Educational care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers in France: A mapping proposal.

Objectives: To formalize a proposal for educational approach for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and caregivers across existing diagnosis/care organizations and structures.

Methods: Three steps:1/ identifying the existing organizations and structures that could be involved in educational care; 2/ identifying the main educational skills of interest for ADRD patients and caregivers; 3/ conducting a survey among these organizations and structures to achieve a mapping proposal of educational care.

Results: Nine organizations and structures, and 29 educational skills of interest were identified for the step 3 survey.

[« Forum Passerelle »: an opportunity for caregivers to meet the professionals of service and support in Alzheimer's disease and related diseases.].

The aim of this study was to assess 1) the satisfaction of caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease or related diseases regarding a new collective support intervention called "Forum Passerelle"(Gateway forum), and 2) to assess the impact of "Forum Passerelle" on the implementation of services and support for patients or caregivers. This is an observational study carried out on the basis of 3 "Forum Passerelle" (between October 2018 and February 2020). Following each "Forum Passerelle", the caregivers' satisfaction was assessed and the number of services and support was counted.

Control of ovarian steroidogenesis in insects: a locust neurohormone is active in vitro on blowfly ovaries.

Ovarian steroidogenesis controlling insect reproduction is mainly regulated by brain gonadotropins liberated from corpora cardiaca (CC). Till now, different neurohormones have been identified in two insect groups only, locusts and mosquitoes, and it is unknown whether they could be active in other insects. In order to complete previous observations on the control of ovarian steroidogenesis in the blowfly, Phormia regina, we examined whether neuropeptides isolated from locust CC have an effect in vitro on ovarian steroidogenesis in our dipteran model.

Control of ovarian steroidogenesis by insulin-like peptides in the blowfly (Phormia regina).

This study investigated the ability of insulin and of insect insulin-like peptides (ILPs) to stimulate ovarian steroidogenesis in the blowfly Phormia regina. Bovine insulin was active on ovaries isolated in vitro, which showed an age-dependent sensitivity; this peptide progressively stimulated steroidogenesis in ovaries isolated from the third day after adult molt, but not in younger ones, and had maximal activity after the fifth day. This stimulatory effect was observed equally from females reared in the presence or in the absence of males, excluding a regulatory effect of mating.

Inhibition of ovarian steroidogenesis by cyclic GMP in a fly.

Previous investigations in the female blowfly Phormia regina have shown that 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), a broad spectrum inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), fails to mimic the steroidogenic effects of cAMP on ovaries, although it efficiently increases the concentrations of this second messenger. In this study, experiments carried out to clear up this contradiction demonstrated that IBMX, besides its effect on cAMP, also increased cGMP concentrations in blowfly ovary and that these two cyclic nucleotides controlled ovarian steroidogenesis antagonistically. In particular, a selective inhibitor of cGMP-specific PDEs, unlike IBMX, had a very strong negative effect on ovarian steroidogenesis.

Calcium inhibits ovarian steroidogenesis in the blowfly Phormia regina.

Calcium is frequently involved in the stimulation of steroidogenesis in gonads and endocrine glands, generally in association with cAMP. However, our present observations show that it has the opposite effect in the ovary of the blowfly Phormia regina. Our in vitro experiments first showed that extracellular calcium does not play a role during the stimulation of steroidogenesis in fly ovaries; indeed steroidogenesis was activated in vitro as efficiently in a medium with or without calcium, either by pharmacological compounds mimicking cAMP signaling or by active brain extracts.

Cyclic AMP-dependent and independent stimulations of ovarian steroidogenesis by brain factors in the blowfly, Phormia regina.

The involvement of cyclic-AMP (cAMP) as a potential second messenger in the neurohormonal control of ovarian steroidogenesis was investigated in the adult female blowfly Phormia regina. Individual measurements of ovarian cAMP concentrations and of ovarian biosynthesis of ecdysteroids, stimulated after a protein meal, demonstrated that steroidogenesis is preceded by a peak of cAMP in the ovaries. In vitro, ovarian steroidogenesis was stimulated by cell-permeable analogues of cAMP and by forskolin.

Characterization of a new neurosecretory cell type containing gastrin-cholecystokinin-like peptide in the locust pars intercerebralis: ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies, in situ and in vitro.

A new neurosecretory cell type of the locust pars intercerebralis, immunolabelled with an antiserum against a vertebrate peptide related to gastrin-cholecystokinin (CCK-8(s)), was characterized both in situ and in primary cell cultures. Semithin sections of pars intercerebralis were first immunostained in order to identify neurosecretory cells containing CCK-like material and then examined by electron microscopy. The neurosecretory cells containing CCK-like material were paraldehyde fuchsin negative and were unequivocally identified in ultrathin sections adjacent to immunostained semithin sections.

In vitro peptidergic neurons from the adult locust pars intercerebralis: morphological and immunocytological studies.

Primary cell cultures were prepared from a major neurosecretory center of the adult locust brain, the pars intercerebralis, in order to characterize neurosecretory cells growing in vitro. Individual pars intercerebralis could be removed free of surrounding tissue and dissociated by mechanical treatment. Mature neurosecretory neurons of different sizes regenerate new neurites during the initial three days in vitro in serum-free medium.

Detection of putative dopamine receptors in neurites outgrowing from locust central nervous system explants using anti-idiotypic dopamine antibodies.

Organotypic cultures established from the third thoracic ganglion of locust embryo have been used to investigate dopamine receptors. In this in vitro system, neurites emerge directly from the explants and form a dense network around the explants, presenting cell surface freely exposed for experimental labelling. Polyclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies raised in rabbits to antibodies against dopamine conjugate, and previously found to bind to dopamine receptors, have been used to investigate putative dopamine receptors in these neurites.

