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Biomedical subjects

J Tigges

Publications and source records attributed to J Tigges.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effects of aphakia on the geniculostriate system of infant rhesus monkeys.

The effects on the visual system of rearing rhesus monkeys with monocular aphakia, corrected with extended-wear contact lenses, were assessed with anatomical, electrophysiological and behavioral methods. The major finding was that the effects of the various treatments on the aphakic eye varied in degree depending upon the amount of focused pattern input received by the aphakic eye compared to its fellow eye. The behavioral, electrophysiological and anatomical assessments of the treatment effects on the aphakic eyes correlated closely with each other. Because this experimental paradigm is similar to current clinical procedures for treating human infantile monocular cataracts, it provides a nonhuman primate model for studying aphakia.

Animals↗

Termination of thalamic intralaminar nuclei afferents in visual cortex of squirrel monkey.

The projection of the thalamic intralaminar nuclei (ILN) upon the visual cortex in the squirrel monkey was studied using anterograde, autoradiographic techniques. In area 17, the ILN afferents terminate in the inner and outer portions of lamina V, whereas in areas 18 and 19 the fibers terminate more diffusely along the laminae V-VI boundary. Widespread labeling of layer I is seen throughout the occipital cortex.

Afferent Pathways↗

Postnatal axial eye elongation in normal and visually deprived rhesus monkeys.

The influence of anomalous visual experience on the postnatal regulation of axial eye elongation was explored by raising newborn rhesus monkeys under different types of monocular and binocular deprivation and comparing their eye growth pattern with that of age-matched normal monkeys. Monocular manipulations included eyelid suture to eliminate pattern vision; continuous occlusion with an opaque lens to prevent visual experience; surgical removal of the natural lens to induce continuous blur; and correction of surgically induced aphakia with extended-wear contact lenses (EWCLs) to provide a focused image of near objects. Binocular manipulations involved correction of aphakia with an EWCL in one eye and continuous or partial occlusion of the phakic fellow eye. After monocular eyelid suture or occlusion, the deprived eyes were longer than the unmanipulated fellow eyes. Aphakic eyes, however, were shorter than their unmanipulated fellow eyes. The unmanipulated eyes followed the eye elongation pattern of age-matched normal monkeys. Binocular manipulations also resulted in differences in axial length between the two eyes. Aphakic eyes were shorter, and continuously occluded eyes were longer, than eyes of age-matched controls. After partial occlusion, however, the axial length of occluded eyes was similar to that of normal eyes. The finding that lid-sutured and occluded eyes become longer while aphakic eyes remain shorter than normal eyes suggests that additional factors besides retinal image quality control postnatal eye growth.

Animals↗

Effects of aging on the neurons within area 17 of rhesus monkey cerebral cortex.

A light and electron microscopic examination of area 17 of the visual cortex in well-fixed young (5-6 years) and old (25-35 years) rhesus monkeys was carried out to determine the effects of age on neurons. The analyses were made in a portion of area 17 on the lateral surface of the hemisphere just caudal to the lunate sulcus. Light microscopic measurements of the mean cortical depth in vertically oriented 1-micron-thick sections reveal no obvious thinning with age, and the mean diameters of neuronal nuclei do not change with age. On the basis of counts of neuronal profiles containing nuclei in 250-microns-wide strips of 1-micron-thick sections passing through the entire depth of the cortex, no significant neuronal loss could be detected. These findings are consistent with our electron microscopic observations on this area of the cortex, for in the old monkeys the neurons show little cytological evidence of advanced age beyond the presence of a few lipofuscin granules, although the neuropil contains some profiles of degenerating small-caliber dendrites, myelinated axons, and a few axon terminals. Large vacuoles, some 10 microns or more in diameter, are present in the neuropil of the old animals. Some of these vacuoles appear to represent a late stage in the degeneration of myelinated axons, for they are bounded by a thin, laminated sheath. Other large vacuoles, of unknown origin, often contain membranous debris and have an attenuated limiting membrane. It is concluded that the cell bodies of neurons in area 17 of old rhesus monkeys do not show significant structural changes due to age, although some of the neuronal processes in the neuropil are affected.

Aging↗

Postnatal development of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in area 17 of normal and visually deprived rhesus monkeys.

