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Biomedical subjects

R Myers

Publications and source records attributed to R Myers.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

In vivo binding to peripheral benzodiazepine binding sites in lesioned rat brain: comparison between [3H]PK11195 and [18F]PK14105 as markers for neuronal damage.

Peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding sites are not normally present in most cerebral tissues, but following neuronal damage, the cells involved in the ensuing gliosis show a marked expression of these sites. In a unilateral excitotoxic striatal lesion in the rat, we sought to determine whether the isoquinoline derivatives PK11195 and PK14105 bind to these sites in vivo and whether demonstration of these sites offers the potential of indirectly localising areas of neuronal damage. Binding was studied at several intervals after coinjection of [3H]PK11195 and [18F]PK14105 to determine the time courses of specific binding. Both compounds were rapidly extracted into all cerebral tissues, but in the absence of binding sites in nonlesioned tissues, this was followed by a rapid clearance of radioactivity. In lesioned areas, both [3H]PK11195 and [18F]PK14105 accumulated over the first 5 min followed by a much slower clearance of radioactivity, resulting in a "specific signal." [3H]PK11195 binding peaked at 20-30 min postinjection, with radioactivity in the lesioned striatum being three times greater than in its contralateral homologue. The specific signal was present for at least 60 min. The maximal [18 F]PK14105-specific signal was of similar magnitude but peaked earlier and was retained for only 45 min. Specific signals with both ligands were also detected in regions remote from the primary lesion site, e.g., in the hippocampus and substantia nigra. Predosing animals with a large dose of PK11195 (3 mg/kg), sufficient to saturate peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding sites, abolished in vivo binding of both [3H]PK11195 and [18F]PK14105 to both primary- and remote-lesioned tissues. The specific signal with both ligands could be of sufficient magnitude and duration to make tomographic studies in humans feasible.

Animals↗

Brain neurotransmitter changes in three patients who had a fatal hyperthermia syndrome.

The authors examined the autopsied brains from three patients who had a fatal hyperthermia syndrome. There was marked hypothalamic noradrenaline depletion in all three patients, severe brain choline acetyltransferase deficiency with nucleus basalis cell loss in two patients, and mild to moderate brain choline acetyltransferase loss in one patient. Striatal dopamine metabolite/dopamine ratio was below normal in two patients and not elevated, as would be expected after short-term neuroleptic administration, in the third. This suggests that reduced capability (aggravated by the cholinergic deficit) of the nigrostriatal dopamine system to respond adequately to stress and/or neuroleptic-induced receptor blockade may be important in the development and course of fatal hyperthermia syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Mast cell tumor destruction by deionized water.

In a controlled study, malignant murine P815 mastocytoma cells exposed in vitro to distilled and deionized water died as a result of progressive swelling, degranulation, and membrane rupture. A 90% mean cell death occurred when cells obtained directly from culture were exposed to deionized water for 2 minutes. Of 6 cryopreserved malignant murine cell lines, which included Cloudman S91 melanoma, CMT-93 rectum carcinoma, MMT-06052 mammary carcinoma, and S-180 Sarcoma, only P815 mastocytoma and YAC-1 lymphoma were significantly (P less than 0.05) affected by hypotonic shock; Cloudman S91 melanoma cells were the most resistant. Mastocytoma cells were selectively killed by hypotonic solution, and lymphoma cells were also killed by isotonic saline solution. Local mast cell tumor (MCT) recurrence and percentage survival were evaluated in 12 cats (21 MCT) and 54 dogs (85 MCT) subjected to surgery alone or local infiltration of deionized water as an adjunct to surgery. Of all 16 incompletely excised MCT in cats, there was no local recurrence following injection. Four mast cell tumors (2 cats) regressed after being injected in situ. In dogs with clinical stage-I MCT, local recurrence was detected in 50% (5/10), but with injection after incomplete excision, local MCT recurrence was significantly (P less than 0.05) less (6.6%, 1/15). Percentage recurrence was significantly (P less than 0.05) less and survival significantly greater when incompletely excised grade-II MCT were injected. Mean follow-up period after surgery in cats and dogs was 35 and 23.4 months, respectively.

Animals↗