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Biomedical subjects

O Kempski

Publications and source records attributed to O Kempski.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Swelling and death of neuronal cells by lactic acid.

Lactacidosis occurring in cerebral ischemia or trauma is a major mechanism of cytotoxic brain edema and brain damage. Respective effects of lactacidosis were currently analyzed in vitro by employment of the murine neuronal cell line, Neuro-2A, in order to obtain a better understanding of specific mechanisms underlying cell swelling and cell death in comparison with glial cells. The cells were suspended in a physiological medium in the presence of lactic acid at increasing concentrations. Levels of acidosis reaching from pH 6.8-5.6 were obtained while other parameters, such as osmolarity and electrolyte concentrations, were maintained in the physiological range. Assessment of cell swelling and cell viability using exclusion of propidium iodide was made by flow cytometry with employment of an advanced Coulter system. Swelling of Neuro-2A cells commenced once the pH in the medium was lowered to 6.8 or below. From this level downward, cell swelling was a function of the severity of acidosis and duration of exposure. For example, lactacidosis of pH 6.8 or 5.6 lasting 90 min led to an increase in cell volume to 109.5% or 159.6% of normal, respectively. Viability of the neuronal cells was 85% under control conditions. It remained in this range down to pH 6.2. At pH 5.6, however, cell viability decreased in a time-dependent fashion. At 90 min, only 48.9% of the neuronal cells were viable at pH 5.6. The swelling response and impairment of viability of the neuronal cells was compared with that of C6 glioma cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cerebral blood flow alterations in a rat model of cerebral sinus thrombosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Outcome from sinus vein thrombosis is very variable, with symptoms from headache to coma. Experimental findings suggest that an involvement of cortical veins is necessary to affect the cerebral microcirculation. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to investigate the regional and temporal changes in local cortical blood flow after experimental occlusion and thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus and tributary cortical veins in rats. METHODS: Thrombosis was induced by slow injection of kaolin-cephalin suspension after frontal and caudal ligation of the sagittal sinus in rats. Local cerebral blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry and correlated with parenchymal damage found 24 hours after induction of thrombosis. RESULTS: Local cerebral blood flow 1 hour after sinus occlusion and induction of thrombosis had decreased to 60.92 +/- 29.05% (p < 0.01); however, there was a large variability among individual animals. Only five of 12 rats showed histological damage and intracerebral hemorrhages 24 hours after induction of thrombosis. A subgroup analysis revealed that parenchymal damage occurred in concurrence with reduced blood flow values after sinus ligation and injection of the thrombogenic material. Sinus thrombosis alone, without alteration of blood flow, did not cause tissue necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The data support the contention that sinus vein thrombosis evolves gradually, with major symptoms occurring only if the thrombus expands from the sinus into bridging and cortical veins. Collateral venous outflow pathways are thereby occluded, and local blood flow may become reduced to and below the ischemic threshold.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Kinetics of Photofrin II in perifocal brain edema.

Photodynamic therapy is under intense investigation as a possible adjuvant for the treatment of malignant tumors of the central nervous system. It relies on the fact that photosensitizers are selectively taken up or retained by malignant tissue. However, most brain tumors are accompanied by substantial vasogenic edema as a consequence of blood-brain barrier disruption within the tumor, leading to extravasation and propagation of plasma constituents into the surrounding brain tissue. Systemically administered photosensitizers may enter healthy tissue together with the edema fluid, possibly leading to sensitization of tissues outside the tumor. To test this hypothesis, vasogenic edema was induced by cold injury to the cortex in rats. The edema thus obtained is highly reproducible and very similar to tumor-associated edema. Just after injury induction, Photofrin II (PF-II), a commonly used photosensitizing agent, was administered at a dose of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight along with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled albumin to mark edema advancement. After 1, 4, 12, or 24 hours, the brains were removed and frozen, and cryosections were studied with high-sensitivity video fluorescence microscopy for edema extravasation within the lesion and propagation of PF-II into the surrounding gray matter. PF-II advanced with edema along the corpus callosum underlying the cortex to a distance of 5 mm from the lesion after 4 hours. With the exception of the lesion, PF-II fluorescence returned to baseline after 24 hours, indicating subsequent washout. Propagation was comparable to the spreading of FITC-marked albumin. The authors conclude that photosensitizers spread with edema, an observation that may be pertinent to a number of questions concerning photodynamic therapy of cerebral tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Mechanisms of glial swelling induced by glutamate.

