Direct projections from the medial vestibular nucleus to the posterior hypothalamic area in the monkey (Macaca fuscata).

Direct projections from the medial vestibular nucleus to the posterior hypothalamic area was found in the macaque monkey by the anterograde and the retrograde tract-tracing methods. After injection of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into the ventrolateral part of the medial vestibular nucleus, anterogradely labeled axon terminals were seen bilaterally in the posterior hypothalamic area. After injection of wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the posterior hypothalamic area, retrogradely labeled neuronal cell bodies were observed bilaterally in the ventral part of the medial vestibular nucleus with a contralateral predominance.

Kinky hair disease with multiple eruption cysts: a case report.

A rare case of kinky hair disease with multiple eruption cysts is described. Dental abnormalities include eruption cysts, delayed tooth eruption, prognathia, open bite, generalized gingival swelling, and high arched palate.

The influence of physical restraint or fasting on plaque-forming cell response in mice.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of 1- and 3-day (16 h/day) physically restrained or fasting on immunological and endocrine responses in CBF1 mice. The influence of stressors on these responses was evaluated using anti-sheep red blood cell plaque-forming assay, and by examining T cell subsets, thymus weight and endocrine hormone levels. The results revealed that a significant elevation of the plaque-forming cells (PFC) was found in spleen cells in 1-day restrained mice, that the PFC were conversely suppressed following 3-day physically restrained stress, and that the PFC were not affected by 1- or 3-day fasting stress.

Activation mediated by RP105 but not CD40 makes normal B cells susceptible to anti-IgM-induced apoptosis: a role for Fc receptor coligation.

Signals through the B cell antigen receptor lead to a variety of cellular events such as activation, anergy, and apoptosis. B cells select these outcomes to establish and maintain self-tolerance, and to mount adequate antibody responses. However, it is not fully understood how one and the same signal causes such different consequences.

IL-4 and anti-CD40 protect against Fas-mediated B cell apoptosis and induce B cell growth and differentiation.

Most Th2 clones, when activated, produce IL-4 and express CD40 ligand (CD40L) on their cell surface. Therefore, they can induce growth and differentiation of B cells by cognate help. In contrast, activated Th1 clones, which produce IFN-gamma and express both CD40L and Fas ligand (FasL) on their cell surface, often induce B cell apoptotic cell death.

The vestibular nuclei of the rat project to the lateral part of the thalamic parafascicular nucleus (centromedian nucleus in primates).

To clarify the vestibular projections to the centromedian-parafascicular nuclear complex, the Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) and horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP), tracing studies have been done in rats. The data demonstrated that the lateral parafasicular nucleus received vestibular afferents mainly from the ventral part of medial vestibular nucleus, and the superior and inferior vestibular nuclei, with an ipsilateral predominance. These findings suggest the vestibular influence to the motor loop of the basal ganglia thalamocortical projections.

Potential antidepressant effects of lemon odor in rats.

Antidepressant effects brought about by olfactory stimulation with various odorants were investigated with the forced swimming test, a reliable means for screening antidepressant effects. Lemon odor significantly reduced total immobility time and potentiated the imipramine-induced reduction of total immobility time in the test. This synergistic effect of lemon odor and imipramine was not due to lemon odor decreasing the metabolism of imipramine.

Facilitation of the arterial baroreflex by the preoptic area in anaesthetized rats.

1. Activation of cell bodies in the ventrolateral part of the midbrain periaqueductal grey matter (PAG) facilitates the arterial baroreflex via the nucleus raphe magnus. The facilitatory effects of stimulation within the hypothalamus on the arterial baroreflex and their relation to the PAG and nucleus raphe magnus were studied in urethane- and chloralose-anaesthetized rats.

Effects of citrus fragrance on immune function and depressive states.

In our previous experiments on animals evidence was found that citrus fragrance can restore the stress-induced immunosuppression, suggesting that citrus fragrance may have an effect on restoring the homeostatic balance. Since a dysregulation of the neuroendocrine and immune function is thought to be associated with psychosomatic or psychiatric disorders an attempt was made to restore their mental health by stimulation of one of the sensory systems. Fragrance (citrus was our choice) which comforts through stimulation of the olfactory system was applied to depressive patients.

Anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody induces the proliferation of murine B cells as a B-cell mitogen through a distinct pathway from receptors for antigens or lipopolysaccharide.

To study the activation and differentiation of murine B cells, we prepared a hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibody, LB429, which can directly induce the proliferation of murine B cells in vitro. LB429 recognizes a B cell specific surface molecule of 45 kDa. It recognizes an epitope of murine CD40 produced as a soluble fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase.

[Application of fragrances to treatments for depression].