Immunocytochemical methods were used to examine neuropeptide Y (NPY) immunoreactive neurons and fibers in area 17 of rhesus monkeys during the first year of life. NPY-immunoreactive (+) neurons are nonpyramidal cells which are either multipolar, bipolar, or bitufted in shape. They occur most frequently in layer 6 and the subjacent white matter, are sparser in the supragranular layers, and absent from layer 4C. Labeled somata in the supragranular layers are smaller compared to those in layer 6 and the white matter. A typical axon originates from the NPY+ soma or from a primary dendrite and frequently is varicose. Distribution and morphologies of NPY+ neurons in area 17 of infants are similar to those of adult monkeys. Thus, it seems that NPY+ neurons in rhesus monkeys are mature from birth. NPY+ fibers occur in area 17 from birth; however, they differ in density and distribution from those of older infant and adult monkeys. At birth, a prominent fiber plexus is found in the deepest part of layer 1, and another in the white matter. Immunoreactive processes are sparse in the remaining cortical gray, except for some vertical fibers extending from pia to white matter. By 4 months of age, labeled fibers form a coarse network in layers 2, 3, 5, and 6. In addition, a distinct plexus extends through layers 4B, 4A, and the lowest aspect of layer 3. Also, a thin immunoreactive fiber band is found at the bottom of layer 4C. In the remainder of layer 4C, NPY+ fibers are scant. The supragranular layers also exhibit a unique immunoreactive "snarl" of fibers. Increases in density of NPY+ processes in the older infants are gradual so that between 7 and 13 months of age, NPY+ fibers appear to have achieved adultlike densities. These observations indicate that NPY+ fibers in area 17 of newborn rhesus monkeys undergo postnatal maturation which reaches a plateau around 4 months of age. After monocular visual deprivation from birth to 4 months of age, either by eyelid suture or by occlusion with an opaque contact lens, density and distribution of NPY+ neurons and fibers, including snarls, appear similar to those of age-matched undeprived infants. Thus, disruption of the normal binocular input does not seem to arrest the maturation of the NPY system in area 17 of rhesus monkeys during a sensitive period of early postnatal development.

Animals↗

Dopamine synthesis and metabolism in rhesus monkey retina: development, aging, and the effects of monocular visual deprivation.

The normal postnatal development, the influence of age, and the effects of visual deprivation on the dopamine system in the retina of rhesus monkeys were examined. The lowest level of retinal dopamine was found at birth. By 3-4 weeks of age, the dopamine concentration had more than doubled. This level remained relatively constant in the retinas of older infants and of adult monkeys up to 34 yr of age. The level of the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase did not significantly change as a function of age during the postnatal life span. Monocular occlusion of newborn or infant monkeys for 1-15 months with opaque contact lenses resulted in decreases in the retinal concentrations of dopamine and DOPAC relative to the concentrations in the same animals' unoccluded eyes. Occlusion also resulted in a lower level of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the retina. Monocular eyelid suture from birth to 15 months of age resulted in less consistent alterations of retinal dopamine and DOPAC levels; tyrosine hydroxylase activity, however, was consistently reduced by lid suture. Thus, dopamine synthesis and metabolism, and the ontogenetic increase of the retinal dopamine level of rhesus monkey are reduced by light deprivation.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Developmental study of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in the neurohypophysis and intermediate lobe of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

The purpose of this study was to examine the development and distribution of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive fibers in the neurohypophysis of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) throughout life and the relationship of these fibers to the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal vasculature. In rhesus monkeys, which varied in age from fetal life to 34 years, neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive fibers were present at all ages examined. In adult monkeys, varicose neuropeptide Y-labeled fibers were concentrated in the upper infundibular stem in association with capillary loops of the portal vasculature and the long portal vessels. Other fibers travelled down the infundibular stem and were distributed at the junction of the lower infundibular stem and infundibular process in the vicinity of the short portal vessels. In the infundibular process, neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive fibers were concentrated along the border of the intermediate lobe. Other stained fibers were sparsely distributed in the infundibular process and were often associated with small vessels. Neuropeptide Y-immunoreactivity was also located in a few fibers and cells of the intermediate lobe. Very few labeled fibers were seen in the fetal neurohypophysis, but their number increased gradually during the first postnatal year. At two years of age, a high density of stained fibers was observed, especially in the infundibular process. The number of axons in the infundibular process was lower at 12 years and continued to decline until 34 years of age. Neuropeptide Y may modulate hormone release at these sites and may also be released directly into vessels in the infundibular process. The close association of neuropeptide Y-labeled fibers with capillaries of the portal vasculature strongly suggests that neuropeptide Y is released into the portal blood of monkeys throughout life and may influence hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary gland.

