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K Ostergaard

Publications and source records attributed to K Ostergaard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

CD44 expression is up-regulated in the deep zone of osteoarthritic cartilage from human femoral heads.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to detail the topographical and zonal distribution of the cell adhesion molecule CD44 in normal and osteoarthritic cartilage. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry utilizing well characterized anti-CD44 antibodies (clones A3D8, Bric 235, 2C5) was performed on cryostat and paraffin sections of human articular cartilage from macroscopically normal (n = 18) and osteoarthritic (n = 11) femoral heads. Samples for cryostat sections were obtained from 12 topographically different sites. Sections were divided into zones (superficial, middle, deep) and the CD44 staining scored. Chondrocytes in normal articular cartilage and cartilage from osteoarthritic femoral heads stained positive for CD44 in both cryostat and paraffin sections. Normal cartilage showed a significant decrease in CD44 staining in the deep zone as compared to the superficial zone (P < 0.05). However, cryostat sections of residual cartilage from osteoarthritic femoral heads showed increased CD44 staining in the deep zone as compared to normal articular cartilage. The CD44 staining showed no topographical variation in either the normal cartilage or the osteoarthritic residual cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: CD44 expression displays a distinct zonal variation in normal articular cartilage which is lost in osteoarthritic cartilage due to an up-regulated expression in the deep zone. CD44 expression does not exhibit topographical variation.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

A comparison of physical characteristics between patients seeking treatment for neck pain and age-matched healthy people.

OBJECTIVE: To compare physical characteristics of the cervical musculature, including maximal isometric strength of the flexors and extensors, relative isometric endurance of the extensors and the active range of motion (ROM) in extension in a group of patients seeking treatment for chronic neck pain and a group of age-matched healthy people. SETTING: Department of Medical Orthopedics, National University Hospital, Denmark. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen chronic neck-pain patients underwent physical testing for active ROM in extension, maximal isometric torque in extension and flexion and relative isometric endurance in extension before entering a clinical controlled trial studying the treatment of chronic neck pain. Their results were then compared with those of 80 age-matched healthy people. RESULTS: The reliability study demonstrated good within-day and day-to-day reproducibility for active ROM. Active ROM was significantly reduced in female patients, but not in all male age groups. Patients exhibited clinically and statistically significant reductions in maximal isometric torque in both the flexors and extensors of the cervical spine, with the greatest reduction seen in the extensor muscle group. Most patient groups demonstrated a significant reduction in relative isometric endurance of the extensors. CONCLUSIONS: In agreement with most low-back comparisons between patients and age-matched healthy people, the greatest relative muscular deficiencies seem to be in the extensor muscle group. Additionally, most patients exhibit a significant decrease in active ROM during extension. The clinical utility of physical measurements has not been firmly established.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Estimation of the number of somatostatin neurons in the striatum: an in situ hybridization study using the optical fractionator method.

Somatostatin-containing neurons of the striatum constitute fewer than 5% of the total neuronal population. Their involvement in the feedforward inhibition of the spiny projection neurons, the modulation of other interneurons, and the regulation of regional blood flow indicates that this small population of neurons plays an important role in the processing of information in the striatum. As a first step in developing a quantitative structural framework within which a more rigorous analysis can be made of the functional circuitry of the striatum, we used modern unbiased stereological techniques to make estimates of the total number of neurons expressing mRNA for somatostatin in the striatum of rats. The strategy developed involved the application of the optical fractionator technique to relatively thick tissue sections that were hybridized in situ with a relatively short oligonucleotide probe conjugated to a nonradioactive reporter molecule. The approach is generally applicable to other subpopulations of in situ hybridized cells in other parts of the brain and can provide a link between molecular neurobiology and stereology. The mean total number of neurons on one side of the striatum was estimated to be 21,300. An analysis of the sampling scheme indicated that counting no more than 200 neurons in a systematic sample of not more than 15 sections per individual results in an estimate with a precision that is more than sufficient for comparative and experimental studies. The issues that must be considered when analyzing in situ hybridized tissue with modern stereological methods, the interpretive caveats inherent in the resulting data, and the unique perspectives provided by data like that presented here for striatal somatostatin neurons are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effects of donor age and brain-derived neurotrophic factor on the survival of dopaminergic neurons and axonal growth in postnatal rat nigrostriatal cocultures.

