Familial intracranial arachnoid cysts.

Three siblings with intracranial arachnoid cysts are described, two males and one female. One of the males has symmetric, bilateral, temporoparietal convexity cysts, and the others have singular, unilateral cysts. Three additional siblings in the family and other known relatives are clinically unaffected.

Dopamine receptors on isolated membranes of rat thymocytes.

Using [3H]DA as the ligand of choice, we have shown that rat thymocytes possess dopamine binding sites. The binding of [3H]DA was specific, saturable and of high affinity. [3H]DA binding was rapid and reversible; [3H]DA was totally displaced by low concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine, and apomorphine.

Adult rat oligodendrocytes grown in vitro upon an extracellular matrix have the ability to proliferate.

The use of extracellular matrix (ECM) as a natural substrate for cell culture has markedly improved the growth and morphological differentiation of isolated adult rat oligodendrocytes. ECM-grown oligodendrocytes exhibited cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CNP)-activity which increased with time in culture and network formation. As much as 50-70% of the cells incorporated [3H]thymidine as visualized by the high labeling index of galactocerebroside (GalC)-positive cells.

Human alpha-fetoprotein-rich fraction inhibits galactocerebroside antibody-mediated lysis of oligodendrocytes in vitro.

Polyclonal rabbit antiserum to galactocerebroside (anti-GalC) produces titer-dependent lysis of cultured Percoll-isolated bovine and rat oligodendrocytes. In this study anti-GalC produced complement-dependent lysis of 76% of the bovine cells and 65% of the rat cells maintained for 3 to 6 days in vitro. With the concomitant addition of human umbilical cord serum fractions containing fetal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lysis was decreased to 31% and 39%, respectively.

Enhanced growth and morphological differentiation of isolated adult rat oligodendrocytes in vitro: use of a naturally produced extracellular matrix.

Attachment, growth and morphological differentiation of isolated adult rat oligodendrocytes cultured on a naturally produced basement membrane-like extracellular matrix (ECM) occurred much faster than on poly-L-lysine (PLL) coated tissue culture dishes. In each individual trial the cells cultured on ECM exhibited, within 3-5 days in culture, a massive outgrowth of long and branched cytoplasmic processes. Outgrowth to such an extent, using PLL or plastic tissue culture dishes, was not observed even after 2 weeks in culture.

Anterior decompression of the spine for metastatic epidural cord compression: a promising avenue of therapy?

Most metastatic epidural tumors arise in a vertebral body and invade the anterior epidural space. Therefore, it is logical to decompress the spine anteriorly and not by traditional laminectomy. Surgical decompression is indicated if relapse occurs after radiotherapy and further radiation cannot be administered, if there is neurological deterioration during radiotherapy, and when histological diagnosis of the primary tumor is lacking.