The mechanisms of glutamate-induced glial swelling have been studied using an in vitro model that permits detection of cell volume changes with high accuracy. The model allows for a close control of the extracellular environment to study in isolation the effect of defined extracellular alterations occurring in brain under pathophysiologic conditions. Glutamate was applied in concentrations between 50 microM and 10 mM to either C6 glioma cells or astrocytes from primary culture. Glutamate uptake was assessed by HPLC measurements of amino acids in the extracellular medium. Glutamate at all concentrations tested caused glial swelling, which, however, was moderate, with maximal average volume increases between 5.0 +/- 1.92 and 18.38 +/- 1.6% of control at 50 microM and 5 mM glutamate, respectively. Swelling was concentration dependent and correlated with glutamate uptake. After removal of all extracellular glutamate by glial uptake, cell volume spontaneously normalized. Pretreatment of the cells for 90 min with ouabain (1 mM) to abolish the extracellular/intracellular Na+ gradient, prevented glutamate-induced swelling. It is concluded that while glial cells readily accumulate glutamate from the extracellular environment to protect neurons from excitotoxic effects, swelling results from the increase of intracellular osmotic activity due to the uptake of Na+ and glutamate.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Blood flow and vascular permeability during motor dysfunction in a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Delayed deterioration of neurological function after central nervous system ischemia is a well-documented clinical problem. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the role of spinal cord blood flow and spinal cord-blood barrier integrity in the evolution of delayed neurological deterioration after transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits. METHODS: Anesthetized rabbits were subjected to lumbar spinal cord ischemia (25 minutes) and variable periods of reperfusion (30 minutes to 48 hours after ischemia). Regional spinal cord blood flow was monitored by carbon-14-labeled iodoantipyrine autoradiography; vascular permeability was assessed by quantitative microhistofluorescence of Evans blue-albumin in frozen sections of spinal cord. Hindlimb motor function was assessed by standard scoring system and tissue edema by wet/dry weight method. RESULTS: Hindlimb motor function indicated complete paralysis during ischemia and partial gradual recovery upon reperfusion (up to 8 hours), followed by progressive deterioration to severe deficits over 48 hours. Severe vascular permeability disruption was noticed early (30 minutes) after reperfusion, but almost complete recovery reestablished at 8 hours was followed by a secondary progressive increase in vascular permeability. Blood flow was reduced by 20-30% (p less than 0.01) 4 hours after ischemia in the gray matter, but hyperemia (200-300%, p less than 0.01) was observed 12-24 hours after ischemia. Spinal cord water content increased by 5.7% (p less than 0.05) 24 hours after ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that delayed neurological and motor deterioration after spinal cord ischemia is associated with severe progressive breakdown of spinal cord-blood barrier integrity that develops late (hours) after the injury. Our data suggest that no ischemic insult in early or late reperfusion is associated with delayed motor deterioration.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Occlusion of the pig superior sagittal sinus, bridging and cortical veins: multistep evolution of sinus-vein thrombosis.