Early postnatal rat brain tissue can be grown for several weeks as organotypic slice cultures by the roller-tube method. We have here used this method to study the effects of donor age and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on the survival and growth of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-i), dopaminergic (DA) neurons during the postnatal period when their nerve fibers normally innervate the striatal target. Tissue slices of ventral mesencephalon (VM) and striatum were prepared from newborn and 7-day-old rats and cocultured for 3--3 1/2 weeks with different combinations of the two donor ages. After immunocytochemical staining the number of TH-i, ventral mesencephalic neurons were counted, and the growth of TH-i fibers into the striatal part of the cocultures was evaluated. Co-cultures, with both VM and striatal slices prepared from newborn rats, contained a significantly higher number of TH-i neurons and displayed a significantly increased innervation of the striatal slices compared with other combinations of donor ages. Addition of BDNF resulted in both an increased survival of TH-i neurons and an increased growth of TH-i fibers into the cocultured striatal slices. Significant neurotrophic effect of BDNF did, however, require young donor age of both VM and striatal slices. It is suggested that BDNF induces more cells, possibly progenitor cells, to express TH immunoreactivity. Alternatively BDNF may suppress apoptotic cell death documented by others to occur in the postnatal rat substantia nigra pars compacta. Irrespective of the mechanisms, survival of more TH-i neurons was related to an increased innervation of the striatal slices by TH-i nerve fibers. The observed effects of BDNF on both survival and fiber growth of TH-i neurons indicate a potential role of BDNF for treatment of Parkinson's disease or grafts of immature DA neurons transplanted to patients with Parkinson's disease. A significant trophic effect of BDNF did, however, seem to depend on young developmental age of both striatum and VM. Parallel treatment with striatal neurotrophic factors may therefore be a necessary prerequisite to a trophic effect of BDNF under clinical conditions.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

NMDA and kainate-evoked release of nitric oxide and classical transmitters in the rat striatum: in vivo evidence that nitric oxide may play a neuroprotective role.

The effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate, S-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) and KCl on striatal nitric oxide (NO), acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), aspartate (ASP), glutamate (GLU) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release were measured in anaesthetized rats in vivo by microdialysis and in vitro in organotypic slice cultures. Local NMDA (1-100 microM) infusion by retrodialysis dose-dependently increased levels of classical transmitters, NO2-, NO3-, citrulline and arginine at similar thresholds (10 microM). Similar patterns of NMDA-evoked (50 microM) release were seen in striatal cultures. NMDA-evoked changes were all calcium-dependent and blocked by NMDA (APV or MK-801) but not AMPA/kainate (DNQX) receptor antagonists, excepting DA which could be prevented by both. In vivo, kainate increased NO2-, NO3-, CIT and ARG levels at 50 and 100 microM but was less potent than NMDA. Kainate also evoked significant ACh, DA and GLU release dose-dependently starting at 1-10 microM whereas 5-HT, ASP and GABA required 50 or 100 microM doses. Kainate effects were inhibited by DNQX, but not by APV, and were calcium-dependent, AMPA failed to alter NO2-, NO3-, CIT or ARG levels at 50 or 100 microM doses but dose-dependently increased ACh and DA. Similar results were seen with kainate (50 microM) and AMPA (50 microM) in vitro. KCl evoked NO2-, NO3-, CIT and ARG release as well as that of the classical transmitters in vivo and in vitro. In vivo administration of the NO synthase inhibitor L-nitroarginine (L-NARG; 100 microM) significantly reduced NO2-, NO3- and CIT levels and prevented NMDA, kainate or KCl-evoked increases. It also potentiated ACh, ASP, GLU and GABA release and reduced that of DA in response to 50 microM NMDA whereas treatment with an NO-donor (SNAP; 10 microM) significantly reduced evoked ACh, ASP and GLU release. The NO synthase inhibitor L-NARG potentiated kainate-evoked ACh release and reduced that of DA, although less potently than NMDA, but it had no effect on KCl-evoked transmitter release. Overall, these results show that both NMDA and kainate increase striatal NO release at similar dose-thresholds as for classical transmitter release suggesting that NO is dynamically released under physiological and not just pathological conditions. Reductions of striatal NO levels also potentiates calcium-dependent transmitter release in response to NMDA and, to a lesser extent, kainate, whereas increasing them reduces it. This is consistent with a role for NO as a neuroprotective agent in this region acting to desensitize NMDA receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Rehabilitation of neck/shoulder patients in primary health care clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature pertaining to neck/shoulder pain and its treatment primarily through rehabilitation. A discussion regarding the theoretical basis for clinical rehabilitation is presented. DATA SOURCE: A Medline literature search was performed. English and Scandinavian language articles were reviewed. Key words included neck/shoulder pain, neck pain, rehabilitation and exercise. STUDY SELECTION: The studies included used rehabilitation of the cervical musculature as the main treatment therapy on patients suffering from neck/shoulder pain as defined by the Standardized Nordic Questionnaires. DATA SYNTHESIS: The relatively new concept of neck/shoulder rehabilitation seems to result in pain reduction, restoration of functional values and psychological benefit for patients suffering from chronic, recurrent, post-traumatic or postoperative neck/shoulder pain. Successful protocols seem to be dependent upon sufficient dosage, duration and a relative disregard of pain. Side effects seem to be rare. CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation of patients with neck/shoulder pain offers great promise; sufficient documentation exists to warrant serious consideration from all practitioners in the primary health sector. Future studies will be necessary to further clarify which rehabilitative procedures are most suitable for different patient types.

