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Biomedical subjects

K Otani

Publications and source records attributed to K Otani.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Neurons of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus of the hereditary microphthalmic rat: a Golgi study.

Neurons of the lateral part of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus in the microphthalmic rat were examined by the Golgi-Cox method. These neurons were divided into the same three types as normal neurons. However, the number of branches and the length of primary dendrites of these neurons were fewer and shorter, and the size of their perikarya was smaller, compared with normal cases.

Animals↗

Uncrossed retinal projection to the medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system in the hereditary unilaterally microphthalmic rat.

The uncrossed optic projection to the medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system was studied in adult rats with hereditary unilateral microphthalmia. The vestigial eye of the mutant completely lacks the optic nerve. After injection of HRP into the remaining eye the ipsilateral labeled fibers of the accessory optic system via the superior fasciculus distinctly covered the three terminal nuclei. No ipsilateral inferior fasciculus of the accessory optic system was labeled. Aberrant expansion of the uncrossed superior fasciculus fibers was observed in the medial terminal nucleus.

Animals↗

Uncrossed retino-geniculate and retino-tectal projections in the hereditary unilaterally microphthalmic rats.

The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (CGLd) of the hereditary unilaterally microphthalmic rats showed a diminution of volume and an increase of neuronal density on the contralateral side of the vestigial eye without the optic nerve (about 60 and 160% of the normal, respectively; P less than 0.001). No significant changes were observed in the ipsilateral CGLd. Uncrossed retino-CGLd and -tectal projections were studied using the anterograde axonal transport of HRP in adult rats with the congenital unilateral microphthalmia. Aberrant expansions of the uncrossed retinal projection widely covered CGLd and the superficial layers of the superior colliculus (SCS). The distribution pattern of expanded uncrossed retinal pathway in the mutant was essentially similar to that of neonatally one-eyed rats.

Animals↗

Little anticholinergic effect of E-10-hydroxynortriptyline compared with nortriptyline in healthy subjects.

Six healthy male subjects were randomly given nortriptyline (NT) (25 and 50 mg) and placebo in a double-blind, crossover study. An NT dose of 50 mg (but not 25 mg) clearly reduced saliva flow (P less than 0.05) and was therefore used for comparison with the major and active metabolite of NT, E-10-hydroxynortriptyline (E-10-OH-NT). Equimolar doses of both compounds (and placebo) were randomly given to eight healthy male subjects in another double-blind, crossover study aimed to assess the reduction of saliva flow. NT significantly depressed saliva flow compared with both placebo (P less than 0.01) and E-10-OH-NT (P less than 0.05). By contrast, there was no difference between E-10-OH-NT and placebo. This study confirms previous indications that the anticholinergic effect of E-10-OH-NT is considerably less than that of the parent drug NT.

Adult↗

Effects of nortriptyline and its 10-hydroxy metabolite on plasma noradrenaline (NA) concentrations, heart rate and blood pressure during intravenous NA infusion.

Eight healthy subjects were randomly given placebo and equimolar doses of nortriptyline (NT) and E-10-hydroxy-NT (E-10-OH-NT). Two hours after oral intake of drug, noradrenaline (NA) was infused intravenously at three consecutive rates. Before infusion of NA, E-10-OH-NT significantly increased heart rate compared to NT (p less than 0.05) and placebo (p less than 0.01). During NA infusion, the active drugs caused non-significant tendencies to augmented increase of blood pressure and decrease of heart rate. Plasma NA concentrations increased significantly due to the infused NA but were not influenced by NT or E-10-OH-NT. This absence of drug effect may have been due to several simultaneously operating factors affecting plasma NA concentrations, e.g., modification of the rates of NA release and clearance by exogenous NA or drugs and competing elimination pathways for infused NA. After stopping the NA infusion, a non-significant tendency to a slower elimination of NA was found after both active drugs.

Adult↗

Expression of idiotype on the surface of human B cells producing anti-DNA antibody.

We analyzed the idiotype (Id) expression on the surface of human anti-DNA antibody-producing cells. Murine monoclonal anti-Id antibodies with a specificity for determinants associated with the antigen-binding sites of human monoclonal anti-DNA autoantibodies were prepared. One anti-Id antibody reacted only with surface Id on anti-ssDNA-producing cells, but not with those on anti-dsDNA-producing B cell clones. Another anti-Id antibody did bind the surface Id on anti-dsDNA clones, but not those on anti-ssDNA clones. The interaction between anti-Id and surface Id was inhibited by pretreatment of the clones with DNA or appropriate polynucleotide antigens, or by preabsorption of anti-Id antibodies with free anti-DNA antibodies. Surface IgM and IgD expressed the same Id as the antibody secreted from the clones. The treatment of Id-positive clones by anti-Id antibody induced the redistribution of surface Id on the cells, indicating that these cells serve as targets for the regulatory action of anti-Id antibody.

Animals↗

Geniculotectal neurons of the lateral part of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus in the hereditary microphthalmic rat: a retrograde WGA-HRP study.

The distribution and morphological characteristics of the geniculotectal neurons from the lateral part of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus in the hereditary microphthalmic rat were examined by the WGA-HRP method. Unilateral injection of the tracer into the microphthalmic superior colliculus showed that WGA-HRP-positive neurons were present in the ipsilateral lateral part of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. However, the number of labeled geniculotectal neurons of the microphthalmia was about 50% that of the normal rats. Furthermore, the size of labeled geniculotectal neurons of the microphthalmia was smaller and their dendrites were shorter than those of normal rats. These results demonstrated that, although geniculotectal neurons of the microphthalmic lateral part of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus could differentiate just as in the normal rat, the size and number of microphthalmic geniculotectal neurons were remarkably smaller and fewer than those of normal rats. Moreover, the dendrites of microphthalmic geniculotectal neurons were less branched than usual.