High pressure stress was found to induce immunosuppression accompanied with the enhancement of motor activity in mice. Citrus fragrance restored stress-induced immunosuppression and induced calm behavior in mice. In the forced swimming test using rats, citrus fragrance reduced the total immobility time and potentiated the imipramine-induced reduction in total immobility time.

The role of L-threo DOPS in the control of Na-K ATPase activity of the marginal cells in the stria vascularis of reserpinized guinea pigs.

It is believed that the function of the stria vascularis in the cochlea is to produce endolymph. The mechanisms that maintain or control the function of the stria vascularis, however, remain unclear. In a previous study, we investigated the ultracytochemical effects of one-shot reserpine administration on the Na-K ATPase activity of the stria vascularis in guinea pigs.

B cell Ag receptor mediates different types of signals in the protein kinase activity between immature B cell and mature B cell.

Ig receptor (IgR) on the surface of B cells mediates the Ag-specific stimulatory signal for B cell proliferation and differentiation. In immature B cells, the stimulatory signal causes an inhibitory effect which is believed to be a key phenomenon in B cell tolerance or B cell anergy. Here, we studied the molecular mechanism of the inhibitory response of the IgR-mediated signal transduction that results in the programmed cell death of immature B cells.

[Adjunctive thyroid hormone therapy and comparison between responders and non-responders].

We review the theory and practice of adjunctive thyroid hormone therapy. Moreover, serum levels of thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (rT3) were examined in 8 depressed patients who did not maximally benefit from conventional antidepressant therapy. Four of the 8 depressed patients showed significant clinical improvement after thyroid hormone was added to their ongoing antidepressant drugs.

Identification of a 52-kDa molecule (p52) coprecipitated with the Ig receptor-related MB-1 protein that is inducibly phosphorylated by the stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate.

Triggering of the Ig receptor (IgR) induces the activation in multiple intracellular signal transduction reactions including protein tyrosine phosphorylation, activation of phospholipase C, increased inositoltriphosphate, increased diacylglycerol, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, and activation of protein kinase C. The IgR-complex, composed of mu-chain, L chain, Ig-alpha (MB-1), and Ig-beta (B29) proteins, is a functional unit both for expression of IgR and for signal transduction into cells, possibly by physical association with the down-stream functional molecules. An important functional motif ((D or E)-X7-(D or E)-Y-X3-L-X7-Y-X2-(L or I)) in the cytoplasmic domain of MB-1 molecule was shown to bind with several phosphoprotein components including src-type tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase.

Degeneration of locus coeruleus axons in stress-induced depression model.

Antidepressants such as desipramine induce axonal regeneration of brain noradrenergic neurons. This novel action of antidepressants suggests the involvement of degeneration or retraction of brain noradrenergic axons in the pathophysiology of clinical depression. The present study was designed to further confirm this view in an animal model of stress-induced depression.

The role of proteases in stratum corneum: involvement in stratum corneum desquamation.

The effects of protease inhibitors on cell dissociation were studied in vitro in order to examine the involvement of proteases in stratum corneum desquamation. Stratum corneum sheet (peeled from human backs after sunburn) was incubated in a detergent mixture containing 8 mM N,N-dimethyldodecylamine oxide, 2 mM sodium lauryl sulphate and 60 micrograms/ml kanamycin with or without protease inhibitors, and the number of released cells was counted after incubation for 48 h. Cell dissociation was inhibited strongly by antipain or aprotinin, but not at all by N-[N-(L-3-transcarboxyoxiran-2-carbonyl)-L-leucyl]-agmatin, N-ethylmaleimide or pepstatin, which suggests that only serine proteases are associated with desquamation.

Failure of therapy with fluconazole for candidal endophthalmitis.

The incidence of candidemia and its complications, such as endophthalmitis, has measurably increased in recent years. However, the optimal method of treatment of hematogenous candidal infection remains a controversial issue. Traditional therapy with amphotericin B is associated with well-known adverse reactions.

Inflammatory pseudotumor in the submandibular region. Clinicopathologic study and review of the literature.

A rare case of right submandibular inflammatory pseudotumor in a 63-year-old man is reported. The tumor appeared as a symptomless swelling in the submandibular region and resembled a malignant neoplasm on computed tomographic and magnetic resonance images. Surgical resection was required.

Cross-linking of B cell receptor-related MB-1 molecule induces protein tyrosine phosphorylation in early B lineage cells.

Cross-linking of surface B cell Ag receptor (BCR) induces tyrosine phosphorylation of BCR-associated components through a receptor-mediated signal transmission pathway. B cell-specific mb-1 and B29 genes encode the alpha/beta components of the BCR-associated complex in mature sIgM+ B cells. Here, we studied the involvement of the mb-1 gene product, MB-1, in the BCR-related structure of immature B cells.