Aging↗

Termination of retinofugal fibers and lamination pattern in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the gibbon.

The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the gibbon (Hylobates sp.) consists of four principal layers, i.e., layers 1 and 2 containing large somata and layers 3 and 4 comprising medium-sized neurons. In addition, there are intercalated layers S, imm and imp, each consisting of small cells. Tracing of retinofugal fibers with the autoradiographic method revealed that the retina projects to the ipsilateral layers 2, 3 and imp and to the contralateral layers 1, 4, S and imm. No 'hidden' layers have been found. This type of lamination pattern sets the LGN of the gibbon apart from that of all Old World monkeys, chimpanzee and man. Retinal projections to other subcortical regions are also described.

Animals↗

Anatomical organization of long ascending propriospinal neurons in the cat spinal cord.

Retrograde transport of lectin-HRP conjugate (WGA-HRP) was used to examine the anatomical organization of long ascending propriospinal neurons (LAPNs) projecting to the cervical enlargement (C5-T1) and to the upper part of the cervical cord (C3-4) in cats. Small injections (0.05-1.0 microliter) of dilute (1-4%) WGA-HRP were made into the C5-T1 or C3-4 regions. The field potential evoked from stimulation of the superficial radial nerve served to position the micropipette delivering injections. Small and localized populations of labelled LAPNs were found in the dorsal horn (laminae IV-V), the intermediate zone (dorsal and medial lamina VII), and the ventral horn (ventral lamina VII, laminae VIII and IX). Ventral horn LAPNs projecting to the C5-T1 region were preferentially located in rostral lumbar regions. Ventral LAPNs projecting to the C3-4 region were more caudally situated. No regional differences in distribution of dorsal horn and intermediate zone LAPNs were noted in comparing the results of C3-4 with C5-T1 injection protocols. It is concluded that the caudally located ventral LAPNs may exert their influence on cervical motor output through C3-4 propriospinal interneurons. Other LAPNs are considered to exert their effect more directly, either at the C5-T1 or the C3-4 levels.

Afferent Pathways↗

[Non-diethylstilbestrol-induced adenosis of the vagina].

A case of spontaneous vaginal adenosis in a 39-year old patient is reported. This entity is infrequently observed in comparison to the larger number of vaginal adenosis due to intrauterine DES exposure. The literature concerning the origin of these spontaneous proliferations is controversial: remnants of Wolffian or Müllerian ducts are thought to be the source, as well as metaplastic or prosoplastic changes. According to stage and extent of the disease, the individual case can be categorised into the following subgroups: cystic, florid, adenomatous and carcinomatous adenosis. Benign courses are far more frequent. Symptoms are observed only in advanced cases; therapy depends on histology, extent, and symptoms.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Anatomical consequences of long-term monocular eyelid closure on lateral geniculate nucleus and striate cortex in squirrel monkey.

The effects of long-term monocular deprivation on the geniculostriate system in squirrel monkeys were studied with neuroanatomical methods. Four neonates were visually deprived by monocular eyelid suture during their first 10 days of life and survived from 9 to 40 months. In the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), deprivation resulted in severe cell size changes. Neurons in the deprived laminae were smaller compared to those in the undeprived laminae. Deprivation left the reciprocal connections between LGN and striate cortex intact: After horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections into striate cortex, retrogradely transported enzyme labeled a wedge of neurons in deprived and undeprived LGN laminae; anterogradely transported HRP filled preterminal and terminal axons in this wedge. Following 3H-proline injections into the deprived eye for transneuronal transport, autoradiography showed in the ipsilateral striate cortex a silver grain distribution over most of layer IVc similar to that in normal squirrel monkeys, except for a small strip in the anterior calcarine fissure. Here, a few, irregularly spaced "patches" of higher grain density occurred deep in layer IVc. Layer IVc of contralateral area 17 was also uniformly labeled over most of its extent, except for a very few and inconspicuous accumulations of slightly increased silver grains. After visual stimulation of the deprived eye, the 14C-2-deoxyglucose method showed in the contralateral striate cortex some alternating "patches" of higher uptake superimposed on the heavy labeling in layer IVc. Layer IVc in the ipsilateral cortex was more uniformly labeled. Regularly spaced arrays of labeled "puffs" in layers II/III were present in both hemispheres. Cytochrome oxidase staining showed no change in the distribution pattern of the enzyme in the deprived monkeys from the basic pattern of normal adults. No changes in cell sizes were found in layer IVc in cresyl-violet-acetate-stained sections. These results lead to the conclusion that in area 17 of squirrel monkeys there is no distinct segregation of inputs from the two eyes into anatomically discrete ocular dominance columns and they support the view of a predominantly binocular organization of area 17.