Cerebral sinus-vein thrombosis may lead to severe hemodynamic changes, elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), and brain edema. It is supposed that progression of the thrombus from the sinus into bridging and cortical veins plays a key role in the development of these pathophysiological changes, but this hypothesis lacks experimental proof. The aim of this study, using a novel animal model of sinus-vein thrombosis, was to evaluate the effects of a standardized occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus and its bridging and cortical veins on hemodynamic alterations, on brain water content, and on ICP in domestic pigs. In 10 animals, the middle third of the superior sagittal sinus was occluded with a catheter-guided balloon. Five of these pigs received an additional injection of 1 ml fibrin glue into the superior sagittal sinus anterior to the inflated balloon, leading to an obstruction of bridging and cortical veins. In five control animals the balloon was inserted but not inflated. Five pigs underwent cerebral angiography. Four hours after occlusion, the brains were frozen in liquid nitrogen, and coronal slices were examined for Evans blue dye extravasation, regional water content, and histological changes. Occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus alone did not affect ICP or cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). The additional injection of fibrin glue caused an obstruction of cortical and bridging veins as well as severe increases in mean (+/- standard deviation) ICP to 49.4 +/- 14.3 mm Hg, compared with 8.3 +/- 4.5 mm Hg in sham-treated controls and 7.1 +/- 3.9 mm Hg in animals with occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus alone. There was also a steep fall in the mean CPP to 34.2 +/- 19.6 mm Hg compared with 96.4 +/- 13.8 mm Hg in the control group. White-matter water content anterior to the occlusion site was elevated to 81.9 +/- 3.7 gm/100 gm frozen weight in the fibrin group as compared to 70.7 +/- 2.2 gm/100 gm in controls. Posterior to the occlusion site, water content did not differ among the three groups. Angiography demonstrated collateral flow via cortical and bridging veins in animals with occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus alone. Additional fibrin glue obstructed these collateral vessels. The data suggest a multistep process of pathophysiological alterations in patients with sinus-vein thrombosis and may explain why these patients present with a wide variety of symptoms: minor neurological deficits or headache might indicate thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus and/or its bridging veins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Significant correlations between atmospheric spectra according to Baumer and the in vitro incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the nuclear DNA of C6-glioma cells.

Significant correlations between certain spectra of atmospherics (spherics) according to Baumer (a.t.B), i.e. naturally occurring electro-magnetic impulses in the range of 4-50 kHz, and several diseases or biological parameters have been published earlier. Now we show that there exists a highly significant negative correlation (r = -0.61, P greater than 0.004) between the occurrence of 28 kHz impulses (a.t.B.) and the in vitro incorporation of thymidine into the nuclear DNA of C6-glioma cells. The positive correlation with the 10 kHz impulses (a.t.B) (r = 0.39), however, is statistically not significant (P greater than 0.055).

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Leucocyte depletion does not affect post-ischaemic nerve cell damage in the rat.

Leucocytes play an important role in inflammation and immunologic responses. They might be of special significance under pathophysiological conditions of the brain i.e. ischaemia or stroke. It has been shown that neutropenic animals undergoing reversible ischaemia show higher post-ischaemic blood flow, suggesting improved post-ischaemic perfusion. In this study it was investigated therefore, whether polymorphonuclear leucocytes contribute to the nerve cell loss in the hippocampus after a reversible period of ischaemia. Rats were made neutropenic with a specific anti-serum against rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes yielding leucocyte counts less than 10% of normal. The animals were then subjected to 15 min reversible forebrain ischaemia. Quantitative histology was performed after a survival period of 7 days. Nerve cell counts in the frontal cortex and in the CA1 and CA3 sectors of the hippocampus did not reveal any differences between neutropenic rats and animals with normal leucocyte counts. From the results it might be concluded that neutrophils do not significantly contribute to the selective post-ischaemic nerve cell damage in the rat.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1991

Glial ion transport and volume control.