In vitro growth of locust embryonic pars intercerebralis neurosecretory cells.

Neurosecretory brain cells from embryonic locusts cultured in serum-free medium failed to show any visible signs of growth. In contrast, the same neurons co-cultured with CNS explants (brain-retrocerebral complexes and thoracic ganglia) show excellent axonal growth: sprouting occurs after one day of co-culture and increases within the first week. These results indicate the production of an active neurite outgrowth stimulating factor by co-cultured CNS explants.

Insulin and Neuroparsin Promote Neurite Outgrowth in Cultured Locust CNS.

Organotypic cultures of locust embryo central nervous system (CNS) were used to study the influence of hormonal factors on neurite outgrowth. Explants from the third thoracic ganglion (embryonic day 9) were grown in a serum-free medium and exposed to insulin, neuroparsin, a recently characterized insect neurohormone, somatostatin and two insect hormones: 20-hydroxyecdysone and juvenile hormone. These hormonal factors were tested either alone or in several combinations.

Differentiation of glial cells and neurite outgrowth obtained from embryonic locust central nervous system explants.

Up to the present it has not been possible to obtain viable glial cells from dissociated insect nervous system cultures. We report here that the use of explant culture of locust embryo central nervous system (CNS) has been successful in allowing the proliferation of glial cells derived from glial precursors located at the periphery of the embryonic CNS. In such cultures, maintained for 3 months under specific conditions, 4 cell types at intermediate stages of differentiation can be distinguished around the explants after 2 weeks in vitro.

An in vitro autoradiographic study of gliogenesis in the embryonic locust brain.

The origin of glial cells in the embryonic locust brain was studied by in vitro labeling with tritiated thymidine during the second half of embryonic life from the 6th day (E6) to hatching (E12). Autoradiographic analysis revealed a germinal zone surrounding the brain. Until the 9th day of embryonic age (E9) this zone consisted of 26 clusters of mitotically active undifferentiated cells.

Undifferentiated cells present in the pars intercerebralis of larval and adult locusts are glial precursors. Autoradiographic and ultrastructural study in vivo and in vitro.

The intercerebral part of the protocerebrum from embryos, larvae and imagos of Locusta migratoria was investigated in vivo and after culture of the brain in vitro using light and electron microscopy. The results showed the presence in embryo and persistence in larva and adult of 2 clusters of mitotically active embryonic cells in the inner part of each half of the pars intercerebralis. The fate of these undifferentiated cells was investigated during postembryonic life by in vitro and in vivo labeling with tritiated thymidine combined with counts of nervous cells of the pars intercerebralis.

[Morphological and biochemical events in the periovulatory period in ovarian follicles of rats. In vitro studies].

Cultures of rat ovarian follicles obtained at the proestrus were investigated during 24 hours following a supply of gonadotropins (FSH, LH, Prolactin) used in order to stimulate their physiological rise at the proestrus. As showed by the cytological study, the initiating luteinization appeared in follicles after 24 hours. Progesterone, testosterone and oestradiol-17 beta were assayed in culture media.

[Androgen activity of dysgenesic rats' testis. Histochemical, ultrastructural studies and radioimmunoassay of testosterone].

Androgen activity of rat testis submitted to a radiomimetic, Misulban, during prenatal development has been explored with different technics. Histochemical method shows the presence, in the interstitial cells, of delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta5-3beta-HSD), and others enzymes of cellular metabolism, particularly the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) which is a glucidic enzyme implicated in the specific metabolism of steroidogenesis. From ultrastructural point of view interstitial cells contain the organels proper to steroidogenetic cells (important smooth endoplasmic reticulum, many voluminous mitochondria with tubular cristae).

[Ultrastructure of testicular Sertoli cells in normal and dysgenesic rats, during the fetal and postnatal periods].

Electron microscopic study of Sertoli cells from normal and Misulban-treated rats has been realized during foetal and postnatal life. From 15th day of foetal life, morphological aspects of Sertoli cells plead for a steroidogen activity and protein synthesis. Ultrastructural organels of Sertoli cells are the same in sterile and normal seminiferous tubule, except the Sertoli junctions which are less numerous in sterile tubules and appear later.

[Ultrastructure of Sertoli cells in male rats treated with "misulban" and stilbestrol].

The seminiferous tubulars of rats testis, subject to the action of Misulban during their foetal life, contain only Sertoli cells and constitute a good model for their study. From the ultrastructural point of view, these cells present several important mitochondria of tubular crest from, an abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, a Golgi apparatus well developed, a cytoplasm rich in ribosomes, Lipids droplets and intercellular junctions whose number increases with age. The administration of diethylstilbestrol, which inhibits gonadotropic and androgenic secretions reduces the signs of activity in the Sertoli cells.

[Dysgenesic rat ovaries subjected to gonadotrope stimulation].

Dysgenesia of the ovaries was produced by the destruction of the germinal cells during the foetal life by injecting the pregnant rat with Misulban. In the absence of ovocytes, follicular organization did not take place and cordal structure were observed in the ovary. The post-puberal evolution of these gonads led to polymorphous structures according to age and individual cases.

[Pituitary function of dysgenesic femal rats. Studies with grafting method].

Misulban administered to pregnant rats on the 15th day of gestation provoked gonadal dysgenesia in the offspring. Study of the pituitary function of dysgenesic female rats, realized by grafting method, showed gonadotrophic hypersecretion.