Animals↗

Intraepithelial inclusions resembling human biondi bodies in the choroid plexus of an aged chimpanzee.

Complex intracellular inclusion bodies of the Biondi type were observed in the choroidal epithelium (choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle) of a 43-year-old male chimpanzee. The specific components of these inclusions are bundles of filaments 8-15 nm in diameter, which are associated with lipid droplets and a wide variety of unidentified inclusions of differing electron density. Biondi bodies are characteristic inclusions of the choroid plexus of aged humans but have been claimed to be absent from the choroidal epithelium of senescent animals including nonhuman primates. The present finding of Biondi body-like inclusions in an aged chimpanzee underscores the usefulness of nonhuman primates as models for studies of aging, seeking to gain a better understanding of gerontological aspects of the human brain.

Animals↗

Subcortical projections to the occipital and parietal lobes of the chimpanzee brain.

The subcortical sources of afferents to occipital and parietal cortex were studied in two chimpanzees with the aid of retrogradely transported horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In chimpanzee 1, HRP was injected into right cortical areas 17 and 18; chimpanzee 2 received HRP into right areas 17, 18, 19, and 39. The following subcortical structures were found to project to area 17 and/or area 18: locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, nucleus annularis, nucleus centralis superior, pontine reticular formation, mesencephalic reticular formation, dorsal hypothalamus, lateral hypothalamus, nucleus basalis of Meynert, nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca, claustrum, nucleus basalis lateralis amygdalae, lateral geniculate nucleus, inferior pulvinar, lateral pulvinar, nucleus limitans, medial magnocellular part of the nucleus ventralis anterior, nucleus paracentralis, and nucleus centralis medialis thalami. Some of these structures may also project to area 19 and/or area 39. The following thalamic nuclei were found to project to area 19 and/or area 39 but not to areas 17 and 18: nucleus lateralis posterior, nucleus centralis lateralis, nucleus medialis dorsalis, nucleus ventralis lateralis, nucleus ventralis anterior nucleus lateralis dorsalis, and nucleus anterior ventralis. In several Instances, the HRP-labeled cells traversed specific nuclear borders, extending uninterruptedly from one classically defined nucleus into another. These results in the chimpanzee largely confirm data from a number of other mammalian taxa on the subcortical sources of afferents to the posterior cortex. Because of the close biological relationship between chimpanzee and man, we feel confident that such projections are also features of the human brain.

Amygdala↗

Ultrastructure of neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in squirrel monkey.

The nucleus basalis of Meynert in the squirrel monkey exhibits numerous labeled neurons following the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase from occipital cortical injection sites. The typically large, often clustered, labeled cells are seen most frequently in association with the fibrous bordering structures of the substantia innominata and in the internal and external laminae of the globus pallidus. Ultrastructurally the copious cytoplasm of nucleus basalis neurons abounds with organelles. Large, vacuolated lipofuscin granules proliferate as a function of age and are not evident in younger monkeys. Approximately 4% of the somal surface is occupied by symmetrical synapses with either flat or pleomorphic vesicles. The remainder is covered mostly by neuroglial processes. Somatic spines bearing synapses are occasionally observed. In the neuropil surrounding nucleus basalis somata, the synapses onto dendrites and spines are mostly asymmetrical with large, round vesicles. Labeled nucleus basalis cells in the substantia innominata immediately lateral to the optic tract are larger and rounder than cells in the internal and external pallidal laminae. However, no remarkable ultrastructural differences were observed between nucleus basalis somata in the substantia innominata and external pallidal lamina, or between horseradish peroxidase-labeled and unlabeled large cells.

