RESUMO
Amyloidosis is a group of diseases characterized by an irreversible and extracellular deposition of fibrillar, amorphous protein known as amyloid in different organs and tissues. Amyloid deposits may occur locally in tissues or may involve various organs, resulting in a wide range of clinical manifestations. Amyloidosis of the head and neck is rarely seen and can reflect some plasma cell dyscrasia that affects B lymphocytes. Deposition of amyloid on the tongue is very rare and accounts for less than 9% of all types of amyloidosis. Amyloid involvement of the tongue is almost always secondary to systemic amyloidosis. We report a 73-year-old female who presented with weight loss and macroglossia. Firstly, she was diagnosed only with amyloidosis of the tongue. Her general health condition was evaluated, revealing renal dysfunction, anemia, hypercalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia. The final diagnosis was systemic amyloidosis with multiple myeloma. The patient was referred for emergency hemodialysis and chemotherapy. Her condition progressed to congestive heart failure and recurrent urinary and respiratory infections. After 100 days from diagnosis, the patient died by pulmonary infection as a consequence of her weakened state of health. It is important to highlight role of the dentist especially oral pathologist to the evaluation of local alterations that may reflect systemic deterioration of patients.
Assuntos
Amiloidose , Macroglossia , Mieloma Múltiplo , Doenças da Língua , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Amiloidose de Cadeia Leve de ImunoglobulinaRESUMO
Distribution of GAP-43 was studied in the retinas of rats after continuous illumination followed by different darkness periods. GAP-43 immunoreactivity was maximum in regenerating outer photoreceptor segments of rats kept in total darkness for 10 days, while in the inner plexiform layer, immunoreactivity was maximum immediately after illumination. Changes in GAP-43 expression could participate in retinal repair/regeneration after light-induced damage.
Assuntos
Proteína GAP-43/metabolismo , Luz , Retina/metabolismo , Retina/efeitos da radiação , Animais , Escuridão , Imuno-Histoquímica , Regeneração Nervosa/fisiologia , Células Fotorreceptoras de Vertebrados/fisiologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Fatores de Tempo , Distribuição TecidualRESUMO
Serotonin (5HT) containing cell bodies are localized in mesencephalic and rhombencephalic raphe nuclei. It has been proposed that 5HT could be involved in neuronal development and plasticity. In the central nervous system, nitric oxide (NO) has been postulated as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator, and has been implicated in neurotoxicity as well as in neuroprotection. Using the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d) technique, NO synthesizing neurons were described in raphe nuclei. By immunohistochemistry, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was found colocalized with 5HT in some dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) neurons. In a model of inhibition of 5HT synthesis produced by daily administration of parachlorophenilalanine during 14 days, we have studied the relationship between 5HT and NO systems after 5HT depletion by histochemical and immunocytochemical methods. After the treatment, we observed an important reduction of 5HT immunostaining in the DRN and enhanced NOS activity demonstrated by NADPH-d technique, especially in the dorsomedial and ventromedial subgroups. In spite of the increased NOS activity, we could not observe significant changes in the NOS-immunoreactivity in the DRN after 5HT depletion. These results could indicate that 5HT depletion is concomitant with changes in NOS activity without affecting NOS expression in the DRN.
Assuntos
Neurônios/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/metabolismo , Núcleos da Rafe/metabolismo , Serotonina/metabolismo , Animais , Fenclonina/farmacologia , Masculino , NADPH Desidrogenase , Neurônios/química , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/análise , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/efeitos dos fármacos , Núcleos da Rafe/química , Núcleos da Rafe/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Serotonina/análise , Antagonistas da Serotonina/farmacologiaRESUMO
2,4-D is a chlorophenoxyherbicide used worldwide. We have studied the morphological alterations of 5-HT neurons and glial cells in the mesencephalic nuclei of adult rats exposed to 2,4-D both perinatally (during pregnancy and lactation) and chronically (during pregnancy, lactation and after weaning) with quantitative methods. Pregnant rats were daily exposed to 70 mg/kg of 2,4-D from gestation day (GD) 16 to post-natal day (PND) 23 through diet. After weaning, pups were assigned to one of two sub-groups: T1 (fed with untreated diet until PND 90) and T2 (maintained with 2,4-D diet until PND 90). Brain sections were immunocytochemically stained using polyclonal anti-5-HT, anti-GFAP and anti-S-100 protein antibodies as cells markers. 2,4-D exposure during pregnancy and lactancy (T1 group) produced an increase in 5-HT neuronal area and immunoreactivity (IR) in the mesencephalic nuclei studied. However, with the chronical 2,4-D exposure (T2 group) only the 5-HT neuronal area from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) was increased, suggesting an adaptable response of 5-HT neurons in median raphe nucleus (MRN). The presence of reactive astrocytes in mesencephalic nuclei and in hippocampus were also different for the two 2,4-D exposure designs, showing the existence of a correspondence between neuronal changes and astrogliosis. Results support evidences that 2,4-D alters the serotoninergic system and that 5-HT neurons of each mesencephalic nuclei show different responses to the 2,4-D exposure designs which are parallel to astrogliosis.
