Heteroduplexes may confuse the interpretation of PCR-based molecular tests for the Friedreich ataxia GAA triplet repeat.
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Blotting, Southern↗
Biomedical subjects
K Ohshima
Publications and source records attributed to K Ohshima.
Abdominal Aortic Dilatation in Japanese Residents.
The correlation between abdominal aortic dilatation and arteriosclerotic risk factors was studied in 2514 Japanese residents (947 men, 1567 women, mean age 70 years old). The aortic diameter was measured by ultrasound and an aortic dilatation was defined as above 30 mm in diameter, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Forty-three (1.7%) patients with a dilated aorta and 2471 with a normal-sized aorta were compared. Abdominal aortic dilatation was significantly (p < 0.01) more frequent in men than in women (3% vs 0.7%). Obesity and hyperlipidemia were slightly (p < 0.1) more frequent in patients with a dilated aorta than in those with a normal-sized aorta. There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean age, frequency of smoking, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. In conclusion, male obesity and hyperlipidemia may be risk factors for aortic dilatation in Japan. Women may not be screened because of cost-effectiveness. The prevalence of aortic dilatation in Japan was lower than in European countries. However, screening for AAA using ultrasound would be advantageous when considering the grave prognoses of ruptured AAA.
Journal Article↗
Clinical, immunohistochemical and phenotypic features of aggressive nodal cytotoxic lymphomas, including alpha/beta, gamma/delta T-cell and natural killer cell types.
Cytotoxic cells include natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic alpha beta and gamma delta T lymphocytes (CTLs). These cells express cytotoxic molecules of T-cell restricted intracellular antigen (TIA-1), and activated cytotoxic molecules of perforin, granzyme B, and FasL. Recent studies suggest that most extranodal T-cell lymphomas are derived from CTLs, and that NK cell lymphomas are extranodal. However, only a few nodal NK and cytotoxic lymphomas have been described so far. We present here the clinicopathological features of seven cases of nodal cytotoxic T and NK cell lymphomas. The study excluded anaplastic large-cell lymphomas expressing cytotoxic molecules. The neoplastic cells of all cases contained activated cytotoxic molecules of TIA-1, granzyme B, Fas ligand, and/or perforin. Phenotypically and genotypically, four cases showed alpha beta T cell type [CD2+, CD3+, T-cell receptor (TCR)-delta-1-, beta F1+, and TCR gene rearrangement], two cases showed gamma delta cell type [CD2+, CD3+, T-cell receptor (TCR) delta-1+, beta F1-, and TCR gene rearrangement], and one case showed NK cell type [CD2+, CD3-, CD56+, T-cell receptor (TCR) delta-1-, beta F1-, and TCR gene germline]. Using Southern blot analysis, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) sequences were detected in six cases, and monoclonal terminal repeat proliferation was confirmed. In addition, in situ hybridization (ISH) studies for EBV showed EBV infection in almost all neoplastic cells. Clinically, all patients presented with peripheral lymphadenopathy in high clinical stages and showed an aggressive course. Hepatosplenomegaly was detected in six cases. During the course of the disease, bone marrow and extranodal invasion were noted in five cases. The nodal type showed an aggressive clinical course in all cases but one, as did the extranodal type. The nodal type varied in phenotype, but was closely associated with EBV infection.
Adolescent↗
Absence of cytotoxic molecules in CD8- and/or CD56-positive adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma.
Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) cells usually exhibit a CD4+ (helper/inducer) phenotype (CD4+/8-/56-), and only a minority of tumours express the CD8 (cytotoxic/suppressor) or CD56 (natural killer [NK]-associated) antigens. TIA-1 is a cytotoxic granule-associated protein expressed in NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Granzyme B, perforin and Fas ligand (FasL) are also expressed in activated CTLs and NK cells. To clarify the cytotoxic potential of ATLL cells, immunohistochemistry was performed in CD8+ and/or CD56+ ATLL cells, using anti-TIA-1, anti-granzyme B, anti-perforin and anti-FasL antibodies. We studied nine cases of CD8+ and/or CD56+ ATLL, all of which exhibited monoclonal integration of human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) proviral DNA. Four cases exhibited a CD8+/CD56- phenotype, four others had a CD8-/CD56+ phenotype, and one was CD8+/CD56+. All but one case also expressed the surface antigens CD3, TCR alpha beta, and CD4. Expression of granzyme B and TIA-1 were demonstrated in three and two cases, respectively, but none expressed perforin or FasL. In the control study, 10 cases with typical CD3+/4+/8-/56- ATLL demonstrated no expression of those cytotoxic-associated proteins. Our findings suggest that CD8 and/or CD56 positivity probably confer(s) no cytotoxic function on ATLL cells, and it is possible that CD8 and CD56 may be simply aberrant surface markers in ATLL.
Adult↗
Jumping translocation of homogeneously staining region and tetraploidy with double minutes in acute myelomonocytic leukemia.
We report a 71-year-old patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMMoL) who had complicated chromosomal abnormalities showing diploidy with a jumping translocation of a homogeneously staining region (hsr) and tetraploidy with double minutes (dmin). The analysis of gene amplification showed that hsr and dmin were the results of C-ETS 1 gene amplification. After induction chemotherapy, tetraploidy with dmin completely disappeared, while diploidy with hsr and del(11)(q23) remained until the patient died. It is speculated that hsr is more stable than dmin during chemotherapy and that the presence of tetraploidy is not necessarily a factor of poor response to chemotherapy for acute leukemia.
Aged↗
Basic fibroblast growth factor and fibrosis in Hodgkin's disease.
Hodgkin's disease (HD) is characterized by the presence of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H-RS) cells against a hyperplastic background of reactive cells such as lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, neutrophils and stromal cells. In addition, the HD nodular sclerosis (NS) subtype shows characteristic fibrous bundles, while the other subtypes do not. The fibrosis is considered to correlate with multiple cytokines and cytokine networks. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), one of the potent stimulators of fibroblasts, has also been linked to the fibroproliferative process. To investigate the relationship of fibrosis and bFGF, we thus performed both immunostaining, in situ hybridization (ISH) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on 25 cases of HD, which included 12 cases with NS subtype, 10 cases with mixed cellularity (MC), and 3 cases with lymphocyte predominance (LP). In NS, the expression of bFGF was stronger than that in LP and MC. In addition, the H-RS cells in NS frequently expressed bFGF. The stromal cells and histiocytes in the background expressed bFGF in NS. However, in MC and LP the number of bFGF-expressed H-RS cells was small, and the bFGF expression of background cells was rarely detected. However, the amount of bFGF varied in each case with HD NS. The above results support the possibilities that H-RS cells and background cells are a cellular source of bFGF and that the bFGF expression of those cells is also one of the influencing factors in the development of fibrosis in the HD NS subtype.
Adolescent↗
Sticky DNA: self-association properties of long GAA.TTC repeats in R.R.Y triplex structures from Friedreich's ataxia.
A novel DNA structure, sticky DNA, is described for lengths of (GAA.TTC)n found in intron 1 of the frataxin gene of Friedreich's ataxia patients. Sticky DNA is formed by the association of two purine.purine.pyrimidine (R.R.Y) triplexes in negatively supercoiled plasmids at neutral pH. An excellent correlation was found between the lengths of (GAA.TTC) (> 59 repeats): first, in FRDA patients, second, required to inhibit transcription in vivo and in vitro, and third, required to adopt the sticky conformation. Fourth, (GAAGGA.TCCTTC)65, also found in intron 1, does not form sticky DNA, inhibit transcription, or associate with the disease. Hence, R.R.Y triplexes and/or sticky DNA may be involved in the etiology of FRDA.
DNA↗
DNA typing of HLA class II genes (HLA-DR, -DQ and -DP) in Japanese patients with histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease).