K(+)-induced glial swelling results from an intricate interaction of transport and diffusion processes and metabolic stimulation, with many open questions remaining. Our concept of the major mechanisms involved can be summarized as follows: high extracellular K+ causes a burst-like stimulation of Na+/K+ ATPase and, hence, increases the metabolic demands. Lactate is produced; the cell is slightly acidified. To maintain a normal intracellular pH, the Na+/K+ antiporter extrudes protons and supplies Na+ for further Na+/K+ exchange. In addition, K+ ions enter the cell via membrane channels or furosemide-inhibitable transport. K+, Cl-, and lactate- ions accumulate as the osmotic basis for cell swelling. Later, cell volume normalizes slowly, a process involving lactate export and other, so far unidentified mechanisms. Taken together, the temporary swelling of glia at high K+ concentrations is the result of a homeostatic function, for the maintenance of a constant extracellular potassium concentration. Ion control ranges over volume control. In pathophysiologic states the loss of cell volume regulation may become a clinical problem, if cerebral swelling leads to an increase in intracranial pressure. It should be kept in mind, however, that elevation of the extracellular K+ concentration is not the only cause of glial swelling. Tissue acidosis, the release of neurotransmitters, especially glutamate, or free fatty acids are other mediator mechanisms initiating the swelling of glial elements. Only under controlled in vitro conditions can the individual significance of these factors be evaluated on a quantitative basis. Therapeutic approaches should be selected very carefully in order to maintain homeostatic mechanisms that are of utmost importance, especially after an insult to the brain.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1991

[Mediator substances of brain edema in cerebral ischemia].

Brain edema in focal or global cerebral ischemia is associated with formation and release of pathophysiologically active mediator compounds. Therapeutical methods which interfere with mediator compounds under these circumstances might improve specificity of treatment of ischemic brain edema and thereby effectivity. Ischemic brain edema has a vasogenic and cytotoxic component. Extravasation of edema fluid under these conditions can be attributed to ischemic damage of the elements of the blood-brain barrier, the cerebrovascular endothelium. The development of ischemic cell swelling involving nerve- and glial cell processes can not be viewed only as manifestation of cell damage resulting from e.g. energy failure but also as an attempt to maintain or reestablish homeostasis important for cell survival and nerve cell function. The acidosis-induced cell swelling is a case in point. Accumulation of H(+)-ions in the cell causes activation of ion exchange mechanisms to protect or normalize the intracellular pH, respectively. Consequently, Na(+)- and Cl-ions together with water accumulate in the cell as the final process underlying cell swelling. Further, the increased concentrations of glutamate and K(+)-ions found in ischemic brain tissue cause glial cell swelling secondary to an active accumulation of this material together with water in the intracellular compartment in an attempt to normalize the extracellular milieu. A therapeutical inhibition of those mechanisms underlying ischemic cell swelling would prevent reestablishment of the homeostasis and, thereby, enhance secondary tissue damage. A focal brain tissue necrosis, such as an ischemic infarct or traumatic contusion can be utilized to illustrate the pathophysiological significance of the formation and release of mediator compounds of secondary brain damage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A method for calibration of flow cytometric wavelength shift fluorescence measurements.

Recently, new fluorescent dyes have been introduced into flow cytometry which alter their spectral characteristics when changes occur in certain cell features, e.g., intracellular pH or calcium ion concentration. Such changes may be determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity ratio in two different wavelength ranges (5). Here a new method is described, which simplifies the use of steadily flowing fluids for calibration. The pulse electronics of a flow cytometer cannot process the static fluorescence signals of a streaming fluid. If, however, the exciting or emitted fluorescence light of a calibration fluid is made pulsating, the flow cytometer electronics can evaluate those pulses. The new calibration procedure uses measurement of two wavelength windows shown in a two-parameter display to generate an absolute calibration scale. Measurement of the spectral shift in calibration fluids under identical instrumental settings provides absolute values that measurements of intracellular concentrations can be referred to.

Calibration↗
PubMed1990

Effects of antineutrophil serum (ANS) on posttraumatic brain oedema in rats.