Arthralgia↗
PubMed1996

Implementation of neck/shoulder rehabilitation in primary health care clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To provide primary health care practitioners with the practical information necessary to implement rehabilitation of patients with neck/shoulder pain in clinical facilities. Equipment and program design are discussed in detail. DATA SOURCE: A Medline literature search was performed. English and Scandinavian language references were included in the review. Key words included neck/shoulder pain, neck pain, rehabilitation, equipment, exercise. STUDY SELECTION: The studies selected included clinical trials in which rehabilitation was the main intervention in the treatment of patients with neck/shoulder pain. DATA SYNTHESIS: Reestablishing functional capacities of the musculature of the cervical spine can be accomplished with modest equipment and can be easily incorporated into the clinical setting. The extensors of the cervical spine are the most important muscle group that require rehabilitation and exhibit the highest values in all strength parameters. High-intensity rehabilitative protocols accompanied by the encouragement of fellow patients and support from personnel are essential for treatment success. CONCLUSIONS: Complete primary health care treatment of patients with chronic, recurrent and post-traumatic neck/shoulder pain will necessitate longer rehabilitation programs. Future studies will provide additional information regarding specific program design.

Arthralgia↗
PubMed1995

Electrophysiological characterization of dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurones in organotypic slice cultures of the rat ventral mesencephalon.

The aim of the present study was to characterize electrophysiologically neurones in organotypic cultures of the rat ventral mesencephalon and to compare these results with results published for the same neurones in other types of preparation. Intracellular recordings were obtained in 3- to 8-week-old organotypic slice cultures of the ventral mesencephalon prepared from new-born rats. Dopaminergic neurones were distinguished from non-dopaminergic neurones by staining with the autofluorescent serotonin analogue 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine and briefly viewing the preparation with short exposures to ultraviolet (UV) light (365 nm). Short exposures to UV light did not affect the electrophysiological properties. There were no significant differences between dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurones with regard to resting membrane potential or action potential threshold and amplitude, and in both types of neurone spontaneous burst activity and glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic potentials were seen. There were differences in the following parameters, which can be used to distinguish between the two types of neurone. Dopaminergic neurones had broad action potentials (2-9 ms), high input resistance (mean 81 M omega), were silent or fired spontaneously at a low frequency (0-9 Hz), and no spontaneous GABAA-ergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials or inward rectification were present. In contrast, non-dopaminergic neurones had fast action potentials (0.6-3.2 ms), low input resistance (mean 32 M omega), were silent or fired spontaneously at relatively high firing frequency (0-28 Hz), and sometimes inhibitory postsynaptic potentials and inward rectification were seen. In the presence of 1 microM tetrodotoxin and 10 mM tetraethylammonium, Ca2+ spikes could be evoked in both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurones. Dopaminergic neurones in 3- to 8-week-old organotypic slice cultures have a number of distinguishing electrophysiological characteristics similar to those recorded in other types of acute or cultured preparations. However, some intrinsic regulatory mechanisms, namely the slow oscillatory potentials, inward rectification and the K+ current, IA, seem to be missing in the cultured neurones.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗
PubMed1995

Organotypic slice cultures of the rat striatum: an immunocytochemical, histochemical and in situ hybridization study of somatostatin, neuropeptide Y, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase, and enkephalin.