The pathogenesis of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL), which was reported first by Kikuchi et al. and Fujimoto et al. in 1972, is as yet unknown. HNL is frequently reported in Asian countries including Japan, however it is rare in Europe and North America. To elucidate whether the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and haplotypes are associated with HNL, we performed DNA typing of HLA class II genes (HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP) in 86 patients with HNL and 525 unrelated healthy Japanese controls with polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSOP). In this study, we found DPA1*01 and DPB1*0202 allele frequencies in HLA class II genes are significantly higher in HNL patients than in normal controls. It is known that the frequency of DPB1*0202 alleles is extremely low or absent in Caucasians (e.g., French 0.4%, Italian 0.8%) and Negroid (e.g., South African 0%, Hottentot 0%), but relatively frequent in Asians (e.g., Korean 9.9%, Japanese 4.5%). Previous reports have said the incidence of HNL is frequent in Asians but rare in other races. In light of this background, HLA class II genes of HNL and the incidence of HNL in Asian countries, including Japan, might have a positive relationship to DPA1*01 and DPB1*0202 allele.
Adolescent↗
Discrimination of double primary lung cancer from intrapulmonary metastasis by p53 gene mutation.
When multiple synchronous lung tumours are identified, discrimination of multicentric lung cancers from intrapulmonary metastases by clinical findings is often difficult. We used genetic alterations in p53 gene as a discrimination marker of double primary lung cancers from single lung cancer with intrapulmonary metastasis. Twenty of 861 patients with primary lung cancer who underwent lung resection were selected as subjects because they showed synchronous double solid tumours of the same histological type in the unilateral lung without distant metastases. In addition, they had been diagnosed as lung carcinoma with intrapulmonary metastasis by clinical and histological findings. DNAs were extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue of paired tumours from these 20 patients. Exons 5-9 of the p53 gene were examined for genetic alterations in the tumours by polymerase chain reaction, single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and subsequent DNA sequencing analysis. Three different patterns in the distribution of p53 mutations in double lung tumours were observed: [A] mutation in only one of the tumours (four cases), [B] different mutations in the tumours (two cases), and [C] same mutation in both tumours (one case). The cases of [A] or [B] patterns could be classified as double primary lung cancers, while the case of the [C] pattern was suggested to be lung cancer with intrapulmonary metastasis. These results suggested that the multicentric cancers were more frequent than the intrapulmonary metastatic cancers in double cancer cases.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Oversecretion of IL-18 in haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a novel marker of disease activity.
We investigated the significance of interleukin (IL)-18 levels in the pathophysiology of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). IL-18 levels were significantly elevated in all nine patients with active HLH compared with those of healthy controls. Serial determination of IL-18 levels in three cases, showed a gradual decrease compared with those of IL-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma or soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) in the course of clinical improvement, and seemed to be elevated until complete disappearance of disease activity. IL-18 and IFN-gamma (CC 0.711, P = 0.018), and IFN-gamma and sFasL (CC 0.849, P = 0.0049) levels were significantly correlated. On the other hand, correlation between IL-12 and IFN-gamma, IL-18 and sFasL, or IL-18 and IL-12 was not observed. IL-18, IFN-gamma and sFasL levels significantly correlated with disease activity such as fever and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. IL-18 mRNA expression was enhanced in spleen, but not in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC), bone marrow MNC, liver from patients of active HLH, or the tumour from a patient with lymphoma-associated haemophagocytic syndrome (LAHS). These results suggest that IL-18 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of HLH, particularly through induction of Th1 cells. IL-18 measurement may be useful for the diagnosis and for the detection of smouldering disease activity.
Cell Communication↗
Myelodysplastic syndrome in a patient with adult T-cell leukaemia.
