Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Matsushima.
A light microscopic study in adult cats provided evidence suggesting that neuronal cell bodies of mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus neurons were often in direct contact with axonal varicosities showing enkephalin-, substance P- or serotonin-like immunoreactivity.
Convergence of serotonin (5-HT)-, enkephalin (ENK)-, and substance P (SP)-like immunoreactive (LI) afferent fibers onto cat medullary dorsal horn projection neurons was examined by retrogradely labeling trigeminothalamic neurons and immunocytochemically labeling 5-HT, ENK and SP fibers in the same tissue section using distinct chromogens. Convergence of 5-HT-, ENK- and SP-LI fibers upon single projection neurons was often observed in laminae I and V.
Convergence of serotonin (5-HT)-, enkephalin (ENK)-, and substance P (SP)-like immunoreactive (LI) afferent fibers on single pudendal motoneurons within Onuf's nucleus was demonstrated: pudendal motoneurons were retrogradely labeled with horseradish peroxidase applied to the pudendal nerve. Subsequently, 5-HT-LI fibers were stained by the immunoperoxidase method, and then ENK- and SP-LI fibers were stained by the double immunofluorescence method.
Axons exhibiting both enkephalin- and serotonin-like immunoreactivities were observed by the double immunofluorescence method in the lumbar cord segments of the cat. Double-labeled axons were seen most frequently in laminae I, IIa and the lateral part of lamina V. They were also distributed in other parts of the dorsal horn and lamina X (especially in the dorsal part), but rarely found in laminae VII, VIII and IX. After cervical hemicordotomy the vast majority of double-labeled axons disappeared from the spinal gray ipsilateral to the lesion.
The connections of the amygdala with the trigeminal motor nucleus were studied by light and electron microscopy. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) experiments showed that the pontine reticular formation, ventromedial to the spinal trigeminal nucleus at the level rostral to the genu of the facial nerve, receives fibers from the central nucleus of the amygdala ipsilaterally and sends fibers to the trigeminal motor nucleus contralaterally. Electron microscopic observations were carried out on the pontine reticular formation after electrolytic lesions in the central nucleus of the amygdala and HRP injections into the contralateral trigeminal motor nucleus were made on the same animal. These experiments using the combined degeneration and HRP technique clearly demonstrated that degenerating amygdaloid fibers made synaptic contacts with retrogradely labeled neurons.
Injections of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the trigeminal motor nucleus resulted in retrograde labeling of neurons, called commissural interneurons for masticatory motoneurons, in the contralateral supratrigeminal region. Further HRP studies, in which WGA-HRP injections were made into the amygdala and supratrigeminal region, indicated that the supratrigeminal region receives fibers from the central nucleus of the amygdala ipsilaterally. These findings raised the possibility of direct connections between the amygdala and commissural interneurons. In order to confirm the connections, electrolytic lesions in the central nucleus of the amygdala and WGA-HRP injections into the contralateral trigeminal motor nucleus were made on the same animal and electron microscopic observation was carried out on the supratrigeminal region. Of particular interest was that degenerating amygdalotegmental fibers synapsed upon HRP-labeled neurons.
An immunohistochemical study on keratin, vimentin, and myosin was performed in 117 specimens of human salivary gland under normal and several neoplastic conditions. In normal glands, positive immunostaining for keratin was observed in the inner cells of all ductal systems, whereas myosin and vimentin were the cytoskeletal components of myoepithelial cells. In pleomorphic adenoma, the inner cells showing a tubular pattern demonstrated positive immunostaining for keratin, and the outer cells as well as the neoplastic cells with a solid and myxoid pattern exhibited positive immunostaining for all antibodies. Monomorphic tubular and trabecular adenoma, and adenolymphoma showed positive immunostaining for keratin, although one case of tubular adenoma exhibited positive immunostaining for all antibodies. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid tumor showed positive immunostaining only for keratin, but one case of adenocarcinoma, two cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma, and clear cell tumor disclosed positive immunostaining for keratin and vimentin.
Somatotopic organization of the facial nucleus was examined in the rabbit by the retrograde HRP (horseradish peroxidase) method; HRP was applied to the peripheral branches of the facial nerve. The facial nucleus is cytoarchitectonically divided into 5 division: the ventromedial, medial, dorsal, lateral and intermediate divisions. The ventromedial division contains neurons supplying the cervical branch. The medial division supplies the anterior auricular branch as well as the posterior auricular branch. The dorsal division is small and contains motoneurons innervating the periorbital regions through the zygomatico-orbital branchlets as well as the anterior auricular branch. Motoneurons innervating the perioral regions are numerous and distributed in the lateral and intermediate division; each of the lateral and intermediate divisions supplies both superior labial and inferior labial branches.
Coexistence of enkephalin-like and substance P-like immunoreactivities (ENK-LI and SP-LI) was shown in axonal components in the lumbar segments of cat spinal cord by using the double immunofluorescence method. Although axonal components labeled with both ENK-LI and SP-LI were distributed throughout the spinal gray, they were most dense in the ventral horn, and most sparse in the superficial part of the dorsal horn.
The facial nucleus of the Japanese monkey was divided cytoarchitectonically into the ventral, medial, intermediate, dorsal and lateral divisions. When horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was applied to the inferior labial, cervical or posterior auricular branch of the facial nerve, HRP-labeled neurons were seen in the lateral, ventral or medial division of the facial nucleus, respectively. After applying HRP to the anterior auricular-zygomatico-orbital branch, labeled neurons were observed mainly in the intermediate and dorsal divisions. HRP applied to the superior labial branch labeled neurons within the dorsal and lateral divisions.