In order to establish an in vitro model of Huntington's disease, we prepared slice cultures of striatal tissue from newborn rats. The striatal cultures were grown for 12-39 days in the absence of any other brain tissue. The presence of specific cell markers was shown by immunocytochemistry, histochemistry and in situ hybridization with alkaline-phosphatase-labeled oligonucleotide probes. We focused on (1) the medium-sized, aspiny interneurons, which in vivo express the neuropeptides somatostatin and neuropeptide Y and the nitric oxide synthesizing enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase, and which are spared in Huntington's disease and (2) the enkephalinergic, medium-sized projection neurons, which are particularly vulnerable in Huntington's disease. Similar basic morphologies of the presumed interneurons and double staining of NADPH-diaphorase positive and somatostatin immunoreactive neurons suggest that the two neuropeptides and NADPH-diaphorase are extensively colocalized in the cultures, as in vivo. In the newborn rats, included as controls, a patch-matrix distribution of the NADPH-diaphorase staining is described for the first time. In the striatal slices the distribution of the NADPH-diaphorase staining stayed uneven after 3-5 weeks in culture, with areas almost devoid of staining alternating with more heavily stained areas. This pattern may represent an intermediate stage between the patch-matrix distribution in the newborn and the homogeneous staining in the adult rat striatum. From quantitative estimates we found the same mutual rank order of the numbers of neuropeptide Y- and somatostatin-immunoreactive neurons and NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in vivo and in vitro. Both in the slice cultures and in the brain, the number of enkephalin mRNA-containing neurons significantly exceeded that of neuropeptide Y- and somatostatin mRNA-containing neurons. This implies that the mutual distribution of presumed interneurons and projection neurons was preserved in the slice cultures. Comparison of cell numbers per unit volume showed that, in the cultures, the number of presumed interneurons, with the exception of NPY mRNA-containing neurons, significantly exceeded that in vivo. In contrast, the enkephalin mRNA-containing neurons, which in vivo are projection neurons, were significantly fewer in the cultures. The relative loss of projection neurons and preservation of interneurons in single slice cultures of striatal tissue apparently mimick some of the neurodegenerative changes of Huntington's disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Grafting of dopaminergic ventral mesencephalic slice cultures to the striatum of adult rats.

Live storage of dopaminergic neurons before intracerebral grafting will allow pregrafting examination and manipulation of the cells, as well as pooling and mixing of cells from several donors. In this study we examined whether mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, grown in organotypic cultures for 1 week, would survive subsequent grafting to the adult rat striatum. Slices of ventral mesencephalon from neonatal rats were grown by the Roller drum method for 1 week and then grafted into the striatum of adult rats, with and without preceding 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of their nigrostriatal pathway. Using immunocytochemical staining for tyrosine hydroxylase, cultured dopaminergic neurons were found to survive and to extend fibers into the host striatum when examined 4, 7, 14, 28, and 87 days after grafting. When compared with slices of noncultured mesencephalic tissue from 1-week-old rats the slice culture period did not significantly reduce the number of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons. From this we conclude that slice cultures can be used for transient storage of dopaminergic donor tissue before intracerebral grafting. The surviving tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in control grafts from 1-week-old rats, furthermore, extends the time frame of possible donor ages used for grafting.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Organotypic slice cultures of the rat striatum--I. A histochemical and immunocytochemical study of acetylcholinesterase, choline acetyltransferase, glutamate decarboxylase and GABA.