A 53-year-old female who developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after chemotherapy for adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) is described. The latent period of therapy-related MDS (t-MDS) from the time of diagnosis of ATL was approximately 35 months. Cytogenetic analysis of the bone marrow cells at the time of diagnosis of t-MDS revealed a clonal abnormality; 46,XX,add(7)(p13), der(17)t(3;17)(p11;p13). Although monoclonal integration of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) proviral DNA was detected in the peripheral blood lymphocytes at ATL diagnosis, bone marrow cells at t-MDS diagnosis did not show monoclonal integration of HTLV-I. To our knowledge, this is the first report of t-MDS associated with ATL.
Adolescent↗
Genotypic and phenotypic alterations in Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoma.
AIMS: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with numerous reactive and neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders. In vitro, EBV infection can transform B-lymphocytes and induce phenotypic alterations. This study presents the clinicopathological features of four cases with malignant lymphoma, which showed phenotypic and/or genotypic alterations during the course of the disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine the type of EBV genotype, we performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for lymphocyte-defined membrane antigen (LYDMA) of EBV, subtype A/B and latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 deletion. In addition, we analysed the terminal repeat (TR) band of EBV and receptor genes (T-cell receptor gene, TCR; immunoglobulin gene heavy chain, IgH) for EBV-infected cell clonality. Double staining of cell markers (B, T-lymphocytes; histiocytes), and in-situ hybridization (ISH) for EBV were performed using tissues obtained during the course of the disease. The first case showed genotypic and phenotypic alterations of T-cell type to B-cell type. The first TCR rearrangement and T-cell markers (CD3+, CD4+, CD8-) were lost and IgH rearrangement and B-cell markers (CD19+, CD20+) were identified. During the course of the disease, EBV-TR bands changed in size; however, the EBV genotype type B, LMP1 deletion type, and single LYDMA band remained the same. The initial T-cell lymphoma clone was considered to be different from the latter B-cell lymphoma clone. The second case showed phenotypic alterations. The first B-cell marker (CD19+, CD20+, CD68-) changed to histiocytic markers (CD19-, CD20-, CD68+). However, IgH rearrangement and EBV-TR bands remained the same throughout the course of the disease and EBV genotype type A, LMP1 deletion type, and single LYDMA band remained unchanged. The third case showed phenotypic alterations. The B-cell marker (CD20+) was lost; however, IgH rearrangement of PCR and EBV genotype remained the same. In the second and third cases, the initial lymphoma clones were considered to be same as the latter clones. The last case showed lineage alterations from Hodgkin's disease to natural killer (NK) cell leukaemia. However, EBV genotype did not change. The second case and Hodgkin's disease showed LMP expression, but the first and third cases showed no LMP, and EBNA2 was not detected in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: We report the genotypic and/or phenotypic alterations in four patients with EBV-associated lymphoma/leukaemia. However, EBV genotype did not change in all four. These findings suggest that EBV might induce the cell marker and lineage alteration in vivo, as in vitro.
Adult↗
Histochemical study of the distribution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd)-positive neurons in the chicken caecum.
The distribution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd)-positive neurones was investigated in the chicken caecum. Double staining combined NADPHd histochemistry with immunohistochemistry for neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) indicated that NADPHd-positive neurones also showed immunoreactivity for nNOS. NADPHd-positive nerve cell bodies were observed in both the myenteric and the submucous plexuses. Nerve fibres showing enzyme activity were mainly distributed in the circular muscle layer, but only a few fibres in the mucosal layer. Fine nerve fibres showing NADPHd activity were found running between germinal centres in the caecal tonsil. Quantitative analysis showed no significant differences in the number of enzyme-positive nerve cell bodies per ganglion of the myenteric and the submucous plexuses among three different caecal regions; proximal, middle and distal regions. Larger numbers of ganglia were detected in the submucous plexus than the myenteric plexus at all three regions. These data indicate that nitrergic neurones in the submucous plexus mainly project to the circular muscle layer in the chicken caecum. It is possible that nitrergic nerves regulate the motility of the chicken caecum.
