Changes in the ultrastructural distribution of prolactin and growth hormone mRNAs in pituitary cells of female rats after estrogen and bromocriptine treatment, studied using in situ hybridization with biotinylated oligonucleotide probes.

The expression and distribution of prolactin (PRL) mRNA and their alterations induced by estrogen and bromocriptine were investigated using non-radioisotopic in situ hybridization (ISH) at the electron microscopic (EM) level. Our EM-ISH studies using biotinylated oligonucleotide probes showed that estrogen induced whirling changes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) of female rat PRL cells and increased transcription of PRL genes located on the polysomes of the whirling RER. The presence of mammosomatotroph cells in the rat pituitary gland was also verified in our EM-ISH studies.

HGH, PRL, and ACTH Gene Expression in Clinically Nonfunctioning Adenomas Detected with Nonisotopic In Situ Hybridization Method.

In situ hybridization (ISH), which can manifest the specific gene expression of anterior pituitary hormones (mRNA), as well as immunohistochemistry (IHC), is needed to clarify the endocrine function of pituitary adenomas. With the aid of nonisotopic ISH, which has several advantages over isotopic ISH, we examined the expression of pituitary hormone mRNAs in 14 clinically nonfunctioning adenomas, which were considered to be a subtype of gonadotroph adenomas. Gene expression of growth hormone (GH; 4/14), prolactin (PRL; 5/14), adrenocorticotroph hormone (ACTH; 4/14), and gonadotropin were detected with our nonisotopic ISH studies.

Expression of plurihormonal mRNAs in somatotrophic adenomas detected using a nonisotopic in situ hybridization method: comparison with lactotrophic adenomas.

We used a nonisotopic in situ hybridization (ISH) method to investigate the expression of pituitary hormone, including glycoprotein hormone mRNAs in 17 somatotrophic and four lactotrophic adenomas. Our ISH studies of lactotrophic adenomas showed that their hormonal gene expression was confined to prolactin, whereas those of somatotrophic adenomas showed that some of them expressed plurihormonal genes. In some somatotrophic adenomas that were immunohistochemically negative for pituitary hormones, positive reactions, mainly for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit (FSH beta), and luteinizing hormone beta subunit (LH beta) mRNAs, were observed in our ISH studies.

Clinical and immunohistochemical studies on TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma: its multihormonality and expression of Pit-1.

Eight patients with thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenoma are described. Serum TSH levels were inappropriately elevated in spite of elevated thyroid hormones. The serum-free glycoprotein alpha-subunit level was elevated in all the patients.

Gigantism in sibling unrelated to multiple endocrine neoplasia: case report.

The cases of gigantism sisters with somatotroph adenomas unrelated to multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) Type 1 are reported. The sisters grew rapidly since they were 5 or 6 years old and were diagnosed to have gigantism with pituitary adenoma by computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging. A serum endocrinological examination showed the elevated growth hormone values.

Application of biotinylated oligonucleotide probes to the detection of pituitary hormone mRNA using northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization at the light- and electron-microscope levels.

There have been many reports on radioisotopic in situ hybridization (ISH) studies for the demonstration of pituitary hormone mRNAs in normal pituitary gland and pituitary adenomas. Recent studies have revealed that non-radioisotopic ISH has several advantages over the radioisotopic method. Using ISH with biotinylated oligonucleotide probes, we have been able to localize various pituitary hormone mRNAs in paraffin wax or frozen sections of rat normal pituitary gland and human pituitary adenomas.

Ultrastructural distribution of growth hormone and prolactin mRNAs in normal rat pituitary cells: a comparison between preembedding and postembedding methods.

In situ hybridization (ISH) at the electron microscopic level is essential for elucidating the intracellular distribution and role of mRNA in protein synthesis. We describe our electron microscopic ISH method using biotinylated oligonucleotide probes for rat growth hormone and prolactin mRNAs and compare the preembedding method with the postembedding method. Preembedding electron microscopic ISH localized rat growth hormone and prolactin mRNAs on the polysomes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER).

Systemic cytomegalovirus infection during postoperative chemoradiotherapy for malignant astrocytoma: case report with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.

We report a patient with a systemic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, which occurred during postoperative chemoradiotherapy for a malignant astrocytoma. To our knowledge, there is no report that is especially focused on the association with a CMV infection. Interstitial pneumonia and gastrointestinal bleeding, which developed suddenly during postoperative chemoradiotherapy, resulted in the patient's death.

[A growing skull fracture: a case report].

A case of growing skull fracture was reported with some considerations on the literature. At the age of 1 year, the patient fell down stairs and struck the right occipital region, but did not receive any treatment at that time. At the age of 19 years, he suffered from several epileptic attacks and was admitted to our ward.

Two kinds of thick filament in smooth muscle cells in the adductor of a clam, Chlamys nobilis.

The ultrastructure of the opaque portion of the adductor muscle in the pecten Chlamys nobilis was investigated. The opaque portion was composed of smooth muscle cells that contained thin and thick filaments. The thick filaments were classified into two kinds, thinner and thicker, according to the statistical analysis of diameters.

[A case of primary intracranial T cell type malignant lymphoma, radiologically resembling germ cell tumor and presenting hypopituitarism].

A 21-year-old man was hospitalized with complaints of headache, nausea, polyuria, reduced body hair and reduced libido. Plain CT scan and MRI revealed multiple tumors in the pineal and suprasellar regions, and in the dorsal aspect of the medulla oblongata. Endocrinological examination showed hypopituitarism due to hypothalamic dysfunction.