Animals↗

Neurons of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the hereditary microphthalmic rat: a Golgi study.

Neurons of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) in the microphthalmic rat were examined by the Golgi-Cox method. LGNd neurons in the microphthalmic rat were classified into the multipolar (I) and bipolar (II) types as in the normal rat. The multipolar type was further divided into two subclasses (Ia and Ib) on the basis of their dendritic patterns. The proximal portion of their primary dendrites was thinner than in normal LGNd neurons. The Ia cells had 6-7 primary dendrites extending radially, while the Ib cells had 3-4 primary dendrites spreading primarily parallel to the optic tract. Type II cells had two or three primary dendrites emerging from the cell bodies. In both types, primary dendrites were shorter in length or less branched than usual. These results suggested that LGNd neurons in the microphthalmic rat had smaller dendritic fields than those in the normal rat.

Animals↗

Disposition of single oral doses of E-10-hydroxynortriptyline in healthy subjects, with some observations on pharmacodynamic effects.

The active and major metabolite of nortriptyline (NT), E-10-hydroxynortriptyline (E-10-OH-NT), was taken orally as the hydrogen maleate in single doses by nine healthy subjects. The doses (10 to 100 mg) were completely absorbed, as shown by the high urinary recovery of 86.1% +/- 9.9%. Of the given dose, 51.2% +/- 8.7% was recovered as conjugated E-10-OH-NT and 23.9% +/- 4.3% was recovered as unchanged compound. The plasma t1/2 of E-10-OH-NT was 8.0 +/- 1.2 hours and total plasma clearance was 47.5 +/- 10.3 L/hr. The rate of elimination varied little between individuals. There was no indication of dose-dependent elimination. The mean apparent volume of distribution was 7.7 +/- 2.1 L/kg. Single oral doses of 50 mg E-10-OH-NT significantly increased the plasma levels of norepinephrine in both the supine and standing positions (P less than 0.01). Pulse rate increased in the standing but not the supine position. These effects might result from inhibition of neuronal uptake of norepinephrine by E-10-OH-NT. Coupled with its low affinity for muscarinic receptors, these kinetic and pharmacodynamic features of E-10-OH-NT call for further phase I studies.

Administration, Oral↗

Ossification of the ligamentum flavum of the thoracic spine in adult kyphosis.

Ossification of the ligamentum flavum has been recognised as a definite clinical entity as is ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. The incidence of both is high in Japan. This study demonstrates that the incidence of ossification of the ligamentum flavum in persons who have a kyphosis of the thoracic or lumbar spine is higher than in those who do not. It is considered that localised mechanical stress affecting the ligamentum flavum is a contributing factor to the development of ossification, together with the generalised factors which may favour bone formation. However, the aetiology of this lesion is still obscure as is that of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Adult↗

The organization of neurons in the nucleus of the lateral lemniscus projecting to the superior and inferior colliculi in the rat.

The topographic organization of neurons in the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL) which project to the superior and inferior colliculi was studied using the retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the fluorescent double labeling methods. Neurons projecting to the superior colliculus (SC) are situated in the rostral portion of the DNLL, whereas those to the inferior colliculus (IC) are found in the caudal area of this nucleus. These two portions are completely separated from each other and no neurons projecting to both the SC and the IC are observed. In the dorsolateral part of the rostral portion of the DNLL, neurons projecting to the ipsilateral SC are found, whereas neurons projecting to the contralateral SC are located in the central to medial part of the nucleus, but no neurons sending collateral axons to both sides of the SC were observed. Neurons located in the central part of the caudal area of the DNLL project to the ipsilateral IC and neurons in the lateral and medial parts project contralaterally to the IC. Some of the neurons in the caudal part of the DNLL have divergent axonal branching projecting to both sides of the IC. In the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, labeled neurons were observed only when the HRP was injected into the ipsilateral IC.

Animals↗

Distribution of the tecto-thalamic projection neurons in the hereditary microphthalmic rat.

Tecto-thalamic projections in the hereditary bilaterally microphthalmic rat were studied by means of WGA-HRP injection into the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) and the lateroposterior thalamic nucleus (LP). Histological study in the mutant rats showed that whereas LGNd and superficial layers of the superior colliculus (SC) suffered from a remarkable reduction in size, LP had no histological changes as compared to the normal animals. Unilateral injection of the tracer into the microphthalmic LGNd showed that WGA-HRP positive neurons were present mostly in the ipsilateral str. griseum superficiale (SGS) of the SC. However, the number of labeled SGS neurons of the microphthalmic animals was about 3% of the normal. Although cell bodies of the normal tecto-LGNd neurons in the SGS were spindle-form in shape and issued one or two proximal dendrites from each pole, the microphthalmic tecto-LGNd neurons showed an irregular contour and their dendrites were not so intensively labeled. Unilateral injections of WGA-HRP into the LP revealed that the tecto-LP neurons were mainly distributed in the ipsilateral str. opticum of the colliculus (SO) in both normal and microphthalmic animals. However, the number of labeled SO cells in the microphthalmic rat was about one-half of the normal. Furthermore, the size of labeled tecto-LP neurons was smaller than that of the normal ones, and they showed irregular round to oval cell bodies with equivocally labeled dendrites, in contrast to the normal tecto-LP neurons with polygonal cell bodies extending three or more dendrites in a radial fashion. These results indicate that there exist the tecto-LGNd and -LP projection neurons in the microphthalmic rat and that their laminally segregated projection is fundamentally preserved. However, the number of the tecto-thalamic projection neurons, especially of the tecto-LGNd cells, was markedly diminished in the mutant tectum compared to normals.

Animals↗