Light microscopic immunocytochemical identification of leucine enkephalin

Leucine-enkephalin is a potent and naturally-occurring opioid peptide which serves to inhibit other neurotransmitters involved with pain perception, thereby reducing its emotional and physical impact. Nevertheless, there is little data in the literature concerning leucine-enkephalin-immunoreactivity (Leu-enk-ir) in the human claustrum. The objectives of this study were to confirm the existence of leucine-enkephalin immunoreactive neurons and fibers in the human claustrum. Light microscopy was used to describe their morphology and distribution. Samples of claustrum were obtained from the brains of two females (39 and 48 years of age) and two males (27 and 42 years of age). The brains did not show any overt signs of pathology or trauma. Immunoreactivity to Leuenk was assessed via the Avidin-Biotin Complex Method. Light-microscopic analysis confirmed the presence of Leu-enk-ir neurons and fibres in all areas of the human claustrum. The cell bodies varied in shape and size, and were divided into three groups: small, medium and large. The density of immunostaining varied both within and between the cell types, with some neurons, staining more darkly or lightly than others. The large and medium sized cells most likely correspond to claustrocortical projection neurons while the small-sized cells appear to be inhibitory interneurons. It is our hope that these results will be contributed to a better understanding the functions of claustrum, in both health and disease, given its relationship with the development of autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and Huntington disease

A Comparative Quantitative Analysis of the Postnatal Changes in the Myocardium of the Left and Right Ventricles in Rats

Background: The growth of the heart during the foetal and early postnatal development takes places mainly due to hyperplasia. The late postnatal development is characterised by cardiomyocytic hypertrophy in response to normal physiological mechanisms and increased load. To study the cell size most authors measure the diameter either directly or indirectly

CT angiographic study of the role of both willis circle and vertebral arteries during selective cerebral perfusion - a study in 105 patients

Unilateral selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) is a method for cerebral protection in aortic arch surgery. However, variations of the circle of Willis (CoW) could vitiate its protective effect. The aim of our present work was to prospectively analyze variations of CoW and vertebral arteries using CT angiography. From January, 2008 to July, 2008, a total of 105 consecutive patients underwent CT-angiography of the CoW in the Division of Radiology, St. Ekaterina University Hospital of Sofia. There were at least six CoW configurations that could lead to significant hypo perfusion during unilateral SCP: i) type IA - hypoplasia or absence of left posterior communicating artery (PComA) (in 41.9% of the patients); ii) type IB - hypoplasia or absence of anterior communicating artery (AComA) (in 1.9%); iii) type IIA - hypoplasia or absence of both left PComA and AComA (in 6.67%); iv) type IIB - hypoplasia or absence of left P1 or right vertebral artery (VA) (in 6.67%); v) type III - hypoplasia or absence of right A1 (in 8.57%), and vi) type IV - hypoplasia or absence of both right A1 and right VA or both right A1 and left PComA (in 0.95%). All these types were present in a 66.67% of all the examined patients. Our present study showed that CoW variations are presented in significant number of patients. These results support the need of extensive preoperative examination and meticulous intraoperative monitoring of cerebral perfusion during unilateral SCP.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2012; 44(2): 73-77