Afferent Pathways↗

Subcortical structures projecting to visual cortical areas in squirrel monkey.

In 17 adult squirrel monkeys (Saimiri), horseradish peroxidase was used as a retrograde tracer substance to reveal the subcortical structures (other than the lateral geniculate nucleus and pulvinar) which project to the occipital lobe, and, in particular, to the central visual field representation in areas, 17, 18, 19, and MT. Evidence is provided that each of areas 17, 18, and MT receives a projection from locus coeruleus, nucleus dorsalis raphae, nucleus annularis, nucleus centralis superior, formation reticularis pontis oralis, nucleus basalis of Meynert, lateral hypothalamus, claustrum, and nuclei paracentralis and centralis medialis thalami. Area 19 receives a projection from all these structures except from the nucleus annularis. Only area MT was determined to be a target of a projection from the nucleus linearis. For technical reasons, only area MT was determined to receive afferent fibers from the nucleus basalis lateralis amygdalae. The results indicate that there is no topographical organization of subcortical inputs to the central visual field representation in individual cortical areas.

Animals↗

Principles of axonal collateralization of laminae II-III pyramids in area 17 of squirrel monkey: a quantitative Golgi study.

The rapid Golgi method was employed to study area 17 of infant squirrel monkeys in order to obtain quantitative data on the number and laminar origin of axon collaterals of pyramidal cells, the somata of which reside in laminae II-III. Counts of axon collaterals were made only on pyramidal cells with apical dendrites that could be followed by lamina I and axons that could be followed to the white matter. A total of 115 pyramidal neurons met these criteria. The data revealed that the descending axons of pyramidal cells in laminae II-III give off an average of 3 collaterals in laminae II-III and 3 collaterals in lamina V; no collaterals are given off in other laminae.

Animals↗

Areal and laminar distribution of neurons interconnecting the central visual cortical areas 17, 18, 19, and MT in squirrel monkey (Saimiri).

The retrogradely transported horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method was used to study the areal and laminar distribution of neurons sending their axons to ipsilateral and contralateral visual cortical areas 17, 18, 19, and MT in the squirrel monkey. Further details regarding neuron type (stellate or pyramidal), size class, and spatial grouping of the cells making these corticocortical connections also were obtained. All interareal connections are reciprocal. Ipsilaterally, such connections exist between areas 17 and 18, 17 and MT, 18 and 19, 18 and MT, and 19 and MT. In addition, areas 18, 19, and MT receive association fibers from the ipsilateral frontal eye field; when combined with previous findings, these results indicate the existence of reciprocal connections between area 18 and the frontal eye field and between area MT and the frontal eye field. Each of areas 18, 19, and MT. Area 17 has only weak callosal connections. Both the ipsilateral and the contralateral connections are topographically organized such that they obey a hodological principle of visuotopic connectivity: that is, only representations of the same part of the visual field are interconnected. With regard to layers of origin, the callosal neurons of these visual areas conform to the general concept of corticocortical fibers arising from supragranular layers in that most of them are located in layer IIIb; only a few of them reside at the junction between layers V and VI. On the other hand, for all the visuocortical connections investigated, the anteriormost area of a reciprocally interconnected pair has its association neurons located predominantly in the infragranular layers while the posteriormost area has its association neurons located primarily in layer III. All callosal fibers and most association fibers arise from pyramidal cells. The callosal cells are larger and reside at a deeper level in layer III than neurons with ipsilateral corticocortical connections. However, some of the association cells at the junction of layers V and VI in area 17 which project to area MT are relatively large and may include the solitary cells of Meynert; but medium-sized pyramidal cells also participate in this projection. In area 17, some association neurons in layers IIIb and IIIc which project to area 18, as well as some in layer IIIc which project to area MT, are most likely stellate cells. Several different patterns of cell groupings were observed for the central representation interconnections. Neither ipsilateral area MT nor any of the contralateral visuocortical areas had multiple groupings of labeled neurons. The ipsilateral projections from area 17 to 18, 17 to MT, and 18 to 19 were arranged similarly according to a plan involving separate, multiple loci of origin for cells projecting to a small and isolated subregion of the central representation in the target cortical area; following larger injections, cells throughout the central representation of the projecting cortex were labeled...

Animals↗