Redistribution of NMDA receptors in the cochlear nucleus following cochleotomy

The major input to neurons of the cochlear nucleus comes from the glutamatergic cells of the spiral ganglion. We have studied the effect of unilateral destruction of the inner ear, including the spiral ganglion, with two antibodies against different types of NMDA receptor subunits, NMDAR1 and NMDAR2A/B, in the cochlear nucleus of the rat. Following cochleotomy, a dramatic redistribution of the receptor subunits was observed from a mostly perikaryal to a predominantly dendritic localization. Moreover, distinct changes in the composition of NMDA receptor complexes occurred. These effects were interpreted as compensatory responses to the massive loss of presynaptic release of the transmitter glutamate.     

Association between bleomycin hydrolase and Alzheimer's disease in caucasians

A recent study showed modest evidence for an increased frequency of the bleomycin hydrolase (BH) V/V genotype in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients compared with non-demented controls. To test this hypothesis, we examined this polymorphism in 621 rigorously evaluated patients and 502 control subjects (all caucasian) but were unable to detect an association between BH and AD even after controlling for age, gender, and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype. We conclude that this polymorphism does not account for inherited susceptibility to AD in the populations represented in this sample.     

Removal of HBSAg from blood in vitro. I. Effects of washing alone, glycerol addition and removal, and glycerolization, freezing, and washing

Red blood cells from HBSAg-positive blood were washed in the Fenwal Elutramatic, Haemonetics Processor 15, or the IBM Blood Processor with sodium chloride solutions, or in the Huggins Cytoglomerator with sugar solutions. The Fenwal Elutramatic and IBM Blood Processor were the most efficient washing systems, the Haemonetics Processor 15 was less efficient, and the Huggins Cytoglomerator was the least efficient in removing the HBSAg. Washing to remove the HBSAg from red blood cells containing 40 per cent W/V glycerol in an ionic medium was more efficient than washing HBSAg from liquid-stored red blood cells or red blood cells containing 20 per cent W/V glycerol. The original and modified dilution/agglomeration wash cycles used in the Huggins Cytoglomerator were not able to remove the HBSAg from units of blood that were radioimmune assay (RIA) positive and counterelectrophoresis (CEP) negative. Freezing had no effect on the removal of the HBSAg in vitro, whereas the concentration of 40 per cent W/V glycerol in the red blood cells that were washed did. HBSAg was not found in the amorphous debris remaining in the polycarbonate disposable bowl used in the Haemonetics Processor 15 or in the microaggregates remaining in washed red blood cells.