Animals↗
CD95 (Fas) ligand expression of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected lymphocytes: a possible mechanism of immune evasion in chronic active EBV infection.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induces infectious mononucleosis (IM) and can be associated with chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV). Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play an important role in excluding EBV-infected cells. Two cytotoxic mechanisms of CTL have been demonstrated: one perforin/granzyme-based and the other Fas (CD95)/Fas ligand (FasL)-based. To clarify these two pathways in CAEBV, we analyzed six patients with CAEBV and four patients with IM using immunohistochemical staining of the lymph nodes. In both CAEBV and IM, CD8+ T-cells increased in number, but CD56+ natural killer cells were rare. In four of six cases with CAEBV, approximately half the lymphocytes were positive for T cell-restricted intracellular antigens (TIA-1), which were recognized by the cytolytic granules of CTL. In IM, the number of TIA-1 positive cells was smaller than that in CAEBV. Fas-positive lymphocytes were frequently encountered in both CAEBV and IM. However, FasL-positive lymphocytes increased in three of six patients with CAEBV, but not in patients with IM. Except for one case with CAEBV, the number of perforin- and/or granzyme-positive cells was small in number in both CAEBV and IM cases. In double-staining FasL and EBV in situ hybridization, FasL-positive EBV-infected lymphocytes were detected in CAEBV but not in IM. In CAEBV, the Fas/FasL pathway and not perforin pathways appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis. The data suggest that EBV-infected lymphocytes may evade immune attack through the expression of FasL.
Adolescent↗
Expressions of cyclin E, A, and B1 in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells: not suppressed by cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 expression.
p21 Is involved in the control of the mammalian cell cycle through the binding and inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases. The cyclins are dependent on the phases of the cell cycle, and divided into two classes: mitotic cyclins (A, B1, B2) and G1 cyclins (C, D1, D2, D3, E). The product of the p21 gene is a potent downstream effector of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene function. The Hodgkin and Reed- Sternberg (H & RS) cells in Hodgkin's disease are reported to frequently express p53, p21, and nuclear proliferative activity (Ki-67). To clarify the relationship of p21, p53 and cyclins, we performed the immunohistochemistry of p53, p21, Ki-67, cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin A and cyclin B1, using 11 cases with Hodgkin's disease. In addition, we performed p53 gene sequencing of exon 5-8, and in situ hybridization of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) EBER-1 region, whose products have reported to induce the expression of cyclin D. In this study, in all cases, Ki-67 was expressed in almost all H & RS cells, and p53 and p21 were expressed in H & RS cells. No p53 gene mutations were detected in any case, and p53 protein overexpression did not correlate with p53 gene mutations. The number of p21-positive H & RS cells was significantly related with that of the p53-positive cells. The cyclins E, A, B1 and D1 were also expressed in H & RS cells. Unexpectedly, the expression of the cyclins was not suppressed by p21 and p53 expression. In addition, the existence of EBV was not related to the expression of cyclins. It is considered that H & RS cells are, indeed, in cell cycle and commonly express the cell cyclins, and that the cell cycle of H & RS cells may not be specifically fixed in the G1, S, G2 or M phases.
Adolescent↗
Clinicopathological findings of virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in bone marrow: association with Epstein-Barr virus and apoptosis.
Non-neoplastic hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), also called virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS), has been thought to be a distinct clinical entity. A spontaneous recovery is common, but the prognosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated VAHS is poor. However, the role of EBV has yet to be clearly elucidated. A retrospective study of the bone marrow of 30 cases, in which the diagnosis of non-neoplastic VAHS was clinicopathologically confirmed, was performed. We were unable to histologically confirm the presence of neoplastic lesions, especially lymphoma cell infiltration. Ten of the patients were children (aged less than 15 years) and young adults (aged under 20 years; median age, 10 years). Twenty patients were adults (aged over 21 years; median age, 48 years). Twelve of these patients died, while 18 showed a spontaneous recovery. We performed immunological staining and in situ hybridization (ISH) for EBV. To clarify the presence of apoptosis, an in situ apoptosis detection (tunnel) method was used. In situ hydridization showed an EBV-presence in 16 of the 30 patients. In addition, the EBV-presence was confined in the lymphocytes, especially T lymphocytes in double stainings. The number of EBV-infected cells varied; however, the EBV presence was associated with ages. Nine of the 10 children and young adults showed an EBV-presence, while EBV was detected in seven of the 20 adults. Especially in 10 patients aged over 49 years, no EBV was detected. According to the in situ apoptosis detection, apoptotic cells were increased in number and considered to be lymphoid cells, but not myeloid or histiocytic cells. Some apoptotic cells were phagocyted with histiocytes. Histologically, apoptosis may be one of the factors that induced phagocytosis.
