The organization of the fiber connections and architecture of the cerebellum of reeler mutant mice was analyzed by an immunohistochemical and histochemical procedure. By immunohistochemical staining of the myelinated fiber arborization with antiserum against myelin basic protein, it was found in the reeler cerebellum that the fibers ran in all directions throughout the white matter. Some of the fibers surrounded Purkinje cells. The distribution of AChE-positive fibers was abnormal and some Purkinje cells surrounded by AChE-positive fibers were present. Molecular layers and glomeruli showed strong succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity. The white matter of the reeler cerebellum showed a mosaic of SDH-positive and -negative sites. The results indicate that changes in the distribution of myelinated fiber arborization and the change in the distribution of SDH and AChE activity are different in each part of the cerebellum as a result of the disorganization of the architecture of the reeler mutation.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The possible effect of pregnancy on Ménière's disease.

There are few reports on the course of Ménière's disease during pregnancy. We report here the clinical course of Ménière's disease before, during and after pregnancy and discuss the possible effect of pregnancy on Ménière's disease and the treatment of Ménière's disease during pregnancy. In the present case, the vertigo attacks increased up to 10 times per month during early pregnancy, when the serum osmolality was significantly below normal at 268 mosm/kg. As the pregnancy proceeded, the serum osmolality normalized and the vertigo attacks decreased in frequency. The vertigo attacks were treated by oral isosorbide and intramuscular injection of low-dose diazepam. The coincidence of the decline in osmolality with the increase in vertigo attacks points to serum osmolality as a possible factor in the effect of pregnancy on Ménière's disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Inducing proliferation of human amniotic epithelial (HAE) cells for cell therapy.

Probably because amnion is derived from the fetus and is exposed to the maternal immune system, human amniotic epithelial (HAE) cells do not express the HLA-A, -B, -C, or -DR antigens on their surfaces, suggesting that HAE cells do not induce rejection (immune reaction) after allotransplantation. And the amnion, like the placenta, is useless to the mother and child after birth. Therefore, HAE cells or tissues were expected to be suitable for allotransplantation. Because HAE cells produce large amounts of enzymes, amnion transplantation has been carried out in order to correct inborn errors of metabolism by supplementing lysosomal enzyme deficiencies. However, several problems remain before amnion allotransplantation can be accepted as effective. The HAE cell population is limited, because the maximum number of HAE cells obtainable from one donor is about 2 x 10(8) cells, and HAE cells proliferate poorly in in vitro culture. In this study, we aimed at increasing the HAE cell population in vitro. First, we investigated the effect of several cytokines on HAE cell proliferation and found that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor-beta stimulated it, whereas IL-6 and LIF inhibited it. Second, we investigated the effects of amniotic fluid on HAE cell proliferation and observed that IL-6 in amniotic fluid inhibits it. Then, to inhibit the dying of cells, we attempted to inhibit apoptosis (one mode of cell death). Treatment with caspase III inhibitor increased the cell viability of HAE cells by 20%.

Amnion↗