Slices of striatal tissue from newborn to eight-day-old rats were cultured for six to 47 days. Cholinergic neurons and fibres were then visualized by histochemical staining for acetylcholinesterase or immunocytochemical staining for choline acetyltransferase. GABA-containing neurons and fibres were visualized by immunocytochemical staining for glutamate decarboxylase or GABA. Corresponding to the normal postnatal development in vivo, acetylcholinesterase staining of the striatal tissue progressed from a "patchy" distribution in the six to 14 days old cultures to an almost even distribution of high acetylcholinesterase activity after 18-27 days. Extrinsic afferents were accordingly not necessary for the maintenance of a patch-matrix-like, acetylcholinesterase distribution during the first one to two weeks in culture, just as a subsequent, normal developmental change of the acetylcholinesterase staining pattern into a more homogeneous distribution also occurred without such afferents. Cholinergic, choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive neurons were evenly distributed within the cultured striatal tissue, like in vivo, but the density of the neurons appeared to be higher in the cultures. The neurons had a morphology corresponding to the "classical", large-sized, aspiny, cholinergic interneurons in the adult rat striatum. Glutamate decarboxylase-immunoreactive and GABA-immunoreactive neurons were either lightly or darkly stained and of medium size, but some large, lightly stained glutamate decarboxylase-immunoreactive and GABA-immunoreactive neurons were also found. The difference in staining density among the medium-sized cells was observed with both antisera and hence provide evidence for the existence of two populations of medium-sized GABAergic neurons, which in vivo are intensely stained interneurons and more weakly stained, spiny projection neurons. Fibres stained better for glutamate decarboxylase than for GABA and outgrowth of glutamate decarboxylase-immunoreactive nerve fibres from the striatal slice cultures onto the coverslip was often observed. The presence at all culture periods of "protospines" on cell bodies and proximal dendrites of some glutamate decarboxylase-immunoreactive, and in particular some GABA-immunoreactive neurons, suggested that at least some developmental characteristics might be maintained for extended periods in culture. In several cultures, groups of small GABA-immunoreactive cells were observed. Similar groups were also found by staining for glutamate decarboxylase, but a smaller proportion of the cells were then positively stained. In view of their immature appearance with few or no processes, the known presence of GABA in neuroblast-like cells, and the recent demonstration of neuronal and glial progenitor cells in the adult mouse striatum, the small cells might belong to a population of undifferentiated cells surviving in the slice cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1993

Serum cobalamin and methylmalonic acid in Alzheimer dementia.

The cobalamin status was evaluated in Alzheimer dementia (n = 26), other dementias (n = 24), various gerontopsychiatric disorders (n = 25), and in neuro-psychiatrically healthy controls (n = 20). Supplementing serum cobalamin we measured methylmalonic acid (MMA), a metabolite accumulating early in cobalamin deficiency. Subnormal cobalamin and/or clearly elevated MMA concentrations were found in 11 cases: 7 Alzheimer patients (27%), 2 with other dementias (8%), one psychiatric patient (4%), and one control (5%). None presented the typical neurologic features of cobalamin deficiency and macrocytosis was found in only one. The mean cobalamin concentration was significantly lower in Alzheimer patients (179 +/- 18 pmol/l) than in the age-matched controls (256 +/- 23 pmol/l) (p = 0.013) and the other patient groups. Correspondingly, the mean MMA level was higher in the Alzheimer group (0.480 +/- 0.062 mumol/l) than in any other diagnostic group (controls: 0.347 +/- 0.040 mumol/l). Comparing the Alzheimer group to the other groups as a whole, the elevation was significant (p = 0.0097). Our findings indicate that Alzheimer patients are particularly prone to cobalamin deficiency, and even subtle biochemical signs of deficiency seem to justify treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Tyrosine hydroxylase and acetylcholinesterase in the domestic pig mesencephalon: an immunocytochemical and histochemical study.

