Lamina cribrosa vessel and collagen beam networks are distinct

Our goal was to analyze the spatial interrelation between vascular and collagen networks in the lamina cribrosa (LC). Specifically, we quantified the percentages of collagen beams with/without vessels and of vessels inside/outside of collagen beams. To do this, the vasculature of six normal monkey eyes was labelled by perfusion post-mortem. After enucleation, coronal cryosections through the LC were imaged using fluorescence and polarized light microscopy to visualize the blood vessels and collagen beams, respectively. The images were registered to form 3D volumes. Beams and vessels were segmented, and their spatial interrelationship was quantified in 3D. We found that 22% of the beams contained a vessel (range 14% to 32%), and 21% of vessels were outside beams (13% to 36%). Stated differently, 78% of beams did not contain a vessel (68% to 86%), and 79% of vessels were inside a beam (64% to 87%). Individual monkeys differed significantly in the fraction of vessels outside beams (p<0.01 by linear mixed effect analysis), but not in the fraction of beams with vessels (p>0.05). There were no significant differences between contralateral eyes in the percent of beams with vessels and of vessels outside beams (p>0.05). Our results show that the vascular and collagenous networks of the LC in monkey are clearly distinct, and the historical notions that each LC beam contains a vessel and all vessels are within beams are inaccurate. We postulate that vessels outside beams may be relatively more vulnerable to mechanical compression by elevated IOP than are vessels shielded inside of beams.

Membrane processes application on the Symphytum officinale and Geranium robertianum extracts concentration to obtain high antioxidative activity compounds

The paper reports the successful application of membranes processes to obtain the good quality extracts with compounds of high antioxidative activity and therapeutic value. This study provided investigations on the phenolic compounds from two plant species used in Romanian ethno-medicine and evaluated the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Three extracts prepared from Geranium robertianum and Symphytum officinale were concentrated by microfiltration and ultrafiltration. The levels of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy and HPLC. The freeradical scavenging activity of concentrated extracts was determined by DPPH method. The preliminary tests of cytotoxic activity for the concentrated extracts have been carried out on human epidermoid laryngeal carcinoma cell line (Hep-2p) and normal monkey kidneys cells (RM). The results showed that all concentrated extracts had a very low cytotoxicity against healthy cells, but a significant cytotoxic effect on Hep-2p tumor cells. The concentrated extracts have a high antioxidant activity (% DPPH inhibition > 80%).

Detection of infusate leakage in the brain using real-time imaging of convection-enhanced delivery

Object The authors have shown that convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of gadoteridol-loaded liposomes (GDLs) into different regions of normal monkey brain results in predictable, widespread distribution of this tracking agent as detected by real-time MR imaging. They also have found that this tracking technique allows monitoring of the distribution of similar nanosized agents such as therapeutic liposomes and viral vectors. A limitation of this procedure is the unexpected leakage of liposomes out of targeted parenchyma or malignancies into sulci and ventricles. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of CED after the onset of these types of leakage. Methods The authors documented this phenomenon in a study of 5 nonhuman primates and 7 canines, comprising 54 CED infusion sessions. Approximately 20% of these infusions resulted in leakage into cerebral ventricles or sulci. All of the infusions and leakage events were monitored with real-time MR imaging. The authors created volume-distributed versus volume-infused graphs for each infusion session. These graphs revealed the rate of distribution of GDL over the course of each infusion and allowed the authors to evaluate the progress of CED before and after leakage. Results The distribution of therapeutics within the target structure ceased to increase or resulted in significant attenuation after the onset of leakage. Conclusions An analysis of the cases in this study revealed that leakage undermines the efficacy of CED. These findings reiterate the importance of real-time MR imaging visualization during CED to ensure an accurate, robust distribution of therapeutic agents.

Heat Treatment Induces Liver Receptor Homolog-1 Expression in Monkey and Rat Sertoli Cells

We demonstrated in this study that liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) was expressed in the round spermatids in normal monkey testis, and no LRH-1 signal was observed in the Sertoli cells. After local warming (43 C) the monkey testis, however, LRH-1 expression was induced in the Sertoli cells in coincidence with activation of cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), a Sertoli cell dedifferentiated marker. Furthermore, we isolated rat primary Sertoli cells from testes at various stages of development and treated with 43 C water in vitro. The changes in LRH-1 as well as CK-18 expression were analyzed by confocal immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results showed that LRH-1 was stage-dependently expressed in the Sertoli cells; no LRH-1-positive signal was detected in the cells obtained from the testes of adult rat on d 60 after birth when mature spermatozoa in the testis was completed. However, the mature Sertoli cells were warmed at the 43 C water bath for 15 min, and the LRH-1 signal was remarkably induced in a time-dependent manner, just like the changes of CK-18 expression in the Sertoli cells, suggesting that the heat-induced dedifferentiation of the mature Sertoli cells might be related to LRH-1 regulation. LRH-1 expression induced by the heat treatment was completely inhibited by the addition of ERK inhibitor U0126 in the culture, indicating that the heat-induced LRH-1 expression in the Sertoli cells may be regulated via ERK1/2 activation pathway. Testosterone was found to have no such effect on LRH-1 expression in the monkey and rat Sertoli cells.