Identification of the allosteric P2X receptor antagonist [C]SMW139 as a PET tracer of microglial activation.

The P2X receptor plays a significant role in microglial activation, and as a potential drug target, the P2X receptor is also an interesting target in positron emission tomography. The current study aimed at the development and evaluation of a potent tracer targeting the P2X receptor, to which end four adamantanyl benzamide analogues with high affinity for the human P2X receptor were labelled with carbon-11. All four analogues could be obtained in excellent radiochemical yield and high radiochemical purity and molar activity, and all analogues entered the rat brain.

Novel molecular imaging ligands targeting matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 for imaging of unstable atherosclerotic plaques.

Molecular imaging of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may allow detection of atherosclerotic lesions vulnerable to rupture. In this study, we develop a novel radiolabelled compound that can target gelatinase MMP subtypes (MMP2/9) with high selectivity and inhibitory potency. Inhibitory potencies of several halogenated analogues of MMP subtype-selective inhibitors (N-benzenesulfonyliminodiacetyl monohydroxamates and N-halophenoxy-benzenesulfonyl iminodiacetyl monohydroxamates) were in the nanomolar range for MMP2/9.

Low-radio-frequency eclipses of the redback pulsar J2215+5135 observed in the image plane with LOFAR.

The eclipses of certain types of binary millisecond pulsars (i.e. 'black widows' and 'redbacks') are often studied using high-time-resolution, 'beamformed' radio observations.

Imaging of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke: Recent developments in positron emission tomography.

Neuroinflammation is thought to play a pivotal role in many diseases affecting the brain, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke. Neuroinflammation is characterised predominantly by microglial activation, which can be visualised using positron emission tomography (PET). Traditionally, translocator protein 18kDa (TSPO) is the target for imaging of neuroinflammation using PET.

Has active immunization against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone any effect on testis innervation in the pig? An immunohistochemical study.

The innervation of porcine testes was studied in intact animals and in boars undergoing active immunization against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by means of immunohistochemistry using antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (D beta H), vasoactive intestinal polypolypeptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5).

Fetal porcine ventral mesencephalon graft. Determination of the optimal gestational age for implantation in parkinsonian patients.

Human fetal ventral mesencephalon tissue has been used as dopaminergic striatal implants in Parkinsonian patients, so far with variable effects. Fetuses from animals that breed in large litters, e.g.

Ontogenesis of embryonic porcine ventral mesencephalon in the perspective of its potential use as a xenograft in Parkinson's disease.

Human fetal neural dopaminergic tissue can be transplanted and can ameliorate neurological deficiencies in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Donor tissue from other species has been used experimentally for several years in animal experiments and is now being considered an attractive alternative, particularly from a donor species that breeds in large litters, e.g.

Bilateral cryptorchidism in a dog with persistent cranial testis suspensory ligaments and inverted gubernacula: report of a case with implications for understanding normal and aberrant testis descent.

The genital system of a dog with bilateral intra-abdominal testes is described. External virilisation was normal except for an empty scrotum. Internally there was a prostate of normal macroscopic and histological appearances and, bilaterally, a fully developed male genital tract.

Fetal porcine ventral mesencephalon grafts: dissection procedure and cellular characterization in culture.

The objective of this study was to develop an optimal dissection procedure for fetal porcine ventral mesencephalon (VM) grafts and to characterize the cellular composition of such an explant, in particular with respect to the dopaminergic and GABAergic components. We have used a monolayer cell culture system to study and identify the various VM cell types. The in vitro development of the fetal VM cells and the effect of the addition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was investigated during a culture period of 5 days.

Lesions in the hypothalamus after active immunisation against GnRH in the pig.

The terminals of the hypothalamic gonadotrophin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons are located within the median eminence and thereby extend beyond the protection of the blood-brain barrier. Thus, these terminals may be subjected to direct autoimmune action in animals that are actively immunised against GnRH. Boars (male pigs) (n = 108) were actively immunised against GnRH by two successive injections with synthetic GnRH, covalently coupled to KLH and dissolved in CFA or IFA.

Distribution of interleukin 1 beta immunoreactivity within the porcine hypothalamus.

The presence and localization of interleukin 1 beta immunoreactivity (IL 1 beta i.r.) was studied in the hypothalamus of four healthy, male pigs at 7 months of age, using immunocytochemical techniques on 100 mu vibratome and 10 mu paraffin sections.

Repair of UV-induced (6-4)photoproducts measured in individual genes in the Drosophila embryonic Kc cell line.

The nucleotide excision repair (NER; dark-repair) of (6-4)photoproducts ((6-4)PPs) was assayed in cells from a permanent Drosophila melanogaster embryonic cell line, Kc, after exposure to 20 or 40 J/m2 ultraviolet (UV) light. Induction rates in the transcriptionally active genes Gart and Notch as well as in the inactive white locus is similar. They are formed with a frequency of about one-third of that of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs).

A vasopressin and oxytocin containing nucleus in the pig hypothalamus that shows neuronal changes during puberty.

A vasopressin and oxytocin containing nucleus is described for the first time in the pig hypothalamus. It is located near the third ventricle, just dorsal to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and consists of magnocellular neurons, similar to those of the supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus. Morphometric analysis of neuronal number, size, density, and volume was performed at four different ages: 1 day, 7 weeks, 16 weeks, and 30 weeks postnatally.

Performance of AIDA during development and operation.

A system for hospital pharmacies (CENTRASYS) and a system for primary health care (ELIAS), both developed using prototyping and a fourth-generation tool (AIDA), are introduced. Differences in development strategies are analyzed and conclusions are drawn with respect to the use of AIDA for management, development and operation of the systems. The use of AIDA increases development speed enormously, enabling a productivity of over 40 lines per day, which is more than twice the amount that is accepted as reasonable.

Prototyping with AIDA for a hospital pharmacy system.

The CENTRASYS system for the Hospital Pharmacy, developed as part of a research project of the Department of Medical Informatics is described. The role of AIDA, a fourth-generation software package, as a prototyping tool is discussed. It is concluded that AIDA facilitates prototyping and is also very suitable as a vehicle for systems in operation.

PAP complex: a pitfall in immunocytochemistry of the pig hypothalamus.

Use of rabbit peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) complex in immunostaining of the pig hypothalamus resulted in false positive staining of elements of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei due to binding of rabbit PAP complex and rabbit immunoglobulins to these structures. This phenomenon seriously hampers immunohistochemical investigation of the pig hypothalamus. Specific binding of swine immune serum against luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone has been detected with the protein A-biotin-streptavidin method employed on paraffin and vibratome sections of fetal and postnatal pig hypothalamus.

Ascending projections from the lateral descending and common sensory trigeminal nuclei in python.

The primary sensory trigeminal system of Python is characterized by the presence of an additional nucleus which is involved in processing data obtained by infrared sensors. This so-called lateral descending nucleus (LTTD) is strictly separated from the nuclei of the common sensory trigeminal system. The present study was undertaken in order to establish the relation between the two sensory trigeminal systems and higher brainstem structures.