Assuntos
Ácido 2,4-Diclorofenoxiacético/toxicidade , Astrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Astrócitos/ultraestrutura , Encéfalo/citologia , Herbicidas/toxicidade , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios/ultraestrutura , Serotonina/fisiologia , Animais , Feminino , Proteína Glial Fibrilar Ácida/metabolismo , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipocampo/patologia , Hipocampo/ultraestrutura , Processamento de Imagem Assistida por Computador , Imuno-Histoquímica , Indicadores e Reagentes , Masculino , Gravidez , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal , Núcleos da Rafe/efeitos dos fármacos , Núcleos da Rafe/patologia , Núcleos da Rafe/ultraestrutura , Ratos , Proteínas S100/metabolismoRESUMO
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas involved in neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS) and in vertebrate retinas. This paper describes five types of nitrergic neurons in developing and adult chick retina using the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd) reaction. Three of them, nitrergic types 1, 2 and 3, were observed in the inner nuclear layer, while nitrergic type 4 was observed in the ganglion cell layer; nitrergic type 5 were the retinal photoreceptors. Cell processes formed four nitrergic networks, which could be observed in the inner plexiform layer (IPL), at sublayers 1, 3a, 3b and 4. Another nitrergic network was observed in the outer plexiform layer (OPL). From hatching, the dendritic branches were completely developed in the IPL and in the OPL, forming the mentioned networks. Current evidence suggests that NO is coexpressed with other neurotransmitters in neurons of the CNS. Double-staining procedures, using NADPHd and 5HT immunohistochemistry in chicken retina, in a sequential or in an alternative manner, did not reveal the coexistence of these two neurotransmitters in the same neurons, but their networks matched in sublayers 1 and 4 of the IPL.
Assuntos
Neurônios Aferentes/enzimologia , Óxido Nítrico/análise , Células Fotorreceptoras de Vertebrados/enzimologia , Retina/embriologia , Animais , Tamanho Celular , Embrião de Galinha , Galinhas , NADPH Desidrogenase/análise , Neurônios Aferentes/química , Neurônios Aferentes/citologia , Células Fotorreceptoras de Vertebrados/química , Células Fotorreceptoras de Vertebrados/citologia , Retina/citologia , Retina/enzimologia , Serotonina/análiseRESUMO
Tryptamine, a serotonin-related indolamine, could be involved in the modulation of catecholaminergic and serotoninergic systems interaction. Despite previous reports on this topic, the morphological relationship among these systems is not well described. We studied the interaction among serotoninergic and catecholaminergic with tryptaminergic systems by double immunostaining at the level of light microscopy. Mesencephalic rat brain sections treated according to the Schiff quenching method were double immunostained using peroxidase and fluorescein labeled antibodies. Primary antibodies to anti-tryptophan hydroxylase (TrpOH), anit-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and anti-tryptamine (T) were used to demonstrate serotoninergic, catecholaminergic and tryptaminergic neurons respectively. A morphometric study was performed in order to analyze the different morphological characteristics of each system. The results showed that (i) T+ and TrpOH+ neurons are localized in the same areas but their morphology is significantly different. Moreover morphometric parameters of T+ neurons were significantly different from those TrpOH+ or TH+ neurons; (ii) The number of TrpOH+ neurons was larger than T+ neurons; (iii) T+ neurons were dominant in the lateral dorsal raphe nucleus. TrpOH+ neurons were more numerous in the central area of the dorsal raphe nucleus; (iv) Coexpression of TrpOH and T was demonstrated in the somata of dorsal raphe nucleus neurons; (v) TrpOH+ neurons from raphe nuclei and TH+ neurons from substantia nigra are contacted by T+ fibres. The present morphological evidence supports a functional relationship among these three aminergic systems.