The role of white blood cells in acute central nervous system disorders, such as stroke or traumatic injury is poorly understood. In this experimental study the effect of neutropenia on posttraumatic brain oedema was investigated. Polyclonal antiserum against polymorphonuclear leukocytes was used to induce neutropenia. Control animals received normal serum or no treatment at all. Hemispheric swelling and brain water content after cryo-injury to the exposed left cerebral hemisphere was gravimetrically assessed, and by the wet weight-dry weight method. Administration of anti-neutrophil serum led to a significant reduction of circulating neutrophils. In untreated animals or in rats receiving normal serum, hemispheric swelling of the brain was 7.26 +/- 0.35% or 8.52 +/- 0.26%, respectively. Neutropenia induced by anti-neutrophil serum resulted in a significant increase in hemispheric swelling to 11.44 +/- 0.84% (p less than 0.001). It may be noted, however, that the enhancement of brain swelling by neutropenia was not obvious when comparing the water contents of the affected hemispheres of animals subjected to cold injury with and without anti-neutrophil serum. The enhancement of brain oedema by neutropenia suggests a protective function of neutrophils against extravasation in the presence of a broken blood-brain barrier.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of stimulation of leukocyte chemotaxis by fMLP on white blood cell behaviour in the microcirculation of rat brain.

The role of white blood cells in acute cerebral disorders such as ischemia or stroke is still unclear. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effects of the leukotaxin n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) on white blood cell endothelial-cell interactions in the rat brain surface microcirculation. An improved closed cranial window technique was applied. Superfusion of fMLP in rising concentrations (10(-8) - 10(-5) M) was seen to induce rolling and adherence of leukocytes to teh endothelium of small venules. Rolling was more effectively stimulated than firm attachment. fMLP-induced vasodilation was more pronounced in arterioles than in venules. In this study it has been shown that the hydrophilic fMLP is effectively stimulating neutrophil chemotaxis across the blood-brain barrier. Further, the closed cranial window preparation is useful to analyze quantitatively properties of activated leukocytes, which may be pertinent in injury to the blood-brain barrier and induction of microcirculatory disturbances.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of lactacidosis on volume and viability of glial cells.

The effect of lactacidosis was analyzed in vitro by employment of C 6 glioma cells and astrocytes from primary culture. The cells were suspended in an incubation chamber under continuous control of pH, temperature and pO2. Cell swelling and viability were quantified by flow cytometry using propidium iodide for staining of dead cells. After a control period, the pH of the suspension medium was titrated to levels between pH 6.8 down to 4.2 by addition of isotonic lactic acid. Acidification below pH 6.8 led to an immediate swelling of C 6 glioma cells as well as of astrocytes. The degree of cell swelling was related to the decrease in pH and the duration of exposure. For instance, lactacidosis of 60 min at pH 6.2 resulted in an increase of glial volume to 124.5 +/- 4.6%, while pH 4.2 in an increase to 190.9 +/- 8.4%. Cell viability remained unchanged down to pH 6.2. At pH 5.6 and below viability decreased in relation to the severity of acidosis. When sulfuric acid was used, the extent of cell swelling at pH 5.6 was only 50% of what was found by addition of lactic acid, whereas cell viability was not differently affected. The results demonstrate a specific efficacy of lactic acid to induce glial swelling, which might be due to a cellular accumulation of the compound.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed1990

Electrical impedance, rCBF, survival and histology in Mongolian gerbils with forebrain ischaemia.

Survival, quantitative morphology of the hippocampus, cerebral tissue impedance and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were studied in the Mongolian gerbil after 15 minutes of bilateral common carotid occlusion. A subgroup of animals was placed in cages with free access to running-wheels for two weeks preceding ischaemia to measure voluntary locomotor activity. Survival was enhanced in the running-wheel subgroup, with 90% of the animals still alive after 14 days as compared to 48% of the non-running group. Neuronal loss was found in all animals in the hippocampus (CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4), and was most pronounced in the CA1 sector. In the running-wheel group, however, neuronal loss was significantly lower in sectors CA2, CA3 and CA4. The increases of cerebral impedance, which indicate ischaemic cell swelling, reached 190% in both groups during ischaemia. During postischaemic recirculation, however, impedance normalized more rapidly in the running-wheel group, indicating earlier resolution of ischaemic cell swelling. In wheel-running gerbils, postischaemic hyperperfusion evolved earlier and was more pronounced as compared to non-runners. No differences in systemic blood pressure were observed during cerebral ischaemia or thereafter.

Animals↗