Browsing by Subject "Spinal cord"

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
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    Bone marrow stromal cells for spinal cord repair, A challenge for contemporary neurobiology
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2009) Vaquero, J.; Zurita, M.
    In the last years, it has been reported that bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) are able to differentiate towards a neuronal phenotype, in vitro as well as in vivo, and consequently, the possible use of these cells for the treatment of neurological diseases has acquired enormous importance. The objective of this review is to discuss the experimental findings that suggested the utility of BMSC for the treatment of paraplegia, and the possibilities of its clinical application in patients. For this reason, we revise our previous experimental findings about neuronal transdifferentiation of BMSC, and the utility of local BMSC transplantation in an experimental model of chronic paraplegia. Our current experience supports that a neural transdifferentiation of BMSC is possible after these mesenchymal stem cells are transplanted into injured spinal cord tissue. Furthermore, this cell therapy achieves a clear functional improvement of paraplegic animals, together with morphological evidence of spinal cord regeneration. Although at present our efforts should be guided to obtain a better knowledge of the mechanisms of nervous regeneration induced by bonemarrow derived stem cells, it is obvious that cell therapy for nervous system repair is beginning, and BMSC transplantation offers new hope for the treatment of traumatic paraplegia in humans.
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    Histopathological characterization of photochemical damage in nervous tissue
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1994) Van Reempts, J.; Borgers, M.
    This paper discusses histological and ultrastructural changes produced by dye-sensitized photoreactions in the central and peripheral nervous system. Particular attention has been given to morphological outcome in experimental models which reproduce widespread clinical pathologies, e.g. stroke, spinal cord injury and peripheral neuropathy. Evaluation of structural alterations may not only help to characterize the evolution of these disease processes but also allow us to study possibilities of therapeutic intervention.
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    In search for a gold-standard procedure to count motor neurons in the spinal cord
    (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2018) Ferrucci, Michela; Lazzeri, Gloria; Flaibani, Marina; Biagioni, Francesca; Cantini, Federica; Madonna, Michele; Bucci, Domenico; Limanaqi, Fiona; Soldani, Paola; Fornai, Francesco
    Counting motor neurons within the spinal cord and brainstem represents a seminal step to comprehend the anatomy and physiology of the final common pathway sourcing from the CNS. Motor neuron loss allows to assess the severity of motor neuron disorders while providing a tool to assess disease modifying effects. Counting motor neurons at first implies gold standard identification methods. In fact, motor neurons may occur within mixed nuclei housing a considerable amount of neurons other than motor neurons. In the present review, we analyse various approaches to count motor neurons emphasizing both the benefits and bias of each protocol. A special emphasis is placed on discussing automated stereology. When automated stereology does not take into account sitespecificity and does not distinguish between heterogeneous neuronal populations, it may confound data making such a procedure a sort of “guide for the perplex”. Thus, if on the one hand automated stereology improves our ability to quantify neuronal populations, it may also hide false positives/negatives in neuronal counts. For instance, classic staining for antigens such as SMI-32, SMN and ChAT, which are routinely considered to be specific for motor neurons, may also occur in other neuronal types of the spinal cord. Even site specificity within Lamina IX may be misleading due to neuronal populations having a size and shape typical of motor neurons. This is the case of spinal border cells, which often surpass the border of Lamina VII and intermingle with motor neurons of Lamina IX. The present article discusses the need to join automated stereology with a dedicated knowledge of each specific neuroanatomical setting.
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    Increase of annexin 1 immunoreactivity in spinal cord of newborn opossum (Monodelphis domestica) at the time when regeneration after injury stops being possible
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2007) Mladinic, M.; Del Bel, E.; Nicholls, J.
    Annexins constitute a family of proteins that associate reversibly with cell membranes in a calcium dependent manner. We have studied the distribution of annexin 1, which is known to mediate anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids, and which is upregulated after spinal cord injury, in newborn and adult South American opossum (Monodelphis domestica) spinal cord. We show the increase in the annexin 1 immunoreactivity in spinal cords of neonatal opossums over the critical period when regeneration after injury ceases to be possible. We further show the restricted and specific sites at which it is detected in adult opossum cerebellum and hippocampus. Since the procedures used in immunochemistry of annexin in CNS have in the past yielded conflicting results, different procedures were tested and shown to be reliable. As a control, annexin 1 distribution was surveyed in kidney.
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    lmmunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of choline acetyltransferase in large motor neurons of the human spinal cord
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2000) Muroishi, Y.; Kasashima, S.; Nakanishi, I.; Oda, Y.
    The localization of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) protein and mRNA was investigated in large motor neurons of the lumbar spinal cord of 10 autopsied individuals without neurological diseases, by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. In the immunohistochemistry using 20 serial tissue sections with a total thickness of 80 pm, about 58-85% (average 67%) of the large motor neurons (30 pm and more in somal minimal diameter) in the ventral horn were stained with the anti-human ChAT antibody. In the positive neurons, most immunoreactive products were observed focally in the perikarya. Occasionally, the perikarya of some neurons were stained diffusely. In situ hybridization with a single 4 pm-thick tissue section showed that almost all large motor neurons had positive signals (93-loo%, average 98%), which were distributed diffusely in the perikarya. The positivity rate in the in situ hybridization was higher than that in the immunohistochemistry for all 10 cases. These results indicate that ChAT mRNA is transcribed in almost all large motor neurons in the ventral horn of the human spinal cord, but ChAT protein cannot always be detected in the cytoplasm by immunohistochemistry.