Adolescent↗
Prognostic clinicopathologic factors, including immunologic expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.
The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance and potential prognostic value of the expression of a panel of surface markers, proliferating, suppressor and oncogenic proteins in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). Biopsies were collected from 158 patients with DLBCL and analyzed immunohistochemically for p53, p21/WAF1, bcl-2, cyclin-D1, bcl-6, mdr, CD5, CD30, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), Ki-67 and c-myc positive tumor cells. Among these, 76 young and middle-aged patients (20-65 years) were selected to investigate the relationship between protein expression, clinical features, and survival. Survival analysis showed that advanced stage, high lactic dehydrogenase level, and high International Prognostic Index (IPI) were poor prognostic factors associated with a shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) times. A high p53 expression and low bcl-6 expression were associated with a shorter DFS time. The histological variant type, cyclin-D1+ CD5+ DLBCL, positive epithelial membrane antigen (EMA+) CD30- DLBCL, high bcl-2 expression, and low Ki-67 proliferation activity tended to be associated with worse survival, but the correlations were not statistically significant. In the multivariate analysis, the most significant factors were age, followed by IPI and last p53. The expression of p21/WAF1, mdr, and c-myc proteins did not influence OS and DFS. The expression of p53 and bcl-6 proteins may be useful prognostic indicators in DLBCL. Cyclin-D1+ CD5+ or EMA+ CD30- DLBCL tended to predict a worse survival and may probably bear a significant prognostic value worthy of consideration. Overall, clinical factors appeared to be more important than biologic parameters in determining the prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.
Adolescent↗
Ultrastructure and serotonin immunocytochemistry of the parietal-pineal complex in the Japanese grass lizard, Takydromus tachydromoides.
The fine structure and immunocytochemical localization of serotonin in the cells of the receptor line were studied in the parietal eye and pineal organ proper of the Japanese grass lizard, Takydromus tachydromoides. Typical photoreceptor cells (PC) were the predominant cell type in the receptor line of the parietal eye, the outer segments of which had regular stacks of numerous disks similar to those of cones. The pineal organ contained relatively few PCs, which showed less well-developed outer segments than those of the parietal eye. In contrast, secretory rudimentary photoreceptor cells (SRPC) accounted for the majority of receptor cells in the pineal organ. These cells were structurally characterized by whorl-like lamellar outer segments and numerous dense-cored vesicles (80-280 nm in diameter). A small number of SRPC were also found in the parietal retina, which were similar to those in the pineal organ. In the parietal-pineal complex, numerous mitochondria located in the PC were larger and rounder than those in the SRPC. In the PC, basal processes prossessed only synaptic ribbons, whereas in the SRPC some of these processes contained synaptic ribbons and others contained dense-cored vesicles, rarely having both. Serotonin-immunoreactive cells were found not only in the pineal organ but also in the parietal eye, which closely resembled the cells of the receptor line in their size and shape. Furthermore, on immunoelectron microscopy for serotonin using the protein A-gold technique, gold particles indicating serotonin-immunoreactive sites were restricted in the core of dense-cored vesicles in the SRPC of the pineal organ. Regional differences in the distributions of the PC, SRPC and serotonin-immunoreactivity were found in the parietal-pineal complex.
Animals↗