pyrophosphate phosphohydrolase (TTPase) enzymatic activity were of different type in dependence upon age of the animals (increased activity in 28 days old rats, decreased activity in 14 days old rats). In animals subjected to BCNU action in fetal life several karyo- and cytophotometric changes were noted also: circumference and area of cell nuclei cross-sections were decreased, cell nuclei became more round, relative DNA content of cell nuclei increased with parallel increases in compactness and concentration of nuclear chromatin. Karyometric changes showed similar character in both age groups while changes in DNA cytophotometry were more evident in 14 days old rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Morphometric, karyometric and cytophotometric studies on spinal cord neurons and glia cells after vincristine administration.

Vincristine, an alkaloid of Vinca rosea L. is an effective cytostatic drug. However, apart from properties of which oncologic praxis takes advantage, the drug exerts unfavourable effects on peripheral and central nervous systems. To examine neurotoxic properties of vincristine, the drug was given intraperitoneally to 20 rats of Wistar strain. A single dose amounted to 0.01 mg per kg body weight and was twice as low as the dose used in therapy of humans. The spinal cord was studied. Sections of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments were stained according to H + E and Nissl techniques, subjected to Feulgen's reaction and stained according to Einarson's technique to determine level of all nucleic acids. Morphometric, karyometric and cytophotometric studies of neurocytes in anterior horns of the spinal and of oligodendroglia of lateral columns were performed using Morphoquant microscopic image analyzer coupled to a KSR 4100 computer. Results of measurements were compared to those of control animals and significance of alterations was evaluated statistically. Vincristine administration was observed to induce decrease in cross-section size of neurocytes in anterior horns of the spinal cord and decreased nucleic acid extinction, in the cervical and thoracic segments. No changes were noted in cell nucleus size in the cells. Changes observed in oligodendroglia were more pronounced than those seen in neurocytes and included decrease in size, acquisition of a more round and regular shape of nucleus cross-section of the cells associated with a decrease in DNA extinction in the cervical and lumbar segments of the spinal cord.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Karyometric, cytophotometric, and histoenzymatic studies on neuroglia of young rats subjected to CCNU (Lomustine) action.

Studies on the effects of CCNU on neuroglia cells of the central nervous system in young individuals were conducted on 19 Wistar strain rats, each given 2 mg doses of 0.25 CCNU in 7th and 12th d of life. Karyometric and cytophotometric studies proved that CCNU administered to young rats induced changes in oligodendroglia and astroglia of the central nervous system. The changes included significant increase in nuclei contour and in the area of nuclei cross-section in oligodendro- and astroglia cells, elongation of oligodendroglia nuclei and an augmented DNA content in the 2 neuroglia types. The observed karyometric and cytophotometric changes were more evident in oligodendroglia nuclei than in astroglia nuclei.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1984

Cytophotometry of nucleic acids and morphometry of motor neurons and oligodendroglia in the spinal cord of rats treated with CCNU (lomustine).

CCNU, a nitrosourea derivative, is a potent agent used in cancer chemotherapy and effective also in therapy of brain tumors. This cytostatic is considered to be free of neurotoxic effects. To establish the influence of CCNU on the central nervous system, the drug was administered in oil suspension, intragastrically, to adult rats. The animals received four doses of the drug in 7 days intervals, including three doses of 2.5 mg and the fourth of 5.0 mg. On the 7th day after the last dose experimental rats were sacrificed, their spinal cord removed, fixed in Baker's solution and embedded in paraffin. The sections were stained according to Einarson and subjected to Feulgen reaction for morphometric, karyometric and cytophotometric studies. The measurements of motor neurons and oligodendroglia from anterior horns of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord were performed with scanning microscope "Morphoquant" coupled to the KSR 4100 computer. CCNU administration lead to morphometric, karyometric and cytophotometric changes in examined cells. The karyometric and cytophotometric changes were statistically significant and more extensive than morphometric changes which were insignificant. Furthermore, CCNU caused a statistically significant decrease of DNA content in motor neurons and oligodendrocytes in all examined parts of the spinal cord.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Histoenzymatic and morphometric changes occurring in nerve cells of gyrus cinguli following treatment of young rats with vincristine.

The effect of treatment with vincristine on nerve cells of gyrus cinguli was studied. Wistar rats aged 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days were given single intraperitoneal injections of vincristine (0.01 mg/kg body weight). All experimental animals were decapitated at the age of 29 days and their brains subjected to histoenzymatic and morphometric examination. The control group consisted of untreated rats aged 29 days. The activity of phosphatases and esterases of the cingulum was evaluated histochemically and the morphometric parameters of pyramidal cells in this region were determined by means of a computer microscope "Morphoquant" (VEB Carl Zeiss JENA). The results of this study have shown that administration of therapeutic doses of vincristine to young rats brings about a drop of the neuronal AChE and NsE activity, contrary, to this, TPPase and acP activities of the pyramidal cells are enhanced by this treatment. Morphometric determinations have revealed elongation of the neuronal perikaryons along with an increase of indices of the cytoplasmatic area and volume of pyramidal cells. The observed alterations are considered to reflect degenerative processes of moderate intensity.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1983

The effect of vincristine on enzymatic activity in the brain.

Adult Wistar rats of either sex were treated intraperitoneally on alternate days with 0.0015 mg of Vincristin over a period of 24 days, and their brains examined with respect to histoenzymatic activity. It has been found that the adopted treatment resulted in a drop of the cerebral AChE, alkP, acP and ATPase activities. The activity of NsE was depressed in some regions of the brain, whereas in others an enhancement of NsE activity was found. TPPase activity appeared to increase following treatment with Vincristin. The observed differential reaction of NsE to Vincristin treatment could be indicative of an existence of multiple isoenzymes of carbocylesterases in the brain. The moderate intensity of changes in the enzymatic activity of the experimental brains evoked by the treatment of rats with Vincristin makes it feasible to assume that after cessation of the treatment the original enzymatic activity of the brain will be restored.

Acetylcholinesterase↗