The mesencephalon of the young domestic pig was studied by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunocytochemistry and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry with focus on the substantia nigra (SN), the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and related areas. The purpose was to obtain information on the organization of the mesencephalic, TH immunoreactive (TH-i), and dopaminergic areas of the pig, in order to provide the necessary background for the possible use of the pig as an alternative large animal experimental model for research on Parkinson's disease, including the use of encapsulated pig dopaminergic neurons for intracerebral xenotransplantation. Significant findings in the pig, compared to observations in other species, included the presence of prominent bundles of TH-i dendrites passing in a dorsoventral direction from pars compacta into pars reticulata at middle and caudal levels of the SN, and the presence of a distinct TH-i substantia nigra pars lateralis (SNL). Caudally in the pig mesencephalon, the retrorubral field (RRF) was found to be very extensive. The view of the RRF, SN, and VTA as parts of the same integrated system was indicated by the crisscrossing of TH-i dendrites at the transitions between these areas. Estimation of the number of TH-i neurons in the SN and the VTA showed that these nuclei were of equal size in the pig. Further, it was found that TH-i nerve cells were present in the midline between the VTA in the interfascicular and rostral linear groups. TH-i nerve cells were also present in the otherwise serotoninergic dorsal raphe nuclei, just as other TH-i cells formed a perirubral cell group. AChE-positive neurons were present in both SN and VTA, and appeared to have the same size and morphology as the TH-i neurons in these areas. Within both nuclei, there were local differences in the AChE staining density, but perhaps more significantly were some marked differences in the structure of the AChE-positive neuropil of the two areas. We anticipate that the present description of the cellular organization of the TH-i dopaminergic areas in the domestic pig ventral mesencephalon will be useful for the development of a nonprimate, large animal, experimental model of Parkinson's disease.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1992

Observer homogeneity in the histologic diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori. Latent class analysis, kappa coefficient, and repeat frequency.

Four pathologists independently examined 82 antral mucosal biopsy specimens for the presence of Helicobacter pylori and indicated whether their assessments were certain. The pathologists made a positive diagnosis in from 56% to 84% of the specimens (significant heterogeneity, p < 0.01). The frequency of uncertain diagnoses was from 4% to 20% (p < 0.01). Uncertain statements occurred more frequently among negative than among positive diagnoses. For the six pairs of observers the kappa coefficients were between 0.39 and 0.82. By a latent class analysis measures of diagnostic accuracy were calculated comparing the observers' assessments with an estimated consensus diagnosis. The predictive values of a positive diagnosis ranged from 0.70 to 1.00. By calculation of repeat frequencies--that is, the probability that an observer's statement was confirmed by another observer--it became evident that uncertain statements were less frequently (61%) confirmed than were certain ones (85%). It is concluded that observer homogeneity is only moderate with regard to the histologic diagnosis of H. pylori, which should be considered both in daily clinical routine and in scientific studies. Disagreement between observers was associated with negative diagnoses, presumably because the pathologists felt more uncertain in these cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Experimental clinical transplantation in patients with Parkinson disease. Experimental background and clinical picture].

In this review the experimental background for treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease by intracerebral transplantation is presented. Intracerebral transplantation has been performed either with the patients own adrenal medulla or with human fetal dopaminergic neurons obtained from abortions. Intracerebral transplantation of adrenal chromaffin cells to rodents has shown poor cell survival and minor, transient effects on experimentally induced parkinson-like symptoms. Intracerebral autotransplants of medullary adrenal tissue to patients with Parkinson's disease have shown corresponding, minor improvements in the parkinson status. Animal experiments with grafting of developing fetal dopaminergic neurons have been more rewarding and resulted in reversal of parkinson-like symptoms. Experimental transplantations with human fetal dopaminergic neurons to patients with Parkinson's disease have not entirely lived up to these expectations. At a recent meeting, arranged to set up a European network for research and information, it was agreed that more animal experiments, in particular including non-human primates are needed. Regarding the clinical trials with transplantation of human fetal dopaminergic tissue coordination of neurological test procedures performed pre- and posttransplantation was strongly recommended.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1991

Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons in organotypic slice cultures of the rat striatum and neocortex.

Organotypic slice cultures of striatum and neocortex were prepared from newborn to seven day old rats and cultured for three to 60 days. When processed for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunocytochemistry medium-sized, aspiny TH immunoreactive (TH-i) neurons with a similar morphology were revealed in the striatum and the neocortex. The neurons had a very similar morphology in both tissues and were present both when the two tissues were grown separately as single cultures and when grown together either en bloc as part of the same tissue slices or as co-cultures. In order to examine whether innervation by dopaminergic fibers would affect the expression of TH-i neurons in the striatal slice cultures, co-cultures of ventral mesencephalon (VM) and striatum were prepared, but the ingrowth of TH-i fibers from the VM did not alter the expression of TH immunoreactivity by a subpopulation of striatal neurons.

Animals↗