Severe subarachnoid hemorrhage during transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma.

There are many reports about complications of transphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. We report a patient who suffered severe subarachnoid hemorrhage due to an indirect injury of the intradural internal carotid artery during or immediately after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma. An autopsy suggested that a small branch of the intradural internal carotid artery was strongly adherent to the suprasellar portion of the tumor capsule and its avulsion from the internal carotid artery might have been caused as the capsule fell down during the intracapsular removal of the tumor.

[A case of primary intracranial malignant melanoma showing leptomeningeal dissemination].

A 28-year-old woman was hospitalized in drowsy state with signs of increased intracranial pressure. CT scans revealed diffuse increased density with marked enhancement in the subarachnoid space, as well as ventricular dilatation. V-P shunt operation was performed to control intracranial pressure.

[Quantitative analysis of eye movement during VDT work].

The point of fixation during visual display terminal (VDT) work was analyzed by using Eye Mark Recorder-NAC with their corneal reflexes. The subjects were categorized into 2 groups, expert VDT worker and non-expert with VDT work. As for the VDT task, Japanese sentences were loaded.

[Sphenoid sinus aspergillosis presenting abducens nerve palsy and visual field impairment; a case report].

A case of sphenoid sinus aspergillosis presenting abducens nerve palsy and visual field impairment is reported. A 73-year-old woman visited our hospital with the complaint of head heaviness on the 27th of March, 1989. Although results of neurological examinations were normal, craniogram revealed the destruction of the clivus, and CT scan and MRI showed a mass lesion, which was thought to be a mucocele in the sphenoid sinus.

Characterization and localization of alpha-connectin (titin 1): an elastic protein isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle.

A simplified procedure to isolate alpha-connectin (titin 1, TI), a gigantic elastic protein, from rabbit skeletal muscle is described. A rapid column chromatography step to concentrate alpha-connectin is introduced. Separation of alpha-connectin from beta-connectin is introduced.

[Unexpected air embolism during an aneurysmal operation in supine position--a case report and a speculation about its pathogenesis].

The occurrence of air embolism in supine position operation is extremely rare. We reported a case of air embolism during the operation of a ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm in supine position. A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital in semicomatous state.

Cell types differing in thick myofilament diameter in obliquely striated muscle of a polychaete annelid, Neanthes.

The fine structure of the obliquely striated muscle cells of the longitudinal muscle of an annelid was investigated. The characteristics of myofilaments and cell components, such as sarcoplasmic reticular system (S.R.

Projectin is an invertebrate connectin (titin): isolation from crayfish claw muscle and localization in crayfish claw muscle and insect flight muscle.

A filamentous protein was isolated from crayfish claw muscle. This protein had physiochemical properties very similar to vertebrate skeletal muscle connectin (titin), although its apparent molecular mass (approximately 1200 kDa) was considerably lower than that of connectin (approximately 3000 kDa). Polyclonal as well as monoclonal antibodies against chicken skeletal muscle connectin reacted with the 1200 kDa protein from crayfish claw muscle.

[Development of all-silicone detachable balloons].

Treatment of cerebral vascular lesions such as carotid cavernous sinus fistulas and giant aneurysms is now being performed with intravascular detachable balloon embolization techniques. We have developed several types of all-silicone detachable balloons. Our balloons have self-sealing valves (with or without collars) and detach with simple traction.

Behaviour of connectin (titin) and nebulin in skinned muscle fibres released after extreme stretch as revealed by immunoelectron microscopy.

Stretching of skinned fibres of frog skeletal muscle beyond the overlap of the thin and thick filaments followed by release to resting length results in disorganization of the thin filaments at the A-I junction of a sarcomere (Higuchi et al. (1988) J. Muscl.

Ultrastructural observations of motile iridophores from the freshwater goby, Odontobutis obscura.

The ultrastructure of "motile" iridophores of Odontobutis obscura and the changes in cell shape related to the motility were studied with electron microscopy. Various structural details were revealed by this method, and their importance is discussed. Of particular interest were the abundant microfilaments observed in the cortical cytoplasm.

Ultrastructure of muscle cells in the adductor of the boring clam Tridacna crocea.

The ultrastructure of the adductor muscle of the boring clam (Tridacna crocea) was investigated. The adductor was composed of opaque and translucent portions. The opaque portion contained smooth muscle cells; the translucent portion contained obliquely striated cells.

Ultrastructural investigations on the muscular systems in the barnacle, Tetraclita squamosa japonica.

Four muscular systems of the Tetraclita squamosa barnacle were observed by means of an electron microscope and it was revealed that these systems each bore different types of muscle cells. The four systems were the adductor (A), the lateral scutal depressor (LSD), the ventral scutal depressor (VSD), and the tergal depressor (TD). The A-system included cross stiated muscle cells which showed long sarcomeres (about 10 mum) and rather disordered arrays of myofilaments.

Anti-connectin monoclonal antibodies that react with the unc-22 gene product bind dense bodies of Caenorhabditis (Nematode) bodywall muscle cells.

Monoclonal antibodies, 3B9 and 4C9, specific to connectin (also called titin), 3000 kDa elastic filamentous protein of vertebrate skeletal muscle, crossreacted with a high molecular weight protein (500 kDa) of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. However, its crossreactivity was weak to that of the unc-22 gene deficient mutant. Immunofluorescence showed that the antibodies stained both bodywall and pharynx muscles in the wild type, but only pharynx muscle in the mutant.