The parabrachial nucleus neurons were demonstrated to have long dendrites extending into the brachium conjunctivum after horseradish peroxidase was injected into the amygdala. This morphologic characteristic was confirmed using the Golgi impregnation technique.
Spinal neurons projecting to the facial nucleus, located in the lateral portion of lamina V from the C1 to C4 segments, had long dendrites extending into lamina IV. The detailed morphology of these spinal neurons was confirmed using the Golgi impregnation method. Dorsal root fibers were distributed mainly to lamina IV at the C1 and C2 segments. These findings indicated the possibility of direct connections between the primary afferent fibers and spinal neurons projecting to the facial nucleus in lamina IV of the upper cervical cords. In order to confirm the connections, electron microscopic observation was carried out on the dorsal horn after injections of horseradish peroxidase into the facial nucleus and dorsal root fibers.
Distribution of cerebellar neurons which send their axons to the spinal cord was examined in 7 Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) and 10 cats by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method; retrograde HRP-labeling of cerebellar neurons was observed after HRP injection into the spinal cord. The vast majority of cerebellospinal neurons were located in the fastigial nucleus (FN), posterior interpositus nucleus (PIN), and intermediate medullary region (IMR) between the FN and PIN. These neurons were suggested to send fibers to the cervical and upper thoracic cord segments in the monkey, or to the cervical cord segments in the cat. A few cerebellospinal neurons were also found in the anterior interpositus nucleus (AIN) and the dentate nucleus (DN).
We report a rare case of virilizing adrenocortical carcinoma with increased urinary excretion of catecholamines. A 53-year-old woman was admitted because of a huge abdominal mass. A child's-head-size mass was palpable in the right upper quadrant. IVP, CT scan and angiography revealed a characteristic picture of an adrenal tumor. Urinary catecholamines and vanilmandelic acid were increased slightly. The urinary 17 ketosteroid level was very high (59.0 mg per day) and was not suppressed by a dexamethasone test. Exploratory laparotomy revealed that the tumor was fixed and had infiltrated to the vena cava, aorta and liver. Therefore, chemotherapy was performed. The dosage of op'-DDD was increased gradually to 9 g daily. During this treatment, a 5-days' course of treatment with cis-platinum (50 mg/day) was repeated 2 times. This patient achieved partial response according to Koyama-Saito's criteria. However, she died 18 months after the first admission. On autopsy, determined histopathologically that she died of adrenocortical carcinoma arising from the adrenal gland. However systemic lymph node, bone and lung metastases were also revealed. There is a possibility that this tumor secreted both sex steroids and catecholamines.
An autopsy case of cardiac rhabdomyoma associated with tuberous sclerosis in a 27-day-old infant is presented. He was born with severe cyanosis. Echocardiogram revealed the presence of multiple mass lesions, some of which protruded into the left ventricle at the level of subaortic valve. From the age of 4 days, cardiac arrhythmia developed and lasted until his death. The arrhythmia started as WPW syndrome and atrial extrasystoles and then additional paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, sinus arrest, and S-A block occurred. Computed tomographic scanning of the brain revealed the presence of symmetric high-density spots around the central part of lateral ventricle. Before his death paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia occurred frequently which changed to ventricular fibrillation and he collapsed without urination and then died. Autopsy examination revealed the presence of generalized congestion, multiple nodules of cardiac rhabdomyoma, some of which causing subaortic stenosis, and tuberous sclerosis in the brain. From the clinical and autopsy findings, the direct cause of death was attributable to the cardiac rhabdomyoma.
Correlation of the main peripheral branches of the facial nerve with morphological subdivisions of the facial nucleus was examined in the guinea pig by the retrograde horseradish peroxidase method. The facial nucleus of the guinea pig was divided cytoarchitectonically into the dorsolateral, lateral, intermediate, medio-intermediate, medial, and ventromedial divisions; the ventromedial division was further divided into the major, dorsal and lateral parts. Six main branches of the facial nerve were identified; the zygomatico-orbital, cervical, posterior auricular, anterior auricular, superior labial, and inferior labial branches. After applying HRP to the main branches of the facial nerve, the pattern of distribution of HRP-labelled neuronal cell bodies within the facial nucleus was examined: the dorsolateral division, dorsal part of the ventromedial division, major part of the ventromedial division, lateral part of the ventromedial division, or medial division contained the cell bodies of respectively the zygomatico-orbital, cervical, posterior auricular, anterior auricular, or superior labial branches, while each of the lateral, intermediate, and medio-intermediate divisions contained the cell bodies of both the superior labial and inferior labial branches.
A 6-week-old male infant with lingual mass suffered from feeding difficulty and respiratory distress. Resected specimens revealed brain tissue composed of astroglia, oligodendroglia, ependyma, choroid plexus, neuronal cells, and primitive cells but no other elements suggestive of teratoma, therefore it was diagnosed as heterotopic brain of the tongue.
The synaptic organization of the central cervical nucleus (CCN) in the cat was examined by means of anterograde and retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase and the anterograde degeneration tracing technique. Light microscopic studies confirmed that cervical primary afferents terminate heavily in the region of CCN cerebellar projection neurons and electron microscopic findings demonstrated that primary afferent fibers of cervical dorsal roots form synapses mainly with distal dendrites of CCN neurons projecting to the cerebellum.