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    Spinal intradural müllerianosis, a case report
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2006) Barresi, Valeria; Cerasoli, S.; Vitarelli, E.; Donati, R.
    Müllerianosis is a term used to indicate lesions composed of an admixture of two or three types of müllerian-derivation glands in heterotopic sites. In this report we describe a case of spinal cord müllerianosis which occurred in a 42-year-old woman. The patient had suffered from catamenial lumbago and sciatica of three years duration before undergoing laminectomy of L2-L3 with excision of a polypoid mass that compressed nerve trunks. At histological examination, the lesion was composed of endocervical, endometrial and tubal glands within a smooth muscle nodule. These features were consistent with a diagnosis of müllerianosis. This is a very uncommon form of presentation of müllerianosis that must be correctly identified since patients can benefit from hormonal therapy.
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    The cellular and subcellular localization of zinc transporter 7 in the mouse spinal cord
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2008) Chi, Zhi-Hong; Ren, Hao; Wang, Xin; Rong, Ming; Huang, Liping; Wang, Zhan-You
    The present work addresses the cellular and subcellular localization of the zinc transporter 7 (ZNT7, SLC30a7) protein and the distribution of zinc ions (Zn2+) in the mouse spinal cord. Our results indicated that the ZNT7 immunoreactive neurons were widely distributed in the Rexed’s laminae of the gray matter in all spinal segments examined. The ependyma cells of the central canal and glia cells in the white matter were also shown ZNT7-positive. The ZNT7 immunoreactivity was mainly detected in the perinuclear regions of ZNT7- positive cells in the spinal gray matter. For ependyma cells, the immunoreactivity of ZNT7 was detected in the cytoplasm near the lumina of the central canal. Ultrastructural localization showed that ZNT7 was predominately present in the membrane of the Golgi stacks. The double immunofluorescence studies confirmed this result. Other intracellular organelles including the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lysosomes were devoid of ZNT7-immunostaining. The chelatable Zn2+ ions in the spinal cord were found predominantly in the terminals of the neuron rather than the cell body in the gray matter. However, overlapping distribution of chelatable Zn2+ ions and ZNT7 was found in the ependyma cells. The present study supports the notion that ZNT7 may function to supply zinc ions to the newly synthesized metalloproteins in the secretory pathway of the spinal neuron and the ependyma cell.
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    Two modes of cell migration in the ventral horn of the spinal cord in the chick embryo. A Golgy study
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1990) Dorado, M. E.; Chrnielewski, C.E.; Quesada, A.; Genís-Gálvez, J. M.; Prada, F. A.
    The migration process of the ventral horn in chick embryo spinal cord cells has been studied between 2.5 and 5 days of incubation (HH-17, HH-26), using the Golgi technique. Two different migratory modes are observed. Type 1.- Migration by nucleus translocation. Most of the ventral horn motor neurons migrate by nucleus translocation within the peripheral cylinder of the cytoplasm (migration by nucleus translocation). Type 11.- Free migration cells. Other cells migrate disconnected from both limiting surfaces (ventricular and pial). On the basis of shape and migratory behaviour they have been identified as smooth cells and multipodial cells.
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    Ultrastructural alterations of the rabbit sciatic nerve, spinal cord and cerebellum, following methionine sulphoximine administration
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1994) Kallaras, C.; Anogianakis, G.; Apostolakis, M.; Manthos, A.; Sioga, A.; Economou, L.; Foroglou, Ch.
    Methii~nine suluhoximine (MSO) is a centrally ácting neurutoxin wh'ich inhibits the glutainate nietabolism enzymes and has convulsive properties. Sniall doses of MSO were administered to rabbits. either intra\,eiiously (IV) or intracerebroventricularly (ICV), anil electron microscopic examination of the cerebellum. the spinal cord and the sciatic nerve was perforined on the first day of rabbit hind leg rigid paralysis (myopathy with histvlogical findings resenibling myositis). which set in by [he 2nd to 4th day after MSO administration. In thc cerebelluin focal minor alterations were hund in the astrocytes (swelling and lucidity. diminution of glycogen graiiules) and sparsely in the presynaptic terminals (luciditj. and clumping). whereas inost of the neuron prescnted a nornial appearance. In the spinal cord and in the sciatic nerve a dissociation of the axon from the iiiyelin shcath was evident in a small number of niyelinatcd nerve fibres, along with the appearance of vacuolated spaces. Mitochondrial disorganisation in the axons. as well as glial cell alterations, were also seen. Th c u l t r a s t r u c t ~ ~ r aall terat ions we r e non spe c i f i c , Lind siiice they wcre induced 2 to 4 days after the adniiriistration of either minimum doses (IV) or of exti-cmely low doses (ICV) of MSO, they inay be attributed to the inordinate increase of metabolism during the period of convulsions.