Assuntos
Química Encefálica , Dopamina/análise , Serotonina/análise , Triptaminas/análise , Animais , Anticorpos , Especificidade de Anticorpos , Reações Cruzadas , Dopamina/imunologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Imunofluorescência , Técnicas Imunoenzimáticas , Masculino , Núcleos da Rafe/química , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Serotonina/imunologia , Substância Negra/química , Triptaminas/imunologiaRESUMO
A detailed study about the distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms, neuronal NOS (nNOS) and macrophagic NOS (mNOS), in normal rat retina was performed using immunocytochemistry by employing specific antibodies. The nNOS immunocytochemistry showed immunoreactive amacrine cells, fibres in inner and outer plexiform layers (IPL and OPL) and an immunostained band corresponding to inner photoreceptor segments (IPS). This was in agreement with NADPH-d histochemical results. mNOS immunoreactivity was found in cell somas localized in both, inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL), in slender Müller cell processes along IPL and GCL and also in the band corresponding to IPS. A different distribution of nNOS and mNOS was found in rat retina although both isoforms of NOS are co-localized in IPS.
Assuntos
Macrófagos/enzimologia , Neurônios/enzimologia , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/metabolismo , Retina/enzimologia , Animais , Imuno-Histoquímica , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , EstereoisomerismoRESUMO
The distribution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd) reactivity and neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity (nNOS-IR) was investigated in the rat retina during photoreceptor regeneration. Photoreceptor damage and the disappearance of a NADPHd reactive/nNOS-IR band corresponding to inner photoreceptor segments were observed after continuous exposure to light irradiation. Both events were reversible after 20 days of total darkness. Also a progressive decrease in the number and in the staining intensity of NADPHd reactivity in amacrine cells were found along the first 3-6 days of darkness stabilizing thereafter in both illuminated and control groups. However, staining intensity in the former group remained more elevated than in the latter one. NOS activity in the retina varies depending on functional and pathological states.
Assuntos
Adaptação Ocular/fisiologia , NADPH Desidrogenase/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/metabolismo , Células Ganglionares da Retina/enzimologia , Animais , Adaptação à Escuridão/fisiologia , Imuno-Histoquímica , NADPH Desidrogenase/análise , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/análise , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-DawleyRESUMO
Comparison of astroglial immunoreactivity in mesencephalon, cerebellum, and hippocampus of 25-d-old rat pups exposed to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) through the mother's milk was made using a quantitative immunohistochemical analysis. A glial reaction was detected at the level of serotonergic nuclei and extreme astrogliosis in the hippocampus and cerebellum. A quantitative analysis of reactive astrocytes was performed by using GFAP and S-100 protein as specific markers. The study showed a significant increase in their number, size, number of processes, and density of immunostaining in 2,4-D-exposed animals. Exposure to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on the first days of life modifies the astroglial cytoarchitecture in parallel to previously described neuronal changes.
Assuntos
Ácido 2,4-Diclorofenoxiacético/efeitos adversos , Encéfalo/patologia , Gliose/induzido quimicamente , Herbicidas/efeitos adversos , Lactação/metabolismo , Animais , Encéfalo/anatomia & histologia , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Química Encefálica , Feminino , Proteína Glial Fibrilar Ácida/imunologia , Proteína Glial Fibrilar Ácida/metabolismo , Gliose/patologia , Imuno-Histoquímica , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Coloração e RotulagemRESUMO
Striatal and cortical neurons containing nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were studied in adult rats subjected to different periods of perinatal asphyxia (PA) using immunohistochemistry at both light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). Another group was subjected to PA + hypothermia to study its neuroprotective effect. Quantitative image analysis was performed on the striatum and neocortex in order to count the number of immunoreactive neurons and to compare the pattern of staining between the different groups. Six-month-old rats that suffered subsevere and severe PA demonstrated, at LM, cytomegaly of the striatal and neocortical neurons containing NOS. Control and hypothermic neurons were more weakly immunostained than PA neurons. Subsevere and severe asphyctic rats showed an important neuronal loss that was reduced by hypothermic treatment. The PA group disclosed, at EM, dense electronic bodies distributed in terminals surrounding synaptic vesicles and in dendrites. Non-NOS-containing neurons showed signs of degeneration, such as dark cytoplasm and shrunken nuclei. Surrounding the blood vessels, we observed a clear edema. The immunolabeling in hypothermic rats resembled that observed in controls. These data suggest that subsevere and severe PA induces chronic changes in the neuronal content of NOS in the striatum and neocortex. Degeneration observed in neurons surrounding cytomegalic NOS-containing cells may be due to the excess of NO in their environment. Moreover, the chronic alterations produced by PA seem to be prevented by hypothermia.